Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 7.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[172] very close. The mortar-boats were busy the whole time shelling the city. Half-rations of pea-bread and poor beef constitute our living — hard fare. Our regiment was relieved to-night by the Thirty-eighth Mississippi; we moved to the right of the Jackson road; kept as reserve; good night's rest.

June 3.--We are laying to the right of the Jackson road. Heavy firing all day. We lost today Lieut. Yancey, of company K. Our rations are changed; we now get one half rations bread, rice and corn-meal mixed. We hear again that Johnston is advancing in force. It's our only hope.

June 4.--The firing is more moderate to-day. The fleet has kept up a pretty continued fire all day; the firing upon the ditches has been confined to skirmishers. The loss of our brigade since the eighteenth of May in killed and wounded is two hundred and seventy-five. We are still in reserve.

June 5.--The weather is very warm. The bombardment with artillery is heavy; both land and water-batteries are engaged; the mortar-boats are reported to have been moved from the front of the city. Rumor says that Price occupies Helena, but not credited.

June 6.--Day warm; firing moderate all day; the enemy can be seen moving to the left. We hear that Loring engaged them at Black River.

June 7.--Very warm; we hear the engagement of the upper fleet; supposed to be at Milliken's Bend. The mortar-boats are at work; the artillery kept up a fire the entire night.

June 8.--The mortar-boats have been engaged all day; the land firing was unusually moderate; occasionally a shell would make us hunt our holes. Secesh lay very close to the ground.

June 9.--The firing heavier than usual. The grapevine brings us the news that two divisions of Bragg's army have arrived at Memphis. The mortar-boats were very quiet during the day, but kept up a heavy fire during the entire night.

Appendix.--The report of the orderly sergeant of this company (company A, Sixth Missouri) shows a loss of sixty-eight men killed, wounded, and missing; six commissioned officers killed and wounded.

June 10.--Heavy rain fell to-day; it had no effect upon the firing; it continued heavy. A wetter, dirtier, muddier lot of rebels were never seen; but we kept our powder dry. Our beef gave out to-day. We are now drawing one quarter of a pound of bacon to the man.

June 11.--The morning cloudy, but cleared about noon. About four o'clock we were ordered to arms; we moved up about six hundred yards, and took our position in rear of the Twenty-seventh Louisiana regiment, to the right of the Jackson road, where we laid under a heavy fire of artillery all night; it was thought the enemy were preparing to make an assault at that point.

June 12.--We occupied the position we took on yesterday evening until nine o'clock this morning, when all fear subsided, and we returned to our old position. Day pleasant. About four o'clock this evening our mortar opened, which has just been put into position; it attracted the entire line of the enemy's guns; they all opened upon her, and the firing was, for about two hours, very heavy.

June 13.--The morning beautiful. I have just finished my breakfast of half rations coarse cornbread and a slice of raw bacon, with a cup of bean coffee. Regiment moved this morning, and relieved Green's brigade in the ditches. No loss in regiment to-day.

June 14.--Day very warm; the firing to-day heavier than usual, both front and rear. We hear that Johnston is crossing Black River, and Loring is at Hawkins's Ferry. Our regiment in the ditches.

June 15.--Day pleasant; slight fall of rain in the morning; the firing very heavy. Sergeant Ed. Payne of our company had two fingers shot off the right hand. One man killed, five wounded in our regiment. Three of our companies were compelled to leave the ditches, in consequence of an enfilading fire. I visited the hospitals in town to-day. Had a very interesting chit-chat with the Yankees to-night.

June 16.--Our regiment remained in the ditches until dark, when General Green relieved us. The firing to-day was very heavy; loss to-day, one killed. We lay in the hollow in the rear of the ditches we had just left, all night.

June 17.--We moved this morning, and took our position in the hollow as reserves, in rear of the Third Louisiana, and to the left of the Jackson road, to reenforce, if necessary, what is called Fort Beauregard, which point the enemy are undermining. We made ourselves safe by digging holes in the ground for protection. We hear that three divisions of the Federal army have been defeated at McMinnville. The day pleasant.

June 18.--Firing very heavy all day. We lost three men wounded, S. N. Petcher, of our company, among them. Our rations changed: one quarter of a pound of flour, one quarter of a pound of bacon to the man, quite light. No news from the rear.

June 19.--C. R. Marion, of our company, was killed this morning, while sharp-shooting. A Minie ball penetrated his right eye; came out at the top of the head. A braver man never fell. The firing was heavy all day. We still hear of Johnston's advance. Very still to-night; an occasional shot is all that is heard.

June 20.--The firing commenced this morning with great vigor, continued heavy for eight hours, when it was reduced to the scale of moderation. About four o'clock we were called into line, moved up to the parapet; a false alarm; we returned to our holes after about two hours, which we spent in waiting for Yanks, but they failed to come. Captain Norwood slightly wounded; Dugan killed in camp at the time.

June 21.--The firing more moderate than usual. It is reported that a great many of the enemy's guns have been removed. No loss in our regiment to-day.

June 22.--Firing moderate; weather fine