MAY 5. Gov. Yates and Adjt. Gen. Thomas are here. We are detailed to remain here and do fatigue duty. The burning barges loaded with provisions came down this evening. The town of Grand Gulf is entirely destroyed. I didn’t know there had been a town there until told. MAY 6. We hear that McClernand’s troops are advancing. One hundred and twenty-eight prisoners came in this morning. We are having a very cold snap for this time of the year. MAY 7. Thursday. Very cold again today. Had to stand around the fire to keep warm. Seventy-four more prisoners came in today. A good many of our boys found old friends or acquaintances among them. They have been very poorly dressed and fed. There is general activity today, Steele’s division is crossing over--also Tuttle’s. Gunboats and transports are engaged in the work. MAY 8. Friday. All quiet. Sherman’s corps moved out this morning. An exorbitant price is demanded for everything. A sheet of paper and envelope are five cents each. Twenty-five cents for a lemon; six dollars for a canteen of whisky; milk costs a dollar a quart, and other things in proportion. At 5 o’clock we boarded the “Empire City” for the lower landing, fifteen miles below, to protect the hospital and bring off the wounded. MAY 9. Saturday. We disembarked early this morning and went back in the country three miles where we found about three hundred of our wounded in a splendid country mansion. The books show that the house cost over one hundred thousand dollars. We lay here in the shade during the day while the ambulances were carrying the wounded down to the river. MAY 10. Sunday. We were awakened last night at 11 o’clock and ordered to fall in with all possible speed. We hurried back to the river and returned to Grand Gulf, which was supposed to be in danger of an attack. Flats and transports brought down shipping teams which sent food to the front. Cumbersworth, Hagan and Hunt each got a barrel of flour last night when they were on extra duty, burying a soldier. MAY 11. Monday. Made out muster rolls this forenoon. Blair’s division came down this afternoon. MAY 12. Tuesday. On brigade guard. Jim Chester and I went outside the pickets and picked dewberries and mulberries, all we could eat. MAY 13. Wednesday. I made a raise on commissary last night. Boggs, Schultz and I ran the pickets and got some mulberries this morning, and brought back four quarts of which we made pies this afternoon. McArthur’s division is coming in. Hooker is fighting a great battle in the East. We cannot get the particulars.