Year: 1861

CORRESPONDENCE OF THE GAZETTE.


U. 8. FrIcArs MISNEsorA.N.


on Fortress Monroe.


The Minnesota, Commodore STRING
HAM, is forty-gun ship. I like her well,
and her officers, the most of whom are gen.
tlemen. 1t is better lying here than off Char
lesion. More news here. At one o'clock to-
day, the clerk began to give out letters. l
lit my pipe, it being after dinner, and stood
with about four hundred more waiting for
my name to be called. Finally, got two
letters and two packages of papers. Where
ever the ship may 60, letters and papers fol-
low and will find her in the course of events.


Everything all right at the Fort, which is
about one mile from us. Occasionally we
can see the soldiers bathing en- the beautiful
sandy beach. + + This
is lively place. Prizes are brought in from
time to time. Some of them first-class ships
with rich cargoes. As this is the flag ship
the prizes must be reported to us. They are
then sent North. trust they will all be con-
fscatcd. Three steamers brought troops
this week, and as each boat passed us we gave
them three hearty cheers by $50 voices, and
made all ring again. One night when
we were off Charleston, the drum beat to
quarters. 1t was my watch on deck. The
watch below tumbled up, lashed up their
hammocks, and every man was at his quar-
ters, guns unlashed, run out, and in five min
utes from the first drum beat, we were ready
for action. Indeed, we are always ready, for
any time, by day or night, we can fire every
gun there is in the ship in less than five min
utesi if we please. But as the stranger showed
the proper signal lights the guns were secured
again and the drum beat the retreat One
of the ships was the splendid frigate Wa
bash.


This morning being my watch below We
were called by the shrill whistle of the boat
swain's mates, and then their gentle voices
(Which you might hear ten miles in gale of
windD "All port watch tumble up heave
out !" etc. This is every morning at six bells,
i. e. seven o'clock. In few minutes the
hammocks were slowed in the nettings, then
commenced washing, combing of hair, talk
ing, reading, &C., until eight o'clock. Again
the whistle, then breakfast, and after that
smoking or any thing you like until nine o.
clock, when the drum and fife announce quar-
ters, men and arms are inspected, the re-
treat is beat and away we scatter to do as we
like.


The Roanoke and the Santee frigates have
been in this week. John Bull or anybody
else would have good time taking either
one of us. Everybody is on the lookout on
board here now expecting to get orders to go
here or there, to fight somebody or to stop
somebody's fighting, ,as we all appear to under
stand that there is to be no more humbugging.
My opinion is that there will be work in the
first Of the operations, but the F. F's will fall
back finally. The cheapest way to get peace
is to equip plenty of men and crush out the
enemy at once, or as soon as may be. If
there are not men enough out Southwest why
do they not send more. consider the Mis-
sourians and Texans among the hardest of
all the tribe to beat, as know them prct-
ty well. always considered them good
fighting men, but under the present circum-
stances they may waver. The retreat or de-
feat of the Union troops at Bull Run is moth
ing for the rebels to make a song about. The
finish is the thing. 1t will be our turn
by and by. The more we are beaten the
harder we must fight. y We had
crowd of ladies and gentlemen on board to-
day. With one exception they were the first
ladies have seen since we left Boston months
ago. 1t looked like civilization to see them
here,


The other day, at divine service, Gen. But
LER came on board and took scat with the
He is about feet inches,
stout, bald on top Of the head, has curious
look about the eye as if cross-cycd. His
dress was closc-buttoned blue frock coat,
with gilt buttons, and blue pants. When
StoOu oolu oS uC
mean to be tripped. Ibid not pay very pro-
found attention to the service for was read
ing him part of the time. In the sermon our
gave the neutrals touch by say
ing that they who were not for the Union
were against it. Yet there is Kentucky
which call kind of secession country, and
they are all related to one another, and in my
opinion if they were to fight it would be for
the rebels, but by the neutrality they may be
able to keep the rebels down, and that is
The Chaplain writes his
sermons. He is one of the best of men. AT
divine service the band assists. The singing
and the playing were good to-day, as usual,
about onehundred joining in the singing, the
Captain and other officers inclu-
ded.


We have a half dozen on the sick list
Alllpne has to do is to say he is sick and he
is exempted from all duty until he reports
himself well again. The ship is in
perfect order You could not soil cambric
on her decks. Our uniform to-