October 1863

1st   very muddy & rainy march 3 miles lay through the day while Col. Black goes forward with the cavalry to reconnoitre he is in command in front Cap. Kennicott is in command of the Reg. at night we march back one mile & lay in a Cotton Gin over night

2d   march one mile to our old stand while Col. Black again goes forward at night march back to the Cotton Gin again a slight skirmish between the Rebel Piqiuets & our cavalry under Col. Black he fires upon them he is a brave Officer

3d   go out one mile again this morning it is a beautiful day come back at night two miles & lay in an open field one mile from the river

4th   march two miles to our old stand there is plenty of sweet potatoes here & we have fine times it is a beautiful day come back at night

5th   lay still today weather fair

6th   march one mile along the road turn & go south two miles & lay over on a fine plantation until Evening when we march two miles back to the road & three miles along it then lay still until morning one section of artilery comes to us & things begin to look as though we might make an advance in the morning we are now one mile from where those two Regiments were taken in the 28th of Sept.

7th   march a[t] daybreak it rains in the forenoon making it very bad marching we go 8 miles to the Bayou shell accross it a little it is not returned, receive inteligence that the Rebs have gone to Simsport we return 12 miles & lay over one mile from the river

8th   this is a beautiful day lay still

9th   march into camp & are very highly complimented by Gen. Dana for our rapid marches & the style in which we done outpost duty, the Artilery are embarking & we expect soon to leave

10th   Embark at 6.A.M. & start down the river it is a beautiful day we pass Port Hudson about ten A.M.

11th   splendid morning land at 9.A.M. & march nearly one mile & ocupy a camp near our old one (when we were here in August) I obtain leave of absence & go to see our sick in the Convalescent Camp near Carlton, L.a.

12th   weather fair in the morning rain at night very hard preparations are rapidly going forward to reorganize & refit the division for active field service we have a new chaplain come to us

13th   weather fair went to the Convalescent Camp Boys doing well generally Company, Battalion drill & dressparade our new General takes well so far but we cannot tell much about him yet

14th   beautiful day just cool Enough for comfort no news of importance

15th   the weather is beautiful we are drawing clothing today Every thing but Jackets the very thing we need most

16th   weather fair orders to march a[t] one hours notice no news of importance

17th   weather fair donot go as we Expected to draw artilery Jackets & other clothing we have also drawn Shelter tents again which we turned over when we started up the river,

18th   weather fair go to the Convalescent Camp find the Boys improving fast some are about to go "Home" some about to come to the Reg. the remainder Expect to go to New Orleans to stay for medical treatment the Heath of the Reg. is improving generaly

19th   this has been a beautiful day Morton & I have been to the city & out to Lake Ponchairtrain also to the Picayune Cotton Press to see the "C.D.A." Commission's from this Reg. they are a gay set of Officers, the lake where we came to it (Milneburg) is a mere mud Hole the town looks as though it was built in the days of Washington & Jackson one is in danger of falling through the side walks into the lake a steamer was just in from Ship Island when we were there

20th   beautiful day drill twice Company & Battallion bad news from Blunt

21st   weather fair no signs of moving as yet news is very drill two drills one dressparade per day

22d   this is a beautiful morning three Eastern Regiments embarked last night they Expect to proceed to Matamoraz I believe

23d   very rainy today revilee at 3.A.M. Embark on board transport Geo. Peabody run down to New Orleans lay over night

24th   lay at the upper End of the city Expecting to move down the river soon very stormy weather

25th   weather fair but cool take on coal for a voyage & run to the mouth of the river anchor in the middle of the stream

26th   stormy this morning & looks as though we might yet have a bad voyage of it our fleet 23 Sail is nearly all here & we expect soon to run out to sea,

27th   9.A.M./ once more we are under way & this time we cross the Bar & now we are at sea, but again we cast anchor it is blowing pretty hard at present 3.P.M./ here comes the Flag Ship (McClellan) the usual salute is fired & we file away on our course, W.N.W., & now we are fairly out at sea the wind is still raising Gen. Banks is along also Major Gen. Dana of New Hampshire in command of our division & now we expect to see what the Heroes of the New England States can do for [us] we are on some Expedition of importance

28th   quite a stormy night was last & consequently very little Headway was made it rained nearly all night it still blows quite hard

29th   clear but quite a heavy wind is blowing inspection orders to have sixty rounds of amunition & four days rations in our Haversacks & again it looks like Biz ahead the wind is still raising & is now (8.P.M.) blowing quite a gale

30th   about 3.A.M. in a perfect gale our rudder chain gave way & for an hour or so the old ship rolled as though it was a cradle with a cross child rocking it, still it struggled on against the mighty waves as if concious of its precious burden & at last by persevering Efforts of our Noble crew the releiving takles were rigged & manned by part sailors & part from this Reg. & again we stood on our way at daybreak we come up with the fleet but being unable to stand before such a wind we are obliged to stand away S.S.W. all day we go flying over the waves, a storm at sea is a sight of fearful granduer to see the great waves come rolling up chasing each other as though eager to seize their prey & then to see them break together or against the ship & roll back to meet the next none but those who know by experience can imagine the splendor of those Grand old waves with their foam covered crest & then to see a ship go rolling over them half upsetting & then righting it almost seems as though they were things of life instead of old hulks of wood & Iron but thus it is & we are here in one of these same old hulks with very little to keep her before the wind & nothing to keep her any other way & no knowing when this wind will die away still God is our Guide & if it is in accordance with his Holy will we shall land safley at last at night the wind is dying away at sunset we stand due north dead into the wind but it is so low that we can easily face it now

31st   this is a pleasant morning we are again coming in sight of the fleet & now we hope to land near the mouth of the Rio Grande river at Point Isabelle if we can. the fleet is fast gathering & we are lying off & on awaiting them have our rudder chain repaired & now we are in better condition for a blow than we were yesterday muster for Pay by our Col. (J.C. Black) another month has gone into Eternity & we, where are we, far on our way toward the wilds of Texas & may this be a successful campaign as all others in which we have been Engaged in has been, we are under what is called Excelent Generals but to us they are untried still they may be better than those we have been under heretofore it is night the fleet is nearly all together the wind is increasing & we are again running out to sea before quite a gale