March 1863

1st   this morning (Sabbath) we break up camp & march 15 miles northeast along the wire road Camp McCullough spring roads the worst we ever passed over weather good

2d   today after marching six miles on the telegraph road we leave it & march directly East cross James river camp in Ozark very windy roads some better than yesterday 28 miles

3d   march 12 miles East and camp at White Oak springs weather fair roads very bad

4th   March 25 miles East through Hazlewood camp on small but beautiful stream roads bad weather fair

5th   lay in camp in waiting for part of our train which could not keep up cloudy

6th   rainy day

7th   on guard at Gen. Tottens Headquarters very strict very disagreeable weather

8th   it is breaking away this morning and now I guess we will see better weather it has rained for three days & the roads are almost impassable

9th   this is a very beautiful day all Nature looks smiling & Happy go out with a forage train. travel over a very mountainous country camp at night in a beautiful valley with a magnificent creek running along its in its center roads bad

10th   load up & start for camp come five miles lay over night roads very bad weather good the people are very ignorant in this part of Missouri they have beautiful farms but they are so very indolent that they look very bad

11th   this is a splendid day we come into camp the grass is springing out green & beautiful

12th   it is cloudy this morning the roads are gaining fast Camp Bloomington

13th   beautiful weather every thing looks lovely our Regimental forage train has just come in & we have orders to prepare for a march the roads are getting quite passable & I guess Uncle Jimmy can urge his horse along fast enough to keep out of our way at least I hope so for it is disagreeable to be bothered with him along the road

14th   this is a fine morning warm & clear we break up camp & march 15 miles northeast Camp in beautiful valley with a lovely stream running through it one of our team lay back four miles

15th   march (at 7.A.M.) 15 miles over gradual sloping hills through beautiful vallies over ragged bluffs & camp on Elk Creek 60 miles from Rolla weather fair roads passable

16th   We have a beautiful camp five miles from the Gasconade River it is a lovely day

17th   this has been a splendid day a detachment has been clearing off camp & a parade ground we have a magnificent camp on a beautifully sloping hill covered with small trees shrubbery &.c. in front (north side) in the valley lies Elk Creek beyond is high bluffy Hills in the rear (south side) in the valley murmurs a small rivulet leaving us on a hill & still in a valley for beyond the rivulet is high Hills. Batery E. 1st Mo. Light Artilery joins us, Gen. Totten has procured two small pieces (58/100 Calibre) to go with his Body Guard Union preservers I believe he calls them but if the Union is to be preserved by them we shall be obliged to wait some time yet before peace is declared.

18th   weather fine roads are getting quite passable commence drill again the Gen. Com'd'g. (Totten) visits us quite often of late but is not quite as severe as he has been heretofore he is a splendid disciplinarian & an excelent provider that is two good traits in his character

19th   Corporal Jones of this Co. is detailed to help work the Union preservers

20th   this is a beautiful day the roads are gaining

21st   drill three hours per day fine weather

22d   last night we had quite a shower but it is clearing off & is like to be a fine day after all inspection of arms today

23d   this is a fine day. men in find spirits the Regiment was never in better Health

24th   Gen. Totten leaves us today weather beautiful

25th   weather fine roads excelent

26th   our forage train comes in part of it empty forage very scarce weather fine roads good

27th   cloudy with some rain no drill today

28th   weather good forage train goes out again Col. Wickersham (of the 10th Ill. Cav.) is in command of our division a very fine appearing man we have a large Garrison flag up on our parade ground men in good Health & spirits & under excelent dicipline & pretty well drilled what there is left of us.

29th   a cold windy day no drill this afternoon forage train goes out & comes back well loaded Commissioned Officers mail comes Ladies smoke & chew tobacco about here

30th   weather beautiful roads in good condition

31st   very windy day inspection of arms by Major Payne, Com'd'g. Reg. at present [illegible] another month has passed