He asked me how long I had been at sea, where I was born and brought up, whether I had a father and mother living, and how I would like to sail with him in that man-of-war brig. I told him that was just what I wanted. Calling in at an office near the gate, he wrote and gave me a paper, telling me that if I could get my mother to sign it, I could go. After a great deal of coaxing and many promises I persuaded her to sign the paper. I went on board the brig the next morning, and we sailed in the afternoon.
When a few days at sea, the purser ordered me to sign the ship’s articles. I refused. Then, being ordered to sign them by the captain, I made my mark, as I was unable to write at the time. We had on board Commodore Woolseley, Captain Shubrick, and Captain Stringham. We visited the West India Islands and touched at some of the southern ports. On our return we encountered a very heavy gale off Hatteras, and lost two of our bow guns overboard. As I was lashing a hen-coop forward, the brig shipped a heavy sea, and I was washed out overboard through one port, and back, by chance, through another.
On our arrival at Norfolk we were transferred on board the receiving-ship Java. The frigate Brandywine was being fitted out for the Mediterranean station, and we were told that we must re-enter the service and go on board of her, or be discharged. All hands took their discharge. Mine read as follows: "This is to certify that Charlie Erskine, coxswain, is regularly discharged from the sea service of the United States and from the U. S. ship Java." [Signed] E. B. Boutwell, Lieutenant, March, 1837.
