April 22, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:

     April 22-Tuesday

     Weather warm and pleasant but remarkably warm.

     Lieut Johnson and I on gaurd to day. We as yet get no news from our fleet but hope to soon for our men are getting discouraged at their long stay on Shipboard & I am very tired of it to say the least.

     To night we have had the most painful occurrences of our trip a sad and melancholy affair the loss of Capt Harry A Durivarge a Gentleman and a true Solider a man who was loved and esteemed by all who knew him both as a soldier and a Gentleman. It was on my tour of duty. I heard a Sentinel cry a man overboard but he did not know where he fell from. or could not tell me anything about it. he heard the splash and cry as he fell. but that was all. I sounded the alarm and went astern. But nothing was to be seen. and he never rose to the surface of the water again. and was never more seen, it was a sad thing and one I shall never forget. it is a loss to our Regiment although he does not belong to it. and a sad loss to his Father who doats upon him. he was his favorite son. and a particular friend of Gen. Butlers. was an aid to him at Fortress Monroe his Father was Francis A Durivarge the Poet.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:

Diary:

      Tuesday, April 22, 1862
     A fine morn not quite so cool as it
     Has been.  the battle still raging at the
     Forts.  we are getting tired of stopping
     Here right where we can hear the
     Battle and have no chance to help.
     There is boats come alongside with
     Oysters to sell.  they are the largest
     I ever see.  Our captain sent us a ???
     Of ginger cakes this morn.  Bully for him
[Mem]
     I bought a dipper of baked beans
     Of the cook for 10 cts.  they werefirst
     Rate.  the missisippi has gone up
     Towards the forts.  we had bean water
     For dinner.  a pint of beans to a
     Bucket of water.  rather too rich
     For soldiers.  there was a gunboat
     Went down this morn.  the battle
     Still raging