Monday, 10th–We are living on fresh bread now; we got our first today, baked in the new oven. Each man is allowed to draw a one-pound loaf per day. We again have company drill twice a day, with dress parade at 5 o’clock. The weather is fearfully hot, day and night.

Sunday, 9th–I was detailed on a foraging party today. There were two hundred men and one hundred wagons, accompanied by a squad of cavalry as a picket guard. We went up the Yazoo river bottoms about five miles and loaded our wagons with green corn, which we found in abundance. It was very hot, and [...]

Saturday, 8th–Quite pleasant today. We cleaned up our clothing and accouterments for inspection. We are getting fixed up very nicely in our camp and all are feeling fine. Only a few of our boys are sick and in the hospital at present. I loaned George Toyne (Company E) $25.00 today, until next pay day.[1] [1] [...]

Friday, 7th–It is quite sultry today. There is no news of any importance. The Sixteenth Iowa received their pay today.

Thursday, 6th–The Eleventh received pay today; I got $26.00, my full payment for the two months, for the Government has discontinued the “allotment rolls,” as sending a portion of a soldier’s pay to his parents is called. Our colonel ordered a bake oven for the regiment, so in a few days we will draw fresh [...]

Wednesday, 5th–The heat continues as yesterday. The Eleventh Iowa signed their payrolls today, and the Fifteenth Iowa received their pay. I was on fatigue duty all day. We had dress parade this evening for the first time since May 19th. The boys came out in fine style. Troops are leaving every day to reinforce different [...]

Tuesday, 4th–The heat is intense today. We finished putting up the brush shades and also completed our bunks. It seems like home once more. Our regimental payrolls were made out today, while the Thirteenth Iowa received their pay. Major Foster is now in command of our regiment.

Monday, 3d–I was on camp guard today. We got our tents and pitched them today, and also, because of the intense heat, built shades in front of them by setting up forks and poles covered with brush. It is the report that we are to remain here on garrison duty. Our work is very light, [...]

Sunday, 2d–The teams went to the wharf down in Vicksburg for our tents. The three boys from our company drawing furloughs were Sylvester Daniels, Daniel E. Sweet and Major Christmas, and they left for home today on a thirty-day furlough.[1] I sent $1.00 with Sweet to buy postage stamps for me and $2.00 to buy [...]

Saturday, 1st–The quartermaster received some clothing for our regiment. I drew a pair of pants for $3.05 and a shirt for $1.46. A certain number of men from each company will be permitted to go home on a thirty-day furlough, and the boys of our company are looking forward to the time, wondering who will [...]

Friday, 31st–The weather continues hot. Our men are at work raising the gunboat “Cincinnati,” which was sunk during the siege of Vicksburg. She was a fine boat. A detail of men was sent to bring our tents today, but they failed to get them.

Thursday, 30th–It is quite hot and sultry. There is no news of importance. Colonel Hall has again taken command of our brigade. I bought a two-pound can of butter, paying $1.25, and five loaves of bread for fifty cents.

Wednesday, 29th–We passed a miserable night, for we had no tents and the ground was wet from yesterday’s rain; besides, the ground is so rough and hilly that we can hardly find a place big enough to camp on. Things dragged on slowly this morning, so I had a chance to run around some to [...]

Tuesday, 28th–We started early this morning and though it was hot and sultry, we reached Vicksburg at 10 a. m. So we finally entered Vicksburg after more than eight months in trying to take the place. In the afternoon we moved out a few miles to the north of town and went into bivouac. While [...]

Monday, 27th–Our brigade started for Vicksburg at 4 o’clock this afternoon. We moved only four miles, when we stopped for the night. The country is very rough and the heavy rains have made the roads very muddy.

Sunday, 26th–We were relieved by an Iowa brigade from Sherman’s army, which just arrived, but we remained in bivouac all day, awaiting orders. One of General Sherman’s foraging trains came in; they are going to forage for oats. News came that there was fighting going on at Charleston, South Carolina. It was quite hot this [...]

Saturday, 25th–Our brigade returned to the bridge and went into camp, with Colonel Chambers in command of the entire post. Our army field hospital is located here and the convalescents are being cared for in it. Refugees by the thousands are at this place and are still pouring in by the hundreds from every direction, [...]

Friday, 24th–We remained here in bivouac all day. Orders came for our brigade to return to Black river bridge and remain there until relieved by General Sherman. The cars are coming through now from Vicksburg twice a day. We are very anxious for mail, having had none for many days, and are disappointed in not [...]

Thursday, 23d–We were off by 4 o’clock this morning and reached Big Black river bridge by noon. It had rained very hard here yesterday and last night, overflowing the river and causing the deep dust to become deep mud. This made our traveling very heavy, and since the rain set in again this afternoon, we [...]

Wednesday, 22d–We started this morning at daylight and marched all day. We stopped for the night along Baker’s Creek, just beyond Edward’s Station. The roads are alive with troops returning to Vicksburg. It is reported that Johnston’s army is falling back to Columbus, Mississippi.

Tuesday, 21st–Our brigade started for Vicksburg this afternoon. We covered five miles and went into bivouac. It is extremely hot, and having had no rain for so long, the roads are very dusty. Our entire army is falling back to Vicksburg.

Monday, 20th–We came in from picket this morning and this afternoon moved our regimental camp onto higher ground. Some of our boys are having a time with the ague and fever. The Fifteenth and Sixteenth Regiments were ordered out to Miller’s Creek to guard a wagon train. The Thirty-fifth Iowa passed us on their way [...]

Saturday, 18th–Our wagon trains now move unmolested back and forth from Vicksburg to Jackson, since there are few of the rebels’ cavalry left in this section. Our brigade is to remain here at Clinton as a reserve to escort wagon trains when needed. We hear that Sherman is still after Johnston. Our camp here is [...]

Friday, 17th–We heard that our wagon train went through to Jackson without attack, and that the rebels evacuated the place this morning, with Sherman’s forces in hot pursuit. We hear that Johnston, after crossing the Pearl river, burned the bridges behind him and is now in rapid retreat on the other side. News came that [...]