July 1863
1st last night it rained a thing we very much needed to preserve the Health of the troops all is quiet up to this time 6.A.M. later at 8.A.M. a fierce cannonading commences & is kept up for about two hours then all is quiet as before
2d beautiful weather all is quiet go the 95 Ill. visiting have a pleasant visit come back in the Evening
3d splendid morning all are preparing for a grand charge on the Rebel works on the morrow (Ever Glorious 4th of July) new Bateries are being planted nearer their works & all is being done that is possible to insure our success ten A.M. all is quiet not a gun is to be heard an armistice has been agreed upon at 3.P.M. the two Com'd'g. Gens (Grant & Pemberton) are to meet we all go half way & meet the Rebs & have a chat they look rough Enough still they will own nothing but without doubt they must give up soon on account of food
4th the Ever Glorious fourth has dawned but what do we hear the heavy boom of cannon the fierce rattle of musketry the shouts of charging Legions; O, no it is the shout of victory it is the booming of cannon in honor of the Great Victory acheived by U.S. Grant the Pet of the Army of the Tennessee a man that prepares to do a thing before he does it or commences & then goes unfalteringly forward never once halting until his end is is accomplished this is indeed a glorious day to the Arms of the U.S.
5th we are now camped inside the Rebel works the prisoners are still inside of us Gen. Grant with his untiring zeal left with all the available forces for the Big Black to try & take in Joe Johnston if possible if not to drive him off. he just waited long enough to fulfil his promise (of eating supper in Vicksburg the 4th of July) then he started off post haste
6th weather fair 1.300 prisoners come in from the big black
7th weather good this has indeed been a Glorious victory such a vast amount of amunition arms artilery (Heavy & light) together with prisoners & the position have gained. now let the Iron Hearted Gen. with his New England Herves[Nerves] take Port Hudson & the great River is opened & we are free to traverse it whole length
8th nothing as yet from Gen. Grant weather fair
9th weather fair prisoners are being paroled Health of the Reg. begins to fail & what the Reb's have failed to do that I fear desease will do for us but let it be so it is better thus than to have our Glorious Union severed
10th We have good news from the Army of the Potomac also from Helene the weather is beautiful but so warm one can scarcely imagine the lassitude & disinclination that creeps over a man in these sultry climes it needs more than common Energy to induce one to Exercise Enough to in sure good Health this afternoon go to the 95th Ill. & 14th Wis'n. have an Excelent visit
11th this morning come back through the City to the camp find the Reg. ready to march Embark on board the Satan Expect to go to Port Hudson but Just as we are ready to go a boat comes with news that Port Hudson has surrendered therefore we have no business there we lay over night ten men from our Co. is left are left sick it is hard to leave our Comerades but such is the fortunes of war & what right have we to murmur C. A. Anderson is among the sick
12th On board the transport Satan off Vicksburg Miss. it is a beautiful morning our Artilery are Embarking & again there is a prospect of going but this time it seems to be up the river Evening_ we have passed Chickasaw landing & Haines bluff & are now far on our way up the Yazoo river we have left behind a beautiful City (Vicksburg) but it is well garrisoned beside we are going toward the Enemy from it we are now laying up for the night Expecting to Enter Yazoo City tomorrow
13th our little army has been reorganized & is now only one Division Major Gen. Herron comd'g our (1st) Brigade is composed of the 20th 34th & 38th Iowa 26 Ind & 37th Ill Inft Bateries E. & F. 1st Mo. Light Artilery Brig Gen Van Dever comdg. Brigade the 2d Brigade is composed of the 18th Iowa 20th Wis'n & 94th Ill. Inft & Batery B. 1st Mo. Light Artilery Brig. Gen. Orme com'dg. Brigade we proceed at daybreak at one oclock P.M. we lay two miles below Yazoo City (one Hundred miles up the river) here our Reg. lands Companies K. & I. (ours) were thrown out as skirmishers & our Reg. advanced toward the town about one mile when the Reb's open on our Gunboats (which are oposite us) with a single gun we are ordered to halt lay in a cornfield & roast corn until nearly night when we are ordered back the Reg. to the boat us two co's. down the River on Piquet the boats move back one mile we pass along down the bank to the bayou & commence crossing about one half cross (on flood wood) when it becomes so dark we cannot see to cross thus leaving part of our guard on Each side of the bayou in a bad position but we do the best we can which proved to be well enough about 8.P.M. the boats advance again the best one (Dekalb) of 13 guns & our canonade is blown up by a torpedo then the Inft land & charge into town take 250 prisoners 6 peises of artilery one transport (obliging them to burn their splendid steamers) we also took quite a No of Horses mules wagons cotton &.C. &C we have good news from the East especially from the Army of the Potomac
14th come aboard this morning the Reg. lay in town they are busy at the DeKalb raising her guns her works are old therefore it is not so much of a loss after all this had been a flourishing town and is the beautifulest one I have ever seen in Secesia the Reg. came aboard this Eve. weather fair but very warm there is plenty of Peaches Pears Apples Figs Blackberries Mellons &.C. here
15th this is a beautiful morning we are on shore for the boat to be cleaned they are preparing to take on the Artilery which was captured here about 20 of our Co. is sick & the remainder is not very well the water is so very poor
16th weather fair orders to march at 12.M. light marching orders five days rations in our Haversacks march six miles bivouac for the night in a beautiful grove
17th march at daybreak there is 7 Reg'ts (about 1.500 men) & four peices of artilery (from Batery F.) we march S.E. through Benton & on toward Canton (on the R.R.) about 11.A.M. we hear canonading ahead & we hurry forward at a rapid pace for an hour when the firing ceases & we lay down for a couple of hours then march to the big black Col. Bussey's Cav Brigade has ocupied Canton (8 miles in advance of us) & we have no business there we biovuac for the Night in line of Battle the shape of a half moon the flank resting near the river which we have just crossed
18th turn our faces toward Yazoo City at 3.P.M. march 10 miles & biovuac for the night in a fine little grove, water scarse
19th march Early arrive (15 miles) at Yazoo City at 1.P.M. roads very bad on account of dust weather fair but very warm
20th weather fair busy raising the guns of the DeKalb & loading cotton
21st run down the river to Vicksburg lay on the boats over night
22d disembark & march to our old camp find the boys (that we left) on the gain except one now (7.P.M.) we expect to take the boat again tonight
23d didn't leave last night but expect to go tomorrow
24th Embark on board the transport N.W. Thomas run down the river as far as Warrenton & lay up for the night only leave one sick man behind but we have many aboard weather fair
25th the 91st Ill. Inf't is attached to Gen Orme's (2d) Brigade we start down the river at day break run to Port Hudson arrive in the night
26th On board the transport N.W. Thomas Off Port Hudson L.a. we now lay off the work that the Noble Gen. Banks has been battering down it is now occupied by what is called the New England Div'n & three Reg'ts of western boys cleaning boat & drawing rations this morning Gen's. Herron & Van Dever start start for New Orleans
27th we lay here awaiting orders from below us we are now in Gen. Bank's Department weather fine
28th still waiting it is a beautiful day but too warm for comfort
29th weather continues beautiful still waiting for the Gen. to come back or send us orders what to do.
30th Herron has returned & we have orders to march at 4.P.M. Eve_ we did not march today but expect to go in the morning.
31st march one mile into camp this morning it is a beautiful day I think the Health of the Reg. is improving, another month has passed & it has been a month of victory to us on Every hand the Reb's are fleeing before our victorious armies