JAN. 1, 1863. Thursday. Bright and clear, warm and pleasant. How well do I remember two short years ago today when we took a sleigh ride and made a regular family visit at Uncle Tim’s. Since then I have traveled over four thousand miles, five hundred and eighty of which I marched with gun on my shoulder; have seen more vice and drunkenness than I ever supposed existed, yet I hope I am morally no worse than when surrounded by kind relatives and friends. An orderly call beat immediately after reveille this morning at which time we received orders to cook our rations and be ready by half past seven. We cooked our fresh pork and by the appointed time had it in our haversacks, and our knapsacks strapped on our backs, ready for the march. We went eight miles and camped close to a small town called Lafayette, situated on the Memphis and Charleston R. R. As soon as we had pitched our tents, Chas. Berry and myself went out one mile from camp and killed a hog. We are now the first regiment of the first brigade, commanded by Brigadier-General McArthur, of Gen. Hamilton’s corps, of the left wing of Gen. Grant’s army. We were put in the rear of the brigade today as a special guard to keep up the stragglers. JAN. 2. Struck out tents early this morning and marched to Colliersville, a distance of seven miles from Lafayette and twenty-four from Memphis. As soon as we had stacked our arms and broken ranks, John Cumbersworth and I went out a mile and a half from camp and got a fine hog. While we were skinning it our orderly-sergeant, Sullivan, Jesse Walker and Mike Walsh were captured not more than a quarter of a mile distant, by a band of rebel cavalry. Sullivan turned and ran and several shots were fired after him, which we heard plainly but we thought it was the boys shooting hogs. When we got into camp Bob Dew and Charlie Berry came in with their paroles, they having been caught by the same company. Five paroled from Co. K in one day. Five such days’ work will muster Co. K out of service. The 17th Ill. at present musters about three hundred and fifty men. On guard tonight; storming fearfully. JAN. 3. Quite pleasant during the day, but it rained heavily all night. JAN. 4. We had inspection at 1 o’clock. Col. Norton’s tent burned today. JAN. 5. Monday. I am on guard at the depot today. JAN. 8. Orders are very strict. If caught outside of the pickets the fine is ten dollars. We get up at 4 o’clock in the morning and stack our arms. I am on parole guard today. We expect to move in a day or two. JAN. 11. The regiment was formed at 4 this morning. In the afternoon we received marching orders. Our division has been moving up all day. Logan’s division is here. The stockade fort that the contrabands are at work on near the depot is almost completed. At 4 o’clock we had dress parade. Orders were read, fining the absentees from roll call since the last of December, one dollar each time.