Vicksburg weekly herald., 1877-07-20
Letler fron the IsIymOuth.
MOVEMENTS OF THE sHIP-THE OFFICERS
GLAD TO LEAVE THE TRoPIC;-PLEAs-
Ant REMINIsCENCEs OF vICKsEURG.
PORT ROYAL, Sc, July 6, Is7Ti. !
U. 8. STEAMER PLYMOUTH.

OhA Az ! ALs 2s y - " Wy " A~Ni'
DEAR CAPTAIN: wrote hurried let
Ter to the HERALD from Pensacola, before
our departure for Vera Cruzand intend
ed writing you from the latter place, al.
ter the receipt Of the expected pictures
from New Orleans, but the ship re-
ceived orders North very unexpected
ly the same day, and there was no
chance to do so with a5y satisfaction.
Being catarer of the ward.room mess, 1t
fell to me TO lay in ice, provisions, live
stock, etc., for the passage to Key West
and Port Royal, aud Captain Barrett
arranged to sail just as soon as they
were ell on board. Under the head of
"provlsions, is included little "bitter
beer" some Veurz cliquot, etc., for use
in taking observations when the sun
gets over the fore-yard. In the tropics,
one needs some artificial aid to
maintain q m oderate amount of energy
you know, which Is why. At Vicks'
burg with its high hills, and pure
bracing air, you don't need II, aud OF
course don't take Il.
We had made up our minds to gaze
upon the wall and towers OF the famous
city of Vera Cruz until August, and
we're heartily lamenting the great let
down from the luxaries of the MlssiS-
sippi river to the miseries OF Mexico,
when our deliveTance came. A few OF
US had thought 1t possible that we
might be transferred to Aspinwall TO
relieve the Sevatara, but no one expect.
ed such great good luck as orders home,
while Dlaz, Alvarez, OF al. were in
eruption, with complications on "thc
border. "
However, here we are. and very glad
too. We arrived June 30th. and being
from TWO such distinguished yellow
fever nurseries, were qusrsntned until
"the 4th," which marked our release
The epidemic at Savannah last year
has scared the good people in all this
region, and their strong card 10 precau-
ton.
To-day we depart with the iron-clad
Mahopsc in tow for Norfolk, Virginia
She is the last Of seven monitors VIII ict
we're stationed here, and will leave
only the storeship New Hampshire
and Pawnee in port. The fleet has
been the principal support of the stores
and small planters in this neiShbor
hood, aud the removal OF the iron
clads to fresh water Il understand they
are to 60 to Washington,) will make Il
very dull for them.
Our future movements are not de
iinitely known yet; but 1t Is believed
that we will revisit Halifax ard thu
New England coast. A. our supply
OF Hennessy gave out IN your river
and we know where there is trim
cask in Nova Scotia, q call there coul.
be turned to good account. tat!,
Sam, you may remember, throuAh BIZ
faithless and unworthy ageut, Georg,
NJ. Robson, of New Jersey, detauiieC
In payment OF the Plymouth, among
other ships, until we had some $4J0N
to our credit. Well, we bad the nov
city OF u payday in Mexico Ton ac
count) and made up in quantity wbS
we lack in amount. Every fellow 90
as many images of the rising sun IS h
could lug around, aud the chink o
Aztec silver has been heard In tn
pocket ever since. We made a requi
sition for gold, but there was no
enough iu 1.-THE unhappy Republic" I
pay of q messenger boy. This is ow
ing to the 5 per cent. export duty oI
silver. Gold pays but 4 per ceni
. and is drained out Of the country l.
, pay foreign debts. Enough about OUT
selves. How are you all Our thought
/ often revert to you, and with the grea
. est of pleasure. The only regret anon
Q the officers, connected with Vicksburl
r is that we were unable to give you
dance aboard ship. The reason, mo
Of you know. However, there is