3 October 1863: “Seven of the enemys steamers was seen in the bay & several guns was fired…”

Item description: Entry, dated 3 October 1863, from the Oneida Ship’s Diary.  The entry notes the Oneida’s placement on the Mobile blockade, engagements with opposing naval forces, and news received of other conflicts.

[transcription available below image]

18631003_01

Item citation: From the Oneida Ship’s Diary #3171-z, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Item transcription:

Oct. the 3rd.

On blockade of Mobile. Weather fine at 9 am. all hand was back to quarters & passed inspection during the day.  Seven of the enemys steamers was seen in the bay & several guns was fired from Fort Morgan this was at largest exercise. at 4 Pm. the Dispatch Steamer Eugena arrived here from Ship Island.  She has no mail but reports Commander Farragat at Charlestown & that the fight in Tennisee between bragg & Rosancrance was a draw fight but our losses was very heavy. during the night several lights was reported in the bay & everything was in readyness for amediate use on board but all our ships kept their positions undisturbed during the night the Eugena guarded the grand pass

More about this item: The U.S.S. Steam sloop Oneida was a screw corvette of 1032 tons and nine guns. Under the command of United States naval officer S. Phillips Lee for the period of the Civil War covered in the diary, the Oneida participated in an expedition up the Mississippi River to Vicksburg, Miss.; engaged in the blockade of Mobile, Ala.; made monthly stops in Pensacola, Fla., for refueling; and visited the Lesser Antilles.

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