Feb. 28. We mustered and had regiment inspection this afternoon. Major Peats of Co. K complimented the troops quite highly on their clean guns. The ground is drying off fast. The river is still rising. There is much sickness, and about two burials take place every day. The “Rocket� came up tonight, bringing Gen. McPherson. I heard an adjutant-general say that the Rebs had sunk the “Indianola.�
March 1. We had company inspection at 12 o’clock and dress parade at 5 o’clock. We then drew clothing, which was needed very much. I drew three pair of socks and one pair of trousers.
March 2. On picket in the cotton field today until about 3 o’clock, when Capt. Wheeler, officer of the day, came around and relieved us. They have the steam tug on the lake bank nearly ready to launch.
March 3. We had a short game of ball this morning, but Buttons got mad and broke it up. Negroes are coming in very fast. We had dress parade at 5 o’clock, after which a game of ball. To close the scene Bill Lowe and Ragan had a fight. The river has risen over two inches a day.
March 4. We had dress parade at 4 o’clock. Orders were read for regimental drill of one hour each forenoon and afternoon.
March 5. We received the news of the Conscription Act. It passed both Houses and became a law. It receives the general approval of the soldiers. Peats drilled us from 10 to 11 o’clock this forenoon, and from 2 until 3 o’clock in the afternoon. We had dress parade at 4 o’clock. There was an order read from Major Peats awarding a medal, worth not less than fifty dollars, to the best drilled in the manual, and the most prompt in the discharge of duty. He gives until the 1st of May. A dredge passed here today. Some of our boys found four hundred bales of cotton, a large pile of corn, and about two tons of meat hidden in cane brake and swamps.
March 6. Friday. The gunboat “Tyler� came up last night and is lying here this morning. I helped make out muster rolls today.
March 7. We had a heavy rainstorm last night. I finished making out the muster rolls for January and February.
March 8. Sunday. We had a warm and sultry day which ended in a thunder and hail storm. We had dress parade at 4 o’clock.
March 9. Helped get out the morning report book in the forenoon. At noon the company formed and we marched up town and received our pay. Mine was nineteen dollars. Cold and windy today. At about 2 o’clock heavy cannonading was heard on the other side of the river in the direction of Yazoo City. It was continued until after dark, and in the night it started again and continued for some time.