In Camp And Field

CopyrighteJ, 1SS7, by The A. N. Kellogg Keu-tpaper Company. iScctiim VI- ConWmiid.) Kewly-iormed regiments ol men were outside and all about tho inclosure at Camp Butler, eucamped in tents. After staying in the barracks about two months th8 writer remembers being detailoil for guard duty ona beautiful Sabbath day. Guard duty necessitated a soldier' s absence from his quarters for twenty-four hours, though he would actually be on his beat with musket in hand but one-third of the time- two hours out of every six. The time referred to, the writer's two hours ior duty came just before dayüght Monday morning. Looking through the fence about sunrise, where a regiment was encamped just outside, several groups were seen eating breakfast, and these were not composed wholly of men, but were made op of women, girls and children as well. Looking closer, it was seen that they were eating chicken, turkey, cake, pie, freshly-baked bread and good butter, biscuit and doughnuts. By this time the man on the next beat had joined the writer, and the effect the scène had upon the two soldiers within tha inclosure can never be appreciated by the reader who has not had a similar experience. The wives, sisters and children of these more fortúnate soldiers had evidently come to spend a season with their friends, and had brought such eatables as they knew would be preciated- íor the time naa mus uierauy transferred home liíe to camp. Late in October, ten companies, including the one to which the writer belonged, were mustered into the United States service. The afternoon was cold and raw, and the ceremony was not enjoyed. Next morning was bright and warm, and the newly-iormed regiment was inarehcd outside the inelosure and formed in line, when the Colonel, Lieutenant-Colonel and Major each made short speeches. The now organization was at once put under a Dutch driü-master, a short little .'eliow with a red face, mustaohe and guatee. He wore a cap, a blue blouse and a sword that oragged the lower end of its scaobard on the ground. He gave his commands in quiek, nervous broken English: "Tbnian. 'Pitalyax Fa'ro MarchI Bt COOMPANIE, RltiHT 'VEEL!" When the evolations of the green regiment wero faulty, it was amusing to hear the scoldiug in broken English from the drill-master. Pretty soon the regiment received its arms, Áustrian riflod-muskets, these with ■cartridge boxes, containing the ammunition, canteensin which to carry water, haver-sacks-pouche3 made of heavy cotton Boodsfor rations, knapsacks and blankets, iully equipped the command. But after the first two or three weeks, time at Camp Butler had dragged heavily and man; had become homesick, and were already tired of the service. Pretty soon after the regiment became fully equipped orders carne íor it to report at Memphis, Tenn. One cold rainy evening the cars were taken and after a cneerless ride, St. Louis was reached, where transportation down the river was procured on the steamboat General Robert Allen, the meanest old bulk afloat. The trip was exceedingly tedious, water in the river was at a low stage and the old boat frequently ran aground, but, with the help of spars put upon either side the bow, and hoisting apparatus, always managed to agaia get under way. One evening the boat tied up on the Arkansas shore, it being a section said to ba infested by bands of armed rebels, night navigation was deemed perilous. The regiment was marched ashore where nothing was f ound, save a rude log structure, said to have been used before the war as a store. The región was heavily timbered, with alo a dense growth oí underbrush; but much of it had a stranga appearance, nearly every thing being yet in leaf. Being in the enemy's country a itrong picket guard was thrown out. The writer'scompanywith another was detailed on this duty. The men were marched out the distance of a mile Irom the regiment, broken up in squads of four, and with freshly loaded guns, awaited any cause for alarm. There was no disturbance, but being in the enemy's country was an entirely new experience, and though there may not have been an armed Confedérate within fif ty miles, it is safe to say that in the whole regiment but few eyes closed that night in sleep. Six months later so inured had most of them become to war's alarms, that sweet and ref reshing sleep was ofton taken directly under fire. The next day was Sunday, and about noon the old boat was again boarded and the journey resumed. A man belonging to the regiment died not long after leaving St. Louis; the carpenter of the boat made a pine coffln in which the body was placed and takea to Mcmphis. At this period a death in the command made something of a scnsation, but all were soon to become very familiar ■with this "King of Terrors." As the journey down the river continued, ehimneys standing alone and cheerless, the houses having been burned, became familiar objects. The lights from Memphis came in sight one evcoing and the old boat began to whistle, but from some derangement in the "shut oLE" the noise could not be stopped ; consequenüy after the landing was made and the boat tied up the whistle blew as long as the supply of steam in the boilers lasted. For a good while the night was made hideous and the ears of aR tortured by the screeching whistle of the old boat, but this was a fit ending te the tedious and dangerous trip on the crazy oW craft. The quartermaster of the regiment, however, became much the wiser from this ex-, perience and never again had such transportation put upon him. 6ECTION VII IN AND ABOUT MEMPHIS DUKING THE WINTER OF, 1863-3. Fort Pillow, in the Mississippl, was evacuated June 4, 1863, after üvhich the National fleetdropped down the river, and at early dawn June 6, under Commodore Davig, {- tacked the on federa ts üotilla lying 1b Vont of Memphis, Tenn The resul was a complete Union victory; of the eight vessels composing the Confederato fleet, threa were dostroyed, iour captured, and only one, the Van Dorn, escaped. During the engagement the blult atMemphis was lincd witt spectators. At eleven a. m. tho city surrendered, and was taken possession ol by two infantry regiments accompanying the National fleet. Six months aiter this event the regiment to which the writer belonged arrived at tha Memphis steamboat landing aftcr night, as detailed in the last number. Next day the regiment went ashore and marched through the streets that in places were very muddy from recent rain fall. Now and then a house was passed, from which welcome was extended by a waving handkerchief in the hands of a woman. Most of the female sex, however, seemed ready to extend any thing but a welcome to the "horda from the Xorth." Camp was f ormed on the outskirts of the city in a beautiíul beach grove that was in every way pleasantly locatod. Here tenis ■weré put up, huts built by some, and about two weeks of beautiful November weather spent most pleasantly. A line of guards encircled the camp at night to break the men in and enforce discipline as much as any thing, perhaps. On this duty one of the men aecidentally discharged his piece and the bullet passed through his foot. This was the iirst gunshot wound in the history of the regiment. Upon leaving the barrar-ks at Camp Butler each company broke up into messes composed of from eight to fifteen men who drew their rations in common and did their cooking together. Nearly every day the regiment went out on dras-parade- a term that to the nonmilitary reader needs explanation. To particípate in this, eaeh man, beforo falling in ranks, was required to have his uniform in good order, his accouterments In neat trim, his gun and metallic appendages bright - then the regiment in line marched to some convenient level, open space, and went through the manual of arms, and, so to speak, displayed itself to the very best advantage. One day the regiment selected for its place of parade an open space near a public highway, parallel with and facing whicb, it was drawn up. Some military exercises had just been gone through and the men were standing easily at parade rest, when a turn-out passed along the road within a few feet of them that was new to Northern eyes, but afterwards f requently seen in the South during war-times. An old dilapidated family carnage that looked as though it might have seen service since the Revolutionary period, drawn by a large, dark-colored, raw-boned horse, only a skeleton in íact, and a little, old, mouse-colored donkey; upon these were shreds of old harness attached to which were some shabby oli relies of silver mounting. Mounted on the box with rope lines in his hands was an old gray-haired darky, who sat upright and digniiied, an old and very high plug hat on his head and his person attired in the antiquated remains of a coachman's livery. Witbin the carriage was a man and woman. The whole outfit was so ridiculous to Northern eyes that a hearty laugh went along the Une followed by a shout that was participated in by a thousand voiees. At this period but few negroes lived in rural sections of the North, and most ot these had comparatively regular features, but it was soon observed that very many Dl their brethren of the South had receding foreheads, immense mouths, exceedingly thick lips and flat, shapeless noses. After remaining about two weeks in camp, orders came one day to occupy Fort Piekering, just below the city. Like nearly all localities for any time occupied by troops, unless extraordinary precautions are taken, this post was lilthy and repulsive in the extreme. Meantime snow feil, cold weather came on, and some most unpleasant days were passed, and, to make matters worse, tha hcalth of many began to f ail. The writer, with his mess numbering about eight persons, ocoupied a Sibley tent not far from the river bank. A Sibley tent is round at the base, having in its middle a center pole towards which the canvas slopes from every direction, formina a perfect cone. The location of this tent on the high bluff next the river gave the wind full sweep, and the swaying of the canvas and flapping of the ropes was any thing butpleasant, especially at night. Fort Pickering was at this period surrounded by earthworks with cannon all along at proper intervals. At the date of occupancy theworkswereconstantly being strengthened by the use of the spade aud shovel. Most of this work was done by negroes, who wcre fed and paid by the Government. After a time came an order for the regi ment to do patrol duty in the city. This necessitated the breaking up of the regiment into squads, who for the time found quarters and did duty in various parts of the city. The company to which the writer belonged found quarters in a large brick block not far from the river. In this building were holes made by cannon shot, thrown during the naval engagement the 6th of June previous. Various were the duties performed ; at one time it was guarding a steamboat at the wharf ; at another, goods at the levee; again, it was standing in the rain some dark night at some cheerless corner, for what, no one could say ; then, may be, with an officer and a number of men, it was a tramp, begun after bed-time, to the suburbs, all quietly; a sortoí scouting expedition that alway3 cnded weary lcgs and good appetitos for breakfast. About this time General Sherman organized, at Memphis, an army to advance on Vicksburg, and the wharf was lined with steamboats loading with provisión, munltions of war, and a little later, men. One j day a great many boats loaded with solj diers left the landing and steamed down the river. It was known to all that there was to be a fight, and the writer remembers looking at the many men that orowded the decks of these steamcrs as the bells rang, signaling the engineers to put on Bteam, when the wheels beean slowlr tnrnmg, lashing ana churning the water near by; the boats gcntly swung round with their prows down stream, thcn getting out into the main channel a f uü head of steam was turned on and that heaving sound characteristio of a boi.t under full headway began; and the men raised their hats and checred wildly and long. They scemed more bent on a picasure excursión than to givc battlo and meet a determined and powerful foc. The writer remembers looking at them in this jol'y mood and wondering how of the merry ones would soon Umi a grove on a field and what number wovld return maimed and woundcd. Jiot vcry long was it when word came that Sherman had been repulsed at Vieksburg and in a little white after, whole boat loads of wounded soldiers came up from below. About the middle of January, 1863, a comrade of the writer- a warm friend- was taken seriously sick and had to be removed to the regimental hospital. That ho might have special care and be made as comfortable as possible, the writer accom panied him thither and remained with him some weoks, till his friend oame from the "orth and took him home to die. Becoming acquaiutcd with the surgeons in charge and liking them, and not liking the irregular and mixed duties of soldier life about the city, the writer was induced to remain and becoine a regular hospital attaché. The building oceupted was a doublé framo structure, having a i'artition from front to rear through the center, with nodoorsof communieation. It was two stories high and up stairs and down had wiile porches the whole width of the ing. On either side of the partition wero two rooms, one in front and ono in reai-, and a hall-way with a flight oí stairs that led to the second story, arranged precisely like the lower. One side the partition with its iour rooms was oceüpied by the Kick - each room formcd a separate ward and for three months during the winter of 1883-8 these apartments were literally crowtled with the sick from one regiment. The other side the partition was oocupied for offices and used as storage rooms. Back of the main building and adjoining thereto was a long, low structure used as a kitchen and dining room. There was a great deal of sickness and many deaths this winter. The most fatal disease was measles. Quite a proportion of the newly-enlisted men had never had measles and among this class that disease played havoc. A number of great strapping fellows in the writcr's company had never had the disease and were soon attacked with it, some of whom died, others became permanent invalids and were discharged, and a few lost their voicos or had detective eye-sight or hearing. So much for the ravages of a disease in the army that in civil life is considered a comparative mild malady. Perhaps no period of like duration was more discouraging to the Union cause than the winter of 18KÍ-& The Army of the Potomac under Burnside had met with terribledisaster at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1802: Sherman had been pulsed with severe loss the same month at Vicksburg, and December 31, the last day of the year, was fought the bloody battle of Stoñe's River or Murf reesboro, between the Union iorces under General Rosecrans, and the Confederates under General Bragg, cither side losing in killed and wounded eight to ten thousand men, and neither winning decisivo victory. An unusual amount of serious sickness prevailed throughout the armies that winter. One reason possibly was the great amount of rainfall, particularly in the ■western and southwestern field of operations. Another was the very large accession of new troops. For six months after enlistment, a new regiment has to pass through a sort of winnowing process, in which the chaff, so to speak, is separated f rom the wheat; when the weaklings, the soft, tender, susceptible ones, either die, or, becomingunfitforduty, are discharged, leaving the command with a lot of tried men - as it were a veritabie survival of the fittest. Any way, the winter of 1SKÍ-3 was one of peculiar discouragement to Union people. Nearly all with whom the writer came in contact at this period, most oí whom were soldiers, seemed to feel this. In and about Memphis sickness of a serious character prevailed among the troops all winter. The regimental hospital was on one of the main streets, and from its front Windows several times daily could be seen a moving ambulance within which was a pine coffln containing the dead body of a soldier, preceded by a military band playing a dirge and íollowed by a company of soldiers with reversed arms. Farther on in the suburbs was the soldiers' burying gronnd. Erysipelas prevailed as an epidemie and many suffered terriblv irom this disease. When it attacked the íace, its favorita site, the features were horribly swollen and distorted, the eyes closed and when all was painted over with Iodine, a . frequent local remedy, the sufferer's countenance ■was as inhuman like as can be imagined. Erysipclas, measles, rheumatism, typhoid fever, dysentery and other fatal troubles, carried off many men during the winter. For a time scarce a day passed but one or more men died at the regimental hospital. As one poor fellow aftcr another was carried out in his pine coffln the writer remembers thinking of the sad news the next outgo;ng mail would convey to frienda away up North. Some wife, mother or sister would for a time lead a sadder lite and carry a heavier heart. Before death, in the great majority of cases, the sufferer seemed to pass into a listless condition, wherein indifference was manifested ior every thing about him ; the past and the. future seemed allke to be ignored. The mind appeared in ali cases to fail with the body, and sensation became blunted so that the so-called "agony of death" was never seen. One case, however, is rccallcd in whicha patiënt just before death from consumption bade iarewell to all about him and exprcssed a wish to meet all ín a better world. His mind appeared clear up to the last moment, and his wasted features and sunkcn eyes seemed cheerful and at times almost animated. Connected with the hospital was a lady who acted as matron. She frequently passed through the wards with some delicacy f or the sick in her hands ; this she gave to such as could take it - of ten the poor fellows had no stomach ior any thing, but the pleasnre of receiving something from the fair hands of woman was too tempting to resist and down it went- stomach or no stomach. Again she wcmld pass from oot to cot, saying a kind word to each occupnt, adjusting the blanket for this one, wiping the claiamy sweat of death from another's brow and may be writing to mother or wife íor one too feeble to use his pen. But whether she did much or little, her simple presence among the poor f ellows who so long had been deprived of the tender presence of voman, seemed like a rosa amid the ice and snows of January. One night in February a poor soldier In the delirium of typoid fever, during the temporary absence of the attendant, got up from his cot, slipped out of the door and, on the return of the nurse, could be found nowhere in the building. Next day ho was hcard of at his company quarters in a distant part of the city, to which he had made his way in the dead of night, through six inches of snow, with the delirium of a burning fever upon him. About the middle of February signs 01 spring began to show themselves in that genial climate. Grass became green, peach trees blossemed, bees carne out and birds came around. Sitting on the upper front porch one day and looking toward the river not many rods away, two or three gun-boats were seen to approach the little village of Hopedale, justopposite Memphis on the Arkansas shore; they did not land, but pretty soon turned away and took position in the middle of the river from which point a number of shells were thrown into the village and soon Hopedale was in flames. It seemed this place had been a sort of rallying point for jvtrilUu, btixhwhacker and otber irregular Confedérate soldiers and to stop their incursions had been ordered burned, after, oí course, iirst warning the inhabitants. All this the writer remembers reading in a Memphis daily of the time, and an editorial upon it wound up with the words: "Poor Hopedale" - war's fortunes for the time converted it in : o a üöpeim-dale. Not far irom the Arkansas shore, in the river, were the spars and rigging of the sunken General Beauregard, a Confedérate vessel lost in the naval battle before Memphis in June, 1863. As the beautiful weather of spring approached, in leisure hours most enjoyable walks were taken about the city. where was the soft spring air more pleasure-giving than in a little park near the business part of the city -name forgotten. In this was a statue of General Jackson, having engraved upon the marble pedestal the heroe's well-known words. "The Federal Union- it must and shall be prser ved. " This patriotic sentiment was too much for the eyes of some miserable vandal, and the word "Federal" had been obliterated with a chisel or other sharp tooi. The writer remembers frequent attendance at an Episcopal church in the city. The pastor had but one eye and was a very plain man in appearance, but was an able preacher, Here the writer first saw General J. B. MePherson. His división was at the time encampod near the city, and he improved the opportunity for attendanca at a church which is said to be a favorito denomination with regular army omcers. His handsoma person, graceful carriage and affable manners are well remembered. In the early part of the winter a great many troops were encamped about the city. Most Of these were later moved to the vicinity of Vicksburfj. White Sherman was making a direct attack on Vicksburg by the river in December, 1862, Grant was moving a co-operating forcé through the interior, but me capture oí tus suppues at Holly Springs, Dea 20, caused an abandonmont oí the co-operating enterprise. Grant was seriously censured at the time by many in his own department, and the writer remember vigorously defending him at this period from the charges of drunkennees, incompetency, etc., made by a fellow soldier. It turned out that the abandonment of the line intendcd to be occupied by the co-operating column was fortúnate, as the subsequent flooded condition of the streams would have made the escape of the command next to impossible. About the time Grant withdrew from this line there was much fear of an attack at Memphis from the Confedérate. One day a comrade carne running in to quarters saying General Bragg was just without the city with an army of ten thousand men and had demanded its surrender. The writer was at that time in the rañks, and like nearly all soldiers often played at eards for pastime. At this very juncture he had in his breast pocket a long used pack of cards, and of course they were [ dirty and much soiled. One of the first things he did was to remove these, for how would it sound should he fall in battle to have it said: "In his breast pocket was found"- not the Bible hi3 mother handed him upon leaving home and bade him always carry in his knapsack, nor yet the picture of his affianced- ' but, but a deck of cards." Well, the carda were removed, but the writer didn't fall, didn't, indeed, have a chance to, for General Bragg didn't como near, nor ask the surrender of the city. VIII ICJSSBrvQ CAMVic ■■ was .e Gi'oi -of the West. It was cuv.ainly ttio groatest stronghold on tho Mississippi river, and af ter the f all of the dof onses above and the capture of Forts St. Phillip and Jackson near the mouth with the consequent f all of New Orleans, Vicksburg became the key to the further obstruction of the river by the Confedorates. After the failure of Sherman's attack in 1862, a rendezvous for troops was made at Milliken's Bend, La., twenty miles above Vicksburg. After the non-success of various plans for tho capture of the coveted stronghold, Grant in the spring of 1863, resolvsd to get position on the river below by marching his army acróss the península, in Louisiana opposite Vicksburg, formeel by an abrupt bend in the Mississippi. For this expedition preparationa were begun in March. Toward the latter part of this luonth the writer's regiment was ordered aboard a boat for Vicksburg. I Oetting all roady and loaded consumed a whole day, and as night drew near a severo snow-storm came up. The boat got under way about midnight. Next morning the storm had subsided and the sun came out warm and bright On the way sevoral gun-boats were passed and always spoken to as they patrolled tho river and knew points where passing vessels were moït Uable to bo fireii lato by gaerUlao. (Continued on 7th page ) í 'nuluw ii from 8üh iKiQc.) The sailors on the gun-boats always seemed clean and well dressed, vid the deck and all parts of the vessel iu sight appeared neat-and orderly. In more than one instance, too, it wai noticed that Jack, having just d his washing, had hung it out to dry upon a line stretched upon the gun-boat deck. Most of the gun-boats were heavily mailed with iron, henee were called ironrdad. They were not all built after the same pattern, however. Another kind of warlike craft were the tbtrclads. These were ordinary steam boats protected with thin iron plating that was impervious to musket balls. These were armed with several light pieces of artillery and manned with a number of sharp-shootcrs. On the trip down the river several boats luden with troops were encountered. Toward noon on the secopd day Milliken's Bend, twenty miles above Vicksburg, on the Louisiana sido, was reached, and here the regiment debarked and went into camp. The place selected was near the levee that all along the low lands next the river had been throwing up to protect the ad jacent plantations in time of high water. In many places these had broken, and nearly the whole región was inundated ; the bayous and lagoons had meantime grown into inland seas. April 9, 1863 the división to which the writer's regiment belonged was reviewed by General Grant, The writer had never before seen that offleer, and henee as near a view as possible was obtained. He was on horseback, and attended by a few staff ofücers. As each regiment passsd in his front the effleers presented (raised) their swords, the men their pieces, in salutation. Grant, in recognition, quietly raised his nat. During the following three months General Grant became a familiar figure. At this time he was possibly a little heavier for his stature than the average man, yet was not at all overburdened with flesh. He wore short, stubby, slightly reddih-brown whiskers, and seemed to hold his head a little to one side; this gave him a modest appearance. A large tent had been stretched, and in this upon cots the sick were placed and made as comfortabie as possible. One thing they certainly had in abundance was iresh air. The water used carne from the river which, at the time, was very higU and full of sediment. A bucket of water dipped from it and allowed to stand awhile would have at its bottom more than an inch of setilings. But Mississippi river water is considered healthy, and is quite pleasant in taste. Pretty soon after the review came an order to move- "marohing orders." The sick were directed to be all taken to a hospitalboat, by which they would be taken up the river. Accordingly they were put in ambulances and, in charge of the writer, taken to the place designated. Already the writer has used severa! times the word ambulance; this, to the reader whose memory does not reach back to war time, may need ezplanation. An ambulance, Uien, is simply a light vehicle on springs with a shallow bed and a strong canvas cover over head. The back endgate worked on hinges at the bottom so it could be instantly let down and the very sick or badly injured slipped out, and not lifted over aTOidable obstructions. As before said, the sick were put into ambulances, such as were able sitting on their blankets rolled up, those very sick lying upon theirs' spread out. A tram of ambulances loaded with sick made a dreary procession, but at the head of one of these the writer led the way to a hospital boat, named, if the writer's memory serves him well, the "D. A. January." Each sick man when taken aboard had his name checked. The name, rank, company, regiment, brigade, etc., were given careinlly to the authorities on the boat After the sick were aboard and made comfortabie, the writer took occasion to look about the boat and was much pleased. Although he had frequently visited the well-kept general hospital of Memphis, never had he seen all arrangement for tha sick so comfortable and convenient. Then the constamt moving about, insuring continuous change of air, could not fail to be ipeeially beneflcial About the middle of April tke whole command broke camp and started on the march. The regiment was brigaded with fiveor sis others and had been assigned to General A. J. Smith, división of the Thirtee&th Army Corps. A brigade was made up of from three to six or seven regiments, a división of írom two to four or five brigade, and an army corps of from two to five divisions. Every regiment had two or three ambulances to carry the sick or disabled, several wagons to haul the tents and other camp equipage. A9 the war progressed, tiowever, and the men gained experience in the field, the amount of baggage waa reduced to a minimum and every man fou-nd it to his advantage to get along with the .east possible in the way of clothing whila In the field. To each brigade was attached a battery. These when complete had six cannons and and six caissons - ammunition wagons - to each of which were atttached six horses. [t will be thus seen that a división with its men marching in not very close ranks, its ambulances, wagons, batteries, etc. , necessarily occupied a good deal of space when on the road. But in addition there was always a train of wagons besides, containing provisions, ammunition and necessary extra supplies. To get tuis long line of men, wagons, íatteries, etc., in proper order and in motion was no little task and often consumed no little time, and necessitated many false starts and sudden halts. To all this, however, the men soon became accustomed, and in a little while made good use of every halt by taking all the rest thus af[orded. Most of the section of' country traversed was low, and the roads when notoverflown veré either quite muddy or else very rough. n many placas roads had to bo made and iridges built; frequently, however, the road ran along the top of the levee as beore stated. , The lirst day's march took the command o Richmond, a small town nearly west of ftcksburg, and the next to Holnes' planaticm, a large tract of land belonging to Jenera) Holmes ol the Confedérate army. Here a stop oí several days was made, and from a letter written from here Sunday, April 19, by the writer, the íollowing extract is made: "There are a great many fine plantatious througk here; indeed through this part of the country there is nothing else but fine ones. Most of these have from thirty to ñfty negro houses (quarters) onthem. "The planter usually lives in a one-story house with porches all around it. The plantations though are mostly deserted, only a few negroes remaining. It lias been only three or four weeks since the first Federal troops carne ia here. One month ago the Secesh thought they were entirely safe here, but they were mistaken. "Corn (April 19) is six inches high and has been plowed once, the forest is as green as itwill be this year; roses and nearly all flowers are in full bloom. "We are now encamped on a plantation owned by a man named Holmes - now a General in the Secesh army. This place contains nine hundred acres and is the smallest of four belonging to Holmes. He also owns four steamboats on the Mississippi river. On this plantation is a fine mili. Down here they have cotton-gins, tcrist and saw-mills all under one roof." The night of April 16, 1363, the six gunboats, Benton, Louisville, Lafayette, Mound City and Carondolet, and the three transports, Forest Queen, Silver Wave and Henry Clay, ran thebatteriesat Vicksburg nd Warrenton, a few miles below. AU passed safely except the Henry Clay, which was destroyed. The transporta were loaded with army stores; their boilers were protected with cotton bales and bales of hay, and each had in tow one or more barges loaded with coal. Every ressel was struok a number oí times, but none save the Henry Clay received vital in jury. Regarding this occurrenca the following extract is taken from a letter of April 19, 1863, written from Holmes' plantation, abo ut twen ty miles west of Vicksburg: "We are to march again in a few days; are going to Carthage, which is on the river below Vicksburg. Most of the heavy things, such as large tents, commissary stores, etc., were taken aboard transporta to be conveyed down the river. These, of course, had to run the blockade at Vicksburg, and this they did last Thursdoy night (April 16). There were three (x) gun-boats and four (three) transporta. We heard the flring very distinctly. One transport was burned." The regiment, in common with the división, received marching orders the evening of April 24, and about eight o'clock at night got uiider way. The roads were rough and the night was dark, consequently one's footing was most uncertain. In the bayous all about the alligators made night hideoas with their bellowing. All night the regiment marched, and next morning at six o'olock pulled up at Smith's plantation, two and one-half miles from New Carthage. Here the división went into camp, and, although two or three miles from the river, several steam-boats came in on a bayou and were near camp f or a day or so. Having met with such uccess running the blockade the night of April 16, the Federáis resolved to attempt it again, consequently the next week a nnmber of transport were loaded with stores and with their boilers and machin'ery well protected with baled hay and eotton again ran the blockade, losing only ose vessel, the Tigress, if the writer's memory serves him well. The boats that came to Smith's plantation had been struck in a number of places and had portions of their pilothouses shot away. One boat was the Hiawatha and the other the Silver Wave. While at Smith's plantation quite a little sensation was created from one of the soldiers receiving an accidental shot. üpon examinatin however it proved to be of little danger though received in the neck; it was from a revolver shot of such small caliber that but little injury was inflicted. This was Sunday and is remembered as a warm, sultry day, the un at one time shining bright, at another paising behind clouds. A little while befo.ro night, orders came to pack up and go on the maren at once. The night was intensely dark and soon a drizzling rain began falling, but the men marched aong as merry as coufd be, singing, whistliñg and cracking jokes. But af ter a time the pitchy darkness, wetting rain and rough roads took the memment out of evory one, and the march was contin ued till about one o r t wo o' clock a. m . , when the regiment was halted by the side of a rail fence, and the writer remembers sleeping sweetly on two fence rail for perhaps tvro hours and a half, when some coffee was hastily made and drank, and the march resumed at daylight It still rained and the' roads were horrible, but the march was kept up all day, while the weather continued cloudy and rain feil at intervals. The country passed through was uninviting, and the bad roads and unpleasant jday make the memory of this time any thing but pleasant. Wagons and artillery stalled and horses and nmles mired down, and all had to be pulled and lifted out by hand. ' Night at last came and thè writer remembers feeliüg too tired ven to sloep. Coffee wa3 made and plenty of this drank, and in a short time renewed strength seemed to come. With the coffee was eaten hard bread and salt pork. The pork was cut in thln slioes, ono of which was put on the end of a sharp-pointed stick and toasted. When ono had marched all day this wa9 eaten with relIsh, as was the hard bread that in camp waa most unpalatable. ïho ground was wet and thoroughly saturated with water, and to meet this condition oí thiugs, littio boughs were broken oS ths trees and thrown on the ground; npou these, ber and woolen blankets were spread, and the sweetest sleep imaginable obtained. The sun came out bright and warm next day, and for a long distance the road lay along the west bank of Lake St. Joseph, a most beautiful sheet of water, said to have been once the bed of the Mississippi. Upon the borders of this lake were several handsome residences. Two of unusualclegance are in particular called to mind ; one belonged to a Dr. Bowie, and was f uruisued in most elabórate style. This, as well as the other flne residences, was vacated by the owner. The Bowie house was burned some weeks later, about the time Sherman's corps came along. Along the lake's western bank the road wound in front of most delightful homes, while its eastern shore was overhung by noble forest trees, and these had ltfng festoons of moss hanging gracefully from their boughs. Many flower3, shrubs and trees were seen with which Northern eyes were unfamiliar; these gave the region a half tropical appearance. In this delightful spot, with the air soft, balmy and filled with the fragrance of flowers, birds singing, and so much to please the senses, the writer thought he never had looked upon so much of blooming, sunny, delicious, glorious nature. It was, Indeed, a perfect specimen of the Sunny South. A real little paradise, and as such was no doubt regarded by its wealthy residents, who only a few weeks bef ore feit as secure from invasión as the residents of the North. The región being in a great degree isolated, in a low level section of country that had to be protected from overflow by levees was, particularly in a season remarkuble for high water, deemed safe from aU invasión, if not indeed prooi against it. But the persistent Grant had decreed it otherwise, and now long and formidable columns of energetic and hardy Northerners, were making their way through the very heart of this enchanting country. So impenetrable was the locality deemed by the Confederates, that Pemberton, it was said, to the last persisted in the belief that the movement was not in force and was only a feint, and intended as a diversión from a serious attask on Vicksburg from some other quarter. The 29th of April the Mississippi was reached at Hard Times Landing nearly opposite Grand Gulf. Jnst below the latter place is De Shroon's plantation, and thither the column marched after a short stop at Hard Times. The line led in sight of Grand Gulf, mto which our gunboats were seen throwing shells; the flring was very delibérate, and at the time was not responded to by the Confederates. The navy however failed to reduce the works. About 10,000 troops belonging to the Thirteenth Corps had gone aboard transports at New Carthage, some twenty or ttoirty miles above. A landing place for these was sought above Grand Gulf, on the Mississippi side, but none being found they debarked at Hard Times after night fall, and quietly marched across the península, on the Louisiana shore, opposite the rebel tronghold. Meantime the navy engaged the Confedérate batteries, during whieh the loaded transporta ran by. The writer's regiment was encamped a few miles belovv, and the cannonading made a terrific noise. Whether it came from the heavy oaliber of the guns engaged or from the peculiar state of the atinosphere, the writer caa not say, but never did the torrific din of cannonading strike nis ears with such force. Every shot, too, seemed to have a peculiar ringing sound that was piercing nits effcs upon the organs of hearing. As before stated, the writer's regiment encamped the uight of the 29th of April at De Shroon's plantation below Graad Gulf on ;b.e rirer. Very éárly on üie morningof April 30 the gun-boats and transport, both alive with soldiers, were Been on the rirer. These moved over towards the Mississippi shore, and the writer remembers almost shuddering with fear lest they would be fired into from the adjoining hill3. The boats all moved down the river about six miles and landed at Bruinsburg. The hospital department did not go aboard a boat till near nightfall, and, haring been informed that all would remain on board over night, the Writer, feeling much f atigued, with a companion stretched himself upon two cotton bales lying side by side and slept sweetly tilt early dawn, when it wa3 found that the boat, having dropped dossvn the river during the night, was then tied up at Bruinsburg. , Word was received to join the regiment at once, tLen in Urn upon the shore and ready to maren in land, where it was said a battle was already in progress. SECriON IX FIRST BATTLE BEFORE V1CKSBUBG. While the fleet of gun-boat8 nnder Commodore Porter at Grand Gulf below Vioksburg engaged the enemy and McClernand's corps was sceking a landing nearby, upon the same date, April 29, 1363, Sherman debarked tes reeiments above Vicksburg on the Yazoo river at Haines' Bluff as ií to attack the latter place while at the same time út was boinbarded by eight gunboats. The whole demonstratlon at Haines' Bluff was only a feint intended to confuse the enemy and divert bis attention {rom the real point of attack at Grand Gulf. The Thirteenth corps effected a landing at Bruinsburg, Mi9s., April 30, and early on the morning of May 1 met most of Grand Gulf garrison (Confedérate) under General Bowen, seven miles inland from Bruinsburg and within flve miles of Port Gibson, the most important town in that vicinity and located on Bayou Pierre. Tha Federáis were upon the southern side of this stream. To reach them the Grand Gulf garrison had to cross the bayou and as it was at the time high, they were obliged to go to the only bridge in the viBinity, the ona at Port Gibson, but much out of their way. It had been the hope of the Federáis to ccure possession of this bridge before tha arrival of the Conf ederates ; and it was the hope of the latter to meet the invading column at or very near the landing place, Bruinsburg. i But neither slde had its wish gratiñed; the Confederates reached the bridge at Port Gibson, crossed upon it, and pushed (We miles beyond toward the river, whea tbelr further course was lnterruDted by the Federáis in forcé on nign ground. So much for what immediately preceded the battle of Port Gibson. As narrated in the previous number, the night of April 30 the writer had slept beside a companion aboard a river boat upon two bales of cotton, and at early dawn next morning went ashore with hls companion and joined the regiment then falling in line two or three hundrod yards distant The writer had just reached the regiment when, putting his hand in his pocket, he found that three or four dollars in money, all he had, was gone. He spoke of his misfortune, and received a lecture from Wigton, his companion of the night previous, and some twenty or thirtv voars his senior {Tn he. Conttnmd )