Saturday, Apr 8
Bartlett Beals & me went up to the front this p.m. at 5p.m. Our batteries opened in full blast on Spanish Fort about midnight. The fort surrendered.
[The battles of Fort Blakeley and Spanish Fort, Alabama were two of the last major battles of the Civil War by the Union forces in an attempt to force their way into Mobile, Alabama.  Federal troops took Spanish Fort after a prolonged siege. The battle of Fort Blakeley was one of the bloodiest battles fought in Alabama.  Source: http://www.exploresouthernhistory.com/blakely1.html]

April 9
Beals, Coopers & myself went through the Fort this morning. At 5 pm Gen Steel [General Frederick Steele] after being reinforced by Gen. Granger [Major General Gordon Granger] made an assault on Blakeley and captured it and garrison.

April 10
The 161st left Stark's Landing this morning and marched to Blakely [Fort Blakeley, Alabama] and went in camp.

April 11
It is reported through camp that R. E. Lee has surrendered to Gen Grant but not confirmed.  At 7 o'clock pm the 13th corps started back to Stark's Landing

April 12
13th Corps arrived at Stark's Landing at daylight this morning. Embarked. Crossed the Bay & the first Division marched in & took possession of Mobile.

Thurs, Apr 13
April 13
161st Regiment camped inside the first line of works. Today we moved out to the 2nd line & went in camp.

April 14
Today we are busy fixing up quarters. The fortifications around this place [are] very strong. We captured over 500 pieces of artillery and heavy guns,

Mar 1-16
<no entries>

Friday, Mar 17
161st Regt. left Fort Gains & crossed the bayou. Boat landed at Pilot Town. I slept on the Land until day Light.

Saturday, Mar 18
Our brigade started on the Route for Spanish? Fort at 8:00 a.m. Marched 3 miles and went in camp. The soldiers threw away all their extra clothing this morning.

Sunday, Mar 19
We broke camp at sunrise this morning and marched about 12 miles without any opposition.

Monday, Mar 20
We broke camp again early this morning and marched until noon and then went in camp & began to build corory [corduroy] road.  It rain[ed] very fast tonight.
[A corduroy or log road is a road made of logs laid transversely across swampy or low ground. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corduroy_road]

Tuesday, Mar 21
We are in camp yet today and to work on the road, the mud & water is from one to two feet deep.

Wednesday, Mar 22
Our division broke camp at daylight this morning & marched along slowly & made road & helped the train along as we went.

Thursday, Mar 23
We are marching along by degrees today We have had a very muddy time of it. We march up to the 2nd Division & go in camp.

Friday, Mar 24
We Broke camp at Daylight this morn and marched to Fish River where we arrived about noon & found A. J. Smith’s [Major General Andrew Jackson Smith] troops there strongly entrenched.

Saturday, Mar 25
A. J. Smith’s command started at day eight this morning & the 13th Corp. started at 12 o'clock, marched about 6 miles & went in camp.

Sunday, Mar 26
We are on the move again today. Our advance reached the pickets of Fort Spanish (Spanish Fort) about noon and drove them in. We went in camp and forty field. [?]

Monday, Mar 27
The Rebel skirmishers opened fire on the right of 161st Regiment at daybreak this morn, but they [were] soon drove back.  We advanced & drove them in Fort.

Tuesday, Mar 28
Our Boy has been to work all night & this morning we are strongly entrenched and our sharp shooters & artillery [are] giving the Rebs particular thunder.

Wednesday, Mar 29
Our Regiment was ordered back to build a bridge yesterday.  We will have it done today. 5 pm we went to Stark's Landing to do picket duty.

Mar 30-31
<no entries>

[Jan 11 and Jan 12 - see January]

Friday, Feb 10
We received orders to be ready to march in the morn 3 days.

Saturday, Feb 11
We broke camp & left Rinerville at daylight and then got on cars. Went to New Orleans and marched from there to Lakeport 15 miles.

 Sunday, Feb 12
We are lying at the wharf at Lakeport today. The 3rd Brigade is about all here.

Monday, Feb 13
Our regiment embarked on the Steamer Planter this morn and started for Fort Gaines at 4pm. We entered the Mississippi Sound at 10pm. It is very rough. We are in bad condition.

Tuesday, Feb 14
We anchored about 10 last night and drifted some 5 miles. It is raining very hard & the weather is cold. At 8am we start again and Run in behind the ?. Dropped anchor at 6pm.

Wednesday, Feb 15
The weather is mild this morning. We start on our journey again & arrive at Ft. Gaines about 10 a.m. I am detailed for fatigue. At work until dark.

Thursday, Feb 16
We have our tents up by 10 a.m. & Peter & me went & got 2 quarts of oysters.

Friday, Feb 17
The troops belonging to the 13th Corps [are] landing here on Dauphin Island [Alabama] daily by the boat landing.

Saturday, Feb 18
Co. B. has cleaned up their street today. We are living quite comfortable in the Land.

Sunday, Feb 19
Peter & me gathered a fine lot of oysters today & shucked some for dinner.

Monday, Feb 20
<no entry>

Tuesday, Feb 21
<no entry>

Wednesday, Feb 22
We have all Sorts of Shows in camp today. Wrestling match. Racing bag. Game of foot Ball. Drilling match & the Blanket performance.

Feb 23-28
<no entries>

Sunday, Jan 1
We are at White River Landing. We had a ration of Commissary Whiskey Dealt out to us for our New Years. Pete & me had a game rooster for dinner. [Pete may have been Peter Wilkes, first mentioned in the December 4, 1863 entry and in subsequent entries after that.]

Sunday, Jan 8
Our Regiment Broke camp at White River Landing this morning. Embarked on board Steamer John H. Dickey. Started down River. Was fired on by guerrillas. Tied off to the Bank.

Monday, Jan 9
The Wind blew so we could not Run this morn until 8 a.m. Then we Run down to Vicksburg & Coaled up. Started at Sunset at 8pm. A collision took place between J. Raine & H. Dickey.

Tuesday, Jan 10
We are 20 miles below a getting our baggage off the John H Dickey's deck and loading it on the John Raine. We started down the river at 2pm. We run at the rate of 20 miles.

Wednesday, Jan 11
We passed Port Hudson at sunrise this morn. Land below Baton Rouge & took on wood. Arrived at Rinerville and landed. Went in camp about 9 p.m.

Thursday, Jan 12
We are all hands busy putting up tents. The ground is very low and muddy.

[missing diary pages until Friday, Feb 10]