Accession Number: XX84:63:8
No 8
U.S.S. "Mohawk"
North Edisto Sep 7, 1862
[missing] Sisters
I wrote you a letter on the 28th inst and [missing] it to East Haddam, but I hardly think you have [missing] recd it for it has not yet left my possession, for the [missing] that no mail boat has been here since the [missing] It seems a great while to go without any mail for so long a time, and every day for the last week we have looked anxiously for it. The last papers we got from the North were of date Aug 13th and of what has transpired since, we have no knowledge. We are in great hopes of seeing the mail schooner in a day or two, or of being relieved, so that we can go to Port Royal and fill up with coal and provisions, which will be out by the 20th of this month.
I presume ere this that you have gone to Cazenovia and are now enjoying yourselves in that Elysian retreat, where one of Timothy Titcombs "B’s" reigns, viz "Brains". Maybe Clara you heard his lecture last winter, when he said that Society was divided into four "B’s" Brains, Blood, Breeding and Bullion. I hardly know after all, which of them belong preeminently to Cazenovia, but I rather think that "Brains" and "Bullion" go hand in hand.
I hope however that you will not go to so many "tea drinkings" as to satiate yourselves, and to unfit you for the enjoyment of the winter at Syracuse. Do not be too gay at C.
This Sunday morning again, and on that [missing] there is a little more quiet, than usual. In [missing] we have "quarters for Inspection" after which [missing] will do as pleases them. For the last two or three [missing] have been painting ship, and having house [missing] a general scale, but I have had no carpets to [missing] put down &c. This has been done in expectation [missing] to Port Royal, and being visited by the Admiral.
You probably know that by a recent law of Congress, grades of Admiral and Commodore have been created. This was a much needed reform, so that our commanding officers of squadrons could stand on an equal footing with foreign officers. Heretofore English and French Commanders of Squadrons received an Admirals Salute, while ours only received that of Captain, which was rather galling to American pride.
The only thing of any interest to us, which has occurred during the past week is the arrival of about $20,000 worth of human flesh & bones, consisting of men & women and children to the number of 20. They escaped from there master about 15 miles back about 14 days ago, and hung around the island for several days not knowing the road to the boat. There are three young "Ladies" amongst them of very good appearance, and as we had not seen the face of our Mother [illegible] daughters since leaving New York, they were quite a rarity to us. The Captain quartered them in an empty house on the banks of the river, and I give out to them daily [missing] we go to Port Royal, we shall probably [missing] with us, and put them with the others. [missing] they might keep out of mischief, we employ [missing] in cutting wood for the "galley"(our cooking [missing]) it is not cold enough yet for us to desire wood [missing] in the Ward Room, and in doing washing for [missing] We have to send with our clothes soap, flour for starch, [missing] a flat iron which happens to be on board, and give them something for pay, in the shape of clothing, extra "delicacies" for their table, &c. I wish you could yesterday have seen my white coats, pants, & vests, as they came back "done up" I don’t think they would be presentable in Fifth Avenue or at Julia Baldwin’s, but they are clean, will do very well here. We are not troubled with young Ladies about us, and consequently do not always present such a trim appearance as usual when at home. Sunday we generally manage to oil our hair (what there is of it) put on a clean shirt and uniform coat, and then are ready for church. I might however include pants in the catalogue.
I have changed my mind entirely about the immorality, which is generally supposed to form part and parcel of a ship of war. I think that instead of being surrounded by temptation, and having your eyes & ears filled with all manner of iniquity as I was told would be the case, I have, or at least had, their daily allowance of grog, there is no intoxication to be seen, or approach to it. Sundays the men by choice are quiet, orderly, and seem to respect the day. For myself, I can say that, at [missing] outward appearance. I never led a [missing] than I have for the last two months, and [missing] desire to otherwise. When I left N.Y. I had [missing] claret, 1 Doz Champaign, and 2 Bottles of Whiskey [missing] given the Captain 2 Cases Claret, & have one on [missing] also about 8 Bottles Champaign, & have given [missing] hast both bottles Whiskey. I have had no desire [missing] and consequently have not done it, as I did not [missing] there was any use to try & form a habit. Maybe [missing] reason of all this is that two of our officers never touch Liquor or Wine; the Dr is a good deal like myself, and Mr Tillinghast only drinks Whiskey, which I do not like and consequently refuse his invitation about a dozen times a day. Tillinghast is an old Whaler, or was he says "spouter" and it would astonish you to see how much he drinks, but it never affects him. Last Monday I gave him thirteen bottles of Ships Whiskey 35d per gallon and he only has one now left. Yesterday he told me that two quart bottles full, went down his throat. I believe he could drink a barrel and not be affected. He was one of the men who discovered in the Arctic Sea, the British ship Resolute, and brought her back to New London, where she was entirely refitted, and sent by our Govt as a present to Queen Victoria. From the time they went onto that ship, until they got to New London 48 days, he never tasted water. The ship had large quantities of Liquor & Wines aboard, but no water, and they were obliged to go with out it. We often laugh at him for his large drinking capacity, and he told us that when he and three others went on board of the Resolute it was dark, and bitter cold. They lit a fire in a store which was in the cabin, and found in a closet just off, over forty bottles of Champaign, and before they went to sleep, every bottle had been drank. If anybody else had told me so, I should call it a good fish story, but he is a man I have the most implicit confidence in and believe him – speaking about the cold, he said "it was cold enough to freeze two dry sheets together" a very forcible expression.
But I will bring my yarn to a close. I wish you would write me as long as I do you.
Give my love to Edward, Susan, and the young ones, and believe me
Your Aff Brother
George