the town. All the windows of the
houses on the main street were closed, and none of their occupants were
to be seen. This was done in contempt for the Federal troops. After our
cavalry had departed, the officers and the marines returned to the
fleet, and at 4:15 p.m. got under weigh, and arrived off Winton at 10
p.m., where the fleet remained for some time.

Wednesday, April 10, at 12 m., the Valley City got under weigh and
proceeded by way of Edenton to Plymouth, where we arrived at 2:15 a.m.
the following day. At 3:05 a.m. we got under weigh and returned to
Winton, where we arrived at 12 m. At this point and time we first
heard, through the New York _Herald_, that the Confederate troops under
General Lee had been driven from Petersburg by the Federal troops under
General U.S. Grant. There was great rejoicing aboard the fleet. The
U.S. steamers Shamrock, Wyalusing and Hunchback, fired a salute in
celebration of that event. At 3-1/2 p.m. the U.S. steamers Valley City
and Whitehead proceeded to Murfreesborough, where we arrived at 6-1/2
p.m.

Friday, April 14, at 7:50 a.m., the Valley City and Whitehead got under
weigh, and proceeded down to Winton, where we met the Wilderness, with
Commander Wm. H. Macomb and Lieutenant Commander Earl English aboard,
when we received the news that the Confederate forces under General Lee
had surrendered to General Grant.

The U.S. steamers Valley City and Whitehead were ordered to proceed to
Murfreesborough and deliver the news to the citizens at that place; and
now, after having read a copy of the New York _Herald_, they were
thoroughly convinced that the war was over. Saturday, April 15, at
11:45 a.m., the U.S. steamers Valley City and Whitehead got under weigh
and proceeded to Winton, where we arrived at 7:55 p.m.

Tuesday, April 18, we first received news of President Lincoln's
assassination, which event cast a gloom over the entire nation. At
12:45 p.m., the U.S. steamers Valley City and Whitehead got under
weigh and proceeded up the Chowan river to Blackwater river, up which
we steamed to Franklin, Virginia, where we arrived at 8 a.m. the
following day. We visited the people ashore at different times during
our stay at that place. Thursday, April 20, at 8-1/2 a.m., the Valley
City and Whitehead got under weigh, and proceeded down the Blackwater
river to Chowan river, down which we steamed to its mouth, where we
anchored.

There are a great many fish in the Chowan river, and