February 8, 1862

Qr. Master Sergt. Howe:
From a Letter:
     February 8, 1862. Splendid day. We make twelve miles an hour. There is no sail in sight.


2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:
     February 8-Saturday
     Feeling this morning a little more natural than I have for some days past.
     The weather is fine very warm in the sun but a mild wind blowing from off shore that is very refreshing it is hard indeed to realize that it can be so cold and dreary at home though cold and dreary as it may be how much pleasure it would give me to be able at this minute to look in upon my quiet home in which has been so much of sorrow of late.
     We are getting along finely on our excursion for it is so pleasant I can call it by no other name scarce a ripple on the waters. 12 M. 50 miles below Savannah on the Georgia Coast.
     Tonight we were agreably entertained Robert Dale. a Scotchman in our ranks by singing of some old Scotch airs intermingled with characteristic Irish songs of which he is a very good singer and he is as well aware of it as anyone else. we enjoyed it much.
     7 ½ O C P.M. Capt Crowley & myself sat down to take part in the performance of a challenge accepted from Lieut. Kinnear and Reed to this effect the best out of 20 games of Euchre. in which Crowley & myself came out the victors by one game.
     11 O C P.M. Stripped to the drawers and shirt Kinnear & myself had some little amusement by boxing and other performances when we went to bed and slept well until morning. in spite of the heat. which was oppressive. many slept on deck in the open air.



Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:

     Saturday 8

     A very fine day and all hands

     Wide awake and up to all kind

     Of games to pass away time

     I have been leaning over the

     Ship watching the flying fish

     Skim over the waters they look

     Very pretty.  they are about the

     Shape and size of our smelts

     But larger