Follow Civil War Union Army Sergeant, Arthur P. McCullough, of Company "D," 81st Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Embark upon dozens of river steamboats plying the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, Cumberland, Red and White Rivers in search of the rebel armies. Fight alongside the boys in blue at the battles of Port Gibson, Raymond, Jackson, Champion Hill, Big Black River Bridge, Vicksburg, Red River, Brice's Crossroads, and Nashville. Revel at the Mardi Gras in old New Orleans. Sail across the Gulf of Mexico and into Mobile Bay. Drive the rebels out of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely then capture the city of Mobile. Complete the circle by occupying Montgomery, the first capitol of the Confederate States of America. Here is a never before published history showing the bravery, perseverance and strength of a frontline Union Infantry soldier fighting in the western theater of the Civil War. Based on a recently discovered diary written by his great-grand-uncle, the author adds text, maps and illustrations to position the reader at the camp sites and on the battle lines. Then the diarist takes over to transport us back in time to the daily life of a Union soldier fighting to preserve the United States of America. This diary is a primary history source written by Sergeant McCullough over a three year period from 1862 until 1865. His final entry was made three days before he died. This is not a memoir written years after the war. This is as it happened.