Florida Territory in 1844: The Diary of Master Edward Clifford Anderson, USN

Anderson’s Diary, March 16–December 31, 1844

THE DIARY MARCH 16-DECEMBER 31, 1844 OFFICERS AND MEN OF U.S. STEAMER GENL TAYLOR EMPLOYED ON THE COAST OF FLORIDA, 1844 Remarks Character Name Rank Fussy. hard heartcd, .\miable to a fault Ebenczer Farrand Lt Commanding fond of popularity Ed",d C. .\nderson Sailing ,',Iasler Undcrstands his pro- Stcrling Merit Daniel B. Martin I" Assistant fession thoroughly Engineer Understands his pro- Good hearted, but John Serro [2]d Assistant fession tolerably trifling (detached) Engincer Careless in his duties, Uncertain Hcnry L. Duer Pursers Stcward but respectful Wayward but very .\ good officer Louis Covetter Coast pilot attentive to duty ,\ good accountant, Competent when Jessie .\. Brush Capt' Clerk obliging & steady gentlemanly .\ good mechanic, Quiet & gentlemanly James W. King 3d Asst. needs practical Eng" Engineer .\ Drunkard at times, .\ good man, bUI David Brown Boatswain's at others steady uncertain Matc .\ finc seaman, bold Intelligcnt & Edward Drew Signal Qr & resolute rcspectful Master .\ tolerably good Quiet & respectfl. 'Oliver Carpentcr Quartcr Master scam". l':ot a drunkad Dull Very well educated. Steady but not a Warren C. Brown Quarter Master Son of a Clergyman. seaman Ever at his duty & Sober, Steady, John Sullivan Fireman always respcclfl. Obcdient Gets drunk on liberty, Excellent & wm Geary "do never at other times Obcdient 14 Florida Territory in 1844 Remarks Character Name Rank Quick, active. So So. Cunning *Henry Burns o Seaman Desperate when drunk. Gets drunk whenever Worthless. John Ware Seaman he gets liquor Respectful Never knew him An excellent man Francis Cosimani o Seaman intoxicated An excellent man since Half willed but David Coleman Landsman he was flogged. do do Very respectful, .-\n excellent Boy Henry Charles o Seaman obedient & quick Surly, and disposed .-\ sea lawyer Edward Burrows do to play soldier Quiet, respectful, A good man *Saml Green steady Never knew him One of the best John Brown disobey an order in the ship Industrious, apt to .-\ very good man Charles Gill be imposed on Very sober, steady .-\ good servant Mitchel Vine & respectf] .-\n old man of wars- .-\n excellent man Joseph Mc:"eale man I?]. Unexceptat Has behaved Good Louis Robion Ships cook remarkably well (black) Scrupulously Honest, but Jas. Williams Cabin Steward Honest slow (black) *Deserted from the Vessel at Blackwater, the former whilst on watch, Dec. /844. 1844. Savannah. 16th March, Saturday. Received orders to report to Lt Comdr E[benezer] Farrand as actg master of the U S Steamer Genl Taylor,l accordingly on friday morning n d repaird on board in obedience to the same & reported. The steamer having got in the evening previous. On Thursday Morning 28th rose at Vz past 6 am and hurried down to the Exchange wharf opposite which in the The Diary 15 stream lay the steamer, hove short & firing up. Got on board immediately. Shortly after 8 we were underway having as passengers Mr Chas Dubignon & Lady & the Hon Thos Butler King. 2 The navigation between Savannah & the St Johns river inland runs through a series of narrow creeks, intersecting the marsh in every direction. It is very uninteresting, being a continuation of flat marsh for miles around, broken occasionally by a knoll of trees, or a stray plantation now and then. We saw, and fired at, many alligators, some of which were struck. Towards sunset passed Frederika [Gen. James E.] Oglethorpes old settlement, some few vestiges of the old foundations are still visible.3 At half past Seven pm landed Mr King & an hour later sent a cutter up with Mr. Dubignon & his lady, the tide being too low to admit of the Steamers passing through the cut which leads past. Remained at anchor till 3 am, when we got underway & ran down for St Marys Bar. Friday 29th. We had intended running down the coast for the St John'S river, but the weather looking squally and the wind beginning to rise, we bore up & anchored about breakfast time under Amelia island, just abreast of the little town of Fernandina. This is a Spanish settlement , containing some 50 or 60 inhabitants, the town is located on a bluff overlooking the water & is in a state of dilapidation and decay. There were some pretty groves of young orange trees, but not much else worthy of mention . In strolling toward the back part of town I fell in with their burials found and observed that the graves instead of being grown over with grass as with us, were kept bare & planted with flowers. Tis a custom similar to that of the Turks...