iver, Thursday, May 7. 1st Brigade and Battery M. relieved
General Logan's on the river. His Division marched to the right, moved
across the road into the shade.

Near Black River, Friday, May 8. Although in the land of cotton and
alligators, awoke after a cold night's rest under three blankets. The
nights very cold and chilly. The days in the other extreme. Assistant
Quartermaster Hamilton arrived with the baggage wagons and forge.
Cloudy, indicative of rain. Steele's Division came in the afternoon and
relieved the 1st Brigade at the river. General Steele's headquarters on
the opposite side of the road from here. His troops were old and tried
veterans of Missouri, Iowa, and Ohio.

Near Rocky Spring, Miss., Saturday, May 9. Reveille called us to receive
orders to march at sunrise, which took but little time. Took the road
leading to the right, travelled through a rough, broken, yellow clay;
very hilly roads, many of the hills covered with crabby pines. Very
dusty and warm; passed through Rocky Spring at 10 A. M. which consisted
of a store and ware-house buildings. Came into camp at 3 P. M. in a
poorly cultivated country. Plenty of fresh mutton, turkeys, chickens,
etc. brought in by forage forthwith.

Near Raymond, Miss., Sunday, May 10. Awoke, harnessed and fed horses at
3 o'clock A. M. 7 A. M. unharnessed and grazed our horses for an hour.
Lay in the shade until noon, when we hurriedly harnessed, leaving our
dinner half cooked, and marched over very dusty and sultry roads. Poor
country, covered with pine poles. Halted at Utica two hours and watered
horses, let the cavalry pass. This is a lively looking place of two
dozen houses, with frowning damsels in the windows and doors. May poles
still standing. They did not expect the Yankees so soon. Took the road
toward Raymond, eighteen miles distant. At sundown came into camp in
thick oak brush. All our cooking utensils in the mule wagons. "By
order" obliged to go to bed without our supper save hard crackers.

[Sidenote: 1863 At the Front]

Near Raymond, Monday, May 11. Harnessed and fed at 3 o'clock, it being a
standing order from Grant that all troops be under arms at that hour and
remain so for one hour. At sunrise we started out in the road and laid
by our horses until noon, waiting to move on. Logan's Division passed
by. At last moved on about a mile and went to park. Came to action front
[position known as "action" in tactics--ready for open fire if
necess