August 11. We left Natchez at 5 P. M. The bluffs here at Natchez are 150 feet in height. The city is very prettily situated. Passed village of Washington on the left at 10.30 A. M.; Passed Gen. Taylor’s plantation at 11.30 A. M.; Grand Gulf at 3 P. M.—a very strong place. Passed wreck of Indianola at sunset. Arrived at Vicksburg soon after 11 o’clock at night.
August 12. Passed head of the celebrated Vicksburg canal at 11.15 A. M. Passed Millican’s Bend at 2 o’clock P. M. Steamer “Tempest” with the 49th Massachusetts on board has passed up.
August 13. Passed Napoleon Ark at the mouth of the Arkansas River about 9 o’clock.
August 14. Arrived at Helena, Ark., at 1.30 P. M. Stopped to coal till 4 o’clock and went on shore to stretch our legs during the stay. It is a very strong natural fortification, and many artificial works have been erected in addition. Two men were drowned attempting to come on board.
August 15. Arrived at Memphis at about 6 o’clock A. M. Left at 11.30 P. M.
August 16. Steamer ran aground and stuck fast for hours; reached Gayoso Landing at 4 P. M.
One must travel on the Mississippi River to get any idea of its greatness. Here we go puffing along, day after day, and night after night, and we wake up every morning and the same grand old river stretches away before us.
The distances on the Mississippi River are as follows: Passes to New Orleans, 125 miles; New Orleans to Baton Rouge, 130; Baton Rouge to Port Hudson, 30; Port Hudson to Natchez, 100; Natchez to Vicksburg, 140; Vicksburg to Memphis, 360; Memphis to Cairo, 240; total 1125 miles.
August 17. Arrived opposite Columbus, Kentucky, at 8 A. M. when the steamer was brought to by a shot across her bows from the Battery at this point. Arrived at Cairo, Ill., at 10 A. M. While stopping here there has been some trouble with some of the more turbulent men on account of their not being allowed to go on shore.
August 18. At 10 o’clock A. M. commenced changing baggage from the steamer to the cars which occupied the time till about dark when the regiment went on board the cars and run out about 20 miles to a station called Wetaug, arriving a little before midnight and stopped till daylight. The delay is very tedious and vexatious. We are going home and trains going to the front have the right of way and so we are side-tracked to await their passing.