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commenced taking off their shoes, etc., so as to go into the water. To encourage them General Benton announced: “Five dollars reward for the one first in.” The clothing began to fly lively. To win was more of an object than the money. It promised to be a pretty race. The enterprise of Biggerstaff of our company ended it. He was standing by the side of the boat not having made any move toward getting ready to go into the water, and the moment General Benton made the announcement Biggerstaff leaped over the side of the boat into the water. He was cheered upon his short cut to victory. Others followed his example and jumped into the water with their clothing all on. The boat was started, the boys pulled upon deck, and Biggerstaff called up by General Benton who at once gave him the promised reward in five brand new one dollar bills. After crossing the bayou we went on to Carthage and then marched six miles farther down the river, and camped on a plantation known as “Perkins’ Place.” The next day we moved at four P. M. and took up our quarters on some reasonably dry ground, which but a few days ago was occupied by the rebel soldiers . During the night some of our transports with supplies ran past Vicksburg and it kept us busy next day unloading them. GOVERNOR YATES. On Sunday, April twenty-sixth, Governor Yates of our State made us a visit.8 He was in company with General McClernand.9 Both made short speeches to the soldiers. The soldier boys think there is no one to excel “Uncle Dick Yates.” Wherever he is seen by the Illinois soldiers a lively time commences . They do not stop for any ceremony, but at once cry out “Hurrah for Dick Yates.” All who can get near him shake hands with him. Every Illinois boy knows him by sight. The reception he meets must be tiresome, but he seems to enjoy it hugely. It is plain that Governor Yates is popular with the soldier boys. CHAPTER XIV. CONFEDERATE NEWSPAPERS—ERRORS OF SOUTHERN OPINION. During our advance we have met many things that show that the rebels are sadly at fault as to the real spirit and feeling of the Northern soldiers. Their - Across to the Vicksburg Side of the River. 131 newspapers show that they believe that the Union soldiers, if not in actual sympathy with them, at least are opposed to fighting the rebels upon Southern ground. As we advance we find copies of their late papers. They seem to fully believe that the Northern soldiers only enlisted to protect their own States from invasion. They believe that all the State troops are anxious and determined to return to their own States. This would only leave a few lonely soldiers of the regular army for the rebels to dispose of. One of their late papers is a curiosity. It contains a strong, pleading appeal to the Northern volunteer soldiers to unite and demand that their officers immediately lead them back to their own States. The sanguine rebels evidently thought that it would create a wonderful effect upon the Union volunteer soldiers, and went to extreme lengths to be sure that copies of the paper should be placed in their hands. As we advanced, the papers containing the fatal appeal came to us in every conceivable way. They were upon the roadside cunningly placed in every place a soldier was apt to investigate. Even the secesh women were made useful. They, all at once, became extremely sociable, and every time an opportunity offered, they would slyly place some of the wonderful papers in the hands of our soldiers; acting as though they were doing such an awful act that their lives would be sacrificed if any of the Union officers should detect them. Judged from their own belief and standpoint these Southern women exhibited the highest bravery. For the Union soldiers it was huge fun. The absurdity of such oft repeated scenes was increased by our soldiers falling into the spirit of it. They would, apparently in just as sly a manner, instantly hide the paper until out of sight of the fair distributors. Never before had they been furnished with newspapers by such pretty newsboys. It was truly a comical scene; the rebels using their wives and daughters, dressed in their prettiest gowns and smiles, to place a fearful engine of destruction in the way...

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