At day break we losed cable & moved down in front of Reb
Genl Alcorn's beautifull plantation, by 10 Oc AM & here we stoped a short
time, Brig Genl Washburn was here with a small force of our boys, he was in
fine spirits, Genl Alcorn is now a paroled prisoner, & refuses to be
exchanged or take the oath of allegiance but claims to have repented & sais
he is for the federal government, & by his acts gives evedance that he is
sincear. his Residence is a one storey frame with an ell & poarch in front,
the only evidence of enterprise is the front yard nicely set with evergreens
& surrounded with pailing fence, the Negro cabbins 20 in number has a high
paling fence in front, at the other & upper side of the planters house is a
smal orchard of Peach & Apple trees, with hedge fence in front & above
this is a cotton gin & press & an old horse mill which our boys are
running with mules at present. the land is more elevated than any we have seen
since we left the Mississippi but it overflows The stream runs about a stone cast from the
main bank, but the Hamilton which has thus far accompanied our fleete made her
way among the trees & landed against the bank at the yard. She used to be
the ferry boat at Keokuk. I believe she is to return from this to Helena with
soldiers after an hours delay, we moved on winding & twisting & dashing
among the timber until dark when we tied up for the night, Some distance from
land on either side. We aranged our muster rolls & had our men & selves
mustered this afternoon by Col Kittredge.14
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14 Charles Woodman Kittredge, a merchant of Ottumwa, Iowa, captain of Company F, Seventh Iowa Infantry 1861-62, and colonel of the Thirty sixth Iowa Infantry, 1862 65.
SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 113
