row morning, and as
she is very fast I have determined to write by her, although
it will not be long before we follow her to the United States.
We are preparing for sea now and expect to sail on the 17th of
this month for Norfolk, touching at Pernambuco and Barbadoes
for coal. We will be at home, I think, by the 20th of May or
1st of June, though it is possible that we may be detained
longer than I expect on the way.

I sincerely trust that I shall find you all well at home, and
that I will have a long leave to spend with you. I wrote you
in my letter that we had no difficulty in settling our affairs
with Paraguay. Lopez acceded at once to all the demands which
were made upon him, and expressed himself gratified at their
moderation. The health of the squadron is excellent and the
cruise has been a pleasant one. No accident or circumstances
have occurred to mar its efficiency or concord. If another
vessel should leave in time to get home much before we do, I
will write again, but I doubt if such an opportunity will
occur. You must not, of course, write to me again. Give my
best love to Sister, Jimmy, Letitia and Mattie, and my
affectionate regards to Mr. Edwards and Major Shands.

Ever your affectionate son,
J.H. ROCHELLE.

To follow Rochelle through all of his naval life would take more space
than we now have and would be to repeat scenes and events already
dealt with by him in the following pages. When the war came on he was
serving on the sloop-of-war _Cumberland_. Captain Scharf very
correctly says: "It required no sacrifice and entailed no
inconvenience to remain loyal to the Union, but to resign from that
service involved every consideration which might deter a man not
actuated by exalted principles." It was "exalted principles" which
caused Rochelle to resign his commission in the Navy, where he had
served with honor and advancement for twenty years, and to offer his
sword to his native State. From the columns of the Richmond _Dispatch_
we quote:

"All know how hot and furious the war was. The Anglo-Saxon race, the
first and foremost people on earth, are wise in counsel and fierce in
war. Fighting commenced at once. Captain Rochelle was placed under the
command of Captain Tucker, on the James river, on the war steamer
_Patrick Henry_, and with the _Merrimac_ fought the _Monito