USS Constellation on the Dismal Coast: Willie Leonard's Journal, 1859-1861

August 1859

August 1859 August 1st at sea We have no wind and the ship is lying like a log on the water, the sea is as smooth as glass, not a ripple to be seen, the sun is very hot. In the afternoon all hands were called to exercise sail. After exercising about an hour the Boatswain piped down. The division bills are out, and that is all that was done this day. August 2nd All sail set, but it is a dead calm. At 10 o’clock the drum beat to general quarters ; exercised the gun deck batteries and fired four rounds of shot and shell from each gun. In the afternoon the following order was put in the barber shop: General Orders. 1st The Watch only will be permitted to occupy the Spar deck unless all hands are sent up for any particular purpose. 2nd The watch will be required to occupy their respective parts of the ship, when not called upon for work, at such times however the entire watch will assist in whatever may be going on, on that deck. 3rd In bracing the forecastle men and fore top men, not required forward will be sent aft by the boatswain. 4th It is all the time to be understood that the watch are not [to] sew or play games, and when any general work is going on requiring all the watch every man on the spar deck will immediately stand up and show by his movement a readiness to execute the orders from the Quarter deck. 26 August 1859 5th That part of the main deck designated for the use of the barber, is not to be occupied by any of the crew excepting when there for the purpose of their hair cut, or being shaved they are not to occupy the barbers chair at any other time. 6th The watch below will be allowed to sew on the gun deck, and port side of the berth deck. 7th At sea games will be confined to the gun deck. In port to the starboard side of the gun deck and port side of the spar deck, games will not be allowed on the gun deck, abaft the pumpwell, or on the quarter deck. 8th The quarter deck at all times will be required as the parade of the ship where no irregularities will be permitted. 9th The crew are not to spit on the decks at meals they are particularly to avoid this too common practice also to avoid loud talking. 10th The men must have the mark of their respective watch on their arm, any man below in his watch, without leave, excepting to go to the Scuttle but will be punished. [pointing hand] That part of the order which relates to the watched only being allowed the spar deck is not meant to apply from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. and from 7 a.m. until 8 a.m. by orders 1st Lieut August 3d 1859 at sea We had a general fire quarters at half past 9 a.m. The men are discussing about the merits of the bill that was put yesterday. It is still a dead calm and every thing seems dull. August 4th During the morning watch we had several catspaws, or light gusts of wind. Towards 8 o’clock it settled into a pretty good breeze; the wind is fair and we have got studding sails set. August 5th There is a good breeze blowing now, and we are going through the water right merrily; holystoned the gun deck. August 6th Land Ho/we fire a signal gun/Feel very romantic Early this morning Land was reported on our weather bow, which made quite an excitement, as it is the first land we got a glimpse of since leaving Boston. It proved to be the Island of Madeira. Towards evening the breeze fell away August 1859 27 and we stood in calm. At 7 p.m. the wind rose again and we stood in. We were just getting ready to come to an anchor when we discovered we were in the wrong place. We immediately wore ship and stood out again, [but] the wind again died and left us becalmed. We now fired a gun which in a few minutes was answered from the other side of the Island; we now sent up a rocket and...