Diary of 2nd Lieutenant George G. Smith: October 13, 1864

Arrived at Natchez, and landed there. I went up on the hill. A very pretty town. When the boat left they lashed a little steam tug along side, but they got it too far forward and run it down and smashed in the side. Two men and a negro woman were drowned.

SOURCE: Abstracted from George G. Smith, Leaves from a Soldier's Diary, p. 135

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant George G. Smith: October 12, 1864

The expedition marched ten miles into the woods towards Black river. The Colonel asked me if I would take command of the flanking column. I said yes. I had been on duty all night, and was pretty tired. The woods were thick and difficult to pass through. We marched in single file, five paces apart and five rods from the road. The marching column had a clean passage, and it gave us good work to keep up, but we did. About three miles in the woods we ran on to a large cattle pen, made of trees and brush. I suppose the Texans would call it a “correll.” It was their practice to drive the cattle from the fort on Black river down into this correll, and when there were no gunboats in sight swim them across in the night. It appeared they had used it a long time. Six or seven miles further on we halted at a little clear pond of water in the woods, took a little lunch, rested a short time, and then started on the return, halting at a creek. Next day took transports and arrived at “Turkey Bend” at 7 p. m. Found the officers and men we left at Morganza on guard there, on a steamboat, with all our baggage, bound for White river, Arkansas.

SOURCE: Abstracted from George G. Smith, Leaves from a Soldier's Diary, p. 133-4

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant George G. Smith: October 11, 1864

Marching orders again, and at 4 p. m. we were steaming up the river. We had the First Louisiana Infantry, 161st New York Infantry, 23d Wisconsin, a squadron of First Louisiana Cavalry, and six pieces of artillery on board the transports Charlton and Illinois.

SOURCE: Abstracted from George G. Smith, Leaves from a Soldier's Diary, p. 133

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant George G. Smith: October 10, 1864

Marching orders again, and at 4 p. m. we were steaming up the river. We had the First Louisiana Infantry, 161st New York Infantry, 23d Wisconsin, a squadron of First Louisiana Cavalry, and six pieces of artillery on board the transports Charlton and Illinois.

SOURCE: Abstracted from George G. Smith, Leaves from a Soldier's Diary, p. 133

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant George G. Smith: October 5, 1864

At sunrise heard canonading on the right, in the direction of the other detachment, when we commenced falling back, keeping as near in line with them as possible so as to protect their flank. We came to the forks of the roads near Bayou Sara, at about noon, and moved about one and a half miles out on the other road and met the retreating column, being hard pressed. They halted, and we formed in line of battle on an eminence commanding the road they had just passed. The enemy soon appeared, and our batteries opened on them, and the shells were seen exploding among them. They soon beat a hasty retreat. One of their caissons was blown up and they knocked a wheel off one of our guns. They then tried to flank us on the left. We fell back to a more suitable position, shelled them awhile, and silenced their batteries, when we withdrew to our transports, marching through the city of Bayou Sara. They hung on our rear until they crossed the line prescribed by the marine, when one of our gunboats sent a 11-inch shell over in that direction. This drew out a flag of truce from the rebels. A citizen and a rebel major appeared, protesting against the shelling among the women and children. The reply was, “Keep your troops on the other side of the line agreed upon by former stipulations and the gunboats won't shell you.” The transports then moved up the river, the band playing “Foot Balls.” We were in Morganza at dark.

I could never get any satisfactory information in regard to the purpose of that expedition. It was simply a feint, as we had strict orders not to bring on an engagement, which would not have been the case if anything else had been intended. Stories have been reported that there was a large drove of cattle at Woodville from Texas, that had swam the river, and when we drew the forces away that were guarding them. a force of Union troops came down the river and captured them. If it was so, I could never get any satisfactory account of it. Our losses were six killed and wounded.

SOURCE: Abstracted from George G. Smith, Leaves from a Soldier's Diary, p. 131-3

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant George G. Smith: October 4, 1864

Relieved at daylight. First Louisiana, two pieces of artillery, and a squadron of cavalry, took the Woodville road. Halted for dinner at a plantation owned by a Dr. Watkins. There were some pigs running at large about the place. As soon as the order, “break ranks” was given, it was as good as a circus to see the boys go for the pigs. Each pig would have four or five soldiers after him. One soldier would get up close enough to the pig to get his hands on him, when the animal would slip away, and the soldier would go down and those behind go over him and the chase continue, but the pigs would be tired out in a short time and disappear. The Doctor and his family had run away. We marched about ten miles that day and encamped for the night.

SOURCE: Abstracted from George G. Smith, Leaves from a Soldier's Diary, p. 130-1

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant George G. Smith: October 2, 1864

Orders to embark tomorrow morning at 5 p. m. for Bayou Sara on board the transport Illinois. Arrived on the third. Marched two miles in rear of town at the forks of the Woodville and Port Hudson roads. The expedition consisted of the First Louisiana Infantry, One hundred sixty-first New York, Twenty-third Wisconsin, a squadron of the First Louisiana Cavalry, a New York Regiment of cavalry and two or three sections of artillery. Colonel Guppy of the twenty-third Wisconsin Infantry commanding. Captured several prisoners, outposts of rebel army at Jackson and Woodville. At night on picket guard two miles from camp.

SOURCE: Abstracted from George G. Smith, Leaves from a Soldier's Diary, p. 129-30

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant George G. Smith: September 1, 1864

Started for Morganza, followed by the left wing on the third. Arrived on the fourth.

SOURCE: Abstracted from George G. Smith, Leaves from a Soldier's Diary, p. 129

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant George G. Smith: August 8, 1864

Captain Felton being sick and myself in command of the company, of course I must take his place on guard duty as officer of the day. It was the first time I had worn my sash over my shoulder and of course I did not feel altogether insignificant.

SOURCE: Abstracted from George G. Smith, Leaves from a Soldier's Diary, p. 129

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant George G. Smith: August 5, 1864

Relieved Eighteenth Indiana, went home on the Iberville. Lieutenant Kerney and myself crossed the river early in the morning. Found Captain Felton sick. Took command of the company. The regiment had changed front and got new tents. Next day had regimental inspection and some company property condemned. Two or three days after I was relieved from guarding the telegraph station across the river, a rebel gunboat came down the Mississippi, and hitching the telegraph wires just above the station to the stern of their boat pulled them off the poles for quite a long distance below. The commander at the station sent a dispatch to a gunboat over at the Fort undergoing some repairs, but they had no coal on board. A coal barge was in the river loaded with coal, so the commander moved down alongside and coaled up affirming with oaths that he would catch that boat before she reached the Gulf of Mexico or sink his own. It was in the night time when the rebel boat went down. She passed the Essex laying near Baton Rouge, our fort (Butler) with eight guns and a gunboat, two forts between us and New Orleans and two or three iron clads at the latter city and never got fired on once. After they passed New Orleans they saw a heavy Ironclad coming up the river with a transport lashed alongside. This showed them that the game was up, and they run her ashore, blew her up, and the crew escaped into the woods The gunboat from Donaldsonville made good time, but when it came up with the prize, it was almost consumed to the water's edge.

SOURCE: Abstracted from George G. Smith, Leaves from a Soldier's Diary, p. 128-9

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant George G. Smith: July 28, 1864

Ordered by Colonel Fiske across the river in command of a detachment of the eighteenth Indiana Infantry veterans to guard the telegraph station.

SOURCE: Abstracted from George G. Smith, Leaves from a Soldier's Diary, p. 127-8

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant George G. Smith: July 11, 1864

Left on two small transports for Donaldsonville. Arrived next day and camped on old drill ground. Meanwhile the vegation had grown up tall and thick among the ruins so that sharp shooters could creep in and pick off the soldiers across the bayou at the Fort. So Colonel Fiske asked me if I would take the job of collecting tools and cut the weeds down. I told him I would. So I took an army wagon and enough soldiers so that my words would mean something. Most all the planters were hoeing their cotton and did not want to let their hoes go, but I told them they owed their protection to us. If the rebels got in they would strip them of everything of value. At all events I must have so many hoes. The general rule was to take one-half and leave half. So I would give him a receipt for so many scythes ,etc. I breakfasted with a planter with quite a number of negroes. He was a violent Secesh as we called them. He did not want to let me have any. We argued at the breakfast table on politics. He was sure we would never conquer the South. I was sure we should. I got half his hoes and all his scythes. I expect the bayonets were more eloquent than my words. I got in all thirty-seven hoes and scythes. I had a new detail every day. It took about three days to clear the grounds within rifle range of the fort.

SOURCE: Abstracted from George G. Smith, Leaves from a Soldier's Diary, p. 126-7

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant George G. Smith: June 24, 1864

Whole force landed at Fort Adams this morning. Cavalry scouts went out ten miles towards Woodville. Captured no rebels. At Fort Adams there is a mountain about five hundred feet high towering up like a sugar loaf. Up about forty yards from the base two indentures resembling the remains of old rifle pits are what are known as Fort Adams and Fort Washington. The former looks up the river and the latter down about thirty rods apart. I could not learn when they were built or what they were built for. My greatest desire was to stand on the top of that mountain and so Captain Pearson and myself undertook the job. The view from the summit amply repaid us for our labor. As far as the eye could reach to the North and South was the broad Mississippi fringed with the deep verdure of the cottonwood, while to the East stretching far into the interior was a succession of wooded hills full of grandeur and sublimity. To the front lying peacefully upon the broad bosom of the river were our beautiful steamers and a little to the right, with their camp fires blazing, was the human hive. It seemed strange that amid all the beauty and lovliness of nature around us that our errand there was to hunt and kill like wild beasts, our fellow men. Our musings were cut short by the muttering of thunder out of a black cloud in the West and we must hasten down, and we were none too soon for we hardly reached the steamer before the rain drops began to patter around us, and as though wonders would never cease, as soon as the shower had passed a little, the sun came out and a rainbow appeared directly over the mountain completely enveloping it like an aureola, one end of the arc resting on Fort Adams, and the other on Fort Washington. The mountain looked like a picture framed by a rainbow. All the troops went aboard the transports, and at ten p. m. we landed in Morganza. Nothing of importance occurred while we were here. It was guard duty and review.

SOURCE: Abstracted from George G. Smith, Leaves from a Soldier's Diary, p. 123-5

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant George G. Smith: June 19, 1864

Received marching orders yesterday and the Second Division went on board transports today. Saw nine rebels and captured two at Tuinca bend.

SOURCE: Abstracted from George G. Smith, Leaves from a Soldier's Diary, p. 123

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant George G. Smith: June 4, 1864

Paymaster came round and paid off the First Louisiana. Sent letters home and money to have children's pictures taken. Nothing of importance occurred until June 19, except two reviews: One by General Canby on the eleventh and one by General Sickles on the thirteenth. Thirty-five regiments and seven batteries passed the reviewing officer. On the fifteenth accompanied Lieutenant James M. Gardner on board the boat. He had got his discharge. I felt very much depressed for in him I had a good friend.

SOURCE: Abstracted from George G. Smith, Leaves from a Soldier's Diary, p. 123

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant George G. Smith: May 20, 1864

Another march of ten or fifteen miles brought us to Morganza bend in the Mississippi.

SOURCE: Abstracted from George G. Smith, Leaves from a Soldier's Diary, p. 121

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant George G. Smith: May 19, 1864

Rapid and heavy firing in the rear across the bayou so the First Louisiana marched back toward the landing, and found the whole army crossing on the bridge of steamboats. But the firing was occasioned by our rear guard. Smith was playing another joke similar to the army wagon joke previously related. General Dick Taylor had like the Turk, “been dreaming in his guarded tent of the hour” when the tail end of Banks army, “should bend their knees in suppliance to his power” when they crossed the Atchaffalaya Bayou. But it so happened their knees did not bend at all. The cunning Smith had foreseen what would happen, so he laid another ambush and when the army was nearly across Dick run into it and was terribly cut up. That was the last we saw of Dick Taylor or his army. The rebels had no means of crossing the Bayou, and they very well knew if they did they would be captured or driven back into it. Whole army marched fifteen miles towards the Mississippi river and encamped for the night.

SOURCE: Abstracted from George G. Smith, Leaves from a Soldier's Diary, p. 120-1

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant George G. Smith: May 18, 1864

Relieved in morning and returned to camp. First Louisiana crossed the bayou again and camped all night. Built a bridge by anchoring steam boats along side each other and laying on planks. It took twenty steamboats to reach across.

SOURCE: Abstracted from George G. Smith, Leaves from a Soldier's Diary, p. 119-20

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant George G. Smith: May 17, 1864

That General Smith was a joker was conceded by everybody, our friends, the enemy, as well as the union army. When we were in Alexandria I was on guard at the pontoon bridge. An Irishman, stood at the end of the bridge, smoking a clay pipe. Smith returning from a scouting expedition at the head of his forces, rode up to the Irishman coolly took the pipe out of his mouth and put it in his own, and rode on smoking contentedly as though nothing had happened. The Irishman laughed heartily, well pleased with the joke. Many stories were reported of his pleasantries with the enemy while covering our retreat from Alexandria. At one time coming down the plank road he left a baggage wagon on the road and placed a company in ambush within easy range. The rebel hangers on in the rear spied it and made for it on the gallop with a yell. At the proper time the ambush rose up and many saddles were emptied and riderless horses were seen cantering through the woods. The force was nearly all killed or taken prisoners. At two times cannon were left with similar results. Marched into Simsport about noon. The day was hot and the roads were dusty so that our clothes were saturated with mud as well as sweat. It was my practice, during the whole time I was in the army to bathe whenever an opportunity presented itself, and so here was a good one The water in the rivers and ponds we had been passing were generally almost milk warm and I thought this would be, so without further ado I plunged in. “O my! Holy Moses, how cold it was!” I could hardly swim to shore. But I did, and got out too but I did not go in any more that day. The reason of the water being so cold was on account of the rise in the Mississippi river at this time of the year, called the June rise. It is caused by the melting snows in the Rocky mountains, at the head waters of the Missouri and in the Northern part of Minnesota, where the Mississippi rises, and it is a little strange, that water is nearly as cold when it reaches the Gulf of Mexico as it is when it leaves the snows of the Rocky mountains. When this mighty river is high it backs up the Red river and discharges its surplus waters through the Atchaffalaya Bayou into the Gulf of Mexico, so that bayou is really one of the mouths of the Mississippi. It was my turn to go on picket guard that night, so we crossed the bayou on a steamer and went up that stream about a mile and posted the pickets in the woods across the bottom where we fought mosquitoes all night. It was a question which was the worse, the mosquitoes or the rebels. I was not feeling very well from the effects of my bath, so after the guard was posted I hunted the dryest place I could find and laid down, but the conditions were not very favorable for a good night's rest. It did not however last forever.

SOURCE: Abstracted from George G. Smith, Leaves from a Soldier's Diary, p. 117-9

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant George G. Smith: May 16, 1864

In motion a little after sun rise. The enemy had fallen back during the night but after advancing two miles over fences and through fields the advance cavalry came upon them in full force with about twenty pieces of artillery and seven thousand mounted infantry. They were in front of a little town called Mansura and just before you leave the prairie and enter an almost impenetrable Cypress swamp which stretches between it and bayou DeGlaze, and is passed by means of a plank road. Taylor had placed his forces across the entrance to this plank road and disputed its passage. As soon as our infantry were in supporting distance, the cavalry began to press their lines when they opened all their batteries at once. This of course discovered their position and several batteries of the nineteenth corps soon came into position and the ball was open. Four lines of battle were in rear of us, all in supporting distance, composed of the First and Third divisions of the nineteenth corps and the thirteenth. On the right General Smith came up with the sixteenth army corps formed in line continuous with ours; making them two miles long. The bellowing of cannon screaming and hissing of shot and shell, the bursting of bombs and the prancing horses of the wheeling squadrons created a scene of excitement I never before witnessed and never expect to witness again. Solid shot and shell literally rained all around us for about three hours. The country being level, afforded a clear view as far as the eye could reach until obscured by smoke. The scene was grand. Many of the enemy's shells did not burst at all and many burst in the air. Many amusing incidents happened, one of which I will relate. A shell struck the ground a few feet in front of our line and ricochetted (bounded)over our heads and struck the ground again directly under a surgeon's horse, standing there, with his rider and bounded again. The doctor leaned over one side to see what kind of a hole it made in the ground, started his horse along a step or two and sat in the saddle as though nothing had happened. Sometimes the shells would strike the ground and roll end over end a long distance. It looked as though one might put out his foot and stop them. I did not try the experiment. So long as they did not disturb me, I thought I might as well let them alone. At this stage of the battle General Grover, on a large heavy bay horse galloped out between the lines five or six hundred yards, turned in a circle, rode back to the twenty-sixth New York battery. He spoke to the commander, and they limbered up and actually flew to the front about six hundred yards and in less time than it takes to write this, unlimbered and commenced one of the most rapid fires I ever heard from a battery of four guns. I could see the shells burst directly in their faces. The enemy did not stand that long and retreated in a complete rout. I learned, however, afterwards that A. J. Smith with a heavy force was creeping round on their right flank so we cannot give the twenty-sixth New York Battery all the credit for that victory. In regard to the losses I never learned. They must have been considerable on the enemy's side, but on ours I am sure they were not heavy. It was an artillery duel and the rebels proved to be such poor marksmen that not many casualties happened to us. When our friends, the rebels took such precipitate leave of us, we found ourselves in quiet possession of the plank road through the woods, of which we made good use, as soon as we could get into files of fours and marched to within eight miles of Simsport where we went into camp for the night, quite satisfied with our day's work.

SOURCE: Abstracted from George G. Smith, Leaves from a Soldier's Diary, p. 113-7