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

which was lying ashore of us. I was soon ready and then
lent a helping hand to get his things packed. At 8 A.M.,
all being ready, we went aboard and we were soon after
under weigh for Cairo. The "New Era" was just from the
Arkansas River and was carrying the news of a fight at
Arkansas Post which had taken place the previous Sunday,
and she had then on board nine of the rebel officers which
had been taken prisoners. We arrived off the naval wharf
at Cairo about 9 1/2 P.M. The captain immediatly went
asore and I turned in as itwas raining heavily. There were
five of us come with the captain -- namely, John Ford,
Terry P. Robinson, Maurice Phillips, Benjamin Holmes and
myself.
Jany. 19, Monday. Was roused out at 5 A.M. Still raining.
Watching for daylight that I might see the boat I was
going on. After the mist lifted, I could see a long, huge
ironclad monster with two very high wheelhouses. Watched
all day for the captain to come off to us but "nary come."
Rained steady all day. Turned in about 9 1/2 P.M. In the
afternoon the "Lafayette" moved out into the stream and the
"Eastport," which came down in the afternoon, took her
place at the wharf boat.
Jany. 20, Tuesday. Turned out at 5 A.M. About 10 P.M. the
captain arrived off in a tug. All our traps were placed on
board and about 11 A.M. we went on board of the
"Lafayette." Everything was in the utmost confusion on
board of her and
[28] four only of her eight guns being mounted. Got a fire
started in the cabin. The captain got disgusted at the
appearance of things and left for shore. I found about
thirty men on board. We made ourselves as comfortable as
the circumstances would admit. In the evening I wrote a
letter to my wife. Turned in about 10 P.M. I turned in on
the cabin floor as it was the best place to be had.
Jany. 21, Wednesday. Stormy and uncomfortable. The
captain returned on board to stay.
Jany. 22, Thursday. Slept in one of the coal bunkers last
night as it was the best place I could find. The captain
went on board of the receiving ship "Clara Dolsen" to get a
few men if possible so that he could get a boat's crew as
there were not enough men on board that knew how to pull an
oar to man his gig. Picked out twenty-five men, most of
them being of our old crew which we left behind us in the
hospital last fall. A letter from home.
Jany 23, Friday. The new gunboat "Indianola" arrived down
from Cincinati. She is of Monitor-style with a pair of
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