I have a letter from my great-great uncle, John Young, enscribed,

"Board US Ship Cumberland
Norfolk April 19th 1861
Dear Brother in law"

In it, he states,"we have our big guns loaded with powder and shell to give the Succenonists [sic] a warm reception[.] some of our Officers are resigning[.] our flag officers told them all might go that did not want to stop might go [.] he said he had a brave set of men and he intended to stand by them as long as he was able he said if the Succenonists [sic] take the Yard he intended to blow up every thing and Building in the Yard and then blow up the City and then he would sink the Ship and every ship in the Yard before he will give the Succenonists the satisfaction of having any use to them[.]

Young was apparently on board the Cumberland thru April 1862. He then joined the 10th Mass Batt'y. After the war he returned to the Navy and served on the USS Tusacarora on the Pacific survey.

tk