Sunday, 7th—We started early this morning and after reaching Brandon, about thirteen miles east of Jackson, went into bivouac about a mile from the town. There was no skirmishing in the front today, the rebels rapidly falling back. Our men set fire to the town this evening and burned almost the whole town. Most of the citizens had fled from the place before our forces entered. We captured a great quantity of tobacco here.
Diary of Alexander G. Downing; Company E, Eleventh Iowa Infantry
Saturday, 6th—Our army did not move until in the afternoon, because of having to lay the pontoons across the Pearl river. The rebels had burned the bridges, twenty-eight in all, after crossing. I was detailed this morning as special guard at the Seventeenth Corps headquarters while out on this expedition. Things are quiet in the rear.
Friday, 5th—We left our bivouac this morning at 8 o’clock and moved forward about fifteen miles. General Liggett’s Division was assigned the advance today, while our brigade was taken from the supply train and placed immediately in Liggett’s rear. General Hurlbut’s Division is on a road just off to our left. There was some skirmishing, though with little loss to either side. We drove the rebels out of Clinton this morning and at dark routed them from Jackson, capturing one piece of artillery and some prisoners. We did not get into bivouac until 10 o’clock.
Saturday, 5th—We are all glad to get back in camp again and to sleep in the bunks instead of lying on the ground in open bivouac. The boys spent the day in washing clothes and cleaning guns and accouterments.
Thursday, 4th—We started to move at 8 o’clock and by night reached Bolton Station, where we went into camp. Our brigade being in the rear did not get into camp until 11 p. m. There was some skirmishing by Crocker’s Division, which lost three men killed and several wounded. Two men were killed by a ball from the rebels’ battery striking the top rail of a rail fence, which broke and struck the two men, knocking off their heads and spilling their brains about. It was a gruesome sight. Their bodies were buried where they fell.
Wednesday, 3rd—We started this morning at 8 o’clock and marched to the Black river, where we bivouacked for the night. Our brigade was train guard for the provision train. Our entire expedition is supposed to have about twenty-five thousand men, composed of infantry, artillery and cavalry, with one engineers’ corps in charge of a pontoon bridge. The weather is fine for marching. General Crocker’s Division has started ahead.
Tuesday, 2d—Our pickets were relieved last night about 10 o’clock preparatory to going on the expedition, but we did not get off this morning because the quartermaster failed to get the rations loaded yesterday, so we have to remain in camp for another day. I went on camp guard this morning. Our orders are to leave all equipage in camp, taking only our blankets and one hundred rounds of ammunition. The convalescents are to remain here to guard the camp.
Monday, 1st—The weather is nice and warm today, as it has been for several weeks. A part of General Tuttle’s Division arrived in camp from some point up the river. The Crocker Brigade (Third Brigade of the Fourth Division of the Seventeenth Corps) received orders to prepare to go with the expedition, taking twenty days’ rations of hard-tack, salt, coffee and sugar. We are to start in the morning at daylight. Meridian is one hundred and sixty miles east of Vicksburg.
Sunday, 31st—Regimental inspection today and the usual dress parade. All things are quiet in camp and no news. I attended church services in the afternoon. Since the arrival here of the large number of reinforcements, the rebels have all left this vicinity, retiring beyond the Black river. In all probability they are informed as to our contemplated expedition and are concentrating their forces to dispute every mile of the way to Meridian.
Saturday, 30th—We cleaned up our camp for inspection. Troops are still landing here for the purpose of going out on the raid.
