St. Charles Ark Jan. 14th (1863 
Took quiet possession of this place to day. Rebels left here about six day ago. The inhabitants have nearly all left 
January 15th At 12 M. we left St. Charles and tied up for the night at Clerendon. Snowed and sleeted all last night and it is very Cold today. The snow is about 8 inches deep. -boats are crowded . - not room for half the men in cabin, those that are on the guards, deck and hurricane deck are nearly freezing.
 January 16th It was quite cold last night - men suffered much. - Their clothes being wet. The whole fleet on their way up the river at 9 A.M. It is a clear, cold day. Arrived at Duvals at 4 PM. The Rebels had evacuated the place, and got everything away but 2 columbiads 64 pr. and some 30 enfield rifles. A Co. of Cav. went out 3 m's and captured 35 prisoners. Rebels had this place tolerable well fortified, but not as well as St. Charles it is 175 m's to the Mississippi River from here.
 Duvals Bluff January 17th 
Extremely cold last night, men nearly froze.
