The regiment was
formed early this morning and we moved back out of the levee into camp. The
river is rising, it is on a level with our camp. It is warm and pleasant,
a real spring day. There was heavy firing this evening down the river. I saw
the "Chillicothe" tonight. There were four men detailed to go down to
the ditch tomorrow.
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.
31-2
Warm and rainy. More
boats went down last night, one war boat and several transports. We heard heavy
firing this morning, supposed to be the gunboats. The river is still rising.
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. 32
Bill Boggs and
myself secured a pass this morning early and started down to the canal. We
followed the river bank until we were about one mile and half from the ditch,
when we saw that we were upon a bayou that ran back up the river about two
miles. We had to turn back, feeling pretty badly sold as it made us four miles
extra walk. Young poplars were so thick that we could not see where we were for
a while. The levee is broken in two places. Our division (6th McArthur) is
repairing the upper one, and the lower division the lower one. The water is
running through here badly. They are planting artillery behind the levee all
along between camp and the ditch. The levee forms a substantial breastwork. One
mile this side of the ditch we came, for the first time, within full view of
Vicksburg. The town lies upon the west side of a sloping bluff. One large
church and the court house and one earthworks could be distinguished quite
plainly. The town did not look more than two or three miles distant, but
it is not less than eight. An officer was looking through a glass, he could see
transports at the wharf, and a crowd collected around someone who was taking
observations. As we passed the mouth of the Yazoo we could look up and see
three or four gunboats and as many rams, while on this side lay the
"Chillicothe" and three rams. As I was going down I was hailed by two
cavalry men who had just passed me. On looking up, whom should I see but Oll
and Dave Hubler, formerly of Co. E, 12th Ind. They belong to Co. C, 4th Ind.
cavalry. They told me that Geo. Hissung is down here. They are body guard to
Gen. Smith. Pat Gallegher and Bill Humphrey, our old first lieutenant and
orderly, are here. Nearby is the far famed ditch. About noon we sat down on its
banks and took a good rest. The boys encamped there say the water has risen one
foot today. It is now five feet deep and has a rapid current. It averages over
twenty feet wide upon the surface. The Mississippi is rising rapidly. I went
down to the lower end of the ditch, it is one mile and one-eighth in length.
There are heavy details at work throwing up a levee on the west side of it. We
have thirty two-pound parrots blockading the river. They are posted behind the
levee here. When we arrived Gen. McClernand was taking observations. The Rebels
are throwing up heavy works below the mouth of the ditch upon the opposite
side. It is about three miles distant. We could see them moving around, coming
up and going away. We lay there about two hours and watched them. We could see
two heavy earthworks, or forts, and one line of rifle pits. We went from here up
to the head of the ditch. It starts in an eddy and there was a tug, "The
Ivy," lying in front to keep out the driftwood. It is hard to tell if the
thing will prove advantageous. Large details at work, showing that the generals
still have faith in it. We understand that they have sent for a dredge. There
are encampments all the way between our division and the ditch. Gen. Steele's
division is below the mouth of it. We came back to camp a little after dark,
tired and hungry, having traveled during the day about twenty miles, but were
amply repaid. McClernand is a homely man, apparently about forty-five years of
age, with black whiskers and a Roman nose. I saw a fine looking general, said
to be Gen. Steele.
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.
32-4
This is a beautiful
day. I am quite stiff and sore from the effects of my walk. There was a detail
from the sixth division this morning, mounted on mules and sent out in the
northwestern direction upon a scout. Corp. Si. Livingston and Privates Briton
and Schultz represented Co. K, 17th Ill. They went about sixteen miles to a little
town called Richmond, where they found a detachment of the enemy, but owing to
a large bayou, our boys could not get at them, and had to leave them in
possession of the place. We heard heavy cannonading this morning. The Rebs had
undertaken to cross with about five hundred head of cattle, but slipped up on
it, and they fell into our hands.
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, pp.
34-5
I was detailed on
fatigue this morning. The detail from our regiment worked on the big break in
the levee. We did a good day's work, and slightly checked the current. The
Mississippi continues to rise. Uncle Ben, Scott and Patterson returned from
their three days' scout. They had been up the river after beef and had secured
fifty head. Mail came in last night, Frank received a letter from Rosalie,
dated Jan. 4. Just to think, they have had no snow yet in the north. Generals
U. S. Grant and Ross have arrived.
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. 35
The first news that
greeted us this morning was marching orders. After breakfast we drew four days'
rations, two of them cooked, put them in our haversacks, and were ready to
march aboard the boats. About 2 o'clock the regiment was formed and we marched
aboard the "Crescent City" and the "Ella," escorted by a
gunboat, or Ram No. 2. We started in the fore part of the night. Abe and I
found a place on the lower deck on the top of a wood pile, and it is well we did,
for it rained nearly all night.
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, pp.
35-6
Davis Mills. We had
a general inspection by U. S. Grant and General Quinby of the 3rd Division.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 13
La Grange, Tenn.
Awoke to hear the rain pattering briskly on the Sibley [tent] above me. We were
called out, and with expectations to march, we drew three days' rations in our
haversacks. 8 A. M. the rain cleared off and the column of infantry began to
move by on the road leading to Holly Springs. At 9 A. M. we fell in rear of
column. We marched west about three quarters of a mile, then turned north
toward La Grange; travelled through very pretty country. We halted at Wolf
River to water our horses, fill our canteens and ate a dinner of hard crackers
and sugar. Ascended a steep hill, half a mile in length, on the top of which
was situated La Grange, when we turned westward and travelled until 7 P. M.
Encamped on a hill. Killed a beef for supper.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 13
Moscow, Tenn. Up at
4 A. M., cooked our breakfast and again on the road by 6 o'clock, and after a
four hours' march through a broken country, well cleared, persimmons plenty, we
arrived at Moscow, where we went into camp for the time. Rode to water through
a town completely deserted, no trace of a citizen. I, as could be expected, was
bothered on the march by my foot and could not have kept up, were it not for S.
E. Sweet, who allowed me to ride his colt part of the time.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 13
Moscow. To-day,
ordered to pack our knapsacks, mark them preparatory to turning them over, and
take them to be stored until we were to be permanently camped.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 13
Moscow. Mail arrived
to-day. Received two letters; weather rather cold. Went foraging in the
morning; returned with fresh pork, beans, corn and fodder in plenty.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 13
Moscow. Weather cold
and frosty. 2 Р. М. bugle sounded the assembly, "Fall in", when we
were given orders to prepare to march immediately. The horses were harnessed,
everything packed ready for further orders which after an hour waiting, came,
to unharness. It proved to be an alarm caused by a party of guerillas making a
dash upon our foraging train, capturing some seventy mules, then skedaddling
before the escort could come up.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 14
Moscow. Griffith
Thomas, E. W. Evans and myself went to the spring in woods, washed our clothes
and returned by one o'clock. Weather warm and pleasant during the day but very
cold nights.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 14
Moscow. Laid in tent
all day. Mail arrived in the afternoon. Received two very welcome letters from
home and Thomas L.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 14
Moscow. I felt
rather unwell, having had a lusty old shake with the ague. In the night went to
the doctor, had four pills and an excuse from duty. Foraging party brought in
twenty-five bushels sweet potatoes, four hogs, a hive of honey and two loads of
corn.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 14
Moscow. Orders were
sent to Captain to have two best non-commissioned officers to report at Colonel
Powell's headquarters by 8 A. M. Sergt. A. J. Hood and Corporal Hauxhurst were
sent, acting as orderlies. Tent moved back. The whole camp policed. 2 o'clock
the howitzers (3rd and 5th pieces) were ordered out on picket duty without
caissons, one extra horse.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 14
Moscow. Cold and
chilly. Troubled with diarrhea; felt rather bad.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 14
Moscow. Our boys
returned in the afternoon having been out to Collierville, eighteen miles
distant, burned a bridge, came upon a party of rebs, capturing three. Weather
cold and clear. Health improving.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, pp. 14-5
Moscow. Awoke before
daylight with orders Started to prepare to march. All was ready by
6:30 A. M. at about 7:30, fell in rear of the column and marched toward Holly
Springs; traveled all day with the exception of the necessary halts in the
train. Passed through Early Grove 4 P. M., Hudsonville 7 P. M. Traveled until 9
P. M. Encamped near Coldwater River for the night. The country was all woodland
except the cleared plantations; after dark the air was illumined, the raging
fire caused by the dry leaves and fences, running for miles, it being set out
by the advance. Came into park in a grove, made a "shebang" of shakes
and laid down about 11:30 Р. М.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 15
Holly Springs, Miss.
The bugle's notes awoke me in the same position as that I fell asleep in three
hours before. Prepared for march and started with the sun, in advance of the
artillery; passed through Holly Springs about 11 A. M.; passed through the
streets where twenty-four hours before the last of the rebels skedaddled. Holly
Springs passed my expectations in size and beauty, being the largest place I
have seen in Secession.
We traveled on in a
southward course towards Waterford. General Hamilton and troupe passed us about
4 miles beyond Holly Springs. Two miles farther on we heard two guns discharged
and heard rumors of a battle ahead. On the brow of a hill we were shown the
grounds where the cavalry were engaged in the morning with the Rebs' pickets,
killing a Michigan boy and three Rebs. Ascended the hill which overlooked
Waterford, consisting of a mill and a small creek, branch of Coldwater River.
Here the enemy opened fire on our troops in the morning with two pieces which
were taken. We forded the stream about 5 P. M., went into camp on the banks,
got some flour from the mills (ground by the secesh for supper), and laid down under
the gun on soil twenty-four hours ago occupied by Rebs, seven miles south of
Holly Springs.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, pp. 15-6
