Who pays the sailors?
The Harriet Lane
From The New-York Times July 18, 1861:
THE UNITED STATES STEAMER HARRIET LANE.
This steamer is now undergoing thorough repairs in her machinery and armament, and will be ready for sea in a week. The families of a number of her crew complain greatly of the delay which there has been in paying off. It is now four months since the crew of this vessel has been paid off — the men always having received their pay monthly. Indeed they shipped with that understanding. It seriously incommodes them. The wife of one of the men has been turned into the street for non-payment of her rent, and others are in as destitute a condition. It appears to be a matter of “red tape.” The ship belongs to the revenue service, and has been loaned to the Navy. On application for funds the Collector of the port says they are in the Navy, and when calling on the Naval Paymaster he says she belongs to the Revenue; and thus between them the families of the crew are in want. This is all wrong. The ship has done excellent service the past three months having been several times in action, and the men should at least receive their pay, if not be rewarded.
USRC (USS) Harriet Lane was part of the failed expedition to resupply Fort Sumter in April, 1861. She would definitely see more Civil War service.
Chaleston from the Harriet Lane (LOC - LC-DIG-ppmsca-22528)
