The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1906-01-25
sir?" was his next inquiry. For answer

l handed him my orders. he
them; then smilingly shook hands with
me, at the same time informing me
that Lieut.. Woolsey was on shore for
the night, but that he would endorse
nv papers as having reported for duty,
and ordered me to be on board for in
struction at nine o'clock the next morn
ing. 1 think he saw something in me
that he fancied, for he invited me to
take a seat beside him on the gun car
riage and then proceeded to instruct me
as to the insignia of officers OF all
ranks in the Navy, what kind OF a uni
form | was entitled to wear, about
what it would cost and where to order
it, So | left that ship that night a
much better informed man than when
I went on board an hour before.
| soon learned that Capt. Richard
Mead was very able executive officer,
very peppery and very profane at times,
but on the whole very kind hearted
man. l am sure that found him all
that. and later he said that he would
see that l had a good ship, which he
did. for he recommended me to his per-
sonal friend, Lieut.. James Trathen,
and asked him to make requlsltlon TO
have me detailed as one of the officers
of his ship, the U. S. clipper barque
Midnight, which he did to my entire
satisfaction, and | think also to his
own, as subsequent events Will prove
The Midnight was put in commission
at the Navy yard, New York, NO
yember 9. 1861, with the following Of
fcers; Lieut.. James Trathen of New
York, commanding; acting master ana
executive officer; b. T. Dean OF New
York, acting master, sailing master
and navigator; Edwin l.. Coffin OF
VINEYARD Haven, Mass; acting master,
Smith of New York; acting assistant
paymaster, Frank Miller of New York.
The name of the assistant surgeon has
escaped me. as he was sick man and
soon left the ship. There were three
masters mates, viz, Bowles of Spring
field Mass, a son of the editor OF the
Springfield Republican,: naturallzed
Englishman named Lidden, whose
hailing port was New York city, and
myself who hailed from Belfast;
with a crew of one hundred and forty
five petty officers and men. The arma-
ment of this vessel was four 32-pound
broadside guns, and 20-pounder rllled
Parrott gun, mounted on the forcastle.
After taking on board stores and sup
plies, together with shot and shell, and
receiving the crew on board and being
put in commission, we hauled out from
the Navy Yard and dropped down to
Bedloe's Island, where the naval pow
der magazine is located, for the pur.
pose of taking our powder on board
and for drilling the men at the big
guns and small arms, handling boats,
sending up and down spars, setting uI
rigging. bending sail, etc. In the mean
time the officers were getting acqualnJ
ed with each other and with the men,
appointing petty officers as we found
out their qualifications, dividing them
into watches and making out watch
and station. bills. Every man had
ships number, which was the number
of his hammock, and also had CUR
number, which was the number OF the
gun at which he was stationed and h
number at the gun, unless he belonged
to the masters division whose duty II
was to help work ship in action. IL
that case they belonged to no gun anC
had no gun number
There were three acting masters VINO
were commissioned officers and three
master mates who held their positions
simply by rating by the Secretary OF
the Navy. One of the these masters
was the executive officer and stood nc
watch, so we were divided into two
watches, starboard and port, and there
! were two masters and three masters
mates as watch officers. Acting
master Edward Coffin had charge OF
the starboard watch and was assigned
to that watch as his assistant, while
acting master Smith had the other two
master mates on his watch. Aftel
taking our powder on board and hav
ing every thing attended to in ship
shape and made ready for sea we drop
ped from Bedloes Island, down off the
Battery, to await our sailing orders
I which we expected the next day. II
was here that my dignity as an Officer
in the U. S. Navy had its first fall.
had got my new uniform and came out
as full fedged masters mate on thai
day, as it was the first day that {
regular watch had been set. Mr.. Cotfir
had charge and l as his assistant had
charge of the fore part of the ship.
had lot of big bright, brass button:
on my coat, and band of broad golo
lace on my cap that cost me seven dol
lars. | felt pretty nice, and | flatteret
myself that | looked quite awe-inspir
ing. There were at that time hundred!
Of freight lighters continually drifting
up or down the North and East Rivers