Albert Underwood Civil War Diary

Sat. Jan. 30: Received orders to move camp this morning. The battery left about 2 oclock. I was left in charge of the baggage left behind. Rained a little today. Eight boat loads of troops came down the river today from Memphis. There is quite a stir here among the soldiers today. The country round here is about all hills and hollows. Vicksburg is in Warren, Co. State of Mississippi. Guard today.

Sun. Jan. 31: I am still at our old camp waiting for the baggage to be disposed of. It is 4 miles out to camp. The teams have been busy all day hauling forage, ammunition and other things. The 14th Indiana Battery came down today. Rained very hard about 10 oclock tonight.

Mon. Feb. 1: Bockett and I went up town this morning to get our breakfast. Took a 50 cent breakfast at a restaurant. Returned by the captured artillery. Saw an orange stand, got about a half dozen. The teams were here again today but went back without baggage. Went to town again this evening and took a look at the caves in the bluffs about town. I still am here guarding the baggage and things.

Tues. Feb. 2: Rather cool here last night. Went up into town this morning. Moved the baggage to town and stored it away. Started out to camp, got out at dark and found the battery had gone ahead 8 miles. We moved on with baggage teams and had an awful dark and crooked road. Walked all the way. Reached the battery about midnight. Very rough country all the way out. Very tired and sleepy. 1st brigade, 3rd Division.

Wed. Feb. 3: Left camp about 8 oclock had pretty good roads all day. The country is not so broken as it was yesterday. Crossed Little Black and reached Big Black River about 5 oclock. Halted till the pontoon bridge was laid down. Crossed the river and went into camp just on the other side about 8 oclock. Saw plum and other blossoms today but few houses on the road. Traveled 12 miles today.

Thurs. Feb. 4: Left camp at 8 oclock. Traveled about 6 miles and came in sight of some Rebs. We formed in line of battle and throwed out skirmishers but the Rebs pushed on. We started on in about an hour and came in sight of them again and opened fire on them at once with two of our guns. They soon answered with four guns but soon fell back. We pushed our two guns forward and routed them again, several times on Joe Davis farm near Queens Hill. Traveled 9 miles.

Fri. Feb. 5: Left camp at 8 oclock. The 2nd Brigade ahead today. Marched rather slow. Good roads till the last few miles. Passed Clinton at 4 oclock. We heard cannonading at different times today. Saw the Rebs in line of battle on our left but out of range. Went into camp 5 1/2 miles of Jackson where our advance had a fight today. Several Rebs killed and two pieces of artillery captured. On guard tonight.

Sat. Feb. 6: Harness and ready to move by sunrise. The 4th Division came up about 9 oclock. The 7th Army Corps camped in sight last night and the advance went into Jackson. They went in the advance up front today. We remained in camp all day.

Sun. Feb. 7: Left camp at 10 oclock and crossed Iron Creek. Passed the 17th Army Corps at Moreton about dark. Had a wearisome march after night and went into camp about 2 oclock in the morning. Very tired and sleepy and the Infantry nearly all give out. Stragglers strung along the road for miles. Horses really give out being without feed or water. Traveled 25 miles today.

Mon. Feb. 8: Left camp at 8 oclock. Halted in sight of Brandon till confiscated a lot of meal, sweet potatoes, salt, sugar and molasses. Pretty good country today and good roads. Marched about 8 miles and went into camp at dark near Dows Creek. Besutiful day. Sandy roads today and through pretty good pine country with but little improvement.

Tues. Feb. 9: Left camp at 7 oclock. Reached Jackson at 10 oclock. Nearly all the buildings are burnt. The town is literally a heap of ruins. Met a lot of prisoners going to the rear. Crossed Pearl River on a pontoon the Rebs had left in their hurried retreat. Traveled 17 miles. Went into camp near Brandon at 8 oclock. Nice weather. Brandon is the county seat of Rankin County. Good roads today.

Wed. Feb. 10: Left camp at 8 oclock. Passed Hillsboro, county seat of Scott county. The cavalry had a skirmish here today. The town is in flame and will be ashes soon. Had tolerably good roads. Went ahead of the 17 Army Corp today. Very nice day. Crossed Tallabone (Tallabogue) Creek and went into camp nearby. Traveled 12 miles today.

Thurs. Feb. 11: Left camp at 7 oclock. Marched slow waiting for bridges to be repaired. Had tolerably good roads. Crossed over Tuckola and Cooniatta creeks and some swampy bottom. The country here is more thickly settled than it was. Went into camp about 7 oclock on Tuscaminga (Tuscolameta?) creek. Traveled about 15 miles today.

Fri. Feb. 12: Left camp about 7 oclock. Report that we will have a fight at Docatur. We reached Docatur, the county seat of Newton County, about 11 oclock, found no Rebs. Stopped about 2 hours for a bridge to be repaired. The roads are more hilly today. We left Docatur burning, Crossed Chuncky creek and went into camp about 5 oclock. Traveled about 14 miles today. Our supply train was attacked at Docatur and 19 mules killed. On guard tonight.

Sat. Feb. 13: Left camp at 9 oclock. Had a bad place to cross at the start. Left the supply train at Chunky Creek this morning. Crossed Tallamta Creek and Tallasha. Passed over some very rough hilly roads in the evening. Found a good many obstructions in the road today. Skirmishing in front this evening. Six Rebs killed and a lot of arms captured. Traveled 16 miles. Camped about 10 oclock in Rebel camp near Rose Mountain 9 miles of Maridian.

Sun. Feb. 14: Left camp at 7 oclock made a forced to the Oktibboha river. Found the bridge destroyed were delayed three hours. Crossed and a double gate march to Maridian which we reached at 3 oclock after the cavalry had thrown a few shells in Rebel camp with their mountain howitzers. We entered town with a perfect yell. The Rebels set fire to their commissary and skedaddled in every direction. Captured a major of Pok's staff. Went into camp about 5 oclock in edge of town.

Mon. Feb. 15: Remained in camp till 3 oclock this evening and went out about 2 miles east of town on the Selma road and went in to camp for the night. It rained pretty hard for about 3 hours this morning. The Rebs burnt their commissary as they left town, not having time to move their commissary and other articles.

Tues. Feb. 16: Went into town at 8 oclock this morning and stopped near the Confederate Hospital Buildings, which are six in number about 30 by 140 foot in length beside many other buildings. Officers are moved out about 1/4 of a mile this evening along the Salma river. The infantry are all out tearing up the railroad, burning the ties and bending the iron to render it unserviceable.

Wed. Feb. 17: Quite cold last night. Remained in camp till 4 oclock in the evening and then marched out in a northeast direction. Passed Marion Station on the M & O railroad and went into camp at about 1/2 mile of Marion county seat of Lauderdale. Marched 7 miles today and went into camp at dark. Rather cool weather this evening. Only the 16th Corp here.

Thurs. Feb. 18: I went up town this morning and called in at Doc. Ford's and had a long chat with the folks. Found them quite sociable and clever. Quite cool today it snowed nearly all day but disappeared as fast as it fell. I was at Dr. Ford's again this evening. Two wagon loads of ham and bacon and two trunks full of quilts and clothing were fund in the woods a few miles from here.

Fri. Feb. 19: Beautiful weather. Remained in camp again all day today. I went up to Dr. Ford's again today and stayed about 2 hours and chatted with the folks. Went over to the 89th Regt. tonight and had a long chat with Capt. Gifford. Waiting for orders. Don't know whether we are to move forward or to make a rearguard movement from here. Received orders to start in the morning.

Sat. Feb. 20: Left camp about 7 1/2 oclock. Passed through Marion Station traveled in a northwest direction. Had pretty good roads and a nice day. Went into camp at 4 oclock on Pinder creek. Traveled 13 miles today. Rather poor country through considerable ground broke for oats and corn through here. We are out of rations and are 3 days march from the supply train. We got potatoes and meal yet.

Sun. Feb. 21: Left camp at 7 1/2 oclock had tolerable good roads. Crossed the Oktibboha river. George McKinsey, Doc Bockett and Jerry Bulyer were put under arrest today and I am acting sergeant of the detachment. Traveled 18 miles and went into camp about sundown 6 miles east of Union. About 40 of our supply teams came in about 2 oclock tonight, beautiful weather.

Mon. Feb. 22: Left camp at 7 oclock. Passed Union. The cavalry had a fight near here with some Rebel cavalry. Had some very rough roads today. Some of our men were captured today that were foraging. Went into camp about 5 oclock in about 14 miles of Hillsborough, county seat of Scott county.

Tues. Feb. 23: Left camp about 7 oclock. Crossed Cooniatta and Tuckalo had very bad hilly roads. Crossed Wallabone creek and some very bad bottom and corduroy bridges to cross. Came up with the provision train at 4 oclock this evening and camped near Hillsborough. Traveled 14 miles today. Beautiful weather. Quite dusty this evening.

Wed. Feb. 24: Left camp about 7 oclock. Passed Hillsborough or the place where it stood. Marching on the Canton road today in a northwest direction but little forage on this road. The advance has stripped the country along the road. Had pretty good roads today. Our Brigade is in the rear today. Some skirmishing in the advance. Camped about 5 oclock in about 16 miles of Hillsborough. Mild weather.

Thurs. Feb. 25: Left camp at 7 oclock. Halted in 4 miles of Pearl river about 4 hours for bridge to be built and the 17th Army Corp to cross over. Passed the 17th Army Corp. The bridge sunk when we were about 2 miles from the bridge. We halted till about 8 oclock and went into camp all along the road the best we could. Crossed Syamore creek. Good roads nice weather, marched only about 7 miles today.

Fri. Feb. 26: Left camp at 7 oclock crossed Pearl river. Passed through Canton about 2 oclock. Had good but very dusty roads today. Fine weather, very nice country from Pearl river on this way. Went into camp about 4 oclock just across the M&R RR, about 2 miles from Canton on the Yazoo City road. Some of the boys were out foraging and Livingston was shot and two others are missing. Madison county.

Sat. Feb. 27: Remained in camp all day. Livingston died at 10 oclock this morning and was buried with military honors at 4 oclock. Quite warm today. John Henry and Tucker have not made their appearance yet and it is pretty certain they have been captured and killed or run off as prisoners. A good many of the boys are going into Veteran Service this evening.

Sun. Feb. 28: Still in camp at noon today. 4th regiments, veterans started home this morning. A few hundred Rebel cavalry drove in a foraging party but fled when a few companies of infantry started out in double quick. We harnessed but did not move out. Canton is the county seat of Madison county. One new recruit came in this evening from the Rebel army, a native Mississippian.

Mon. Feb. 29: Still in camp. Cloudy and misting rain this morning. Remained in camp again this morning. Heard cannonading for three of four hours this afternoon out east of here. I went out about one mile but could not learn what it meant. The railroad is now completely destroyed here for miles. Considerable wild rose hedge fence in this section of country.

Tues. March 1: Left camp at 8 oclock. Raining this morning and very disagreeable. The roads are quite muddy and sloppy. Passed back through Canton. 24 locomotives were burned here and the roads are up for miles. Passed through Livingston about 2 miles and went into camp. Traveled 16 miles today passed some nice plantations today. Quite cold and chilly today. We are marching on the Vicksburg Road.

Wed. March 2: Left camp at sunrise very bad and hilly roads. Heard cannonading in the rear for four or five hours today. Halted about 5 hours at Boyghiti creek for a bridge to be built. Had some very bad hills and some very tough mud to pull through. Went into camp about sundown traveled 10 miles today. The 17th Army Corp had a little fight today but it did not amount to much.

Thurs. March 3: Left camp at 7 oclock, roads some better. Passed through Brownsville and reached Queen's Hill Church at noon, halted about an hour for Voaches Division to get out of the way. Beautiful day and good roads this evening. Reached the Big Black River at 5 oclock, crossed and went into camp about sundown on the river bank. Traveled about 18 miles today. The 17 Army Corp is in our rear today.

Fri. March 4: Left camp about 9 oclock, after the pontoon was taken up and loaded. Stopped for about an hour at Clear Creek, the camp of the 17th Army Corp. Passed the Small Pox Hospital here, I noticed several marked faces. Had very crooked and hilly roads today. Went into camp at the old starting point about (?) miles from town about 5 oclock. Received a mail this evening. Beautiful weather.

Sat. March 5: Remained in camp today. Inspection at 2 oclock today. Col. Moore and the Adjutant went home today. Col. Kinney commanding the Brigade now. We have been in the 1st Brigade and 3rd Division one month now. Gen. H. Y. Smith commands the Division and Gen. S. A. Hurlbut the 16th Army Corp. Several new recruits came in this evening. Very delightful weather now.

Sun. March 6: Beautiful weather. Still in camp making preparations for another expedition. I went over to the 89th camp to see the boys. Very rough broken country round here. It was near this place where Pemberton and Grant had their interview and agreed on terms of surrender. The large tree under which the terms of surrender was made out is all cut down and cut up and carried off.

Mon. March 7: We are still in camp and under marching orders. Cloudy today and has the appearance of rain. Our horses are considerably cut down so much hard marching and many times without food. The men are all very much worn and fatigued by continual marching and on short rations. The 17th Army Corp stayed out at Clear Creek camp near Blackwater bridge where they started from.

Tues. March 8: Left camp this evening at 1 oclock for the landing and passed through town and went two miles below in the bottom and camped on the river bank about 4 oclock. Quite warm today. Saw may graves along the road and along the hillsides near the enemies fortifications.

Wed. March 9: Commenced raining this morning about 10 oclock. We commenced loading on the Chouteau about 11 oclock, the rain pouring down very fast. Awful sloppy and slippery loading. Got our guns and baggage aboard before dark and took on our forage after dark. The veterans were mustered in tonight. The 89th Indiana is aboard with us.