Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1861-09-27
CORRESPONDENTS OF THE GAZETTE.
Letter from the Navy.
U. 8. FRIGATE MINNESOTA,
A. Ca.

CORRESPONDENCE OF GAZETTE.
Letter from tho Navy.
s. FRrGArE MINNESOTA,
Ar SEA, Sept. Q.
We left New York ;eariy yesterday morn
ing. 1t was then quite cold. To-day it is
fine and..warm enough for linen coats. Be-
fore we left, the Herald grumbled because
we did not go to sea sooner. We had been
in port only seven days, were busy all the
time taking in stores and left before we were
ready. They who know nothing of the navy
might better attend to other matters. So
much for Bennett and his assistants. We
need less fault finding and more volunteers.
The rebels are not yet cleaned out We
must be active. The enemy is doing his
best. To walk right through, we should
have five men to his one. We are now run
ming down the coast under sails and steam
with a fair wind and smooth sea.
OFF FT. MONROE, Sept. lO.-We arrived
here yesterday afternoon under steam, the
wind having died away. In New York, one
Of our men fell out Of a boat VIC were hosting
in and struck upon the deck. Fell about 25
feet. He was carried to the hospital ashore
and died the next day. A contraband boy
fell through three matches from the spar-deck
down into the hold, % feet, striking on an
iron tank. He is now in the sick bay. Some
Of the crew wished to know if he struck on
his head saying that if SO he was safe. The
contrabands are now Of US being on the ar
ticlcs and as wrote before they actually
fought against their masters at Hatteras.
Sept. 13.-Yesterday the compliments OF
the Secretary of the Navy were read to all
hands by order Of that functionary. Some
twenty prisoners were brought in this morn
ing and we have the gentry on board in irons.
The prisoners we took at Hatteras were con-
fident that England would break the block.
adc. From their talk Judged that they saw
a paper once year. Just now had
one of those little things called fight on
board between Boston boy of seventeen and
marine. Considered draw. No officer
near. Had there been, boy and marine would
have paid a visit to the brig. Boy right
Marine wrong. These things arc rare, but
among so many they will occur. There are
times when it would not do to back out. II
man or boy does not stand up for his right
he is done for. have had nothing of the
kind myself except sharp words occasionally
r,-s< h,
CARTS are generally great towards and will
back down if you stand up to them. An
other thing, a man who is in the right in the
navy is bound to have friends. I have a
friend at my station who can take as many
of the riffraffs as have mind to come up to
him. They all know it. Consequently they
are mighty polite when they come around
I say to him" Pike How are your" He
returns" All, -! How goes t?'' Some.
times when others address him he will ex.
claim Clear out of this Vamose! Go p
They take it in good part and leave forthwith
Our station being kind of cozy place, hav.
ing more nicknacks, papers, &C., than any
other, they like to come to it. Pike has black
hair, beard, whiskers and mustache, teeth
good, hide like an OK, whole-souled, good
humored, temperate, don't drink his grog
minds his own business, a young man though
an old man. ofwar's man. as#
Sunday morning is General Muster. Every
one is cleanly dressed, shoes polished, &c.
&c. The men on the gun deck are formed
in two lines. Same on spar deck. The
Captain or Commodore or both, sometimes
accompanied by the First Lieutenant, walk
along in front Of the whole crew inspecting
them, their small arms and the guns. Te
the officer of each division the Commodore
will sometimes express himself thus -" " oul
men look well Arms look we'll p &c. The
officer touches his cap and bows (much graf
flied, of course.) As the Commodore passes
each division every man salutes him by
bringing his cutlass (drawn) in front, poin,
| up even with the head. After inspection the
retreat is beat and away we 60 for ten or fif
teen minutes, when the bell is struck fol
worship. Service over, dinner is piped. Af
ter that the time is our own until one o'clock
Then the boatswain's mate pipes turn-to,. .i.e
do nothing unless called on until the mex
meal.
First Lieut.. Howell left US yesterday. W.
gave him three cheers. He took off his ha
and bowed in reply. He was too good mar
to lose. He knew his duty in all its branches
would be obcyed, was no tyrant, was
perfect gentleman in his bearing and precise
ly the man for executive officer Of a frst-clas
4 man-of-war. When he left it was immedi
ately after dinner. Toward night as he wa
passing by on board the steam packet W
cheered him again. An officer was sent t
see who was cheering. You can't stol
them from cheering" said the Commodore
A fine time they would have had putting u
(4O0 men) in the brig!
| Some weeks ago the boatswain's mate pipe
i up the watch singing out as usual" Hurr
] upr' &c., when new hand called out in