Our expedition started back this morning for Vicksburg. We
received orders to burn the buildings along the way and drive in all the cattle
we could find. Our road ran along the south side of the Yazoo river, through
rich bottom land planted to corn and cotton. The plantations are well improved with
fine buildings. This bottom land is from one and one-half to two miles wide and
springs in the bluffs pour out excellent water which runs in streams to the
river. We got our fill of good water. When we halted at noon for lunch Company
E, on rear guard, stopped in the sheds of a cotton gin in order to escape the
hot sun. We had been there but a few minutes when some straggler set fire to
the cotton, which being very dry and scattered about soon made a big fire,
driving us out. The fire burned some sheep, a yoke of oxen and a wagon, besides
other articles which we had taken en route.
Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B.,
Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 118-9
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