HUNTING A CHANNEL.
The light-draught boats are engaged in finding and making a channel
across the bar, or swash as it is called, of sufficient depth of water to
enable the large steamers to cross into the sound. One great trouble about that
is if they find one today it will all be filled up tomorrow. We shall have to
wait till calmer weather before we can cross.
RATIONS.
A schooner came alongside today and left us rations of steamed
pork, hardtack and condensed sea water. This was a very timely arrival as we
have been very short of water for two or three days and pretty much everything else.
Rattlesnake pork will taste pretty good again after a few days’ fast. Condensed
sea water is rather a disagreeable beverage, but still is a little ahead of no
water at all. I think, however, it might be made palatable by adding about nine
parts whiskey to one of water. This water and pork is all manufactured here on the
spot. They have a sort of rendering establishment where they make it, but I cannot
believe that the pork would take a premium in any fair in the country unless it
was for meanness.
A RIPPLE OF
EXCITEMENT.
Another rebel steamer came down the sound to-day to take a
look at us and see how we are getting along. One of our boats gave chase and I
reckon got a shot at her, as we heard reports of artillery. Those fellows are
just smart enough to keep out of our way, I hope they will always be so, I have
no great desire to shoot the cusses, but still if they get in my way, and I
think they ought to be shot. I suppose I shall do it.
The theatre up in the saloon is a great success. They have
just got out a new play, a kind of burlesque, entitled the Rasper Brothers, and
large posters are sent over the boat announcing the unprecedented success of
the Rasper Brothers: playing nightly to crowded houses and hundreds turned
away; none should fail of witnessing this highly moral drama.
OLD DAN.
Old Dan is having a terrible fit of the blues. He cannot
understand why we were sent to this God-forsaken place. I tell him that God has
not forsaken it but has sent us here to save it; and Dan, with a big oath,
swore that it was not worth saving. I said to him: “You are seeing it at its
worst. This is a famous watering-place; a great summer resort.” He thinks it might
do first-rate for a watering place; but cannot conceive of anyone who
would want to resort here. He thinks the greatest mistake he has made in this
whole business was in not running away as I advised him to, while at Annapolis.
SOURCE: David L. Day, My Diary of Rambles with the
25th Mass. Volunteer Infantry, p. 25-6
