Monday, 13th—We left this morning at 3 o’clock on our return trip via Black river bridge, with a train of two hundred and fifty empty wagons. We took with us sixty-one prisoners, giving them the first free ride they have had for some time. We all rode on the wagons, standing, and in order to keep from falling out when the teams made a lurch, we removed the canvas covers so as to hold to the bows. The road was lined the whole way with troops going to reinforce General Sherman. The day was cloudy, and we were thankful, as it kept the deep dust from rising somewhat. We reached the bridge at dark and went into bivouac. I was on a detail to guard the prisoners during the night. The paroled prisoners are all being sent out of Vicksburg to their homes. They are a hard-looking set of men.
Diary of Alexander G. Downing; Company E, Eleventh Iowa Infantry
Sunday, 12th—We started this morning at sunup and arrived at General Sherman’s headquarters at 10 o’clock. Two regiments of Sherman’s army came out to reinforce our train guard. They feared that the rebels’ cavalry would make a raid on the train before we could reach the main army. We arrived safely without losing a single wagon. Cannonading is going on quite lively from both sides. Good water is very scarce here, and the few wells and cisterns which we can draw upon are crowded all the time; I stood with two canteens for more than an hour waiting for my turn.
Saturday, 11th—The Eleventh Iowa started at sunup this morning for Jackson, Mississippi, as an escort for two hundred and forty-five wagons loaded with provisions and ammunition for General Sherman’s army. By night we were within one mile of Clinton, where we went into bivouac, closely corralling the wagons. We rode on the wagons a part of the time during the journey. Whenever they came to a stretch of good roads, the teamsters would put the horses on the run, and in order to keep up we had to climb onto the loaded wagons. We suffered for lack of water today, for the rebels in their retreat polluted the branches they crossed by killing and throwing into the streams their wornout horses and mules, hoping thus to strike a blow at us. Their march was marked by the buzzards flying above or feeding upon the carcasses of the slain animals.
Friday, 10th—News came that there was fighting at Jackson, Mississippi, General Sherman having pushed Johnston back to that point. Troops are passing on to the front to reinforce Sherman. News came also that General Lee was making a raid into Pennsylvania.[1] Colonel Chambers returned from Vicksburg today, and has again taken charge of our brigade. The men of our brigade are all in good health at present. The weather is hot and oppressive. No more at present.
[1] This seems to have been the first news from the battle of Gettysburg—a week after the battle.—Ed.
Thursday, 9th—There is no news of importance and we have had no chance yet for newspapers. We have scant news while out here in the woods, sometimes getting no mail for eight or ten days at a time. All our teams went to Vicksburg today for provisions. The forces of Sherman and Ord are still pursuing Johnston.
Wednesday, 8th—I came off guard duty this morning at 9 o’clock. There was a hailstorm last night and everything looks nice and green, notwithstanding the fact that there has been no rain for two months. But it is hot and the corn has suffered a great deal. All the fields are planted to corn, as that was the surest way to get food for the rebel army.
Tuesday, 7th—A high wind today ended in rain tonight. Colonel Chambers of the Sixteenth Iowa, who has been commanding our brigade, left for Vicksburg this morning to obtain release from this command in order to return to the regular army. The boys of the brigade are glad to see him leave. Colonel Hall takes charge again of our brigade. I went on brigade guard tonight. Our countersign is “Vicksburg.”
Monday, 6th—We have had very changeable weather for a week now—hot and sultry, then cool and pleasant, then warm and hazy. The Eleventh Iowa received two months’ pay today. I got $37.25; of this, $11.25 was allowed for clothing not drawn. The Thirteenth Iowa and the Tenth Ohio Battery went out on picket duty.
Sunday, 5th—We came in this morning at 10 o’clock from an all night picket along the Big Black river. We were relieved by General Tuttle’s Brigade. Our brigade then fell back a mile and went into bivouac in heavy timber. The rebels all left last night, it is thought, for Jackson, Mississippi, with the forces of Sherman and Ord in pursuit of them. Sherman passed us, crossing the Big Black at Messenger’s ford, while Ord’s army crossed the river over the railroad bridge. There is great rejoicing in camp over the fall of Vicksburg and the boys are singing songs and celebrating.
Saturday, 4th—A despatch came that Vicksburg has been taken and that Pemberton has made an unconditional surrender to General Grant. The terms include the surrender of his army of twenty-seven thousand men, one hundred siege guns, one hundred and twenty-eight field guns, and eighty thousand small arms.[1] Early in the day the rebels drove some of our skirmishers in, but in the afternoon we commenced to shell them and they withdrew. They surrendered soon after. Our company went out on picket this evening. This has been a hard Fourth of July; I don’t want to see another such a Fourth.
[1] There were no provisions to give up and General Grant Issued Government rations to all the prisoners taken.—A. G. D.
