 June 1 Co. B 161st is out in front Sharp Shooting. William Beckwith had three fingers Shot off today by a Kiffle Ball that came from a But nut Boy. June 2 We [were] relieved this morning by Co. E. I went Back to the Reserve behind the Bank that Nature formed & went to the Surgeon and got some Medicine for my illness. June 3 Our men [are] at work every night Building Breastworks & Roads near the Rebels works. They are busy in there as we are outside June 4 I was taken very ill last night & went to the Hospital where I will remain until I get Better. Our men [are] still at work Day and Night getting our guns in position for to Bombard the fortifications. June 5 The artillery is firing occasional shots to let them know we are here. At the Hospital yet there have been five of our boys fetched here badly wounded. June 6 Everything is in progress. Preparations are being made to charge the Rebel works. The weather is tremendously hot.  June 7 There is less firing on the lines today than usual. I returned to the Co. today for Duty. June 8 Co. B is on the Reserve today. There is nothing unusual a going on. But we feel sure of occupying the fort before many days. June 9 Co. B and Co. H [are] out in front again today. Our Siege guns and Mortars keep up a continued fire. They set fire to a ... of Rebel Killed in the fort. June 10 Our Siege guns [have] been throwing Shot and Shells in the fort all day. They keep up a Continued Roar, but [we] don't get any reply from the enemy. June 11 At 2 o'clock this morning, the enemy came from behind his works and fired at our pickets. They were soon Driven Back with a loss of 7 men. June 12 Co. B is out Sharp shooting again today. The Remainder of the Regt. is supporting the Darkeys while they make a Road near the Rebel works.  June 13 At 2 o'clock this morning the Rebels opened a brisk fire on our ... and compelled them to fall Back from their works. Tomorrow the great Struggle is to commence again. June 14 Generals Augur and Weitzel made a grand assault at five o'clock this morning. Bombardment began at 8 o'clock at 6. They [were] carrying off our wounded by hundreds and kept it up all day & nearly all night. ... supported the 21st ind. Batt. [Christopher Columbus Augur was born in New York, graduated from West Point and commanded a division in the Army of the Gulf during the Siege of Port Hudson. Source: Wikipedia. Godfrey Weitzel was born in Winzeln in the Palatinate which was a part of the Kingdom of Bavaria within Germany; his family immigrated to the United States when he was a young boy. He graduated from West Point, commanded the advance in Major General Nathaniel Banks’ operations in western Louisiana and a division under Banks at the siege of Port Hudson. Source: Wikipedia]. June 15 Co. B. G. & K. went out Near the Rifle units last night where we will remain until tonight. The Dead Bodies lies strued [strewed] all around us & it is impossible to move them until Dark. June 16 Our wounded men are coming or being Brought in yet today. There [are] a number of them so near the Rebels Rifle pits that we can't get to them & there [are] hundreds that lie Dead so that we can hardly bear to be on the field. June 17 There is considerable firing today by our sharp shooters so the Rebs have to keep their heads Down behind their entrenchments & gives us a chance to get our wounded off the field. June 18 About noon today there was an order came to our Regt. & the 3rd & 50th [Massachusetts] to move Back to Shore plains, which gives us much Relief.  June 19 Shore Plains - there [have] been a number of Rebs seen on the [road] to Baton Rouge & one Darkey was murdered by them today. We returned from picket this evening. June 20 Everything is quiet with us today & we are resting handsomely. The News we hear from the front is encouraging. June 21 The Rain is falling Right Smart today & we are very poorly situated to keep Dry. June 22 Our forage trains [are] coming in everyday loaded with Cotton. We are using lots of it for to Build Breastworks at P. H. [Port Hudson]. June 23 Gen. Banks has men at work to make Ready to Storm the fort again. June 24 Co. B. & D went on picket this morning on the B.R. [Baton Rouge] Road where we have two pieces of artillery stationed in the Road. [Having] very pleasant time.  June 25
We [were] Relieved this morning at daylight & went to Jackson with forage train which is 14 miles. Marched there & Back today. Fetched in 300 Bales of cotton. The Road is very Dusty & the weather hot. June 26 We all feel very stale this morning after our tramp yesterday. There was a Ration of Whiskey Dealt out to the Regt. this morning which causes considerable Noise. June 27 The Rebels opened on our gun Boats from the River side today but they [were] promptly replied to. Was glad to cease firing. June 28 The Rebels came [to our] works last night [and] surprised & captured 12 of our men. We received orders to have everything ready to start for any point at a moment's Notice. June 29 We are in readiness to march but don’t know where we are to go. June 30 The enemy made a Rush out off their works 1,000 strong last night & attempted to spike our siege guns, but not more than half of them got Back again.
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