Pre Siege of Vicksburg

Marching, marching

day, night , then day.

I actually miss cabin fever

on the Mississippi

breathing the smell of burnt coal

and condensating iron

 the sound  of the steam boilers

propelling us on that never ending river.

I envy those on the steamboats and barges

that passed us by in that explosive gauntlet

weary only for a few minutes

till rounding the bend

protected by trees

out of  range from cannon fire.

Lands fall, Grand Gulf April 29

58’s whistled by my ears

run, run, run,

to the tree’s we ran

we all ran like hell

till we fell into a wet creek.

Sheltered for a moment

by trees, roots and a foggy mist

then silence, absolute silence.

All that I could hear was my breathing

and the pounding of my heart

beating against the inside of my chest.

Now marching, marching, marching

East by Southeast.

Port Gibson is up ahead we are told.

But where? All that we encounter

is a wet jungle forest of vines

creeks, mud and swamp feet.

The long battle has just begun.

12/29/2012

~M. McIntosh

Image via Wikipedia

Image by Kevin Saff via Flickr