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

March 22d. At ten A. M., the Albatross got under way and dropped down the river a short distance, and shelled the batteries at Warrenton, receiving in return a brisk fire from musketry and field pieces; after engaging the batteries a short time, came up and anchored ahead of us. Last night a very large coal lighter was floated down to us from the fleet above Vicksburg, the enemy not discovering it until it had got some distance below their batteries, at which time they fired a few shots at it, but doing it no damage. We are not altogether out of coal, but as it is believed that we are in rather a tight fix, it has been deemed necessary to take in a good supply of this precious article. To-day the ship’s company have been engaged coaling ship from lighter. The Albatross is also taking in coal from the same lighter.