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

where a burning raft lighted us to an anchorage. Here the
rebs had three heavy guns mounted and a raft and iron chain
stretched across the river to stop us. The "Price" forced
the obstructions and shelled the battery but there was no
one there to answer her, they having evacuated. They threw
two of their guns into the river but did not have time for
the third as were too close. Took the captain on board the
"Benton." Returned at 9 1/2 P.M. Hammocks were piped at
10 P.M. and I turned in.
May 6, Wednesday. All hands were called at 4 A.M. and hove
the anchor up and made fast to a tree. Took a look at the
battery. Found that it completely commanded the river as
it makes two bends just below and a boat, to fight, would
have to run within an hundred yards of it. Off to the
right they had a fort under erection, but we came too soon
for them to finish it (it was here the Queen of the West
was captured by them). About 7 A.M. the admiral made signal
for the fleet to get under weigh. After considerable
backing and filling we got started. Once above this landing
the whole aspect of the country changed. The swamps and the
bush were replaced by the well-tilled farm and the
springing crop of sugar cane. The banks maintained an
almost uniform height of about twenty-five feet above the
river. Habitations became more frequent and from them
whites and blacks would rush out to look at us as we slid
past. Some of [the] whites seemed glad to see us as they
would shout a word of welcome as we passed but with the
majority it was otherwise, the men scowling at us and the
weomen would put their hands to their faces and look at us
through open fingers. One woman put her thumb to her nose
and her fingers performed several maneuvres for our
edification. The welcomes were in all cases poor men and
vica versa and the darkies cut up great figures when they
thought they were not seen by any white folks. About 7 P.M.
the boats came to anchor as it was said there were some
batteries several miles above us. Took the captain on board
the "Benton." Returned at 9.30 P.M. Found all hands at
quarters with orders to sleep at their guns so as to be
ready in case we were attacked through the night. At 10
P.M. turned [in] on the soft side of an oak plank to try to
sleep for a few hours as I had a watch at 2 o'clock.
May 7, Thursday. Did not sleep much in the early night as
it was rather cool from [a] NorWest wind blowing into our
open ports. Stood my watch turned in on a bale of hammocks
in the "Den." Slept until breakfast was piped at 5 1/2
A.M. Hove our anchor up but could not proceed in
consequence of a heavy mist which overhung the river.
About 7 1/2 A.M. it cleared away and we steamed up to the
city, the batteries only existing in imagination. Arrived
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