Item description: Entry, dated 4 November 1863, from the U.S.S. Oneida ship’s diary. The entry notes the movement of other U.S. Navy warships in the federal blockade at Mobile, Ala., and mentions a deserter that the Oneida’s crew found on board a small fishing vessel.
Item citation: From the Oneida Ship’s Diary, #3171-z, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Item transcription:
Nov. the 4th
At 6am, we got up stream & weighed anchor for Mobile. The weather fine. At 10am we boarded a small fishing sloop. At 10:30am a strainge man was found on board & stated that he had diserted from the Bark Mary B. Rich on the account of being ill treated by the Captain, for whome he had never signed articles. He desired to be shiped on board but was told by the Lieutenent that he would be sent back again. At 11:30am we made the fleet to anchor off Mobile. At 12:30 PM we came to anchor alongside of the Colorado & the Captain, paymaster & the strainger before mentioned went on board to make there repoarts to the Commodore. the Captain & purcer returned on board at 4 PM but the strainger was left on board of the flag ship, whare he will be likely to be shipped in stid of returned to his ship. At 5 PM we again weighed anchor & took up our position off the mouth of the main Channel. At 8 PM the [?] was sent in the Bay on guard duty. At 8:30 PM the Lacawarner, who is broken down, left here under sail for New Orleans, for to receive repairs. At 11:30PM the U.S.S. Sloop of War Octorara arrived here from Port Royal & came to anchor near the flagship, whare she remained all night & all remained quiet.
