Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, February 24, 1863

At about 8 Oc our Co moved to the Boat Mariner & went on board Cos B. I. G. K. & E. the ballance of Our Reg went on board the Levina Logan & about 3 Oc we left the town of Helena Arkansas & started for the yazoo pass about 4 Oc we entered the pass a narrow shoot on the east side of the river making into the state of Mississippi just after you enter the pass a square angle makes to the left just after the angle is passed we go through the cut our boys made in the levey then the shoot is about 1½ miles long & but little wider than the boats, then, we enter moonn lake it is ½ to 1 mile wide by five miles long, it is beautifull but the ground is low, we tied up at the lower end of it for the night in front of a fine plantation a yard nicely set with evergreens, the mansion & niger quarters all about the same, poor things There is some 16 boats in all here 2 iron clads, Baron De Calb & ———— & some 4 or 5 of the mosketo fleet gun boats. I am Officer of the guard, the Chaplain & I room together. I was officer of the guard & relieved at 9 Oc

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, pp. 111-2

Diary of Major Joseph Stockton, March 9, 1863

On board transport "Platte Valley." We left Memphis on the 3rd as we supposed for Lake Providence, but when we got within twenty-five miles of that place orders came for us to disembark at General Woodfall's plantation and march through the country to Red River. After we had disembarked and taken everything off the boats, General Quimby and staff, together with the brigade commander, went out to reconnoiter the country and found it all under water and overflowed; they tried several directions, and some of the staff rode some miles from the river, but found it impossible to march more than a mile or so. We are encamped in a graveyard and my bunk is a flat tombstone; the men sleep on top of the graves to keep them out of the water. The division is encamped along the levee, as it is the only place that is dry. The whole division remained in camp on the plantation while General Quimby went down to Lake Providence for further orders. He returned on the night of the 6th with orders to re-embark on board the same transport and steam up the river for Helena. I understand that our destination from Helena is to go through the Yazoo Pass from the Mississippi to the Yazoo River, then down the river to the rear of Vicksburg and try to cut the railroad leading from Jackson to Vicksburg. Our pilots say it is impossible and impracticable, but we are bound to try. The Yazoo is considered one of the most sickly regions in the South. Its name signifies "River of Death," but I trust the high state of water may relieve it of its unhealthy propensities and spare us our men. We were glad we had not to undertake our march, as it would have resulted in using our men for no purpose, as progress would have been next to impossible. I rode out myself to see what the country was like and got mired several times. Once I thought I should have to abandon my horse, but after hard work he succeeded in extricating himself. Had he not been so powerful I fear he would have had to succumb. On Sunday, the 8th, we had religious service on board the transport in the cabin; there was a general attendance. Captain Whittle of G Company is the leading spirit with the chaplain in all religious services. He is a brave, good man.

SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 9