Tuesday, 15th–Quite cool this morning, with a high wind all day. Quite a number of the Eleventh Iowa have re-enlisted, though only eighteen of our company.

Monday, 14th–A pleasant day and all is quiet. This is washday in camp. But since there are so many negro women here, thankful for the job, and who do it so cheaply, most of the boys hire their clothes washed. I got my week’s washing done for twenty-five cents. In the early morning we see [...]

Sunday, 13th–We were relieved from picket and arrived in camp about noon. For a wonder we did not have inspection of any kind on this, the Lord’s Day. It rained some this morning, but turned off quite clear in the afternoon.

Saturday, 12th–It came the Eleventh Iowa’s turn to go on reserve picket, down in the river bottom. It is a fine place for a reserve post, plenty of wood to burn these rather cold nights.

Friday, 11th–The Eleventh had regimental inspection with accouterments and full dress. The boys are continuing to re-enlist for three years or during the war. Officers from the corps headquarters are out among the different regiments urging reenlistments. They argue that the war will be over anyway by the time the first three-year service shall have [...]

Thursday, 10th–It is pretty cold weather now, somewhat cloudy and windy. Our regiment furnished the patrol for the city today, composed of a captain, a lieutenant, two sergeants, eight corporals and forty privates.

Tuesday, 8th–Everything is marching along fine. The finishing touches are being put upon the outside forts and the heavy guns are mounted and ready for action. The floors of the forts and rifle pits are all laid with the lumber torn from the houses which were removed to make room for the forts, so when [...]

Monday, 7th–I was relieved from patrol this morning. Thus far we have not succeeded in locating any of the reported spies. This patrol duty is quite hard, since when we have a few moments for rest the only place is a vacant room over a store, without fire; furthermore, lying down on the floor is [...]

Sunday, 6th–I went on patrol guard in the city today, and shall be on guard off and on all night, looking for spies. I attended the evening services of the Baptist church while off duty after a two-hour shift. The weather is nice and warm, as it has been for many days.

Saturday, 5th–The re-enlisting of the men for three years is proceeding rapidly. Most of the boys are in favor of seeing the war brought to a close before they quit the job, while others say that they have seen enough of war, declaring that they have done their duty.

Friday, 4th–The rebels seldom show themselves near our front. The loss of Chattanooga and Knoxville is a staggering blow to them. News came today that General Grant had another engagement with Bragg, near Dalton, Georgia, and again whipped him.

Thursday, 3d–I went out on picket this morning. An order was read on parade this evening, announcing that all soldiers who will re-enlist for three years or during the war will be enrolled in the Veterans’ Corps, and receive a bounty of $400.00 and a thirty day furlough. Some of the boys signed their names [...]

Wednesday, 2d–We now have a good market house established here which has cut the cost of provisions; formerly the army sutlers had a corner on everything. I bought a barrel of potatoes for $4.00, which, without the market house, would have taken $12.00 out of my month’s pay. The provisions come from the North and [...]

Tuesday, 1st–All is quiet. We had dress parade this afternoon at 5 o’clock. I wrote a letter home today.

Monday, 30th–The weather continues with pleasant days and very cool nights. I loaned $5.00 to Thomas R. McConnoll. No news of importance.

Sunday, 29th–We learned that there had been several spies in the city getting plans of our fortifications; they also got medical supplies and other articles of value to the rebels, and smuggled them through our lines at night. Special precaution is taken and the guard is to be continued. We were relieved this morning by [...]

Saturday, 28th–A detail of forty men from our regiment was sent into town on provost guard. Our orders were to arrest all citizens and soldiers found upon the streets without passes from the commander of the post here or from the provost marshal, and take them before the latter for investigation and punishment.

Friday, 27th–A detail of men, two of them from Company E, was sent as a guard to go up North with some deserters from our army. Upon being caught, the deserters were brought back, court martialed, and will now be confined in one of the United States military prisons.

Thursday, 26th–I returned from picket and all is quiet. I loaned $5.00 to Corporal Daniel E. Sweet, until next payday. All of the furloughed men are back now.

Wednesday, 25th–Out on picket. The guard continues strong and the officers are very strict.

Tuesday, 24th–The weather is clear and cool, and the regiment is in good health. No news of importance.

Monday, 23d–It was warm and pleasant again with rain in the afternoon. The “chuck luck” banks at the spring are in full operation this morning. At each bank there are from twelve to twenty of our boys down on their knees laying their money on certain figures, as the “banker” throws the dice. After each [...]

Sunday, 22d–This morning when our detail was relieved from picket, we were marched to brigade headquarters and put to target shooting. This is to be done regularly from now on, in order to give the boys practice. To encourage good marksmanship a reward is given; those who hit the bull’s-eye are excused from picket duty, [...]

Saturday, 21st–The weather is quite cool today. The Fifteenth Iowa got their pay today. Pay time for the soldiers is the time for the gamblers.[1] It is then that they start up their “chuck luck” games. These banks or games are set up south of town, about the springs where the boys from our brigade [...]