Albert Underwood Civil War Diary

Tues. May 24: I started up to town early this morning to get some bread. Went all the way to the market house, got my breakfast but could find no bread. The troops all got off and we took all our horses off so that our boats could be cleaned up. I took another walk up town this evening. Quite warm this evening. Considerable change made here since we left here in March. Very dry and dusty.

Wed. May 25: We are still here yet. Some prospects of our going up the river in the evening. I went up to the market house this morning again. Quite a stir in town since the Red river Expedition returned. Everything sells very high here. The old CHOUTEAU is assigned to us and the 89th Indiana Regt. again. The sick has been put off and the boat cleaned up. Considerable sickness.

Thurs. May 26: I took a walk again up in town today. The boats are changing round considerable today but we will not get off today. We unloaded our Battery and equipment off the ADRIATIC this evening. I wrote some letters this evening. The river is falling slowly. The 1st Mo. Battery has gone into camp here. Waiting here to get paid off and draw clothing and arrange other things. No news.

Fri. May 27: Beautiful weather. I took another walk up through town this morning and round by the fortifications. The town is full of bakeries, saloons, settler shops and huckster shops and everything to make money. No prospects of leaving yet today. Our boats have gone across the river to lay in a supply of coal. I went down to the wharf this evening, saw my friend Christie.

Sat. May 28: Cool and pleasant this morning. The boats have coaled up and have come back on this side of the river. Will Gifford and I took a walk up through town this evening and round by the wharf. The 3rd Indiana Battery was paid off this morning. I feel rather lonesome now that I have been released from taking charge of a detachment. I have had no duty to perform since we have been here. Saw Caffeen at hospital.

Sun. May 29: Pleasant day again today. I went up town to church this morning, heard a good old Northern sermon. I heard the chaplain of the 8th Wisconsin, the Rev. Hebert, preached this evening, also the Rev. Mr Brown from Iowa, sent out as a representative for the western troops in his department of the Army. The news from Grant and the Eastern Army continues most cheering.

Mon. May 30: Cool and pleasant this morning. I went up in town again this morning in order to pass off the time a little better advantage than laying in the camp. I feel unwell today, quite still and lonesome times now. I went out again this evening to hear the Rev. Brown preach. Heard also an exhortation from Chaplain Smith of the 27th Iowa Regt. and also from ???????.

Tues. May 31: I took a walk up through town to the 8th and 26th Ohio Batteries this morning. Col. David Moore commands our Division now and Col Murray of the 89th Indiana Regt. is our brigade commander. The regiments and batteries are drawing clothing today. It rained a little this evening but not enough to lay the dust. We drew two new wagons this evening.

Wed. Jun. 01: Beautiful morning. Signed the pay rolls this morning. On guard today. Not much prospect of leaving here soon. Quite warm today. Everything is rather quiet today. No news has been received here today and no mail yet. Gen. Canby is here now with his headquarters on the Pierce. Gen. Mower went up the river with the 17th Army Corps a few days ago.

Thurs. Jun. 02: I took a long tramp around the fortifications of Vicksburg today hunting plums and blackberries. Was in town twice. Went to the Sanitary Commission to draw some sanitary stores. Loaded our guns this evening on the CHOUTLAU. A good refreshing shower fell this evening. The dust is layed and the air is quite pleasant this evening.

Fri. Jun. 03: Put our horses and other things aboard this morning and left at 3 oclock or ready to leave at least but never got off. Rained pretty hard this evening. The soldiers are tired of this place and are anxious to get started up the river. The Paymaster has forgot to call on us it seems, we are ready to see him any time. No mail and but little news of any kind.