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

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Saturday, May 24th. Moved upstream to coal ship, which we did. Took a fresh stern gun aboard, whilst lying alongside the transport. Several of the boys imbibed large quantities of "Red Eye," which eventuated in divers pugilistic encounters in which luckily "nobody was hurt." Received a letter from my wife. Wants to know when the war will be over. Would like to know myself. Sunday, May 25th. Divine service and muster. The rebs sent up another flag of truce, for what purpose, can't learn. Received six fresh men on board. One of them told me that the crew of the Cincinati were all paid off last week. Answered my wife's letter. Wednesday, 18th. Nothing worth transcribing has taken place since sunday. The rebels brought us to our guns twice today but were wise enough to keep out of range of what we had in store for them. Read today of Banks being driven back to Harpers Ferry, closely pursued by "Stonewall" Jackson. [111]Received two papers from my wife and one from Tom Gillespie. I think, from the symptoms, that a fight is brewing between us and the fort. Hope soon. Thursday, May 29th. Mosquito's gave me fits last night. I understand that 200,000 more troops had been called to serve for three months and three years and also that "ye galliant Seventh" had departed on another thirty days' pleasure trip to Washington. Have heard that Gen'l Banks was badly beaten by "Stonewall" Jackson, Ewell, and Co., and forced to retreat beyond the Potomac, Banks having about 5000 men, they between 15 and twenty thousand. Sunday, May 31st June 1st. war read. Today all quiet. Divine service and articles of Monday, June 2nd. Eureka -- "glorious news" this morning. Corinth evacuated and "Bombastes" Beauregard and the chivalry "Non est inventus" having sloped to look out for a soft spot in that traditional "last ditch," which I am afraid they don't care about, finding peace behind them. Wednesday, Tuesday, June 3d. I think that there is something of importance taking place at the fort, as their steamers are continually going and coming. This evening the "ram" Queen of the West went around the point to reconoitre. After she had got well round, they opened fire on her, striking her twice, but without doing her any hurt. Two of their boats steamed up towards her, when she retired to the shelter of our gun boats, which opened fire on the enemy in return, when they retired quicker than they came. 66
Wednesday, June 4th. Good news from McClellan and Banks this [112]morning. I hope they will keep on us. Rumours are afloat to the effect that the fort is evacuated. One of our tugs was sent to ascertain the truth of the matter. She did not return until evening when she confirmed it. As it became dark, heavy clouds of smoke were seen to rise from the fort, followed by a bright glare in the sky, as if a heavy fire was raging beneath. After a while a sullen boom came floating through the calm evening air, telling of a magazine blown up. All were impatient for the next day's sun that they might see had detained us for fifty-two days doing nothing on Plum Point bend. Thursday, June 5th. All hands were called at 4 A.M. The anchor was then hove up, and we waited for the signal to sail. It was not long before it came. All hands went to quarters and we dropped slowly down, preceeded by a couple of rams and followed by our transports laden with troops. We soon came abreast of it and found it to consist of several works and mounting, I should think, about forty guns. As I imagined, they had destroyed everything which they could not carry away, burning the carriags from under the few guns which they left (seven in all). They also left some powder behind them, as I could see by the frequent explosions which took place as it caught fire. It was a splendid point of defense and would have cost us a vast amount of trouble and perhaps loss oflife to capture it. Our troops were landed and we lay there until noon, when we again got under weigh. Passed Randolph. There was never much of a fortification there. Saw piles of burning [113]cotton just below it. From that dawn, piles of it could be seen on both banks afire. The surface of the river was also strewed with it. We passed splendid-looking farms and of course their usual concomitants of grinning niggers, which waved white cloths at us as we passed about 4 P.M. We ran foul of a steamer which had been destroying everything along the bank. As soon as we have in sight, she started to run and we opened fire on her. Two of our shots were seen to strike her, but she did not hold up, and as she steamed faster than we did, she was likely to get away, but the commodore sent the armed tug "Spitfire" after her. We soon lost sight of both of them in the crooks of the river but every few minutes the report of the tug's gun came to our ears, telling us that she was closing in with her chase. At last, after about twenty minutes, we came in sight of them and found that the tug had captured her. There was a cheer went up from every boat in the fleet at the sight. The crew of the prize had run her ashore as a last resort to save themselves from capture and made good excape through the 67
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THE CIVIL WAR DIARY OF JOHN G. MORR
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[2] Hunters Chapel Fairfax Alexandr
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gambling debt, which I did. August
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August 24. Received orders to shift
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a corn field close by. Ground awful
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September 12. Received new blankets
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September 21, Saturday. Felt bad th
Page 15 and 16: on the same epicurean principle as
Page 17 and 18: except whilst I was helping to buil
Page 19 and 20: etreating, but I don't think they c
Page 21 and 22: again. I received a letter from my
Page 23 and 24: Turned in at 9 P.M. Still raining.
Page 25 and 26: in my tent, it was so muddy. Turned
Page 27 and 28: to our company were all killed or t
Page 29 and 30: again, knowing that it could not co
Page 31 and 32: Washington and thought he would cal
Page 33 and 34: Washington to see it. It was a fine
Page 35 and 36: get in behind him. Stayed there in
Page 37 and 38: tomorrow to be gone for two days. H
Page 39 and 40: Friday, Jany 24th. Morning cold and
Page 41 and 42: to find such good shelter. until ne
Page 43 and 44: was joined by seven more men, 1 fro
Page 45 and 46: [75] Saturday, March 1st. Nothing o
Page 47 and 48: which I hurt my back severely. Hear
Page 49 and 50: tree. I had often heard of anchorin
Page 51 and 52: into the fort and the clouds of dir
Page 53 and 54: Va., between the Reb. General Jacks
Page 55 and 56: still alive, he fights worthy of a
Page 57 and 58: long sixty-eights and an eight-inch
Page 59 and 60: here and there an old tumbledown sh
Page 61 and 62: and successful service rendered in
Page 63 and 64: immediatly sent down to see what he
Page 65: time and morning, we had three more
Page 69 and 70: 10th) to the contrary notwithstandi
Page 71 and 72: peeping out from its bower of shade
Page 73 and 74: stern and then ranged up on our sta
Page 75 and 76: guerrilla party lives. Thursday, Ju
Page 77 and 78: " " 1 lb. soap 7 " " 7 April 12 2 "
Page 79 and 80: lisense [Vol.II - 6 SEPT. 1862-8 JU
Page 81 and 82: "Pittsburgh" off Osceola. Arrived o
Page 83 and 84: Nov. 7, Friday. Mr. Gilmore returne
Page 85 and 86: Nov.26, Wednesday. Turned out at 5
Page 87 and 88: going on. Dec. 8, Monday. Another r
Page 89 and 90: the captain was sick, our first mas
Page 91 and 92: January 1. Hail to the New Year. Wa
Page 93 and 94: P.M. the mosquito "Juliet" overhaul
Page 95 and 96: which was lying ashore of us. I was
Page 97 and 98: Memphis, June 6th, and the action w
Page 99 and 100: mail ashore. Turned in at 8 1/2 P.M
Page 101 and 102: Mar. 14, Saturday. The gunboats "Pi
Page 103 and 104: After a while there was a small bri
Page 105 and 106: April 9, Thursday. A court martial
Page 107 and 108: take long as our anchor was hove sh
Page 109 and 110: captains were in confab with the ad
Page 111 and 112: firing at the rate of two shots in
Page 113 and 114: I received two letters, one from ho
Page 115 and 116: mound stands beside it, covered by
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abreast of "Alexandria" about 8.30
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May 14, Thursday. Got under weigh a
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I durst. So of course that knocked
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with much interest until a turn of
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out and headed up stream and, as th
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" 22- 57 lbs. Grey Western, sorted
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Sept. 27th, Tuesday. Got up at 6 A.
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Oct. 5th, Wednesday. Laid the found
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ecruits. Oct. 25th, Tuesday. Went o
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dismounted, the sorest and most tir
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Nov. 16th,, Wednesday. boots. Wrote
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nothing to eat all day. Had one hal
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to leave our tents standing and not
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shot. I soon got a chance, and I bl
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Dec. 25th, Sunday. Christmas Day. U
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[47] for brigade headquarters witho
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snow. A mounted inspection in the a
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and capturing over eighty of them.
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March 9th, Thursday. Started to was
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April 2nd, Sunday. Came off picket
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at all, as we were only going out w
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tomorrow. Great yarns afloat. May 3
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THE CIVIL WAR DIARY OF JOHN G. MORRISON 1861-1865

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