ARRIVAL IN BOSTON. 449 



The shock was to us such as those who had watched 

 at home the progress of events from day to day could 

 perhaps hardly realize. The first intelligence I had 

 of the war was the account of the Bull Ran battle, 

 next I heard of the firing on Sumter, and then of 

 the riots in Baltimore, and the destruction of Nor- 

 folk Navy-Yard, and the capture of Harper's Ferry ; 

 and then followed an account of the universal arming: 

 and volunteering. 



We remained at Halifax not longer than was neces- 

 sary to complete the repairs of the schooner, when we 

 again put to sea, and in four days made the Boston 

 Lights. We picked up a pilot out of the thickest fog 

 that I have ever seen south of the Arctic Circle, and 

 with a light wind stood into the harbor. As the night 

 wore on the wind fell away almost to calm ; the fog 

 thickened more and more, if that were possible, as we 

 sagged along over the dead waters toward the an- 

 chorage. The night was filled with an oppressive 

 gloom. The lights hanging at the mast-heads of the 

 vessels which we passed had the ghastly glimmer of 

 tapers burning in a charnel-house. We saw no vessel 

 moving but our own, and even those which lay at an- 

 chor seemed like phantom ships floating in the murky 

 air. I never saw the ship's company so lifeless, or so 

 depressed even in times of real danger. 



The sun was beginning to pour into the atmosphere 

 a dim light when we let go our anchor ; but it did not 

 seem that we were at home, or that a great city lay 

 near by. No one was anxious to go ashore. It ap- 

 peared as if each one anticipated some personal mis- 

 fortune, and wished to postpone the shock foreboded 

 by his fears. I landed on Long Wharf, and found my 

 way into State Street. Two or three figures were 



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