The New York herald., 1871-11-12

The Squadron Down In the Horseshoe.
UNITED STATES STEAMSHIP CONGRESS-,
Nov. IL, 1871. !
II might be called state Of desperation which
has settled around the minds the personnel of the
fleet. The lively state OF expectancy and specula-
ton which lent feature OF occasional interest to
the drearness of those waiting here for the Russian
Prince has almost wholly passed away. A
wind shifting from east to northeast &C.
comDanied by neavy ram and mist, was our
cheerful companion yesterday. The exclamation,
.'Good wind for the Russians which gave fortnight
ago bright side 10 the dark clouds banked around
the horizon, Is no longer heard. The camp quarter
masters mechanically brushed their spyglasses and
sS>nned the iogglness without any apparent hope In
objective. asked opinion, deep grunr revealed
that they (the quartermasters) "gve 'em Christ
mas" 1t Is the story Of .hope deferred making
the heart SICK" 1 fortified my pnlegmatic stolidity
behind pipe and pufled away In rivalry to the Cir
cumamoient fog Thursday was lovely day. Sun
snlne and light west wind-a genuine child Of
Zephyrus-barely ruflled the water, so the stanch
VICE ADMIRAL ORDERED OUT THE BOATS
OF the fleet for exercise under sail. There was
scarcely enough wind for this, however, and, with
fatherly care for his rugged children, Admiral
Rowan slgnaed the miniature fotilla to 'unstep
masts." When this was accomplished the whale
boat OF the Congress was ordered to approach and
then despatched as staEeboat about quarter OF .
form IN line abreast, and, at the firing OF muskct,
to start for the south spit buoy No. TO- rounding
1t from the east and north and returning so to
cross the imaginary line between the Congress and
the stakeDoat The course was about three miles,
and q gleam OF satisfaction sat upon The faces OF
the gallant tars as they learned they about 10
race. There we're twenty-one boats engaged. The
or the LETT OF the line. The Congress- third cutter
mad been despatched along the line to communicate
M the details, ana was on ths S extreme right OF the
did sight to see the sailors bending to their
work with will. and the variety OF
with Ave oars, TO the heavy launches double banked
with twelve oars. The Admlral's large twelve oars
not come up TO expectations. The other favorites
were crack twelve-Oared cutter belonging TO the
iroquois and the third cutter or the Congress. AS
soon as the boats ere well under way and skill IN
steering and wind III pulling were beginning to tell
1t was seen with some surprise that the gig
OF the Congress- ten oars, was leading, with the
third cutter ol the Congress out boats length
behind and to eeward. The barge had fallen oe-
OF the Congress. which was making splendid time
for 80 heavy boat. The Iroquois' whalebOat was
Rraceay Snt unable to crawl up on either of me
three heavier boats ahead OF her. As they neared
s s p 0Sy %ss ,ns svueny s nuSaSs TaSa cuss s
SO as to force the third cutter to make
wider detour. They were disappointed in this,
then bali . boats length ahead, the c0xswain OF
the third cutter out to his port oars to shin,
ran inside the gig, barely rounding it without
The Iroquis' cutter nad gained nothing and the
other boats turned II N about the order already
the rear OF the ruck. There was hard work
on both Of the leading boats. and with
u splendid spurt the third cutter came abreast Of
the g1g and passed her. forging directly ahead and
giving her her wash This position was but little
altered although the gig did gallant work to gain
something on her antagonist Tne third cutter
finally passed the line amid the cheers OF the crew
OF the Congress-, i've seconds ahead Of the gig. the
lroquoIs cutter followed at about five boat
lengths, with her whaeb0at and the
barge close behind followed By the Congress-
launch. The wlnlng boat was commanded by |
Aphonso II. Cobb, midshipman, with Charles |
Dooey, the Judici0us c0xswan. The gig was |
steercd by Charles DAILY, the 1roquois' cutter BY
Master Mark, with midshlpman a. the stroke oar;
Ensign Bixler commanded The whaieboat, and the |
victor among the Launches was steered by Lieuten-
ant Commander Cooper OF the Congress.
sharp nor wester IL blowing to-day, and as this
Is dead In the teeth OF the Russians incline to the
white bearded quartermasters opinion, who has
relaxed his sarcasm so far aS to allow them to |
arrive anOut the Goth inst The Wabash Is expected
here to-day from Boston. She may possibly Join
the meet.