Robert M. Magill—Personal Reminiscences of a Confederate Soldier Boy, 39th Georgia Regiment of Infantry

Sunday, 19th.—Found some of 36th regiment here; having fine time eating watermelons and peaches. Drew three days’ rations; bought a dressed chicken and came very near killing myself eating; very sick for a little while.

Saturday, 18th.—Got to Morton at 10 last night. Got on gravel train that was gathering up railroad stuff. Conductor said engine could not pull so many soldiers; there were quite a lot of us by this time, and tried to make us get off; had soldier guards, that he ordered to shoot us if we did not get off, but we were not at all afraid of soldiers shooting another soldier that had been through the siege of Vicksburg. So we told the conductor to go ahead as far as he could, and if he did stall, we would get off and push. After cursing awhile, and finding we were determined to ride, he went on to Lake Station; here we got on a freight train, which took us to Meridian, about sundown. We called at Provost Headquarters and were ordered to go to Provost camps, but knowing our regiment was marching to Enterprise, we walked to the depot. A cotton train coming by and stopping, we climbed on, and in a short time we were in Enterprise, beating the regiment that had left us sick at Raymond, about two days.

Friday, 17th.—Marched to Brandon to-day by 2 P. M. Found Colonel McConnell there. Gave first direct news from Brother I. L. By the help of some of the boys he got back to a house where there was a surgeon with some other wounded. The Federals coming on, they were paroled. After some days, getting able to walk out, he and another soldier found an old horse that had been forsaken by the army, which they took charge of, and, by the help of the old horse, managed to get to Brandon, where they found Colonel McConnell, who had been wounded and captured, but again re-captured by General Loring’s men, and so brought out to Brandon. He gave brother a furlough and sent him home. This was joyful news to me. Johnston was falling back towards Enterprise, and we got on the last train that left Brandon.

Thursday, 16th.—By very hard marching, we got ten miles to-day; improving some.

Wednesday, 15th.—We hobbled on; Elrod somewhat improved, but I was not. When in about three miles of Pearl River, which we must cross to-night or be cut off, we saw a man coming on horseback. Elrod begged me to try to get the man to let me ride behind him to the river. I at first refused, but after his urging, saying he could make it to the river before dark, and for me to wait on this side until he came, I consented to try the man. He agreed to take me, and by hard work they got me on behind without anything under me. He turned out to be drinking heavily, but took me to the river as hard as his horse could run, for which I paid him $4.00 and found myself badly skinned from the hard ride bareback. As it was getting dark, my friend, Elrod, made his appearance, and though he was very tired, we crossed over Pearl River near Byram’s Station, on New Orleans Railroad. Saw Yankee foragers. Got over river just in time; skirmishing towards Jackson.

Tuesday, 14th.—Brigade started at daylight. No one allowed to go in wagons to-day. J. B. Elrod and myself left behind, not able to march, he having a very bad leg and I given out in my hips. We made an agreement that we would not leave each other, and would move on as best we could.

Dark found us at Cooper’s Wells, only four miles from Raymond. Heavy cannonading towards Jackson.

Monday, 13th.—Marched eighteen miles; passed through Champion Hills battleground. Gave out in my hips so that I could not walk; got to ride in wagon. Camped near Raymond; nice country.

Homeward Bound. Sunday, 12th.—Left Vicksburg 10 A. M. Had everything examined at the ditches. No one could pass out without going between two guards and showing his parole; all was right; Crossed Big Black at dark, and then camped after marching twelve miles.

Saturday, 11th.—Went out and bought Yankee canteen for 60 cents in greenbacks.