We moved farther up the south - very slowly - stopped about ten o'clock, and anchored about eleven. It began to rain became misty, and rained until evening, and then cleared off about six o'clock. When the anchor was let go, the boatswain gave a long whistle, and called down the hatchway "All hands splice the main brace" I watched & wondered what that meant, but was soon edified on seeing the grog served out all around. The other evening a boatswain came on board and now everything is done by the whistle. The whole batch of reporters left this evening.They evidently got the idea that their advantages were not so great here for obtaining information. They were as jealous of each other as tom-cats, and every day or two raised a row with the Captain because he, or they supposed he showed favour to one more than the other, & then they would have a convention - so that one wouldn't take advantage of the other. They were mad because they supposed the officers were corresponding for his dirty little country newspapers. Alcot, Ripley and Prawe asked the Capt. for a boat to go to the Spaulding - then all wanted to go. Capt. said but 3 could go at one time. When Alcot got over he sends a note back to the Col. that it was with difficulty they were allowed to stay, and that they would have no sleeping accomodations. This was evidently to deter the Herald & Inquirer. But as the Col. was not interested, he did not impart the information and they all departed. Burnside will curse the day they were allowed to come along, and the sooner they are sent off the better. We Pennsylvanians needn't expect anything from them - Even Alcot, not disposed toward us, seemed sort of mad because our Regiment was assigned the left of the Brigade. Roanoke Island is in sight of us - a little blue streak on the horizon. We can see a light house too. We can't tell what has been done today, further than that the troops of the Pioneer and Lancer have been put on other boats, and they, the boats, taken forward. They are gunboats and each have four guns.
