Saturday, July 13.—Blowing a moderate gale of wind, with a very heavy head sea. We made no progress at all during the last night. In this state of things, I have been obliged to change my intention, which was to go to Barbados. We can not make the distance with our fuel. I therefore, caused the ship to be put under sail and her fires to be permitted to go down, and resolved to make my way to Curaçao, hoping to be able to coal at that place. Heavy sea all night, and ship tumbling about, though doing pretty well under sail. I am suffering much with nausea and debility and from the effects of my fall, and am confined to my cabin. A sail on the port bow, but too rough to chase.
Extracts from the journal of Commander Semmes, C.S. Navy, commanding C.S.S. Sumter
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