No marching orders yet this morning & as our teams had
all been called for during the night & sent back to the landing for
supplies did not think we would move today. took out the co Books & spent
all the forenoon posting the books & making out returns. Some of the men
who go to the forts today say the white flag is waving over Mobile. Mr Sperry
says he saw it & as near as he could discover from this distance it was a
white flag, but the firing in the Bay still continues At 1. P. M. rumors in
camp are that Genl Lee has proposed to Genl Grant to surrender the whole so
called Southern confederacy with but one condition which is a free pardon to
all. Also rumor says Genl Canby has recd orders to make no forward movement
until further orders, but the firing in the Bay still continues. A brigade of Steeles
men move out at 2. P. M. going I dont know where or how far. The 1st Brig 3d
Div 13th A. C. move to Spanish fort. Hear this evening that the Gunboats have
advanced to mouth of Spanish river just opposite Spanish fort & are
engaging the batteries in the Bay. All the teams are employed today hauling
supplies from the landing, a report was arond that Thomas was in Mobile but
contradicted as the best glasses show nothing waving above Mobile but the
confed flag. Just before dusk without a moments warning the Genl call was
blown. Could hear the call all over the corps, & before 15 minutes the 13th
A. C. was in the road ready to move not having heard where we were to go I made
inquiry & learned it was to Starks Landing below Spanish fort & by the
new road across the pontoons 11 miles. At 7. P. M. the column moved & it
soon became evident we were on a forced march, when we cross the pontoons at 9.
P. M. could see a fire in Mobile which lighted the whole sky. Our Brigade took
the wrong road & detained us besides giving us a march of 2 miles extra.
men give out almost by companies, we were marched to the landing & there
stocked arms at 2. o clock, there were not more than 15 men in my co when we
halted remained here about an hour, during which time some of the boys come up.
we were moved down on the beech to await transportation, could see the fire yet
at Mobile. Regts going on board transports all the while, not certain yet where
we are to land.
SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa
Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 8, April 1923,
p. 588-9
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