umn over dusty roads
to water twice a day. Very unpleasant, the river bank being too steep to
approach it otherwise. Obtained an order from Lieutenant Hood for a
bushel of potatoes from Commissary. Got them for $1.00 per bushel.
Hard-tack of poor quality is all the rations we receive. All anxiously
waiting for mail. A large mail passed by for us to-day.

[Sidenote: 1863 Fever and Ague]

Helena, Wednesday, Sept. 23. Had a shake last night of about two hours
in length, followed by very heavy fever, and my head ached severely all
day. A small mail was received, but none for me. Sadly disappointed.
"Christian Commission" came into our camp this afternoon with wagon full
of tracts, "Child's Papers", "Tract Journal", etc. which were
distributed "without money and without price". A couple of our boys
crossed the river in a dug-out for fresh meat this evening, but were
sent back by guerrillas who chased them.

Helena, Thursday, Sept. 24. Health improving. Feel very good to-day. The
day was spent in idly waiting for the night, with the exception of meal
time which received its due attention. Potatoes cooked by turns, it fell
[to] my lot to cook some for breakfast. The rest of the day sitting on
the bank of the river watching the hundreds of soldiers in bathing at
all hours of the day, following the swell of the steamboats, making an
amusing scene. About a dozen dug-outs are flying up and down the stream
at all times which were stolen from the negroes on the plantations
around.

A larger number of boats passed down to-day than any day previous, most
of them stern wheelers with but little loads. It gave us fine amusement
in trying to read the names at a distance. Much to our dissatisfaction
none of them stopped to take us on. Our tents were unceremoniously taken
away this P. M. and we are out in the cold.

Helena, Friday, Sept. 25. Awoke to find the rubber over us wet with dew.
Breakfast attended to with much zeal, the company cooks cooking coffee
and sour meat, while privates and officers all crowded around with
skillets, cans, pans, kettles, etc., containing potatoes, onions,
crackers, fish, green corn, etc. After breakfast "Boots and Saddles"
sounded, and all were soon ready for drill. I rode the center team on
the first piece. Gunboats "Chillicothe" and "Eastman" passed down, as
also several light draft-boats.

On the Mississippi, Saturday, Sept. 26. Cold night, but kept comfortable
in our "shebang" of "ponchos"