August 1863

1st   this is a beautiful day the Health of the Reg. seems to be improving fast now. O, how I hope this may be as successful a month to our Arms as the past month has been then we may look for Peace joyous Peace

2d   beautiful day but so very warm it almost suffocates one

3d   the weather continues good roads very dusty it is so dry it has been so long since we had a good soaking shower to lay the dust very warm

4th   weather fine go 18 miles into the country with a forage train plenty of melons & corn not much of any thing else load with corn and biovuac for the night

5th   beautiful morning, drive back into Camp Reg't have moved into a more suitable Camp & now we fix up a little sick boys have come up from the boat & are now gaining very fast

6th   this is a beautiful day have to draw our water from the Mississippi River (one mile) there is plenty of spring water about here but it seems to be unfit for use therefore the medical director has ordered that we use river water

7th   a light shower just enough to purify the air & make it quite healthy here for all it is so far south

8th   this is a splendid morning quite cool after yesterday's shower our sick are gaining fast many of them have already returned to duty Expect to move one mile tomorrow

9th   beautiful day move Camp one mile farther back from the river roads very dusty

10th   this is a splendid day just cool Enough for comfort that is Secession Comfort the Health of the troops is steadily improving

11th   weather fair but very warm

12th   occasional showers just Enough to cool the air & make the dust lay still

13th   this is a beautiful morning our baggage is being drawn to the Levee where we Expect to Embark for .______. Eve_ On board the transport Argo we are nearly ready to leave down the river we Expect

14th   it is a splendid morning on the Mississippi River we have run all night passed Baton Rouge & lay up for breakfast on the St James Plantation stay one hour & again we are going down the river run to Carlton lay up an hour run down & land 3 1/2 miles above New Orleans move back 1/2 mile & camp

15th   it is fine weather we have a beautiful Camp under the shade of some large Live Oaks our sick are recovering very fast vegetables are very plenty here peddlars are swarming the camp like swarms of bees

16th   this is a very beautiful day all nature looks lovely & calm as though nought was disturbing the serenity of this mighty Nation as though no blood was being shed upon its sacred soil

17th   this is a beautiful day the remainder of our Brigade came down the river also part of another div'n plenty of peddlars come into camp mostly French and German one of Co. G died today the sick are gaining fast & I am in hopes the Reg. will be healthier here so near the sea with plenty of vegetables

18th   rainy morning but looks as though we might have a fine day yet, two years ago today I Enlisted then the opinion was the war would End in six months two years of toil & pain two years of blood & slaughter have passed & alas for Human calculations it is not at all likely the war will End within six months "Man proposes, God disposes"

19th   occasional showers just Enough to cool the air

20th   this is a beautiful day our sick are gaining fast as a general thing some few have died but most of them will soon be well

21st   weather fair grand review by Major Gen. Banks at 10 A.M. review does not take place today

22d   the grand review comes off today it is beautiful weather vegetables of almost Every kind is continualy coming into camp but we Expect soon to be far away from here as grand review is always the forerunner of a campaign with us or at least it always has been for two years & I guess it will not fail us this time

23d   this is a beautiful sabbath morning but we have no church to attend another of our men died last night but none from our Co as yet

24th   the weather is fair but very warm more men are taken sick

25th   this has been a lovely day I have been to the city & well may New Orleans be called the queen City of the south it is kept so clean it has no such magnificent buildings as some Northern Cities has still they look very pretty, the most magnificent structure is in the city is the Monument of Jackson his motto "The Union must & shall be preserved" is Engraved in large letters under him, & then such a beautiful yard so many pretty flowers & so many diferent kinds of shrubbery

26th   it is cloudy this morning & looks as though we might have a shower clears off toward noon

27th   this has been a beautiful day three men from the Reg. have died today

28th   the weather is fair two more of our Reg. died last night Heath of the Reg. on the decline

29th   it is beautiful weather her at present Health of the Reg. seems to be improving,

30th   fine morning yesterday we had grand review by Gen. Banks com'd'g. this department (of the Gulf)

31st   this is a beautiful day orders to march leaving knapsacks tents &.c. behind light marching order muster by Col. Black another month good news from Charleston today