Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan, Thursday, April 6, 1865

The Rebs in front of us fired but little during the night, they shelled our working party at the 6 gun battery close by us from the mortar battery. In the Afternoon, I worked the men some. The Rebs were quieter than usual all day, our batteries give them a few rounds in the evening. After dark the mortar battery of the Rebs opens on our working party again. Several bombs are thrown at it by our mortar batteries. Some think by the signs of the times that the Jonnies are silently leaving the place, the news from Grant Sherman & Thomas is good, in honor of which successes by order of Genl Canby a salute of 100 guns is fired by the Gunboats & the land batteries. I am told by those who had an opportunity to know, that during the cannonading the evening of the 4th something blew up in Spanish fort throwing 5 men 10 or 15 ft above the work. Men on picket that night say they said 16 men carried out of the same fort & buried. The battery men say the cannonading killed & wounded 100 rebels. I dont know how they get their information. I am relieved at 8. P. M. by co "C" & march the co to camp, find supper ready. Temp & I put up our tent gather bedding and retire at 11. P. M. at which hour shells are flying freely on the right & centre.

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, Thirty-Third Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, Vol. XIII, No. 8, Third Series, Des Moines, April 1923, pp. 584-5

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan, Tuesday, April 11, 1865

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 reed 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, Thirty-Third Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, Vol. XIII, No. 8, Third Series, Des Moines, April 1923, pp. 588-9

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan, Wednesday, April 12, 1865

Were waked up at daylight & most of the men had made coffee when the Regt. was ordered on board the Gulf Steamer. Genl Banks, Genl Granger & suit embark on the same boat, as we are about the last Regt to embark the fleet set sail immediately, the fleet consisted of 6 musketo gunboats & about as many transports, two men of war, these boats carried the 13th A. C. the gunboat Cincinatti took the lead across the Bay arond with a torpedo rake. I was surprised that the Land batteries in the Bay did not open on us as we were in good range of it, crossed over to cat fish landing. A man of war run up close & lifted a shell over which called no reply but caused a display of white rags at every house along the landing. A boat was sent ashore which brought back word that there was no enemy in Mobile & the Mayor would surrender the city at the approach of our army. Genl Grangers orders were to beach the boats & men to wade on shore, but these orders were not carried out where it was certain there was no enemy, the boats run up to an old pier hardly stout enough to hold itself up. & the men disembarked. slowly, our boat was not light enough draft to move up to the pier & we were transferred to another boat and landed at 11. o clock. Admiral Thatcher was on board our boat before we disembarked. I hear the navy feel very soar about the little work they have done to reduce Mobile. When the sand forts were fond to be evacuated Genl Granger determined to run the Genl Banks to the city although the Admiral was afraid to run his musketo boat with a torpedo rake to the city. Col. Mackey wanted to have the regt remain on the boat & go in with the Genl but he would not allow it saying "I dont want to loose the men but if they blow me up with a torpedo they may blow & be D----d" his boat went in without running on any torpedo although the pilot was unacquainted with the channel & run by guess we lay arond on the banks after disembarking until 1. P. M. when we started for Mobile but from some cause we moved slow moving about 200 yds & then rest an hour so it took until dusk to get us in camp between the 1st & 2d lines of fortification about the city & about 1 mile from the city, I take a look at some of the forts an the line of forts which are the best earth works I ever saw & cannot understand how Genl Maury got the consent of his mind to leave such works without firing a gun. The forts mounted large Siege guns of heavy calibre many of them marked "Selma Mch 1865." the guns were all well spiked & carriages mostly destroyed most of the magazines were open & much of the ammunition destroyed although there was a great amont left, the citizens close by tell me that not much of the cotton was burned for Genl Canby sent in word if the cotton was burned he would burn the city. The big fire we noticed last night was the burning of the navy yard. Say when the Rebs left the commissaries with 6 months rations for the men were thrown open & citizens helped themselves, in the rush several citizens were hurt. a Co of Reb cavalry did not leave until our army was disembarkng & a small squad remained in town until the straglers who run ahead of the command were entering the city they snatched up one of these straglers & made off with him. The 1st Brig marched into town & 8th Ill was put on provost duty.

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, Thirty-Third Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, Vol. XIII, No. 8, Third Series, Des Moines, April 1923, pp. 589-90

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan, Wednesday, April 19, 1865

Revelie at 4. a. m. Div on the road at 6. Lt Cooper tells us our destination is the mouth of the Tombigbee distant about 30 miles. We leave the R. R. at Whistler. Find the marching hard although the Regt was in the advance. We travel about 11. miles & camp near a large & deep creek. Lt Loughridge & I go down to fish but after 3 hours faithful fishing returned to camp with nothing, just after dark hear one report of a cannon. See today the best looking rebel I ever, saw. he was a deserter & was marched by our Regt while we rested. a large close built & splendid looking man. Reported that 8 miles from this camp is a Reb force of 8000. & 12 miles is a U. S. Arsenal at Mt Vernon. The clk of Div Com. says that yesterday a fleet of Gun boats & Transports went up to the mouth of the Tombigby carrying 400.000 rations It is the talk that we will establish a base there & move next to Lt. Stephens, has been a very warm day.

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, Thirty-Third Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, Vol. XIII, No. 8, Third Series, Des Moines, April 1923, p. 593

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan, Thursday, April 20, 1865

Revelie at 3. Genl. at 4. column moves at 5. 33d in the rear. co. G. in the wagon train. very warm roads tolerably good. At 2½ P. M. leave the road & turn to the left to strike Cedar creek at a point above narrow enough to bridge easily as the bridge on the main road was burned & the stream too wide to be bridged easily. reach the creek at 3. & are ordered to make coffee while the Pioneer Corps build a bridge. a small scout of cavalry ride to the river about 3 miles from the road & bring in 5 deserters & report that our gunboat captured a transport & barge loaded with cotton The deserters say all the Rebes have gone to Meridian The bridge is completed just at dark & the column begins to move over, is 8:30 when the 33d crossed & 10. before we are ready to lie down. The prospect for rain made it necessary to cross the creek as a hard rain would render it impassible. It is reported that Thomas has whipped Dick Taylor

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, Thirty-Third Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, Vol. XIII, No. 8, Third Series, Des Moines, April 1923, p. 593

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan, Sunday, April 23, 1865

Inspection at 9. A. M. Lt Hook comes to the Regt with the sad intiligence of the Assassination of President Lincoln & Sec Seward which is published in the Mobile paper. The news quickly spreads & groups of men can be seen all arond talking in low tones with a look of sadness never worn by them before, at 10, a. m the Div Brass Band plays the "dead march" & is followed by the bands of Regts in order. It is truly a solemn day & the boys one & all vow to take vengance in Southern blood, many who favored peace this morning now favor utter extermination; about noon we are greeted with the arrival of Luit Sharman looking like altogether a different man from the Luit Sharman we left at Little Rock the 14 of Feb he brings an extra which states that it is thought Seward is not mortally wounded & hopes of his recovery is enertained, he spent the night last night with Capt Lacy & reports that Genl Steeles Corps proceeded up the Alabama river this morning, embarked on 15 transports escorted by a fleet of gun boats, says a very fine Gulf steamer was blown up in the channel in the Bay by a torpedo of which there remain some yet. Luit Seevers s detailed to proceed to New Orleans to bring up our Books & Records. Weather cool.

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, Thirty-Third Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, Vol. XIII, No. 8, Third Series, Des Moines, April 1923, pp. 594-5

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan, Tuesday, April 25, 1865

By 6. a. m. all ready march to the river descend at a steep bluff. was possible to get down but impossible to get up if up was the word, were conveyed from the shore to the boat on a coal flat at 2 loads, & at 7.15, the boat started. the weather was fine & had a pleasant ride no accidents, the boat laid in too close in making one short turn & was some 10 minutes getting her clear. All the country until we reach Mc Intoshs Bluffs is over flowed we disembark at Mc Intoshs Bluffs at 11 a. m. Bluffs here are not more than 12 ft high, there are 4 dwellings, 3 families living here one story & a half dwelling house through which one of the gunboats fired a shell just a week ago at a Mr Vaugn who shot at a skiff load of negroes coming down to the Boat. is vacant the family having left soon after the gunboat left which stayed but a short time, a black smith shop with 6 forces [sic] & cranes built for heavy work, a large carpenter shop & piles of timber which were to have been a Gunboat had not the yankees come too quick a good saw & grist mill at work, the hull of an unfinished ram built 20 miles above & float here & burned lay at the landing. Several small flats of negros & some whites come down the river, all report the Reb fleet of 2 gunboats & 27 transports at Damopolus, found chickens & pigs plenty, no fat cattle. at 4, P. M. just as a transport was landing we were about to build breastworks, but being reinforced thus did not. & I took a cart & five men to the contry for some bacon. Capt Rankin took two others out to old Parson Rushs (an old nigger driver) for Sweet potatoes. I got back just at dusk. fond the Regt together & camping about ½ mile from the river. The whole Brigade had arrived on Transports. The Regt teams not coming we took the cars & were to 10. P. M. getting all our baggage up to the Regt. Quite a no of citizens come in amongst whom was the wife of Capt Jonston who surrendered the Tennesee. Capt Taylor & river Pilots, Mrs Bates & others. Any no of darkies, the balance of the Division is said to becoming by land.

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, Thirty-Third Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, Vol. XIII, No. 8, Third Series, Des Moines, April 1923, p. 595

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan, Friday, April 28, 1865

A. M. to commissary for stores. The fort is laid out today, & details made to work on it. At noon was detailed for picket to report immediately. The Off of Day did not know where the line of our Brigade was, took us out on the wrong road making a walk extra of about 3 miles, was 4 P. M. when we arrived on our own line, found there the detail of 33 had been sent away to a bayou 1½ miles below the bluffs. Which post was to be relieved, having no place on the line for me The Off of Day ordered me to march my detail to camp. Short picketing that soon after return to camp supper ready. After supper Lt Laughridge & myself go to the river for a bath. talk with a squad of a Sergt of 4 men bearers of dispatch from Mobile & just arrived say a flag of truce from Taylor had been at Whistler for 5 days & rumor said Taylor wished to surrender. Told us of a Reb gunboat running out of Red River past New Orleans & being too closely chased beeched & blew up, saw a little nig. who gathered a mess of ripe haws to make us a pie, we to give him his supper of which he had had none, when we return to camp Lt Sharman says "the dispatch is just reed from Genl Canby announcing the surrender of Genl Taylor & all his forces. & that our men should respect him & his officers enroute to Mobile" as this order is published cheer after cheer rends the air, Lt Stocker 29th Iowa stays with us tonight, he come up from the Arsenal with an escort of 10 men & says that his segt captured 2 men of the squad who captured the teamsters near Fish river & that all the teamsters were sent to Vicksburgh for exchange. The Lt says there is no doubt this is a correct statement, Fleas Fleas. Fleas

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, Thirty-Third Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, Vol. XIII, No. 8, Third Series, Des Moines, April 1923, p. 596

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, Tuesday Morning, March 4, 1862

Left Cairo on the Steamer Illinois. The Gun Boats 5 in number and 4 mortars taking the lead for Columbus, at which place we arrived at about 11 O'clock. The Ills. 2nd cavalry had occupied the place & the Stars and Stripes were floating from the fortifications. After disembarking, the 27th headed by our noble Col. marched to the stirring notes of Yankee Doodle & Dixie, up the levee & the hill to the fortifications on the Bluffs. This place where nature & art had made the Gibraltar of America would have cost the Government an immense number of lives & treasure before succumbing to the American arms, after viewing the stupendous works and the different modes of destruction which the Rebels had invented to destroy the Northern Barbarian and Yankees as they term them, Such as torpedoes & infernal machines which they had burried in the earth promiscously as far back in the country and as far up & down the river as the fortifications extend Each one connecting by wire with a magnetic Battery by which they were to be exploded.¹ After seeing all there was to be seen we marched back down to town where we went into quarters Col. Buford taking his qrs. in town at the Columbus Bank a nice Brick Building. Our Col. commanding is Lieut Col. Harrington he has taken his qrs. near the Regt. in a large 2 story house formerly the Head Qrs of the Rebel Gen. Pope. There is quite a change with weather this afternoon turned colder Col. Buford has assumed command of the Post. A portion of our Regt have taken up their qrs. in the rebels barracks built of logs and a portion are encamped in tents.

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¹ See the report of Flag officer, A. H. Foote, Mar. 4, 1862. War Records, Series I., vol. VII., p. 436. In part he reports as follows: "Columbus is in our possession. My armed reconnaissance on the 2nd caused a hasty evacuation, the rebels leaving quite a number of guns and carriages, amunition and a large quanity of shot and shell, a considerable number of anchors, and the remnant of chain lately stretched across the river, with a large number of torpedoes. Most of the huts, tents, and quarters destroyed. The works are of very great strength, consisting of formidable teers of batteries on the water side and on the land side, surrounded by a ditch and abatis."

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 236

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, March 14, 1862

Friday, it rained very hard last night, & is still raining this morning. We are under marching orders, Tis said we are to accompany the fleet down the river True enough about 11 O'clock A. M. the flotilla of Gun Boats hove in sight followed by the transports & mortars.

We embarked on board the Steamer Silver Wave. By and by they began to shove out the Gun Boats taking the lead.

Head Quarters Silver Wave     Nothing of interest transpired until we arrived at Hickman, where we all landed, a Battalion of the 27th only disembarking headed by our Col. and Lt. Col. displaying our glorious old Banner & keeping step to the soul stirring notes Yankee Doodle & Dixies land. Col. Buford first proceeded to the telegraph office where he destroyed their means of communication & also tearing up their Rail Road track for a short distance. The locomotive having skeddadled as soon as our Boats hove in sight. We lay here until Saturday morning

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 237

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, March 15, 1862

Saturday morning cold drissling rain. The fleet gently get under way this morning at day break, we proceeded on our way to Island No. 10. Our Col. this morning imparted to us the glad tidings of the evacuation of New Madrid & the possession of it by Gen. Pope with a number of peices of heavy cannon About 9 A. M. we came very unexpectedly upon a Rebel Gun Boat the Grampies which was wooding about a 9 miles above the Island. She very hastily left her moorings, not giving some of her hands time to get aboard. The Benton which was in advance sent a few shots after her—but without reaching her. She set up a scream with her whistle—which she did not abate until she reached the Island. Arriving in the neighborhood of the Island—the Gun Boats dropped very cautiously down to within 3½ miles of their upper Battery on the main shore & near the same distance from the Island. Two of the mortars were towed into position. The Gun Boats then opened upon the Island—firing several rounds during the afternoon The two mortars also fired several rounds each but no response was elicited from either Battery Nothing of importance has transpired to day.

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 237

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, March 17, 1862

Monday morning clear & pleasant. Nothing doing until 1 P. M. when Three Gun Boats the Benton in the center lashed together dropped down to within long range of the upper Battery—Two others on the opposite side of the river. A tremendous heavy fire was now opened from the 5 Gun Boats and 8 mortars Which was responded to with considerable spirit—but without any effect. A cannon on board the St. Louis exploded during the heat of the action killing 2 and wounding 6, was all the men we lost during the action. The effect of our firing on their Battery can not now be ascertained, but we know of several Guns being dismounted.¹

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¹ For these movements see War Records, Series I., vol. VIII., pp. 115-117.

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 238

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, March 18, 1862

Tuesday morning, heard heavy firing at New Madrid. Our Boat moved up the river. The Gun Boats and mortars opened fire in the evening. At 9½ A. M. Our Boat went up the river to Mr. Phillips and killed 4 beeves, After that we dropped down the river to our camping place. Our mortars and & Gun Boats keep up a fire on the enemy all night at intervals of ½ hour.

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 238

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, March 21, 1862

Friday cloudy & smoky     The 27th Regt. of Ills. Vol. was transferred from the Steamer Silver Wave to the Steamer T. L. McGill One Steamer with One Regt. left here for Hickman Ky. to protect the citizens. Our Gun Boats continue to fire on the enemy.

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 238

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, March 24, 1862

Monday weather clear Col. Buford left the McGill went down the River in a tug to make a Balloon reconnoissance. A tree fell across one of the Gun Boats to Day and killed 1 man and wounding 7

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 239

Diary of Private Seth J. Wells, Friday, March 6, 1863

The gunboat "Tyler" came up last night and is lying here this morning. I helped make out muster-rolls today.

SOURCE: Seth James Wells, The Siege of Vicksburg: From the Diary of Seth J. Wells, Including Weeks of Preparation and of Occupation After the Surrender, p. 43

Diary of Private Seth J. Wells, March 28, 1863

Two large gunboats, both ironclads, went up early this morning. Troops are passing down.

SOURCE: Seth James Wells, The Siege of Vicksburg: From the Diary of Seth J. Wells, Including Weeks of Preparation and of Occupation After the Surrender, pp. 48-9

Diary of 5th Sergeant Lawrence Van Alstyne, March 9, 1863

Gunboats are said to be going up the river every day. I wonder what's up.

SOURCE:  Lawrence Van Alstyne, Diary of an Enlisted Man, p. 89

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan, Friday, March 17, 1865

Revelie at 2.45, breakfast at 3.30 Genl call at 5. Brigade forms on the Gulf beach at 6 column of the 3d Div moves out at 8.39; in a quandary about Corys valise; at 11. pass the camp of 1st Brig 2d Div which is ahead, all Kinds of supplies left in camp & no one to pick them up. road sandy & marching heavy, we camp at 2 P. M 10 miles from the Cove     Miller & I take a stroll through the woods which we find full of spanish moss flowers cactus &c find some families on the Bay Beach got some sweet milk to drink. Boys get plenty of Oysters in the slough near by where they have been planted     hear that the Monitors and Gunboats all left the Cove soon after we did. We had a long talk with the women, brush so thick could hardly get back to camp.     day has been warm.

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, Thirty-Third Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, Vol. XIII, No. 8, Third Series, Des Moines, April 1923, p. 578

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan, Tuesday, March 28, 1865

Working parties return at daylight at which time the ball opens again The Enemy were reinforcing last night from Mobile, a little bolder & give us a shell occasionally & quite a no[.] of minnie balls fly over our heads, one of the 35th Iowa is killed in camp near us while packing his Knapsacks At 9.30 Cos. "G" & "B" ordered out as sharpshooters & skirmishers had to advance 400 yds through fallen timber exposed to the fire of the enemy, while advancing, Martin Walraven was wounded in the right fore arm.     gain our position within 100 yds of the Fort & throw up earth works to protect us, were relieved at 3.30 by co K, in coming away John Metz is wounded in the left shoulder & Jo. Dungan in the back passing into the thigh, K Co is to stay until morning. Our Gunboats get up close enough to lift a few shells into the main fort this P. M. When this is seen the boys raise a shout for we all depend a great deal on the Monitors. All the Regts build earthworks from 6 to 10 ft. high to camp behind, 1 man of the 50th Ind Killed by a shell while in camp some guns in our camp broken by a shell. The 1st Ind heavy artillery is reported to have arrived at the landing with 72. Mortors & heavy Parrot guns. It is rumored that our gunboats sunk one & disabled one transport for the enemy. 4 rockets sent up from the fort & it is rumored that the Infty is being transported to Mobile.

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, Thirty-Third Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, Vol. XIII, No. 8, Third Series, Des Moines, April 1923, p. 581