Tuesday. — Morning clear, but it clouded about 9 a. m. and remained so all day. Dull leaden clouds with the wind somewhat variable, hauling at one time to N. by W. in a squall and driving us 6 knots. In light winds our propeller does not revolve, and the ship is wonderfully sluggish. The [...]
Monday, August 12.—Weather clear; rolling along to the northward and westward, with a light breeze from E. S. E.and a lazy swell. All the studding sails set and speed between 3 and 4 knots. Sailing pleasant enough but for the disappointment of our hopes in not being able to gain a port farther to the [...]
Sunday, August 11.— Morning windy, with a head sea. We have been laboring and plunging through it all night, with little hope of making much headway, but continuing on in the expectation that possibly the current might change or the wind abate. Vain hope; neither the one thing nor the other took place! The genius [...]
Saturday, August 10.—Clear, with a deep blue sea and a fresh S. E. trade wind in latitude 5° N., and what makes our position worse with reference to making our run, we have had the extraordinary current of 50 miles in twenty-four hours (!) setting nearly due north, a speed equal to that of the [...]
Friday, August 9.—Cloudy, with light breezes from the southeast. No meridian observation for latitude to-day, though a sight near noon shows us to have experienced the eastward current again. We have experienced a drift of about 20 miles to the N.N. W.½W. This is a serious drawback to our making our run to Maranham. The [...]
Thursday, August 8.—Weather clear, with an occasional rain squall. Wind light and variable, but always from the eastward, following the sun as the chariot follows the steed. Making good speed through the water, but we have experienced in the last twenty-four hours an adverse current of about 1 mile per hour, setting W. N. W. [...]
HEADQUARTERS SECOND BRIGADE, C. S. TROOPS, Near Pensacola, Fla., August 8, 1861. Hon. L. P. WALKER, Secretary of War: DEAR SIR: Perhaps you would like to hear from this place, once of so much importance. The departure of General W. H. T. Walker and the sickness of Colonel Clayton have for a time placed me [...]
Wednesday, August 7.—Weather clear and delightful and the sea smooth. We have seen nothing during the day, flocks of flying fish being the only living things that meet our view. Exercising the crew, now made somewhat short by the absence of three prize crews. Averaged in the last twenty-four hours 8½ knots per hour. No [...]
Tuesday, August 6.—Weather very fine, with light breezes from about E. N. E., making good way over the smooth sea. At about 10 a.m. passed a brigantine on the weather beam , distant some 12 or 14 miles. As I was anxious to make my run and had no fuel to spare upon chases and [...]
Monday, August 5.—Weather clear and fine. At 11 a.m. I was visited by Captain Hillyar, of the Cadmus, who brought me a New York Express of the 12th July, and made himself very agreeable. The war appeared a very extraordinary affair to him, and he could not suppose that it would continue long. He rather [...]
Sunday, August 4.—Morning calm and clear. The chimes of the church bells from the shore fall pleasantly and suggestively on the ear. A U.S. schooner came in from some point up the bay. At 10:30 gave the order to get up steam, but the paymaster reporting some of his vouchers not in form, the order [...]
Saturday, August 3.—Not so much rain to-day. Finished coaling, although I am not full, to avoid being further cheated in the measure by the scoundrel who is putting it in. Got off and got up the new main yard. Am again ready for sea.
Friday, August 2.—Early morning clear; too soon the clouds gathered and the heavy rains of the season set in, in the interval of the showers the tropical scenery showing out in the most attractive colors. Several ships have departed, leaving only some half dozen in the harbor. The master of a Baltimore brig called on [...]
Thursday, August 1.—Rain, rain, rain, with occasional intervals of sunshine. Receiving coal very slowly. The governor, as appears from the Gazette newspaper, took the opinion of the law officers of the Crown as to the legality of my being permitted to coal. A long editorial upon our arrival, and hints thrown out that we may [...]
Wednesday, July 31.—Morning clear, afternoon rain, this being the rainy season. We have been all day negotiating about bringing off our coal, the excuse of the merchant being that he has to depend on free negro labor, which is difficult to procure. A large proportion of the population of the town is of this class, [...]
Warning The following journal entry contains wording that is offensive to many in the world of today. However, the entry is provided unedited for its historical content and context. Tuesday, July 30.—Thick, cloudy weather and heavy rains. Hauling in to the coast of Venezuela near the entrance to the gulf of Para. So thick is [...]
Monday, July 29, 1861.—Clear and pleasant, with a moderate trade wind all day. Atmeridian passed between the island of Margarita and the Frayles; a number of fishing boats in sight from time to time. Evening, running along the coast of Venezuela to the eastward.
Sunday, July 28.—Clear and pleasant, with a moderate trade wind. At 9:30 a.m. gave chase to a sail ahead, which proved to be a Venezuelan schooner. At 11 mustered the crew. In the afternoon passed the island of Tortuga, and at 11 p.m., having come up with the west end of Margarita, hove the ship [...]
Saturday, July 27. – A daylight sent a prize crew on board the Abby Bradford and directed her to proceed to New Orleans. At 6 got underway and stood out. As we were weighing anchor discovered a sail seaward, to which we gave chase and captured about 7 miles from the land. She proved to [...]
Friday, July 26.—Weather clear and pleasant. Ran along the land to the westward again at daylight, and soon after made the fort on the hill above the town of Puerto Cabello. Ran past the group of small islands that outlie the town [to] the eastward, all of which are bold, and anchored in the port [...]
Thursday, July 25.—Light breeze from the land and pleasant; the coast of Venezuela near; La Guayra in sight, distant about 30 miles. At daylight made a sail on the port bow and gave chase. At 6:30 came up with and captured the American schooner Abby Bradford, from New York to Puerto Cabello Took her in [...]
Wednesday, July 24.—Sky occasionally obscured, with a moderate trade wind. Having completed our preparations for sea we got under way at meridian and stood out of the harbor. John Orr, one of our worthless ordinary seamen, deserted just before leaving, enticed away, no doubt, by a Yankee captain and the Yankee keeper of a public [...]
Tuesday, July 23.—Still coaling, refitting, painting, etc. Weather more cloudy and wind not so constantly fresh within the last few days. Took sights for chronometers; longitude 68° 58′ 30 ” W.
Monday, July 22.—Warped alongside a wharf in the edge of the town and commenced receiving coal. Refitting and repainting ship. In the afternoon I took a stroll through the town. It is a quaint, picturesque looking place, with some evidences of improvements, as the building of new houses, etc., but the general air was that [...]
Sunday, July 21.—Fresh trade wind with passing clouds. Atmosphere highly charged with moisture. Mustered the crew and read the articles of war and a general order announcing the decision of a court-martial; permitted the crew to go on liberty in detachments.