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1862 were still operating across the South. The Baxters at home on the Gulf coast likely sent their son and brother a parcel during the Christmas season. There could have been a pair of socks, perhaps a shirt, a smoked ham, a cake or two, and whatever else in the way of eatables that could have been spared from the limited supplies at home. And these supplies on the home front were becoming more and more limited as the war dragged on.
Camp life in winter quarters near Granada was somewhat of a mixed bag. Living in log huts and shored-up tents beat sleeping on the ground with one worn blanket and a leaking waterproof, but the monotony of constant drill and fatigue duty cut down, in the eyes of the private soldier, any benefits that this semipermanent establishment might offer. Even with express packages from home and temporary relief from the hardships of an active campaign, Baxter welcomed the break in monotony when, at the end of January 1863, the regiment was ordered to break camp and move south. Destination stipulated in the orders was Port Hudson, Louisiana, about 25 miles northwest of Baton Rouge.
Port Hudson was the southern anchor of Gen. Pemberton?s Mississippi River defense line and was almost as important as Vicksburg itself. Located on high ground overlooking the river, it had been strongly fortified with a complex of trenches and gun pits. Gen. Franklin Gardner was in command, with roughly 11,000 troops to support his position against Federals advancing from the south.
The 20th Mississippi rode the Mississippi Central to Jackson, switched to the New Orleans, Jackson & Great Northern, and continued their journey south toward Port Hudson. But at Osyka, on the Mississippi-Louisiana line, new orders were waiting. They directed the 20th Mississippi to return to Grenada. So they turned around and headed north. This was Baxter?s third trip along this stretch of railroad, and by now he could probably name all the stations coming and going.
Reason for the change in orders soon became clear. Gen. Pemberton learned on February 9 that the Federals had begun a new river operation aimed at Vicksburg, and the river this time
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