American Historical Ephemera & Photography

 “John E. Albert’s Diary of Events On Board U.S.S. Genesee” commences 1 September 1862 when Albert departs home for New York Yard to begin service on the water. On the 26th, he boards the U.S.S. Genesee at Newport News, VA. The scope of this detailed document is broader than the title might suggest. In addition to the ship’s progress through the Civil War and various engagements, Albert records numerous secondary events, including a burial at sea [“This morning Mr. Cannon was buried overboard, he had been sealed up in a coffin”], a court-martial ["...here has been for the last 10 days a Court Marshall in session on Board the U.S. Ironclad Cincinnati. Captain and Paymaster Gibbson are on trial.”], countless breakdowns and repairs, the problem of desertion ["...received 10 Marines from the Yard to do guard on board here to prevent men from deserting...”] and the like.

A detailed account of the ship’s progress from Mobile to New Orleans, at which it arrived on 5 March 1863 to serve under Farragut’s command following the capture of New Orleans in the expedition up the Mississippi. Their objective was to cut off Confederate supply lines, pass Fort Hudson, and join forces with Admiral Porter and General Grant in the attack on Vicksburg. Albert also reported events on land as news reached the Genesee [“It was reported that Genl Dick Taylor was going to march into Mobile and surrender. Also reported that ‘Mosby’ surrendered.”] The journal contains little in the way of accounts of the actions in which the ship participated. A detailed account with much information that may not be recorded anywhere else. Oddly, at the end, there are 10 pages in German in a different hand, followed by Albert’s account of “Sermons Preached by Rev. Saml J. Knapp" beginning 3 October 1867 and ending 1868[?].”

The Genesee was commissioned on 3 July 1863 under Commander William M. MACOMB. This steamer served primarily, but not exclusively, to block Confederate trade and military supply lines.