 September 1 I went out in a boat, found one conch, caught some fish, picked up 8 mickimocks September 2 I am on guard today, 2nd relief. Have 9 men in daytime & 14 at night. September 3 I was relieved this morning at guard mount. Came in quarters & shaved 6 men. 2 prisoners went out in a boat yesterday by permission of Capt. Prentice & have not returned yet this morning.  September 4 In my quarters today, bathing and repairing my clothes. The weather is rainy and very windy. September 5 The Steamer Convoy arrived here today with a large mail. I received 4 letters one from Father & 3 from wife and 6 papers. Answered wife’s letter. September 6 I went over to Hay Island and gathered some small shells. After dark I wrote a letter to father. [For more info about the Dry Tortugas area that includes names of the keys, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_Tortugas] September 7 The Schooner Nonpareil arrive here today with some mail. I received a letter from wife dated August 24 & mailed Aug 28th.  September 8 While second relief was on post this morning officer I caught T. R. Smith & H. Smith and Dickinson sitting. Put them in guard house and tied Dickinson to a tree. [Harmon Smith, age 35, enlisted August 1862 to serve three years, mustered out with company September 20, 1865 at Fort Jefferson, FL. Thompson R. Smith, age 28, enlisted to serve three years and mustered in January 1864, mustered out with company November 1865 in Tallahassee, FL. Jesse Dickinson, age 44, enlisted in 1864 at Baldwin NY to serve one year; mustered out with company, September 20, 1865 at Fort Jefferson, FL. Source: https://dmna.ny.gov/historic/reghist/civil/rosters/Infantry/161st_Infantry_CW_Roster.pdf] September 9 It commenced raining about midnight with strong wind. Has resulted in a severe storm. September 10 It is raining very fast & the wind blows outrageously. I wrote wife a letter & mailed it. September 11 The weather continues stormy. I am in my quarters. Have slept nearly all day  September 12 About 4 o'clock this morning, the Steamer McMuler & the New Jersey came in. With ??? & some colored transfer to relieve. Used this post. September 13 Our regiment doesn't furnish any quarrels today. The 82nd U.S. ??? takes command of the Fort today. September 14 Our men arrived from Reg West today.aboard the McC??. The 3 year recruits are expected to go to Tallahassee today. September 15 The 161st regiment is idle for once, except the officers - they are making out their final statements.  September 16 I got a pass & 11 of us went over to Loggerhead Island. It was so rough that 5 of us stayed all night and the rest of the boys put back to the Fort. September 17 The wind is not so high this morning. We hired 2 men to fetch us over to the fort. Gave $2.50 (about $35.00). Had a nice sail; only Joe got wet. September 18 The Schooner Ringgold arrived here today from N.Y. with gun carriages & ammunition. Chet Welch, Hamlin Parks & me went out in boat on the Bay. [Gun carriages are frames and mounts that support the gun barrel of an artillery piece allowing it to be maneuvered and fired. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_carriage] September 19 I have been in my quarters all day. Have barbered some & made some trinkets. We expect to muster out [of] the U. S. Service tomorrow.  September 20 The Old Soldiers and the one-year men of the Hundred and Sixty First Regiment [were] mustered out of the U. S. Service today by Capt. Robison of the 10th U.S. C.I? September 21 I have purchased an overcoat & washed it today. We are expecting a boat here to take us to N. Y. September 22 There is no boat yet today. There is a great deal of uneasiness here. I have dried my coat today & patched it. September 23 The wind is blowing very hard this morning. The water is rough.  September 24 The U.S. Steamer T. A. Scott arrived here this morning laden with Quartermaster stores. Our Regiment worked until 12 o’clock at night unloading her. September 25 We are preparing to get on the boat. 11am, I am detailed for guard. At 2pm the Regiment got on board the Steamer T. A. Scott. At 4pm we left Fort Jefferson for Key West. September 26 We arrived in Key West harbor at o.c. this morning & anchored. At sunrise went in by wharf & spent the day in unloading a 300 pound Parrot gun. September 27 We hoisted some gun carriage out the ship this morning & then went to coal up. Took on 120 tons and started away from Key West at 5:30 pm.  September 28
We are sailing about 8 knots an hour; this morning the water is quite rough. Some of the boys [are] casting up accounts [vomiting]. 4 o’clock the sea is very rough. September 29 The wind has blown a gale all night and continues yet this morn. It is so rough we can’t stand on deck. There is a sailing ship one half mile to our windward. 5pm the weather is milder. September 30 The sea is calm today. We arrived in the harbor at Port Royal [South Carolina] about noon and [were] quarantined by a sauerkraut Dutchman. He ordered us to remain in quarantine 30 days. [“Sauerkraut Dutchman” was a derogatory term for a German person.]
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