which was now full of large cakes of ice. After getting below Columbus the ice disappeared, the weather became mild, and the voyage was pleasant. The regiment arrived at Memphis, Feb. 11th, and on the following day resumed the journey. The fleet reached Vicksburg on the 13th, and landed below the city, by the flats. Instead of proceeding directly to New Orleans, orders came to disembark at this place, and General Smith, leaving his command at Vicksburg, proceeded to New Orleans, ascertained that an error had been made in transmitting the telegram, and that it was intended his troops should come directly to New Orleans.

Meanwhile, the regiments remained on the transports at Vicksburg until the 16th, when they moved off the boats, marched out in the rear of Vicksburg, and went into camp near the "four mile bridge," between the city and the Big Black river. Here they remained until the 19th, when orders came from General Smith to strike tents, move to the landing at Vicksburg, and reëmbark upon the same transports, which had been retained until General Smith could return from New Orleans. By the 20th everything was ready for a continuation of the voyage. The 2nd division, under command of General Garrard, which was left at Eastport, had now arrived, and at 4 o'clock

A. M., of that day, the whole fleet of twenty-four transports, conveying General Smith's entire command, proceeded down the river. The steamer" Adam Jacobs" arrived at New Orleans, with the Ninety-fifth, February 21st, and landed just below the city. The regiment remained on the steamer until the following day, when it disembarked and went into camp several miles below the city, on the old battle-fields of Jackson and Packenham. The grounds assigned here for camping purposes were of the worst character, being low, wet and muddy. The rainy season had commenced, and it was almost impossible for teams or men to move over the miry ground. It was the most disagreeable encampment the regiment ever had in the service, and all were glad when the order came to leave it.

While at New Orleans, General Smith's command underwent some changes in its name and organization. During its operations in the Department of the Cumberland, at Nashville, and throughout the subsequent campaign, it was designated as the Detachment of the Army of the Tennessee. On its arrival within the Department of the Gulf, it was formed into the 16th Army Corps, Maj. Gen. A. J. Smith commanding, and was known as such in the campaign against Mobile, and until the close of the war. The Ninety-fifth re

mained attached to the 2nd brigade of Colonel Moore's division, and other regiments were assigned to the corps at New Orleans, making it a very large and efficient command.

The regiments soon received orders to prepare for another active campaign, and early in the month of March, the troops began moving, some by the river and gulf, and others by way of Lake Pontchartrain, to Dauphine island, where the army, under General Canby, was assembling, preparatory to the general movement up the bay against Mobile. The Ninetyfifth was ordered to proceed to that point of rendezvous by the lake, and on the morning of March 11th, it cheerfully struck tents at the camp below New Orleans, and moved over to the old race course between the city and Lake Pontchartrain, where it was directed to obtain transportation and proceed directly to Dauphine island. The regiment bivouacked upon the track of the race course, which was perfectly dry and clean, and during the short delay here, the men enjoyed much more real comfort than they had experienced in the mud pastures below the city. Four companies of the Ninety-fifth, F, G, H, and K, were here detailed to remain and accompany the transportation of the division, and reported to Lieut. Nichols, A. A. Q. M., for that duty. On the 13th day of March, the remainder

of the regiment, six companies, embarked at the Pontchartrain landing, on the steamer "Warrior," and in the evening of the same day started on the voyage. Passing through lake Borgne, and along the coast, the steamer arrived safely at Grant's Pass on the evening of the 14th, where she anchored for the night, it being a difficult place to navigate in the darkness. On the following morning she passed safely through, and landed at Fort Gaines, Dauphine island. The regiment disembarked and marched down the beach on the south side of the island, to the camp assigned. This was the healthiest locality which could have been selected for the encampment of troops. The men pitched their tents upon the clean sand, which was much preferable to New Orleans mud, were invigorated by the sea breezes, which came constantly from the gulf, and fared sumptuously on the oysters and fish, in which the island abounded.

At Dauphine island changes occurred in the brigade and division organizations. Brigadier General E. A. Carr assumed command of Colonel Moore's division, and the latter took command of the first brigade. The Ninety-fifth was transferred to it, and Colonel Blanden was relieved as commander of the second brigade by Colonel L. M. Ward, of the 14th Wisconsin infantry. Colonel Blanden had been com

manding officer of the brigade ever since its formation at Nashville, had led it through the great campaign against Hood, and through all its subsequent wanderings, with much credit to himself as a military commander. Circumstances of rank, such as frequently occur in the army, now placed him once more in command of his regiment, which, for a long time, had been ably governed by Lieut. Colonel Avery.

The encampment of the troops on this healthy and favorable spot was to be short. There was work at hand, and active operations in that vicinity were soon to commence. Away up the bay, hid among her strongholds, and protected by fortifications, forts and torpedoes, which guarded all avenues of approach, lay the defiant rebel city, which, thus far in the war, had eluded the visitation and grasp of the Union armies. Silently she awaited the bursting of the storm gathering at her doors, and in the stupendous preparations culminating around her, was conscious of a fate similar to that which had befallen her rebellious sister cities, one by one, all along the Atlantic coast.

On the 18th day of March, Colonel Moore's brigade was ordered to cross over to Cedar Point, located opposite the island on the west side of the bay, and execute the first movement in the plan for capturing the city of Mobile. The Ninety-fifth and Seventy-second Illi