DIY History | Transcribe | Civil War Diaries and Letters | Sewell Van Alstine diary, 1863-1864

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1864-03-26 -- 1864-03-27

49  town, we passed over a beautiful & rich section of country, as I have yet seen in the south, as level as the prairies of Ill, sufficiently dry for cultivation conveniently drained if necessary, all under cultivation & highly improved with good buildings (many splendid dwellings) excellent fences, a good portion of efficient hedge fence, of the osage orange also the white thorn, some which was really ornamental, passed several sugar manufactories, our march the most of day. was on the banks of bayou Rapides, on the S.W. side, the land is 80 or. 90 feet elevated above the water of the bayou  saw Gen. Ronsan, understand his division is with the expedition bivouaced, near the head of the bayau, distance marched 20 miles, & still five miles to to the river, men were tired, plenty of sheep slaughtered for supper, laid down early near our guns, called up at 9. Am the morning of the 27th resumed our march at 9 Am: we were now on the opposite side of the bayau N.W. traveled about 2 miles, came to another bayau which seemed a continuation

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49 town, we passed over a beautiful & rich section of country, as I have yet seen in the south, as level as the prairies of Ill, sufficiently dry for cultivation conveniently drained if necessary, all under cultivation & highly improved with good buildings (many splendid dwellings) excellent fences, a good portion of efficient hedge fence, of the osage orange also the white thorn, some which was really ornamental, passed several sugar manufactories, our march the most of day. was on the banks of bayou Rapides, on the S.W. side, the land is 80 or. 90 feet elevated above the water of the bayou saw Gen. Ronsan, understand his division is with the expedition bivouaced, near the head of the bayau, distance marched 20 miles, & still five miles to to the river, men were tired, plenty of sheep slaughtered for supper, laid down early near our guns, called up at 9. Am the morning of the 27th resumed our march at 9 Am: we were now on the opposite side of the bayau N.W. traveled about 2 miles, came to another bayau which seemed a continuation