I slept splendidly last night and we turned out about seven o'clock. We began to wonder where breakfast was to come from, when Lt. Shorkley was appointed commissary for the officers, and under his energetic supervision we had breakfast dinner and supper. He and Beaver were out nearly all day laying in a stock of provisions. The ship Cossack was formerly the Eastern [?] and is now painted black - it was evidently painted white before. It is an ocean steamer I think used between Portland, Maine & Boston or New York. It is about 300 feet long and sixty wide. The lady's cabin, the officers quarters, is about 30 or more feet long - has thirty berths, - Brussels carpet - dainty curtains - [secess?] - a washing place - large mirrors & otherwise like all those large steamboats. This was a bright fine day, and this evening the moon is shining over the waters - the ships and steamboats with their signal lights - the light house - the snow covered banks - make a lovely scene - add to this the bands in every ship are playing - ours is now playing Dixie - they played it first before the general was beaten - as we left our camping ground yesterday. I amused myself up on deck with my glass - then reading a message from the sea. The wind was pretty high this morning: it rocked our boat very slightly. I felt the dizziness without exactly knowing exactly what it was until I look out of the windows and saw the waves running pretty high. We have everything embarked and ready except our horses. Another regiment came down from Washington, I think a Connecticut regiment, so that all are now embarked. The British ship [Imolita?], 37 Armstrong guns, is lying off the light house. Her officers were in town - Capt Hancock - and they told their officers that they had been sent to bring away Lord Lyons, had not the difficulty been settled. The British ungenerous exaltation over what they call our back - out, will only serve to increase that American feeling for a fight, which will burst out in violence some of these days. We have now an immense army - soldiers training for fight, and they will need employment. I received two letters by this mornings mail, one from John and one from Laura. When I come to think of it, it seemed like yesterday that I received it. This day has been long and short. John Morris was in and told us, that Gen Reno, had been so heartily disgusted with the 21st Mass. for being generally drunk, that he threatened to remove his staff from the Northerner to our boat. Maj. Clark urged him to wait till this morning, when he said if it were no better he would do so. Morris looks as gay riding around in the little boats as he does on his bay. He is very popular and the men think if any thing can be done Morris will do it. I was just coming down stairs to hunt berths for some men, when I met the officers of the boat rushing up stairs. I went out to the side & saw them lower the captain's gig in hot haste. I went out to the other side and heard the most agonizing scream of drowning men "I'm drowning" "let go my legs" & I waited until the officers returned. They reported they had rescued four men, one clinging to the wheel and three on the surf boards. The side wheel steamer run over a boat of the [?], [?] it is said with 23 men nineteen of whom were saved. I was in harrowing suspense until I found out that it was not one of our boats. [?] returned with three of our men just after it happened. Part of the 8th Connecticut are on board the [?]. It was bright moonlight - we could see the men struggling in the water, and their screams were awful. I heard on firm manly voice raise above the din of the confusion, "Keep cool its all right" and at once it all seemed to subside. The side wheel boat has been considered the nuisance of these waters running in to every one. It must have been gross carelessness to have run into the boat on such a night as this.
