March 11, 1862

Qr. Master Sergt. Howe:
From a Letter:  Dated March 10th
     March 11, 1862. A number of schooners are coming in to-day, which are a part of a mortar fleet, so you may expect to hear from us ere long. A company went to the island fishing, to-day. They caught in the seine a lot of salmon and bass. I have a green palm leaf, which is used as a fan; it is pretty and I wish you had it. I suppose you are singing, "Oh, the Cold, Stormy March Days." The mail is about to close, so must I.

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:
     March 11-Tuesday
     Weather warm and pleasant to day and some hard work on our hands.
     1 hours Company drill from 8 to 9 2 hours Regimental drill from 10 to 12 1 hours Company drill from 2 ½ to 3 ½ Brigade drill from 3 ½ “ 6 O Clock if this is not some drill for one day I don’t know anything about it.
     Some 20 Mortar Boats have arrived here to day shower tonight.
     Nothing of news to day write in fact it is but dull mornin here to make the best of it. and no doubt we shall have something to liven it up for us soon. for there are pretty stormy indications of a move in some direction very soon. our War vessells are all sending down their ships and putting them in shore and putting them in fighting trim. 

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:

     Tuesday March 11, 1862.

     Fine again the idahoe on the

     Flats yet.  they have thrown over

     5 or 600 Barrels of provisions to

     Lighten her there was a fleet

     Of mortar boats and some Gun

     Boats come here to day they are

     To join in the expedeition on

     The Missippi river we had a

     Brigade drill to day.  Col Jones

     Of the 26th went over to Missisip

[Mem]

     City with about 100 men and

     Got more than he bargained for

     The rebels sent him back with a

     Flea[?]in his ear Uncle Ben

     Sent his money home with a

     Letter yesterday.  Hugh[?] McGlue[?]

     Was here to see me last night

     He is in the 6th[?] Battery of Mass

     His health is first rate.