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

They now began to fall down towards the fort and in a short
time they were all under its guns leaving us masters of the
field. I now looked at the cabin clock and found that the
action had one hour and ten minutes. I now went on deck to
see what damage had been done. I found that the ram had ran
into the Cincinati in two places and that she was in sinking
condition and also that her captain was mortally wounded by a
sharpshooter as he had just shot their pilot. One other
officer and three men were also wounded, and I believe that
is the total of causualities to the Federal side. Our own
boat had got struck with some grape shot and shell but
without doing any material damage. A tug came to the
assistance of the Cincinati and towed her close to the shore,
where she sank, but she will be up again in a few days.
Weather very warm and relaxing all the rest of the day.
Everything quiet.
Sunday, May 11th. Slept with our side arms on all night to
be ready in case of another attack. Divine service and
muster. Wrote to my wife. Nothing of any importance took
place today.
Monday, May 12th. Another alarm today. Thought they were
coming, as they came up to the point, but concluded to go
[108]back. By a deserter today we learn that two of their boats
have gone under and one is so severely damaged as to be
useless. In the afternoon, heavy firing was heard in the
direction of Memphis. Flotilla in status quo.
Tuesday, May 13th. The rebels kept up a steady fire from
their heavy guns all night. You could trace the course of
the shell through the air by the twinkle of its firing eye as
it revolved in its flight towards us. There was none of them
came near enough to annoy us, however. They tried to steal
another march on us with another doctor and another flag of
truce, but it would not work, as our tug met theirs before it
rounded the point. Everything was kept in readiness in case
they came up again. Did not trouble us, though.
Wednesday, 14th May. Being on watch last night from 8 until
12 A.M., I was lying on deck about 10 1/2 P.M. doing some
terrible mental swearing at the bloodthirsty mosquito's which
were attacking me by brigades, when the hoarse voice of the
boatsman's mate startled me by crying out "all hands" and at
the same time the order was given to beat to quarters. The
mosquito's were forgotten in view of meeting with a "a foe
more worthy of steel." The watch who were asleep turned out
quickly and piled their hammocks away in all shapes. Belts
were buckled on and revolvers were served out. After
standing about half an hour at our guns, we got orders to lay
down beside them and sleep if we had a mind to. Between that
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