This is the third of a three-part series based on the personal letters and observations of Scott Dyer Jordan of Cape Elizabeth. The letters are part of an extensive collection of memorabilia relating to the Jordan family descendants, stored in the Archives Room of the Cape Elizabeth Historical Preservation Society.

The letters continue:

Johnsonville, Tenn, January 12th 1864

Here are railroads, forts, houses, heaps of lumber, furniture, fences and other things all mixed up together in a conglomerated mess. Hood’s army was here a month and a half ago leaving this mess and wrecked ships within thirty yards of us. At present everything is quiet.

January 14

We are now underway steaming upriver with four tin clad gunboats and twenty transports bound for Eastport, 150 miles north. We are pretty near the center of the Rebellion about 240 miles due north from Mobile. Lat. 35A?o, Lon. 88A?o. I enjoy going up all these rivers as everything is new to me and I have a chance to see a large extent of territory without the expense of railroad fare.

The evening is bright and pleasant, the fleet is all astern of us as we are the Flag Ship for the time being since the Fleet Captain came aboard. His blue flag is waving at our mast, two bright lights are hoisted aft, one above the other to show the fleet which one is the Flag Ship. Our running lights are always hoisted by night, one green, one red and one very bright light, every vessel in the fleet the same. It looks like a display of fire works. In the daytime every ship has the American Ensign set.

We have left Eastport taking three young couples with children who were going to Ohio to live until everything was quiet in Tenn. The men had been conscripted by the Rebs, escaped and fled with their families to our ship leaving everything else behind. Instances of this kind are an every day occurrence.

February 6th off the small town of Eunice, Miss.

We are cruising up and down this river to keep the Rebels from crossing into Arkansas. There are small boat squads on shore which we harried off by sending shells among them. We never go on shore here except on duty with forty or fifty men armed with rifles and revolvers. We keep under the protection of the big guns from our ship.

I tell you there is a great deal of novelty and variety in serving Uncle Sam on this river. At night we have small arms stacked on deck in case of a surprise attack. Upon the whole, this business is a little different from farming.

February 18th

Still patrolling the river and have been in some places I never heard of. We have administered the Oath of Allegiance to quite a number of deserters from the army at Shreveport on the Red River and also to several citizens who applied to us for protection.

Saturday March 12

At 7 this morning the fleet of thirteen ironclads, twenty-one transports holding 18,000 troops and thirty bales of cotton got underway on the Miss. River to proceed to the small town where the Mississippi, Red River and the Atchafalaya Rivers join. Six ironclads went up the Red River, we will follow tomorrow after we clear this area of Rebs. Sunday we landed 10,000 troops to march to the Rebel battery at Bayou DeGlace, along the way we saw three alligators.

Tuesday March 15

We steamed north, captured an abandoned fort and all the armament left by the Rebs. On the 16th we steamed upriver on our way to Alexandria which had already surrendered all the sugar and cotton in their warehouse. In all probability this will be a prize to this expedition. We have taken a large number of prizes including about 150 bales of cotton, but not much fighting. All aboard are in good health and spirits.

March 30

Tied up at the bank of the Red River 15 miles above Alexandria. It has been a year since I left home. I am anxious to see you all.

April 4

We now have thirteen ironclads and fifteen transports all of which are in sight of each other. The Men of War ships are on their way to join us. There are 10,000 cavalry keeping pace with us on the banks. Also the 29th Maine Regiment of infantry from Portland which I hear has plenty of Jordans among them.

April 7

Our progress is slow because of the low water level. The small boats coming down are laden with Negroes of all ages from 1 week to 100 years all claiming protection under the old flag. We see very few white folks here. Those that come forward are anxious to serve Uncle Sam.”

(Following the Red River Expedition of more than two months duration, the Carondelet remained on station at Eastport through the summer. The ship’s next major brush with the Confederates was Dec. 1 1864, when they shelled the battery at Clarksville on the Cumberland River. She then recaptured three transports, shelled batteries at Bell’s Mills and aided in turning the Confederate flank at Nashville before returning to station at Eastport.)

Jordan writes:

We have been passing lofty ridges of solid rock, the peaks are between 500 and 1000 feet above the river bed, some times the sides are perpendicular to the river and smooth as marble. We are obliged to keep our guns in to keep them from striking the rock. The weather is warm and we keep our doors and windows open, I guess that is something you cannot do on Cape in much comfort on December 1. I notice the children who flock along the banks to see the fleet as it passes are barefoot.

Generals Hood and Forest are within seven miles of this place, with 50,000 men, Union Generals Thomas and Smith are here with 70,000. We shall in all probability remain here for some time. This is the capitol of the state and has the handsomest state house in the United States built of iron and stone.

On station, Eastport

I just received orders to report to USS Curlew as soon as possible. We will be surveying all the upper Miss. rivers both east and west sides. Although I hate to leave the Old Carondelet after so long service on her I feel glad that I am transferred to a boat whose Commander I am well acquainted with. He is the first man I met when I arrived in Cairo over two years ago.

April 18th

Yesterday we heard of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. What a dreadful thing to think of. We are in hopes that it is not so, but fear if is. We have had our colors at half mast all day in consequence. We expect to hear the particulars tomorrow.

I think the war is about over and that I was transferred in good time. If I like the business and give satisfaction, I have a chance for a long job. If I do not like it, I will make an effort to get out. If nothing happens, sometime about October I will have a leave of absence and make you a call.

A family photo, taken circa 1890s, shows Scott Dyer Jordan’s wife and children, from left, front: Mildred, Scott D. Jordan, his wife Judith. Back: Ethel, Ralph H. and Mabel W. Their four older children, Frank, Dora, Fred and Jennie, had moved to Arizona by the time this photo was taken.