Ashuelot (1866) — Discussion: Questions, Comments, and Coordination

[Randi]

Thank you!
The long s is tricky too.
I am a terrible typist, but I like reading the logs

[pommystuart]

We are sailing with the USS Miantonomoh and USS Augusta.
What a funny looking vessel the USS Miantonomoh is and she looks very low in the water.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Miantonomoh_(1863)

[Randi]

Yes, the ironclads are very strange looking.
At first I thought they were early submarines!

[Michael]

[pommystuart]

August 4th 1866
Crossed the equator into the Southern hemisphere.
No mention in log events of any ceremony.

August 5th
Crossed the 0 meridian to the East

[Michael]

[pommystuart]

August 8th.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorag ... 6_0142.JPG

10 pm Saw a vessel of the stbd bow.
At 10:45 the vessel off our stbd quarter and nearing us fast coming down under steam and sail.
11:10 The vessel fired a musket and at 11:20 again fired a musket.
At 11:20 beat General quarters, cleared for action, loaded the stbd Battery with shell, Rifle with Tec (?) shell and smooth bores with ? shell. Burned "The Preparatory" and was answered by the strange sail with a strong white light. Immediately burned this ships number and received no answer.
11:40 Slowed the engine
At 11:45 the strange ship fired another musket. She was now distinctly visible, ? to be a large Frigate with her people at quarters.
11:50 Stopped the engine.
11:55 Hailed the frigate which turned out to be HBU Frigate "Bristol" Flag ship of the African Squadron Commodore ~~~: from Ascention, bound into the Congo River. Permission boarding? asked by the English Commodore to board the ship, it was granted.
At 12 was boarded by an Officer from the frigate, with the Commodores regrets at having delayed us. He supposed this vessel be a mail boat. Returned to his squadron.
[Some words at the junction of the pages not readable.]

[Randi]

visible, ? to be - maybe proving ?

HBU Frigate "Bristol" - probably HBM - His/Her Britannic Majesty. I saw that in Jamestown's logs.

[pommystuart]

Aug 26th 1866
0000-0400
Ships extreme roll angle 25deg. (and 20 deg for the rest of the day.)

They must have been close to lifting one paddle wheel out of the water and putting a lot of load the cross shaft.

[Randi]

That sounds scary!

[Michael]

Wow!!!

[pommystuart]

5th Sept 1866

1640 A Kettle of pitch took fire at the forge by the bottom falling out. Went to fire quarters and extinguished the fire. The bellows and tarpaulin being burnt and the paint work slightly scorched.

[They were having some corking done. and on a wooden ship fire is not good]

[Michael]

[pommystuart]

25th Sept.
Extreme roll today 28 deg.
Colours right, not sure about the smile.

[Randi]

[Michael]

[pommystuart]

At Port Louis, Mauritius Island.
For best part of 2 weeks we have had boiler makers on board all day and everyday day.

[Randi]

I assume that you are not referring to the type of boilermakers the Concord's crew would have had on board if they could have managed it

[Michael]

[pommystuart]

We are rocking and rolling again off Mauritius.
6pm-8pm watch. (Course NExE)
"Heavy swell from SE and ship rolling heavily. Greatest number of roll per minute 21. Roll 12 Deg, Max roll 30 deg."