17

16
constructed were used by the entire army
in getting below Vicksburg.

The navy was also very active on
several occasions, during the time we were working inland dummy gun boats were
improvised, constructed and towed into the current. They
created consternation to the enemy and a realization
of the pride, pomp and circumstances of glorious
war, nothing could be more [sublime??] than the
scene during the passage of one of the [illegible].
The river was illuminated by bon fires along
the shore and every gun in the works of the
enemy was was blazing away at the inoffensive
coal barge, simply because it was painted
black and had a couple of suguar hogs heads
projecting above the semblence of a quarter deck.

This trick was played often that when
the critical time arrived we were fully with full knowledge
informed as of the position and power of their
water patterns, most of the transports
had pased, before the enemy realized that it was not
another of those [illegible] tricks, Several of the
steamers and some of gun boats suffered more
from the effects of struck by shot and shell, but more of them
more sunk as was expected would be the result when volunteers
were asked for to man them, all the
artillery and stores aboard the boats reached
New Carthage the following day, and army
and navy were again united for the real