Studio image of Paymaster's Clerk Samuel B. Massa.
(Courtesy: Samuel Massa Papers, Syracuse University Library, Department of Special Collections.)

List of the officers who first sailed in the Cayuga - viz.-

N.B. Harrison [Lt. Commanding] - Captain.

G.H. Perkins - Lieut.

G.W. Rogers [Second Asst.] Engineer.

Thomas Morton - Actg. Master.

E.D. Percy - Actg. Master.

J.W. Whiffen [Actg. Asst] Paymaster.

E.S. Bogert [Actg. Asst] Surgeon.

[Joseph W.] Sydney - 3d Asst. Engineer.

Ralph Ashton - 3d Asst. Engineer.

[Josiah C.] Chaffee - 3d Asst. Engineer.

J. Gillen - Actg. Master's Mate.

C. Post - Actg. Master's Mate.

Thomas Magie - Actg Master's Mate.

R. Bostwick - Actg. Master's Mate.

C.M. Burns - Captain's Clerk.

S.B. Massa - Paymaster's Clerk.

J. Cassidy - Yeoman.

W.E. Bonticon - Surgeon's Asst.

Friday 21st. February, 1862 The U.S. Gun Boat Cayuga went into commission at 2 P.M. [at New York Naval Yard].

I got my hammock but could not sling it, got an old Tar to do it which cost me twenty five cents.

Thursday 27th [February] Steamed outside the Narrows where we lay at anchor all night on account of our machinery working badly.

Friday 28th. [February] Got steam up and ran down to Sandy Hook where we left the pilot, the vessel commenced to roll very badly and all hands were sick, even to the oldest salts, they say the vessel has a peculiar quick motion which they never felt before which upsets ones stomach quickly.

Monday 31st [March] When I woke up found we were in a thick fog and for the first time saw the muddy waters of the Mississippi, are ten miles from land, the water is full of drift wood. At 9 a.m. met the ship "Almoni" with coal, she had been lying [for] three days in a fog, we took her in tow and at noon came in sight of land, at 3 P.M. we saw the Light at the S.W. Pass and at 5 P.M. came to anchor. There are fifteen large vessels here and there are a great many up the river; at 6 P.M. we sent the prisoners aboard the U.S.S. "Colorado" and we weighed anchor to go and tow in a store ship which we passed eight miles from here, signaled several vessels in the night, 12 P.M. ran aground.

Tuesday 1st April. Got off at 5 P.M.[?] at 6 A.M. met the long expected gun boat "Connecticut" and sent our first cutter for the mail, my share was two letters from home dated March 10th. Could not find the vessel we went after so at noon went back and dropped anchor at 2 P.M. At 5 P.M. weighed anchor and steamed south as we had received orders to go on blockade duty for several days at a place called Atchafalya Bay.

Sunday 13th. [April] Fine weather 9 a.m. Came in sight of the vessels at the S.W. Pass, Muster and prayers at 10 a.m. at half past came to anchor and at half past 11 a.m. weighed anchor and after taking a pilot crossed the bar and started up the river, soon after passed Pilot Town, at 2 P.M. when within two miles of our fleet one of our engines broke down and we had to let go our Port Anchor, the Engineers after working hard all night discovered the pin broken.

Monday 14th. [April] At 3 a.m. got under weigh and continued up the river with only our after engine working. At 6 P.M. came to anchor among the Fleet which is lying at the head of the Passes, at 11 a.m. commenced coaling, weather very warm during the day, coaling all day and night. Went aboard the "Kineo" and spent the afternoon with Mr. Evans the Pay clerk.

Tuesday 15th. [April] Finished coaling, we received orders to take the captain of the French steamer "Milan" with a Flag of Truce up to the Forts [Jackson & St. Philip] but our engines not being yet repaired we lost the chance, mail arrived and I got letters dated March 21st. An English steamer came up the river, we had a new pin made on board the "Hartford" and at 1 P.M. our engines were ready to go.

Wednesday 16th [April] At 9 a.m. commenced coaling again and finished at noon, at 2 P.M. got underweigh and steamed up to our station which is within four miles of the Forts. All hands put to work clearing the decks of everything not wanted during action, at 6 P.M. came to anchor, all the fleet except a few vessels are here, the sides of the ships are covered with mud to make them look like the water.

Thursday 17th. [April] At 5 P.M. the lookout at the foremast saw a light up the river and we soon after saw a large fire ship coming down, we sent out boats with grappling hooks and took it in tow until it was out of the way of the shipping. At 7 P.M. went up in the cross trees and saw Fort Jackson for the first time, some rebel steamers came down but after exchanging a few shots ran back; the Mortar Schooners are being covered with bushes to make them look like the trees ashore and are being anchored near the banks of the river out of sight of the Forts.

At 8 P.M. another fire ship came down but was towed ashore by the Str. "Westfield" the old Staten Island ferry boat which had been plated with sheet iron and supplied with steam pumps.

Friday 18th. [April] Pleasant weather wind blowing up the river, at 5 P.M. weighed anchor and steamed down to the end of the fleet as the Commodore said our engines were not fit to go into the fight. At 6 P.M. our Commander went to the Flag Officer and got the orders countermanded and we kept our place which is the first vessel in the first division -

The vessels here are the

Sloop of War Hartford Flagship.

" Richmond.

" Pensacola.

" Brooklyn.

Frigate Mississippi.

Sloop of War Portsmouth.

" Oneida.

" Iroquois.

Gun Boat Miami.

" Varuna.

" Cayuga.

" Katahdin.

" Kineo.

" Itasca.

" Sciota.

" Wissahickon.

" Kennebeck.

" Winona.

" Pinola.

Mortar Fleet

Gun Boat Harriet Lane.

" Owasco.

" Jackson.

" Westfield.

" Clifton.

and 30 Mortar Schrs. besides the store ships - at 9 a.m. the Ball opened by one of our mortar vessels sending a shell into one of the forts, the fire was returned from Fort Jackson, we weighed anchor and after running out in the river opened fire on the Forts from our Pivot and Parrott guns, the rebel shells are falling thick and if it were not for our moving fast should have been blown out of existence, one of the shells exploded in front of our boat and a piece struck the captain in charge of our Parrot gun, located on the forecastle, but not injuring him badly, two more whizzed over the quarter deck making all the officers drop and burst in front of our after Port throwing the water all over us. Several fire ships were sent down on our fleet but the current carried them ashore.

At half past 12 a shell came over our foremast and struck in front of the "Iroquois," the Richmond and other large vessels have not entered the action yet, we are far ahead of all the other vessels and are making for a rebel boat which is below the forts, after firing three shells at her and she firing one at us she ran back out of sight.

The shells from our boats are falling thick around and into the forts, quarter past one other boats came to our relief, the shells still flying around us thick, half past 2 P.M. we are still the first vessel, 3 P.M. the "Iroquois" is going ahead to try her hand, we have fired fifty six shell[s] from the Parrott gun with fifteen second fuses, we are again the first vessel - I forgot to say, we were the first boat in the first division and this division only is engaged today. The main object of this attack is to draw the attention of the forts from the Mortar boats, making them think all the shells came from the gunboats in action.

At 4 P.M. having used up all our fifteen second fuses we had to steam back a few hundred yards to get out of range of the rebel guns. The captain went to the Flag Ship to report and Farragut ordered the rigging of the "Hartford" manned and the men gave us three rousing cheers which the "Brooklyn" took up and was returned by our crew with a good will. General Butler and staff arrived tonight, a great quantity of smoke is coming out of one of the forts and we think it must be on fire, the firing ceased at sunset and as soon as it was dark we went up within half a mile of the chain the rebels shut off the river with [?] fastened every short distance to coal boats anchored in the stream, in the middle was arranged an opening for their vessels to pass down stream, this being kept closed by a chain with a shackle the pin of which had to be withdrawn when a boat wanted to pass and this point was well guarded by the guns on the forts; we remained at this point all night on picket duty.

Saturday 19th. [April] Weighed anchor at 4 a.m. and ran back to the fleet, at half past 6 a.m. the ball opened up again by a shell being fired from one of our Mortar boats, the rebels soon after replied but not knowing where our boats are stationed cannot take any aim, we received some twenty second fuses and at 9 a.m. steamed down to the Flag Ship, Farragut gave us great praise for our work the day before and said we were relieved but Captain [Napoleon B.] Harrison might go up and fire three more shells if he wanted to, so we went back with two other gun boats, at 9 a.m. we fired our three shells and retired to let the second division take their turn, came to anchor astern of the mortar fleet.

At 10 a.m. one of the mortar boats was so jarred by the recoil of the mortar she soon after sunk no lives being lost.

Three shells struck the "Oneida" and wounded five men, we are now lying near the "Richmond," the firing being kept up all night and a boat expedition went up to cut the chain but did not succeed.

Sunday 20th. [April] Cloudy weather with some rain; at 10 a.m. the second division returned and the third went up, one of the boats picked up a rebel who deserted from the forts and he reported one of the forts was on fire Friday night and the men had to leave until it burned out and that both forts were badly injured and a good many of their men had been killed, the weather is quite cold this afternoon and we have our overcoats on.

We took in a quantity of shells and powder today, 5 P.M. all hands taking down the fore rigging and the hammock nettings.

Commodore [Theodorus] Bailey came aboard and said he was going to use our vessel as his Flag Ship and we were to make the general attack tomorrow, two gunboats have gone up to break the chain, the third Division has returned but the mortar boats keep up the firing, the rebels do not return our fire although their flag still flies.

Captain Bailey Commodore of the Gun Boats came aboard with his clerk, a middy and seven men and we are to hoist the broad pennant he being next to Farragut.

Monday 21st. [April] At 2 a.m. a very large fire ship came down and our fleet had a good deal of trouble in keeping clear, the weather is very cold, we can see our breath, and expect ice to form if it continues. At sun rise we hoisted the Junior Commodore's flag which is a broad red pennant.

"Plan showing the forts, the chain, the Union and rebel fleets with woods on the left bank of the river."
(Sketch included in the journal entry, with original caption by Massa.)

At half past 10 a.m. got underweigh and steamed up the river, the rebels are firing pretty briskly, Commodore Bailey left in his boat, 11 a.m. the deserter from Fort Jackson went up with one of our gun boats and showed our men where the chain was shackled and the[n] drew out the pin letting it loose, fired several shots at the forts and some of their shots fell very near us, one of the mortar boats was so jarred by the firing of her large mortar that her masts were cut away but this did not save her as soon after she went down but all the crew were saved.

At noon we retired out of range, at half past 2 P.M. we steamed up and all hands called to quarters, we fired a few shells at the rebels and with two other boats kept within range of the Forts so as to draw the fire from the mortar boats to us, at 4 P.M. Com. Bailey came back and we ran further up and sent a few more shells at the enemy; at sunset the rebels ceased firing but our mortar boats kept it up all night, the rebels sent down another fire ship but it soon ran ashore.

Tuesday 22d. [April] Cool weather the wind continuing against us, the rebels commenced firing at 7 a.m. our mortar boats continued firing all day, during the middle of the day it was quite hot.

After lying at anchor all day at 5 P.M. weighed anchor and took a position further up river, a large fire raft came down but our boats grappled it and towed it ashore; took down our main rigging as we expect to make the general attack tonight, all hands are kept up, at 12 M a large fire raft came down, for some reason unknown to us the attack was not made.

Wednesday 23d [April] Very hot today remained at our anchorage, the "Miami" ran afoul of the "Pensacola" breaking her foremast and paddle boxes, being a side wheeler, I could not learn if any one was killed, several were carried past us in boats wounded; at 6 P.M. we weighed anchor. Farragut came aboard with his final orders and we are to make the attack tonight unless prevented.

The Mortar boats firing quite briskly, at half past 6 P.M. we anchored on the right hand side of the river and signalled the other vessels to come into line - All hands mustered on the quarter deck and the captain made us a speech, afterwards the Jr. Commodore came forward and said the "Cayuga" had been selected as Flag ship of the right hand column and we were to lead the fleet; after the speech was over our boys gave him three hearty cheers, the "Pensacola" and Frigate "Mississippi" came over soon after and anchored astern of us, next to come into line was the "Oneida" and then some gun boats, lay at anchor all night.

Thursday 24th. [April] At 1 a.m. a fire raft came down, at 2 a.m. signals from the "Hartford" to get up steam, at 3 a.m. we got underweigh the right hand column following us, the left under Farragut not moving, we headed up stream slowly, until we passed the place where the chain was and then put on full steam, the left hand column not yet moving, at half past 3 a.m. our column was discovered from the forts, the rebels opened on us and we returned their fire and now all is confusion with plenty of hell fire and brimstone, the balls flying over our deck like rain, the enemies guns being trained too high we did not suffer as much as we should have done had the men been fully awake and taken time to train them on us. We soon passed the forts, we being nearest to Fort St. Phillip and the water batteries on that side and attacked the rebel fleet, the shells came fast and thick and Fredic Fincke [Frederick O.G. Fincke] a powder boy who stood next to me had his leg shot through, five other men were wounded. The left hand column are engaging the forts but most of them are coming up, the river is lined with rebel boats we have driven ashore most of them being afire, we were attacked by several at the same time and prepared to repel boarders but the fire from our pivot and parrott guns soon finished them. The "Cayuga" ran up to the shore and captured a rebel camp sending a boat to bring off the officers, they are a large and fine looking set of men, we captured three rebel flags and I got a homespun uniform, a rifle, bayonet and an "Arkansas tooth pick" an ugly looking weapon with buck horn handle and blade nearly a foot long. The engagement lasted about one hour.

We were all so excited and the air filled with smoke, fire, shells etc. that I could not see much that was going on around me and did not jot down half I wanted to.

The "Charles Morgan" and two other rebel boats chased the "Varuna" ashore and she soon after sunk but before going down she succeeded in putting shots into the "Morgan" which also made her run ashore and she is now burning. We are about two miles above the forts, the firing there is still going on, in that direction the rebels along the shore can be seen waving white flags. Amongst the officers we captured are two Colonels, four Captains, several Lieuts. and a number of other officers.

I should mention here that during the hottest of the fight we all seemed to think it was fourth of July and when orders were given to lie down after firing for our safety we were so excited most of us ran to the side of the boat to see where our shot was going to strike.

At 8 a.m. our Surgeon whose steward had given out asked me to assist him and I helped in my first surgical operation of cutting off the left foot of Fred Finker [Frederick Fincke] whom I have mentioned above as being struck by a shell. At 9 a.m. our boat went ashore and brought off some more prisoners, they are a motley looking set being clothed in all sorts of uniform and are armed with rifles, shot guns etc. with sabre bayonets. Upon examining our vessel to see what damage was done we found we had been struck over thirty times in the hull etc. and three through the masts, none however doing any very serious damage. We have come to anchor about two miles above the forts and most of the vessels are here. At half past 10 a.m. weighed anchor and again steamed up stream. We captured one ram, on our way up we passed two burning steamers, there are plenty of white flags and many of the Stars and Stripes flying on the river banks, at noon we passed a plantation and the Niggers all came down to the shore and cheered us. All the officers and men captured were transferred to the "Hartford" except six who volunteered to go up with us and fight the rebels.

At 2 P.M. passed the "Pinola" which had gone up above us, she had her flag at half mast and the sailors were on shore burying their dead. At half past 2 P.M. passed a large rice plantation and a large sugar mill all the niggers came running down to the levee and cheered us, we sunk fourteen rebel boats and captured six more this morning, the land back of the river is occupied with fine plantations, sugar mills and some fine residences, it is amusing to see all the niggers bowing and waving their hats to us.

We came to anchor at sunset about twenty miles from New Orleans where we remained all night.

Friday 25th. [April] At 4 a.m. saw a light ahead and all hands were piped to weigh anchor, we steamed up river the balance of the fleet remaining at anchor, we soon reached the light and found it was a large ship loaded with cotton but too far burnt to save, soon after we met another, at daylight we signalled the fleet to get up anchor and we started for New Orleans. Passed several very fine plantations and saw the niggers at work in the fields, at 7 a.m. we can just see our fleet coming up in the following order "Oneida," one of the altered ferry boats, "Mississippi," "Iroquois," "Richmond," "Hartford," "Pensacola," "Brooklyn," "Sciota," "Pinola," "Katahdin" the others having been left at the forts to keep the soldiers from escaping. At 8 a.m. passed the finest plantation we have seen on the river and the family were all out on the balcony of the house to see us go past and with my marine glasses I saw amongst them the handsomest girl I have seen since leaving New York. At half past 9 a.m. signalled the other vessels to get in line of battle, we ran out our guns and are on the lookout for rebel batteries which we hear the rebels have two near the city, at 10 a.m. we can see two more ships on fire, at half past 10 a.m. we can just see the spires of the Churches in New Orleans. At 11 a.m. we came up to the Batteries and they opened fire on us, at half past 11 a.m. after a brisk fire we shelled the rebels out our vessel being struck several times but no one was injured, the "Richmond" was the last vessel up and did not get in a shot, we were the first and for a while were unsupported receiving all the fire.

A great many ships on fire are coming down the river, at noon after shelling both sides of the shore we reached the outskirts of the city and at 1 P.M. came to anchor in front of New Orleans, a good many men and women came out and cheered us and one woman hoisted the stars and stripes on the Algiers side, there are only a few vessels here not on fire, it has commenced to rain hard this will put out some of the fires which are burning up and down the river. I forgot to say that during the fifteen minutes we were under fire at the batteries unsupported we received one shot aft which carried away about eight feet of the Hammock Netting. Captain Bailey and Lieut. Perkins have gone ashore with a flag of truce, three of our boats sent up river to see if there [are] any rebel vessels above, a very large ram has just passed us on fire, also all sorts of burnt articles and bales of cotton are coming down. The new ram they were building which just passed us would have been a formidable vessel if it had been completed, it had ports for eighteen guns seven each side and two at each end - this is a copy of the ram as she passed, the flames pouring out of her ports -

(Sketch included in the journal entry.)

The rebel battery on the Algiers side of the river mounting nine large guns and one mortar, our fire mowed down the men and scattered the earth in all directions.

(Sketch included in the journal entry.)

The battery on the New Orleans side of the river mounting seven large guns.

(Sketch included in the journal entry.)

At 4 P.M. we commenced to put up our standing rigging, the levee is lined with people, a different crowd to those we first saw, these black-guarding our men and flag of truce, cursed at officers and men sent ashore, calling them dammed Yankee Abolitionists and when Commodore Bailey and Lieut. Perkins went up to see officers in command of the city they behaved very unhandsomely, General Lovell saying he would not surrender the city but if he could not drive us off he would retire with his whole force and would shoot the first man who hoisted the Stars & Stripes.

One man got knocked down kicked and beaten for trying to stop his comrades from calling our boats crews names. The "Mississippi" steamed close to the levee and was received with groans and hisses from the mob, her Captain ordered their band to strike up Yankee Doodle which enraged the crowd and they hissed all the louder. Lieut. Perkins has returned and told me that he was pelted with rotten eggs and Commodore Bailey and he had to drive back to the levee in a closed carriage; 6 P.M. the vessels along the levee have about burned out but several large fires have broken out on the Algiers side of the river, 7 P.M. the drift wood and wreckage collected around our cables so that we had to weigh anchor and before we could get underweigh we drifted down on the "Hartford" smashing one of our boats but doing no further damage, soon after we drifted upon a burning schr. and came near getting on fire, we then ran a little further down and came to anchor for the night.

Saturday 26th. [April] Cloudy and cool, at noon we sent one of our [cutters?] about ten miles down the river to a plantation, the crew found on[ly] niggers there all the white folks having fled, the[y] brought back a number of turkeys, chickens, one pig and a basket of eggs, our coxswain shot a dog that jumped at his throat, just as they were leaving they picked up a man who was coming up from the forts, he had been on the ram "Manassas" that we captured, he says that the forts have surrendered and that some of the crews of the rebel boats were in irons for refusing to fight against the Stars and Stripes and were burnt in the boats; at noon weighed anchor and steamed up the river, at 1 P.M. a man waved a rebel flag on the levee, one of our officers and one on the "Hartford" fired and he dropped, a large crowd gathered around him. At 4 P.M. several of our largest boats have gone up the river to attack a fort reported to be above the city. Our second cutter was sent down the river and secured a boat to replace the one we had smashed last night, on the way up, it being dark, our men were fired upon from the shore but could not see where the shots came from, laying at anchor all night.

Sunday 27th. [April] Weather very hot, our fleet is coming back from the expedition up river. At 11 a.m. a large steam ship coming up the river flying secesh colors and a flag of truce on her bow. Several large steam boats captured up river last night are coming down with the Stars and Stripes flying on them.

The vessel coming up with the Stars and Bars flying is the rebel gun boat "McRae" and was lying near Fort Jackson when we passed, as she came up by the city she ran into a ferry boat cutting her nearly in two; the standing rigging on the "McRae" is badly cut up and she has several bad holes in her sides; she is up under a flag of truce to bring the dead and wounded from the forts and is anchored opposite the levee. The fleet that went up river found a fort with twenty seven guns but all spiked. At 6 P.M. weighed anchor, we learn from the "McRae" that the Forts have not surrendered, after going some way down river we met one of our gun boats coming up with Gen. Butler on board he had crossed over the swamps back of the Forts.

Monday 28th. [April] At 6.30 a.m. came to anchor opposite the rebel quarantine station, there are a large number of prisoners in the old Camp, guarded by our troops and others have taken possession of all the quarantine buildings, the "Mississippi," "Iroquois" and two gunboats are here, a French vessel passed us going up to New Orleans, writing letters home, our boat rowed ashore and we found a body of rebel soldiers, five hundred, they had spiked some of the guns at the fort, killed one officer and deserted, the[n] gave themselves up to our men. We spent all the morning gathering small boats belonging to the plantations to use in bringing General Butler's troops through a small creek leading from the Gulf to the river. At 3 P.M. we discovered the Stars and Stripes floating over the Forts and one of our gunboats from below the Forts has just ran up to them. Commodore Bailey has returned aboard and we are weighing anchor and are to take the news to New Orleans, at 7 P.M. we came to a place where the levee had broke away and the country for several miles was flooded.

Tuesday 29th. [April] Came to anchor off New Orleans at 7 a.m. after reporting our news the rigging of all the vessels was manned and the crews gave nine cheers.

Boats crews from all the large vessels have gone ashore heavily armed and at noon raised the Stars and Stripes over the new Custom House. At 3 P.M. orders were received to sail for New York and all the ships sent boats with mail, etc. Captain Bailey and Boggs of the "Varuna" are to be our guests. The "McRae" after landing her wounded and dead ran down the river and then the crew blew the vessel up to prevent her falling into our hands the officers and men escaping, a dastardly piece of work as she being under a flag of truce should have returned to the forts and surrendered with the other vessels.

At 4 P.M. Capt. Bailey came back with the silk colors of the Col. whose camp we captured (Col. I. Szymanski Chalmette Regt.), also the rebel flag belonging to the "McRae" and the one captured from the City Hall. Bradley S. Osbon the New York Herald reporter who acted as signal officer with Farragut on the "Hartford" during the passage of the Forts will also go with us. At 5 P.M. we sent the men captured at the Camp ashore.

We also have as prisoners one of the rebel army Lieuts. and the Captain of the vessel that was sunk by the "Varuna" while his vessel was sinking he set her afire with forty five wounded men on board. At 5 P.M. weighed anchor and started up river to pass the fleet before sailing for home; as we passed the vessels their rigging was manned and we got cheers enough to last those on the gallant ship "Cayuga" a life time. The French steamer "Milan" sent an officer aboard with dispatches.

Wednesday 30th. [April] Came to anchor at the Quarantine Station 2 a.m. There are several Regts. of Butler's troops here now. At 8 a.m. the general came aboard with his staff to make up his mail, at 9 a.m. the transport "Mississippi" and another large steamer passed us their decks were black with soldiers, weighed anchor and started down river homeward bound the war ships cheering us as we passed, at half past 9 a.m. we met the "Harriet Lane" and Commodore Porter came aboard with his mail; there are a great number of rafts lying along the river banks which the rebels meant to set afire and send down on our vessels but we passed up before they were ready, soon after we passed the forts, at 10 a.m. we reached the place we left our spars and stopped to take them aboard, 11 a.m. the "Rhode Island" came up bound for New Orleans, we received our mail from her, my share was five, at noon we passed several steamers loaded with troops and took off three reporters to take to New York, 2 P.M. came too off Pilot Town when we commenced coaling, sent our wounded boy F. Fincke ashore to the Hospital, finished coaling at 6 P.M., remained at anchor all night.

Another image showing Samuel Massa, seated second from left, together with other naval officers, identified only as, standing, left to right: Ferguson, unknown, Sullivan, and seated, left to right, Newcomb, Massa, Jones and Binder.
(Courtesy: Samuel Massa Papers, Syracuse University Library, Department of Special Collections.)

(The preceding excepts were transcribed from the Diary of Samuel Massa, who served as Paymaster's Clerk aboard the USS Cayuga. Massa was born in Brooklyn, New York, on September 17, 1842. He was appointed into that position on January 13, 1862, serving as the clerk to Paymaster J.W. Whiffen. At a later date during the war he also served aboard the USS Great Western and in November, 1865, he was transferred to the Boston Navy Yard. German-born Frederick Otto Gustav Fincke, who is mentioned several times in the diary entries, was sent home, for recuperation after having his left leg amputated. He was appointed a Mate in the Navy on June 1, 1864, but had his appointment revoked on September 27, 1865, for "conduct unbecoming an officer." Some years after the war he moved to Australia, living in Melbourne, and then Adelaide, where he passed away in dire circumstances on September 29, 1893. The text has been lightly edited and some spelling errors corrected for clarity. The article was originally printed in the now defunct ENSIGN newsletter, a privately printed newsletter dedicated to the Union and Confederate Navies. The original diary is held in the Samuel Massa Papers, Syracuse University Library, Department of Special Collections in the State of New York. All images in this article and the excepts from the diary have been used with the kind permission of the Library, and especially Carolyn A. Davis.)

© Terry Foenander.

September, 2001.