ed here two weeks.

On the 15th of April we packed up, and for nearly two months were marching
about from place to place. The people treated us kindly, but we could
easily discern where their sympathies were strongest. Now and then a slave
would come to us for protection. I remember, one Sabbath morning, a very
smart colored boy came to us, and about noon a constable came after him.
The colonel told him if "he could find him, to take him back to his
mistress;" this word was passed round in double-quick time. The boy was in
the first tent they came to, but as they were coming in he darted out past
them. Then a race commenced worth seeing; round and round the camp they
went; at last, the boy started for the woods, and the constable after him,
with four or five boys in blue following close upon the pursuer. Seeing
the boy was likely to escape, the constable drew a revolver and levelled
it at him, but before he could fire he was knocked down without ceremony,
and I think got the worst of that hunt. This happened near Lancaster,
Kentucky.

In a few days we recrossed the Ohio river, went aboard of the cars at
Cincinnati and in due time arrived at Cairo, Illinois, where there were
boats waiting for us; went on board at once; laid at the wharf that night,
and started down the Mississippi river early in the morning on our way to
Vicksburg. Our company had the upper deck, therefore we had a fine
opportunity to view the surrounding country. The rebels fired into us
once, but did no damage. We landed on the west shore, near Vicksburg, on
the 15th of June. We saw Grant's fireworks on that doomed city for two
nights.

On the 17th we took the boat and ran up the Yazoo river about twelve
miles, and landed again. We went into camp on the east shore, about two
miles from the landing; made our beds of cane-brake, which was very nice.
Here we found an abundance of blackberries. While we were awaiting the
appearance of Johnston, we saw a great many things of interest; but we
were annoyed greatly by snakes and lizards. Let us make our bed where we
would, they were sure to find us, and claim a part of our blankets for a
resting place. They were harmless, however, and we soon became accustomed
to them. The lizards varied in length from three to eight inches, and were
of various colors, gray, green, red, etc.

The morning of the 4th of July dawned on us with all its beauty and
loveliness, and the birds seemed to be giving praise to God in
c