Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/50

44 About 3 o'clock,, we were again obliged to come to anchor owing to the heavy fog.

The sailors told us to-night that if nothing happens and the fog clears away, we will be at the mouth of the Mississippi to-morrow evening.

Monday, January 18, 1847.—This morning we could not start until 10 o'clock, owing to the fog, which is common here, and particularly at this season of the year. We weighed anchor and was towed by the steamboat "Phoenix" down to nearly the mouth of the Mississippi river, to a place called Blaizen, here the tow-boat left us. We shook out sails and passed on down the bay, which is wide here. We saw any quantity of wild game, such as ducks, geese, swans and pelicans, flying around the small islands.

In the evening we anchored opposite Fort Jackson.

Tuesday, January 15, 1847.—This morning after breakfast the sailors weighed anchor and we sailed down the river, and crossed the bar about 1 o'clock, The ship now commenced to rock a little, increasing its rocking as we went on. We had just partaken of a hearty dinner of fat pork and bean soup. The ship now commenced to rock heavily, and is rolling from one side to the other like a cradle (not the cradle of liberty).

The soldiers are beginning to look sickly, and no doubt feel very uncomfortable, and are getting sea-sick. Some could be seen to hunt places less motionless, or trying to keep the ship from rocking, but all no go. King Neptune was too stubborn, and finally revolutions came into their throats, making them look pale about the "gills." Some could be seen hunting positions, or their bunks, to lay down. The ship still keeps rocking up and down, and it seems that every time the ship goes up, up goes the stomachs of some of our soldiers, struggling and rushing to the side of the ship, and heaving up the fat pork and bean soup. Some made a firm determination not to get sea-sick, and laughed at those who were taken first, but old Neptune was too much for us, for we all