November 1863

1st   this morning it does not flow quite so hard & we again lay our course for the month the fleet has kept together pretty well during the night about noon we see land ahead on the starboard quarter & about 4.P.M. we cast anchor off Brazos De St Iago Island but cannot cross the bar to run in the little Bay while the wind blows so hard

2d   the wind has abated some & preparations are rapidly going forward to cross the Bar. 2.P.M. too light draft boats have crossed Gen. Van Dever has tried twice & failed both times they have tried to swim our Cavalry Horses ashore but it has proved a failure nearly all drowned in the breakers

3d   weather fair change boats to the Exact & lay over night near the Flag Ship

4th   cross the Bar & land on the Island it is nothing but a sand hill go hunting shell some beautiful ones are found by myself and Corporal Dukitte also one oyster.

5th   rainy day so we catch some fresh water but not much that is fit to use

6th   we wade breast deep 3.00 yds to the mainland & march 9 miles to the Rio Grande where we have plenty of fresh water the first time for thirteen long weary days & most gladly have we marched these 9 miles anticipating a good cup of coffee made from the water of this grand old stream

7th   this is a beautiful day we donot march so I take a stroll over the Battle Field of Palo Alto which lies close to our camp

8th   march 7 miles up the Rio Grande valley & camp for the night our rations gave out at noon to day & as we have heavy knapsacks to carry it is very fatiguing work on an empty stomach

9th   march 19 miles without food arrive at Brownville Texas where we draw rations once more but we began to think our Eastern tiger would starve us before we arrived but he has done well considering that the teams were nearly all unfit for service when we arrived at the Island

10th   lay in camp weather fair this is quite a town for one built mostly of mud & cane we can look over & see the mexican Soldiers they look gay in their Sky blue over coats & large red cockades

11th   very strict camp & Brigade Guard weather fair

12th   weather good the people look very inferior very dark &.c.

13th   no news weather beautiful

14th   camp guard stricter than Ever they are in for dicipline here well let it come--- that is what makes good soldiers if they only know how to use them which I begin to doubt

15th   two Maine Reg'ts & a colored Brigade have been attached to our division

16th   weather fine.

17th   the wind is blowing so one can scarcely see for the dust that is blowing about very disagreeable

18th   still it is blowing a perfect gale I cannot see how the people enjoy life here but then I suppose they are use to it & that is half the Battle it is very cold too for this place or at least so I should judge by the way the Citizens go shivering about does not blow quite so hard as it did yesterday

19th   calmer but still very disagreeable

20th   orders to march tomorrow morning at 6 it is very cool today our Baggage is just coming up from the landing & it seems hard to start off again before having any good of our tents after being deprived of them so long but such is the fortunes of war & we must not complain or if we do it is no good for all a soldier has to do is obey without a word or a question whatever he is ordered be it ever so hard but this is right & there is no cause for complaint on that score our Reg. is in Excelent Health at present

21st   this is a beautiful morning Embark at 10.A.M. on Board U.S. Transport "Mustang" three Co's. of this Reg. under Major Payne & the 1st Texas Cav. under Col. Davis proceed up the river the Intantry in wagons the Cavalry on Horseback, us seven Companies on the boat thus we proceed, run 70 miles & lay up for the night Cav. 3 miles above us 21 miles by land from Brownville

22d   start at daybreak run all day & lay up with Col. Davis tonight weather fair

23d   pass Edinburgh today progress very slow the cav. are far ahead of us tonight river very shallow & full of sand bars weather beautiful

24th   this is a cold disagreeable morning stuck on a sand bar wood very scarce along this river people friendly

25d   again we are clear & again we are fast

26th   clear once more but only to run a short distance- when we come to a bar that forbids our further progress

27th   here we lay our rations nearly out Col. Davis is in Ringold Barracks has taken 81 bales of cotton & other articles of some value

28th   Even Col. Davis has just arrived his command is five miles out

29th   this is a fair but cool morning Col. Davis with his command comes in the Infty come aboard

30th   the cav. has gone on to Brownville we are to stay here until the cotton comes & take it on before we return to Brownville