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

stern and then ranged up on our starboard side. As she
touched our stern, I fired the last shot I could at her and
came forward just as she poured her broadside guns into us,
which stove in our plating as if it was glass. She then ran
across our bows and left us. As she was crossing, I fired a
sixty-eight into her at less than two yards distance, with
what effect I don't know. We then tried to bring our port
broadside to bear on her but she was not in range. She still
kept on her way down river and passed from our sight in a
bend of the river. We had got aground, but [122] after some
work we got afloat and followed her down as fast as our
disabled condition would permit us. I now had time to look
around and I found that we had four killed, sixteen wounded
(some very severely) and twelve missing, all in one short
hour's fight. The main brace was now spliced and the
excitement subsided a little. When we got down to the fleet,
all hands were both mortified and surprised to learn that she
(The Arkansas) had ran the gauntlet of all our boats and was
safely moored under the batteries at Vicksburg. On the
strength of the reccomendation given me by the first master,
the captain rated me coxswain of his gig, saying at the same
time it was all he could do for me now which I think was
sufficient, as I was not fighting for an office. The Tylor
had ten killed and eight wounded, the ram none, as her capt.
would not face the music. About 7 P.M. all of Farragut's
above the batteries got under weigh and stood down to engage
them and from that time until 10 P.M. a continuous roar of
cannonry was kept up and sputtering shells crossing and
recrossing in all directions. The last sound I heard as
I was falling asleep was the sullen boom of the mortars.
Wednesday, July 16th. Morning cold, rainy, and miserable.
Some of our missing has turned up and report three of their
number drowned in endeavoring to swim ashore. Our dead were
taken ashore at noon and burned. A great many of our crew
sick with the ague. In fact, all hands look dull and stupid.
Was on board the Benton. She had one man killed in the
[123] engagement with the batteries. Turned in at 8 P.M., I
not being well.
Thursday, July 17th. Received a letter and a paper from
home, also a paper from T. Gillespie. Was shifted from the
wardroom gun to take charge of No. 1 gun. The number of our
sick still increasing, the captain being amongst the number.
Wrote to my wife. The fleet in statu quo. Changed to mess.
Sunday, July 20th. Went on board of hospital boat "Red
Rover" for the first time with a message to our captain. Saw
some of our wounded and sick. All seemed to be doing well.
Found that some "Sisters of Charity" were stationed on the
boat and all the patients spoke very highly of their patience
73