Mr. Perkins now became executive officer, a fine position at that day
for one of his years.

Making the homeward run in thirty-six days, the officers and men
dispersed to their homes for a brief respite before entering upon the
stern duties that awaited them, and Mr. Perkins had the satisfaction of
receiving his commission as master.

Recruiting his shattered health for a short time at his welcoming home,
he was ordered as executive officer of the Cayuga, one of the so-called
ninety-day gunboats, carrying a battery of one eleven-inch Dahlgren gun,
a twenty pounder Parrott rifle, and two twenty-four pounder howitzers,
and commanded by Lieutenant-Commanding N.B. Harrison, a loyal Virginian,
who had wavered never a moment as to his duty when his State threw down
the gauntlet of rebellion.

The exigencies of the war had soon exhausted the lists of regular
officers and the few thousand seamen that had been trained in the
service, and large drafts of officers and men were made upon the
merchant marine as well as big hauls of green landsmen who had never
dreamt of salt water; and First Lieutenant Perkins, as the only regular
officer on board except the captain, soon found himself an exceeding
busy man in organizing, disciplining, drilling, and shaping into place
and routine, some ninety officers and men, all equally new to man-of-war
life and methods, and requiring the necessary time and instruction to
fit them for their new duties. A fair soldier may be made in three
months--a good seaman not in three years.

The vessel was ordered to join Farragut's fleet in the Gulf, but, with
the usual delays incident to new ships, did not get off from New York