June 1864
1st beautiful day march two miles toward Morganza turn to the left (Atchafalaya road) march one mile lay over two hours march back one mile to the Morganza Road & bivouac for the night we are now the 1st Reg. of the 1st Brigade of the 1st Division of the 13th Army Corps U.S.A. Brig. Gen. Lawler of Ill. commands the division Col Sheldon of the 42d Ohio Infty commands the Brigade
2d rainy day march 10 miles into camp Every thing moved over the Levee
3d rainy, mail comes at noon. (5) Orders for Inspection at four. P.M. but rain prevents it & so we wait until a fair day.
4th fair weather Inspection at 4 P.M. no news of importance from the North or South,
5th go to the camp of the 92nd U.S. Inf'ty. Colored to See Cap't Sands & Lieut. Tripp weather fair most of the time occasionally a shower just Enough to lay the duct & cool the air.
6th weather fair Col. Black is going to New Orleans to-day the River is Blockaded at Island No. 82 by the Rebs. but I guess it will soon be open again
7th very comfortable to-day
8th pleasant but very warm a Division of the 19th Corps & the Cavalry start out on a scout go up the River all is quiet in front this morning, if we only had Competent Commanders we could soon drive these Guerrilla's off our track but now we must lay here & be dogged almost into camp if we venture out on a scout it is Great business this.
9th beautiful weather in the morning but rainy in the afternoon mail comes this morning (3) the Blockade must be raised for boats come down to-day with late Memphis papers aboard
10th rainy forenoon quite cool to-day mail comes at 11. A.M. (N) the colored troops are building a fort two miles below here near the Levee
11th fair review at 4. P.M. by Brig. Gen. Lawler com'd'g. 13th Corps in the field
12th rainy afternoon quite cool to-day
13th very fine morning large mail comes (7) at 9. A.M. on Camp Guard today no news from either North or South of importance
14th REg. marches out at 5 1/2 A.M. weather fair but rather warm am not relieved from Guard yet & do not expect to be until the REg. returns tonight REg. comes in at 1. P.M. brought in Cotton_ 14 miles,
15th very warm to-day move camp 1/a mile up the River & take position behind the LEvee on the right of the line the 3d Divn having gone down the River to Baton Rouge or Carrollton L.A. our lines are becoming contracted until they are scarce three miles long. the Army (all Except this Brigade Excused to go out with the train) was reviewed by Major Gen Daniel E. Sickles. Company & Battallion drill & inspection at retreat
16th weather fair drill 1/a hour in the morning Co. Drill but no Battallion Drill Inspection at Evening
17th Visit Gard & Og. two miles below here at the Morganza Sugar House, warm
18th very warm to-day nothing of importance occurs Drill twice per day mail 7. P.M. (4)
19th on Piquiet Guard very warm weather but fair this morning Grovers Div'n. 19th Corps go up the River
20th weather fair but very warm no drill to day our Brigade is now composed of the 22d & 23d Iowa 7th K.y. 42d Ohio 37th Ill. & 30th Mass. Infty & Batery No 2. Ohio Light Artilery Col. L.A. Sheldon (42d Ohio) Com'd'g. Brigade
21st Cap't Sands & L't Tripp go to Port Hudson today their Brigade (Colored) is to Garrison that Post weather fair & quite cool for Dixey. our Corps has all left here but this Brigade & one more ,
22d weather fair news good from A. J. Smith in Miss. & Tenn. Grovers Division (19th A. C.) came back yesterday or day before yesterday
23d mail at 10.A.M. (2) there is nothing of importance going on to-day Except Inspection at 9> A.M. & Review at 4. P.M. there is no signs of our two Brigades under Lawler leaving here very soon other troops are laving Every few days a Brigade at a time weather fine a light shower just to lay the dust
24th weather beautiful Battallion drill at 7 1/2 Oclock A.M. by John Charles Black, Col. 37th Ill. Com'd'g. Light Shower in the Afternoon,
25th Review at six A.M. by Major Gen. Reynolds Commander of the defenses of New Orleans L.a. Prayer by Chaplain Bishop of this Reg in company quarters
26th beautiful day Sunday
27th weather fair, go out side the Piquiets after wood return at ten O.C. A.M.
28th beautiful weather but very warm good news from Genls Sherman & Grant rather bad from Sturgis, he has made another of his grand moves & has been defeated & obliged to retreat to Memphis Tenn.
29th weather fair 30th Mass. leaves our Brigade & marches down the river to join another Division Evidently they donot like the western style, the 35th Wis'n attached to this Brigade the 13th Corps has been dissolved by special Order & we now belong to the 1st Brigade of the 3d Division of the 19th A.C. Brig Gen. Lee commands the Brigade Brig. Gen. Lawler the Division our whole Division is transfered to the 19th Army Corps
30th beautiful weather, mail comes at 9. O.C.A.M. (3) Muster for pay by Col. Charlse Black, another month has passed & what is the situation now although Sturgis has sustained a great defeat in Miss. & Gen. Banks in Louisiana has been driven back we have much to rejoice over U. S. Grant (a man that knows not defeat) is thundering away at the doors of Richmond while Old Ben. Butler is trying Petersburg W. T. Sherman is following Joe, Johnston into Atlanta & where will the Rebels carry the War next surely when those places are taken the Southern Chivalry must give up for there will be nothing left to continue the War for or if they donot give up we can soon sweep their whole teritory