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

June 1860

June 1860 June 1st Today we went ashore in the gig to get some stores for the captain. We are going to sea tomorrow. At sundown, the provisions being all in, sent up Top Gallant and Royal yards. The port watch to work getting up the messenger. At seven o’clock the boatswain piped down hammocks. June 2nd leaving At ten we got underway for Prince’s Island with a good strong breeze, the watch on deck to work putting on chafing gear. June 3d at sea Sunday. At nine a.m. the divisions were called to quarters for inspection, after which we had a general muster ref the Articles of War, after which had divine service on the gun deck. We have a good breeze and all sail set. Saw a school of porpoises in the dog watch. June 4th1860 at Sea The port watch are to work on the gun deck getting the chain cables, to overhaul them and clean out the chain lockers. We have got a good breeze and pleasant weather. June 5th Today we have the regular monthly stores served out. We have got a good breeze and pleasant weather. June 1860 117 June 6th Today being a very fine day, the 1st lieutenant had all the hammocks piped into the rigging to air bedding. June 7th This morning the lookout at the masthead reported a sail on our weather bow. It is a dead calm. At night the breeze springing up, we lost sight of the sail. June 8th At 10 a.m. we had general quarters, exercised the starboard battery. I had a lookout in the mid watch. June 9th Today being Saturday, we holystoned the gun deck and cleaned up for tomorrow . June 10th There she blows Sunday. At the usual hour the divisions were called to quarters for inspection, after which we had divine service on the gun deck. A very large whale came close alongside of the ship, which created quite an excitement among some of our men who have been whaling. June 11th In the afternoon the 1st division exercised large guns, the 2nd division small arms and the 3d division single sticks. We have got a good breeze and pleasant weather. June 12 Today the second division exercised big guns, the 1st at small arms and the 3d division at the single sticks. We are jogging along at the rate of six and seven knots an hour. June 13th 1860 at sea One year in commission. One year ago we were in Boston harbor, now we are on the coast of Africa. We are having very pleasant weather and all sail set. June 14th an old Salt This morning the weather calm and remained so all day. In the afternoon all hands exercised sail. I being in the ship one year, I can give a good description of some of the most noticeable characters, and I will do so in the course of the 118 June 1860 Journal. I will commence with the captain of the forecastle starboard watch. Alexander McIntosh, or Old Mac, as he is familiarly called, is an out and out man of war’s man. He belongs to the western part of New York, and has been in the service thirteen years. He is a good sailor and a good natured man. He is about six feet high and can tell as tough a yarn as the next man living. By his looks a person would say he had seen hard times. He is now one of the most prominent members of the Temperance Movement on board of this ship. He is also captain of No 4 gun. He always makes a good shot. I had a lookout in the midwatch. June 15th At ten o’clock this forenoon the drum beat to general quarters. After dinner the gun deck divisions were exercised at single sticks and small arms. At five o’clock p.m. a good breeze sprang up and at eight p.m. we logged twelve knots. June 16th This morning the starboard watch washed clothes and holystoned the gun deck. At nine p.m. piped up all bags to air clothing, which as the men say is a sailor’s pleasure, to over haul his bag and see what they have got. We have had some very pleasant weather the past week and all hands are in excellent spirits...