Lackawanna (1866): links, questions, comments, coordination, ...

[Randi]

November 30 — Harbor of Puerto Bueno

From 4 to 8 a.m.
At 0522 steamed ahead under 4 bells. At 0549 in consequence of heavy thick looking weather, turned back. At 0556 turned around and steamed up the Channel again.

[Michael]

[Randi]

December 2 — Lackawanna Harbor

For the last few weeks we have been sending groups on shore to cut wood.
A week or so ago they tried using wood in place of coal to generate steam, but they found that limited their speed so they went back to using coal.
However, they kept cutting wood.
On December 2, they mention storing the wood in the coal bunkers. They noted that 53 men were sent to cut wood.

According to DANFS (Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships):
"The high fuel consumption of early steam engineering plants, at a time when the United States lacked overseas coaling stations, made it necessary to retain sails for cruising into the late nineteenth century."

So, I suppose wood would be pretty useful if they run out of coal. Given that they are winding their way through narrow channels, the wind probably is not very helpful.

[Michael]

Very interesting. We're having troubles trying to convince Haiti to let us lease an area for a coal port. We decided to get Guantanamo from Cuba instead.

[Randi]

December 3 — Lackawanna Harbor

From 8 a.m. to Merid
Lieut Comdr Walker engaged surveying the harbor.

https://www.geonames.org/3886242/caleta-lackawana.html

[Michael]

[Randi]

It's December 5th and we are still sending crews on shore to cut wood....

[Michael]

[Randi]

We are just arriving in the area of Halt Bay.
Regarding all the wood we have been cutting, I found this comment interesting.
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id= ... 1=halt+bay

The wood cut at Halt; bay; was found to be superior for keeping steam to that found in the other harbours; it was cedar, burnt easily, gave out good heat, and did not require to be freshened with coals; all the wood we had hitherto cut was saturated with wet, and required drying in the ash-pits previously to being placed in the fires.

[pommystuart]

What a waste of Ceder. Nice timber.

[Randi]

December 9 — Lion Bay

From 8 p.m. to Mid
At 9, and every hour during the watch, wet the Mainsail
topsail and trysail to keep them from burning. Vessel under steam.


First time I have seen that (or at least noticed it)!
I guess that they are worried about sparks from the smokestacks setting the sails on fire.

[Michael]

I've never seen that, either!