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Savannah towards Liverpool Ship Garnet Capt J. Bradford
At 6 AM, Turned one reef from Topsails. Set lower Jibb, Mainsail, Crossjacks & Main T. Gal sail. We are in the Gulf Stream. and today are passing large quantities of Gulf weed. This weed is thrown off by the current of the stream to the eastward, into what is called the Sargasso Sea where on previous voyages I have passed great quantities of it in Lat of 30 to 40 & long 40 to 20 W. It resembles somewhat the rock weed seen at home only is of a light yellow color & grows & remains on the water without being attached to any rock or other substance. There are no ships in sight this morning nothing but sky & water. Are my Mother my sisters, my Henrietta all well this morn? If my constant prayer & thoughts of love could make them so, they would suffer no lack of good. In night carrying all sail & heading about E by N. Strong breezes from North 2 Days out
Tuesday Nov 29. 1859 Begins with strong gales with passing clouds. At 2 AM took in T.Gal sails & Outer Jibb. At 9 AM set T.Gal sails. Passed a long ship from South. Wind moderates in PM to easy breezes. Employed putting on chafing gear &c.
It is a beautiful sight to meet a ship at sea. First in the line distance a point almost of white appears. And so soon that it seems like magic the noble ship is before us in all its beauty. its tapering masts careening with the breeze, its thousand ropes, its white wings: it seems a thing of life almost & as a thing of life it passes away & in one short hour she is beyond our view beneath the horizon. And sometimes as I see a noble ship thus plowing her way, I wonder if she is homeward bound and hearts are beating with high hopes of soon meeting loved ones? If so theirs is almost an envious lot, while we must pursue our long & weary way across the ocean to a foreign
Savannah towards Liverpool
shore. There are many "heart histories" on sea as well as land.
In night light breezes & clear fine weather. Braced sharp by the wind & course made good about E S.E. 3 Days out.
Wednesday Nov 30. 1859 Begins with light baffling winds from N.E. at 2 AM [even?] ship to Northward At 8 AM passed the Bark Gleamer bound South with all sail to TGal. Studsails. We passed so near that the ladies on both ships waved their handkerchiefs to each other The rules of etiquette are observed at sea as well as on shore. In P.M. wind hauls to East, and fine light breeze. Night same. with all sail set to best advantage. 4 Days out
Thursday December 1. 1859 The first day of winter comes with fine warm breezes from S.E. and little that seems like our Northern winter. It will
come soon enough for the North Atlantic is not proverbial for sunny skies & smooth sea but storm & cold We have thus far had unusual weather & have been improving it in preparing for heavy rough times. My opportunities for knowing the position of the ship & what pertains to navigation are not so good as on my last voyage & I am glad there is not the necessity for it as then but my knowledge of seamanship is being improved greatly to my satisfaction. When I sailed on this voyage I hesitated about accepting an officers place if it could be obtained, but now I feel that I am better qualified than many, and can do my duty faithfully. One year today I was far away from here, and my thoughts were of home & loved ones from whom I had then been absent almost a full year My surroundings were different then from now. Every day of that long voyage was filled with anxiety: with but few men to care for a large ship, and the
Savannah Georgia Outward Bound Towards Liverpool Eng
officers unreasonable & brutal. I then felt that we deserved to meet peril & disaster but God kept us & has preserved me in my various labors & employment since that time. If I could not trust Him, I would cry in bitterness. Where else can I go for help.
Today we are going our course E.N.E. with Steady S.E wind & all sail. This is fine sailing & I wouldnt object to having my sailing party with me only I wouldn'twant them to know how common & constant is profanity and degrading conversation on board ship. Why it is so I cannot tell. That it should not be so I know. Even the Capt. while his wife is on deck with him will storm & curse because - why - God doesnt make the wind blow fair & good always. I dont know but his reason for profanity is as good as others',. It seems about alike to me. In night wind hauls to South & light breezes with clear sky Lat 35° No & about 500 miles from Savannah 5 days out
