We were called up at
half past three this morning and were on the road inside an hour, and by
sunrise were four miles on the way. We arrived at Germantown about 10 o'clock.
It is a village. At five minutes before 12 o'clock we halted for dinner, and
started again on our march at 1 o'clock, our regiment in advance. We reached
the edge of a town at dusk where we learned that we were selected as guard at
the navy yard. As we passed through the town, the little children followed us
and hurrahed for Jeff Davis. We moved to the upper end of town and encamped on
land adjoining the navy yard. Col. Norton bought five cords of wood for us. He
made a speech in which he said Gen. Hamilton ordered McArthur to send his best
disciplined regiment here as guard, and he wanted us to be strict, orderly, and
diligent. He also said the duty was a kind of secret service (how so I do not
understand). The guerillas crossed over last night, cut around and burned a
steamer. We are very tired this evening, having made the heavy march of
twenty-six miles.
SOURCE: Seth James
Wells, The Siege of Vicksburg: From the Diary of Seth J. Wells,
Including Weeks of Preparation and of Occupation After the Surrender, p. 26
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