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

and successful service rendered in running the
"Carondelet" past the rebel batteries on the night of
the 4th instant. It was a daring and heroic act, well
executed and deserving of special recognition.
Commendation is also to be extended to the officers and
crew of the "Pittsburgh," who in the manner on the night
of the 7th inst. performed a similar service. These
fearless acts dismayed the enemy, enabled the army,
under general Pope, to cross the Mississippi and
eventuated in the surrender (to yourself) of Island No.
10 and finally to the capture by general Pope of the
forts on the Tennessee shore and the retreating rebels
under General Mackall. I would also in this connection
render the acknowledgements which were justly due the
officers and crews of the several boats who in
conjunction with detachment of the Forty-second Illinois
Regt., under Colonel Roberts, captured the first rebel
battery and
[103] spiked the guns on Island No. 10, on the night of the 1st
inst. Such services are duly appreciated by the
Department, which extends its thanks to all who
participated in the achievement.
I am respectfully
Your obdt. servant
Gideon Welles
Flag Officer
A. H. Foote
Comdg Gun Boat Flotilla
Cairo, Illinois.
Wednesday, April 23rd. Nothing occurred today except the
return of some of Pope's troops.
Thursday, April 24th. Nice artillery practice going on today
on the part of the rebs, their shell bursting over our
mortars every time, but without doing any damage. Item,
received a letter and two papers on Tuesday from the little
woman at home and also a letter from my friend Tom Gillespie.
Friday, April 25th. Moved from our post (of covering the
mortars) about a mile up the river to clean the boilers. A
shell from the rebels fell right into one of our mortars,
making things fly in all directions, but fortunately without
hurting any one. Wrote an answer to my wife's letter of the
61