April 28th. Commences with pleasant weather; during this morning the Albatross and Switzerland got under way and entered the mouth of Red River, going up that stream a short distance on a reconnoissance; returned during the afternoon without having seen the enemy, or any batteries erected by him to prove that he was in the [...]

April 27th. All still on the river; very stormy weather.

April 26th. Commenced with rainy weather, continuing stormy until eight o’clock, A. M., when it cleared off, the sun shining from out of the clouds in all its glory. The rain had cooled and purified the atmosphere to a very pleasant degree, and all enjoyed the change. At ten thirty A. M., called all hands [...]

April 25th. At five A. M., hove up anchor and continued on our way up the river, now and then coming to for the purpose of destroying flat-boats and sugar manufactories which were supplying the rebels with sugar and molasses whenever we were not bobbing around in the vicinity. Their cake is now all dough, [...]

April 24th. Commences with pleasant, warm weather. This afternoon, signalizing to vessels of lower fleet. Received a mail from sloop-of-war Richmond during the day, across the point of land, which separated us from vessels of our fleet below, and which gladdened the hearts of many, or of all those who were so fortunate as to [...]

April 23d. At six A. M. weighed anchor, got under way, and steamed down the river, Albatross and ram Switzerland in company, bringing up the rear. On our way down came to several times, for the purpose of destroying some flat boats which we came across in the river, and which were used in the [...]

April 22d. Commences with cool, pleasant weather. Crew employed painting ship, &c. Our color has always been black, but owing to a late order from the Department, at Washington, all vessels composing the Western Gulf Squadron are now to be painted a lead color, which is hardly distinguishable from the water of the Mississippi.

April 21st. Very rainy weather. Everything dark and cloudy overhead, and the faces of the ship’s company bearing anything but a smile upon them. A heavy pressure seems to be weighing down their hearts—something more than common must be the cause of this depression of spirits. A sailor does not have the blues often, and [...]

April 20th. Still lying to an anchor off the mouth of Red River. The ram Switzerland, Commander Col. Ellet, and Albatross, Lieut.-Commander Hart, at anchor ahead of us, close in shore. Let me here remark, before going any further (since I think the reader is not aware of the fact), that the crew stand watch [...]

April 19th. This morning the ram Switzerland and gunboat Albatross, got under way and entered the mouth of Red River, with the intention of proceeding a short distance up same, to find the enemy if possible. In the afternoon however, they returned from their reconnoissance, having seen nothing of him. It seems rather singular after [...]

April 18th. Warm weather; nothing worthy of mention has occurred during these twenty-four hours; at anchor off mouth of Red River. Col. Ackelon’s plantation and residence a little distance ahead of us on the left bank of the river; it is a beautiful place; the Colonel I believe to be a good Union man; the [...]

April 17th. Commences with warm and pleasant weather. At five-thirty A. M., called all hands, and hove up anchor; got under way, and were once more stemming the current of the Mississippi, which is none other than a four-knot one, by the way. In many instances the residences of the rich and affluent planters or [...]

April 16th. Mr. Eaton, of U. S. A. Signal Corps, receiving despatches from and transmitting despatches to U. S. S. Richmond, by means of signals from main-masthead. Albatross engaged shelling the woods on the point opposite Port Hudson, where rebel pickets were stationed–our mail matter being on its way overland, in charge of an officer [...]

April 15th. This morning, at six o’clock, hove up anchor, and steamed down the river; at ten o’clock, brought ship to anchor five miles above Port Hudson, for the purpose of communicating from masthead, by army signals, with vessels of lower fleet; signalizing from masthead, during the day, with U. S. sloop-of-war Richmond. At six [...]

April 14th. Nothing has occurred or come under my notice this day worthy of especial mention. After the rain and thunder storm of last evening, the air is quite cool and agreeable–quite a relief from that of yesterday, so close, &c.

April 13th. Commences with pleasant weather, and continued so during the early hours, nothing of importance occurring. At seven thirty P. heavy squalls of rain came on, accompanied by thunder and lightning. The storm raged up to midnight. Since no awnings or boom covers were spread, tarpaulins placed over the hatches, or allowed to be, [...]

April 12th. Lying off mouth of Red River; at ten A. M. inspected ship and crew, and half an hour afterwards, performed Divine service on quarter-deck. Nothing more worthy of note occurred during the remainder of these twenty-four hours, except that at 10 o’clock P. M. a sudden alarm was given, caused by a lookout [...]

April 11th. Everything quiet to-day. During the afternoon, the Albatross (our chicken, as the boys now call her) returned from a reconnoitering expedition up to Fort Adams, for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not the rebels were fortifying that place. I understand she ascertained that they were not, although contrabands coming on board of [...]

April 10th. This morning we got under way and steamed down the river a short distance, where we came to an anchor, and sent boats with boatswain and armed crews on shore to procure logs for ships’ side. They returned with several large ones for that purpose, and also some hogs they had shot in [...]

April 9th. At six A. M., got up anchor and steamed up the river; at eleven A. M., two rebel steamers were discovered ahead of us near the mouth of Red River (one of which was of large proportions), and approaching same with the intention of entering it. They no doubt had in our absence [...]

April 8th. At five A. M., got under way and steamed up the river; at eight forty came to anchor three miles above Bayou Sara, opposite a large plantation; among other objects a saw-mill was here seen in operation; sent a boat on shore in charge of an officer and an armed crew for the [...]

April 7th. This afternoon some men were seen on shore making signals with a flag. Thinking it to be some parties from the lower fleet wishing to communicate with us, we ordered our army signal officer to exchange signals with them, but he found that it was impossible to do so, as they used different [...]

April 6th. At four thirty A. M., weighed anchor and steamed down the river, arriving off Bayou Sara, which is about forty-eight miles below the mouth of Red River. Came to anchor and sent two boats on shore in charge of officers, the crews of which were armed, for the purpose of destroying some ten [...]

April 5. This is the holy Sabbath day. Between the hours of nine and ten A. M., inspected crew at quarters, after which all hands were called to muster. Performed Divine service, and mustered crew around capstan. Warm and pleasant weather.