April 26, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:

     April 26-Saturday

     Quite pleasant very warm.

     Funeral of the two men who died yesterday services about two O Clock P.M. they were buried on shore at the head of the passes on the banks of So. West pass and had a soldiers burial discharge of mustering on their graves. all the honors that can be paid to a poor soldier who dies away from home.

     John is quite sick to day Capt much better is Officer of the day.

     A large fire raft came down upon us last night but fortunately the current took it to one side of us so it done no harm. It floated down and run aground on the flats. it was composed of the hulk of a large vessel of some kind coppered and copper fastened. filled with cotton & tar and other combustible materials

     News from up river is as slow as ever nothing having been recieved as yet to order us up river. Recieved quite a variety of papers dates Mar 26th the latest by the Lewis Yesterday.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
     Saturday 26
     Fine again.  there was 2 deaths on board
     yesterday.  a member of the MRR, and
     One of Co G of this regt they were taken
     On shore and buried.  we had funeral service on
     The ship.  their graves were marked with
     Head Boards with their name &e, there is
     A gang of men on shore to cook 4 days
     Rations.  the rebels have sent 2 flags of
     Truce, but the Com. wont yield a hair.

April 25, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:

     April 25-Friday

     Weather fine warm and very pleasant on shore in good old Massachusetts how I would enjoy it. but then there is nothing to make one life pleasant. home, friends, all away. no I will not say friends for I trust I have some good ones in our Regiment, but old friends. far away, and worse than all my wife away and no letter coming to me from her keeps me continually thinking and worrying about her.

     This morn when going on Deck the first thing that meet our eyes is our Mortar fleet all at anchor close by or I may say some at anchor below and the rest coming down river slowly with the tide it cannot be a [---] but still it seems so strange. Gunboats coming down at noon. Sloop of War Portsmouth also down. And all go by us and in answer to our hail we get the same reply nothing new. it seems very strange

     Gen Phelps came on board and is going to make our ship his head Quarters.

     Lewis came up river reports Steamer Wallace sunk. hands all saved. Lewis has Vermont Battery on board. stopped and got some wood from us and as usual coming alongside stove her wheelhouse all to pieces. Lewis leaking badly, is going round the point with her Battery by order Gen Butler.

     1 Capt Meatons men and 1 of Capt Reads Cavalry died to day.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
     Friday, April 25, 1862
     Fine day the french man of war went
     Out yesterday the mortar fleet came
     Down from the forts last night having
     Got their job done.  Brig Genl
     Phelps took quarters on board the ship
     last night.  Com Porter has demanded
     An unconditional surrender of forts
     There is a number of gun boats here the
     Man of war Portsmouth lay just
     Below.  the Lewis is here taking wood.

April 18, 1862

Qr. Master Sergt. Howe:
Diary:
     April 18,1832. We came to anchor at the head of. South-West Pass, Mississippi River, where we remained until the navy captured Forts St. Philip and Jackson. We were crowded, had little to eat, dirty, lousy; our only excitement was watching the shells at night during the bombardment.

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:

     April 18-Friday

     Weather very warm but pleasant

     All we find to do to take up our spare time is watch and hear the reports from our Guns up to the Forts. smoke can be seen very plainly and it shows us that Commander Farragut an Porter are by no means idle. we get no news from them yet and do not know what success they are meeting with but put all our trust in them. after we get the Fort, New Orleans is ours without a doubt.

     We are getting along slowly are now at the head of the passes and going slowly on.

     Matanzus and Gunboat Jackson have gone down after the Great Republic. she is so large she cannot get over the bar.

     Flashes seen to night very distinctly and the reports heard more distinct than at any time previous.

     We get up on top of the Wheelhouse and hear Dr. Cleavelands patriotic sermons and good prayers for our Country, our homes, Wives Mothers, Fathers, Brothers, Sisters, and at the same time hear our Guns boom away in the distance. the Flashes going though the Heavens like lighting. it forms a picture must be seen to be appreciated. and one that thrills threw a true Patriots bosom with feelings of admiration and love for both God and his country.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
     Friday 18
     A fine morn.  the ship going
     Slow under short sail.  about
     8 Oc. got sight of some of our
     Vessels ahead took a pilot from
     The colorado and proceeded
     Up through the mouth of the
     River.  now we are in the
     Father of rivers.  the water
     Looks muddy but tastes cool
     And good a large lot of
[Mem]
     Small islands, covered with
     Bushes & shrubbery and large
     Number of birds of all kinds
     It is pleasant to see land
     After on a sand bank so long
     The men all busy cleaning up
     Births.  this is a regular old
     Tub of a ship.  we have just
     Passed a small rice plantation
     With its cabins around it.
     We also passed a small village
     Called pilot town.  it looked
     Quite pleasant, with the
     Union Flag flying.  the
     Missisippi has passed up the
     River with Butler & Staff
     On board the ship is at anchor
     The wind is to light for her to
     Sail against the tide which
     Runs about 5 knots the hour.
     There is a report that they are
     Bombarding fort jackson.