Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1863-09-11
Correspondence Of the Gazette. -@
LETTER FROM THE NAVY.
U. 8. FRioArE MINNESOTA,

LETTER FROM THE NAVY. +.
u s. FRioArE MINNEsorA,l
/ HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (
July 18TH Yesterday p NJ. ninety Of US
got leave to 60 visiting. / managed to ge,
my name down among them. Some were
for the Western World and some for the Cru
sader. We took our seats in the cutie,
(black crew and soon reached the G., There
saw Pike and was introduced to his chum
John jackson, a fine, hearty looking seaman
who before left, Insisted on my accepting
about thirty skeins Of silk and three or foun
qu'res OF writing paper, being of the spoils
they had picked up in their late expeditions
up York river. The Crusader is armed with
32s. She looked Insignificant in comparison
with our eco pdrs. In one of their expedi
tons few days ago, six Of their crew were
attacked by superior force. One man was
shot in the neck. Another in the arm, which
had to be amputated. They hurried to their
boat and got on board, when they began shell.
ling the houses at grea. rate, then landed
and burned fifteen fine houses, brick and
wood. It was:
Capt.-Boys, do you see that house II
is yours. Go ahead! ..-
In they would 60, help themselves to what
they fancied, apply match, and the job was
finished. = = The hour Of our visit quickly
passed away and all the Minnesotas were
piped to the port gangway shook hands
with Pike, seated myself in the cutter (white
crew., when the long, steady strokes Of the
oarsmen brought us shortly alongside the
frigate with her tall, tapering spars and splen.
did battery projecting far out her ports !
was soon up the side and once more on deck,
much pleased with my visit.
l5th.-Transport New York passed las,
eve with thousand Union soldiers (exchanp
ed), and few women who did not forget to
wave their hdkfs. They began waving them
as soon as they hove in sight and are way
ing them now suppose. We manned the
rigging and gave them three cheers which
were loudly returned. All these boats thai
| go up the river on peaceabe mission hoist
white flag at the fore and keep it there til
they return. Union at the main. always = =
White, the cook, whenever going along ths
deck with pail and people are in his way
will sing out" Here come, red.hot and
still a.heating Clear the track I'm a com
ing /" A passage is Immediately made 70,
the man that is red hot and still a-heating.
l6th.-The foretopmen not pumping the
ship out quick enough this morning, the
Lieut.. blacklisted them (twenty men) for a
week Hereafter if the ship is not pumped
out in forty minutes (unless she leaks more
than she does now there will be one week
on the blacklist. 1t takes twenty men, some.
times more. to man our pumps and is pret
ty lively JOB. Fight last night between
Kelly, once cook Of our mess, and Brown Of
the forecastlc. Brown struck Kelly without
cause. They squared away and Kelly was
pounding the conceit out of him with great
success when marine parted them and they
took up quarters in the Brig. - Since Mr..
Jones, our old Chaplain, left the ship, prayer
meetings have been about given up. One
of our men Beecha) did what he could but
not getting any encouragement from Mr.
Salter, the new Chaplain, he finally gave it
up, = Jack Lyons cat had two or three
fits and was thrown overheard to day. The
rest are doing well. One night the terrier
was taken sick and whined about it, where
upon somebody threw him overheard. His
owner saw him as he went flying over the
rail, butt was too late. Old Jack Bate
man spills drop Of coffee on a man who
runs against him. Man grumbles though
himself in fault Bateman threatens to
throw the whole Of it on him. Then goes to
old Brown, whose sympathy he always has,
and for half an hour talks in this way -
" Ha! Ahem! Run against me, then growl
because spill drop Of coffee on him. why
didn't he keep out of the way9 Hum ~
etc. etc. e
l8th.-Last night, turned into the wrong
hammock. It was half past twelve and II
was almost asleep when a chap in the next
hammock gave me tremendous shake.
"Come, turn out, and 60 on deck and an.
swT your muster y
What do you mean? What are you up
to-"
"0f I thought it WAS Pannikin. 1, was
waking him to 60 on deck"
Albright" -
Once more was in drovse. Another
heavy shaking. Well, what the deuce arc
you up to now?" asked as looked to the
side Of tie hammock and saw q youngs.er
about four feet high.
What are you doing in my hammock ?"
"In yodr hammock" 4"
:" Yes, in my hammock"
"The deuce! where's Simmons ham
mock Z"
Tk. cA~k ~.