Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-08-27
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE JOURNAL. +"

to move to the Landing between HarriSOnS
and w Westoyer's, and get our Battery on board
as quickly as possible. Accordingly A with
these instructions, swe pulled up stakes
about p. m., and by sundown we were on
the road to the river which we reached in
about ten minutes march. We supposed that
we would go directly on board the transports,
but in this we were sadly mistaken. This
time we were not mp ssto time" so that
two other Batteries were ahead of us. How
ever, managed about ii O'Clock TO get our
guns and Caissons on board the City of n or
wich, which was a very large, capaciOus
freight boat, and well adapted TO the purpose,
we had no further trouble than to run our
pieces on wholesale, without taking them
apart as on a former occasion. This done
in q very short time, and the canoniers get
ting on board soon after, tbe boat dropped
down to another landing to complete her la
dug, by the addition of the 9th Penna Re-
serve Volunteers. Alter waiting TIL our pa
tience well nigh exhausted (and having
no place to tie our horses SO that we could
snatch little repose) we learned that
would not 60 on that boat, and were obliged
to wait till sunrise before boat made fast to
the dock to receive our horses; and by the
iirne we had them on the boat it was 3 clock.
Alter tIi1S we dropped down and took the bal
ance of our load, the 9th Regiment on board.
Al IL o clock the s'South America for
Such was the name of the Boat-startcd on her
trip down the james. We now for the first
time, had an IntimatiOn of our destination
which We learned from the Mate Of the boat
and Pilot; was Acquia Greek. We had
pleasant trip down the james river, enliventd
10y the splendid scenery along either shore
At { in the evening we cast Anchor off New
port News, for the night. Early on Saturday
morning got under way aud in short time
we ran by the wreck Of the ..Cumberland.' -
and little further on the Congress >
1t is sad contemplation, to review the cir
cumstance by which these noble ships and
their daring crews, We're sacrificed for vindi-
eating the cause of truth, justice, and human
ity. About O'Clock We touched at Fortress
Monr e, and the boat was ST. ort Of provis
ion, the pilot concluded before running out
into ,ite-Bny, TO run up TO NorfOTk to lay in a
supply. Here found the Steam FrIgate
Minnesota with her ugly looking guns ever
hearing on the deceitful town as IA monitor to
all that the Authority of The Flag of the I'm
ion, which now floats in triumph from the
domes OF The PrincIpal buildings, must be
pected.
The object Of our visit being soon accom-
plisbed we we're ready proceed on our way.
Rut ae Uoat we were was very heavily
foaded (having on about seven hundred men
and one hundred and thirty head Of holses)
and being withaI very old one, and as the
wind was very high, the Pilot did not deem
it safe to venture on the Bay. We however,
dropped down and laid over, off Sewalls Point
till evening, and the wind abating somewhat
we weighed anchor and stood out on our trip
Instead OF the wind falling as supposed it
continued TO rise, and by the time the boat
reached the Bay the waves were running verv
high, and the Pilot being somewhat timid IAN
across to the eastern shore, in order to get
calmer water. This was well enough while it
lasted as we were running directly against
the wind: it blowing strong from the North
eas'.
To fh hiC
purpose all the time, and in order to get into
the mouth of the Potomac It was necessary
that the Boat should be held to different
point. About this time the wheel came into
more experienced hands than a Government
Pilot, (who seems to be necessary appen-
dage to all government transpurts) the Mate
of the boat; who succeeded, at great risk,
in altering course, which brought the
wind on our quarter. There was great dan
ger OF being sWamped, each succeeding
wave would make the old boat tremble like
aspen, and at times the waves would fly
completely over her bow much to the dis
comfort of some OF the s"boys'' who were try
ing to take to themselves a nap. At one time
the water came well nigh extinguishi.g The
fire under one of the boilers, but this did not
materially retard our progress. We kept
steadily on and daylight found US in sight of
Point Lookout at the mouth of the Potomac.
We were yet two miles out of our course, but
TO JuQlclOuS management we get on the right
track again and proceeded our way up the
river.
Point Lookout is being rapidly fitted up for
Hospital purposes. and already there are a
goodly number of large Hospital tents erect
ed there for that purpose, and boats daily
being relieved here of their invalid pasSen-
gers No better place could be selected as it
always has the advantage of fresh brecZes
from the Chesapeake and Potomac. 1t also
has the advantage of fine groves of pines
whose grateful shade is always pleasant re-
lief from the scorching rays OF an August sun.
No more pleasant scenery could be found a.
long any river than that which aboundS on
the shores of the Potomac, and scattered along
in such profuse variety.
We reached our destina ion about three o.
clock D. M. of the 18th, and in less than one
hour we were safely landed with II our effects
once more on terra fr,nG. Here we found our
guns in readiness for uS, when we attached
our horses and went out about quarter OF a
mile to camp and waited tor the rest Of the
detachment.
While there were no accidents occurring to
any one on board of the .sSouth America,
the ssCity of Norwich" was not so fortunate.
One man belonging to our Battery, VINO was
lately detailed and transferred from the otf,
and also one man belonging to the 9th, TOOK IL
into their heads to sleep on the top OF the
wheel house, while they were anchored at the
month of James river the night of the 10Th.
The boat starting in the morning before ihey
we're awake. the motion threw them Oft into
the water and both were drowned. The name
of the one belonging to our Battery, was Nc
Donald. but from where do not know. The
name OF the other did notlearn. The cause