The Portland daily press., 1863-01-17
Saturday Morning, Jan. II, 1868.
Extracts from Private Letter.
A Portland Boy on Board the Passaic.

N Toiudhu bOy on BOARD tne FasSalc.
Jan. 2.-We left Fortress Monroe at 2 D. M,
Dec. 30, and had pleasant afternoon and night
but the next day it commenced to blow, and
by night blew gale Every sea washed over
us, sweeping our deck; in fact those on the
steamer say they could only see the turret, and
expected every moment when that would dis
apear.
Our matches were battened down, and the
only air we could get was from the top of the
turret, aud the spray was washing over us
even there, and trickling down below, while
the straining OF the ship started the plates
and she began to leak around the matches and
under the turret, and finally she started her
bottom plates. Then it was found the steam
pumps wouldn't work, and we commenced
bailing, for we had no hand-pumps. Still the
water gained upon us, and we began to throw
over onr shot.put the ship about, and ran back
for Fortress Monroe. Still the water gained
upon us, and officers and all took their turn at
passing buckets, up through the turret and
overload. Oh! that was hard work, assure
you. First passing shot; and remember, our
shot weighs 400 pounds: though most of it
was about 32 pound shot for ballast. These
had to be passed by hand from one to another
hour after hour, only alternating with the
buckets of water from sunset till daylight
again, and no rest, not minute; and still the
water gained, till it reached the fire in the
engine room, which already began to damp
en-, when suddenly the 1st Assistant Engineer,
who had been down under the decks up to
his neck in water trying to get the pumps to
work, came staggering out saying, "It's going
boys! thank God, we are saved" and tainted.
He spoke the truth. The pump was started
and soon lowered the water, and we were
saved. reaching Beaufort the day after; for as
we found that the pumps would control the
water, we put about again and went on our
course, passing Cape Hatteras three times in
ALL
We find ourselves now all right, except be-
ing pretty well tired out, and few trifling
losses of material, &c. The poor Monitor
went down, as | suppose you have already
heard. / can't learn the particulars, as the
Rhode Island, which accompanied her, put
back to Hampton Roads. l am told that some
Of her officers and crew were lost. l knew
some Of them, and am thankful did not 90
on her, as had an opportunity of doing.
was not at all frightened in the night of
our danger, our officers were all so cool, talk
ing everything as a matter of course. The
Captain, particularly, was up all the time, but
not rough word was heard from him. l like
him more and more. He is a strict temper
ance man, and has a good influence over the
other officers in that respect, though think
none OF them are much given to drink. |
have never heard him swear either; he is al
ways quiet and still, and lseems to take an in
terest in us ALL though he is a man of deci-
sion and energy, and regular fighter. He
had command Of one Of the gunboats which
took Port Royal. His brother is in command
at Fort Moultrie, Charleston, for the rebels. l
think we shall yet participate in expeling
them from that fort.
We shall probably remain here some weeks
to repair, and perhaps wait tor some of the
other "iron-clads," and then go South still far
ther-to Wilmington, some say, which is 10
rlAC Il
The Carolinans seemed rather astonished to
see us lying here this morning, and came up in
crowds, but were not allowed on board
The Montauk arrived this morning, but un-
fortunately grounded on the bar as she came
in, and has not got off yet. Yesterday we
overhauled our vessel, and found the hold full
Of chips and rubbish left there by the builders.
No wonder the pumps got choked. We took
out an immense quantity of dirt which had
filed all the pipes and passages for the water
To-day is Sunday, and we have nothing to do
except to muster in clean blue, and answer to
our names, the Captain inspecting the ship
He is now Commander here, and the Passaic
is flag ship.
Troops are constantly arriving in trans
ports, and take the cars for Newbern to join
Gen. Foster. Yesterday the ship William
Woodbury., of Portland, brought in some reg
iments. Gen. Foster is said to have $4,000
men there now, and is expected soon to strike
Goldsboro, while we go to Wilmington, where
vessels are said to be running the blockade al
most daily.
But before close let me say what forgot
before. "a Happy New Year" to you; happi-
er than ought to hope after such an inauspi-
cious commencement, for we were battling the
winds and waves off Cape Hatteras, hardly
yet out of danger, when the sun rose in 1868.
The day brought us safety, however, for which
we are fully thankful. May the year end as
did the day, in safety and peace.
The MINr-The Director of the Mnt's re-
port for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1862,
has just been published. The quantity of
money coined, though large, was not equal to
age has amounted to 1926. 500 pieces of all
denominations of coin, in value s65. .O23. .65s.-
From the mines of the United States nearly
thirty million dollars in gold and over one
million dollars in silver was received within
4ba IT, DnlI1 al