May 1864
1st this is a beautiful morning & well worthy to be called the first of the smiling month of May nothing reliable as yet from the Cavalry Expedition that started yesterday morning Orders to march in the morning at five Oclock.
2d march at 5. A.M. to the Memphis & Charlseton R.R. Depot Embark run 35 miles to Lafayette disembark march five miles South East & bivouac on Wolf River for the night weather beautiful roads dusty
3d march at 4. A.M. 20 miles passing through Moscow and Summerville & camping one mile from the latter place on a splendid stream have passed over some beautiful country today Van Guard fired at near S[ummerville],
4th weather beautiful march at 4. A.M. to Boliver 18 miles & camp in the town for the night roads very dusty
5th march at 8. A.M. cross the Hatchie & march 18 miles into Miss. camp near Corinth Miss.
6th weather fair march 15 miles & camp near Ripley Miss.
7th march 19 miles through Salem Miss. to Greenwood on the line where we camp for the night a magnificent place
8th lay over to rest [illegible] today our Chaplain preaches
9th march at 4. A.M. 26 miles to Lafayette where we are to take the Cars to Memphis weather fair roads very dusty,
10th take the cars & come into Memphis lay in the Depot over night rainy day all this marching after Forest to no purpose only he has gone from among us but he went as he came almost without opposition for we were so far behind that we could not do him any great[?] harm[?]
11th Embark at 10. A.M. on board U.S. Transport Mariner & proceed down the river at 1. P.M. weather fine we have left a pretty City with beautiful surroundings fine buildings (mostly Brick) & such splendid Gardens Pea's large Enough to Eat & the most magnificent flower gardens I ever saw but now we are bound for the Sunny South where Every thing in the vegetable line has come to maturity long ago
12th have passed Helena during the night & now 11. A.M. we are passing Napoleon (mouth of the Ark River) lay up on a beautiful Island an hour while the boat is cleaned & rations cooked for one day. come on board & proceed down the river weather beautiful.
13th have run all night arrive at Vicksburg at 9. A.M. change boats to the Gray Eagle Expect to start for New Orleans at 5. P.M. 26th Ind. arrive from the north at 11. A.M. start at 5. P.M. down the river
14th have run all night arrive at Natchez at 6. A.M. inspection of Arms at 5. P.M. good news from U.S. Grant Lee retreating Bank[s] on Red River is having pretty hard times, most likely we shall go to his releif tomorrow. go to the camp of the 58th U.S. Colored Infry. & see Albert Drake Orderly Serg't Co. A. it is beautiful weather here at present, the best part of this town was burned last night Sherman in Ala. is doing well Butler too has done his share cutting the Rebel communication between Richmond & Charleston still there is room for Bright anticipations.
15th In Bivouac at Natchez Miss. move off the boat last Eve This is a beautiful morning in the prettiest City I have yet seen in Dixey, such pretty Flower Gardens Walks, Parks & so many Lovely Ladies still they are Southern Ladies Embark on Board Hazel Dell for Red River.
16th arrive at the mouth of Red River during the night disembark this morning_ 3. P.M. Embark right wing on Board U.S. Transport "Idahoe" left wing on Board U. S. Transport "Marmora" & start up Red River at 6=15. P.M. it is a beautiful day & it is magnificent scenery around us as we pass up the River which is a deep narrow stream, we are still in the old Channel of the Miss. River lay over in sight of the mouth of Red River
17th beautiful day proceed at 2.P.M. pass the Mouth of Red River, & run into Atchafayla Bayou & run four miles to Simmsport where we land on the left bank Banks with his Army is coming in on the other side, the 19th Corps is already in while our 13th 16th & 17th Corps of western Boys are covering the retreat three miles back it hard to see these men that have Endured so much and to no purpose,
18th A. J. Smith has had a severe Engagement today & has drove the Rebels three miles our Reg. has not been to the front yet & will not be apt to now that the Rebels have retreated & we are on the opposite side of the Bayou
19th all is quiet to-day the Rebels have left for good I guess a bridge has been formed of Transports & the Army is crossing to this side the 16th & 17th Corps still lay at the front three miles
20th weather fair but very warm still crossing will take one or two days opt to cross the Army over to this side from here it is thought they will go to the Miss. for Transportation our Brigade under Col. Sheldon 42nd Ohio march at 4. P.M. taking the road down the Bayou toward the Miss. River
21st marched or rather laid along the road all night & still we keep on, now on the Miss. River going toward Morganza (down) camp 18 miles below ^Simmsport for the night saw the 95th Ill last night
22d march on down the river & camp 3 miles above Morganza, the 16th & 17th Corps are Embarking to go up the River we are forming Camp (our (13th) Corps & the 19th) 10 miles
23d we are now for the time being the 1st Reg of the 1st Brigade of the 1st Div'n. of the 13th Army Corps Gen. Banks has gone to N.O. where it is thought we shall follow him as soon as transportation can be furnished we are yet without tents or cooking Utensils. as we left ours at Brownville Texas when the Reg. left there as Veterans in Feb. & now we have no teams to draw them if we should march therefore it is useless to get at any at present
24th weather fair but very warm go on Piquiet at 7. P.M.
25th fine day our Cavalry Div'n. & Train start for N.O. today overland
26th weather fair still no mail & not much sign of leaving this place
27th go to the 92d U.S. Regular Camp see Sands & Tripp
28th fair still no mail very warm & dusty in the roads
29th move camp one mile & now we have a beautiful camp pretty weather but very warm we now form a line of nearly five miles long in the shape of a new moon our (1st Divn 13th Corps) Div'n. is on the right of the line
30th March at 4. A.M. down the river two miles then back on the old Atchafalaya Road 8 miles turn to the left march two miles & lay over six hours then march 13 miles to Crow Creek Bayou where we bivouac for the night our advance has had quite a skirmish to-day a few were killed & wounded on both sides but our Cavalry Arm in this department is rather poor
31st turn back march 13 miles & lay over night in the same place where we lay over yesterday noon it is a beautiful day this last day of May & can it be another month as passed & what are our prospects now in this department Banks has been defeated in almost Every move, but Grant & Sherman are both successful as they always are the one is pressing forward on Richmond the other has Dalton & the Rebels flying before him