ilt now and we soon had
coffee. It commenced raining, as cold and disagreeable as the day could
be. A steamboat was due at 4 A. M. to take us across, but did not come
till 6:30 A. M. (an old rebel boat, but rebuilt). Taylor's Battery
crossed the river first, and as we were not pressed we waited for the
bridge to be built. It was very disagreeable, and I felt almost sick;
late hours and irregular meals having brought on diarrhea, etc. A large
constellation of stars were gathered on the bank, watching the progress
of the bridge, among which were Sherman, Blair, W. F. Smith, chief
engineer, etc. The line on the other side in one hour had a line of
breastworks up and advanced out of sight to form another.

12 M. The bridge completed and we crossed it, being the second battery
to do so. The dread of crossing had passed. Halted at a corn crib and
the cannoneers got as much corn as they could, but the infantry was
formed and advanced in column of division at secure arms, it raining
very heavy. This savage-looking column moved forward with caution,
crossed a forty-acre lot and halted. The skirmishers went out but not a
gun was fired. Advanced again, the batteries were in column of sections.
An occasional gun shot, but we advanced until we were directly under
Mission Ridge. Not a reb seen and our infantry soon climbed it. Our line
formed on the brow when the artillery moved up. Battery D, 1st Missouri
was the first up and soon opened fire on them from the right. Our
Battery started for the left. The "smooth bores" were left on the other
side of the river for want of horses, and we had four teams on a
carriage, but the hill was too steep for us and two more teams were put
on the pieces, and caissons left behind. A detail of two hundred men
were sent to our aid with axes, the enemy sending shells over us quite
thick. 1st piece failed to advance with the horses. Ropes brought
forward and it was hauled up by hand, we following with all haste. By
this time a very brisk skirmishing was going on right to our left and
rear quite close, and General Matthies came down at the head of his
Brigade on double quick, the old general on foot, making fine time.
Captain Dillon ordered the howitzer section and Cogswell's Battery to
the rear in all haste. The extra teams were unhitched and the pieces
unlimbered, and with great difficulty we made a left about, the hill
being so steep that it shoved our horses down amongst the infantry that
were pouri