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Chapter 3: the sea Islands.
Many of the Fifty-fourth, born in the interior, never had seen the ocean; others had not voyaged upon it. Several of the officers, however, had been over the course, or a portion of it, before.
For all it was a season of rest.
The ‘De Molay’ was a commodious, new, and excellent transport.
The staterooms were comfortable, the cabin finely furnished, and the table well provided.
For the men bunks were arranged between decks for sleeping, and large coppers for cooking purposes; plenty of condensed but unpalatable water was furnished.
May 29, the sea was smooth all day, and the weather fine but not clear.
Martha's Vineyard and
Nantucket were passed in the morning.
At night a fine moon rose.
Foggy weather prevailed on the 30th, with an increasing ground-swell, causing some seasickness.
The next day the steamer struggled against a head wind.
At midnight the craft narrowly escaped grounding on
Point Lookout shoals.
Some one had tampered with the sounding-line.
June 1, pleasant weather enabled the seasick to take some interest in life.
The air was soft and balmy, as we ran down the
North Carolina coast, which was dimly visible.
A few porpoises and a shark or two followed the ship.
Distant sails were sighted at times.
When evening came, the sun sank into the sea, red and fiery, gilding the horizon.
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