here at Natchez are 150 feet in height. The very prettily situated. Passed village of Washington on the left at 10.30 A. M.; Passed Gen. Taylor's plantation at 11.30 A. M.; Grand Gulf at 3 P. M.—a very strong place. Passed wreck of Indianola at sunset. Arrived at Vicksburg soon after 11 o'clock at night.
August 12. Passed head of the celebrated Vicksburg canal at 11.15 A. M. Passed Millican's Bend at 2 o'clock P. M. Steamer "Tempest" with the 49th Massachusetts on board has passed up.
August 13. Passed Napoleon Ark at the mouth of the Arkansas River about 9 o'clock.
August 14. Arrived at Helena, Ark., at 1.30 P. M. Stopped to coal till 4 o'clock and went on shore to stretch our legs during the stay. It is a very strong natural fortification, and many artificial works have been erected in addition. Two men were drowned attempting to come on board.
August 15. Arrived at Memphis at about 6 o'clock A. M. Left at 11.30 P. M.
August 16. Steamer ran aground and stuck fast for hours; reached Gayoso Landing at 4 P. M.
One must travel on the Mississippi River to get any idea of its greatness. Here we go puffing along, day after day, and night after night, and we wake up every morning and the same grand old river stretches away before us.
The distances on the Mississippi River are as follows: Passes to New Orleans, 125 miles; New Orleans to Baton Rouge, 130; Baton Rouge to Port Hudson, 30; Port Hudson to Natchez, 100; Natchez to Vicksburg, 140; Vicksburg to Memphis, 360; Memphis to Cairo, 240; total 1125 miles.
