War diary and letters of Stephen Minot Weld.

Monday, November 4. — A beautiful calm day. We sailed in a southerly direction, and came in sight of about 30 of the fleet at anchor about 10 miles off Port Royal. Several of the gunboats were engaged in sounding the channel, making reconnoissances, etc. I went on board the Oriental and Atlantic. We had orders to start for the Ocean Express and find her, as she had all the powder and ammunition on board. Just as we were under weigh, we heard cannon firing, and saw our gunboats firing at what we suppose were three rebel gunboats. I could not see anything very distinctly. It was very provoking to go off just as we supposed the fight was to begin, but such were our orders, and we had to obey them. It would have been a beautiful day to land troops, as the sea was as calm as a mill-pond. We struck one of our coal schooners in the evening, but did not hurt her any. Saw nothing of the Ocean Express.