10 29 1862 [Wednesday]
We started at sunup and traveled about fifteen miles. Took up awhile before night. I took some flour and swapped it for corn meal and we made a fine supper. I did not enjoy it very well as I took sick about supper time, but by next morning I was ready for breakfast, which was composed of good fat beef, wheat and corn bread.
11 02 1862 [Sunday]
We remained in camp. Nothing of interest to note except Talley came back from home and brought a basket of provisions. Pies, sweet cake and sweet potatoes. It was quiet a feast to us.
11 05 1862 [Wednesday]
Nothing occurred of interest. Nearly all the Regiment gone home. Everything still in camp. No duty to perform. I cooked up a fine pot of rice which we sweetened up till we made a dish which we enjoyed finely The day was spent in cooking and eating.
11 06 1862 [Thursday]
We got up, built our fires, and as we had cooked a pot of beef the day before, I told the boys we would have some hash for breakfast, as a friend had given me a large onion. So I fell to work making my hash and soon had it cooked just right. Meantime the boys prepared the rest of our meal and in a few minutes we were all hands busy feeding. The boys all agreed that my hash could not be beaten. Then after breakfast Bill cooked up a pot of rice which made us a dinner. My old friend, Key, came down and we passed our time playing our fifes. After this manner we passed the day. Nothing occurred of interest. After talking a laughing till some time in the night, we retired to rest.
11 25 1862 [Tuesday]
Lieutenant Officer found two squirrels which he slaughtered and brought into camp and made a find meal.
11 29 1862 [Saturday]
About two o'clock I took the Parson's horse and rode about four miles after some butter which Will had engaged a week before. I succeeded in finding the house and bought 1-1/4 pounds of butter for which I paid one dollar. I also bought one dozen apples for twenty-five cents. This I thought pretty cheap. After I bought my apples the good lady gave me as many more as I could eat. I then said goodbye and struck out for camp, reaching there about sunset.
12 06 1862 [Saturday]
After our job was completed we then had to cut wood for Sunday, so we fell to work with others making the valley ring with the sound of our axes, and soon had our Sabbath's wood prepared. In this time Talley had baked some cracklin bread, which, with butter and fruit, made our supper and of which we ate heartily.
03 08 1863 [Sunday]
There was preaching at six o'clock but I did not go as I had to draw rations. It would be well to say here that we drew bacon and it is not necessary to say that we were pleased to see it, for remember we had been eating very poor beef for a month or two and for this past week we had not drawn any of that. So there was a great to do over the 'hog'.
[There was considerable complaints among the regiments at Vicksburg at this time about the quality of their beef rations]
03 13 1863 [Friday]
We came to camp and I found plenty of hog meat cooked. While on picket, I gathered my haversack full of wild salad which I put in with the meat, making quite a delicious meal. We ate heartily and then said that if we could have such a good meal every day, 'we could live and do well.' We, being tired, spend the remainder of the day resting.
04 04 1863 [Saturday]
It being Easter time our mess agreed to buy some eggs for next morning. We bought two dozen which made us a fine breakfast.
04 05 1863 [Sunday]
We cooked our eggs and had a good meal but all agreed that it would not pay to make a business of eating eggs when they cost two dollars per dozen.
04 12 1863 [Sunday]
In drawing rations it fell to our Company to take a piece of beef which was so bad our men refused it, so we were without anything to eat except bread. There was no little complaining and it did no good as it brought no meat.