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

[75] Saturday, March 1st. Nothing of any consequence occurred
today except the reading of some documents relating to the
taking of Fort Henry. I hear that we are going down to
Columbus tomorrow, I suppose to try the range of the mortars.
Sunday, March 2nd. Morning very cold and stormy looking.
Steam was gotten up, but as it began to storm the fires were
put out again. We had our usual monthly muster (as in the
Army), when the purser read the regulations of the Navy and
some other papers which I did not pay much attention to, as
my mind was on the oven in which I had a pie for the mess.
The day passed off cold, dirty, and wintry. I did [not]
expect such weather in this latitude.
Monday, Mar. 3d. Turned out a little before 4 bells (6
A.M.). The weather cold like the previous morning. Steam was
again gotten [up] but had to be slacked off again on account
of a leak in one of the boilers. The Tyler and Lexington
gunboats arrived from the Tennessee River where they had a
small brush with the rebels on Saturday last. The latter's
crew went ashore with the howitzer and small arms and came
back minus three of that number. Whether killed or taken
prisoner they don't know, as they had to leave in a hurry,
they (the Rebs) numbering some couple of thousand men with
eight pieces of cannon which they had planted along the river
bank. The Tyler lost one man, I believe. What temerity it
is in those captains to think of pitting their small forces
against such odds, all to get a great name. If they succeed,
all right. If they happen to lose their men and don't, they
are at the easiest call enthusiasts. The men belonging to
the Louisville, of which there was about 40 on board of this
boat,
[76] were sent on board of their own boat in the evening. All
hands were stationed at their guns, my station being No. 7,
first shotman at No. 5 gun. At about 8 bells (8 P.M.) the
fires were again started preparatory to leaving at 4 in [the]
morning. The carpenters were being hurried up with their
work so that we could get off at the appointed time. I did
go asleep until 5 bells/ 10 1/2 P.M. and the last sound I
heard ringing in my ears was the clank of the smith's hammer
ironplating the pilothouse.
Tuesday, Mar. 4th. Was turned out at 8 bells/4 A.M. Got
breakfast soon after. Commenced steaming down river towards
Columbus, intending if possible to drive the rebels out. At
about sunrise arrived at Lucas's Bend, two miles from and
above Columbus. Came to here and took our line of battle, we
being on the extreme left and nearest to the fortifications,
which seemed to be deserted, which was thought to be a ruse
to draw us under their guns. In the meantime, as the current
here runs very swift (6 miles an hour), we had drifted
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