Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1861-11-08
... 80 Correspondence OF the Gazette.
Letter from the Navy.
Y. q. FRiGATE MINNESOTA


October 6.-Any amount of exercise now
every day. Yesterday was general quarters
| have written of this before but will de-
scribe the exercise as it was yesterday and
may describe it as we have it on some day
hereafter SO that you may fully understand
it. In general quarters every man in the
ship is at his station, and the whole opera
ton Of an engagement is carried through.
Usually we have general quarters once a
week. We may have it any day when the
Commodore or Captain sees fit. When we do
not have general quarters, drilling of some
kind goes on, every day. Yesterday we
went through the form of loading and firing
the big guns. Then the rattle was sprung
for First Boardefs. Away went the pikemen
with their pixies, the marines with their MUS
kets, the sailors with their pistols, cutlasses
and revolvers. The pikemen poked at the
foe, the marines fred at them, the men cut
them down. Again the rattle, and up came
Second Boarders. Werepelled boarders and
we boarded Then the bell was struck
(Alarm of fre.) Away went the firemcn
Water was thrown through hose and the fire
extinguishcd. Boardcrs were then ordered
to quarters and we worked the big guns.
Word was passed that No. Eleven's gun
carriage was carried away ii. c. by the cne-
my's shot.) Tackles were got up, gun dis.
mounted, carriage repaired and gun re-
mounted. Firing was then discontinued,
guns secured, small arms put away, retreat
beat and the morning exercise ended. The
first time the rattle is sprung is for First
Boardcrs. If Second Boarders arc wanted
the rattle is sprung again. The gong is rung
or beat for the pikemen. The bell is stfuck
in case of fire. General muster is to mus
ter all hands without arms. General quar-
ters requires all hands to repair to their sew
eral stations and arm themselves. Quarters
is each one at his stallion. r.. r ......s .
- got liberty to 60 on shore for the day.
Broke his liberty by being gone all night,
and is now enjoying himself in the Brig"
Was put in the guard-house ashore. Cause
whisky and trying to lick two or three
regiments and to take the fortress. ibid bet
ter by taking my grog-money. You see,
man in the navy actually gets pay for not
drinking his grog, beating your temperance
societies all to pieces. 2''
There are meetings on board two
or three evenings week. Yesterday, re-
ceived in an envelope three or four tracts
from somebody in Boston, with the request
to read and circulate. No signature. Do
not know who it can possibly be. shall
obey, Of course. All my letters and papers
come like clock-work. = I have made
another hole in my pay by drawing flannel,
satinet, drawers, socks and shoes. ! have
everything for a long time except rubber
boots, for which must send to Boston. = +
Whenever / please, l see the celebrated Un-
ion Gun, mile distant. All can say
about it at that distance is that it looks like a
big beast. 1t is mounted. = The day
before the Hatteras affair five or six of our
men were taken sick very suddenly. One Of
them belonged to Pixies gun. Finding no.
body hurt, he came on the second day and
offered to assist. Pike told him he might
better 60 where he came from (tke sick bay).
Sailors in general very soon detect that sort
Of fellows. do not know any Of the afore-
said and am glad l do not. ! presume they
thought that they would be safe in the bay.
That is foolish, to try to dodge shot.
I have been week trying to see the Cap
tain, i.e. to catch him at a favorable moment
You must recollect that there is long
space between naval Captain and his men