1:30
Under date of July 19th , one of the crew states in his private diary : `` Clear ship for action again . This is a very pretty drill , and is much liked by the boys , as it includes sending all the mess gear and provisions below , where most of them are usually ` pinched . ' Clear ship for action always means an exchange of undesirable mess gear , such as broken benches , tables , etc. . General quarters at 1:30 ; fired two shots at an invisible target with smokeless powder . Great success , this new powder . If we had only been provided with it before , every living Spaniard would have trembled at the word ` Yankee ' ! '' `` What are we doing all this clear ship , general quarters , fire drill , and such business for ? ''