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

came and no supper for us, nor was there anyone that knew
anything about us. Said it would be all right in the
morning. Turned in beside a gun at 8.
June 3, Wednesday. Up at 4 A.M. No breakfast for us this
morning again. Managed after a while to obtain some tea
but no bread. Cast many an anxious eye up the river for
the expected boat but my eyes got tired looking and yet no
sign. Wrote a short letter to my wife, telling that I was
discharged and on my road home. Noon came. Still no
ration for us (how I prayed for some folks). Went ashore
after dinner with my letter to send by one of the army
boats, as they leave daily. Luckily I met the mail carrier
from a regiment taking the mail on board for a mail boat.
Gave him my letter. Walked around in the camps. Awful hot
and dusty it was. Went and seen the Provost Marshal.
Stated my case.
[105] He told me to bring my papers and that he would make it al
right for me. Went back for to get them as I was fully
determined not to stay on the boat another night, no matter
what might come. Got on board. Met the Master-at-Arms
looking for me as Captain Breeze wanted to see us. I found
the others, went and seen him. He told us that the "Polar
Star" was going up that night and that we might go on her
if we would pay our ration up. I could have hugged him, I
felt so tickled and of course I accepted the offer. Then
he told the others that as they were not discharged as yet
he supposed they were entitled to their ration, so he
ordered the paymaster to get five days' rations for each of
us. I then asked if he would not allow us commutation
instead of the ration. He said he could not do it but,
said he, I'll fix it another way. I will give you an order
on the steamer for subsistence. He wrote them and we
thanked him, sincerely on my part. Got our bags and
hammocks. Got into a tug and pushed off from the "Black
Hawk" (I would have cheered if I durst, I was so glad to
get away from her). In five minues more we were on board
of the "Polar Star." Went up into the cabin to find the
clerk to present o[u]r order, but he was not aboard nor was
the captain either, they having gone down to the point to
see them fighting at Vicksburgh. "Oh" how I wished they
would return for fear D.D. might countermand the order. At
last they arrived. Showed our documents. Said it was all
right and
[107] for us to make ourselvs as comfortable as we could. In a
few minutes the boat got under weigh and as we passed the
"Black Hawk" I would not have traded places with D.D.
himself. About 6 P.M. the gong beat for supper and I sat
down to a supper the like of which I had [not] eaten in
almost two years. Ran into the "Yazoo" and took two coal
flats along side of us to tow up. About 8 P.M. we backed
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