Mississippi river
Feby 13th 1863
My Dear Parents
We have at last
reached the River of rivers
Last Monday afternoon
took on board Pilot about
forty five miles from the south
West Pass and about mid=
night anchored out side the
bar.
Providence has favored us
wonderfully. we only had one
severe gale. The bunks on the
Starboard side of the ship were
broken down, but fortunately no
one was hurt very bad.
The vessel shipped several seas.
I was in the Second mate’s
State-room in the lower berth
the water came in but did
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not not wet me. I thought
however that it was best to
make tracks & I crawled
into the main cabin and
lay upon the floor until
day light & then after the
sun had risen the scene
was grand beyond description.
The saddest part of our
voyage was after we had passed
great Abaco Island when we
had to bury one of our comrades
at sea, and after we got
into the Gulf we had to bury an
other. one has died since we
started up the river and was
carried ashore this morning
about five (5) miles above fort
Philip. we have none very
sick now.
Now for our voyage up the
river. Tuesday at sundown a
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tug took us over the bar and
we anchored about two miles
up the channel of the river.
Wednesday morning cool and
pleasant a boat came along
side and I was glad to
see Geo. Smith, he had come
down from Ft. Philip 35 miles
up river, to get Birney, they
had heard that we were on
the bar and could not get
off. Thursday morning very
pleasant and warm, the
tug fastened to us an
we steamed slowly up the
river. got to Ft. Philip last
night about dark, five miles
above the Forts, we came to
anchor in quarantine this
morning the medical officer
came on board ad about
8 oclock we again got under
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way, the day has been pleasant
but rather cool. we have seen
the remains of five fats &
wrecks of steamers used &
destroyed at the taking of the
Forts. we have passed former
plantations to-day, could see
them at work gathering the
came have passed some splendid
orange orchards could see the
oranges on the trees we go
so close to the bank that
we can smell their fragrance-
a boat came alongside
loaded with oranges. they were
the best I ever tasted.
this evening we have anchored
close in shore as it is very
foggy. the tug has a ship
on each side & a schooner
behind so you see we do
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not make very rapid progress.
the other ship has part of a
Regt. that were wrecked on
Florada Reefs. no lives were lost
I believe.
Saturday Feby 14 1863
We started this morning again
and have been slowly making
our way up river, expect if
nothing happens to reach the
city about nine o’clock
this evening. we have passed
some very large plantations
today, the negroes appear to
be loyal & glad to see us
They jump up & down clap
their hands, & roll over.
We ran so close to them to-day
that a negro threw some
oranges on board.
It will be thirty five days
to morrow that we have
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been aboard this craft.
I have got enough of the
sea. hoe we shall go
home by land.
Sunday 15th inst
This has been a pleasant
day, we are anchored opposite
the lower part of the city, the
Col. has gone ashore Y we
shall probably know our destination
to night or n the morning.
This afternoon Elder Blokes came
on Board. he came up the
river with B[?] & two or
three officers that went ashore at
the Forts.
Evening it rains quite hard, the
Col. has come on board. we go
ashore in the morning and go
into U.S. Barracks to recruit a
while & then go up river
this Regt. is assigned to
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Nickerson’s Brigade which is
this side of Baton Rouge the
Col. did not remember the
name of the place.
The mail leaves here to
morrow at 4 o’clock P.M.
and one is expected to arrive
You must write every week.
for the mail comes quite
regular.
I will write you a letter
George soon, you must consider
this as partly your own
You can write often & it will
be a good exercise for you
You direct to
New Orleans
24th Regt
Banks Expedition
Yours Truly
C.P.M.
Charles Plummer Morrill, 24th Maine
MSS 11031