Saturday, 9th.—Went on picket with regiment; Company F sent to Ford on Big Black River; Skirmishing with Yanks; Every fellow sticks pretty close to his tree; some of the boys calling to the Yanks to come over.
Robert M. Magill—Personal Reminiscences of a Confederate Soldier Boy, 39th Georgia Regiment of Infantry
Thursday, 7th.—Reported Federals just across the river, and that General Beauregard had arrived at Vicksburg.
Wednesday, 6th.—All quiet to-day. Have very good place to camp; plenty of mulberries.
Tuesday, 5th.—Reported great victory in Virginia; also that General Forrest had captured 1,600 prisoners near Rome, Ga. Moved one and one-half miles.
Monday 4th.—Marched five miles by 11 o’clock, and are now lying in the shade, ten miles from bridge.
Sunday, 3d.—Started at daylight; got within one mile of Big Black River and met wagons and artillery coming back. Grand Gulf evacuated; falling back towards Vicksburg and Jackson; started back at 5 P. M. ; marched until 3 A. M. Cannonading towards Vicksburg; are marching in direction of railroad bridge, across Big Black River.
May 1st.—Rumored fighting going on below. General Tracy killed; went into ditches in front of Barton’s Brigade. Dick Anderson came from home and brought us nice box of provisions; cooked two days’ rations. Started towards Grand Gulf 6 P. M. Marched until 2:30 A. M. Reported heavy fighting the last two days.
Thursday, 30th.—Heavy cannonading on Chickasaw Bayou. Reported that Federals tried to cross, but were driven back with pretty heavy loss.
Wednesday, 29th.—Heavy cannonading towards Grand Gulf.
Tuesday, 28th.—Started on picket last night at 5 o’clock; went to five-mile bridge. Reported Yankees are trying to cross river near Warrenton. Some skirmishing.
