The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-07-04
POETRY.


The Florida's Cruise.
BY A roREToP MAN OF THE O. 9. 8. FLORIDA.
Air-Red. White and Blue Southern edition)
One evening off Mobile, the Yanks they all knew
That the wind from the northard most bitterly blew;
Thew also all knew and they thought they were sure
They d block d in the Florida, safe and secure
Huzza, huzza, for the Florda's crew!
Wen range with bold Maffitt the world through
and through.
Nine cruisers they had, and they lay off the bar,
Their long line to award extending SO TAR,
And PrebIe he said, he shut his eyes tight;
I'm sure tbey all hammock this bitter cold night
bold Msf,itt commanded, a man Of great fame,
He saiI'd in the Dolphinyou've heard Of the same;
He call,d us all aft, and these words he did say
I'm bound to run out, boys, up anchor, away!
Our hull was well whitewash'd, our sails were all
stow'd,
Our steam was chock up, and the fresh wind 1t
blow'd;
As we crawld along by them, the fanks gave
shout
We dronn,d all our canvas and opend her out.
You'd have thought them all mad, If you'd heard
the curs'd racket
They made upon seeing flash little packet;
Their boatswains did pipe and the blue lights did
play,
And the great Drummond light--it turn night into
day.
The Cuyler, a boat that's unrvald for speed,
Quick let slip her cables, and quickly indeed
She thought for to catch and keep us in play,
Till her larger companions could get under way
She chase and she chas'd, till at dawning of day
-. furo
So she gave up the chase snd reported, no doubt,
That she'd sunk US and burnt somewhere there
about.
SO when we were out, boys all on the salt sea,
We brought the Estelle to, right under our lee,
And burnt her and sunk her with all her fine gear,
And straight saild for Havana the bold privateer.
Twas there we recruited and took in some stores,
Then kss'd the senoras and sad from their shores,
And on leaving their waters, by way of joke,
With 1.-TWO Yankee brigs, boys we made great smoke.
Our hull was we'll wash'd with the limestone so white,
Which sailors all know is not quite christianlike,
So to paint her all shipshape wentto Green Keys,
Where the Sonoma came foaming the Rebel to seize
We put on all sail and up steam right away,
And for forty-eight hours she made some play,
When our coal being dusty and choking the fuc,
Our steam it slack'd down, and nearer she drew.
Oh, no cried our captain, see what's your game!
Clear away the stern pivot, the Bulldog by name,
And two smaller dogs to keep him companie
For very sharp teeth have these dogs OF the sea.
The Sonoma came up, until nearly in range,
When her engines gave out.-now wasn't that
stranger
Il don't know the truth, but it's my firm belief
She didn't like the looks of the Florida's teeth
She gave up the chase and returned to Key West,
And told her flag captain that she'd done her best
But the story went round and it grew rather strong
And the public acknowledged that something
wrong.
We went on a cruising and soon did espy
A fine, lofty clipper bound home from Shanghai;
We burnt her and sunk her + tn midst of the sea
And drank to Old JEFF in the best of Bohea!
We next found ship with quakerish name
wolf in sleeps clothing oft playsa deep game.
For the hold of that beautiful mild, peaceful Star
Was full of saltpetre, to make powder for war
OF course the best nature could never stand that
Saltpetre for Boston's little too fat
so we burnt her and sunk her, she made great
blaze
She's star now gone down, and we've put out her
rays.
We next took schooner well laden with bread:
What the devil got into Old Uncle Abes head.
To send us such biscuit is such fine thing,
1t sets us all laughing, as We sit and ring.
We next took the Lapwing right stuff in her hold,
And that black diamonds that people call coal;
With that in our bunkers we tell Uncle Sam,
That ace think his gunboats are not worth damn.
The Mary Jane Colcord to Cape Town was bound,
We babe her heaye TO though and swing her yards
round,
And to Davy Jones locker without more delay
We sent her afra,ss hft rfIorida's crew,
Wen range with bold Maf6tt the world through
and through.
April, 1868.