Wednesday, August 28.—Bright, elastic morning, with a gentle breeze from the S. E. Suspended the second lieutenant from duty for remaining out of the ship during his watch without leave and sending off a midshipman to keep it, in violation of the general orders of the ship, and justifying the act when called on in [...]
Tuesday, August 27.—Morning cloudy, clearing as the day advanced. Got sights for my chronometers, which gave me satisfactory results. Still coaling and watering. We hear a report that there are two ships of war off the entrance, keeping themselves out of sight, hoping to waylay us. A fisherman is said to have supplied one of [...]
Monday, August 26.— Morning cloudy, clearing off about 9 o’clock. Coaling and receiving wood and water. Little breeze and warm. The governor sends me an apology by the paymaster for not being able to show me some official civility and hopes that I will return at some future period under different circumstances. The dunce! His [...]
Sunday, August 25.— Cloudy in the morning. Went on shore to church at half past 8. The good old mother has her churches and clergymen , even in this remote Dutch colony. It is estimated that there [are] 10,000 Catholics in the colony. The church was a neat, well-arranged building, the congregation full and mixed, [...]
Saturday, August 24.—Clear and pleasant; some passing clouds and in the evening slight squalls and rain. The Dutch steamer with the mail arrived to-day from Demerara. We were looking anxiously for news from home, as at last accounts ( July 20, from New York) a battle near Manassas Junction seemed imminent. Demerara papers to the [...]
Friday, August 23.—Weather clear; squally, with some rain at night. Our coal comes off very slowly, a little work going a great way with the negroes here. The French steamer of war Vulture went to sea to-day.
Thursday, August 22.—Clear and pleasant. Landed with Mr. Smith and my cockswain and took a walk, stopping at the hotel and reading such of the Yankee newspapers as I could ?nd. The privateer Sumter made some ?gure111 these lying sheets. Have received in the last two days just 18 tons of coal. The Yankee consul [...]
Wednesday, August 21.—Clear; temperature, pleasant. Returned the visit of the commander of the Abeille. He is a clever man, with pro-slavery sympathies, and seemed to understand well the cause of our quarrel with the North, but is a Frenchman all over and seemed to think we had not treated the pavillon Français with due respect [...]
Tuesday, August 20.—Weather clear and temperature, out of the sun, quite cool and pleasant. Called on the governor and had an agreeable interview with him. Returned the calls also of the Dutch and French commanders. Received the visits of two Dutch commanders and several citizens. Made arrangements for receiving a supply of coal. The French [...]
Monday, August 19.—Day broke clear, had all hands at quarters at 5:30 a.m., daylight. The strange steamer got up steam and ran toward us. Got our anchor and stood down for her. Hoisted the French colors. Soon afterwards the stranger hoisted French colors also. Hauled down the French colors and hoisted our own, and continued [...]
Sunday, August 18.—Weather clear, with a light breeze from the eastward, which freshened as the day advanced, and gave us a fresh breeze toward nightfall. After passing Port Orange we ran over another 3-fathom bank, the water deepening beyond, enabling us to head in toward the coast as we approached Bram Point, off which we [...]
Saturday, August 17.—Morning clear, with a fresh breeze (from) the southward and eastward. Running along the coast in 10 fathoms water, the soundings very regular. Observed in latitude 5° 56′. Passed the mouth of the Maroni at about noon, and at 4 p.m. ran across a sand bank in very muddy water some 15 miles [...]
Friday, August 16.— Morning clear, with passing trade clouds and a fresh wind from E. S. E., which has continued all the past night. At 5 a.m. dispatched the junior lieutenant and the paymaster to pay my respects to the governor, and ascertain whether I could be supplied with coal. These officers having proceeded to [...]
Thursday, August 15.—During the past night made the Great Constable, a small island off the coast some 40 miles to the eastward of Cayenne. Anchored at midnight in 141 fathoms water, the island bearing west, distant about 6 miles. At daylight this morning, after waiting for the passage of a rain squall, we got underway [...]
Wednesday, August 14.—Morning beautiful, with fleecy trade clouds, promising a fine breeze, but the breeze never came; the clouds passed on sluggishly and changed their forms and positions, but no wind. A livelong, calm day, with nothing but cat’s paws and currents, the latter setting about W. N. W. We have lessened our soundings somewhat, [...]
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 [...]