April 7, 1861; The New York Herald
The steam sloop of war Powhatan did not haul out into the stream on Friday night, as was rumored, but remaining alongside the dock at the Navy Yard throughout the night. Yesterday there was another large influx of visitors to the yard, but as everything had been taken on board, there was not the same bustle that prevailed on the previous day. Much anxiety was manifested by the visitors to ascertain whither the Powhatan was bound, and whether she was going to take troops on board. One man was observed to buttonhole a watchman, and ask him it was true that ‘sogers were to be embarked?’ to which the watchman replied that he did not know, which in turn was followed by a rejoinder from the querist that was ‘no use denying it, no how the watchman could fix it, for if troops were not to be taken on board what the –– was the use of all that fuss?’To which cogent, but rather profane reasoning, the watchman vouchsafed no reply. This incident serves to illustrate the curiosity that prevailed among the spectators as they watched the progress of the preparations for departure.
It would seem that the Powhatan was merely awaiting orders, for during the day two sealed packets were received by the commanding officer, and immediately upon the receipt steam was got up. At two o’clock the moorings were unfastened, and, aided by the steamtug Ceres, the Powhatan moved slowly out, and reaching a point of the stream from free obstruction, sailed down the river. There was no cheering or other outward demonstration by the spectators, as would undoubtedly have been the case had she been bound on a cruise to sustain the honor of the American flag against any foreign foe.
The steamtug parted from her in the East river, and the Powhatan, rounding the Battery, where her movements were observed by a number of spectators, who, however, exhibited no further interest apparently than that conveyed by a gloomy look, passed out into the bay, but no salute greeted her from the forts in the harbor, nor was there any demonstration by the surrounding shipping. She steamed seawards, and after anchoring at quarantine for a short time, resumed her voyage.
The following is a revised list of the officers of the Powhatan:
Captain: Samuel Mercer, Maryland.
Lieutenants: Egbert Thompson, New York; M. C. Perry, New York; W. B. Whiting, New York; W. H. Gamble, Pennsylvania.
Marine Lieutenant: J. L. Broome, New York.
Surgeon: Joseph Wilson, Jr.
Passed Assistant Surgeon: James Laws.
Paymaster: J. J. Gulick, New Jersey.
Chief Engineer: Harman Newell.
Midshipman: George Dewey, Joshua Bishop, M. S. Stuyvesant and Charles W. Read. Boatswain: F. McCloud.
Gunner: Barnard Duycker.
Sailmaker: Jacob Stephens. Engineers:
First Assistants, William J. Lamdin and James F. Lamdin;
Second Assistants, J. McElmell and John Purdy;
Third Assistants, William H. Gladding, E. Laws and H. C. McIlvain.