The road lay along Deer Creek, passing several plantations; and occasionally, at the bends, it crossed the swamp, where the water came above my hips.

The smaller drummer-boys had to carry their drums on their heads, and most of the men slang their cartridge-boxes around their necks.

The soldiers generally were glad to have their general and field officers afoot, but we gave them a fair specimen of marching, accomplishing about twenty-one miles by noon.

Of course, our speed was accelerated by the sounds of the navy-guns, which became more and more distinct, though we could see nothing.

At a plantation near some Indian mounds we met a detachment of the Eighth Missouri, that had been up to the fleet, and had been sent down as a picket to prevent any obstructions below.