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

Nov.26, Wednesday. Turned out at 5 A.M. Weighed anchor at
6 1/2 A.M. Passed White River at 8 1/2 A.M. and the
Arkansas about 11 A.M. Met the "Lexington." We exchanged
signals when she rounded to and followed us. Picked up
several contrabrands. Sent the "Mound City" on ahead of
us. Came to anchor at 6 1/2 P.M.
[9] Nov. 27, Thursday. Turned out at 5 1/2 A.M. Had breakfast
and weighed anchor. Picked [up] some more "contrabrands,"
one of them having lived in the woods for over five months.
Passed one plantation where all the slaves on it
apparently wanted to come off, but being rather short of
provisions, had to decline the honor. Passed the remains
of the "Sallie Wood." Came to anchor four miles above Lake
Providence at 6 1/2 P.M.
Nov. 28, Friday. Turned out at 5 1/2 A.M. Weighed anchor
and proceeded down river very slowly. When abreast of
Providence, went to quarters and stood ready to fire on
them, as one of the darkies said there was some soldiers
there, but they did not show themselves. Came to anchor
off Milliken's Landing (in Milliken's Bend and about 20
miles from Vicksburg) at 4 P.M. A boat's crew, armed, went
ashore on the tug from us and also some men and officers
from the "Marmora." As they landed, some guerillas in the
woods fired on them and wounded one of the "Marmor's"
officers in the right side. Kept a bright lookout, as it
is said they have some batteries erected along the shore.
Nov. 29, Saturday. Out at 5 1/2. Hove up anchor about 7
1/2 and steamed down very slowly. Arrived off the mouth of
the Yazoo at 10 A.M. Came to an anchor. The "Marmora" and
"Signal" were sent up to recconoitre, twenty men and the
gunner going from us on the former and the same complement
[10] from the "Mound City" going on the latter. About 3 P.M.
some rebel soldiers appeared on the Louisiana shore and
appeared to be taking a look at us. After they had looked
enough, I suppose, they began to fire their musquts, at us,
but we sent a few shell at them and they soon made tracks.
The expedition returned at 4 P.M. and reported having
ascended about forty miles when they were compelled to
return, having struck a masked battery which they were not
able to fight on the way. They shelled the woods, thereby
driving in the pickets from the river banks and killing a
few of them, took two prisoners and a contrabrand on board,
found that the rebs were busy erecting some more batteries
down towards the mouth of the river.
Nov. 30, Sunday. Out at 5 A.M. Weighed anchor and stood
up river again. About 2 P.M. the gunboat "Lexington" and
the transport "David Tatum" arrived down from Helena. All
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