July 1864
1st Weather fair on Piquiet Guard musquetoes very troublesome very [illegible] a Lieut from the 35th Wisn
2d weather beautiful but very warm, our Co. (I) is detailed to drill for a prize on the 6th visit & are releived from all other duty until that time Major Ransom Kennicott (our first Captain) to be drill master at the request of the company
3d move down the river two miles to a more suitable Camp part of the corps left last night on Transports
4th weather fair National salute of 36 guns fired at sunrise noon & sunset
5th weather fair
6th very warm but fair
7th light showers in the afternoon & Evening
8th moderate, Major Gen. Reynolds assumes the Command of this (19th) Corps in the field
9th weather fair orders to march at a moments warning
10th lay here ready to Embark as soon as Transports can be gathered to carry the Brigade (1) mail comes at 9. A.M.
11th & still we are waiting to Embark mail comes at 8. A.M. \ /[?] weather fair only our Brigade is to move at present, there is not much prospect of our leaving this place to_day
12th weather beautiful but A.[?] so warm 2.P.M. still we are waiting for transportation but I scarcely think we shall leave to-day for there is only three or four Transports here yet & we want (5) five to carry the Brigade, donot go today
13th Reveille at 3. A.M. Embark at 8. A.M. on board U.S. Transport "Kate Dale", our Brigade of five Regts Infty & one Batery under Brig. Gen'l Lee on 3 transports & one Ferry Boat which runs very slow proceed up the River make slow head way, weather very warm,
14th Arrive at Natchez at 7. A.M. & three Companies (H. I. & K.) of our Reg change boats to the "Polar Star" & again at 12.M. we proceed up the River run all night,
15th still on the way but going very slowly on account of the Ferry Boat,
16th Arrive at Vicksburg Miss. at 6. A.M. & land to clean boat & take on coal, provisions & forage for a voyage lay all day very warm news of the destruction of the Alabama reaches us,
17th re-Embark on board the "Kate Dale" & proceed up the River at Sun rise run all day & all night
18th arrive the mouth of White River at 10. A.M. land & now there is no knowing what we will do, or where we will go next, but most likely up White River to meet Gen'l Steele
19th the Transport to carry us up White River will soon be here we Expect & then we are off for Biz. again & this time in our old Haunts, (Ark)
20th weather beautiful, the Transports are here & we Expect to go tomorrow morning,
21st Embark on board U.S. Transport "Omaha" at 7. A.M. 7 transports & 4 more musquetoes (Gun Boats) (28_ 30_ 37_ & 38_) transports_ "White Cloud" (Flag Ship) Gen. Lee & Staff and 23d Iowa Infty. "Venus" 42d Ohio Infty "America" (Ferry) 7th Mass. Batery (which is now attached to our Brigade in the place of the 2d Ohio Batery which we left at Morganza, L.A.) "Omaha" 37th Ill. & 4 Companies 7th K.y. Infty, "Monsoon" 6 Companies 7th K.y. Infty, "John H. Dickey" 39th Wis'n. Infty, Meppam Cavalry Horses & rations all the boats have more or less rations on board proceed up White River Ark. at 10. O.C. A.M. have to land near Sunset for the boat to cross a bar it does not get over & we go back on board to stay over night,
22d move ashore Early & the boat crosses the Bar & proceed up the river after waiting until noon for the remainder of the fleet to cross, anchor & send Piquiets on shore at night ^3 miles below St Charlse Arkansas
23d Ordered back down stream 20 miles to help the "America" she has broke down. get back to her & find her nearly ready to start & again we proceed up the River meet a fleet of 10. Transports & two Gun Boats & lay over for them to pass arrive St Charles at three Oclock, P.M. & land take position nearly one mile back from the River on the Ridge a very fine camp Earthworks in front of us thrown up by the Rebs I suppose weather fair
24th Pleasant weather a large detachment from the Reg. Commence fortifying our position Marmaduke is reported near with 5.000 men our force is about 2,500 all told but I guess Marmaduke knows us too well to try us again
25th fine weather work on Fort No 3. St Charlses Ark. Gen. Marmaduke reported forty miles distant with from 8000 to 14000 men marching on this place our forces [intelligble] 2.500 men or near that inclusive one six Gun Batery & five Reg'ts of Infty.
26th weather fair a squad of the 3rd Iowa Cavalry arrive from Duvals Bluff Marmaduke fever cooling a little to-day the Cavalry say there is nothing but a few guerrilla's in the vicinity we are nearly ready for them now if they wish to come as we are getting pretty well fortified, it is quite comfortable here to what it was at Morganza L.A. where one would almost suffocate laying in the Shade here we can do pretty good work Even in the middle of the day it has been a long time since we read any mail & is like to be a long time more, as the guerrillas interrupt navigation on this River almost as they please at present & I guess will for some time to come
27th weather fair still at work on Fort No 3. Marmaduke is played out, Gen. Lee has run that scarecrow as far as he can at present.
28th Light showers 20 from this Reg. go out foraging mounted on Batery Horses we have a gay time, plenty of green corn, melons, apples, Peaches Eggs butter milk chickens &.c. &.c.
30th weather fair another Brigade arrives commanded by Gen. Bailey mail comes (7) our Reg. works on the fort to-day, a Reg. at a time & then off four days before we have any more work to do the outside line is new complete & the reserve pretty well along will soon be finished,
31st beautiful weather, another month has passed into Eternity & the work of putting down this great rebellion is progressing Slowly it is true but the more sure & lasting must be the result no Official news but Atlanta Georga reported as captured by Sherman & his invincible Army of Veteran Volunteers Richmond must fall next