May 16. Saturday. We had a hard march of twenty-five miles today. We passed through Utica and camped at Raymond. We heard cannonading in the direction of Big Black Bridge. A battle is supposed to be taking place. The hills have gradually disappeared and the face of the country is quite smooth. I saw wheat nearly ready for the reaper. The boys are tired tonight. I keep up fine. We passed a number of hospitals filled with the wounded and also passed a large number of prisoners.
May 17. Sunday. We started for Big Black Bridge early. Nine miles out we came upon the road leading from Jackson to Vicksburg, and were upon the battle ground of yesterday. The horrors of war were everywhere visible. The dead and wounded were scattered around over the ground. Here we came upon Bill Stafford, who said McPherson’s corps took seventeen hundred prisoners and thirteen pieces of artillery, but were badly cut up. They are burying the dead. It is rumored that Pemberton was killed. In one place the horses of nearly a whole battery were killed. We marched five miles, joined our old brigade, and camped on Black River. Our advance has reached the bridge, and taken three thousand prisoners, and seventeen cannon. McPherson says we have taken seven thousand prisoners and sixty-eight pieces of light artillery since crossing the Mississippi. We saw Stevenson and Logan this afternoon. I saw Quimby when we stopped for dinner. A number of fellows swam the Black River and captured chickens, pigs, etc. The Rebels have chosen their own ground and have been badly whipped each time. We draw scarcely any rations. Engineers are bridging the river.
May 18. Monday. We lay in camp until 1 o’clock, when the bridge was completed and orders came to advance. We crossed in the rear of Blair’s division and marched to within six miles of Vicksburg. The country is nothing but a succession of hills. Sherman’s corps was in the advance. The roads were very dusty, but we marched six miles before we bivouaced for the night, tired, hungry.
May 19. Tuesday. Arose early and advanced three miles and formed our line of battle, our brigade on the left of Smith’s. We held this line until afternoon. On the right they fought a little, some balls passing over our heads. About 1 o’clock we moved up and formed a line. Shells passed over our heads, one man in our regiment was wounded and three horses killed. By this time our batteries were planted and the cannonading became general. It lasted until 3 o’clock and then slackened and we moved to the right about half a mile. McPherson, Logan and Stevenson are in the thickest of it. We hear that Sherman’s right rests on the Mississippi, and McClernand’s left, below. If so they have them completely surrounded. All praise to Gen. Grant. The country is rough and hilly, and the hills steep and rugged, and run in ranges parallel around the town. At 1 o’clock we moved still further to the left and a little forward. Wounded men are being brought in rapidly. We lay here till morning.
May 20. Wednesday. We were astir early and took breakfast. Cannonading began at daylight. We were ordered back to our brigade and moved up to the road. Shells were thrown over, so we moved to the right and were drawn up. Here we were protected by a hill, and awaited orders. We were soon ordered to the left, and advanced about half a mile or more, and lay under the brow of a hill which protected us from the enemy’s fire. Their line of works are but forty rods in advance.
10 o’clock—Batteries on our right have opened and there is a regular artillery duel going on over our heads. There is an occasional premature burst, one of which seriously wounded Dare. Doty and Shaw each got a slight rap. Our line of skirmishes are on the hill above. I went up and skirmished a while and fired fifty-nine rounds. While there, word was brought me that Frank was slightly wounded. The ball hit a pocket, which was full of things, broke a looking glass, the handle of a toothbrush, and a thick letter from Cousin Sarah. It merely broke the skin, making a bruise. He had not fired a single shot. Seven of our regiment were wounded today. We lay here all night. A singular incident happened during the night. We struck up a conversation with the Rebels. One of our boys, after talking a long time, found he was talking with an old friend. Inquiries were made for mutual acquaintances, and they had a real social time. Finally they laid down their arms and came together. The line of fire that followed the shell from our gunboats and mortars sent over that ill-fated town was a grand sight.
May 21. Thursday. At daylight the implements of death and destruction were opened once more. I saw some splendid work done by our artillery and there were many little incidents worthy of note. Three shots came very near hitting me, one went between Doty’s head and mine, which were about a foot apart. Brisk fighting all day. Bill Stafford came here and I wrote a few lines home and sent them by him to mail. At dark the firing ceased and a lively chat was again opened by the contending parties. It looked singular to see men fighting with deadly aim during the day, and then spending the night in friendly conversation. I slept in the same hollow. Gunboats and mortars fired at regular intervals.
May 22. Our line of skirmishes opened at daylight as usual. 7 o’clock—Scaling ladders are being brought around. 10 o’clock—Deployed for the charge. Terrific cannonading going on over our heads. Shells are prematurely bursting, wounding our own men. Night—The day has finally passed away. The 81st Ill. and the 7th Mo. made the charge and were repulsed. Charging was done along the whole of the lines, but it was not a concerted movement and proved a total failure, owing probably to the nature of the grounds. Our boys charged up to the works in splendid style but were not supported. The Confederates raised and poured deadly volumes among them and swept their ranks with grape. We left a good many killed and wounded upon the field. Among the officers, the Colonel of the 81st was killed and Humphries of the 95th. Our regiment made no charge, but advanced close to the works and acted as sharpshooters, and when our charging column was repulsed, we were ordered to retreat. J. R., fool-like, gave the order loud and distinct, and as we fell back they poured the musketry and grape among us. We finally returned to the old camp, having lost eighteen, killed and wounded. The Rebel works extend as far as the eye can see. They are a succession of forts and rifle pits.
May 23. Saturday. Rainy. How I wish I had a clean shirt or time to wash this! We were up in good time and moved toward the scene of action. We again acted as skirmishers. No charges were made today. We lost two men. As soon as it was dark, Sweeny, Chester and myself dug a fort on the brow of the hill, and also a line of retreat. While we were at work the Rebels struck up a conversation. They were lively and sociable. They wanted to meet us half way and have a sensible chat. They appeared quite confident of holding the place. They made a great many inquiries after old friends and acquaintances. They are tired of war, generally and said they wish old Abe and Jeff Davis had to fight it out. They said they would give anything for a little coffee. The conversation became too general and our batteries opened and put a quietus on it by sending over a few quiet reminders.
May 24. Sunday. Up early and took our position behind the works. I had fired but one shot when we were relieved by the 80th Ill., and returned to camp for a day’s rest. Toward noon Grant issued an order for each man to wash and clean up. The order was quickly and gladly obeyed. Captain Wheeler’s company returned today. Bill was here but a short time when he was wounded. Two of our men were wounded. The rumor is afloat that Joe Johnston is coming up in our rear. It had the effect of closing up a lot of miserable stragglers. We have a line of rifle pits dug within five or six rods of the Rebel works, running parallel, from which the 20th Ill. is trying to undermine the main fort. The Rebels are no doubt suspicious of their intentions, for they began to rain down grenades upon them. About this time a sad accident happened. One of the thirty-two pound parrots threw a shell among the 20th, which took off the legs and an arm for one poor fellow, a leg and an arm for another, killed two, and wounded several others. This double attack was too much for them and they fell back. This encouraged the Rebels and they rose and poured a heavy and continued fire upon us, which was finally silenced by our sharpshooters and artillery. Lavonan’s division has been sent back to take care of the rear. We are confident of success. I stood one hour picket tonight.