The ocean -- "The building of great ships" -- The master of Badger's Island -- The wreck of the William Badger -- The town that made shoes -- The Bonney journal -- The Bliss journal -- Deck wallopers and blubber-room hands -- The harbor -- Unfit for service -- Hampton Roads coal hulk -- "Contrabands of war" -- The capture of Beaufort -- "The sound of the last trumpet" -- Wartime storeship -- The scandal -- The Fort Fisher campaign -- The last watch -- Appendix: post William Badger profiles.