Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1864-04-01
LETTER FROM tn. NAVY.

OsF YORKTOWN. I
January 27th.-Gsn. Butler, with party Of
ladies and gentlemen, paid us visit yester.
day. Soon after they had gone party Of
Russian officers came on board. The U. 8.
s. Gunboat Sassacus arrived . few days
since. She is one Of the new double endsrs,
Said to be fast
asth.--At 7:so, last eve, Vim Davis fell
overheard and was drowned. He was on the
bridge in double irons for missing muster.
He arose to the surface once, made an out.
cry and Immediately went down again. The
falling overheard was probably his own fault.
Yet man in double irons should not be put
in place where such an accident is possible.
Davis was seaman belonging to the mizzcn
top. - We have Jew sailor on board,
tho hrst one with whom l have sailed. All
that know Of him 10 that he attends divine
service and reads the N. Y. Herald. ** A
letter from tho Fourth Auditor to one of our
men says that there is no prize money ready
for distribution for this ship. y Church,
(our chief boatswain's matc), on absence in
Now York died there on the 18th inst. One
Of our doctors said that he was not sick = y
Arrived yesterday, gunboats Tahkes and
Montgomery.
3oth.--Fivs Jews brought op board to day
as prisoners. Smugglers, probably. They
are under charge Of a sentry on the half deck.
Well dressed. Sharp looking. Looscd
sails and hauled them out to bowling which
makes them nearly horizontal. = y A piece
Of butter was on the ropes which Jack Sims
was handling today. Jack was indignant,
and Jack sollequized -" Butter, eh Ha
butter Nothing less than butter on tho rig.
ging! Butter must be plenty. Hem Ia !
butter, eh?"
3lst.-Court Martial yesterday. Sentence
read to all hands this morning by the Com.
mandcr. 1t was that Vim. Hatchct (ordna.
ry seaman) lose one months pay and be dis.
rated to landsman for calling Tom Newman
(boatswain's mate) "a son Of bitch" Hatch.
ct is an Englishman, runaway from Brit.
ish manof:war Hejoined us in Boston. Is
a saucy fellow.
Boat ahoy sings out tho sentry last
night to boat under the bows.
!Seatry.-Boat ahoy (No answer)
0gicer Of tile deek.--Fire into her, sentry
Sentry.-Don't see anyone to fire at, sir
O9cer.- Get along the howitzer Go down
on rope and see what boat that is. (How
itzer made ready. Man goes down. Th.
watch gather around.)
Cficor.- ahoy! (No answcr.) Man
by this time is in the boat and reports thai
It is our own innocent dingcy hanging te
tackles under tho bows where she had right
to hang. 1t was dark and she appeared q,
though in the water.
Private Downs (marino) came to me today
to assist him in making up a SUN for himself
and family. Was formerly corporal. Brok,
his liberty and court martial broke him
He leaves in two weeks for his home in Bal
'imore. When corporal he used to threaten
to report me for smoking in improper hours
| don't like Downs. In fact, I dislike him
But no came asking favor. And he brough
to bear tho solemn assurance that shoul,
have tho prayers Of meself and family =
What could l dop Why, let go ono dollar
Downs Ia an Irishman. He blarnsyed the
| could not stand it. gave in, as aforesaid
All Mr.. Downs, success to yourself ant
family.
Feb. 2d.-l1earing that about ninety mer
Of the naval brigade twhom Gen. Butler hat
sent OH an expedtion) wero surrounded by
tho enemy at Smthdold "a little place abou
twenty miles from hero, on branch of tn,
james, We fitted out an expedition Of relief
They left yesterday AN. The Com Nor
ris (gunboaD with forty men TO go up tn,
Nansenond. Tho lst and I'd launches, com
manded by P;erson (Master) and Birtwistl.
Ensign with small arms and two howitzcrs
with forty-fye men, were towed direct tc
Smithfeld by the gunboat Smith Briggs. Hear
ing that our forces still held tho town, th.
Smith Briggs ran alongside the wharf. In
mediately body Of Union soldiers appeared
running for her, whcreupon . charge was
made by rebel cavalry and infantry. Then
the mistake was discovered. The soldier,
were bsyonetcd and run off the wharf. Our
chaps say that the soldiers fought valiantly
until overpowcred. The gunboat was board
ed by superior numbers, when she took fire
and blew up with tremendous report which
we heard on board this ship. The Captain
and four men escaped by swimming across
the river. An this time the launches had it
hot enough, while volleys being poured r.to
them by the enemy at distance Of 100 and
200 yards. The fire was returned with the
howtzcrs and small arms, but when the gun.
boat was gone and it WAS forty .five fighting
against hundreds well supplied with artillery
it was time to fall back, which they did,
lighting the rebels as they followed them
along the river. Finally they got clear and
arrived on board just at dark, making hard.
bad days work. The Master, Picrson, was
wounded in the breast, arm, and leg. Three
men wounded. One, Geo. McCook, is dead.
9th.-Last evening the boatswain's mate
blowcd his csll and began: "Do you hear,
there' All you men who have less than four
months to serve, and wish to ship again for
three years or during the war, for the U. 8.
Gnnboat Monticello, lay down on the half
deck and put your names down." ! believe
it was unanimously decided that We deserved
. walk on dry land FIRST and that we would
talk Of shipping again after run on shore.
In Congress. the sailor is talked about
occasionally aud that is oil it amounts TO-
Some Of our statesmen do not think Of the