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 current of any kind. Latitude, 8°31′; longitude, 56°12′. At 2:30 p.m. descried a brigantine, chased her for an hour and a half, running four points out of our course, and fired a blank cartridge at her, when she showed Dutch colors. We thus threw away 13 miles on a Dutchman. Brought the ship back to her course. Toward nightfall, calm.
Extracts from the journal of Commander Semmes, C.S. Navy, commanding C.S.S. Sumter
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