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 However, the entry is provided unedited for its historical content and context.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.
Saturday night, July 20. — Painting and refitting ship . Got off thenew fore-topmast from shore. The monthly packet arrived to-day from St. Thomas, bringing papers from the enemy’s country to the 26th of June. We get nothing new.
Friday, July 19.—Wind unusually blustering this morning, with partial obscuration of the heavens. Refitting engine, battery, rigging, etc. An English bark entered to-day from Liverpool.
Thursday, July 18.—Fresh trade wind and clear. Employed refitting and repairing the small damages of our late cruise. Sent a lieutenant with my card to call on the governor and to excuse my not calling in person on account [of] indisposition. I was visited to-day by a Venezuelan, who spoke English and who represented himself [...]
Wednesday, July 17.—Clear; the trade blew all night at a mile or two from the coast. At 7 ran in and received the following message from the governor by the pilot: The governor regrets, but he can not permit you to enter, he having received recent orders from the home Government to this effect. Sent [...]
Tuesday, July 16.—Clear, with flying trade clouds, and the wind blowing almost a gale. At 9 a.m. made land on the starboard bow, which proved to be the island of Oruba, we having had a strong westerly current during the night. At 11 a.m. made Curaçao on the port bow. Passed the north end of [...]
Monday, July 15.— The weather moderating, and the sea going down, though still rough. Nothing seen. In the afternoon pleasant, with a moderate trade. I feel better to-day, for the first time in six days. Thanks.
Sunday, July 14.—Wind still fresh, with a heavy sea; making 5 knots under sail, with the wind about a point free. Did not muster the crew, but allowed them to rest. No sail seen. I am getting no better. Have been confined nearly all day to my hammock with nausea and debility and pain in [...]
Saturday, July 13.—Blowing a moderate gale of wind, with a very heavy head sea. We made no progress at all during the last night. In this state of things, I have been obliged to change my intention, which was to go to Barbados. We can not make the distance with our fuel. I therefore, caused [...]
Friday, July 12,—Heavy head wind and sea, and the steamer laboring and pitching into it and scarcely making four knots. A serious drawback, as we are consuming our limited supply of fuel and making no progress. Thick weather and squalls of rain. Still confined to my cabin. No sail seen.
Thursday, July 11.—The tenacious trade wind blows as fiercely as ever, and we are struggling and plunging through it; no more than an average of 5 knots. Hard upon our coal, which is so precious. No sail has been seen to-day. I have been confined most of the day to my hammock.