Army Life: From a Soldier's Journal

XXI. AFTER THE SURRENDER

CHAPTER XXI. AFTER THE SURRENDER. The regiment started for Black River on Monday, July sixth.1 I was not able to keep up, but reached the night camp after sundown. At noon the next day the command started forward. Doctor Rex came along and ordered me to the hospital. I stayed and the regiment went on its journey. Not caring to stay at the over-crowded hospital at Black River, I took passage with a wagon train going back for supplies, and went to the convalescent camp at Vicksburg. With plenty of quinine and proper care of myself, and avoiding the army doctors, I soon had the ague again broken. On the twenty-fourth of July the regiment returned and went into camp on the banks of the Mississippi River, two miles below the city of Vicksburg. On the first day of August one division of our corps started down the river. On Sunday the chaplain of our regiment preached his farewell sermon. WE JOIN THE ARMY OF THE GULF. We received marching orders on August eighteenth. We are to go to New Orleans and join the Army of the Gulf. The next day we went on board the steamboat Gladiator,2 and started toward our destination. We reached Natchez after dark and remained there until the next morning. At day-break on the twentieth we started again and arrived at Carrollton, near New Orleans, during the following night. Friday, the twenty-first, we landed and camped at Carrollton. The next day we had a review by General Banks,3 our new commander. Carrollton, at this time of the year, is a pretty place.4 We had a fine camp ground. In front of our camp was the famous shell road, much patronized by the people who have a good team to drive. People from New Orleans often show their horses upon it. The orange and lemon trees, now full of fruit, are a pretty sight. These and other convenient trees, with a soft bed of grass underneath, furnish us elegant places to rest during the heat of the day. Lake Pontchartrain, a few miles back of us, and to which accommodation trains on a narrow gauge railroad run, give us a splendid place for saltwater bathing. - Army Life. 182 On the twenty-fourth we commenced, what is very unusual with us Western soldiers, a change guard around the camp ground. Tuesday, the twenty-fifth, I went down to see the city of New Orleans. Looked at the St. Charles, City Hall, Clay’s Monument, Jackson Square and monument, and other buildings and places of interest. The cleanliness of the city was notable. Along the gutters between the sidewalk and wagon track, on many of the streets, there was a running stream of fresh water. All filth is kept well swept off the streets. It is said that General Butler is the one who taught the people here how to keep their city clean and healthy. On August twenty-ninth there was a general review of the Thirteenth Army Corps by General Banks and other officers. General Banks is one of the finest appearing and best looking officers in the army. The first of September found us again under marching orders. We are to cross the river at New Orleans and go west on the railroad. On the third, we commenced shipping our supplies. With some others, I went in advance to guard the goods. We rode down to New Orleans and then crossed over to Algiers. - With the Army of the Gulf. 183 Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks. Courtesy of the Library of Congress. September fourth—Grant, Banks and other officers had a grand review of the troops at Carrollton. After the morning review was over, our regiment came down and crossed the Mississippi and went forward on the railroad. It took all of the next day to ship all of our supplies. After this was done, we who were guarding them, took the train and joined our command at Bayou Bouef at midnight. We have a disagreeable camp ground at this place. The ground is low, wet and marshy. The tents we now have are what the soldiers call “dog tents.” They consist simply of two pieces of canvas about seven feet in length by five or six in width. The two pieces are buttoned together, thrown over a center pole and the bottom sides fastened...