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

October 1859

October 1859 October 1st Making active preparations for sea. At sundown sent up Topgallant and royal yards and took in all our boats, after which the Port Watch got the messenger up ready to heave up our anchor. At night the men had a fiddler in the gangway and had a good time. W.A. Leonard With this entry, as in various places later, Leonard inscribed his name. Readers will also sometimes encounter the names of family and friends at random locations. Additionally Leonard from time to time jotted down brief moral aphorisms that have no apparent connection to the events of the day. The messenger was a loop of chain or rope used on the capstan in the process of raising the anchor. October 2nd 1859 leaving Porto Grande At 9 o’clock we hove short to 15 fathoms and waited for a breeze, which generally comes in the afternoon at 4 o’clock. The breeze being very strong, all hands were called to loose sail and take one reef in the topsails, which being done we got up the anchor and stood out of the harbor. We are going to Porto Praya, which is about 150 miles from here and is another of the Cape de Verde Islands. Porto Praya is the port and town (now called Praia) at the southern tip of the island of Santiago in the Cape Verdes. 44 October 1859 October 3d at sea/at Porto Praya/lose our Starboard Bow Anchor/ down Royal yards We have got the N.E. trade winds, which are very strong at this season of the year; we have got two reefs in our topsails. At 10 o’clock the log indicated we were going 14 knots an hour. At 1 o’clock land was reported from the mast head, which proved to be the island of Mayo about 30 miles from Porto Praya. At 3 o’clock we sighted the island and at half past 4 p.m. we came to an anchor off the town of Porto Praya, not before losing our starboard bow anchor and about 45 fathoms of cable. They let go the anchor when the ship had too much headway and in trying to check her the cable parted. The U.S. Steamer San Jacinto is here waiting for orders from the flag officer. We got out all boats. This is also a Portuguese possession and the appearance from where we lay is very wild, but I understand that a little ways inboard there is a very fertile soil, and I have no reason to doubt it, for alongside of the ship there are about 20 bum boats full of fruit and vegetables which they are offering at very cheap prices. We are going to take in stores here; the store house for the squadron is situated here, and there is an American consul here. We went ashore in the boat and returned at sundown, when the Royal yards were sent down and by some means our yard got foul and maybe we didn’t get a blessing. October 4th 1859 at Porto Praya/Breakers ahead At 8 o’clock we saluted the Portuguese Flag, which salute was returned by the fort. We then commenced to take in provisions and water by means of the boats. In the afternoon we went ashore for the ward room officers and undertook to sail back. We had a good breeze but we had got but very little ways when we discovered we were drifting on a shoal of rocks where the surf was beating violently. We now were very close to them when one of the officers (a marine officer) got so excited that he gave orders to down masts and out boathooks. Although we were in a very dangerous position we could not help laughing. After considerable work to keep her from striking the rocks, we got her clear and pulled to the ship. October 5th At 10 a.m. the American Consul, Mr. [William H.] Morse, came aboard, when we fired a salute of nine guns. October 6th The U.S. Steamer San Jacinto sailed today for Monrovia. At 4 o’clock we had all our water and provisions on board; we got in all boats and sent up royal yards. October 1859 45 October 7th At 10 a.m. we got underway and made all sail for Monrovia, where we are...