Have been working very hard, - have hardly had time to think of anything but business, or even to step out of the tent. At noon we received orders to be ready to embark on steamers tonight, - then the papers rushed in at a fearful rate. The 47th goes home to be mustered out [ 1 ], - also the non-veterans of the 8th. It is said we are ordered to the relief of Steele who is in a bad fix.
It has been an awful hot day, and that does not begin to tell it. Moved down to the levee about nine, and during the day the brigade has been embarking. Made our headquarters on the John Raine, which has on board also the 9th Minn., Detachment of the 47th and the battery. We leave the non-veterans of the 47th and 8th behind to be mustered out. Dinner at the Gayoso [ 2 ], where they exhibit the marks of Forrest's visit.
Our fleet consisting of eleven steamers left Memphis at four o'clock this morning and has been making pretty good time all day; passed Helena [ 3 ] during the afternoon. The day has been very warm; this evening a million musquitos [sic] are singing loud tunes aroun us. Our Staff joys in the presence of Lieut. W. H. Sargent of the 8th Wis. Lieut. Pierce of the 47th Ills. remains behind to be mustered out.
The fleet arrived at the mouth of White river before midnight last night and tied up. I was up nearly all night with orders. At daylight we started up White river; before noon it was demonstrated that our boat was too large for these waters; after vainly endeavoring for two or three hours to get over a bar we moved on the Darling, Gen. Mower's [4 ] headquarter boat. Took the 9th with us, leaving the battery and detachment [5 ] of the 47th to wait until we send for them; left our baggage on the Raine, - the captain sent a yawl [6 ] with us to the Darling. There is nothing but woods along the river.
Moved slowly on up the river; at about four o'clock reached "St Charles." which consists of three houses and a "fortification." The entire command disembarked and occupied the works, which are strong and in a very commanding position; the place is said to be about sixty miles above the mouth of the river. We were ahead of the other brigades getting off the boats; I had the doubtful pleasure of posting the pickets [7 ] after dark without explicit knowledge of the locality, but succeeded fairly well.
Col. Hubbard [8 ] and myself have been dependent upon the hospitality of the 5th today, our baggage not yet having come up; a boat went down after the battery etc. this morning. We have officially this afternoon the glorious news that Atlanta is ours; no particulars; the news was read to the troops and created much enthusiasm. "May [9 ] speedily follow!"
Hot this forenoon; two or three fine showers after dinner. The boat came up with the battery and our baggage but left my field desk on the John Raine, about as provoking a thing as could have occurred, - it contains all the brigade records. We had just got our flies up, a nice place fixed for headquarters, - when we were ordered to embark; evening finds us on the War Eagle.
Left St Charles at daylight; have been making our way up the river without any particular incident. After dark arrived at Duvall's [ 10 ] Bluff . . . part of the command disembarked.
Disembarked this morning; moved out about a mile on the Brownsville road bivouacking [11 ] in a fine grove on the border of a prairie that stretches westward. Here we have remained all day; it is said that we march across the prairie towards Brownsville tomorrow. Have been nearly sick today, - a headache, and divers other ills. [12 ]
Today, by the record, I am twenty-two years old; have not had a very joyous celebration of the day. After breakfast my first duty was to take a new detail out on the picket line, which occupied an hour or so; returning I was in time to get the order to march at two o'clock on the road to Brownsville; moved at the appointed time, our road leading across a large prairie; very warm; sixteen miles without water; marched until twelve o'clock, P. M.
When we awoke old Sol's rays were pouring down upon us, - a few moments afterward we were again on our way westward over the prairie; the day was hot; there was considerable straggling; marched about eight miles, passing through Brownsville and bivouacking about a mile west of the town and a mile and a half northeast from Brownsville station on the railroad; our bivouac is by a stream in the woods.
No movement of the troops today; the time has been devoted to attending to the necessary business, speculating on the prospects and deprecationg the immense number of troublesome insects that infest these woods, - principally this last.
We still remain "in the woods." Have found enough to do, and fancy I have not wasted much time today; with details, orders etc. the duties are enough to keep one quite busy. The day has been quite warm, - in Minnesota they would say hot.
There is not much to say about what we have done today; have tried to imrpove the time by writing one of two letters and reading more or less of a treatise on the Mind, by Watts [13 ], and have also played a game or two at cribbage with Lieut. Sargent [14 ]. Quartermaster Law has gone to Little Rock to get a wagon train; an expedition is fitting out and of course we shall go; destination, "unknown." Cloudy this P.M., but it did not succeed in raining.
The usual routine during the day. This evening we were fortunate in receiving a large mail, - the first we have had this month; letters from home, and news from everywhere. Photographs.
The train [15 ] has been loading with rations; we are told that all that now detains the expedition is the lack of forage. Have passed the day much as usual, - not much time to waste.
At one o'clock this P.M. the column [16 ], consisting of our division, a brigade of the 17th corps and a division of cavalry, commanded by Maj. Gen. Mower, took up the line of march. Passed through Brownsville, moving northward on the Austin road about seven miles; bivouacked after dark, in the woods. We have a train of about 180 wagons; our Red River expedition [17 ] taught us that large trains are sometimes a nuisance.
Were on the move at six this morning; marched northerly about seventeen miles, passing through Austin and Stony Point, two little villages hardly deserving a title. The country is poor, the road has led through woods all day and in some places has been pretty bad. Bivouacked at four o'clock near a stream; the rear did not get in until after dark.
Marched at half past five, our brigade having the advance; country rough and stony; our course northeasterly; passed through Searcy [ 18 ], which is quite a little town; bivouacked about half past three on the north bank of Little Red river, about two miles from Searcy. Forded the river here, - the bottom is rocky, the banks steep; the rear guard did not get in till late. We have an intimation that there is a long march before us.
These nights are exceedingly cold, - "we nearly freeze"; the dews are very heavy. Have been rear guard today; did not get started until about six; our course has been nearly north; the country, the roughest we have seen in the south. Bivouacked before dark on a rocky hillside, having marched about seventeen miles. The day has been fine, - the march very dusty.
Were up at half past two this morning; marched twenty miles over a "God-forsaken" country, - nothing but hills, rocks and woods; in the forenoon passed through a little place called Fairview; marched thence northeast to White river, bivouacking on the south bank just before dark. According to Colton [ 19 ], this place is called Oil Trough [20 ]. Some rebs were here this morning; it is said that Shelby [ 21 ] is thirty miles from this place with 6000 men.
This morning the first thing in order was to ford White river, which is here perhaps two-hundred yards wide; the crossing was very nicely done and the view quite picturesque. After fording the river, marched north six miles, thence northeast about ten, bivouactin before dark two miles from Black river. The country is all timbered, - few houses along the road. There has been considerable straggling; commanders do not do their duty in endeavoring to stop it.
Before we could march today we had to build a bridge four hundred and fifty feet long across Black river at Elgin [22 ]; at half past three this was completed; we crossed the river and marche up the valley seven miles. Our brigade was in advance, for which we were very glad as we did not bivouac until nine and the rear was late getting in. The country is much better than on the other side of the river. We have a report that Price [23 ] (the gentleman we are after) has been whipped in southeast Missouri.
Marched at eight; the day fine, the road good, - no dust; our course northeasterly up Black river valley; have been again in rear of the train but had good luck and bivouacked before dark; made a good march, - twenty-one miles; our bivouac for the night is on the river some four miles below Powhattan [ 24 ]. Our reports from the rebs are somewhat conflicting; the citizens have heard that there has been a fight.
Reveille at three; the column started at half past four; marched up the river twenty-three miles, bivouacking opposite Pocahontas [ 25 ] and near the river at half past three; pretty tall marching, - but the road was good. Pocahontas looks deserted, from this side of the river. The rebs left here last Monday, "ro redeem Missouri"; Gen. Mower's only idea now is, to catch them.
The column moved at half past six, we were next to the advance. The intention was to cross Black river at a ford seven miles above Pocahontas, but on reaching it the water was found too deep and we continued marching along nearly parallel with the course of the river; marched about twenty miles; bivouacked at half past five near the river. The roads seem to be about "played out." How people live in this country is more than I can see. [ 26 ]
Rain and mud far beyond our desire; have been in advance, - moved at daylight, in an hour it commenced raining and continued until after noon; the roads were very bad, were not sorry to bivouac at half past three. Our course has been east and northeast, through woods the entire distance about twelve miles. The "natives" of this country are not able to tell us much about where we are, - indeed the most of them don't know where they live. Sargent and I practiced a little "strategy" [27 ] on Owens today. [28 ]
There's no use in trying to write the record of today on this page; have marched about twelve miles, forded Black river, crossed "Mason and Dixon's line. We were in rear; roads bad; great time fording river; I was sent ahead to get the brigade into bivouac while the Col. [29 ] remained with one regiment to see the train over; had a loud time, - bivouacked about eleven P.M. - "dark is no name for it"; wagons smashed, the supply train "strung along the road for five miles"; the General [ 30 ] two miles ahead. Brigade all right but the 9th, - rather a joke on them.
It rained from midnight until morning, which made the roads awful; moved up to the bivouac of the division (on Cane creek) early, with the wagons that were behind; at ten o'clock the column was again in motion; our course has been north, through a low, flat swamp; got in in good season, having marched about ten miles. It is fearful work to get our train over these roads.
Moved on northward at half past five; two miles brought us out of the swamp; rain all the forenoon; have marched twenty miles, passing through Poplar Bluffs [31 ] and fording Black river six miles above that place; bivouac near the ford. This is what the General calls a "d---d fatality." The General got a St. Louis paper of the 22d today, - it says Sheridan [ 32 ] has whipped Early [33 ] [34 ] and captured 5000 prisoners. We hear that Gen. "A. J." [ 35 ] is near Cape Girardeau. The last heard of the rebs they were near Ironton [36 ].