June 8th. At one thirty A. M., mortar vessels below opened fire upon the batteries; at nine A. M., inspected crew at quarters. Artillery firing heard in rear of Port Hudson. From eight P. M. to twelve midnight, firing of great guns heard, at Port Hudson.
Cruise of the U.S. Flag-Ship Hartford–Wm. C. Holton
June 7th. Slight firing from pieces of artillery, heard in rear of Port Hudson, early this morning; at ten A. M. ship and crew inspected by Commodore; at ten thirty, called all hands to muster, performed Divine service, and mustered crew around capstan. Nothing more, worthy of being recorded, occurred during this day. I forgot here to mention, as is the custom in the naval service, on the first Sunday of every month, that the articles of war were read to the ship’s company assembled together on the quarterdeck, before Divine service was performed, by the first Lieutenant and Executive Officer, Mr. L. A. Kimberly.
June 6th. Early this morning the shell from the mortar vessels was seen exploding over the rebel batteries; at ten A. M. our Assistant Surgeon, S. D. Kennedy, being detached, left the ship for New Orleans, for passage North. Artillery firing was heard in rear of Port Hudson during the remainder of this day.
June 5th. Slight firing heard at Port Hudson, from twelve, midnight, until two o’clock A. M.; at four A. M. firing again heard at Port Hudson. Nothing of importance occurred during the remainder of this day, although our army in the rear of and fleet below Port Hudson, engaged with the enemy. Having the range of their batteries, our forces, army and naval, have made some splendid shots this day, hitting their target and plowing up the earth around every time. Our mortar schooners must be a source of great annoyance to the enemy, both night and day, since they are continually at work practicing upon their mark, and seldom fail in hitting same, or coming so near to it, that it can be anything but agreeable to the parties who have to stand and take it, and are holding out so long at Port Hudson, I mean the rebs. They pass many sleepless nights, I can assure you, with these missiles of destruction, the shell of the bombers, flying over their heads, sometimes exploding in the air, other times on terra firma, close at their feet.
June 4th. Commences with pleasant and calm weather. Slight firing heard, early this morning, at Port Hudson. Nothing worthy of mention occurred during the remainder of this day.
June 3. During the early part of this day, or even the whole morning, all was quiet at Port Hudson and on the Mississippi. During early part of the afternoon the steamer General Sterling Price arrived from Vicksburg; fighting still going on in that quarter; at five thirty the steamer Price and Gen. Banks went up the river. Heard heavy cannonading going on at Port Hudson, between the two contending armies, and I am not aware as yet who’s who, or who is getting the best of it; at six thirty P. M. ram Switzerland came down the river, and anchored, communicating with us. She returned up the river, again. Mortar vessels below, commenced about nine o’clock, and continued firing during the watch, three of the enemy’s guns at the same time firing inland upon our army in rear of Port Hudson, and continuing their firing until a late hour; at eleven P. M.; quick discharges of musketry heard in rear of Port Hudson, and two rockets seen sent up from that vicinity. It is reported as being true, that Banks has lost, up to the present time, from his late engagements with the enemy, some two thousand men in killed and wounded. Of one negro regiment, numbering a thousand men, when they charged the rebel works on the morning of the 27th of May last, six hundred remain to tell the fate of their comrades. This speaks well for their bravery.
July 2. Commences with pleasant but very warm weather; at nine A. M., inspected crew at quarters; from eleven A. M., until three P. M. firing of heavy guns heard in the rear of Port Hudson; the rebel water batteries firing at lower fleet.
June 2d. Early this morning vessels of lower fleet fired a few shots; later, during this forenoon, sent seven rebel prisoners ashore to be taken across the point of land opposite Port Hudson to lower fleet; at nine o’clock heavy firing in rear of Port Hudson by our army; during the evening the upper batteries at Port Hudson opened fire inland.
July 1st. Commences with clear and pleasant weather; at nine A. M., inspected crew at quarters; at ten thirty steamer Estrella came down the river and communicated with us; our naval battery below has been firing steadily all day, but the rebels did not reply.
June 1st. Commences calm and pleasant; firing of musketry this morning heard at Port Hudson; in fact no day has passed since the investment of this rebel stronghold and siege of same commenced, but what more or less bombarding of it has been going on by our army and naval forces, and skirmishing with their pickets, &c.; at nine o’clock this morning inspected crew at quarters; this duty is performed every day at this hour, unless engaged in combat with the enemy, or important work is going on in the ship, calling all hands to perform their share of the labor; from eight P. M., to midnight, mortar vessels, or bombers, below, shelling the batteries at Port Hudson.
