Oxford Times, January 29, 1862
Letter from Theodore F. McNeil, U.S. Navy
Barque Arthur, Dec. 28th, 1861
Dear Father: We sailed from New York on the morning of the 23d and had a fine wind until yesterday. When off Hateras it was rather rough, the waves two or three times coming over the bow of the ship and wetting us down slightly, but the water and weather being quite warm, no inconvenience was occasioned except slight touches of sea sickness, which singular to say was but slight with any of us. J.O.C. and myself have thrown up accounts a little, perhaps were not at it five minutes apiece. Felt the sea sickness some for a couple of days, but aside from a headache were quite comfortable. Jon and Dolf have as yet retained their accounts for settlement. Both were a little off the hooks, but today all feel well. You cannot imagine how it looks to be out of sight of land and waves rolling from ten to twenty feet high, and the ship pitching and roiling from side to side, but the Barque rides them well and is quite a dry vessel. Old salts say much dryer than they expected she could be. Some of the boys were awful sick, but old Chenango's sons stand it tip top as yet. When a storm comes we shall see how we endure. We are now off the coast of Georgia, have seen but three vessels since we left New York narrows, and but one in speaking distance. My room is in the peak or bow of the vessel and the worst place for sea sickness on the ship. Am getting along as well and better than I expected with my duties. Our officers are all green in the service, which makes it quite inconvenient for us. We are called to quarters daily and work the guns. I have no station assigned me yet but have to take the place of some sick one on the guns. Our first Lieut. though ignorant of the rules of the service, is a perfect gentleman as far as can be judged as yet.
Sunday, Dec. 29th: We are off Florida coast and it is as warm as a June day in Oxford. Have just had services by the Pay Master, who read a sermon. The sea is calm and the sun shines with splendor. Looks like summer and could not believe from the appearance of the day that it was the month of December and only two or three days before another year would begin. At home I suppose it is wintry, and perhaps good sleighing. The Captain made a few remarks to us today approving of our cleanliness, and to some youngsters advising the stopping of their grog on the 1st of January. All of our boys had theirs stopped when we first came aboard, I believe. I have been reading the Bible part of the day, and think whose gift it is, and shall take as good care of it as circumstances will permit. All well and no sail in sight, the waters look perfectly splendid.
Monday, Dec. 30th, 3 P.M. Just beat to quarters and guns ready for use. Boarded a schooner, found her to be all right, so we had to let her go. Hoped she would prove to be a prize. Felt no fear when called to quarters, no trembling of the knees nor rattling of bones anywhere. It is as pleasant a day as I ever saw in Oxford, and as far as the eye can reach on either side, nothing is to be seen except a sail occasionally and the vast Atlantic. We had pork and beans for dinner with bread for desert. Our food is good, much better than we saw on the North Carolina. Drilled about 2 hours this morning with 32 pounders. Am much more contented than at the time C.A. Bennett was at Brooklyn. All a little unwell then and felt rather gloomy for a day or two. Now we have got to rights and all things move off nicely. A splendid view on the water. Feel perfectly at home and don't care how soon we see an enemy's ship.
January 6th, 1862: Having an opportunity to send a letter home by a vessel lying near us, thought I would send a hurried note to let you know where we are and how we are. We are now lying off the Bahama Bank south of Florida at anchor, where we arrived on New Year's eve and dropped anchor just as the clock told us that another year had dawned upon the New World. We have been obliged to lie here ever since on account of the wind being against us, and also for the purpose of painting the ship, &c., which is now done, and I expect every day when we shall weigh anchor and sail for Pensacola, touching Key West. We had a fair wind from New York to where we now lie, but since we have been here the wind has been against us. We saw on our voyage here a water spout, which is something of a sight. To see the water raise in a body to the clouds is a sight easier to be imagined than described. We also saw a place called a "hole in the wall," but as yet there has not much transpired of moment to write. We were not any of us very sea sick on our voyage so far, although the waves several times came over the bow of the ship and wet some of us, but for all this we had a gay time and the sea never looks more beautiful than when she rolls up huge waves from her slumbering depths. We go to quarters daily and drill with the Big guns, but I have no station yet, either in case of fire or in time of action, but am ready to take any position assigned me. We have boarded three or four vessels but all were found to be right and therefore allowed to go on their way. We are in sight of little Isaac's light house.
I have had no trouble in getting along with our officers, and they appear to want to get along with us without trouble. The only fault to be found with them is their ignorance of the customs of a man-of-war. But when they get where there is a flag officer, they will have their instructions, and all will, I think, be remedied. The sea looks nice on a morning like this. The sun hardly been darkened by clouds since we have been at anchor, but on the contrary it is very warm and pleasant. The thermometer must range from 60 to 75 degrees above zero. Some difference I image to the temperature here and in Oxford. I wear no under clothes now, and the officers appear in their summer hats.
Things appear in a very different aspect from what they did when CA. Bennett was here. Then it was cottonlike cleaning most time. But now, we have got straightened around and things are in some kind of order.
I have been to work for a few days past on a shirt, which would be good enough for you to look in [unreadable] can I think make a shirt in a day and a half, if I had nothing else to bother me much.
We have not seen any fighting yet, and I don't believe we shall see much, if any. Think we shall be sent to some out-of-the way place, but all depends on the Flag officer. We are ready to meet the rebels and give them a lesson. Think we have good gunners, and some that will make the shots tell.
Should England interfere we would meet the contest like men, and never disgrace the stars and stripes which or'e-shadow our frail Bark--am not sure but we had better thrash her out after we put down the rebellion,. Can do it like a mice, and old Ireland will never (should a war between the U.S. and England exist) be an idle spectator to the scene. Never was America so well prepared to give a reception to England with balls and shells as at this day. But not having heard anything of what is going on, since we left New York, am ignorant what course England has concluded to adopt and will therefore dry up for fear of hurting Russell LD.L.'s feelings should he happen to get hold of this scroll.
We have services every Sunday--the Captain is spoiling for a fight, I should judge by his actions, and what he says, and we are ready to do our part. We are all well and contented. Dolt has got entirely well--he was a little off the hooks when his father was here, but is sound as a brick now.
Tell father Stratton we will remember him to the rebels and give them an extra charge of grape or canister for him.
Have scrubbed our hammocks this morning and got them drying.
We have duff, roast beef, potatoes, hard bread, rice, butter, molasses, coffee, pork and beans, sugar &c. in their turn, together with vinegar, good cucumber pickles, dried apples &c. Some difference from the food we got on the North Carolina. My regards to all,
Your affectionate son, Theodore F. McNeil.
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