Saturday

May 16^th 1863

I am on detail to cook for the Company. We are above Edward depot. have to carry a sack of bread two miles on my shoulder and meet the Regt marching by the left flank in a corn field & give them their their bread as they march along. I was then ordered to go back to the wagons & cook more. I did not find the wagons till after 12 oclock they were five miles above Edwards Station on the Canton road. soon after I left the Regt skirmishing began & in a short time the fight became general. most of our men were expecting a fight & some were almost panic stricken I cant say any thing much about the fight not being there myself but the enemy overpowered us & we were compelled to retreat which the most of them did in good order to the Big Black where we intend to make a stand in some entrenchments. I did not keep up with the wagons in the retreat and I got with the Regt at Big Black. Lieuts Leverett George & Wallace were[faded]

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            Sunday

May 17^th 63. Gen Vaughns Brigade is placed in the entrenchments at the bridge & in a short time the enemy come on in overwhelming numbers. they charge but he drives them back with great slaughter, but they are not discouraged & charge again but this time they are four columns deep. they take our brest works & capture or kill most of the men in them Some few make their escape by swimming the river, both of the bridges being burnt. in these two fights we are driven back with the loss of some 6 or 7 thousand men & 39 pieces of cannon. our brigade was lying on the west bank of the river during the fight & was exposed to the enemys fire all the time but we did not shoot any. part of the brigade held the enemy in check from crossing until 2 A.M. of the 18^th but we were off for Vicksburg all very tired and hungry when we got there. go into camp at our old camp get something to eat. feel considerably refreshed but think I can go to sleep tonight without any rocking.

 

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May 18^th          1863    Monday

We are very weary but we are marched up & all are allotted their places in the entrenchments around the city. our position is a little to the right of the center Gen Lee reviews us & makes a little speach. then Col Garrett I never saw such enthusiasm displayed in my life we are all confident of suckcessfully defending the city. Col Pettus is put in command of the 46^th Ala. their officers being killed Lockett is in command of our Company. Leverett being wounded we had but one officer and L out ranks Parish. our Company with another is placed in one of the forts. some fighting on our left this evening. we look for a general charge tomorrow

 

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May 19^th 63     Tuesday          Monday

            Tuesday

The enemy advances and we all take our positions determined not to let a live yankey enter the lines except he be a prisner. fighting on our left. Hughs boy Spot ran away & starts home today. Buck wants to go but I am affraid for him to try it. May 20^th 63. The enemy open on us with their cannon at 4 & the sharp shooters begin about 5. now the siege of Vicksburg is farely begun for we are besieged all around from every point & we expect no more letters from our loved ones at home until Johnson drives the yankeys off and relieves us. I wish so much that Paralee could hear that I was safe. she may hear if Spot gets through safe but I have no idea that he will the enemy make a desperate charge on our entrenchments on our left. the part occupied by Moores Brigade, Texas & Alabamians they are repulsed with great slaughter.

Thursday May 21^st 63

The enemy make a desperate effort and make a general charge on our whole works. they fight well but cannot eaqual our boys. they are

 

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repulsed with great slaughter. It is uncomfortably warm in the ditches & we have to keep in such an uncomfortable position all the time that it is very tiresome and we are always very glad when night comes I am very much affraid it will make many of us sick if we have to lay in the ditches long.

Friday May 22/63

Sharp shooters fireing on us all day but only kill some 2 or 3 men, very glad to see night come.

Saturday May 23/63

last night enemy began entrenching oposite us about 4 hundred yards. Sharp shooters at work all day we loose 2 or 3 men killed. artilery is also fireing on us slowly all the time. we are ordered not to waist amunition. Our flag is completely riddled but she still floats defiantly

Sunday May 24^th/63

Things go on as usual. fireing begins at daylight & continues throughout the day the enemies dead & wounded still on the field, dead are becoming very offensive when our men try to assist any of their wounded they are fired on & some have been killed when they have went out to give them some water

 

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Monday May 25^th 63

Things go on as usual until evening Gen Pemberton sends Grant a flag of Truce & asks Grant to bury his dead they are becomeing very offencive. who ever heard of such barberism before I dont suppose such a thing was ever done before in any civalized country. just to think of his leaving his dead to rot on the field makes the cold chills run over me. Grant accepts & all hostilities cease at 4 P.M. Rebell & Yankey meet half way exchainge news papers shake hands as old friends, swap knives, have a chat &c &c. some yankeys come too near one of our forts & Col Garrett ordered them to return which they did. I saw two brothers meet & have a talk one a Rebell & one with the enemy. when the flag went out every rat to his hole and those who but a few moments before were shakeing hands & converseing so friendly swaping knives &c. are now endeavoring to kill each other—How Strange is War

Tuesday May 26^th 63

Fireing continues as usual with little effect on on either side. our flag is cut down H Davis ties the staff together with his suspenders and replants it on the embankment

 

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            Friday May 22 63

27^th May Wednesday

Nothing unusual transpires fireing begins at 4 A.M. ceases at 8 PM

28^th Thursday

Fireing all day 2 or 3 men killed rain very uncomfortable in the ditch but we have to stay in it.

29^th Friday

Our life in the ditches is growing very monotonous. fireing begins every day at daylight & ceases about 8 oclock at night. artilery fireing very heavy morning & evening, but dont do much damage shelling is not so dangerous after all

30^th May Saturday

Time passes Oh! so wearily & slowly news reaches us that Johnson is near Jackson with a large army comeing to our relief. God speed them. heavy cannonadeing by the enemy.

31^st Sunday

enemy opens his canon on us at 3 AM sharp shooters slowly at 4. we do not reply to enemys canonadeing are saveing our amunition until they charge us. enemys shell hurt no one today—

 

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Monday June 1^st/63

Has been an exceedingly hot day enemy began to shell us at 3 AM but do no damage. Corporal J W Norris is killed shot through the head with minnie ball. he was a good soldier & our Company mourns his loss very much. we get but little sleep at night. all hands perform guard duty every night. revellie 3 A.M. at day break fireing begins. we then snatch a few moments sleep & sleep a little occasionally through the day I have got so I can go to sleep no matter how much fireing & shelling is going on but it is nothing unusual for we have become so accustomed to them that we can sleep very well while they are whistling & screaming over our heads. we are now getting bread made of pea meal. we do not like it at all & I dont think it healthy. we get very little at that, but we must endure it & I hope there are better days in store for us. Much of our stock has been killed by the enemy near our lines. mules & horses have to run at large as we have nothing to feed them on, & if one comes in sight of the yankeys they are almost sure to kill him. Heavy fireing on the right at 9 P.M. 2 Companies of Ga attempt to take a battery from the enemy but did not succeed

 

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Tuesday June 2^d/63

Things open as usual the mortar fleet are throwing there shells much nearer our works they throw them a distance of five miles. minnie balls, round shot and shell make all kind of noises from the braying of an ass to the buzzing of a bee "Distance lends enchantment to the view" says a certain writer & I will add that it lends enchantment to the sound too Our flag is cut down again but it was soon up again & floated as defiantly as ever. there will soon be none of it to put up as it is now in ribbons. the enemy shoot at it a great deal. a shell came through our ditch this evening wounded two men of Co I but hurt none of ours several of ours had just moved & it tore their blankets all to pieces had they been at their places they must have been killed there was a fire in town last night destroying nearly a whole block & 250 Bbls flour 84 Hhds sugar Sharp shooting & canonadeing very slowly today

 

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Wednesday June 3^d/63

Our rations are very small and consequently there is much grumbling but it does no good. we get about enough for a dogs rations for one meal & such rations poor beef & pea bread. I would advise all who may ever lay eyes on this, if ever they are under the necessity of eating pea bread to always unbuton afterwards, if they wish to save their buttons & there is no button factory in the Confederacy as I have ever heared of, so buttons are an object & ought to be saved. I always take this precaution after eating. I have heared that we will get no more of this swiler, in fact Gen Pemberton promised the boys of Co F that he would have it stoped. we got him to eat some of it & after tasteing said "Boys this is not very good" he also tolled us that his orders were for us to get 1¼ lbs beef but we dont get it. Comissaries & Butchers are getting rich off the hungry soldier our rations come to us at night & many of the boys eat all up as soon as they get it saying that they had rather satisfy their appetite once than to quit eating every meal hungry. I made me a port hole to shoot through so far the enemy have done but little canonadeing but the S.S. are buisy all the time from daylight till it is too dark to shoot. Our 2 heavy siege guns opened on the enemy at 5 PM

 

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Thursday 4^th May 63

Daylight comes & with it a shower of yankey bullets but we are used to such things now I go down to the cook place get a little something to eat & put on clean clothes. on my way down, a shell passes by, goes betwen a mules legs, frightens him badly he turns to run but finally falls into a big ditch & it takes him some time to bring himself out again. It is very dangerous to be passing about the balls & shells are passing over & around all the time our works are the safest place in Vicksburg. sometimes a shell will pass entirely through our lines & drop in the river I enter a eating house "Kept by a free negrow" to get some bread. Oh horrors what a sight met my eyes before me lay the old man with his head shot off by a shell. it has just been done & the blood is still oozeing from his neck, fragments of his scull are lying around the room. were I not accustomed to see such I should have shuddered but my nerves have grown hard war will accustome one to most any thing. a shell burst over the fort killing one & wounding several one had an arm torn off another a leg &c these men belonged to Dedmans & Davidsons Companies

 

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Friday, June 5^th/63

The enemy are planting another batery in front of us they have rolled up cotton bales & are working behind them these bales make a good protection for them to work behind this fort will be upon a higher point than any they have yet erected & I fear they will be able to do considerable damage from it. they are now throwing shells into our lines with very small charges of powder and by that means burst them over our heads much oftener, but very few are injured by them. I am inclined to think that large guns shell &c are more of a humbug than any thing else & are intended more to frighten than to kill. there seems to be but little fireing along the lines I cant account for it their ditches seem to be as full as ever I supose they are getting tired wasting amunition. It is very hot today H Davis is appointed 4 Sergeant by Lockett

SaturdayMay 6^th/63

nothing unusual has taken place today the Yankeys rose with the lark & began to shoot they are an industrious set of fellows shoot all day & work all night in shooting they take good care to keep their heads out of sight. they will do any thing rather than come to open sight at least experience in this war has shown this. they frequently say to us boys we are not going to charge you any more, but we are going to dig underground roads into town Our boys reply we will be at the mouth of it to take any of you who may succeed in getting through, in out of the wet. some ask them why they dont come over our works insted of going under them, but they wont reply to that

 

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Saturday June 6^th 63

I understand that prisners taken say that their officers offered them two hundred dollars & a discharge to all who came over our works in their charge of the 21^st last night the Yanks commenced some kind of work in a ravine near our fort but a few well directed shots from our pickets stoped them I think they are getting scarce of water & are trying to clean out a spring. our water is hauled to us from the river.

Sunday June 7^th 1863

Hugh & I were out in the hollow back of our Company talking & laughing when a ball came singing along & struck me on the penis, inflicting a very painful wound. the ball was not comeing with full force or it would have ruined me I am very thankful that it is no worse it cut me some but it is more of a bruise than any thing else. Hugh goes with me to the surgeon who dresses my wound & tells me to lay in his tent that day & keep cool water applied to the wound all the time I suffer much pain all day & the parts swell very much but the Dr says I will be able for duty in a week or two I have no rations but I see Major Clarks boy Abe get him to cut my hair & shave me I give him five dollars to furnish me something to eat he sends me a doz buiscuit & some nice ham which I enjoy very much he is to send me some more at some future time

 

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Monday June 8^th/63

I am very much swolen this morning but my wound is not so painful as last night. the Dr sends me to the Convalesent Camp it is a beautiful place so nice & shady with plenty of good cistern water & good tents. our fare is much better here than at the ditches & it is well cooked for us but we dont get much of it all the sick & wounded of our Brigade are sent here except those that have their limbs amputated they are sent to Gen Hospital in town. the camp is situated on the river & the scenery is splendid can see up & down for several miles. can see the fleet above & the mortar fleet beond the peninsular. several boats down the river one gunboat is aground & they are trying hard to get her off but I hope they wont succeed Hugh has promiced me all the news from the ditches during my absence

Tuesday June 9^th 1863

My wound is about the same but I am in hopes that I will soon be well some few wounded are comeing in every day. Some horribly mangled and some only slightly wounded the Surgeons of the Brigade have all moved their quarters here. the life in the ditches has grown very monotonous. each days sun beholds the same things. when it rises it sees both federal and Rebell peeping through portholes endeavoring to knock out each others peepers. at noon it beholds most of the Rebels lying streched out under blankets which they have put on reeds across the ditch to protect

 

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them from the sun I cant say how the federals are about this time of day but suppose they too have streched their blankets for they fire but slowly, like all other games this of peep & shoot soon becomes tiresome & Old Sol beholds two armies glad to see him going down in the west. we pick away all day eat but little rations get but little sleep at night get up soon in the morning & go to bed late at night & this is the daily program of the work at the ditches. Feds shelled like blazes & set the cotton fire on our ditch & burnt it up

Wednesday June 10^th 1863

I am much better this morning this camp is not so pleasant after all for occasionally a shell from the mortar battery bursts near & the pieces fall through the camp. what a dreadful rain we are having the boys in the ditches are half leg deep in mud and water but they have to stand it. they are a horrid looking sett I know, poor fellows I am truly sorry for them. it finally stops it seems to have put the Yankies in a talkative mood, they are asking our boys how do you like the rain? did you get wet? we got a good drenching how deep is the mud in your ditch? but the scoundrells they wont quit shooting at our boys, nor we at them so nether side can put his head above the bank to take a good breath. one man of Co K is shot through the head but 'tis strange that the ball did not touch the brain & he may recover

 

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Thursday June 11^th 63

I am improveing very fast & will be well in a few days. shells come here occasionally from the enemies lines & sometimes from the mortar fleet but it is comparetively a safe place it has been an unusually dull day at the ditches Enemy fire slowly. our large siege pieces opened on them for a short time. there is generally a calm before a storm so the boys look for hot work on tomorrow. the sun has been shining all day & has dried off their ditch so that they can now lay down on terra firma instead of mud & water as they did last night. the rations have been shortened again & they now give us 4 oz of bacon (beef is played out) 2 oz of rice & they say ½ lb of bread but we dont get that much besides this we get a little sugar & molasses it is very little to live on but I believe the troops are willing to live on eaven less were it really nessessary.

June 12^th/63

Still improveing. see the Drs amputate some legs today it is a horrid sight. I wish we could hear from Johnson I am impatient for him to come along not much news from the ditches our siege pieces opened on the enemy at 10 AM & fired some 10 or 15 shots as usual all the yankee batteries that could be brought to bear on them were opened & for some time they made the hills & valleys ring our guns made the the dirt fly from their forts the enemy are putting up some large guns when they get them up we may expect some fun

 

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Saturday June 13^th 63

I am still improveing I made an estimate that the yankeys fire at our Regiment alone 125 rounds with Artilery & 43000 rounds with small arms at this rate they have fired 3125 shells & 1075000 minnie balls with all this lead & iron they have only killed 14 & wounded some 15 or 20 men just 223 lbs of iron & 6398 lbs of lead to each man killed a courrier from Johnson at last brought 20000 caps (we are short of caps I have not learned what news he brings but hope it is good. thousands of rumers are afloat today. it has been very warm today & the plagged SS have been very buisy & the artillery has fired more today. last night we opened on them with a mortar but I dont think did much damage except frightened them some. they seem to be very affraid of shells. The courrier is said to have brought good news to the Gen but he will not let the troops have it for fear the enemy might also get it. the Vixburg Whig made its appearance today printed on wall paper but it contained no news from abroad and was therefore not very intresting

June 14^th 1863 Sunday

I continue to improve & will soon be well again last night the Yankeys were very talkative & the boys were allowed to commune with them so they had half an hours chat  all kinds of cutting questions were asked we asked them how they liked the battle of Chancellorsville they

 

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wished to know how we liked that of Champion hill. their mortars are shelling & when a shell is coming they say there comes your mail Boys & we are just throwing you a few camp kettles to cook your poor beef in. we asked them when they expected to have another mail? that piece had H[?] where are you going to get your next cracker from? what becomes of fighting Hooker? what has become of the 55 thousand men & the long bridge? they reply they have all played out. they ask us to come over & take supper with them offering biscuit coffee & pork as inducements. finally we bid each other good night & retired the yankee batteries making a fine display of their fire works skill with their fuses burning far above our heads. of course we asked them to dine with us in Vicksburg as soon as they found it convenient.

June 15^th 63 Monday

I still continue to improve & knock about some, visit Capt Dedman he is getting well of his wound very fast he was the first man hurt in our Regt he was wounded on the shoulder with a piece of shell my thoughts have turned homeward frequently today. for a few moments I imagined myself in my little family at home How joy beamed from every eye especially from the eyes of her who doubtless at this moment beseaching God to bestow upon me his richest blessing & save me untouched amid the present danger. is there or can there be love like a wifes? & sweet little Bettie is asking many questions & Pas eyes are beaming with pride at the safe return of his absent son. Oh! may this war soon end that we may soon return to those loved ones at home but if it does not we must submit to endure more hardships more privations to gain for ourselves that next greatest boon given

 

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to man "freedom"—I will add that in dreaming of home I generally visit the pantry & fill my haversack—

Tuesday June 16^th 1863

I continue to improve. an occasional shell falls in our camp but no one is hurt by them the camp is getting pretty full. Enemy built another fort in our front in which they have several seige pieces which they turn against our works but inflict but little damage. S. S. work as assiduously as usual & as usual dont do much harm yesterday a shell burst in our fort & wounded one man of Dedmans Company (Wambacker) he was horribly torn & lived but a little while after getting to the surgeon. another was seriously wounded through the thigh today a Missourian crosses the lines and meets some of the enemy half way exchanges papers, accepts an invitation to tea, enters their lines, but just as he is about to help himself to crackers & coffee is ordered back by their General. Lt Lockett also gets some papers from them & has a little chat with a Lieutenant

Wednesday June 17^th 63

my wound is almost well, but I am quite unwell I had cholera morbis last night I ate some peas and they did not agree with me. Col Garrett was killed this morning about 5 AM he was looking through a port hole & in the act of shooting when a minnie ball struck him on the left shoulder and rainged down through his longues he was in a stooping position he died instantly. we mourn his life very much, a truer patriot, nobler man never lived. he was kind and oblidgeing to all & a braver man never lived. his remains are

 

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taken to Mr Finnies (a private house) where he will be decently buried tonight at 10 oclock. he is to be buried in charcole so that he can be removed home as soon as we are relieved. the whole Regiment were very much attached to him & his loss is deeply felt by all. we can simpathise with his bereaved family for none feel his loss as they & we do. Col Pettus returns to the Regiment & takes command we are glad that we have him to fall back on—

Thursday June 18^th 63

My wound is almost well but I am feeling quite weak from being sick I felt so badly last night or I should have gone to the Cols burial it is only a little way to Finnies from here but I did not feel able to walk there. Sergt Dobbins of our Company come in wounded in the right arm the ball did not go in but bruised & inflicted a painful wound his arm is very much swolen today I think he will be able for duty in a short time nothing unusual going on at the lines today. our bateries on the river are fireing some today. the enemies gunboats came up the river a piece & shelled the lines furiously for a while but did no damage as they shelled at random.

 

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Friday June 19^th 1863

Thanks to the Almighty I am about well & the Dr says I may go back to duty tomorrow. I am very glad of it for I think the ditches the safest place inside of our lines. How long we will have to live shut up & cut off so I cant tell but hope it wont be long for I am so tired of such a life & I know the dear ones at home are uneasy all the time about me. I would like so much to get a letter through to Paralee, but it is imposible. I do hope Johnson will soon come & relieve us & then we can write & receive letters from our loved ones at home. yesterday the yankeys on our left wrote on a cracker & threw into a fort (they are very near the lines there) take this Rebell for I know you are almost starved. our men wrote on the other side (40 days rations on hand we dont want your crackers) and threw it back to them. nothing of importance hapened today—

Saturday June 20^th/63

They give me two days rations and send me back to the lines, but I conclude not to go till after night I never saw such a time since the siege began. the yankeys must be mad about something for they have shelled more this morning than ever before. I can hardly hear my ears. the dont seem to direct them shells at any thing in particular but they fall thick & fast all over town I go to our cook place & wait till they go to carry the boys rations tonight

 

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Sunday June 21^st/63

All the boys were very glad to see me last night when I got to the ditches. I chainge my place of staying & now stay with Ike as he has a comfortable place fixed up. this is the fifth sunday we have spent in the ditches & have not been allowed to hear the word of God preached I do hope we wont have to spend many more such. I heared preaching most every day while at the Convalesent Camp some one of the Chaplains preached every day such a change has come over the boys most every one reads his testament every day & those that never read it before have some of them read it entirely through since the siege began God grant that all of us may be benefitted by this long fight. nothing of intrest going on today

Monday June 22^d 1863

Every thing is remarkably quiet today ditch life is very monotonous while I was at the Convalesent Camp I spent 15 dollars buying something to eat but hear we cant get any thing except our rations & they are short enough 3 small buiscuit a few peas & a little bacon is all we get but we are willing to eaven live on less if nessessary to hold the place till Johnson can get here. two couriers got in from him today. he is about 15 miles off with a good army & will attack the enemy sometime soon. Hugh went

 

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out [remainder of entry for this day scrubbed out]

Tuesday June 23 1863

Last night the enemy seemed to be moveing to the right could hear their waggons all night. Our troops on our right charged some pits the enemy had close to our lines & drove them off killing & capturing some one fellow actually pulled a Col out of the pits by the hair of his head. they then buried the yankeys in the pits & dug themselves more in advance of them Every thing is remarkably quiet today not much fireing of any kind going on. I dont think there are many yankeys here now they have gone to meet Johnson. we here by grapevine that he will attack them sometime this week God grant that he may be successfull & drive them off and relieve us, for I am dreadfully tired of such a life & I long to feel like a free man again & get out where I can hear from my loved ones at home & they from me. I know that they have been & are still very anxious & uneasy about me

 

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Wednesday June 24^th 1863

I was on picket last night & it rained all night we were very near the yankey pickets but they let us alone we did not disturbe them. the pickets in front of our brigade are very friendly & will not disburbe each other. there was a right smart fight on our right our men tried to drive the yankeys off but did not succeed. Everything is remarkably quiet today & nothing unusual going on the enemy have a new post that they are shelling from occasionally but dont hurt any one. Spencer came to our Company today he is a Bro of the Capt & was elected third Lieutenant while I was at the Hospital. I go down to the cook place wash & dress & spend the evenings there. while there the yankeys threw some shells near & the way the negrows & gooks got in their holes was a caution. if they had to stay in the ditches for a while they would not be so much affraid of them

Thursday June 25^th 63

Sergt Murphy informes me that last night when they went on picket that the yankeys had taken our post but the Lt was determined to have his post & after talking about it for awhile the Yanks concluded to give it up without a fight & moved back & there our pickets sat all night close enough to spit on each other. Murphy says they were very talkative & treated him to some fine cigars. Every thing is remarkably quiet this morning the new fort opens slowly they are trying to batter down one of our forts I do long for Johnson to come and relieve us & we can hear from the loved ones at home . about two oclock this evening we were all [?]inging under our blankets when the enemy began such an incesant fireing of small arms & cannon that we all expected a charge & we were ready for him in a few moments but none of the yankeys got out of the ditch kept up a very brisk fire for more than an hour & then every thing was quiet as usual. the enemy tolled Murphy last night that they had taken Port Hudson & 13000 prisners but we dont believe them Lieut Leveret is shot through the head & mortally wounded. two other men are killed in the Regt. I go to Convalesent Camp to see Mr Ransome to ask him to try & get a coffin for Lieut see Mr R & then return to ditches Friday June 26

I am sent to help Mr R about the Lieuts burial if dead I find him not dead but almost gone & he dies about sunrise. Mr R goes to see the quartermaster about getting a coffin & I go down town & get some domestic to make him a shroud, have to pay four dollars a yard , get a nice lady to make it for him the quartermaster could not furnish us coffins so I go to work & make some good plaine boxes & we bury the dead in them I wash & dress the Lieut and bury him as decently as circumstances will admit. get a good dinner and returne to trenches. nothing of intrest has transpired today but last night the yankeys were quite near our fort & Col Pettus ordered them away but they did not go. we are ordered not to fire on them I cant tell the Generals reason for so ordering us

 

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Saturday June 27^th 1863

Every thing is remarkably quiet today & the heat is very oppressive in the trenches. our rations have been cut down again we now get only two small buiscuit about a spoon full rice & spoonfull peas for a days rations I buy bread every chance I get I gave two dollars each for two small pones I have not suffered yet for any thing to eat but I have spent lots of money getting it, but I cant help that I must have something to eat as long as I have money & can buy any thing. the enemy have reduced sharpshooting to perfection & they are splendid marksmen Ike goes to Convalesent Camp & Lieut Nare is placed in command of our Company for the present. How long will we have to remain in the trenches? echo only answers how long; one thing I know when we are relieved we will be a very grateful sett of fellows to our deliverers. how anxious I am to again be able to write & receive letters from the dear ones at home & I know they are just as anxious about me. the yankeys say that all our wounded that fell into their hands were well cared for & were sent to Memphis & the prisners were sent to Camp Chase. I understand the the enemy actually did charge on our left on the 25^th they made a feint all along the lines to draw our reserve off but did not fool our officers & we were prepared for them & drove them back with great loss to them our loss was small Gen Green of the 2^nd

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Missoura Brigade was killed in the charge

Sunday June 28^th 63

Every thing is remarkably quiet today scarcely any fireing going on, one man from John Davis company is killed there are many men killed & wounded that I know nothing about, and I only mention those that I see or hear of being killed or wounded. four couriers came in last night with sealed dispatches from Johnson, but they are not allowed to tell much to the men I think it is well enough to keep the news from the men, for if they knew what was going on the yankeys would know it too, for there are desertions every day and the pickets will talk. we learn though that Johnson whiped them good yesterday & that he is all right. his army is increaceing very fast. every one that is capable of bearing arms in this state are flocking to his standard. I wish that the citizens of Vicksburg had some of their patriotism for there are plenty of young men & speculators loafing about here getting rich off of the poor defenders of their immediate homes & all they hold dear but they seem to be unconcerned about every thing except the love of gain. I think such ought to be ordered by the commanding General to get guns & get in the ditches with us & share our privations in defence of their homes & families I have been informed that those citizens here now are not the first men of the place all the best citizens having gone away I am truly glad to know

 

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Monday June 29^th 1863

I was on picket last night but did not see any thing unusual going on  near my post. the yankeys began their work of mineing near our large fort but Col Pettus tolled them that he would only give them 15 minutes to get away & they left but I suppose they will be back again tonight prepared to stay for I never saw a more determined sett of fellows they did undermine one of our forts & blew it up [faded] of our work on last Thursday then charged on that part but were driven back with great loss. I learne today that Gen Johnson is encamped on Bay Black & that Gen Taylor of Kirby Smiths Corps is marching up on the other side I expect Johnson is waiting for him the cars are running to Edwards Station we are getting impatient & want to get out of this prison & feel like free men once again. there has been such talk of our cutting our way out from here but I hardly believe it will be tried for in doing so it would cost too many lives & the most of the men are weak & not able to travel. I understand that they are slaughtering mules & will gut it for us but I dont like the idea of eating mule but if it is nessessary I can eaven eat that our bread rations are very short we get only two small buiscuit per day but we have plenty of good bacon. I have gotten so that I like sugar very much & I eat about a pound every day it mixes with most every thing [faded]

 

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we had a little camp drill this morning & sharp shooters are still pecking away. one man of Co (K) is killed today.                   June 30^th 1863

Last night we fired on the yankeys that were at work undermineing our fort & made them skedaddle away they were digging quite near & after we fired on them one of us could not stick our head above the breast works without several bullets whistilling about his head. it continued so all night. I & several friends got hungry last night & went out and borrowed enough of the needful to last us during the seige provided it dont last too long—but we understand that Johnson is "all right" & will be here soon, but the enemy have blockaded the road so that they he could only advance four miles a day. I have learned that Johnson has the best army in the world. the yankeys have erected another fort quite near our large fort & we look for a charge in a few days. I expect that they will all get tight on the fourth of July and try it them but I hope we will be able to repel any attack they may make Every thing is quiet as usual today. I go down to the cook place wash & dress & get a good dinner as much corn bread & beef as I could eat. the enemy shell us a right smart toward sundown

 

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Wednesday July 1^st 1863

July opens bright & hot enough, but the faces of the boys generally look bright & hopeful thinking that in a short time Johnson will be here to our relief & gratification. I have looked for him so often & have been disapointed that now I dont know what to think, but I do not dispair of his comeing & think that he will come as soon as he can get here We look for the yankeys to celebrate the fourth here in grand style & I expect that they will shell us worse on that day than they ever have yet but we can "lay low" & let them shell as much as they please for they scarcely ever hurt anyone with their shells. There is a tremendous canonading going on this evening on our left. I can also hear the small arms I think there must have been a charge on that part of the line. We are useing mule insted of beef in our hospitals & those that have tried it say that it is splendid & is as palliatable as the nicest kind of venison I learn that the enemy are sending troops across the river as they are hard pressed on that side by our troops. there are lots of "grapevine" despatches in today but I put no confidence in any of them. The enemy blew up one of our forts on the left, but they are too cowardly to come in after making a breech in our lines—

 

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Thursday July 2^d 1863

Report says that we are pressing the enemy on the other side of the river very smartly, that we captured ten transports & five gunboats & that Grant was also captured on one of the boats but I dont believe any of it but one thing is very certain old Porter is dreadful mad about something or he got out of the "rong wide of the bed" (& he got up very soon too) for he has been giving vent to his wrath on the sick & wounded & women & children by shelling them at a very rapid rate since about 2 A.M. Some of his shells almost get to our lines but dont quite make the trip. The yankeys are a very cowardly sett for who ever heared of mineing & blowing up open entrenchments before & eaven after they blow them up & make a breech in our lines they are too cowardly to try to come in. Ron Howell came up last night & tolled me that 40 were wounded by the blowing up the fort  near him he did not know the number killed. I expect they will try our fort in a few days. Our bateries have been fireing regularly all day on the river I hope they do some execution The Yankeys sayed last night that they would only give us till Friday dinner to surrender & if we did not do it that they would take it any how so I suppose on Saturday the fourth they will make a grand effort. Hugh has been up town & says that the river is full of transports & that the enemy have batteries right on the river bank & are shelling the town furiously very little fireing going on in front of us

 

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Friday July 3^d 1863

Fireing begins slowly by the sharp shooters but after breakfast very rapid and the shells also from the river never fell so thick & fast before. About 9 oclock AM every thing became quiet except the river guns, and for some time I wondered what could be the matter & looked over the brest works & lo the enemy had all crawled out & were sitting about in groops. a flag of truce had been sent out & we all again enjoyed the sight of looking on the enemy & their works. I am perfectly astonished at the amount of work they have done. they are certainly a very persevereing and industrious people. they are now digging in a few feet of our large fort & in a few days they will blow it up. they take advantage of the flag & continue to work until Col Pettus makes them quit it. they have large bundles of cain & barrells to roll along ahead as they dig. Henry Coleburn was wounded after the flag was sent out but only slightly hurt in the side. all of my mess have now been hurt but Ike. the truce continues all day but I cant assertain what it is for or any thing about it. I am on Picket

 

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Saturday July 4^th 1863

Every thing continues quiet as the truce is not out it must be something of importance as it takes them so long to fix it up our officers dont know any thing about it. I have heared that it was in reguard to the surrender of the city. if we can do it conditionally I am perfectly willing to give it up for we cant hold out much longer Col Pettus looks very sad and dejected, he burnt up all of his papers this morning. I have heared at a house this morning that we had surrendered the city but I think that is most too fast—about 10 A.M. white flags were run up on all our forts & then such a shout as come from the Yankeys I never listened to before it made me feel very badly, but I am truly glad that is no worse we are to be parolled here the officers to keep their side arms & we are also all owed our private property I dont know whether they consider negrows private property or not but I hope they do. we stack arms to them about 12 oclock &

 

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then they begin to come over the lines & converse with us. they are generally a fine looking inteligent set of fellows & are very different from what I supposed them to be. they treat our half starved boys to plenty to eat &c I swaped my canteen with them mine was no account but he swaped for accomodation he said "if I did not look like a—"good rebel" he would not trade with me after night they give us a beautiful display of fire works I never saw any thing so beautiful before

July 5^th Sunday

I feel quite badly as I have quite a bad cold. we are fareing finely living off the Yankeys. I go over & look at the Yankey ditches & find them much better & safer than ours. I then go down into their camps & find them very comfortably fixed up & very neat & clean while there they treated me to a nice breakfast & gave

 

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me about a pound of nice coffee to carry back to our camp I did not ask for it but it was very acceptable as I am sorter sick. I returne & go up town to take a stroll the river is alive with boats & the town full of Blue Coats Vicksburg now has the appearance of being a very buisness place. Several gunboats are oposite the city but they say the most of them are gone to Port Hudson. many of their troops left this morning for Bigblack I never saw such a fine looking set of men so large & healthy I am in hopes Johnson is prepared for them. I dont know when we are to leave here but I think we will go in a few days. the enemy are to furnish us rations for the march. The Yanks are stealing negrows, they

 

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got Major Clarks boy with several others & marched them on a boat, but they demanded & got them back Buck is very scared & he keeps very close can hardly get him to go after water the yanks are also takeing the money away from every negrow they can get up with they got 2 00$ from one & 80 from another of ours. there are some rascols among the Yanks but the most of them seem to be very clever gentlemanly fellows.

July 6^th 1863

I am quite well go up town to have a stroll. the Yankeys are quite buisy fixing up stores shops &c & in a few days will have every thing to sell in town the river is alive with boats & every thing looks like buisness was quite brisk. I help our wagons load up commissarys from

 

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the boats. they furnished us five days rations. we enjoy them but dont like the source from which they come. if I had some "Green Backs" I would buy some thing for Bettie & Paralee. I am getting so tired of the Yanks and this place they are in our camps all the time & our army has become very much demoralised from such association. I have understood that some of the Georgians & Tennesseians have taken the Oath to the US Goverment. I am not much surprised at it. A Yankee made Hugh a present of a nice cap. Hugh is a very luckey dog. Gen Pemberton has despatched to Richmond to have his army furlowed six weeks. what a fine & happy time we will have if we all get it and dont have to go into payroll camps

 

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July 7^th 63

about 75 of our men came in. they were taken from Johnson. they were lodged in jail & will go up the river I understand that Johnson whiped them good at Big Blk and drove them across the river, hope that he will continue to do so. they are payrolling faster today. they began at both ends of the line our time will come about last as we are in the center. I think that our Brigade will be parolled in the morning. Gen Grant sent an order around saying that the servants of commissioned officers could go out of the lines if they wished to & would go before the Provo Marshal & be examined privately by him. he would furnish them passports. I turned Buck over to Cap Porter as his boy until we

 

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get out. Cap Porter has given him a pass to go up to the Provo but he has not returned yet. Buck seems to want to go home with me very much & I dont think they can persuade him to stay with them, but they may do it & if they do I shall have to submit quietly. Buck says though that if they make him stay he will come home the first chance, but since Col Garrets & Smiths Boys left us I dont put much confidence in none of them. there are plenty of negro soldiers here nothing makes me so mad as to see them. the Yanks expect to make a Regt of the negroes they get from us. Buck did not get his passport, as the office was very much crowded

 

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July 8^th 63

nothing of intrest going on today. hear many Yankey tales about fighting but dont believe any of them, but I expect Johnson will keep them on this side of Big Black I go up town & have a good stroll. the Yanks have no guard in town except on the Levee & if we had the place it would take several Regiments to guard the city. it looks like our officers try to put much unnessesary guard duty on us any way

 

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July 9^th Thursday

I go down in town to stroll around as I cant do any thing else & I have gotten tired quarrelling with and discussing polliticks with the Yanks. Some of the men fight every day for as soon as one of the Yanks disputes any thing they say dry man jumps here & they have it out fist & skull The Provo wont give any more passes to the negroes they say the officers have abused the privilege by taking out those that worked on the fortifications, but I have understood that our boys can go out as the Regt does if they wish to. I hope they will let them pass for I am affraid if Buck has to stay awhile he will chainge his mind

 

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July 10^th 1863

Rained last night & we all got very wet, but it is bright & clear this morning. I sell my knife for a Yankee dollar & buy me two fine combs two pencils some nedles & flax thread I let the knife go because it was too large & inconvenient to carry and I needed the things nothing of intrest going on here. I go up town to see the sights, visit Lt Leveretts grave & find a head board up with his name on it. They are about done parolling & the army is to begin to start tomorrow morning. we go last for we are the senior division. it may be several days before we get off. I am becomeing so impatient for I want to get out from here very badly

 

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Saturday July 11^th 63

I visit a Yankee Captin & find him very clever for a Fed he gives Hugh some papers & makes me a present of his old knife, as he has quit the use of tobacco. his name is Vanphearson. Our troops begin to leave here today they are ordered to Raymond Our division is the last to leave & will not get out today, but we start at six in the morning. how glad I am that the time has almost come for me to get out from here, for the more I see of the Yanks the more I hate them. they are the worst liars I ever saw in my life. I am affraid they will not let our Negroes out, but they have been letting some out today.

 

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Sunday June[sic] 12^th/63

Start to march at six this morning with five days rations. when we get to the lines we are detained for some time every man had to shew his paroll & have all his things serched the officer found Paralee's picture looked at it & said "a fine looking woman" I said a splendid Rebel too. I was mad enough to knock him down. we got off about 8 ock they would not let the negoes out but say they will if the boys wish to come after we are gone, but I dont believe them. Buck looked very sad & was almost in tears. I know he will come if he can get away. he tolled me to tell his Mother & Master that he would come home if he lived no matter if he was ten years in getting there I hope they may treat him well

 

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for he deserves it for he is a good boy. I never hated to part from any one so bad before. he was very much attached to me & I never had any trouble with him Poor fellow I shall never forget how sad he looked Good luck to him! we had a hot days march of it & camped on Big Black

July 13^th 63

start to march at 3 oclock & have a pleasant time of it as it was cool & cloudy. rained a little during the day. I get some corn & fall out & fry it in my plate I enjoy it very much & get to camp before night & find Ike & Hugh have another mess so I pitch in again. we march to Raymond makeing 18 miles today

 

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July 14^th 1863

Raymond is a very nice little town. we start to march at 4 Oc and march to Pearl River. we pass Coopers Well it is a splendid place every thing looks so pleasant & comfortable the hotel accomodations are quite large. we cross the H.O.J & Great Northern R.R. at Newtown a small place on the bank of Pearl River. we go from here to Brandon & the Gen says that we will all get furlows from there. Brandon is only 20 miles from here & we will make that in a day. the our lines extend to Newtown no Yankeys in this neighborhood. we cross the river on pontoon bridge & a good many shoats & one gave me a head which I clean & cook for tomorrow I think it very wrong to destroy the stock without we were suffering & we now have plenty of meat but the boys say if they dont take it the Yanks will they also destroy every corn field near the road

 

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July 15^th 63

Start at 4 oclock & march very briskly as we all think it is the last day to march. when we get into within 9 miles of Brandon we are turned off of that road which disapointed & blasted all our hopes. the Gen made us a talk telling us that that road was nessessary for Gen Johnsons army exclusively, but did not tell us where we were to go to, but he said our leaveing that road would not interfere with our furlows. I think that we will have to march to Meridean or some place on the Mobile & Ohio R.R. I dont care where they go I will stick to them as long as they feed me. I can stand the marching very well. many have taken french leave already & many more speak of going soon. for my part I believe they are going into paroll camp & if they dont let me go home from there I think I shall go any how. I will write Paralee a few lines & send them off the first chance. I know she is uneasy & I ought to have written before

 

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July 16^th 1863

many of our brigade took french leave last night & many say they are going so I supose by the time we get to Enterprise most of them will be gone. nothing of intrest happens today we march about 15 miles through a poor pine country. at dinner time I with several others go off the road and get a fine country dinner plenty of butter & milk. I enjoy it very much haveing had none in some time. the division splits up & each brigade takes a different road haveing no bread we always camp near a corn field & the boys draw their corn

 

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July 17^th 63

start at 4 oclock. we have delightful roads through the piney woods no dust to trouble us. the people are most of them very poor but make plenty to live on & have plenty of cattle the men continue to leave.

Col Beck had his leg broken when we were resting by a kick from a horse. he was put in an ambulance & carried to the Rail Road. it looks hard to go through the siege of Vicksburg safely & then get a leg broken by a horse. I stop at a house & buy some corn bread had to pay 50 cents a pone, almost eaqual to Vicksburg prices. I also get some peaches & watermellons but as my bowels are bad I cant eat them, but the boys will enjoy them

 

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Saturday July 18^th 63

Start early & march hard till 12 oclock & then camp at some springs of exclent water after going into camp I go up to a house & get a good dinner While there we have a good shower of rain. if it rains any more I will move to a gin house close by. we are only 30 miles from Enterprise & we can make that in two days more I stood the march better than I have any day yet. I have just noticed that Hugh has scratched out one page in this book because I said something on it that he disliked. I just said that he was stingy & he is stingy & selfish too I think it a very small trick in him to do so & not mention it to me. I loaned him my book to coppy from as he had got behind several days, but he wont get it again.

 

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Sunday July 19^th 63

Start early. all the boys seem to be in good spirits as they get nearer home, but I heared that the President had despatched not to furlow us, but Gen Pemberton despatched back it would be best to furlow them for they were determined to go home any how. Gen Forneys whole division has gone & most of our brigade has gone & the rest say they wont go into paroll camp. I hope they will conclude to let us go home & have no fuss about it, for the men are determined to go honerably if they can & if they cant go that way they are going any how march 23 miles & camp. we learn that we are to be furlowed at Enterprise & have transportation from there

 

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July 20^th

Only 16 miles to Enterprise I start early & get there by 8 oclock but the brigade dont get there till 12 we camp on the west side of Chunky River I stroll about all day & am quite tired when night comes & go to camp & to sleep without any rocking Enterprise is a fast little place

Tuesday 21^st July

they are sending off troops both ways as fast as they can I am so impatient to get home I will not write as I expect we will get there sooner than a letter. I see Mr

 

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Jos Patrick & go home with him to dinner & also stay all night with him he has a houseful of reffugees from Vicksburg his wife is a nice pleasant lady she gives me a letter to carry to Marion. I feel badly about my common dirty cloths being among so many fine folks but they know the reason why I am so dressed & it makes no differance Mr Rutherford & Lady are there he is Presbyterian Minister at Vicksburg Mr Patrick has six children five girls & one boy all nice healthy children.

 

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July 22^nd 1863

soon as I get my breakfast I go down to camp & they put me at work writeing furlows we are to be furlowed at Demopolis I cant say when we will get off, but I am in hopes we will go today for I am so impatient. last night was the first time I have slept in a bed since I left home last year troops are going off as fast as they can both down & up the road Dobbins started home on Mr Ransomes horse this morning we get orders to march at six P.M. Every thing is in a stir as the order came very unexpected. we start & go about 3 miles run over 3 cows & knock 3 cars off

 

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the track, no one hurt but it takes some time to get them on again & then we go back to let the passenger train pass Start again & run to Meridean where we stay till morning

July 23

start at six this morning & get safely to Demopolis but we get a good drenching while waiting for the boat. I saw a Larkin and had a long talk with him. we cant get off from here until tomorrow morning. I get more impatient as I get nearer home. I will get there tomorrow if nothing happens. the Col is signing our furlows today & I think that he is cheating us out of one day as he dates them the 23 & we

 

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wont get off till tomorrow I have a little flour must get it cooked somewhere

 

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J C Lowry Co F

            20^th Ala

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