Head Quarters Silver Wave. . . . Sunday morning Still cloudy. A 10 A. M. Capt Mores Co. to which was added Lt. Williams by order Lt. Col. Harrington to go over on the Mo. shore for the purpose of reconnoitering & supporting if necessary a fatigue party under the command of capt Southward which was detailed to build a bridge over a slough for crossing artillery, we were landed about 11 A. M. the fatigue set to work bridging the slough while we went down the river about one mile took possession of a deserted farmers house had a first rate dinner & marched back to our Boat about 5 O'clock P. M. The mortars 4 in number kept up a constant fire from 10 A. M. till night. Col. Buford landed one Battery of artillery, about 5 P. M. & the 27th Regt. to support it. 4 rounds from one Gun were fired at a battery on the Island before the enemy deigned to reply—when they did the first shot passed within about Five feet of Lt. Allen & Williams who were standing on the fence at the time. They did not stand for another shot—but got down out of view from the enemy. The Third or Fourth shot from the enemy took off a leg from one of our artillerist—finding our Guns ineffective we ordered back to the Boats and steamed back to our landing place.
SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 238
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