ay against a fort, using up all their ammunition. Cannoneers silently
set to work levelling off a position; the horses unhitched and tied
under a gin house. We lay down on the bare, rough ground, clothes all
on, but it prevented not our sleeping.

Before Vicksburg, Wednesday, May 20. Long before day we were silently
aroused (cold and stiff, chilled through by the dampness of the night)
to find a line of arms at "stack" and a squad of men busily engaged in
front. They were the pioneer corps, which had been at work nearly all
night digging a position for the pieces in the hillside. Hitched up our
horses as soon and as still as possible, and waited for the coming day
with nothing to eat whatever.

[Sidenote: 1863 Shot and Shell]

At sunrise our skirmishers advanced toward their line and soon commenced
their "popping". We found ourselves in plain view and range of a strong
looking fort. Within half a mile of us we could see the cannoneers
around the guns. They seemed to have no anxiety to commence, and
batteries were brought into position at every available point, but as
Bolton's Battery was coming in on the left, they opened and the shell
went flying over our heads. We responded with two shots, when we were
ordered to cease firing until ordered to the contrary. The pioneers busy
at work throwing up a bastion, which was occupied by two siege guns,
30-pounders, which came up this morning. A steady firing was kept up
all day by most of the batteries, but as we could not fire without
raking our skirmishers, we had to lie on the dusty hillside in the white
clay, only to "duck" close to mother earth as the shells came flying. A
solid shot rolled at our feet, harmless. We fired about twelve rounds,
other pieces about the same. The first Section in the same position as
occupied yesterday, to our left, used up all its ammunition. Our
sharp-shooters advanced under cover of the hill within 50 yards of the
fort, and managed to keep the cannoneers down nearly all the time.
DeGolyer advanced with his Battery to the next hill. Night came on and
firing ceased. Camp fires lit, and at 9 o'clock we were relieved by the
12th Wisconsin.

Before Vicksburg, Thursday, May 21. Last night we fell back near the
place occupied day before yesterday in the reserve line. Unharnessed and
tied to the wheel. Laid down in the corn field and slept sweetly till 9
A. M. Harnessed and fed our horses. Our haversacks were empty and no
grain in the quarter