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

Va., between the Reb. General Jackson and Gen'l Shields in
which the former got beautifully whipped as he deserved.
Turned in at seven bells, as I had turned out at 12.
Sunday, Mar. 30th. Service today by the captain. Then all
hands were mustered as is customary. No firing going on
except an odd shell now and again from the mortars. The Rebs
are keeping mighty still those times, whatever it means.
Friday, April 4th. I understand that the commodore asked the
captains of the flotilla if any of them would undertake to
run the blockade of the island. They all refused except our
captain, who said he would try it. So on Friday evening we
got a flatboat loaded with hay bales lashed to [the] side of
us, which was to be kept next the batteries and as it was
moonlight we were to lie over until it got dark, but before
that time the sky became overcast and got dark as pitch.
Then the rain began falling and the thunder to roll and the
[89] lightning to flash, which made everything look weird-like and
fantastic. We then beat to quarters and put out all lights
and kept quiet as was possible. Just as we turned the point
of Missouri shore, they opened fire on us with shot and shell
and musketry and they flew around us at an awful rate,
luckily without striking us once. It was a mighty hazardous
undertaking, for if any had taken place, that would have
delayed us. We might have been destroyed but thank god we
ran clear until we came close to New Madrid, where we ran
aground, but after a little work she was got off again and we
tied up close to the town. It was now about 12 P.M. After
we were made fast, the main brace was spliced, hammocks piped
down, and I turned [in] for a short sleep until morning.
Just before we started to run it, our first master ( the old
coward) resigned his place, which was taken by the first
master of the Cincinatti.
Saturday, April 5th. Was turned out at 4 bells. Went on
deck to have a look at the town. Found that it was a pretty
large-sized place and previous to the war had been a great
trading depot. In the forenoon the fires were put out and
the boilers cleaned. We then took a lot of fire wood on
board, chiefly cottonwood rails. Whilst wooding, I went
ashore to look at the fortifications which the rebels built
and found the sandbags, in place of being filled with sand,
were filled with corn which they had taken from the only
Union farmer in the vicinity out of sheer wantoness and
spite. I found a great many of the finest houses on the
place had been burned to the ground and the household gear
scattered about in all
[90] directions. Here, pier glasses and stoves piled together.
There, feather beds and beef barrels. Everything, in fact,
in most elegant confusion. The peach and plum trees were all
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