Has been an unlucky day. begins to rain at 3. A. M. Revelie
at 3:30 & Genl sounded at 4. The rain pouring down & no one having
breakfast, fortunately our cook had coffee. It rained hard while we loaded the
wagons. The Regt moved out at 5. rain slackes up. & we cross a swamp of a
mile which much rain would render impassible, it was half knee deep of water as
it was. at 6.20. We march through the Arsenal at Mt Vernon no town ½ doz houses
within a mile or so, some of them very fine and nice flower gardens. The
Arsenal was deserted is a much finer gronds & buildings than the Little
Rock Arsenal & all in good repair, is enclosed by a thick wall of Brick 10
ft high, begins to rain as hard as I ever experienced as we pass through. this
Arsenal, & keeps it up almost incessantly until 2. P. M. creeks &
sloughs from 2 to 3 ft deep & all have to wade. No dry feet in this army. The
pine flats are covered with water 6 inches deep. Camp at 12. at Monroe — hubhah
bluffs, on the Tombigbee R. I am detailed for picket. & by the time I am on
post is 2. P. M. & the rain ceases, build up large fires & dry off. The
29th Iowa send in for rations from the Arsenal where they are left with one
section (2 pieces) of artilery. I send to camp for my supper, & as soon as
it is night make arrangements with the non commissioned offs. to run the guard
& lie down for a nap & sleep.
SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa
Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 8, April 1923,
p. 593-4
