December 1863

1st   weather fair the cotton is coming in & we Expect to start down the river soon rations all gone but fresh beef plenty of that for the killing

2d   start down the river this morning run until about noon when we get stuck on a sand bar & go ashore cook our beef go back & l[a]y down for the night

3d   get loose about day break run 20 miles take on wood start again & get stuck weather fine

4th   this morning we land for the boat to get over the bar get rations go aboard & run a little way land for wood & lay over night

5th   stuck on two Bars today progress very slow wood very scarce

6th   donot make much progress today weather very fine

7th   one year ago today the Battle of Prairie Grove was fought then we were on the north side of the rebellion now we have come down the centre & are preparing to go up the out side

8th   this is a cool cloudy morning we are out of wood & cannot run until we pick up some in the woods

9th   run a little way & get stuck as usual on a bar get loose but donot make much headway

10th   very slow progress

11th   we are nearly down now & have been out of rations for two days

12d   arrive at Brownville land & go into camp in our old situation get rations & a large mail have been gone 22 days on 12 days rations but now we will have plenty once more

13th   this is beautiful weather, we are once more in camp & plenty of rations to Eat

14th   very windy Gen. review by Major Gen. Dana

15th   very windy & disagreeable weather,

16th   Brigade drill by Col. Black (ours) who is now comdg our (1st) Brigade, very windy,

17th   the wind does not blow quite as hard we have wall tents now & are quite comfortable

18th   this is a fine day Brigade drill at 2.P.M. by Col. Black a Mexican Col. (Berdan) visits us at Dressparade, he came to see the Ill. Boys because by them he lost one arm & was captured at Beuna vista 17 years ago, he seems to like our Flag very much now, for all it caused him so much pain at that time just nine months to serve in this three years term would that that might see this cruel war Honorably settled but I fear it will not & still the prospect looks bright at present U.S. Grant & Meade are victorious Gillmore is driving away at Charleston again & all seems to work well 3.00,000 more are to be in the field by spring & it would seem that with such an army under competent Generals we might sweep Every thing before us

19th   weather fair no news of importance Except that Meade has sacrificed another thousand of his Army (of the Potomac) by following Lee & then retreating precipitately accross the Rapidan

20th   beautiful weather preaching by our Chaplain at 3 oclock P.M. five of our Company that were left sick at New Orleans have arrived

21st   cool & windy Brigade drill today our 3d one under Col. Black

22d   weather fine.

23d   go to town in the Evening with Lt Kennicott it is quite a town after all & will soon be a business place

24th   Weather beautiful, the Health of our Reg. continues good, very strict on guard, no drill today Except a few moments Co drill

25th   Christmas morning for the third time since we Entered the service, then it was thought by all that one Christmas would be all we would spend in the service & now the same question arises will we Ever spend another Christmas in the service of our Country.

26th   very windy receive orders to prepare to march at a moments notice

27th   weather very cool marching orders countermanded

28th   this is a beautiful day it seems more like May than December

29th   pleasant day

30th   this is a very windy day nothing of importance occurs Health of Reg. very good as it has been for a long time, tomorrow one from Each company start for Illinois on recruiting service I go from our Co. therefore I must bid farewell to the old Reg. & the boys I love so well for a time at least how long I cannot imagine Major Payne goes in charge he is a noble Officer it is a bad time to cross the rough old Gulf but we can go through I guess The Mexicans are fighting just accross the river but they donot work as though they thought to accomplish anything I donot think they would stand up & fight long if any one went at them in dead Earnest it is a very disagreeable day the sand blows so

31st   we start about 9.A.M. for Point Isabelle it is so cool we are obliged to walk most of the way to keep warm arrive (22 miles) about 4.P.M. go on board the "Mustang" & take up our quarters there until we shall go down the Bay to Brazos Island where we shall ship on an Ocean Steamer to cross the Gulf__ another year has passed into Eternity & still this cruel war is waged with all the Eagerness of madmen by the southerners, why O, why will they be so foolish. they must see by the steady progress we have made in this past year that we shall soon subdue them by force of Arms, the St Mary is Expected in a day or two & then we shall go on her most likely as far as New Orleans, & then up the river which Grant & Banks has opened by their deeds of unsurpassed gallantry, though I must say I fail to see wherin Banks has done any thing Extra still perhaps I am an in competent judge, it is rough weather here today no steamer here at present Except the Exact & the lighters the Exact is an old tub of a thing