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Transcriber's Note:
Inconsistent hyphenation and inconsistant spelling in the original document have been preserved.
Obvious typographical errors have been corrected in this text.For a complete list, please see the end of this document.
This short history is an amplification of a diary kept by the authorduring the late war, which amplification, through the courtesy of theeditor, was published as a series of papers in 'Blackwood's Magazine.'The author is well aware of the shortcomings of his work, which hepresents to the public in all humility, after asking pardon from suchof the performers on his stage as may see through the slight veil ofanonymity in which it has been attempted to enshroud them. If anyshould think the few criticisms which have crept into the text unjust,will they bear in mind that the regimental officer has suffered, insilence, much for the [vi]sins of others. It is the author's convictionthat cases were rare when the ship did not sail true enough: in thebeginning she may have badly wanted cleaning below the water line, butshe never failed to answer her helm. It was more often the man at thehelm than the sailing quality of the vessel that was at fault, and themarvel is that she was of sufficiently tough construction to be ableto stand the stress incurred by indifferent seamanship.