Friday, 20th–It is rainy and blustery today, but otherwise all is quiet. We received two months’ pay, being paid in crisp new greenbacks. The paymaster always has a guard with him to guard the strong iron box containing the bills.
Thursday, 19th–All is quiet and there is nothing of importance. The report in camp is that the Sixth Division will remain at Vicksburg all winter; we are thankful if that is the case, as we are comfortably fixed for winter.
Wednesday, 18th–The weather is still warm. Our fatigue duty is not so laborious now, but the picket duty is becoming more strenuous if anything on account of the activity of the rebels’ cavalry. The Eleventh Iowa signed the payrolls today.
Tuesday, 17th–The report in camp this morning was that General Sherman had been killed and his force captured on a railroad train east from Memphis. Another report this afternoon says that the train was attacked by the rebel cavalry, but that the troops formed a skirmish line and routed the rebels, and that Sherman is [...]
Monday, 16th–On picket today. The weather is warm and pleasant, though the cool nights give warning of approaching winter. With our high picket post and the beautiful landscape, finer than an artist could paint, picket duty in the daytime is a delight.
Sunday, 15th–We had the regular Sunday inspections, company at 10 o’clock and regimental at 4. It is pretty strict discipline to call us out on the Lord’s Day for two inspections, when our daily duty is so laborious.
Saturday, 14th–The weather is quite warm, but windy and smoky. Wild grapes are still growing. There is no change; all is quiet and no news. We still maintain our regular picket of two thousand men.
Friday, 13th–My same old duty again—picket. There was no fatigue detail today, as the fortifications are almost completed. Two or three forts, however, are yet to be built just outside of the rifle pits.
Thursday, 12th–The two brigades of General Crocker’s Division were at his request ordered back to Natchez today, because of a threatened attack of the rebels at that place.
Wednesday, 11th–It is very pleasant after four or five days of quite warm weather. I was on picket again, the first time for a week. Two brigades of General Crocker’s Division arrived from Natchez to reinforce the troops here at Vicksburg. Two negroes entering an old vacant Confederate magazine today were blown to pieces. They [...]
Tuesday, 10th–I was on a detail of two hundred men with one hundred teams to haul the commissary supplies and ammunition from the transports to the storehouses and magazines constructed near the new forts. It is heavy work, and as to handling the ammunition, quite dangerous. General Grant has given orders that Vicksburg must be [...]
Monday, 9th–An order was read at dress parade today announcing that ten men from each regiment would be detailed to go home to their respective states to solicit recruits for their regiments. Lieutenant Alfred Carey has been selected to represent Company E of the Eleventh Iowa.
Sunday, 8th–No work today, only picket duty, and all is very quiet here. General Tuttle’s division left Vicksburg this morning for Memphis.
Saturday, 7th–I was on fatigue duty again today. Two brigades of General Logan’s Division went out to the Black river post to relieve General Tuttle’s Division, which came in and is to take boat for points up the Mississippi river.
Friday, 6th–I was on fatigue again, but on account of rain last night the detail did not go to work until 1 o’clock this afternoon. Some of the heaviest siege guns obtainable are being mounted on raised platforms in the forts.
Thursday, 5th–It rained all day and on account of it the fatigue party did not work on the fortifications. Our camp number 3 is located on the town commons, and because of no timber near by the northwest wind has a full sweep over the camp. No news of importance.
Wednesday, 4th–It is still quite warm. I was on fatigue at the fortifications. The men are pulling down some fine residences and using the material in building the forts. It is pretty harsh and severe business to order a family, brave enough to stay all through the siege, out of their home and tear down [...]
Tuesday, 3d–Though the weather has been warm for two days, we are fixing up our tent for any cold snap that may come later on, for the report now is that we will remain here at Vicksburg all winter. I finished building the fireplace in my tent. The quartermaster has a detail of men with [...]
Monday, 2d–It was my turn on the picket line today. Our picket post is three miles below Vicksburg on the main road to Warrington, and I was stationed right on the bank of the Mississippi. Our reserve post has one lieutenant, one sergeant, two corporals and thirty privates. Six men under a sergeant go out [...]
Sunday, 1st–We moved our camp about a half mile onto higher ground this morning. The quartermaster had our lumber and wood hauled from the old camp and we worked all day pitching our tents and rebuilding the bunks, fireplaces and chimneys. It has been a busy day with us, although it is the Lord’s Day, [...]
Saturday, 31st–The water has left our camp in a frightful condition, and we got orders to move the camp to higher ground tomorrow. This was general muster day.1 I went on fatigue today. William Green of our company, not having recovered from his sickness, left for home this morning on a thirty-day furlough. I sent [...]
Friday, 30th–We had a downpour of rain last night which continued most of the day. Our camp is flooded, the dry run beside it having become a raging torrent, and our camp ground is under water from one to four feet. Some of the boys put all their belongings on their bunks and others left [...]
Thursday, 29th–It is quite pleasant today. The Mississippi river is slowly rising. Produce is very high here at Vicksburg and fruit and vegetables are scarce this fall because of the large armies in and around this section for more than a year. What little stuff has been grown by the farmers was confiscated by the [...]
Wednesday, 28th–The weather is getting quite cool, particularly the nights, and a little fire in our tents in the evening makes it quite comfortable and homelike. It is different on picket, where no fires are allowed, except on the reserves’ posts. Troops are leaving Vicksburg nearly every day, going to northern Mississippi and western Tennessee [...]
Tuesday, 27th–The Eleventh received their pay today, and then went out on picket. Picket exchanges are directed by the aid-de-camp of our brigade, who rides out every morning with the picket relief, and after posting them, brings the retiring picket into camp and disbands them.