Station Log Entries for U.S. Navy Yard Gosport
By John G. M. Sharp At USGenWeb Archives
Copyright. All Rights Reserved
Illustration from Norfolk Naval Shipyard Booklet, A Brief History (Butt) April 1951United States Naval regulations required all ships and shore stations to keep a daily log or chronological record of notable events which the duty watch officers or senior enlisted men were to record for administrative and legal purposes. In naval parlance any kind of running record is called a log. Another important function of the station logs was to monitor or check the activities of the watch officer. These logs were also maintained to serve as potential evidence in legal proceedings in naval or civil courts. What follows are a few selected entries transcribed from the surviving Gosport Navy Yard Station Log or Journal (The Gosport Navy Yard Journal of Daily Transactions was in Record Group 71, Records of the Bureau of Yards and Docks). Entries typically record the number of personnel employed, the number of mechanics in various trades, laborers at work on a given date, and reports of work accomplished. Many entries list name of the naval and merchant vessels at the yard, the name of the ship’s captain, and the reason for a visit, such as delivery of supplies or repair.
Watch officers were also obligated to chronicle the weather with particular attention to wind direction and cloud formation; log entries from the mid 1860’s include the air temperature and barometric pressure. Changes in weather were crucial since most Pensacola employees worked out of doors. The nineteenth century shipyard workforce was largely composed of per diem and enslaved workers. Accurate weather observations were useful in projecting the number and types of workers required. Bad weather meant that laborers unlike carpenters, painters, and blacksmiths who could work indoors in a shop or shed would be laid off until the weather improved and made their work feasible. The Navy Department typically followed the work practices of private shipyards, and hired nearly all its mechanics and laborers per diem, and then only when there were sufficient funds.
Although not explicitly stated in the log entries, the payrolls of Gosport Navy Yard reflect that enslaved laborers were leased from prominent members of local slaveholders and shipyard employees. Naval payroll documents show that slaveholders or their designees signed for and received the enslaved individual’s wages. Enslaved labor made up a significant though generally unacknowledged part of the workforce. At Gosport African Americans, free and enslaved, were confined to unskilled and low pay work. White laborers were paid one dollar a day while the twenty-nine African American laborers enumerated on the list as "blk laborer," were paid 75¢ per day. Black men such as Jerry Wilson drove teams of horses; others like Lewis Gordon carried water to workers, while workers like America Nash were employed as "scavengers" or all-purpose cleaners. The exact status of these men is uncertain; early employee records such as musters and payrolls were created solely for financial purposes and rarely identify enslaved status. What records we have reveal at Gosport the blacks were confined to unskilled work. Indeed in 1839 Commandant Commodore Lewis Warring reassured the Secretary of the Navy, "that no Slave is allowed to perform any mechanical work in the [Gosport] Yard, all such being necessarily reserved for the whites; this keeping up the proper distinction between the white men & slave." The practice at Gosport and other federal shipyards was to retain only the absolute number of free and enslaved workers necessary for a given shop to operate or complete a ship repair. Gasport Navy Yard employees worked a six day week Monday thru Saturday ten hours a day.Source:
Pensacola Navy Yard NARA Record Group 71, Records of the Bureau of Yard and Docks, Entry 91, Journals of Daily Transactions 1850.List of Gosport Navy Yard Employees Military and Civilian, 1846 http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/portsmouth/shipyard/nnysharp13.html
June 29th 1850 Saturday
7 A M Commences with moderate breezes from the South and clear Temperature 75° Employees 12 Overseers, 261 White Laborers & 13 watercarriers. Hauling up piles, stowing timber clearing the saw mill, stowing the Frigate Raritan Scraping the Sloop Saratoga, Cleaning the Ditches, Wheeling mud, working on cross walls of timber dock landing, sloop St. Mary’s chain cables, cleaning sloop Jamestown tanks Assisting House Joiners &c &c
Civil Engineer Dept. 1 Overseer, 18 White laborers & 1 water carrier
Masons Dept. 2 Overseers 29 White Laborers & 2 watercarriers
44 Blacks Employed as follows 18 Scavengers, 15 Drivers and 5 on daily duty, 5 at he Mud Dredge & 1 at the Stables
Meridian Moderate breezes from the SW & clear Temperature 89 Arrived from Mr. Higgins of Norfolk 18 Barrels of beans, 18 of Rice a lot of Straw Brooms & Brushes
5 P M Clear moderate breezes from the SW Temperature 85°
Mud Dredge 1828 Port of Baltimore
photo US Army Corps of Engineers, public domain
July 2nd 1850 Tuesday
7 A M Commences with light breezes from the W S W and Clear, Temperature 81°. Employed 12 Overseers 255 White Laborers and 13 watercarriers, Hauling and Stowing Timber Launching Sloop Saratoga stowing frigate Raritan’s provisions and Warrant Officer Stores, Working in Cross Wall of Timber Docks, Wheeling Mud &c &c
Civil Engineer Dept. 1 Overseer 19 White Laborers and 1 Water Carrier
Masons Dept. 2 Overseers 29 White Laborers and 2 Watercarriers; Black Employees as follows 17 Scavengers, 15 Drivers, 5 on daily duty, 4 at the Mud Dredge & 1 at the Stables-
Arrived the Schooner Alfred Rea Capt. Harden from James River with sand and Schooner Knight Capt. North from Baltimore with coal & from Schooner Charm from Boston 3 Barrels of Zinc
Meridian Moderate Breezes from the SSW & Clear Temp. 95°
Sloop Saratoga was transported from New Wharf under large Shears and Main & Mizzen Mast Stepped at 4 P M there was a heavy squall of rain accompanied with thunder & lightening at 6 P M Squally Temp. 85°
Henry A. F. YoungJuly 3rd 1850 Wednesday
7 A M Commences with light breezes from the S W& clear Temperature 80°
Employed 12 Overseers 262 White Laborers and 13 watercarriers Hauling & Stowing Timber, Stowing Frigate Raritan’s provisions & stores, Stowing for sloop Jamestown, working on cross wall of Timber Docks Assisting House Joiners, Wheeling Mud &c &c
Civil Engineers Dept. 1 Overseer, 19 White Laborers & 2 water carriers – 43 Blacks employed as follows 19 Scavengers 15 Drivers, 4 on daily duties 4 at the Mud Dredge & 1 at the Stables.
The U S Steamer Vixen with Commodore Morris on board from Washington bound for Havana put in for water and coal.
U S Brig Bainbridge Commodore Slaughter from the coast of Africa arrived at the Naval Anchorage the usual salute was fired –
Meridian moderate breezes from the N W & clear Temperature 86°
At 1 P M Steamer Vixen went to Sea Latter Part No Change –
6 P M Clear light breezes from the W N W Temp 85°
Henry A. F. YoungJuly 5th 1850 Friday
7 A M commences with light breezes from the WSW & clear Temperature 82°
Employed 13 Overseers 245 White Laborers & 13 watercarriers
Stowing & Moving Timber Assisting Mast Makers Delivering Frigate Raritan Stores Wheeling Mud Assisting House Joiners
Civil Engineers Dept. 1 Overseer 18 White Laborers & 1 watercarrier, Masons Dept. 2 Overseers 28 White Laborers 2 watercarriers 43 Blacks Employed as follows 17 Scavengers 15 Drivers 5 in daily duty 5 at Mud Dredge & 1 at Stables
Meridian light airs from the Westward & clear, Temperature 94°
4 Laborers overpowered by the Sun was taken out of the Yard
Arrived Schooner with barrels from Baltimore
Latter part no change in the Detail of Laborers
6 P M warm & sultry Temp 82°
Henry A.F.YoungJuly 6th 1850 Friday
7 A M Commences with moderate breezes from the WSW & clear Temperature 83°
Employed 13 Overseers 232 White Laborers & 13 watercarriers Turning Knees in Timber Dock, Storing Timber, Getting Stores on board the Frigate Raritan Transporting Anchors, Cleaning Sloop Cyrane Chain Cables Landing & Stowing Coal, working in cross walls of Timber Docks, Assisting House Joiners Wheeling Mud &c &c
Masons Dept. 2 Overseers 29 White Laborers & 2 watercarriers –
43 Blacks Employed as follows 17 Scavengers at various stations about the Yard 15 Drivers 5 in daily duty & 1 at the Stables One Overseer & 5 Blacks at the Mud Dredge
Arrived Schooner Samaria Capt. Craton from Baltimore with stores Bread
Meridian moderate breezes from the Westward and clear 97°
At 4 PM the Raritan Frigate was put in commission and left the Yard in tow of the Steamer Engineer and secured to a barge off the Naval Hospital.
Latter part no change with the Detail of Laborers –
6 P M fresh breezes from the SSW and cloudy Temperature 86 °
Henry A.F.YoungJuly 25th 1850 Thursday
No Work being a day set a part by the Citizens of Portsmouth for holding the Funeral obsequies of General Zachariah Taylor late President of the U. States, Colours was hoisted at half-mast at 8 A M and at 11 A M minute guns was fired from the Receiving Ship Pennsylvania and Ruritan the latter at the Naval Anchorage in honor of the occasion
Henry A.F.Young11 H. A. F. Young, Sailing Master appointed 16 May, 1829, to reserved list, 14 September, 1855. Sailing Master Young resigned 15 May, 1861.
July 26th 1850 Friday
7 A M Commences with light airs from the Southward & Eastward and clear Temperature 79 Employed 11 Overseers 191 White Labourers and 11 water carriers. Hauling up and stowing Timber, Assisting Carpenters getting stores and spares on board Sloop Saratoga Cleaning Sloop St. Marys Holing & scraping her gun carriages. Men working on cross walls of Timber Dock &c, &c -
Civil Engineers Dept. 1 Overseer, 14 White Laborers & 1 Watercarrier -
Mason’s Dept., 3 Overseers, 39 White Laborers & 3 Watercarriers –
37 Blacks Employed as follows 15 Scavengers, 16 Drivers, 5 on daily duty & 1 at the Stables, 1 Overseer & 5 Blacks at the Mud Drayage –Colorers was hoisted at half-mast at 8 A M and 11 A M Minute Guns was fired from the Receiving Ship Pennsylvania and Ruritan being a day set part by the Citizens of Norfolk for holding the Funeral obsequies of General Zachariah Taylor late President of the U. States. Arrived the Schooner Gen Wolf Capt. --- from Baltimore with bricks. Minimum light breezes from the Southern & Eastward and clear Temperature 82 ° Arrived Schooner Empire Capt. Knopf from New York with 5000 Barrels of Beef, 10,
Boxes of Pistols & 4 Chest of tea Commenced Storing Sloop St. Mary’s ballast
Latter Part no change –
6 P M Clear light breezes from the South & Eastward Temperature 83 °Henry A.F.Young
August 17th 1850 Monday (Log Image)
7 AM Commences with light breezes from the ESE combined with rain Temperature 68° There was but 3 overseers 57 white & 2 water carriers, mustered on account of the weather and employed Transporting Gun Carriages, storing Grape Shot & Cleaning up the Sail Loft
Masons Dept/ Overseer & 12 White Laborers, 30 Blacks Employed as follows 13 Scavengers White Washing Sail Loft 12 Drivers, 4 in daily duty & 1 at the Stables 1 Overseer& 4 Blacks Scrubbing Copper. Meridian light breezes from the Southward & Eastward with rain – Temperature 73° but four laborers mustered on account of the weather & Employed at the commencement Comm[odore] J. D. Sloat2 left the Yard on leave - Arrived Schooner Stagg Capt. Rosao from North Carolina with Pine Timber – Quarter Past more moderate –
6 P M Cloudy light airs from the Northward & Westward Temperature 78 °
Henry A.F.Young2 John Drake Sloat (1781 – 1867) Commodore USN, Commodore Sloat in 1846, claimed California for the United States. Sloat served as commandant of Gosport Navy Yard 19 Jan. 1848 - 17 Feb. 1851.
August 17th 1850 Monday
7 AM Commences with light breezes from the ESE combined with rain Temperature 68˚ There was but 3 overseers 57 white & 2 water carriers, mustered on account of the weather and employed Transporting Gun Carriages, storing Grape Shot & Cleaning up the Sail Loft
Masons Dept/ Overseer & 12 White Laborers, 30 Blacks Employed [illegible] 13 Scavengers White Washing Sail Loft 12 Drivers, 4 in daily duty & 1 at the Stables 1 Overseer & 4 Blacks Scrubbing Copper. Meridian light breezes from the Southward & Eastward with rain – Temperature 73˚ but four laborers mustered on account of the weather & Employed at the commencement Comm[odore] J. D. Sloat3 left the Yard on leave - Arrived Schooner Stagg Capt. Rosao from North Carolina with Pine Timber – Quarter Past more moderate –
6 P M Cloudy light airs from the Northward & Westward Temperature 78 ˚
3 H. A. F. Young Sailing Master, 16 May, 1829. Reserved List, 14 September, 1855. Resigned 15 May, 1861.
August 21, 1850 Wednesday
7 A M Commences with fresh breezes from the ESE with rain, Temperature 72°. Employees 10 Overseers 151 White Laborers and 10 watercarriers, Piling Planks, Hauling, Knees for sloop Jamestown Hauling spars, pumping out & scraping sloop St. Mary’s. Hauling Timber in crates, Stowing Timber Excavating Timber Dock Stowing Grape shot in store, Assisting House Joiners &c &c Civil Engineers Dept. 2 Overseers 24 White Laborers & 1
Watercarrier –
Masons Dept. 3 Overseers 33 White Laborers & 3 Watercarriers –
38 Blacks Employed as follows 17 Scavengers 15 Drivers 4 on daily duty & 1 at stables, One Overseer & 4 Blacks at the Mud Dredge
Meridian fresh breezes from the ENE with rain Temp 75° but few Laborers mustered on account of the Weather –
Surplus Ballast put on board the Delaware in place of shot taken up.
6 P M Cloudy fresh breezes from the ENE Temp 71 °
Henry A. F. YoungAugust 22nd 1850 Thursday
7 A M commences with moderate breezes from the E N E and clear Temperature 70° Employed 12 Overseers, 215 white laborers & 12 watercarriers Hauling & Storing timber, Hauling Sloop St. Mary’s Gun carriages, Stowing timber in crate Excavating Timber Dock Wheeling Mud Assisting the Riggers with & scraping sloop St. Mary’s Assisting House Joiners &c &c
Civil Engineers Dept. 2 Overseers 28 White Laborers & 2 watercarriers Masons Dept. 3 Overseers 47 White laborers & 8 watercarriers -
43 Blacks Employed as follows 20 Scavengers, 15 Drivers, 5 in daily duty & 1 at the stables. One Overseer & 5 Blacks at the Mud Dredge -
Arrived Steamer Osceola Capt. Mitchell with a lot of stores from the Steamer Vixon & 5 anchors weighing as follows 1 No 487, 2950 lbs., 1 no 455, 2850 lbs., 1 no 489, 2810 lbs. , 1 No 490, 2850 lbs., & No. 491, 2850 lbs.
Meridian light airs from the Northern & Eastward and clear
Temperature 76°, Steamer Engineer left the Yard for Baltimore to bring down a draft of Seamen
At 5 P M the Bell was rung by order of Commodore Kelly, it being Election Day for the delegates to the State convention
6 P M Clear light airs from the Southward & Westward Temp 78°Henry A. F. Young
September 2nd 1850 Monday
7 A M Commences with light airs from the Southward & Eastward with rain. Temperature 75˚ Employed 12 overseers 218 white laborers and12 water carriers Hauling up Timber, stowing plank, overhauling knees, Excavating Timber Dock, Wheeling mud, Hauling knees for Sloop Jamestown Assisting House Joiners, Cleaning & Oiling Sloop Jamestown’s chain cables &c &c
Civil Engineers Department 2 overseers 26 white laborers & 8 water carrier. 36 Blacks Employed as follows 17 Scavengers, 13 Drivers on daily duty & 1 at Stables one overseer & 3 Blacks at the Mud Dredge.
Meridian moderate breezes from the Northward & Cloudy Temp 81˚ Arrived John Leroy from New York 150 Boxes of Raisins & Barrels of Molasses Latter part [of the day] no change 6 P M Cloudy light airs from the Northward & Eastward Temperature 74˚Henry A. F. Young
October 15th 1850 Tuesday
7 A M Commences with light breezes from the N.E. and clear Temperature 55˚ Employed 11 Overseers 210 White Laborers and 11 Watercarriers Cleaning out Frigate Columbia Hauling out plank Clearing the Saw Mill, Regulating Timber Docks, Wheeling, mud Landing Guns Assisting House Joiners &c &c
Civil Engineers Sept 3 Overseers 41 White Laborers 23 water carriers-
41 Blacks Employed as follows 19 Scavengers, 15 Drivers, 5 on daily duty & 1 at the Stables One overseer & 5 Blacks at the Dredge – Arrived Schr. Virgil Capt. Murphy from Baltimore with stone and Schr. Dorchester Capt. Travis from Richmond with guns At 11:30 U.S. Steamer Saranac left her mooring abreast of the Dry-dock under steam for New York Commo[dore] Sloat accompanying a party of gentlemen & Ladies went down as far as capes in the Steamer Saranac accompanied by the Steamer Engineer to bring back Commd. Sloat & party –
Meridian moderate breezes from the E.N.E. Clear Temperature 67˚ Arrived Sloop Charm Capt. Berry from Boston from Boston 120 mattresses & 4 boxes of covers & per Schr. Margaret Stewart Capt Harris from Sunset Clear light breezes from the S.E. Temperatures 65˚ -
At 7 P.M. Steamer Engineer returned to the Yard
Henry A. F. Young
Commodore John Drake Sloat* * * * * * * * * *
John G. “Jack” Sharp resides in Concord, California. He worked for the United States Navy for thirty years as a civilian personnel officer. Among his many assignments were positions in Berlin, Germany, where in 1989 he was in East Berlin, the day the infamous wall was opened. He later served as Human Resources Officer, South West Asia (Bahrain). He returned to the United States in 2001 and was on duty at the Naval District of Washington on 9/11. He has a lifelong interest in history and has written extensively on the Washington, Norfolk, and Pensacola Navy Yards, labor history and the history of African Americans. His previous books include African Americans in Slavery and Freedom on the Washington Navy Yard 1799 -1865, Morgan Hannah Press 2011. History of the Washington Navy Yard Civilian Workforce 1799-1962, 2004.
https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/browse-by-topic/heritage/washington-navy-yard/pdfs/WNY_History.pdf
and the first complete transcription of the Diary of Michael Shiner Relating to the History of the Washington Navy Yard 1813-1869, 2007/2015 online:
https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/d/diary-of-michael-shiner.html
His most recent work includes Register of Patients at Naval Hospital Washington DC 1814 With The Names of American Wounded From The Battle of Bladensburg 2018,
https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/r/register-patients-naval-hospital-washington-dc-1814.html
The last three works were all published by the Naval History and Heritage Command. John served on active duty in the United States Navy, including Viet Nam service. He received his BA and MA in History from San Francisco State University. He can be reached at sharpjg@yahoo.com
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Norfolk Navy Yard Table of Contents
Birth of the Gosport Yard & into the 19th Century
Battle of the Hampton Roads Ironclads
