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

I durst. So of course that knocked letter-writing out of
my head as
[93] I would be home first myself. At 11.30 A.M. the "Price,"
with our executive officer bearing dispatches, left for
"Bayou Sara" to return tomorrow. Vicksburg, from all
accounts, is about done for. The Price returned from Bayou
Sara about 12 A.M.
May 31, Sunday. Divine service and muster at 9.30 A.M. At
12.30 P.M. I received my discharge and pay, which amounted
to [amount left blank]. Shook hands with almost every one
on board. All said they were sorry to lose me for a
shipmate. I shook hands with the captain. He wished me
good fortune and said that he would be very glad to have me
under his command again, especially in war time. Paid
$6.50 that I owed and got into the cutter, which put me on
board the "Price" at 1.30 P.M. She got under weigh. In
fifteen minutes more, a bend of the river had the
"Lafayette" from my view forever (I hope). At the mouth of
the river some darkies waved to us. The boat was run into
the bank for them and they cooly asked what was the news
from "Port Hudson." They did not want to come on board.
Passed "Ellis's Cliffs" at 3 P.M. About 4 P.M. run into a
plantation to buy some eggs for which they asked the
moderate price of $1.00 a dozen. Staid about 1 1/2 hours.
Then passed "Natchez" about 9.30 P.M., when I turned in on
the deck for a snooze.
June 1, Monday. Did not sleep much all night as the
mosquito's were abundant. Turned out at 5 A.M. Passed
Rodney at 9 A.M. About 2.30 P.M. came abreast of
[95] Jameson's Landing. Saw a whole train of army waggons on
fire. A little higher up the Arizona was shelling the
woods. Spoke her and her captain came on board. From his
boat's crew I learned that some guerrillas had made an
attack on "Carthage" yesterday but had been repulsed. They
had returned today and burned the waggons. We fired a few
rounds into the woods as we passed "Carthage." Saw the
mill on fire also. Saw the "Indianola" high and dry, no
water being within a quarter of a mile of her. Passed
"Grand Gulf." Found that we had torn down the rebel works
and built others in their stead. A little below
"Warrenton," spoke the "Carondelet." Seen all the boys.
Sent $1.00 on board of her which I owed. Tied up a little
above "WArrenton" on the La. side. At 8 P.M. seven of us
were put ashore with our bags and hammocks to find our way
to "Young's Point" the best we could, a nice little walk of
about 12 miles and about 75 pounds of baggage to carry.
I'll bet I cursed. Some proposed to walk but I was
determined not to stir for the night as I could not carry
my traps at all but resolved to trust to the chapter of
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