9 November 1864

griffing@fnal.gov

A Letter by American Seaman Harry F. Evans

from the USS Susquehanna

USS Frigate Susquehanna
East River, New York
November 9, 1864

Dear Annie ,

Having made another grand flourish on the coast from Fortress Monroe to this place, I considered it my duty to advise you of it. Orders were received Sunday last from the Flagship [USS Malvern], Rear Admiral Porter [commanding,] to prepare for sea. We had only then changed our blue jumpers and [were] about repairing to the berth deck to listen to the chaplain (who the boys call “Holy Joe”), when the order was given to secure the Battery and “up anchor,” which was done in 45 minutes. Busy time that!

We took the Monitor Monadnock in tow and proceeded to sea. We had to lay at Sandy Hook for 10 hours having encountered a heavy fog. We were sadly disappointed in our anticipation of the scenes at the polls. However, we put our delay to interest. We lowered several boats and went fishing. Our luck was bad. Our mess made out a fine dinner, though small. We are twenty in the mess, and each carried a pleasing countenance after the treat. But now, it is over, and we have to feel satisfied with Salt Horse and Hard Tack, which rarely produces smiles & satisfaction. The bum boat is expected every moment, and those that possess a moderate purse will ‘ere long find it shallow. But no bum boat will be able to make me look sick.

We have the armour still attached and our masts unstripped, which plainly indicates a short stay here. I would be satisfied with one week, but will very probably return soon. Now adieu!

If you answer this soon, I am going to disclose a secret in my next letter that I am certain will tickle you. Remember me with love to all, trusting to your indulgence. I remain, in haste, your fond cousin, -- Harry F. Evans

You will please excuse this hasty note. Please inform me of H. D. Jone’s whereabouts, if you know. Also, the “Schooley Battery Boys.”

Footnotes:

The USS Susquehanna was launched April 5, 1850. She served in the Mediterranean Squadron from 1856-1858 and 1860-1861 and then was part of the Atlantic Blockading Squadron in 1861. She participated in the capture of Hatteras Inlet August 28-29, the bombardment and occupation of Port Royal, SC on November 7, 1861. She served in the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron from 1862 to 1863. She was part of the fleet that attacked Sewell's Point on May 8, 1862. After being out of commission from May 1863 to July 1864, she again joined the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron until the end of the war. She was part of a failed attack on Fort Fisher, NC, December 24-25, 1864. She also participated in the attack on Fort Fisher January 13-15, 1865. Following the end of the Civil War, the USS Susquehanna sailed for Brazil and operated on the Atlantic coast of South America until returning home and decommissioning on 30 June 1866. Recommissioned on 2 November 1866, the ship ended her active service as flagship of the North Atlantic Squadron. She was decommissioned January 14, 1868.

Side-wheel steamer; First-class sloop made of wood.
Rate, rig, etc: First; bark.
Tonnage: 2,450
Length 257 feet; beam 45 feet; depth 26 feet
Draft: Loaded, 20' 6"; light, 18'
Speed: Maximum, 12.5 knots; average 8 knots
Crew: 300
Battery: June 8, 1863: 2 150-pdr. Parrot rifles, 12 IX-inch Dahlgren smooth bore, 1 12-pdr rifle; August 4, 1864: add 1 12-pdr rifle; January 13, 1865: 2 100-pdr Parrott rifles, 12 IX-inch Dahlgren smooth bore; March 31, 1865: Similar to August 4, 1864; December 31, 1865: 2 XI-inch Dahlgren smooth bore, 12 IX-inch Dahlgren smooth bore, 1 30-pdr Parrot rifle, 2 12-pdr rifles.

Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter commanded the Mississippi River Squadron during the Vicksburg Campaign in 1862-3, and during the Red River Campaign in 1864. He commanded the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron in 1864 and took part in the capture of Fort Fisher in January 1865. The picture above shows Rear Admiral Porter standing on the deck of his flagship USS Malvern.

The chaplain on the USS Susquehanna in January 1865 was a Baptist named John D. Beugless. John was born in 1836. He sought and received his appointment as chaplain to 2d Regiment of Rhode Island Volunteers in 1863. He was wounded in the arm at the Battle of the Wilderness on 5 May 1864 and was mustered out on 17 June 1864. He received his commission as a Navy Chaplain on 2 July 1864. He died in 1887. The source of this information is the Register of the Commissioned, Warrant, and Volunteer Officers of the Navy of the United States, including Officers of the Marine Corps and Others, to January 1, 1865 & Bluejacket.com, United States Navy Chaplains and Denominations, 1778-1916.

"Holy Joe" has been used to refer to a military chaplain since at least the Civil War.

The Monitor Monadnock was built by the Boston Navy Yard, launched 23 March 1863, and commissioned 4 October 1864. She participated in the assault on Fort Fisher and in operations on the James River. Following the war, she was sent to the Pacific, arriving at San Francisco in June 1866. She had a displacement of 3,400 tons. Her dimensions were 258.5 x 53 x 13 feet/78.8 x 16.07 x 3.86 meters. She had a crew of 150. Her armor was iron 5 inches thick on the sides, 1.5 inches thick on the decks, and the turrets were 10 inches thick. She had 2 dual turrets, each with 2X15 inch Dahlgren smoothbore.

The USS Susquehanna did not make it back to port in New York City until the day following the Presidential Election on 8 November 1864 in which incumbent Abraham Lincoln defeated the Democratic candidate, George McClellan. Riots were expected to occur in New York City but the elections were surprisingly peaceful.

According to an 1811 dictionary, a bum boat was a small "boat attending ships to retail greens, drams, &c., and commonly rowed by a woman; a kind of floating chandler's shop."

Harry F. Evans was a cousin of Annie Richards. Although the identity of the seaman above cannot be confirmed, it is probable that it was Harry Evans. Clearly Harry came from the Scranton area which is where the carte-de-visite was taken. It is likely he was born in Wales. He may have served early in the Civil War aboard the Cumbria in the gulf coast and then later joined the crew of the USS Susquehanna.

griffing@fnal.gov