The National tribune., 1902-06-19

some time past been endeavoring to secure
war diaries covering the siege of that
Confederate stronghold. Among those that
Capt Rigby has secured is the diary of
Chaplain n. NJ. Baker, of the 10th Ill,
which Capt. Rigby has forwarded to The
National Tribune for publication. Inc
following letter of explanation was writ
ten by Chaplain Baker when he sent the
diary to Capt. Rigby:
Il will be glad to contribute anything
I can to the history of the N1cksburs
campaign Unfortunately for myself,
missed the first part of it My regiment
was paid off near the last of April, anu
was sent home to take the money TO the
families Of the men, starting from Young S
Point just as the troops were enabarking
to make feint on Hayness Bluff while
the main army crossed below.
81 got back to Young's Point on the
25th of Nav, and reached my regiment, in
the rear of Vicksburg, on the 9th. From
that time till the surrender each day has
its record. These notes We're written for
my own eyes alone. l had no thought of
anyone else ever seeing them. They con-
tain camp rumors and guesses that time
proved TO be wrong. They contain state
ments which | found out were untrue be-
fore the siege was over: for instance, that
one as to the number of guns inside the
enemy's works found under date of May
%. There are many illusions to myself
which 1 never would have written for
public inspection. / have called the enc
my's large earthwork on the main jackson
Road Fort Beauregard,' which l now
think was not its name. In short, could
now write the matter UP in much better
shape. but l suspect that should 1 do SO
what little value it may have for your
purposes would all be lost. So l send 1t
to you just as it was written at the time,
without alteration or correction. hoping
that if YOU have it copied this explanation
may be copied with it.
Sunday, May 24-The first object
which greeted my sight this morning was
the charred remains of the once pleasant
little village of Greenville, Miss. This is
the point where the guerrillas have been
committing deprcdations for some time
past The wreck of a steamboat, which
they destroyed a short time ago, was ~
ing at the shore, but the blsckened Chin
neys and The leaves of the trees scared by
the recent fire bore testimony to the retri-
button which they have received. Some
houses are still standing, but most of them
have been entirely destroyed. at p. m.
we came to Lake Providence. Here we
heard.that our army was not yet IN N1cks-
burg. but that the fight was still pro-
crossing This increased our anxiety.
o, that the boat would 60 faster.
Near 3 o'clock we again started,
and just before shutdown landed at
Milliken's Bend. The first sound that
greeted our ears was the heavy booming
Of distant cannon, and l was glad to hear
1t. Somehow. it nerves my frame and
elevstes my spirits. and it seems very nat
ural, too. for all the ideas of this place
and all the impressions are associated in
my mind with the roar of cannon and the
confusion of battle. Again we got under
way, and about O'Clock in the evening
came to the upper landing at 1ounss
Point Walked about one and half miles
to the convalescent camp. found few OF
the boys then went back to the boat.
Monday, May 25.-Heavy cannonading
in front in the morning, which slackened
in the heat Of the day; opened heavily
near p. M, but ceased entirely near
night. l went down to the lower landing,
and reported myself to the Provost-Mar-
shall.
Tuesday, May 26.-Tried to get pass
to the regiment, but could not. Capt.
Townsend, to whom I applied, ordered
me to report for that purpose TO the
Provost Marshal. Last night when / ap-
piled to the Provost-Marshal he ordered
me to report to Capt. Townsend, and SO
it goes. Late in the evening l. deter
mined TO 60 without pass. So l got
aboard the Planet. She did not start till
after dark, so l went to bed.
AGAIN WITH NY REGIMENT
Wednesday, May 27.-Waked up this
morning and found myself up the Yazoo
near Johnson's farm. Found teamster
OF our regiment with wagon and got
! aboard. We passed over a part of the
ground where Morgan's Division fought
last Winter. Fragments Of shell were ly-
pg on the ground; the trees were cut,
Scared and spiintered by them. Small
arms, too, had been brought into requisi-
ton. l counted the marks of % balls
on a single tree. Saw where one can
non shot had passed through a cypress
tree two feet in diameter. We crossed the
bayou, which caused us SO much trouble
last Winter, on pOntoon bridge, and
soon came to the wagoner's corral. Here
stopped and spent some time in examin-
ing the bluffs. They are very high, and
their face is lined with three rows Of rife
pits, one above the other. 1t would have
been almost impossible to climb them
After wandering here for some time
started for the regiment. The way led Ut
into the bluff through a narrow gulch
which had been fortified on both sides
Indeed, the whole country is the mos
billy, broken and jagged which 1 ever saw
The firing, which was indistinct at first
became louder and louder as approached
until q ball passing across the road g
short distance in front Of me reminded
me that l was once more under fire. SooI
after ! found the regiment camped in 9
deep rayine between two high bluffs.
crawled up the bluff on the west, anl
peeping over a log, obtained good view
of the enemy's works and Of our rife pits
The firing scattering picket shooting) still
continues. l could see the smoke curl vi
from the eremy's rifles.
Thursday May 2S.-Slept soundly las
night. Today the firing was constant-ar
tillery once in while and picket firing al
the time. Late in tn evening Capt Whit
and myself went up to our rife pits, with
in 80 yards of the enemy's works. TIL
balls came pretty close, and fragments o
shells passed over US. A piece of a shel
thrown from one of our mortars In tn
river struck In the bank not more thai
Is feet from me. AT dark we went bscl
to camp. Our camp is in a deep ravin
well sheltered from balls, though il the
were to throw shells over they could max
IL warm place for US. We have GU
tent fcored with canes.
IN THE RIFLE PITS.
Friday, May 29.-Early this mornin
our batteries opened on the enemy vi:
great spirit. Cannon planted on the bluf,
behind us sent the shells screening over o,
camp. There was also heavy musketry q
ing far on our left. Capt. White and M
self again went up to the rifle pits W
could watch the effect OF our shells. Son