Downing’s Civil War Diary.–Alexander G. Downing.

Wednesday, 20th – This morning found us going up the river, when about 10 o’clock we landed three miles below Vicksburg. The rebels commenced throwing shells our way and we dropped down the river to a point six miles below the city. But at 4 o’clock we returned to the place we had reached in the morning, and landing on the west bank marched across the point of land just opposite Vicksburg. Here we boarded the boats again and awaited orders. The mortar boats are throwing shells into the town. Our armies about Vicksburg have taken a great many prisoners. It is reported that our men have taken Haines’s Bluff, and that General Grant has commenced action all the way around his line of battle.