Aug. 9th. At twelve forty-five A. M., a light reported off port-quarter; at two o’clock took in and furled all the studding and square sails; at six o’clock set all plain sail to royals; at six thirty made a sail off weather bow, proved to be a schooner, standing on same course; weather clear and [...]

Aug. 8th. Commences with pleasant weather; hauled down and shifted over starboard foretop-gallant studding sails, set the foretop-gallant and topmast studding sails, hauled down jib and flying jib, brailed up the main topmast stay-sail and main try-sail; at three thirty set the main fore topmast stay-sail main try-sail and spanker, bending lower studding sails; from [...]

Aug. 7th. Commences, and until four A. M. pleasant weather; from four o’clock to eight o’clock braced sharp up on port tack; all plain sail set to royals; made a sail off starboard bow, and one off starboard beam; from twelve to four P. M. exercised the fore and main royal yardsmen in furling and [...]

August 6th. At nine A. M. made all sail; sent aloft the royals and set them; practiced ship’s company at general quarters, without powder; made Cape Florida light; four sails reported in sight during watch; saw a large steamer standing to the southward.

August 5th. At twelve thirty A. M. took in all fore and aft sails; at five thirty braced around the yards; made a sail off port quarter, and one off port beam; at eight forty made Tortugas light house, bearing, per compass, northeast; at five thirty P. M. Sand Key light reported two points on [...]

August 4th. At twelve midnight stood off to west-southwest in chase of a sail; at twelve fifteen A. M. discovered her to be a brig, standing to northward and eastward, closehauled; stood on our course again; braced yards up by port braces, and then again by starboard braces; at three fifteen set mizzen-topmast stay-sail, and [...]

August 3d. At sea; at eleven in the morning light rain squall passed over; at eleven thirty set all fore and aft sails; at eleven forty-five took them in; at three fifteen P. M. light rain-squall passed over; at four ten made a sail to the southward, and bore down for her, called all hands [...]

August 2d. Steaming down the river; at two ten o’clock in the morning a shot fired across our bow from Fort St. Philip, to heave us to; stopped the ship, and was boarded by an officer; at two fifteen started ahead again; at three forty S. W. Pass light in sight; at six thirty A. [...]

August 1st. Commences with pleasant weather. At nine thirty A. M. the U. S. gunboat Black Hawk, with Admiral D. D. Porter on board, came down the river, accompanied by the gunboat Conestoga. As they passed they fired a salute of fourteen guns, which the U. S. S. Portsmouth returned, and we cheered ship. Admiral [...]

July 31st. At nine A. M. inspected crew at quarters. Fleet-Surgeon J. M. Foltz reported on board for passage home. During the afternoon Commodore Morris, late of U. S. steam sloop Pensacola was hoisted inboard, upon a cot, an invalid, for passage to the North.

July 30th. At one thirty A. M. gunboat Albatross went down the river; at ten o’clock gunboat Katandin got under way and steamed down the river; at one P. M. received on board some of Admiral Farragut’s baggage. During the afternoon Mr. Van Denhougle, late Admiral Farragut’s Secretary, reported on board for passage to New [...]

July 29th. At two thirty A. M. a propeller came up the river, and at two forty the gunboat Katandin. The latter anchored off our starboard bow. At six o’clock sent fourth cutter to Tennessee, and brought off spare main and topsail yard, and sent up a new one; stowed outboard damaged main topsail yard; [...]

July 28th. Commences with pleasant weather and light westerly winds. The following is what has transpired this day:—At eight A. M. the U. S. steamer Virginia arrived; at three P. M. the Monongahela came down the river and anchored off the Richmond’s starboard quarter. Ship’s company engaged getting ship ready for sea.

July 27th. At three A. M. the sloop-of-war Seminole came up and anchored astern of the Portsmouth; at six o’clock, the U. S. gunboat Genesee arrived from up the river; at 9 o’clock, as usual, inspected crew at quarters. During the remainder of this day, engaged setting up topmast-rigging. At five P. M., steamer General [...]

July 26th. At ten P. M., inspection of ship and crew by Commodore Palmer; at ten thirty called all hands to muster, and performed Divine service on the quarter-deck; at five thirty in the afternoon steamer Lancaster came down the river with a load of rebel prisoners.

July 25th. During forenoon of this day, engaged in fitting topgallant and royal yards. Bent fore and main top-gallant sails and royals, and placed them in the rigging; also bent the foresail and mizzen topsail. Gunboat New London went down the river. During the hours of eight and ten P. M., squalls of rain accompanied [...]

July 24th. During the morning received fresh beef and vegetables for crew. Carpenters at work repairing fore-top-gallant mast; at two P. M. had top-gallant mast ready to send aloft.

July 23d. At six o’clock this morning, steamer Eugenie came up and anchored ahead of us, having our top-gallant and royal masts, also yards and rigging on board, which she had been to Pensacola for; at nine inspected crew at quarters; at nine thirty, sent our launch to steamer Eugenie, and brought on board our [...]

July 22d. Between the hours of four and eight A. M. steamer Crescent City came down the river with troops—some of Banks’s army. During the remainder of this day got ready, hoisted into launch, and sent one nine-inch Dahlgren and one thirty pounder Parrott rifle on shore; at six P. M. steamer Tennessee got under [...]

July 21st. Between the hours of four and six A. M., slight fog. During the remainder of the forenoon, employed getting ammunition and guns ready to send on shore. During the afternoon, sent third cutter on shore for repairs; also sent two nine-inch Dahlgren guns and equipments, and a quantity of grape.

July 20th. Early this morning, a side-wheel steamer came up the river. Hoisted two rifle guns off the poop, and transported them forward. Some of the lads on liberty; those remaining on board, some of whom had been ashore and had a little run of it, working with a will, since they were now sure [...]

July 19th. At seven A. M., steamer Albatross came up the river, with the gunboat Sciota in tow, the latter being out of repair; at nine thirty this morning, inspected crew and ship, and at ten, called all hands to muster on quarterdeck, where Divine services were performed, Commodore Palmer’s clerk, Nathaniel P. S. Thomas, [...]

July 18th. At eight A. M., U. S. M. steamer George Cromwell sailed for New York, with mails and passengers. Work going on this day, viz: repairing rigging, fishing mizzen mast, and provisioning ship, &c.

July 17th. Calm and pleasant. Carpenter’s gang employed during the day fishing mizzen-mast, and crew at work repairing rigging, fore and aft.