that all the preparations were completed. The contract* for the boat had been duly signed, the tickets disposed of, passes obtained for the passengers individually, and a very liberal general permit, direct from the War Department, for the vessel--the latter largely through the kind offices of Mr. H. C. Bowen, of the Independent; the provender had been stored, the vessel put in seagoing order, and Hon. Cyrus P. Smith, President of the Union Ferry Company, had kindly proffered the use of one of the largest of the East River ferry-boats to transfer the passengers from the foot of Montague Street to the dock of the Oceanus, at the foot of Robinson Street, on the North River, whence the excursionists were to start at noon, precisely, of the 10th.

On the morning of the 10th, at half-past ten, the Fulton Ferry boat Peconic started with her joyous company, which was duly transferred to the Oceanus. The scenes at the wharf of the steamer were characteristic: the passengers coming on board in good time and cheerily, while many were still awaiting a possible vacancy. The only addition to the company was Col. Howard, of the 128th Colored Regiment, who was eager to reach his command at Charleston, having just come from Sherman's triumphant army at Savannah, where he had been attached to the staff of his brother, Gen. Howard. The time for departure having come, the crowd upon the wharf gathered to bid us God-speed.

And a God-speed we had-possibly barring the speed—

*See Appendix.

but with good cheer, good nature, faithful seas, grand music, glowing patriotism, congenial company, hearts overbrimming with joy-save the last Dark Day-and preeminent Divine favor, from the hour that we waved our adieus, till again we touched the wharf at the foot of Robinson Street - all of which we will proceed to narrate with as much faithfulness as possible in the next and succeeding chapters.

t

CHAPTER II.

AT 10 minutes past 12 o'clock M., April 10th, the screw of the good steamer Oceanus began its recalcitration, slowly pushing its precious and happy freight out upon the bosom of the river. Cheer upon cheer broke forth from the crowd gathered upon the wharf, responded to by the passengers filling every available standing place upon the vessel's landward side; hats and handkerchiefs were waved in the air, and parting messages exchanged, until the shouting and signals became futile by the increasing distance. It was evident that we had left hundreds of envious and yet congratulatory hearts behind. We bore our enjoyment and honors meekly.

The day was in unhappy mood. All the morning the skies had lowered. A fine, filtering mist had only slightly dampened our ardor. Now the rain increased, and a tenuous fog thickened gradually over the surface of the bay. It was not an auspicious inauguration of our voyage, but the doubting were assured by the hopeful, who quoted the venerable and philosophic maxim "A bad beginning makes a good ending."

In the smooth waters of the harbor, we were pluming

ourselves upon the delightful steadiness of the steamer. The inexperienced were sure that the discomforts of a sea voyage, must have been greatly overstated. Now we pass Governor's Island, and the familiar landmarks in our own enterprising City; we leave upon our left, Fort Lafayette, that boarding place of sundry treasonenacting individuals, and upon our right, the fortifications and heights of Staten Island; now we point out the low sandy waste of Coney Island, and descry in the misty distance the light-house of Sandy Hook. It is the opinion of the writer that somewhere near this locality the hitherto staid steamer began to lose its reputation for steadiness, and certain passengers, whose temperance and sobriety is proverbial, to exhibit strange symptoms of inebriety. Upon this point, however, owing to temporary aberration of his own intellect, he would prefer not to be considered authority. Yet he has suf ficient distinctness of memory to recall a peculiarly gyratory motion among the passengers, as they attempted to navigate the cabin, the clutching here and there of an outsider at the gunwale, and occasional visages of more than ordinary pallor.. He remembers one gentleman of portly carriage and still happy face, standing near the cabin entrance with his friends, who, upon a sudden roll of the vessel, was caught just behind the knees by an opportune chair, and, as he was tilted over backward into its cushioned receptacle, remarked somewhat drily, "I believe I'll sit down." The situation, which had been in a good degree comical, was now be

coming more serious, when suddenly-rub-thump—stop— and we were aground. We had struck the sand-spit, and all the tempest of the screw only sufficed to beat the shallow waters into unavailing foam at the stern. We hailed our supposed deliverer in a puffing, spitting stean-tug, just in the offing, but which, úpon being lashed to the great hulk of the Oceanus, appeared like an ant tugging at a kernel of corn, and was about as efficient. Signal was given for a pilot-boat, which soon came bearing down before the breeze, and when within fifty yards, dropped a row-boat astern, containing a pilot, and two oarsmen. Soon an order comes for the gentlemen to go forward, as the vessel is aground aft. We all go out upon the forward deck, and stand with commendable patience in the sifting rain. The effect becomes speedily apparent, for, depressed at the bow by such a weight of corporeal and mental ballast, the ship swings clear of the sand, and we discover by the buoys that we are drifting free. A few querulous individuals undertake to chaffer with the old salt, who stands with arms akimbo upon the window casement of the pilothouse. They soon learn that the experience of twenty years at sea not only perfects the nautical science, but sharpens the wits of a New York Harbor pilot.

66 Can't you take us out this afternoon?" asks an impatient passenger.

"I reckon I can, if you say so," responds the son of Neptune; "but you'd better lay here to-night."

"Why so?"