THE CIVIL WAR DIARY OF JOHN G. MORRISON 1861-1865

they opened fire on them as soon as they came within range.
The boats answered in their usual style, and under cover
of the smoke, the transports sneaked down one by one and
got round the point. It looked fine to see the shells go
twirling and twinkling back and forth. The rebs, on our
withdrawal, had returned to the silenced batteries and were
now firing as fresh and as vindictive as ever. We were
also giving them "Parrott" to keep them busy. After the
last had passed, we turned head down and followed them as
leisurely as possible. As soon as we came abreast, they
opened on us afresh, hitting us tem times but doing no
damage. We did not return the fire as the smoke would have
blinded the pilot. Overtook the rest of the fleet and
about 11 P.M. we tied up to the bank. 11.30 hammocks were
again piped down. I felt very glad as I was extremely
tired and sore, having fired eighty-five rounds through the
day. At 12 A.M. I turned in for a snooze.
April 30, Thursday. All hands were called at 5 1/2 A.M.
After breakfast we took a couple of regiments of infantry
on board. The other boats took all they could carry and we
started down river. We went to quarters in case there was
any attack made on us. Ran down about ten miles and landed
the soldiers then came back for another load. Had to go
alongside the "Tuscambia" and get some coal as ours was all
[61] used up. She was badly cut up in the fight. Four shells
burst in her engine room, disabling one engine. Another
shell came through one of her ports and killed five men and
wounding twenty some of them, mortally, it is thought. In
the afternoon took another load of soldiers down belonging
to Major General McPherson's 17th Army Corps. At 8 P.M.
started up again. On the way up ran alongside the
transport "Anglo Saxon" and commenced coaling ship. Did
[not] get through until 11 1/2 P.M. In the meantime some
of the boys had found out some barrels of whiskey on board
of her. It was soon circulating pretty freely, guards to
the contrary notwithstanding. I, of course, had a moderate
allowance, which made me sleep sound until
May 1, Friday. Guttenberg called me at 6 1/2 A.M. We were
then under weigh. Passed the wreck of the transport
"Horizon," which had been run down by the "Moderate" She
had some field pieces on her which of course were lost.
She had also a large load of soldiers but we picked them
up. Heavy firing in the direction of "Port Gibson" all
morning. Took another load of soldiers down this forenoon.
One of the wounded died on the "Tuscumbia" today. In the
afternoon wrote a short letter to my wife. Late in the
evening a mail arrived overland. Everybody was in a fever
of expectation as we had no mail in three weeks. About
[time omitted] P.M. it came aboard and was distributed and
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