June 5 — Things are tolerable this morning — some shooting going on as usual on our lines. We are still held as reserve at the same place. 7 o’clock p.m. — I feel very unwell and have been all day. 9 o’clock — all is quiet tonight. Oh! Lord watch over us while we sleep tonight. W.R.C.
Civil War Diary kept by W. R. Clack, Co. B, 43rd Regiment, Tennessee Volunteers.
June 4 — We are now in Col. Brad rear on the Hauls Ferry road sharp shooters opened fire at daylight this morning in our front. An attack is expected today. The minies and shells are now whistling over our heads. God speed the happy hour when we shall be delivered from this unhappy state. 5 o’clock p.m. -I have just now been informed that some La troops went over the river and spiked those mortars opposite town last night. A negro boy had his head shot off with cannon ball in sight of us this morning and two other were wounded. He was in a house near the breastworks. 9 o’clock p.m. — firing has about ceased — occasionally we can hear a sharp report from the pickets. W.R.C.
June 3 — All is quiet this morning. 3 o’clock p.m. — Gun boats are now shelling us. Charley Graves was wounded a few minutes ago by one of those shells. His leg will have to be amputated.
4 o’clock p.m. — Heavy cannonading at this hour on the back line — musketry can also be heard. It is reported that Johnson will attack the enemy on Friday the 5th.
8 o’clock p.m. — We left our trenches and moved up the line to the left, to support a weak point near the Hauls Ferry road. Heavy cannonading is now going on at that point.
9 o’clock p.m. — The gunboats have now come up and are now shelling the bottoms in the direction of town rapidly. They continued an hour, then calmed down and we got to sleep a little. W.R.C.
June 2 — All appears tolerably quiet this morning — occasionally a cannon can be heard. Lieut. Hopkins started home tonight. Moon is now shining bright and the Yankees are shelling town at 11 o’clock p.m.
June 1 — Heavy cannonading was heard this morning just at daybreak on our left. It is supposed they were making a charge on our trenches. All appears quiet at 7 o’clock — From 8 o’clock a.m. cannonading continued in a mild manner all day long on front lines. W.R.C.
May 31 — 3 o’clock a.m. — heavy cannonading going on along our line on the left. 4 o’clock a.m. — Gun boat shelling us. One man belonging to the battery was wounded last night by a shell from the mortar. 6 o’clock a.m. — All appears quiet on our lines at this hour. The Yankees threw shells at us occasionally all day. W.R.C.
May 30 — Day dawned and the sun rose in its undimmed splendor this morning and all is quiet and still around old Vicksburg — not even the firing of a gun can be heard around our line. Those boats spoken of yesterday are still in sight above town — anchored out. 7 o’clock p.m. Mortars shelling us from the other side of the river and the gunboat dropping a shell occasionally from below.
May 29 — Firing commenced after day dawned again this morning. 8 o’clock a.m. — heavy cannonading going on along our back line and continued an hour or two. Twelve transports and two gun boats came down today and have anchored out in line of battle above Vicksburg. One boat came up and shelled us awhile today but done no damage to us. 3 o’clock p.m. — All appears quiet along our back lines at present. It has the appearance of rain this evening cloudy and thundering. Gun boat shelled us a while tonight. W. R. C.
May 28 — Sharp shooters as usual opened fire at daylight. A few can be seen in sight of our line again this morning . The gun boats that attacked us yesterday are about two miles below on the opposite side of the river lying still. W. R. Clack
May 27—Three gunboats come up opposite our line and shell us rapidly for an hour but hurt none of our regt. One man just to our right had his head shot off and two others were wounded. In the meantime another boat attempted to pass down by our batteries which was sunk up at town. Sharp shooting and cannonading is going on along our back lines and a general engagement is expected daily. It is reported that Genl. Johnson has attacked the enemy in the rear. 4 o’clock p.m. — The yankee pickets have come in sight of our lines.
