Moved this morning at four o'clock back again towards
Vicksburg—rather an early start, unless some special business awaits us. A few
surmise that there is need for us at the front, but I think it is only a freak
of General Frank Blair, who is in command of our excursion party. The day has
been hot, and we have been rushed forward as though the salvation of the Union
depended upon our forced march. I am not a constitutional grumbler, but I fail
to understand why we have been trotted through this sultry Yazoo bottom where
pure air seems to be a stranger. Probably our commander wants to get us out of
it as soon as posible. A few of the men have been oppressed with the heat, and
good water is very scarce. This seems to be a very rich soil, made up no doubt
of river deposits. A ridge runs parallel with the river, and it is on that
elevation all the plantation buildings are located, overlooking the rich
country around. The Yazoo river is a very sluggish stream and said to be quite deep.
The darkies claim it is “dun full of cat-fish.” I think we may probably have
fresh, fish, but not till we catch Vicksburg, and then only in case we
are allowed to take a rest, for I presume there will then turn up some other
stronghold for Grant and his army to take, and for which we shall have to be
off as soon as this job is ended. We camped at dark, after a severe and long
march, and it is now raining very hard.
SOURCE: Osborn Hamiline Oldroyd, A Soldier's Story
of the Siege of Vicksburg, p. 38-9
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