April 4th. The day has been spent in making arrangements to repel any attack that might be advanced by the enemy at night, by way of putting up boarding nettings, &c. It is rumored that the enemy intends boarding our ship with a large force; if such an attempt should be made, they will find [...]
April 2nd. We are still lying quietly at our anchorage at the mouth of Red River; weather quite warm.
April 1st. This morning at five o’clock, William Jones, seaman, who was wounded during the action at Grand Gulf last night, departed this life. At six A. M. weighed and started on down the river; at eleven-fifteen A. M. passed Natchez; at two-thirty P. M. came in sight of Ellis’s Cliffs, beat to general quarters; [...]
March 31st. This morning at six o’clock, got under way and steamed down the river, followed by the Albatross, and ram Switzerland; at eight-thirty A. M. we all came to anchor; sent boats on shore for fresh provisions; unfortunately but very little could be obtained; at six-thirty P. M. got under way again, and proceeded [...]
March 30th. To-day we have been taking in provisions that were sent down to us from the upper fleet; it was sent to us in the same manner that our coal was a few days ago–a large lighter filled, and then sent drifting down with the current at night. The gunboat Albatross, which is kept [...]
March 29th. Last evening at eight o’clock a severe storm set in, the wind blew very heavy; it rained, thundered and lightened exceeding anything I have ever seen before; at eleven o’clock we were obliged to let go our port anchor, as it was discovered that the ship was dragging. Half of the ship’s company [...]
March 28th. This morning at four o’clock all hands were called; five A. M., got ship under way; five-thirty A. M., opened fire upon the batteries at Warrenton again; the enemy fired very few shots. Our loss is two very slightly wounded; the vessel sustained no injury except being hulled once, and the chain cable [...]
March 27th. We are still lying at our anchorage above Warrenton; everything quiet.
March 26th. To-day the men have been at work forming barricades on the poop deck and forecastle with hammocks and old sails; it will prove to be quite a protection to the men who are exposed at these points, as Minie balls are dealt out to us in a profuse manner generally. We were honored [...]
March 25th. This morning, at five thirty, heard heavy firing up the river in the direction of Vicksburg, which continued until six A. M., at which time we got under way and steamed up the river, beat to quarters, and shelled the rebel earthworks at Warrenton. The rebels returned our fire with rifled field pieces [...]
March 24th. Everything continues quiet. This afternoon it cleared up, and the sun made its appearance once more, which made things in general assume a more lively appearance. Tonight we are expecting one or two boats down from the upper fleet. I think that if they succeed in passing by the batteries at Vicksburg they [...]
March 22d. At ten A. M., the Albatross got under way and dropped down the river a short distance, and shelled the batteries at Warrenton, receiving in return a brisk fire from musketry and field pieces; after engaging the batteries a short time, came up and anchored ahead of us. Last night a very large [...]
March 21st. At nine A. M., got under way, went to quarters, and steamed up the river a short distance, but owing to the dense fog returned back to our anchorage. To-day we buried one of our men, Robert King, Quartermaster, who had been lying ill for some days. From our anchorage we could see [...]
March 20th. Nothing has occurred to-day worthy of note. Rebel pickets have been seen all day on the opposite shore. Last night the mortar vessels above Vicksburg opened fire and shelled the city for about three hours.
March 19th. This morning we were taken a little by surprise. Not expecting to meet with any opposition along here, we were not altogether prepared for it, as we have been on all former occasions. As no fighting had been anticipated the watch below was allowed to sleep in their hammocks, while the watch on [...]
March 18th. This morning, at five o’clock, got under way, and proceeded on up the river, No act of violence occurred to our ship during last night while laying off Natchez. During the day the ship’s company have been engaged in making preparations to prevent the enemy’s steamers from coming alongside to board us, by [...]
March 17th. This morning at four o’clock we left our anchorage at the mouth of Red River, and proceeded up the Mississippi. We arrived off Natchez at six P. M. and brought ship to anchor. This is our fifth appearance at this place. As soon as we arrived our Admiral sent a boat on shore [...]
March 16th. This morning at five thirty got under way, and steamed up the river in charge of the pilot. At seven A. M. two men came on board, and reported themselves as belonging to the original crew of the Queen of the West, having escaped from her after her capture by the rebels, since [...]
Sunday morning, March 16th (15th), two o’clock. The fighting is still going on with our ships below, and the mortars are still contesting with the enemy. In our action we lost one man killed, and two slightly wounded. Three o’clock A. M., one hour later; the firing below has ceased, enemy still in possession of [...]
March 14th. This morning at five thirty, called all hands to up anchor, signalized the fleet to get under way, started ahead, ran some distance further up the river, came in sight of the batteries at Port Hudson; at seven thirty A. M., brought ship to anchor; the whole fleet came to anchor at the [...]
March 13th. To-day the gunboat Sachem started up the river, also two transports loaded with troops. The day has been spent in getting the ship ready for action. This afternoon, army signal officers came on board to accompany us up the river. Mortar vessels are moving up to take their positions for bombarding; at four [...]
March 12th. The Genesee went up the river to-day with two mortar schooners in tow.
March 11th. At five-thirty A. M. got under way, and continued on up the river. At nine A. M. brought ship to anchor off the city of Baton Rouge, La. The crew have been employed to-day coaling ship.
March 10th. At five thirty A. M. got under way; started ahead, steaming up the river. At nine A. M. beat to quarters, passed Donaldsonville; at this place a few companies of General Banks’s army were encamped. As our ship passed on, we were saluted by the soldiers on shore. At six P. M. brought [...]
March 9th. At ten A. M. called all hands to up anchor. At ten forty-five A. M., got under way, steaming up the river, followed by the U. S. steam sloop-of-war Richmond and Monongahela; while steaming up the river, the men were employed in snaking down the rigging. At seven P. M. brought the ship [...]