Table of Contents
Wednesday Jan. 29. 1862
This was a delicious day. One felt like lying out on the sunny side of the decks & enjoying the [dolce far niente?] - the air was so pure - but they told me the barometer was sinking, & I have pains in my bones this evening. I was out on deck until ten o'clock just lazily enjoying myself. Then I looked over [Lossings?] pictorial history of the U.S. I think that is a most admirable book. About twelve a suspicious sail was in sight and a gun boat started in pursuit. We watched them as they sped away, until both faded from sight and the reach of our glasses. The gun boat returned toward sunset, but I have not learned the result. I only saw that she had nothing in tow. A coal schooner came along side, and they commenced putting on coal. The Pawtuxent came up with the four companies from the Scout, and crowded them on our boat. I understand that the Scout is to be brought across in the morning - she and the Rue - which has our camp equipage on board and to be taken in tow by our ship. I was on board the coal schooner - one of the [mates] told me that along the Southern shore there are a great many dead bodies [in bodies?] washed out: lying along the Beach. Supposed to be those that were killed when Hateras was taken, buried at low tide and since washed out. He said he had heard that there were 240 killed. About sunset the Spaulding came across the swash - [cheered?] every ship load - the band of the 24th Mass playing hail to the chief, and Dixie. We gave her a cheer as she let go her anchor among us. This was the ship that ran regular trips between Fortress Monroe, Hateras, Port Royal. She is a very fine steamer. GenBurnside took her, made her his headquarters, substituted another steamer, I think the Eastern State. It was said that when she came across the swash, the expedition would sail. I got a "World" of the 22nd from the Sutters Schooner. There were some conjectures about our Expedition. Roanoke, Washington and New Berne were mentioned as points of attack, and that 50,000 men had probably been sent from the army of the Potomac to strengthen these points. Clearly North Carolina will be the theatre of war very soon. To take Roanoke, occupy New Bern, and hold it as a point at [?] to make way for an army to to go goldsboro - The army of the Potomac must then retrograde & when that is done their cause is done. Tom Grier and Harry House came on board this afternoon: both looking fat and hearty. They were both very sea-sick - Tom, as expected, made friends with every one, and has a button from each State Regiment sewed on his overcoat.