hemselves by their fine maneuvers and valor in the struggle with the
Indians.

CHAPTER VI.

Events of 1863--The Siege of Vicksburg--Anecdotes about Gens. Logan,
Stevenson and Grant--Little Rock Captured--Recruiting at Fort
Snelling--The engagement at Fitzhugh's Woods--Pine Bluff--Winter
Quarters at Duvall's Bluff--Death of Lincoln--Close of the War--The
Third Regiment Disbanded.

In the month of December the officers were exchanged and ordered back to
Fort Snelling, to where the enlisted men had also returned from the
Indian war. In January, 1863, we again left Minnesota for the South. The
whole of this winter and the beginning of spring were devoted to
expeditions against guerillas and Confederate recruiting camps in
southern Tennessee. Most of this time I commanded the regiment, four
companies of which were mounted. We had to procure horses as best we
could, here and there through the country. We had many skirmishes with
the enemy, and captured a number of prisoners.

In the beginning of June we joined the forces that were besieging
Vicksburg under the command of Gen. Grant, and remained there until that
city had capitulated. The siege of Vicksburg is so well known from
history that I shall make no attempt to describe it here. For five
consecutive weeks the cannonading was so incessant that the soldiers
became as accustomed to it as the passengers on a steamer to the noise
of the propeller, and, when the capitulation finally put an end to all
this noise, we found it very difficult to sleep for several nights on
account of the unusual silence.

The July number of _Hemlandet_, contained a letter from me, dated
Vicksburg, June 24th, from which I make the following extract:

"The army of Gen. Grant is divided into two Grand Divisions, one of
which is arranged in a semi-circle toward Vicksburg, only a few
hundred yards from the intrenchments of the rebels, the other in a
semi-circle turned away from Vicksburg, and fronting the army of Gen.
Johnston. We are all protected by strong intrenchments, and always
keep over two thousand men as picket guards, and the same number are
digging rifle pits and building intrenchments.

"Gen. Logan's Division is close up to the intrenchments of the rebels.
The Swedish Maj. Stohlbrand is chief of artillery in Logan's Division,
and, has, as such, under his special charge one of the most important
positions in the beleaguering army.

"I visite