Thursday, May 30.—My patience is sorely tried by the New Orleans mechanics. The water tanks for the Sumter are not yet completed. The carriage for the 8-inch gun was finished to-day, and we are laying down the circles and cutting the holes for the fighting bolts. The carriages for the 32-pounders are promised by Saturday next, and also the copper tanks for the magazine. Our ammunition and small arms arrived yesterday from Baton Rouge. Besides the Brooklyn at the passes, the Niagara and Minnesota are in the gulf watching for the arrival of some ships bound to this port laden with arms and ammunition.
Extracts from the journal of Commander Semmes, C.S. Navy, commanding C.S.S. Sumter
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