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

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.