THE CIVIL WAR DIARY OF JOHN G. MORRISON 1861-1865
THE CIVIL WAR DIARY OF JOHN G. MORRISON 1861-1865
THE CIVIL WAR DIARY OF JOHN G. MORRISON 1861-1865
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they opened fire on them as soon as they came within range.<br />
The boats answered in their usual style, and under cover<br />
of the smoke, the transports sneaked down one by one and<br />
got round the point. It looked fine to see the shells go<br />
twirling and twinkling back and forth. The rebs, on our<br />
withdrawal, had returned to the silenced batteries and were<br />
now firing as fresh and as vindictive as ever. We were<br />
also giving them "Parrott" to keep them busy. After the<br />
last had passed, we turned head down and followed them as<br />
leisurely as possible. As soon as we came abreast, they<br />
opened on us afresh, hitting us tem times but doing no<br />
damage. We did not return the fire as the smoke would have<br />
blinded the pilot. Overtook the rest of the fleet and<br />
about 11 P.M. we tied up to the bank. 11.30 hammocks were<br />
again piped down. I felt very glad as I was extremely<br />
tired and sore, having fired eighty-five rounds through the<br />
day. At 12 A.M. I turned in for a snooze.<br />
April 30, Thursday. All hands were called at 5 1/2 A.M.<br />
After breakfast we took a couple of regiments of infantry<br />
on board. The other boats took all they could carry and we<br />
started down river. We went to quarters in case there was<br />
any attack made on us. Ran down about ten miles and landed<br />
the soldiers then came back for another load. Had to go<br />
alongside the "Tuscambia" and get some coal as ours was all<br />
[61] used up. She was badly cut up in the fight. Four shells<br />
burst in her engine room, disabling one engine. Another<br />
shell came through one of her ports and killed five men and<br />
wounding twenty some of them, mortally, it is thought. In<br />
the afternoon took another load of soldiers down belonging<br />
to Major General McPherson's 17th Army Corps. At 8 P.M.<br />
started up again. On the way up ran alongside the<br />
transport "Anglo Saxon" and commenced coaling ship. Did<br />
[not] get through until 11 1/2 P.M. In the meantime some<br />
of the boys had found out some barrels of whiskey on board<br />
of her. It was soon circulating pretty freely, guards to<br />
the contrary notwithstanding. I, of course, had a moderate<br />
allowance, which made me sleep sound until<br />
May 1, Friday. Guttenberg called me at 6 1/2 A.M. We were<br />
then under weigh. Passed the wreck of the transport<br />
"Horizon," which had been run down by the "Moderate" She<br />
had some field pieces on her which of course were lost.<br />
She had also a large load of soldiers but we picked them<br />
up. Heavy firing in the direction of "Port Gibson" all<br />
morning. Took another load of soldiers down this forenoon.<br />
One of the wounded died on the "Tuscumbia" today. In the<br />
afternoon wrote a short letter to my wife. Late in the<br />
evening a mail arrived overland. Everybody was in a fever<br />
of expectation as we had no mail in three weeks. About<br />
[time omitted] P.M. it came aboard and was distributed and<br />
112