Monday, 1st–The weather is nice and warm today, as it has been for several weeks. A part of General Tuttle’s Division arrived in camp from some point up the river. The Crocker Brigade (Third Brigade of the Fourth Division of the Seventeenth Corps) received orders to prepare to go with the expedition, taking twenty days’ [...]

Sunday, 31st–Regimental inspection today and the usual dress parade. All things are quiet in camp and no news. I attended church services in the afternoon. Since the arrival here of the large number of reinforcements, the rebels have all left this vicinity, retiring beyond the Black river. In all probability they are informed as to [...]

Saturday, 30th–We cleaned up our camp for inspection. Troops are still landing here for the purpose of going out on the raid.

Friday, 29th–Everything is working fine here at present. We can hear nothing about the army in the East. Some of the brigades have moved out to Black river bridge, since there is a better camping ground at that place; they also have good water there and plenty of wood and provisions. But we are still [...]

Thursday, 28th–Some of the troops that are going out on an expedition to Meridian, started on their way this morning. It is rumored that the Seventeenth and Sixteenth Army Corps are to make a raid across the State of Mississippi for the purpose of destroying the railroad running from Vicksburg to Meridian, and that General [...]

Wednesday, 27th–We have battalion drill now every afternoon, and today our regiment was reviewed by General Chambers. A division of the Sixteenth Army Corps from Chattanooga landed here last night.

Tuesday, 26th–I went on picket today. The weather is quite warm. Vicksburg, on the east bank of the Mississippi, is built on very high ground. It is quite rough and rolling here. There are some nice buildings here—a very fine court house, six good church buildings and a number of very nice dwellings, besides some [...]

Monday, 25th–The Eleventh Iowa Regiment was today sworn into the United States service for three years or during the war, and now we are a veteran regiment. Our company had an election of officers, but it did not amount to anything, as it was vetoed by the colonel, and men of his own choice were [...]

Sunday, 24th–After company inspection this morning, I went to church down in the city; went again in the evening. They have regular church services and Sunday school every Sunday.

Saturday, 23d–Warm weather. Still lying in camp and all is quiet—no news.

Friday, 22d–The weather is quite warm and it looks almost like spring—grape vines are beginning to start.

Thursday, 21st–All things quiet in camp and no news. The weather is pleasant, though a little frosty every night. The army could stand a long siege, for we have plenty of wood and the quartermaster has in storage a large supply of provisions. This is fine soldiering.

Wednesday, 20th–The Thirteenth Iowa was today sworn into the service for three years as a veteran regiment.

Tuesday, 19th–The weather is quite pleasant. No news. On picket again and all is quiet. We see nothing of the rebels about here.

Monday, 18th–It cleared off and turned quite cool. Nothing—nothing new; still lying in camp. The men are becoming restless and anxious to move on to another place, and to accomplish something.

Sunday, 17th–We had an all day rain. Company inspection early this morning. The Eleventh Iowa received their muster rolls and the boys are anxious to be sworn into the service and start for home on their thirty-day furloughs.

Saturday, 16th–The weather has been warm and pleasant for a week. We have our regular daily drills and dress parade. It came my turn to go on the picket line again. The Thirteenth Iowa received their muster rolls, and when they are filled out, the regiment will be sworn into the United States service as [...]

Friday, 15th–Camp and picket duty are becoming very light as compared to one month ago. Some of the regiments sent to Minnesota and western Iowa to drive back the Indians, are returning to camp. It is reported that the Sixteenth Army Corps will soon return from Chattanooga. We hear also that General Sherman will command [...]

Thursday, 14th–There is a rumor that our army has taken Charleston, South Carolina. Some of our guard early this morning stole a big fish from a fisherman who was taking a load to market. It weighed forty pounds and was divided among the boys. I took a piece to my tent and cooked it, but [...]

Wednesday, 13th–I was on patrol down town. Things are quiet there, but the streets are quite muddy. The patrols have strict orders to arrest all soldiers found down town without passes, as well as citizens who are caught on the streets without passes. It is not a very pleasant duty, this thing of stopping everyone [...]

Tuesday, 12th–It is cloudy but warm, and the ice is still coming down the river. Our duties here in camp are lightening up some. All is quiet and there is nothing of importance.

Monday, 11th–The weather has been very warm for several days and there was a heavy thunderstorm last night. All is quiet in camp, but the men in the old regiments, having re-enlisted, are becoming restless and want to move, for remaining in camp will never bring the war to a close.

Sunday, 10th–We had company inspection this morning. A brigade from here was sent up the river on transports to Greenville, to rout the rebels who have set up a battery there, blockading the river and stopping navigation.

Saturday, 9th–I was on picket guard down town and all is quiet. The ice floe is running quite strong in the Mississippi and has been for some days, which is rather a new thing to the people of Vicksburg. They say the like has never been known, at least in such large quantities, and that [...]