Feb. 15. Sunday. We had a big thunderstorm last night. Part of McClernand’s forces came up on the transports this afternoon. The supposition is that all are coming up.
Feb. 16. I was on guard (supernumerary), all day and was not called out. It was rainy this morning.
Feb. 17. Rain all last night and all day today. There has been no work done on the ditch since we came back, on account of the rain. The river is falling fast. A large wharf boat went down at noon.
Feb. 18. Cloudy this morning, though not raining. The ground is covered with water and mud. The old wooden gunboat “Tyler� is lying here at anchor.
Feb. 19. Tuesday. Warm and pleasant. Mud drying up very fast. Work on the ditch was continued today by four hundred Nigs. We draw rations for twelve hundred Negroes, wenches, children and all. The women and children will be sent into the cotton fields to work. Men are detailed to oversee them.
Feb. 20. Wednesday. Beautiful day. We played ball.
Feb. 22. Friday. On guard. Stood picket in a large cotton field which contains five or six hundred acres of cotton, unpicked. I went back to the cane brake and got a fish pole. The guard of our forage train came in contact with some cavalry in the vicinity of Old River and routed them. In the course of the proceedings a Negro teamster hopped off his horse, drew a revolver and shot a Reb who had just shot one of our Captains, and took two prisoners.
Feb. 23. We were relieved early. The day was fine. A fleet of ten boats landed here this morning, having on board Logan’s division. They landed and marched back about three miles and camped on the bank of the lake. John A. Logan looks fine. Colonel Stevenson looks the same as ever. It is rumored that he is trying to get us back into his brigade. A year ago today George and I explored the caves under the bluff below the dam, and one year ago tomorrow we left the dam. Played ball this afternoon. There are about four hundred Negroes at work on the levee.
Feb. 24. Played ball this forenoon and in the afternoon were detailed to extinguish a fire which destroyed the best part of town. The Post Office, one of the best buildings, was burned. We had dress parade at 4 o’clock. Gen. Logan’s address to his troops was read to us. Grant and McPherson were both here today. It is rumored that the “Star of the West� has been captured.
Feb. 25. Our division was inspected today by Major Strong, Inspector-General. Ours was the first regiment inspected. We had a thunder shower in the afternoon and an awful one last night and this morning. Our tent leaked like a sieve. The river is rising very fast. The bank is being leveled to keep the water out of the canal. We had dress parade this evening.