Early this morning the rebels planted a battery in the woods
on the opposite side of the river, and sent shot and shell crashing into our
camp. DeGolier's battery was soon in position, and silenced them before any
damage was done. I hope DeGolier and his battery will be with us through all
our engagements, for a braver man never lived. Some of his artillerymen said,
he would rise up in his sleep, last night, and say, “give them canister, boys!”
I was detailed with a squad to patrol the river bank, and,
in doing so, came in collision with the enemy. Some of the boys could not
resist the temptation to take a swim. They did not think of the danger, until
they were fired upon. When they went in, they complained of the water being
cold; but they were not in long before it became too hot for them. They got out
of that stream remarkably quick, and some did not stop to get their clothing,
but flew for camp as naked as they were born. They did not know but the woods
were full of rebels. A soldier's life has its share of fun as well as of the
sad and marvelous.
I suppose this is considered an unsafe place to leave
unguarded, so we remain another day.
SOURCE: Osborn Hamiline Oldroyd, A Soldier's Story
of the Siege of Vicksburg, p. 7
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