Saturday, February 25, at 5½ a.m., got under weigh and proceeded to the mouth of Little Alligator river, where we arrived and anchored at 9¼ a.m.
Sunday, February 26, at 1½ p.m., the Valley City got under weigh and steamed toward Roanoke Island, in pursuit of a schooner which was supposed to be running the blockade; but upon boarding her, it was found she had permission to trade with the inhabitants in that vicinity. At 6 p.m., we came to an anchor at the mouth of Alligator river.
Monday, February 27, at 6 a.m., the Valley City got under weigh and steamed up the Alligator river to Chincapin Ridge, where Captain J. A. J. Brooks, Acting Master's Mate O'Neill, and myself, with two crews of men, fourteen in number, went ashore and marched three miles into the country, through pines and cypresses. Along the road we put up a mark on a tree and fired at it; and although I was not an expert marksman, I put a ball nearest the mark. We finally came to a house occupied by a man and his wife and their children, who were very poor. The house was illy furnished, and had only one apartment. The appearance of it, inside or outside, was not very inviting. Captain J. A. J. Brooks asked the man whether he could provide dinner for the party. He demurred at first, but finally agreed to provide such a dinner as the viands in the house would permit of. All the party were very hungry, and were glad to have the opportunity of sitting down to any sort of a dinner. The woman went to work to cook a dinner. In the meantime, the officers, men, and host, employed themselves in shooting at a mark. During this time the host told us the war had been a benefit to him, in so far as it had made a temperance man of him. Before the war, he said, he had been an immoderate drinker of intoxicating liquors, but now he was temperate from necessity, as he could get nothing stronger than water to drink. Dinner was soon announced. It was set on a table about two feet square, without a tablecloth. Our dinner consisted of bacon, corn bread, and coffee made from corn. Only four could be seated at the same time around the table, consequently there were five successive tables served, occupying altogether about two hours in eating. We all enjoyed the dinner, as we were very hungry from traveling through the pines. After remunerating our host in a substantial way and thanking him for his hospitality, we returned to the vessel.
Tuesday, February 28.—The Valley City got under weigh at 9 a.m., and arrived at Roanoke Island at 2:45 p.m. Wednesday, March 1, at 7 p.m., we weighed anchor and proceeded to Plymouth. At 10 p.m., we got aground near Croatan Sound. Thursday, March 2, at 5½ o'clock a.m., we got under weigh and proceeded to Plymouth, where we arrived at 2 p.m. We brought with us as passengers Messrs. Douglass and Winslow, from Roanoke Island.
Saturday, March 4, at 11 a.m., we proceeded to the mouth of Roanoke river, for the purpose of towing a coal schooner to Plymouth. We arrived at Plymouth at 3½ p.m. The weather has been very warm.
Wednesday, March 8, at 8 p.m., we got under weigh and proceeded to Roanoke Island, where we arrived the following day at 6½ a.m. Mr. Harris, Second Assistant Engineer, and I, went ashore.
Friday, March 10, at 9½ a.m., we got under weigh, and at 1 p.m. anchored in Albemarle Sound. As the Valley City was steaming toward Plymouth, suddenly and unexpectedly a heavy squall came up, and tossed the Valley City about so much that we were fearful she might be capsized. The guns were not made fast at the time. The officers had just sat down to dinner as the Valley City commenced rolling and pitching tremendously. First we endeavored to save the contents of the dinner table; finally this effort was abandoned in order to save ourselves. We were tossed about the ward-room in an uncomfortable manner. The contents of the dinner table went to the floor and were lost, and to mend matters the Valley City got into the "trough of the sea." The howitzers and ammunition above our heads on the poop deck, were being tossed from side to side, and so were also the large guns on the gun deck. The line officers and crew were soon engaged in getting the Valley City out of the "trough of the sea," and securing her guns by making them fast. The gale continued about a half hour, after which the Valley City steamed quietly to Plymouth. On Saturday, March 11, at 11:20 a.m., we anchored off Edenton, and at 4:35 p.m., proceeded to Plymouth, where we arrived at 7:15 p.m.
Wednesday, March 15, the Valley City got under weigh and proceeded to the blockade above Plymouth. Monday, March 20, the Valley City got under weigh and proceeded to the mouth of the Cashie river, where we arrived at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 22, the Valley City got under weigh and proceeded to Plymouth, where we arrived at 3½ p.m. At 4½ p.m., we got under weigh and proceeded to Edenton, where we arrived at 6½ p.m. Captain J. A. J. Brooks, Paymaster J. W. Sands, Major Willis, Mr. Tiffing and myself, went ashore. Friday, March 24, at 5 p.m., we got under weigh and proceeded to Plymouth, where we arrived at 7 p.m. The weather is beautiful. Saturday, March 25, at 1½ p.m., Commander Macomb came aboard, and the Valley City proceeded toward Newbern. At 8½ p.m., we anchored in Croatan Sound. Sunday, March 26, at 5½ a.m., we got under weigh, and at 7½ a.m. we came to anchor. At 10¼ a.m. we got under weigh and proceeded to Newbern, where we arrived the following day at 1 a.m.
Friday, March 31, at 3 o'clock, a.m., we left Newbern, with Commander Macomb still aboard, and arrived at Roanoke Island at 5¾ p.m. At 7 p.m. we got under weigh, and proceeded as far as Croatan Sound, where we got aground, and stuck fast till the following day, when at 12½ a.m. we got afloat, and anchored till 5 a.m., when we proceeded to Plymouth, where we arrived at 2 p.m. Commander Macomb went on board his own ship, the Shamrock. At 4½ p.m. we got under weigh, and proceeded by way of Albemarle Sound and Chowan river to Winton, and then up Meherrin river to Murfreesborough, N.C., in company with the U.S. Steamers Shamrock, Wyalusing, and Hunchback. We dragged the Meherrin river for torpedoes from Winton to Murfreesborough, but found none, arriving at Murfreesborough on Monday, April 3, at 6:35 p.m.
Murfreesborough is a small, beautifully-located town, on a high plateau of ground on the right bank of the Meherrin river, surrounded by woods. There were two female seminaries in the place, one a Baptist, the other a Methodist. The people were intelligent, but very much interested in the success of the Confederacy. This place was opened up by the fleet for the purpose of being a depot of supply for Sherman's army, and was intended to be the next point of landing after Sherman left Raleigh. In Murfreesborough there were about one thousand rebels, who gave us great annoyance till they were finally captured by the 3d New York cavalry.