reach, and pursuit of cavalry by infantry being useless, moved his brigade back to Salem, and returned with it to Holly Springs on the 23rd of December. There were very severe orders on this short expedition in reference to the soldiers entering dwelling-houses and yards by the roadside, forbidding the taking of chickens and vegetables, and against jay-hawking generally. Nevertheless, the boys could not see the propriety of passing through an enemy's country without, in a measure, collecting supplies, and as they had been provided with short rations for the trip, the orders were somewhat evaded, and many a soldier marched into Salem with a fowl of some description slung over his shoulder.

The First Kansas Infantry was one of the best fighting regiments in the service, and had acquired something of a reputation also for appropriating things to their own use, in which, really, they could not be said to have had a clear and unencumbered ownership. It may be asserted with safety that when there was anything good to eat which could be seized near the route of march, the First Kansas was in no fear of starvation. On this expedition, as usual, it did not suffer for want of fowl and other meat, and the Ninety-fifth, though not so bold because not so experienced in this peculiar branch of the service as their compeers of

the First Kansas, yet were making rapid progress in learning the skillful modus operandi of bringing eatables into camp, and were well provided with the various luxuries afforded by the country. At Salem, cornmeal, sugar and syrup were found in considerable abundance, and, notwithstanding the prohibitory orders on the subject, those soldiers of jay-hawking propensities (of which there are some in every regiment,) laid in a good store of these necessities.

One day two men belonging to the Ninety-fifth, were noticed by the brigade commander to be approaching camp, conveying a large jug suspended on a pole, which gave rise to the suspicion that the contents thereof was contraband-such as milk, honey, or syrup, and had been surreptitiously obtained, against the orders in such case provided. The suspicious parties were therefore at once arrested and brought under guard to Colonel Deitzler's head-quarters for examination and punishment. On arriving there the colonel ascertained with surprise, but to the great merriment of the parties implicated, and other soldiers who stood around, that the earthen vessel in question contained nothing but pure, unadulterated water, which the soldiers had obtained at a neighboring spring. The colonel acknowledged himself sold, and the boys proceeded on their way to camp, rejoicing.

A few days after the return of this expedition to Holly Springs, General Grant's army took up its line of march for Memphis, starting soon after Christmas, 1862. The Ninety-fifth arrived at Moscow, Tenn.,—a small town between LaGrange and Memphis,-December 30th, and on the following day mustered for pay at that place. On the first day of January, 1863, it resumed the march, and on the 2nd, arrived at Collierville. Colonel Deitzler's brigade was ordered to halt here a few days prior to advancing to Memphis, during which time the regiments were mainly occupied in repairing and guarding the railroad, doing picket and other duties. While remaining at this place, the regiments were required to be up and in line of battle at three o'clock, A. M., for several mornings in succession, watching for the enemy until daylight. This precaution was taken to prevent surprise by the enemy, who was known to be hovering on the rear and flanks of the withdrawing Union army. The disaster which had occurred at Holly Springs made all commanders more watchful thereafter, and the troops were kept on the alert, and well in hand, day and night, for any emergency. On the 13th of January the brigade moved forward toward Memphis, arrived there in the afternoon, and went into camp three miles out from the city.

The campaign thus closed in Northern Mississippi, though successful in driving the enemy from his base on the Tallahatchie river, yet had not effected all the objects originally planned. Pemberton with his army had been compelled to evacuate his.strong position, and beat a hasty retreat far into the interior, but he was still unconquered. Whether the grand march from Grand Junction and LaGrange, southward, was instituted with a view of eventually attacking and taking Vicksburg from the rear, via Grenada and Jackson, Mississippi, and was discontinued on account of impracticability, or for other reasons, was best understood by the great military man who then stood at the head of the Western Army, planned its campaigns, and altered at discretion its sweeping course of march. It was soon evident, however, that there was a grand expedition on foot for the Army of the Tennessee, that the campaign was to be continued, and that it would be prosecuted with renewed vigor down the Mississippi Valley, against Vicksburg, though in midwinter.

CHAPTER IV.

Expedition from Memphis down the River against VicksburgArrival at Milliken's Bend - The Canal near Young's Point Colonel Deitzler's Brigade ordered to Lake Providence - Important order affecting the Ninety-fifth-The Canal at Lake Providence-Sickness and Death in the Regiment - Raising of Colored Regiments - Policy of the Government concerning Slavery during the Rebellion, reviewed-Resignation of Colonel Church - March of the Army from Milliken's Bend to "Hard Times' Landing - Ninety-fifth transferred to General Ransom's Brigade Crossing to Grand Gulf— March to rear of Vicksburg — Charges of 19th and 22nd of May — The Siege-Surrender of the City General Ransom's Brigade sent to Natchez-Its operations while there-Its return to Vicksburg.

SIMULTANEOUSLY with the presence of General Grant's army at Memphis, a large fleet of transports was also collecting at that point for the purpose of conveying the troops down the river to operate against Vicksburg. These were ready by the 19th of January for the reception of General McArthur's division, which was now designated as the 6th Division of the 17th Army Corps, commanded by Major General James B. McPherson, changes in corps organizations having

в