when we first came to Baton Rouse does not look at all familiar. The 49th Regiment has received orders to take transportation for New Orleans at once.
August 6. We are expecting every moment to get orders to start for home, and the delay is very vexatious.
August 7. Received orders to start for home by way of the Mississippi river and Cairo, Ill. (and in consequence we are all feeling happy), as soon as transportation can be secured.
August 8. The men are all busily engaged cleaning up guns and equipments to turn over before going home. Home! how pleasant the sound, when it means so much to us who have for so long a time been deprived of all the comforts of home.
August 9. Inspection came off this morning at 7 o'clock and everything was found in "spick and span" condition. Notice has been received that the steamer is awaiting us at the landing, and we have turned in all ordnance and ordnance stores, surplus clothing, camp and garrison equippage and are now on board steamer "Sunny South" ready for the start.
August 10. Steamer started up river at 3 o'clock this morning and arrived opposite Port Hudson at sunrise. Our passing of the batteries was much more quietly accomplished than was Commodore Farragut's last March. The scenery on the Mississippi River is very monotonous and tame. Have passed only one little village today. Fort Adams passed at 3 o'clock P. M. The men are suffering terribly from heat on the "burning deck." At 10 P. M. arrived at Natchez. Since coming to Louisiana we have been using New Orleans horse car tickets and postage stamps for change.
August 11. We left Natchez at 5 P. M. The bluffs
