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August 1861 August 1st another Court Martial/Sentence of a Court Martial/ a speech by the 1st luff The starboard watch washed clothes. This morning a man struck another on the quarter deck. He will be court martialed. Small stores were served out this morning. This forenoon the hammocks were piped into the rigging so as to air clothing. At 2 p.m. the quartermasters rigged up the paraphernalia for a summary court martial. It has been very cloudy all day. We have got a good breeze, going about six knots. At 5 p.m. all hands were called to muster to hear the sentence of a court martial. The 1st lieutenant read the charges, which were as follows: that James McKenzie, seaman, did feloniously attack and assault John Chapman, an ordinary seaman, on the quarter deck. He pleaded guilty to the charges, and was sentenced to twenty days in solitary confinement in double irons in the brig, on bread and water, and the loss of three months’ pay (54 dollars), which was approved of by the flag, and executive officers. The 1st luff then made a short speech, which was to the effect that ever since he had been in the ship it was a frequent occurrence to hear one man call each other by very insulting epithets. He said if he heard of it any more, or anybody reported another for it, and could prove it, he would punish them to the fullest extent of the law, and if anybody should take the law into his own hands, he would treat them in the same way. We were then piped down by the boatswain. At 6 p.m. we were going five knots. It is very cloudy. August 2nd This morning came in fine, with an eight knot breeze. The port watch washed clothes. At half past 9 a.m. the drum beat to General Quarters. We exercised the starboard battery for half an hour, when the drum beat the retreat. Be Just, and Fear Not August 1861 345 Clothing was served out during the forenoon. At sundown we had a very strong breeze, which lasted all night. At midnight we were going ten knot[s]. August 3d a Collation/Bad Bread This morning came in fine, with a strong breeze; going eight knots. Being Saturday , the bags were piped up to air clothing, and the gun deck was holystoned by the port watch. At noon we were 270 miles from St. Paul de Loando. We expect to be in there Monday. We also expect the mail. In the dog watch, I had quite a nice collation, given by the cook of our mess (Eben B.N.) to a few of his friends. It came in very acceptable, as I had but a very poor supper. Our bread is in a state that would turn a person’s stomach; it is black, dirty, and full of maggots. We got it in St. Helena and it probably came out of some very condemned vessel there, or most likely from some captured slaver, the bread being used for the niggers. On handling it a cloud of mouldy dust comes from it, that makes a person sneeze; it smells horridly . Old sailors say that it is the worst bread they ever saw, rather a bad state for one of the U.S. men of war to be in. August 4th General Muster/reading the Articles of War Sunday. At half past 9 a.m. the drum beat to quarters and we were inspected by the officer of the divisions. At 10 a.m. all hands were called to muster. It being the 1st Sunday in the month, the Articles of War were read by the 1st luff and all hands mustered around the capstan, according to their name and rate. At half past 10 a.m. the bell rang for divine service. Towards evening the wind began to die away; at midnight it was almost a calm. August 5th This morning came in cloudy, not a breath of wind. At 9 a.m. we braced the head yards aback and remained so all the forenoon. The starboard watch washed clothes. It rained during the forenoon. It was a dead calm all this day. At sundown the courses were hauled up close, the royals and flying jib furled, they being useless, as there is no wind whatever. Meanwhile, at Loanda, Commander Godon of the Mohican, senior U.S. officer present while both...

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