Tuesday, 10th–It is dry and hot. I wrote a letter to father enclosing $50.00 of the $53.00 which I received from the Government on May 31st, and in greenbacks at that. I had $1.86 coming to me over and above the allowance the Government makes for clothing, which is $40.00 a year.
Monday, 9th–It is dry and hot. We are at work building fortifications here on a large scale, Corinth being an important point for either army to hold, as it is the key to Mississippi and Alabama. The bulk of the Army of the Tennessee is left here, while detachments of the original hundred thousand under [...]
Sunday, 8th–We received orders to clean up for inspection and a detail of men was put to work cleaning up the parade ground. We have a fine drill ground out in a large field. But the camp being out in the open, the sun beats down pretty hot upon the tents.
Saturday, 7th–I stood out on picket all day. We were relieved from picket this evening about dark. We were posted in a heavy timber about two miles out, on one of the main roads leading to town. Water is very scarce and poor at that. We have to go a mile from camp for our [...]
Friday, 6th–We struck our tents and at 7 a. m. started on our march. We marched through Corinth and went into camp again about a mile northwest of town, making camp number 9. The Eleventh Iowa went out on picket.
Thursday, 5th–We received marching orders with one day’s rations. It is reported that General Buell will move with the Army of the Ohio into central Tennessee. It is clear and hot today.
Wednesday, 4th–Nothing of importance. Some of the troops are returning to Pittsburg Landing, a part of them to go down the Tennessee river and then up the Cumberland to reinforce the army in eastern Tennessee, and the others are to join the forces going down the Mississippi.
Tuesday, 3d–The weather is very hot. We have no picket duty now, but get plenty of exercise by regular drills, having company drill twice a day. We also get exercise in keeping the camp clean; have to sweep it every morning.
Monday, 2d–I was one of a hundred men detailed to clean up our camp ground. Pope’s men who went in pursuit of the rebels are returning and going into camp in and around Corinth. I spent $1.00 for peaches and bread at the sutler’s tent.
Sunday, 1st–It rained all day. I took “French leave” this morning and went into Corinth. The town appears to be deserted and it is a dilapidated looking place, as so much of it has been destroyed. I found it to be a fine place, however, on high ground, and when rebuilt it will be beautiful. [...]
Saturday, 31st–There was still some fighting today with the fleeing rebels, and we took some prisoners, but the main part of the army had too much of a start on us. The Eleventh Iowa received four months’ pay today. I drew $53.00. We had to make settlement at this time for all clothing purchased.
Friday, 30th–Corinth was evacuated during the night. Upon leaving, the rebels burned the depot and several houses, besides a large amount of other property, and also blew up their powder magazine. They burned some cars loaded with their own supplies which they could not get away because they had no engineers. At daylight General Pope [...]
Thursday, 29th–There was heavy cannonading today off on the left flank and the pickets are still fighting. General Pope cut the railroad and with the aid of the Second Iowa Cavalry burned a train of cars and took one thousand stand of arms.
Wednesday, 28th–Some very hard fighting out on the right flank. Our men were driven back from their line, but rallied and regained the ground lost. In the mix-up we took some prisoners and there were some killed and wounded on both sides.
Tuesday, 27th–Things are quiet all along the lines today. Our supplies and ammunition are hauled by team from Pittsburg Landing. We still draw our full army rations every five days.
Monday, 26th–It is very warm. Had company drill twice again today. There was very heavy cannonading off on the left flank.
Sunday, 25th–We stood in line of battle out on picket all night, and were relieved at 9 o’clock this morning. There’s a report in camp to the effect that General Pope is desirous of moving his command around by the left flank to get into the rear of Corinth and cut off the retreat of [...]
Saturday, 24th–The Eleventh Iowa went out on picket at 5 o’clock this evening. It was reported in camp that General Beauregard is moving all of his heavy ordnance and his entire army to the south with a view of evacuating Corinth. The report says that teams loaded with munitions of war are leaving Corinth every [...]
Friday, 23d–We formed a line of battle at 4 o’clock this morning, but the rebels did not make their expected attack. The army generally now forms a line of battle every morning at 4 and remains in line until about 6 o’clock. It rained some today, and on account of the wet weather it was [...]
Thursday, 22d–Things were a little more quiet this forenoon, but there was some very heavy cannonading off on the left flank this afternoon. Skirmishing is still going on between the pickets. There are not many men being killed on either side, since they are well protected by their respective fortifications; it is when they have [...]
Wednesday, 21st–The right wing moved up closer upon the fortifications of the rebels and although they tried to drive our men back, they failed in the attempt. There is very heavy cannonading and skirmishing. The left wing of our army is under command of General Pope. The earthworks between the two armies are getting very [...]
Tuesday, 20th–Things are a little more quiet today, the cannonading not being so brisk, although the skirmishers are keeping up a lively firing all along the line.
Monday, 19th–We were ordered to strike our tents and move to the right, but just as we were ready to fall into line, the order was countermanded and we were ordered to go to throwing up breastworks. It was reported that the rebels were going to come out of their breastworks and attack us. The [...]
Sunday, 18th–Our brigade threw up four miles of fortifications, earthworks, and also forts for the artillery. We were expecting to be attacked by the rebels making an effort to turn our right flank, so we were in line of battle all day. The pickets have been fighting all day, for the only action taken by [...]
Saturday, 17th–We were ordered to strike tent and march out to the picket line and form in line of battle. Here we remained in line until after dark. There was heavy cannonading and musketry firing all along the line and it continued all day. We pitched our tents in a heavy piece of timber and [...]