We left this morning at 3 o'clock on our return trip via Black
river bridge, with a train of two hundred and fifty empty wagons. We took with
us sixty-one prisoners, giving them the first free ride they have had for some
time. We all rode on the wagons, standing, and in order to keep from falling
out when the teams made a lurch, we removed the canvas covers so as to hold to
the bows. The road was lined the whole way with troops going to reinforce
General Sherman. The day was cloudy, and we were thankful, as it kept the deep
dust from rising somewhat. We reached the bridge at dark and went into bivouac.
I was on a detail to guard the prisoners during the night. The paroled
prisoners are all being sent out of Vicksburg to their homes. They are a
hard-looking set of men.
Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B.,
Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 128-9
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