April 16, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:

     April 16-Wednesday

     Pleasant weather for our voyage.

     Got under right about 5 O Clock A.M. under tow of the Saxon most all day. No news but now commences another monotonous life for of all life’s to lead a soldiers on a transport is the hardest. no comfort, no pleasure but plenty of grumbling, poor food & ½ enough at that. sailors and soldiers always hate one another and try to annoy each other all they can.

     Officers seem to have a regular bill of fare consisting of poor ham & hard bread with some slops which they call coffee and tea.

     Our Routine on transport consists of Roll Call at 6 A.M. Breakfast all 7 A.M. Gaurd mount 9 A.M. (which has 1 Captian Officer of the day 2 Lieuts. of Gaurd, 3. Serg’t. 3 Corp’l. and 45 men. a very strong gaurd for Shipboard) Roast beef 12 M. Inspection in full Marching order at 6 A.M. and 4 P.M. supper at 6 P.M. Tattoo 9 P.M. taps 9:15 P.M. we have as many calls as we would in camp and our Police duty is more than in any camp. We manage to keep busy all the time nearly. All Officers are to be present at roll call in full equipment.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:

Diary:

      Wednesday, April 16, 1862.
     A fine morn.  we all turned
     Up on deck in heavy marching
     Order.  i felt rather stiff &
     Old after sleeping on the floor
     With a knapsack for a pillow
     Had Hard bread and cold water
     For breakfast a first rate
     Breakfast for a dyspeptic
     Had coffee hard bread and salt
     Horse for dinner.  and[?] again
[Mem]
     The Missisippi made fast[?]
     To us and about 12 Oc turned[?]
     Round the point about 10 Oc
     We started off with a fine
     Moon for a light the other
     Transports are all on their
     Way.  there is 7 in all.  ships
     And steamers