up
the tarpaulin. Very wet all around. On guard. Health very good.

Grand Lake Landing, Friday, March 6. Cloudy and windy. General Quinby
went down on the "Superior" to Providence, returned in the evening. In
the afternoon David Evans and myself went down stream on the levee,
bareback about three miles, where the engineers were at work digging out
the levee. Took a drink in Louisiana and returned to camp with no better
impression of the sunny South.

On the Mississippi, Saturday, March 7. Ordered to reembark at early
dawn. Arose at 4 o'clock but did not get loaded till in the afternoon on
the same boats as before. Severe rainstorm and wind last night. Very
muddy. Part of the day the sun shone very bright. Health good. 2:30 P.
M. the fleet once more "swung loose" and headed up stream. The
"Campbell" was aground, so had to be towed out by the "Gladiator" and
"John H. Dickey"; after she got afloat we lashed to the former to get
some coal. As night advanced we kept slowly going, and by night were the
fourth in line.

On the Mississippi, Sunday, March 8. The boat had been steadily plowing
her way up the turbid water of the Mississippi. Rained very heavy, got a
wet bed to sleep on. Very foggy all day; passed the "Von Phal", being
next to the flagship "Superior". Passed the Yazoo Pass, 2. P. M.

4 P. M.--We have landed on the Arkansas side three miles below Helena,
where the troops were ordered ashore to cook and for recreation. The
flag ship went up to Helena, and returned with a good quantity of mail.

On the Mississippi, Monday, March 9. Went up to Helena after coal, took
on board 400 boxes; while there the boys were busy in buying a supply of
soft bread and other rarities. Many of the boys found acquaintances in
the 29th Wisconsin Infantry and the 1st Wisconsin Cavalry which were
encamped. General Quinby went down on the "Pocahontas" in the afternoon
to Yazoo Pass.

On the Mississippi, Tuesday, March 10. Arose with but poor rest, it
having rained all night, and lying on deck with the tarpaulin but poorly
arranged. Got very wet. Rained steadily all day. Amused myself best I
could reading what I could in the crowded cabin filled with the tobacco
fumes, and boisterous with card players. 4 P. M. mail arrived. Rec'd a
letter from J. L. and T. L. and three papers. All well. Brother James
lame by accident, poor fellow, but thanks to kind Providence, he is
under the nursing of a devoted mother and tender sisters. P