June 1863
1st a pleasant summer day with occasional showers Health of the Reg. excelent
2d it rained nearly all night & part of today our tents are not much protection from the storm but then they are better than no tent
3d this has been a beautify day we have marched 20 miles east [of] the Knob roads passable but rather muddy to day we have crossed the St Francis River passed through Farmington a beautiful little town 18 miles east of Pilot Knob. This is the best part of Mo. we have ever been through it is generaly well cultivated & almost every farm has a vineyard & some of them beautiful ones the people seem to be mostly Germans
4th march 22 miles pass through valley forge & cross many little creeks & camp in a beautiful valley for the night roads good
5th march 7 miles to the Mississippi River (St Geneveve) & embark at 10.A.M. on board the transport Hannibal lay until afternoon when they run accross the river take on wood & lay over night eat supper in Illinois
6th this is a beautiful morning on the Mississippi we start down the river pass Cape Girardeau run to Cairo lay over night
7th start at daybreak down the river pass Columbus Island No 10 New Madrid & land at Point Pleasant clean the boat reembark run 20 miles lay over on the Tenn. farm for the night
8th proceed again down the river at daybreak land at Memphis two hours this is a beautiful city & is kept in good order I should judge by appearances that the Comdg. Gen (Hurlbut) was doing his duty well run about 40 miles below Memphis & lay up for the night on the Tenn. shore
9th start at daybreak run to Helena land to clean the boat this is a filthy little town or Huddle it should be called a large scout has gone from here today in search of Marmaduke leave Helena run about 5 miles & lay up for the night
10th during the night the 3d Div'n have joined us & now there is ten transports in the fleet. all our Cav. was left in Mo. & one Batery (L 1st Mo) with them at New Madrid we exchanged the 24th Mo. for the 38th Iowa (850 strong) they are the largest Reg. in the two divisions but they have neither marched or fought yet
11th start at 3.A.M. run to the mouth of the Yazoo up that to Chickasaw landing lay an hour return & proceed down the river to Youngs Point land just above the Mortar fleet on the L.a. bank lay over night in plain sight of the City. the mortar & gun boats (below town) are at work all night
12th march 3 miles accross the little neck of land & now we lay below town but still in plain sight still both fleets keep constant firing in to the works about town
13th this is a lonely morning rather too warm for Comfort it is true there was sharp fighting on the Centre yesterday afternoon with what results I know not there is heavy canonading in that direction this morning we cross the river on some old shattered transport that has run the Blockade and march up the river three miles camp for the night on the side of a sand Hill
14th weather beautiful but very warm march three miles & take position on the extreme left next to the river shelling & sharpshooting is constantly going on in our front (Rear of Vicksburg)
15th it is a beautiful day we are now the 1st Reg. (Col. Chas. Black com'd'g.) of the 1st Brigade (Col McE Dye comdg Brigade) of Van Devers Div'n of Herrons Command two cos. from Each Reg. advanced as Piqiuets (called sharpshooters here) our Major (Payne) is detailed as Project Officer for Herrons Corps. Blackberries & Plumbs are ripe & plenty.
16th called out at daybreak to support our Piquets while they ocupy the Rebel rifle Pits a pretty sharp time but they take the works now our sharpshooters can easily pick off the rebel gunners in the outside forts weather fair very warm
17th still the seige continues with unabated fury O, they must have the Horrors in there, the shell & shot flying about their ears continualy & on short Rations at that I am sure if I had to pass through what they do I should want a full stomach to steady my nerves. I go to the 85th Ill. (7 miles to the right of us) see very many schoolmates & acquaintances. they are closer to the Reb's than we are
18th come back to camp go to the 38th Iowa find a cousin (Orson Morse Co. K.) that I have not seen for a long time. the seige continues our lines steadily & they must give up soon or be driven into the Heart of the City.
19th weather fair and war roads very dusty seige still continues nothing of importance occurs
20th had a sharp artilery duel this morning the Reg. is called out to support the Bateries but donot get a shot at the Reb's. the seige continues as heretofore a few are wounded & some killed each day
21st a light shower this morning. very warm Health of the Reg. continues Excelent
22nd last night our Piquets had quite a skirmish but lost nothing by it this morning we go out to support our sharpshooters while they advance our lines it is handsomely done with but little loss on our side it is a beautiful day.
23d last night our sharpshooters took possession of the Rebel rifle Pits with but little opposition & now our lines lay very close together it is a beautiful day we are all ready with two days Rations in our Haversacks to leave here for no one knows where or if they do they will not tell
24th all was quiet last night except an occasional gun it rained just Enough to lay the dust this is a beautiful day quite cool after the showers it is unusualy quiet today the Reb's donot deign to reply to our guns at all
25th last night the Reb's would not answer to our guns at all fine day go after Blackberries have a pleasant time Eating berries come back & find no Reg. it had gone to the front to support the Bateries while they shell the Rebel works they are not answered, therefore we return to Camp at 10.P.M. a heavy artilery duel commences which lasts about 10 minutes when the Reb's cease firing we go to the front but as there is nothing to be done we return & turn in for the night but Expect soon to be called out all however remains quiet until morning prisoners are taken almost every day & some deserters come in almost Every night very warm today
26th fine morning all is unusualy quiet this morning this afternoon Orderly Sergeant Sands & I go to the front to see the Boys fire at the Reb's. our Rifle Pits are just close Enough to their front so I can fire in with my old five shooter with the 100 y.d. sight raised it has been a very warm afternoon
27th last night all was quiet Except artilery it looked very much like rain this morning but has cleared off & is a beautiful day
28th weather is very beautiful the seige continues but not quite so fierce as heretofore last night all was quiet the beseiged seem loath to part with their amunition & the beseigers seem willing to let them keep it for we are satisfied that the want of food is more than the want of amunition with them deserters continue to come in very warm this P.M.
29th it is beautiful weather last night all was quiet today scarcely a gun can be heard up to this time M
30th this last day of June is a beautiful day all seems unusualy quiet, still the seige continues & will most likely until the Stars & Stripes float in all their magnificence over Vicksburg the stronghold of the Reb's we have U.S. Grant at our head a man that never tires & with him at our head we know that Vicksburg is ours