University of Virginia Library

53. A Middy's Experiences
By ROBLEY D. EVANS (1862)

IN June, 1862, we started on our first real practice cruise, using for the purpose the sloop of war, John Adams. We were crowded into her like sardines in a box, and had no end of hard work, with whatever we could find to eat, and all in all about as little comfort as a set of youngsters ever experienced; but we made great headway in learning our business as seamen. The ship was uncomfortable, as all her class were, but at the same time seaworthy and safe. She would run well when off the wind, but with everything braced sharp up when there was any sea on she would butt three times at a sea and then go round it. Before the wind she rolled so that all hands had trouble in sleeping at night; but with all her defects she carried us safely as far south as Port Royal, South Carolina, and brought us safely back to Newport.

At Port Royal we saw Admiral Dupont's splendid fleet, comprising many of the finest ships in the navy. Among them all the Wabash seemed to me the most perfect.

I shall always remember an incident of my visit to this ship. As we went over the side, a large black

bear stood on his hind legs at the gangway, among the side boys, hat in hand, and saluting each officer as he went on board. I saw him as I came up the side, and not proposing to give him a chance at me, jumped for the main chains and went over that way, much to the amusement of the officers. A short time after this, his bearship came to grief, and had to be sent on shore. He was very fond of alcohol, and, having filled up and become ugly, turned into the bunk of one of the lieutenants, who, finding his bed occupied, turned in somewhere else, until his time came for duty. The quartermaster being sent down during the night to call the lieutenant, and getting no answer, undertook to awake him by shaking him, which so enraged the bear in his half-drunken condition, that he bit the quartermaster so badly that he lost one of his legs.

During this cruise the midshipmen were stationed as a crew for the vessel, and did all the work of the different ratings. When off Hatteras on our way North our efficiency was thoroughly tested. At about ten o'clock the ship was struck by a sudden heavy squall, accompanied by rain and hail. All hands were called to reef topsails, the watch on deck having successfully handled the light sails. We were close enough to the Diamond Shoal to make haste a matter of importance, and the officers hustled us up without much ceremony. The topsails were quickly reefed, and I had just secured the learing on the main topsail yard when I heard the order, "Hoist away the topsails! "I was straddling the yard at that time, and just about to swing to the foot rope and lay down from aloft; but I changed my mind very suddenly, and instead hugged the topsail yard,

until I am sure you could have found the marks of my arms on the paint. It was as black as a pocket, raining in torrents, and as the yards were braced up the topsails filled and the ship made a butt at a heavy sea. I thought my time had come. I reached the deck, however, in safety, only to be properly dressed down by the officer of the deck for being slow in laying down from aloft. We were back at Newport again in September, better for our work, and ready to enjoy the short leave that was then given us.

During the winter of this year I again made acquaintance with the dark room on board the Constitution. Two of us were walking about during the evening in the park opposite our quarters, when I saw a watch-man sneaking through the trees to catch—some fellows who were violating regulations. The chance was very tempting, and without waiting to count the cost I landed a good-sized stone fairly behind the watchman's car, sending him to the hospital for repairs. Unfortunately for me, there was a citizen nearby who gave the commandant so good a description of me that I was sent for the next morning, and promptly sent on board ship and locked up. This was bad enough in all reason, but I soon made it worse. The officer of the day, wishing to show proper respect for a senior, smuggled me a novel and a candle, and, having arranged my blanket so as to shut out curious eyes, I read my novel in peace until the sentry, a sailor with a cutlass, pried the blanket to one side. I blew the candle out at once, and then arranged the spring in the candlestick, so that I could shoot the candle out when necessary. Then I lighted it again, and taking a position favorable for my purpose, I waited for the

sailor; and, as he again cautiously pried the blanket aside, I fired the candle through the opening. Unfortunately it struck Jackey in the eye, and thinking his head was shot off he bolted from his station.

In short while the commanding officer was on the scene, and then an end was put to my sport. I was marched out, the room searched, the door boarded up solid, and the key again turned on me. This time there was not the least semblance of fun about it. For two weeks I was kept locked up and then released; but for several days I could do nothing as the light hurt my eyes dreadfully. It seemed to require a very practical demonstration to convince me that I had to do as I was told. This last experience went a long way in that direction.