d
be anxious to ascertain how many Confederates there were in the
locality. Upon asking some colored people, who were always assembled to
greet us, how many rebels there were at a certain locality, they would
make the following reply: "I don't know, sah; but dar is a right smaht
number dar." Upon pressing them for a more definite answer they would
repeat, "I don't know, massa; but dar is a right smaht number dar."

The Valley City, and I believe all naval vessels, were directed to go
ahead, fast, slow, or stop, or back fast or slow, by a bell hung in the
engine room connected with the pilot-house by a wire which was pulled
by the pilot. One bell was to start; two bells, go ahead slow; four
bells, go ahead fast; and one bell to stop (that is when the vessel was
in motion); three bells back; two bells, back slow; and four bells,
back fast.

The time of day was noted by means of a bell, as follows: One bell,
12-1/2 o'clock, p.m.; two bells, 1 o'clock, p.m.; three bells, 1-1/2
o'clock, p.m.; four bells, 2 o'clock, p.m.; five bells, 2-1/2 o'clock,
p.m.; six bells, 3 o'clock, p.m.; seven bells, 3-1/2 o'clock, p.m.; and
eight bells, 4 o'clock, p, m.; then, one bell, 4-1/2 o'clock, p.m., and
so on till 8 o'clock, p.m.; then, one bell, 8-1/2 o'clock, p.m., and so
on till 12 o'clock, p.m.; thus the time during the first twelve hours
of the following day was noted, and in the same way any succeeding
twelve hours.

Each watch remained on duty four hours, say from 12 o'clock m. until 4
o'clock p.m., when it was relieved by another watch, which would remain
on duty until 8 o'clock p.m., when this watch was again relieved by
another watch, which would remain on duty four hours, or until 12
o'clock p.m.

It would be an officer's duty on arriving aboard his own or another
vessel, to salute the quarter-deck by taking off his hat, even if there
were nobody on the deck. All who were on the deck would return the
salute also, by taking their hats off. An officer arriving on board his
own vessel would always report to the captain of the vessel, as
follows: "Captain, I report myself aboard, sir." The captain would
reply: "Aye, aye, sir."

Some very dark nights the Captain, in order to time the crew and
officers of the Valley City in getting to their quarters, would spring
the rattle for general quarters; and such a time there would be in
getting out of our berths, and going to general quarters! The whole
affair would be very amusing, an