Cruise of the U.S. Flag-Ship Hartford–Wm. C. Holton

April 9th. At six A. M., got up anchor and steamed up the river; at eleven A. M., two rebel steamers were discovered ahead of us near the mouth of Red River (one of which was of large proportions), and approaching same with the intention of entering it. They no doubt had in our absence come out of Red River and transported a mail and provisions to the Confederate army at Vicksburg, and were now returning, having accomplished their work; as soon as we were discovered by them, they everlastingly did get up and keep putting on a full head of steam to escape capture by the “infernal Yanks,” as they called us. The larger steamer of the two was successful in her effort to escape, but the other was bagged by us, a shot from our Sawyer rifle hitting her, or passing so near to the heads of those on board that they brought up with their craft among the bushes, and commenced blowing the steam whistle of same for assistance from the other, which was by this time well up Red River, her smoke only being visible to us from outside. Some of her crew made their escape, I believe, by taking to the bushes, when they saw that their cry for help was of no avail. Since we had come to an anchor off the mouth of Red River, in the Mississippi, and this steamer was just a few yards up first-mentioned stream, around a point of land. We sent the Albatross, our tender ( a light draught gunboat), after our prize; she was successful in her mission, and soon returned with a miniature paddle-wheel boat, by name the J. D. Clarke, and brought her alongside of us.

The Albatross brought also three prisoners on board of us from off the rebel steamer,—one a secesh major, another an engineer, and the third party a fireman of the boat. This afternoon the Admiral paroled two of the above-mentioned parties, the engineer and fireman, and retained the major.

We are at anchor off the mouth of Red River, with logs on the ship’s side, about where the boilers and machinery are situated, as a protection against injury from rebel rams, should they be so pugnacious as to come out of Red River some dark night and try their butting powers.

April 8th. At five A. M., got under way and steamed up the river; at eight forty came to anchor three miles above Bayou Sara, opposite a large plantation; among other objects a saw-mill was here seen in operation; sent a boat on shore in charge of an officer and an armed crew for the purpose of foraging; after capturing a quantity of sheep they returned on board; at four thirty P. M., got under way again, and continued on our way up the river; at seven P. M., brought ship to anchor for the night near Texas landing.

April 7th. This afternoon some men were seen on shore making signals with a flag. Thinking it to be some parties from the lower fleet wishing to communicate with us, we ordered our army signal officer to exchange signals with them, but he found that it was impossible to do so, as they used different signals from ours. The gunboat Albatross then got under way, and found them to be some of the enemy, and shelled them off.

Between eight and nine o’clock, P. M., as near as I can recollect, we fired three guns at intervals of three minutes each, and sent up three rockets with same intervals intervening, to attract the attention of lower fleet, but received no answer to same. Mr. Gabaudan, the Admiral’s Secretary, with despatches, left the ship in a skiff to run the gauntlet of the rebel batteries, taking with him a contraband for oarsman, to communicate with the vessels below. Another skiff with two contrabands in it was sent away from the ship about the same time as the one first mentioned, for the purpose of distracting the attention of the emeny’s pickets from the other boat, or in case either were discovered, to give one a chance to escape. About ten o’clock P. M., a rocket was observed sent up from below, as a signal from the lower fleet that the experiment had proved a success.

April 6th. At four thirty A. M., weighed anchor and steamed down the river, arriving off Bayou Sara, which is about forty-eight miles below the mouth of Red River. Came to anchor and sent two boats on shore in charge of officers, the crews of which were armed, for the purpose of destroying some ten thousand bushels of corn meal and sweet potatoes found piled upon the levee, which had been transported by rebel steamers down the river, and landed there for transportation to the Confederate army at Port Hudson, as we afterwards learned from conversation with the inhabitants of this village, who flocked around us while we were employed making way with it. Every bag, except what we thought proper to take on board the ship for the officers’ and men’s consumption, was thrown into the muddy Mississippi. The villagers thought it hard to destroy this property in this manner, since they had to pay so high for it; but we, not wishing to have it reach the enemy, could not see it in this light. Before finishing this, let me remark that Bayou Sara was once a very handsome spot, but last year guerillas invested it and fired upon our transports, and the iron-clad Essex opened upon the place and laid it in ruins. A few frame buildings and the walls of some brick ones only remain to tell its fate. The remains of these buildings look to the observer like the ruins of some ancient castles in the old world, and the artist might here find a good subject for his pencil and canvas.

At one thirty P. M. got under way again, continuing on our trip down the river until within five miles of Port Hudson, when we turned around and came to anchor. From our anchorage the rebel batteries at Port Hudson, are visible to the eye, and many an officer and blue jacket has remarked that he cannot conceive how we ever stood the concentrated fire of and passed those batteries with so little loss of life and injury to ship, on the night of ever-memorable 14th of March last.

April 5. This is the holy Sabbath day. Between the hours of nine and ten A. M., inspected crew at quarters, after which all hands were called to muster. Performed Divine service, and mustered crew around capstan. Warm and pleasant weather.

April 4th. The day has been spent in making arrangements to repel any attack that might be advanced by the enemy at night, by way of putting up boarding nettings, &c. It is rumored that the enemy intends boarding our ship with a large force; if such an attempt should be made, they will find that they have something more than the Harriet Lane to deal with. If the attempt is made, it is my humble opinion that it will only be the means of increasing our present fleet to a somewhat larger number than what it is at present. This afternoon, the Albatross steamed up the river a few miles, reconnoitering; after being absent three or four hours, returned with the cheering intelligence that fresh beef was the order of the day. We were provided with an allowance of fresh pork, beef, chickens, &c., which was very acceptable to all hands. Nothing further has occurred worthy of note. The day has been very warm.

April 2nd. We are still lying quietly at our anchorage at the mouth of Red River; weather quite warm.

April 1st. This morning at five o’clock, William Jones, seaman, who was wounded during the action at Grand Gulf last night, departed this life. At six A. M. weighed and started on down the river; at eleven-fifteen A. M. passed Natchez; at two-thirty P. M. came in sight of Ellis’s Cliffs, beat to general quarters; it was expected we would meet with some opposition, but nothing of a hostile nature occurred; at five P. M. came in sight of Port Adams, beat to quarters as usual, but met with no opposition; both of the above places are most excellent situations for batteries; at six-thirty P. M. arrived at the mouth of Red River; here we brought our fleet to anchor for the night. It will be remembered that our fleet at present consists of three vessels, namely: the Hartford, gunboat Albatross, and ram Switzerland: whereas at one time we could muster about thirty-seven or eight, including the mortar vessels. The contrast is quite impressive to those who are personally interested in the welfare of things on the Mississippi.

March 31st. This morning at six o’clock, got under way and steamed down the river, followed by the Albatross, and ram Switzerland; at eight-thirty A. M. we all came to anchor; sent boats on shore for fresh provisions; unfortunately but very little could be obtained; at six-thirty P. M. got under way again, and proceeded on down the river. Came in sight of Grand Gulf, continued on our way; beat to general quarters; at seven-thirty P. M. came within range and opened fire. The enemy replied very briskly, but we were too much for them this time, and drove them from their guns. They rallied, but were obliged to retreat the second time. Their loss must have been very great. Our loss during this action was one man mortally wounded. This was one of the sharpest fights we have yet had. After the action was over and the ship brought to anchor for the night, all hands were called on the quarter-deck to splice the main brace.

Jones, who was wounded to-day, deserves more than a passing notice. He was a fine young man, and dearly beloved by his shipmates. He was wounded by a bolt from a stanchion, which passed entirely through his body while he was in the act of carrying a shell to his gun. With the bolt in his body he tried to lift the projectile, but his strength failed him and he went below to the surgeon to have his wound dressed. The doctor could not get it out, and poor Jones suffered all night. He was a brave man, and will die regretted by our officers and men.