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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/13163-0.txt b/13163-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7f14fdf --- /dev/null +++ b/13163-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,14529 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13163 *** + +[Illustration: RAPHAEL SEMMES.] + +THE CRUISE OF THE ALABAMA AND THE SUMTER. + +FROM THE PRIVATE JOURNALS AND OTHER PAPERS OF COMMANDER R. SEMMES, +C.S.N. AND OTHER OFFICERS. + +Two Volumes in One. + +NEW YORK: + +MDCCCLXIV. + +Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1864, by + +GEO. W. CARLETON, + +in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the +Southern District of New York. + + + + +ADVERTISEMENT + +_TO THE LONDON EDITION._ + + +The following account of the cruise of the two Confederate States +steamers--Sumter and Alabama--is taken from the private journals and +other papers of Captain Semmes. It has been found necessary occasionally +to adopt a narrative form, but the endeavour has been throughout to +adhere as closely as possible to that officer's own words. + +Information has also been most kindly afforded by other officers of the +two vessels, and especially Lieutenant R.F. Armstrong, and Master's Mate +G. Townley Fullam, from whose private journals and other papers much +valuable assistance has been obtained. + +A good deal of controversy has arisen respecting the legality of the +course pursued by the Alabama, in the case of certain vessels claiming +to carry a neutral cargo. In all these cases, however, great care was +taken by Captain Semmes to enter in his journal full particulars of the +claims, and of the grounds on which it was refused admission. These +cases will be found quoted in full in the following volumes. + + + + +CRUISE OF + +THE ALABAMA AND THE SUMTER. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +_The Question at issue--An unexpected point of attack--Captain +Semmes--The President's instructions--Creating a navy--From the old to +the new--An important mission--Appointed to the Sumter--True character +of the Confederate "pirate."_ + + +The President of the American States in Confederation was gathering an +army for the defence of Southern liberty. Where valour is a national +inheritance, and an enthusiastic unanimity prevails, this will not prove +a difficult task. It is otherwise with the formation of a navy. Soldiers +of Southern blood had thrown up their commissions in a body; but sailors +love their ships as well as their country, and appear to owe some +allegiance to them likewise. Nevertheless, if Mr. Davis had not a great +choice of officers, he had eminent men to serve him, as the young +history of the South has abundantly shown. To obtain experienced and +trusty seamen was easier to him in such a crisis than to give them a +command. The Atlantic and the ports of America were ruled at that time +absolutely by President Lincoln. The South had not a voice upon the sea. +The merchants of New York and Boston looked upon the war as something +which concerned them very little. Not a dream of any damage possibly to +be inflicted on them, disturbed the serenity of their votes for the +invasion of the South. Their fleets entered harbour proudly; their +marine swam the ocean unmolested. Though there was war imminent, the +insurance offices were content to maintain their terms upon a peace +standard. What, indeed, was to be feared? The South had not a single +vessel. Here and there a packet-steamer might be caught up and armed, +but what would they avail against such fleet and powerful ships as the +Brooklyn, the Powhattan, and dozens of others? There was, then, a +condition of perfect security, according to the ideas of all American +commercial men. The arrangement, as they understood it, was that they +were to strike the blow, and that no one was to give them the value in +return. + +It happened that Mr. Davis was of another mind. He perceived where a +blow could be struck, on his part, with terrible emphasis, and how. The +obstacles in his way were colossal; but we have learnt that obstacles do +not appal his indomitable genius. On the 14th February, 1861, Captain +Semmes, being then at his residence in the city of Washington, a +Commander in the Federal navy, received the following telegram from +Montgomery:-- + + SIR,--On behalf of the Committee on Naval Affairs, I beg + leave to request that you will repair to this place at your earliest + convenience. + + Your obedient servant, + + C.M. CONRAD, _Chairman_. + +The selection of Captain Semmes for the first hazardous service, +whatsoever it might be, was due to his reputation and patriotism, as +well as to the sagacity of the Confederate chief. He had already, in a +letter to the Hon. Alexander H. Stephens, expressed his willingness to +fight for the South: "his judgment, his inclinations, and his +affections," all hurrying him, as he says, to link his fate with the +first movement of the South. "My fate," he pursues, "is cast with the +South; but I should be unwilling, unless invited, to appear to thrust +myself upon the new Government _until my own State_ has moved." This was +at that time the feeling of many border statesmen. In another letter to +Mr. Curry he had exposed sound practical views of the situation of the +Confederates, as regards their marine, for defence and means of +inflicting damage on their opponents. + +Captain Semmes at once replied that he would attend upon the committee +immediately. His next act was respectfully to resign his commission as +Commander in the Navy of the United States; which resignation was +accepted in the same terms. He ceased similarly to be a member of the +Lighthouse Board. These matters concluded, he telegraphed to the Hon. +J.L.M. Curry, in Montgomery, where the Confederate States' Congress was +sitting, that he was now a free man to serve his struggling country. +Forthwith he was deputed by President Davis to return to the Northern +States, and make large purchases and contracts "for machinery and +munitions, or for the manufacture of arms and munitions of war;" as also +to obtain "cannon and musket-powder, the former of the coarsest grain," +and to engage with a certain proprietor of powder-mills for the +"establishment of a powder-mill at some point in the limits of our +territory." This letter gives a good idea of the business-like qualities +brought by Mr. Davis to his high office. "At the arsenal at Washington," +he writes, "you will find an artificer named Wright, who has brought the +cap-making machine to its present state of efficiency, and who might +furnish a cap-machine, and accompany it, to explain its operations." +Throughout the letter, which is full of minute instructions and weighty +commissions, Mr. Davis shows the fullest confidence in the loyalty and +fitness of the man in whom he placed trust. + +Captain Semmes was engaged in the performance of these immediate duties, +when a confidential communication from Mr. S.R. Mallory, of the Navy +department, gave him warning of two or more steamers, of a class desired +for present service, which might be purchased at or near New +York--"steamers of speed, light draught, and strength sufficient for at +least one heavy gun." + +"The steamers are designed to navigate the waters and enter the bays and +inlets of the coast from Charleston to the St. Mary's, and from Key West +to the Rio Grande, for coast defences;" and Captain Semmes' judgment +will need no further guide when he is told that "their speed should be +sufficient to give them at all times the ability to engage or to evade +an engagement, and that an 8 or 10-inch gun, with, perhaps, two 32, or, +if not, two of smaller calibre, should constitute their battery." + +The Captain's appointment as Commander in the Navy of the Confederate +States, and taking of the oaths, followed in April. On the 18th of that +month, Mr. Mallory detached him from the post he held, by appointment +from the President, of Chief of the Lighthouse Bureau, with orders that +he should proceed to New Orleans and take command of the steamer Sumter. +Captain Semmes saw clearly that war was coming. He perceived, at the +same time, the means by which he could serve his country best. He set +forth for New Orleans without delay. + +Our readers will see, by-and-by, from the quotations we shall make from +the Captain's Log, that he is as little the hungry fire-eater which many +of his admirers suppose him to be, as he is the Black Pirate of the New +York press. Captain Semmes is a native of Charles county, in Maryland, a +State that has furnished numerous patriotic citizens to the South. +Before accepting his new service he had taken honourable farewell of his +old. The Federals had no charge to bring against him before the day when +he stepped on the deck of the then unknown and insignificant Sumter +steam-vessel. What they may have said later is of no particular +consequence; nor can it be thought to be greatly to the discredit of +Captain Semmes that they have cried out loudly, and as men in pain. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +_The Sumter formerly the Savannah packet-ship--Captain Semmes joins and +assumes command--Altering the vessel--Vexatious delays--The war +begins--The river blockaded--Crew of the Sumter--Dropping down the +river--An attempt--No pilots--Vigorous action--Sumter still at her +anchors--Lamps removed from lighthouses--More enemy's ships--Orders on +board the Sumter--False hopes--The 30th of June--A courageous pilot--The +escape of the Sumter--The chase--The enemy baffled._ + + +The little vessel which now constituted the whole strength of the +Confederate navy, was a merchant screw-steamer of 501 tons burthen. She +had been hitherto known as the Havannah, and had plied as a packet-ship +between the port of that name and New Orleans. She was now to be +extemporized into a man-of-war, and in her new guise was to achieve a +world-wide celebrity, and to play no unimportant part in the great +struggle between North and South. + +Arrived in New Orleans, Captain Semmes at once proceeded, in company +with Lieutenant Chapman, to inspect his new command--of which he speaks +with evident satisfaction as a "staunch and well-built" vessel. In her +then condition, however, she was by no means fitted for her new duties; +and he accordingly devoted all his energies towards effecting the +alterations necessary for that purpose. The first step was to +disencumber her decks of the long range of upper cabins, thus materially +increasing her buoyancy as a sea-boat, and diminishing the area exposed +to the enemy's shot and shell. Then a berth-deck was laid for the +accommodation of officers and crew, and the main deck renewed and +strengthened to carry the heavy 8-inch shell-gun, mounted on a pivot +between the fore and mainmasts, and the four 24 pounder howitzers of 13 +cwt. each, to be mounted as a broadside battery. Additional coal-bunkers +were also constructed, and a magazine and shell-room built in a suitable +position, and these and a few other less important changes effected, the +transformation was complete, and the little Sumter ready to proceed upon +her work of devastation. + +It must not, however, be imagined that all this was done without many +and vexatious delays. The emergency had found the new Confederation +altogether unprepared, and trouble and confusion were the inevitable +result. Hitherto, everything had been done by the North. Up to the very +last moment it had been believed that the separation of the two sections +would be peaceably effected; and now the necessary works had to be +hastily carried out by civilian workmen, under the direction of a +department, itself as yet but provisionally and most imperfectly +organized. + +Sorely tried by the delays consequent upon this condition of affairs, +Captain Semmes commences his Diary as follows:-- + +"_New Orleans, May 24th_.--A month has elapsed since I began the +preparation of the Sumter for sea, and yet we are not ready. Leeds +and Co. have not given us our tanks, and we only received the +carriage of the 8-inch gun to-day. The officers are all present, +and the crew has been shipped, and all are impatient to be off. The +river is not yet blockaded, but expected to be to-morrow. It must +be a close blockade, and by heavy vessels, that will keep us in. +Troops are being collected in large numbers in the enemy's States, +marchings and counter-marchings are going on; and the fleet seems +to be kept very busy, scouring hither and thither, but nothing +accomplished. Whilst penning the last paragraph, news reaches us +that the Lincoln Government has crossed the Potomac and invaded +Virginia! Thus commences a bloody and a bitter war. So be it; we +but accept the gauntlet which has been flung in our faces. The +future will tell a tale worthy of the South and of her noble +cause." + +But the delays were not yet over. On the 27th May, the United States +steamer Brooklyn made her appearance, and commenced the blockade of the +river. The following day brought the powerful frigates Niagara and +Minnesota to her assistance; and when on the 1st of June Captain Semmes +began at length to look hopefully seawards, the Powhattan was discovered +carefully watching the only remaining exit from the river. + +One by one, however, the difficulties were fairly overcome, and the +infant navy of the Confederate States was ready to take the sea. The +Sumter's crew consisted of Captain Semmes, commanding, four lieutenants, +a paymaster, a surgeon, a lieutenant of marines, four midshipmen, four +engineers, boatswain, gunner, sail-maker, carpenter, captain's and +purser's clerks, twelve marines, and seventy-two seamen. Thus manned and +equipped, she dropped down the river on the 18th June, and anchored off +the Barracks for the purpose of receiving on board her ammunition and +other similar stores. From thence she again proceeded on the same +evening still lower down the river to Forts Philip and Jackson, where +she brought up on the following day, to await a favourable opportunity +for running the blockade. + +For three days she remained at her new anchorage, this period of +enforced inactivity being diligently employed in drilling and exercising +the crew, and bringing the vessel generally into somewhat better order +than her hurried equipment had as yet permitted her to assume. On the +21st June, however, intelligence was received that the Powhattan had +left her station in chase of two vessels, and that a boat from the +Brooklyn had passed into the river, and was making for the telegraph +station. Captain Semmes at once decided to avail himself of this +opportunity to escape to sea, and getting up steam, proceeded to Pass à +L'Outre, and despatched one of his boats to the lighthouse for a pilot. + +Here, however, an unexpected difficulty occurred. The light-house-keeper +replied that he knew nothing of the pilots, and the Sumter was +accordingly compelled again to bring up, whilst the Confederate +privateer Ivy ran down, at Captain Semmes' request, to the South-west +Pass, to endeavour to procure a pilot for her there. This expedition, +however, met with no better success, and the Ivy returned with the +information that the pilots refused to take charge of the vessel. A +further despatch was addressed to Captain Semmes, from the Captain of +the House of Pilots, to the effect that "no pilots were now on duty." + +It now became necessary to act with vigour, and the Ivy was accordingly +again despatched to the South-west Pass. This time, however, she carried +with her the first lieutenant of the Sumter, with the following +peremptory message to the Master of the Pilot Association to repair +immediately on board, and instructions, if any hesitation were evinced +in complying with this command, to arrest the entire body and bring them +off:-- + + C.S. steamer Sumter, Head of the Passes + June 22nd, 1861. + +SIR,--This is to command you to repair on board this ship with three or +four of the most experienced pilots of the Bar. I am surprised to learn +that an unwillingness has been expressed by some of the pilots of your +Association to come on board the Sumter, and my purpose is to test the +fact of such disloyalty to the Confederate States. If any man disobey +this summons, I will not only have his Branch taken away from him, but I +will send an armed force and arrest and bring him on board. I have the +honour to be, + + Very respectfully, + + Your obedient Servant, + + (Signed) R. SEMMES. + +This extreme measure, however, was not found necessary. The mere threat +was sufficient, and on the following day the master, with several of his +pilots, made their appearance on board the Sumter. After a brief +consultation with Captain Semmes, they one and all, with the exception +of the master, expressed their willingness to take the vessel to sea, +and thereupon the captain, selecting one of the number for this service, +permitted the remainder to depart. + +Meanwhile, however, the golden opportunity had been lost; the Powhattan +had returned to her station, and the harbour was again hermetically +sealed. The Sumter, therefore, was again compelled to return to her +anchors, and eight more days passed wearily away without affording +another opportunity of evasion. The interval of expectation, however, +was again occupied in drilling and exercising the crew, which was now +beginning to get into good working order; measures being also taken for +extinguishing and removing the lamps from the lighthouses at Pass à +L'Outre and the South Pass, Captain Semmes addressing to the Navy +Department at Richmond the following letter upon the subject:-- + + C.S. steamer Sumter, Head of the Passes, + Miss. River, June 30th, 1861. + +SIR,--I have the honour to inform the department that I am still at my +anchors at the "Head of the Passes," the enemy closely investing both of +the practicable outlets. At Pass à L'Outre there are three ships--the +Brooklyn and another propeller, and a large side-wheel steamer; and at +the South-west Pass there is the Powhattan, lying within half-a-mile of +the Bar, and not stirring an inch from her anchors night or day. I am +only surprised that the Brooklyn does not come up to this anchorage, +which she might easily do (as there is water enough, and no military +precautions whatever have been taken to hold it), and thus effectually +seal all the passes of the river by her presence alone, which would +enable the enemy to withdraw the remainder of his blockading force for +use elsewhere. With the assistance of the Jackson and McRae (neither of +which has yet dropped down), I could probably hold my position here +until an opportunity offered of my getting to sea. I shall watch +diligently for such an opportunity, and have no doubt that, sooner or +later, it will present itself. I found, upon dropping down to this +point, that the lights at Pass à L'Outre and South Pass had been +strangely overlooked, and that they were still burning. I caused them +both to be extinguished, so that if bad weather should set in, the +blockading vessel will have nothing "to hold on to," and will be obliged +to make an offing. At present the worst feature of the blockade is that +the Brooklyn has the speed of me, so that, even though I should run the +bar, I could not hope to escape her unless I surprised her, which, with +her close watch of the Bar, at anchor near to, both night and day, it +will be exceedingly difficult to do. I should be quite willing to try +speed with the Powhattan if I could hope to run the gauntlet of her guns +without being crippled; but unfortunately, with all the buoys and other +marks removed, there is a perfectly blind bar except by daylight. In the +meantime I am drilling my gun-crew to a proper use of the great guns and +small arms. With the exception of diarrhoea which is prevailing to some +extent, brought on by too free a use of the river water in the excessive +heats which prevail, the crew continue healthy. + + * * * * * +I have the honour to be, &c., &c., + +(Signed) R. SEMMES. + +Hon. G.E. Mallory, Secretary of the Navy, Richmond, Virginia. + +The following orders were also issued:-- + +"_Orders to be Observed on Board the C.S. Steamer Sumter_." + +"1. The deck will never be left without a lieutenant, except that in +port a midshipman may be assigned to keep the first lieutenant's watch." + +"2. The quarter-deck will at all times be regarded as a place of parade, +and no sitting or lounging will be permitted thereon. For the purposes +of this order all the spar deck abaft the mainmast will be regarded as +the quarter-deck." + +"3. Officers will wear their uniforms at all times when on board ship, +and when on shore on duty." + +"4. No officer will remain out of the ship after ten P.M. without the +special permission of the commander." + +"5. Each division of guns will be exercised at least three times a week; +and there will be an exercise at general quarters twice a week, viz., on +Tuesdays and Fridays." + +"6. The crew will be mustered at quarters for inspection every morning +at nine o'clock (except Sundays), and every evening at sunset." + +"7. On Sundays there will be a general muster for inspection at eleven +A.M., when the officers will appear in undress with epaulettes." + +"8. The chief engineer is to keep the commander informed at all times +(through the first lieutenant) of the condition of his engines, boilers, +&c.; and he is to see that his assistants, &c., are punctual and +zealous in the performance of their duties, and report such as fail +therein to the first lieutenant." + +"9. There will be an engineer at all times on watch in the engine-room +when the ship is under steam, and the engineer on watch will report +every two hours to the officer of the deck how the engines are working, +&c." + +"10. The marine officer will drill his guard once every day when the +weather is suitable, and the duty of the ship does not interfere +therewith." + +"11. The firemen will be exercised once a week, when the pumps, hose, +&c., are to be adjusted, and used as in case of actual fire." + +On the morning of the 29th of June hopes were again excited by a report +from the pilot that the Brooklyn had left her station; and steam being +got up with all speed on board the Sumter, she again dropped down to +Pass à l'Outre, but only to find that the report had been fallacious. +The Brooklyn was still at anchor, though a slight change of berth had +placed her behind the shelter of a mass of trees. Once more, therefore, +the Sumter was brought to an anchor; but on the day following, her +patient waiting was rewarded by the long-looked-for opportunity. On the +morning of the 30th of June the Brooklyn was again reported under way +and in chase of a vessel to leeward; and no sooner was the fact of her +departure fairly verified than steam was got up for the last time, and +the little Sumter dashed boldly across the bar, and stood out to sea. + +Almost at the last moment, however, it seemed as though the attempt to +escape were again to be baffled by difficulties on the part of the +pilot. The man on board of the Sumter lost courage as the moment of +trial came, and professed his inability to take the vessel through the +pass thus left free by the departure of the Brooklyn, alleging as his +excuse that he had not passed through it for more than three months. +Happily the man's cowardice or treachery produced no ill effects; for, +as the Sumter dropped down the river on her way towards the open sea, +another pilot came gallantly off to her in his little boat, and +volunteered to carry her through the Pass. + +The Sumter had not reached within six miles of the bar when her +movements were perceived from the Brooklyn, which at once relinquished +the far less valuable prize on which she had been hitherto intent; and, +changing her course, headed at top speed towards the bar, in hopes of +cutting the Sumter off before she could reach it. The narrow opening +through the bar, distant about six miles from either of the opposing +vessels, now became the goal of a sharp and exciting race. The Sumter +had the advantage of the stream: but the Brooklyn was her superior in +speed, and moreover, carried guns of heavier calibre and longer range. +At length the Pass is reached; and dashing gallantly across it, the +little Sumter starboards her helm and rounds the mud-banks to the +eastward! As she does so the Brooklyn rounds to for a moment and gives +her a shot from her pivot gun. But the bolt falls short; and now the +race begins in earnest! + +The chase had not continued long, when a heavy squall of wind and rain +came up and hid the pursuing vessel from sight; but it soon passed away, +and the Brooklyn was again descried astern, under all sail and steam, +and evidently gaining upon her little quarry. On this the Sumter was +hauled two points higher up, thus bringing the wind so far forward that +the Brooklyn was no longer able to carry sail. And now the chase in her +turn began to gain upon her huge pursuer. But she was now in salt water, +and her boilers were beginning to "prime" furiously. It was necessary to +slacken speed for a time, and as she did so the Brooklyn again recovered +her advantage. Then gradually the foaming in the Sumter's boilers +ceased, and she was again put to her speed. The utmost pressure was put +on; the propeller began to move at the rate of sixty-five revolutions a +minute, and the Brooklyn once more dropped slowly but steadily astern. +At length she gave up the chase, and at four o'clock in the afternoon, +just four hours after crossing the bar, the crew of the Sumter gave +three hearty cheers as her baffled pursuer put up her helm, and, +relinquishing the chase, turned sullenly back to her station at the +mouth of the river. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +_Beginning the cruise--The first prize the Golden Rocket--The capture +burnt--The Cuba and Machias--Cienfuegos--The Ben Dunning and Albert +Adams--Three at once: the West Wind, the Naiad, and the Louisa Kilham--A +fleet of prizes--Saluting the Confederate States' flag--At Cuba--Strict +neutrality--A prize agent--The Governor-General of Cuba--Recapture by +the United States--An accident to the commander--A gale--At Curaçao--The +Dutch Governor--An ex-president in difficulties--The Abby +Bradford--Venezuela--An inhospitable port--The Joseph Maxwell--Military +v. naval--Sagacious skipper--Gulf of Bahia_. + + +The Sumter had now fairly commenced her gallant career. The 1st July +dawned bright and fair with, a light breeze from the south-west, and +the little vessel sped through the water at an average speed of about +eight knots an hour. All that day not a sail appeared in sight. Night +settled down in all the calm splendour of the tropic seas, and nothing +disturbed its serenity save the monotonous beating of the Sumter's +propeller as she steered a south-easterly course down the Gulf of +Mexico. The following day brought her safely to Cape Antonio, which she +rounded under sail and steam, and striking the trade-winds, hoisted up +her propeller and stood away towards the west. + +The afternoon of the 3rd July brought the Sumter her first prize. At +about 3 P.M. a sail was descried in shore, beating to windward, and +steering a course that would bring her almost into contact with the +Confederate vessel. To avoid suspicion, no notice was taken of the +stranger until the two vessels had approached within the distance of a +little more than a mile from each other, when a display of English +colours from the Confederate was answered by the stranger with the stars +and stripes of the United States. Down came the St. George's ensign from +the Sumter's peak, to be replaced almost before it had touched the deck +by the stars and bars, which at that time constituted the flag of the +Confederate States. A shot was fired across the bows of the astonished +Yankee, who at once hove-to, and a boat was sent on board to take +possession of the Sumter's first capture. + +The prize proved to be the ship Golden Rocket, from the Yankee State of +Maine--a fine ship of 690 tons burthen, only three years old, and worth +from 30,000 to 40,000 dollars. She Was bound to Cienfuegos in Cuba, but +had no cargo on board, and Captain Semmes, being unwilling at that early +stage of his cruise to spare a prize crew, determined to destroy the +vessel, and after taking the captain and crew on board the Sumter set +the prize on fire and left her to her fate.[1] + +[Footnote 1: "It was about ten o'clock at night when the first glare of +light burst from her cabin-hatch. Few, few on board can forget the +spectacle. A ship set fire to at sea! It would seem that man was almost +warring with his Maker. Her helpless condition, the red flames licking +the rigging as they climbed aloft, the sparks and pieces of burning rope +taken off by the wind and flying miles to leeward, the ghastly glare +thrown upon the dark sea as far as the eye could reach, and then the +death-like stillness of the scene--all these combined to place the +Golden Rocket on the tablet of our memories for ever. But, +notwithstanding the reluctance with which we did it, we would not have +missed the opportunity for anything on earth. We wanted no war--we +wanted peace; we had dear friends among those who were making war upon +us, and for their sakes, if not for the sake of humanity, we hoped to be +allowed to separate in peace; but it could not be; they forced the war +upon us--they endeavoured to destroy us. For this, and for this alone, +we burn their ships and destroy their commerce. We have no feeling of +enmity against them, and all we ask is to be let alone--to be allowed to +tread the path we have chosen for ourselves."--"_Cruise of the +Sumter_," from the "_Index_" May 1st, 1862.] + + +The following day saw two more prizes fall into the Sumter's hands. +These were the brigantines Cuba and Machias, both of Maine. The captures +were taken in tow and carried off in the direction of Cienfuegos. The +next day, however, the Cuba broke adrift from her hawser, and on being +recovered, a prize crew was sent on board the vessel, with directions to +carry her into Cienfuegos, for which port Captain Semmes was now shaping +his course. + +Arrived off that harbour on the evening of the same day, it was found +too late to attempt to enter, and two more vessels being descried in the +offing, the Machias was cast off, with orders to lay-to until the +morning, and the Sumter started off in chase. On coming up with the two +vessels, at about half-past nine o'clock, they proved to be the United +States brigantines, Ben Dunning and Albert Adams. They were at once +taken possession of, and ordered to make the best of their way in charge +of a prize crew to Cienfuegos. + +The night was passed in standing off and on outside the harbour, and +with the earliest dawn preparations were made for running in. The +weather was bright and clear, and the brief twilight of the tropics +flushed rapidly into the full glare of day, and showed to the watchful +eyes on board the Sumter the welcome spectacle of three more vessels +being towed out to sea by a steamer, the stars and stripes floating +gaily from their peaks. Warily and patiently the little Sumter lay in +wait, under the shelter of the land, until the steamer had cast off her +convoy, and the three unsuspecting vessels were fairly beyond the +maritime league from the neutral shore, within which the law of nations +forbids that captures should be made. Then suddenly her decks swarmed +with men, the black smoke poured from her funnel, the sails filled, and +out she came in pursuit. The chase was brief, and ere long the barque +West Wind, the brigantine Naiad, and the barque Louisa Kilham were in +charge of prize crews, and wending their way sadly back to the port they +had so recently left in full expectation of a prosperous voyage. + +So, with her little fleet of prizes, six in all, before her, the Sumter +steered proudly into the harbour of Cienfuegos. As she passed the fort +which guards the entrance, a hail was heard from the shore, accompanied +by the almost simultaneous report of a couple of musket shots fired over +the vessel, for the purpose, apparently, of enforcing the order to bring +up and come to an anchor. The command having been obeyed, a boat was at +once despatched in charge of Lieutenant Evans to call on the Commandant +and ask an explanation of this inhospitable reception. The message was +brought back, that the flag of the new Confederacy had not been +understood by him, and that the vessel had consequently been brought up +in compliance with the standing order that no vessel, whether of war or +otherwise, should be permitted to pass until her nationality had been +ascertained. Explanations, of course, followed, and in the evening came +the Commandant, with the Governor's permission either to land or go to +sea, but accompanied by an intimation that the six prizes would be +detained until instructions could be received from headquarters +concerning them. + +Lieutenant Chapman was now sent on shore with the following despatch for +the Governor, and also to make arrangements for coaling and for the +safety and ultimate disposition of the prizes: + + C.S. Sumter. Cienfuegos, Island of Cuba, + July 6th, 1861. + +Sir,--I have the honour to inform your Excellency of my arrival at the +Port of Cienfuegos with seven prizes of war. These vessels are the +brigantines Cuba, Machias, Ben Dunning, Albert Adams and Naiad; and +barques West Wind and Louisa Kilham, property of citizens of the United +States, which States, as your Excellency is aware, are waging an unjust +and aggressive war upon the Confederate States, which I have the honour, +with this ship under my command, to represent. I have sought a port of +Cuba with these prizes, with the expectation that Spain will extend to +cruisers of the Confederate States the same friendly reception that in +similar circumstances she would extend to the cruisers of the enemy; in +other words, that she will permit me to leave the captured vessels +within her jurisdiction until they can be adjudicated by a Court of +Admiralty of the Confederate States. As a people maintaining a +Government _de facto_, and not only holding the enemy in check, but +gaining advantages over him, we are entitled to all the rights of +belligerents, and I confidently rely upon the friendly disposition of +Spain, who is our near neighbour in the most important of her colonial +possessions, to receive us with equal and even-handed justice, if not +with the sympathy which our unity of interest and policy, with regard to +an important social and industrial institution, are so well calculated +to inspire. A rule which would exclude our prizes from her ports during +the war, although it should be applied in terms equally to the enemy, +would not, I respectfully suggest, be an equitable or just rule. The +basis of such a rule, as, indeed, of all the conduct of a neutral during +war, is equal and impartial justice to all the belligerents; and this +should be a substantial and practical justice, and not exist in delusive +or deceptive terms merely. Now, a little reflection will, I think, show +your Excellency that the rule in question cannot be applied in the +present war without operating with great injustice to the Confederate +States. It is well known to your Excellency that the United States being +a manufacturing and commercial people, whilst the Confederate States +have been thus far almost wholly an agricultural and planting people, +the former had within their limits and control almost the whole naval +force of the old Government, and that they have seized and appropriated +this force to themselves, regardless of the just claims of the +Confederates States to a portion, and a large portion of it, as +tax-payers out of whose contributions it was created. The United States +are thus enabled to blockade all the important ports of the Confederate +States. In this condition of things, observe the practical working of +the rule which I am discussing. + +It must be admitted that we have equal belligerent rights with the +enemy. + +One of the most important of these rights in a war against a commercial +people, is that which I have just exercised, of capturing his property +upon the high seas. But how are the Confederate States to enjoy to its +full extent the benefit of this right, if their cruisers are not +permitted to enter neutral ports with their prizes, and retain them +there in safe custody until they can he condemned and disposed of? + +They cannot send them to their own ports for the reasons already stated. +Except for the purpose of destruction, therefore, their right of capture +would be entirely defeated by the adoption of the rule in question, +whilst the enemy would suffer no inconvenience from it, as all his ports +are open to him. I take it for granted that Spain will not think of +acting upon so unjust and unequal a rule. + +But another question arises, indeed has already arisen, in the cases of +some of the very captures which I have brought into port. The cargoes of +several of the vessels are claimed, as appears by certificates found +among the papers, as Spanish property. + +This fact cannot of course be verified, except by a judicial proceeding +in the Prize Courts of the Confederate States. + +But whilst this fact is being determined, what is to be done with the +property? I have the right to destroy the vessels, but not the cargoes, +in case the latter should prove to be, as claimed, Spanish property--but +how am I to destroy the former, and not the latter? I cannot before +sentence unlade the cargoes and deliver them to the claimants, for I do +not know that the claims will be sustained; and I cannot destroy them, +for I do not know that the claims will not be sustained. + +Indeed, one of the motives which influenced me in seeking a Spanish +port, was the fact that these cargoes were claimed by Spanish subjects, +whom I was desirous of putting to as little inconvenience as possible in +the unlading and reception of their property, after sentence, should it +be restored to them. + +It will be for your Excellency to consider and act upon these grave +questions, touching alike the interests of both our Governments. + +I have the honour to be, &c., &c., + +R. SEMMES. + + His Excellency Don Jose de la Pozuela, + Governor of the City of Cienfuegos, Island of Cuba. + +At eight o'clock on the morning of the 7th July, Lieutenant Chapman +returned, bringing with him Don Isnaga and Don Mariano Dias, two Cuban +gentlemen, warm sympathizers with the Confederate cause. The latter of +these gentlemen was at once appointed prize agent, and after partaking +of the hospitality of the ship, they returned to shore, and the +remainder of the day was spent on board the Sumter in replenishing the +various stores that had begun to run low after her cruise. In the course +of the day about 100 tons of coal and 5000 gallons of water were +shipped, besides a quantity of fresh provisions for the crew; and at +about 10 P.M. an answer arrived from the Governor to the despatch sent +on shore the previous evening by Lieutenant Chapman. + +It stated that the Captain-General of Cuba had given instructions as +follows:-- + +1. No cruiser of either party can bring their prizes into Spanish ports. + +2. If in any captures the territory of Cuba has been violated, the +Spanish courts will themselves judge of the matter. + +3. Any prizes will be detained until instructions can be had from the +Queen. + +These points being ascertained, the prizes already at anchor were left +to the care of the prize agent, Don Dias, and at about midnight the +Sumter hove up her anchor and again proceeded to sea. Nothing had as yet +been seen of the prize brig Cuba, which had been left in charge of a +prize crew a day or two before, nor, indeed, did she ever arrive at the +rendezvous, being recaptured by the enemy, and carried off to the United +States. + +Shortly after leaving Cienfuegos, a sail was descried in the offing, +which, however, on being overhauled, proved to be only a Spanish brig, +and the Sumter accordingly kept on her course, between 9 and 10 P.M. +passing the Cayman Islets, which, Captain Semmes remarks in his journal, +are laid down some fifteen or sixteen miles to the westward of their +real position. Daylight of the 9th July found the little Sumter +struggling against a strong trade wind and heavy sea, off the western +end of Jamaica, the blue mountains of which picturesque island remained +in sight during the entire day. + +At this period an accident occurred which for some time deprived the +Sumter of the active supervision of her commander. Always of delicate +constitution, and ill-fitted for the rough part he had now to play, he +had lately been still further weakened by illness; and on mounting the +companion-ladder, for the purpose of desiring that the vessel might not +be driven at so high a speed against the heavy head-sea, a sudden +giddiness came over him, and after leaning for a few moments with his +head upon his arm, altogether lost consciousness, and fell heavily +backwards down the companion to the cabin floor, where he lay for some +time in a state of insensibility. The result of this fall was some very +serious bruises, with a difficulty in breathing, which for some days +kept him confined to his hammock. At this time, however, the Sumter was +quite out of the ordinary track of commerce, and was labouring slowly +through a heavy sea against the steady and tenacious trade-wind at the +rate of little more than five knots an hour, making terrible inroads +upon the small supply of coal which was so precious to her. + +The 13th July found the trade-wind increased to a regular gale, the +Sumter making literally no way at all against the heavy head-sea. In +this state of affairs it was found necessary to abandon the previous +intention of making for Barbados, as there was not sufficient coal on +board to last the distance. This project, therefore, was given up, the +vessel's head turned from the sea, the fires let down, the ship got +under sail, and a new course shaped for Curaçao. Here it was hoped that +a fresh supply of coal might be obtained, and the little Sumter +staggered along under a press of canvas towards her new destination, the +violent motion causing great distress to the captain, who was still +confined to his cabin, and almost entirely to his hammock. + +On the 15th July, the weather moderated for a time, and a warm sunny +afternoon, with comparatively little sea, gave an interval of rest. The +next morning saw the wind again blowing freshly, but at 9 A.M. land was +seen on the starboard bow, and at four in the afternoon the Sumter +passed the north end of the island of Curaçao, running down the coast to +within about a mile of St. Anne's, where she arrived at a little after +seven o'clock. A gun was fired as a signal for a pilot, and soon after +one came off, promising to return again in the morning, and carry the +vessel into harbour. + +Morning came, and, true to his word, the pilot once more made his +appearance upon deck. But the remainder of his promise he was unable to +fulfil. "The Governor regrets," he said, in reply to Captain Semmes' +inquiries, "that he cannot permit you to enter, he having received +express orders to that effect." A little diplomacy, however, soon +removed the difficulty, which had arisen from the urgent representations +of the United States consul on the previous evening, aided, no doubt, by +a defective description of the vessel from the pilot. Lieutenant Chapman +was sent on shore with the following letter to the Governor:-- + + C.S. steamer Sumter, off St. Anne's, + Curaçao, July 17th, 1861. + +HIS EXCELLENCY GOVERNOR CROL: + +Sir,--I was surprised to receive by the pilot this morning a message +from your Excellency to the effect, that this ship could not be +permitted to enter the harbour unless she was in distress, as your +Excellency had received orders from your Government not to admit vessels +of war of the Confederate States of America to the hospitality of the +ports under your Excellency's command. I must respectfully suggest that +there must be some mistake here, and I have sent to you the bearer, +Lieut. Chapman, C.S. Navy, for the purpose of an explanation. Your +Excellency must be under some misapprehension as to the character of +this vessel. She is a ship of war, duly commissioned by the Government +of the Confederate States, which States have been recognised as +belligerents in the present war by all the leading Powers of +Europe--viz., Great Britain, France, Spain, &c., as your Excellency must +be aware. It is true that these Powers have prohibited both belligerents +from bringing prizes into their several jurisdictions, but no one of +them has made a distinction either between the prizes or the cruisers +themselves of the belligerents, the cruisers of both Governments being +admitted to the hospitalities of the ports of all these great Powers on +terms of perfect equality. Am I to understand from your Excellency that +Holland has adopted a different rule, and that she not only excludes the +prizes, but the ships of war themselves of the Confederate States, and +this at the same time that she admits the cruisers of the United States, +thus departing from her neutrality in this war, ignoring the +Confederate States as belligerents, and aiding and assisting their +enemy? If this he the position which Holland has assumed in this +contest, I pray your Excellency to be kind enough to say as much to me +in writing. + +I have the honour to be, &c., &c. + +(Signed) R. SEMMES. + +Governor Crol, St. Anne's, Curaçao. + + +This explanation removed all difficulties, and by 11 A.M. the requisite +permission had been obtained, and the Sumter was safely at anchor in the +lagoon. + +Here she lay for some days, surrounded by bum-boats filled with +picturesque natives of all colours, chattering like parrots, and almost +as gaudy in their plumage. Meanwhile the crew were hard at work +replenishing the coal-bunkers, filling up wood and water, taking in +fresh provisions, and effecting the necessary repairs after the late +cruise. While thus employed, a visit was received from a Venezuelan, who +in very good English represented himself as a messenger or agent of +President Castro, now in exile at Curaçao with four of his cabinet +ministers. This emissary's object was to negotiate a passage in the +Sumter for Don Castro and some twenty of his officers, with arms, +ammunition, &c., to the mainland opposite. This proposition, however, +Captain Semmes politely but very promptly declined, on the grounds, +firstly, that he was not going in the direction indicated; and secondly, +that if he were, it would be an undue interference on the part of a +neutral with the revolutionary parties now contending for the control of +Venezuela. + +"It was remarked," he writes, "that Castro was the _de jure_ President;" +to which I replied, "that we did not look into these matters, the +opposite party being in _de facto_ possession of the government." + +At Curaçao the Sumter remained until the 24th July, coaling, refitting, +provisioning, and allowing each of her crew in turn a short run on +shore, to recruit his spirits and get rid of his superfluous cash. At +noon on the 24th she was once more under way, leaving behind her, +however, one of her seamen, a worthless fellow of the name of John Orr, +who, enticed away, as was suspected, by a Yankee captain and the Yankee +keeper of a public-house, took the opportunity to make his escape from +the ship. The loss, however, was not of importance; and after one or two +slight attempts to trace him, the Sumter stood out of the harbour and +shaped her course towards Venezuela. + +Daybreak of the 25th July again presented to the eager eyes on board of +the Sumter the welcome apparition of a sail. Chase was immediately +given, and at half-past six the Abby Bradford, from New York to Puerto +Caballo, was duly seized and taken in tow, her Captain proceeding with +her upon her original course towards Puerto Caballo. It was late before +that place was reached, and the night was spent standing off and on +outside the harbour. With the return of day, however, the Sumter ran +once more along the shore; and, without waiting for a pilot, steered +boldly past the group of small, bold-looking islands, and dropped her +anchor in the port. + +No sooner was the anchor down than the following letter was despatched +to the Governor, asking permission to leave the prize until +adjudication:-- + + C.S. steamer Sumter. Puerto Caballo, + July 26th, 1861. + +Sir,--I have the honour to inform your Excellency of my arrival at this +port in this ship, under my command, and with the prize schooner Abby +Bradford, captured by me about seventy miles to the northward and +eastward. The Abby Bradford is the property of citizens of the United +States, with which States, as your Excellency is aware, the Confederate +States, which I have the honour to represent, are at war; and the cargo +would appear to belong also to citizens of the United States, who have +shipped it on consignment to a house in Puerto Caballo. Should any claim +be given, however, for the cargo, or any part of it, the question of +ownership can only be decided by the Prize Courts of the Confederate +States. In the meantime, I have the honour to request that your +Excellency will permit me to leave this prize vessel with her cargo in +the port of Puerto Caballo, until the question of prize can be +adjudicated by the proper tribunals of my country. This will be a +convenience to all parties, as well to any citizen of Venezuela who may +have an interest in the cargo, as to the captors, who have also valuable +interests to protect. + +In making this request, I do not propose that the Venezuelan Government +shall depart from a strict neutrality between the belligerents; as the +same rule it applies to us, it can give the other party the benefit of, +also. In other words, with the most scrupulous regard for the +neutrality, she may admit both belligerents to bring their prizes into +her waters; and of this neither belligerent can complain, since whatever +favour is extended to its enemy is extended also to itself. + +I have an additional and cogent reason for making this request, and that +is, that the rule of exclusion, although it might be applied in terms to +both belligerents, would not operate equally and justly upon them both. +It is well known to your Excellency that the Northern United States +(which are now making an aggressive and unjust war upon the Confederate +States, denying to the latter the right of self-government, which is +fundamental in all republics, and invading their territories for the +purpose of subjugation) are manufacturing and commercial states, whilst +the Confederate States have been thus far agricultural and planting +states; and that, as a consequence of this difference of pursuits, the +former States had in their possession at the commencement of this war +almost all the naval force of the old Government, which they have not +hesitated to seize and appropriate to their own use, although a large +proportion of it belonged of right to the Confederate States, which had +been taxed to create it. + +By means of this naval force, dishonestly seized as aforesaid, the enemy +has been enabled to blockade all the important ports of the Confederate +States. + +This blockade necessarily shuts out the cruisers of the Confederate +States from their own ports, and if foreign Powers shut them out also, +they can make no other use of their prizes than to destroy them. Thus +your Excellency sees that, under the rule of exclusion, the enemy could +enjoy his right of capture to its full extent, his own ports being all +open to him, whilst the cruisers of the Confederate States could enjoy +it _sub modo_ only, that is, for the purpose of destruction. A rule +which would produce such effects as this is not an equal or a just rule +(although it might in terms be extended to both parties); and as +equality and justice are of the essence of neutrality, I take it for +granted that Venezuela will not adopt it. + +On the other hand, the rule admitting both parties alike, with their +prizes, into your ports, until the Prize Courts of the respective +countries can have time to adjudicate the cases as they arrive, would +work equal and exact justice to both; and this is no more than the +Confederate States demand. + +With reference to the present case, as the cargo consists chiefly of +provisions which are perishable, I would ask leave to sell them at +public auction for the benefit of "whom it may concern," depositing the +proceeds with a suitable prize agent until the decision of the court can +be known. With regard to the vessel, I request that she may remain in +the custody of the same agent until condemned and sold. + +I have the honour to be, &c., &c. + +(Signed) R. SEMMES. + + His Excellency the Governor and Military Commander + of Puerto Caballo. + +To this, however, that functionary could not be induced to assent, his +reply being that such a proposition was altogether beyond his province +to entertain, and that the Sumter must take her departure within +four-and-twenty hours. At daylight, therefore, on the 27th, a prize crew +was sent on board of the Abby Bradford, with orders to proceed to New +Orleans, and at six o'clock the Sumter was again outside of the +inhospitable port of Puerto Caballo. + +The anchor was not fairly at the cathead when a sail was reported +seaward, which on capture proved to be the barque Joseph Maxwell, of +Philadelphia. The capture having taken place at about seven miles from +the port to which she was bound, and half of the cargo being the +property of a neutral owner, a boat was despatched with her master and +the paymaster of the Sumter to endeavour to effect negotiation. The +proposition was, that the owner of the neutral half of the cargo should +purchase at a small price the remaining half and the vessel herself, +which should then be delivered to him intact without delay. This little +arrangement, however, was somewhat summarily arrested by the action of +the Governor, who, much to Captain Semmes' astonishment, sent off orders +that the prize should at once be brought into port, there to remain in +his Excellency's custody, until a Venezuelan court should have decided +whether the capture had or had not been effected within the marine +league from the coast prescribed by international law! + +This somewhat extraordinary demand did not receive the respect or +obedience on which its promulgator had doubtless relied. Beating to +quarters, and with his men standing to their guns in readiness for +instant action, the Sumter stood out once more towards her prize; sent +the master and his family ashore in one of his own boats, put a prize +crew on board the Maxwell, and despatched her to a port at the south +side of Cuba. It is believed that these unfriendly demonstrations on the +part of the Governor of Puerto Caballo were owing to a fear that the +Sumter was in truth employed upon some such enterprise as that on which +the agent of Don Castro at Curaçao had vainly endeavoured to engage her, +and was endeavouring to effect a landing for revolutionary troops. + +The Sumter now again stood away upon her course towards the eastward, +and at five in the evening came across an hermaphrodite brig, from whose +peak floated the hated but welcome stars and stripes. This time, +however, it was able to wave in safe defiance before the eyes of the +dreaded foe, for the sagacious master had kept carefully "within jumping +distance" of the shore, and the sacred "marine league of neutrality" +protected the vessel from the fate that had befallen so many of her +countrymen. + +The afternoon of the 28th July found the Sumter off the island of +Tortuga, and at eleven that evening the ship was hove to in thirty-two +fathoms of water off the eastern end of Margaritta. Two more days' run +along the Venezuelan coast, at times in so dense a fog that it was +necessary to run within a mile of the shore in order to "hold on" to the +land, and the Gulf of Bahia was reached. Following close on the track of +a vessel just arrived from Madeira, and acquainted with the harbour, the +Sumter held on her course through the Huero or Umbrella Passage, and +shortly after noon anchored off the town of Port of Spain, receiving as +she did so a salute from the ensign of an English brig passing out of +the harbour. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +_Excitement--Taking the bull by the horns--official visits--H.M.S. +Cadmus--Captain Semmes' commission--At sea again--A dull time--Wind and +current hostile--Cayenne--French politeness--False hopes--At +Paramaribo--A hot pursuit--A loyal Yankee--Doubtful security--Not to be +beaten--To sea again--A parting arrow_. + + +The arrival of the Sumter at Port of Spain appeared to create no small +excitement among the inhabitants, official and non-official, of that +little colony. The Governor at once proceeded to take legal opinion as +to the propriety of permitting the suspicious stranger to coal, and a +long leading article in the colonial paper gave expression to the +editor's serious doubts whether the Sumter were really what she +represented herself to be, a regularly commissioned vessel of war, and +not, after all, a privateer. The legal advisers of the Governor seem to +have reported favourably on Captain Semmes' request, for permission was +given to take on board the requisite supplies, and the Sumter's coaling +proceeded, though not with much rapidity. + +The morning of the 2nd August introduced on board a visitor of a new +description. Through the heavy tropical rain which had been pouring +almost incessantly since the arrival of the Sumter, covering the calm +water of the harbour with little dancing jets, and drumming on the +steamer's decks the most unmusical of tattoos, a little dingy was seen +approaching, and in due time brought alongside of the Confederate +man-of-war the master of a Baltimore brig, which, was lying at anchor +some little distance off. The worthy skipper had heard of the terrible +doings of his new neighbour, and in no little anxiety for his own fate +had determined to take the bull by the horns, and inquire on board the +Sumter herself whether he would be permitted to depart without +molestation. Great was the poor, man's delight when he was hailed as a +native of a sister State, and informed that Maryland, though compelled +by superior force to maintain an apparent allegiance to her enemy, was +still considered a friend by her natural allies of the South, and that +strict orders had therefore been given to Set her commerce pass +unharmed. With a lightened heart he returned on board his vessel, and +the Baltimore brig went on her way rejoicing. + +The afternoon of the same day brought two more visitors in the persons +of two English officers in mufti; but the international courtesy did not +extend so far as returning the official visit made on Captain Semmes' +behalf by Lieutenant Chapman, and Government-house remained +unrepresented on board the Sumter. "His Excellency," it is to be feared, +had taken offence at the slight passed upon his official position by +Captain Semmes, in not having taken care to recover his health and +strength sufficiently early to be able to make the official visit in +person! + +The morning of the 4th August would have seen the Sumter again under way +but for some informality in the paymaster's vouchers, which had to be +rectified; and during the delay thus occasioned, H.M. ship Cadmus +entered the harbour, and the Sumter's departure was postponed with the +object of communicating with her. Accordingly, a lieutenant was sent on +board the new arrival, the visit being promptly returned by an officer +of similar rank from the Cadmus, who, after exchanging the usual +civilities, delivered himself of a polite message from Captain Hillyer, +to the effect, that as the Sumter was the first vessel he had as yet +fallen in with under the flag of the Confederate States, he would be +obliged if Captain Semmes would favor him with a sight of his +commission. To this, of course, the latter had no objection; and the +demands of courtesy having been satisfied by the previous production of +the English lieutenant's commission, that of Captain Semmes was duly +exhibited, and the ceremonial visitor departed. + +The next morning brought Captain Hillyer himself on board, and a long +conversation ensued on the war and various kindred topics, the English +Captain leaving behind him a most agreeable impression. The visit over, +steam was once more got up on board the Sumter, and at 1 P.M. she +steamed out through the eastern or Mona Island passage, and running down +the picturesque coast, with its mountain sides uncultivated but covered +with numerous huts, passed at ten o'clock that evening between Trinidad +and Tobago, and entered once more upon the broad North Atlantic. + +For some days the time now hung somewhat heavily upon the hands of the +little community. A solitary brigantine only was seen, and she so far to +windward, that with the short supply of coal afforded by the not +overscrupulous merchants of Port of Spain, it was not thought worth +while to incur the expense and delay of a chase. The Sumter was now +terribly in need of an excitement. Not a living thing was in sight, but +the glittering schools of flying fish which ever and anon darted into +view, and skimming rapidly over their surface sank again beneath the +waves, only to be once more driven for a brief refuge to the upper air +by their unseen but relentless enemies below. Drill and exercise were +now the order of the day during the hours of light, and as the sun set +and the tropic night came rushing swiftly up over the yet glowing sky, +chessboards and backgammon-boards were brought out, and discussions, +social, political, and literary, divided the long hours of inaction with +the yarn and the song, and other mild but not ineffectual distractions +of life at sea. + +Still it was with feelings of no small satisfaction that "green water" +was again reached, and the Sumter found herself within about ninety +miles of the (Dutch) Guiana coast. Hopes were now entertained of soon +reaching Maranham, but the next day showed them to be fallacious. A +strong northerly current had set in, and, in addition to this drawback, +it was discovered that the defalcations of the Port of Spain coal +merchants were more serious than had been supposed, and there was not +sufficient fuel left for the run. Next day matters were worse rather +than better. The northerly current was running at the extraordinary rate +of sixty miles in the twenty-four hours, a speed equal to that of the +Gulf Stream in its narrowest part. Only three days' fuel remained, and +making allowance for the northerly set, there were fully 550 miles to be +accomplished before Maranham could be reached. + +Still the Sumter held patiently on her course in hopes of a change; but +no change came. Wind and current were as hostile as ever, and the +observations of the 11th August giving lat. 2° 38' N., long. 47° 48' W., +the question of the voyage to Maranham, or even to Para, appeared +definitely settled, and letting his fires go down, Captain Semmes put up +his helm, made all sail, and stood away on a N.W. course, hoping to find +a fresh supply of coal at some of the ports of Guiana under his lee. + +The afternoon of that day saw the sky clear, the sea almost calm, and +the little Sumter, rolling along on the long, lazy swell, with all her +starboard studding-sails set, at about three or four knots an hour, +towards Cape Orange, from which point it was intended to make her way +into Cayenne. + +Here she arrived on the 15th August, but her hopes were again doomed to +disappointment. On coming to anchor, officers were at once despatched +with the usual complimentary messages to the Governor, and a request to +be informed whether the vessel could be supplied with coal. These +officers, however, were not permitted to land, the reason given being, +that they were without a clean bill of health from their last port. It +was in vain to represent the perfect state of health of the crew, and +the length of time they had been at sea. The official mind was closed +against any argument but that of the _consigne_. Five days' quarantine +were ordered, and five days' quarantine must be undergone, before the +salubrious shores of Cayenne could be exposed to the danger of infection +from the new comers; and as the authorities accompanied this fiat with +the statement, that there was no coal to be had in the place even for +the supply of their own government vessels, our captain determined to +make no further trial upon the discussion, but to seek his supplies +elsewhere. + +The afternoon of the next day brought the Sumter to the coast of (Dutch) +Guiana; but there being no pilot to be found, she was compelled to come +to an anchor in about four fathoms of water. Here, as the sun set, the +dark smoke of a steamer was discovered against the glowing sky, and +suspicion was at once aroused that the new comer must be a Yankee +cruiser on the look-out for the Confederate "pirates." The drums beat to +quarters on board of the little Sumter; decks were cleared for action; +ports were triced up, guns run out, and every preparation made to give +the supposed enemy a warm reception. Darkness had closed in as the +suspected vessel approached; the thump, thump, thump of her screw +sounding plainly on the still night air. Silently she approached the +watchful cruiser, steering completely round her anchorage, as though +herself suspicious of the character of her new companion. No hostile +demonstration, however, followed; the night was too dark to distinguish +friend from foe; and the strange sail having come to anchor at some +little distance from the Sumter, and evincing no disposition to assume +the offensive, the guns were run in again, and the men were at length +dismissed to the hammocks. + +Early next morning steam was again got up on board the Confederate +cruiser, which ran down under French colours for a closer examination of +the stranger, who was lying quietly at anchor about two miles in-shore +of her. As the Sumter approached she also mounted the tricolor, at the +sight of which the pretended nationality of the cruiser was laid aside, +and the stars and bars flew out gaily from her mizen-peak. The Frenchman +appeared much pleased at having thus fallen in with the celebrated +Sumter; and being, like her, bound into Paramaribo, and of considerably +lighter draught, invited her to follow him into the river, where a pilot +might be obtained. + +Arrived in Paramaribo the Sumter received tidings of the United States +steamer Keystone State, which had been "in pursuit" of her for some +time. This vessel was not very much larger than the Sumter, and their +crews and armaments were very nearly equal, so there were great hopes on +board the Confederate of a brush with the enemy on something like equal +terms. These hopes, however, like so many others, were doomed to +disappointment. By some fatality the Keystone State could never manage +to come up with her quarry. While the latter had been coaling at +Trinidad, she was performing a similar operation at Barbados, arriving +thence at Trinidad after the Sumter had sailed. From this port she again +started "in pursuit," but her chances of overtaking her enemy may +perhaps have been somewhat affected by the fact, that on learning that +the Sumter had started eastward, she at once followed upon a westerly +track, which, doubtless to the great grief of her commander and crew, +somehow failed to bring her alongside of the vessel of which she was in +search.[2] + +[Footnote 2: The writer of the Notes in the _Index_ remarks on this +curious proceeding:--"Rather a strange idea we thought. It put us in +mind of a sportsman in California who was very anxious to kill a grisly +bear. At length he found the trail, and after following it for some +hours gave it up and returned to camp. On being questioned why he did +not follow in pursuit, he quietly replied that the trail was getting +_too fresh_. It must have been so with the Keystone State--the trail was +getting too fresh."] + +But if the United States war vessels were somewhat eccentric in their +notion of a hot pursuit, it must be admitted that the United States +consuls and other agents on shore were by no means equally scrupulous. +Every possible expedient to prevent the Sumter from obtaining the +necessary supplies of coal was tried by the consul at Paramaribo, but +with less success than his strenuous exertions deserved. His first idea +was to buy up all the coal in the port, and a handsome price was +offered--in bonds on the United States government--for that purpose. But +with singular blindness to their own interests the merchants of +Paramaribo declined to put their trust in these bonds, and the ready +money not being forthcoming the hopeful scheme was compelled to be +abandoned. Undismayed by this first failure, the gallant Yankee next +sought to charter all the lighters by which the coal could be conveyed +on board, and here he was very nearly successful. One or two of the +owners however declined to be bought up, and in the lighters supplied +by them the process of coaling commenced. Still the persevering consul +was not to be beaten. Failing the owners of the contumacious barges, +their crews were yet accessible to the gentle influences at his command, +and some forty tons of coal found their way to the bottom of the +harbour, instead of to the Sumter's bunkers for which they had been +destined. + +At length, however, in spite of both active Yankee and dilatory +Dutchmen, the operation was completed, and the little Sumter once more +ready for sea. Even now, however, she was not to get away without a +parting arrow from her indefatigable enemy. On the morning of her +proposed departure the captain's negro servant went on shore as usual +for the day's marketing, when he was waylaid by the worthy Yankee and +persuaded indefinitely to postpone his return. Poor fellow! if his fate +was anything like that of thousands of others "set free" by their +so-called friends of the North, he must have long ere this most bitterly +repented his desertion. + +There was no time, however, to spare for searching after the runaway, so +after a brief conference with the authorities, who were apparently not +over anxious for his arrest, the Sumter got up steam and once more +proceeded in the direction of Maranham. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +_Leave Paramaribo--Across the equator--A day of misfortunes--On a +sandbank--A narrow escape--Maranham--A Yankee protest--Bold +assertions--A visit to the President--News--False alarms--Paying +bills--A patriot--Off again--A prize--The Joseph Park--News of Bull +Run--A sad birthday._ + + +A whole month had thus been lost through the failure of the Sumter's +coal off the mouth of the Amazon. News, too, had been received at +Paramaribo that six or seven large fast steamers were in hot pursuit; +and as it was not likely that all of these--the larger, perhaps, more +especially--would adopt the tactics of the Keystone State, it was an +object with the solitary little object of their vengeance to make the +best of her way to some safer cruising ground. + +On the 31st August, then, she took her final leave of Paramaribo, and +running some eight or nine miles off the coast in a northerly direction +as a blind, altered her course to east half-south, with the intention of +avoiding the current by which she had on the former occasion been so +baffled, by keeping along the coast in soundings where its strength +would be less felt. + +The 4th September found her well past the mouth of the Amazon, bowling +along under all fore-and-aft sails, with bright, clear weather, and a +fresh trade-wind from about east by south. This was about her best point +of sailing, and there being no longer any current against her, her log +showed a run of 175 miles in the twenty-four hours. On the same day a +strange sail was seen, but time and coal were now too valuable to be +risked, and the temptation to chase was resisted. In the evening the +equator was crossed, and the little Sumter bade farewell to the North +Atlantic, and entered on a new sphere of operations. + +The 5th September was a day of misfortunes. The weather was thick and +lowering; the wind rapidly increasing; to half a gale, and the little +vessel straining heavily at her anchor. In heaving up, a sudden jerk +broke it short off at the shank, the metal about the broken part proving +to have been very indifferent. She now ran very cautiously and anxiously +towards the light, and into the bay, no pilot being in sight. For some +time all went well, and the chief dangers appeared to be over, when +suddenly the vessel ran with a heavy shock upon a sandbank, knocking off +a large portion of her false keel, and for the moment occasioning +intense anxiety to all on board. Fortunately, however, the bank was but +a narrow ridge, and the next sea carried the little vessel safely across +it, and out of danger. Much speculation, however, was excited by this +unlooked-for mishap, but a careful examination of the ship's position on +the chart failed to elucidate the mystery: the part of the bay where the +Sumter had struck being marked as clear ground. It was fortunate, at all +events, that the vessel escaped clear, for within the next hour and a +half the tide fell five feet, which with so heavy a load as that on +board the Sumter could not but have occasioned a terrible strain had she +been lying on the top of the bank. + +Finding the soundings still so irregular as to threaten further danger, +the Sumter now came to an anchor, and some fishing boats being perceived +on the shore at a little distance, a boat was despatched which speedily +returned with a fisherman, who piloted her safely to the town of +Maranham. She was visited by a Brazilian naval officer, who +congratulated her captain not a little on his fortunate escape, the +Brazilian men-of war never thinking of attempting the passage without a +coast pilot. + +The day following that on which the Sumter arrived at Maranham was the +Brazilian Independence Day. The town put on its gayest appearance; +men-of-war and merchantmen tricked themselves out with flags from deck +to truck, while the guns of the former thundered a salute across the +ordinarily quiet bay. Amidst their universal demonstration the Sumter +alone remained unmoved. The nation whose flag she bore had not yet been +recognised by the Brazilian government, and it would therefore have been +the height of incongruity to sport the slightest bunting on such an +occasion. The more so as the good folks of Maranham, though to all +appearance personally well disposed towards the Confederates, were in +such dread of officially committing themselves, that they did not +venture to invite the officers of the newly-arrived vessel to the grand +ball given by the authorities in honour of the day. + +On Monday, the 9th September, Captain Semmes took up his quarters on +shore, and proceeded to make a formal call on the President of the +Department. That functionary, however, pleaded indisposition, appointing +the hour of noon on the following day for the desired interview. +Meanwhile Captain Semmes had hardly returned to his comfortable quarters +at the Hotel do Porto, ere he, in his turn, received a visit from +Captain Pinto of the Brazilian navy, and the Chief of Police, a +confidential friend of the President--the object of these gentlemen +being to read to him a formal protest from the consul of the United +States to the government, against the Sumter's being permitted to +receive coal or other supplies in the port. Amongst other equally bold +statements this document asserted that the Confederate cruiser had not +been permitted to enter the ports of any other European power. +Assertions like these were of course easily disposed of, and it was +agreed that the question should be discussed at the morrow's interview. +The account of this discussion had, perhaps, better be given in Captain +Semmes' own words:-- + +_Tuesday, September 11th_.--Called upon the President at twelve, and was +admitted to an interview; the Chief of Police and Captain Pinto being +present. I exhibited to the President my commission, and read to him a +portion of my instructions, to show him that it was the desire of the +Confederate States to cultivate friendly relations with other powers, +and to pay particular respect to neutral property and rights; and the +better to satisfy him that he might supply me with coal without a +departure from neutrality, and to contradict the false sentiments of the +United States Consul, I exhibited to him a newspaper from Trinidad, +setting forth the fact that the question of the propriety of supplying +me with coal in that island, had been formally submitted to the law +officers of the Crown, and decided in my favour, &c. + +The President then announced to me that I might purchase whatever +supplies I wanted, coal included, munitions of war only excepted. I then +stated to him that this war was in fact a war as much in behalf of +Brazil as of ourselves, and that if we were beaten in the contest, +Brazil would be the next one to be assailed by Yankee propagandists. +These remarks were favourably received, the three gentlemen evidently +sympathizing with us. + +Captain Semmes continues his short diary as follows:-- + +Fresh wind and cloudy. Painting ship, and making preparations for the +reception of coal. We are looking anxiously for the arrival of the Rio +mail steamer, as we have a report brought by a Portuguese vessel from +Pernambuco that a great battle has been fought; that we have beaten the +enemy; and that we have marched upon Washington. God grant that our just +cause may thus have triumphed! The whole town is agog discussing our +affairs. Different parties take different views of them: the opposition +party in the legislature, which is in session, being disposed to censure +the government for its reception of us. + +_Thursday, September 12th_.--Clear, with passing clouds; trade-wind +fresh, as usual at this season of the year. Indeed, these winds will +continue to increase in force until December, when they will gradually +give place to the rains. It has been a favourite project of mine from +the commencement of the cruise, to run off Cape St. Roque, and there +waylay the commerce of the enemy in its transit both ways; but the +strong gales and strong current which now prevail, will interfere for +the present with my plan, and I must postpone it for awhile. If the war +continues I shall hope to put it in execution at the proper time. It was +at one time reported to-day that there were two United States vessels of +war awaiting us outside, off Santa Anna; but the report proved to be the +offspring of the excited imaginations of the townspeople. Had a +conversation this evening with Senor Rodrigues, an intelligent lawyer +and the Speaker of the Deputies, on the subject of the war. I found him +pretty well informed, considering that he had received his information +through the polluted channels of the Northern newspapers. + +He seemed to think that we had been _precipitate_ in breaking off our +connexion with the North; but I told him we had been the most patient, +long-suffering people in the world, and waited till the last moment +possible, in hope that the fanaticism which swayed the North would have +passed away; and that the responsibility of breaking up the once great +government of the North rested entirely upon the propagandists of that +section. + +_Friday, September 13th_.--Cloudy, with the wind very fresh from the +eastward. The town is still busy discussing our affairs. A deputy asked +me seriously yesterday if the President had not ordered me to haul my +flag down, as not being recognised. He said that the Assembly had called +upon him for an explanation of the course he had adopted towards us, but +that he had declined to respond. + +It is reported, too, that there are two ships of war awaiting us outside +near the Santa Anna light. + +_Saturday, September 14th._--Cloudy, with fresh trades. Having finished +coaling and receiving our other supplies, we are engaged to-day in +paying off our bills. I have been enabled to negotiate a draft for two +thousand dollars upon the Secretary of the Navy; Mr. T. Wetson, one of +our fellow-countrymen temporarily here, having been patriotic enough to +advance me this sum on the faith of his government. He not only thus +aided us, but was very anxious to come on board in person, if he could +have wound up his business in time. In the evening at 7 P.M. I removed +on board from the Hotel do Porto, preparatory to going to sea to-morrow. + + * * * * * + +On Sunday, the 15th September, the Sumter was again under way, and +passed out of the harbour in charge of a pilot, Mr. Wetson accompanying +her until she was fairly outside. No Yankee vessels were found, as had +been reported, and the pilot being discharged, and a warm farewell +exchanged with Mr. Wetson, the Sumter stood away upon a north-east +course in the direction of her proposed cruising-ground in the calm belt +between the trades, the Cape San Roque project being for the present +abandoned. A dull time now commenced, great difficulty being experienced +in forcing the vessel towards her cruising-ground against the current, +which at times would carry her out of her course at the rate of more +than fifty miles a day. Whilst thus beating wearily and patiently +towards the station where it was hoped that more prizes might be +obtained, a curious phenomenon was observed, of which the following +account is given in the journal:-- + +_Monday, September 23d_.--Clear, with passing clouds. Wind right from +the south-east, veering and hauling two or three points. We have +experienced in the last two or three days a remarkable succession of +tide lips, coming on every twelve hours, and about an hour before the +passage of the moon over the meridian. We have observed five of these +lips, and with such regularity, that we attribute them to the lunar +influence attracting the water in an opposite direction from the +prevailing current, which is east, at the rate of some two miles per +hour. We had a small gull fly on board of us to-day at the distance of +five hundred miles from the nearest land. The tide lips came up from the +south and travelled north, approaching first with a heavy swell, which +caused us, being broadside on, to roll so violently that we kept the +ship off her course from two to three points to bring the roller more on +the quarter. These rollers would be followed by a confused tumultuous +sea, foaming and fretting in every direction, as if we were among +breakers. We were in fact among breakers, though fortunately with no +bottom near. No boat could have lived in such a cauldron as was produced +by this meeting of the waters. They generally passed us in about three +quarters of an hour, when everything became comparatively smooth again. +No observation to-day for latitude, but by computation we are in +latitude 5.25 N. and longitude (chronometer) 42.19 W. Current east by +north 58 miles. So curious were the phenomena of the lips that the +officers and men came on deck upon their approach to witness them. + + * * * * * + +It was many a long week now since the sight of an enemy had gladdened +the eyes of the Sumter's little crew, when, on the 25th of September, +the welcome cry of "Sail, ho!" was once more heard from the masthead. +Steam was at once got up, and the United States colors displayed from +the Confederate cruiser. A short pause of expectation, an eager scrutiny +of the stranger, as the blue and red bunting fluttered for a few moments +upon his deck, while his men were busy with the signal halyards, and +then a joyous cheer greeted the well-known stars and stripes, as they +rose above her bulwarks, and mounted slowly to her mizen peak. + +She was not a very valuable prize, being merely a small brigantine, +called the Joseph Park, of Boston, six days out from Pernambuco, in +ballast. But she was the first fruits of a fresh cruise, and right +joyously did the boat's crew pull on board her to haul down the enemy's +flag, and replace it with the saucy stars and bars.[3] + +[Footnote 3: The author of the "Notes" in the _Index_ writes:-- + +"The officer who boarded the Joseph Park asked the captain if he had +cargo. 'No.'--'Have you any specie?' 'Not a dollar.'--'Then, captain, +you must get into the boat, and go with me on board the Sumter.' 'What +are you going to do with me when I get on board?' The officer told him +it would depend entirely upon circumstances; that if he behaved himself, +and did not try to conceal anything, he would receive kind treatment; +that it all depended upon himself 'Well,' said he, 'captain' (he called +the officer who had boarded him captain) 'I _have_ got a thousand +dollars down below, and I guess I had better give it to you.' So he went +below, and from out of some little hole took the bag containing the +gold. The officer asked him why he had hidden the money, as we had the +United States colours up. He said he thought it was the Sumter, and +wanted to be on the safe side. The whole scene between the officer and +the captain of the Joseph Park was ludicrous in the extreme. The answers +to questions with that Yankee nasal twang and Yankee cunning, the +officer seeing through it and enjoying it all the while, made many jokes +in our mess afterwards."] + +This done, the crew were transferred to the captain's vessel, and a +prize crew passed on board of the Joseph Park, with instructions to keep +within sight of the Sumter, and signal her immediately on perceiving any +suspicious sail. So the two cruised for some days in company, the Joseph +Park keeping to windward during the day, and at night running down under +cover of the Sumter's guns. This capture was none the less welcome for +the news she brought in a file of recent papers from Pernambuco, of the +first victory of the South at Manassas, or Bull Run, as well as of the +successes achieved in Missouri over the troops of General Lyon. Poor +Joseph Park! she had little anticipated her fate, and not a little +amusement was created among her captors by an entry in her log of the +day after leaving Pernambuco:--"We have a tight, fast vessel, and we +don't care for Jeff. Davis!" "My unfortunate prisoner," remarks Captain +Semmes, "had holloa'd before he was out of the wood." + +The journal continues:-- + +_Friday, September 27th._--This is my fifty-second birthday, and so the +years roll on, one by one, and I am getting to be an old man! Thank God, +that I am still able to render service to my country in her glorious +struggle for the right of self-government, and in defence of her +institutions, her property, and everything a people hold sacred. We have +thus far beaten the Vandal hordes that have invaded and desecrated our +soil; and we shall continue to beat them to the end. The just God of +Heaven, who looks down upon the quarrels of men, will avenge the right. +May we prove ourselves in this struggle worthy of Him and of our great +cause! My poor distressed family! How fondly my thoughts revert to them +to-day! My dear wife and daughters, instead of preparing the accustomed +"cake" to celebrate my birthday, are mourning my absence, and dreading +to hear of disaster. May our Heavenly Father console, cherish, and +protect them! + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +_A dull time--"Sail, oh-h-h!"--An exciting chase--No prize--A +gale--Jack's holiday--A new cruising-ground--Dead calm--An enlightened +Frenchman--A near thing--Patience!--The Daniel Trowbridge--A lucky +haul--In closer--Double Duns--The prize schooner's revenge--Good news +from home--An apology--In hopes of a fight--Disappointment--The West +India station--Another blank--Martinique_. + + +Another dull time now set in. On the 28th September the prize crew were +recalled from the Joseph Park, which, after doing duty for some hours +longer as a look-out ship, was finally at nightfall, set on fire, and +burned to the water's edge. And now day after day passed by, unrelieved +save by the little common incidents of a peaceful voyage. + +One day it would be a flying-fish that had leaped on board, and paid the +penalty of its indiscretion by doing duty next morning on the captain's +breakfast-table; another day a small sword-fish performed a similar +exploit; while on a third a heavy rain provided the great unwashed of +the forecastle with the unaccustomed luxury of copious ablutions in +fresh water. But not a sail was to be seen. Once only a simultaneous cry +from half-a-dozen sailors of "Light on the starboard bow!" produced a +temporary excitement, and caused the engineers to "fire up" at their +utmost speed. But the alarm proved false. The red light that had been so +confidently reckoned on as the port lantern of some steamer moving +across the Sumter's bows, was at length set down as a mere meteor, or it +might be some star setting crimson through the dim haze of the distant +horizon. Luck seemed quite to have deserted the Confederate flag. They +were lying in the very track of vessels between San Roque and New York. +Allowing a space of seventy-five miles on either side of the Sumter's +station as the extent of this track, and calculating upon a radius of +observation from her masthead of fifteen miles, one-fifth of the whole +number passing should certainly have come within her ken. Yet in the +course of seventeen weary days one vessel only had been seen, and the +Sumter's stock of patience was beginning to run very low. + +At length, at ten o'clock on the morning of the 5th October, the welcome +cry was again heard. "Sail, oh--h--h!" was shouted from the masthead +with a lengthened emphasis, as though the look-out would mark the +unusual fact with a special note of admiration. The stranger was dead to +windward, and miles away, probably some seventeen or eighteen at the +very least. But not a moment was lost in starting in pursuit. Steam was +got up, sails furled, the vessel's head brought round in the direction +of the chase, and in less than half an hour from the first announcement +of her appearance, the Sumter was dashing through the water at +top-speed in pursuit. + +The chase was long and animated. At first starting the stranger had all +the advantage of a stiff, steady breeze, whilst the Sumter was compelled +to trust altogether to her powers of steaming; and the former, being a +fine, fast vessel, appeared, if anything, rather to gain upon her +pursuer. Gradually, however, as the two vessels changed their relative +bearings, the Sumter also was enabled to avail herself of her fore and +aft canvas, and now she began to gain rapidly upon the chase. Three +hours and a quarter passed in this exciting contest; but at length the +pursuer had come fairly within range, and the chase was over. Up went +the Stars and Stripes to the Sumter's peak, and the usual pause of +excited expectation ensued; when, after bungling awhile with his signal +halyards, as though playing with his pursuer's hopes and fears, the red +ensign of England rose defiantly from the deck, and there was to be no +prize after all. + +Very indignant was the captain of the Spartan at being hove-to by a +Yankee, and great was the amusement of the boarding officer as he was +welcomed with the observation that "the Northerners were catching h----" + +"How so?" inquired he. + +"Why by getting themselves so badly whipped by the Southerners." + +It was observed that the worthy speaker appeared somewhat surprised at +the perfect good-humour and satisfaction with which the intelligence was +received. + +The night now set in wet and wild. The wind increased to a moderate gale +with a remarkably heavy sea, and violent rain-squalls passing at +intervals over the vessel. The little Sumter rolled and pitched about as +though she, too, were weary of the long period of inaction, and +determined to effect some kind of diversion on her own account. Morning +broke heavy and threatening, with the barometer at 29-87; and by noon it +was blowing a whole gale, and the ship labouring so heavily that the +ceremony of mustering the hands and reading the Articles of War, +customary on the first Sunday of every month, was perforce dispensed +with, and "Jack"--as usual, when bad weather has fairly set in, and the +ship has been made snug--got his holiday. + +Towards night the gale, which had hauled gradually round from E.N.E. to +S.E. and S.S.E. in the course of some eight or ten hours, began to +moderate. By the next morning it had altogether broken, and though the +clouds were still leaden, and the sea ran high after the blow of +yesterday, the Sumter was once more able to make sail; and shaking the +reefs out of her topsails, she stood away again towards the S.S.E. + +The end of the week saw her well upon her way towards a new cruising +ground, the Western side of the crossing having been fairly given up as +a hopeless job, and Captain Semmes shaping his course for the Eastern +crossing. At noon on Saturday, the 12th October, the new station was +reached, the vessel's position on that day being in lat. 6.56 N., long. +44.41 W.; the weather calm, the sun shining dimly through a greyish veil +of mist, and the little steamer rolling from side to side upon the long, +heaving swells, her yards creaking and her sails flapping heavily +against the masts with that dull, hopeless sound, more trying to the +sailor than the fiercest gale. + +Gales and calms--sunshine and rain-squalls--long rolling swell--heavy +sea, and not a break in the monotonous round. Thirty-eight days out, and +in all that time but two vessels spoken and one solitary prize! + +_Thursday, October 24th_.--Cloudy, with the wind from the eastward. At +half-past six in the morning descried a sail in the north east. Got up +steam and gave chase. At nine came up with a brig, which proved to be a +Frenchman, La Mouche Noire, from Nantes to Martinique. Sent a boat on +board of him. He had no newspapers, and said he knew the United States +were at war--we had the United States colours flying--but with whom he +did not know. Enlightened Frenchman! Or this may teach us a lesson of +humility, as showing us how little is thought in Europe of the American +Revolution. The brig was a clumsy specimen of architecture, and was out +forty-two days. We detained her less than half-an-hour, and permitted +her to go on her course again. Our ill-luck seems to culminate; for two +out of the only three sail we have seen in thirty-nine days have proved +to be foreign. + +_Friday, October 25th_.--Fresh breeze from the north, and trade-wind +weather. Morning, a few rain-squalls, clearing, but with passing clouds, +as the sun gained altitude. Afternoon heavy, overcast sky, with half a +gale of wind. At 2.50 P.M. descried a sail on the starboard-quarter, +bearing about S.E. Got up steam and gave chase, and at 5 P.M. came up +with her. Fired a blank cartridge and spoke a Prussian ship, which I +caused to heave-to for the purpose of sending a boat on board of him; +but, as in the meantime the wind freshened, and considerable sea had +arisen, and as I had no doubts of the character of the ship, I gave him +leave to fill away and proceed on his course (to some one of the +Windward Islands) without boarding him. As I was rounding the ship to, +near this vessel, we came so near a collision that my heart stood still +for a moment as the bows of the huge, heavy-laden ship passed our +quarter, almost near enough to graze it. If she had been thrown upon us +by one of the heavy seas that were running, we should probably have been +cut down to the water's edge and sunk in a few minutes. This will give +me a lesson as to the space my long ship requires to turn in when she +has a sea on the quarter or bow. We are forty days out to-day, have seen +four sails, and three of the four have proved to be foreign. I am not +discouraged, however, but I have had an excellent opportunity to +practise the Christian virtue of patience, which virtue I think I am a +little deficient in. + +_Sunday, October 27th_.--A beautiful clear day, with a light breeze from +the E.N.E., and a few summer-like passing trade-clouds. Mustered the +crew. Two sail in one day! 8.30 A.M. A sail was descried in the S.E. We +immediately gave chase with all sail, and added steam to sails in about +an hour and a half. We came up with the chase about 3 P.M.; the vessel +proving very fast. We showed, as usual, the United States colours, the +chase showing the same. Fired a blank cartridge and ordered him to +heave-to. Sent a boat on board and captured him, hauling down the United +States and hoisting our own flag as our officer got on board. She proved +to be the schooner Daniel Trowbridge, of New Haven, Connecticut, from +New York to Demerara, with a cargo of provisions; cargo belonging to +same owner as vessel, D. Trowbridge, of Connecticut. Sent a prize crew +on board, and left in pursuit of another sail that had been descried in +the meantime, with which we came up at dark. She proved to be a +brigantine from Nova Scotia to Demerara (English). Permitted her to +proceed on her course. Banked fires, and put the ship under sail, with a +light at the peak, and the prize in company. + +_Monday, October 28th_.--Fine clear weather, with a moderate sea and a +light breeze. Called the prize within hail; hoisted out the long-boat +and sent her alongside and commenced receiving provisions. I felt truly +thankful to a kind Providence for this windfall, for we were running +short of provisions--beef bad, and weevily bread. And here were more +than we needed, and of the best. Pork, beef, hams, flour, bread, +crackers (biscuits), &c.; this was truly a Yankee cargo, there being a +large number of pigs, sheep, and geese on board. A busy, bustling day, +with boats passing to and fro, and men busy on both ships with boxes, +barrels, &c. To get at the cargo we threw overboard the superincumbent +articles, and strewed the sea with Connecticut wooden ware and brooms. + +_Tuesday, October 29th_.--Another favourable day for unloading the +prize. Wind light from the East, and not too much sea on. We are filling +up with five months' provisions. In the meantime we are enjoying the +luxury, far away out at sea and forty-three days from port, of fresh +meat; the sheep on board the prize being in excellent condition, and I +have them slaughtered in sufficient numbers for the crew. At noon the +sky becoming overcast; lat. 16.54 N., long. 57.33 W. + +_Wednesday, October 30th_.--A beautiful serene day, with a light breeze +from the S.E. and a smooth sea. At 7 A.M., "Sail, ho!" from aloft. +Despatched a couple of boats to the prize schooner to bring away some of +the live stock, and sent orders to the prize master to set fire to the +prize and return on board. These orders being all executed and the boats +run up, at 8.30, steamed in pursuit of the strange sail. At eleven came +up with, and sent a boat on board of the Danish brig Una, from +Copenhagen to Santa Cruz, sixty-nine days out. Permitted her to proceed +on her course after a detention of about half-an-hour. We showed her the +United States colours. This evening, having directed the junior +lieutenant to send to the master of the prize schooner Daniel +Trowbridge, for the log slates of the schooner which he, the master, had +put among his private baggage, it was reported to me that the master in +delivering these articles to the messenger, the sergeant of marines, +used this insolent language--"D---- them. I hope they will do them no +good, and if they want a shirt I can lend them that too." I had the man +seized and put in double irons. Lat. 16.40 N., long. 58.16 W. + +_Thursday, October 31st_.--Beautiful clear weather, with a light +breeze from the North and East. Got up and sunned the ball cartridges, +some of which had been damaged by the damp, and overhauled the pumps +which had gotten out of order. At 2 A.M. a light having been reported to +me, I ordered steam gotten up and made pursuit. As we came up with it, +we found it to be a burning fragment of the schooner which we had fired +eighteen hours before. Banked fires. We have been greatly interested +since our last capture in examining a lot of newspapers found on board. +They are as late as the 8th October, and give us most cheering accounts +of the war. We have gloriously whipped the enemy at all points, and have +brought Missouri and Kentucky out of the Union. The tone of the European +press is highly favourable to our cause, and indicates a prompt +recognition of our independence. And all this cheering information we +get from the enemy himself! Lat. 16.54 N., long. 57.59 W. The master of +the prize schooner Trowbridge, having made a very humble apology for his +conduct of yesterday, and asked to be released from confinement, I +directed him to be discharged from close custody and to have his irons +taken off. + +The Daniel Trowbridge, however, was the last prize that fell to the +Sumter's lot on this cruise. She was now in the full track of vessels +crossing the Line, and scarcely a day passed without one or more being +overhauled; but the Stars and Stripes appeared to have vanished from the +seas. Vessel after vessel was brought-to, now English, now French, now +belonging to some one or other of the innumerable neutral nations, but +not a Yankee was to be seen, and the ship's company began almost to +weary of their profitless task. + +One brief morning's excitement there was, as a large steamer was +descried in the offing, evidently a man-of-war. All was at once alive +and eager on board the little Sumter. The drums beat to quarters, decks +were cleared for action, and every preparation made for combat, as the +Confederate cruiser stood boldly out to meet her expected foe. But again +the eager crew were doomed to disappointment. They were no more to fight +than to capture prizes. As the stranger drew near, the white ensign of +St. George fluttered gracefully to her peak, and after the customary +interchange of civilities, the two vessels went on their respective +courses, and the little Sumter was once more alone on the wide ocean. + +A change of cruising ground was now again resolved on, and a course +shaped for the West Indies. Still, however, without success, and at +length the supply of water beginning to fail, the cruise was abandoned, +and on the 9th November the Sumter steamed into Fort de France in +Martinique, having been fifty-seven days at sea. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +_A French governor--At church--Visitors--On shore--Prisoners +released--Coaling difficulties--Sympathy for the South--A glass of +grog!--St. Pierre--Curiosity--The Iroquois--An attempt to +intimidate--L'Acheron--Yankee notion of neutrality--Masquerading +--Preparations for a fight--The marine league--The Trent outrage--On +the watch--Violation of rights--A bold attempt--Success_. + + +_Saturday, Nov. 9th_.--Weather fine during the morning. At daylight, got +up steam and stood in for the land northward of Fort St. Louis' Bay, +running down the coast as we approached. The coast, all the way into the +anchorage, is bold and clear. Ran within three hundred yards of Point +Negro, passing a passenger steamer bound to St. Pierre, and anchored in +six fathoms water, with the south end of the fort bearing E. 1/4 S., +and the wharf about N. by E. A pilot soon after came on board, and we +got up anchor and went in to the anchorage E. of the fort, the health +officer visiting us in the meantime, and giving us _pratique_. + +Sent a lieutenant to call on the Governor, and afterwards visited him +myself. I stated in this interview that I had come into Martinique to +refresh my crew, and obtain such supplies as I needed, coal included. +The Governor replied that he could not supply me with coal from the +Government stock, but I was free to go into the market and purchase what +I wanted, he, the Governor, _not knowing anything about it_; and that as +to my prisoners, if the United States consul at St. Pierre would become +responsible for their maintenance, I might land them. With his consent, +I sent the two masters up to St. Pierre in the packet to see this +consul, and arrange the matter. I despatched also the paymaster to look +after coal and clothing for the crew, giving leave to Lieutenant Chapman +to accompany him. The Governor at one time ordered me to shift my berth, +by returning to my first anchorage; but countermanded the order upon my +demanding an explanation of it. He seemed disposed, too, to restrict my +procuring supplies _at this place_, on the ground that it was merely the +seat of government and a military and naval station; but upon my +insisting upon my right, under the Imperial proclamation, to be treated +in all respects as a lawful belligerent, be abandoned his point. The +French colonies are governed by the minister of Marine, naval officers +being the governors and chief officials. The Governor of Martinique is a +rear-admiral. + +_Sunday, Nov. 10th._--Rain in the early morning, clearing towards eight +o'clock. Went on shore and accompanied M. Guerin to the Governor's mass, +at 8 A.M. The interior of the church is very pleasing, with rare +valuable paintings. The congregation was small. A detachment (one +company from each regiment), entered the main aisle, and formed in +double lines, a few minutes before the commencement of the service. The +Governor and his staff entered punctually, and the service lasted about +three-quarters of an hour. Fine music from a band in the orchestra. The +blacks and whites occupy pews indiscriminately, though there is no +social mixture of the races. All colours have the same political rights, +notwithstanding which the jealousy and hatred of the whites by the +blacks is said to be very great. Was visited by M. Guerin. and a number +of gentlemen--members of the Colonial Legislature and others--to whom I +explained the true issue of the war--to wit, an abolition crusade +against our slave-property; our population, resources, victories, +&c.--to all of which they listened with much appearance of +gratification, and which they also expressed from time to time, +lamenting the blind policy of their Home Government. Mustered the crew, +and read Articles of War. Three of the prisoners have shipped. Let +another batch of liberty-men go on shore. Two of yesterday's batch did +not come off in time this morning. Since came on board. Visited the +Savannah to hear the music, which is given every Sunday evening. It was +a gay and beautiful scene: the moon, the shade, the trees, the statue of +Josephine, the throng of well-dressed men and women, the large band and +the fine music, the ripple of the sea; and last, though not least, the +Katy-dids, so fraught with memories of home, dear home! Visited M. +Guerin after the music, and made the acquaintance of his charming +family, consisting of wife, daughter-in-law, and niece, who gave some +music on the piano and a song. M. Guerin's mother died a nun in the city +of Baltimore, where M. Guerin was himself educated. He retains his early +impressions of Baltimore very vividly. + +_Monday, November 11th_.--Weather clear and pleasant, with refreshing +trade-winds; watering ship. Visited the town, and went a-shopping in +company with M. Guerin. Found French manufactured clothing, &c., +reasonably cheap. In the afternoon strolled on the heights in rear of +the town, and was charmed with the picturesque scenery on every hand. +The little valleys and nooks in which nestle the country houses are +perfect pictures, and the abrupt and broken country presents delightful +changes at every turn. I saw but few signs of diligent cultivation. The +negro race is here, as everywhere else, an idle and thriftless one; and +the purlieus of the town where they are congregated are dilapidated and +squalid. The statue of Josephine in the Savannah is a very fine specimen +of sculpture. It represents her in her customary dress, and she appears, +indeed, a charming woman. This is her native island. The United States +consul came down to-day from St. Pierre, and I landed the remainder of +the prisoners, twelve in number, putting them on parole. I had them all +assembled in the gangway, and questioned them as to their treatment on +board. They all expressed themselves satisfied with it. The officers +returned from St. Pierre, and reported that coal was to be had, but that +the Collector of Customs had prohibited the merchants from sending it to +us. Wrote to the Governor on the Subject:-- + +Confederate States' steamer Sumter, Port Royal, Nov. 12th, 1861. + +SIR,--In the interview which I had the honour to hold with your +Excellency on Saturday last, the 9th inst. I understood your Excellency +to assent to the proposition that I might go into the market at St. +Pierre, and purchase such supplies as I might stand in need of, coal +included. The precise position assumed by your Excellency was, that you +would neither assent nor prohibit. On the faith of this understanding, I +despatched one of my lieutenants and my paymaster to St. Pierre, to make +the necessary purchases, and they have returned and reported to me that +they found an abundance of coal in the market, and at reasonable rates, +and that the owners of it are anxious to supply me with it, but that +your Collector of the Customs had _interposed_, and prohibited the +merchants from selling or delivering it to me. For the information of +your Excellency, I will here state that I have been permitted to coal in +all the ports I have heretofore visited, except only at the French port +of Cayenne, where I was informed that there was no coal in the market, +and where it was insisted that I should undergo a quarantine of five +days before communicating with the town. As it was not convenient for me +to undergo this quarantine, I sailed immediately. I have coaled at +Cienfuegos in the island of Cuba, at Curaçao, at Trinidad, at +Paramaribo, and at Maranham. It appears that Spain, Holland, England and +Brazil have each deemed it consistent with their neutrality in the +present war to permit me freely to supply myself with coal. Am I to +understand from the action of your officers at St. Pierre that you have +withdrawn the implied assent given me on Saturday last, and that France, +through your agency, adopts a different and less friendly, rule? Will +France drive a vessel of war of the Confederate States from one of her +islands to a British island to procure coal? And if she does this, on +what principle will she do it? It is a well-settled rule of +international law, that belligerent cruisers have the right to enter +freely into neutral ports for the purpose of replenishing their stores +of provisions, or replacing a lost mast or spar; and why should not they +be equally permitted to receive on board coal? + +Coal is no more necessary to the locomotion of a steamer than is a mast +or spar to a sail-ship; it is no more necessary to a cruiser than +provisions. Without a mast or without provisions a sail-ship could not +continue her cruise against the enemy; and yet the neutral permitted her +to supply herself with these articles. Nor can such supplies as these be +placed on the ground of humanity. It would be inhuman, it is true, to +permit the crew of a belligerent cruiser to perish in your ports by +debarring from access to your markets, from day to day; but it does not +follow that it would be inhuman to prevent her from laying in a stock of +provisions to enable her to proceed to sea, and continue her cruise +against the enemy. It is not humanity to supply a vessel with a lost +mast or a spar, and yet no one doubts that this may be done. Humanity, +then, being out of the question, what possible distinction can your +Excellency draw between supplying a vessel with the articles above +mentioned, and supplying her with coal? + +Without any one of them she would be unable to prosecute her cruise +against the enemy--why, then, will you supply her with a part, and not +with the whole? + +Without troubling your Excellency further, however, with an argument of +the question, I will content myself with stating what I believe to be +the true rule of law, and it is this:--A belligerent ship of war _cannot +increase her armament or her crew in a neutral port, nor supply herself +with ammunition; but with these exceptions she may procure whatever +supply she needs_. + +Although it would be an easy matter for me to run to one of the British, +or Danish, or Dutch Islands, I should regret to be obliged to do so, and +to have to inform my Government of the reason. I would not willingly +have France adopt a rule which would effectually shut us out of her +ports, whilst Holland, Great Britain, Spain, and Brazil admit us freely +into theirs. The rule, prohibiting us from bringing our prizes into +neutral ports, operates very harshly upon us, as the weaker naval power +of the belligerents, without adding to it one still more harsh, and +which has the sanction of neither law nor precedent. If, however, it be +the determination of your Excellency to insist upon my departure without +coal, I beg that you will have the goodness to say as much to me in +writing. Your Excellency is the best judge of your instructions, and of +what they require of you. + +I have the honour to be, + +With much consideration, + + Your obedient Servant, + (Signed) R. SEMMES. + + To his Excellency M. Maussion de Condé, + l'Amiral et Gouverneur de la Martinique. + +We have the gratifying intelligence that Captain Hollins, with some +armed steamers, had driven the enemy from the mouth of the Mississippi, +sinking the Preble, and driving the other vessels on the bar of the S.W. +Pass. Mr. Seward has issued a proclamation, desiring the Governors of +the Northern States to put their forts, &c., in condition, "as well on +the seaboard as on the lakes!" This, with Fremont's abolition +proclamation, will be of great service to us. _Quem Deus,_ &c. The +Governor consents to my coaling at St. Pierre. + +_Friday, November 12th_.--Fine, pleasant weather. Watering ship. I did +not visit the shore to-day; some of the officers are on shore dining, +&c., with the French naval officers. There is evidently great sympathy +for us in the island. We have got on board all our "liberty-men," no one +of them having shown a disposition to desert. At 9 P.M., a drunken +fireman jumped overboard and swam ashore, in spite of the efforts of a +boat to catch him. He thus braved the discipline of the ship solely for +a glass of grog!--so strong upon him was the desire for drink. We sent +an officer for him and caught him in a grog-shop. It is reported to us, +as coming from the Captain of the Port, that there is a frigate cruising +off the Diamond Rock. The ship Siam arrived to-day, with 444 coolies! + +_Translation of Reply received from the Governor, in Answer to the +preceding_. + +Fort de France, 12th November, 1861. + +TO THE CAPTAIN-- + +I have the honour to send you the enclosed letter, which I ask you to +hand to the Collector of Customs at St. Pierre, in which I request him +to permit you to embark freely, as much coal as you wish to purchase in +the market. + +I do not change at all from the position which I took with you on +Saturday last. I do not consider that I am empowered any more to give +you coal from the Government supply of this division, than I am to +interfere with the market to prevent its being sold to you there. + +With the expression of my highest regard for the Captain, + +(Signed) MAUSSION DE CONDÉ. + +_Wednesday, November 13th_.--Got up steam, and unmoored ship at +daylight; and at half-past six passed out of the harbour of Fort Royal, +or rather now Fort de France. The pilot repeated the intelligence that +there was a frigate off the Diamond Rock. As we passed the picturesque +country-seat of the Governor, perched upon a height overlooking the sea, +we hoisted the French flag at the fore. Passed the St. Pierre steamer on +her way down. At eight, came to, in the harbour of St. Pierre, at the +man-of-war anchorage south of the town. Several of the custom-house +officers visited us, saying that they had not come on board officially, +but merely out of civility, and from curiosity to see the ship. Sent a +lieutenant on shore to call on the commandant, and make arrangements +for the-purchase and reception of coal, despatching to the collector +the Government order to permit us to embark it. At 1 P.M., shifted our +berth nearer to the shore, for the convenience of coaling, mooring head +and stern with a hawser to the shore. Received on board thirty tons by 9 +P.M.; sent down the foreyard for repairs. Quarantined the paymaster and +surgeon for being out of the ship after hours, but upon the explanations +of the former, released them both. The market-square near the water is +thronged with a dense crowd, eagerly gazing upon the ship; and the +newspaper of to-day gives a marvellous account of us, a column in +length. Among other amusing stories, they claim me to be a French +officer, formerly serving on board the Mereuse! + +_Thursday, November 14th_.--Rain in the forenoon. Busy coaling, and +getting on board a few necessary stores. It is reported that the +Iroquois sailed from Trinidad on the 2nd November, and that there are +three ships of war of the enemy at St. Thomas', one sail vessel, and two +steamers; and that one of these was expected here last night. She has +not yet made her appearance. It will be difficult for her to prevent our +sailing. At 2.30 P.M. the steam-sloop Iroquois of the enemy made her +appearance, coming round the north end of the island. She had at first +Danish colours flying, but soon changed them for her own. She steamed +ahead of us very slowly, and, taking up a position some half to +three-quarters of a mile from us, stood off and on during the afternoon +and night. Finished receiving our coal and provisions (sugar and rum) at +about 9 P.M., when I permitted the crew to have their hammocks as usual. +Directed everything to be kept ready for action. Visited in the +afternoon by the mayor of the city and some gentlemen, who assured me of +the sympathy of the citizens, and of the colony generally. At 1.30 A.M. +I was called by the officer of the deck, and informed that the Iroquois +was standing in for us, and approaching us very close. Called all hands +to quarters, and made all preparations to receive the enemy in case he +should attempt to run us on board. He sheered off, however, when he came +within three or four hundred yards. He repeated this operation several +times during the mid-watch, imposing upon us as often the necessity of +calling the men to quarters; indeed, from about half-past two they slept +at their guns. Great excitement pervades the entire city. The +market-square, the quays, and the windows of the houses, are thronged by +an eager and curious multitude, expecting every moment to see a combat. +The enemy approached us at one time within a ship's length. + +_Friday, November 15th_.--Fine, bright morning. At 7.30 a French steamer +of war, L'Acheron, Captain Duchaxel, came in from Fort de France, and +made fast to one of the buoys. The Iroquois about a mile from us. At +8.30 sent a boat on board the Frenchman to pay the usual ceremonial +visit. The throng in the town unabated, multitudes being gathered near +the water, looking out at the two ships. At 10 the French captain paid +me a visit. He came up, he said, with orders from the Governor, to +preserve the neutrality of the port between the two belligerents, and in +case the Iroquois came to an anchor, to demand of the captain a promise +that he would not proceed to sea for twenty-four hours after our own +departure. I wrote to the Governor, informing him of the violation of +the neutrality of the port by the Iroquois, and desiring him to apply +the proper remedy:-- + +C.S. steamer Sumter, St. Pierre, Island of Martinique, November 15th, +1861. + +SIR,--I have the honor to inform your Excellency that I am closely +blockaded in this port by the enemy's steam sloop-of-war Iroquois, of +twice my force. This vessel, in defiance of the law of nations, and in +contempt of the neutrality of this island, has boldly entered the +harbour, and without coming to anchor is cruising backwards and forwards +in a menacing attitude, not only within the marine league of the shore, +but within less than a ship's length of this vessel, which is moored not +more than one hundred yards from the beach. During the past night she +several times approached me within fifty or a hundred yards. I deem it +my duty to acquaint your Excellency with these facts, and to invoke your +authority for the preservation of my just rights within your waters. I +take the following principles, applicable to the present case, to be +well settled by the law of nations:--Firstly, that no act of hostility, +proximate or remote, can be committed by any belligerent in neutral +waters; secondly, that when a cruiser of one belligerent takes refuge +within the waters of a neutral power, a cruiser of the opposite +belligerent cannot follow her into those waters for purposes of +hostility, proximate or remote. It is not only unlawful for her to +approach within the marine league, for the purpose of watch and menace, +but it is equally unlawful for her to hover about the coast of the +neutral, at any distance within plain view, for the same purposes. All +these are remote or prospective acts of war, and as such, offensive to +the neutral power. Thirdly, that when opposite belligerents meet by +accident in a neutral port, if one of them departs therefrom, the other +is bound to wait twenty-four hours before departing. For the opposite +belligerent to depart immediately in pursuit, is to avail herself of the +neutral territory for the purpose of war. She commits, by the very fact +of sailing, a remote act of hostility which is offensive to the neutral +state. + +In view of the foregoing facts and principles, I respectfully request +that your Excellency will cause the Iroquois to cease hovering about the +coast of the island for the purpose of watching my movements; in other +words, to withdraw herself out of plain sight. Or if she prefers to come +in, to anchor, to direct either that she shall depart twenty-four hours +before me, or wait twenty-four hours after my departure, whichever she +may prefer. I shall be ready for sea in four or five days, as soon as my +engineers make some necessary repairs to my machinery. + +In conclusion, it is quite possible that the captain of the Iroquois may +arrange some signals for giving him intelligence of my movements, with +the United States consul at this port, and I have therefore to request +that some officer may be charged with the prevention of any such act of +hostility. + +I have the honour to be, &c., + +(Signed) R. SEMMES. + + To His Excellency M. Maussion de Condé, + Admiral and Governor of Martinique, + +During this night the Iroquois did not approach us so near as on the +past night. Closed in the gun-deck ports, got the swinging booms +alongside, and directed the crew, in case of being called to quarters +during the night, to repair to the spar-deck as boarders, boarding being +the mode in which the enemy would attack us, if at all.[4] + +[Footnote 4: On the 14th, at 4 P.M. when we had nearly finished coaling +and other arrangements for sea, a steamer was seen rounding the north +point of the island. She was under Danish colours, and had made, it was +evident, some ludicrous attempts at disguising herself--such, for +instance, as a studied disarrangement of her yards, and some alteration +of her head-booms. I was under the impression at the time that we were +very old birds to be caught with such chaff. She came up slowly at +first, evidently not seeing us as we lay concealed in the shadow of the +hills; but when within about two miles, we could see, with the aid of +our glasses, the water curling from her bows, and we knew that the +Yankee had scented his prey; or, to employ the expressive phrase of our +rough old signal quartermaster, "she had got a bone in her mouth." All +the good citizens of St. Pierre came down to the beach to witness the +scene, and a great many indulged their aquatic instincts by swimming out +to us to await the _dénouement_. The Iroquois was now close on to us, +and when about a hundred yards distant, hauled down the Danish colours, +and set the stars and stripes in their place. Thus we were once more in +the presence of our hated foe. + +The Iroquois is one of the new class of gunboats, powerfully armed with +nine and eleven-inch guns, and is about 1000 tons burden. Her crew +consists of about 200 men; and we knew it was useless for the Sumter to +think of fighting her, our only hope of escape being by strategy. The +enemy stood in close to the land, and sent a boat on shore to +communicate with the U.S. Consul and the French authorities, being, +however, very careful not to drop anchor. Captain Palmer informed his +Excellency the Governor that there was a pirate at anchor in the port of +St. Pierre, and requested permission to destroy her; but this was +refused emphatically, and the irate commander furnished with the +proclamation of his Imperial Majesty Napoleon III., according +belligerent rights to the Confederate States, and decreeing strict +neutrality on the part of France. He was informed that it was necessary +for the Iroquois either to cast anchor, or leave the waters of the isle, +and if accepting the former alternative, that an interval of twenty-four +hours must elapse between the departure of either belligerent; also +that, in case of any breach of neutrality occurring, the forts would +open on the offending party. After remaining stationary for some two +hours, her boat returned. The Iroquois stood out of the harbour, taking +a position a short distance ahead of us, and commenced backing and +filling across our bows. Meanwhile the crew of "the pirate" were not +idle; every preparation was made to repel boarders, and to defend our +ship to the last extremity. The crew were inspected, and every man seen +to be properly armed and equipped for action. We fully expected an +attack that night, and remembered the threats and loud pretensions of +not respecting any neutrality which prevented them from destroying the +Sumter, as made by the commander of the Niagara, and the redoubtable +Porter of the Powhattan,--this latter gentleman having actually followed +us as far as Maranham, only to find the people Sumter-mad on his +arrival. Very few on board the Sumter that night felt any inclination +for slumber; the men were sitting about in groups, commenting in low +tones on the contest which now seemed to be imminent; while those +officers who were at leisure were gathered on the quarter-deck, engaged +in the same interesting discussion. + +At 2 A.M. the word was passed by the look-outs forward that the Yankee +was bearing down close upon us; and the order passed, almost in a +whisper, "to go to quarters." I never saw men obey an order with more +alacrity. In a few minutes the boarders, pikemen, and small-arm men were +ranged in three lines close to our low rail, to await his attack, all +preserving a perfect silence that seemed death-like. When about twenty +feet distant from us, we heard the deep tones of her bell in the +engine-room, as it rang the order to back; but not before we had +discovered her men at quarters, and, in fact, presenting every +appearance of a ship intending to board an enemy. A single stray +pistol-shot would have brought on the engagement, and to judge from the +lights and signals glancing along the fortifications, the Frenchmen +would have taken a hand, too. The appearance of our decks next morning +was amusing. The men were strewn about promiscuously fully armed and +accoutred for battle, endeavouring to obtain some rest; a stranger might +easily have imagined us to be a buccaneer. Captain Palmer stated next +day that he was afraid we would board him in boats, when asked the +meaning of his threatening manoeuvres; but it was difficult to believe +that the commander of a ship of war would make such a flimsy excuse; and +let us hope for his own credit that he did not really believe his own +statement. The demeanour of the crew was most satisfactory. No noise or +bustle could be noticed; but a quiet, firm determination was expressed +in the countenance of each man to defend our noble little ship to the +bitter end, and never strike our flag to the foe. These flagrant +violations of neutrality greatly irritated the inhabitants, and the +better portion of them threw off their thin mask of indifference, and +openly expressed sympathy for us. Some were so excited as to volunteer +to go with us; but their kind offers were not accepted. The negroes, +however, did not seem to recognise us for what we really are, their best +friends, but were somewhat opposed to the Sumter; and their allegiance +to our enemy was made the subject of one of Captain Palmer's voluminous +despatches to Mr. Gideon Welles.--_Index._] + + +_Saturday, November 10th._--The Iroquois ahead of us, about a mile +distant. At 10 A.M., I returned the visit of the French commander. I +pointed out to him the insolent manner in which the Iroquois was +violating the neutrality of the port. No additional order had been +received from the Governor. Scraping and painting ship, and repairing +the engine to put it in thorough condition for service. At meridian the +Iroquois came to anchor about half a mile from us, at the man-of-war +anchorage. The captain of the Acheron visited me, to say the Governor +had directed him to inform me that if I preferred it, he would be glad +to have me visit Fort de France with my ship, where he could afford me +more ample protection, and whither, he presumed, the Iroquois would not +follow me; and if she did, that he would compel her to depart from +French waters. + +I replied that before deciding upon this invitation, I would wait and +see whether the Iroquois accepted the condition of remaining twenty-four +hours after my departure, or departing twenty-four hours before me. The +Iroquois got under way again immediately after anchoring, and in the +evening the captain of the Acheron sent a lieutenant on board of me, to +say that the commander of the Iroquois refused to accept the condition, +and that he had been directed to withdraw himself beyond the marine +league in consequence. She remained a few hours to supply herself with +refreshments, and as night fell took her station; but not at the +distance of a marine league _during the night_. + +We have thus taught this ignoramus Yankee captain some knowledge of, and +some respect for, the laws of neutrality. In the afternoon I took a +delightful stroll along the beach northward. + +_Sunday, November 17th._--Morning fine. Visited the church opposite the +ship, and heard mass. The congregation was very large, composed chiefly +of blacks--women. We were politely shown into the trustees' pew. A short +sermon, chiefly addressed to some young persons who had just made their +first communion, was delivered by a good-looking young priest, who had +fair command of language, and was easy and graceful in his manner. + +A sort of police officer or fugleman officiated here, as at Fort +Royal--a feature which I did not like. The Iroquois preserves her +distance by daylight. + +_Monday, November 18th._--The enemy cruising off the harbour as usual. +Daring the morning a French man-of-war schooner arrived from Fort de +France, with the Governor on board (who visits St. Pierre to distribute +premiums to the schools), and about one hundred troops to reinforce the +fort. Repairing our machinery and painting ship. Some boatmen have been +imprisoned by the authorities for going out to the enemy. At nightfall +the Director of the Customs came off to see me, and said that the +Governor had told him he expected to see the Captain of the Sumter at +his (the Director's) house; adding, that he said this of his own +accord--the Governor not having authorized him to say as much to me. I +took the hint, and went on shore at 8 P.M., accompanied by my clerk, to +call on his Excellency. He did not seem to have anything in particular +to say, except to renew his invitation for me to go to Fort de France in +my ship, which I declined, on the ground that this would be a more +convenient port from which to escape, and one affording more facilities +for the repairs of my engine. He told me that the Captain of the +Iroquois pleaded ignorance as to his violation of the neutrality of the +port; but added, he knew better. An American (enemy) schooner got under +way at dusk, and stood out to the Iroquois, where she remained about an +hour before proceeding on her cruise to the northward and westward. + +_Tuesday, November 19th._--Some surf observable this morning, increasing +until about 4 P.M.; the wind variable, settling for a short time in the +south-east. I became anxious on account of my berth, which was +represented to me as insecure, in case of a blow from seaward. I sent +and got a pilot on board, but when he came he said he thought we should +not have bad weather; and as by this time the sea had gone down, I was +of his opinion, and concluded to remain at my anchors for the present, +especially as the repairs to our machinery would be finished by +to-morrow evening. Heavy rain in the evening. The Iroquois within the +marine league. Visited by the commander of the French schooner of war, +whom we called on yesterday. About 10 P.M. the British mail steamer +arrived from St. Thomas. Sent a boat on board of her, and got English +papers to the 1st November. She brings intelligence of the enemy's +steamer St. Jacinto, having boarded an English steam-packet, and taken +out of her Messrs. Slidell and Mason, who had been carried to the +Havannah by the Nashville. The English people will regard this as an +insult to their flag, and in this way it may do us good. Night clear; +moon rising a little before eight. Not quite darkness enough for our +purpose yet. + +_Wednesday, November 20th._--Morning clear; wind variable. The Iroquois +never loses sight of us, violating the neutrality of the port by night +by coming within the marine league to observe us. Sent the engineer on +shore to hurry the repair of his pumps. Loosed sails. Furled at +meridian, and ordered the fires to be lighted at 1 P.M.; the weather +looking unsettled, heeled the ship and scraped the grass off her port +side near the water-line. The Iroquois crawled in again last night +within about a mile and a half. As it was cloudy we lost sight of her in +the early part of the night for the first time. + +_Thursday, November 21st._--Cloudy, with slight showers of rain. Drew +the charges from the battery and reloaded it; and examined and put in +order for action the small arms. Got up some barrels of salt provisions +and arranged them on each side of the quarter-deck to trim ship. She lay +an inch or two too much by the head. A boat employed filling up our +water. Changed our fasts to the shores in readiness for a move. Hurrying +the engineer with his work. I fear every moment to see another enemy's +ship arrive. During the morning the Governor returned in the Acheron to +Fort de France. In the afternoon the Acheron came back. Wrote a note to +the latter complaining of the continued violation of the neutrality of +the port by the enemy's ship. Engineer not ready, so we are obliged to +lie over another day. + + C.S. Steamer Sumter, St Pierre, + Nov. 21st, 1861. + +SIR,--It becomes my duty to complain of the continued violation of the +neutrality of this port, and of my right of asylum, by the enemy's steam +sloop of war the Iroquois. + +This vessel, in shameful disregard of the warnings she has received from +his Excellency the Governor, comes every night, under cover of the +darkness, within a mile and a-half, or less, of the anchorage. Last +night, at nine o'clock, she was seen from my deck with the naked eye, +assisted by an occasional flash of lightning; and as the night was +comparatively obscure, no vessel, not being under sail, could have been +seen at a greater distance than from a mile to a mile and a quarter. + +I have besides to inform you, that two small boats communicated with the +enemy in broad daylight yesterday, one of them pulling, upon leaving +her, to the north point, and the other to the south point, of the +harbour. + +I have, &c., &c., (Signed) R. SEMMES. + +To M. Duchaxel, Commander of His French Majesty's steamer, L'Acheron. + +_Friday, November 22nd._--The enemy about two and a half miles distant. +The engineer will be ready to-day, and, God willing, we will get out +to-night. Wrote to the captain of the Acheron, in reply to the position +assumed by the governor:-- + + C.S. Steamer Sumter, St. Pierre, + Nov. 22nd, 1861. + +SIR,--I have had the honour to receive your letter of yesterday, in +which you communicate to me the views of the Governor of Martinique +relative to the protection of my right of asylum in the waters of this +island; and I regret to say that those views do not appear to me to come +up to the requirements of the international code. The Governor says, +"that it does not enter into his intentions to exercise towards the +Iroquois, either by night or by day, so active a surveillance as you +desire." And you tell me that "we ought to have confidence in the strict +execution of a promise made by a commander in the military marine of the +American Union, so long as he has not shown to us evidence that this +engagement has not been scrupulously fulfilled." It would appear from +these expressions that the only protection I am to receive against the +blockade of the enemy is a simple promise exacted from that enemy, that +he will keep himself without the marine league of the land; the Governor +in the meantime exercising no watch by night or by day to see whether +this promise is complied with. In addition to the facts related by me +yesterday, I have this morning to report that one of my officers, being +on shore in the northern environs of the town last night, between eight +and nine o'clock, saw two boats, each pulling eight oars, the men +dressed in dark clothing, with the caps usually worn by seamen of the +Northern States, pulling quietly in towards the beach. He distinctly +heard a conversation between them in English, one of them +saying--"Harry, there she is; I see her"--in allusion, doubtless, to the +presence of my vessel. These boats, no doubt, have orders to make signal +to the Iroquois the moment they discover me under way. Now, with all due +deference to his Excellency the Governor, I cannot see the difference +between the violation of the neutrality of these waters by the enemy's +boats, and by his ship. And if no strict surveillance is to be +"exercised either by night or by day," I am receiving very much such +protection as the wolf would accord to the lamb. Is it an act of love +for the enemy to approach me with his boats for the purpose of +reconnaissance, and especially during the night? and I have the same +right to demand that he keep his boats beyond the marine league as that +he keep his ship at that distance. Nor am I willing to rely upon his +promise, that he will not infringe my rights in this particular. It +appears to me further, especially after the knowledge of the facts which +I have brought to your notice, that it is the duty of France to exercise +surveillance over her own water, "both by night and by day," when an +enemy's cruiser is blockading a friendly belligerent, who has sought +the asylum in those waters accorded to him by the law of nations. I +have, therefore, respectfully to request that you will keep a-watch by +means of guard boats, at both points of this harbour, to prevent the +repetition of the hostile act which was committed against me last night; +or, if you will not do this yourself, that you will permit me to arm +boats and capture the enemy when so approaching me. It would seem quite +plain, either that I should be protected, or be permitted to protect +myself. Further, it is in plain violation of neutrality for the enemy to +be in daily communication with the shore, whether by means of his own +boats, or boats from the shore. If he needs supplies, it is his duty to +come in for them; and if he comes in, he must anchor; and if he anchor, +he must accept the condition of remaining twenty-four hours after my +departure. It is a mere subterfuge for him to remain in the offing, and +supply himself with all he needs, besides reconnoitreing me closely by +means of boats. I protest against this act also. I trust you will excuse +me for having occupied so much of your time by so lengthy a +communication, but I deem it my duty to place myself right upon the +record in this matter. I shall seize an early opportunity to sail from +these waters; and if I should be brought to a bloody conflict with an +enemy, of twice my force, by means of signals given him in the waters of +France, either by his own boats or others', I wish my government to know +that I protested against the unfriendly ground assumed by the Governor, +that "it does not enter into his intentions to exercise towards the +Iroquois either by night or by day, so active a surveillance as you [I] +require." + + I have the honour to be, &c., &c., + (Signed) R. SEMMES. + + M. Duchaxel, + Commander of H.I.M. Steamer, L'Acheron. + + + C.S. Steamer Sumter, St. Pierre, + Nov. 23, 1861. + +SIR,--I have the honor to inform you that the pilot of the enemy's +steamer Iroquois habitually spends his time on shore in this port; and +that last night he slept on board the enemy's topsail schooner moored +near the beach, in the vicinity of the English barque Barracouta. I have +ample evidence outside of my ship to establish these facts. Now, it must +be obvious to you that the enemy has sent this man into French waters to +act as a spy upon my movements; and he has, no doubt, in his possession +rockets or other signals, with which to communicate my departure to his +ship. This man, though only a pilot, and temporarily employed on board +the Iroquois, is in law as much an officer of that ship, for the time +being, as any one of her lieutenants. + +The case, then, may be stated thus:--A lieutenant of the Iroquois not +only spends his time _habitually_ on shore, but sleeps at night on board +another vessel of the enemy, instead of sleeping at a hotel, the better +to enable him to observe my movements, and communicate them to his ship. +And yet all this is permitted by the authorities! + +I most respectfully but earnestly protest against this violation of my +rights. As I stated in my letter of yesterday, an act of reconnaissance +(and still more an act of reconnaissance for the purpose of giving +information by signal) is an act of war; and will France permit an act +of war to be committed against me in her own waters, and under the eye +of her authorities, civil and military? + +In conclusion, I request that you will issue an order, requiring this +spy to depart to his ship, and that you will also take the proper steps +to prevent the schooner in which he stays from making any signals to the +enemy. + + I have the honor to be, &c., &c., + (Signed) R. SEMMES. + + M. Duchaxel, + Commander of H.I.M. Steamer, L'Acheron. + +NOTE.--The Sumter went to sea from the port of St. Pierre on the evening +(8 o'clock) of the date of the preceding letter, and, as was predicted, +the light was burned on board the American schooner to signal her +departure to the Iroquois. + +R.S. + + * * * * * + +Muffled the windlass. Getting on board some water. Last night, between +eight and nine o'clock, the engineer being on shore, near the north end +of the town, saw two of the Iroquois' touts, and heard one of them say +to the other, "Harry, that's she--I see her:" in allusion, doubtless, to +the presence of this vessel. We were all very anxious as the night +approached as to the state of the weather; and lo! for the first time in +five or six days, we had a beautiful star-light night, without a speck +of cloud anywhere to be seen. The enemy continued plain in sight, and +our black smoke, as it issued from the stack, would have betrayed us at +a distance of five miles. We were therefore reluctantly compelled to +give up the attempt. + +_Saturday, November 23rd._--Beautiful clear morning, with every +appearance of settled weather. Fine starlit nights and clear settled +days, though very pleasant to the lover of nature, are not quite such +weather as we require for running a blockade by a ship which keeps +herself in plain sight of us, and which has the heels of us. But we must +have patience, and bide our time. Several sail have come in and departed +during the last twenty-four hours. The enemy in the offing as usual. +Towards noon it began to cloud up, and we had some rain, and I had +strong hopes that we should have a cloudy, dark night. The moon would +not rise until seven minutes past eleven, and if we could be aided by a +few clouds we should have sufficient darkness; for be it known that in +these tropical climates, where almost every star is a moon, there is no +such thing as darkness when the firmament is clear. But my hopes began +to fade, with the day, for one cloud disappeared after another, as the +sun went down, until the night promised to be as serene and bright as +the last. Venus, too, looked double her usual size, and being three +hours bright at sunset, poured forth a flood of light, little less than +that of the moon in a northern latitude. Notwithstanding all these +discouragements, however, I resolved to attempt the run, and having made +all the necessary preparations silently, so as not to awaken the +suspicions of the townspeople, who were always on the alert, at about +five minutes before eight o'clock gun-fire, I directed the chain to be +slipped, and the fasts to the shore cut, and put her under steam. The +enemy being on my starboard bow, and apparently standing towards the +north point of the roadstead, I headed her for the south point, giving +her full steam. So much on the _qui vive_ were the townspeople, that we +had scarcely moved twenty yards when a shout rent the air, and there was +a confused murmur of voices, as if Babel had been let loose. As we +neared the French steamer of war, Acheron, signals were made to the +enemy by means of blue lights from one of the Yankee schooners in port: +perceiving which, and knowing that the signals were so arranged as to +designate our direction, after moving a few hundred yards further, I +doubled, and came back under cover of the land, while I stopped once or +twice to assure myself that the enemy was continuing his course in the +opposite direction, in obedience to his signals; when, as soon as the +engineer could do so (for he had to cool his bearings, and this was +truly an anxious moment for me), I gave her all steam, and stood for the +north end of the island. As we approached it, the Fates, which had +before seemed unpropitious to us, began to smile, and the rain-squall, +which had come up quite unexpectedly, began to envelope us in its +friendly folds, shutting in our dense clouds of black smoke, which were +really the worst tell-tales we had to dread. The first half-hour's run +was a very anxious one for us; but as we began to lose sight of the +lights of the town and to draw away from the land, we knew that the +enemy had been caught in his own trap, and that we had successfully +eluded him. I had warned the French authorities that their neutrality +would be disregarded, and that these signals would be made. The +commander of the Iroquois had been guilty of a shameful violation of +good faith towards the French naval officer, to whom he made a promise +that he would respect the neutrality of the port, by sending his pilot +on shore, and arranging these signals with the Yankee skippers. Yankee +faith and Punic faith seem to be on a par. Our ship made good speed, +though she was very deep, and by half-past eleven we made up with the +south end of Dominica. Here the wind fell, and we ran along the coast of +the island in a smooth sea, not more than four or five miles from the +land. The moon by this time being up, the bold and picturesque outlines +of this island, softened by the rains and wreathed in fleecy clouds, +presented a beautiful night-scene. + +The sleeping town of Rousseau barely showed us the glimmer of a light, +and we passed but one coasting schooner. At 2 A.M., we were off the +north end of the island, but now heavy rain-squalls came up, and +rendered it so thick, that we were obliged to slow down, and even stop +the engine, it being too thick to run. The squall lighting up a little, +we endeavoured to feel our way in the dark; mistook the south for the +north end of Prince Rupert's Bay, and only discovered our mistake when +we had gotten fearfully near the shore, and had whitened our water! +Hauled her broad out, and again put her under very slow steam. The +weather now lighting up more, we put her under headway again, doubled +the island, and shaped our course E. by N. It was now 4:30 A.M., and I +went below and turned in. _Deo gratias._ Poor D., the quartermaster, I +had to depose him from his high office of night look-out this night. He +had been remarked for his keen vision by night; but on this occasion he +was so perturbed, that he saw a steamer bearing down upon him from every +direction--even magnifying small sloops into frigates. The evening of +this day was lovely, and I think I have never seen a more beautiful, +sedative, poetic, love-in-a-cottage landscape, than the valleys and +hills presented in which lies the town of St. Pierre. All these charms +were heightened by the presence of grim-visaged war. Our run took every +one by surprise--several of the officers had breakfast and dinner, +appointments for several days ahead. My crew seem to be highly delighted +at our success in "doing the Yankee;" but I am not sure that an old +boatswain's-mate, and a hard, weather-beaten quartermaster, who had +shaved their heads for a close fight, were not disappointed that it did +not come off. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +_Again at sea--Two captures--The Montmorency--The Arcade--Eastward, +ho!--The Vigilant taken--News from home--Dirty weather--The +whale--Ebenezer Dodge--In irons--A cyclone--The gale rages +--Fire!--Christmas day--No luck--The clank of the pumps--Cadiz_. + + +Once more afloat on the open sea; and at 4 P.M. of Monday November 25th, +a promising commencement was made in the capture of the fine ship +Montmorency, of 1183 tons, laden with Welsh coal for the English Mail +Packet service. And, fortunately so for her, or she would have shared +the fate of the Golden Balance, the Daniel Trowbridge, and other "burnt +offerings" of the little Sumter. As it was, she paid a light toll in the +shape of small supplies of paint, cordage, &c., and entering into a +ransom bond for 20,000 dollars, to be paid to the Confederate States +Government at the end of the war, her captain and crew were paroled, and +she herself permitted to proceed on her voyage. + +At 1.30 P.M., on the 26th November--writes Captain Semmes--showed first +the United States and then our own colours to an English schooner, +probably from the Bahamas to the Windward Islands, and at three captured +the United States schooner Arcade from Portland, Maine, to Port au +Prince, Guadaloupe, loaded with stores. The master and half-owner of the +schooner was Master of the barque Saxony at the time of the loss of the +Central America, and was instrumental in saving lives on that occasion, +for which a handsome telescope had been presented to him. I had the +pleasure of returning the glass to him, captured among the other effects +of his vessel. + +Took the master and crew on board (a rough sea running), and set fire to +her. At 4.40 stood on our course. The blaze of the burning vessel still +in sight at 8 P.M. During the night the wind lulled and became variable. +Hauled down the fore and aft sails, and steered N.E. The prize had no +newspapers on board, but we learned from the master that the great naval +expedition which the enemy had been some time preparing had struck at +Beaufort, South Carolina, on Fort Royal Sound. No result known. + + * * * * * + +After five days of hard fighting with the strong N.E. trade, blowing for +the most part half a gale of wind, and with thick and dirty weather, the +enemy is at length overcome, the sky clears, and the Sumter's head is +turned towards Europe. And now for a time Yankee commerce was to have a +respite, its relentless little enemy directing its attention exclusively +towards maturing her voyage across the Atlantic. She had at this time +but sixty days' water for her own crew, in addition to whom there were +now the six prisoners taken from the schooner. The passage, too, would +have to be made for the most part under canvas, and would probably not +occupy less than fifty days. Of course, she had now but six or seven +days' supply of coal--a small reserve in case of emergency, and hardly +sufficient to enable her to cruise a few days on the other side, and, if +possible, not go quite "empty-handed" into port. + +Still the days were not altogether uneventful, and before the week was +out, a fine prize ran, as it were, into her very arms. Of this capture +the journal gives the following account:-- + +_Tuesday, December 3rd_.--At 6.30 A.M. Sail, ho! a point on the +starboard bow. At 7.30 the sail, which was standing in nearly the +opposite direction from ourselves, approached us within a couple of +miles. We hoisted French colours, when she showed United States'. Took +in all the studding sails, hauled by the wind, tacked, and fired a +shotted gun. The stranger immediately hove to. Lowered a boat, and sent +a lieutenant on board of him. Stood on and tacked, and having brought +the stranger under my guns, I began to feel sure of him (our smoke stack +was down, and we could not have raised steam in less than two hours and +a half). He proved to be the ship Vigilant, of Bath, Maine, bound from +New York to the guano island of Sombrero, in ballast. Captured him. Took +from on board chronometer, charts, &c., and a nine pounder rifled gun, +with ammunition, &c. Set him on fire, and at 3 P.M. made sail. This was +a fine new ship, being only two years old, and worth about 40,000 +dollars. + +Lat. 29.10 N., Long. 57.2-2 W. Steering E. by N. We received a large +supply of New York papers to the 21st November. We learned from these +papers that the San Jacinto was in search of us when she took Messrs. +Mason and Slidell from on board the Trent. The enemy has thus done us +the honour to send in pursuit of us the Powhattan, the Niagara, the +Iroquois, the Keystone State, and the San Jacinto. + + * * * * * + +Dirty weather now for several days, the little vessel rolling and +straining, and withal beginning to leak to an extent which caused no +small anxiety to those in command. Still, however, she was quite up to +mischief, and on the 8th December, the Ebenezer Dodge, twelve days from +New Bedford, bound to the Pacific on a whaling voyage, was added to the +fatal list. Forty-three prisoners were now on board, cooped up with the +crew in the narrow berth deck, when the weather forbade their appearance +on deck, and the little Sumter was beginning to feel herself +overcrowded. + +It became necessary to adopt precautions, and one-half the prisoners +were now kept constantly in single irons, taking it turn and turn about +to submit to the necessary but disagreeable infliction. The wind, too, +hung perseveringly in the east, and things were getting uncomfortable. +They were destined, as the following extracts will show, to be yet more +so. + +_Wednesday, December 11th._--As ugly-looking a morning as one could well +conceive. Thick, dark, gloomy weather, with the wind blowing fresh from +the east, and threatening a gale (bar. 29.70 and falling) and a steady +but moderate rain falling. Put the ship under short sail. Our large +number of prisoners renders the crew very uncomfortable during this bad +weather. At meridian, gale blowing, with thick, driving rain. Lat. +32° 48' N., Long. 49° 32' W.D.R. At 2 P.M., dense clouds hanging very low +all around the horizon in every direction. Wind about E.S.E., inclined +to haul to the southward. Bar. 29.59. The pall of clouds is not so dense +as at noon, and the rain comes only occasionally in squalls. The clouds +are rifted, and appear to be on the point of rapid motion. Wore ship to +the northward and eastward. The wind soon after backed to the northward +and eastward, and we had to run the ship off N.W. for a while. Towards +night, however, the wind went back to E., and blew very fiercely, +raising very heavy and irregular sea-squalls of rain. The lightning was +very vivid. It blew very heavily until about 1 A.M., when it abated for +more than two hours, blowing only in puffs, and then not very hard. Near +the centre of the cyclone, lowest barometer. A little past midnight a +quartermaster entered with the report that the starboard-bow port had +been stove in! It was then blowing furiously. I immediately despatched +the first lieutenant to barricade the port and stop out the water as +effectually as possible, in which he succeeded pretty well. This report +gave me considerable anxiety, as the ports in the gun-deck and the +uppermost works of the ship are her weak points at which the gale would +assault her with most effect. In the meantime the barometer has been +gradually settling, settling, settling--sometimes remaining stationary +for several hours and then going down as before. At 8 P.M. it was 29.53. +We had an awful night--no one able to sleep. + +_Thursday, December 12th_.--Thick, gloomy weather, with the gale raging +as fiercely as ever. It blew very heavily all the morning. The barometer +continued to sink until it reached 29.32--at 6 A.M. its lowest point. +The wind has hauled to the south. We are evidently in a cyclone, having +taken it in its northern quarter, the gale travelling north. On the +starboard tack, its centre has passed to the west of us. Ordered the +donkey engine to be got ready for use last night, in case the ship +should make more water than the small bilge pumps could throw out. +Carried away the flying jibboom at 7.30 A.M.--saved the sail. As the +gale progressed the wind hauled to the south and west; and at 4 P.M., +judging that the strength of the gale had passed us, I kept the ship on +her course, E. by S., which gave a quartering wind and sea; and although +the sea was heavy, and the wind yet blowing a gale, she made beautiful +weather of it, scudding as well as she had lain to. The wind blew fresh +all night, with a slowly rising barometer. + +Escaped the "cyclone," a fresh danger threatened, and from the element +more feared by the sailor than either wind or water in their wildest +moods. It was about midnight of December the 14th that the watch on deck +were startled by the smell of fire, soon followed by the appearance of +smoke pouring out of the ventilator leading up from the berth deck. The +alarm was immediately given; hands turned up and sent to quarters, and a +strict investigation made. Fortunately no damage was done except to a +mattress and pea-jacket which were partly consumed; but the escape was a +narrow one, and the sentries on duty below no doubt considered +themselves well off, to escape with no other punishment for their +carelessness than a week's stoppage of their grog. + +On went the Sumter with varying fortune, now running pleasant races with +some huge whale, that left a track upon the water almost as broad as her +own; now rolling and tumbling in a gale, with ports barricaded to keep +the water out, and donkey engine ringed to keep it under. And at last +the continued bad weather and consequent confinement to the crowded +lower deck, began to tell upon the health of the crew, and no less than +twelve were at one time upon the sick list. The little vessel herself, +too, was getting rapidly invalided. The leak increased terribly, and +fully half the day was taken up at the pumps. The Christmas-tide entries +in the Journal are as follows:-- + +_Tuesday, December 24th_.--An unpropitious Christmas-eve; the gale of +last night continuing, with rain and a densely overcast sky. The +barometer is rising, however, which is a portent that the gale will not +last long. I have abandoned the idea of attempting to run into Fayal. +These Azores seem to be so guarded by the Furies of the storm, that it +would appear to be a matter of great difficulty to reach them in the +winter season. We have thirty-eight days of water on board, allowing a +gallon to a man; but still I have put the officers and crew on the +allowance of three quarts per day. I will run for the Straits of +Gibraltar, which will carry me in the vicinity of Madeira, should I have +occasion to make a port sooner. + +Weather breaking somewhat at noon, but still thickly overcast. No +observation. Lat. 37° 31' N., Long. 31° 71' W. by computation. It +freshened up from the N. at 2 P.M., and blew a gale of wind all night +from N.N.E. to N.N.W. Running off with the wind a little abaft the beam +very comfortably; but the two small pumps were kept going _nearly all +night_. They do little more than keep her free. + +_Wednesday, December 25th_.--Christmas-day! Bringing with it, away here +in mid-ocean, all the kindly recollections of the season and home, and +church and friends. Alas! how great the contrast between these things +and our present condition. A leaky ship filled with prisoners of war, +striving to make a port through the almost constantly recurring gales of +the North Atlantic in mid-winter! Sick list--ten of the crew, and four +prisoners. Wind fresh from the N.W. We are making a good run these +twenty-four hours. Lat. 36'08 N., Long. 28-42 W. Weather cloudy, and +looking squally and ugly, with a falling barometer, it being at noon +29.70; 29.80 is the highest it has been since the last gale. A series of +gales commenced on the 19th inst. Altered our course from S.E. by E. to +S.E. to avoid the St. Mary's bank; a Captain Livingstone having +reported, about forty years ago, that he saw white waters hereabouts, +and no nation having thought it worth while to verify the report. +Thermometer 63°. Heavy rain-squalls. The weather during the night was +dirty and squally, with lightning all around the horizon by turns, and +heavy rain.. Spliced the main-brace. + +The 26th December brought the Sumter off Cape Flyaway, and once more she +was rapidly approaching the ordinary track of commerce. + +_Monday, December 30th_.--Sail, ho! at daylight, and Sail, ho! in +succession during the whole day, until as many as thirty-five were +reported. There were as many as nine or ten in sight at one time, all +standing on the same course for the tide and wind. Got up steam and +began chasing at 8 A.M., and chased until 4 P.M. The first vessel we +overhauled was a Dutch barque, clipper-looking, on board which we sent a +boat; and we afterwards overhauled, and caused to show their papers, +fifteen others of the fleet, every one of which was European!--Viz. +Dutch (ships), 4; English (2 barques and 5 brigs), 7; French (1 ship and +1 brig), 2; Swedish (brig), 1; Prussian (barque), 1; Hamburg (brig), 1. +One of the results of the war is, that in this whole fleet, as far as we +could ascertain, there was not a single Yankee! So many ships at the +same time so far out at sea, is a sight not often seen. The weather was +very thick and rainy, and from the S. to E., a real dirty day; and in +such a state of weather, with so many ships running down our track, we +had serious apprehensions of collisions as the night set in. To guard +against which we set out masthead as well as side lights. At 4.30 P.M., +let the steam go down and made sail. No observations. Lat. 35° 39'; +Long. 17° 33' D.R. + +We first showed the United States colours to all these vessels, and the +only one which saluted it was the Prussian. We afterwards showed our own +flag to a number of them, and they all, with one or two exceptions, +saluted it. The stream of vessels still continued after nightfall--two +having passed us showing lights, one ahead and the other astern. At 6.15 +P.M., or about one hour after dark, the wind was blowing fresh from the +E., and they came down upon us with fearful rapidity. + +_Friday, January 3rd_, 1862.--Ugly looking morning, with a falling +barometer. Several sail were reported from the masthead during the +morning watch. We shortened sail to permit one of them, which was +steering the same course with ourselves, to come up with us. She proved +to be a Spaniard. We then gave chase to another ahead of us, running +before the wind for the Strait of Gibraltar. We chased her some two +hours, when it began to blow a fierce gale from the west, which obliged +us to give over the chase and to haul up to prevent running to leeward +of our port, and to put the ship under short sail and steam. It blew +very fiercely until near sunset, and raised a heavy, short, abrupt sea, +in which the ship rolled more heavily than I had ever seen her before. +This shook our propeller so as to cause the ship to increase her +quantity of water considerably--so much so that the engineer reported +that under short steam he was just keeping her free with his +bilge-pumps, and that if anything happened to these, he feared the other +pumps would not be sufficient. Under these circumstances, I ran in for +the land, cutting short my cruise by a day or two, as Iliad still two or +three days' coal on board. We made the Cadiz Light in the mid-watch--(my +fine chronometers!)--a beautiful red flash, and soon after got +soundings. Ran in for the light under low steam, and at 7 A.M. we were +within four or five miles of it. The morning was wet and gloomy. Fired a +gun, and hoisted the jack for a pilot; and soon after, having received +one on board, we ran into the harbour and anchored. As we approached, +the scene was most beautiful, in spite of the day. The city of Cadiz is +a perfect picture as you approach it, with domes, and towers, and +minarets, and Moorish-looking houses, of a beautiful white stone. The +harbour was crowded with shipping--_very thinly_ sprinkled with Yankees, +who could get no freights--and a number of villages lay around the +margin of the bay, and were picturesquely half hidden in the slopes of +the surrounding mountains, all speaking of regenerate old Spain, and of +the populousness and thrift of her most famous province of Andalusia. +Visited by the health-officer, who informed us that unless we were +specially exempted, we should be quarantined for three days, for not +having a certificate of health from the Spanish Consul at Martinique. A +number of merchant ships hoisted their flags in honour of our arrival, +and one Yankee showed his in defiance. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +_Cadiz harbour--Notice to quit--Local authorities--Wisdom--The Queen of +Spain--Docked--Under repair--Deserters--The honour of the flag--The +Neapolitan--The Investigator--Gibraltar--Official visits--Up the rock--A +legend--Neutrality again--Consular diplomacy--Blockaded--The +Tusoarora--Seven in pursuit._ + + +During the stay of the Sumter at Cadiz, and her subsequent arrival at +Gibraltar, Captain Semmes made the entries in his Journal which will be +found in this chapter. + +_Saturday, January 4th_.--Harbour of Cadiz--ancient Gades--with its +Moorish houses and feluccas, or latteen vessels. Some fine oranges +alongside--the product of this latitude, 36° 32' N., about the same +parallel with Norfolk, Virginia. It is one hundred and eighty-eight days +to-day since we ran the blockade at New Orleans, and of this time we +have been one hundred and thirty-six days at sea. We are informed this +evening that the question of our being admitted to _pratique_ (and I +presume also the landing of our prisoners) has been referred to Madrid +by telegram. + +_Sunday, January 5th_.--Sky partially overcast, with a cool north wind. +Thermometer 56°. Early this morning the health officer came alongside, +and brought me the order from the Government to depart within +twenty-four hours, and a tender of such supplies as I might need in the +meantime. I replied as under:-- + + C.S. Steamer Sumter, Cadiz, + January 5, 1862. + + SIR,--I have had the honour to receive, through the health officer of + the port, an order from the Government of Spain, directing me to proceed + to sea within twenty-four hours. I am greatly surprised at this + unfriendly order. Although my Government has not yet been favourably + recognised by Spain, it has been declared to be possessed of the rights + of belligerents in the war in which it is engaged; and it is the + practice of all civilized nations to extend the hospitality of their + ports to the belligerents of both parties alike--whether the + belligerents be _de facto_ or _de jure_. I am aware of the rules adopted + by Spain, in common with the other great powers, prohibiting belligerent + cruisers from bringing their prizes into her ports; but this rule I have + not violated. I have entered the harbour of Cadiz with my single ship, + and I demand only the hospitality to which I am entitled by the law of + nations--the Confederate States being one of the _de facto_ nations of + the earth, by Spain's own acknowledgment, as before stated. I am sorry + to be obliged to add, too, that my ship is in a crippled condition. She + is damaged in her hull, is leaking badly, is unseaworthy, and will + require to be docked and repaired before it will be possible for her to + proceed to sea. I am therefore constrained, by the force of + circumstances, most respectfully to decline obedience to the order which + I have received, until the necessary repairs can be made. Further, I + have on board forty-three prisoners, confined within a small space, + greatly to their discomfort, and simple humanity would seem to dictate, + that I should be permitted to hand them over to the care of their consul + on shore without unnecessary delay. + + I have, &c. (Signed) R. SEMMES. + + To his Excellency The Military Governor of the Port of Cadiz, Spain. + + At 11.30, a boat with the Spanish flag anchored a short distance from + me, evidently a guard upon my movements. The Yankees have been at work, + no doubt, to bring all this about. The military governor is telegraphing + my reply back, and we shall see what the answer will be. + + I was mistaken in the above. The order to proceed to sea was begotten in + the wise brains of the local authorities. My reply to it having been + telegraphed to Madrid, the authorities were overruled; and the Queen + despatched an order to permit me to land my prisoners, and to make such + repairs as I needed. So this business, which has troubled us a couple of + days, is at an end. This evening, just before dark, a Spanish + steam-frigate came down from the Navy Yard, and anchored near us. + + _Monday, January 6th._--Last night I was aroused at 2.30 A.M., by a boat + from the shore, with a note from the military governor, requesting me to + delay proceeding to sea, that the _benevolent_ intentions of her + Majesty's Government in regard to me might be carried out. The "muddy + heads" on shore had received a despatch from Madrid, in reply to my + letter to them. Weather clear and bracing. Wind from the North. + Thermometer at noon 59.° The steam-frigate disappeared somehow during + the night. Protested, as under, against the presence of a health + guard-boat:-- + + C.S. Steamer "Sumter," + Cadiz, January 6th, 1862. + + SIR,--I have had the honour to receive your Excellency's note + of to-day, in which you inform me that the proceedings of the + local authorities of Cadiz, commanding me to proceed to sea + within twenty-four hours, have been overruled by the Government + at Madrid, and that the Queen had graciously permitted me + to land my prisoners, and to remain to put the necessary repairs + upon my ship. Do me the favour to communicate to her Majesty + my thanks for her prompt and friendly action in the premises. + + In the meantime, allow me most respectfully to protest against + the presence of the guard-boat which has been placed in surveillance + upon my movements, as though I were an ordinary ship + of commerce. Compliance with the laws of quarantine should + be left with me as a matter of honour, and the presence of this + boat implies the suspicion that a ship of war of a friendly Power + could so far forget herself as to infringe the regulations of the + port--a suspicion as unworthy the health authorities of the port + of Cadiz as it is offensive to me. + + I have the honour to be, &c. &c. + + (Signed) R. SEMMES. + + Señor Ignacio Mendez de Vigo, + Military Governor of the Port of Cadiz. + + _Tuesday, January 7th_.--To-day I received a note from Senor + de Vigo, the military Governor, informing me that the Queen's + Government had consented to permit me to land my prisoners, + and to remain for repairs. He puts my remaining, however, on + the ground of necessity arising out of my crippled condition. Received + also a reply from the Yankee Consul to my note about the + prisoners: declined to receive it on account of its being improperly + addressed.[5] Landed all the prisoners. Received another + note from the Governor, requesting me to hurry my repairs, &c. + Sent to the Captain of the port on the subject. Referred by + him to Captain-General. + + [Footnote 5: + +CAPTAIN SEMMES, C.S.N., to U.S. CONSUL, CADIZ, + +C.S. Steamer Sumter, Cadiz, +January 7, 1862. + +Sir,--Your note of this morning having been sent off to me by a common +boatman, I could not learn the name of the writer without breaking +the envelope. Having done so, and ascertained it to be from yourself, +I decline to receive it, as being improperly addressed. My address +is as follows:-- + +COMMANDER H. SEMMES, + +Confederate States Navy, +Commanding C.S. Steamer Sumter. +E.S. Eggleston, U.S. Consul.] + +_Wednesday, January 8th_.--Complained to the Civil Governor of the +Paymaster and Surgeon having been called alongside the guard-boat +(whilst coming on board in a shore boat). Despatched a Lieutenant to San +Fernando to see the Captain-General about docking the ship. He returned +at nightfall, with word that the Captain-General would reply in the +morning. + +_Thursday, January 9th_.--Visited by Engineer of docks at San +Fernando, to learn the extent of the repairs which we shall require, and +to take the dimensions of the ship, to ascertain whether she can enter +the only dock that is empty. A fine, clear day, with a pleasant wind +from the N. Bar. 30'34., the highest that I have ever seen. No answer +from the Captain-General yet (noon), as to our being docked. Besides the +six ships which Mr. Welles says have been in pursuit of me--viz., the +Powhattan, the Niagara, the San Jacinto, the Iroquois, the Keystone +State, and the Richmond--the Ino and the Dacotah are also employed in +this fruitless business. We are fairly in the hands of the +circumlocution office. I suppose they are telegraphing Madrid. The +greatest excitement prevails all over Europe to learn the result of the +English demand for the Commissioners. The general impression is, that +the Yankees will give them up, and that there will be no war. The packet +from New York is expected in England to-day. In the meantime, Great +Britain is calling home her ships of war; the Mediterranean fleet +arrived at Gibraltar on January 2nd, and threw the commercial community +into the greatest consternation. Received final permission this evening +from the Captain-General to enter dock. + +_Saturday, January 11th_.--Visited the shore. Cadiz full of life and +bustle. Met Mr. Oliver; he is from the East. He says Russia is laying +deep schemes for uniting the whole Sclavonic race under her rule; and +that the _cotton_ pressure is felt at Constantinople, up the Danube, +and, in short, all over Eastern Europe. Received permission from the +Governor to land the marine who was sentenced by court-martial to be +discharged. News of the great fire in Charleston. Rumour that the +Yankees have given up the Commissioners. Can scarcely credit it as yet. +Yankee-dom can hardly have fallen so low. + +_Sunday, January 12th_.--Landed the discharged marine. The news that +Messrs. Mason and Slidell have been given up appears to be confirmed. +The subtle diplomacy, notifying the Yankee Government _unofficially_, +that the ultimatum would be withheld a short time, to allow them time to +give up the prisoners _voluntarily_, was resorted to! The Yankee Consul +here gave a dinner on the occasion! The Cadiz papers comment very +unfavourably upon this back-down, and insist that notwithstanding, it is +the duty of the great Powers to interpose and put an end to the war. In +the afternoon we got under way, and passing through the fleet of +shipping, went up to the dock at Caracca, some eight miles east of the +city. The harbor is perfect, the water deep, and the buildings +extensive. The pilot who took me up, says he is the man to run me out by +the enemy, when I am ready--that he was in New Orleans sixty years ago, +and remained a year in Louisiana, where he learned to speak the +language, which he has not yet entirely forgotten. + +_Monday, January 13th_.--At about 10 o'clock the dockyard people came on +board of us, and at 10.30 we were safely docked, and at noon the dock +pumped dry. We suffered very little damage from running ashore at +Maranham. We indented a small place under the forefoot, and knocked off +only a small portion of our false keel instead of the whole of it, as we +supposed. We are now knocking away bulk-heads, and removing magazine and +shell room to get at the shaft. At 1 P.M. called officially upon the +Naval-Commandant, and returned him my thanks for the handsome manner in +which he had docked my ship. I spoke of the back-down of the Yankees, +which he asserted would make them lose caste in Europe. The great fire +at Charleston was alluded to by him, whereupon I remarked that Europe +could see from this incident--(the work of incendiarism prompted and +paid for, no doubt, by the enemy)--the barbarous nature of the war waged +upon us, and told him we were in fact fighting the battles of Spain as +well as our own; for if the barbarians of the North succeeded in +overcoming the South (which, however, I pronounced an impossibility), +and destroying our slave property, in their wild fanaticism and +increasing madness, they would next make war on Cuba and Porto Rico. He +replied that this war could not continue much longer; there were people +and territory enough in North America to make two great governments, and +Europe would, no doubt united, soon interpose. I was treated with great +civility and kindness. + +_Tuesday, January 14th_.--* * * Had an interview to-day with the +Naval-Commandant, who explained to me the orders he had received from +the Government in relation to my ship, which were to put upon her only +the _indispensable_ repairs, without essential alterations. I expressed +myself satisfied with this; told him I knew the solicitude of his +Government to avoid complication; and, that so far as depended upon me, +he might rely upon it that I would permit nothing to be done which might +involve it in any way. Proceeding with the necessary repairs. Some +thousand workmen, many of them convicts, are employed in this yard. They +have in dock, receiving her copper, a heavy steam frigate constructed +here, and another still larger on the stocks. Immense quantities of +timber are in the docks, and though the water is salt it is not attacked +by the worm, the ebb and flow of the tide preventing it. Timber which +has been forty years in these docks is perfectly sound. Five of my +seamen deserted yesterday--all foreigners, I am glad to say. The +Commandant has promised to put the police on the scent, but I have no +expectation I shall get them. + +_Wednesday, January 15th_.--Having had the plank replaced in the bilge, +and re-coppered and overhauled the propeller, we were let out of dock at +1 P.M. These repairs were done with a very bad grace by the Spanish +officials, who seemed in a great hurry to get rid of us, lest the affair +of our being docked should compromise them! This I suppose was due to +official timidity, not to any want of good feeling, as the Commandant of +the yard expressed to me his regret at not being able to put me in +complete repair; personally offering to render me any service in his +power. Our engine not being ready for use, the Captain-General sent a +small steamer to tow me to Cadiz, where we anchored at about 4 P.M. +Whilst lying in the dock, a stampede took place amongst my crew, nine of +them having deserted. Two were brought back; the rest escaped. Some of +these men had behaved themselves very well, but none of them, of course, +had any attachment to the flag, not being natives, or, indeed, citizens +at all, and, sailor-like, they had got tired, and wanted a change. Some, +no doubt, shrank from the arduous and perilous duties of the service in +which they had engaged. They took refuge with the Yankee Consul, and it +was useless to ask to have them given up. The enemy is certainly good +at burning cities by means of negro incendiaries, and at enticing away +our seamen. Another lad ran away from a boat this evening. Have directed +no boat should leave the ship without an officer, and that the officer +be armed, and ordered to shoot any men who attempt to desert. + +_Thursday, January 16th_.--Called my crew aft and had a talk with them +about the bad conduct of their shipmates who had deserted. Told them I +did not believe I had another man on board capable of so base an act; +that men who could run under such circumstances would run from their +guns; and that I did not want such, &c., &c.; and ended by telling them +that when funds arrived they should be permitted to go on liberty. * * * +At 9 P.M., the aide-de-camp of the Military Governor came on board, +bringing a pilot with him, with a peremptory order for me to go to sea. +I replied as under:-- + +C.S. Steamer Sumter, Cadiz, Jan. 16, 1862. + +SIR,--I have the honour to inform you that whilst my ship was in the +dock at Caracca eight of my seamen deserted, and I am informed that they +are sheltered and protected by the United States Consul. I respectfully +request that you will cause these men to be delivered to me, and to +disembarrass this demand of any difficulty that may seem to attend it, +permit me to make the following observations:--[6] + + * * * * * + +3. It has been, and is, the uniform custom of all nations to arrest and +hand over to their proper officers, deserters from ships of war; and +this without stopping to inquire as to the nationality of the deserter. + +[Footnote 6: The paragraphs omitted, contain merely a recapitulation of +the claim of the Confederate States to full belligerent rights.] + +4. If this is the practice in peace, how much more necessary does such a +practice become in war; since, otherwise, the operations of war--remote, +it is true--but still the operations of war, would be tolerated in a +neutral territory. + +5. Without a violation of neutrality, an enemy's consul in a neutral +territory, cannot be permitted to entice any seamen from a ship of the +opposite belligerents, or to shelter or protect the same; for, if he is +permitted to do this, then his domicile becomes an enemy's camp in a +neutral territory. + +6. With reference to the question in hand, I respectfully submit that +the only facts which your Excellency can take cognizance of, are, that +these deserters entered the waters of Spain under my flag, and that they +formed a part of my crew. The inquiry cannot pass a step beyond, and +Spain cannot undertake to inquire, as between the United States Consul +and myself, to which of us the deserters in question more properly +belong. Such a course would be tantamount to an interposition between +two belligerents, and it would be destructive of the essential rights of +ships of war in foreign ports, as well in peace as in war. + +7. I am inclined to admit that if a Spanish subject serving under my +flag should escape to the shore, and should satisfy the authorities that +he was held by me by force, and either without contract, or in violation +of contract, that he might be set at liberty, but such is not the +present case. The nationality of the deserters not being Spanish, Spain +cannot, as I said before, inquire into it. To conclude, the case which I +present is simply this:--Several of my crew, serving on board my ship +under voluntary contracts, have deserted, and taken refuge in the +consulate of the United States. To deprive me of the power, with the +assistance of the police, to recapture these men, would convert the +consulate into a camp, and the consul would be permitted to exercise the +right of a belligerent on neutral territories. + +I have the honour to be, &c., &c. + +(Signed) R. SEMMES. + + Exmo. Sr. Don J. Mendez de Vigo, + Military Governor, Cadiz. + +_Friday, January 17th._--Before I had turned out this morning the +Governor's aid again came on board, stating the order was made +peremptory, that I should go to sea in six hours, or I should be forced. +I called in person on the Governor, a not over bright official, and +endeavoured to make him understand how I was situated, but it seemed +impossible. He promised, however, to send a despatch to Madrid, to the +effect that I had no coals, and was awaiting funds to procure the same; +but, he added, if he received no despatch in the six hours he should +require me to depart. I returned on board, and gave the necessary orders +to get ready for sea. At 4 P.M., whilst I was weighing my anchor, the +General's aide came alongside, and said to me that the Madrid Government +had consented to let me remain twenty-four hours, that a despatch was +being written to me on the subject, to which the Governor desired that I +would reply in writing. I told the officer that, if his Government had +politely acceded to my request, permitting me to remain until my funds +arrived, I could have appreciated it; but that being restricted to +forty-eight hours, I declined to avail myself of the privilege, and +should go to sea; and that the General need not trouble himself to read +me the written despatch, as I had no other reply to make. I got under +way in a few minutes afterwards, and as I was passing out a boat was +seen pulling in great haste towards me, one of the crew holding up a +letter in his hand. I did not stop to receive it; I felt too indignant +at the manner in which I had been treated to be very civil. We passed +outside of the harbour a little before sunset, and held on to the light +until midnight, when we steamed for the Strait of Gibraltar. + +_Saturday, January 18th._--* * * * We entered the Strait of Gibraltar at +about 5 A.M., passing the Tarifa Light, and with the bold shores of both +Africa and Europe in plain sight, in the bright moonlight--bright, +notwithstanding the passing clouds. We made the Gibraltar light about +daybreak, and saw at the same time a number of sail. We gave chase to +two that _looked_ American, which they proved to be, and which we +captured. The first was the barque Neapolitan, of Kingston, +Massachusetts, from Messina to Boston, laden with fruit and fifty tons +of _sulphur_. The whole cargo was stated by the master, in his +depositions, to belong to the Baring Bros., consigned to their agents in +Boston--a falsehood, no doubt. Without stopping to look into the _bona +fides_ of this claim of neutral ownership, it was enough that the +sulphur was contraband, and that the fruit belonged to the same owner; I +destroyed both ship and cargo. No papers as to the latter were produced. +The second vessel was also a barque, the Investigator, of Searsport, +Maine. She being laden with iron ore, the property of neutrals +(Englishmen), I released her on a ransom bond; she was bound to Newport, +Wales. One fourth of the vessel was owned in South Carolina, and the +share of the South Carolina owner was omitted from the ransom +bond--amount of bond being less one-fourth fifteen thousand dollars. +Having burned the Neapolitan, I steamed in for Gibraltar at 2.30 P.M. +Passed under Europa point at about dusk, and stood in, and anchored in +the bay at about 7.30 P.M. Boarded in a few minutes by a boat from an +English frigate, with an offer of service. Sent a boat alongside the +health ship. + +_Sunday, January 19th_.--We found early this morning we had _pratique_. +A number of English officers and citizens came on board. At 10 I called +on board the frigate that had sent the boat on board of us last night, +but was informed that the Captain (who was absent) was not the +commanding officer present, and that the latter lived on shore. At 2 +P.M. I landed at the arsenal and called upon the commanding naval +officer, who received me very politely. I asked the loan of an anchor, +having but one, and the Captain promised to supply me with one if there +should be no objection on the part of the law officers of the Crown! +Walked from the Captain's little oasis--scooped out as it were from the +surface of the Rock, with a nice garden-plot and trees, shrubbery, +&c.--down into the town, and called on Lieutenant-General Sir W.J. +Codrington, K.C.B., the Governor, an agreeable type of an English +gentleman of about fifty to fifty-five years of age. The Governor +tendered me the facilities of the market, &c., and in the course of +conversation said he should object to my making Gibraltar a _station_, +at which to be at anchor for the purpose of sallying out into the Strait +and seizing my prey. I told him that this had been settled as contrary +to law by his own distinguished judge, Sir William Scott, sixty years +ago, and that he might rely upon my taking no step whatever violative of +the neutrality of England, so long as I remained in her ports, &c. The +garrison is about seven thousand strong, and it being Sunday, the +parade-ground and streets were thronged with gay uniforms. Spain, with +her hereditary jealousy and imperiousness of character, is very formal +and strict about intercourse with the Rock. The Duke of Beaufort visited +us to-day. + +_Monday, January 20th_.--Very fresh, threatening a gale. Ship reported +as having dragged her anchor. Ordered steam to be got up and the berth +shifted. Ran in nearer to the eastern shore into four fathom water and +where it was smoother. + +_Tuesday, January 21st_.--The westerly wind is bringing a fleet of ships +into the bay. To-day Colonel Freemantle came on board to return my visit +on the part of the Governor, and to read to me, by the latter's +direction, a memorandum of the conversation which had passed between us +on Sunday. The points noted were--first, that we had agreed that I +should receive all necessary facilities for the repair (from private +sources) and supply of my ship, contraband of war excepted; and, +secondly, that I would not make Gibraltar a station at which to lie at +anchor, and sally out upon my enemy. I assented to the correctness of +the Governor's memorandum. The first Lieutenant and Paymaster ashore +making arrangements for the purchase of an anchor and chain. The house +of Peacock and Co. refused to supply us, because it would offend their +Yankee customers. They made arrangements with another party. The town of +Gibraltar, from the fact that the houses are built on the side of the +Rock, and stand one above the other, presents the beautiful spectacle +every night of a city illuminated. Colonel Freemantle politely requested +me to visit the various batteries, &c. + +_Wednesday, January 22nd_,--Wind still from westward. Received on board +an anchor and chain. Received a letter from Captain Warden, on a point +of international law, to which I assented--to wit, that vessels should +have twenty-four hours' start. + +_Thursday, January 23rd_.--Visited by Captain Warden, the Senior Naval +Officer. Received a letter from Hon. Mr. Yancey, who does not believe +that the blockade will be raised for three months. Ordered a survey upon +the ship. + +_Friday, January 24th_.--Invited to dine with the 100th, a Canadian +regiment. Some of the officers went. Captain Palmer has been relieved by +De Camp. + +_Saturday, January 25th_.--We hear a rumour that the Nashville has been +sold. Ships constantly arriving and departing. + +_Sunday, January 26th_.--A charming, balmy day, resembling April in +Alabama. At 10, went on shore to the Catholic church; arrived as the +military Mass ended: many Catholics in the army. Small church, with +groined arches--remnant of Spanish times. After church took a delightful +stroll into the country, just above the Alameda. It is a labyrinth of +agave and flowers and shrubbery, among which the path zigzags up the +mountain-side; geraniums, and jonquils, and mignonette, and lilies are +wild. One is only surprised, after looking at the apparently barren face +of the rock, to find so much sweetness of Mother Earth. I clambered up a +couple of hundred feet, and from that height the bay, the coasts of +Spain, and sleeping Africa, robed in the azure hue of distance, and the +numerous sail, some under way, and others lying like so many cock-boats, +as seen from the height, at their anchors--the latteen craft speaking of +the far East, &c. Statue of General Elliot. A number of fine-looking +Moors in the streets, picturesque in their loose dresses and snowy +turbans. Gibraltar is, indeed, a city of the world, where one sees every +variety of costume, and hears all tongues. Spanish is the predominant +language among the commercial classes. Major-General Sir John Inglis +(the hero of Lucknow), of the English army, Governor of Corfu, having +arrived on his way to the Ionian Islands, visited us to-day to see our +ship, which he was kind enough to say had become "quite distinguished." + +_Monday, January 27th_.--A general exodus of the shipping this morning +out of the Straits, within which they had been detained some ten days by +a head wind. The English mail steamer from Southampton arrived. Received +from her a _Times_ of the 20th, from which we learn that England had +protested against the barbarity of blocking up the harbour of +Charleston, by sinking a stone fleet. We feel some anxiety for the +safety of Messrs. Mason and Slidell, they having embarked on board the +English gunboat Rinaldo, at Princetown, on the 2nd instant, and not +having been heard of on the 10th, although bound to Halifax. A heavy +gale blew on the eve of their embarkation. + +_Tuesday, January 28th._--Preparing the ship for sea, surveying +machinery, and impatiently awaiting news from London. + +_Wednesday, January 29th._--Visited the shore, and went to the Military +Library and Reading Room, where I found the principal London journals. +Reported that the English Government will consult Parliament about +recognising us. Took a long stroll to the east end of the +Rock--exceedingly broken and picturesque. Came upon a Moorish +burying-ground, looking out upon Africa. Some of the marble slabs had +become almost disintegrated by the weather, so old were they. What a +history of human affections, hopes, aspirations, tribulations, and +disappointments lay buried here! New works, adding additional strength +to this renowned fortress, are still going on. * * * * + +_Thursday, January 30th._--* * * * Visited, in company with Colonel +Freemantle, the famous fortifications, passing through the +galleries--three tiers, one above the other--in the north end of the +Rock. These are huge tunnels, extending from a third to half a mile, +with embrasures from space to space for cannon--the solid Rock forming +the casemates. From these galleries we emerged out on a narrow footway +cut in the rock, and stood perpendicularly over the sea breaking at our +feet, and had a fine view of the N.E. face of the Rock rising in a +magnificent mass some 1500 feet. From this point a tower, called the +Queen of Spain's Chair, was pointed out to me--on the height opposite, +to the northward. The legend connected with which is, that during one of +the sieges of 1752, the Queen of Spain came to this eminence to witness +the assault and capture of the place, and vowed she would not descend +therefrom until the flag of Spain should wave from the Rock. The assault +failed, and the Queen in performance of her vow refused to descend, +until the Governor of Gibraltar, hearing of the determination of her +Majesty, sent her word that he would at a given hour hoist the Spanish +ensign that she might descend. This was done, and the Queen was rescued +from her predicament without breaking her word. + +Having finished our inspection of the Rock, we went through the town, +and passed out on to the neutral ground, from which I returned after a +four hours' ride completely broken down. On the south end, under a +perpendicular wall of rock, that in summer breaks the sun from an early +hour in the afternoon, is the Governor's summer residence, to which he +resorts for protection against the heat. We met his Excellency and lady, +who had come out to look at their summer home, &c. Colonel Freemantle +told me that the Spanish Consul, whom he pointed out as we passed the +Alameda, had stated that I was a Spaniard, or at least that my father +was--a native of Catalonia--that I spoke Catalan as well as English, and +that my name was a common one in that province. + +_Saturday, February 1st._--Witnessed a review of about five thousand +troops in the Alameda. Drums draped with black, and the ornaments of the +officers covered with black crape in respect to the memory of the Prince +Consort. + +_Sunday, February 2nd._--Received letters from N----, informing me, that +as my ship was unseaworthy, Mr. Yancey had determined to send me the new +one built at Liverpool, if I desired it. + +_Wednesday, February 5th._--A United States merchant ship came in and +anchored. Ready for sea. Mr. Joyce came on board, and went afterwards +with the Engineer on shore to look at some coal. Mr. Joyce sent word +that he could not purchase any, there being a combination against us. +Sent the First Lieutenant to the Governor to represent the facts to him, +and to ask for a supply from the public stores. He replied he had no +coal under his control, that it belonged to the naval officer, but that +he did not think it could be supplied. Expressed his astonishment at the +combination of the merchants. Sent a number of men on shore on liberty. + +_Friday, February 7th._--Liberty-men staying over their time. Two of +them have deserted and gone over to the U.S. Consul. One of them has +been badly beaten by the rest of the men. Eleven of them came on board +later. Visited by a Spanish Lieutenant, who had been directed by the +Spanish Naval Commander at Algeciras to see me and state that the U.S. +Consul had complained to the Spanish government that I had violated the +neutrality of Spain by capturing the barque Neapolitan within a mile and +a half of Ceutra, on the Morocco coast, and that the Government had +given the Admiral orders to see that both belligerents in the war should +respect Spanish neutrality. I stated to him in reply that any question +which the capture might present was a matter between our two +Governments, and that I did not recognise the right of the Spanish +Admiral to inquire into the matter. To this the Lieutenant assented. I +then said that I would take the pleasure of showing him, however, for +the information of the Admiral, that the truth had not been represented +to his Government by the United States Consul. I then called my clerk, +and showed him the deposition of the Master of the captured vessel, in +which it was stated that the capture was made within five miles of +Gibraltar! The officer seemed equally astonished and pleased, and +expressed his satisfaction. + +_Saturday, February 8th_.--Early this morning the British frigate +Warrior came in, and anchored near us. Sent a Lieutenant on board to +make the usual complimentary call. Awaiting the arrival of a vessel with +coal, consigned to Mr. Joyce, who promises to supply us. My coxswain ran +off to-day, and I was pulled off by a drunken crew. + +_Sunday, February 9th._--Did not go to church, but remained on board to +be present at muster. Eleven of my vagabonds still on shore. Some of +these, we learn, have gone to the United States Consul, and claimed his +protection. This official has been seducing them off by an emissary. +Wrote to the Governor charging this on the Consul, and wrote also to +Captain Warden, asking to be supplied with coal from the Government +dockyard. + + C.S. Steamer Sumter, Bay of Gibraltar, + Feb. 10, 1862. + +Sir,--I have the honour to state for the information of his Excellency +the Governor of Gibraltar, that I am informed and believe that the +United States Consul, at this place, has, by means of his emissaries, +tampered with, and seduced from their allegiance, several of the crew of +my ship who have visited the shore on liberty. The impropriety and +illegality of such conduct is so manifest that I take it for granted his +Excellency will interpose his authority for my protection. Great +Britain, having proclaimed a strict neutrality in the war now pending +between the United States and Confederate States, is under the +obligation, I respectfully suggest, not only to abstain herself, from +any un-neutral conduct, but to see that all persons whatsoever within +her dominions so abstain. No act of war, proximate or remote, should be +tolerated in her waters by the one belligerent against the other, or by +any citizen or resident against either belligerent. His Excellency will +doubtless concur with me in the justice and propriety of the rule thus +stated. To apply this rule to the present case. Being prompted by +motives of humanity to send my crew on shore, in small detachments, for +exercise and recreation, after a long confinement on shipboard, my +enemy, the United States Consul, sends his agents among them, and by +specious pretences persuades them to desert their ship, and take refuge +under his Consular flag. This Has been done in the case of the following +seamen:--Everett Salmon, John G. Jenkins, Thomas F. Kenny, and perhaps +others. Here is an act of war perpetrated against me in neutral +territory, and the consular residence, or office, has become _quoad hoc_ +a hostile camp. And this conduct is the more objectionable in that the +nationality of most of these men is not American. His Excellency, as a +soldier, knows that no crime is regarded with greater detestation in the +present civilized age of the world, than the one here described. As +between contending armies in the field, an offender caught in the +perpetration of such an act, would be subjected to instant death; and +this, not only because the act is an act of war, but because it is a +dishonourable act of war. And can an enemy make use of neutral territory +to do that, which would subject him to an ignominious death, if he were +without such territory, and within reach of the opposite belligerent? +When my men come within his Excellency's jurisdiction I lose all control +over them, and must rely upon his comity to regain possession of them. +If they leave me of their own freewill, in the absence of the +recognition of my Government, and of treaty stipulation, perhaps I have +no remedy. But when I permit them to go on shore, and enter the +jurisdiction of a neutral and friendly power, I do so with the just +expectation that they will receive the shelter and protection of the +neutral flag; and that they will not be permitted to be run off by my +enemy; and to wheedle and entice a sailor from his ship, and that too +when, perhaps, he is half drunk, is little better than kidnapping him. +In the present case, the violation of the neutral jurisdiction is as +complete as if the Consul had seized my men by force; for he has +accomplished the same object; to wit, weakening his enemy by +stratagem--a stratagem practised by one belligerent against another. If +this act had been committed by a military or naval officer of the enemy, +transiently within the limits of Gibraltar, every one would have been +surprised at it, and would have exclaimed against it as a flagrant +violation of the law of nations. And is the offence of less magnitude +when committed by a Consul, who is peculiarly favored by the law of +nations, as an officer of peace, and one whose pursuits lie wholly in +the walks of commerce? Mr. Sprague, the United States consul, is a +gentleman whom I have heard favourably spoken of, and it is barely +possible I may do him injustice in imputing to him the conduct +described, but the evidence came to me in a very satisfactory shape, and +I shall be ready to produce it if the allegation be denied. Should the +proof be made out to his Excellency's satisfaction, I shall deem it my +duty to request that the Consul be suspended from his functions, and +that the question of withdrawing his Exequatur be referred to the +British Government. + + I have, &c., &c., + (Signed) R. SEMMES. + + To Capt. J. Freeling, Col. Sec. + + C.S. Steamer Sumter, Bay of Gibraltar. + Feb. 10th. + +Sir,--I have the honour to inform you that I have made every effort to +procure a supply of coal, without success. The British and other +merchants of Gibraltar, instigated I learn by the United States Consul, +have entered into the un-neutral combination of declining to furnish the +Sumter with coal on any terms. Under these circumstances, I trust the +Government of her Majesty will find no difficulty in supplying me. By +the recent letter of Earl Russell (31st January, 1862), it is not +inconsistent with neutrality for a belligerent to supply himself with +coal in a British port. In other words, this article has been +pronounced, like provisions, innoxious; and this being the case, it can +make no difference whether it be supplied by the Government or an +individual (the Government being reimbursed the expense), and this even +though the market were open to me. Much more, then, may the Government +supply me with an innocent article, the market not being open to me. +Suppose I had come into port destitute of provisions, and the same +illegal combination had shut me out from the market, would the British +Government permit my crew to starve? Or, suppose I had been a sail ship, +and had come in dismasted, and the dockyard was the only place where I +could be refitted, would you have denied me a mast? and if you would not +deny me a mast, on what principle will you deny me coal, both articles +being declared by your Government innoxious? The true criterion is, not +whether the Government, or an individual may supply the article, but +whether the article itself be noxious or innoxious. The Government may +not supply me with powder--why? Not because I may have recourse to the +market, but because the article is noxious. A case in point occurred +when I was in Cadiz recently. My ship was admitted into a Government +dock, and there repaired; firstly, because the repairs were innocent, +and, secondly, because there were no private docks in Cadiz. So here, +the article is innocent, and there is none in the market (accessible to +me); why then may not the Government supply me? + +In conclusion, I respectfully request that you will supply me with 150 +tons of coal, for which I will pay the cash; or if you prefer it, I will +deposit the money with an agent, who can have no difficulty, I suppose, +in purchasing the same amount of the material from some one of the +hulks, and returning it to her Majesty's dockyard. + +I have, &c., + + (Signed) R. SEMMES. + + Captain E. Warden, Senior Naval Officer, + Gibraltar. + + _Monday, February 10th_.--* * * * Received a visit + from Captain Cochrane, of the Warrior, son of the late Earl + of Dundonald, notorious in the war of 1812, and distinguished + in the South American service. Wrote the following + letter:-- + + C.S. Steamer Sumter, + Bay of Gibraltar, Feb. 10, 1862. + + SIR,--I have the honour to inform you that I have this day + caused to be paid to the Spanish Consul at this port the amount + of the bill contracted by this ship under my command while in + the dock at Caracca. + +I have, &c., + +(Signed) R. SEMMES. + +To the Captain of the Port, Cadiz. + +_Tuesday, February 11th._--* * * * Five men in confinement! The +d----seems to have got into my crew. I shall have to tighten the reins a +little. + +_Wednesday, February 12th_.--* * * * Called on the Governor to have a +talk with him on the subject of my deserters. He took the ground that in +the absence of treaty stipulations he could not deliver a fugitive +unwilling to be returned. Whilst I was with him the Tuscarora was +announced by the telegraph. This ship came in and anchored near us about +12 noon, disguised with her mainyards down, so as to resemble a merchant +steamer. I saw Captain Warden on shore also. He informed me that the +question of my being coaled by the dockyards had been referred by +telegraph to London. + +_Thursday, February 13th._--Blowing a levanter. In the morning a barque +dragged foul of the Tuscarora, and carried away her (the barque's) +foreyards. Later in the day the Tuscarora shifted her berth over to the +Spanish shore, near San Roque. Several vessels took shelter in the +harbour from the gale. Among them a French line-of-battle ship, and a +Spanish side-wheel man-of-war. Shut up in my little cabin by the wet +weather, I have time to brood gloomily over home and the war, and the +prospects of our dear South. + +_Friday, February 14th._ * * *--At noon the Tuscarora got under way, and +stood over to Algeciras. + +_Saturday, February 15th_.--Anniversary of the day of my resignation +from the navy of the United States; and what an eventful year it has +been! The Northern States have been making a frantic and barbarous war +upon thirteen states and nine millions of people; in face, too, of +Madison's words: "If there be a principle that ought not to be +questioned in the United States, it is that every nation has the right +to abolish an old Government and establish a new one. This principle is +not only recorded in every public archive, written in every American +heart, and sealed with the blood of a host of American martyrs, but it +is _the only lawful tenure_ by which the United States hold their +existence as a nation." And then what flood-gates of private misery have +been raised by this war--overwhelming families without number in utter +ruin and desolation. + +Reduced my worthless sergeant to the ranks, and promoted a corporal in +his stead. The British Parliament met on the 6th, and we have in the +papers to-day the address to the Queen, and the speeches of the Earl of +Derby and Lord Palmerston. From the general tone of all these papers we +shall not be acknowledged at present. They say the quarrel is no +business of theirs, and we must fight it out. Astute Great Britain! she +sees that we are able to fight it out, and thus her darling object will +be accomplished without the expenditure of blood or money. + +_Sunday, February 16th_.--* * * * Visited by the Captain of the Scylla +frigate. + +_Monday, February 17th._--* * * * Visited the Warrior. The Governor +and suite and a number of naval and other officers, civilians, and +ladies visited her by appointment at the same time. The Warrior is a +marvel of modern naval architecture, and for a first experiment may be +pronounced a success. She is a monstrous, impregnable floating fortress, +and will work a revolution in shipbuilding. Wooden ships, as +battle-ships, must go out of use. With this single ship I could destroy +the entire Yankee fleet blockading our coast, and this is the best +illustration I can give for the necessity of this revolution in +shipbuilding. The British Government has declined to supply me with coal +from the dockyard, and I must make arrangements to get it from Cadiz. +The London, ship-of-the-line steamer, arrived. + +_Tuesday, February 18th_.--* * * * The Southampton mail steamer arrived, +bringing news from London to the 12th. The news of the defeat and death +of General Zollicoffer is confirmed. + +_Wednesday, February 19th._--Called on Captain Warden, and had a +conversation with him on the subject of our blockade by the Tuscarora. +Called his attention to the prevention of signals, the Tuscarora +communicating with Gibraltar by boats. Gave notice if the Tuscarora came +in I should claim precedence of departure, &c. The Warrior went to sea. +Judging from the tone of the English journals there is no prospect of +our immediate recognition. Sent to Cadiz-for coal. + +_Thursday, February 21st._--* * * * The newspapers state that there are +seven Yankee ships in pursuit of us--four steamers and three sail-ships. +Three of the steamers were at Teneriffe on the 11th of January. A report +has reached us that our Paymaster and ex-Consul Tunstall are prisoners +in Tangier! Received a letter from Captain Warden, informing me that the +Governor had prohibited all vessels in the harbour from making signals, +and had prohibited the Tuscarora from communicating with the harbour by +boats so long as she remained in Spanish waters, &c. + +_Saturday, February 22nd_.--The report is confirmed of the illegal +imprisonment in Tangier of Paymaster Myers and Mr. Tunstall. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +_The Tangier difficulty--Loyalty of United States Consuls--A daring +act--Imprisonment of the two Confederates--Captain Semmes' appeal--No +results--An armed force from the Ino--Threatened rescue--Neutrality +again--Foreign Office intelligence--The Harvest Home--Garnered._ + + +The imprisonment of the two gentlemen alluded to at the conclusion of +the last chapter, is an episode in the history of the Sumter which +demands something more than mere passing notice. When the news of the +occurrence reached England it excited a considerable amount of +attention, as not only did the case exhibit some curious phases of the +working of the law of "strict neutrality," but it also afforded a very +excellent idea of the marvellous loyalty of one of the United States +Consuls. Reference has been previously made to the zealous conduct of +the consular officials of the North. + +It has been shown that at Maranham, Cayenne, Paramaribo, Cadiz, and +Gibraltar, the respective Yankee Consuls acted upon the broad principle +that every Confederate was the natural enemy of the United States, and a +rebel to boot. Not content with simply holding this opinion, the task +these gentlemen set themselves was, to indoctrinate the Governments of +the several countries in which they were located with the same views of +the case. In some cases they succeeded so far as to cause considerable +vexation to Captain Semmes; and if they failed to convince the +authorities, that the Sumter was a piratical craft, they at least +succeeded in occasionally entailing needless delays in obtaining those +necessary supplies, which as an officer in the service of a country +recognised as a belligerent, the commander of the Sumter had a right to +demand. + +The Tangier Consul, however, went far beyond his brethren, for he not +only demanded, but succeeded in effecting the arrest and imprisonment of +an officer and a citizen of the Confederate States. These gentlemen, Mr. +Myers, the Paymaster of the Sumter, and Mr. Tunstall, a private Southern +gentleman, had been despatched by Captain Semmes from Gibraltar to +Cadiz, in search of coal. The vessel in which they embarked touched at +Tangier, and the two Americans landed for the purpose of inspecting the +curious old Moorish city. No sooner were they on shore than the United +States Consul hastened to the authorities, denounced his enemies, and +demanded their arrest, alleging that it was authorized by treaty +stipulation with the United States. After vainly imploring advice from +the representatives of the Christian Powers, the sorely perplexed +authorities complied with this demand, and the two Confederates were +seized, heavily ironed, and kept prisoners in the Consul's house. At the +very first opportunity they communicated with Captain Semmes, and he +with his usual promptitude at once despatched the following letter to +the Governor of Gibraltar:-- + + C.S. Steamer Sumter, Bay of Gibraltar, + February 22nd, 1862. + +Sir,--I have the honour to ask the good offices of His Excellency the +Governor of Gibraltar in a matter purely my own. On Wednesday last, I +despatched from this port, in a French passage-steamer for Cadiz, on +business connected with this ship, my Paymaster, Mr. Henry Myers, and +Mr. T.T. Tunstall, a citizen of the Confederate States, and ex-United +States Consul at Cadiz. The steamer having stopped on her way at +Tangier, and these gentlemen having gone on shore for a walk during her +temporary delay there, they were seized by the authorities, at the +instigation of the United States Consul, and imprisoned. A note from +Paymaster Myers informs me they are both heavily ironed, and otherwise +treated in a barbarous manner. + +I learn further that the pretence upon which the unlawful proceeding +was had, is, that it is authorized by treaty stipulation with the United +States. Unfortunately I have not a copy of this treaty in my possession; +but I presume it provides in the usual form, for the extradition of +criminals, and nothing more. I need not say to his Excellency that +treaties of this description are never applied to political +offenders--which I presume is the only category in which the United +States Consul pretends to place these two gentlemen. An occurrence of +this kind could not have happened, of course, in a civilized community. +The political ignorance of the Moorish Government has been shamefully +practised upon by the unscrupulous Consul. I understand that the British +Government has a diplomatic agent resident at Tangier, and a word from +that gentleman would no doubt set the matter right, and insure the +release of the unfortunate prisoners. And it is to interest this +gentleman in this humane task that I address myself to his Excellency. +May I not ask the favour of his Excellency, under the peculiar +circumstances of the case, to address Mr. Hay a note on the subject, +explaining to him the facts, and requesting his interposition? If any +official scruples present themselves, the thing might be done in his +character as a private gentleman. The Moorish Government would not +hesitate a moment, if it understood correctly the facts and principles +of the case; to wit, that the principal powers of Europe have recognised +the Confederate States as belligerents, in their war against the United +States, and that, consequently, the act of making war against these +States by the citizens of the Confederate States, is not an offence, +political or otherwise, of which a neutral can take cognizance; and even +if it were the former, no extradition treaty is ever meant to apply to +such a case. + +I have the honour, &c. &c. + + (Signed) R. SEMMES. + Capt. S. Freeling, Col. Sec. + +This letter was unattended with success, the maintenance of strict +neutrality being a barrier in the way of any interference on the part of +the British authorities at Gibraltar. Accordingly, Captain Semmes penned +the subjoined formal protest, and despatched it to the Governor of +Tangier. + + C.S. Steamer of war Sumter, Bay of Gibraltar, + February 23rd, 1862. + +His Excellency the Governor of Tangier, Morocco: + +I have the honour to inform your Excellency that intelligence has +reached me of the imprisonment by the Moorish Government at Tangier, of +Mr. Henry Myers, the Paymaster of this ship, and Mr. T.T. Tunstall, a +citizen of the Confederate States, and late United States Consul at +Cadiz. I learn further, that these gentlemen are heavily ironed, and +otherwise treated with inhumanity. I am utterly at a loss to conceive on +what ground this illegal imprisonment can have taken place; though I +learn that the United States Consul demanded it, under some claim of +extradition treaty stipulation. A word or two will suffice to set this +matter right. It must, of course, be known to your Excellency, that the +Confederate States have been acknowledged by the principal powers of +Europe, as belligerents in the war in which they are engaged with the +United States; and that, consequently, the Paymaster of this ship, in +any act of war in which he may have participated, can have been guilty +of no offence, political or otherwise, of which any neutral power can +take cognizance. Indeed, as before stated, the neutral powers of Europe +have expressly recognised the right of the Confederate States to make +war against the United States. No extradition treaty therefore can apply +to Paymaster Myers. Mr. Tunstall not being in the military or naval +service of the Confederate States, can no more be brought within the +terms of any such treaty than Paymaster Myers. I have, therefore, +respectfully to demand, in the name of my Government, and in accordance +with the laws and practice of nations, that these two citizens of the +Confederate States be set at liberty. + +I have the honour, &c., &c. + +(Signed) R. Semmes. + +Determined to leave no stone unturned, the Commander of the Sumter +sought to interest the British Charge d'Affaires in the fate of the two +prisoners, as will be seen by the annexed letter:-- + + C.S. Steamer Sumter, Bay of Gibraltar, + February 23rd, 1864. + +Sir,--May I ask of you the favour to act unofficially for me in a matter +of humanity, by handing to the proper officer the enclosed +communication, demanding the release from imprisonment in Tangier of the +Paymaster of this ship, and of Mr. T.T. Tunstall, a citizen of the +Confederate States. The Moorish authorities have evidently been imposed +upon by false representations as to the character and status of these +gentlemen. I hear that the United States Consul demanded their +imprisonment under some extradition treaty. The absurdity of such a +claim will of course be apparent to you. We are recognised belligerents; +our acts of war are legal therefore, so far as all neutrals are +concerned, and it cannot be pretended that any officer of this ship can +have committed any offence in any act of war in which he may have +participated against the United States, which Morocco can take +cognizance of, or bring under the terms of any extradition treaty. + +I have the honour to be, &c., &c. + +(Signed) R. Semmes. + + John Hay Drummond Hay, C.B., + H.M. Charge d'Affaires, Tangier, Marocco. + +On the 24th Mr. Hay replied, and the following extract from his +communication will best explain the grounds he assumed:--"You," he +writes, "must be aware that Her Britannic Majesty's Government have +decided on observing a strict neutrality in the present conflict between +the Northern and Southern States; it is therefore incumbent on Her +Majesty's officers to avoid anything like undue interference in any +questions affecting the interests of either party which do not concern +the British government; and though I do not refuse to accede to your +request to deliver the letter to the Moorish authorities, I think it my +duty to signify distinctly to the latter my intention to abstain from +expressing an opinion regarding the course to be pursued by Morocco on +the subject matter of your letter." + +To this despatch Captain Semmes forthwith replied, and his letter is +remarkable for the able manner in which the question of neutrality is +dealt with. After thoroughly reviewing the transaction, he sums up as +follows:-- + +"Upon further inquiry I learn that my first supposition that the two +gentlemen in question had been arrested under some claim of extradition +(unfortunately I have not a copy of the treaty between Morocco and the +United States) was not exactly correct. It seems that they were arrested +by Moorish soldiers upon the requisition of the United States Consul, +who claimed to exercise jurisdiction over them as citizens of the United +States, under a provision of a treaty common between what are called the +non-civilized and the civilized nations. This state of facts does not +alter in any degree the reasoning applicable to the case. If Morocco +adopts the _status_ given the Confederate States by Europe, she must +remain neutral between the two belligerents, not undertaking to judge of +the nationality of the citizens of either of the belligerents, or to +decide any other question growing out of the war which does not concern +her own interests. She has no right, therefore, to adjudge a citizen of +the Confederate States to be a citizen of the United States, and not +having this right herself she cannot transfer it by treaty to the United +States Consul." + +The communication, however, produced no effect; and, meanwhile, another +step was taken at Tangier. The United States frigate Ino no sooner +learnt the news of the capture made by the Consul than it ran over to +Tangier, sent a boat on shore with armed men, and carried off the +prisoners. This proceeding was not, however, allowed to be performed +quite so quietly as the Yankees could have wished. The Christian +population, exasperated at the arrest, turned out in force, and fears +were entertained that even the forty men from the Ino would not be able +to secure the safety of their prize. But here the neutral powers were of +assistance: their representatives, with Mr. Drummond Hay at their head, +came to the aid of the captors, calmed the mob, and thus averting the +threatened rescue, enabled the United States to carry off the two +Confederates on board the Ino. + +Captain Semmes, finding he could do nothing with the authorities at +Tangier, communicated with Mr. Mason, the Confederate commissioner in +London, and that gentleman made strong representations at the Foreign +Office, with what results the following statements of facts will show. + +It was on the 28th of February that the captives were finally carried +off from neutral territory, by an armed force from an enemy's ship. On +the 8th of March, Mr. Mason was informed by the Under-Secretary, that +the British Government was under the impression that they had been +released from confinement. On the 6th of March, just two days before Mr. +Mason received this intelligence, the Ino, which had run back to Cadiz, +transferred the two unfortunate prisoners to the Yankee merchant ship, +Harvest Home, which carried them away to a prison in the United States. + +Such was the history of the Tangier difficulty--a question which, at the +time, created considerable stir in Europe, and which is likely to leave +a lasting impression upon the Southern mind. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +"_The poor old Sumter"--The vessel laid up--What the Sumter +did--Official report--A narrow escape--Movements of Captain +Semmes--Useful missions--Appointment to the Alabama_. + + +Meanwhile the search for coal had been continued by the Sumter and at +length a promise of a supply had been obtained. It so happened, however, +that this supply, so long sought and so hardly won, would after all +never be required. + +The little Sumter's days as a cruiser were numbered. By no means a new +boat when first converted by Captain Semmes into a vessel of war, the +hard work and rough usage she had experienced in her seven months at +sea, had been too much for her already enfeebled constitution, and she +was now little better than a wreck. At last she fairly broke down +altogether, was surveyed by a board of her officers, pronounced +unseaworthy, and on the 24th of February Captain Semmes makes the +following entry in his journal:-- + +"And so the poor old Sumter is to be laid up. Well! we have done the +country some service, having cost the United States at least a million +of dollars, one way or another!" + +And so she unquestionably bad. Eighteen vessels captured; seven burned, +with all their cargo on board; and two released on heavy ransom bonds, +represent in themselves no inconsiderable amount of damage. Add to this +the amount really expended in pursuit of her; the enormously increased +rates of insurance; the heavy losses from reluctance to entrust goods in +United States bottoms, or to send ships themselves to sea under the +United States colours, and we have an aggregate of loss that a million +of dollars can hardly cover. + +Her career was now over; but she was ere long to find a successor under +the same command, beside whose exploits her own were to sink almost into +insignificance. The events of the few months that elapsed between the +final abandonment of the Sumter and the Alabama's start on her +adventurous career, may best be gathered from Captain Semmes' own +official report to the Secretary of the Navy at Richmond. + +Nassau, New Providence, June 15 to 20, 1862. + +SIR,--I have the honour to inform you of my arrival at this place, on +the 8th instant, in twenty days, from London. I found here Lieutenants +Maffit and Sinclair, and received from the former your letter of May +29th, enclosing a copy of your despatch to me of May 2d. As you might +conclude from the fact of my being here, the original of the latter +communication had not reached me; nor, indeed, had any communication +whatever from the department. As you anticipated, it became necessary +for me to abandon the Sumter, in consequence of my being hemmed in by +the enemy in a place where it was impossible to put the necessary +repairs upon her-to make her fit to take the sea. For some days after my +arrival at Gibraltar, I had hopes of being able to reach another English +or a French port, where I might find the requisite facilities for +repair, and I patched my boilers, and otherwise prepared my ship for +departure. In consequence of a combination of the coal merchants against +me, however, I was prevented from coaling; and, in the meantime, the +enemy's steamers, Tuscarora and Kearsarge, and the sailing sloop Ino, +too, arrived and blockaded me. Notwithstanding the arrival of these +vessels, I should have made an effort to go to sea, but for the timely +discovery of further defects in my boilers, which took place under the +following circumstances:--An English steamer, having arrived from +Liverpool with an extra quantity of coal on board, offered to supply me. +I got steam up to go alongside of her for the purpose, when, with a very +low pressure, my boilers gave way in so serious a manner as to +extinguish the fires in one of the furnaces. I was obliged, of course, +to "blow off;" and upon a re-examination of the boilers, by a board of +survey, it was ascertained that they had been destroyed to such an +extent as to render them entirely untrustworthy. It was found, indeed, +to be necessary either to supply the ship with new boilers or to lift +the old ones out of her, and renew entirely the arches and other +important parts of them, which could only be done in a machinist's shop, +and with facilities not to be found at Gibraltar. In this state of +things, it became necessary, in my judgment, either to lay the ship up, +or to sell her. Of course, the remaining by her of myself, my officers +and crew, in her disabled and useless condition, was not to be thought +of. Still, I felt that the responsibility was a grave one; and deeming +it more respectful to the department that it should be assumed by some +one higher in authority than myself, I reported the facts to the Hon. +James M. Mason, our commissioner in London, and requested him to assume +the power.[7] + +[Footnote 7: The following is the letter here referred to:-- + + C.S. Steamer Sumter, Bay of Gibraltar, + March 3rd, 1862. + +SIR,--I had the honour to address you a note a day or two ago, +requesting you to assume the responsibility of giving me an order to lay +the Sumter up, that my officers and myself may return to the Confederate +States, to take a more active part in the war. I now enclose you a copy +of a letter addressed to me by the wardroom officers of this ship on the +same subject, by which you will perceive that there is no difference of +opinion between us as to the policy and propriety of the step indicated. +Each succeeding mail is bringing us intelligence that the enemy is +pressing us on all sides, and it would seem that we shall have occasion +for every arm and all our energies and resources to defend ourselves. +The most that we could hope to accomplish by remaining where we are +would be, perhaps, to occupy the attention of an additional steamer of +the enemy. One steamer will always remain to watch the ship, in whatever +condition she may be; and probably no more than two would continue the +blockade if the officers remained by her. The enemy, having some 300 +armed ships afloat, one ship would seem to make no appreciable +difference in his offensive force. I would not press this matter upon +you so earnestly if there was any certainty of my hearing from the +Secretary of the Navy in any reasonable time; but my despatches are +liable to capture, as are his despatches to me, and many months may +therefore elapse before I can receive his orders. I can readily +understand how, under ordinary circumstances, you might hesitate about +giving me this order, but there are frequent occasions in which +responsibility must be assumed, and I respectfully suggest that this is +one of them. To lay the Sumter up without an order from the naval +department involves responsibility either in you or in me; and, as I +stated to you in my last note, it appears to me that the responsibility +may be assumed by you with more propriety than by myself, as you are a +high functionary of the Government, while I am a mere subordinate of a +department. The question of expense, too, is to be considered--the +expenses of the ship, with the utmost economy, being, in round numbers, +1000 dollars per month. Should you decide upon giving me the order, do +me the favour to telegraph me as follows, viz.:--"Your request is +granted--act accordingly." Address me also by mail, as it will take some +days to wind up affairs, and I shall have ample time to receive your +letter before leaving for London. + + Respectfully, &c. &c. (Signed) R. SEMMES + + Hon. Jas. Mason, Com., &c., London.] + +This he did very promptly, and in a few days afterwards I discharged and +paid off in full all the crew, except ten men, and detached all the +officers, except Midshipman Armstrong and a Master's Mate. I placed Mr. +Armstrong in charge of the ship, supplied him with money and provisions +sufficient for himself and his diminished crew for ten months, and +departed myself for London, whither most of the officers also repaired +on their way to the Confederate States. Upon my arrival in London, I +found that the Oreto (Florida) had been despatched some weeks before to +this place; and Commander Bullock having informed me that be had your +orders to Command the second ship he was building, himself, I had no +alternative but to return to the Confederate States for orders. It is +due to Commander Bullock to say, that he offered to place himself +entirely under my orders, and even to relinquish to me the command of +the ship he was building; but I did not feel at liberty to interfere +with your orders. Whilst in London, I ascertained that a number of +steamers were being prepared to run the blockade with arms, &c., and +instead of despatching my officers at once for the Confederate States, I +left men to take charge of these ships, as they should be gotten ready, +and run them in, deeming this the best service they could render the +Government under the circumstances. I came hither myself (accompanied by +my First-Lieutenant and Surgeon), a passenger in the British steamer +Melita, laden with arms, &c., with the same intention. It is fortunate +that I made this arrangement, as many of my officers still remain in +London, and I shall be able to detain them there, to take them with me +in the execution of your order of the 2nd of May, assigning me to the +command of the Alabama. In obedience to this order I shall return by the +first conveyance to England, when the joint energies of Commander +Bullock and myself will be dedicated to the preparation of this ship +for sea. I will take with me Lieut. Kell, Surgeon Galt, and Lieutenant +of Marines, Howell--Mr. Howell and Lieut. Stribling having reached this +port a few days before me, in the British steamer Bahama, from Hamburgh, +laden with arms, &c., for the Confederacy. At the earnest entreaty of +Lieut. Commanding Maffit, I have consented to permit Lieut. Stribling to +remain with him as his First Lieut., on board the Florida; and the +Florida's officers not yet having arrived, Mr. Stribling's place on +board the Alabama will be filled by Midshipman Armstrong, promoted. + +It will, doubtless, be a matter of some delicacy and management to get +the Alabama safely out of British waters without suspicion, as Mr. +Adams, the Northern envoy, and his numerous satellites are exceedingly +vigilant in their espionage. We cannot, of course, think of arming her +in a British port. This must be done at some concerted rendezvous, to +which her battery (and the most of her crew) must be sent in a merchant +vessel. + +The Alabama will be a fine ship, quite equal to encounter any of the +enemy's sloops of the class of the Dacotah, Iroquois, Tuscarora, &c.; +and I shall feel much more independent in her upon the high seas than I +did in the little Sumter. I think well of your suggestion of the East +Indies as a cruising-ground, and hope to be in the track of the enemy's +commerce in those seas as early as October or November next, when I +shall doubtless be able to make other rich "burnt-offerings" upon the +altar of our country's liberties. + +Lieutenant Sinclair having informed me that you said, in a conversation +with him, that I might dispose of the Sumter either by laying her up or +selling her, as my judgment might approve, I will, unless I receive +contrary orders from you, dispose of her by sale upon my arrival in +Europe. As the war is likely to continue for two or three years yet, it +would be an useless expense to keep a vessel so comparatively worthless +so long at her anchors. I will cause to be sent to the Alabama her +chronometers, charts, &c., and I will transfer to the vessel her +remaining officers and crew. + +In conclusion, permit me to thank you very sincerely for this new proof +of your confidence, and for your kind intention to nominate me as one of +the "Captains" under the new Navy Bill. + +I trust I shall prove myself worthy of these marks of your approbation. + +(Signed) R. SEMMES. + +Hon. S. Mallory, Sec. of the Navy. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +_The new vessel--Aide toi et Dieu t'aidera--Accommodation on +board--Cost--Laws of neutrality--Necessary caution--The 29th of July--A +breakfast party--The scene changed--Off--The pursuit--Too late._ + + +The vessel to which Captain Semmes was now appointed had been built +expressly for the Confederate navy, by Messrs. Laird and Sons, of +Birkenhead. She was a small fast screw steam-sloop, of 1040 tons +register, not iron-clad, as was at one time erroneously supposed, but +built entirely of wood, and of a scantling and general construction, in +which strength had been less consulted than speed. Her length over all +was about 220 feet, length of keel, 210 feet; breadth of beam, 32 feet, +and 18 feet from deck to keel. She carried two magnificent engines, on +the horizontal principle, constructed by the same firm, and each of the +power of 300 horses; while her coal-bunkers were calculated to +accommodate about 350 tons of coal. + +The Alabama, or as she should as yet be called, "No. 290," was +barque-rigged, her standing gear being formed throughout of wire rope; +thus combining strength with lightness to the utmost possible extent. +Her ordinary suit of sails consisted of the usual square sails in the +foremast, fore topmast staysail and jib, large fore and main topsails, +maintop sail, topgallant sail and royal, and on the mizen-mast spanker +and gaff topsail. Occasionally, this rig would be varied, as was the +case in entering Cherbourg, just before the close of her eventful +career, when a crossjack yard was got up across the mizen-mast, with +mizen topsail and topgallant yards to match; and the Alabama assumed for +a time the appearance of a full-rigged ship. This, however, was only a +temporary _ruse_, and her ordinary cruising sails were similar to those +commonly in use with vessels of her class. + +A little forward of the mizen-mast was placed the steering apparatus, a +large double wheel, inscribed with the significant words: _Aide toi et +Dieu t'aidera_; a motto which, in the case of the Alabama, has been +better acted up to than such legends usually are. Just before the +funnel, and near the centre of the vessel, was the bridge, at either +side of which hung the two principal boats, cutter and launch; a gig, +and whale-boat, being suspended from the davits on either side of the +quarter-deck, and a small dingy over the stern. On the main deck she was +pierced for twelve guns, with two heavy pivot guns amidships. Her lines +were beautifully fine, with sharp flaring bows, billet head, and +elliptic stern. The cabin accommodation was perhaps somewhat scanty, but +this, in so small a vessel, built altogether for speed, not comfort, was +scarcely to be avoided. The semicircular stern-cabin was, of course, +appropriated to the captain, with a small state-room opening out from it +in the starboard side. Forward of this came the companion ladder, and +forward of this again the wardroom, or senior officers' mess, with small +cabins on either side for the lieutenants, surgeon, and other officers. +Passing through the wardroom, the visitor entered the gunroom, or +"steerage," allotted on the starboard side to the midshipmen, and on the +port to the engineers. Next came the engine-room, occupying an unusual +space for a vessel of the Alabama's size; the coal bunkers, &c.; and +finally, the berth-deck, or forecastle, with accommodation for 120 men. +The lower portion of the vessel was divided into three compartments, of +about equal dimensions. In the aftermost were store-rooms, shell-rooms, +&c.; the midship section contained the furnaces and fire-rooms; whilst +the forward compartment was occupied by the hold, the magazines, and the +boatswain's and carpenter's stores. + +Such was the Alabama, or, as she was long called, "No. 290;" and +considering the peculiar circumstances under which she was built, the +numerous requirements to be satisfied, and the perfection of the +workmanship throughout the vessel, the cost of her construction and +armament cannot but be considered marvellously small. The builder's +charge for hull, spars, sails, boats, cable, and all equipment, except +armament, was £47,500. To this must be added the cost of her batteries, +£2500; magazine tanks, £616; ordnance stores, £500; and small arms, +£600, making a-total cost of £51,716, or in American money, of +250,305.44 dollars. + +It must not be supposed, however, that in leaving the building-yard of +Messrs. Laird, the Alabama's equipment was by any means complete. The +strictest injunctions had been given both to Captain Bullock and Captain +Semmes, to avoid doing anything that would by any possibility be +construed into an infringement of either the municipal law, or the +anxiously-guarded neutrality of England; and as the Foreign Enlistment +Act clearly forbade the _equipment_ of ships of war for belligerent +uses, it was necessary that the new cruiser should leave England +unarmed, and take her chance of capture, until some safe place could be +found for taking her armament on board. + +This was, of course, a delicate operation, and one requiring the +preservation of strict secresy, that the cruisers of the United States +might at least not be enabled to pounce upon their new enemy, until she +had been placed to some extent in a condition for self-defence. Nor was +this the only ground on which caution had to be observed. The career of +the Sumter had given Captain Semmes a clearer idea than he had probably +before possessed of the precise meaning of the word neutrality, as +applied to the present war, and there was too much at stake to run the +risk of detention from any such views of its obligations as had been put +forward in the case of his captive officer at Tangier. The law of the +case might be--he certainly thought it was--clear enough; but there was +no use in throwing temptation in the way of those by whom it was to be +interpreted. The recent cases of the Alexandria, the El Tousson, and the +El Monassir, have shown with sufficient clearness that this calculation +was tolerably correct. + +Accordingly, the reticence which has so distinctively marked the men of +the South throughout the struggle, was most religiously observed in the +case of the Alabama. It was impossible, of course, altogether to conceal +from the diligent researches of Mr. Adams' spies the fact of her +destination. But beyond having a strong suspicion that the vessel so +rapidly approaching completion in Messrs. Laird's yard was intended for +the Confederate States, these astute gentlemen were altogether at fault. +This, however, was enough, and on the application of Mr. Adams an order +was despatched to the Customs' authorities at Liverpool to seize the +ship, and prevent her from going to sea. + +Fortunately for the Confederate vessel her friends were equally on the +watch, and tidings of the projected seizure were promptly conveyed to +Birkenhead. It was necessary now to act with promptitude, and the final +preparations were pushed on with the utmost speed. At length, at a +quarter past nine on the morning of the 29th July, 1862, the anchor was +got up for the first time since she had been afloat, and the "No. 290" +dropped slowly down the Mersey, anchoring that afternoon in Moelfra Bay. + +Even this, however, could not be carried out without considerable +precaution, and it was necessary, as a blind to the suspicious eyes so +constantly employed in watching every movement of the sorely suspected +vessel, to announce that she was merely proceeding for a short trial +trip. To give colour to this pretence, to which her even then unfinished +condition lent a _prima facie_ sanction, a gay party was assembled on +board. A number of ladies, friends and acquaintances of the builders, +enlivened the narrow, and as yet rough and unfinished deck with their +bright costumes, and seemed to afford a sufficient guarantee for the +return of the vessel to port. Luncheon was spread in the cabin, flags +decorated the seats hastily improvised on the sacred quarter-deck, and +all seemed bent upon making holiday. + +Suddenly, however, the scene changed. At a signal from the Alabama a +small steam tug came puffing alongside, and to the visitors' great +astonishment they were politely requested to step on board. Relieved of +her gay cargo, the transformation of the Alabama proceeded with +rapidity. The luncheon had been already cleared away, and now seats and +flags, and all the rest of the holiday paraphernalia began speedily to +disappear. Late that evening and all the next day the bustle of +preparation continued, and at two o'clock in the morning of the 31st +July the anchor was once more weighed, and with a strong breeze from the +S.W. the "No. 290" started off, ostensibly on a voyage to Nassau in the +Bahamas. + +Just in time. That morning the seizure was to have been made. At the +very moment that "No. 290" was heaving up her anchor, a huge despatch +"On Her Majesty's Service" was travelling down to Liverpool, at the top +speed of the north-western mail,[4] commanding the Customs' authorities +to lay an embargo on the ship. The morning was still but very slightly +advanced when through the driving south-westerly squalls came the +gold-laced officials in search of their prize, only to return in outward +appearance considerably crestfallen, inwardly perhaps not altogether so +deeply grieved as a good neutral should have been at the ill success of +their uncomfortable trip. + +Two days more and another actor appeared upon the scene. Like her +colleague at Tangier, the United States frigate Tuscarora had got scent +of a valuable prey, and hurried round to the Mersey at full speed of +sail and steam to secure it. But by the time she arrived at Moelfra Bay, +the "No. 290" was already a couple of days upon her outward voyage. The +game was up, and the only resource of the baffled Yankee now lay in +scolding poor Earl Russell, who certainly had been no willing agent in +the escape of the daring little Confederate cruiser. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +_"No. 290" at sea--The rendezvous--Small mishaps--Good qualities of the +new ship--Nearly discovered--The captain--Terceira--Anxiety about the +crew--Coaling and arming--Getting to rights--Ready for the cruise_. + + +"No. 290" ran rapidly before the S.W. gale up the Irish Channel, and +past the Isle of Man and Ailsa Crag, till as the columns of the Giant's +Causeway began to loom dimly through the driving rain she rounded to, +laid her maintopsail to the mast, and sent a boat on shore with the +pilot and Captain Bullock, who up to this time had been in command of +the vessel. She was now transferred to the charge of Captain J. Butcher, +late of the Cunard service, her other temporary officers being--Chief +Lieutenant, J. Law, of Savannah, Georgia; second, Mr. G. Townley Fullam, +of Hull, England; Surgeon, D.H. Llewellyn, of Easton, Wilts; Paymaster, +C.R. Yonge, of Savannah, Georgia; and Chief Engineer, J. McNair, an +Englishman. The crew, the greater number of whom had been taken on board +in Moelfra Bay, numbered about seventy men and boys, and were shipped +for a feigned voyage, the Confederate captain trusting to the English +love of adventure, to induce them to re-ship when the true destination +of the vessel came to be declared. + +Bidding adieu to the Irish coast she now shaped her course for Terceira, +one of the Western Islands, where she was to meet her consort, and +receive on board the guns and other warlike stores, she had been +restrained by respect for English law, from shipping in Liverpool. +Throughout this run, which occupied nine days, the wind still continued +blowing a strong gale from the southward and westward, with a heavy sea +running, through which "No. 290" dashed along sometimes at a speed of +upwards of thirteen knots an hour. It was not, however, without a +certain amount of risk that this pace was maintained. Amongst other less +serious damages the bow port was stove in by a heavy sea, and altogether +the vessel showed manifest symptoms of the speed at which she had been +driven. But accidents of this kind were of minor importance compared +with the supreme value of time. Once fairly off, and the news of the +escape must spread rapidly through the kingdom. The first whisper of it +would bring the enemy's ships in pursuit, and a single hour's delay in +reaching her destination and placing herself in a condition for +self-defence, might bring one of them alongside, and the career of the +new cruiser be cut short before it had fairly begun. So "No. 290" +"crashed on" at top speed, and on the 10th of August "Land, ho!" was +called from the foremasthead, and she brought up at Porto Praya in +Terceira. + +During this trying voyage the new vessel had given full promise of those +splendid qualities as a sea-boat, on which depended so much of the +extraordinary success of her after career. She was, of course, by no +means in the best trim for sailing, whilst everything about her being +bran new was in the worst possible condition, short of being quite worn +out, in which to enter on so severe a trial. She came through it however +most triumphantly, exhibiting a speed and ease of motion rarely to be +found in combination. All hands arrived at Terceira in the best spirits, +and highly delighted with their new ship. + +The bay of Porto Praya, in which "No. 290" was anchored is of no very +great extent, but presents excellent holding ground for vessels, and is +sheltered from all but easterly winds. Three or four small forts occupy +positions on the shore, but appear never to have been armed, and are at +present falling rapidly into decay. The bay itself is secluded, and not +particularly well supplied with the means of sustenance, fruit and +vegetables being tolerably plentiful, but water very scarce, and beef a +luxury only to be obtained by importing it from Angra, on the other side +of the island. The officers however were kindly and hospitably received +by the inhabitants, and the best the place afforded placed at their +disposal. + +As yet the expected consort of the Confederate vessel had not arrived, +and some anxiety was felt by Captain Butcher and his brother officers, +as day after day passed by, and no signs of her appeared. On the 13th +August, expectations were aroused by the cry of "Sail, ho!" but the new +comer proved to be only a Yankee whaling schooner, from Provincetown; +and additional anxiety was occasioned on her arrival by the indiscretion +of one of the ship's company, by whom the real character and design of +"No. 290" was betrayed to the United States schooner, the speedy +departure of which, after learning the news, seemed ominous of trouble. + +At last, on the 18th, a large barque was observed steering for the brig, +and on a nearer approach proved to be the long-looked-for ship. She was +the Agrippina, of London, Captain McQueen, with a cargo of ammunition, +coal, stores of various descriptions, and six thirty-two pounders. Once +lashed alongside the sloop, and all haste was made to transfer her +cargo, and the crews of the two vessels were busily engaged in this +operation when, on the 20th of August, the smoke of another steamer was +seen on the horizon, and after a brief interval of suspense, lest the +new comer should prove to be a United States vessel of war, in search of +the escaped Confederate, the Bahama, Captain Tessier, made her number, +and three hearty cheers from the crew of "No. 290" gave welcome to +Captain Semmes, and the other officers late of the Sumter. + +Captain Semmes embarked on board the Bahama at Liverpool, on the morning +of Wednesday, 13th August, joining the ship in a steam-tug, the Bahama +having dropped down towards the mouth of the Mersey a few hours +previously. Captain Bullock, who, as it has been said, had seen the new +ship safely off upon her voyage before leaving her at the Giant's +Causeway, and had reported the happy commencement of the adventure, +accompanied him on board the Bahama, in which were also a number of +seamen, shipped, like those on board "No. 290," for a feigned voyage, in +the hope of inducing them to join when the ship was fairly in +commission. + + * * * * * + +As the tug left us to return to the city--writes Captain Semmes--the +crew gave us three hearty cheers, to which we responded. After a passage +of seven days, we made the island of Terceira, and soon afterwards the +port of Praya, at the eastern end of the island, our appointed +rendezvous. As we approached the port we looked with eager eyes for "No. +290," and her consort, the Agrippina, which had been despatched to her +from London with the armament. Greatly to our satisfaction we soon +discovered the spars, and then the hulls of both vessels lying snugly in +the bay, and apparently in contact, and indicating the transhipment of +the battery, &c. + +At about 11.30 A.M. we steamed into the harbour, and were immediately +boarded by Captain Butcher, who reported that he had already gotten on +board all the heavy guns, and many of the paymaster's stores, &c. As the +harbour is open to the east, and as the wind was blowing from the N.E., +driving a considerable swell in, which caused the two vessels to lie +very uneasily alongside of each other, I gave orders that they should +both follow me to the bay of Angra, where we all anchored about 4 P.M. +Hauled the two steamers alongside, and commenced discharging the two +additional guns. + +After having shown the new vessel to the seamen I had on board the +Bahama (numbering thirty-seven), I addressed them, telling them that +they were released from the contract they had entered into at Liverpool, +and were now perfectly free to dispose of themselves, and that I invited +them to enter with me on board my ship. I spoke of the war, explained to +them the object of my contemplated cruise, and the inducements held out +to them of prize-money, &c. This afternoon about one-half the number +shipped; the others hung back, perhaps, for better terms. There are, +perhaps, some sea-lawyers among them influencing their determination. I +moved my baggage on board, and slept my first night on board my new +ship. Warned by the authorities that West Angra was not a port of +entry, and that we must move to East Angra. + +_Thursday, August 21st_.--Clear fine weather. I am charmed with the +appearance of Terceira. Every square foot of the island seems to be +under the most elaborate cultivation; the little fields divided by +hedgerows of what appeared to be sugar-cane. The white one-storied +houses are dotted thickly among all this cultivation, giving evidence of +great populousness in this primitive paradise--so far removed away from +the world, and so little resorted to by commerce. Wind inclined to haul +to the S.E., which will open us to the sea again, and I am, of course, +quite anxious. Received a letter (or rather Captain Butcher, who is +still the nominal commander of the ship, did) from the English Consul, +informing us that the authorities still insisted upon our going round to +East Angra. Replied that we had come in to receive coal from the barque +in our company, &c., and that as the day seemed fine, and we should +probably have a good lee for the purpose, I would go to sea without the +marine league for the purpose. I knew they suspected me of arming as +well as coaling, and hence I resorted to this step to quiet their +apprehensions of my infringing their neutrality. + +Stood along the island--the Bahama in company and the barque +alongside--and hoisted out the gun-carriages, and mounted as many of the +guns as we could. Returned during the afternoon, and after nightfall +anchored in East Angra, with the barque still alongside. We were hailed +very vociferously as we passed in very bad English or Portuguese, we +could not make out which, and a shot was fired at us. The Bahama, which +was following, hauled off and stood off and on during the night; we +continued our course, and anchored about 8.30 P.M. Near midnight I was +aroused from a deep sleep into which I had fallen after the fatigue and +exertions of the day, and informed by the officer of the deck very +coolly that the man-of-war schooner was firing into us. As I knew they +did not dare to fire _into_ me but were only firing at me, perhaps to +alarm me into going out of the harbour, I directed the officer to take +no notice of the proceeding. In the morning we learned that this had +been a false alarm, and that the firing had been from the mail steamer +to bring on board her passengers. + +Had a talk with the old boatswain's-mate, who consented to go with me, +and to use his best exertion to bring over to me all the good men over +whom he could exercise influence. + +_Friday, August 22nd_.--Wind from the S.W., promising us a smooth day +for our work. Called all hands at 6 A.M., and commenced coaling. At 7 +A.M. a number of Custom House officers and the English Consul came on +board. Our coaling was suspended until the two ships could be entered at +the Custom House. We lost a couple of hours by this visit, but I was +gratified to learn as the result of it that we might remain quietly and +continue our coaling, &c. + +We got the remaining guns into position; got up and loaded some of the +rifles; opened a barrel of cartridges, and made sundry other hasty +preparations for defense, in case any attempt should be made to seize +the ship. At 11.30 A.M. signalled the Bahama, and brought her in to her +anchors. Towards night the weather became rainy, and considerable sea +setting in to the harbour, we shoved the barque off to an anchor. During +the night she dragged her anchor, and we were obliged to send a party on +board her to let go another, to prevent her from dragging on shore. +There was quite a row this evening on board the barque, ending in a +general fight, the sailors by some means or other having managed to get +drunk. + +_Saturday, August 23rd._--Morning cloudy and rainy. We were unable to +get the barque alongside, so as to continue coaling before 9 A.M. Still +we are hurrying the operation, and hope to be able to get through by +night. We have all sorts of characters on board, but the crew is working +quite willingly; now and then a drunken or lazy vagabond turning up. The +sharp fellows thinking I am dependent upon them for a crew are holding +back and trying to drive a hard bargain with me. + +Getting the battery to rights, and caulking the screw-well, which leaks +badly when she is under way. Made some acting appointments to fill up my +officers. Received on board a fine supply of fresh provisions and +vegetables for the crew. In this beautiful island all the fruits of the +temperate and many of the torrid zone are produced. Pine-apples, pears, +plums, and melons were brought off to us. + +We finished coaling, except seven or eight tons, by working until 9 +P.M., when the men were fairly fagged out. Hauled the barque off, and +resolved to go out with what coal I had on board, as to finish entirely +would involve a delay of Sunday. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +_Sunday, 24th August--Fairly afloat--Taking command--The white +ensign--Mission of the Alabama--The Modern Tar--At the pumps--Blowing +hard--A fruitless chase--Short-handed--The Ocmulgee_. + + +Sunday seemed destined from the very first to be a notable day in the +annals of the new Confederate cruiser. + +The morning of Sunday, the 24th August, found her afloat ready for sea; +the delicate operation of transhipping stores in an open roadstead +safely accomplished, a supply of coal on board sufficient for some weeks +of average steaming, and six of her guns mounted and ready to cast loose +for action at a moment's notice. The early hours of the morning were +occupied in washing down the decks which were covered thickly with coal, +and making matters above board as shipshape as under the circumstances +could be managed. By noon this was finished, and all was ready for sea. +A brief space was then devoted to the no less necessary operation of +dining, and at noon steam was got up, the anchor weighed, and "No. 290" +stood out to sea, the Bahama still keeping her company. + +For about four or five miles the two vessels kept silently upon their +course, until well beyond all possibility of dispute as to the too +well-remembered maritime league of neutrality. Then as four bells +sounded from the forecastle the crew were summoned aft, all heads were +bared, and stepping in full uniform on to the quarter-deck, Captain +Semmes proceeded in a voice clear and firm, but not altogether free from +emotion, to read aloud to the assembled ships his commission from the +President as Commander of the Confederate States Steam Sloop, ALABAMA. + +As he proceeded, the English flag which had been carried by the vessel +during her days of incognito, was slowly lowered to the deck, and three +little black balls might be seen wriggling their way swiftly but +cautiously to the mastheads and mizen peak of the Alabama. Boom! goes +the starboard forecastle gun as the reading is ended. The three black +balls are "broken out," the long pendant uncurls itself at the main, the +red cross of St. George flutters at the fore, and the pure white ensign +of the Confederacy, with its starry blue cross upon the red ground of +the corner, floats gracefully from the peak, as the little band breaks +into the dashing strains of "Dixie," and three ringing cheers peal out +over the sparkling sea. + +So far all had gone well and hopefully, and the enthusiasm of the moment +had brought a flush to the cheek and a dimness to the eye of many a +weather-beaten tar among the little crew. But enthusiasm is fleeting in +these practical days, and the sound of the last cheer had scarcely died +away upon the summer breeze ere the scene changed, and the true +nineteenth century spirit resumed its sway. The ceremony of hoisting the +flag and taking command completed, Captain Semmes called all hands aft +upon the quarter-deck, and addressed them as he had previously +addressed the crew of the Bahama, inviting them to ship with him in the +Alabama for the cruise. + +The address is described by those who listened to it as most spirited +and effective. It frankly avowed that the principal object of the +Alabama was to cripple the commerce of the enemy. But this would not be +her only aim. Prudence was essential, and he was not to fight a +fifty-gun ship, but when the opportunity offered of engaging on anything +like equal terms, the Alabama would be prompt enough to accept the +combat. "Let me once see you," he said, in conclusion, "proficient in +the use of your weapons, and trust me for very soon giving you an +opportunity to show the world of what metal you are made." + +The address was greeted with an unanimous burst of cheers, and then came +the anxious moment. "It may be supposed," writes Captain Semmes, in +recording the events of that memorable day, "that I was very nervous +about the success of this operation, as the management of the ship at +sea absolutely depended upon it." And of this fact the men were at least +as fully aware as himself. Nor had they any scruples as to availing +themselves most fully of the advantages of their situation. "The modern +sailor," continues Captain Semmes, "has greatly changed in character. He +now stickles for pay like a sharper, and seems to have lost his +recklessness and love of adventure." However this latter proposition may +be, the truth of the former was most amply proved on the day in +question. Jack niggled and haggled, and insisted pertinaciously on the +terms he felt his would-be Captain's necessity enabled him to command; +and in the end Captain Semmes was fain to consent to the exorbitant +rates of £4 10s. a month for seamen, £5 and £6 for petty officers, and +£7 for firemen! "I was glad," he writes, "to get them even upon these +terms, as I was afraid a large bounty in addition would be demanded of +me." + +Very curious was the contrast afforded by this scene with the enthusiasm +that had preceded, and the gallant, dashing, reckless career that +followed it. These men who thus stood out for the last sixpence they +could hope to wring from their employer's necessity, were the same who +subsequently dashed blindfold into the action with the Hatteras, and +later yet, steamed quietly out of a safe harbour with a disabled ship, +to meet an enemy in perfect trim and of superior force, and as their +shattered vessel sank beneath their feet, crowded round the very captain +with whom the hard bargain had been driven, imploring him not to yield. + + + +Finally, the bargaining resulted in the shipping of a crew, all told, of +eighty men; a larger number, perhaps, than Captain Semmes had himself +anticipated, but still not so many by at least twenty-five as were +required for properly manning and fighting the vessel. With these, +however, the Captain was fain to be content, trusting to volunteers from +future prizes to complete his complement. A hard evening's work followed +in preparing allotments of pay to be sent home to the sailors' wives, +and also in paying their advance wages, and sending small drafts for +them to agents in Liverpool. It was not till 11 P.M. that this task was +completed, and then Captains Bullock and Butcher took a final farewell +of the ship, and returned on board the Bahama, which with the remainder +of the two crews steamed away for Liverpool, and the Confederate cruiser +was left alone upon the wide ocean, and had fairly started on her +adventurous career. + +No sooner had the two steamers parted company than sail was made on +board the Alabama. The fires were let down, fore and main topsails were +set, the ship's head turned to the N.E., and by midnight Captain Semmes +was able to leave the deck, and thoroughly worn out with the day's +excitement and exertions, turn in to an uneasy berth in search of a few +hours' repose. + +Of this, however, there was not much to be obtained. The Alabama was no +sooner under way than the wind began to freshen, and soon increased to a +moderate gale. This was accompanied by one of those ugly seaways so +common in the North Atlantic, and the vessel rolled and tumbled in a +manner sufficiently trying, without the addition of the manifold +discomforts inseparably attendant on a first start. These, too, were, as +may well be supposed, not a little aggravated by the hurried manner in +which the transhipment of stores from the Agrippina and Bahama had +perforce been conducted. Everything, in fact, was in the wildest +confusion. The ship herself was dirty and unsettled, and her decks below +lumbered in all directions with all manner of incongruous articles. No +one was berthed or messed, nothing arranged or secured. Spare +shot-boxes, sea-chests, and heavy articles of baggage or cabin furniture +were fetching away to the destruction of crockery and other brittle +ware, and the no small danger of limbs. While to crown all, the upper +works of the vessel which had been caulked in the damp atmosphere of an +English winter, had opened out under the hot sun of the Azores through +every seam, and the eternal clank, clank of the pumps, which it was +fondly hoped had been heard for the last time when the poor, worn-out +little Sumter had been laid up, played throughout the long night a +dismal accompaniment to the creaking of the labouring vessel, and the +wild howling of an Atlantic gale. + +So passed the Alabama's first night at sea. The next day the gale still +continued, and hindered not a little the energetic exertions of the +First Lieutenant, who, whilst Captain Semmes endeavoured, by snatching a +few hours' sleep, to quiet his worn-out nerves, took his turn in the +endeavour to bring something of order out of the apparently hopeless +chaos, and gradually reduce the vessel to the trim and orderly condition +proper to a well-commanded man-of-war. On the Tuesday the gale abated, +though there were still the remains of a heavy sea. Topsails and +gallantsails were set, and the propeller, which had hitherto been merely +disconnected, and left to revolve, was hoisted up out of the water. + +Several days now passed in setting matters to rights, passing spare shot +below, laying the racers for the pivot guns; overhauling and stowing the +magazines; securing furniture, baggage, and other loose articles that +had hitherto pretty well "taken charge" of the deck below; and otherwise +making things somewhat snug and shipshape, and preparing the vessel for +self-defence in case of need. + +By Friday, August 29th, these preparations were nearly completed, and in +the early morning of that day the cry of "Sail, ho!" was heard for the +first time from the look-out at the fore-topgallant crosstrees of the +Alabama. The ship was at once kept away towards her, and after a long +chase, approached at near nightfall to within five or six miles of the +strange sail. The vessel proved to be a brig, and on nearing her Spanish +colours were shown by the Alabama. The brig made no response, and the +cruiser proceeded to fire a blank cartridge, as an intimation of her +character. Still the stranger kept doggedly upon her way, without +response, and it became a question whether ulterior measures should be +taken. After careful examination, however, of all those various +indications by which a sailor can judge of the nationality of a vessel, +almost as effectively as from a sight of her colours, it was decided +that she was, at all events, not an American; and Captain Semmes, +being-anxious to haul by the wind, and make his way with all speed to +the westward, the chase was abandoned, and the Alabama proceeded again +upon her course. + +The next day, Saturday, August 30th, saw the preparations for the +battery complete, and the pivot guns finally mounted, and ready for +action. The men were now allotted to the various stations, and mustered +at quarters, when it was found, that by telling off half a dozen of the +junior officers to complete the crew of the rifled gun, there were just +hands enough to fight the ship. This was satisfactory; and altogether +the five hard days' work since quitting Terceira had resulted in +something more like success in the way of order, comfort, and +efficiency, than it had at first sight appeared possible to anticipate. + +Sunday, August 31st, was a welcome day of rest to all on board; the only +break being a brief run off after a brig to leeward, which on being +challenged with French colours, proved to be a Portuguese. During the +day the Alabama made good running to the westward, under topsails, with +a fresh breeze well on her starboard quarter; and at midnight made all +snug, and brought by the wind on the port tack. The next day was passed +for the most part in quietly lying to under topsails, with her head to +the southward and eastward, whilst the crew were employed in finishing +the fittings of the battery, and scraping the deck and bulwarks clear of +some of the accumulated dirt, till 3 P.M., when she filled away again, +and started upon a N.W. course. + +By Tuesday, Sept. 5th, the Alabama had run into the thirty-eighth +parallel, and the temperature was sensibly altering. Up to this period +no prize had been captured, the few vessels overhauled having all been +under a neutral flag. On this day, however, whilst in chase of a brig, +whose extraordinary swiftness enabled her fairly to show the Alabama a +clean pair of heels, a vessel was descried in the offing, and the +Confederate bore up and made towards her. On approaching she was found +to be lying-to, with her foretopsail laid to the mast, and on a somewhat +nearer inspection, proved evidently to be a whaler. + +English colours were hoisted on board the Alabama, and a cheer was with +difficulty suppressed as the Stars and Stripes rose in answer to the +stranger's deck. Arrived within boarding distance, a boat was at once +sent on board the prize, the Alabama's red ensign giving place to the +Confederate flag as the boarding officer gained her deck. She proved to +be the Ocmulgee, of Edgartown, her captain, by name Abraham Osborn, +being a thorough specimen of the genuine Yankee. She was, of course, +taken possession of, her crew brought on board the Alabama and placed in +irons, and a quantity of rigging, of which the latter was much in need, +together with some beef, pork, and other small stores, transferred to +the captor. A light was then hoisted at her peak; her helm lashed hard +a-lee; the prize crew re-transferred to their own ship, and the Ocmulgee +left to her own devices, the Alabama lying by her during the night. + +The next morning another sail hove in sight, so the prize was fired, and +the Alabama again started off in chase, having taken from the prize +thirty-six prisoners besides the stores, rigging, &c., before alluded +to. The new chase proved to be a Frenchman, bound to Marseilles; and +this fact having been ascertained, the Alabama was kept away N. 1/2 W., +and in two hours afterwards was in sight of the island of Flores. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +_A muster--Prisoners landed--The Starlight--Santa Cruz--Novel night +procession--The Alert--Three sacrifices in a day--Weather Gauge +captured--The Altamaha--A signal--The Benjamin Tucker--Burnt!--The +Courser--Target practice--The Virginia--The Elisha Dunbar_. + + +From the 7th to the 18th of September was a busy time on board the +Alabama. Prize after prize was taken, and Captain Semmes' journal, as +will be seen, is chiefly taken up with records of successful chases. + +_Sunday, September 7th._--Running in for the island of Flores. At 11 +A.M. mustered the crew for the first time, and caused to be read the +Articles of War, to which they listened with great attention. At 3.30 +P.M., having approached sufficiently near the town of Lagens, on the +south side of the island, we sent all the prisoners on shore, having +first paroled them in the three whale-boats belonging to the prize, +Ocmulgee. At 4 P.M. filled away upon the starboard tack to head off a +schooner that appeared to be running in for the island. Having +approached her within a mile, we hoisted the English colours. The chase +not showing her colours in return, fired the lee bow gun. Still paying +no attention to us, but endeavouring to pass us, fired a shot athwart +her bows. Not yet heaving-to, or showing colours, fired a second shot +between her fore and mainmast; she then hoisted the United States +colours and rounded-to. Sent a boat on board and took possession. The +captain coming on board with his papers, she proved to be the Starlight, +of Boston, from Fayal to Boston _viá_ Flores. She had a number of +passengers; among others, some ladies. Put a prize crew on board of her. +Brought on board all the United States seamen, seven in number, +including the captain, and confined them in irons, and ordered the prize +to remain close to us during the night. Some dark clouds hanging over +the island, but the wind light and the sea smooth. + +Among the papers captured were a couple of despatches to the Sewards, +father and son, informing them of our operations at Terceira. This +small craft left Boston only six days before we left Liverpool in the +Bahama. How strangely parties meet upon the high seas! The master was +the cleverest specimen of a Yankee skipper I have met, about +twenty-seven or twenty-eight. He avowed his intention of trying to run +the gauntlet of my shot, deprecated the war, &c., &c. + +_Monday, September 8th_.--* * * * Again stood in to the town of Santa +Cruz, in company with the prize; lowered the cutter, and sent the +prisoners on shore, with a note addressed to the Governor. In the +meantime the Governor himself with several citizens came on board us. +The Governor offered us the hospitalities of the island, and in return I +expressed to him the hope that his fellow-citizens who were passengers, +had suffered no inconvenience from her capture. + +In the afternoon, gave chase and showed English colours to a Portuguese +brigantine. We then wore ship, and chased a barque in the north-west, +with which we came up about sunset. She proved to be the whaling barque +Ocean Rover, from Massachusetts, forty months out, with a cargo of 1100 +barrels of oil. Laid her to for the night, and permitted the captain and +his crew to pull in to the shore (Flores) in his six whale boats. The +sea being smooth, the wind light off shore, and the moon near her full, +this was a novel night procession! + +_Tuesday, September 7th_.--* * * * I was aroused in the mid-watch, +having had about only three hours' sleep, after a day of fatigue and +excitement, by the announcement that a large barque was close aboard of +us. We were lying to at the time in company with our two prizes. Wore +ship very quietly, and gave chase. The chase rather got the wind of us, +though we head-reached upon her, and at daylight we hoisted the English +flag. The barque not responding, fired a blank cartridge. She still not +responding, fired a shot astern of her, she being about two miles +distant. This brought her to with the United States colours at her peak; +put a boat on board, and took possession of her. She proved to be the +Alert, from New London, sixteen days from port; bound, _via_ the Azores, +Cape de Verde, &c., to the Indian Ocean. Supplied ourselves from her +with some underclothing for the men, of which we stood in need. + +About 9 A.M. fired the Starlight; at 11 fired the Ocean Rover; and at 4 +P.M. fired the Alert. Boarded a Portuguese whaling-brig, the master of +which I brought on board with his papers. These proving to be regular, I +dismissed him within a few minutes. Sent the captain and crew of the +Alert on shore, to the village on the north end of Flores, in their own +boats, four in number. + +Sail, ho! at 5 P.M. Filled away, and gave chase to a schooner in the +N.E. She was standing for us at first, but tacked on our approach, and +endeavoured to run. We had shown her the United States colors, and she +also had hoisted them, but she distrusted us. A blank cartridge brought +her round again, and hove her to. Sent a boat on board, and took +possession of the schooner Weather Gauge, of Provincetown, six weeks +out. The last two captures supplied us with large numbers of Northern +newspapers as late as August 18th. * * * + +_Saturday, September 13th_.--Gave chase to a sail reported on the +weather bow, and upon coming up with her, and heaving her to with a +blank cartridge, she proved to be the hermaphrodite whaling brig +Altamaha, from New Bedford, five months out. Little or no success. +Captured her, put a prize crew on board, and made sail in chase of a +barque to windward. + + * * * * * + +_Sunday, September 14th_.--* * * Last night at a quarter past eleven I +was aroused by the report that a large ship was close on board of us. +Hurried on deck, wore ship, and gave-chase; the strange sail being about +two to two and a half miles from us, partially to windward. Made all +sail, held our wind, and gradually eat him out of the wind, as well as +head-reached on him. Fired a blank cartridge, which he disregarded. +Continued to overhaul him, and when we had gotten on his weather-beam, +distant about half a mile from him, fired a second gun, which speedily +brought him to the wind with his maintopsail to the mast. Sent a boat on +board, with an order to the officer to show me a light if she should +prove to be an American; and in a few minutes after the officer got on +board a light was shown at the peak. Lay by him until daylight, when the +captain was brought on board. The ship proved to be the United States +whaler Benjamin Tucker, from New Bedford, eight months out, with about +340 barrels of oil. Crew thirty. Brought everybody on board, received +some soap and tobacco, and fired the ship. Made sail to the S.E. + +_Monday, September 15th_.--* * * Caulking the decks, which are already +quite open. Made the island of Flores from the masthead late in the +afternoon. Exercised the crew at quarters. Shipped one of the prisoners +from last prize--a Hollander. + +_Tuesday, September 16th_.--* * * * At daylight made a schooner on the +starboard bow. Gave chase, and at 7.30 hove her to with a blank +cartridge, and sent a boat on board, she showing United States colours. +She proved to be the whaling schooner Courser, of Provincetown, +Massachusetts. Took possession of her as a prize. Stood in towards +Flores, within four or five miles, and sent all the prisoners from the +last three prizes on shore in their own whale boats, eight in number. +Number of prisoners sixty-eight. About 5 P.M., having taken the prize +some eight or ten miles distant from the land, hove her to, called all +hands to quarters, and made a target of her, firing three rounds from +each gun. The practice was pretty fair for green hands for the first +time. We hulled the target once, and made a number of good line shots. +At dark fired the prize, and made sail to the westward. + +_Wednesday, September 17th_.--* * * At 7.30 A.M. gave chase to a sail on +the starboard bow, and at meridian came up with and took possession of, +the United States whaling barque Virginia, twenty-one days from New +Bedford. Received papers as late as the 28th August. Got on board from +the prize a large supply of soap, candles, &c.; and after bringing the +prisoners on board, fired her; filled away, and made sail to the N.W. + +_Thursday, September 18th_.--* * * Gave chase to a barque, which, +discovering our purpose, made all sail and tried to escape. Came up with +her at 2 P.M., after a chase of about three hours. Hoisted the English +ensign, to which she refused to respond. Fired the starboard bow gun, +and ran up our own flag, when she shortened sail and hove-to. Sent a +prize crew on board, she showing the United States ensign. Brought the +master on board. She proved to be the whaling barque Elisha Dunbar, of +New Bedford, twenty-four days out. As it was blowing fresh and +threatening a gale of wind, we got all the prisoners on board in the +course of about a couple of hours, and set fire to the barque. Reefed +topsails, set the fore trysail with the bonnet off, and stood on a wind +on the starboard tack to the S. and E. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +_Successive gales--Uncomfortable quarters--Weather moderates--Blowing +again--The Emily Farnum and the Brilliant--Neutral cargo--Ransomed--In +flames--The Wave Crest--The Dunkirk--Religious smuggling--A deserter +caught--A court martial--The Tonawanda--Precautions--The Manchester +burnt--Hope--Parting company--The Lamplighter--A hurricane--Great +danger--A cyclone--Safely passed_. + + +After this burst of good fortune in the way of prizes, during which the +Alabama had destroyed upwards of 230,000 dollars' worth of United States +property--or an amount very nearly equal to her own entire cost--in +eleven days, a lull was experienced. A succession of gales from various +points of the compass now prevailed with more or less violence for seven +or eight days, during a great portion of which the Alabama was lying to, +in a heavy sea under close-reefed maintopsail and reefed trysails. + +These were hard times for the prisoners; huddled together on deck, with +no shelter but an extemporized tarpaulin tent between them and the +pelting of the pitiless storm, which drenched the decks alternately with +salt water and fresh, as the heavy rain-squalls came down, or the sea, +glittering with phosphoric light, came dashing over the weather +bulwarks. There was, however, no alternative. The berth-deck was already +fully occupied by the Alabama's own crew, and the unlucky prisoners were +compelled to make the best of their uncomfortable position, and console +themselves with the hope that some vessel with a neutral cargo might +fall on the same ill-fortune with themselves, and afford them a chance +of being paroled and sent ashore. + +As the sun crossed the line the weather moderated, and by the 25th of +September all was again calm and fair, and the crew busy caulking the +decks, which had leaked terribly during the gales. They were followed by +a succession of calms and light baffling winds, the delay occasioned by +which was turned to advantage in practising the crew at the battery, and +with small arms. + +With the commencement of another month the rough weather returned. The +2nd October was a real ugly-looking day, with dense black clouds and a +Newfoundland north-easter blowing freshly. No observation was to be had, +the thick clouds altogether shutting out the sun, and the ship being in +the current of the Gulf Stream, the most she could do was to guess at +her position within some thirty or forty miles. + +On the 3rd the weather moderated, and fortune again smiled upon the +Alabama. The morning watch was not yet over when two sails were +descried, the one ahead, the other on the lee bow, each of which in its +turn was overhauled and captured; the one proving to be the Emily +Farnum, from New York for Liverpool; the other, the Brilliant, from the +same port for London, with a valuable cargo of grain and flour. + +The cargo of the Emily Farnum being neutral property, the vessel was +released as a cartel, the prisoners from the Brilliant being transferred +to her, as also those already on board from the other prizes, a change, +as may well be imagined, sufficiently acceptable to those unfortunate +beings who had now been exposed for nearly three weeks to all the +vicissitudes of an autumn in the North Atlantic. This done, the Emily +Farnum was permitted to proceed upon her way. The Brilliant was then +stripped of everything that could be of use to her captors, set on fire, +and left to her fate.[8] From the papers taken on board of this vessel +the crew of the Alabama learned the good news of the Confederate +victories in Virginia, and also of the successful run of the +screw-steamer Florida into a Confederate port. The two vessels also +brought to the Alabama a prize, in the persons of four new recruits, +which, in the short-handed condition of the ship, was of more real value +to her than the vessels themselves. + +[Footnote 8: One of the Alabama's officers writes in his private +journal:-- + +"It seemed a fearful thing to burn such a cargo as the Brilliant had, +when I thought how the Lancashire operatives would have danced for joy +had they it shared amongst them. I never saw a vessel burn with such +brilliancy, the flames completely enveloping the masts, hull, and +rigging in a few minutes, making a sight as grand as it was appalling."] + +The barque Wave Crest, of and from New York, for Cardiff, with a cargo +of grain, was the Alabama's next victim. She was chased and captured on +the 7th of October, and having no evidence of the neutral ownership of +her cargo, was condemned and set on fire, after serving for some time as +a target, at which her captors might practise their firing. She was +still blazing merrily, when another vessel was descried from the +masthead, and at 9.30 P.M. of a beautiful moonlight night, a blank shot +from the Alabama brought up the smart little brigantine Dunkirk, from +New York, for Lisbon, also loaded with grain. A boat was sent on board +of her, and her papers handed over to one of the Alabama's officers. No +evidence of neutrality, however, was to be found, and before midnight +she too was a blazing wreck, and her captain and crew prisoners on board +the Confederate steamer. + +The Dunkirk proved noteworthy in two ways. On searching through her +papers, it appeared that besides her ostensible cargo she was also +employed in what may be termed a kind of religious smuggling. Some +Portuguese copies of the New Testament were discovered, together with a +number of tracts in the same language, tied up in large bundles, on the +back of one of which was the endorsement:--"Portuguese Tracts; from the +'American Tract Society,' for distribution among Portuguese passengers, +and to give upon the coast to visitors from the shore, &c. When in port, +please keep conspicuously on the cabin table for all comers to read; +but be very careful not to take any ashore, as the laws do not allow +it." + +It appeared, however, that the conscience of the society had pricked +them for this concession to the majesty of the law, and a pen had been +carefully run through the last sentence. A little lower down, upon the +same packet, was written, "As may be convenient, please report (by +letter, if necessary) anything of interest which may occur in connexion +with the distribution; also take any orders for Bibles, and forward them +to John S. Peerin, Marine Agent, New York Bible Society, No. 7 Beekman +Street." + +The other noteworthy fact in connexion with the Dunkirk was the capture +on board of her of one of the seven sailors who had deserted from the +Sumter whilst lying at Cadiz ten months before. This man, whose name was +George Forrest, was at once recognised, and on the day but one after his +capture on board the enemy's vessel, a court-martial, consisting of the +first lieutenant (president); senior second lieutenant; master, chief +engineer, and lieutenant of marines, with the captain's clerk as +judge-advocate, was assembled in the wardroom to try the prisoner for +the crime of desertion. The evidence was, of course, simple enough, and +the man was found guilty, and sentenced to lose all pay, prize money, +etc., already due to him, and to fulfil his original term of service, +forfeiting all pay and allowances, except such as should be sufficient +to provide necessary clothing and liberty money. + +That same afternoon another sail was descried and chased, and just +before sunset the Alabama came up with and brought to, the fine packet +ship Tonawanda, of Philadelphia, belonging to Cope's Liverpool line, and +bound from Philadelphia to Liverpool with a full cargo of grain, and +some seventy-five passengers. Here was a serious matter of +embarrassment; of the seventy-five passengers, some thirty or more were +women, and what to do with such a prize it was hard to know. It was, of +course, impossible to take the prisoners on board; yet Captain Semmes +was, not unnaturally, reluctant to release so fine a vessel if he could +by any possibility so arrange matters as to be able to destroy her. It +was therefore determined to place a prize crew on board, and keep the +ship in company for a time, in hopes that ere long some other vessel of +less value to the enemy, or guarded from destruction by a neutral cargo +might, by good luck, be captured, and thus afford an opportunity of +sending the prisoners away upon cartel. + +Accordingly, a bond was taken of the captain for eighty thousand +dollars, as a measure of precaution, in case it should be found +necessary to let the ship go without further parley, and a prize master +having been put on board the Tonawanda, was ordered to keep company, and +her captor started off on a chase after a brig, which on being +overhauled proved to be English. One transfer, however, was made from +the prize, being nothing less than a well-grown and intelligent negro +lad, named David White, the slave of one of the passengers, who was +transferred to the Alabama as waiter to the wardroom mess, where he +remained until the closing scene off Cherbourg, by no means disposed, so +far as his own word may be taken for it, to regret the change of +masters. + +The following day, as an additional security, the master of the +Tonawanda was brought as a hostage on board the Confederate steamer, the +prisoners from the last two ships burned being at the same time +transferred to the prize. In this manner the two vessels cruised in +company for two or three days--an anxious time enough for the crew and +passengers of the unlucky Tonawanda, who spent most of their time in +eagerly scanning the horizon, in the hope that some armed vessel of +their own nation might appear in sight, and rescue them from their +unpleasant predicament. No such luck, however, was to be theirs; but on +the 11th October, a fresh addition was made to their numbers in the crew +of the Manchester, a fine United States ship from New York to Liverpool, +the glare of which as she, like so many others, was committed to the +flames, by no means alleviated their anxiety, as they thought how soon a +similar fate might befall their own vessel, should fortune not interpose +to arrest the disaster. + +At length, on the 13th October, excitement prevailed on board of both +vessels, and the hopes of the anxious passengers on board the Tonawanda +rose to fever pitch, as a large vessel was seen bearing down under +topsails only, her easy-going style of sailing seeming to prove +conclusively to a sailor's eye, that she must be either a whaler or a +man-of-war. On board the Alabama the former was the favorite +supposition, and hopes ran high of another glorious bonfire fed by tons +of brightly burning sperm oil. The aspirations of the Tonawanda were +naturally in favor of the man-of-war, and it was with difficulty that +considerations of prudence restrained the open exhibition of their +delight as the stranger drew near, and the long pendant floating proudly +from her masthead seemed to assure them that their hopes were to be +fulfilled. + +But disappointment was equally in store for all. The big easy-going ship +proved to be nothing more or less than an ordinary Spanish merchantman, +who, with more regard for personal appearance than maritime etiquette, +had quietly appropriated to herself the distinguishing ornament of a +man-of-war. So the guns of the Alabama, which had been cast loose and +loaded, were again secured, and the crew dismissed from quarters; while +the disconsolate Tonawandas, balked of their fondly anticipated rescue, +shook their fists at the deceptive Spaniard, and went below to digest as +best they might their grievous disappointment. + +At last, however, this time of suspense was over, and kind fortune came +to their assistance in the shape of a threatening gale of so ugly an +appearance that the captain determined not to run the risk of parting +company, and thus altogether losing his awkward, but not the less +valuable prize. Accordingly, having accepted from the master a ransom +bond for eighty thousand dollars, he dismissed him to his ship, and amid +the wildest demonstrations of delight from the closely-packed prisoners +on board, the Tonawanda filled away, and was seen no more. + +The wind now freshened to a tolerably fresh gale. Not sufficient, +however, for the next two days to prevent the Alabama from chasing and +capturing, on the 15th October, the United States barque Lamplighter, of +Boston, from New York to Gibraltar, with a cargo of tobacco, which, +however, as it proved, was never destined to soothe the _ennui_ of the +British soldier at that not very lively station. The sea was running +high, and the boats had a rough time of it in boarding the barque, and +returning with prisoners, &c. However, it was managed at last; the +unlucky vessel was fired, and after burning fiercely for some time, went +headforemost to the bottom, leaving behind her a savoury cloud that +almost tempted her destroyers to regret their work. + +And now it proved indeed fortunate for the prisoners who had so lately +been discharged, that they were not doomed to weather out on the +Alabama's deck the gale that came upon her. The 17th of October saw the +culminating of the bad weather that had prevailed during the last four +or five days, and for some hours the Alabama was exposed to a perfect +hurricane. The storm did not last long, but for about four hours it blew +furiously. It was not yet at its height, and the ship was still carrying +her close reefed maintopsail with reefed main trysail and fore topmast +staysail, when a sharper lurch than usual threw a sudden strain upon the +bumpkin to which the weather main brace was led, and in a moment it had +snapped in two. The mainyard no longer supported by the brace, and +pressed by the whole power of the straining topsail, flew forward and +upward till it was bent nearly double, when with a loud crash it parted +in the slings, splintering the topsail into ribands with a noise like +thunder. + +The ship was now in the greatest peril, for there was no longer +sufficient after canvas to keep her head to the wind against the +powerful pressure of the foretopmast staysail, and in another moment she +must have fallen into the trough of the sea, and probably been at the +least dismasted, if not altogether swamped. But the quick eye of the +captain of the foretop saw the danger, and springing to the staysail +halyards he cut the sail away, and the ship relieved of pressure +forward, again came up to the wind. + +The main trysail was now lowered, though not without splitting the sail, +and a small three-cornered storm trysail hoisted in its place. Even +under this minimum of canvas the tremendous pressure of the gale upon +her spars forced her down in the water several streaks, and the idlers +and boys were lashed for safety under the weather bulwarks, life-lines +being stretched before them to prevent them from falling to leeward. + +So far as it was possible under the circumstances to estimate the +probable extent of this cyclone, its greatest diameter would appear to +have been from about one hundred and sixty to two hundred miles, whilst +the diameter of the vortex, through a considerable portion of which, if +not actually through the centre, the Alabama appears to have passed, +would probably be from about thirty to five-and-thirty or perhaps forty +miles. + +The Alabama took the gale at S.W., the wind hauling afterwards to S., +and the vessel passing completely through the vortex. During that time +it lulled for about half or three-quarters of an hour, then hauled in a +few minutes to about N.N.W., which was the severest portion of the gale, +commencing with the squall by which the mainyard was carried away. The +barometer sank as low as 28.64. At 2 P.M. it had risen to 29.70, but +fell again a little, and then rose gradually. The rise and fall of the +barometer were both very rapid. + +During the violence of the gale, the birds flew very low, and with great +rapidity, and some rain fell, though not a great deal. The surface of +the sea was one sheet of foam and spray, the latter completely blinding +all on deck. A curious result of the gale was a huge knot into which a +strip of the maintopsail, the clew line, and chain sheet had twisted +themselves in a hundred involutions, defying any attempt at extrication +except by aid of the knife. + +During this tremendous storm the Alabama behaved splendidly, proving +herself as fine a sea-boat as ever swam. + +By the evening the storm had lulled, but the sea was still running +fearfully high, and it was not until the next day that it was possible +to set about repairing the damage suffered in this by far the severest +trial through which the Alabama had as yet passed. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +_Out of luck--Tempest-tossed--Rotatory storms--A prize--The case of the +Lafayette--A long chase--The Crenshaw--Neutral or not?--Rough again--The +Lauretta--Condemned!--The Baron de Custine--Released on bond._ + + +The Alabama was again out of luck. For the second time since her +departure from Terceira, nearly a fortnight passed without bringing a +single prize. It was, indeed, hardly to be expected that the splendid +success which had attended the first three weeks of her cruise could be +maintained. From the 1st to the 18th of September, she had captured and +destroyed no less than ten vessels, of an aggregate value of nearly two +hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Then had followed an interval of a +fortnight, during which one vessel only was overhauled, and proving to +be French, permitted to proceed. This dull period over, the 3rd October +had seen the commencement of another run of good fortune, extending over +nearly a fortnight, during which she succeeded in capturing five more +vessels, all of considerable size, and for the most part with valuable +cargoes. In this fortnight alone damage was inflicted upon United States +property to the amount of more than half-a-million of dollars; and it +was but natural that, after so splendid a gift, fortune should for a +time hold her hand. + +Accordingly, for the next ten or twelve days the Alabama lay helplessly +on the ocean, tossed and beaten about by a succession of gales from +every point of the compass, culminating, as we have seen, in the +hurricane of the 16th October. The season was, indeed, most unusually +severe, this month of October being commonly one of calm and fine +weather. A gale at this time is a most unusual occurrence; but for more +than a week a succession of storms was experienced of the most violent +description, while for fully three weeks the weather continued dark, +rough, and gloomy, with strong shifting winds and heavy rain, the thick +clouds rarely separating sufficiently to afford the chance of an +observation. + +Occasionally a break in the murky canopy would give promise of a change +for the better; but a very few hours served to dissipate the rising +hope. The sky would be again overcast, the wind breeze up from a fresh +quarter, and another night of discomfort set in. In addition to this +adverse weather, a still further difficulty was experienced in the +strong current that appeared to set continuously from the westward, +drifting the vessel bodily out of her course at the rate of sixty or +seventy miles a day. During this period, the barometer ranged from +28.64 to 29.70. It was remarkable that the winds appeared to succeed +each other with perfect regularity, rotating, as nearly as possible, +once in every two days, or at the utmost, in two days and a half. The +course taken by these rotatory storms was always the same, and it was a +rare occurrence for the wind to remain stationary in one quarter during +eight or ten successive hours. + +On the 23rd October the gale at last finally broke, and with the return +of better weather the Alabama's luck seemed also about to revive. At +noon a brief break in the clouds just gave time for an observation for +latitude, and this was barely worked out, when "Sail, ho!" was heard +from the masthead; and a fine brig was discovered hull down on the lee +bow. Running down to her under close-reefed topsails, she proved to be +English; but though not destined herself to become a prize, the +deviation in the Alabama's course, occasioned by the chase, proved most +fortunate for her. She had scarcely luffed up again, after ascertaining +the brig's nationality, when again the welcome cry was heard, and the +helm shifted in pursuit. Soon the new chase became clearly discernible +from the quarter-deck, when she proved to be a large ship running to the +northward and eastward under a press of canvas. So determinedly was she +"cracking on" as to have everything set, even to her main-royal, +notwithstanding that the wind was still blowing very nearly half a gale. + +The course of the stranger being diagonal to that of the Alabama, the +speed at which she was travelling soon brought her within speaking +distance, and, as usual, a feint was made for the purpose of extorting a +confession of her nationality. The flag chosen this time was the English +blue ensign, and it was speedily answered by the Stars and Stripes, +which fluttered gaily from the merchantman's peak as she dashed along +under her towering mass of canvas before the breeze, right across the +Alabama's path. + +Another moment and the scene was changed. The Yankee ensign had hardly +reached her peak, when down came the beguiling signal from the Alabama's +flagstaff, and the white folds of the Confederate ensign unfurled +themselves in its stead. A flash, a spurt of white smoke, curling for a +moment from the cruiser's lee-bow, and vanishing in snowy wreaths upon +the wind, and the loud report of a gun from the Alabama, summoned the +luckless Yankee to heave to. In a moment all was in confusion on board +the merchantman. Sheets and halyards were let go by the run, and the +huge cloud of canvas seemed to shrink and shrivel up as the vessel was +rounded to with folded wings like a crippled bird, and with her +foretopsail to the mast, lay submissively awaiting the commands of her +captors. + +She proved to be the ship Lafayette, of Boston, bound to Belfast, with a +full cargo of grain, &c. Of her own nationality there was, of course, no +doubt; but a question now arose about the ownership of the cargo, and +some hours of patient investigation were necessary before Captain Semmes +could determine upon the course to pursue. Finally it was determined +that the claim of neutral ownership was a mere blind to insure against +capture; and at 10 P.M., the ship having been formally condemned, the +crew were transferred to the Alabama, and the prize fired and left to +her fate. + +The following is Captain Semmes' memorandum of the + + + + +CASE OF THE LAFAYETTE. + + +Ship and cargo condemned. The cargo of this ship was condemned by me as +enemy's property, notwithstanding there were depositions of the shippers +that it had been purchased by them on neutral account. These _ex-parte_ +statements are precisely such as every unscrupulous merchant would +prepare, to deceive his enemy and save his property from capture. There +are two shipping houses in this case; that of Craig and Nicoll, and that +of Montgomery Bros.: Messrs. Craig and Nicoll say that the grain +supplied by them belongs to Messrs. Shaw and Finlay, and to Messrs. +Hamilton, Megault, and Thompson, all of Belfast, to which port the ship +is bound, but the grain is not consigned to them, and they could not +demand possession of it under the bill of lading, it being consigned to +_order_, thus leaving the control in the hands of the shippers. The +shippers, farther, instead of sending their grain as freight in a +general ship, consigned to the owners, they paying the freight, charter +the whole ship, and stipulate themselves for the payment of the freight. +If this property had been _bonâ fide_ the property of the parties in +Belfast named in the depositions, it would undoubtedly have been +consigned to them, under a bill of lading authorizing them to demand +possession of it, &c., &c.; the agreement with the ship would have been +that the consignees and owners should pay the freight upon delivery. +Even if this property were purchased, as pretended, by Messrs. Craig and +Nicoll, for the parties named, still their not consigning it to them and +delivering to them the proper bill of lading passing the possession, +left the property under the dominion of Craig and Nicoll, and as such, +liable to capture. The property attempted to be covered by the Messrs. +Montgomery, is shipped by Montgomery Bros. of New York, and consigned to +Montgomery Bros., in Belfast; and the title to the property, so far as +appears in the bill of lading, is in the latter house, or in the branch +house in New York. Further, the mere formal papers of a ship and cargo +prove nothing, unless properly verified, and in this case the master of +the ship, although a part owner of the ship, whose duty it was upon +taking in a cargo in time of war, to be informed of all the +circumstances attending it, and connected with the ownership, knew +nothing, except what he learned from the face of the papers. These +certificates, therefore, were pronounced a fraud, and the cargo as well +as the ship, condemned. 3d Phillimore 610-12 to the effect, that if the +goods are going for account of the shipper, _or subject to his order or +control_ (as in this case), the property is not divested _in transitu_. +The goods shipped by Craig and Nicoll, were consigned to their _order_, +as has been seen. + +As to the Montgomery's, see 3rd Phillimore 605, to the effect that if a +person be a partner in a house of trade in an enemy's country, he is, as +to the concerns and trade of that house, deemed an enemy, and his share +is liable to confiscation as such, notwithstanding his own residence is +in a neutral country. Further, the property consigned to Montgomery +Bros., even admitting the Belfast house not to be a partner in the New +York house, is liable to the same objection, as in the case of Craig and +Nicoll; since, although the property is described as belonging to a +party in Sligo, there is no bill of lading among the papers authorizing +that party to demand the possession. The property is not divested, +therefore, _in transitu_. + +3rd Phillimore, 599, to the effect, that "further proof" is always +necessary when the master cannot swear to the ownership of the property +(as in this case). And as I cannot send my prizes in for adjudication, I +must of necessity condemn in all cases where "further proof" is +necessary, since the granting of "further proof" proceeds on the +presumption that the neutrality of the cargo is not sufficiently +established; and where the neutrality of the property does not fully +appear from the ship's papers and the master's deposition, I had the +right to act upon the presumption of enemy's property. + +By midnight the Lafayette showed only a dim glare on the distant +horizon, but the event formed a topic of discussion for the next two +days, more especially as from the newspapers found on board it was +ascertained that news of the captures on the banks of Newfoundland had +already made its way to the United States, and that the Yankee cruisers +were, therefore, probably by that time in full pursuit. + +The 26th October, however, provided the crew of the Alabama with a +fresh excitement. The weather had cleared beautifully, the wind was +light from the eastward, and the vessel was gliding smoothly and +swiftly, with studding-sails set alow and aloft, over the long, easy +swell, which alone remained to tell of the heavy gales of the past +fortnight. Every one was enjoying the change, and even the strict +discipline of the man-of-war was, for the moment, in some measure +relaxed, as officers and men gave themselves up to the full pleasure of +a period of sunshine and tranquillity, after the long spell of gloom and +storm. The look-out-man alone, high up on the fore topgallant +crosstrees, still swept the horizon as eagerly as ever in search of a +prize. At about noon his vigilance was rewarded by the sight of a sail +on the port-quarter, and in a moment all was again bustle and excitement +on board. Quick as the word could be given, the "flying kites" were +furled, yards braced in, and the ship hauled up on a taut bowline in +chase. + +But the stranger was now well to windward, and fully four or five miles +distant. The Alabama flew through the water with the freshening breeze, +flinging the spray over her sharp bows, and stretching to her task as +though she herself were conscious of the work before her, and eager in +chase. But the strange sail was almost, if not quite, as fast as +herself, and her position so far to windward gave her an immense +advantage. The day, too, was wearing on, and the sky beginning to cloud +over, giving every token of a dark if not a stormy night. If the chase +could only hold on her course till dusk she was safe, and already the +hopes of another prize were beginning to fade, and the anxious +speculators on the forecastle were expecting the order to up helm and +relinquish the chase. + +On the quarter-deck, too, the idea was gaining ground that the affair +was hopeless, and that it was not worth while to keep the ship longer +from her course. But the Alabama was not given to letting a chance slip, +and before finally abandoning the pursuit it was determined to try the +effect of a shot or two upon the nerves of the stranger. A slight cheer, +quickly checked by the voice of authority, rose from the eager crowd on +the forecastle, as the weather bow gun was cast loose and loaded, and in +another minute the bright flash, with its accompanying jet of white +smoke, leaped from the cruiser's bow, as the loud report of a 32 pounder +rang out the command to heave to. + +A moment of breathless suspense, and another cheer rose from the +delighted throng of sailors, as the stranger's sails were seen for a +moment to shiver in the wind, and the frightened chase luffed to the +wind, and then lay motionless with the Stars and Stripes at her +mizenpeak. Another sharp hour's beating and the Alabama was alongside, +and had taken possession of the United States schooner Crenshaw, from +New York to Glasgow, three days out. + +And now began another investigation into the character of the cargo, and +notes were once more carefully compared, lest any _bonâ fide_ neutral +property should become involved in the fate that would otherwise befall +the captured enemy. Finally, however, the case was decided against ship +and cargo, and both were accordingly committed to the flames, the +following entry being made by Captain Semmes of the grounds of his +decision:-- + + +CASE OF THE SCHOONER CRENSHAW. + +This vessel was captured under the North American flag, and had on board +a North American register--there is, therefore, no question as to the +ship. There has been an attempt to cover the cargo, but without success. +The shippers are Francis Macdonald and Co., of the city of New York; and +Mr. James Hutchison, also of New York, deposed before the British +consul, that "the goods specified in the annexed bills of lading were +shipped on board the schooner Crenshaw, for, and on account of, subjects +of Her Britannic Majesty, and that the said goods are wholly and _bonâ +fide_ the property of British subjects." No British subject is named in +the deposition, and no person is therefore entitled to claim under it. +Further: even admitting the goods to have been purchased on British +account, the shipper has not divested himself of the possession by a +proper consignment, under a proper bill of lading. The property is +consigned to the _order of the shipper_, which leaves it entirely under +his control; and it having left the port of New York as his property, +the title cannot be changed while the property is _in transitu_. + +As to the first point--to wit, the failure to point out some particular +British owner of the property--see 3d Phillimore 596, to the following +effect:--"If in the ship's papers, property, in a voyage from an enemy's +port, be described 'for neutral account,' this is such a general mode as +points to no designation whatever; and under such a description no +person can say that the cargo belongs to him, or can entitle himself to +the possession of it as his property," &c. + +And as to the second point--to wit, the failure on the part of the +shipper to divest himself of the title and control of the property by a +proper bill of lading--see 3rd Phillimore 610-12, as follows, viz.: "In +ordinary shipments of goods, unaffected by the foregoing principles, the +question of proprietary interest often turns on minute circumstances +and distinctions, the general principle being, that if they are going +for account of the shipper, or subject _to his order or control_, the +property is not divested _in transitu"_ &c. + + * * * * * + +_Monday, October 27th._--Another gale of wind! In the mid-watch last +night the barometer commenced falling, and by 3 this afternoon it had +gone down to 29.33, where it remained stationary for a time, and then +began to rise slowly, being at 29.45 at 8 P.M. The wind began to blow +freshly from the south, and hauled gradually to the westward, the +barometer commencing to rise when the wind was about W.S.W. In the early +part of the gale we had the weather very thick, with heavy squalls of +rain, clearing about nightfall, with the wind from the W.S.W. + +In the midst of a heavy squall of wind and rain, and with a heavy sea +on, we discovered a brig close aboard of us, on our weather quarter; but +as we were on opposite tacks we soon increased our distance from each +other. Wore ship, and hove to, under close-reefed topsails on the +starboard tack. Being about a degree to the southward of St. George's +Bank, got a cast of the lead at 7 P.M., with no bottom at eighty-five +fathoms. Lat. 39.47 N., Long. 68.06 W., a little over two hundred miles +from New York. + +_Tuesday, October 28th_.--Weather cloudy; wind light from the north, +hauling to the eastward. The heavy sea, from the effects of the gale +yesterday, continued all day rolling and tumbling us about, and keeping +the deck flooded with water. In the morning watch descried a brig +running off to the southward. She being some distance off, and running +in the wrong direction, we did not chase. Soon afterwards another sail +was reported to the westward, standing in our direction; shaped a course +to head her off, and at 11 A.M., having approached her within half a +mile, hoisted the English blue. The stranger showing United States +colours, we hoisted our own, and hove him to with a gun. Brought the +master on board with his papers, and finding the cargo condemnable, got +the crew on board, fired the ship, and filled away. + +The prize proved to be the barque Lauretta, of Boston, from New York, +for Madeira and the Mediterranean. Received papers as late as the 24th. +The intelligence of our captures (as late as the Brilliant) seems to +have created great alarm for the safety of commerce in New York. + +CASE OF THE LAURETTA. + +This ship being under American colours, with an American (U.S.) +register, no question arises as to the ship. There are two shippers of +the cargo, Messrs. Chamberlain, Phelps, and Co., and Mr. H.J. Burden, +both houses of New York city. Chamberlain, Phelps, and Co. ship 1424 +barrels of flour, and a lot of pipe staves, to be delivered at Gibraltar +or Messina, to their own order; and 225 kegs of nails to be delivered at +Messina, to Mariano Castarelli. The bill of lading for the flour and +staves has the following indorsement, sworn to before a notary: "State, +city and county of New York: Louis Contenein being duly sworn, says, +that he is a clerk with Chamberlain, Phelps, and Co., and that part of +the maize in the within bill of lading, is the property of subjects of +the King of Italy." This certificate is of no force or effect for its +generality; it points to no one as the owner of the merchandise, and no +person could claim it under the certificate. See 3rd Phillimore, 596. +Farther: the property is consigned to the _order_ of the shipper. The +title, therefore, remains in him, and cannot be divested _in transitu_. +See 3rd Phillimore, 610-12. The contingent destination of this property, +too, shows that it was property for a market. It was to be delivered +either at Gibraltar or Messina, as the shipper might determine--probably +on advices by steamer, before the ship should reach her destination. She +was to stop, as we have seen, at Madeira, which would give ample time +for the decision. + +The bill of lading for the 225 kegs of nails has a similar indorsement, +except that it is asserted that the whole of the property belongs to +subjects of the King of Italy. It is not sworn that the property belongs +to Castarelli, the consignee, and for aught that appears, Castarelli is +the agent of the shipper to receive this consignment on his, the +shipper's account. The presumption being, that notwithstanding a +consignment in due form by an enemy shipper to a neutral, the property +is enemy's property, until the contrary be shown. The consignment alone +does not show the property to be vested in Castarelli, and the +certificate does not indicate him as the owner. Although Castarelli +could demand possession of the goods, under this consignment, he could +not claim to hold them as his property under the certificate. There is, +therefore, no evidence to show that he is not the mere agent of the +shipper. What renders this consideration still more clear is, that if +the goods had really belonged to Castarelli, it would have been so +stated in the certificate. Why say that the goods belonged to "subjects +of the King of Italy," when the consignee was the real owner? + +The property shipped by H. Jas. Burden consists of 998 barrels of flour +and 290 boxes of herrings, and is consigned to Charles B. Blandly, Esq., +at Funchal, Madeira. The shipper, H.J. Burden, makes the following +affidavit before the British consul in New York, to wit: "That all and +singular the goods specified in the annexed bill of lading, were shipped +by _H.J. Burden_, in the barque Lauretta, for and on account of _H.J. +Burden_, subject of Her Britannic Majesty." Now, Burden may be a very +good subject of Her Britannic Majesty, but he describes himself as of 42 +Beaver Street, New York, and seems to lose sight of the fact, that his +domicile, for the purposes of trade, in the enemy's country, makes him +an enemy, _quoad_ all his transactions in that country. Further: if the +H.J. Burden, the shipper, is not one and the same person with the H.J. +Burden for whom the property is claimed, then there is nothing in the +papers to show that property is vested in the latter, since it is not +consigned to him, nor is it shown that the consignee, Charles B. +Blandly, Esq., is his agent. The presumption, in the absence of proof, +is, that the consignee is the agent of the shipper. + + * * * * * + +_Wednesday, October 29th._--* * * * At 10 A.M. hove to; let down the +propeller, and put the ship under steam. Chased and overhauled a Dutch +barque, and towards nightfall came up with the United States brigantine, +Baron de Custine, from Bangor, with lumber for Cardenas. The vessel +being old, and of little value, I released her on ransom bond, and +converted her into a cartel, sending some forty-five prisoners on board +of her, the crews of the last three ships burned. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +_Disappointment--Out of the track--The Levi Starbuck--Fresh vegetables +--News--The other side of the case--Kindness repaid--The T.B. Wales--A +family--Volunteers--In man-of-war trim_. + + +The month of October went out as it came in with severe and blustering +weather. The Alabama was still upwards of two hundred miles from New +York, and it seemed as though a change would become necessary in her +plans. Ever since starting upon his adventurous cruise, it had been a +favorite scheme with Captain Semmes to make his appearance off this the +very chief of the enemy's ports, and, if not strong enough actually to +threaten the place itself, at all events to make a few captures within +sight of the capital city of the North. It had been, therefore, a +special disappointment to find himself baffled by a continued succession +of hostile winds and contrary currents; and even the brilliant success +that had thus far attended him in the capture of twenty-one vessels and +the destruction of property to very nearly a million of dollars, seemed +hardly to compensate for the failure of his pet project. + +It was fast becoming evident, however, that the scheme for putting in an +appearance off New York must be abandoned, at all events for the +present; and on the 30th October the chief engineer was consulted as to +the amount of coal remaining in the bunkers. The report was unfavorable. +Four days' fuel only was left; and it was clear that even had the vessel +been nearer than she was to her intended cruising ground, this would +have been rather a short supply with which to venture on so dangerous an +experiment. Reluctantly, therefore, the scheme was relinquished, the +fires let down, propeller hoisted up again, and sail made to the +southward and eastward _en route_ for the coal depôt. + +The ship was now out of the track of commerce, and for some time +scarcely a vessel was seen. The 2d November, however, brought a prize in +the shape of the ship Levi Starbuck, five days out from New Bedford, on +a whaling voyage of thirty months to the Pacific Ocean. Like all +whalers, she carried a stronger crew than is common with other vessels +of similar tonnage, and twenty-nine prisoners were transferred from her +to the Alabama. Being bound, too, on so long a cruise, she was well +furnished with all necessaries, and the captor was enabled to supply +himself from her with various articles of which, by this time, and after +the rough weather he had experienced, he had begun to stand somewhat +sorely in need. + +Not the least highly-prized among the spoils of the Levi Starbuck was a +noble collection of cabbages and turnips, fresh from their native soil! +These were, indeed, invaluable. The Alabama had now been upwards of +seventy days at sea, and during nearly the whole of that period her crew +had subsisted entirely on salted provisions. Happily, as yet, no ill +effects had appeared; but the fresh vegetables came most opportunely to +ward off any danger of that scourge of the sailor's existence, scurvy, +to which a longer confinement to salt diet must inevitably have exposed +them. + +Indeed, but for the consciousness of how vitally necessary a change of +diet is to the health of a ship's crew, there would have been something +almost ludicrous in the delight with which the men, who for the last six +months had been almost daily destroying thousands of pounds' worth of +the most valuable property of every description, now hailed the +acquisition of a sack or two of turnips and a few strings of humble +cabbages. But abstinence is a wonderful quickener of apprehension; and +for teaching the true value of the good things of this life, there are +few recipes more effectual than a voyage in the forecastle of a cruising +man-of-war. + +Besides the cabbages and turnips, which were so welcome forward, the +Levi Starbuck contributed not a little to the comfort of the after-part +of the vessel by her contribution of newspapers, which passed eagerly +from hand to hand, through wardroom and steerage, affording a pleasant +change from the worn-out topics of discussion that had now grown +threadbare through the wear-and-tear of many a dull day and stormy +night. The Starbuck's papers brought news from Yankeeland as late as the +28th of October, and not the least important item was that which told of +the excitement occasioned among the enemy by the little craft whose +officers were now jesting merrily over the consternation she had raised, +and the measures that were being taken for her destruction. + +It was certainly not a little amusing to read in the angry columns of +Yankee newspapers, the magnificently-exaggerated accounts of the +depredations of the dreaded Confederate "pirate." It was difficult +sometimes to recognise the events referred to under the gorgeous +embellishments with which they were invested. Occasionally, too, an +exclamation of disgust would be heard from some officer, more excited or +less philosophic than his comrades, as with his head half-buried in some +broad, ill-printed, vilely-smelling sheet, he would declaim from its +columns, for the edification of the mess, paragraph after paragraph of +abuse of the vessel and her officers, and withering denunciations of the +barbarity with which their unfortunate prisoners were treated while on +board. Among those who thus revealed their true nature by abusing and +vilifying the men, who, though enemies, had endeavoured while they had +them in their power to alleviate in every possible way the inevitable +hardships of captivity, the master of the ship Brilliant obtained for +himself an unenviable pre-eminence, by the grossness of the falsehoods +with which he retaliated upon his captors for their mistaken kindness; +and many a vow was registered in the wardroom and gun-room of the +Alabama, that should this gentleman ever again fall into their hands, +they would be wiser than to waste courtesy on one who could so little +appreciate it. + +The Levi Starbuck having been disposed of in the usual manner, sail was +again made upon the Alabama, and on the 5th November, Bermuda, "the +still vexed," was passed, though at too great a distance to sight the +land. + +_Saturday, November 8th._--... In the mid-watch a sail was reported--a +schooner, standing south. Wore ship (1.30 A.M.) and gave chase. Soon +after daylight, the chase being some five miles dead to windward of us, +a ship was discerned standing to the northward and westward. +Discontinued the chase of the schooner, and gave chase to the ship. At +10 A.M., the latter having approached to within a mile of us (we having +United States colours flying), hove her to with a gun, and a change of +flags. Sent a boat, and brought the master on board. She, proved to be +the ship T.B. Wales, of Boston, from Calcutta for Boston. There being no +claim of neutral property among the papers, and the master having no +knowledge on the subject, except that the linseed belonged to the owner +of the ship, condemned both ship and cargo. A large portion of this +cargo was consigned to Baring Brothers, Boston, including 1704 bags of +saltpetre--contraband of war--which would have condemned all the +property of the Barings, even if proof of ownership had been found on +board, which was not the case. + +We are to be embarrassed with two females and some children, the master +having his wife with him, and there being also a passenger and his wife. +I shall bestow them upon the wardroom, having a couple of state rooms +vacated for them. Poor women! They are suffering for the sins of their +wicked countrymen who are waging this murderous war upon us. + + * * * * * + +About nightfall another sail was descried from aloft, and a light was +seen after dark; but we did not get hold of the sail. Just at dark, +having taken all the prisoners on board from the prize, and got her +mainyard on board to replace ours, carried away in, the storm of the +16th ultimo, we set fire to her, and filled away on our course. Nine of +the crew of this ship volunteered, and were shipped as part of our own +crew--an acquisition more valuable than the prize herself. + +_Sunday, November 9th._--... My _ménage_ has become quite home-like +with the presence of women and the merry voices of children. We have had +a quiet Sabbath-day, there being nothing in sight. + + * * * * * + +For some time from this date quiet days preponderated. The Alabama was +now in the region of the trade winds, but it was some time before they +were fairly taken. From the 9th November, in Lat. 27.52 N., Long. 58.24 +W., to the 15th November, in Lat. 21 N., Long. 57.49 W., the wind +continued light and variable, sometimes even for a few hours blowing +directly from the southward. On the 15th November the N.E. trade +appeared to have fairly set in, and from this time fine weather and +favouring breezes became the order of the day. + + * * * * * + +_Sunday, November 16th_.--Beautiful clear weather, with a moderate trade +from about east by south. Woollen clothes becoming uncomfortable. At 11 +A.M. mustered the crew, and inspected the ship. A quiet Sabbath-day, +with nothing in sight. Our ship begins to look quite like a ship of +war--with her battery in fine order, her decks clean, freshly-painted +outside, masts scraped, &c., &c., and the crew well disciplined. Thus +far I have never seen a better disposed or more orderly crew. They have +come very kindly into the traces. + +_Monday, November 17th_.--... Running before the wind, with +studding-sails set on both sides. At 2 P.M. made the island of Dominica, +half a point on the starboard bow. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +_Martinique--News from home--Friendly greetings--Mutiny!--Order +restored--The San Jacinto--Neutrality of the port invaded--Prompt +measures--Expectation--Ready for action--Success--Locking an empty +stable--Temptation--The Clara L. Sparks--Refitting--A court-martial +--Dismissed_. + + +The 18th November saw Captain Semmes again off Martinique, which he had +visited in the Sumter just twelve months before. Making the north end of +the island at about 4 A.M., the propeller was lowered and steam got up, +the day breaking just as the Alabama's screw began to revolve. At 10 +A.M., having run past St. Pierre, she anchored in the harbour of Fort de +France. + +Here she found her faithful consort, the Agrippina, from whom she had +parted at Terceira on the 24th of August. On her departure from that +port, she had returned with all speed to Cardiff, from which she had +again sailed for the rendezvous at Martinique, and was now ready with a +fresh supply of coal for the Alabama, and had been waiting her arrival +just eight days. In addition to the much needed supply of coal, the +Agrippina brought a small mail for the Alabama's officers, who thus +received news from friends at home for the first time for more than +three months. + +No sooner was the anchor down than a lieutenant was sent ashore to pay +the usual visit of ceremony to the Governor, carrying with him a note, +informing his Excellency of the arrival of the Confederate steamer +Alabama in French waters. A few hours brought a courteous reply, +extending to the Alabama the hospitality of the port; and the health +officers having visited the ship, arrangements were made for laying in a +stock of provisions, and such other articles as were required after the +cruise. Nor were the amenities of the Alabama's reception confined to +the authorities alone. An enthusiastic greeting awaited her from almost +every one; the clubs were placed at their disposal, and invitations _à +discretion_ poured in from every side. + +It would, perhaps, have been better for the discipline of the Alabama +had the welcome extended to her crew been somewhat less cordial. Weary +of their long confinement, and bent, as the sailor always seems to be on +first putting into port, on a "good spree," a considerable number of her +men fairly succumbed to the hospitality of the worthy islanders, a +result that was not a little aggravated by the exertions of the +deserter, Forrest. This man appears to have entertained a deliberate +purpose of exciting a mutiny on board of the vessel, and with this +object in view, managed to slip overboard unobserved, swam to a boat, +and returned on board with a quantity of spirits, which he distributed +through the forecastle. The result was a disturbance, which at one time +wore a serious aspect, and which, but for the energy and promptitude of +the means taken to subdue it, might have had very awkward results. + +The Captain of the Alabama, however, was not a man to be intimidated or +taken off his guard. No sooner was the disturbance reported than the +drums beat to quarters, and the sober portion of the crew were at once +directed to seize the rioters. Placed in double irons, and effectually +drenched with buckets of cold water by their laughing comrades, the +unlucky mutineers soon came to their senses, and order was restored. The +ringleader, Forrest, was then triced up in the mizen-rigging, "two hours +on and two off," to await the punishment of his crimes. + +The next day brought a fresh vision of the Stars and Stripes, but this +time from the mizen-peak of a heavily-armed steamer, which appeared +early in the morning, standing in towards the harbour. The Alabama was +at once cleared for action, and, as a precautionary measure, her funds +were despatched on shore for deposit in the event of the engagement +which appeared likely to ensue. This, however, was not to be. The +merchants, thinking evidently that Captain Semmes was in their power, +and must pay their price for taking charge of his treasure, refused to +have anything to do with it at a lower rate than five per cent. To this +the officer in charge would not agree, and the money was again carried +on board. Fortunately, as it turned out, for when the true character of +the stranger came to be ascertained, he proved to be the United States +steamer San Jacinto, of fourteen guns--viz., twelve 68 pounders, and two +eleven-inch shell-guns, and therefore much too heavy for the Alabama to +venture on an attack. This point was but just settled when the merchants +appeared alongside with an abatement in their charges for taking care of +the Confederate treasure; but the chance was gone, and they were +compelled to return as empty-handed as they had come. + +Meanwhile, the authorities ashore had been bestirring themselves to +prevent any violation of the neutrality of their port. A boat was +despatched to the San Jacinto with orders either to come to an anchor, +in which case she must remain in the harbour full twenty-four hours +after the departure of the Alabama, or else to proceed again to sea, and +cruise beyond the limits of the maritime league from the harbour. The +latter alternative being preferred by the United States Captain, the San +Jacinto put her helm aport, and came slowly round, returning to the +prescribed distance from the shore, where she proceeded to steam slowly +backwards and forwards, in the hope of intercepting her little enemy, +should the latter venture to leave her anchorage. + +Pending this submission on the part of the United States cruiser to the +orders of the Governor, the French gunboat Fata received instructions to +get up steam, and shifting her berth, took up her position close +alongside of the Alabama, fully prepared to offer her own contribution +to any controversy that might arise between the two rival vessels. Her +Captain and officers were very friendly, offering every assistance, and +pointing out on the chart the best means of eluding the enemy, the +superiority of whose size and weight put an end to all idea of a +deliberate attack, though there were still some among the crew of the +Alabama who could not relinquish the hope that in making their way out +of the harbour an engagement might be forced upon them. + +All the vigilance of the authorities, however, though extending to the +prohibition of any intercourse whatever between the San Jacinto and the +shore, was unable to prevent the Yankee from establishing a code of +signals by which he might at once be put in possession of any movement +on the part of the Confederate steamer, which he now, no doubt, fully +looked on as his prize. Two of his boats were, as was afterwards +discovered, on the look-out during the night, and an understanding had +been come to with the master of the Yankee vessel lying in the harbour +to signal the Alabama's departure. + +By dusk, Captain Semmes' preparations were completed; the funds, which +the Martinique merchants had allowed to slip through their +too-widely-opened fingers, were safely despatched on their way to +Liverpool; the necessary supplies were on board; and, with decks cleared +for action, all lights carefully extinguished, and all hands at +quarters, the Alabama stole quietly from her anchorage, and steamed +cautiously across the harbour on her way to the open sea. + +It was a period of intense anxiety as the Alabama slipped silently +through the tranquil water of the harbour, each moment bringing her +nearer to the powerful enemy, who, when dusk had shut him from their +view, had been planted in the very centre of the entrance, eagerly +looking out for the expected prize. Presently it was found that her +movements were, at all events, known to the spies of the enemy, and a +succession of signals from the Yankee vessel they had left at anchor +were evidently intended to warn the San Jacinto of the attempted escape. +Momentarily now was expected the flash of the enemy's gun, and the +hoarse roar of his shot, and each crew stood by its loaded gun ready +with a prompt reply. Not a word was uttered on the crowded deck, and so +deep was the silence, that the low throbbing of the Alabama's propeller, +as it revolved slowly in the water, seemed to strike on the ear with a +noise like thunder. But the minutes passed by and the expected broadside +never came. The straining eyes of the look-outs could see no sign of the +San Jacinto. Either she had misunderstood the signals of her accomplice +on shore, or by some strange fatality they had altogether escaped her; +and the Alabama held on her course unmolested, until, at twenty minutes +past eight, less than an hour after the start, she was considered fairly +out of danger of interception. + +The guns were now run in and secured, the word passed to the engineers +to fire up and give her a full head of steam; the men were piped below, +and the Alabama, throwing off the silence in which for the last hour she +had been wrapped fore and aft, darted off merrily over the rippling +waves, in the direction of the island of Blanquilla, at the rate of +fourteen knots an hour. It subsequently transpired that, notwithstanding +all her vigilance and all her pre-arranged signals, the San Jacinto had +been totally unaware of the escape of her agile foe, and actually +remained for four days and four nights carefully keeping guard over the +stable from which the steed had cleverly stolen away. + +The morning of the 21st of November found the Alabama off the Hermanas, +and by 1.30 PM. she was in sight of the island of Blanquilla, the +appointed rendezvous of the Agrippina, who had already, about nine +o'clock that morning, been descried on the port bow making all speed +towards her destined anchorage. Here both vessels arrived in the course +of the afternoon; the Alabama, which was a far swifter sailer than her +merchant tender, being the first to drop anchor, and the Agrippina +following her in. + +As the two vessels neared the shore, a schooner was discovered at anchor +in the little bay, and on the approach of the strangers she hoisted the +Stars and Stripes. On being overhauled by a boat, despatched for that +purpose from the Alabama, she proved to be the United States whaling +schooner, Clara L. Sparks, of Provincetown; and great was the grief and +astonishment of the unlucky master when the white flag of the +Confederacy was discovered floating at the new comer's peak. + +The temptation was great to seize her, and devote her to the flames, but +Captain Semmes was anxious for nothing so much as to avoid all possible +ground of complaint with regard to any infringement of neutrality. It +happened, fortunately for the Clara Sparks, that a few herdsmen from +Venezuela were supporting a miserable existence in the barren island off +which she was anchored, and to make prize of the vessel under these +circumstances, might possibly be construed into a breach of neutral +privilege. In the end, therefore, it was determined not to molest the +whaler; and her master was informed, much to his relief and delight, +that so soon as the Alabama's arrangements were completed, he would be +free to continue his course. Meanwhile, however, it was peremptorily +necessary that he should not be permitted to escape, and reward the +forbearance of his captors by giving her enemy information as to her +whereabout. Orders were therefore given that the master and mate of the +schooner should repair every evening on board the cruiser, remaining +with her till the morning, when they were permitted to return on board, +and resume their avocations. + +At 8 A.M. of Saturday, the 27th November, the operation of coaling +commenced, the men working in groups, which were relieved every two +hours, and by nightfall about seventy tons had been got on board. The +wind was fresh enough to raise a slight sea, causing the two vessels to +chafe considerably as they lay closely locked together for the purpose +of transhipping the coal. But notwithstanding the breeze, the day was so +hot as to deter Captain Semmes from visiting the shore, despite the +inevitable longing, after a confinement on board of more than three +months, to find the foot once more planted on solid ground. Some of the +other officers, however, explored the island, which they found a barren +place enough; the three herdsmen, who constitute the entire population +of the country, maintaining themselves after a fashion, by rearing a few +goats. They must, indeed, lead a life of privation, the island producing +scarcely anything; and even the water supply being extremely scanty, and +so brackish as to be hardly fit for human use. + +Although to-day is the Sabbath--writes Captain Semmes, in his journal of +the following day--I did not consider it any violation of Christian duty +to continue coaling, as we are liable to be surprised at any moment, and +to have our purpose defeated. + +So, too, thought the Alabama's crew, who worked cheerfully on throughout +the day, completing their task by half-past eleven on the Monday +morning. The Alabama had now on board about 285 tons, nearly 200 tons +having been received from the Agrippina. Estimating her consumption at +sixteen tons a day, which would give a moderate rate of steaming, she +had, therefore, in her bunkers fuel for about eighteen days. + +This important matter arranged, the next thing to be done was to send +down the mainyard, which had been carried away in the cyclone, and +roughly fished together, and to supply its place with the second new +spar taken from the ship T.B. Wales. This occupied the greater portion +of the 25th, and Captain Semmes then proceeded to "break out" the hold, +for the purpose of taking stock of his provisions, no opportunity having +yet offered, since the hurried shipment of stores off Terceira, to +ascertain the precise amount in hand of salted provisions, and other +necessaries. Batches of liberty-men were also sent on shore to recruit +themselves with a run upon _terra firma_--an amusement in which such of +the officers as could be spared were but too glad to join. + +Wednesday, the 26th November, saw all these arrangements completed, and +the last batch of liberty-men safely on board again after their run. The +Alabama was now ready for a fresh cruise, but before taking leave of +Blanquilla, there was an act of justice to be done. Accordingly, that +afternoon a court-martial was summoned for the trial of George Forrest, +the seaman who had originally deserted from the Sumter, and who, on his +recapture, had been sentenced to serve out his time, forfeiting all pay, +prize-money, &c. His present offence was that of endeavouring to incite +the crew to mutiny, and of procuring with that object the liquor with +which the rioters of the 18th November had been made intoxicated. + +The case was clearly proved, and after some consultation judgment was +passed, sentencing him to lose all prize-money, and to be dismissed the +ship in disgrace. At a quarter past seven in the evening, all hands were +mustered aft to hear the sentence read; and after a short but effective +address from Captain Semmes, the prisoner was informed that he was now +dismissed the Confederate service with the stain of infamy upon him, and +bundled over the side into the boat that was to convey him to the shore. + + + +This ceremony over, and the ship rid of the incorrigible scoundrel who +had so long disgraced her, the men were dismissed, and preparations made +for the Alabama's departure. She had been already preceded by the +Agrippina, three of whose hands had volunteered in exchange for three +from the steamer, and on the return of the boat no time was lost in +getting her under way. The captain and mate of the Yankee schooner were +released, and the Alabama stood out to sea under easy sail. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +_At sea again--Moulded into shape--House-cleaning--Rates of pay--A +timely capture--The Parker Cook--A fix--A good night's rest--Sangfroid +--Amid jessamine bowers--Looking out for a rich prize--The Mina--"In +consequence of the Alabama."_ + + +The Alabama was now on the look-out for a Californian steamer, and it +was quite possible that in so doing she might run into a fight. However, +should that be the case, there would be no disposition to shirk it. The +vessel was already three months in commission; and though some of her +crew had no doubt been originally a rough lot--the boys especially +picked up in the streets of Liverpool, being designated by Captain +Semmes as most incorrigible young rascals--three months of steady, +strong-handed discipline had done wonders in reducing these rough +elements to order, and making out of a set of merchant sailors, gathered +here and there at random by the prospect of high pay and stirring +adventure, as orderly and well-trained a crew as could be found on board +many a man-of-war of twice her length of service. + +All hands, then, were ready and eager for a brush with the enemy. It was +necessary, of course, that the relative strength of the two ships should +not be too disproportionate; but the approach of an United States ship +of anything like their own force would have been hailed with delight by +all on board. + +Considerable excitement was occasioned when, on the second day after +leaving Blanquilla, a prospect of an encounter seemed to present itself. +It was still early morning when a sail was reported on the lee bow, and +soon the stranger was made out to be a large side-wheel steamer, +barque-rigged, and standing towards the Alabama. She was of considerably +superior size, but it was determined at least to see what she was made +of; and the Alabama was luffed to the wind, while preparations were made +for lowering her propeller and getting her under steam. It was soon +perceived, however, that the stranger was keeping quietly on her course, +without paying the slightest attention to these manoeuvres; and as it +was pretty certain that no enemy's ship, so greatly superior in size, +would lose so tempting an opportunity, it was at once clear that she +must needs be a neutral, probably some French war-steamer bound for +Martinique. So the propeller was left where it was, and the Alabama +slipt away again upon her course. + +At nine o'clock the same morning, the coast of Porto Rico was in sight, +and a few hours afterwards the Alabama entered the Mona Passage, +shortening sail as she did so to permit a barque to run up with her for +the purpose of ascertaining her nationality. The barque, which proved to +be English, dipped her ensign as she passed to the Stars and Stripes +which were flying from the peak of the Alabama; but the compliment not +being really intended for the Confederate vessel, but for her enemies, +was, of course, not returned. + +The Mona Passage being the regular track of United States commerce, it +was looked upon as almost a certainty that at least one cruiser would be +stationed for its protection. A bright look-out, therefore, was kept, +and hopes again ran high of a speedy brush with the Yankees. Nothing, +however, appeared; and the attention of the Alabama was for the most +part devoted throughout the day to strictly domestic affairs. + +To-day--says Captain Semmes, in his journal--has been a great +"house-cleaning" day with the first lieutenant, who, regardless of Mona +Passages, strange sails, &c., is busy with his holy-stones and sand. * * +* + +Gave an order to the paymaster to-day, authorising him to pay the +increased rates agreed upon with the crew off Terceira, viz. + + £ s. Dollars. +Master-at-arms per month 6 0 -- 29.04 +Yeoman " 6 0 -- 29.04 +Ship's steward " 6 0 -- 29.04 +Ship's corporal " 6 0 -- 26.62 +Armorer " 6 0 -- 29.04 + + £ s. Dollars. +Ship's cook per month 5 10 -- 26.62 +Chief boatswain's mate " 6 0 -- 29.04 +Second ditto " 5 10 -- 26.62 +Gunner's mate " 6 0 -- 29.04 +Carpenter's mate " 6 0 -- 29.04 +Sailmaker's mate " 5 10 -- 26.62 +Quartermaster " 5 10 -- 26.62 +Quarter gunners " 5 10 -- 26.62 +Cockswains " 5 10 -- 26.62 +Capt. of forecastle " 5 10 -- 26.62 +Capt. of top " 5 0 -- 24.20 +Capt. of aftguard " 5 0 -- 24.20 +Capt. of hold " 5 0 -- 24.20 +Cabin steward " 5 0 -- 24.20 +Ward-room steward " 5 0 -- 24.20 +Seamen " 4 10 -- 21.78 +O. seamen " 4 0 -- 19.36 +Landsmen " 3 10 -- 14.94 +Boys " 2 0 -- 9.68 +Firemen " 7 0 -- 33.38 +Trimmers " 5 0 -- 24.20 + +_Sunday, November 30th._--Mustered and inspected the crew. +At 9 A.M., sent a boat on board of a Spanish schooner twenty +days from Boston, bound to the port of San Domingo. Received +some newspapers by her as late as to the 13th inst. Soon afterwards +another sail was discovered to leeward, beating up the coast. +Ran down for her, and when within proper distance hoisted United +States colours. The stranger responded with the same; whereupon, +in accordance with our usual practice, we hoisted our own +colours and fired a blank cartridge. This hove her to, when we +sent a boat on board of her. She proved to be the barque Parker +Cook, of and from Boston, bound to Cayes. This was a very +timely capture, as we were running very short of provisions, and +the prize was provision-laden. Got on board from her a quantity +of pork, cheese, crackers, &c.; and at 10 P.M. illuminated the +shores of San Domingo with a flambeau furnished by wicked men +who would gladly see another San Domingo revolution in our +unhappy country. + +In the afternoon the weather became angry, and the wind blew +fresh, raising a considerable sea. As we were in the bight of Samana, +I felt a little uneasy about drifting too near the shore. +These are some of the anxieties of a commander that his officers +scarcely ever know anything about. Our prize was burned off +Cape Raphael. I did not turn in until near midnight; was called +two hours afterwards, upon having run a prescribed distance; +turned in again, and had just fallen comfortably asleep, when the +officer of the deck came down in great haste to inform me that a +large ship was standing down directly for us. We were hove to, +and as the moon had gone down, and the night was dark, I knew +she must be close aboard of us. I immediately ordered the maintopsail +to be filled, and hurrying on a few clothes, sprang on deck. +At a glance I saw that the danger was passed, as the intruder was +abaft the beam, running to leeward. Wore round and followed him. + +_Monday, December 1st._--A stiff trade, with squall clouds. A +whirlwind passed near us. We had just time to take in the port +studding sails, which had been set in chase of the unwelcome disturber +of my rest last night. The chase proved to be a Spanish +hermaphrodite brig. * * * * Land in sight on the port +beam, and at noon the cape just ahead. + +_Tuesday, December 2nd._ * * * * Running down the land. +Off the Grange at noon. Last night, at ten o'clock, a sail was reported +on the port quarter, nearly astern, running down before the +wind like ourselves. Having lights up, and looming up large, I +called all hands to quarters and cleared the ship for action, pivoting +on the port side, and loading the guns. As the stranger +ranged up nearly abeam of us, distant about eight hundred yards, +we discovered him to be a heavy steamer, under steam, and with +all studding sails set on both sides. Here was a fix! We had no +steam ourselves, and our propeller was triced up! + +A few minutes, however, decided our suspense. From the quiet +movement of the steamer on her course, without shortening sail, or +otherwise, so far as we could see, making preparation for battle, it +was quite evident that he was not an enemy. He was a ship of +war--probably a Spaniard, bound from San Domingo to Cuba. +My first intention was to range up alongside and speak him, and +for this purpose I set the foresail and topgallant sails. But we +were soon left far astern, and the stranger was out of sight long +before we could have got up steam and lowered the propeller in +chase. + +About 3 P.M. made the island of Tortuga. A sail reported on +the starboard bow, standing across our bows on the _port_ tack. +Through the stupidity of the look-outs the next thing we knew +was that she was off on the starboard quarter, and to windward +of us, she having been on the _starboard_ tack all the while! I +turned in to-night, hoping to get some rest, as I had been up the +greater part of last night. But after undressing, and before getting +into my cot (10 P.M.), the officer of the deck came below in a +great hurry to say there was a large vessel running down on us--we +were hove to--which appeared to be a steamer. Immediately +ordered the officer to fill away; went on deck, and at a glance +perceived that the sail was a brig running clear of us, and some +distance astern. + +Went below again, and this time succeeded in actually getting +into bed, when I was again aroused by the announcement that a +vessel, with very white canvas, was running down upon us, a little +forward of our weather beam. Went on deck, filled away again, +and ran on under easy sail to assist the stranger's approach. The +night squally, with showers of rain, and the wind fresh. At 1.30 +A.M. the stranger approached, and we spoke him. He was a small +schooner--white, as almost all the West Indian schooners are--Spanish, +&c. Turned in at two o'clock, and at daybreak down came intelligence +again that there were two sail in sight, and at 7 A.M., one of them +being within signal distance, I had again to turn out. This night will +serve as a specimen of a great many spent by me in my cruises. + +_Wednesday, December 3rd._--We are cruising to-day, with the +weather very fine and clear, in the passage between San Domingo +and Cuba. Caused two neutral vessels to show their colours, and +at noon squared away for the east end of Cuba. Where can all +the enemy's cruisers be, that the important passages we have lately +passed through are all left unguarded? They are off, I suppose, in +chase of the Alabama! + +At 10 P.M. a barque, having come quite near us in the bright +moonlight, we fired a blank cartridge to heave him to, and wore +ship. As he disregarded our signal, I directed a round shot to be +fired at him above his hull. This had the desired effect, our shot +passing--as we learned from him afterwards--between his fore-stay +and foremast. He proved to be the French barque, Feu Sacré, +from Port au Prince to Falmouth.[9] When asked why he did +not heave to at the first shot, he replied that he was a Frenchman, +and was not at war with anybody! * * * At midnight made the light on +Cape Maise. + +[Footnote 9: From the boarding officer's memoranda it appears that +the master of this vessel protested vehemently against being annoyed +by United States vessels--the Alabama passing in this case as the U.S. +ship Wyoming.] + +_Thursday, December 4th._--* * * * Standing off and on +Cape Maise, waiting for our Californian friend, who should have +left Aspinwall on the 1st, and should pass this point to-day or to-night. +Fires banked, so as to give us steam at a short notice. Several +sail passing during the day. Exercised the crew at the battery +at sunset. A beautiful bright night, with the wind somewhat too +fresh from the N.E. Lying to off Cape Maise. Everybody on the +tiptoe of excitement, and a good many volunteer look-outs. As for +myself, having put the ship in the right position, I turned in at 10 +P.M., giving orders not to call me for a sail-ship, and got a good +night's rest, of which I stood very much in need. + +_Friday, December 5th._--A very fine morning, with highly-transparent +atmosphere. The west side of Haiti visible, though distant +ninety miles. On this fine balmy morning I enjoyed exceedingly +the cheerful notes of our canary. This is a little prisoner made on +board one of the whalers; and sometimes at early morning I fancy +myself amid "jessamine bowers," inhaling the fragrance of flowers +and listening to the notes of the wild songsters so common in our +dear Southern land. May God speedily clear it of the wicked, +fanatical hordes that are now desolating it under pretence of liberty +and free government! + +If the Californian steamers still take this route, the steamer of +the 1st must have been delayed, otherwise she should have passed +us last night. Several sail in sight, but I cannot yet leave my station +to overhaul them, lest my principal object should be defeated. +At noon, a schooner would insist on stumbling right into my path, +without the necessity of a chase. I brought her to, and she proved +to be United States property. She was the Mina, of and from +Baltimore, for Port Maria, on the north side of Jamaica. Her +cargo being English, I released her on a ransom bond for 15,000 +dollars. She was of ninety tons, and thirteen years old. Kept her +by me until sunset, and then permitted her to depart, having +sent on board her the prisoners from the barque Parker Cook. + +Our hopes of capturing a Californian steamer were considerably +damped by the intelligence given us by the mate of this schooner, +that these steamers no longer ran this route, but that the outward +bound took the Mona Passage (?), and the homeward bound the +Florida gulf passage. Still, I will wait a day or two longer to +make sure that I have not been deceived. + +_Saturday, December 6th._--... At 9 A.M. hoisted +the propeller, and made sail to the northward and eastward. The +outward-bound Californian steamer is due off the Cape to-day, if +she takes this route at all; I will therefore keep the Cape in sight +all day. I glean the following paragraph from a New York letter, +published in a file of the _Baltimore Sun, _received from the +schooner Mina:-- + +"The shipments of grain from this port during the past week +have been almost entirely in foreign bottoms, the American flag +being for the moment in disfavour in consequence of the raid of +the rebel steamer Alabama!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +_The Alabamans lucky day--A trial of speed--Brought to--The Ariel--Buying +an elephant--Prisoners of war--Prize-money--Still on the look-out +--Broken down--A dilemma--Yellow fever--Release of the Ariel +--Under repair_. + + +Sunday again! The Alabama's lucky day; and this time, at +least, destined to be especially marked with white chalk in the +annals of the ship. The morning passed calmly enough; the ship +in her quiet Sabbath trim; and nothing giving token of what was +about to follow, save here and there a group anxiously scanning +the horizon, or eagerly discussing the chances of a rich capture +before nightfall. + +The forenoon wore slowly away, and five bells had just sounded, +when the cry of "Sail, ho!" from the masthead put every one on +the _qui vive, _the excitement growing rapidly more and more intense +as bit by bit the description of the stranger became more +accurate and minute. She is a steamer--and a large one! That +sounded well, and the hopes of the sanguine rose higher and +higher. Brigantine rigged--and a side-wheel steamer!--so far so +good. This answers exactly to the description of the Californian +steamers. A few minutes will decide it now; the Alabama's +canvas has some time since been snugly furled, the fires spread and +well supplied with fresh fuel, the propeller lowered, and the ship's +head turned in a direction to intercept the approaching vessel. +Rapidly the chase looms larger and larger, as the two swift steamers +approach each other at almost top speed. And now the huge +walking-beam can be plainly distinguished, see-sawing up and +down between the lofty paddle-boxes, and the decks appear crowded +with hundreds of passengers, conspicuous among whom are to +be seen the gay dresses of numerous ladies; and--yes, surely that +is the glimmer of bayonets, and that military-looking array drawn +up on the hurricane-deck is a strong detachment of United States +marines! + +Swiftly, and in grim silence, the Alabama approached her huge +but defenceless prey. From her open ports grinned the black +muzzles of her six 32 pounders, each with its crew standing round, +eager for the word. High above them towered the huge, black +pivot-gun, while from the mizzen-peak floated the delusive Stars +and Stripes, the sight of which was to tempt the stranger into a +confession of his own nationality. + +The _ruse_ was, as usual, successful, and as the two vessels crossed, +the Alabama passing a short distance astern of the stranger, the +latter also hoisted United States colours, and expectation gave way +to certainty among the delighted crew of the Confederate steamer. +Down came the Yankee colours from her gaff, and in its stead the +white ensign of the Confederacy fluttered gaily in the breeze, +while a blank shot from the Alabama's lee bow-chaser summoned +the chase to surrender. Surrendering, however, seemed to be the +last thing in the chase's thoughts. Already she was ahead of the +Confederate cruiser, and trusting to her own well-known speed, +appeared determined to make at least one effort to escape. She +held steadily on her course, at top speed, without noticing the +pursuer's summons; the black smoke that poured in volumes from +her funnel, showing no less plainly than the rapid revolutions of +her paddles the strenuous exertions she was making to escape. + +This state of things, however, could not last long. For a few +minutes the chase was permitted to try her speed against that of +her pursuer; but the latter soon found that with the highest pressure +of steam she had been able to raise during the short period +that had elapsed since the enemy first hove in sight, she was by no +means overhauling the chase as rapidly as could be desired. So +the friendly warning having been disregarded, the adoption of +more peremptory measures was decided on, and a shotted gun was +ordered to be fired over her. + +Boom! went the Alabama's bow-chaser, as she yawed for a +moment to permit the gunner to take aim--and boom! at almost +the same instant went one of her broadside guns, the enthusiastic +captain of which could not contain himself until the order to fire +was given, but must needs bring down upon himself a reprimand +from the authorities of the quarter-deck for his precipitation. +Fortunately, however, this irregular shot did no harm--not improbably, +perhaps, from the very fact of its having been launched +so totally without consideration. The first, however, did its +errand most effectively, and the shower of white splinters that flew +from the chase's foremast as the shell, after grazing the funnel, +struck full against it, afforded most satisfactory evidence of the +accuracy of the line. Happily, the shell contented itself with cutting +the foremast very nearly in two, and did not explode until it +had passed safely overboard, otherwise the havoc created by it on +the crowded deck of the steamer must have been fearful. + +The hint, however, was sufficient. The paddles of the chase +ceased to revolve, the huge walking-beam remained poised in midair, +and the steamer rounding to, submitted herself to her captors. +A boat was now lowered and, sent on board of the prize, which +proved to be, as anticipated, the mail steamer Ariel, from New +York to Aspinwall, having on board one hundred and forty marines +on their way to join the enemy's Pacific squadron; several +military and naval officers, among the latter of whom was Commander +Sartori, on his way to take command of the St. Mary's; and about five +hundred other passengers, a large proportion of whom were women and children. + +The Alabama had "bought an elephant," and now the question +arose--what was to be done with her valuable but most unwieldy +acquisition? The first step, of course, was to send a prize +crew on board. The second to transfer to the Alabama sundry +important matters, such as the ship's papers, three large boxes of +specie, a 24 pounder rifled gun, 125 new rifles, 16 swords, and +about 1,000 rounds of ammunition. The marines and officers +were then put on parole, the former being disarmed, and all +pledged not to fight again against the Confederate States until +they should be regularly exchanged. + +But this done, Captain Semmes' task was not half accomplished. +There was still the ship herself to be disposed of, and with her the +remaining five hundred and odd passengers, including among their +number a large proportion of women and children. What was to +be done? It was clear he could not fire the ship until all these +were safely out of her. It was at least equally clear that, squeeze +and contrive how he would, he could not possibly transfer such a +host of prisoners to his own already sufficiently crowded decks. +His only choice, then, was either to release the captured vessel at +once, upon a ransom bond, or to keep her by him for a time in +the hope that something might turn up to obviate the necessity of +so unsatisfactory a step. Captain Semmes decided upon the latter +course, and detaining the captain of the Ariel on board his own +ship, sent a prize crew to take charge of the Ariel, with orders to +keep company with the Alabama through the night. + +This done, the Alabama returned under easy sail to her station +off the Cape, still anxiously looking out for the homeward-bound +steamer, which would of course prove a very far richer prize than +the one home-bound vessel he had captured. The following afternoon +the precaution was taken of disabling the captured vessel, +by removing from her engines the "bonnet of the steam chest +and a steam valve," which were sent into safe custody on board +the Alabama; care being also taken to prevent the Ariel from +availing herself of her sails as a means of escape should-the +Alabama have to start off in pursuit of her homeward-bound +consort. + +No homeward-bound steamer, however, appeared, and it was +now determined to convey the Ariel into Kingston, Jamaica, +where it was proposed to land the passengers, and after providing +the Alabama, from the prize, with coal, provisions, and other +matters of which she stood in need, to take her out again to sea +and burn her. With this view the portions of the machinery +which had been removed during the night were restored to their +places, and the two vessels made sail towards Jamaica, on or about +the line which it was supposed would be taken by the Californian +steamer. + +The next morning was fine, and, with the prize in company, the +island of Navaza was made at about 9.30 A.M., on the port bow; +and five hours afterwards the two steamers were in sight of the +east end of Jamaica. By half-past seven that evening, the Alabama +was within about nine miles of Point Morant Light, and checked her +speed to enable the prize to come up with her. + +And now a catastrophe occurred which, but for the most careful +and excellent management, might have had most serious results. +At about eight o'clock in the evening chase was given to +an hermaphrodite brig, on coming up with which a blank cartridge +was fired, and a boat despatched to board her and examine her +papers. At this moment, up came the engineer to report that the +engine had suddenly become entirely useless from the giving way +of some of the valve castings, and that twenty-four hours, at least, +would be required before the damage could be repaired. At this +untoward intelligence, the captain's first thought was of the chase, +and, casting a rapid glance in that direction, to his equal amazement +and disgust, he perceived that she had not obeyed the signal +to heave to, but was still standing quietly upon her course! + +Here was, indeed, a pleasant predicament. Not a step could +he stir in pursuit, nor did he dare fire a shot after the departing +vessel, for fear, in the darkness of the night, of sending to the +bottom his own boat, which was now in full pursuit of her. +What if the boat should be led away too far in the ardour of the +chase, and of course taking for granted that as soon as the brigantine's +contumacy was discovered, the Alabama herself would at +once be after her? What, too, if the Ariel should get scent of +her captor's predicament, and take this favourable opportunity of +showing her a clean pair of heels, carrying off the unlucky prize +crew as a running horse might carry off the unskilful rider who +had imprudently bestridden it? + +The moment was an anxious one, and great was the relief to +the minds of all who were in the secret, when the welcome sound +of oars working regularly backwards and forwards in their rowlocks +was again heard, and the boat returned, having managed to +overhaul the stranger; the wind having fortunately fallen too +light for her to escape. + +The chase proved to hail from one of the German States, and +was just out of Kingston. According to her statement, this latter +port was now suffering from a severe visitation of yellow-fever. +This intelligence caused an entire change in the Alabama's plans. +It had been Captain Semmes' intention to run into Kingston, and +endeavour, at all events, to obtain permission to discharge his +numerous prisoners; this being, apparently, the only way in +which he could hope to disencumber himself of them, except by +releasing the ship at the same time. To turn some seven hundred +prisoners, however, many of them delicate women and children, +adrift in a place known to be suffering from the fearful scourge of +yellow-fever, would have been an act of inhumanity of which the +Confederate captain was quite incapable. Sorely to his disappointment, +therefore, he felt himself compelled to abandon the Kingston +scheme, and forego the pleasure of making a bonfire of the +splendid steamer that had fallen into his hands. It is an ill wind +that blows nobody any good, and to the yellow-fever were the passengers +by the Ariel indebted for an uninterrupted voyage, and her +owners for the preservation of their valuable vessel. + +The question once decided in favour of the Ariel's release, it was, +of course, under existing circumstances, an object of no small importance +to get the matter concluded as speedily as possible. Had +she only known her captor's crippled condition she would have +had nothing to do but just to have steamed quietly away, taking +the prize-crew with her as compensation for the inconvenience to +which she had been put by her detention. And any moment +might reveal the all-important secret; so without delay, a boat +was again sent on board for the master, who was evidently not +a little relieved on being told that the vessel was to be released. + +Some little discussion now arose as to the amount of ransom to +be exacted, but both parties were equally, though not as openly, +anxious to conclude the transaction; and the amount was finally +fixed at 261,000 dollars--a handsome sum, indeed, but one by +no means exorbitant, when the value of the vessel to be ransomed +is taken into consideration. + +The bond duly signed, and safely deposited among the other +securities of the kind, Captain Semmes breathed more freely, and a +feeling of satisfaction at having steered safely through a situation +of such difficulty, offered some slight compensation for the disappointment +arising from the enforced release of the prize. The two vessels now parted +company; all parties, both civil, naval, and military, on board of the +Ariel, uniting their testimony in eulogy of the quiet, orderly, and +respectful conduct of their unwelcome guests. So with mutual amenities +the two courteous enemies parted, the Ariel steering a course to the S.S.W., +the Alabama still hard at work in the repairs of her machinery, standing off +and on within easy distance of the Jamaica coast, and keeping as far +as possible from the track of vessels until the untoward disaster +should be repaired. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +_Again ready--Gloomy weather--A Norther--The Arcas--The +second Christmas at sea--The war--Plymouth rock leaven--On +the lonely island--"Splicing the main-brace"--Searching for shells--Tired +of hard service--In irons--Well disciplined--A phenomenon--The +new year--In memoriam--To sea again_. + + +The exciting episode of the Ariel was followed by a period altogether +devoid of incident, though by no means destitute either +of interest or anxiety for those on board the Alabama. From +daybreak to dusk the click of the hammer, and the shrill screaming +of the file, arose incessantly from the engine room, as the +engineer and his staff laboured without a pause to repair the +damage to the machinery. The task proved even longer than +had been anticipated, and it was not until the afternoon of the +third day that the mischief had been finally remedied, and the +Alabama was pronounced in a condition to resume with safety her +destructive career. + +Meanwhile, a brighter look-out than ever was kept from her mastheads. +There was still a possibility--though but a slight one--of +falling in with the homeward-bound Californian, for which they +had been waiting so long and so anxiously; whilst it was more +than ever necessary to care against surprise from any of the +enemy's cruisers, who might fairly be expected to be in considerable +force somewhere in the neighbourhood. + +The northern shores of Jamaica, however, off which the Alabama +was now lying, standing along the coast, under easy sail +during the day, and at night laying her maintopsail to the mast, +appeared to be but little frequented by vessels of any kind, and +the cruiser was permitted to carry on her repairs without a single +interruption in the way of either a chase, or a call to quarters. +And it was perhaps as well that such an interval of rest should +have been afforded after the severe strain of the previous few +days. For Captain Semmes, at all events, it was a great boon, +for on that officer's never very robust constitution, the continued +anxiety and constant night-calls on deck, in wind and rain, had +had a very serious effect, and he was fairly laid up with cold and +fever. + +The evening of Friday, December the 12th, saw the repairs of +the machinery of the vessel completed, the Alabama being at, +nightfall about opposite to the little town of St. Anne's. That +evening the crew were exercised at quarters; and the next day, +after a thorough cleaning of the decks, &c., the vessel ran away +to the westward of the Island of Jamaica, _en route_ for another +point of rendezvous, at which to take in fresh coal, and other +needful supplies. + + * * * * * + +_Saturday, December 13th._--... Nothing in sight, and +I intend to see nothing--unless it be a homeward-bound Californian +steamer--at present, as it is important I should make the +run I contemplate without being traced. I should have much +liked to touch at the Caymans for fruit and vegetables for the +crew, but forbear on this account. + + * * * * * + +_Monday, December 15th.--_Fresh trade, ship rolling along under +topsails. This running down, down, the ever-constant trade +wind--to run _up_ against it, by and by, under steam--is not very +pleasant. Still, God willing, I hope to strike a blow of some importance, +and make my way safely out of the Gulf. + +_Wednesday, December 17th._--The wind blew quite fresh during +the night from about N.E. by N. To-day it is blowing a moderate +gale from about N.N.E. This is probably a _norther_ from the +American coast, modified by its contact with the N.E. trade wind. +The clouds look hard and wintry. Close-reefed at nightfall.... +The gale has continued all day, with a rough sea, in +which the ship is rolling and tumbling about. Weather cloudy +and gloomy-looking, and the wind moaning and whistling through +the rigging--enough to give one the blues. These are some of +the comforts of sea-going, and we have had our share of them in +the Alabama. + +_Thursday, December 18th._--The gale continues, with dense +clouds in every direction obscuring the heavens so that we get no +meridian altitude. I got a glimpse of the sun at about nine minutes +past noon. When one's ship is in a doubtful position, how +eagerly and nervously one watches the shifting clouds near noon, +and how remorsely they sometimes close up their dense masses +just at the critical moment, shutting out from us the narrowly-watched +face of the sun! One is foolish enough sometimes almost +to feel a momentary resentment against inanimate nature--weak +mortals that we are! + +The gale has drifted us so far to leeward that the wind from its +present quarter will no longer permit us to "lay through" the +Yucatan passage, so at 2 P.M. we tacked to the southward and +eastward. Weather still thick in the afternoon, with light rain at +intervals. We had a very ugly sea lashing us this morning--the +ship rolling so heavily as to awaken me frequently, though I sleep +in a swinging cot; and the water swashing over the decks, and +rushing by bucketsful down the companion-way, which we are +obliged to keep open to avoid being smothered. + +_Friday, December 19th._--The gale continues with the tenacity +of a norther, this being the third day. This is but a foretaste of +the weather we may expect in the Gulf of Mexico. Being now in +the Gulf of Honduras, there is but a small strip of land between us +and it. + +_Saturday, December 20th._--As ugly a day as one often sees, +with a great variety of wind and weather. In the morning the +wind was fresh from the N.E., with flying clouds, and a bright +sun, now and then obscured. At about 9 A.M. a cloud bank in +the north began to rise, and by 11.30 we had a densely overcast +sky, with heavy rain-squalls. I was running for Cape Catoche, +and was greatly disappointed at not getting a meridian altitude, +especially after the promise of the morning. At about 11.30 +made the land--two islands, as described by the man at the masthead. +At 4 P.M. sounded in twenty-eight fathoms. Weather threatening a gale. +At six, double-reefed the topsails, and sounded in twenty-five fathoms. +I shall endeavour to feel my way around the Cape, and gradually bear up +for the westward. The bank is apparently clean and safe, but still +groping one's way in the dark in strange waters is a somewhat nervous operation. + +_Sunday, December 21st_.--We doubled Cape Catoche very successfully +last night, hauling around it gradually in from twenty-five +to thirty fathoms, and ran along in the latter depth all night, +course W. and W. by S., sounding every hour. The wind blew +half a gale, and the weather looked threatening. This morning +the wind hauled more to the eastward, and moderated somewhat. +The sky still looks wintry, and the sun sheds a lurid light through +a semi-transparent stratum of dull grey clouds. At 11 A.M. mustered +the crews and at meridian passed a large steamer (hull down) +steering to the eastward, probably a French ship of war from Vera +Cruz. + +_Monday, December 22nd._--Ran on during the night in a very +regular line of soundings of twenty fathoms, on a W.S.W. course. +At 9 P.M., having run within about twenty miles of the Areas, +anchored for the night in twenty fathoms. + +_Tuesday, December 23rd._--At 9 A.M. called all hands up anchor; +and at ten we were under way, steering W.S.W.; at meridian +observed six miles to the northward of the Areas, and altered +course to S.W. At 1.30 P.M. made the Areas half a point on the +starboard-bow, distant about twelve miles; and at sunset came +to anchor in eleven fathoms of water, with the south Area bearing +N.W. by N. In the course of the afternoon our coal-ship, +which I had ordered to rendezvous here, hove in sight, and joined +us at the anchorage a few minutes after we came to. + +_Wednesday, December 24th._--In the forenoon went out of the +harbour, and examined the entrances and anchorage. The dangers +are all visible, and it is only necessary to give a berth to the +reefs that make off from the points. There is an inner reef making +off to the westward from the northern island; but it, like the +other, is visible, and there is no danger whatever in approaching +it. The Areas are three low keys, lying in a triangle; the northern +key being the largest. We found a hut on this latter key, a +boat hauled up on the island, a net inside the hut, a boiler or two +for trying out oil, and other evidences of the inhabitancy of fishermen +or turtlers; but this not being the season for these pursuits, +everything had apparently been abandoned for some time. +Numerous birds of the gull species were the only living things +found in the island, and of these there were varieties of old birds +and their fledglings, and some of the former were still laying and +sitting. They seemed to have no fear of our men, and suffered +themselves to be caught by the hand, and knocked on the head +with sticks. The vegetation found was on the larger island, and +on that it consisted of a dense carpeting of sea-kale--not a shrub +of any kind. In the transparent waters on the inner reef, a great +variety of the living coral was found in all its beauty, imitating +the growth of the forest on a small scale. At P.M. we got +under way, and stood in and anchored under the south side of the +larger island in nine fathoms, and moored ship with an open +hawse to the north. + +We entered by the S.E. passage between the south and the +north islands. The barque followed us, coming in by the S.W. +passage between the south and the west islands, and anchored a +little to the S.E. of us. Our anchorage is open to the S.E., but at +this season it does not blow from that quarter, and probably +would not bring in much sea if it did. We feel very comfortable +to-night in snug berth. + +_Thursday, December 25th_.--Christmas-day!--the second Christmas +since we left our homes in the Sumter. Last year we were +buffeting the storms of the North Atlantic, near the Azores; now +we are snugly anchored, in the Arcas: and how many eventful +periods have passed in the interval! Our poor people have been +terribly pressed in this wicked and ruthless war, and they have +borne privations and sufferings which nothing but an intense patriotism +could have sustained. They will live in history as a people +worthy to be free; and future generations will be astonished at +the folly and fanaticism, wickedness and want of principle, developed +by this war among the Puritan population of the North. And in this class +may nine-tenths of the native population of the Northern States be placed, +to such an extent has the "Plymouth Rock" leaven "leavened the whole lump." +A people so devoid of Christian charity, and wanting in so many of the +essentials of honesty, cannot but be abandoned to their own folly by a just and +benevolent God. + +Our crew is keeping Christmas by a run on shore, which they +all seem to enjoy exceedingly. It is, indeed, very grateful to the +senses to ramble about over even so confined a space as the Arcas, +after tossing about at sea in a continued state of excitement for +months. Yesterday was the first time I touched the shore since I +left Liverpool on the 18th August last, and I was only one week +in Liverpool after a voyage of three weeks from the Bahamas; so +that I have in fact been but one week on shore in five months. +My thoughts naturally turn on this quiet Christmas-day, in this +lonely island, to my dear family. I can only hope, and trust them +to the protection of a merciful Providence. The only sign of a +holiday on board to-night is the usual "splicing of the +main-brace"--_Anglicè_, giving Jack an extra allowance of grog. + +_Friday, December 26th._--* * * Weather fine, but the barometer +has gone down the tenth of an inch to day, and is now (7 P.M.) +29.96. I shall begin to look for a norther in about twenty-four +hours. We commenced caulking our leaky decks to-day, and +despatched the launch to assist in ballasting the barque. I strolled +on the islands to-day, and amused myself searching for shells along +the beach. There are some very pretty diminutive shells to be +found, similar to those on the Florida coast; but none of a larger +size than the common "conch," of which there are a few. We +have made free with the turtle nets of the fishermen found in the +huts, and have set them. As yet, we have only caught two or three +small turtle. I landed on the south island to-day, where they are +getting off ballast. This islet is occupied exclusively by the black +man-of-war bird; whilst the north islet seems to be divided between +the white gannet (with the lower edges of its wings black) +and the black warrior; the colonies being quite distinct. The +birds are still laying and incubating. + +_Saturday, December 27th_.--The barometer has risen again, and +the weather still continues fine. Ballasting the barque, and overhauling +and setting up our topmast and lower rigging, and caulking +decks. Took a stroll in the north island towards sunset. It is +dull recreation after the novelty has worn off, with the somewhat +tough walking through the sand, and the smell and filth of the +clouds of gannet. + +_Sunday, December 28th_.--Weather cloudy, with the wind from +the N.E. At 8.30 descried a schooner from aloft in the N.W., the +first sail we have seen, and quite an unexpected sight at this season +of the year. After we had armed and manned the cutter, to +board the sail when it should heave in sight from the deck, it was +ascertained that the look out had been deceived, and that the supposed +sail was probably a cloud in the horizon, it having suddenly +disappeared. + +At 11 A.M. mustered the crew and inspected the ship. A quiet +Sabbath. Strolled on the island towards sunset, with the gannets +for companions, the surf for music, and the heavy sand for a promenade. +The weather cleared at nightfall, with the breeze fresh +from the N.N.E. Some of the men are getting tired of their hard +service; the chief boatswain's-mate having applied to return to +England in the barque. Refused him permission, of course. Constant +cruising, vigilance against being surprised by the enemy, +salt provisions, and a deprivation of the pleasures of port, so +dear to the heart of a seaman, are probably what most of them +did not expect. A tight rein and plenty of work will cure the +evil. + +_Monday, December 29th_.--Weather clear and fine. At daylight +hauled the barque alongside, and commenced coaling. Another +seaman got drunk to-day, and seized his bag to go on board +the barque to return to England. Confined him in double irons. +Many of my fellows no doubt thought they were shipping in a +sort of privateer, where they would have a jolly good time and +plenty of license. They have been wofully disappointed, for I +have jerked them down with a strong hand, and now have a well-disciplined +ship of war, punishment _invariably_ follows immediately +on the heels of the offence. It has taken me three or four months +to accomplish this, but when it is considered that my little kingdom +consisted of one hundred and ten of the most reckless from +the groggeries of Liverpool, this is not much. + +_Tuesday, December 30th_.--The weather still continues remarkably +fine, with a moderate breeze from the E.S.E. We finished coaling to-day, +and hauled the barque off in the afternoon. Getting ready generally for +our dash at the enemy's coasts; or rather, at the enemy on our own coasts, +of which he is in possession. A brig hove in sight to-day to the S. and E., +approaching the islands on the starboard tack, until she became +visible from the bridge, and then tacking--probably a Frenchman, +making way from Vera Cruz to the eastward on the banks. +Took my usual afternoon stroll on shore. About nightfall, the +sky assumes a peculiarly lurid aspect, becoming dark overhead, +whilst the western horizon is lighted up with the rays of the setting +sun, although there is not a cloud visible. One witnessing +such a scene elsewhere would fancy himself on the eve of a storm; +I attribute it to the reflection from the green waters of the bank. +We have cleared away all the old eggs from the gannets' nests, +and these prolific layers are now supplying us with fresh. Of fish +we can catch none, except by trolling. We have no better success +with our turtle nets. + +_Wednesday, December 31st_.--The weather has been good all +day, though we have had a heavy surf on all the reefs, indicating +that there is a gale somewhere in our vicinity--probably a norther, +along the Mexican coast to the west of us. The wind is at N.N.E. +and moderate, and the barometer has been rising all day, though +it has not been a tenth below 30.21; it is now (4 P.M.) 30.15, so +we shall probably not feel the gale here. + +_Thursday, January 1st_.--The first day of the new year. +What will it bring forth? The Almighty for a wise purpose hides +future events from the eyes of mortals, and all we can do is to perform +well our parts, and trust the rest to His guidance. Success, +as a general rule, attends him who is vigilant and active. It is +useful to look back on the first day of the new year and see how +we have spent the past; what errors we have committed, and of +what faults we have been guilty, that we may in the future avoid +the one and reform the other. + +Although the wind blew pretty fresh during the past night, we +did not feel the gale in any force; and to-day it has moderated, +and the weather become fine again. Still caulking and painting. +The former seems to be an interminable job with our small gang +of caulkers. In the afternoon a brig approached the island, near +enough to be seen, hull up, from the deck. She was beating up +the bank to the eastward probably from Vera Cruz. + +_Friday, January 2nd_.--The wind has been fresh all day from +the eastward, bringing in some sea, and as we have been riding +across the tide, the ship has had some motion. Caulking and +painting, tarring down and squaring ratlines, &c. Commenced +condensing water to supply the barque for her return voyage to +England. I must get to sea on Tuesday, though I fear we shall +not have finished caulking; but Banks' expedition must be assembling +off Galveston, and time is of importance to us if we would +strike a blow at it before it is all landed. My men will rebel a little +yet. I was obliged to-day to trice one of them up for a little insolent +behaviour. + +_Saturday, January 3d_.--A gale opened after all from the S.E., +which I had hoped to escape, so rare is it to have blows from this +quarter at this season of the year. We have veered to forty-five +fathoms on each chain, and are in six fathoms water astern (there +being nine where the anchors are), and are tailing directly on the +surf, with a few hundred feet only between us and it, which of +course makes me feel a little solicitude. We are open to the S.E. +winds, though these blow over the bank from landwards. Still +the water is deep and the land distant, and a considerable sea comes +in. I have ordered the fires to be lighted under another boiler to +guard against accidents. The Arcas are a dirty little anchorage +for large ships, being but an open roadstead, affording good shelter +only from the north. There is a very small basin between the two +reefs, running off from the northern island, fit for very small vessels, +where they could be made secure against northerly and southerly +winds; but everywhere they would be exposed more or less +to wind from the westward. + +_Sunday, January 4th_.--Weather clear, with the wind fresh +from the S.E., dying away in the afternoon. Having determined +to get to sea this evening, we commenced getting our coal-bags on +board from the barque, omitting the usual Sunday muster. Busy +with the seamen, as usual on such occasions, sending home their +allotments, &c. The weather begins to portend a norther, so I +have directed the engineer to hold on with his steam for the present. + +_Monday, January 5th_.--It did not blow last night as I expected. +This morning the wind has gone round again. I cannot wait +longer for the norther,[10] so I must get under way. At 11 A.M. +got under way, and stood out from the anchorage under steam. +Let the steam go down, hoisted the propeller, and put the ship +under sail. + +[Footnote 10: One of the officers of the Alabama enters in his journal +that on this day, in anticipation of news being received of Lincoln's +proclamation, a tombstone, consisting of a board about four feet in +length and two in breadth, was sent on shore and placed in the most +prominent position the largest island afforded. Inscribed on the tombstone, +in black letters on a white ground, was the following:--"In memory of +Abraham Lincoln, President of the late United States, who died of nigger +on the brain, 1st January, 1863."--"No. 290." Upon a piece of paper, +protected from the weather, was written in Spanish--"Will the finder +kindly favour me by forwarding this tablet to the United States Consul, +at the first point he touches at?" This affair originated with, and was +executed by, the steerage officers.] + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +_Another mission--General Banks' expedition--To Galveston--Sunday +the 11th of January--A small mistake--Preparing for action +--The Hatteras--A fight in the dark--Sharp and decisive--Surrender +--Rescue of the crew--Sunk!--Casualties--Out of the hornet's nest._ + + +Contrary to her usual aspirations, the principal wish of the Alabama, +as she started on this fresh cruise, was to reach her destination +without having seen a single vessel. She was now in fact on +a service of a kind altogether different from that which had yet +occupied her. In his address to the crew, upon taking command +off Terceira, Captain Semmes had promised that the first moment +they were in a condition of training and discipline, to enable them +to encounter the enemy, they should have an opportunity of doing +so. That time had come, and laying aside for a short period her +more especial _rôle_ of annihilating as rapidly as possible the enemy's +commerce, the Alabama set steadily out in search of a fight. + +The grand expedition of General Banks, which had been the +subject of so much speculation in the United States, and of which +their newspapers had long before duly informed the Confederate +cruiser, seemed to offer the most favourable opportunity possible +for such an enterprise. The expedition would, of course, be accompanied +by one or more armed vessels, but the principal portion +of it would be composed of troop-ships, crowded with the enemy's +soldiers; and should the Alabama but prove victorious in +the fight, these transports would be a prize of more practical importance +than all the grain and all the oil ever carried in a merchantman's +hold. + +It was a daring adventure certainly. To steer, with a solitary +light-armed sloop, close upon a coast, blockaded from north to +south, by hundreds of armed vessels, in deliberate quest of a +squadron, not improbably four or five times stronger than herself, +was an act of almost reckless hardihood, fully in keeping with the +rest of the Alabama's career. The event indeed proved the full +danger of the adventure; whilst, at the same time, nothing could +have more clearly showed how utterly groundless were the dastardly +imputations upon the courage and prowess of her crew, poured out daily +from the foul-mouthed organs of the Northern press. There could be no +question of the fighting qualities, or disposition, of the Confederate +cruiser, after such a test as this. + +For five days the Alabama kept steadily on her course for Galveston, +where she expected to find the fleet of which she was in +search. At length, on Sunday, the 11th January--her "lucky +day"--the moment so anxiously looked for came. + + * * * * * + +Our position at noon--writes Captain Semmes--put us just +within thirty miles of Galveston, and I stood on, intending either +just to sight the shipping at a great distance, without being seen +myself, or else to anchor just out of sight until the moon should +rise the following night, which would be about half-past eleven, +and then run in, and attack, as I hoped, "Banks' expedition." +Owing, however, to a little carelessness in the look-out at "masthead," +we were permitted to approach the ships anchored off the +bar in such plain sight, before they were announced, that we were +discovered, although we tacked immediately and stood off, in the +hopes of eluding the vigilance of the enemy. + +There were three ships found lying off the bar--one heavily-sparred +ship, which our look-out took for a sail frigate, but which +afterwards proved to be the Brooklyn steamer, our old friend that +chased us in the Sumter, and two steamers supposed to be propellers. +Very soon one of the steamers was seen to be getting up +steam, and in about an hour and a half afterwards she was reported +to be under weigh, standing out for us. + +I lowered the propeller, and directed steam to be got in readiness, +and awaited the approach of the stranger, who overhauled us +very slowly, and seemed to reconnoitre us, as he came along, with +great caution. + +All this time we were standing on under topsails away from the +bar, and the stranger was approaching us stern on. I gave my +ship a little motion with the engine occasionally, both to draw the +enemy--for I, of course, supposed him to be such--away from his +consorts, so that in case of a conflict the latter might not hear our +guns, and to prolong the time until dark to enable me to take in +my topsails, and close with him in so short a time that the movement +should not be noticed by him until too late to escape, which +I feared he might attempt, if he saw me turn upon him with the +intention of pursuing him. + +Accordingly, soon after dark--the enemy in the meantime +having approached us so near as not to endanger our losing sight +of him--I clewed up, and furled the topsails, beat to quarters, and +doubled suddenly upon the stranger. He came in quite boldly, +and when within hailing distance of us, hailed us, and inquired-- + +"What ship is that?" + +"Her Majesty's ship Petrel. What ship's that?" + +To this inquiry there was no reply, and although we repeated +it several times there was no rejoinder. + +During the colloquy, I endeavoured to place myself in a raking +position astern of him, which he as carefully avoided by keeping +his broadside to me. From this manoeuvre I knew him pretty +certainly to be an enemy, and having approached to within about +two hundred yards, I directed my First Lieutenant to repeat the +question. "What ship's that?" was accordingly again shouted, +and this time there was a reply. + +We distinctly heard that he was an United States something or +other, but the name we could not make out. I then directed the +First Lieutenant to tell him that this was the Confederate States +steamer Alabama, and to open fire on him immediately, which we +did from our starboard battery. He returned our fire in a minute +or two, and the action was thus commenced. + +We continued to run side by side at a distance ranging from +two to five hundred yards, both of us keeping up a rapid fire of +both artillery and rifles, when, after the lapse of thirteen minutes, +the enemy fired two guns from his off, or starboard side, and +showed a light above his deck in token of his being whipped. + +At once we ceased firing, and approaching him still nearer, +asked him if he surrendered and needed assistance. To both of +these questions he replied in the affirmative, and we immediately +despatched our quarter boats to him; these, with his own four +boats, were busily employed in transporting the crew on board, +which had only been accomplished when the ship went down.[11] + +[Footnote 11: United States Consulate, Kingston, + +Jamaica, Jan., 21, 1868. + +SIR,--It is my painful duty to inform the Department of the destruction +of the United States steamer Hatteras, recently under my command, by +the rebel steamer Alabama, on the night of the 11th instant, off the coast +of Texas. The circumstances of the disaster are as follows:-- + +Upon the afternoon of the 11th inst., at 2.30 P.M., while at anchor in +company with the fleet under Commodore Bell, off Galveston, Texas, I +was ordered by signal from the United States flag-ship Brooklyn to chase +a sail to the southward and eastward. I got under weigh immediately, +and steamed with all speed in the direction indicated. After some time, +the strange sail could be seen from the Hatteras, and was ascertained to +be a steamer, which fact I communicated to the flag-ship by signal. I +continued the chase, and rapidly gained upon the suspicious vessel. +Knowing the slow rate of speed of the Hatteras, I at once suspected that +deception was being practised, and hence ordered the ship to be cleared +for action, with everything in readiness for a determined attack and a +vigorous defence. + +When within about four miles of the vessel, I observed that she had +ceased to steam, and was lying broadside and awaiting us. It was nearly +seven o'clock, and quite dark; but notwithstanding the obscurity of the +night, I felt assured, from the general character of the vessel and her +manoeuvres, that I should soon encounter the rebel steamer Alabama. +Being able to work but four guns on the side of the Hatteras--two short +32 pounders, one 30 pounder rifled Parrot gun, and one 20 pounder rifled +gun,--I concluded to close with her that my guns might be effective, if +necessary. + +I came within easy speaking range--about seventy-five yards--and +upon asking "What steamer is that?" received the answer, "Her Britannic +Majesty's ship Petrel." I replied that I would send a boat aboard, +and immediately gave the order. In the meantime the vessels were +changing positions, the stranger endeavouring to gain a desirable position +for a raking fire. Almost simultaneously with the piping away of the +boat the strange craft again replied, "We are the Confederate steamer +Alabama," which was accompanied with a broadside. I at the same +moment returned the fire. Being well aware of the many vulnerable +points of the Hatteras, I hoped, by closing with the Alabama, to be able +to board her, and thus rid the seas of the piratical craft. I steamed +directly for the Alabama, but she was enabled by her great speed and the +foulness of the bottom of the Hatteras, and consequently her diminished +speed, to thwart my attempt when I had gained a distance of but thirty +yards from her. At this range musket and pistol shots were exchanged. +The firing continued with great vigour on both sides. At length a shell +entered amidships in the hold, setting fire to it, and at the same instant +--as I can hardly divide the time--a shell passed through the sick bay, +exploding in an adjoining compartment, also producing fire. Another +entered the cylinder, filling the engine-room and deck with steam, and +depriving me of my power to manoeuvre the vessel, or to work the pumps, +upon which the reduction of the fire depended. + +With the vessel on fire in two places, and beyond human power, a +hopeless wreck upon the waters, with her walking-beam shot away, and +her engine rendered useless, I still maintained an active five, with the +double hope of disabling the Alabama and attracting the attention of the +fleet off Galveston, which was only twenty-eight miles distant. + +It was soon reported to me that the shells had entered the Hatteras at +the water-line, tearing off entire sheets of iron, and that the water was +rushing in, utterly defying every attempt to remedy the evil, and that +she was rapidly sinking. Learning the melancholy truth, and observing +that the Alabama was on my port bow, entirely beyond the range of my +guns, doubtless preparing for a raking fire of the deck, I felt I had no +light to sacrifice uselessly, and without any desirable result, the lives +of all under my command. + +To prevent the blowing up of the Hatteras from the fire, which was +making much progress, I ordered the magazine to be flooded, and afterwards +a lee gun was fired. The Alabama then asked if assistance was desired, +to which an affirmative answer was given. + +The Hatteras was then going down, and in order to save the lives of my +officers and men, I caused the armament on the port side to be thrown +overboard. Had I not done so, I am confident the vessel would have +gone down with many brave hearts and valuable lives. After considerable +delay, caused by the report that a steamer was seen coming from +Galveston, the Alabama sent us assistance; and I have the pleasure of +informing the Department that every living being was conveyed safely +from the Hatteras to the Alabama. + +Two minutes after leaving the Hatteras, she went down, bow first, +with her pennant at the masthead, with all her muskets and stores of +every description, the enemy not being able, owing to her rapid sinking, +to obtain a single weapon. + +The battery upon the Alabama brought into action against the Hatteras +numbered nine guns, consisting of six long 32 pounders, one +100 pounder, one 68 pounder, and one 24 pounder rifled gun. The great +superiority of the Alabama, with her powerful battery, and her machinery +under the water-line, must be at once recognized by the Department, who +are familiar with the construction of the Hatteras, and her total unfitness +for a conflict with a regular built vessel of war. + +The distance between the Hatteras and the Alabama during the action +varied from twenty-five to one hundred yards. Nearly fifty shots were +fired from the Hatteras, and I presume a greater number from the Alabama. + +I desire to refer to the efficient and active manner in which +Acting-master Porter, executive officer, performed his duty. The conduct +of the Assistant-surgeon, Edward S. Matthews, both during the action +and afterwards, in attending to the wounded, demands my unqualified +commendation. I would also bring to the favourable notice of the Department +Acting-master's mate McGrath, temporarily performing duty as gunner. +Owing to the darkness of the night and the peculiar construction of the +Hatteras, I am only able to refer to the conduct of those officers who came +under my especial attention; but from the character of the contest, and +the amount of damage done to the Alabama, I have personally no reason +to believe that any officer failed in his duty. + +To the men of the Hatteras I cannot give too much praise. Their +enthusiasm and bravery were of the highest order. + +I enclose the report of Assistant-surgeon E.S. Matthews, by which you +will observe that five men were wounded and two killed. The missing, it +is hoped, reached the fleet at Galveston. + +I shall communicate to the Department, in a separate report, the movements +of myself and my command from the time of our transfer to the +Alabama until the departure of the earliest mail from this place to the +United States. + +I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, + + H.C. BLAKE, + Lieutenant Commanding. + +Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy, Washington. + +For a further account of this action from the journal of one of the +junior officers, see Appendix.] + +The prize proved to be the United States gunboat Hatteras, +Lieut.-Commanding H.C. Blake, which officer came on board after his crew +had been transported, and delivered up his sword. I said to him:-- + +"I am glad to see you on board the Alabama, and we will endeavour to +make your time as comfortable as possible." + +The Hatteras had the following armament, viz.:--32 pounders of 27 cwt., +4; 30 pounders, rifled, 2; 20 pounders, rifled, 1; 12 pounders, +howitzer, 1: total, 8. + +The armament of the Alabama was:--32 pounders of 52 cwt., 6; 100 +pounders, rifled, 1; 24 pounders, rifled, 1; 8-inch shell gun, 1: total, +9. + +A great disparity in weight of metal in our power; but we equalized this +to a considerable extent by the fair fight which we showed the enemy in +approaching him so very close as to render his small guns almost as +efficient as larger ones. + +The tonnage of the Hatteras was eleven hundred tons; material, iron, +with watertight compartments; age, eighteen months. Her crew numbered a +hundred and eight men, and eighteen officers; our own numbering a +hundred and eleven men, and twenty-six officers. + +The casualties on both sides were slight. On board the enemy two were +missing (firemen), supposed to have been killed in the fire-room, and +three wounded, one of them severely, and two slightly. On board +ourselves, only two slightly wounded. + +After the action had been over an hour or more, and whilst I was +steaming off on my course, it was reported to me that a boat of the +enemy, containing an acting master and five men, which had been lowered +before we opened fire upon him, to board "Her Majesty's steamer Petrel," +had escaped. As the sea was smooth and the wind blowing gently towards +the shore, distant only about nineteen miles, this boat probably reached +the shore in safety in five or six hours. The night was clear and +starlit, and it would have no difficulty in shaping its course. But for +these circumstances, I should have turned back to look for it, hopeless +as this task must have proved in the dark. The weather continued +moderate all night, and the wind to blow on shore. + +It was ascertained that Galveston had been retaken by us, and that the +Brooklyn and four of the enemy's steam-sloops were off the port, +awaiting a reinforcement of three other ships from New Orleans to +cannonade the place. So there was no "Banks' expedition," with its +transports, heavily laden with troops, &c., to be attacked, and but for +the bad look-out of our man at the masthead, we should have got instead +into a hornet's nest. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +_Crowded with prisoners--Chasing a friend--At Jamaica--Enthusiastic +reception--Rest on shore--Speech making--Up anchor!--A prize--Case of +the Golden Rule--Reinstating the discipline--Capture of the +Chastelain--San Domingo--The Palmetto--Men of the day in the United +States._ + + +The Alabama's little fighting holiday was over, and she returned to her +appointed task of annoying the enemy's commerce. Her course lay towards +Jamaica, the captain being anxious to relieve himself as soon as +possible of the nest of prisoners that crowded his decks, and were +necessarily the occasion of considerable inconvenience to both men and +officers. The latter especially were most uncomfortably crowded, the +captain setting the example of self-sacrifice, by giving up his +state-room for the benefit of Lieutenant Blake, Commander of the sunken +Hatteras. + +It may be supposed that, under these circumstances, the Alabama was not +very anxious to increase the number of her involuntary passengers. Still +duty was duty, and when, on the day following the engagement, a sail was +reported from aloft, chase was at once given, and expectation again on +tiptoe at the thought of a prize. No prize, however, was to be taken +that day. At about half-past two, the Alabama came within +signal-distance of the chase, and was already busy exchanging the usual +information, when the "stranger" barque was discovered to be no other +than their old friend and faithful tender the Agrippina; and the Alabama +continued her course, not a little amused at her own blunder in thus +chasing her most particular friend. + +Another week passed by with no event of interest, the Alabama working +her way towards Jamaica, through a succession of more or less heavy +gales, which, in the crowded state of the ship, were anything but +comfortable. On the 20th January, she sighted land a little before +daybreak, passing Portland at about 3 P.M., and arriving off the +lighthouse on Plum Point at half-past four. Here French colours were +displayed in case of accident, and a gun fired for a pilot. At about +halt-past six, that important individual made his appearance, and in +about three-quarters of an hour more the Alabama was safely at anchor in +Port Royal harbour. + + * * * * * + +_Wednesday, January 21st_.--Found here several English men-of-war--the +Jason, the Challenger, the Greyhound, &c., the Commanders of all of +which called on us. I saw the Commodore (Dunlop) this morning, and +requested of the Governor through him permission to land my prisoners, +&c., which was readily granted. Made arrangements for coaling and +provisioning the ship, and for repairing damages; and in the afternoon +ran up to Kingston, and thence proceeded to the mountains with Mr. Fyfe. + +_Thursday, January 22nd_.--Had a delightful ride over a fine, natural +McAdamized road, for about ten miles, and thence by horse and +bridle-path through the most picturesque of mountainous regions, with +its lovely valleys, abrupt precipices, streams of water, luxuriant +foliage, &c., to Flamstead, the residence of the Rev. Mr. Fyfe, who soon +returned from town and received me most hospitably.[12] Spent a +delightful, quiet day, riding to Flamstead, and walking in the afternoon +along the winding mountain paths. Jamaica--that is, the south side--is a +wilderness, and the town of Kingston a ruin. The negro population idle, +thriftless, and greatly subject to diseases of an inflammatory kind. No +morals--gross superstition, &c. + +[Footnote 12: As soon as our arrival became known the most intense +excitement prevailed. It is impossible to describe the hospitable +welcome we received, every one placing their houses at our disposal. Up +to 9 P.M. visitors were constantly received, all expressing a most +hearty, encouraging sympathy for our cause, and speaking hopefully for +our prospects. Still the same enthusiasm prevails: visitors of each sex +and every class coming on board, officers and men going on shore, and +receiving the most flattering attentions.] + +_Friday, January 23rd_.--Rode over to, and spent a day and night at, +Blocksburgh, visiting _en route_ the English-looking cottage of Captain +Kent, now absent in England. Had some lady-visitors at Blocksburgh in +the evening. + +_Saturday, January 24th_.--Returned to town to-day by the way of Mr. +Mais' fairy little cottage, kept in the nicest of order, and in a +perfect picture of a country. Upon my arrival in town I found that my +friends had _kindly_ put a notice in the papers, informing the good +people that I would be at the Exchange at noon, &c. &c. Was obliged to +go, and made a speech to the people, which was well received. Returned +on board in the evening. + +_Sunday, January 25th_.--Workmen still engaged trying to get the ship +ready for sea to-night. Returned my visits to the English Captains, all +of whom I found very agreeable. Settling the ship's bills, and getting +the drunken portion of my crew on board by aid of the police. Three of +them in broad daylight jumped into a shore boat and tried to escape; but +we pursued and captured them. Work all done, and fires lighted at 5 +P.M., and at half-past eight we steamed out of the harbour. + +_Monday, January 26th_.--At 10.30 A.M. descried a sail, which we came up +with at 1.20 P.M. She proved to be the Golden Rule, from New York for +Aspinwall. Captured and burned her, there being no certificate on board +of the neutrality of the cargo. This vessel had on board masts, spars, +and a complete set of rigging, for the United States brig Bainbridge, +lately obliged to cut away her masts in a gale at Aspinwall. Nine +prisoners. At about 6 P.M., the prize being well on fire, steamed on +our course. + + * * * * * + +CASE OF THE GOLDEN RULE. + +No certificate of the neutral ownership of any portion of the cargo. The +only bills of lading found on board are the following:-- + +Marcial and Co. to Gregorio Miro and Co., 2069.28 dollars; insured +against war risk. + +Keeler and Vonhiss to John Wilson, 724.20 dollars. Consigned to _order_, +and for account and risk of "whom it may concern." + +Woolsey, consigned to _order_. Amount not stated, and no letter of +advice. + +Berner to Field. Amount not stated, and no letter of advice. + +Herques and Maseras to Juan Melendez, 41.58 dollars. + +F. Hernias to Gillas. Amount not stated, and no letter. + + * * * * * + +The Golden Rule furnished a supply of papers containing an abundance of +welcome news. From them the Alabama learned of the safe escape of her +sister cruiser, the Florida, from Mobile, as well as of the foundering +of the United States gunboat Monitor in a gale, during her passage down +the coast. The good news was also received of the entire failure of an +attack on Vicksburg. + +The time was now pretty much taken up in reinstating the discipline +which had been somewhat shaken by the brief stay at Port Royal, and in +awarding due punishment for the various offences there committed. On the +whole, however, considering the hard service the men had undergone, and +the length of the confinement they had sustained without a single +"spell" on shore, the offences could not be considered very numerous. A +few of the petty officers were disrated, and various minor penalties +inflicted, and on the 31st of January the court-martial, which had been +employed on this unpleasant but necessary service, terminated its +sittings and was dissolved. + +Meanwhile another prize had fallen into the Alabama's hands, in the +shape of the United States brig Chastelain, of Boston, from Martinique +and Guadaloupe for Cienfuegos; and the following day, after duly +committing her prize to the flames, the Alabama arrived at San Domingo, +dropping anchor off the town at 6 P.M. + +In the harbour were two other vessels: one a New York brig, under +English colours. The anchor had not been long down when a visit was +received from the Captain of the Port, who proved to be an old +acquaintance of Captain Semmes, he having piloted the brig Porpoise +about the island at the time when the latter officer was First +Lieutenant of that vessel. He seemed much pleased to renew the +acquaintance, and volunteered to take on shore, to the Governor, Captain +Semmes' request for permission to land his prisoners. + +Soon he returned, bringing with him a commander of the Spanish navy with +the required permission. The prisoners were accordingly sent on shore, +from whence they shortly returned, somewhat crestfallen, with the +intelligence that no one was allowed to land after dark. The Captain, +however, being anxious to depart, application was made to the +authorities, who courteously permitted the prisoners to be sent for the +night to the government vessel, undertaking to send them on shore in the +morning. + +This matter was settled, the Alabama again stood out, having thus +displayed for the first time, in San Domingo, the flag of the young +republic. + +The only excitement of the next few days was an alarm of fire, which, on +the 2nd of February, occasioned for a short time very considerable +anxiety. It came from the carelessness of the captain of the hold, who, +in direct violation of the written rules of the ship, took a naked light +into the spirit-room to pump off liquor by. The moment he commenced +operations, the fumes of the spirit took fire, placing the ship for a +few minutes in imminent peril. The danger, however, was brief, for the +captain happened to be on deck at the time, and at once gave the order +to beat to quarters; before it could be obeyed the fire was +extinguished, and the ship's company _quitte pour la peur_. Not so, +however, the delinquent captain of the hold, who was at once sent to +expiate his fault in the durance vile of a suit of double irons. + +The 3rd February brought a small prize in the United States schooner +Palmetto, from New York for St. John's, Porto Rico, with a mixed cargo +of provisions. She, too, laid claim to immunity on the ground of +neutrality of cargo; but inquiry soon led to condemnation, and after +taking from her a large quantity of biscuit, cheese, &c., the crew were +removed on board the Alabama, and the schooner burned. + + * * * * * + +CASE OF THE PALMETTO. + + +The schooner was U.S., per register and flag. The cargo was shipped by +Herques and Maseras, of New York, to Vincente Brothers, in San Juan, +Porto Rico. There was no affidavit or certificate of neutral property on +board, and the cargo would have been condemnable on this ground alone. +It being in an enemy's ship, it is presumed to be enemy's property until +the contrary be shown by proper evidence under oath. The Master, upon +examination, testified that he had no knowledge of the ownership of the +cargo; and this, though he was the agent and charterer of the ship, as +well as Master. The correspondence found on board--that is to say, a +letter from the shippers to the consignee--states that the cargo is +shipped, two thirds on account of the consignee, and one third on +account of the shippers--the parties being the joint owners of the +_undivided_ cargo in these proportions. Therefore, whatever may be the +general business-relations of the parties, they are, _quoad_ this +shipment, partners; and the house in the enemy's country having shipped +the goods, the other partner's share is condemnable, notwithstanding his +residence in a neutral country. See 3rd Phillimore, 605; and the +Vigilantia, 1 Rob., pp. 1-14, 19; the Susa, ib., p. 255. + + * * * * * + +Several days now passed without adventure of any kind, the monotony of +alternate gales and calms being only varied by the receipt of a few old +newspapers from the schooner Hero, of Yarmouth, N.S., giving news of the +angry "resolutions" passed by the New York Chamber of Commerce with +reference to the Alabama; and also--which was of considerably more +importance--the information that the Vanderbilt and Sacramento were both +to sail towards the end of January, in pursuit of the Confederate +cruiser. + +Sunday, the 15th February, dawned dark and gloomy, the wind blowing +nearly a whole gale from the north, and the Alabama dashing along, with +the wind well abeam, under reefed topsails. + +This boisterous Sabbath, writes Captain Semmes, is the second +anniversary of my resignation from the United States navy, and of course +it has called up many reminiscences. I have more and more reason, as +time rolls on, to be gratified at my prompt determination to quit the +service of a corrupt and fanatical majority, which even then had +overridden the constitution, and shown itself in so aggressive and +unscrupulous a form as to give us just cause of alarm. + +But what shall we say of its course since? If the historian perform his +duty faithfully, posterity will be amazed at the wickedness and +corruption of the Northern and Western peoples, and will wonder by what +process such a depth of infamy was reached in so short a time. + +The secret lies here. The politicians had become political +stock-jobbers, and the seekers of wealth had become usurers and +swindlers; and into these two classes may be divided nearly the whole +Yankee population. Such is "Plymouth Rock" in our day, with its Beechers +in the pulpit, and its Lincoln in the chair of Washington! With its +Sumners and its Lovejoys in Congress, and its Simmonses _et id genus +omne_ in the contract market! + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +_Not easily baffled--Two prizes--The Olive Jane--The Golden Eagle--The +white ensign saluted--In trepidation--Obstinacy--The Washington--The +William Edward--Patience Rewarded--Case of the John S. Parks._ + + +More than a week passed without the occurrence of any event worthy of +record. Saturday, the 21st February, however, brought an exciting chase. +By 8 A.M. four vessels had been reported in sight. The first seen proved +too far ahead and to windward, to be worth chasing, and sail was then +made in the direction of two others, which were observed to be +exchanging signals with considerable diligence. Their conversation +ended, they parted company and sailed off in different directions, +evidently with the object of distracting the attention of the Alabama +which was now in full chase. + +But the Alabama was not so easily to be baffled. Devoting her attention +first to the vessel which appeared by her slower rate of sailing to +offer the promise of an easier capture, she got up steam as she went +along, and the black smoke was already poured from her funnel and the +propeller beginning to revolve as she came within hail of the chase. A +blank cartridge was fired as usual; but the stranger kept doggedly upon +his way, evidently determined, if he could not escape himself, at all +events to do his best to increase the chances of his consort. + +Even this chivalrous determination, however, was of no avail. A second +gun from the pursuer quickly followed upon the first, and this time the +command was pointed by the emphatic accompaniment of a round shot which +went whizzing through the rigging of the chase. Finding his enemy in +earnest, the ship now gave up the game, and hove to with the United +States colours at her peak. Putting a prize crew on board, the Alabama +wore round, and started at full speed in the direction of the second +vessel, which was making the best of her way off, and was by this time +some fifteen miles distant. The Alabama was now, however, under a full +head of steam, flying through the water at the rate of three to one of +the chase, and by the end of a couple of hours, she also was brought to, +with the Stars and Stripes flying, and her maintopsail to the mast. + +A rapid investigation of papers resulted in the decision that the claim +of neutral ownership of the cargo was totally unsustained by evidence, +and the crew of the Olive Jane[13] were transferred to the Alabama, and +the barque set on fire, whilst her captor again came round and ran down +to meet his other prize. On communicating with the prize-master in +charge she proved to be the United States ship Golden Eagle, from +Howland's Island in the Pacific Ocean to Cork for orders. + +[Footnote 13: Of Boston, from Bordeaux to New York, with a partial cargo +of French wines and "knickknackeries."] + +The following particulars relating to these two vessels, are given in +Captain Semmes' journal:-- + +CASE OF THE OLIVE JANE. + +Under United States colours and register--from Bordeaux for New +York--cargo consigned generally to houses in New York, with the +exception of five of the shipments which are consigned to _order_; but +there is no claim among the papers of French property, even in these +latter shipments, and _non constat_ but that the property is American, +and that the consignment on the face of the papers was made in this +manner to give a semblance of French ownership, until the property +should reach its destination, when the real owner would claim it under a +duly-indorsed bill of lading, forwarded to him by steamer. At all +events, the presumption of law is, that all property found on board an +enemy is enemy's property, until the contrary be shown by proper +evidence; and no evidence has been presented in this case at all. The +master, though quarter owner of the barque, and who, consequently, +should be well informed as to her cargo, &c., knows nothing, except that +one of the shippers--a Frenchman--told him that forty casks of wine, +worth, perhaps, twenty dollars per cask, belonged to him. Vessel and +cargo condemned. + + * * * * * + +CASE OF THE GOLDEN EAGLE. + +Ship under United States colours and register. From San Francisco, _via_ +Howland's Island, for Cork, laden with guano by the American Guano +Company. Cargo consigned to "orders." There is no question, therefore, +of property. Ship and cargo condemned. + + * * * * * + +On the morning of the 23rd February four vessels were in sight; but on +overhauling them they one and all proved to be under the protection of +neutral flags. One of them, however--a Frenchman from Buenos Ayres to +Havre--relieved the Alabama of two French prisoners, an artist and his +son, captured on board one of the late prizes. One of the other +vessels--the Prince of Wales, from Melbourne to England--dipped her +ensign to the Yankee colours displayed from the Alabama, on which the +latter, unwilling to appropriate a compliment intended for another, +lowered the Stars and Stripes and hoisted her own ensign. Hardly had the +change been effected when a bustle was observed on board the English +vessel, and passengers and crew crowded on deck to have a look at the +renowned Confederate. The formal compliment accorded to the flag first +displayed was renewed with hearty good-will, and this time accompanied +by the most enthusiastic demonstrations from all on board, the men +cheering and the ladies waving their handkerchiefs in honour of the +gallant little cruiser of which they had heard so much. + +The next day, the Alabama being in the vicinity of the crossing of the +30th parallel by the San Roque and India-bound United States ships, sail +was shortened, and a bright look-out kept, but until nearly sunset +nothing was seen; and when, at length, "Sail, ho!" was cried, and the +Confederate cruiser on nearing the stranger showed the Yankee colours, +it was replied to by the tricolour of France. Again, at 9.30 P.M., when +another vessel was descried, there was still no prize, although it +required two cartridges, a chase of three-quarters of an hour, and +vociferous demands in both English and French to compel the vessel to +heave to. When, at last, the Master obeyed the command, it was +discovered that the brig was a Portuguese, bound from Pernambuco to +Lisbon. The officer despatched to overhaul the chase found, on stepping +on board, everything in the wildest confusion, and everybody so alarmed, +that neither skipper, mates, nor seamen seemed to know what they were +about. So great, indeed, was their trepidation, that upon an explanation +being asked of their strange conduct, the excuse given was that they +were too frightened to heave to! + +The 25th February was a blank, only two sail being seen; the one a +Dutchman, the other English. The master of the latter coolly asked the +Alabama to take to England a discharged British seaman, and on the +following morning another master of an English ship made a similar +request--both being met with a refusal. On the 26th, no less than +thirteen sail were sighted by the Alabama, but not one of them displayed +the Yankee flag. The only excitement of the day was an obstinate +Hamburgh barque, which refused to show colours until the Confederate +cruiser was nearly upon her, and even then a blank cartridge was +required to bring her to. + +After the large number of neutrals that the Alabama had overhauled, came +a prize. On the morning of the 27th February, the United States ship +Washington was captured. The vessel was the property of the enemy, but +as she carried a cargo of guano from the Chincha Islands, on account of +the Peruvian government, consigned to their agents at Antwerp, the +Washington was released on giving a ransom bond for 50,000 dollars. The +prisoners on board the Alabama having been transferred to the capture, +the two vessels parted company; the United States ship going on its +course, rejoicing that the neutral cargo she carried had saved her from +a fiery end. Two days after, another prize was taken. On the 1st March, +the Bethia Thayer, of Rockland, Maine, was overhauled, and like the +Washington, having on board guano the property of the Peruvian +government, was released on a bond of 50,000 dollars. + +Shortly after, a suspicious barque, with the English flag at the peak, +hove in sight. Immediately the Alabama set every stitch of canvas, the +stranger did the same, and away the two dashed before the fresh +south-wester that was blowing. The chase was most exciting, and lasted +seven hours; but gradually the Alabama overhauled the suspicious craft, +and at 4.30 P.M. was enabled to signal it. The Confederate hoisted the +United States flag, and announced herself by an assumed name. The barque +replied that she was the William Edward, from Bahia, for Liverpool. +After some further communication, which convinced the Alabama that the +barque was English, the cruiser announced her real name, and permitted +the William Edward to proceed on her course. At nightfall another ship +was chased, which, upon being brought to, also proved to be English, the +Nile, bound from Akyab to London. The master of this vessel informed the +boarding-officer that a United States man-of-war, supposed to be the +Ino, was in the South Atlantic, in eager search of the Alabama! + +At daybreak, on the 2d March, a sail was made out through the hazy +atmosphere, slowly steering towards the cruiser. Patiently the +Confederate waited, as the light wind from the south bore the stranger +towards them; their patience, too, was rewarded, for at 6 A.M., a +boarding-officer stepped on board the ship John S. Parks, of Hallowall, +Maine. The skipper, his wife, and crew, were transferred to the cruiser, +together with sundry stores and provisions; and then, after Captain +Semmes had carefully examined the papers of the capture, the prize was +set fire to, making number thirty-five on the list of the Alabama's +successes. With respect to the cargo of the Parks, there was a plea of +neutrality set up, to which, as the following extracts will show, +Captain Semmes gave the fullest consideration:-- + +CASE OF THE SHIP JOHN S. PARKS. + +Ship under U.S. colours and register. Cargo, white pine lumber, laden on +board at the port of New York. The cargo was shipped by Edward F. +Davidson, who appears, from the statement of the master, to be a large +lumber dealer, and is consigned to Messrs. Zimmerman, Faris, and Co., at +Monte Video, or Buenos Ayres. Annexed to the bill of lading is what +purports to be an affidavit sworn to before "Pierrepont Edwards," who +signs himself as "vice-consul." Above his name are the words, "by the +consul," from which it appears he professes to act for the consul, and +not for himself as "vice-consul."[14] The affiant is Joseph H. Snyder, +who describes himself as of "128, Pearl Street, New York." He states +that the cargo was shipped by Edward F. Davidson, "for and on account of +John Fair and Co., of London, &c." First, as to the _form_ of this +affidavit. A vice-consul is one who acts in place of a consul when the +latter is absent from his post; and when this is the case, he signs +himself as vice-consul, and his acts take effect _proprio vigore_, and +not as the acts of the consul--which this act purports to do. Further, +the Master was unable to verify this document, which, to give it +validity, he should have been able to do--he declaring that he could not +say whether it was a forgery or not. "Although, as has been said, the +ship's papers found on board are proper evidence, yet they are so only +when properly verified; for papers by themselves prove nothing, and are +a mere dead letter if they are not supported by the oaths of persons in +a situation to give them validity." 3rd Phillimore, 394. Further, "Valin +sur l'Ordonnance" says, "Il y a plus, et parceque les pièces en forme +trouvées abord, peuvent encore avoir été concertées en fraude, il a été +ordonné par arrêt de conseil du 26 Octobre, 1692, que les dépositions +contraires des gens de l'équipage prÃs, prévaudrojent à ces pièces." The +latter authority is express to the point, that papers found on board a +ship are not to be credited, if contradicted by the oath of any of the +crew, and I take it that an inability to verify amounts to the same +thing. For if this had been a _bona fide_ transaction, it was the duty +of the party interested to take the master before the consul to witness +the taking of the deposition, so that he might verify "the paper," if +captured. But why should Mr. Snyder be the party to make this +affidavit? He was not the shipper, but Davidson, a lumber dealer; and +Davidson, who, if he sold the lumber at all, must have known to whom he +sold it, was the proper person to testify to the fact. Further: the +master says that Snyder bought the lumber from Davidson, as he was +informed by his (the master's) brother, who was the owner of the ship. +If so, then Snyder being the owner of the lumber (whether on his own or +foreign account, it matters not) was the real shipper, and not Davidson, +and the proper person to consign it to the consignees, either in his own +name, or in the name of his principal, if he were an agent. But the bill +of lading, and Davidson's letter to the consignees, show that Davidson +was both the shipper and the consignor. The ship was also chartered by +Davidson, and 13,000,000 dollars freight-money paid in advance, for +which Davidson required the owner of the ship to secure him by a policy +of insurance against both marine and _war_ risk--the policy made payable +to him (Davidson) in case of loss. Two questions arise upon that policy: +1st--why, if the property were _bonâ fide_ neutral (the cargo itself was +also insured in London) the war clause should be inserted? and, 2nd--why +Davidson should make the policy payable to himself? If he advanced this +freight money on the credit of the London house, he had no insurable +interest in it; and if the lumber really belonged to the London house, +and was going to their partners or agents at the port of delivery, why +should Davidson pay the freight in advance at all? And if Snyder +purchased the lumber of Davidson, why should Snyder not have made the +advance for his principal instead of Davidson? The conclusion would seem +to be, that Davidson was shipping this lumber on his own account to +agents, in whose hands he had no funds or credit, and as the lumber +might not be sold readily, the ship could not be paid her freight unless +it were paid in advance? Further: the ship had a contingent destination. +She was either to go to Monte Video or Buenos Ayres, as the consignees +might find most advantageous. This looks very much like hunting for a +market. But further still. Although Davidson prepared a formal letter of +consignment to Zimmerman, Faris, and Co., to accompany the consular +certificate, he at the same time writes another letter, in which he +says, "The cargo of John S. Parks I shall have certified to by the +British Consul as the property of British subjects. You will find it a +very good cargo, and should command the highest prices." How is Davidson +interested in the price which this cargo will bring, if it belongs, as +pretended, to the house in London? And if Davidson sold to Snyder, and +Snyder was the agent of the house in London, Davidson should have still +less concern with it. In that same letter in which a general account of +recent lumber shipments is given, the following remarks occur:--"Messrs. +Harbeck and Co. have a new barque, Anne Sherwood, in Portland, for +which they have picked up in small lots a cargo of lumber costing 20,000 +dollars. I have tried to make an arrangement for it to go to you (on +account of John Fair and Co., of London?); but they as yet only propose +to do so, you taking half-interest at twenty-five dollars, and freight +at eighteen dollars, payable at yours (port?), which is too much. If I +can arrange it on any fair terms, I will do so for the sake of keeping +up your correspondence with H. and Co." + +[Footnote 14: Extract from a letter, captured on the barque Amazonian, +from Mr. Edward F. Davidson to Messrs. Zimmerman, Faris, and Co., of +Monte Video:-- + +"You will learn from London of the loss of the ship John S. Parks, and +collection there of insurance on her cargo: the freight is insured here, +at the Great Western Company. They have thirty days, after receipt of +the captain's protest, to pay the loss in. Captain Cooper has arrived in +Portland, and gone to his home at Hallowall; and the company require a +copy of the protest made in London, certified by the Consul, which I +have sent for. In the meantime, I have requested the captain to come to +this, and trust not to have to wait receipt of the document from +London."] + +This letter would seem to show that Zimmerman, Faris, and Co. are +favourite consignees with Davidson, and that he not only consigns his +own lumber to them (for it must be remembered that he is a lumber +dealer) but endeavours to befriend them by getting them other +consignments. It may be that Davidson in New York, John Fair and Co., in +London, and Zimmerman, Faris, and Co., in Buenos Ayres, are all +connected in this lumber business, and that the trade is attempted to be +covered under the name of the London house; or it may be that Davidson +is the sole owner, or a joint owner with Zimmerman, Faris, and Co. In +either case the property is condemnable, being shipped by the house of +trade in the enemy's country. Ship and cargo condemned. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +_Discomforts of life at sea--A stern chase--Seized--The Punjaub +ransomed--Rain-squalls--A luxury--The Morning Star--Neutral cargo--The +Fairhaven--The Ino on the look-out--The Charles Hill--The +Nora--Fire-water--Commercial morality--The Louisa Hatch--Black +Diamonds--Coaling at sea under difficulties--Fernando de Noronna._ + + +Captain Cooper, of the John Parks, and his wife and two nephews, were +fortunate in not being condemned to a long period of captivity. The +burning remains of his unlucky vessel were still within sight, when an +English barque ranged up alongside of the Alabama, and an arrangement +was soon effected with her captain to convey the whole party to England. + +A long interval now, with nothing but the Englishman's excitement--the +weather--to break the weary monotony of an eventless voyage. So far, +however, as gales of wind could offer a distraction, the Alabama had +little of which to complain, and the vessel rolled and tumbled about in +the heavy seas in a manner which sorely tried the endurance of, at all +events, her unfortunate captain. + +The gale still continues, writes Captain Semmes, on the 11th March. Wind +E.N.E. For four days now we have been rolling and tumbling about, with +the wind roaring day and night through the rigging, and rest more or +less disturbed by the motion of the ship. Sea-life is becoming more and +more distasteful to me. The fact is, I am reaching an age when men long +for quiet and repose. During the war my services belong to my country, +and ease must not be thought of; but I trust that the end is not afar +off. The enemy, from many signs, is on the point of final discomfiture. +Nay, a just Providence will doubtless punish the wicked fanatics who +have waged this cruel and unjust war upon us, in a way to warn and +astonish the nations upon earth. Infidelity and wickedness in every +shape let loose upon themselves, must end in total destruction. The +Yankee States have yet to go through an ordeal they little dreamed of in +the beginning of their unholy crusade against the Southern people. + +On the 12th, the vessel was within fourteen degrees of the equator, but +so cool did the weather still continue that all hands were still wearing +woollen clothing, and sleeping under a couple of blankets. The sky +continued grey and overcast, with an occasional slight sprinkle of rain, +and a stiff breeze. The barometer falling steadily until, on the 14th +March, it had reached as low as 29.96, about the usual standard of the +trade winds. + +That night brought, however, a slight relief from the long dullness. It +was just midnight when the startling cry of "Sail, ho! close aboard!" +was heard from the look-out; and in less than five minutes the Alabama +was within hailing distance of a large ship standing close on a wind +towards the northward and westward. + +"Ship ahoy!--what ship's that?" rang hoarsely through the +speaking-trumpet from the deck of the Alabama. But no answer came, and +the hail was repeated. Still no answer, the strange sail keeping +steadily on her course, regardless of every thing, her huge hull +towering up high and dark as she passed almost within harpooning +distance of the Alabama, and shot away again into the darkness, like a +phantom that on being spoken to, had vanished away. + +But the Alabama could have brought-to the Flying Dutchman himself, if he +had attempted to pass by without answering a hail. "Hands, wear ship!" +was the order before the sound of the second summons had well died away. +Up went the helm, round came the Alabama's head in the direction in +which the stranger had disappeared; and with the reefs shaken out of her +topsails, away she went in chase like a greyhound after a hare. + +By the time sail was made, and headway got on the ship, the chase was +some three miles in advance, and gliding swiftly along with a strong +breeze. But though a stern chase is proverbially a long chase, the +splendid sailing qualities of the Alabama soon made themselves felt, and +within three hours after her helm was put up, she was within a few +hundred yards of the stranger, who now hove to at the first summons from +the cruiser's bow-guns. + +She proved to be the United States ship Punjaub, of Boston, from +Calcutta for London, and having an English cargo on board, as appeared +from sworn affidavits among the papers, from the nature of the +voyage--from one British port to another--and from the cargo of jute and +linseed, she was released on a ransom bond for 55,000 dollars, the +remaining prisoners from the John Parks being transferred to her for +passage home. + +The 21st March brought a change of weather, with heavy squalls of rain. +The variety was greatly enjoyed by all on board, Captain Semmes +recording in his journal his own pleasure at once more hearing the roll +of the thunder, for the first time for many months, and the delight with +which both officers and men paddled about on the deck with their bare +feet, enjoying, "like young ducks," the first heavy rain they had +experienced for a considerable time. + +On the morning of Monday, March 23rd, a sail hove in sight, which, being +overhauled about noon, was found to be the United States ship Morning +Star, from Calcutta to London. This ship also had a neutral cargo, duly +vouched as such by the proper legal certificates; so she, too, was +released on ransom bond. A second prize, however, which fell into the +Alabama's hands the same day, was less fortunate. This was the United +States schooner Kingfisher, of Fairhaven, Massachusetts, some months out +on a whaling voyage. It was well for her that she but very recently +discharged into another vessel her second cargo of oil, and could only, +at present, boast of some twenty barrels, all of which were at once +consigned to the flames, together with the unlucky vessel. + +The Kingfisher brought a piece of intelligence which afforded immense +satisfaction to all on board, being of no less a fact than the presence +of the United States sloop of war, Ino, at Ascension, where the +Kingfisher had left her but a fortnight before. This was the identical +vessel that had assisted in the piratical capture of Messrs. Myers and +Tunstall, on neutral ground, scarcely fourteen months before; and all +hands were rejoicing in the prospect of an early brush with her, when +the outrage then perpetrated might be avenged. Anxious as all were for a +fight on any terms, there was possibly not a vessel in the United States +navy they would have more gladly encountered. + +It was a curious circumstance connected with this schooner, that her +master was, according to his account, one of the only three persons in +his native place, Fairhaven, who, in the last fatal election of a +President for the United States, had voted for the Southern candidate, +Breckinridge. + +Two more captures were made on the following day--one, the ship Charles +Hill, of Boston, from Liverpool to Monte Video; the other, the ship +Nora, also of Boston, from Liverpool for Calcutta. In both cases the +usual claim was set up to a neutral ownership of cargo, and as usual on +investigation proved to be altogether unsupported by anything like real +evidence. + +The following are the cases:-- + +CASE OF THE CHARLES HILL. + +Ship under U.S. flag and register, laden with salt (value in Liverpool +six shillings per ton), under charter party with H.E. Falk to proceed +from Liverpool to Monte Video or Buenos Ayres. No claim of neutral +property in the cargo. Ship and cargo condemned. + + * * * * * + +CASE OF THE NORA. + +Ship under the U.S. flag; laden with salt, under charter party with W.N. +de Mattos, of London, to proceed to Calcutta. In the bill of lading the +cargo is consigned to "order;" and on the back of the bill is this +endorsement:--"I hereby certify that the salt shipped on board the Nora +is the property of W.N. de Mattos, of London, and that the said W.N. de +Mattos is a British subject, and was so at the time of shipment. + +"(Signed) H.E. FALK, Agent for W.N. de Mattos." + +At the bottom of the signature is "R.C. Gardner, Mayor," presumed to be +intended for the signature of the Mayor of Liverpool. As this statement +is not under oath, and as there is no seal attached to it, it does not +even amount to an _ex parte_ affidavit. Vessel and cargo condemned. + + * * * * * + +Some valuable supplies were extracted from these two ships, and the +prisoners--one of them a female--having been transferred to the Alabama, +the vessels were fired on the evening of the day after their capture. As +was but too frequently the case in boarding prizes, access was by some +means obtained to their strong liquor, and that evening saw a good deal +of drunkenness on board the Alabama. Unfortunately, the delinquents were +but too often some of the best men in the ship. They could be trusted +with anything in the world but rum or whisky; but against temptation of +this kind they were not proof, and the duty of boarding offered only too +easy an opportunity of indulging this true sailor's taste. However, if +the prizes had their little bit of revenge in thus creating a temporary +disorder among their captors, they in this case, at all events, more +than made up for it, by contributing an accession of half-a-dozen seamen +to the crew, which, notwithstanding the discharge of the men sent home +in the----, was now fast growing very strong. + +The following extract from a letter found on board the Charles Hill may +throw some light on the pretensions of that vessel at all events, to the +protection of neutrality:-- + +CAPTAIN F. PERCIVAL. + +DEAR SIR,--I have read your several letters from Philadelphia. As a +rebel privateer has burned several American ships, it may be well if you +can have your bills of lading endorsed as English property, and have +your cargo certified to by the English Consul, &c. + + * * * * * + +After crossing the equator during the night of the 29th-30th March, the +Alabama experienced a succession of calms and wet weather; at one time +chasing a vessel in so thick a mist that, though not more than a mile or +two ahead, she was more than once lost sight of for an hour at a time. +She was still involved in this misty, uncomfortable weather, when, on +the night of the 4th April, she again fell in with an United States +ship, the Louisa Hatch, deeply laden with that, to the Alabama, most +invaluable article--coal. An investigation of her papers gave the +following result:-- + +CASE OF THE LOUISA HATCH. + +Ship, under U.S. colours. Among the papers is a charter party, dated +London, 1st January, 1863, executed between John Pirie and Co., and +William Grant, the Master, by which the ship was chartered to take coal +to Point de Galle, Ceylon, or Singapore, as ordered, &c. Without any +assignment of this contract, as far as appears, the ship seems to have +been loaded by entirely new parties, to wit, by one J.R. Smith, who +describes himself as the agent of H. Worms, of Cardiff. By the bill of +lading, the ship is to proceed to the. Point de Galle, and there deliver +the coal to the company of Messageries Imperiales. On the back of the +bill of lading is the following certificate:--"I certify that the +within-mentioned cargo is French property, having been shipped by order, +for the account of the Messageries Imperiales." This certificate is +signed by Mr. Smith, but is not sworn to, nor is the order, nor any copy +of the order to ship this cargo to an account of the Messageries +Imperiales, found among the papers. As the ship was not chartered by any +agent of this company, and as the coal was not shipped by any such +agent, Smith being the agent of Worms, and Worms not being described as +the agent of the company, the presumption is that, if there was any such +order at all in the case, it was a mere general understanding that the +company would pay so much per ton for coal delivered for them at their +depots, the property remaining in the shippers until delivery. The +presumption, in the absence of proof, is, that the cargo being on board +an American ship is American; shipped on speculation to the far east, by +the owner, or his agent, in Cardiff; and we have seen that there is no +legal evidence in the case; the unsworn certificate of Mr. Smith not +even amounting to an _ex parte_ affidavit. Ship and cargo condemned. +Probable value of cargo in Cardiff, 2500 dollars. Cost of coal in +Brazil, 15 to 17 dollars per ton. + + * * * * * + +The Alabama now stood away in the direction of Fernando de Noronha, with +her prize in company, with the intention of there taking on board a +fresh supply of coal. The run was not a little protracted by the light +and baffling winds that still prevailed, and as though this was not +enough, fortune must needs play her a trick, by sending her off on a +chase of fourteen miles after a supposed Yankee whaler, which, when at +last overhauled, turned out to be nothing but a poor little +green-painted "Portiguee." + +Rain--rain--rain, the sun sometimes showing himself for an hour or two, +just a few minutes too early, or a few minutes too late, for any +purposes of observation, and then again retiring behind the dense masses +of cloud that hid the whole horizon in one drenching down-pour. And all +this while every mile of latitude of the last importance, as the Alabama +groped her way slowly to the southward and eastward in search of the +little island at which she was to take in her supplies, and which she +might at any moment run past in the darkness altogether! Trying work, +indeed, for the patience of men cooped up in their narrow floating +prison, and longing to be at work again. + +Too trying, at last, to be borne any longer without an effort at action; +so a bold attempt was made at coaling while under way upon the open sea! +Steam was got up, and the prize taken in tow, and then two boats were +lowered, and set to work. But the scheme, bold and ingenious as it was, +was soon found to be impracticable. The boats managed to get loaded from +the captured collier, but they had then to be warped up alongside the +Alabama, and the lowest speed that could be given her was too great for +them to be hauled up against it. So each time, as they were filled, it +was necessary to stop the engine, and thus occasion another difficulty. + +We now--says Captain Semmes--began to part our tow lines by these +stoppages and startings, and it took a long time to get the line fast +again; so after a sleepless night, during which, as I lay in my cot +trying to sleep, it seemed as if a dozen stentors on deck were rivaling +each other in making the night hideous, I sent word to get the boats run +up again, and to continue our course to Fernando de Noronha without +interruption. + +At daylight we made the peak of the island a long way off, some +thirty-eight or forty miles, and in the afternoon at 2.30 came to, with +the peak bearing S.W. 1/2 S. and the N.E. end of the Rat Island N.E. by +E. 1/2 E., depth of water thirteen and a half fathoms. Anchored the +prize near us. But for our steam we should have been still drifting to +the S.W., as the day has been nearly calm throughout. Fernando de +Noronha, in the wayside of the commerce of all the world, is sighted by +more ships, and visited by fewer, than any other spot of earth. It is a +broken, picturesque, volcanic rock, in mid ocean, covered with a +pleasing coat of verdure, including trees of some size, and the top of +the main island is cultivated in small farms, &c. Awfully hot when the +sun shines, and indeed, when he does not shine. Just after dark hauled +the prize alongside, and commenced coaling. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +_An official "in trouble"--On shore again--A breakfast party--On +horseback--Blowing hard--Taken in the net--Easy captures--The Kate +Cory--The Lafayette--A polite Governor--The Louisa Hatch burned, and +Kate Cory burned--Landing prisoners--Tired of waiting--A scramble--Out +of harbour again._ + + +_April 11th._--Light and variable airs; misty from the southward and +eastward, and oppressive; ther. 83°. Last night the two vessels lay +alongside of each other so roughly, and we received so much damage (our +forechannels being crushed in, and our topsail mainyard being carried +away) that we were compelled to haul the prize off, and continue coaling +by means of our boats. + +The authorities on shore having hoisted no colours, we have not set ours +to-day. We were visited this morning by a couple of gentlemen from the +shore, bearing a letter from the Governor in reply to an inquiry I had +caused the Paymaster to address to him on the subject of supplies. Their +interpreter very naively informed me that he was a German, who had been +sentenced to banishment here from Rio, and that he had a year and a-half +to serve. This was said while my servant was drawing the cork of a +champagne bottle. The forger (for such was his offence) taking his glass +of wine with the rest! The Governor informed me that I could procure +supplies of beef, fresh pork, fowls, &c., and that he would be glad to +exchange these articles with me for flour, wine, sugar, coffee, &c. I +was glad to find that he raised no question of neutrality, though he +had, no doubt, been informed by a boat's crew from the shore that got +the information on board, of the ship in my company being a prize. He +kindly invited me to visit the shore. During the night (one o'clock) we +had a surprise in the way of a strange steamer making her appearance, +coming round the point of Rat Island. I had all hands called to +quarters, and the battery made ready, fires extinguished, and chains got +right for slipping. Although she came within a mile of us, with the +intention, as we thought, of coming to anchor, she kept on her course +to the southward and we piped down, the men, much fagged from coaling, +not having lost more than half an hour's rest by the operation. + +_Sunday, April 12th._--The exigencies of war compel me to work to-day in +coaling ship. Weather clear and very hot during morning, clouding about +noon and raining for several hours. + +I visited the island this morning in company with the Surgeon, and +called on the Governor. The surf was too heavy to land, but we found a +bolsa moored at some distance from the shore, and transferring ourselves +to this we were very skillfully put through the surf by three or four +naked fellows, two of them not having even a breech-cloth about their +loins. Fine, well-made fellows they were too. We found horses in +waiting, and rode about a mile to the village and residence of the +Governor--a Major in the Brazilian army; passing an immense sand-drift, +which we had not expected to find on this volcanic rock. + +We found the Governor at breakfast, and he insisted on our seating +ourselves, and making a second breakfast with him in company with his +wife--a sprightly, bright mulatto--and a pretty girl, quite white, of +about sixteen, and the _padre_. After breakfast we were introduced to a +number of what appeared to be the gentry of the island, and who had +assembled thus early to meet us. Having smoked and chatted awhile, we +remounted for a ride over the island. + +We were not in the saddle more than twenty minutes when one of those +showers, so sudden in this climate, overtook us, and gave us a complete +drenching; we had other showers during the day, but were compensated by +the sun hiding himself during the entire ride. We passed under the +shadow of the gigantic peak, and soon reached the summit of the island, +which spreads out into a most beautiful and productive plain of some two +or three hundred acres. The soil is a ferruginous clay of the richest +description, and covered with the choicest vegetation of wild grapes, +Indian corn, the cotton plant, the castor bean, &c., &c. We stopped a +few minutes to examine a manioc manufactory. Continuing our ride, we +passed through a small but dense forest, to a cocoa-nut plantation on +the south-west part of the island, where we found the water-melon +growing in its choice soil--sand. Here we took shelter again from +another heavy rain, and got some fine grapes. Whilst waiting for the +shower to pass, I had quite a talk with the Governor on various topics; +among others, on the state of the mixed races in the Brazils, &c., &c. +The island, at the season at which we visited it, was a gem of +picturesque beauty--exceedingly broken and diversified with dells and +rocks, and small streams, &c., &c. It was the middle of the rainy +season. The little mountain paths as we returned became small brooks +that hummed and purled in their rapid course. I took occasion to inform +his Excellency that my tender was a prize, so that he might be under no +apprehension. Number of convicts 1000. Whole number of population, 2000. +The Governor expressed himself our very good friend, &c., &c. Got on +board at 5 P.M. + +_Monday, April 13th._--Another rainy day. Showers very heavy, but still +we continue our coaling. Wind from northward and westward, and though +light, there is considerable sea on. The bad weather continued all day, +and the night having set in with threatening appearances, I caused +everybody to be brought on board from the prize, to guard against the +possibility of her being driven on shore, and endangering life. I had +the steam got up, and the chain ready for slipping, and was fearful that +I should be obliged to slip; but we held on during the night. Night very +dark, with heavy rain, and much sea on. + +_Tuesday, April 14th._--Wind this morning from about W.S.W.; weather +still louring. Our friends came off from the shore again this morning, +bringing the fresh provisions ordered for the crew. Every thing is very +dear here. Meat forty cents per pound; but still my crew has been so +long on salt diet that flesh is an anti-scorbutic necessity for them. I +have arranged to sell forty or more tons of coal for a Brazilian +schooner there is in the harbour, and had a proposition for purchasing +the prize, which I offered to sell as low as 20,000 dollars; but this +sum seemed to alarm them, they saying there was not so much money in +Fernando de Noronha. Continued our coaling. + +_Wednesday, April 15th._--Weather clear, and light wind from the +eastward. Finished coaling ship this morning. At about 11 A.M. a couple +of whale-boats from two vessels in the offing pulled into the harbour; +went on board our prize, and thence to the shore. Although the two +masters were told that we were the Iroquois, they seemed at once to have +comprehended the true state of the case, and to make haste to put +themselves out of harm's way. We were an hour and more getting up steam +and weighing our anchor for the chase; and if in the meantime these +whaling captains had pulled out to their ships, and run into shore so as +to get within the league, they might have saved them. We gave chase, and +came up with both of them on the south side of the island, about +half-past 3 P.M., and captured them--both of them being without the +league. One the hermaphrodite brig Kate Cory, of Westport, and the other +the barque Lafayette, of New Bedford; the barque we burned, and the +brig we brought into the anchorage, arriving after dark, about 7 A.M. We +sounded in thirteen fathoms on a bank on the south side, on the southern +extremity of which there is a breaker lying out from two and a half to +three miles. There is also a reef off Tobacco Point running out half a +mile. We saw no other dangers. + + * * * * * + +With reference to these captures, the following amusing account is +extracted from the private journal of the officer of the Alabama who was +prize-master on board the Louisa Hatch:-- + +'At noon, on the 15th of April, two vessels were descried to the south, +standing off and on, under reduced sail. At 12:30 two boats were +observed pulling towards us, asking my ship's name, the port I hailed +from, &c. I answered correctly. The person in charge of the other boat +then inquired if the war-steamer was the Alabama. I replied, 'Certainly +not, she was the Iroquois U.S. steamer.' 'Have you any news of the +Alabama?' 'Yes, we had heard of her being in the West Indies, at Jamaica +or Costa Rica, &c.' A conversation ensued, by which I learned that the +boats belonged to the two vessels in the distance, that they were both +whalers put in for supplies, and that seeing the steamer they were +rather dubious as to her nationality, and had therefore spoke me, to +gain the required information. A brisk conversation was then kept up; my +object in engaging them in it was to enable the Alabama to get under way +ere the whalers took the alarm, feeling certain that the preparations +were being made to go after them. + +'I then invited the masters to come on board my ship, which they +cheerfully consented to do, and were within a boat's length, when a cry +of alarm broke from the steersman in the foremost boat. Shouting to his +crew to 'Give way, men; give way for your lives!' he with a few +well-directed, vigorous strokes, turned his boat's head round, and made +for the shore, the other boat following, blank astonishment being +depicted on the face of each member of the crews. To the frantic +inquiries of the person in charge of the other boat as to the cause of +his (the steersman's) extraordinary conduct, his only reply was, +'There!' pointing to a small Confederate flag of about fifteen inches +long and six inches broad, which I had inadvertently left flying at the +gaff; the gaff being lowered down, the little flag having been used as a +dog-vane, in order to tell the direction of the wind, &c. No sooner did +the men perceive it than they redoubled their exertions to gain the +shore; one of the masters calling out that they had spoken a ship a week +ago, from whom they had obtained news of peace. No credence, however, +could be, or was placed in this statement. + +'Immediately after they left I despatched a boat to the Alabama +informing them of the character of my visitors. At 9.15 the Alabama was +observed to get under way, steaming out of the anchorage after the two +vessels. + +'The larger island being between the scene of the Alabama's operations +and the Louisa Hatch, I was not, of course, an eye witness of the +captures. But at 5.30 I observed a dense column of smoke, which, as it +grew later, turned into a ruddy glare, leaving no doubt in our minds as +to the fate of the whalers. At 7 P.M. observed the Alabama coming round +the northern part of the island with a vessel in tow, both anchoring at +7.30. The next morning I learnt that the captures were the barque +Lafayette, of New Bedford, and the brig Kate Cory, of Westport. The +barque was burnt and the brig kept, it being our intention to send off +all the prisoners we had on board, consisting of 140, including the +women stewardesses, in her; but on communicating with the authorities, +it was resolved to land them on the island, a Brazilian schooner +engaging to convey them to Pernambuco. For this purpose provisions for +twenty-one days were sent ashore, the prisoners, after being paroled, +following. + +The remainder of the day was spent in transferring provisions, &c., for +ship's use. The next evening the prizes, the Louisa Hatch and Kate Cory, +slipped cables, and stood seaward. When about five miles from land both +vessels were set fire to; Mr. Evans, the officer in charge of the brig, +returning on board long before me, the strong westerly current rendering +it extremely difficult to stem it. + +'We remained painting and cleaning ship until the 22nd. At 9.30 A.M. we +got under way, steering and cruising towards Bahia, at which place we +arrived on the 11th of May, having captured and burnt four vessels +between Fernando and Bahia. + +'The news of our doings off the islands had preceded us, of course with +additions and manipulations _ad lib._, the schooner having left Noronha +the day previous to our departure. The Governor of Pernambuco had sent +three war vessels to the islands to enforce the neutrality of the place, +which, according to Yankee representations, had been infringed. Not +content with this, the American representatives had succeeded in +procuring the recall of the Governor, whose only crime was that he had +let us anchor off the place--a crime of which he was necessarily +guiltless, because he had no power to prevent our anchoring if we +insisted on it. + +'Whilst at Bahia I was shown a letter from the master of one of the +whaling barques to an agent, in which he wrote that he would spare no +money or time to follow to the uttermost ends of the earth, and bring to +justice, the man who had so cruelly deceived him. This sentence had +reference to my denial of the Alabama and the substitution of the U.S. +steamer Iroquois for that of C.S. steamer Alabama. The ingratitude of +some people!!' + +On the 16th April Captain Semmes resumes his diary as follows:--Weather +clear; wind light from the southward and eastward. Our banner, last +night a lurid flame, is a tall column of smoke advertising us for +twenty-five or thirty miles round. My first intention was to ship all my +prisoners, amounting to about one hundred and ten, in the prize brig, +but the Governor having consented to my landing them, I am busy to-day +getting them on shore, with their baggage and provisions, and receiving +prisoners from the Louisa Hatch. Sun very warm. The Governor paid me a +visit this morning, and requested that I would write him on the subject +of the captures yesterday, stating the fact (with which he was +satisfied, or at least, to which he made no objection) that they were +captured beyond the league from the land, and requesting leave to land +the prisoners, in order that our understanding should assume an official +shape, which I did. + +_Friday, April 17th._--The weather still continues very warm; wind light +from the S.E., and cloudy. Busy receiving and stowing away provisions, +replacing the coal consumed, and getting ready for sea generally. The +landing of so many prisoners amid so small a population has created a +very great stir, and the excitable Brazilians are discussing among +themselves and with the Yankee captains the question of the American war +with great vehemence. Several sail have been reported as usual. The +afternoon set in rainy, and the rain continued all night. Towards +nightfall sent the prizes, Louisa Hatch and Kate Cory, a league outside +the island, and burned them. Received four recruits from the Louisa +Hatch, and more volunteered, but I am full. + +_Saturday, April 18th._--Morning cloudy, with wind light from the S.E. +Loosed sails to-day. I am anxiously expecting the arrival of the +Agrippina, my store ship, from England, which was ordered to rendezvous +here--not so anxiously, however, as if my coal-bunkers were empty. But +she has a couple of additional guns on board, that would make an +important addition to my battery. + +_Sunday, April 19th._--Rain in the morning, with light airs. Our +steam-tubes leak badly, and I am afraid the leaks will increase so as to +give us trouble. Every time we get up steam, even a few pounds for +condensing water, we find that large quantities of hot water flow into +the hold; eight inches escaped in about twelve hours yesterday. +Unfortunately, too, this tubing is laid so low in the bottom of the +ship, as to be out of reach for examination or repairs without being +taken up. The Governor sent me off a fine turkey and some fruit, and his +lady a bouquet of roses. The roses were very sweet, and made me +home-sick for a while. + +_Monday, April 20th._--A dull, heavy, rainy day--the rain coming down at +intervals in torrents, as it is wont to do in these regions. Still +laying at our anchors, waiting for the Agrippina. She should be out +thirty-five days, to-day, from Cardiff. In the afternoon the rain +ceased, except an occasional light sprinkle, but the dull canopy of +clouds did not break, and we had a strong breeze from the S.E. for four +or five hours, indicating the approach of the trades to this latitude. + +_Tuesday, April 21st._--Morning clear, wind light from S.E. The Island +after the rain is blooming in freshness and verdure, and as my eye roams +over its green slopes I long for repose and the quiet of peace in my own +land: I do not think it can be far off. Fresh "trade" in the afternoon. +Towards night the Brazilian steamer sailed with a load of our prisoners. + +_Wednesday, April 22nd._--Cloudy, with squalls for rain. At 9.30 got +under way under steam, and stood to the eastward. Cut away four +whale-boats that the islanders might have a scramble for them. They soon +started in chase! Steamed due east, about forty-five miles, let the +steam go down, and put the ship under sail. No sail seen. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +_A curious prize--The Nye--The Dorcas Prince--An anniversary--The Union +Jack and-the Sea Lark--In the harbour of Bahia--Explanations--Unexpected +meeting--The Georgia--A little holiday--Diplomacy--More +neutrality--Home-sick._ + + +A curious prize was the next that fell into the clutches of the +all-devouring Alabama. A whaling barque, the Nye, of New Bedford, eleven +months out, without having once put into port! Three whole months before +the launching of the Alabama, had that patient little vessel been +ploughing the seas, gathering, as it turned out, only additional fuel +for her own funeral pyre. A weary voyage to have so sad a termination! + +Among her crew, transferred as prisoners to her captor, was a +Lieutenant of Marines from the Quaker State, serving on board the +whaler in the capacity of steward! + +Next came the Dorcas Prince, of and from New York, for Shanghai. Cargo +chiefly coal, probably intended for United States ships of war in the +East Indies--a supposition that undoubtedly gave additional zest to the +bonfire, which--no claim to neutrality being found among her papers--in +due course followed on her capture. + +_Saturday, May 2nd._--An anniversary with me--writes Captain Semmes--my +marriage-day. Alas! this is the third anniversary since I was separated +from my family by this Yankee war! And the destruction of fifty of their +ships has been but a small revenge for this great privation. + +On that day two more were added to the long list, and the barque Union +Jack, of Boston, and ship Sea Lark, of New York, shared the fate of +their fifty predecessors. The former of these two vessels added three +women and two infants to the already far too numerous colony of the +weaker sex, by which the Alabama was now encumbered. + +There was no claim of neutral property among the papers of either of +these ships, except in the case of one Allen Hay, who was the shipper of +five cases of crackers, and ten barrels of butter, on board the Union +Jack. In this case, a Thomas W. Lielie made oath before the British +Consul at New York, that the said articles were shipped "for and on +account of Her Britannic Majesty." This certificate was of no force or +effect, for its _indefiniteness_, as decided in other cases. A claim of +property must point out the owner or owners, and not aver that it +belongs to the subjects of a nation generally. There must be some one +designated who has a right to the possession of the property under the +bill of lading. The certificate was accordingly set aside, and the ship +and cargo condemned. + +Besides the women and children, the Union Jack furnished also another +prisoner of a somewhat unusual character, in the person of the Rev. +Franklin Wright, late editor of a religious paper, and newly-appointed +consul at Foo Chow. The worthy clergyman's entry, however, upon his new +duties was for the time indefinitely postponed by the confiscation of +his appointment, along with the other public papers in his charge. So, +for a time, Foo Chow had to exist without the advantages arising from +the presence of a functionary from the United States. + + * * * * * + +_Monday, May 11th._--Showed the United States colours to a Spanish +brig. In the afternoon ran in and anchored in the harbour of Bahia. A +Portuguese steamer, the only vessel of war found here. No Yankee +man-of-war had been here for some months. The health officer came on +board, just at nightfall. The Agrippina not here, and I begin to fear +that some disaster has befallen her. + +_Tuesday, May 12th._--This morning the President sent a messenger to me +with a copy of the _Diario de Bahia_ of the 8th May, in which appears a +sort of proclamation or request, addressed to me by the President of +Pernambuco, desiring that I should leave Fernando de Noronha in +twenty-four hours after the receipt of the same. This paper seems to be +based on certain false statements carried to Pernambuco by the Yankee +prisoners whom I had sent to this place. It is alleged that I violated +the neutrality of the island, &c. I replied to the President, that there +was no truth in this statement; but that, on the contrary, I had paid +respect to the neutrality of Brazil. In reply to my communication, the +President informed me that I should be admitted to the usual +hospitalities of the port; but the bearer of his despatch took occasion +to say that he hoped I would not stop more than three or four days, as +the President was afraid of being compromised in some way. The master of +an English barque came on board and informed me that he had coal and +provisions for the Confederate steamer Japan, which was to meet him here +on the 6th instant. + +_Wednesday, May 13th_.--Early this morning a strange steamer was +discovered at anchor about half a mile from us; and at 8 A.M., when we +hoisted our colours, to our great surprise and delight, she too hoisted +the Confederate flag. We then exchanged the established signals; and on +sending a boat on board of her, we ascertained that she was the Georgia, +Lieut. Commanding Maury. Chapman and Evans, two of my Sumter +Lieutenants, were on board of her. The Georgia sailed from England about +the 2nd of April, and armed off Ushant. Our ship has been crowded with +visitors ever since we came in. + +_Thursday, May 14th._--At 12.15 P.M. with a party of officers from the +Georgia and my own ship, I took a steam-tug and proceeded up the harbour +to the railroad depot, at the invitation of the manager of the road, for +an excursion into the country, which proved to be very pleasant. We +passed along the whole port of Bahia, the lower town skirting the water, +and the upper town the crests of a semicircular height, the intermediate +space being filled with trees and shrubbery. The houses are mostly +white, and many of them very picturesque. The terminus of the road is a +beautiful and spacious iron building, situated in the middle of a great +square; and the road itself is a very substantial job. We rode out +twenty-four miles through a picturesque country, the road bordered for +most of the way by the bay and lagoons, with beautiful little valleys +occasionally opening on either hand, with their patches of sugar-cane +and cotton. On our return we sat down to a beautiful lunch, with +champagne. Our hosts were attentive and agreeable, and we returned on +board at dusk, after a very pleasant day. The English residents here +have been very attentive to us. Our tug-man, who was a Thames waterman, +dodged in and out among the launches and vessels in a way that only a +Thames man can do. The French mail came in to-day, and brought us news +that the Florida was at Pernambuco. + +_Friday, May 15th._--This morning a person in citizen's dress came on +board and said that the President had requested him to ask me to show +him my commission. I replied that I could have no objection to show my +commission, but it must be to an officer of my own rank, and that this +officer must come on board in his uniform for the purpose; that I could +not show my commission to any person who might come on board in +citizen's dress, bringing me a mere verbal message, and without any +credentials of his rank, &c. I remarked, however, that it would give me +very great pleasure to call on the President myself and exhibit it. To +this he readily assented; and having appointed an hour for the +interview, I went on shore, accompanied by my _aide_, and had a long and +agreeable chat with his Excellency, who was a man of about thirty-five +years of age, tall and delicate-looking, with black eyes and hair. + +We discussed various points relating to the subject of neutral and +belligerent rights, &c.; and I took occasion to repeat the assurances I +had previously given him in my letter, that I had paid due attention to +the neutral rights of Brazil during my visit to Fernando de Noronha, &c. +I told him I only desired him to extend to me and to the Georgia the +same hospitality as he would extend to a Federal cruiser; but that I +might say to him as an individual, that we were entitled to the warm +sympathies of Brazil, &c. + +I arranged about coaling the Georgia and this ship by means of launches, +as there were port objections to the ship being hauled alongside. He +seemed anxious that our stay should be as short as possible, lest our +delay might compromise his neutrality in some way. He said my sailors +had been behaving very badly on shore, and indeed I knew they had. I +told him he would oblige me by securing the rioters and putting them in +prison. This evening we were entertained very handsomely at the +residence of Mr. Ogilvie, where we met all the English society of the +place. + +_Saturday, May 16th._--This day the ship (Castor), from which the +Georgia was coaling, was ordered to be hauled off, and the operation +suspended, the Yankee Consul having alleged to the Government that she +had munitions of war on board. + +_Sunday, May 17th.--_In the morning an officer came on board and read +me a despatch from the President, expressing displeasure at my remaining +so long in the port, and directing me to proceed to sea in twenty-four +hours. The same paper was read on board the Georgia. I replied that the +Government itself had caused our delay, by prohibiting us from coaling +from the ship from which we had purchased our coal; and that I could go +to sea in twenty-four hours after this prohibition was removed, &c., &c. +A party of English ladies and gentlemen visited the ship this afternoon. +We were crowded all day, besides, with miscellaneous visitors. + +_Tuesday, May 19th._--This morning, at the request of the President, I +went on shore to see him, and we had a long and animated discussion, in +which he stated he had certain proofs, adduced by the United States +Consul, to the effect that the coal-ship Castor had been sent here to +meet us, &c.; and that under these circumstances (the ship being +charged, besides, with having munitions of war on board), he felt it his +duty to prevent us from coaling from her, but that we might have free +access to the market, &c. The Consul, too, had told him that I had +shipped one of the prisoners after landing him: the fact being that, +although many of them volunteered, I refused to receive any of them, +having already a full crew on board. In the afternoon addressed a letter +to the President, insisting upon the right to coal from the Castor. + +_Wednesday, May 20th._--We were promised lighters with coal from the +shore this morning; but not one has yet come off--half-past twelve. Just +at nightfall a lighter came alongside, and during the night we filled +up. The next day we got under way and steamed out of the harbour. + +_Sunday, May 24th._--I am quite home-sick this quiet Sunday morning. I +am now two _long, long_ years away from my family, and there are no +signs of an abatement of the war; on the contrary, the Yankees seem to +become more and more infuriated, and nothing short of a war of invasion +is likely to bring them to terms, unless indeed it be the destruction of +their commerce; and for this, I fear, we are as yet too weak. If we can +get and hold Kentucky, the case may be different. Well, we must +sacrifice our natural yearnings on the altar of our country, for without +a country we can have no home. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +_Two more!--The Gildersliene and Justina--Case of the Jabez Snow--The +barque Amazonian--Relieved of prisoners--A hint--The Talisman--Under +false colours--The Conrad--A nobler fate--Re-christened--The Tuscaloosa +commissioned--Short of provisions._ + + +The 25th May witnessed the capture of the ship Gildersliene and the +barque Justina. The latter having a neutral cargo, was ransomed on a +bond for 7000 dollars; the former condemned and burned, after an +investigation terminating in the following decision:-- + +CASE OF THE GILDERSLIENE. + +Ship under the United States colours and register. Charter-party with +Messrs. Halliday, Fox, and Co., of London, who describe themselves as +merchants and freighters, to make a voyage to Calcutta and back to +London or Liverpool. Cargo taken in at Sunderland, and consisting of +coal, said to be shipped for the "service of the Peninsular and Oriental +Steam Navigation Company," but not even averred to be on "their account +and risk." No certificate or other evidence of property; ship and cargo +condemned. Master knows nothing of property except what appears by the +papers. + + * * * * * + +_Friday, May 29th._--We had another chase last night from about 2 A.M., +but with better success than the two previous nights, since at 7.30 A.M. +we came up with and captured the ship Jabez Snow, of Rockport, Maine. +Just at daylight, being within about four miles of her, we hoisted our +own colours, and fired a gun. She did not show any colours in return, +and stood a second gun before heaving to; she finally showed her +colours. Got on board from the prize a quantity of provisions and +cordage; transhipped the crew, and about sunset set her on fire. Found a +letter on board, the writer of which referred to American ships being +under a cloud "owing to dangers from pirates, more politely styled +privateers," which our kind friends in England are so willing "should +slip out of their ports to prey on our commerce." This letter was dated +Boston, November 25th, 1862. + +CASE OF THE JABEZ SNOW. + +Ship under United States colours, cargo coals, from Cardiff for Monte +Video. On the face of the bill of lading is the following: "We certify +that the cargo of coals per Jabez Snow, for which this is the bill of +lading, is the _bonâ fide_ property of Messrs. Wilson, Holt, Lane, & +Co., and that the same are British subjects and merchants; And also that +the coals are for their own use. + +"JNO. POWELL & SONS." + +As this certificate was not sworn to, it added no force to the bill of +lading, as every bill of lading is an unsworn certificate of the facts +it recites. There being no legal proof among the papers to contradict +the presumption that all property found under the enemy's flag is +enemy's property, and as the Master, who was the charterer and agent of +the ship, and whose duty it was to know about all the transactions in +which he was engaged, swore that he had no personal knowledge of the +owner of the cargo, except such as he derived from the ship's papers, +the cargo, as well as the ship, is condemned as prize of war. The +following significant extract from a letter of the Master to his owners, +dated Penrith Roads, April 19th, 1863, was found on board, though not +produced by the Master:-- + +"I have my bills of lading certified by the Mayor, that the cargo is +_bonâ fide_ English property. Whether this will be of any service to me +in the event of my being overhauled by a Southern pirate, remains to be +proved." + +The certificate above recited seems, therefore, to have been procured by +the Master to protect his ship from capture, and not to have been a +spontaneous act of the pretended neutral owners to protect the cargo. +The cargo and advance freight were insured against war-risk, the ship +paying the premium. No effort was made by Wilson, Holt, Lane, & Co., to +protect the cargo, and they were the proper parties to make the oath. +The agent who shipped the coal for this firm, and who wrote the +above-quoted certificate, could only know, of course, that he had +shipped them by order of his principal. Why, then, did Wilson, Holt, +Lane, & Co., decline to make the necessary oath to protect the cargo? +They should have taken the necessary steps to protect either themselves +or the insurers, but they did no such thing. It would seem, probably, +that they were the agents of some American house, and that they could +not, in conscience, take the oath required by law. + + * * * * * + +The next prize was the Amazonian, of Boston, from New York to Monte +Video, captured, after a long chase, on the 2d of June, but not until +two blank shots had failed to bring her to, and the stronger hint of a +round from the rifled gun had convinced her of the impossibility of +escape. + + * * * * * + +CASE OF THE BARQUE AMAZONIAN. + +Ship under United States colours; has an assorted cargo on board, and is +bound from New York to Monte Video. There are two claims of neutral +property--one for twenty cases of varnish and fifty casks of oil, +claimed as shipped on "account of Messrs. Galli & Co., French subjects." +This claim is sworn to by a Mr. Craig, before a notary. It does not aver +that the property is in Messrs. Galli & Co., but simply that it was +shipped "on their account." There is no outside evidence of the truth of +this transaction, as the master knows nothing about it. + + * * * * * + +Right glad was the Alabama to fall in, on the day after this last +capture, with an English brigantine, the master of which proved willing, +in consideration of a gift from Captain Semmes of one of his noble +collection of captured chronometers, to relieve him of the crowd of +prisoners with which he was encumbered. To the number of forty-one they +were forthwith transferred, along with a stock of provisions sufficient +for a fortnight's consumption; and the Alabama breathed freely again, +relieved of her disagreeable charge. + +It may not be an uninstructive, and it is most assuredly an amusing +comment, upon the claims of neutrality so loudly insisted upon, to quote +the following extract from a New York letter, captured on board one of +the recent prizes. It is dated April 7th, and addressed to a +correspondent in Buenos Ayres:-- + +"When you ship in American vessels, it would be as well to have the +British Consul's certificate of English property attached to the bill of +lading and invoices; as in the event of falling in with the numerous +privateers, it would save both cargo and vessel, in all probability. An +American ship, recently fallen in with, was released by the Alabama on +account of a British Consul's certificate showing the greater part of +the cargo to be English property. If you ship in a neutral vessel, we +save five per cent, war insurances." + +Another prize. The Talisman, a fine ship of 1100 tons, under United +States colours and register, with no claim of neutral property in cargo; +and before the glare of her funeral pyre had faded from the horizon, +another hove in sight, so evidently American, that notwithstanding the +English ensign flying at her peak, she was at once brought to and +boarded. And American she proved to be in her origin; but her owners had +been wise, and, so far as her papers went, she had been regularly +transferred to the protection of the British flag--humiliating, perhaps, +to the proud "Yankee nation," but effective as a precaution against +capture; though, had the Confederate cruiser been able to send her into +port for adjudication, the transfer might very possibly, when the +evidence came to be sifted, have proved but a "bogus transaction" after +all. + +So the "Englishman" had to be released, consenting, however, to relieve +the Alabama of a prisoner and his wife, recently captured on board the +Talisman. A week passed away, and then came another instance of a +similar transfer under the strong pressure of fear, the whilom Yankee +barque Joseph Hall, of Portland, Maine, now seeking a humiliating safety +as the "British" Azzopadi, of Port Lewis, Isle of France! + +Alas! for the Stars and Stripes, the Azzopadi was not hull down on the +horizon ere the once-renowned Yankee clipper Challenger lay humbly, with +her maintopsail to the mast, in the very place in which her countryman +had just been performing a similar penance, claiming, as the +British-owned Queen of Beauty, a similar immunity. + +At last, however, as the impatient crew of the Alabama were beginning to +think that their enemy's flag had finally vanished from the face of the +ocean, an adventurous barque hove in sight, with the old familiar +bunting at her peak. She proved to be the Conrad, of Philadelphia, from +Buenos Ayres for New York, partly laden with wool, the ownership of +which was, as usual, claimed as neutral. On investigation, the claim +proved an evident-fabrication, the facts of the case being as follows:-- + +CASE OF THE CONRAD. + +Ship under American colours and register. A Mr. Thomas Armstrong, who +describes himself as a British subject doing business at Buenos Ayres, +makes oath before the British Consul that a part of this wool belongs to +him and a part to Don Frederico Elortando, a subject of the Argentine +Republic. This may or may not be true, but the master is unable to +verify the document, he not having been present when it was prepared, +and not knowing any thing about it. There is, besides, so strong a +current of American trade with Buenos Ayres, that the presumption is, +from the very fact that this wool was going to New York in an American +barque, under the imminency of capture, which our presence in these +seas--well known at Buenos Ayres when the barque sailed--must have +shown, that the property is American, and that the certificate is an +attempt to cover it; Mr. Armstrong probably being a brother or a partner +in the transaction with some American house. Ship and cargo condemned. + + * * * * * + +FURTHER EXAMINATION OF CASE OF CONRAD. + +From an examination of the correspondence in this case, brought on board +after the ship's papers had been examined, it appeared that Mr. +Armstrong, the party shipping a part of the cargo, swears before _his_ +consul that he and one Don Frederico Elortando, are the _owners_ of the +property, and swears before the United States Consul that he is the sole +_owner_ of the property. Both of these oaths cannot be true. It further +appears that, whilst the property in the bill of lading is consigned to +Simon de Visser, Esq., in the letters of Messrs. Kirkland and Von Sachs +it is spoken of as consigned to them. The letters make no mention of any +joint-ownership with Armstrong, but treat the consignment as his sole +property. But though, like so many of her countrymen, condemned, the +Conrad was not to die. A nobler fate was in store for her--no less a +destiny than that of carrying the proud young flag to which she had +succumbed, and taking the sea, under a new name, as the consort of her +captor. Accordingly, Acting-Lieutenant Low was appointed to the command, +assisted by Acting-Master Sinclair and two master's mates. The two +rifled pounders captured in the Talisman were mounted on board, a due +complement of rifles, revolvers, ammunition, &c., supplied, and then the +transformed barque fired her first gun, ran up the Confederate ensign to +her peak, and amid a burst of cheering from her own crew and that of her +consort, made a fresh start in life as the Confederate States +sloop-of-war Tuscaloosa. + +The Alabama was now bound for the Cape of Good Hope, where her faithful +tender, the Agrippina, was again to meet her. On the 27th of June, +however, when in lat. 20.01 S., long. 28.29 W., it was discovered that a +great portion of the supposed month's supply of bread had been destroyed +by weevils, and that there was not enough left for the run. A visit to +some port nearer at hand thus became inevitable, and the ship's course +was accordingly shaped for Rio Janeiro. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +_An insult to the Yankee flag--Fine weather--The Anna F. Schmidt--"What +ship's that?"--The Express--A supply of bread--Saldanha Bay--Visitors +from the country--A funeral--The Tuscaloosa's prize--The capture off +Cape Town--The Sea Bride won--Ship crowded--Sympathy_. + + +_Sunday, June 28th._--At 4.30 this evening brought-to a heavy ship with +a blank cartridge; or rather she seemed to come-to of her own accord, as +she was evidently outsailing us, and was, when we fired, at very long +range. Soon after heaving-to she burned a blue light, and whilst our +boat, with a light in it, was pulling towards her, she burned another. +She afterwards said she would not have hove-to but that she thought we +might be in distress. The boarding officer reported us as the United +States ship Dacotah, and demanded to see the ship's papers, which were +refused, the Master stating that we had no right to see his papers. The +boarding officer having been informed of her name (the Vernon), and that +she was from Melbourne, for London, and being satisfied, from +observation, that she was really an English ship, she being one of the +well-known frigate-built Melbourne packets, returned on board, and the +ship filled away; and she was already at considerable distance from us +when I received the boarding officer's report. Under all these +circumstances, I did not chase him afresh to enforce my belligerent +right of search. _Cui bono_, the vessel being really English? Although, +indeed, the resistance to search by a neutral is good cause of capture, +I could only capture to destroy; and I would not burn an English ship +(being satisfied of her nationality) if the Master persisted to the law +in not showing his papers. Nor did I feel that the Confederate States +flag had any insult to revenge, as the insult, if any, was intended for +the Yankee flag. Most probably, however, the ship being a packet-ship, +and a mail-packet, the Master erred from ignorance. + +Lat. 26.35, long. 32.59.30, current S.E. thirty miles; ship rolling and +tumbling about, to my great discomfort. The fact is, I am getting too +old to relish the rough usage of the sea. Youth sometimes loves to be +rocked by the gale, but when we have passed the middle stage of life, we +love quiet and repose. + +_Tuesday, June 30th._--The bad weather of the past week seems at length +to have blown itself out; and this morning we have the genial sunshine +again, and a clear, bracing atmosphere. With a solitary exception, the +Cape pigeons, true to their natures, have departed. There is still some +roughness of the sea left, however, and the ship is rolling and creaking +her bulk-heads, as usual. Wind moderate from about East. + +Another prize on the 2nd of July, the Anna, F. Schmidt, of Maine, from +Boston for San Francisco; and another cautious Yankee transformed into +an Englishman; and then came a large ship flying before the wind, with +all sail set to her royals, and answering the Alabama's challenge with a +gun from her own bow port. + +A man-of-war this, from her fashion of replying, even had the fact not +been sufficiently apparent from the cut of her heavy yards and lofty +spars. An enemy, perhaps! And wild with the hope of a fight, though it +be with an enemy not much less than double her size, away flies the +Alabama, at top speed of sail and steam, in chase. The sea was smooth, +though with a strong breeze; and ere long the saucy little cruiser +ranged up alongside of the fine frigate, with ten black muzzles grinning +through his ports on either side. + +"This is the Confederate States ship Alabama!" rang out from the +quarter-deck, as the two ships flew through the water, side by +side:--"What ship's that?" + +But there was to be no fight that day. The chase contented herself with +the laconic reply, "Her Britannic Majesty's ship Diomede;" and went +tearing along upon her course under the tremendous press of canvas, +beneath which her spars were bending like a whip, and was soon out of +sight, evidently bound on some errand that would not brook delay. + +Some small compensation for this disappointment was found two days +afterwards in the capture of the fine ship Express, of Boston, from +Callao for Antwerp, loaded with guano, the particulars of which are +recorded as follows:-- + +CASE OF THE SHIP EXPRESS. + +Ship under United States colours and register; cargo guano, shipped by +Senan, Valdeavellano and Co., at Callao, and consigned to J. Sescau and +Co., at Antwerp. On the back of this bill of lading is the following +endorsement: "Nous soussignés chargé d'affaires et consul général de +France à Lima, certifions que la chargement de mille soixante douze de +register de Huano spécifié au présent connaissement, est propriété +neutre." + +Fait à Lima, le 27 Janvier, 1863. + +(Signed and impressed with the Consular seal.) + +This certificate fails to be of any value as proof, for two reasons: +first, it is not sworn to; and secondly, it simply avers the property to +be neutral (the greater part of it, for it does not touch the guano in +sacks), instead of pointing out the owner or owners. A Consul may +authenticate evidence by his seal, but when he departs from the usual +functions of a Consul, and becomes a witness, he must give his testimony +under oath, like other witnesses. This certificate, therefore, does not +even amount to an _ex parte_ affidavit. If the property had been in the +shipper's or consignee's name, it would have been quite as easy to say +so as to put the certificate in its present shape. Why, then, was the +simple declaration that the property was neutral made use of?--the law +with which every Consul, and more especially a chargé d'affaires, is +supposed to be acquainted with, declaring them to be insufficient? The +conclusion from these two facts--viz., that there was no oath taken, and +that there was no owner named--seemed to be that the Consul gave a sort +of matter-of-course certificate, upon the application of some one who +declared the property to be neutral, perhaps with a knowledge to the +fact, or contrary to the fact, neither party taking any oath. Now, the +presumption of law being, that goods found in an enemy's ship belong to +the enemy, unless a distinct neutral character be given to them, by +pointing out the _real owner_, by proper documentary proof, as neither +the bill of lading nor the certificate, which is a mere statement of a +fact, like the bill of lading, not under oath, nor the Master's +testimony, who knows nothing (see his deposition) except as he has been +told by the shipper, amounts to proper documentary proof, the ship and +cargo are both condemned. It must be admitted that this is a case in +which, perhaps, a prize court would grant "further proof;" but as I +cannot do this, and as a distinct neutral character is not impressed +upon the property by former evidence, I must act under the presumption +of law. Sect. 3rd, Phillimore, 596. The charter-party in this case +describes the charterers, J. Sescau and Co., of Antwerp, as agents of +the supreme Peruvian Government. But if so, why was it not certificated +by the government, as was done in the case of the Washington, captured +and released on bond by this ship? And then the master swears that _the +shippers told him_ that the cargo belonged to them; and if the Peruvian +Government must resort to a French official for a certificate, why not, +then, on oath made before him? and why did he not state the fact that it +so belonged, which would have protected it? + + * * * * * + +The Alabama was now again heading for the Cape, the Anna Schmidt having +yielded a supply of bread sufficient, with strict economy, to last out +the passage. There she arrived on the 29th July, anchoring in Saldanha +Bay, at about 1.45 P.M. + +_Thursday, July 30th._--Last night the sky and atmosphere were +singularly brilliant. Landed this morning at eight, to get sight for my +chronometers, this being the first time that I ever set foot on the +Continent of Africa. Saldanha is a gloomy, desert-looking place, the +shore comprised of sand and rock, without trees, but with green patches +here and there. There are three or four farm-houses in sight, scattered +over the hills. The farmers here are mostly graziers. The cattle are +fine and good; a great number of goats graze on the hills, and +sheep-raising is extensive, the mutton being particularly fine. Small +deer are abundant. We had a venison steak for breakfast. The little +islands in the bay abound in rabbits, and there is good +pheasant-shooting in the valleys. Already a party of officers has gone +out to stretch their limbs, and enjoy the luxury of shooting. + +_July 31st._--Took a stroll on shore, and walked round some fine +oat-fields. The soil resembles our hummock land in Florida, and produces +finely. Engaged caulking, painting, &c. An abundance of wild-flowers in +bloom. Huge blocks of granite lie about the sand, and from the tops of +projections, &c. + +_Saturday, Aug. 1st._--I returned on board, after a stroll on shore, at +2 P.M. During my walk I met some farmers in a four-horse waggon coming +to see the ship. They brought me a wild peacock--not quite so large as +our wild turkey. It was without the gorgeous plumage of the domestic +bird. The schooner Atlas came in this afternoon, with letters for me +from some merchants at Cape Town, offering their services to supply me +with coal, &c., and expressing their good-will, &c., &c. I took occasion +by this vessel, which returned immediately, to write to the Governor, +Sir Philip B. Wodehouse, informing him of my presence here. + +_Sunday, Aug. 2nd._--The inhabitants say that this winter has been +remarkable for its general good weather, and for the few gales they have +had. Crowds of country people, from far and near, came on board to look +at the ship to-day. + +_Monday, Aug. 3rd._--Another crowd of visitors to-day, who came in their +country waggons and on horseback. They all speak Dutch, and it is rare +to find one among them who speaks English. Although it is nearly half a +century since England took final possession of the colony, the English +language has made but little progress, the children being taught by a +Dutch schoolmaster, and the papers being, many of them, printed in +Dutch. There was an intelligent young _boer_ (about twenty-three) among +them, who had never been on board a ship before. He was quite excited by +the novelty of everything he saw. Some of the female visitors were +plump, ruddy, Dutch girls, whose large rough hands, and awkward bows and +curtsies, showed them to be honest lasses from the neighboring farms, +accustomed to milking the cows and churning the butter. I found the +geranium growing wild in my rambles to-day. Just as we were going to +sun-down quarters, a boat came alongside with the body of Third +Assistant-engineer Cummings, who accidentally shot himself with his gun. + +_Tuesday, Aug. 4th._--In the afternoon, at three, the funeral procession +started from shore with the body of the deceased engineer. He was taken +to a private cemetery about a mile and a half distant, and interred with +the honours due to his grade, the First Lieutenant reading the funeral +service. This is the first burial we have had from the ship. + +_Wednesday, Aug. 5th._--At 6 A.M. got up the anchor, and getting under +way, steamed out of the bay and shaped our course for Cape Town. At 9.30 +descried a sail a point on the starboard bow, and at 10.30 came up with +and sent a boat on board of the Confederate barque Tuscaloosa, and +brought Lieutenant Lowe on board. He reported having captured, on the +31st July the American ship Santee, from the eastward, laden with rice, +certificated as British property, and bound for Falmouth. He released +her on ransom for 150,000 dollars. I directed Lieutenant Lowe to proceed +to Simons Bay for supplies. Steamed in for the town. At 12.30 made a +barque, two points on starboard bow; gave chase, and at about 2 P.M. +came up with and hove the chase, she having up United States colours. +This was a close pursuit, as the barque was not more than five or six +miles from the shore when we came up with her. The Master might have +saved himself if he had stood directly in for the land; but we ran down +upon him under English colours, and he had no suspicion of our character +until it was too late. The United States consul at once protested +against our violation of British waters (!). The Governor telegraphed to +the Admiral (Walker), at Simon's Bay, to send a man-of-war round; and +about 10 P.M. her Majesty's steamship Valorous, Captain Forsyth, came in +and anchored. Some correspondence has passed between the Governor and +myself on the subject of the capture, and I believe he is satisfied as +to distance, &c. Put a prize crew on board the prize (Sea Bride), and +directed her to stand off and on until further orders. The moment our +anchor was dropped we were crowded with visitors. + +_Thursday, Aug. 6th._--Notwithstanding the bad weather, the ship has +been crowded with visitors all the morning, and my cabin has been +constantly filled with people pressing to shake hands with me, and to +express sympathy for my cause. During the night we had some thunder and +lightning, first from the S.E., and then from the N.W.; and the wind +springing up, very gently at first, freshened to a gale by morning, with +showers of rain and hail. Communicated with the prize, and directed the +Prizemaster, in case he should be blown off by a gale, to rendezvous at +Saldanha Bay by the fifteenth of the month. Captain Forsyth, of the +Valorous, came on board. Returned his visit. + +_Friday, Aug. 7th._--I should have been under way for Simons Bay this +morning but for the gale. The wind is blowing very fresh from northward +and westward, with dense clouds climbing up and over the Table, Lion's +head, &c.--presenting a very fine spectacle, with the rough waters, the +ships with struck upper yards, and the town half enveloped with flying +mists, &c. The bold watermen in all the gale are cruising about the bay +under reefed sails, some of them with anchors and cables, ready to +assist any ships that may require it. Last night, in the first watch, a +sail was reported to be on the shore near the lighthouse and firing +signal guns. Very soon we saw two or three boats put out to her +assistance. In the morning we heard that it was a Brazilian brig, and +that the crew was saved. The brig is fast breaking up in the gale. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +_Wrecked!--A narrow escape--Respect for neutral waters--The Martha +Wenzell--At the Cape--Dense fogs--Heavy weather--"Are you a vessel of +war?"---Firmness and obstinacy--Simon's Town--Misrepresentations--A +little rest--Land-sharks--A night scene--To the Indian Ocean--The barque +Amanda._ + + +_Saturday, August 8th,_ 1863.--The gale broke last night, but there is +still some breeze blowing, and the sea is quite rough. Last night a +Bremen brig was wrecked off Point Monille. We heard her firing guns, and +I feared at first it was our prize; and yet I could not conceive how my +Prizemaster, who was acquainted with the soundings, could have made such +a mistake. The weather has checked the throng of visitors, and yet a few +get off to us, asking for autographs, and looking curiously at the ship. +We are finishing our repairs, and getting supplies on board. Our prize +has not made her appearance to-day. She will rendezvous at Saldanha Bay +on the 15th inst. + +_Sunday, August 9th,_ 1863.--Weather has again become fine. At 6 A.M. +precisely, we moved out of the bay, and steamed along the coast towards +the Cape. We gave chase to two sail off the mouth of False Bay, and +overhauling them, one proved to be an English, and the other an American +barque. The latter we boarded; but when I came to get bearings and plot +my position, it unfortunately turned out that I was within a mile, or a +mile and a quarter, of a line drawn from the Cape Lighthouse to the +opposite headland of the bay, and therefore within the prescribed limit +of jurisdiction. The master of the barque, in the meantime, having come +on board, I informed him of those facts, and told him to return to, and +take possession of his ship, as I had no authority to exercise any +control over him; which he did, and in a few minutes more, we were under +steam standing up the bay. What a scene for the grim old Cape to look +down upon. The vessel boarded was the Martha Wenzell, of Boston, from +Akyab for Falmouth. At 2 P.M. anchored in Simon's Bay, and was boarded +by a Lieutenant from the flag-ship of Admiral Walker. + +_Monday, August 10th._--Weather fine. I called on Admiral Walker at his +residence, and was presented by him to his family, and spent an +agreeable half hour with them, giving them a brief outline of our +quarrel and war. Dined on board the Chinese gunboat Kwang-Tung, +Commander Young. This is one of Laird's side-wheel steamers, built for +Captain Sherrard Osborne's fleet. Capt. Bickford, of the Narcissus, and +Lieut. Wood, flag Lieutenant, dined with us. + +_Tuesday, August 11th._--Weather fine. Visited the flag-ship of +Rear-Admiral Sir Baldwin W. Walker and the Kwang-Tung. Employed caulking +and refitting ship. Many visitors on board. + +_Wednesday, August 12th._--Wind fresh from the southward and eastward. +Photographers and visitors on board. The Kwang-Tung made a trial trip of +her engines, after having repaired them, with the Admiral's family on +board. Wind freshened to a gale towards night. + +_Thursday, August 13th.-_--Weather cloudy; blowing a moderate gale from +the S.E. The Tuscaloosa is ready for sea, but is detained by the +weather. Dined with Rear-Admiral Walker; Governor Sir Philip Wodehouse +and lady were of the party. My sailors are playing the devil as usual. +They manage to get liquor on board the ship, and then become +insubordinate and unruly. We have to force some of them into irons. The +man Weir, whom I made a Quartermaster, has run off; also two of the +Stewards, and two dingy boys; the latter were apprehended and brought on +board. + +_Friday, August 14th._--We have a dense fog to-day and calm. The +Tuscaloosa, which went out at daylight, anchored some four or five miles +outside the harbour. The mail steamer from England arrived at Cape Town +to-day, bringing us news of Lee's invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania. +Finished our repairs this evening. + +_Saturday, August 15th._--We were ready to get under way at daylight +this morning, but were delayed by the dense fog until eleven o'clock, +when we moved out of the harbour. As we neared the Cape another fog bank +rolled over and enveloped us for a couple of hours. At 2.30, boarded an +English barque. At 3, let the steam go down, and raised the propeller. +Weather threatening. Barometer 29.80. Took single reefs in the topsails. +At 11 P.M. a steamer passed close, to leeward of us. + +Light winds and thick weather now for rather more than a week, varied by +a stiff northwester on the 22nd August, lasting over the greater part of +two days. + +_Tuesday, August 25th._--Dense, cloudy morning. Got a glimpse of the sun +and latitude at twelve o'clock. Our freshwater condenser is about giving +out, the last supply of water being so salt as to be scarcely drinkable. +This will be a serious disaster for us if we cannot remedy it at Cape +Town, for we have no tank room for more than eight days' supply, and no +place to store casks except on deck, where they would interfere with the +guns. And so I have borne up to run for Angra Pequena, where I expect to +pick up my prize-crew that I may return to Simon's Bay to see what can +be done, without further delay. I am quite knocked up with cold and +fever, but sick as I may be, I can never lie by and be quiet, the +demands of duty being inexorable and incessant. + +_Thursday, August 27th._--Morning fine; made all sail at early daylight +and stood in for the land, having every promise of getting latitude at +meridian for position, and running in to an anchor early in the +afternoon. But an ominous fog-bank, that we had noticed hanging over the +land for a short time before, suddenly enveloped us at eight, and shut +us in so completely as to render it difficult to see a hundred yards in +any direction; the wind the while blowing fresh from the south; weather +cool and uncomfortable, and the rigging dripping rain. Hove to, and +awaited anxiously the disappearance of the fog; but hour after hour +passed, and still no change--six, seven bells struck, and the fog +appeared to grow more dense, and the wind to increase; wore ship, and +put her head off shore; went below, and turned in, in supreme disgust. +At 1.30 aroused by the report that there was a topsail schooner close +aboard. She ran down for us, when we backed main topsail, and sent a +boat and brought the Master on board. Being like ourselves bound for +Angra, he consented to pilot us in. Filled away, and made sail. We were +to-day, at noon, by computation, W.S.W. from Pedestal Point (Angra); +distance about ten miles. The fog continued most relentlessly until 4 +P.M., when it disappeared, and we wore ship for the land, and were +probably on the point of making it just at sunset, when the fog came on +again, and enveloped everything in impenetrable darkness. Wore ship +seaward, and stood off and on during the night: the weather blustering. + +_Friday, August 28th._--Morning cloudy, wind blowing half a gale. At +8.50 took a single reef in the topsail--the schooner in sight to +leeward. At 9.30 made the land, and soon came in full view of it. My +would-be pilot could not recognise it, until the schooner, having run in +ahead of us, ran down, to leeward, by which we knew that she had made +out our position. I followed her, and ran in, and anchored in Sheerwater +Bay; my pilot being of no sort of assistance to me, he seeming to have a +very imperfect knowledge of the locality. Soon after anchoring, a boat +came out of the lagoon to us, and we recognised some of our prize-crew +of the Sea Bride in her. + +In effect the Tuscaloosa and the prize had both been three days in the +harbour of Angra Pequena. In the afternoon we got up our anchor again, +and ran into the lagoon, and anchored near the Sea Bride in seven +fathoms of water. A number of the officers are off this evening to visit +the Tuscaloosa--no doubt to get a _good drink of fresh water_. I have +sent my pitcher for some, being nearly parched up with the salt-water we +have been drinking for the last three days. We are lying in _smooth +water_, in a snug harbour, and I hope to get what I have not had for +several nights--a good night's rest. A more bleak and comfortless +prospect, in the way of landscape, could scarcely present itself to the +eye. Nothing but land and rock--not a sprig of vegetation of any kind to +be seen. In fact it never rains here, and this is consequently a guano +region. We passed a bank of guano in Halifax island, a shanty, a few +labourers, and a large army of penguins spread out with much solemnity +on the island. + +_Saturday, August 29th._--Getting on board flour, &c., from the Sea +Bride, and water from the schooner--1500 gallons, which will enable us +to cruise some twenty days. Hauled a borrowed sieve in the afternoon, +and caught a fine lot of fish. + +_Sunday, August 30th._--At 10.30 mustered the crew, and landed James +Adams, O.S., discharged by sentence of court-martial, with forfeiture of +pay and prize-money. + +_Monday, August 31st,_--At 7 A.M. got under way, and stood out of the +harbour. + + * * * * * + +The Alabama was now visited by a succession of the heavy gales prevalent +during winter time in the neighbourhood of the Cape. On the 7th +Sept.--Captain Semmes writes--we had a rough, ugly night of it, with a +continuance, and even increase of the gale, and a short and abrupt sea, +in which the ship occasionally rolled and pitched with violence, +frequently thumping my cot against the beams overhead and awaking me. +Shipped large quantities of water through the propeller well; cabin-deck +leaking. + +_Tuesday, September 8th._--Weather cloudy, the sun shining faintly +through the grey mass. Gale continues; the wind (E.S.E.) not having +varied a hair for the last sixteen hours. Barometer gradually falling; +ship rolling and pitching in the sea, and all things dreary-looking and +uncomfortable. I am supremely disgusted with the sea and all its +belongings; the fact is, I am past the age when men ought to be +subjected to the hardships and discomforts of the sea. Seagoing is one +of those constant strifes which none but the vigorous, the hardy, and +the hopeful--in short, the youthful, or at most, the middle-aged--should +be engaged in. The very roar of the wind through the rigging, with its +accompaniments of rolling and tumbling, hard, overcast skies, gives me +the blues. This is a double anniversary with me. It was on the 8th of +September that I received my first order for sea-service (1826); and it +was on the 8th of September that Norton's Division fought the battle of +Moline del Ray (1847). What a history of the United States has to be +written since the last event! How much of human weakness and wickedness +and folly has been developed in these years! But the North will receive +their reward, under the inevitable and rigorous laws of a just +government of the world. + +Another week passed with a solitary excitement in the shape of an +obstinate English skipper, who stoutly refused to heave to. The +following account of this affair is extracted from the journal of one of +the Alabama's officers:-- + +Towards evening of the 10th of September the wind fell considerably. At +8.30 P.M. a sail in sight on weather bow. Immediately we turned to +windward, and stood in chase. At 9.45 fired a gun to heave chase to. +Chase, however, still kept on her course. At 10.35 we ran up alongside, +and the officer of the deck hailed her--"Ship ahoy!" "Halloa! heave to, +and I will send a boat on board." "What do you want me to heave to +for?" "That's my business." "Are you a vessel of war?" Captain Semmes +then waxing wroth, replied, "I'll give you five minutes to heave to in." +"You have no right to heave me to unless you tell me who you are." "I'll +let you know who I am." To officer of the deck--"Load that gun with +shot, sir, and rain on that fellow--he's stupid enough to be a +foreigner." "Tell me who you are," yelled out the master of the ship. +"If you are not hove to in five minutes I'll fire into you." Addressing +the officer of the watch, Captain Semmes asked, "Is that gun ready for +firing, sir?" "All ready, sir." "Then stand by to fire." + +The Captain of the ship beginning to realize the fact that we were in +earnest, rolled out a volley of oaths, not only loud, but deep also. +That little ebullition being finished, he hauled his mainsail up and lay +to. Captain Semmes then gave me orders to board and ascertain who the +vessel was, as the reluctance to heave to was suspicious in itself. + +On boarding, the Mate met me at the gangway and introduced me to a tall, +burly man, who proved to be the Master. With the utmost suavity I +inquired, "What ship is this?" "Who are you?" he blurted out. "What ship +is this, captain?" I repeated. "I sha'n't tell you," was the polite +reply. "Captain, what vessel is this?" "Are you a man-of-war?" asked he. +"Of course we are," replied I. "Who are you?" queried he. + +With the greatest distinctness possible, and with the utmost sternness, +I said, "We are--we are the United States steamer Iroquois, Captain +Palmer, on a cruise; and now, having told you this, I have something +more to tell you--namely, that I am come on board to ask questions, not +to answer them; further, I have asked you three times who you are, and +have not yet received an answer. So just step down into the cabin, and +produce the ship's papers." + +With a very ill grace he descended into the cabin, I following, and I +had just removed my cap when he roared out, "Who are you? Are you +English? Say you are an English man-of-war, and I will let you look at +my papers." Said I, "Captain, either you are crazy or else you think I +am. Here we fire a gun, and any man with a grain of sense would have +understood that it was meant for a ship to heave to, more especially +when a nation is at war. You are told to heave to, are boarded, and +asked a question. Instead of replying, you ask, perfectly savagely, 'Who +are you?' I tell you we are the United States ship Iroquois, and then +you ask, 'Are you English? Tell me you are an English man-of-war!' It's +absurd, I tell you." + +"Mr. Officer," yelled he, "'crazy!' 'sense!' 'absurd!' By G--d, sir, if +an English man-of-war were here, no Yankee dare set foot on this deck, +sir. Who are you?" "Captain," I said to the man, "it is time this piece +of folly were ended. Now understand me. Look at that clock: it wants +twelve minutes to eleven; I want to see your papers; I give you two +minutes to produce them in. If, at ten minutes to eleven, the papers are +not forthcoming, I shall adopt measures to place them in my possession." + +I then sat down. Question after question did the worthy skipper ask, but +no reply did I deign to give. At length it wanted but a few seconds to +the time specified, when with a bad grace the irate Master produced his +key, unlocked his safe, and brought forth his papers. Upon examination I +found it was the ship Flora, of and to Liverpool, from Manilla, with a +general cargo. + +While looking over his papers, a ceaseless string of interrogations was +kept up by the Master, to which I returned no answer, merely returning +the papers, and remarking that he had given himself and us also, some +really causeless detention. "Have you any news, captain?" I asked. "Yes, +I have some news; news that some three or four of you would like to be +acquainted with, but news that one of you would rather not know. But I'd +see you Yankees sunk forty fathoms deep before I would tell you it." +"Come, captain, don't be uncharitable; you know what is written in the +Bible." + +He then went on to state what a bad passage he had made so far, having +met with a succession of baffling winds ever since he had left Manilla; +that he had made all sail for a fair wind, and which had only lasted for +a few hours, the wind coming ahead again; and it looking threatening, he +had reduced sail considerably, and was making but slow progress when he +was stopped by us. + +"Stopped by a Yankee, too! That's something I won't forget in a hurry," +said he. + +I could not help laughing at the "offended majesty" air he assumed, and +wishing him a speedy passage, returned on board. From one of my boat's +crew I learnt that the Flora had either seen or been boarded a couple of +days ago by a two-masted long-funnelled steamer, supposed by the Master +to have been a Confederate, though showing Yankee colours. + + * * * * * + +_Wednesday, September 16th._--At 3 P.M. doubled the Cape of Good Hope and +steamed into the anchorage at Simon's Town, which we reached at about +4.30 P.M. The Vanderbilt had left on Friday last, and was reported to +have hovered near the Cape for a day or two. Greatly disarranged by the +news from home--Vicksburg and Port Hudson fallen; Rosecrans' army +marching southwards; and Lee having recrossed the Potomac. Our poor +people seem to be terribly pressed by the Northern hordes. + +But we shall fight it out to the end, and the end will be what an +all-wise Providence shall decree. + +_Thursday, September 17th._--Called on the Admiral, and received a visit +from the Captain of the Narcissus. + +Various misrepresentations had been made to the Admiral as to my +proceedings since I left, &c., by the United States Consul, which I +explained away. Spent an agreeable half-hour with the Admiral and his +lady. There being no coal here--the Vanderbilt having taken it all--I +made arrangements for it to be sent to me from Cape Town. + +_Saturday, September 19._--The steamer Kadie arrived with coals for me +from Cape Town. Hauled her alongside, and commenced coaling. Walked on +shore, and lunched with Captain Bickford. Dispatched letters for the +mail-steamer for England. Liberty-men drunk, and few returning. Dined +with the Admiral. A very pleasant party, composed entirely of naval +officers, including the Captains of the ships present, the +Captain-superintendent of the dockyard, &c. After dinner the young +ladies made their appearance in the drawing-room, and we had some music. + +_Sunday, September 20th._--Hauled the ship over to get at the copper +around the blow-pipe, which was worn off. Visited the shore at half-past +nine, took a long walk, dropped in upon the Post-captain, and went to +church--Father Kiernan saying mass. He is an earnest, simple-minded +Irish priest, with a picturesque little church on the hill-side, and a +small congregation composed chiefly of soldiers and sailors--a seaman +serving mass. Captain Coxon and a couple of the Lieutenants of the +squadron being present. Liberty-men returning in greater numbers +to-day--the money is giving out. + +_Monday, September 21st._--At daylight, hauled the steamer alongside +again, and recommenced coaling. Called to see the ladies at the +Admiral's after dinner, and walked through their quite extensive garden, +winding up a ravine with a rapid little stream of water passing through +it. + +_Tuesday, September 22nd._--A large number of liberty-men on shore yet. +The Yankee Consul, with his usual unscrupulousness, is trying to +persuade them to desert. With one or two exceptions, the whole crew have +broken their liberty--petty officers and all. With many improvements in +the character of the seaman of the present day, in regard to +intelligence, he is, in some respects, as bad as ever. Finished coaling +this evening. + +_Wednesday, September 23rd._--Refitting the fore-topmasts. Some twenty +men still absent. A few are picked up by the Simon's Town police for the +sake of the reward. And the sailor-landlords, those pests of all +sea-ports, are coming on board and presenting bills for board, &c. Of +course these claims are not listened to. It is a common contrivance with +Jack and these sharks, to endeavor to extort money out of their ships. + +The process is simple enough. The landlord gives Jack a glass or two of +bad liquor, and it may be, a meal or two, and it is agreed between them +that a bill of twenty times the value received shall be acknowledged. +The land-shark charges in this exorbitant way for the risk he runs of +not being able to get anything, so he has nothing to complain of when he +happens to come across a captain who is disposed to protect his seamen +from such extortion. Knowing the villains well, I did not permit them to +impose upon me. + +_Thursday, September 24th._--Waiting for the chance of getting over my +deserters from Cape Town. Informed by telegraph, in the afternoon, that +it was useless to wait longer, as the police declined to act. It thus +appears that the authorities declined to enable me to recover my +men--fourteen in number, enough to cripple my crew. This is another of +those remarkable interpretations of neutrality in which John Bull seems +to be so particularly fertile. Informed by telegrams from Cape Town that +vessels had arrived reporting the Vanderbilt on two successive days off +Cape Aguthas and Point Danger. The moon being near its full, I preferred +not to have her blockade me in Simon's Bay, as it might detain me until +I should have a "dark moon," and being all ready for sea, this would +have been irksome; so the gale having lulled somewhat, towards 9 P.M., I +ordered steam to be got up, and at half-past eleven, we moved out from +our anchors. + +The lull only deceived us, as we had scarcely gotten under way, before +the gale raged with increased violence, and we were obliged to buffet it +with all the force of our four boilers. The wind blew fiercely; but +still we drove her between five and six knots per hour in the very teeth +of it. + +Nothing could exceed the peculiar weird-like aspect of the scene, as we +struggled under the full moonlight with the midnight gale. The +surrounding mountains and high lands, seemingly at a great distance in +the hazy atmosphere, had their tops piled with banks of fleecy clouds, +remaining as motionless as snow-banks, which they very much +resembled--the cold south wind assisting the illusion; the angry waters +of the bay breaking in every direction, occasionally dashing on board of +us; the perfectly clear sky, with no sign of a cloud anywhere to be +seen, except those piled on the mountains already mentioned;--the bright +full moon, shedding her mysterious rays on all surrounding +objects--illuminating, yet distancing them--all these were things to be +remembered. And last, the revolving light on the Cape, at regular +intervals, lighting up the renowned old headland. + +We passed the Cape at about 3 A.M., and bearing away gave her the +trysails reduced by their bonnets, and close-reefed topsails; and I +turned in to snatch a brief repose, before the trials of another day +should begin. + +_Friday, September 25th.--Delivered the jail_, as usual, upon getting to +sea. It will take several days, I am afraid, to work the grog out of the +crew, before they are likely to settle down into good habits and +cheerfulness. + +The next fortnight's run through the heavy gales that prevail almost +incessantly in the higher latitudes of the Indian Ocean, brought the +Alabama some 2400 miles upon her course. Two days more brought her off +the Island of St. Paul's, a distance of 2840 miles. Another couple of +days, and she had made about sufficient easting, and began to shape her +course towards the north--the "sunny north." + +A few short extracts from the journal will give sufficient idea of the +period thus passed through:-- + +_October 16th._--Lat. 35.23; Long. 89.55; no observations for current; +distance some 135 miles. The gale in which we lay-to ten hours, having +broken in upon our day's work. Bar. 29.57, and on a stand; running +before the wind, under close-reef and reefed foresail. Afternoon gale +increased, and between twelve and one it blew furiously, the whole sea +being a sheet of foam, the air rendered misty by the spray, and the +heavy seas threatening to jump on board of us, although we were scudding +at the rate of very little less than fifteen knots--the whole +accompanied by an occasional snow-squall from dark, threatening-looking +clouds. It is not often that a wilder scene is beheld: in the meantime +the Cape pigeons are whirling around us, occasionally poising themselves +against the stern, as serenely, apparently, as if the elements were at +rest. The barometer has remained perfectly stationary at 29.57 during +this blow for seven hours (from morning to 7 P.M.), without varying a +single hair's breadth, during all of which time the gale was raging with +unmitigated violence from about S.W. by W. to S.W. During this period, +we were travelling about on an average speed of eleven knots; and of +course this must have been the rate of speed of the vortex--distant from +us probably 150 to 200 miles. At 7 P.M. the mercury began to rise +slowly, and at 8 was at 27.60, the weather looking less angry, and the +squalls not so frequent or violent. Verily, our good ship, as she is +darted ahead on the top of one of those huge, long Indian Ocean waves +that pursue her, seems like a mere cock-boat. + +It is remarkable that this is the anniversary of the cyclone we took off +the banks of Newfoundland. + +_October 18th_--Observing has been particularly vexatious during the +past week. What with the heavy seas constantly rising between the +observer and the horizon, preventing him from producing a contact at the +very instant, it may be, that he is ready for it, the passage of a +flying cloud under the sun when his horizon is all right, and the heavy +rolling of the ship requiring him to pay the utmost care to the +preservation of his balance, and sometimes even to "lose his +sight"--from the necessity of withdrawing one hand suddenly from his +instrument to grasp the rail or the rigging to prevent himself from +falling--what with all these things, the patience of even as patient a +man as myself is sorely tried. Perhaps this stormy tumbling about at sea +is the reason why seamen are so calm and quiet on shore. We come to hate +all sorts of commotion, whether physical or moral. + +At last the region of endless gales was passed, and escaping entirely +the southern belt of calms, the Alabama dashed along in the S.E. trade. +On the 26th October, as she was nearing the Line, news reached her from +an English barque, that the United States sloop Wyoming was on guard in +the Sunda Straits, accompanied by a three-masted schooner. This sloop +being about the Alabama's own size, hopes of a fight were again rife +among both officers and men; and great was their impatience when the +trade at length parted from them, and light, variable winds again began +to baffle the eager ship. + +Drawing slowly nearer to the Straits, news still came from passing ships +of the enemy's presence there, reports going at length so far as to +state, that she had been specially dispatched thither by the United +States consul at Batavia, in search of the Alabama herself. + +At last, on the 6th November, came another prize, the first since +leaving the Cape of Good Hope, nearly six weeks before. She proved to be +the barque Amanda, from Manilla to Queenstown for orders, the following +being the particulars of her case:-- + +CASE OF THE BARQUE AMANDA. + +Ship under U.S. colours and register. Cargo, sugar and hemp. +Charter-party to proceed to Europe or the United States. On the face of +each of the three bills of lading appears the following certificate for +the British Vice-consul at Manilla:-- + +"I hereby certify that Messrs. Ker and Co., the shippers of the +merchandize specified in this bill of lading, are British subjects +established in Manilla, and that according to invoices produced, the +said merchandize is shipped by order, and for account of Messrs. +Halliday, Fox, and Co., British subjects of London, in Great Britain." + +As nobody swears to anything, of course this certificate is valueless, +and the presumption of law prevails, viz., "that all property found +under the enemy's flag is enemy's property," until the contrary be shown +by competent and credible testimony under oath, duly certified to by a +Consul or another officer. Ship and cargo condemned. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +_New cruising-ground--Case of the Winged Racer--A good chase--The +Contest--On the look-out--Not to be deceived--No prizes--Condore--A +French settlement--Kindly greetings--Monkey Island--Far from +home--Whistling Locusts--Instinct--Why no one sees a dead +monkey--Homewards--Yankee ships scarce._ + + +The 8th of November saw the Alabama again in sight of land, and after +anchoring for a night off Flat Point, and sending a boat ashore, in the +vain hope of finding in the Malay villages a supply of some sort of +fresh provision, she again lifted her anchor and proceeded to sea under +steam. + + * * * * * + +_Tuesday, November 10th._--Passed between the islands of Beezee and +Sonbooko, both high and picturesque, the channel about a mile wide, some +villages under the groves of cocoa-nut trees on the former. The naked +natives coming down to the beach to gaze at us. We ran through the +Strait of Sunda about 2 P.M., passing to the westward of Thwart-the-Way. + +Soon after passing out of the Strait and shaping our course, we +discovered a clipper-looking ship, under topsails, standing towards +North Island. Gave chase, although we were in the midst of a rain +squall, and in the course of fifteen or twenty minutes we were near +enough to him to make him show his colours. They were United States, and +upon being boarded he proved to be the Winged Racer, a vessel for which +we had been hunting outside the Strait. We captured him and sent him to +anchor about three miles from North Island (the Island bearing about +W.S.W.), and ran up and anchored near him ourselves. By working hard we +were enabled to get everything we wanted out of him by 2 o'clock A.M.; +and having despatched her crew, together with the crew of the Amanda, in +the boats of the prize, at their own request, we got under way at 4 +A.M., and steamed out of sight of the coast by daylight. We were +fortunate enough to get some fowls, fruits, and vegetables from a +bum-boat of Malays, who made a business of supplying ships. The boat +reported that, when she left Angra about two days before, the Wyoming +was there. Fired the ship. + + * * * * * + +CASE OF THE WINGED RACER. + +Ship under United States colours and register, and no claim of the +neutrality of the cargo among the papers; ship bound to New York. Ship +and cargo condemned. + + * * * * * + +_Wednesday, November 11th._--Made the North Watcher soon after daylight, +and finding that if I continued on at the same speed, I should be up +with Gasper Strait early in the night, and should be obliged to anchor +until daylight, I ordered the steam to be let down, and we were about +making arrangements for getting up the propeller, when a sail was +descried on the port bow, close hauled on the starboard tack. She soon +proved to be a rakish-looking ship, evidently United States. Kept away +from her from time to time as she passed towards our bow, and when we +came near enough we showed her the United States colours. She replied +with the same. I then fired a gun and hoisted our own colours (new +flag). Instead of obeying this signal to heave to, she made sail and +ran. We at once started the fires afresh, the steam having gone entirely +down, and made all sail in pursuit. The chase at this time was about +four miles from us, and for a long time we gained scarcely any thing +upon her. We threw a rifleshot astern him, but he disregarded this also. +Finally, after an exciting chase of one hour and a half (shifting guns, +and sending men aft to trim ship, and giving her a full head of steam), +we came near enough to him to throw a 32 pound shot between his masts, +when he shortened sail, came to the wind, and hove to. If the wind had +been _very_ fresh (it was blowing a good breeze) he would probably have +ran away from us. He proved to be the clipper ship Contest, from +Yokohama (Japan) for New York Captured him, and anchored in the open sea +in fourteen fathoms of water, and took from the prize such supplies as +we wanted. All our people having returned on board about nightfall, it +was discovered soon after that the prize was dragging her anchor, which +she did so fast in the freshened breeze that a boat which was sent to +board and fire her sculled until the officer nearly lost sight of us, +and fearing that if he continued he might lose sight of us altogether in +a rain squall, returned. Got up steam immediately and weighed anchor, +and ran down to the prize, sent a boat crew on board of her and burned +her. + + * * * * * + +CASE OF THE CONTEST. + +Ship under United States colours and register, and no claim for cargo; +ship and cargo condemned. + + * * * * * + +Concluding, that on receiving intelligence of the Alabama's arrival, the +Wyoming, if, in truth, she was near the Strait, would run at once for +Gaspar Passage in search of her, Captain Semmes now determined to double +upon his enemy, and gave her the start of him, holding himself for a few +days in the Java Sea, a little east of the Strait. A week passed by +without any incident worthy of record. At length a change came. + +_Thursday, November 19th_.--At 3.30 P.M. boarded the English ship +Avalanche (transferred) two or three days from Singapore, with +newspapers from England of the 10th of October--only forty days! +Gratified at the general good aspect of the news, and particularly at +our victory at Chicamauga. Reports several American ships laid up at +Singapore, and a general stagnation of American trade. This ship came to +anchor some two miles astern of us, and we sent off the prisoners of the +Contest by her, the Master consenting to take them for a chronometer +which I sent him. He will probably put them on shore at Angra Point. We +first hoisted the Dutch flag, and sent a German, Master's Mate we had, +on board of him; but the Master, when told that we were a Dutch ship of +war, said, "Oh! that won't do; I was on board of her in Liverpool, when +she was launched!" + +_Friday, November 20th_.--Lowered and rigged the cutter, and sent her to +board a couple of barques, which reported four American ships at +Bankok; there about to lay up, lest they should fall in with us, and one +American ship at Manilla. + +_Saturday, November 21st_.--At 3 P.M. got under way under sail, with the +wind from the south-west. + +_Sunday, Nov. 22nd_.--At 3 A.M. lowered the propeller, and went ahead +under steam. Passed within about four miles of Direction Island at 5.15 +P.M. + +_Monday, Nov. 23rd_.--At 8 A.M. made Seraia. + +_Thursday, Nov. 26th_.--Lat. 5.36; Long. 111.42, or within fifty miles +of dangerous ground, towards which the current is setting us. No +anchoring ground. 47 fathoms. After noon, the calm still continuing, let +go a kedge in 50 fathoms of water--mud--and veered to 150 fathoms. + +_Friday, Nov. 27th_.--Noon. The struggle against the current is hopeless +in the death-like calm that prevails, and so we have come-to again with +the kedge. + +_Sunday, Nov. 29th_.--After five days of dead calm, we took the monsoon +this morning at daylight, settling in lightly, and at 9 A.M. we got +under way, and stood to the northward and westward. + +_Thursday, Dec, 3rd_.--At daylight we discovered a small vessel at +anchor near the head of the harbour of the Island of Condore, with +French colours, and awnings and other indications of her being a vessel +of war. Sent a boat in to examine water. Boat returned at 1 P.M. with +the commander of the vessel--a French vessel of war--and I was quite +surprised to learn that we had arrived in civilized waters, and that the +Island of Condore was in the possession of the French. There was a small +garrison of 50 or 60 at the village on the east side. There had been a +recent revolt of the natives, the French officers said; and for this +reason there were few vegetables or fruits to be had, and most of the +natives had betaken themselves to the mountains. Got underway and ran +into the harbour, the Frenchman politely showing me the way, and +anchored in nine fathoms. Got a spring out, so as to present our port +broadside to any enemy that might be disposed to violate neutrality, +and, to save coal, permitted all the fires to go out. A couple of ships, +running before the wind, passed in sight during the day--the ships +prudently running a little out of the track to sight the island in this +uncertain sea. + +_Friday, December 4th._--The harbour is picturesque, with mountains +rising abruptly from the water to the height of 1800 feet, clothed with +dense verdure from water's edge to top, many of the trees being of large +size. The soil is very rich, but there is little cultivated land, the +mountain-sides being too steep. The French have constructed two or three +huts on the northern shore, and a couple of rude jetties, or landing +places of loose stone. Landed on one of these to get sight for the +chronometers. Found a Frenchman overseeing three or four Chinese seamen +chopping wood and thatching a hut. The French make slaves, both here and +on the mainland, of prisoners of war. The island is under the government +of an _Enseign de Vaisseau._ + +The Commander of the Junk is a Midshipman, so that we have gotten among +high dignitaries. Landed at noon, at an inviting little sand-beach on +the south shore, to get latitude--8° 39' 10". Found the ruined hut of a +Frenchman, with his grave close by, and his name carved on the bark of a +tree on the beach. A picturesque burial spot, amid eternal shades, with +the lullaby of the ocean. + +_Saturday, December 5th._--Amused this morning, watching some sedate old +baboons sitting on the sand-beach opposite, and apparently observing the +ship very attentively. Large numbers of these caricatures of humanity +inhabit these islands; yesterday, when a boat landed, great numbers of +young ones were seen gamboling about; but one of the old ones having +called out to them, they soon all disappeared in the thick wood. +Returned the visit of the Frenchman. He is on board a miserable country +craft, of about 40 tons burthen. Sent a boat to the village on the east +side to call on the Governor, and see if we could get some fruit and +vegetables. Boat returned at nightfall. The village is a mere military +port, the native inhabitants, except a few prisoners or slaves, having +fled to the mountains, and no supplies were to be had. The Governor's +residence is a _thatched_ hut, as are all the other houses, with no +industry or taste displayed in their structure. A few patches of +cultivation were visible--rice, fruit, and cotton--the latter looking +rather unpromising. The destroyers of their rice were the monkeys. There +are several varieties of fine large pigeons here, and in abundance. They +are beautiful in feather and fat. A common variety has a green back and +golden tail. This must be a paradise for monkeys, so abundant is their +food in the forests, almost every tree bearing a fruit or nut of some +sort. These French officers had heard and believed that we sunk or +burned every ship we took, _with all on board_, and received the +Paymaster rather coolly at first, but became quite cordial when they +observed we were _Christians_, and did not commit this wholesale murder. + +_Sunday, December 6th_.--Another lonely Sabbath-day--lonely, though in +the midst of one hundred and fifty people. Away, away from home, by half +the circumference of the globe! One of the most frequent and unpleasant +of my experiences since I entered the China Sea, is an _oppressive_ +sense of _great_ distance from home, and the utter strangeness of +everything around me, almost as though I had entered another planet. + +_Monday, December 7th_.--The commander of the island, M. Bizot, visited +me to-day. He is an agreeable and intelligent young man of twenty-four +or five years of age, and appeared very friendly and expressed sympathy +for our cause. His position is a flattering one for a man of his age and +rank, and he seems to have entered upon his duties with pride and zeal. +He brought me a chart of the island, surveyed last year. The French have +been in possession two years and a half. He spoke of my having hoisted +the English flag upon first anchoring, and seemed surprised that we had +not heard of the possession of the island by the French, which, he said, +had been notified to all the Powers. I pleasantly told him that I had +had some notion of taking possession of it myself, but that I had found +the French ahead of me. He brought down for me the welcome present of a +_pig_ and some little fruit, and told me he had a _potato patch_ on +shore, which he would share with me. Fresh provisions of all kinds are +so scarce here that I fear my generous friend has been robbing himself. +He told me that he had one hundred and forty _forçats_--slave-prisoners +--at the village, whom he meant to put to good use in constructing store +and dwelling-houses, &c. The hunters brought on board to-day an East India +bat, or vampire, measuring two feet ten inches from tip to tip of wing. Its +head resembled that of a dog or wolf more than any other animal, its teeth +being very sharp and strong. Among the curiosities of the island is a locust, +that has a whistle almost as loud as that of a railroad. + +_Tuesday, Dec. 8th_.--The Commander of the Junk came on board, and +brought me a couple of fowls. The apes here are very large, and quite +fierce. They will not run from you, but come around you, and grin and +chatter at you. An officer shot one, and he died like a human being, +throwing his hands over his wound and uttering piercing cries! This +monkey was afterwards buried in the sand by his comrades, though the +interment was not quite complete when the operators were interrupted. +This is the reason why nobody ever sees a dead monkey, any more, as the +Singhalese proverb says, than a white crow or a straight cocoa-nut tree. +A curious vegetable product was brought on board to-day, it being to all +appearance a finely-made Havana cigar. The fibre is woody, covered with +a smooth bark, and the colour of dark tobacco. It comes from the tree +perfect in shape, and is not a seed-pod or fruit. One is at a loss to +conceive its use or functions. The illusion caused by its appearance is +perfect. We had no success with the sieve, the fish here being all +jumpers, and jumping out of the net. + +_Wednesday, Dec. 9th_.--The excessive heat and moisture of the climate +here is very enervating. We begin to feel its effects already. It weighs +upon us like a vapour-bath, and we feel indisposed to take the least +exercise; a walk on shore of half a mile or so quite overcomes us. + +_Thursday, Dec. 10th_.--At about 2.30 P.M. a French steamer passed the +Gap, going to the southward. Afterwards informed by the Commander that +it was the mail steamer from Saigon, for Singapore. The Saigon people +are expecting us there. + +_Friday, Dec. 11th_.--In the afternoon the Commander and Surgeon came on +board, bringing us a _bullock_! and some vegetables. + +_Sunday, Dec. 13th_.--The crew dined off the Commander's bullock to-day, +being the first meal of fresh meat since leaving Simon's Town, nearly +three months ago; and yet we have _no one_ on the sick list! +Causes--good water, temperance, strict government, and, as a +consequence, a reasonable degree of contentment, and moderate and +constant employment. The crew has had several runs on shore, too, +without the possibility of getting drunk. A present of cocoa-nuts this +morning from the Commander. This young Frenchman is very attentive to +us. + +_Monday, Dec. 14th_.--To-day we applied the principle of the coffer-dam +to the replacement of the copper around our delivery or blow-pipe, some +three feet below water. The operation proved quite simple and easy of +accomplishment. Getting ready for sea. The news of our "whereabouts" +probably reached Singapore on the evening of Saturday, and it is only +two days from Singapore here, for a fast steamer; and so, whilst the +enemy, should there be one at Singapore, is coming hitherward, we must +be going thitherward to seek coal and provisions. + +_Tuesday, Dec. 15th_.--At daylight got under way, under sail, and stood +out of the harbour--lighting and banking the fires. On account of our +proximity to the shore, and the very light breeze, we had barely room to +pass the point--not more than a ship's length to spare, in case we had +been obliged to let go our anchor. I felt quite nervous for a few +minutes, but held on, and we caught a light breeze that soon sent us +ahead out of danger. + +Well, we are on the sea once more, with our head turned _westward_, or +_homeward_. Shall we ever reach that dear home which we left three years +ago, and which we have yearned after so frequently since? Will it be +battle, or shipwreck, or both, or neither? And when we reach the North +Atlantic, will it still be war, or peace? When will the demon-like +passions of the North be stilled? These are solemn and interesting +questions for us, and an all-wise Providence has kindly hidden the +answers behind the curtain of Fate. A lengthened cruise would not be +politic in these warm seas. The homeward trade of the enemy is now quite +small--reduced probably to twenty or thirty ships per year; and these +may easily evade us by taking the different passages to the Indian +Ocean, of which there are so many, and so widely separated. The foreign +coasting trade (as between one port in China and another, and the trade +to and from Calcutta and to and from Australia), besides facilities for +escape, are almost beyond our reach--at least we could only ransom the +ship, the cargoes being all neutral--that is to say, _such of them as +get cargoes, now not many_. And then there is no cruising or chasing to +be done here successfully, or with safety to oneself, without plenty of +coal; and we can only rely upon coaling once in three months at some +English port. At the other ports there would probably be combinations +made against us, through the influence of the Yankee Consuls. So I will +try my luck around the Cape of Good Hope once more; then to the coast of +Borneo; and thence perhaps to Barbadoes, for coal; and thence---? If the +war be not ended, my ship will need to go into dock, to have much of her +copper replaced, now nearly destroyed by such constant cruising, and to +have her boilers overhauled and repaired; and this can only be properly +done in Europe. Our young officers, who had had so agreeable a change +from the cramped ship to the shores and forests of Condore, with their +guns and their books, had become so attached to the island that they +left it with some regret. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +_In the East--Aor--Marine nomads--Suspicious--At Singapore--A busy +city--Chinese merchants--Whampoa and Co.--Calculating machines--Under +way--The Martaban of Maulmain--Transformation--The Texan +Star--Evasive--Getting at the truth.--Sonora--To the Cape._ + + +The Alabama was now steering for Singapore, and for three or four days +kept her course without the occurrence of anything particularly +noteworthy. On the 19th December she anchored for a time in the bay on +the south-east side of the island of Aor, with its lofty hills clothed +with green to their summits, and its little sandhills and groves of +cocoa-nut trees. The island is unclaimed by any European nation. + +_Sunday, Dec, 20th_.--To-day being Sunday, and the weather being still +thick, and blowing, I have resolved to remain until to-morrow before +making the run for Singapore. Weather improved this morning, however, +and the barometer going up. Several islands visible that were hid from +us yesterday. Pulo Aor looking beautiful and picturesque. Some of the +natives on board with their scant stores of fowls, eggs, and cocoa-nuts. +They are larger than the natives of Condore, and stouter, and more +developed, but with countenances not very prepossessing. The Governor, a +rough-looking, middle-aged fellow, above the common height, pulled out +some greasy papers, the recommendations of former visitors, and desired +that I also would give him one, which I declined, as I knew nothing +about him. Their canoes are light and graceful, and occasionally they +present quite a picture with their gaily-dressed or half-dressed +occupants. We heard their tom-toms and banjoes last night as evening set +in, but a music much sweeter to our ears was a chorus from some _frogs_, +with notes somewhat finer than their relatives on our side of the earth. +These islanders are nothing more than marine nomads, that lead an idle, +vagabond life, intermixed with a good deal of roguery. They have a fine +_physique_, as might be supposed from their open-air mode of life, in +which they have plenty of healthful exercise without being overworked, +as Mother Nature feeds them spontaneously, and they require little more +clothing than they brought into the world with them. + +In the afternoon some of the officers visited the shore, and were +hospitably received. There were from ninety to one hundred natives, men, +women, and children, visible, and there were probably as many more on +the other side of the island, as they have a S.W. monsoon village there. +They seemed to have plenty of fowls, and they are very expert fishermen. +They were gambling--such a thing as labour being out of the question. +The island seems originally to have been a solid mass of rock, the rocky +walls of the mountains peeping out in many places from the midst of the +dense forest, and gradually as time and the elements disintegrated +portions of it, plants and trees took root, until the island became what +it is now, a mass of luxuriant vegetation. There were some fine large +boats carefully hauled up on the beach, quite large enough for piratical +purposes, for which they were probably intended, and some swivels were +lying near the chief man's door. The cocoa-nut tree has climbed the +mountain sides, and waves its feathery foliage from the crests of the +ridges. It is food, and cordage, and light to the natives. Several +delightful little valleys presented themselves, upon which, and on the +adjacent steeps or the mountains, were thatched huts. Probably to the +mere animal part of our nature, the life that these people lead is +happier than any other; wants few and easily supplied, labour not too +pressing, and the simple tastes satisfied with such pleasures as they +find. + +Rain, rain, in the afternoon. Most of the moisture is deposited on the +mountain-tops, and the clouds sweep over it. And now for Singapore, God +willing. + +_Monday, Dec. 21st_--At 3.30 A.M. we got under way, under steam and +sail, and steered S. by E. 32 1/2 miles, South 18 miles, and S. by W. 14 +miles; and the weather setting in very thick, with heavy rain, obscuring +all things, we were obliged to come to in 10 1/2 fathoms, with the north +point of Bintang island bearing, and within 11 miles by computation of +the Pedra Branca lighthouse. We have thus to war against the weather as +well as our enemies. Soon after daylight we made a ship-rigged steamer +on our port bow, bound also for Singapore. She anchored near us astern. +It clearing a little at noon, we got hold of the marks and got under +way, and taking a Malay pilot, anchored off Singapore at 5.30 P.M. + +_Tuesday, Dec. 22d_.--At 9.30 A.M. the pilot came on board, and we ran +up into New Harbour alongside of the coaling depôt, and commenced +coaling. Singapore is quite a large town, with an air of prosperity--a +large number of ships in the harbour. The country is beautiful, and +green, with an abundance of fine fruit, &c.; the country around highly +improved with tasteful houses and well-laid-out grounds. The English +residents call it the Madeira of the East, in allusion to its +healthfulness. Some twenty-two American merchant ships here, most of +them laid up! The Wyoming was here twenty days ago, and left for Rhio +Strait, where she remained for some days. Finished coaling last night, +the operation having occupied no more than ten hours. Received +provisions. + +_Wednesday, Dec. 23rd_.--Weather variable, with occasional showers of +rain--raining heavily in the afternoon. Visited the city, and was +astonished at its amount of population and business. There are from +eighty to one hundred thousand Chinese on Singapore island, nearly all +of them in the city, from twelve to fifteen thousand Malays, and about +fifteen hundred Europeans. Singapore being a free port, it is a great +_entrepôt_ of trade. Great quantities of Eastern produce reach it from +all quarters, whence it is shipped to Europe. + +The business is almost exclusively in the hands of the Chinese, who are +also the artisans and labourers of the place. The streets are thronged +with foot-passengers and vehicles, among which are prominent the ox, or +rather the buffalo cart, and the hacks for hire, of which latter there +are nine hundred licensed. The canal is filled with country boats of +excellent model, and the warehouses are crammed with goods. Money seems +to be abundant and things dear. They are just finishing a tasteful +Gothic church, with a tall spire, which is a notable landmark as you +approach; they are also completing officers' quarters on a hill which +commands the town. Barracks for three or four regiments lie unoccupied a +couple of miles outside the city, and a large court-house. + +The moving multitude in the streets comprises every variety of the human +race, every shade of colour, and every variety of dress, among which are +prominent the gay turbans and fancy jackets of the Mahomedan, Hindu, &c. +Almost all the artisans and labourers were naked, except a cloth or a +pair of short trousers tucked about the waist. The finest dressed part +of the population was decidedly the _jet-black_, with his white flowing +mantle and spotted turban. The upper class of Chinese merchants are +exceeding polite, and seem intelligent. I visited the establishment of +Whampoa and Co. Whampoa was above the middle height, stout, and with a +large, well-developed head. I was told that his profits some years +amounted to forty or fifty thousand pounds! He was sitting in a small, +dingy, ill-lighted little office on the ground floor, and had before him +a Chinese calculating machine, over the numerous small balls of which, +strung on wires, he was running his hands for amusement, as a gambler +will sometimes do with his checks. At the suggestion of the gentleman +who was with me, I requested him to multiply four places of figures by +three places, naming the figures, and the operation was done about as +rapidly as I could write down the result. Their shaved heads, and long +queues, sometimes nearly touching the ground, are curious features of +their personal appearance. The workshops front upon the streets, and in +them busy, half-naked creatures may be seen, working away as +industriously as so many beavers all day long, seeming never to tire of +their ceaseless toil. + +Amid all this busy population I saw but one female in the streets, and +she was of the lower class. Dined in the country with Mr. Beaver. The +ride out was over good roads flanked by large forests and ornamental +trees, among which was the tall, slender, graceful palm of the +betel-nut. The Botanical Gardens are on an elevation commanding a fine +view of the town and the sea, and are laid out with taste, ornamented +with flowering trees and shrubs, and flowers. Hither a band of music +comes to play several times a week, when the townspeople turn out to +enjoy the scene. A few miles beyond the town the whole island is a +jungle, in which abounds the ferocious Bengal tiger. It is said that one +man and a half per day is the average destruction of human life by these +animals. Visited opium-preparation shop. It pays an enormous licence. + +All this beauty fails to reconcile the European lady to this country, I +was told. The eternal sameness of summer, and the heat and moisture, +weigh upon them, and their husbands being away all day on business, they +pine for their European homes. The life seems agreeable enough to the +men. The Governor of the "Straits Settlement" is a Colonel. + +_Thursday, Dec. 24._--Cloudy; five of my men deserted last night. The +Kwang-tung got under way at 8 1/2 A.M., and we followed her and steered +for the strait of Malacca. Several sails in sight; Malay pilot on board. +Passed the Kwang-tung very rapidly. At about 1 P.M. we fired a gun and +hove to an American-looking barque, under English colours, with the +name, "Martaban, of Maulmain," on her stern. Sent a boat on board; and +the officer reporting that she was an American-built ship, with English +register, and that the Master refused to come on board, I went on board +myself to examine the case. There being no bill of sale, the transaction +being recent, the Master and Mate, &c., being Americans, I had no doubt +that the transfer was fraudulent, and captured and burned her. The cargo +had no paper on board connected with it, except the ordinary bill of +lading. It consisted of rice, and was shipped in Maulmain by a Mr. +Cohen, and consigned to his order at Singapore, whither the ship was +bound. Of course, the cargo followed the fate of the ship under such +circumstances. Upon examination of the Master (Pike), under oath, he +admitted that the transfer was a sham, and made to protect the ship from +capture. At 11.30 P.M. came to anchor about four miles distant from +Malacca, bearing N., in fifteen fathoms water, for the purpose of +landing our prisoners. + + * * * * * + +The boarding officer's journal furnishes the annexed description of the +interview with the Master of the prize:-- + +I was sent on board to examine her papers. The barque was American +built, had a new English flag, and on her stern was painted "Martaban, +of Maulmain." We knew that many Yankee vessels had been transferred to +English owners, and of course had to have an English flag; but the +question arose--Was there not some jobbery in this case? Nearing the +Martaban I saw that she was newly painted; pulling round and under the +stern, I saw that a name had been painted over, but could not see what +the name was. I further observed that the last four letters of Maulmain +had been painted much more recently than the other ones, so I determined +to most rigidly scrutinize her papers. Upon my arrival on board, I +inquired after the Captain's health, and then expressed a wish to make a +few inquiries respecting his vessel. + +He with the utmost affability was equally ready to afford me any +information required, at the same time informing me I should find +"everything correct." The vessel I found was the Martaban of Maulmain, +Captain Pike, from Maulmain to Singapore, rice laden. I then requested +to see the ship's papers, which request was readily granted. Accordingly +the register, clearance bills of lading, and crew list, were speedily +produced and examined, not omitting the Master's certificate. These but +corroborated what I previously knew. Putting a few questions to the +Captain, and comparing his answers with the papers, I learned the +following facts--viz., that the barque was American built, that she had +been upwards of five months in Maulmain; that she had been transferred +on the 10th December, after the cargo was in, and on the day in which +she cleared, and only one day previous to her sailing; that the captain +had no certificate or bill of sale, nor, in fact, any papers respecting +the transfer on board; that he, the Captain, was an American, and had +commanded the barque previous to her transfer. + +Taking the register up again and closely scrutinizing it, I observed +what had previously escaped my attention--viz., that the register, which +is a printed form, with spaces for written insertions, had been first +written with a lead pencil, and over that with ink. No professional +registrar or shipmaster would, I felt certain, have so prepared it. +Looking again at the crew list I made another discovery, that all the +names of the crew were written in one handwriting, from the mate to the +boys. Now I well knew that some of the crew, and especially the mates, +would be able to write, and of the mate's ability to use a pen I +speedily satisfied myself by making him produce his logbook, wherein his +name, &c., was written; or, if unable to write, the usual X, his mark, +would have been affixed to each name. I had now no doubt about the +papers, believing them to be false. I then requested the Master to take +his papers and go on board the Alabama, which, however, he positively +refused to do, unless forcibly compelled; stating that "this was an +affair that flag (pointing to the English colours flying at his peak) +wouldn't stand." He still persisting in his refusal to go on board our +ship, I took possession of his vessel, pending Captain Semmes' decision. + + + +Finding that the Mountain wouldn't come to Mahomet, Mahomet went to the +Mountain; for, after calling a man out of my boat and stationing him at +the wheel, I dispatched the boat back to the Alabama with a report of +the irregularity of the papers, and a request for further instructions. +To my surprise, Captain Semmes came himself and stopped at the gangway, +and told the Captain he had come to examine the ship's papers. Captain +Pike signifying his assent, we went into the cabin, and the papers being +produced, I pointed out some of the discrepancies and acts previously +mentioned. + +Captain Semmes then sharply interrogated Pike, insisting upon additional +documents to prove the legality of the transfer. None being forthcoming, +Captain Semmes put some questions, as only a lawyer can (Captain Semmes +not only having studied, but practised law), the answers to which only +convinced Captain Semmes that what he had suspected was true--viz., that +the ship was sailing under false colours, and was to all intents and +purposes an American vessel. + +Captain Pike of course protested, to which Captain Semmes replied by +ordering the destruction of the vessel. Captain Semmes returning to the +Alabama, I ordered the English flag to be hauled down, and directed the +Mates and crew to pack their luggage, and hold themselves in readiness +to go on board our ship. The First Lieutenant coming off, our boats got +off a few stores, and the prisoners were transferred to the Alabama. + +By 5.20 had applied the torch, and regained our ship 5.30. The steamer +Kwang-Tung was observed near our burning prize. We then shaped our +course for Malacca, intending to land our prisoners there. + +About 7.30 the same evening, Mr. Smith, captain's clerk, and self had +the boatswain and a seaman down in the steerage; and putting them on +oath obtained the following additional particulars--viz., that they +shipped on board the Martaban at Hong Kong and Singapore respectively; +that she was then an American vessel, and called the Texan Star, of +Galveston or Boston (she having had two American registers); that she +left Maulmain as the Texan Star, and on leaving there hoisted American +colours; that the name Martaban, of Maulmain, was painted by the +captain's nephew two days after leaving that port; that the English flag +was hoisted for the first time when the Alabama hove in sight this day; +and that no articles were signed by them at Maulmain; nor, indeed, was +any agreement made by the crew to serve in a British vessel, all hands, +in fact, believing her to be American. The Mate having also made a few +admissions, they and the preceding depositions were shown to Captain +Semmes, who, after sending for Captain Pike, put the following questions +to him--viz.: + +What is your name?--Samuel B. Pike. + +Where were you born?--At Newbury Port, Massachusetts. + +Are you a naturalized citizen of any foreign government?--I am not. + +How long have you been in command of the Martaban, formerly the Texan +Star?--Two years and a half. + +In what part of the United States was the Texan Star registered?--She +was built and registered at Boston. + +Has she but one register in America?--There was a change of owners, and +she has had two American registers. + +Who were the owners under the last American register?--John Alkerm, +Samuel Stevens, George L. Rogers, and myself. + +What proportion of the ship did you own?--One-sixth. + +When did you sail from the last port in the United States?--A year ago +last July. + +It is stated in the present British register that Mr. Mark Currie is the +owner?--That is as I understand it. + +Do you state upon your oath that the sale was a _bonâ fide_ sale?--I do +not state that. + +Do you not know that it was intended merely as a cover to prevent +capture?--Yes, I do know it. + +This closed the matter; nothing more was necessary. Here was admission +enough to destroy any legal doubt that might have arisen from the +destruction of a vessel under the English flag. What added to our +triumph was the copy of a letter from Captain Pike to his owners, in +which he stated that "he had taken such precautions as would deceive +Semmes and all the Confederates." Had the Texan Star escaped, how Yankee +cuteness would have been extolled! Why, as the Bostonians have presented +a gold chronometer to the master of the barque Urania for such a daring +deed as hoisting the American flag over his American vessel in a neutral +port (Cape Town), whilst the Alabama was lying there, I say, had the +Texan Star escaped from the Alabama, nothing short of the Presidency, or +a statue in marble, or the deed graved in letters of gold, or some other +equally ridiculous token of admiration, would have awaited the gallant +master, and the fame of his clever trick would have been handed down to +Yankee posterity. + +Captain Semmes thus resumes his diary on the 25th December:--At daylight +sent the prisoners of the Texan Star on shore, with a note to the +Commander. Malacca is a pretty little village, or at least the +sea-point, viewed from our anchorage, with a picturesque hill in the +rear, on which is situated the fort and lighthouse. The flagstaff was +decorated with flags and signals in honour of Christmas Day. A couple of +boats with some English officers and citizens ran off, and visited us +for a few minutes. Got under way at 9.30, under steam; at night anchored +near Parceelar Hill in 25 fathoms water. + +_Saturday, December 26th_.--At 6 A.M. got under way, and stood out for +the lightship, and soon made a couple of American-looking ships ahead, +at anchor; steamed up to the first, which refused to show colours. Sent +a boat on board, when she proved to be the American ship Senora, from +Singapore. Captured her, and steamed to the second, which in like manner +refused to show colours. Upon sending a boat on board, she proved to be +the American ship Highlander, also from Singapore. Captured her. Both of +these ships were very large, being over a thousand tons each. They were +both in ballast, bound to Aycaab for rice. At 10 A.M., having sent off +the crews of the two prizes in their own boats, at their own election, +fired the ships, and steamed out. Passed the lightship at about 11 A.M., +and discharged the pilot. + +From the 26th December to the 13th of January the Alabama steadily +pursued her course, meeting with little adventure. Only four sail were +seen in the period, and these all proved to be neutrals. On the last day +of the year 1863 the North Indian Ocean was entered, and the ship's head +once more laid in the direction of the Cape. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +_The Emma Jane--Quilon--An alarm--Landing prisoners--Johanna and +Mohilla--Friendly authorities--Slavery--A trading monarch--Distance +lends enchantment to the view--Cousins-german of the Sultan--Princes +gardens--Mahommedan sympathy--Off again._ + + +On the 14th January, as the Alabama was lazily drifting in a +north-easterly direction, near the Malabar coast, a ship was discovered +running down towards her. The useful decoy--the United States flag--was +at once hoisted, and the same colours were run up by the stranger. A gun +brought the Yankee vessel to, and the Alabama forthwith took possession +of the Emma Jane of Bath, Maine, bound from Bombay to Amherst in +ballast, and at 8.30 P.M. the prize was set fire to. + +About this period the cruiser experienced a series of calms, and she +drifted with the current rather than sailed. On the 16th of January the +Ghaut Mountains were made, and Captain Semmes makes the following entry +in his journal. + +_Saturday, January 16th._--At meridian made the town of Quilon, and bore +up east 1/2 south for the town of Angenga, which we made about 2 P.M. At +4.30 came to in the road abreast of the fort, and despatched a +Lieutenant on shore to see about landing my prisoners. In the evening +the residing magistrate's son came on board, and I arranged the matter +with him. There being no external trade or shipping at Angenga, the +prisoners could not well get away by sea; but my visitor stated that +there was lagoon navigation inland all the way to Cochin, some +seventy-five miles to the northward, and that at Cochin there were +always means of reaching Bombay and other ports. Native boats were +passing every day between Angenga and Cochin, and if I would send the +necessary provisions on shore for the prisoners, his father would see +them transported to Cochin. I sent a Lieutenant on shore after night +with the son, to arrange the matter with the father; and as the boat was +delayed much beyond her time, and we heard some firing as of revolvers +and muskets, and as there was also some surf running, I became uneasy, +and despatched the First Lieutenant in another boat to look into the +matter. The chief magistrate had only been at public worship--the cause +of the detention of the boat. Both boats returned about 11.30 P.M. + +_Sunday, January 17th._--At daylight I sent all the prisoners on shore, +where they were landed apparently in the presence of half the +village--the native boats taking them through the surf--and at 9.30 got +under way. The town of Angenga was formerly of some importance as a +shipping port for the produce of the country--cocoa-nut oil, pepper, &c. +But all its trade has passed to its more prosperous rival--Cochin. It is +about fifty miles from Travancore, the residence of The Rajah. There is +water communication all the way, and the journey is generally made (in +canoes) in the night to avoid the heat of the sun. The natives are +nearly as black as the Africans, but with straight hair and European +features. A large number of them visited the ship this morning. They +were fine specimens of physical development, and wore scarcely any other +covering than a cloth about the loins. They were sprightly and chatty, +and in their quaint canoes made quite a picture. + + * * * * * + +On the 17th January the Alabama left Angenga, arriving without further +adventure on the 21st at the Island of Minicoy, and after three weeks +more of fine weather, found herself off the island of Comoro. + + * * * * * + +_Tuesday, February 9th_.--At 3.30 A.M. passed in sight of the N.E. end +of Comoro. Soon after daylight made the Islands of Johanna and Mohilla. +At 1.30 P.M. came to anchor about three-quarters of a mile from the +shore. Despatched the Paymaster to the-town to arrange for fresh +provisions. In the afternoon visited by several canoes, with a couple of +poles lashed across the gunwales, attached to a float in each, to +maintain their stability. Stalwart naked negroes were for the most part +their occupants. Many of them spoke a little English. Among others, a +dignitary of the Church came on board with the compliments of the chief +priest (Mahommedan). We made arrangements with him for the supply of the +ship. One of his companions asked me to which of the belligerent parties +I belonged to, the North or the South. I replied, to the South. "Then," +said he, "you belong to the side which upholds slavery." "Yes," said I, +"we belong to the country where the black man is better taken care of +than in any other part of the world." The churchman seeing me put on the +defensive, as it were, came to my aid, and said: "Oh, we are +slaveholders here; being Mahommedans, we have no prejudices that way; +our only trouble is, we cannot get slaves enough. The English, who have +no control over us, we being an independent government, are strong +enough to interfere in everybody's business, and to say to us, that we +bring over from the main no more slaves. The slaves themselves would +gladly come to us, as they are much better off than under their native +chiefs, who are continually making war upon and enslaving one another." + +My informant was himself a full-blooded African negro, as black as the +ace of spades, but with an immaculate white turban on his head, and the +flowing robe and loose jacket of the Mahommedan. + +_Wednesday, February 10th_.--Visited by the King's Dragoman this +morning, who came to pay the respects of the authorities, to say he was +glad to see us in Johanna. In the course of conversation, he was pleased +to say that our ship was well known to him, and the news of our having +appeared off the Cape some months ago had driven off all the Yankee +whalers, several of which had been accustomed to resort hither. King +Abdallah, he said, resided on the east side of the island. The king +himself would come to see us, but was very busy just now patting up a +sugar-mill, which he had just received from the Mauritius. + +The island is a beautiful, picturesque spot. There is quite a mountain +in the interior, and the higher parts of Johanna are densely wooded; the +mountain-sides being in some places so steep that the tops of some trees +touch the trunks and roots of others. + +The inhabitants are a mixture of Arabs and negroes. They are intelligent +and sprightly, and had not only heard of the American war, but said it +bore heavily on them, as they were now compelled to pay a much higher +price for their goods, which are mostly cotton. We have driven away, +they say, all their Yankee trade. The Sultan is a young man of +twenty-eight, with a moderate harem of only five wives. + +_Thursday, February 11th_.--Visited the town to get sights for my +chronometers--which puts the town at 44.26.30 N., just 30" less than +Captain Owen's determination. The town, as viewed from the anchorage, is +a picturesque object, with its tall minaret, its two forts, one perched +on a hill commanding the town, and the other on the sea-beach, and its +stone houses; but the illusion is rudely dispelled on landing. You land +on a beach of rocks and shingle, through a considerable surf even in the +calmest weather. The beach was strewn with the washed clothes of the +ship, and a set of vagabonds of all colour, save only that of the +Caucasian, were hanging about looking curiously on. The town is +dilapidated and squalid to the last degree--the houses of rough stones, +cemented and thatched; the streets five feet wide, and rendered, as it +would seem, purposely crooked. + +It was the second day of the fast of Ramadan, and groups of idlers were +congregated in the narrow porticoes reading the Koran. The language, +which is peculiar to the island, is very soft and pleasing to the ear. +We visited one of the principal houses. The walls were filled with a +number of small niches, receptacles for everything imaginable--coffee-cups, +ornaments, &c. A number of couches were ranged round the room. + +A crowd of half-clad, dirty children gathered round us, but no female +made her appearance. We took our sights among the gaping multitude, all +of whom were very civil and polite, and returned on board about 5 P.M., +having seen all the outside life that was to be seen at Auzuan. The +inside life was, of course, out of our reach. + +Upon coming on deck this morning I was struck with the soft picturesque +beauty of the hills, as shone upon by the morning sun lighting up the +tops and sides, and throwing the valleys and ravines into shade. At +night I am lulled by the roar of the sea upon the beach. It is +delightful to sniff the fragrance of the land as it comes off to us +upon the dew-laden wings of the softest of breezes. My fellows on shore +looked rueful and woe-begone--nature had no charms for them--there was +no liquor to be had! If I were to remain here long, I should send them +on shore as a punishment. + +_Friday, February 12th_.--This is the Mahommedan Sabbath, but they do +not keep it so grimly as the Puritans. We had a number of visitors on +board, and among others, several princes, cousins-german of the Sultan, +one of them being the Commander-in-Chief of the army. He gave me an +account of the affair of the Dale. Some years ago two Yankee whalers +came in. One of them obtained provisions to the amount of two hundred +and fifty dollars, telling the people he was too poor to pay for them in +money, but that he would give them a bill on the Consul at Zanzibar. To +this they assented; the skipper then ran off with his ship in the night, +without giving the bill. They seized the other Captain and took him on +shore, to keep him as a hostage while his ship should go in pursuit of +the runaway and get the promised bill. But they thought better of it in +a few hours, and released him. The Dale came the next season and +demanded twenty-five thousand dollars, threatening to burn the town if +the money was not paid. They could not pay them, there being probably +not so much money in the island. The Yankees then set fire to one end of +the town, cannonaded the fort, doing some damage, and withdrew. This is +about the usual origin of Yankee shipmasters' complaints to their +government. I made a present of a captured Yankee clock to each of the +princes, and gave them a package of writing-paper. They seemed anxious +to get some finery for their wives, but I told them we were not in that +line, like Yankee whalers. + +_Saturday, February 13th_.--Visited the town again to-day. Called at the +houses of a couple of the princes, in which I found everything dirty, +with an attempt at tawdry finery. A black _houri_ was set to fan me. We +were served with rose syrup. Walked to the prince's garden--a beautiful +wilderness of cocoa and betel nuts, sweet orange and mango, with +heterogeneous patches of rice, sweet potatoes and beans, and here and +there a cotton plant. Two or three slave huts were dotted about, and +walls of loose stones ran along crooked lanes and bye-ways. As we came +off, some of the inhabitants were at evening prayer, and others +preparing to take their evening meal. People met us everywhere with +kindly greetings, and the Cadi, a venerable-looking old man, wished me a +safe return to my own country. + +_Sunday, February 14th_.--Visited in force again to-day by the princes, +and other chief men. In the afternoon the high-priest visited me. He was +a fine-looking man--Arab by descent--with a well-developed forehead, +and easy, gentlemanly bearing. He wore a sword, and was evidently looked +upon with great respect by his attendants. He expressed much sympathy +with our cause, and said he would pray to Allah for our success. The +Yankee whalers, he said, invariably stole some of their slaves. Said +they could not do very well without the whalers, as they were the only +traders to the island, and brought them many useful things. + +_Monday, February 15th_.--Received on board some bullocks and fruit; +paid our bills, and were taken leave of affectionately by the simple +people. At meridian moved out of the anchorage under steam, amid the +cheers, given in real English fashion, by the many boatmen that +surrounded us. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +_"Man overboard!"--Blowing hard--Three Years--Wearing out--The Cape +again--Seizure of the Tuscaloosa--Towards Europe--War News--What the +Alabama effected--Case of the Rockingham--The last capture--The +Tycoon--Nineteen overhauled--In the Channel--At Cherbourg._ + + +From the middle to the 28th February there was but little excitement on +board the Alabama. On that day the usual routine of life on a man-of-war +was broken by the cry of "Man overboard." The vessel was at once hove +to, but before a boat could be lowered a gallant fellow, Michael Mars, +leapt overboard, and swimming to the rescue of his shipmate, fortunately +succeeded in saving the man's life. + +On the third of March they saw the first Cape Pigeon and Albatross, and +on the 4th Captain Semmes writes as follows:-- + +The gale still continues, though moderating very fast; sea not so +turbulent, though the surf is thundering into it now and then, and +keeping the decks flooded. 'Tis three years to-day since I parted with +my family in Washington, on the day in which Washington's great republic +was humiliated by the inauguration as President of a vulgar democratic +politician, in whom even the great events in which, by a singular +destiny, he has been called to take a part, have not been able to sink +the mountebank. These three years of anxiety, vigilance, exposure, and +excitement, have made me an old man, and sapped my health, rendering +repose necessary, if I would prolong my life. My ship is wearing out, +too, as well as her commander, and will need a general overhauling by +the time I can get her into dock. If my poor services be deemed of any +importance in harassing and weakening the enemy, and thus contributing +to the independence of my beloved South, I shall be amply rewarded. + + * * * * * + +The Alabama still kept on through gales, with creaking cordage and +jerking tiller ropes, until on the 11th of March the Cape was sighted, +off which they were knocked about until the 20th instant; lying in the +track of vessels bounding before the gale at the rate of ten or twelve +knots an hour, and only able to see them when within a mile of the ship. + +Arrived in Table Bay, Captain Semmes received intelligence of the +seizure of the Tuscaloosa, upon which he at once wrote a despatch to +Admiral Walker.[15] + +[Footnote 15: For papers relating to the seizure of this vessel, see +Appendix.] The Cape was left on the 25th of March, the vessel's head +being laid towards Europe, and on the 29th the following entry is found +in the journal:-- + +"I have at length had a little leisure to read the late papers received +at the Cape. The Yankee Government and people, and with them a great +portion of the English press and people, seem to have jumped suddenly to +the conclusion that we are beaten, and that the war must soon end by our +submission! Mr. Lincoln has even gone so far as to prescribe the terms +on which our States may re-enter the rotten "concern"--to wit, by a +reorganization of the States government by one-tenth of the people. +Verily, the delusion of these men in the matter of this war is +unaccountable. No power on earth can subjugate the Southern States, +although some of them have been guilty of the pusillanimity of making +war with the Yankees against their sisters. History will brand them as +traitors and cowards. As for the tone of the English press, I am not +surprised at it. England is too rich to be generous. Our war for her is +a sort of prize-fight, and she is looking on in about the same spirit +with which her people lately viewed the prize fight between King and +Heenan. Hurrah one; well done the other." + + * * * * * + +From March 29th to April 22d there were no events calling for special +attention, save that on the sixteenth the intelligence was learned from +the master of a French ship that there were no American vessels at the +Chincha Islands, though in July, 1863, there were between seventy and +eighty American sail there. This speaks volumes of the terror the +Alabama had excited. + +The night of the 22d of April was employed in giving chase to a strange +sail, which was overhauled at daybreak on the following morning; and the +United States flag having been responded to by a display of the same +colours, the Alabama boarded and took possession of the guano-laden +ship, Rockingham, which was employed as a target, and then set fire to. +The cargo being claimed as the property of neutrals, Captain Semmes +examined the ship's papers and entered the following in his journal:-- + + +CASE OF THE ROCKINGHAM. + +"Ship under United States colours and register. Is from Callao, bound to +Cork for orders, and loaded with guano. This guano purports to be +shipped by the Guano Consignment Company to Great Britain. One Joseph A. +Danino, who signs for Danino and Moscosa, certifies that the guano +belongs to the Peruvian Government; and Her Britannic Majesty's Acting +Consul at Lima certifies that the said Joseph A. Danino appeared before +him and 'voluntarily declared' 'that the foregoing signature is of his +own handwriting, and also that the cargo above mentioned is truly and +verily the property of the Peruvian Government.' + +"As this is the only certificate of the neutrality of the cargo among +the papers, and as nobody swears to anything in this certificate, there +is no testimony at all. The ship being enemy's property, and the cargo +being presumed to be enemy's property also, from being found on board +the ship, it was incumbent on the neutral parties, if there are any such +in the case, to have documented their property by sworn certificates; +and this rule of law is so well known, that the absence of an oath would +seem to be conclusive as to the fraudulent attempt to cover. Ship and +cargo condemned." + + * * * * * + +This capture was followed by that of the Tycoon, on the 27th of the same +month; and as no claim of neutrality of cargo was made, the ship was +burned. This, as it afterwards turned out, was the last of the Alabama's +prizes. Nineteen other vessels were overhauled before she reached +Cherbourg, but not one of them sailed under the Stars and Stripes. When +it is remembered that no less than sixty-five American ships had been +taken by the gallant cruiser, it is not much to be wondered at that the +Yankee flag was a _rara avis_ on the high seas. + +From the 25th of May to the 10th of June the Alabama was making her way +north, and on the last-named date she was abreast of the Lizard, and was +boarded by a Channel pilot. "I felt," writes Captain Semmes, "great +relief to have him on board, as I was quite knocked up with cold and +fever, and was too ill-qualified physically for exposure to the weather +and watching through the night. And thus, thanks to an all-wise +Providence, we have brought the cruise of the Alabama to a successful +termination." + +Little could Captain Semmes have imagined, when he penned these lines, +that the cruising days of his vessel were so soon to end. The vessel +entered Cherbourg on the morning of the 11th. Two days after news was +received that the Kearsarge would shortly arrive there, intelligence +which was confirmed next day by the appearance of that vessel. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +_The Kearsarge--Preparations--The iron-clad--State of the Alabama--Out +of the harbour--The Deerhound--The Captain's address--Armaments of the +combatants--Plan of action--The engagement--Rapid fire--Badly +wounded--Sinking--The end of the Alabama--In the water--Gallant +conduct--Surgeon Llewellyn--The Deerhound to the rescue--The enemy's +boats--Not a wrack--The informing spirit_. + + +It was written that the Alabama was never to behold the ports of her +country! + +The latest entries in the diary of Captain Semmes are of an interest too +great to permit us to exclude them, prior to the narration of the +memorable duel which closes the history of a vessel whose renown, short +as her career has been, may challenge that of any ship that has spread a +sail upon the waters, and casts a lustre even upon the heroic history of +the Confederate States. + +On Tuesday, June 14th, Captain Semmes writes:-- + +"Great excitement on board, the Kearsarge having made her appearance off +the eastern entrance of the breakwater, at about 11 A.M. Sent an order +on shore immediately for coal (one hundred tons), and sent down the +yards on the mizen-mast, and the topgallant yards, and otherwise +preparing the ship for action. + +"_Wednesday, June 15th._--The Admiral sent off his _aide_ to say that he +considered my application for repairs withdrawn upon my making +application for coal, to which I assented. We commenced coaling this +afternoon. The Kearsarge is still in the offing; she has not been +permitted to receive on board the prisoners landed by me, to which I had +objected in a letter to the Admiral. Mailed a note yesterday afternoon +for Flagofficer Barrow, informing him of my intention to go out to +engage the enemy as soon as I could make my preparations, and sent a +written notice to the U.S. consul, through Mr. Bonfils, to the same +effect. My crew seems to be in the right spirit, a quiet spirit of +determination pervading both officers and men. The combat will no doubt +be contested and obstinate; but the two ships are so equally matched, I +do not feel at liberty to decline it. God defend the right, and have +mercy upon the souls of those who fall, as many of us must!" + + * * * * * + +It has been denied that the captain of the Kearsarge sent a challenge to +the Alabama. Captain Semmes, indeed, says nothing of it himself. What +the Kearsarge did--and with a particular object, there cannot be a +doubt--was, as recorded, to enter the breakwater at the east end, and +"at about 11 A.M., on Tuesday, she _passed through the west end without +anchoring_." These are the words of a French naval captain, who speaks +of what he saw. Few will deny that among brave men this would be +considered something equivalent to a challenge. It was more than a +challenge--it was a defiance. The officer we have quoted adds, that +"anyone could then see her outside protection." It is easy to see +everything after the event. The Kearsarge looked bulky in her middle +section to an inspecting eye; but she was very low in the water, and +that she was _armed_ to resist shot and shell it was impossible to +discern. It is distinctly averred by the officers of the Alabama that +from their vessel the armour of the Kearsarge could not be +distinguished. There were many reports abroad that she was protected on +her sides in some peculiar way; but all were various and indistinct, and +to a practical judgment untrustworthy. Moreover, a year previous to this +meeting, the Kearsarge had lain at anchor close under the critical eye +of Captain Semmes. He had on that occasion seen that his enemy was not +artificially defended. He believes now that the reports of her plating +and armour were so much harbour-gossip, of which during his cruises he +had experienced enough. + +Now the Kearsarge was an old enemy, constantly in pursuit, and her +appearance produced, as Captain Semmes has written, great excitement on +board the Alabama. And let us here call attention to what the officers +and men of the illustrious Confederate ship had been enduring for the +space of two years. During all this time they had been homeless, and +without a prospect of reaching home. They had been constantly crowded +with prisoners, who devoured their provender--of which they never had +any but a precarious supply. Their stay in any neutral harbour was +necessarily short as the perching of a hawk on a bough. Like the hawk's +in upper air, the Alabama's safety as well as her business was on the +high seas. Miserably fed, hunted, eluding, preying, destroying--is this +a life that brave men would willingly have to be continuous? They were +fortified by the assurance of a mighty service done to their country. +They knew that they inflicted tremendous damage upon their giant foe. +They were, perhaps, supported by the sense that their captain's +unrivalled audacity had done more harm to the United States than the +operations of many thousand men. But their days were wretched; their +task was sickening; it demands an imagination that can fix its eye upon +stern, barren duty as a planet never darkened, always visible, for such +a life as this to be carried on uncomplainingly and without a passionate +longing for the bare exercise of hard blows. In addition, they read of +the reproaches heaped upon them by comfortable shore-men. They were +called pirates, and other gloomy titles. The execrations of certain of +the French and English, and of all the United States press, sounded in +their ears across the ocean; but from their own country they heard +little. The South was a sealed land in comparison with the rest of the +world. Opinion spoke loudest in Europe, and though they knew that they +were faithfully, gallantly, and marvellously serving their country in +her sore need, the absence of any immediate comfort, either physical or +moral, helped to make them keenly sensitive to virulent criticism, even +to that of avowed and clamorous enemies. + +It was this state of mind through the whole crew which caused the +excitement on board the Alabama when the Kearsarge steamed in and out of +the breakwater. Now, and at last, our day of action has come! was the +thought of every man on board. The chivalrous give and take of battle +was glorious to men who had alternately hunted and fled for so dreary a +term. They trusted for victory; but defeat itself was to be a +vindication of their whole career, and they welcomed the chances gladly. + +The application for coal at a neutral port was in itself a renunciation +of any further hospitality from the harbour, as Captain Semmes was +aware. The Port-admiral contented himself with pointing it out to him. A +duel is not an unpopular thing in France. The prospective combat of two +apparently equally-matched ships of war would have been sufficient to +have melted any scruples entertained by Frenchmen in authority; they +were only too happy to assist towards an engagement between Federals and +Confederates, the latter being as popular in France as in England, to +say nothing for the sympathy excited for the Alabama. French officers +agreed with Captain Semmes in thinking that there was marked offence and +defiance in the manoeuvres of the Kearsarge, and that he could hardly do +less than go out and meet her. We have done our best to show that the +Captain, whether in his heart he felt the mere chances to be equal or +not, was anxious to persuade himself that they were so. He knew his +opponent to be the heavier in ship, battery, and crew, but "I did not +know that she was also iron-clad," he says. Personally he desired the +battle; the instigations of an enthusiastic crew, unanimous for action, +as also of friendly foreign officers, are to be taken into account. +Those who venture, now that we are enabled to measure by results, to +cast blame upon him, should first, in justice, throw themselves into his +position. President Davis may deplore the loss of a vessel that did a +mighty service, but we doubt not that he will endorse the honourable +words of Mr. Mason in his justification of Captain Semmes, and rejoice +that the man who was the ship, is saved for further service to the +Confederacy. + +On Sunday, in the morning, being the 19th June, the Alabama steamed out +of Cherbourg harbour by the opening to the west, and steered straight to +meet the Kearsarge, accompanied by the French iron-clad La Couronne. The +late foul weather had given way to a gentle breeze, and the subsiding +swell of the Atlantic wave under a clear sky made the day eminently +favourable for the work in hand. All Cherbourg was on the heights above +the town and along the bastions and the mole. Never did knightly +tournament boast a more eager multitude of spectators. It chanced +fortunately that an English steam-yacht, the Deerhound, with its owner, +Mr. John Lancaster, and his family, on board, was in harbour at the +time. The Deerhound followed the Alabama at a respectful distance, and +was the closest witness of the fight. Some French pilot-boats hung as +near as they considered prudent. At the limit of neutral waters the +Alabama parted company with her, escort, and the Couronne returned to +within a league of the shore. + +Left to herself at last, the Alabama made her final preparations for the +coming struggle. Mustering all his ship's company upon the deck, Captain +Semmes addressed them as follows;-- + +"OFFICERS AND SEAMEN OF THE ALABAMA:" + +"You have, at length, another opportunity of meeting the enemy--the +first that has been presented to you since you sunk the Hatteras! In the +meantime, you have been all over the world, and it is not too much to +say that you have destroyed, and driven for protection under neutral +flags, one-half of the enemy's commerce, which, at the beginning of the +war, covered every sea. This is an achievement of which you may well be +proud; and a grateful country will not be unmindful of it. The name of +your ship has become a household word wherever civilization extends. +Shall that name be tarnished by defeat? The thing is impossible! +Remember that you are in the English Channel, the theatre of so much of +the naval glory of our race, and that the eyes of all Europe are at this +moment upon you. The flag that floats over you is that of a young +republic, which bids defiance to her enemy's, whenever and wherever +found. Show the world that you know how to uphold it. Go to your +quarters."[16] + +[Footnote 16: The above is a correct report of Captain Semmes' address +on this occasion. Various statements have appeared as to the way in +which it was continued: received. Captain Semmes states, "The only +replies that were made were shouts from the seamen of 'Never! never!' +when I spoke of the name of their ship being tarnished by defeat."] + +It took three-quarters of an hour for the Alabama to come within range +of the Kearsarge. At the distance of one mile, the Alabama opened fire +with solid shot. The Kearsarge took time to reply. After ten minutes the +firing was sharp on both sides. + +According to the statement of the Captain of the Kearsarge, her battery +consisted of seven guns--to wit, two 11-inch Dahlgrens--very powerful +pieces of ordnance; four 32 pounders, one light rifle 28 pounder. She +went into action with a crew of 162 officers and men. + +The armament of the Alabama consisted of one 7-inch Blakeley rifled gun, +one 8-inch smooth-bore pivot gun, six 32 pounders, smooth-bore, in +broadside. The Alabama's crew numbered not more than 120. On this head +Captain Winslow speaks erroneously. He sets down the Alabama's crew at +150 officers and men. The Alabama had a formidable piece in the Blakeley +rifled gun, but she was destitute of steel shot. + +It will thus be seen that there was inequality between the antagonists. +Captain Winslow speaks of the Alabama having "one gun more" than the +Kearsarge. His two great Dahlgrens gave the balance altogether in his +favour. But in an estimate of the rival capabilities of the two vessels, +the deteriorated speed of the Alabama should be considered as her +principal weakness. Cherbourg had done little to repair the copper of +her bottom, which spread out in broad fans and seriously impeded her +cutting of the water; and it had been found impossible to do more than +to patch up the boilers for the day's business. They were not in a state +to inspire the engineers with confidence. The Kearsarge, on the other +hand, was in first rate condition and well in hand. She speedily showed +that she could overhaul the Alabama. In fact, the Alabama entered the +lists when she should have been lying in dock. She fought with an +exhausted frame. She had the heroism to decide upon the conflict, +without the strength to choose the form of it. After some little +manoeuvring this became painfully evident to Captain Semmes. The +Kearsarge selected her distance at a range of five hundred yards, and +being well protected she deliberately took time and fired with sure +effect. + +Captain Semmes had great confidence in the power of his Blakeley rifled +gun, and we believe it is a confidence not shaken by its failure to win +the day for him. He wished to get within easy range of his enemy, that +he might try this weapon effectively; but any attempt on his part to +come to closer quarters was construed by the Kearsarge as a design to +bring the engagement between the ships to a hand-to-hand conflict +between the men. Having the speed, she chose her distance, and made all +thought of boarding hopeless. + +It was part of the plan of Captain Semmes to board, if possible, at some +period of the day, supposing that he could not quickly decide the battle +with artillery. It was evidently Captain Winslow's determination to +avoid the old-fashioned form of a naval encounter, and to fight +altogether in the new style; his superior steam power gave him the +option. When the Alabama took her death-wound she was helpless. We must +interpret the respectful distance maintained by the Kearsarge up to the +very last, and the persistent plying of her guns while the side of the +sinking ship was visible, as a settled resolution on Captain Winslow's +part to trust to guns alone, and throughout, so that a dangerous +proximity might be shunned. That much homage was paid by him to the +hostile crew, and that his manoeuvre was creditably discreet, few will +deny. + +The crew of the Alabama, seamen and officers, were in high spirits +throughout the engagement, though very early the slaughter set in and +the decks were covered with blood. Their fire was rapid and admirable. +It has been said in the House of Lords by no less a person than the Duke +of Somerset, that her firing was positively bad; and that she hit the +Kearsarge only three times during the action. By Captain Winslow's own +admission the Kearsarge was hit twenty-eight times by shot and shell--or +once to every fifth discharge. No seaman knowing anything of an actual +engagement on the deep will object to the accuracy of such an aim. Had +the Kearsarge shown the same blank sides as the Alabama, another tale +might have been told. Captain Semmes, however, perceived that his shell +rebounded after striking her, and exploded harmlessly. This led him to +rely upon solid shot. The Alabama, not being thus or in any way +shielded, was pierced with shell, and soon showed vast rents in her +after-part. Her pivot-gun was a distinct mark for the enemy, and a +single shell exploding near it killed and wounded half the number of men +by whom it was worked. Each ship fought her starboard broadside, and +steamed in a circle to keep that side to the enemy. So, for an hour, +this, to a distant spectator, monotonous manoeuvre continued, without +perceptibly narrowing the range. Captain Semmes was standing on the +quarter-deck when the chief engineer sent word to say that the ship was +endangered by leakage. The first lieutenant, Mr. Kell, was sent below to +inspect the damage. He returned with word that the ship was sinking. +Captain Semmes at once ordered the ship to be put about and steered +towards shore. But the water was rising in her: the fires were speedily +extinguished. The Alabama's shot from slackening had now ceased. It was +evident to all on board that she was doomed. To have continued firing +would have been to indulge a stupid rancour, and to act in such a manner +is not in the nature of a seaman like Captain Semmes. On the contrary, +his thoughts were directed towards saving the lives of his crew. He gave +command for the Confederate flag to be hauled down. + +Many wild stories are being told of something like a mutiny of the crew +at this desecration of the Southern banner; of how they implored the +Captain to spare them the disgrace of it; and of a certain quartermaster +drawing his cutlass, daring any hand on board to haul down the flag, and +being dramatically threatened with a loaded pistol by Mr. Kell, the +First Lieutenant, and so brought to his senses. The fact is, that the +flag came down quietly and decorously. All on board perceived that there +was no help for it, and that it would be a shocking breach of humanity +to imperil the lives of the wounded men. + +The general detestation of the Yankee was yet more strongly instanced +when the men were struggling for life in the water. The head of every +man was pointed away, as if instinctively, from the vessel that stood +nearest to rescue him. One who was hailed from the Kearsarge with the +offer of a rescue, declined it civilly, and made his way for the neutral +flag. The men swam as if they had still an enemy behind them, and not +one that was ready to save. Tardy as were the boats of the Kearsarge in +descending to perform this office, they found many of the poor fellows +still painfully supporting themselves above the surface. Of these, both +men and officers, when, after being hauled into the boats, they had +dashed the blinding salt water from their eyes and discovered among whom +they were, many sprang overboard again, preferring any risk to the +shelter of the Federalists. Hatred to the flag of the old Union and love +of their Captain appear to have been their chief active passions. When +taken on board the Deerhound, the question as to the safety of Captain +Semmes was foremost in every mouth. + +Captain Semmes asserts that shots were fired at the Alabama after the +signal of surrender. We will not attempt to substantiate a charge like +this: but French officers maintain it to be an undeniable fact that, +after the Confederate flag had been lowered, the Kearsarge fired no less +than five shots into her. We believe that Captain Winslow does not deny +the charge; but asserts that he was unaware of the act of surrender. In +his letter to the _Daily News_, he declares the accusation that he had +been guilty of this act to be "twaddle" (we quote his own phrase). + +The master's mate of the Alabama, Mr. Fullam, was despatched in the +dingey to the Kearsarge with a request that assistance might immediately +be given in rescuing the lives of the wounded men. It was promised, but +the fulfilment of the promise, owing, as we trust it may be proved, to +circumstances incidental to the fight, was, as we have said, tardy. +Captain Winslow expressed himself in kindly terms with regard to his old +shipmate in the days when the Union was not a mockery of its name; +Captain Semmes having served with him in the same vessel many years +back. During Mr. Fullam's absence the Alabama had gone down stern +foremost. All the wounded had been stretched in the whale-boat for +transmission to the Kearsarge. The surgeon of the Alabama, an +Englishman, Mr. David Herbert Llewellyn, son of an incumbent of a +Wiltshire parsonage, and godson of the late Lord Herbert of Lea, was +offered a place in this boat. He refused it, saying that he would not +peril the wounded men, and he sank with the Alabama. The rest of the +crew, with their captain, were already in the waves. Mr. Lancaster +meantime had steamed up to the Kearsarge, requesting permission to +assist in saving life, and he was soon among them, throwing lines from +the yacht, and picking up many exhausted men in his boats. The loss of +men by drowning was nineteen, including an officer (Mr. Llewellyn), +carpenter, and assistant-engineer. The loss in killed and wounded was +twenty-eight, of whom seven were killed. Not a wrack of the Alabama was +secured by the victors in this memorable sea-fight. The captain and his +officers dropped their swords into the deep; the men drove their oars +into the bottoms of the boats. One spirit--the spirit of the +unconquerable Confederation of the Southern States--animated all. Not a +man who was able to support himself in the water, swam towards the +Kearsarge. + +So sank the Alabama. It would have been glorious for her to have won, +but it was not disgraceful that the day went against her. She fought +against odds such as brave commanders are not in the habit of declining; +she fought to the water's edge. An end like this, and the splendid +antecedents she points to, have made her name and that of her captain +household words. Her flag has been indeed a "meteor flag," and that it +shall "yet terrific burn" we may reckon to be probable, when it is +remembered that the informing spirit, of which the good vessel was but +the gross body, is alive, and prepared once more to offer himself to the +land of his choice for service upon the seas. + + + + +APPENDIX. + + * * * * * + +No. I. + +CAPTURES OF THE SUMTER. + + +_Ably Bradford_--Of New York, from New York to Puerto Caballo. Captured +25th July, 1861, N.E. of Laguayra, Venezuela. + +Sent to New Orleans. Recaptured by enemy. + +_Albert Adams_--Of Massachusetts. Captured 5th July, 1861, four leagues +off Cienfuegos. + +Sent to Cienfuegos. Released by Captain-General of Cuba. + +_Arcade_--Of Maine, from Portland, Maine, to Guadaloupe. Captured 26th +November, 1861, in lat. 20° 27' N., long. 57° 15' W. + +Burned. + +_Ben Dunning_--Of Maine. Captured 5th July, 1861, four leagues off +Cienfuegos. + +Sent to Cienfuegos. Released by Captain-General of Cuba. + +_Cuba_--Of Maine, from Trinidad to English ports. Captured 4th July, +1861, in lat. 21° 29' N., long. 84° 06' W. + +Sent to Cienfuegos. Retaken by enemy. + +_Daniel Trowbridge_--Of Connecticut, from New York to Demerara. Captured +27th October, 1861, in lat. 17° 54' N., long. 56° 30' W. + +Burned. + +_Ebenezer Dodge_--Of Massachusetts, from New Bedford to South Pacific +(whaling). Captured 8th December, 1861, in lat. 30° 57' N., long. 51° +49' W. + +Burned. + +_Golden Rocket_--Of Bangor, Maine. Captured 3d July, 1861, in lat. 21° +29' N., long. 84° 06' W. Valued at $35,000. + +Burned. + +_Investigator_--Of Maine, from Spain to Newport, Wales. Captured 18th +January, 1862, in Straits of Gibraltar. Valued at $15,000, + +Released on ransom bond. + +_Joseph Maxwell_--Of Pennsylvania. Captured 27th July, 1861, seven miles +from Puerto Caballo. + +Sent to Cienfuegos. Released by Governor-General of Cuba. + +_Joseph Parkes_--Of Massachusetts, from Pernambuco to Boston. Captured +25th September, 1861, in lat. 6° 20' N., long. 42° 24'W. + +Burned. + +_Louisa Kilham_--Of Massachusetts. Captured 6th July, 1861, five miles +from Cienfuegos. + +Sent to Cienfuegos. Released by Captain-General of Cuba. + +_Machias_--Of Maine, from Trinidad to an English port. Captured 4th +July, 1861, in lat. 21° 29' N., long. 84° 06' W. + +Sent to Cienfuegos. Released by Captain-General of Cuba. + +_Montmorency_--Of Maine, from Newport, Wales, to St. Thomas. Captured +25th November, 1861, in lat. 18° 30' N., long. 58° 40' W. Valued at +$20,000. + +Released under ransom bond. + +_Naiad_--Of New York. Captured 6th July, 1861, five miles from +Cienfuegos. + +Sent to Cienfuegos. Released by Captain-General of Cuba. + +_Neapolitan_--Of Massachusetts, from Messina to Boston. Captured 18th +January, 1862, in Straits of Gibraltar. + +Burned. + +_Vigilans_--Of Maine, from New York to Island of Sombrero. Captured 3d +December, 1861, in lat. 29° 10' N., long. 57° 22' W. Valued at $40,000. + +Burned. + +_West Wind_--Of Rhode Island. Captured 6th July, 1861, five miles off +Cienfuegos. + +Sent to Cienfuegos. Released by Captain-General of Cuba. + + * * * * * + +CAPTURES OF THE ALABAMA. + +_Alert_--Of New London, from New London to the Indian Ocean (whaling). +Captured 9th September, 1862, off Flores. Valued at $20,000. + +Burned. + +_Altamaha_--Of New Bedford, from New Bedford (whaling). Captured 13th +September, 1862, in lat. 40° 34' N., 25° 24' W. Valued at $3,000. + +Burned. + +_Amanda_--Of United States, from Manilla to Queenstown. Captured 6th +November, 1863, in lat. 7° 00' S., long. 103° 19' E. Valued at $104,442. + +Burned. + +_Amazonian_--Of New York, from New York to Monte Video. Captured 2d +June, 1863, in lat. 15° 09', long. 55° 04'. Valued at $97,665. + +Burned. + +_Anna F. Schmidt_--Of Maine, from Boston (_via_ St. Thomas) to San +Francisco. Captured 2d July, 1863, in lat. 26° 14', long. 37° 51'. +Valued at $350,000. + +Burned. + +_Ariel_--Of New York, from New York to Aspinwall. Captured 7th Dec., +1862, off Cape Maize. Valued at $261,000. + +Released on bond. + +_Baron de Castine_--Of Castine, from Bangor to Cardenas. Captured 29th +October, 1862, in lat. about 39° 18' N., long. about 69° 12' W. Valued +at $6,000., + +Released on bond. + +_Benjamin Tucker_--Of New Bedford, from New Bedford (whaling). Captured +14th September, 1862, off Flores. Valued. at $18,000. + +Burned. + +_Bethia Thayer_--Of Maine. Captured 1st March, 1863, in lat. 29° 50' N., +long. 38° 31' W. Valued at $40,000. + +Released on bond. + +_Brilliant_--Of New York, from New York to Liverpool. Captured 3d +October, 1862, in lat. 39° 58' N., long. 50° 00' W. Valued at $164,000. + +Burned. + +_Charles Hill_--Of Boston, from Liverpool to Monte Video. Captured 25th +March, 1863, in lat. 1° 22', long. 26° 08'. Valued at $28,450. + +Burned. + +_Chastelaine_--Of Boston, from Martinique to Cienfuegos. Captured 27th +January, 1863, in lat. 17° 19' N., long. 72° 21' W. Valued at $10,000. +Burned. + +_Contest_--Of the United States, from Yokohama, Japan, to New York. +Captured 11th November, 1863, in lat. 4° 48' S., long. 106° 49' E. +Valued at $122,815. + +Burned. + +_Courser_--Of Province Town, from Province Town (whaling). Captured 16th +September, 1862, off Flores. Valued at $7,000. + +Burned. + +_Crenshaw_--Of New York, from New York to Glasgow. Captured 26th +October, 1862, in lat. 40° 11' N., long. 64° 32' W. Valued at $33,869. + +Burned. + +_Dorcas Prince_--Of New York, from New York to Shanghai. Captured 26th +April, 1862, in lat. 7° 36', long. 31° 57'. Valued at $44,108. + +Burned. + +_Dunkirk_--Of New York, from New York to Lisbon. Captured 7th October, +1862, in lat. about 41° 00' N., long. 53°. Valued at $25,000. + +Burned. + +_Elisha Dunbar_--Of New Bedford, from New Bedford (whaling). Captured +18th September, 1862, in lat. 39° 50' N., long. 35° 25' W. Valued at +$25,000. + +Burned. + +_Emily Farnum_--Of New York, from New York to Liverpool. Captured 3d +October, 1862, in lat. 39° 58' N., long. 50° 00' W. + +Neutral cargo, Released and made a Cartel. + +_Emma Jane_--Of Maine, from Bombay to Amherst (in ballast). Captured +14th January, 1864, in lat. 7° 57' S., long. 76° 09' W. Valued at +$40,000. + +Burned. + +_Express_--Of Callao, from Callao to Antwerp. Captured 6th July, 1863, +in lat. 28° 28', long. 30° 20. Valued at $121,300. + +Burned. + +_Gildersliene_--Of London, from Sunderland to Calcutta. Captured 25th +May, 1863, in lat. 12° 04', long. 35° 10'. Valued at $62,783. + +Burned. + +_Golden Eagle_--Of United States, from San Francisco (_via_ Howland's +Island) to Cork. Captured 21st February, 1863, in lat. 29° 28' N., long. +44° 58' W. Valued at $61,000. + +Burned. + +_Golden Rule_--Of New York, from New York to Aspinwall. Captured 26th +January, 1863, off Jamaica. Valued at $112,000. + +Burned. + +_Hatteras_--Of United States Navy, gunboat. Sunk 11th January, 1863, off +Galveston. Valued at $160,000. + +Sunk. + +_Highlander_--Of the United States, from Singapore to Aycaab (in +ballast). Captured 26th December, 1863. Valued at $75,965. + +Burned. + +_Jabez Snow_--Of Cardiff, from Cardiff to Monte Video. Captured 29th +May, 1863, in lat. 12° 54', long. 35° 18'. Valued at $72,881. + +Burned. + +_John A. Parks_--Of Maine, from New York to Monte Video. Captured 2d +March, 1863, in lat. 29° 25' N., long. 37° 47' W. Valued at $66,157. + +Burned. + +_Justina_--Of the United States. Captured 25th May, 1863, in lat. 12° +04', long. 35° 10'. Valued at $7,000. + +Ransomed. + +_Kate Cory_--Of Westport (whaler). Captured 15th April, 1863, in lat. 4° +08', long. 32° 01'. Valued at $10,568. + +Burned. + +_Kingfisher_--Of Massachusetts, from Fair Haven (on whaling expedition). +Captured 23d March, 1863, in lat. 2° 08' N., long. 26° 08' W. Valued at +$2,400. + +Burned. + +_Lafayette_ (1)--Of New York, from New York to Belfast. Captured 23d +October, 1862, in lat. 39° 34' N., long. 63° 26' W. Valued at $110,337. + +Burned. + +_Lafayette_ (2)--Of New Bedford (whaler). Captured 15th April, 1863, in +lat. 4° 08', long. 32° 01. Valued at $20,908. + +Burned. + +_Lamplighter_--Of Boston, from New York to Gibraltar. Captured 15th +October, 1862, in lat. 41° 32' N., long. 54° 17' W. Valued at $117,600. + +Burned. + +_Lauretta_--Of Boston, from New York to Madeira and Mediterranean. +Captured 28th. October. 1862, in lat. 39° 18' N., long. 67° 35' W. +Valued at $32,880. + +Burned. + +_Levi Starbuck_--Of New Bedford, from New Bedford to the Pacific +(whaling). Captured 2d November, 1862, in lat. 36° 13' N., long. 66° 01' +W. Valued at $25,000. + +Burned. + +_Louisa Hatch_--Of Rockland, from Cardiff to Point de Galle. Captured +4th April, 1863, in lat. 3° 12', long. 26° 9'. Valued at $38,315. + +Burned. + +_Manchester_--Of New York, from New York to Liverpool. Captured 11th +October, 1862, in lat. 41° 08' N., long. 55° 26' W. Valued at $164,000. + +Burned. + +_Morning Star_--Of Boston, from Calcutta to London. Captured 23d March, +1863, in lat. 2° 08' N., long. 26° 08' W. Valued at $61,750. + +Released on bond. + +_Nora_--Of Boston, from Boston to Calcutta. Captured 25th March, 1863, +in lat. 1° 22', long. 26° 08'. Valued at $76,-636. + +Burned. + +_Nye_--Of New Bedford, from New Bedford (whaling barque). Captured 24th +April, 1863, in lat. 5° 45', long. 31° 53'. Valued at $31,127. + +Burned. + +_Ocean Rover_--Of Massachusetts, from Massachusetts (out whaling). +Captured 8th September, 1862, off Flores. Valued at $70,000. + +Burned. + +_Ocmulgee_--Of Edgartown. Captured 5th September, 1862, in about lat. 37° +20' N., long. 28° 08' W. Valued at $50,000. + +Burned. + +_Olive Jane_--Of the United States, from Bordeaux to New York. Captured +21st February, 1863, in lat., 29° 28' N., long. 44° 58' W. Valued at +$43,208. + +Burned. + +_Palmetto_--Of New York, from New York to St. John's, Porto Rico. +Captured 3d February, 1863, in lat. 27° 18' N., long. 6° 16' W. Valued +at $18,430. + +Burned. + +_Parker Cook_--Of Boston, from Boston to Aux Cayes. Captured 30th +November, 1862, in lat. 18° 59' N., long. 68° 45' W. Valued at $10,000. + +Burned. + +_Punjaub_--Of Boston, from Calcutta to London. Captured 15th March, +1863, in lat. 8° 36' N., long. 31° 43' W. Valued at $55,000. + +Released on bond. + +_Rockingham_--Of the United States, from Callao to Cork. Captured 23d +April, 1864, in lat. 15° 52' S., long. 31° 44' W. Valued at $97,878. + +Burned. + +_Sea Lark_--Of New York, from New York to San Francisco. Captured 3d +May, 1863, in lat. 9° 39' S., long. 32° 44' W. Valued at $550,000. + +Burned. + +_Sonora_--Of the United States, from Singapore to Aycaab (in ballast). +Captured 26th December, 1863, off Malacca. Valued at $46,545. + +Burned. + +_Starlight_--Of Boston, from Fayal to Boston. Captured 7th September, +1862, off Flores. Valued at $4,000. + +Burned. + +_Talisman_--Of New York, from New York to Shanghai. Captured 5th June, +1863, in lat. 14° 35', long. 36° 26'. Valued at $139,195. + +Burned. + +_Texan Star_--Of the United States, from Maulmein to Singapore. Captured +24th December, 1863, off Malacca. Valued at $97,628. + +Burned. + +_Tonawanda_--Of Philadelphia, from Philadelphia to Liverpool. Captured +9th October, 1862, in lat. 40° 03' N., long. 54° 38' W. Valued at +$80,000. + +Released on ransom bond. + +_Tycoon_--Of the United States, from New York to San Francisco. Captured +27th April, 1864. in lat. 11° 16', long. 32° 6'. + +Burned. + +_Union_--Of Baltimore, from Baltimore to Jamaica. Captured 5th December, +1862, off Cape Maise. Valued at $15,000. + +Released on bond. + +_Union Jack_--Of Boston, from Boston to Shanghai. Captured 3d May, 1863, +in lat. 9° 39', long. 32° 44'. Valued at $77,000. + +Burned. + +_Virginia_--Of New Bedford, from New Bedford (whaling). Captured 17th +September, 1862, in lat. 40° 03' N., long. 32° 46' W. Valued at $25,000. + +Burned. + +_T.B. Wales_--Of Boston, from Calcutta to Boston. Captured 8th November, +1862, in lat. 29° 15' N., long. 57° 57' W. Valued at $245,625. + +Burned. + +_Washington_--Of New York, from Chincha Islands to Antwerp. Captured +27th February, 1863, in lat. 30° 19' N., long. 40° 01' W. Valued at +$50,000. + +Released on bond. + +_Wave Crest_--Of New York, from New York to Cardiff. Captured 7th +October, 1862, in lat. about 41° 00' N., long. 53°. Valued at $44,000. + +Burned. + +_Weather Gauge_--Of Province Town, from Province Town (whaling). +Captured 9th September, 1862, off Flores. Valued at $10,000. + +Burned. + +_Winged Racer_--Of the United States, from Manilla to New York. Captured +10th November, 1863, in Strait of Sunda. Valued at $150,000. + +Burned. + + + + +No. II. + +COURSE OF THE SUMTER. + +FROM NEW ORLEANS, 30TH JUNE, 1861, TO GIBRALTAR, 18TH JANUARY, 1862. + + 1861. + July 1 Lat. 26.18 N. Long. 87.23 W. + 2 23.04 86.13 + 3 21.29 84.06 + 4 No observation. + 5 Off the Jardinelles. + 6 At Cienfuegos, Cuba. + 7 do do + 8 Off the Caymans. + 9 Off Jamaica. + 10 to 15 No observation. + 16 to 24 At St. Anne's, Curaçao. + 25 to 27 At and off Puerto Caballo. + 28 Off Tortuga. + 29 to + Aug. 5 At Port of Spain. + 6 9.14 59.10 + 7 8.31 56.12 + 8 7.19 53.34 + 9 6.10 50.48 + 10 4.29 48.25 + Aug. 11 Lat. 2.38 N. Long. 47.48 W. + 12 4.10 49.37 + 13 4.56 50.55 + 14 4.49 51.19 + 15 16 At Cayenne. + 17 5.56 + 18 Off the mouth of the Surinam. + 19 to 31 At Paramaribo. + Sept. 1 No observation. + 2 4.50 50.20 + 3 3.05 48.44 + 4 00.44 47.12 + 5 1.03 44.48 + 6 to 15 At Maranham. + 16 00.17 S. 42.59 + 17 2.19 N. 41.29 + 18 3.38 40.57 + 19 4.33 40.41 + 20 4.46 41.00 + 21 5.12 41.59 + 22 5.37 42.12 + 23 5.25 42.19 + 24 5.35 41.27 + 25 6.20 42.27 + 27 6.24 43.10 + 28 6.10 44.20 + 29 6.55 45.08 + 30 7.33 45.28 + Oct. 1 7.39 45.55 + 2 8.19 46.23 + 3 8.30 46.21 + 4 8.55 46.58 + 5 9.13 47.21 + 6 8.31 47.08 + 7 8.13 47.13 + 8 8.52 46.44 + 9 7.21 46.30 + 10 6.22 45.48 + Oct. 11 Lat. 6.38 N. Long. 45.13 W. + 12 6.56 44.41 + 13 7.04 44.47 + 14 8.31 45.46 + 15 9.36 48.11 + 16 10.22 50.05 + 17 11.37 51.49 + 18 13.01 53.12 + 19 13.33 53.46 + 20 13.46 54.06 + 21 14.00 54.07 + 22 14.21 54.16 + 23 14.36 54.37 + 24 15.20 54.51 + 25 16.54 55.30 + 26 18.13 56.04 + 27 17.54 56.30 + 28 17.03 57.07 + 29 16.54 57.33 + 30 16.40 58.16 + 31 16.54 57.59 + Nov. 1 16.52 57.25 + 2 16.32 56.55 + 3 16.35 57.38 + 4 16.43 57.45 + 5 17.10 59.06 + 6 16.39 59.54 + 7 16.00 60.46 + 8 + 9 15.08 61.54 + 10 to 23 At Martinique. + 24 16.12 + 25 18.11 58.48 + 26 20.07 57.12 + 27 22.22 56.27 + 28 24.22 57.12 + 29 25.51 57.36 + 30 27.16 58.29 + Dec. 1 27.38 58.20 + 2 28.12 58.09 + 3 29.10 57.22 + Dec. 4 Lat. 30.03 N. Long. 55.09 W. + 5 30.19 53.02 + 6 29.35 52.02 + 7 29.27 51.35 + 8 30.57 51.49 + 9 31.35 51.14 + 10 32.39 49.47 + 11 32.48 49.32 + 12\ + 13/ 33.28 47.03 + 14 33.49 44.47 + 15 34.00 42.05 + 16 33.24 40.43 + 17 33.24 40.00 + 18 33.53 38.43 + 19 34.30 36.40 + 20 34.17 35.31 + 21 35.17 33.05 + 22 No observation. + 23 36.29 32.32 + 24 27.31 31.30 + 25 36.08 28.42 + 26 35.09 25.56 + 27 35.00 22.49 + 28 35.17 20.53 + 29 35.43 18.59 + 30 35.39 17.33 + 31 35.22 16.27 + 1862. + Jan. 1 35.53 13.14 + 2 35.52 9.36 + 3 35.49 7.00 + +On the 4th of January the Sumter reached Cadiz, and on the 17th left for +Gibraltar. She entered that port on the following day, where she was +finally put out of commission. + + * * * * * + +COURSE OF THE ALABAMA. + + 1862. + Aug. 25 Lat. 39.15 N. Long. 26.30 W. + 26 39.39 26.07 + 27 39.59 24.34 + Aug. 28 Lat. 39.58 N. Long. 21.30 W. + 29 38.56 19.23 + 30 37.23 19.06 + 31 Lat. by acc. 36.23 21.54 + Sept. 1 Lat. 35.33 22.17 + 2 35.29 24.22 + 3 36.16 25.56 + 4 37.22 28.08 + 5 No observation. + 6\ + to | Off Flores. + 11/ + 12 40.17 34.05 + 13 40.34 35.24 + 14 40.12 33.02 + 15 40.03 32.46 + 16 Off Flores. + 17 40.03 32.46 + 18 39.50 35.25 + 19 38.32 35.03 + 20 37.20 36.26 + 21 36.35 36.58 + 22 35.21 37.26 + 23 34.43 38.38 + 24 34.52 48.28 + 25 34.59 41.10 + 26 35.35 41.36 + 27 37.12 43.13 + 28 37.40 42.00 + 29 37.09 43.13 + 30 38.87 45.03 + Oct. 1 40.27 46.31 + 2 40 to 40.30 48 to 48.20 + 3 39.58 50.00 + 4 39.52 50.41 + 5 40.19 51.14 + 6 41.02 53.50 + 7 No observation. + 8 Lat. (D.R.) 41.00 Long. (D.R.) 55.43 + Long. Chro. 54.37 + 9 Lat. 40.03 Long. 54.38 + 10 41.13 53.45 + 11 41.08 55.26 + Oct. 12 Lat. 41.42 N. Long. 56.48 W. + 13 Assumed 40.30 59.28 + 14 41.21 59.31 + 15 41.32 59.17 + 16 (D.R.)42.16 59.18 + 17 (D.R.)42.06 59.46 + 18 Supposed 41.25 59.10 + 19 40.21 62.08 + 20 40.28 62.40 + 21 40.18 62.40 + 22 By acct. 40.16 64.17 + 23 39.34 63.26 + 24 40.04 62.05 + 25 39.57 63.18 + 26 40.11 64.32 + 27 39.47 68.06 + 28 39.18 67.35 + 29 No observation. + 30 39.18 69.12 + 31 37.51 67.34 + Nov. 1 36.15 65.55 + 2 36.13 66.01 + 3 35.17 67.11 + 4 34.27 63.30 + 5 31.34 61.27 + 6 29.05 61.22 + 7 29.03 59.22 + 8 29.15 57.57 + 9 27.51 58.24 + 10 25.40 57.50 + 11 24.05 57.36 + 12 22.58 57.37 + 13 22.08 57.43 + 14 21.11 57.49 + 15 20.40 58.24 + 16 18.00 59.27 + 17 15.51 60.20 + 18 13.15 63.01 + 21 12.10 64.35 + 22\ + to | At Island of Blanquilla. + 25/ + 26 13.12 65.30 + Nov. 28 Lat. 16.19 N. Long. 66.06 W. + 29 17.45 67.15 + 30 18.59 68.45 + Dec. 1 19.40 69.49 + 2 20.04 71.50 + 3 20.12 72.58 + 4 \ + to | Off Cape Maise, Jamaica, and Cuba. + 12 / + 13 18.47 78.28 + 14 18.16 80.43 + 15 18.39 83.06 + 16 19.16 84.10 + 17 19.18 84.25 + 18 19.47 85.46 + 19 20.00 85.31 + 20 21.20 86.32 + 21 22.06 88.40 + 22 21.26 91.15 + 23 20.18 91.50 + 24 \ + to | At the Arcas. + 31 / + 1863. + n. 1 \ + to | At the Arcas. + 5 / + 6 21.11 93.13 + 7 22.35 94.26 + 8 24.36 94.45 + 9 26.19 94.11 + 10 27.45 94.42 + 11 28.51 94.55 + 12 28.03 93.08 + 13 27.05 90.37 + 14 25.58 88.58 + 15 26.16 88.35 + 16 23.43 87.35 + 17 21.45 85.34 + 18 19.50 82.51 + 19 18.30 80.34 + 20 \ + to | At Port Royal. + 25 / + Jan.26 Lat. 17.50 N. Long. 74.52 W + 27 17.19 72.21 + 28 17.56 70.28 + 29 At San Domingo. + 30 19.31 67.38 + 31 21.45 68.06 + Feb. 1 24.08 68.18 + 2 26.17 68.06 + 3 27.18 66.10 + 4 28.00 64.11 + 5 27.10 61.30 + 6 25.44 60.32 + 7 26.36 60.15 + 8 25.41 58.48 + 9 24.51 57.55 + 10 24.32 56.53 + 11 24.52 56.34 + 12 25.15 56.36 + 13 26.08 55.32 + 14 27.09 53.17 + 15 28.29 50.07 + 16 28.45 46.57 + 17 28.11 45.01 + 18 28.15 44.37 + 19 28.04 44.29 + 20 28.32 45.05 + 21 29.28 44.58 + 22 29.33 44.57 + 23 30.21 43.55 + 24 30.32 42.50 + 25 30.22 41.03 + 26 30.23 40.42 + 27 30.19 40.01 + 28 30.07 39.38 + March 1 29.50 38.31 + 2 29.25 37.47 + 3 28.42 36.59 + 4 27.02 35.44 + 5 26.04 35.23 + 6 24.09 32.20 + 7 24.30 35.12 + 8 22.36 34.32 + 9 20.22 33.53 + Mar. 10 Lat. 18.26 N. Long. 33.17 W. + 11 16.18 32.36 + 12 13.57 31.47 + 13 11.31 31.25 + 14 9.24 31.48 + 15 8.36 31.43 + 16 7.46 30.21 + 17 7.53 30.34 + 18 7.14 29.26 + 19 5.59 28.01 + 20 4.32 27.00 + 21 2.47 26.23 + 22 2.11 26.24 + 23 2.08 26.08 + 24 1.41 26.13 + 25 1.22 26.08 + 26 1.12 26.32 + 27 No observation. + 28 00.46 26.19 + 29 00.18 26.10 + 30 00.34 S. 25.35 + 31 00.39 25.19 + April 1 1.00 25.20 + 2 2.10 26.02 + 3 2.52 25.58 + 4 3.12 26.09 + 5 3.25 27.04 + 6 3.46 28.00 + 7 3.57 30.07 + 8 4.01 Long. (D.R.) 31.17 + 9 4.08 32.01 + 10 \ + to | At Fernando de Noronha. + 22 / + 23 4.42 31.49 + 24 5.45 31.53 + 25 6.22 31.44 + 26 7.36 31.57 + 27 8.16 32.18 + 28 8.19 31.40 + 29 8.22 31.07 + 30 9.02 31.39 + May 1 9.17 32.17 + May 2 Lat. 9.37 S Long. 32.34 W + 3 9.39 32.44 + 4 8.48 32.34 + 5 10.06 32.45 + 6 10.24 32.30 + 7 12.08 33.07 + 8 12.30 33.52 + 9 12.55 34.49 + 10 13.29 36.07 + 11 \ + to |At Bahia. + 21 / + 22 13.04 37.36 + 23 12.33 36.39 + 24 11.34 34.54 + 25 12.04 35.10 + 26 11.39 34.47 + 27 12.15 35.05 + 28 12.54 35.18 + 29 13.31 35.38 + 30 14.19 35.36 + 31 +June 1 14.44 35.15 + 2 15.01 34.56 + 3 15.09 35.04 + 4 14.46 34.57 + 5 14.35 36.26 + 6 15.17 35.26 + 7 16.07 35.37 + 8 15.55 35.28 + 9 16.55 35.36 + 10 16.17 34.35 + 11 15.32 33.46 + 12 17.25 34.24 + 13 19.21 35.37 + 14 19.54 35.18 + 15 22.38 35.11 + 16 23.41 35.36 + 17 23.54 35.53 + 18 24.16 37.15 + 19 24.57 39.01 + 20 25.48 40.18 + 21 25.46 40.16 + June 22 Lat. 25.55 S. Long. 40.21 W. + 23 25.24 38.40 + 24 25.19 36.36 + 25 25.56 33.44 + 26 Lat.(D.R.) 26.40 30.16 + 27 26.01 28.29 + 28 25.57 30.31 + 29 26.35 32.59 + 30 25.56 35.12 + July 1 25.38 36.38 + 2 26.14 37.51 + 3 26.31 37.33 + 4 27.27 34.37 + 5 27.58 31.43 + 6 28.28 30.20 + 7 29.45 27.36 + 8 30.00 24.20 + 9 29.57 21.16 + 10 29.29 17.47 + 11 28.00 15.12 + 12 26.44 13.32 + 13 28.13 13.27 + 14 29.21 11.31 + 15 30.07 8.06 + 16 Lat.(D.R.)30.39 4.05 + 17 30.16 00.20 + 18 29.54 3.04 E. + 19 at.(D.R.)29.47 5.32 + 20 29.57 7.23 + 21 30.43 10.19 + 22 31.33 12.37 + 23 31.59 14.12 + 24 33.24 14.51 + 25 33.56 15.34 + 26 33.26 16.37 + 27 33.46 17.17 + 28 33.46 17.31 + 29 \ + to | At Saldanha Bay, and the Cape. + Aug. 16 / + 17 34.03 17.11 + 18 33.24 16.56 + 19 32.52 17.09 + Aug. 20 Lat. 32.45 S. Long. 16.55 E. + 21 33.14 15.41 + 22 32.13 16.08 + 23 31.43 15.30 + 24 31.24 14.34 + 25 31.18 13.37 + 26 27.57 14.12 + 27 No observation. + 28 \ + to | At Angra Pequena. + 30 / + 31 26.51 14.40 + Sept. 1 No observation. + 2 28.37 10.13 + 3 29.43 8.59 + 4 30.04 8.46 + 5 30.24 9.28 + 6 30.35 11.16 + 7 31.17 11.07 + 8 31.41 11.16 + 9 32.30 12.49 + 10 33.16 15.20 + 11 33.10 16.37 + 12 33.43 16.03 + 13 33.51 17.34 + 14 34.28 17.43 + 15 34.26 17.30 + 16 \ + to | At Simon's Town. + 24 / + + 25 35.26 18.15 + 26 37.28 17.58 + 27 37.52 19.03 + 28 39.02 23.07 + 29 39.02 27.20 + 30 39.12 31.59 + Oct. 1 39.15 35.46 + 2 38.27 39.02 + 3 38.46 42.49 + 4 38.43 46.56 + 5 38.47 49.20 + 6 38.44 53.33 + 7 37.51 57.30 + Oct. 8 Lat. 38.04 S. Long. 60.23 E. + 9 38.16 64.15 + 10 38.26 68.57 + 11 38.28 72.40 + 12 38.46 77.12 + 13 38.15 80.29 + 14 37.47 83.42 + 15 35.23 89.55 + 16 35.23 89.55 + 17 32.59 93.28 + 18 30.59 96.17 + 19 28.26 98.43 + 20 25.33 99.42 + 21 22.41 100.12 + 22 21.13 100.10 + 23 18.52 100.10 + 24 15.45 101.25 + 25 Lat. (D.R.) 12.26 Long. (D.R.) 102.00 + 26 10.27 102.13 + 27 9.55 Long. 101.50 + 28 9.38 101.51 + 29 9.20 101.53 + 30 9.09 102.14 + 31 8.53 102.50 + 1 8.55 103.51 + 2 9.30 103.28 + 3 9.17 103.31 + 4 8.31 103.06 + 5 7.22 103.15 + 6 7.00 103.19 + 7 6.59 103.27 + 8 \ + to | Off Flat Point. + 10 / + 11 4.48 106.49 + 12 4.19 108.00 + 13 3.59 107.25 + 14 3.44 109.05 + 15 3.03 109.27 + 16 2.44 109.16 + 17 \ + to | Off the Malays. + 23 / + Nov. 24 Lat. 3.40 N Long. 109.45 E. + 25 Supposed Lat. 3.50 Supposed Long. 110.30 + 26 4.36 111.42 + 27 4.51 111.54 + 28 4.51 111.54 + 29 5.01 111.47 + 30 6.14 110.31 + Dec. 1 7.30 108.42 + 2 8.30 107.15 + 3 \ + to | At Cindore. + 14 / + 15 8.24 106.48 + 16 7.18 107.27 + 17 (D.R.) 6.11 106.12 + 18 4.48 105.10 + 19 \ + and | At Island of Aor. + 20 / + 21 \ + to | At and off Singapore. + 26 / + 27 4.08 100.11 + 28 Supposed 4.46 99.40 + 29 Supposed 5.29 98.16 + 30 5.39 96.40 + 31 Off N. end of Sumatra. +1864. + Jan. 1 6.23 93.35 + 2 5.39 93.08 + 3 5.29 92.33 + 4 6.05 Long. (D.R.) 91.40 + 5 6.29 90.37 + 6 6.07 88.40 + 7 5.39 87.22 + 8 5.22 84.53 + 9 5.05 82.09 + 10 5.14 79.50 + 11 5.49 78.25 + 12 7.26 76.02 + 13 7.33 76.01 + 14 7.57 76.09 + 15 8.25 76.08 + Jan. 16 At Quilon. + 17 Lat. 8.40 N. Long. 76.32 E. + 18 8.31 76.30 + 19 8.05 75.05 + 20 7.29 74.28 + 21 No observation. + 22 7.52 70.22 + 23 7.04 67.17 + 24 7.03 64.28 + 25 6.27 61.49 + 26 5.33 59.19 + 27 5.01 56.36 + 28 4.02 53.46 + 29 2.43 51.00 + 30 00.50 48.42 + 31 1.31 S. 47.20 + Feb. 1 3.15 46.13 + 2 4.48 45.40 + 3 6.47 44.44 + 4 8.24 44.26 + 5 10.18 43.47 + 6 10.42 44.00 + 7 10.44 43.50 + 8 10.45 43.42 + 9 \ + to | At Islands of Johanna and Mohilla. + 16 / + 17 13.41 43.04 + 18 14.15 42.45 + 19 15.03 42.24 + 20 16.00 41.45 + 21 17.02 41.31 + 22 18.43 41.20 + 23 19.49 41.23 + 24 20.29 41.19 + 25 21.18 41.44 + 26 23.36 41.15 + 27 25.31 40.00 + 28 27.11 37.51 + 29 29.16 36.17 + March 1 31.32 34.37 + 2 33.20 32.22 + 3 35.05 29.49 + March 4 Lat. 35.11 S. Long. 23.28 E. + 5 35.51 26.43 + 6 39.09 24.58 + 7 35.10 24.03 + 8 35.49 21.39 + 9 35.46 20.29 + 10 35.42 20.13 + 11 35.08 18.21 + 12 33.57 17.06 + 13 33.35 16.10 + 14 34. 3 15.20 + 15 33.48 15.23 + 16 32.50 16.31 + 17 33.10 16.22 + 18 No observation. + 19 32.57 15.55 + 20 33.51 17.31 + 21 \ + to | At the Cape. + 24 / + 25 34.02 18.10 + 26 33.41 15.52 + 27 31.50 12.39 + 28 31.36 10.09 + 29 30.25 8.25 + 30 28.53 6.55 + 31 28.00 4.50 + April 1 26.13 2.40 + 2 24.17 0.24 + 3 22.35 1.29 W. + 4 21.01 3.13 + 5 19.37 4.44 + 6 18.41 4.22 + 7 17.15 3.44 + 8 17.42 5.50 + 9 18.00 8.53 + 10 18.12 11.47 + 11 18.25 14.42 + 12 18.47 17.13 + 13 18.55 19.43 + 14 18.58 22.33 + 15 19. 9 25.-- + 16 19.17 26.42 + April 17 Lat. 19.12 S. Long. 27.33 W. + 18 19.22 28.57 + 19 19.13 29.36 + 20 18.49 30.01 + 21 18.18 30.26 + 22 17.23 30.56 + 23 15.52 31.44 + 24 15.19 32. 6 + 25 13.59 32. 4 + 26 13. 5 32.22 + 27 11.16 32. 6 + 28 10. 5 31.46 + 29 8. 9 31.29 + 30 5.26 30.12 + May 1 2.25 30.38 + 2 00.13 30.41 + 3 1.43 N. 31.28 + 4 3.30 32.38 + 5 5. 6 34.19 + 6 7.15 36. 7 + 7 9.40 37.36 + 8 11.54 38.43 + 9 14.13 39.43 + 10 16.43 40.33 + 11 18.37 41.09 + 12 20.10 41.25 + 13 20.33 41.19 + 14 20.53 41.09 + 15 21.12 40.55 + 16 22.05 41.16 + 17 22.57 41.50 + 18 24.33 41.57 + 19 26.32 41.50 + 20 28.04 41.33 + 21 29.24 40.42 + 22 30.25 39.54 + 23 31.39 38.39 + 24 33.13 36.49 + 25 35.51 35.41 + 26 37.43 33.53 + 27 38.42 32.50 + 28 39.23 32.31 + 29 39.51 (D.R.) 32.25 + May 30 Lat. 40.25 N. Long. 30.22 W. + 31 40.54 27.15 + June 1 41.35 24.15 + 2 42.07 22.15 + 3 42.18 20.30 + 4 42.10 18.04 + 5 41.58 16.31 + 6 42.31 15.42 + 7 43.47 14.12 + 8 45.45 (D.R.) 12.06 + 9 47.34 9.07 + 10 49.18 6.03 + 11 On this day the Alabama entered Cherbourg harbour. + + + + +No. III. + +Mr. LAIRD'S SPEECH ON THE ALABAMA. + + +The following is a full report of Mr. Laird's speech in the +House of Commons on Friday night:--After the discussion that +has taken place about the Alabama, I shall not trouble the +house with many remarks. I can only say, from all I know +and all I have heard, that from the day the vessel was laid down +to her completion everything was open and above-board in this +country. (Cheers.) I also further say that the officers of the +Government had every facility afforded them for inspecting the +ship during the progress of building. When the officers came +to the builders they were shown the ship, and day after day the +customs officers were on board, as they were when she finally +left, and they declared there was nothing wrong. ("Hear," +from Mr. Bright.) They only left her when the tug left, and +they were obliged to declare that she left Liverpool a perfectly +legitimate transaction. (Hear, hear.) One point has been +overlooked in this discussion. If a ship without guns and without +arms is a dangerous article, surely rifled guns and ammunition +of all sorts are equally--(cheers)--and even more dangerous. (Cheers.) +I have referred to the bills of entry in the custom houses of London +and Liverpool, and I find there have been vast shipments of implements +of war to the Northern States through the celebrated houses of Baring +and Co.--(loud cheers and laughter)--Brown, Shipley and Co., of Liverpool, +and a variety of other names, which I need not more particularly +mention, but whose Northern tendencies are well known to +this house. (Hear, hear.) If the member for Rochdale, or the +honourable member for Bradford, wishes to ascertain the extent +to which the Northern States of America have had supplies of +arms from this country, they have only to go to a gentleman +who, I am sure, will be ready to afford them every information, +and much more readily than he would to me or to any one else +calling upon him--the American consul in Liverpool. Before +that gentleman the manifest of every ship is laid, he has to give +an American pass to each vessel; he is consequently able to +tell the exact number of rifles which have been shipped from this +country for the United States--information, I doubt not, which +would be very generally desired by this house. (Loud cries of +"Hear.") I have obtained from the official custom house returns +some details of the sundries exported from the United Kingdom to the +Northern States of America from the 1st of May, 1861, to the 31st +of December, 1862. There were--muskets, 41,500 (hear, hear); rifles, +341,000 (cheers); gun flints, 26,500; percussion caps, 49,982,000 +(cheers and laughter); and swords, 2,250. The best information I could +obtain leads me to believe that from one-third to a half may be added +to these numbers for items which have been shipped to the Northern +States as hardware. (Hear, hear.) I have very good reason +for saying that a vessel of 2,000 tons was chartered six weeks +ago for the express purpose of taking out a cargo of "hardware" +to the United States. (Cheers.) The exportation has not +ceased yet. From the 1st of January to the 17th March, 1863, +the custom bills of entry show that 23,870 gun-barrels, 30,802 +rifles, and 3,105,800 percussion caps were shipped to the United +States. (Hear, hear). So that if the Southern States have +got two ships, unarmed, unfit for any purpose of warfare--for +they procured their armaments somewhere else--the Northern +States have been well supplied from this country through the +agency of some most influential persons. (Hear, hear.) Now, +it has been stated--and by way of comparison treated as matter +of complaint--that during the Crimean war the Americans behaved +so well that the honourable member for Bradford and the +member for Birmingham both lauded their action as compared +with that of our own Government. Now, I have heard that a +vessel sailed from the United States to Petropaulovski. (Cries +of "Name.") If honourable members will allow me I will go +on, and first I propose to read an extract from the _Times_, written +by their correspondent at San Francisco, dated the 29th of +January, 1863:-- + +"Now, this case of the Alabama illustrates the saying that +a certain class should have a good memory. During the Crimean war, +a man-of-war (called the America, if I remember) was built in America +for the Russian Government, and brought out to the Pacific, filled with +arms and munitions, by an officer in the United States navy. This +gentleman took her to Petropaulovski, where she did service against +the allied squadron, and she is still in the Russian navy. (Cries of 'No,' +and 'Hear, hear.') We made no such childish fuss about this act +of 'hostility' by a friendly Power, which we could not prevent, +as our friends are now making about the Alabama, whose departure +from England our Government could not stop." + +The America was commanded by a Lieutenant Hudson, who--if +my information be correct, and I have no doubt that it is--was +then, or had been just previously, a lieutenant in the American +navy; he was the son of a most distinguished officer in the +same service, Captain Hudson. I am further informed that +some doubts having arisen about the character of this ship, the +American men-of-war in the different ports she called at protected +her; and, on her arrival in Russia, the captain who took +her out was, I know, very handsomely rewarded for his services. +(Hear, hear.) Now, I will go a step further about the Northern +States. In 1861, just after the war broke out, a friend of +mine, whom I have known for many years, was over here, and +came to me with a view of getting vessels built in this country +for the American Government--the Northern Government. (Hear, hear.) +Its agents in this country made inquiries; plans and estimates were +given to my friend, and transmitted to the Secretary of the American +Navy. I will read an abstract from this gentleman's letter, dated the +30th of July, 1861. It is written from Washington, and states-- + +"Since my arrival here I have had frequent interviews with +our 'Department of Naval Affairs,' and am happy to say that +the Minister of the Navy is inclined to have an iron-plated ship +built out of the country. (Hear, hear.) This ship is designed +for a specific purpose, to accomplish a definite object. I send +you herewith a memorandum handed me last evening from the +department, with the request that I would send it to you by +steamer's mail of to-morrow, and to ask your immediate reply, +stating if you will agree to build such a ship as desired, how +soon, and for how much, with such plans and specifications as +you may deem it best to send me." + +(Loud cheers.) The extract from the memorandum states +that "the ship is to be finished complete, with guns and everything +appertaining." (Renewed cheering and laughter.) On the 14th of August +I received another letter from the same gentleman, from which the +following is an extract: + +"I have this morning a note from the Assistant-Secretary +of the Navy, in which he says, 'I hope your friends will tender +for the two-iron plated steamers.'" (Hear, hear.) After this, +the firm with which I was lately connected, having made contracts +to a large extent with other persons, stated that they were +not in a position to undertake any orders to be done in so short +a time. This was the reply: + +"I sent your last letter, received yesterday, to the Secretary +of the Navy, who was very desirous to have you build the iron-plated +or bomb-proof batteries, and I trust that he may yet decide +to have you build one or more of the gunboats." + +(Loud cheers.) I think, perhaps, in the present state of the +law in America, I shall not be asked to give the name of my +correspondent (hear), but he is a gentleman of the highest respectability. +If any honourable member wishes, I should have no hesitation in handing +the whole correspondence, with the original letters, into the hands of +you, sir, or the First Minister of the Crown, in strict confidence, +because there are communications in these letters respecting the views +of the American Government which I certainly should not divulge, which +I have not mentioned or alluded to before. But seeing that the American +Government are making so much work about other parties, +whom they charge with violating or evading the law, though in +reality they have not done so, I think it only fair to state those +facts. (Cheers.) As I said before, they are facts. (Hear, +hear.) I do not feel at liberty to state those points to which I +have referred, as being of a confidential character, but, if any +honourable gentleman feels a doubt regarding the accuracy of +what I have stated, I shall feel happy to place the documents in +the hands of the Speaker, or of the First Minister of the Crown, +when he will see that they substantiate much more than I have +stated. (Cheers.) I do not wish to occupy the House longer; +but I must say this, that to talk of freedom in a land like the +Northern States of America is an absurdity. Almost every +detective that can be got hold of in this country is employed. +(Hear, hear.) I believe there are spies in my son's works in +Birkenhead, and in all the great establishments in the country. +A friend of mine had detectives regularly on his track in consequence +of some circumstances connected with his vessels. If that be freedom, +I think we had better remain in the position in which we now are. +(Cheers and laughter.) In conclusion, I will allude to a remark which +was made elsewhere last night--a remark, I presume, applying to me or +to somebody else, which was utterly uncalled for. (Hear.) I have only +to say that I would rather be handed down to posterity as the builder of a +dozen Alabamas than as the man who applies himself deliberately +to set class against class (loud cheers), and to cry up the institutions +of another country, which, when they come to be tested, are of no value +whatever, and which reduce liberty to an utter absurdity. (Cheers.) + + + + +No. IV. + +THE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE HATTERAS. + +_From the Journal of an Officer of the_ ALABAMA. + + +_Sunday, 11th._--Fine moderate breeze from the eastward. +Read Articles of War. Noon: Eighteen miles from Galveston. +As I write this some are discussing the probability of a fight +before morning. 2.25 P.M.: Light breeze; sail discovered by +the look-out on the bow. Shortly after, three, and at last five, +vessels were seen; two of which were reported to be steamers. +Every one delighted at the prospect of a fight, no doubt whatever +existing as to their being war-vessels--blockaders we supposed. +The watch below came on deck, and of their own accord began preparing +the guns, &c., for action. Those whose watch it was on deck were engaged +in getting the propeller ready for lowering; others were bending a cable +to a kedge and putting it over the bow--the engineers firing up for steam, +officers looking to their side-arms, &c., and discussing the size of +their expected adversary or adversaries. At 2.30 shortened sail +and tacked to the southward. 4 P.M.: A steamer reported +standing out from the fleet toward us. Backed maintopsail and +lowered propeller. 4.50: Every thing reported ready for action. +Chase bearing N.N.E., distant ten miles. Twilight set in about +5.45. Took in all sail. At 6.20 beat up to quarters, manned +the starboard battery, and loaded with five second shell; turned +round, stood for the steamer, having previously made her out to +be a two-masted side-wheel, of apparent 1,200 tons, though at +the distance she was before dark we could not form any correct +estimate of her size, &c. + +At 6.30 the strange steamer hailed and asked, "What +steamer is that?" We replied (in order to be certain who he +was), "Her Majesty's ship Petrel! What steamer is that?" +Two or three times we asked the question, until we heard, +"This is the United States steamer----," not hearing the +name. However, United States steamer was sufficient. As no +doubt existed as to her character, we said, at 6.35, that this was +the "Confederate States steamer, Alabama," accompanying the +last syllable of our name with a shell fired over him. The signal +being given, the other guns took up the refrain, and a tremendous +volley from our whole broadside given to him, every shell striking +his side, the shot striking being distinctly heard on board our vessel, +and thus found that she was iron. + +The enemy replied, and the action became general. A most +sharp spirited firing was kept up on both sides, our fellows peppering +away as though the action depended on each individual. And so it did. +Pistols and rifles were continually pouring from our quarter-deck +messengers most deadly, the distance during the hottest of the fight +not being more than forty yards! It was a grand, though fearful sight, +to see the guns belching forth, in the darkness of the night, sheets of +living flame, the deadly missiles striking the enemy with a force that +we could _feel_. Then, when the shells struck her sides, especially the +percussion ones, her whole side was lit up, and showing rents of five or +six feet in length. One shot had just struck our smoke-stack, and wounding +one man in the cheek, when the enemy ceased his firing, and +fired a lee gun; then a second, and a third. The order was +given to "Cease firing." This was at 6.52. A tremendous +cheering commenced, and it was not till everybody had cleared +his throat to his own satisfaction, that silence could be obtained. +We then hailed him, and in reply he stated that he had surrendered, +was on fire, and also that he was in a sinking condition. He +then sent a boat on board, and surrendered the U.S. gunboat, +Hatteras, nine guns, Lieutenant-Commander Blake, 140 men. +Boats were immediately lowered and sent to his assistance, when +an alarm was given that another steamer was bearing down for +us. The boats were recalled and hoisted up, when it was found +to be a false alarm. The order was given, and the boatswain +and his mates piped "All hands out boats to save life;" and soon +the prisoners were transferred to our ship--the officers under +guard on the quarter deck, and the men in single irons. The +boats were then hoisted up, the battery run in and secured, and +the main brace spliced. All hands piped down, the enemy's +vessel sunk, and we steaming quietly away by 8.30, all having +been done in less than two hours. In fact, had it not been for +our having the prisoners on board, we would have sworn nothing +unusual had taken place--the watch below quietly sleeping in +their hammocks. The conduct of our men was truly commendable. +No flurry, no noise--all calm and determined. The coolness +displayed by them could not be surpassed by any old veterans--our +chief boatswain's mate apparently in his glory. "Sponge!"--"Load +with cartridge!"--"Shell-fire seconds!"--"Runout!"--"Well, +down compressors!"--"Left, traverse!"--"Well!"--"Ready!"--"Fire!"--"That's +into you!"--"Damn you! that kills your pig!"--"That stops your wind!" +&c., &c., was uttered as each shot was heard to strike with a crash that +nearly deafened you. The other boatswain's mate seemed equally to +enjoy the affair. As he got his gun to bear upon the enemy, he +would take aim, and banging away, would plug her, exclaiming, +as each shot told--"That's from the scum of England!"--"That's +a British pill for you to swallow!" the New York papers +having once stated that our men were the "scum of England." +All other guns were served with equal precision. We were +struck seven times; only one man being hurt during the engagement, +and he only received a flesh-wound in the cheek. One shot +struck under the counter, penetrating as far as a timber, then +glancing off; a second struck the funnel; a third going through +the side across the berth-deck, and into the opposite side; another +raising the deuce in the lamp room; the others lodging in the +coal-bunkers. Taking a shell up and examining it, we found it +filled with sand instead of powder. The enemy's fire was directed +chiefly towards our stern, the shots flying pretty quick over +the quarter-deck, near to where our Captain was standing. As +they came whizzing over him, he, with his usual coolness, would +exclaim--"Give it to the rascals!"--"Aim low, men!"--"Don't +be all night sinking that fellow!" when for all or anything we knew, +she might have been an iron-clad or a ram. + +On Commander Blake surrendering his sword, he said that +"it was with deep regret he did it." Captain Semmes smacked +his lips and invited him down to his cabin. On Blake giving his +rank to Captain Semmes, he gave up his state-room for Blake's +special use, the rest of the officers being accommodated according +to their rank in the wardroom and steerages, all having previously +been paroled, the crew being placed on the berth-deck, our +men sleeping anywhere, so that the prisoners might take their +places. Of the enemy's loss we could obtain no correct accounts, +a difference of seventeen being in their number of killed, the +Hatteras having on board men she was going to transfer to other +ships. Their acknowledged loss was only two killed and seven +wounded. A boat had been lowered just before the action to +board us; as we anticipated, and learnt afterwards, it pulled in +for the fleet and reached Galveston. From conversation with +her First-Lieutenant, I learnt that as soon as we gave our name +and our first broadside, the whole after division on board her left +the guns, apparently paralyzed; it was some time before they +recovered themselves. The conduct of one of her officers was +cowardly and disgraceful in the extreme. Some of our shells +went completely through her before exploding, others burst inside +her, and set her on fire in three places. One went through +her engines, completely disabling her; another exploding in her +steam chest, scalding all within reach. Thus was fought, twenty-eight +miles from Galveston, a battle, though small, yet the first +yard-arm action between two steamers at sea. She was only +inferior in weight of metal--her guns being nine in number, viz., +four thirty-two pounders, two rifled thirty pounders, carrying +60lb. shot (conical), one rifled twenty pounder, and a couple of +small twelve pounders. On account of the conflicting statements +made by her officers, we could never arrive at a correct estimate +of her crew. Our prisoners numbered seventeen officers, one +hundred and one seamen. We further learnt that the Hatteras +was one of seven vessels sent to recapture Galveston, it being +(although unknown to us) in the possession of our troops. We +also found that the flag-ship Brooklyn, twenty-two guns, and the +Oneida, nine guns, sailed in search of us. By their account of +the course they steered they could not fail to have seen us. + + + + +No. V. + +THE ALABAMA IN TABLE BAY. + +[From the _Cape Argus._] + +_August 6th, 1863._ + + +Yesterday, at almost noon, a steamer from the northward +was made down from the signal-post, Lion's-hill. The Governor +had, on the previous day, received a letter from Captain +Semmes, dated Saldanha Bay, informing his Excellency that the +gallant captain had put his ship into Saldanha Bay for repairs. +This letter had been made public in the morning, and had caused +no little excitement. Cape Town, that has been more than +dull--that has been dismal for months, thinking and talking of +nothing but bankruptcies--bankruptcies fraudulent and bankruptcies +unavoidable--was now all astir, full of life and motion. +The stoop of the Commercial Exchange was crowded with merchants, +knots of citizens were collected at the corner of every +street; business was almost, if not altogether suspended. All +that could be gleaned, in addition to the information in Captain +Semmes' letter to the Governor, a copy of which was sent to the +United States Consul immediately it was received, was that the +schooner Atlas had just returned from Malagas Island, where +she had been with water and vegetables for men collecting guanos +there. Captain Boyce, the master of the Atlas, reported that he +had himself actually seen the steamer Alabama; a boat from +the steamer had boarded his vessel, and he had been on board +her. His report of Captain Semmes corroborated that given by +every one else. He said the captain was most courteous and +gentlemanly. He asked Captain Boyce to land thirty prisoners +for him in Table Bay, with which request Captain Boyce was +unable to comply. Captain Semmes said that the Florida was +also a short distance off the Cape, and that the Alabama, when +she had completed her repairs, and was cleaned and painted, +would pay Table Bay a visit. He expected to be there, he said, +very nearly as soon as the Atlas. + +Shortly after the Atlas arrived, a boat brought up some of +the prisoners from Saldanha Bay, and amongst them one of the +crew of the Alabama, who said he had left the ship. All these +waited on the United States Consul, but were unable to give +much information beyond what we had already received. The +news that the Alabama was coming into Table Bay, and would +probably arrive about four o'clock this afternoon, added to the +excitement. About noon a steamer from the north-west was +made known by the signal-man on the hill. Could this be the +Alabama? or was it the Hydaspes, from India, or the Lady +Jocelyn, from England? All three were now hourly expected, +and the city was in doubt. Just after one it was made down, +"CONFEDERATE STEAMER ALABAMA, FROM THE N.W., AND FEDERAL BARQUE +FROM THE S.E." Here was to be a capture by the celebrated Confederate +craft, close to the entrance of Table Bay. The inhabitants rushed off +to get a sight. Crowds of people ran up the Lion's-hill, and to the +Kloof-road. All the cabs were chartered--every one of them; there was +no cavilling about fares; the cabs were taken and no questions asked, +but orders were given to drive as hard as possible. The barque +coming in from the south-east, and, as the signal-man made +down, five miles off; the steamer, coming in from the north-west, +eight miles off, led us to think that the Kloof-road was the best +place for a full view. To that place we directed our Jehu to +drive furiously. We did the first mile in a short time; but the +Kloof-hill for the next two and-a-half miles is up-hill work. +The horse jibbed, so we pushed on, on foot, as fast as possible, +and left the cab to come on. When we reached the summit, we +could only make out a steamer on the horizon, from eighteen to +twenty miles off. This could not be the Alabama, unless she +was making off to sea again. There was no barque. As soon +as our cab reached the crown of the hill, we set off at a breakneck +pace down the hill, on past the Roundhouse, till we came +near Brighton, and as we reached the corner, there lay the Alabama +within fifty yards of the unfortunate Yankee. As the Yankee came round +from the south-east, and about five miles from the bay, the steamer +came down upon her. The Yankee was evidently taken by surprise. The +Alabama fired a gun, and brought her to. When first we got sight of the +Alabama, it was difficult to make out what she was doing; the barque's +head had been put about, and the Alabama lay off quite immovable, as if +she were taking a sight at the "varmint!" The weather was +beautifully calm and clear, and the sea was as smooth and transparent +as a sheet of glass. The barque was making her way slowly from the steamer, +with every bit of her canvas spread. The Alabama, with her steam off, +appeared to be letting the barque get clear off. What could this mean? +no one understood. It must be the Alabama. "There," said the spectators, +"is the Confederate flag at her peak; it must be a Federal +barque, too, for there are the Stars and the Stripes of the States +flying at her main." What could the Alabama mean lying there-- + + "As idly as a painted ship + Upon a painted ocean." + +What it meant was soon seen. Like a cat watching and playing with a +victimized mouse, Captain Semmes permitted his prize to draw off a few +yards, and he then up steam again, and pounced upon her. She first +sailed round the Yankee from stem to stern, and stern to stem again. The +way that fine, saucy, rakish craft was handled was worth riding a +hundred miles to see. She went round the bark like a toy, making a +complete circle, and leaving an even margin of water between herself and +her prize of not more than twenty yards. From the hill it appeared as if +there were no water at all between the two vessels. This done, she sent +a boat with the prize crew off, took possession in the name of the +Confederate States, and sent the barque off to sea. The Alabama then +made for the port. + +We came round the Kloof to visit Captain Semmes on board. As we came we +found the heights overlooking Table Bay covered with people; the road to +Green Point lined with cabs. The windows of the villas at the bottom of +the hill were all thrown up, and ladies waved their handkerchiefs, and +one and all joined in the general enthusiasm; over the quarries, along +the Malay burying-ground, the Gallows Hill, and the beach, there were +masses of people--nothing but a sea of heads as far as the eye could +reach. Along Strand Street and Adderley Street the roofs of all the +houses from which Table Bay is overlooked, were made available as +standing-places for the people who could not get boats to go off to her. +The central, the north, the south, and the coaling jetties, were all +crowded. At the central jetty it was almost impossible to force one's +way through to get a boat. However, all in good time, we did get a boat, +and went off in the midst of dingies, cargo-boats, gigs and wherries, +all as full as they could hold. Nearly all the city was upon the bay; +the rowing clubs in uniform pulled off with favoured members of their +respective clubs on board. The crews feathered their oars in +double-quick time, and their pulling, our "stroke" declared, was "a +caution, and no mistake." Just before getting alongside, we passed +Captain Wilson in the port-boat, who told us that the prize taken was +the Sea Bride, and that there was no difficulty in hearing from Captain +Semmes himself the whole story of the capture. We passed the Federal +barque Urania at her anchorage, and that ship, disregardful of the +privateer, sported all her bunting with becoming pluck. The Stars and +Stripes floated defiantly from her-mizen peak, and her name from her +main. On getting alongside the Alabama, we found about a dozen boats +before us, and we had not been on board five minutes before she was +surrounded by nearly every boat in Table Bay, and as boat after boat +arrived, three hearty cheers were given for Captain Semmes and his +gallant privateer. This, upon the part of a neutral people, is, +perchance, wrong; but we are not arguing a case--we are recording facts. +They did cheer, and cheer with a will, too. It was not, perhaps, taking +the view of either side, Federal or Confederate, but in admiration of +the skill, pluck, and daring of the Alabama, her captain, and her crew, +who now afford a general theme of admiration for the world all over. + +Visitors were received by the officers of the ship most courteously, and +without distinction, and the officers conversed freely and unreservedly +of their exploits. There was nothing like brag in their manner of +answering questions put to them. They are as fine and gentlemanly a set +of fellows as ever we saw; most of them young men. The ship has been so +frequently described, that most people know what she is like, as we do +who have seen her. We should have known her to be the Alabama if we had +boarded her in the midst of the ocean, with no one to introduce us to +each other. Her guns alone are worth going off to see, and everything +about her speaks highly for the seamanship and discipline of the +commander and his officers. She has a very large crew, fine, +lithe-looking fellows, the very picture of English men-of-war's men. + +The second officer told us that it was the Sea Bride they had captured, +and pointed out her captain, who stood aft conversing with a number of +people who had gathered round him. "This, sir," said the officer, "is +our fifty-sixth capture; we have sent her off with about ten of our men +as a crew, and we left a few of her own men on board of her." We asked +him how he liked Saldanha Bay, and his answer was, "It is a very +charming place. Why did you not build Cape Town there?" Our answer was, +"Because we never do anything properly at the Cape." "Ah, sir!" he said; +"that is a great mistake to leave so fine a bay without harbor +conveniences. It is a great deal better than Table Bay. We enjoyed +ourselves capitally there, had some good shooting; one of us shot an +ostrich, a fine fellow, but he got away. Unfortunately, we lost one of +our officers there--one whom we all respected--as fine an officer as +ever trod this ship's deck. He was in a boat in the bay, shooting wild +fowl; he drew his gun towards him, the barrel in his hand; the trigger +caught, the charge passed through his lung, and his only dying words +were, 'Oh, me!' and he fell back a corpse. But for that circumstance, we +should always remember Saldanha Bay with pleasure. The gun was within an +inch of his breast when it went off." + +After this melancholy recital, we walked across to get a little chat +with the prisoner so recently captured. He is a superior man, and spoke +of the loss of his ship in the spirit of a philosopher. He was leaning +against a rail just opposite the cabin. "What can't be cured must be +endured," said he. In answer to our remark, that an hour more would have +saved him, he said, "Yes, it would; I had not the remotest idea of a +capture at this end of the world. I never supposed that she was in this +direction. I was in my cabin, washing," said he, "and my mate came down +and said there was a steamer in sight. 'Capital!' I said; 'it is the +English mail-steamer; I shall be just in time for my letters.' He went +up again, and shortly returning, said, 'She is going to hail us.' 'Hail +us!' I said; 'what the deuce can she want to hail us for?' and I went on +deck. I looked at that (pointing to the Confederate flag), and I soon +saw who we were falling into the hands of. I said, 'Good-bye, mate; we +shall not be long here.' This, sir," he went on to say, "is the second +time I have been captured coming to the Cape. I left New York in the +M.J. Calcon, and was captured by the Florida in 33° West and between 28° +and 29° North. I went home all right, and left New York again on the +28th of May, direct for the Cape." This gentleman's name is Mr. H. +Spaling. + +The next we had an opportunity of conversing with was the chief officer. +This gentleman who, by the way, stands six feet four out of his shoes, +showed us round the ship with just pride. He pointed out to us the +peculiar qualities of the magnificent guns. One of Blakeley's rifle +pieces is a terrible-looking weapon. It throws conical shells of a +hundred weight; and he remarked, "When we fought the Hatteras, these +conical shells struck one after the other in capital style; they +exploded with magnificent effect, and lit up her whole broadside." Many +of the captured crew we observed in irons. + +We were now introduced to Capt. Semmes, who up to this time had been +engaged in the cabin with Mr. W.J. Anderson, of Anderson, Saxon, and +Co., upon the subject of supplies, which are to be provided by the firm. +We received a very cordial greeting from the gallant gentleman, who +remarked that at Bahia, and indeed everywhere he had been, both his +officers and himself had received very great attention from the English +residents. We had always concluded that Captain Semmes, of the +Powhattan, a fine steamer belonging to the States, to whom we were +introduced some years since by the late Mr. D.M. Huckins, American +Consul, was the captain of the Sumter and Alabama; but we found we were +mistaken, and on remarking this to the captain, he said, "Captain Semmes +of the Powhattan is of the same family as myself--he is, indeed, my +cousin; but he was born in the North, his interests are all there, and +he remains in the Federal service." Having desired us to take a seat, he +said he should be happy to give us any information in his power; he had +no secrets, and bade us take notes if we wished so to do. He then +informed us that he had taken fifteen ships since he left Bahia. We told +him that Captain Bartlett, of the ship Fortuna, stated that on the 2d of +July he saw a ship on fire. Our readers will recollect that the +particulars were given in a paragraph immediately after the Fortuna +arrived. It was as follows:--"On the 2d of July, Captain Bartlett saw +some smoke rising up on the horizon, which he supposed to be the smoke +from a steamer. Later in the day, however, a strong reflection of light +was seen in the sky, and which the captain at once believed to be a ship +on fire. All hands were then called up 'to bout ship,' and they stood +towards the spot from whence the light proceeded. This was about six +o'clock; and at two o'clock on the morning of the 3d July, and in lat. +25° 57' South, and in long. 38° 20' West, the Fortuna ran up within +forty yards of a large vessel of 800 or 1000 tons, which was enveloped +in one mass of flame from stem to stern. Nothing remained of her but her +hull; the whole of her rigging, masts, and decks had already been +consumed. As the Fortuna ran towards the wreck, another vessel--the +Oaks--bound to Calcutta, joined her, and the two vessels spoke one +another. From what Captain Bartlett could make out, the captain of the +Oaks told him that in the evening, about half-past six, an English +man-of-war had passed him, and whilst passing she fired two guns, from +which it was concluded that the crew of the burning vessel had been +rescued by the man-of-war." Captain Semmes said Captain Bartlett was +quite right in supposing that the ship had been set on fire by himself. +She was the Annie F. Schmidt, from New York to San Francisco, with a +general cargo on board; but the supposition of the man-of-war coming to +the rescue of the crew was a mistake. "We set her on fire in the night," +said Captain Semmes, "and shortly after we had done so, we heard a +couple of guns. We thought it was another Yankee, and we up steam and +fired a gun for her to heave-to. On coming alongside her, we found she +was Her Majesty's frigate Dido. 'We did not take her, sir,' said the +captain, with a laugh; 'in fact, we never attempt to take any of Her +Majesty's frigates.'" + +We said we would mention that, and we do, as Captain Semmes's last. "The +Dido people," he went on to say, "asked us if we had set the ship on +fire, and I answered we had, and had got the crew safe on board. 'All +right!' was the answer, and we parted. She was a vessel of about 1000 +tons." We asked Captain Semmes if he could give us the names of the +vessels he had captured. He answered that he could. "For," he said, "you +English people won't be neighbourly enough to let me bring my prizes +into your ports, and get them condemned, so that I am obliged to sit +here a court of myself, try every case, and condemn the ships I take. +The European powers, I see, some of them complain of my burning the +ships; but what, if they will preserve such strict neutrality as to keep +me out of their ports, what am I to do with these ships when I take them +but burn them?" He then fetched his record books, and we took the +following down from his lips:--"The ships we have captured were--the +Ocmulgee, of 400 tons, thirty-two men on board; we burned her. The +Alert, a whaler of 700 tons; we burned her. The whaling schooner +Weathergauge; we burned her. The whaling brig Altamaha; we burned her. +The whaling ship Benjamin Tucker; we burned her. The whaling schooner +Courser; we burned her. The whaling barque Virginia; we burned her. The +barque Elisha Dunbar, a whaler; we burned her. The ship Brilliant, with +1000 tons of grain on board; we burned her. The Emily Farnum we captured +and released as a cartel, and having so many prisoners we put some of +them on board her, and sent them off. The Wave Crest, with a general +cargo on board for Europe, we set on fire. The Dunkirk brig, with a +general cargo on board, we burned. The ship Tonawanda we captured, with +a valuable freight on board, and released her, after taking a bond for a +thousand dollars. The ship Manchester, with a cargo of grain, we burned. +The barque Lamplighter, with an assorted cargo for Europe, we burned. +The barque Lafayette, with an assorted cargo, we burned. The schooner +Crenshaw, with an assorted cargo for the West Indies, we burned. The +barque Lauretta, with an assorted cargo on board for Europe, we burned. +The brig Baron de Custine we took a bond for and released. The whaling +ship Levi Starbuck we burned. The T.B. Wales, from Calcutta to Boston, +with a valuable cargo on board, we burned. The barque Martha, from +Calcutta to West Indies, with an assorted cargo, we burned. The schooner +Union we, after boarding, found had some English property on board, and +we released her on bond. The mail steamer Ariel Running between New York +and Aspinwall, we captured. Unfortunately she was going, not returning, +or we should have had a lot of gold. We released her on bond. The United +States gunboat Hatteras, who came out to fight us, had the same number +of guns and crew. Our guns were a little heavier than hers, but we +equalized them by permitting her to fight us at 300 yards. We sunk her +in thirteen minutes by the watch. The barque Golden Rule, with an +assorted cargo, we burned. She belonged to the same company as the +Ariel. The brig Chastelaine we burned. The schooner Palmetto we burned. +The barque Olive Jane we burned. The Golden Eagle, laden with guano, we +burned. The Washington, from the Pacific, with guano, we released on +bond. The Bethia Thayer, from East India, with a valuable cargo on +board, was released on bond. The John A. Parker, with flour and lumber, +from Boston to Buenos Ayres, we burned. The Punjaub, from East India, +we found to have some English cargo on board, we released on bond. The +ship Morning Star we released on bond. The whaling schooner Kingfisher +we burned. The ship Nora, from Liverpool to West Indies, with salt on +board, we burned. The barque Lafayette we burned. The whaling brig Kate +Cory we burned. The whaling barque Nye we burned. The Charles Hall, from +Liverpool, with coal, we burned. + +"The ship Louisa Hatch, from Cardiff to West Indies, we burned. The ship +Dorcas Prince, with a general cargo, we burned. The ship Sea Lark, with +a general cargo from the East Indies, we burned. The barque Union Jack, +from Boston to Shanghai, we burned. We captured a Yankee consul on board +of her; he was on his way to Foochin; we landed him at the Brazils. The +ship Gildersliene, from New York to the East Indies, we burned. The +barque Justina we released on bond, to take home prisoners. The ship +Jabez Snow, from New York to the East Indies, we burned. The barque +Amazonian, from Boston to Buenos Ayres, we burned. The ship Talisman, +from New York to the East Indies, we burned. The barque Conrad, fitted +up as a Federal cruiser, a tender to a man-of-war, we captured and +burned. After these came the Anne F. Schmidt, mentioned before, and the +Sea Bride--and the Sea Bride you saw us take to-day. The estimated value +of these captures is 4,200,000 dollars." + +The American Consul, Mr. Graham, has handed to his Excellency the +Governor a protest against the capture of the Sea Bride, on the ground +that the vessel was in British waters at the time of her being stopped +by the Alabama. His Excellency told Mr. Graham that the decision of the +case remained purely on evidence, but he would see there was no breach +of neutrality. The Captain of the Sea Bride says he is prepared to show +by bearings that he was within two and a half miles of Robben Island. + + + + +No. VI. + +CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING THE TUSCALOOSA. + +_Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker to the Secretary to the Admiralty. +August_ 19, 1863. + +I beg you will be pleased to acquaint my Lords Commissioners of the +Admiralty with the following particulars relative to the proceedings of +the Confederate States ships of war Alabama, her reported tender +Tuscaloosa, and the Georgia, which have recently arrived at the Cape of +Good Hope. + +2. On the 28th of July an English schooner arrived in Table Bay, and +reported that on the previous day she had been boarded by the +Confederate steamer Alabama, fifteen miles north-west of Green Point. +After some inquiries the Alabama left her, steering south-east. + +3. Upon the receipt of this intelligence I ordered Captain Forsyth, of +the Valorous, to hold himself in readiness to proceed to any of the +ports in this colony where the Alabama might anchor, in order to +preserve the rules of strict neutrality. + +4. By a letter addressed to the Governor of this Colony by Captain +Semmes, copy of which was telegraphed to me on the 4th instant, it +appears that the Alabama had proceeded to Saldanha Bay for a few days, +anchoring there on the 29th of July. + +5. On the 5th instant I received a private telegram to the effect that +the Alabama was off Table Bay, when I directed the Valorous immediately +to proceed to that anchorage; and shortly afterwards a telegram reached +me from the Governor stating "that the Alabama had captured a vessel +(American), which was in sight, and steering for Table Bay." The +Valorous reached that Bay at 10.15 P.M., where the Alabama had anchored +at 3 o'clock in the afternoon of the same day. + +6. Captain Forsyth having informed me that the tender to the Alabama had +been ordered by Captain Semmes to Simon's Bay for provisions, and having +learned that this vessel had been captured off the coast of Brazil, and +not been condemned in any Prize Court, I had doubts as to the legality +of considering her in the light of a tender, being under the impression +that it was a ruse to disguise the real character of the vessel. I +therefore wrote to the Governor to obtain the opinion of the +Attorney-General of the Colony upon this subject, which correspondence +is inclosed. + +7. On the 8th of August the tender Tuscaloosa, a sailing barque, arrived +in Simon's Bay, and the boarding officer having reported to me that her +original cargo of wool was still on board, I felt that there were +grounds for doubting her real character, and again called the Governor's +attention to this circumstance. My letter and his reply are annexed. And +I would here beg to submit to their Lordships' notice that this power of +a captain of a ship of war to constitute every prize he may take a +"tender," appears to me to be likely to lead to abuse and evasion of the +laws of strict neutrality, by being used as a means for bringing prizes +into neutral ports for disposal of their cargoes, and secret +arrangements--which arrangements, it must be seen, could afterwards be +easily carried out at isolated places. + +8. The Alabama, after lying three days in Table Bay, came to this +anchorage to caulk and refit. She arrived here on the 9th, and sailed +again on the 15th instant. Captain Semmes was guarded in his conduct, +and expressed himself as most anxious not to violate the neutrality of +these waters. + +9. I should observe that, from the inclosed copy of a letter from +Captain Forsyth to the Governor, it would appear that the vessel Sea +Bride, taken by the Alabama off Table Bay, was beyond the jurisdiction +of neutral territory. + +10. During his passage to this port Captain Semmes chased another +American vessel, the Martha Wentzel, standing in for Table Bay. On my +pointing out to him that he had done so in neutral waters, he assured me +that it was quite unintentional, and, being at a distance from the land, +he did not observe that he had got within three miles of an imaginary +line drawn from the Cape of Good Hope to Cape Hanglip, but on +discovering it he did not detain the vessel. The explanation I +considered sufficient. + +11. The tender Tuscaloosa, having been detained by a strong +south-easter, got under way for the purpose of going to sea on the 14th +instant, but anchored again a little distance from the Roman Rock +lighthouse in consequence of thick fog prevailing. + +12. The Alabama did not take in any coal, either here or at Table Bay, +but after being caulked she proceeded to sea on the 15th instant, +followed by the Tuscaloosa. Their destinations are unknown. + +13. On the 16th instant, the Confederate States steamer Georgia, +Commander Maury, anchored in this bay. She requires coal, provision, and +caulking. This vessel did not meet the Alabama outside. + +14. The Florida, another Confederate States steamer, is reported to be +off this coast, probably cruising to intercept the homeward-bound +American ships from China; indeed, it is with that object these ships +are on this part of the Station. + +15. I have learnt, since the departure of the Alabama, and her so-called +tender, that overtures were made by some parties in Cape Town to +purchase the cargo of wool, but, being unsatisfactory, they were not +accepted. It is reported to be Captain Semmes' intention to destroy the +Tuscaloosa at sea. + +16. The Alabama is a steamer of about 900 tons, with 8 guns, and 150 +men. The Georgia is an iron steamer of about 700 tons, with 5 guns, and +110 men. The Tuscaloosa is a sailing-barque of 500 tons, having 2 small +guns and 10 men. + +_Captain Semmes, C.S.N., to Governor Sir P. Wodehouse. August_ 1, 1863. + +An opportunity is offered me by the coasting schooner Atlas, to +communicate with the Cape, of which I promptly avail myself. + +I have the honour to inform your Excellency that I arrived in this bay +on Wednesday morning last, for the purpose of effecting some necessary +repairs. As soon as these repairs can be completed I will proceed to +sea, and in the meantime your Excellency may rest assured that I will +pay the strictest attention to the neutrality of your Government. + +_Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker to Governor Sir P. Wodehouse. August_ 7, +1863. + +Captain Forsyth having informed me that the Alabama has a tender outside +captured by Captain Semmes on the coast of America, and commissioned by +one of the Alabama's Lieutenants, and as this vessel has been ordered +into Simon's Bay for provisions, may I request your Excellency will be +good enough to obtain the opinion of the Law Officers whether this +vessel ought still to be looked upon in the light of a prize, she never +having been condemned in a Prize Court; the instructions, copy of which +I inclose, strictly forbidding prizes captured by either of the +contending parties in North America being admitted into our ports. + +_Governor Sir P. Wodehouse to Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker, August 8, +1863_. + +I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter +of yesterday's date, and to inclose the copy of an opinion given by the +Acting Attorney-General to the effect that the vessel to which you refer +ought to be regarded as a tender and not as a prize. + +I shall take care to submit this question to Her Majesty's Government by +the next mail, but in the meantime I conclude that your Excellency will +be prepared to act on the opinion of the Attorney-General in respect to +any vessels which may enter these ports in the character of prizes +converted into ships of war by the officers of the navy of the +Confederate States. + +_Extracts from "Wheaton's Elements of International Law."_ + +What constitutes a setting forth as a vessel of war has been determined +by the British Courts of Prize, in cases arising under the clause of the +Act of Parliament, which may serve for the interpretation of our own +law, as the provisions are the same in both. Thus it has been settled +that where a ship was originally armed for the Slave Trade, and after +capture an additional number of men were put on board, but there was no +commission of war and no additional arming, it was not a setting forth +as a vessel of war under the Act. But a commission of war is decisive if +there be guns on board; and where the vessel after the capture has been +fitted out as a privateer, it is conclusive against her, although, when +recaptured, she is navigating as a mere merchant-ship; for where the +former character of a captured vessel had been obliterated by her +conversion into a ship of war, the Legislature meant to look no further, +but considered the title of the former owner forever extinguished. Where +it appeared that the vessel had been engaged in a military service of +the enemy, under the direction of his Minister of the Marine, it was +held as a sufficient proof of a setting forth as a vessel of war; so +where the vessel is armed, and is employed in the public military +service of the enemy by those who have competent authority so to employ +it, although it be not regularly commissioned. But the mere employment +in the enemy's military service is not sufficient; but if there be a +fair semblance of authority, in the person directing the vessel to be so +employed, and nothing upon the face of the proceedings to invalidate it, +the Court will presume that he is duly authorized; and the commander of +a single ship may be presumed to be vested with this authority as +commander of a squadron. + +_Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker to Governor Sir P. Wodehouse. August_ 8, +1863. + +I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter +of this day's date, covering the written opinion of the Acting +Attorney-General of this Colony as to the legality of the so-called +tender to the Confederate States armed ship Alabama, and for which I beg +to express my thanks. + +The vessel in question, now called the Tuscaloosa, arrived here this +evening, and the boarding officer from my flag-ship obtained the +following information: + +That she is a barque of 500 tons, with two small rifled 12 pounder guns +and ten men, and was captured by the Alabama on the 21st June last, off +the coast of Brazil: cargo of wool still on board. + +The admission of this vessel into port will, I fear, open the door for +numbers of vessels captured under similar circumstances being +denominated tenders, with a view to avoid the prohibition contained in +the Queen's instructions; and I would observe that the vessel Sea Bride +captured by the Alabama off Table Bay a few days since, or all other +prizes, might be in like manner styled tenders, making the prohibition +entirely null and void. + +I apprehend that to bring a captured vessel under the denomination of a +vessel of war, she must be fitted for warlike purposes, and not merely +have a few men and two small guns put on board of her (in fact nothing +but a prize crew) in order to disguise her real character as a prize. + +Now this vessel has her original cargo of wool still on board, which +cannot be required for warlike purposes, and her armament and the number +of her crew are quite insufficient for any services other than those of +a slight defence. + +Viewing all the circumstances of the case, they afford room for the +supposition, that the vessel is styled a "tender" with the object of +avoiding the prohibition against her entrance as a prize into our ports, +where, if the captors wished, arrangements could be made for the +disposal of her valuable cargo, the transhipment of which, your +Excellency will not fail to see, might be readily effected on any part +of the coast beyond the limits of this Colony. + +My sole object in calling your Excellency's attention to the case is to +avoid any breach of strict neutrality. + +_Governor Sir P. Wodehonse to Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker. August_ 10, +1863. + +I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter +of the 8th instant, on which I have consulted the Acting +Attorney-General. + +The information given respecting the actual condition of the Tuscaloosa +is somewhat defective, but referring to the extract from Wheaton +transmitted in my last letter, the Attorney-General is of opinion that +if the vessel received the two guns from the Alabama or other +Confederate vessel of war, or if the person in command of her has a +commission of war, or if she be commanded by an officer of the +Confederate navy, in any of these cases there will be a sufficient +setting forth as a vessel of war to justify her being held to be a ship +of war; if all of these points be decided in the negative, she must be +held to be only a prize, and ordered to leave forthwith. + +_Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker to Governor Sir P. Wodehouse. August_ 11, +1863. + +I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's +letter, dated yesterday, respecting the Confederate barque Tuscaloosa +now in this bay. + +As there are two guns on board, and an officer of the Alabama in charge +of her, the vessel appears to come within the meaning of the cases cited +in your above-mentioned communication. + +_Governor Sir P. Wodehouse to the Duke of Newcastle. August_ 19, 1863. + +(Extract.) + +I beg to take this opportunity of making your Grace acquainted with what +has occurred here in connection with the visit of the Confederate States +steamer Alabama. + +On Tuesday, the 4th instant, I received a letter from the Commander of +that vessel, dated the 1st August at Saldanha Bay, announcing his having +entered that bay with a view to effecting certain repairs, and stating +that he would put to sea as soon as they were completed, and would +strictly respect our neutrality. + +When this intelligence was received, the United States Consul called on +me to seize her, or at any rate to send her away instantly; but as the +vessel which brought the news reported that the Alabama was coming +immediately to Table Bay, I replied that I could not seize her, but +would take care to enforce the observance of the neutral regulations. + +On the next day, about noon, it was reported from the signal station +that the Alabama was steering for Table Bay from the north, and that a +Federal barque was coming in from the westward; and soon after, that the +latter had been captured and put about. A little after 2 P.M. the United +States Consul called to state that he had seen the capture effected +within British waters; when I told him he must make his statement in +writing, and an investigation should be made. I also, by telegram, +immediately requested the Naval Commander-in-Chief to send a ship of war +from Simon's Bay. The Alabama, leaving her prize outside, anchored in +the bay 3.30 P.M., when Captain Semmes wrote to me that he wanted +supplies and repairs, as well as permission to land thirty-three +prisoners. After communicating with the United States Consul, I +authorized the latter, and called upon him to state the nature and +extent of his wants, that I might be enabled to judge of the time he +ought to remain in the port. The same afternoon he promised to send the +next morning a list of the stores needed, and announced his intention of +proceeding with all despatch to Simon's Bay to effect his repairs there. +The next morning (August 6th) the Paymaster called on me with the +merchant who was to furnish the supplies, and I granted him leave to +stay till noon of the 7th. + +On the night of the 5th, Her Majesty's ship Valorous had come round from +Simon's Bay. During the night of the 6th the weather became +unfavourable; a vessel was wrecked in the bay, and a heavy sea prevented +the Alabama from receiving her supplies by the time arranged. On the +morning of the 8th, Captain Forsyth, of the Valorous, and the Port +Captain, by my desire, pressed on Captain Semmes the necessity for his +leaving the port without any unnecessary delay; when he pleaded the +continued heavy sea and the absence of his cooking apparatus, which had +been sent on shore for repairs, and had not been returned by the +tradesman at the time appointed, and intimated his own anxiety to get +away. Between 6 and 7 A.M., on Sunday, the 9th, he sailed, and on his +way round to Simon's Bay captured another vessel; but on finding that +she was in neutral waters he immediately released her. + +In the meantime, the United States Consul had, on the 5th August, +addressed to me a written statement that the Federal barque Sea Bride +had been taken "about four miles from the nearest land," and "already in +British waters;" on which I promised immediate inquiry. The next day the +Consul repeated his protest, supporting it by an affidavit of the master +of the prize, which he held to show that she had been taken about two +miles and a half from the land; and the agent for the United States +underwriters, on the same day, made a similar protest. On the 7th, the +Consul represented that the prize had, on the previous day, been brought +within one mile and a half of the lighthouse, which he considered as +much a violation of the neutrality as if she had been there captured, +and asked me to have the prize crew taken out and replaced by one from +the Valorous, which I declined. + +I had, during this period, been seeking for authentic information as to +the real circumstances of the capture, more particularly with reference +to the actual distance from the shore, and obtained through the Acting +Attorney-General statements from the keeper of the Green Point +Lighthouse (this was supported by the Collector of Customs), from the +signal-man at the station at the Lion's Rump, and from an experienced +boatman who was passing between the shore and the vessels at the time. +Captain Forsyth, of the Valorous, also made inquiries of the captain of +the Alabama and of the Port Captain, and made known the result to me. +And upon all these statements I came to the conclusion that the vessels +were not less than four miles distant from land; and on the 8th I +communicated to the United States Consul that the capture could not, in +my opinion, be held to be illegal by reason of the place at which it was +effected. + +In his reply of the 10th, the Consul endeavoured to show how +indefensible my decision must be, if, in these days of improved +artillery, I rested it on the fact of the vessels having been only three +miles from land. This passage is, I think, of considerable importance, +as involving an indirect admission that they were not within three miles +at the time of capture. And I hope your Grace will concur in my view +that it was not my duty to go beyond what I found to be the distance +clearly established by past decisions under international law. + +An important question has arisen in connection with the Alabama, on +which it is very desirable that I should, as soon as practicable, be +made acquainted with the views of Her Majesty's Government. Captain +Semmes had mentioned after his arrival in port, that he had left outside +one of his prizes previously taken, the Tuscaloosa, which he had +equipped and fitted as a tender, and had ordered to meet him in Simon's +Bay, as she also stood in need of supplies. When this became known to +the naval commander-in-chief, he requested me to furnish him with a +legal opinion; and whether this vessel could he held to be a ship of war +before she had been formally condemned in a prize court; or whether she +must not be held to be still a prize, and, as such, prohibited from +entering our ports. The Acting Attorney-General, founding his opinion on +Earl Russell's despatch to your Grace, of the 31st January, 1862, and on +"Wheaton's International Law," states in substance that it was open to +Captain Semmes to convert this vessel into a ship of war, and that she +ought to be admitted into our ports on that footing. + +On the 8th August the vessel entered Simon's Bay, and the Admiral wrote +that she had two small rifled guns, with a crew of ten men, and that her +cargo of wool was still on board. He was still doubtful of the propriety +of admitting her. + +On the 10th August, after further consultation with the Acting +Attorney-General, I informed Sir Baldwin Walker that, if the guns had +been put on board by the Alabama, or if she had a commission of war, or +if she were commanded by an officer of the Confederate Navy, there must +be held to be a sufficient setting forth as a vessel of war to justify +her admission into port in that character. + +The Admiral replied in the affirmative on the first and last points, and +she was admitted. + +The Tuscaloosa sailed from Simon's Bay on the morning of the 14th +instant, but was becalmed in the vicinity until the following day, when +she sailed about noon. The Alabama left before noon on the 15th instant. +Neither of these vessels was allowed to remain in port longer than was +really necessary for the completion of their repairs. + +On the 16th, at noon, the Georgia, another Confederate war steamer, +arrived at Simon's Bay in need of repairs, and is still there. + +Before closing this despatch I wish particularly to request instructions +on a point touched on in the letter from the United States Consul of the +17th instant, viz.: the steps which should be taken here in the event of +the cargo of any vessel captured by one of the belligerents being taken +out of the prize at sea, and brought into one of our ports in a British +or other neutral vessel. + +Both belligerents are strictly interdicted from bringing their prizes +into British ports by Earl Russell's letter to the Lords of the +Admiralty of the 1st June, 1861, and I conceive that a colonial +government would be justified in enforcing compliance with that order by +any means at its command, and by the exercise of force if it should be +required. + +But that letter refers only to "prizes;" that is, I conceive, to ships +themselves, and makes no mention of the cargoes they may contain. +Practically the prohibition has been taken to extend to the cargoes; and +I gathered, from a conversation with Captain Semmes on the subject of +our neutrality regulations, that he considered himself debarred from +disposing of them, and was thus driven to the destruction of all that he +took. But I confess that I am unable to discover by what legal means I +could prevent the introduction into our ports of captured property +purchased at sea, and tendered for entry at the custom-house in the +usual form from a neutral ship. I have consulted the Acting +Attorney-General on the subject, and he is not prepared to state that +the customs authorities would be justified in making a seizure under +such circumstances; and therefore, as there is great probability of +clandestine attempts being made to introduce cargoes of this +description, I shall be glad to be favoured with the earliest +practicable intimation of the views of Her Majesty's Government on the +subject. + +_Captain Semmes, C.S.N., to Sir P. Wodehouse. August_ 5, 1863. + +I have the honour to inform your Excellency of my arrival in this bay, +in the Confederate States steamer Alabama under my command. I have come +in for supplies and repairs, and in the meantime I respectfully ask +leave to land in Cape Town thirty-three prisoners, lately captured by me +on board two of the enemy's ships destroyed at sea. The United States +Consul will doubtless be glad to extend such hospitality and assistance +to his distressed countrymen, as required of him by law. + +_Sir P. Wodehouse to Captain Semmes, C.S.N. August_ 5, 1863. + +I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter announcing +your arrival in this port, and to state that I have no objection to +offer to your landing the prisoners now detained in your ship. + +I have further to beg that you will be good enough to state the nature +and extent of the supplies and repairs you require, that I may be +enabled to form some estimate of the time for which it will be necessary +for you to remain in this port. + +_Captain Semmes, C.S.N., to Sir P. Wodehouse. August_ 5, 1863. + +I have had the honour to receive your letter of this day's date, giving +me permission to land my prisoners, and requesting me to state the +nature of the supplies and repairs which I may require. In the way of +supplies I shall need some provisions for my crew, a list of which will +be handed you to-morrow by the paymaster, and as for repairs my boilers +need some iron work to be done, and my bends require caulking, being +quite open. I propose to take on board the necessary materials here, and +to proceed with all despatch to Simon's Bay for the purpose of making +these repairs. + +_Mr. Adamson to Captain Semmes C.S.N. August_ 6, 1863. + +I am directed by the Governor of this colony to acquaint you that he +has received from the Consul for the United States at this port a +representation, in which he sets forth that an American barque was +yesterday captured by the ship which you command, in British waters, in +violation of the neutrality of the British Government, and claims from +him redress for the alleged outrage. + +His Excellency will be glad, therefore, to receive from you any +explanation you may wish to give as to the circumstances in which the +capture was effected. + +_Captain Semmes, C.S.N., to Mr. Adamson. Cape Town, August_ 6, 1863. + +I have had the honour to receive your communication of this day's date, +informing me that the United States Consul at this port had presented to +his Excellency the Governor a representation in which he sets forth that +an American barque was yesterday captured by this ship under my command +in British waters, in violation of the neutrality of the British +Government, and requesting me to make to his Excellency such +representation as I may have to offer on the subject. + +In reply, I have the honour to state that it is not true that the barque +referred to was captured in British waters, and in violation of British +neutrality; she having been captured outside all headlands, and a +distance from the nearest land of between five and six miles. As I +approached this vessel I called the particular attention of my officers +to the question of distance, and they all agreed that the capture was +made from two to three miles outside the marine league. + +_U.S. Consul to Sir P. Wodehouse. August_ 4, 1863. + +From reliable information received by me, and which you are also +doubtless in possession of, a war steamer called the Alabama is now in +Saldanha Bay, being painted, discharging prisoners of war, &c. + +The vessel in question was built in England to prey upon the commerce of +the United States of America, and escaped therefrom while on her trial +trip, forfeiting bonds of £20,000, which the British Government exacted +under the Foreign Enlistment Act. + +Now, as your Government has a treaty of amity and commerce with the +United States, and has not recognised the persons in revolt against the +United States as a Government at all, the vessel alluded to should be at +once seized and sent to England, from whence she clandestinely escaped. +Assuming that the British Government was sincere in exacting the bonds, +you have doubtless been instructed to send her home to England, where +she belongs. But if, from some oversight, you have not received such +instructions, and you decline the responsibility of making the seizure, +I would most respectfully protest against the vessel remaining in any +port of the colony another day. She has been at Saldanha Bay four [six] +days already, and a week previously on the coast, and has forfeited all +right to remain an hour longer by this breach of neutrality. Painting a +ship does not come under the head of "necessary repairs," and is no +proof that she is unseaworthy; and to allow her to visit other ports +after she has set the Queen's proclamation of neutrality at defiance +would not be regarded as in accordance with the spirit and purpose of +that document. + +_Mr. Adamson to U.S. Consul. August 5,_ 1863. + +I am directed by the Governor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter +of yesterday's date relative to the Alabama. + +His Excellency has no instructions, neither has he any authority, to +seize or detain that vessel; and he desires me to acquaint you that he +has received a letter from the Commander, dated the 1st instant, stating +that repairs were in progress, and as soon as they were completed he +intended to go to sea. He further announces his intention of respecting +strictly the neutrality of the British Government. + +The course which Captain Semmes here proposes to take is, in the +Governor's opinion, in conformity with the instructions he has himself +received relative to ships of war and privateers belonging to the United +States and the States calling themselves the Confederate States of +America visiting British ports. + +The reports received from Saldanha Bay induce the Governor to believe +that the vessel will leave that harbour as soon as her repairs are +completed; but he will immediately, on receiving intelligence to the +contrary, take the necessary steps for enforcing the observance of the +rules laid down by Her Majesty's Government. + +_Mr. Graham (U.S. Consul) to Sir P. Wodehouse. August_ 5, 1863. + +The Confederate steamer Alabama has just captured an American barque off +Green Point, or about four miles from the nearest land (Robben Island). +I witnessed the capture with my own eyes, as did hundreds of others at +the same time. This occurrence at the entrance of Table Bay, and clearly +in British waters, is an insult to England and a grievous injury to a +friendly Power, the United States. + +Towards the Government of my country and her domestic enemies the +Government of England assumes a position of neutrality; and if the +neutrality can be infringed with impunity, in this bold and daring +manner, the Government of the United States will no doubt consider the +matter as one requiring immediate explanation. + +Believing that the occurrence was without your knowledge or expectation, +and hoping you will take such steps to redress the outrage as the +exigency requires, I am, &c. + +_Mr. Rawson to Mr. Graham. August_ 6, 1863. + +I am directed by the Governor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter +of yesterday's date respecting the capture of the Sea Bride by the +Alabama, and to acquaint you that he will lose no time in obtaining +accurate information as to the circumstances of the capture. I have, +&c., + +(Signed) RAWSON W. RAWSON, + +_Colonial Secretary._ + +_Mr. Graham to Sir P. Wodehouse. August_ 6, 1863. + +I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of this +date. + +I beg now to enclose for your Excellency's perusal, the affidavit of +Captain Charles F. White, of the Sea Bride, protesting against the +capture of the said barque in British waters. The bearings taken by him +at the time of capture conclusively show that she was in neutral waters, +being about two and a half miles from Robben Island. This statement is +doubtless more satisfactory than the testimony of persons who measured +the distance by the eye. + +I believe that there is no law defining the word "coast" other than +international law. That law has always limited neutral waters to the +fighting distance from land, which, upon the invention of gunpowder, was +extended to a distance of three nautical miles from land on a straight +coast, and by the same rule, since the invention of Armstrong rifled +cannon, to at least six miles. + +But all waters inclosed by a line drawn between two promontories or +headlands are recognised by all nations as neutral, and England was the +first that adopted the rule, calling such waters the "King's chambers." +By referring to "Wheaton's Digest," page 234, or any other good work on +international law, you will find the above rules laid down and +elucidated. + +The fact that the prize has not already been burned, and that her fate +is still in suspense, is clear proof that Captain Semmes had misgivings +as to the legality of the capture, and awaits your Excellency's assent. +If you decide that the prize was legally taken, you will assume a +responsibility which Captain Semmes himself declined to take. + +_Affidavit of C.F. White._ + +On this 6th day of August, A.D. 1863, personally appeared before me, +Walter Graham, Consul of the United States at Cape Town, Charles F. +White, master of the barque Sea Bride, of Boston, from New York, and +declared on affidavit that on the 3d day of August instant, he sighted +Table Mountain and made for Table Bay, but that on the 4th instant, +night coming on, he was compelled to stand out. On the 5th instant, he +again made for the anchorage, and about two P.M. saw a steamer standing +toward the barque, which he supposed was the English mail steamer, but +on nearing her, found her to be the Confederate steamer Alabama. He, +Captain White, was peremptorily ordered to heave his vessel to as a +prize to the Alabama. One gun was fired, and immediately after the +demand was made another gun was fired. Two boats were lowered from the +Alabama and sent on board the barque. The officer in charge of these +boats demanded the ship's papers, which the said master was compelled to +take on board the said steamer. This happened about a quarter before +three o'clock. He and his crew were immediately taken from his vessel +and placed as prisoners on board the Alabama, the officers and crew +being put in irons. The position of the barque at the time of capture +was as follows:--Green Point Lighthouse bearing south by east; Robben +Island Lighthouse north-east. + +The said appearer did further protest against the illegal capture of +said vessel, as she was in British waters at the time of capture, +according to bearings. + +_Mr. Graham to Sir P. Wodehouse. August 7, 1863_. + +Understanding from your letter of this date, received this morning,[17] +that the case of the Sea Bride is still pending, I enclose the +affidavits of the first officer of that vessel and the cook and steward, +which I hope will throw additional light on the subject. + +[Footnote 17: A formal acknowledgment omitted here as superfluous.] + +From the affidavit of the first officer, it appears that the alleged +prize was brought within one and a half miles of Green Point Lighthouse +yesterday at one o'clock P.M. Now, as the vessel was at that time in +charge of a prize crew, it was a violation of neutrality as much as if +the capture had been made at the same distance from land. + +Pending your decision of the case I would most respectfully suggest that +the prize crew on board the Sea Bride be removed, and that the vessel be +put in charge of a crew from Her Majesty's ship Valorous. + +_Affidavit of James Robertson._ + +On the day and date hereof before me, Walter Graham, Consul for the +United States of America at Cape Town, personally came and appeared +James Robertson, cook and steward of the barque Sea Bride, an American +vessel, and made affidavit that he was on board said barque on the night +of the 5th day of August instant, after the said barque had been +captured as a prize by the Confederate steamer Alabama, and a prize crew +put on board. That at about five minutes before two o'clock A.M. of the +6th instant, the prize crew on board the said barque received a signal +from the Alabama aforesaid to burn the said barque, and immediately all +hands were called to execute that order. That the sails were clewed, a +tar barrel taken from underneath the topgallant forecastle and placed in +the forecastle, and a bucketful of tar, with other combustibles and +ammunition, ordered on the cabin table, but that when these arrangements +were completed, another signal was received from the said Alabama, +countermanding the order to burn the said prize, and to stand off and on +the land until daylight, which orders were obeyed. + +_Affidavit of John Schofield._ + +On the day and date hereof before me, Walter Graham, Consul for the +United States of America at Cape Town, personally came and appeared +John Schofield, first officer of the barque Sea Bride, of Boston, who +made affidavit that he was on board of said vessel at one o'clock P.M. +yesterday, the 6th day of August instant, while she was in possession of +a prize crew of the steamer Alabama; that he took the bearings of said +barque at that time, which were as follows: Robben Island Lighthouse +bore north-east by north one-half north, Green Point Lighthouse bore +south-west one-half west. + +He also deposed that the officer in command of the barque came on deck +about that time, and stamping his foot as if chagrined to find her so +near the land, ordered her further off, which was done immediately. + +I am directed by the Governor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter +of this date, inclosing two affidavits relative to the Sea Bride, and to +state that his Excellency is not prepared to admit that the fact of that +vessel having been brought by the prize crew within one and a half miles +of the Green Point Lighthouse "was a violation of the neutrality as much +as if the capture had taken place at the same distance from land," +although both the belligerents are prohibited from bringing their prizes +into British ports. + +The Governor does not feel warranted in taking steps for the removal of +the prize crew from the Sea Bride. + +_Mr. Bawson to Mr. Graham. August_ 8, 1863. + +With reference to the correspondence that has passed relative to the +capture by the Confederate States steamer Alabama, of the barque Sea +Bride, I am directed by the Governor to acquaint you that, on the best +information he has been enabled to procure, he has come to the +conclusion that the capture cannot be held to be illegal, or in +violation of the neutrality of the British Government, by reason of the +distance from land at which it took place. + +His Excellency will, by next mail, make a full report of the case to Her +Majesty's Government. + +_Mr. Graham to Sir P. Wodehouse. August_ 10, 1863. + +Your decision in the case of the Sea Bride was duly received at four +o'clock p. M. on Saturday. In communicating that decision you simply +announce that the vessel was, in your opinion, and according to evidence +before you, a legal prize to the Alabama; but you omit to state the +principle of international law that governed your decision, and neglect +to furnish me with the evidence relied upon by you. + +Under these circumstances I can neither have the evidence verified or +rebutted here, nor am I enabled to transmit it as it stands to the +American Minister at London, nor to the United States Government at +Washington. An invitation to be present when the _ex parte_ testimony +was taken was not extended to me, and I am therefore ignorant of the +tenor of it, and cannot distinguish the portion thrown out from that +which was accepted. If your decision is that the neutral waters of this +colony only extend a distance of three miles from land, the character of +that decision would have been aptly illustrated to the people of Cape +Town had an American war-vessel appeared on the scene, and engaged the +Alabama in battle. In such a contest with cannon carrying a distance of +six miles (three overland), the crashing buildings in Cape Town would +have been an excellent commentary on your decision. + +But the decision has been made, and cannot be revoked here, so that +further comment at present is, therefore, unnecessary. It can only be +reversed by the Government you represent, which it probably will be when +the United States Government shall claim indemnity for the owners of the +Sea Bride. + +An armed vessel named the Tuscaloosa, claiming to act under the +authority of the so-called Confederate States, entered Simon's Bay on +Saturday the 8th instant. That vessel was formerly owned by citizens of +the United States, and while engaged in lawful commerce was captured as +a prize by the Alabama. She was subsequently fitted out with arms by the +Alabama to prey upon the commerce of the United States, and now, without +having been condemned as a prize by any Admiralty Court of any +recognized Government, she is permitted to enter a neutral port in +violation of the Queen's Proclamation, with her original cargo on board. +Against this proceeding I hereby most emphatically protest, and I claim +that the vessel ought to be given up to her lawful owners. The capture +of the Sea Bride in neutral waters, together with the case of the +Tuscaloosa, also a prize, constitute the latest and best illustration of +British neutrality that has yet been given. + +_Mr. Rawson to Mr. Graham. August_ 10, 1863. + +I am directed by the Governor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter +of this date, and to state with reference to that part of it which +relates to the Tuscaloosa, that his Excellency is still in +correspondence with the Commander-in-chief respecting the character of +that vessel, and the privileges to which she is entitled. + +_Mr. Graham to Sir P. Wodehouse. August_ 12, 1863. + +Upon receiving your last communication to me dated the 10th instant, I +deemed it simply a report of progress on one subject treated of in my +last letter to your Excellency, and I have therefore waited anxiously +for the receipt of another letter from the Colonial Secretary +communicating the final result in the case. Failing to receive it, and +hearing yesterday P.M. that the Tuscaloosa would proceed to Sea from +Simon's Bay to-day, I applied for an injunction from the Supreme Court +to prevent the vessel sailing before I had an opportunity of showing by +witnesses that she is owned in Philadelphia in the United States, and +her true name is Conrad; that she has never been condemned as a prize by +any legally constituted Admiralty Court; and that I am _ex officio_ the +legal agent of the owners, underwriters, and all others concerned. I +have not yet learned the result of that application, and fearing that +delay may allow her to escape, I would respectfully urge you to detain +her in port until the proper legal steps can be taken. + +I am well aware that your Government has conceded to the so-called +Confederate States the rights of belligerents, and is thereby bound to +respect Captain Semmes' commission; but having refused to recognize the +"Confederacy" as a nation, and having excluded his captures from all the +ports of the British Empire, the captures necessarily revert to their +real owners, and are forfeited by Captain Semmes as soon as they enter a +British port. + +Hoping to receive an answer to this and the preceding letter as early as +possible, and that you will not construe my persistent course throughout +this correspondence on neutral rights as importunate, or my remarks as +inopportune, I have, &c. + +_Mr. Rawson to Mr. Graham. August 12, 1863_. + +I am directed by the Governor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter +of this date, and to acquaint you that it was not until late last +evening that his Excellency received from the naval Commander-in-chief +information that the condition of the Tuscaloosa was such as, as his +Excellency is advised, to entitle her to be regarded as a vessel of war. + +The Governor is not aware, nor do you refer him to the provisions of +international law by which captured vessels, as soon as they enter our +neutral ports, revert to their real owners, and are forfeited by their +captors. But his Excellency believes that the claims of contending +parties to vessels captured can only be determined in the first instance +by the Courts of the captor's country. + +The Governor desires me to add that he cannot offer any objection to the +tenor of the correspondence which you have addressed to him on this +subject, and that he is very sensible of the courtesy you have exhibited +under such very peculiar circumstances!!! He gives you credit for acting +on a strict sense of duty to your country. + +_Mr. Graham to Sir P. Wodehouse. August_ 17, 1863. + +I have delayed acknowledging the receipt of your last letter, dated the +12th August, on account of events transpiring, but which have not yet +culminated so as to form the subject of correspondence. + +Your decision that the Tuscaloosa is a vessel of war, and by inference a +prize, astonishes me, because I do not see the necessary +incompatibility. Four guns were taken from on board the Talisman (also a +prize), and put on board the Conrad (Tuscaloosa), but that transfer did +not change the character of either vessel as a prize, for neither of +them could cease to be a prize till it had been condemned in an +Admiralty Court of the captor's country, which it is not pretended has +been done. The Tuscaloosa, therefore, being a prize, was forbidden to +enter Simon's Bay by the Queen's Proclamation, and should have been +ordered off at once; but she was not so ordered. Granting that Her +Majesty's Proclamation affirmed the right of Captain Semmes as a +belligerent to take and to hold prizes on the high seas, it just as +emphatically denied his right to hold them in British ports. Now, if he +could not hold them in Simon's Bay, who else could hold them except +those whose right to hold them was antecedent to his--that is, the, +owners? + +The Tuscaloosa remained in Simon's Bay seven days with her original +cargo of skins and wool on board. This cargo, I am informed by those who +claim to know, has been purchased by merchants in Cape Town; and if it +should be landed here directly from the prize, or be transferred to +other vessels at some secluded harbour on the coast beyond this Colony, +and brought from thence here, the infringement of neutrality will be so +palpable and flagrant that Her Majesty's Government will probably +satisfy the claims of the owners gracefully and at once, and thus remove +all cause of complaint. In so doing it will have to disavow and +repudiate the acts of its executive agents here--a result I have done +all in my power to prevent. + +Greater cause of complaint will exist if the cargo of the Sea Bride is +disposed of in the same manner, as I have reason to apprehend it will be +when negotiations are concluded; for being originally captured in +neutral waters, the thin guise of neutrality would be utterly torn into +shreds by the sale of her cargo here. + +The Georgia, a Confederate war-steamer, arrived at Simon's Bay +yesterday, and the Florida, another vessel of the same class, has +arrived, or is expected hourly at Saldanha Bay, where she may remain a +week without your knowledge, as the place is very secluded. The Alabama +remained here in Table Bay nearly four days, and at Simon's Bay six +days; and as the Tuscaloosa was allowed to remain at Simon's Bay seven +days, I apprehend that the Georgia and Florida will meet with the same +or even greater favours. Under such circumstances further protests from +me would seem to be unavailing, and I only put the facts upon record for +the benefit of my Government and officials possessed of diplomatic +functions. + +_Mr. Rawson to Mr. Graham. August_ 19, 1863. + +I am directed by the Governor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter +of the 17th instant, and to state that he has, during the recent +transactions, endeavoured to act in strict conformity with the wishes of +Her Majesty's Government; he will in like manner pursue the same course +in any future cases which may arise. + +I am to add that His Excellency has no reason to believe that either the +Alabama or the Tuscaloosa have been allowed to remain in the ports of +the Colony for a greater length of time than the state of the weather, +and the execution of the repairs of which they actually stood in need, +rendered indispensable. + +_Statement of Joseph Hopson._ + +Joseph Hopson, keeper of the Green Point Lighthouse, states: + +I was on the look-out on Wednesday afternoon when the Alabama and Sea +Bride were coming in. When I first saw them the steamer was coming round +the north-west of Robben Island, and the barque bore from or about five +miles west-northwest. The barque was coming in under all sail with a +good breeze, and she took nothing in when the gun was fired. I believe +two guns were fired, but the gun I mean was the last, and the steamer +then crossed the stern side of the barque, and hauled up to her on the +starboard side. He steamed ahead gently, and shortly afterwards I saw +the barque put round with her head to the westward, and a boat put off +from the steamer and boarded her. Both vessels were then good five miles +off the mainland, and quite five, if not six, from the north-west point +of Robben Island. + +_Statement of W.S. Field, Collector of Customs._ + +I was present at the old Lighthouse, Green Point, on Wednesday +afternoon, at 2 P.M., and saw the Alabama capture the American barque +Sea Bride, and I agree with the above statement as far as the position +of the vessels and their distance from shore. + +I may also remark that I called the attention of Colonel Bisset and the +lighthouse keeper Hopson to the distance of the vessels at the time of +the capture, as it was probable we should be called upon to give our +evidence respecting the affair, and we took a note of the time it +occurred. + +_Statement of John Roe._ + +I was yesterday, the 5th day of August, 1863, returning from a whale +chase in Hunt's Bay, when I first saw the barque Sea Bride standing from +the westward on to the land. I came on to Table Bay, and when off Camps +Bay I saw the smoke of the Alabama some distance from the westward of +Robben Island. When I reached the Green Point Lighthouse the steamer was +standing up towards the barque, which was about five miles and a half to +the westward of Green Point, and about four and half from the western +point of Robben Island. This was their position (being near each other +at the time) when the gun was fired. + +_Statement of Signalman at the Lion's Rump Telegraph Station._ + +On Wednesday last, the 5th day of August, 1863, I sighted the barque Sea +Bride about seven o'clock in the morning, about fifteen or twenty miles +off the land, standing into Table Bay from the south-west. There was a +light breeze blowing from the north-west, which continued until after +midday. About midday I sighted the Alabama screw steamer standing from +due north towards Table Bay, intending, as it appeared to me, to take +the passage between Robben Island and the Blueberg Beach. She was then +between fifteen and eighteen miles off the land. + +After sighting the steamer, I hoisted the demand for the barque, when +she hoisted the American flag, which I reported to the Port Office, the +barque then being about eight miles off the land from Irville Point. No +sooner had the barque hoisted the American flag than the steamer turned +sharp round in the direction of and towards the barque. The steamer +appeared at that time to have been about twelve miles off the land from +Irville Point, and about four or five miles outside of Robben Island, +and about seven miles from the barque. + +The steamer then came up to and alongside of the barque, when the latter +was good four miles off the land at or near the old Lighthouse, and five +miles off the Island. The steamer, after firing a gun, stopped the +further progress of the barque, several boats were sent to her, and +after that the barque stood out to sea again, and the Alabama steamed +into Table Bay. + +_Captain Forsyth to Sir P. Wodehouse. August_ 6, 1863. + +In compliance with the request conveyed to me by your Excellency, I have +the honor to report that I have obtained from Captain Semmes a statement +of the positions of the Confederate States steamer Alabama and the +American barque Sea Bride, when the latter was captured yesterday +afternoon. + +Captain Semmes asserts that at the time of his capturing the Sea Bride, +Green Point Lighthouse bore from the Alabama south-east about six or six +and a half miles. + +This statement is borne out by the evidence of Captain Wilson, Port +Captain of Table Bay, who has assured me that at the time of the Sea +Bride being captured, he was off Green Point in the port boat, and that +only the top of the Alabama's hull was visible. + +I am of opinion, if Captain Wilson could only see that portion of the +hull of the Alabama, she must have been about the distance from the +shore which is stated by Captain Semmes, and I have therefore come to +the conclusion that the barque Sea Bride was beyond the limits assigned +when she was captured by the Alabama. + +_Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker to the Secretary to the Admiralty. +September_ 17, 1863. + +With reference to my letters dated respectively the 19th and 31st +ultimo, relative to the Confederate States ship of war Alabama, and the +prizes captured by her, I beg to inclose, for their Lordships' +information, the copy of a statement forwarded to me by the Collector of +Customs at Cape Town, wherein it is represented that the Tuscaloosa and +Sea Bride had visited Ichaboe, which is a dependency of this Colony. + +2. Since the receipt of the above-mentioned document, the Alabama +arrived at this anchorage (the 16th instant), and when Captain Semmes +waited on me, I acquainted him with the report, requesting he would +inform me if it was true. I was glad to learn from him that it was not +so. He frankly explained that the prize Sea Bride in the first place had +put into Saldanha Bay through stress of weather, and on being joined +there by the Tuscaloosa, both vessels proceeded to Angra Pequena, on the +West Coast of Africa, where he subsequently joined them in the Alabama, +and there sold the Sea Bride and her cargo to an English subject who +resides at Cape Town. The Tuscaloosa had landed some wool at Angra +Pequena and received ballast, but, he states, is still in commission as +a tender. It will, therefore, be seen how erroneous is the accompanying +report. I have no reason to doubt Captain Semmes' explanation; but he +seems to be fully alive to the instructions of Her Majesty's Government, +and appears to be most anxious not to commit any breach of neutrality. + +3. The Alabama has returned to this port for coal, some provisions, and +to repair her condensing apparatus. + +4. From conversation with Captain Semmes, I find that he has been off +this Cape for the last five days, and as the Vanderbilt left this on the +night of the 11th instant, it is surprising they did not see each other. + +_The Duke of Newcastle to Sir P. Wodehouse. November 4, 1863_. + +I have received your despatch of the 19th August last, submitting for my +consideration various questions arising out of the proceedings at the +Cape of Good Hope of the Confederate vessels Georgia, Alabama, and her +reputed tender, the Tuscaloosa. + +I will now proceed to convey to you the views of Her Majesty's +Government on these questions. + +The capture of the Sea Bride, by the Alabama, is stated to have been +effected beyond the distance of three miles from the shore--which +distance must be accepted as the limit of territorial jurisdiction, +according to the present rule of international law upon that subject. It +appears, however, that the prize, very soon after her capture, was +brought within the distance of two miles from the shore; and as this is +contrary to Her Majesty's orders, it might have afforded just grounds +(if the apology of Captain Semmes for this improper act, which he +ascribed to inadvertence, had not been accepted by you) for the +interference of the colonial authorities upon the principles which I am +about to explain. + +With respect to the Alabama herself, it is clear that neither you nor +any other authority at the Cape could exercise any jurisdiction over +her; and that, whatever may have been her previous history, you were +bound to treat her as a ship of war belonging to a belligerent Power. + +With regard to the vessel called the Tuscaloosa, I am advised that this +vessel did not lose the character of a prize captured by the Alabama, +merely because she was, at the time of her being brought within British +waters, armed with two small rifled guns, in charge of an officer, and +manned with a crew of ten men from the Alabama, and used as a tender to +that vessel under the authority of Captain Semmes. + +It would appear that the Tuscaloosa is a barque of 500 tons, captured by +the Alabama, off the coast of Brazil, on the 21st of June last, and +brought into Simon's Bay on or before the 7th of August, with her +original cargo of wool (itself, as well as the vessel, prize) still on +board, and with nothing to give her a warlike character (so far as is +stated in the papers before me), except the circumstances already +noticed. + +Whether, in the case of a vessel duly commissioned as a ship of war, +after being made prize by a belligerent Government, without being first +brought _infra praesidia_, or condemned by a court of prize, the +character of prize, within the meaning of Her Majesty's orders, would or +would not be merged in that of a national ship of war, I am not called +upon to explain. It is enough to say that the citation from Mr. +Wheaton's book by your attorney-general does not appear to me to have +any direct bearing upon the question. + +Connected with this subject is the question as to the cargoes of +captured vessels, which is alluded to at the end of your despatch. On +this point I have to instruct you that Her Majesty's orders apply as +much to prize cargoes of every kind which may be brought by any armed +ships or privateers of either belligerent into British waters as to the +captured vessels themselves. They do not, however, apply to any articles +which may have formed part of any such cargoes, if brought within +British jurisdiction, not by armed ships or privateers of either +belligerent, but by other persons who may have acquired or may claim +property in them by reason of any dealings with the captors. + +I think it right to observe that the third reason alleged by the +attorney-general for his opinion assumes (though the fact had not been +made the subject of any inquiry) that "no means existed for determining +whether the ship had or had not been judicially condemned in a court of +competent jurisdiction," and the proposition that, "_admitting her to +have been captured by a ship of war of the Confederate States_, she was +entitled to refer Her Majesty's Government, in case of any dispute, to +the court of her States in order to satisfy it as to her real +character." This assumption, however, is not consistent with Her +Majesty's undoubted right to determine within her own territory whether +her own orders, made in vindication of her own neutrality, have been +violated or not. + +The question remains what course ought to have been taken by the +authorities of the Cape-- + +1st. In order to ascertain whether this vessel was, as alleged by the +United States Consul, an uncondemned prize brought within British waters +in violation of Her Majesty's neutrality; and + +2dly. What ought to have been done if such had appeared to be really the +fact. + +I think that the allegations of the United States Consul ought to have +been brought to the knowledge of Captain Semmes while the Tuscaloosa +was still within British waters, and that he should have been requested +to state whether he did or did not admit the facts to be as alleged. He +should also have been called upon (unless the facts were admitted) to +produce the Tuscaloosa's papers. If the result of these inquiries had +been to prove that the vessel was really an uncondemned prize, brought +into British waters in violation of Her Majesty's orders made for the +purpose of maintaining her neutrality, I consider that the mode of +proceeding in such circumstances, most consistent with Her Majesty's +dignity, and most proper for the vindication of her territorial rights, +would have been to prohibit the exercise of any further control over the +Tuscaloosa by the captors, and to retain that vessel under Her Majesty's +control and jurisdiction until properly reclaimed by her original +owners. + +_Sir P. Wodehouse to the Duke of Newcastle. December_ 19, 1863. + +I have had the honour to receive your Grace's despatch of the 4th +ultimo, from which I regret to learn that the course taken here relative +to the Confederate war steamer Alabama and her prizes has not in some +respects given satisfaction to Her Majesty's Government. + +I must only beg your Grace to believe that no pains were spared by the +late Acting Attorney-General or by myself to shape our course in what we +believed to be conformity with the orders of Her Majesty's Government +and the rules of international law, as far as we could ascertain and +interpret them. + +Mr. Denyssen has been so constantly engaged with professional business +since the arrival of the mail that I have been prevented from discussing +with him the contents of your despatch; but I think it right, +nevertheless, to take advantage of the first opportunity for +representing to your Grace the state of uncertainty in which I am placed +by the receipt of this communication, and for soliciting such further +explanations as may prevent my again falling into error on these +matters. In so doing I trust you will be prepared to make allowance for +the difficulties which must arise out of this peculiar contest, in +respect of which both parties stand on a footing of equality as +belligerents, while only one of them is recognized as a nation. + +In the first place, I infer that I have given cause for dissatisfaction +in not having more actively resented the fact that the Sea Bride, on the +day after her capture, was brought a short distance within British +waters. + +Your Grace demurs to my having accepted Captain Semmes' apology for this +improper act, which he ascribed to inadvertence. You will pardon my +noticing that the fact of the act having been done through inadvertence +was established by the United States Consul himself, one of whose +witnesses stated, "the officer in command of the barque came on deck +about that time, and stamping his foot as if chagrined to find her so +near the land, ordered her further off, which was done immediately." + +I confess that on such evidence of such a fact I did not consider myself +warranted in requiring the commander of Her Majesty's ship Valorous to +take possession of the Alabama's prize. + +The questions involved in the treatment of the Tuscaloosa are far more +important and more embarrassing; and first let me state, with reference +to the suggestion that Captain Semmes should have been required to admit +or deny the allegations of the United States Consul, that no such +proceeding was required. There was not the slightest mystery or +concealment of the circumstances under which the Tuscaloosa had come +into, and then was in possession of the Confederates. The facts were not +disputed. We were required to declare what was her actual status under +those facts. We had recourse to Wheaton, the best authority on +International Law within our reach--an authority of the nation with whom +the question had arisen--an authority which the British Secretary for +Foreign Affairs had recently been quoting in debates on American +questions in the House of Lords. + +Your Grace intimates that the citation from this authority by the Acting +Attorney-General does not appear to have any direct bearing upon the +question. + +You will assuredly believe that it is not from any want of respect for +your opinion, but solely from a desire to avoid future error, that I +confess my inability to understand this intimation, or, in the absence +of instructions on that head, to see in what direction I am to look for +the law bearing on the subject. + +The paragraph cited made no distinction between a vessel with cargo and +a vessel without cargo; and your Grace leaves me in ignorance whether +her character would have been changed if Captain Semmes had got rid of +the cargo before claiming for her admission as a ship of war. Certainly, +acts had been done by him which, according to Wheaton, constituted a +"setting forth as a vessel of war." + +Your Grace likewise states, "Whether in the case of a vessel duly +commissioned as a ship of war, after being made prize by a belligerent +Government without being first brought _infra praesidia_, or condemned +by a Court of Prize, the character of prize, within the meaning of Her +Majesty's orders, would or would not be merged in a national ship of +war, I am not called upon to explain." + +I feel myself forced to ask for further advice on this point, on which +it is quite possible I may be called upon to take an active part. I have +already, in error apparently, admitted a Confederate prize as a ship of +war. The chief authority on International Law, in which it is in my +power to refer, is Wheaton, who apparently draws no distinction between +ships of war and other ships when found in the position of prizes; and I +wish your Grace to be aware that within the last few days the commander +of a United States ship of war observed to me that if it were his good +fortune to capture the Alabama, he should convert her into a Federal +cruiser. + +I trust your Grace will see how desirable it is that I should be fully +informed of the views of Her Majesty's Government on these points, and +that I shall be favoured with a reply to this despatch at your earliest +convenience. + +_Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker to the Secretary to the Admiralty. January_ +5, 1864. + +I request you will be pleased to acquaint my Lords Commissioners of the +Admiralty that the barque called the Tuscaloosa, under the flag of the +Confederate States of North America (referred to in my letter of the +19th of August last), termed a tender to the Alabama, returned to this +anchorage on the 26th ultimo from cruising off the coast of Brazil. + +2. In order to ascertain the real character of this vessel, I directed +the boarding officer from my flag-ship to put the questions, as per +inclosure No. 1, to the officer in command, Lieutenant Low, of the +Alabama; and having satisfied myself from his answers that the vessel +was still an uncondemned prize captured by the Alabama under the name of +the Conrad, of Philadelphia, I communicated the circumstances to the +Governor of this Colony, who, concurring in opinion with me that she +ought to be retained under Her Majesty's control and jurisdiction until +reclaimed by her proper owners, for violation of Pier Majesty's orders +for the maintenance of her neutrality, I caused the so-called +Tuscaloosa to be taken possession of; informing Lieutenant Low, at the +same time, of the reason for doing so. + +3. Lieutenant Low has entered a written protest against the seizure of +the vessel, a copy of which, together with the reply of the Governor, I +inclose for their Lordships' information, as well as a copy of all the +correspondence which has passed on this subject. + +4. Lieutenant Low having informed me that he expects the Alabama shortly +to arrive at this place, I have allowed him and his crew to remain on +board the Conrad for the present; but should the Alabama not make her +appearance I have acquainted him that I will grant him and his officers +(probably only one besides himself) a passage to England in one of the +packets. The crew he wishes to discharge if there is no opportunity of +their rejoining the Alabama. + +5. The vessel in question is at present moored in this bay, in charge of +an officer and a few men belonging to Her Majesty's ship Narcissus, +where she will remain until she can be properly transferred to her +lawful owners, as requested by the Governor. + +_Questions to be put to the Officer in Command or Charge of the barque +Tuscaloosa, carrying the Flag of the so-called Confederate States of +America._ + +Ship's name and nation?--Tuscaloosa. Confederate. + +Name and rank of officer in command?--Lieutenant Low, late Alabama. + +Tonnage of the ship?--500. + +Number of officers and men on hoard?--4 officers and 20 men. + +Number and description of guns on board?--3 small brass guns, 2 rifled +12 pounders, 1 smooth-bore-pounder. + +Where is she from?--St. Katherine's, Brazils. + +Where is she bound?--Cruising. + +For what purpose has the ship put into this port?--For repairs and +supplies. + +Is it the same ship that was captured by the Alabama, and afterwards +came to this port on the 9th of August last?--Yes. + +What was her original name, on being captured by the Alabama?--Conrad, +of Philadelphia. + +When was she captured by Alabama?--21st June, 1863. + +To what nation and to whom did she belong before her capture?--Federal +States of America. + +Has she been taken before any legally constituted Admiralty Court of the +Confederate States?--No. + +Has she been duly condemned as a lawful prize by such Court to the +captors?--No. + +What is she now designated?--Tender to the Alabama. + +What papers are there on board to constitute her as the Confederate +barque Tuscaloosa?--The commission of the Lieutenant commanding the +Tuscaloosa from Captain Semmes. The officers also have commissions to +their ship from him. + +Are the papers which belonged to her before she was seized by the +Alabama on board?--No. + +Is there any cargo on board, and what does it consist of?--No +cargo--only stores for ballast. + +(Signed) JOHN LOW, + +_Lieut.-Commander, Confederate States barque Tuscaloosa._ + +(Signed) FRANCIS L. WOOD, + +_Lieutenant and Boarding Officer, Her Majesty's ship Narcissus._ + +_Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker to Lieutenant Low, C.S.N. December_ 27, +1863. + +As it appears that the Tuscaloosa, under your charge and command, is a +vessel belonging to the Federal States of America, having been captured +by the Confederate States ship of war Alabama, and not having been +adjudicated before any competent Prize Court, is still an uncondemned +prize, which you have brought into this port in violation of Her +Britannic Majesty's orders for the maintenance of her neutrality, I have +the honour to inform you that, in consequence, I am compelled to detain +the so-called Tuscaloosa (late Conrad) with a view of her being restored +to her original owners, and I request you will be so good as to transfer +the charge of the vessel to the officer bearing this letter to you. + +_Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker to Sir P. Wodehouse. December_ 28, 1863. + +I have the honour to inform your Excellency that, acting upon your +concurrence in my opinion with reference to the instructions received +from home by the last mail, I have detained the barque Tuscaloosa (late +Conrad of Philadelphia), because she is an uncondemned prize, taken by +the Confederate States ship of war Alabama, and brought into British +waters in violation of Her Majesty's Orders for maintaining her +neutrality, and with the view to her being restored to her original +owners. + +I shall be ready to hand her over to the Consul of the United States at +Cape Town, or to any person you may appoint to take charge of her. + +I should add that Lieutenant Low has given up the Tuscaloosa (late +Conrad) under protest, which he is about to make in writing, a copy of +which shall be transmitted to your Excellency as soon as received. + +_Lieutenant Low, C.S.N., to Sir P. Wodehouse. December_ 28, 1863 + +As the officer in command of the Confederate States ship Tuscaloosa, +tender to the Confederate States steamer Alabama, I have to record my +protest against the recent extraordinary measures which have been +adopted towards me and the vessel under my command by the British +authorities of this Colony. + +In August last the Tuscaloosa arrived in Simon's Bay. She was not only +recognised in the character which she lawfully claimed and still claims +to be, viz., a commissioned ship of war belonging to a belligerent +Power, but was allowed to remain in the harbour for the period of seven +days, taking in supplies and effecting repairs with the full knowledge +and sanction of the authorities. + +No intimation was given that she was regarded in the light of an +ordinary prize, or that she was considered to be violating the laws of +neutrality. Nor, when she notoriously left for a cruise on active +service, was any intimation whatever conveyed that on her return to the +port of a friendly Power, where she had been received as a man-of-war, +she would be regarded as a "prize," as a violater of the Queen's +proclamation of neutrality, and consequently liable to seizure. Misled +by the conduct of Her Majesty's Government, I returned to Simon's Bay on +the 26th instant, in very urgent want of repairs and supplies; to my +surprise I find the Tuscaloosa is now no longer considered as a +man-of-war, and she has by your orders, as I learn, been seized for the +purpose of being handed over to the person who claims her on behalf of +her late owners. + +The character of the vessel, viz., that of a lawful commissioned +man-of-war of the Confederate States of America, has not been altered +since her first arrival in Simon's Bay, and she, having been once fully +recognised by the British authorities in command in this Colony, and no +notice or warning of change of opinion or of friendly feeling having +been communicated by public notification or otherwise. I was entitled to +expect to be again permitted to enter Simon's Bay without molestation. + +In perfect good faith I returned to Simon's Bay for mere necessaries, +and in all honour and good faith, in return, I should on change of +opinion or of policy on the part of the British authorities, have been +desired to leave the port again. + +But by the course of proceedings taken, I have been (supposing the view +now taken by your Excellency's Government to be correct) first misled +and next entrapped. + +My position and character of my ship will most certainly be vindicated +by my Government. I am powerless to resist the affront offered to the +Confederate States of America by your Excellency's conduct and +proceedings. + +I demand, however, the release of my ship; and if this demand be not +promptly complied with, I hereby formally protest against her seizure, +especially under the very peculiar circumstances of the case. + +_Mr. Bawson to Lieutenant Low, C.S.N. December_ 29, 1863. + +I am directed by the Governor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter +of yesterday's date protesting against the seizure of the Tuscaloosa, +whose character you represent to be the same as when, in August last, +she was admitted into the port of Simon's Bay, and I am to acquaint you +in reply that a full report was submitted to Her Majesty's Government of +all that took place on the first visit of the Tuscaloosa, and that the +seizure has now been made in conformity with the opinion expressed by +them on that report. + +Your protest will of course be transmitted for their consideration. + +_Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker to Sir P. Wodehouse. December_ 29, 1863. + +Lieutenant Low, the officer belonging to the Confederate States ship of +war Alabama, late in charge of the barque called the Tuscaloosa +(properly the Conrad of Philadelphia), having sent me a copy of the +protest which he has forwarded to your Excellency against the detention +of that vessel, I think it right to inclose for your information the +copy of my letter to Lieutenant Low[18] explaining the circumstances +under which the so-called Tuscaloosa is detained. + +[Footnote 18: This letter is not given in the Blue Book.] + +_Sir P. Wodehouse to the Duke of Newcastle. January_ 11, 1864. + +I very much regret having to acquaint your Grace that the Confederate +prize vessel the Tuscaloosa has again entered Simon's Bay, and that the +Naval Commander-in-chief and myself have come to the conclusion that, in +obedience to the orders transmitted to his Excellency by the Admiralty, +and to me by your Grace's despatch of the 4th November last, it was our +duty to take possession of the vessel, and to hold her until properly +claimed by her original owners. The Admiral, therefore, sent an officer +with a party of men from the flag-ship to take charge of her, and to +deliver to her commander a letter in explanation of the act. Copies of +his protest, addressed to me, and of my reply, are inclosed. He not +unnaturally complains of having been now seized, after he had on the +previous occasion been recognised as a ship of war. But this is +manifestly nothing more than the inevitable result of the overruling by +Her Majesty's Government of the conclusion arrived at on the previous +occasion by its subordinate officer. + +The Consul for the United States, on being informed of what had taken +place, intimated his inability to take charge of the ship on account of +the owners, and expressed a desire that it should remain in our charge +until he was put in possession of the requisite authority. Accordingly, +after taking the opinion of the Attorney-General, it was arranged that +the vessel should remain in the charge of Sir Baldwin Walker. + +I ought to explain that the seizure was made without previous reference +to the Attorney-General. I did not consider such a reference necessary. +The law had been determined by Her Majesty's Government on the previous +case. The Admiral was of opinion that we had only to obey the orders we +had received, and on his intimating that opinion I assented. + +Your Grace will observe that at the request of the officers of the +Tuscaloosa the Admiral has permitted them to remain on board, in +expectation of the immediate arrival of the Alabama, to which ship they +wish to return. I should otherwise have thought it my duty to provide +them with passages to England at the cost of Her Majesty's Government, +by whom, I conclude, they would be sent to their own country; and it is +probable that if the Alabama should not soon make her appearance, such +an arrangement will become necessary. + +I have only to add that I have thought it advisable, after what has now +occurred, to intimate to the United States Consul that we should +probably be under the necessity of adopting similar measures in the +event of an uncondemned prize being fitted for cruising, and brought +into one of our ports by a Federal ship of war. I did not speak +positively, because I have been left in doubt by your Grace's +instructions whether some distinction should not be drawn in the case of +a ship of war of one belligerent captured and applied to the same use by +the other belligerent, but the Consul was evidently prepared for such a +step. Copies of all the correspondence are inclosed. + +_Mr. Rawson to Mr. Graham. December_ 28, 1863. + +I am directed by the Governor to acquaint you that the Tuscaloosa having +again arrived in Simon's Bay, will, under instructions lately received +from Her Majesty's Government, be retained under Her Majesty's control +and jurisdiction until properly reclaimed by her original holders. + +_Mr. Graham to Sir P. Wodehouse. December_ 28, 1863. + +I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date in +reference to the Tuscaloosa. + +By virtue of my office as Consul for the United States of America in the +British possessions of South Africa, of which nation the original owners +of the Conrad _alias_ Tuscaloosa are citizens, I possess the right to +act for them when both they and their special agents are absent, I can +institute a proceeding _in rem_ where the rights of property of +fellow-citizens are concerned, without a special procuration from those +for whose benefit I act, but cannot receive actual restitution of the +_res_ in controversy, without a special authority. (See United States +Statutes at Large, vol. i., p. 254, notes 2 and 3.) + +Under these circumstances I am content that the vessel in question +should for the present, or until the properly authenticated papers and +power of attorney shall be received from the owners in America, remain +in possession and charge of Her Majesty's naval officers. But should it +hereafter be determined to give the vessel up to any party other than +the real owners, I desire to have sufficient notice of the fact, so that +I may take the proper steps to protect the interests of my absent +fellow-citizens. + +With regard to the property of American citizens seized here at the +Custom-house, and which was formerly part of the Sea Bride's cargo, I +would suggest that it also be held by the Colonial Government, subject +to the order of the original owners. An announcement to that effect from +you would be received with great satisfaction by me. + +[Illustration: THE MESURADO LAGOON] + +_Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker to the Secretary to the Admiralty. January +18, 1864_. + +With reference to my letter of the 5th instant, I have the honour to +submit, for their Lordships' information, a further correspondence +between the Governor of this Colony and myself relative to the American +vessel Conrad, of Philadelphia, lately called the Tuscaloosa. + +2. Lieutenant Low, belonging to the Confederate States ship of war +Alabama, lately in charge of the Tuscaloosa, having paid off and +discharged his crew, finally quitted the vessel on the 9th instant; and +I have ordered him a passage to England by the mail-packet Saxon, +together with his first officer, Mr. Sinclair. + +3. The Conrad now remains in charge of a warrant officer and two +ship-keepers, awaiting to be properly claimed or disposed of as the +Government may direct. + +_Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker to Sir P. Wodehouse. January 6, 1864_. + +With reference to your Excellency's communication of yesterday's date, I +have the honour to inform you that I will make arrangements for the safe +custody of the Conrad, of Philadelphia (late Tuscaloosa), by mooring her +in this bay, and putting ship-keepers in charge of her, until she can be +properly transferred to her lawful owners. + +Lieutenant Low has requested to be allowed to remain on board the +vessel, together with his crew, for the present, as he expected the +Alabama to arrive here shortly, to which arrangement I have made no +objection. + +There are some guns and other articles on board the Conrad said to +belong to the Alabama, a list of which I have already forwarded to your +Excellency. It is a matter for consideration how these things should be +disposed of. + +I think, as a precautionary measure, it may be desirable that some +person on the part of the United States Consul should visit the Conrad, +to observe the state she is in, on being taken into British custody, to +prevent any question thereon hereafter. + +_The Duke of Newcastle to Sir P. Wodehouse. March 4, 1864_. + +I have received your despatches of the 11th and 19th January, reporting +the circumstances connected with the seizure of the Confederate +prize-vessel Tuscaloosa, under the joint authority of the Naval +Commander-in-chief and yourself. I have to instruct you to restore the +Tuscaloosa to the Lieutenant of the Confederate States who lately +commanded her, or, if he should have left the Cape, then to retain her +until she can be handed over to some person who may have authority from +Captain Semmes, of the Alabama, or from the Government of the +Confederate States, to receive her. + +You will receive a further communication from me on this subject by the +next mail. + +_The Duke of Newcastle to Sir P. Wodehouse. March 10, 1864_. + +In my despatch of the 4th instant, I instructed you to restore the +Tuscaloosa to the Lieutenant of the Confederate States who lately +commanded her, or, if he should have left the Cape, then to retain her +until she could be handed over to some person having authority from +Captain Semmes, of the Alabama, or from the Government of the +Confederate States, to receive her. + +I have now to explain that this decision was not founded on any general +principle respecting the treatment of prizes captured by the cruisers of +either belligerent, but on the peculiar circumstances of the case. The +Tuscaloosa was allowed to enter the port of Cape Town and to depart, the +instructions of the 4th of November not having arrived at the Cape +before her departure. The Captain of the Alabama was thus entitled to +assume that he might equally bring her a second time into the same +harbor, and it becomes unnecessary to discuss whether, on her return to +the Cape, the Tuscaloosa still retained the character of a prize, or +whether she had lost that character, and had assumed that of an armed +tender to the Alabama, and whether that new character, if properly +established and admitted, would have entitled her to the same privilege +of admission which might be accorded to her captor, the Alabama. + +Her Majesty's Government have, therefore, come to the opinion, founded +on the special circumstances of this particular case, that the +Tuscaloosa ought to be released, with a warning, however, to the Captain +of the Alabama, that the ships of war of the belligerents are not to be +allowed to bring prizes into British ports, and that it rests with Her +Majesty's Government to decide to what vessels that character belongs. + +In conclusion, I desire to assure you that neither in this despatch, nor +in that of the 4th November, I have desired in any degree to censure you +for the course you have pursued. The questions on which you have been +called upon to decide, are questions of difficulty, on which doubts +might properly have been entertained, and I am by no means surprised +that the conclusions to which you were led have not, in all instances, +been those which have been adopted on fuller consideration by Her +Majesty's Government. + +_Captain Semmes, C.S.N., to Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker, dated C.S.S. +Alabama; Table Bay, March 22, 1864_. + +Sir:--I was surprised to learn upon my arrival at this port of the +detention by your order of the Confederate States barque Tuscaloosa, a +tender to this ship. I take it for granted that you detained her by +order of the Home Government, as no other supposition is consistent with +my knowledge of the candour of your character--the Tuscaloosa having +been formerly received by you as a regularly commissioned tender, and no +new facts appearing in the case to change your decision. Under these +circumstances I shall not demand of you the restoration of that vessel, +with which demand you would not have the power to comply, but will +content myself with putting this my protest against this detention on +the record of the case for the future consideration of our respective +Governments. + +Earl Russell, in reaching the decision which he has communicated to you, +must surely have misapprehended the facts, otherwise I cannot conceive +him capable of so misapplying the law. The facts are briefly +these:--1st. The Tuscaloosa was formerly the enemy's ship Conrad, +lawfully captured by me on the high seas, as a recognized belligerent; +2dly. She was duly commissioned by me as a tender to the Confederate +States steamer Alabama, then, as now, under my command; and 3dly. She +entered English waters not only without intention of violating Her +Britannic Majesty's orders of neutrality, but was received with +hospitality, and no question was raised as to her right to enter under +the circumstances. These were the facts up to the time of Earl Russell's +issuing to you his order in the premises. Let us consider, then, a +moment, and see if we can derive from them, or any of them, just ground +for the extraordinary decision to which Earl Russell has come. + +My right to capture and the legality of the capture will not be denied. +Nor will you deny, in your experience as a naval officer, my right to +commission this, or any other ship lawfully in my possession, as a +tender to my principal ship. Your admirals do this every day, on distant +stations; and the tender, from the time of her being put in commission, +wears a pennant, and is entitled to the immunities and privileges of a +ship of war, the right of capture inclusive. + +Numerous decisions are to be found in your own prize law to this effect. +In other words, this is one of the recognised modes of commissioning a +ship of war, which has grown out of the convenience of the thing, and +become a sort of naval common law, as indisputable as the written law +itself. The only difference between the commission of such a ship and +that of a ship commissioned by the sovereign authority at home is that +the word "tender" appears in the former commission and not in the +latter. The Tuscaloosa having then been commissioned by me in accordance +with the recognised practice of all civilized nations that have a +marine, can any other Government than my own look into her antecedents? +Clearly not. The only thing which can be looked at upon her entering a +foreign port is her commission. If this be issued by competent +authority, you cannot proceed a step further. The ship then becomes a +part of the territory of the country to which she belongs, and you can +exercise no more jurisdiction over her than over that territory. The +self-respect and the independence of nations require this; for it would +be a monstrous doctrine to admit that one nation may inquire into the +title by which another nation holds her ships of war. And there can be +no difference in this respect between tenders and ships originally +commissioned. The flag and the pennant fly over them both, and they are +both withdrawn from the local jurisdiction by competent commissions. On +principle you might as well have enquired into the antecedents of the +Alabama, as of the Tuscaloosa. Indeed, you had a better reason for +inquiring into the antecedents of the former than of the latter, it +having been alleged that the former escaped from England in violation of +your Foreign Enlistment Act. Mr. Adams, the United States Minister, did +in fact demand that the Alabama should be seized, but Earl Russell, in +flat and most pointed contradiction of his late conduct in the case of +the Tuscaloosa, gave him the proper legal reply, to wit: that the +Alabama being now a ship of war, he was estopped from looking into her +antecedents. One illustration will suffice to show you how untenable +your position is in this matter. If the Tuscaloosa's commission be +admitted to have been issued by competent authority, and in due form +(and I do not understand this to be contested except on the ground of +her antecedents), she is as much a ship of war as the Narcissus, your +flag-ship. Suppose you should visit a French port, and the port admiral +should request you to haul down your flag on the ground that you had had +no sufficient title to the ship before she was commissioned, or that she +was a contract ship and you had not paid for her, and the builder had a +lien on her, or that you had captured her from the Russians, and had not +had her condemned by a prize court, what would you think of the +proceeding? And how does the case supposed differ from the one in hand? +In both it is a pretension on the part of a foreign power to look into +the antecedents of a ship of war--neither more nor less in the one case +than in the other. I will even put the case stronger. If it be admitted +that I had the right to commission a tender, and the fact had been that +I had seized a French ship and put her in commission, you could not +inquire into the fact. You would have no right to know but that I had +the orders of my Government for this seizure. In short, you would have +no right to inquire into the matter at all. My ship being regularly +commissioned, I am responsible to my Government for my acts, and my +Government, in the case supposed, would be responsible to France, and +not to you. If this reasoning be correct--and with all due submission to +his lordship I think it is sustained by the plainest principles of the +international code--it follows that the condemnation of a prize in a +prize court is not the only mode of changing the character of a captured +ship. When the sovereign of the captor puts his own commission on board +such a ship, this is a condemnation in its most solemn form, and is +notice to all the world. On principle, if a ship thus commissioned were +recaptured, the belligerent prize court could not restore her to her +original owner, but must condemn her as a prize ship of war of the enemy +to the captors; for prize courts are international courts, and cannot +go behind the pennant and commission of the cruiser. + +Further, as to this question of adjudication, your letter to Lieutenant +Low, the late commander of the Tuscaloosa, assumes that, as the +Tuscaloosa was not condemned, she was therefore the property of the +enemy from whom she had been taken. Condemnation is intended for the +benefit of neutrals, and to quiet the titles of purchasers, but is never +necessary as against the enemy. His right is taken away by force, and +not by any legal process, and the possession of his property _manu +forte_ is all that is required against him. + +Earl Russell having decided to disregard these plain principles of the +laws of nations, and to go behind my commission, let us see what he next +decides. + +His decision is this, that the Tuscaloosa being a prize, and having come +into British waters in violation of the Queen's orders of neutrality, +she must be restored to her original owner. The ship is not seized and +condemned for the violation of any municipal law, such as fraud upon the +revenue, &c.--as, indeed, she could not be so seized and condemned +without the intervention of a court of law--but by the strong arm of +executive power he wrests my prize from me, and very coolly hands her +over to the enemy. It is admitted that all prizes, like other merchant +ships, are liable to seizure and condemnation for a palpable violation +of the municipal law; but that is not this case. The whole thing is done +under the international law. Now, there is no principle better +established than that neutrals have no right to interfere in any manner +between the captor and his prize, except in one particular instance, and +that is where the prize has been captured in neutral waters and +afterwards comes of her own accord within the neutral jurisdiction. In +that case, and in that case alone, the neutral prize court may +adjudicate the case, and if they find the allegation of _infra terminos_ +proved, they may restore the property to the original owner. + +If a lawful prize, contrary to prohibition, come within neutral waters, +the most the neutral can do is to order her to depart without +interfering in any manner with the captor's possession. + +It is admitted that if she obstinately refuses to depart, or conducts +herself otherwise in an improper manner, she may be compelled to depart, +or may, indeed, be seized and confiscated as a penalty for her offence. +But there is no plea of that kind set up here. To show how sacred is the +title of mere possession on the part of a captor, permit me to quote +from one of your own authorities. On page 42 of the first volume of +Phillimore on International Law, you will find the following passage: +"In 1654 a treaty was entered into between England and Portugal, by +which, among other things, both countries mutually bound themselves not +to suffer the ships and goods of the other taken by enemies and carried +into the ports of the other to be conveyed away from the original owners +or proprietors." + +"Now, I have no scruple in saying (observes Lord Stowell in 1798) that +this is an article incapable of being carried into literal execution +according to the modern understanding of the law of nations; for no +neutral country can intervene to wrest from a belligerent prizes +lawfully taken. This is perhaps the strongest instance that could be +cited of what civilians call the _consuetudo obrogatoria."_ + +This being the nature of my title, the reasons should be very urgent +which should justify my being forcibly dispossessed of it. But there are +no such reasons apparent. It is not contended that there was any +misconduct on the part of the Tuscaloosa, unless her entry into a +British port as a Confederate cruiser be deemed misconduct. As stated in +the beginning of this letter, she had no intention of violating any +order of the Queen. Her error, therefore, if it were an error, is +entitled to be considered with gentleness and not with hardship. Her +error was the error of yourself and his Excellency the Governor, as well +as myself. We all agreed, I believe, that she was a lawfully +commissioned ship, and that her commission estopped all further enquiry. +In the meantime, she proceeds to sea thus endorsed, as it were, by the +Colonial authorities; your Home Government overrules your decision; the +Tuscaloosa returns in good faith to your port to seek renewed +hospitality under your orders of neutrality. And what happens? An +English officer, armed with your order, proceeds on board of her, turns +her commander and officers out of her, and assumes possession on the +ground that she has violated the Queen's orders; and this without any +warning to depart or any other notice whatever. In the name of all open +and fair dealing--in the name of frankness, candour, and good faith, I +most respectfully enter my protest against such an extreme, +uncalled-for, and apparently unfriendly course. + +But the most extraordinary part of the proceeding has yet to be stated. +You not only divest me of my title to my prize, but you tell me that you +are about to hand her over to the enemy! On what principle this can be +done I am utterly at a loss to conceive. Although it may be competent to +a Government, in an extreme case, to _confiscate to the Exchequer_ a +prize, there is but one possible contingency in which the prize can be +restored to the opposite belligerent, and that is the one already +mentioned of a capture within neutral jurisdiction. And this is done on +the ground of the nullity of the original capture. The prize is +pronounced not to have been lawfully made, and this being the case, and +the vessel being within the jurisdiction of the neutral whose waters +have been violated, there is but one course to pursue. The vessel does +not belong to the captor, and as she does not belong to the neutral, as +a matter of course she belongs to the opposite belligerent, and must be +delivered up to him. But there is no analogy between that case and the +one we are considering. My capture cannot be declared a nullity. My +title is as good against the enemy as though condemnation had passed. +The vessel either belongs to me or to the British Government. If she +belongs to me, justice requires that she should be delivered up to me. +If she belongs (by way of confiscation) to the British Government, why +should that Government make a gratuitous present of her to one of the +belligerents rather than the other? + +My Government cannot fail, I think, to view this matter in the light in +which I have placed it; and it is deeply to be regretted that a weaker +people struggling against a stronger for very existence should have so +much cause to complain of the unfriendly disposition of a Government +from which, if it represents truly the instincts of Englishmen, it had +the right to expect at least sympathy and kindness in the place of +rigour and harshness. + + + + +No. VII. + +MEASUREMENTS OF THE ALABAMA. + + +We are indebted to Messrs. Laird Brothers, of Birkenhead, for the +following measurements of the Alabama: + +Length About 230 feet. + +Length between perpendiculars, " 213.8 " + +Breadth of beam extreme, " 32.0 " + +Depth moulded, " 19.9 " + +Draft of water when complete, with about + 300 tons coal in bunkers and stores on + board for a six months' cruise, " 15.0 " + +Engines.--300 horse power collective. + +Rig.--Three-masted schooner, with long lower masts and +yards on fore and mainmasts. + +The hull of the vessel built of wood, the general arrangement +of scantling and materials being the same as in vessels of similar +class in Her Majesty's navy. + +The vessel and machinery throughout were built by Messrs. +Laird Brothers at their works at Birkenhead. + +THE END. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Cruise of the Alabama and the +Sumter, by Raphael Semmes + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13163 *** diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c3620d1 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #13163 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/13163) diff --git a/old/13163-8.txt b/old/13163-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3f4d657 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/13163-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,14918 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Cruise of the Alabama and the Sumter +by Raphael Semmes + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Cruise of the Alabama and the Sumter + +Author: Raphael Semmes + +Release Date: August 12, 2004 [EBook #13163] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CRUISE OF THE ALABAMA *** + + + + +Produced by Curtis Weyant, Graeme Mackreth and PG Distributed +Proofreaders + + + + + +[Illustration: RAPHAEL SEMMES.] + +THE CRUISE OF THE ALABAMA AND THE SUMTER. + +FROM THE PRIVATE JOURNALS AND OTHER PAPERS OF COMMANDER R. SEMMES, +C.S.N. AND OTHER OFFICERS. + +Two Volumes in One. + +NEW YORK: + +MDCCCLXIV. + +Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1864, by + +GEO. W. CARLETON, + +in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the +Southern District of New York. + + + + +ADVERTISEMENT + +_TO THE LONDON EDITION._ + + +The following account of the cruise of the two Confederate States +steamers--Sumter and Alabama--is taken from the private journals and +other papers of Captain Semmes. It has been found necessary occasionally +to adopt a narrative form, but the endeavour has been throughout to +adhere as closely as possible to that officer's own words. + +Information has also been most kindly afforded by other officers of the +two vessels, and especially Lieutenant R.F. Armstrong, and Master's Mate +G. Townley Fullam, from whose private journals and other papers much +valuable assistance has been obtained. + +A good deal of controversy has arisen respecting the legality of the +course pursued by the Alabama, in the case of certain vessels claiming +to carry a neutral cargo. In all these cases, however, great care was +taken by Captain Semmes to enter in his journal full particulars of the +claims, and of the grounds on which it was refused admission. These +cases will be found quoted in full in the following volumes. + + + + +CRUISE OF + +THE ALABAMA AND THE SUMTER. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +_The Question at issue--An unexpected point of attack--Captain +Semmes--The President's instructions--Creating a navy--From the old to +the new--An important mission--Appointed to the Sumter--True character +of the Confederate "pirate."_ + + +The President of the American States in Confederation was gathering an +army for the defence of Southern liberty. Where valour is a national +inheritance, and an enthusiastic unanimity prevails, this will not prove +a difficult task. It is otherwise with the formation of a navy. Soldiers +of Southern blood had thrown up their commissions in a body; but sailors +love their ships as well as their country, and appear to owe some +allegiance to them likewise. Nevertheless, if Mr. Davis had not a great +choice of officers, he had eminent men to serve him, as the young +history of the South has abundantly shown. To obtain experienced and +trusty seamen was easier to him in such a crisis than to give them a +command. The Atlantic and the ports of America were ruled at that time +absolutely by President Lincoln. The South had not a voice upon the sea. +The merchants of New York and Boston looked upon the war as something +which concerned them very little. Not a dream of any damage possibly to +be inflicted on them, disturbed the serenity of their votes for the +invasion of the South. Their fleets entered harbour proudly; their +marine swam the ocean unmolested. Though there was war imminent, the +insurance offices were content to maintain their terms upon a peace +standard. What, indeed, was to be feared? The South had not a single +vessel. Here and there a packet-steamer might be caught up and armed, +but what would they avail against such fleet and powerful ships as the +Brooklyn, the Powhattan, and dozens of others? There was, then, a +condition of perfect security, according to the ideas of all American +commercial men. The arrangement, as they understood it, was that they +were to strike the blow, and that no one was to give them the value in +return. + +It happened that Mr. Davis was of another mind. He perceived where a +blow could be struck, on his part, with terrible emphasis, and how. The +obstacles in his way were colossal; but we have learnt that obstacles do +not appal his indomitable genius. On the 14th February, 1861, Captain +Semmes, being then at his residence in the city of Washington, a +Commander in the Federal navy, received the following telegram from +Montgomery:-- + + SIR,--On behalf of the Committee on Naval Affairs, I beg + leave to request that you will repair to this place at your earliest + convenience. + + Your obedient servant, + + C.M. CONRAD, _Chairman_. + +The selection of Captain Semmes for the first hazardous service, +whatsoever it might be, was due to his reputation and patriotism, as +well as to the sagacity of the Confederate chief. He had already, in a +letter to the Hon. Alexander H. Stephens, expressed his willingness to +fight for the South: "his judgment, his inclinations, and his +affections," all hurrying him, as he says, to link his fate with the +first movement of the South. "My fate," he pursues, "is cast with the +South; but I should be unwilling, unless invited, to appear to thrust +myself upon the new Government _until my own State_ has moved." This was +at that time the feeling of many border statesmen. In another letter to +Mr. Curry he had exposed sound practical views of the situation of the +Confederates, as regards their marine, for defence and means of +inflicting damage on their opponents. + +Captain Semmes at once replied that he would attend upon the committee +immediately. His next act was respectfully to resign his commission as +Commander in the Navy of the United States; which resignation was +accepted in the same terms. He ceased similarly to be a member of the +Lighthouse Board. These matters concluded, he telegraphed to the Hon. +J.L.M. Curry, in Montgomery, where the Confederate States' Congress was +sitting, that he was now a free man to serve his struggling country. +Forthwith he was deputed by President Davis to return to the Northern +States, and make large purchases and contracts "for machinery and +munitions, or for the manufacture of arms and munitions of war;" as also +to obtain "cannon and musket-powder, the former of the coarsest grain," +and to engage with a certain proprietor of powder-mills for the +"establishment of a powder-mill at some point in the limits of our +territory." This letter gives a good idea of the business-like qualities +brought by Mr. Davis to his high office. "At the arsenal at Washington," +he writes, "you will find an artificer named Wright, who has brought the +cap-making machine to its present state of efficiency, and who might +furnish a cap-machine, and accompany it, to explain its operations." +Throughout the letter, which is full of minute instructions and weighty +commissions, Mr. Davis shows the fullest confidence in the loyalty and +fitness of the man in whom he placed trust. + +Captain Semmes was engaged in the performance of these immediate duties, +when a confidential communication from Mr. S.R. Mallory, of the Navy +department, gave him warning of two or more steamers, of a class desired +for present service, which might be purchased at or near New +York--"steamers of speed, light draught, and strength sufficient for at +least one heavy gun." + +"The steamers are designed to navigate the waters and enter the bays and +inlets of the coast from Charleston to the St. Mary's, and from Key West +to the Rio Grande, for coast defences;" and Captain Semmes' judgment +will need no further guide when he is told that "their speed should be +sufficient to give them at all times the ability to engage or to evade +an engagement, and that an 8 or 10-inch gun, with, perhaps, two 32, or, +if not, two of smaller calibre, should constitute their battery." + +The Captain's appointment as Commander in the Navy of the Confederate +States, and taking of the oaths, followed in April. On the 18th of that +month, Mr. Mallory detached him from the post he held, by appointment +from the President, of Chief of the Lighthouse Bureau, with orders that +he should proceed to New Orleans and take command of the steamer Sumter. +Captain Semmes saw clearly that war was coming. He perceived, at the +same time, the means by which he could serve his country best. He set +forth for New Orleans without delay. + +Our readers will see, by-and-by, from the quotations we shall make from +the Captain's Log, that he is as little the hungry fire-eater which many +of his admirers suppose him to be, as he is the Black Pirate of the New +York press. Captain Semmes is a native of Charles county, in Maryland, a +State that has furnished numerous patriotic citizens to the South. +Before accepting his new service he had taken honourable farewell of his +old. The Federals had no charge to bring against him before the day when +he stepped on the deck of the then unknown and insignificant Sumter +steam-vessel. What they may have said later is of no particular +consequence; nor can it be thought to be greatly to the discredit of +Captain Semmes that they have cried out loudly, and as men in pain. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +_The Sumter formerly the Savannah packet-ship--Captain Semmes joins and +assumes command--Altering the vessel--Vexatious delays--The war +begins--The river blockaded--Crew of the Sumter--Dropping down the +river--An attempt--No pilots--Vigorous action--Sumter still at her +anchors--Lamps removed from lighthouses--More enemy's ships--Orders on +board the Sumter--False hopes--The 30th of June--A courageous pilot--The +escape of the Sumter--The chase--The enemy baffled._ + + +The little vessel which now constituted the whole strength of the +Confederate navy, was a merchant screw-steamer of 501 tons burthen. She +had been hitherto known as the Havannah, and had plied as a packet-ship +between the port of that name and New Orleans. She was now to be +extemporized into a man-of-war, and in her new guise was to achieve a +world-wide celebrity, and to play no unimportant part in the great +struggle between North and South. + +Arrived in New Orleans, Captain Semmes at once proceeded, in company +with Lieutenant Chapman, to inspect his new command--of which he speaks +with evident satisfaction as a "staunch and well-built" vessel. In her +then condition, however, she was by no means fitted for her new duties; +and he accordingly devoted all his energies towards effecting the +alterations necessary for that purpose. The first step was to +disencumber her decks of the long range of upper cabins, thus materially +increasing her buoyancy as a sea-boat, and diminishing the area exposed +to the enemy's shot and shell. Then a berth-deck was laid for the +accommodation of officers and crew, and the main deck renewed and +strengthened to carry the heavy 8-inch shell-gun, mounted on a pivot +between the fore and mainmasts, and the four 24 pounder howitzers of 13 +cwt. each, to be mounted as a broadside battery. Additional coal-bunkers +were also constructed, and a magazine and shell-room built in a suitable +position, and these and a few other less important changes effected, the +transformation was complete, and the little Sumter ready to proceed upon +her work of devastation. + +It must not, however, be imagined that all this was done without many +and vexatious delays. The emergency had found the new Confederation +altogether unprepared, and trouble and confusion were the inevitable +result. Hitherto, everything had been done by the North. Up to the very +last moment it had been believed that the separation of the two sections +would be peaceably effected; and now the necessary works had to be +hastily carried out by civilian workmen, under the direction of a +department, itself as yet but provisionally and most imperfectly +organized. + +Sorely tried by the delays consequent upon this condition of affairs, +Captain Semmes commences his Diary as follows:-- + +"_New Orleans, May 24th_.--A month has elapsed since I began the +preparation of the Sumter for sea, and yet we are not ready. Leeds +and Co. have not given us our tanks, and we only received the +carriage of the 8-inch gun to-day. The officers are all present, +and the crew has been shipped, and all are impatient to be off. The +river is not yet blockaded, but expected to be to-morrow. It must +be a close blockade, and by heavy vessels, that will keep us in. +Troops are being collected in large numbers in the enemy's States, +marchings and counter-marchings are going on; and the fleet seems +to be kept very busy, scouring hither and thither, but nothing +accomplished. Whilst penning the last paragraph, news reaches us +that the Lincoln Government has crossed the Potomac and invaded +Virginia! Thus commences a bloody and a bitter war. So be it; we +but accept the gauntlet which has been flung in our faces. The +future will tell a tale worthy of the South and of her noble +cause." + +But the delays were not yet over. On the 27th May, the United States +steamer Brooklyn made her appearance, and commenced the blockade of the +river. The following day brought the powerful frigates Niagara and +Minnesota to her assistance; and when on the 1st of June Captain Semmes +began at length to look hopefully seawards, the Powhattan was discovered +carefully watching the only remaining exit from the river. + +One by one, however, the difficulties were fairly overcome, and the +infant navy of the Confederate States was ready to take the sea. The +Sumter's crew consisted of Captain Semmes, commanding, four lieutenants, +a paymaster, a surgeon, a lieutenant of marines, four midshipmen, four +engineers, boatswain, gunner, sail-maker, carpenter, captain's and +purser's clerks, twelve marines, and seventy-two seamen. Thus manned and +equipped, she dropped down the river on the 18th June, and anchored off +the Barracks for the purpose of receiving on board her ammunition and +other similar stores. From thence she again proceeded on the same +evening still lower down the river to Forts Philip and Jackson, where +she brought up on the following day, to await a favourable opportunity +for running the blockade. + +For three days she remained at her new anchorage, this period of +enforced inactivity being diligently employed in drilling and exercising +the crew, and bringing the vessel generally into somewhat better order +than her hurried equipment had as yet permitted her to assume. On the +21st June, however, intelligence was received that the Powhattan had +left her station in chase of two vessels, and that a boat from the +Brooklyn had passed into the river, and was making for the telegraph +station. Captain Semmes at once decided to avail himself of this +opportunity to escape to sea, and getting up steam, proceeded to Pass à +L'Outre, and despatched one of his boats to the lighthouse for a pilot. + +Here, however, an unexpected difficulty occurred. The light-house-keeper +replied that he knew nothing of the pilots, and the Sumter was +accordingly compelled again to bring up, whilst the Confederate +privateer Ivy ran down, at Captain Semmes' request, to the South-west +Pass, to endeavour to procure a pilot for her there. This expedition, +however, met with no better success, and the Ivy returned with the +information that the pilots refused to take charge of the vessel. A +further despatch was addressed to Captain Semmes, from the Captain of +the House of Pilots, to the effect that "no pilots were now on duty." + +It now became necessary to act with vigour, and the Ivy was accordingly +again despatched to the South-west Pass. This time, however, she carried +with her the first lieutenant of the Sumter, with the following +peremptory message to the Master of the Pilot Association to repair +immediately on board, and instructions, if any hesitation were evinced +in complying with this command, to arrest the entire body and bring them +off:-- + + C.S. steamer Sumter, Head of the Passes + June 22nd, 1861. + +SIR,--This is to command you to repair on board this ship with three or +four of the most experienced pilots of the Bar. I am surprised to learn +that an unwillingness has been expressed by some of the pilots of your +Association to come on board the Sumter, and my purpose is to test the +fact of such disloyalty to the Confederate States. If any man disobey +this summons, I will not only have his Branch taken away from him, but I +will send an armed force and arrest and bring him on board. I have the +honour to be, + + Very respectfully, + + Your obedient Servant, + + (Signed) R. SEMMES. + +This extreme measure, however, was not found necessary. The mere threat +was sufficient, and on the following day the master, with several of his +pilots, made their appearance on board the Sumter. After a brief +consultation with Captain Semmes, they one and all, with the exception +of the master, expressed their willingness to take the vessel to sea, +and thereupon the captain, selecting one of the number for this service, +permitted the remainder to depart. + +Meanwhile, however, the golden opportunity had been lost; the Powhattan +had returned to her station, and the harbour was again hermetically +sealed. The Sumter, therefore, was again compelled to return to her +anchors, and eight more days passed wearily away without affording +another opportunity of evasion. The interval of expectation, however, +was again occupied in drilling and exercising the crew, which was now +beginning to get into good working order; measures being also taken for +extinguishing and removing the lamps from the lighthouses at Pass à +L'Outre and the South Pass, Captain Semmes addressing to the Navy +Department at Richmond the following letter upon the subject:-- + + C.S. steamer Sumter, Head of the Passes, + Miss. River, June 30th, 1861. + +SIR,--I have the honour to inform the department that I am still at my +anchors at the "Head of the Passes," the enemy closely investing both of +the practicable outlets. At Pass à L'Outre there are three ships--the +Brooklyn and another propeller, and a large side-wheel steamer; and at +the South-west Pass there is the Powhattan, lying within half-a-mile of +the Bar, and not stirring an inch from her anchors night or day. I am +only surprised that the Brooklyn does not come up to this anchorage, +which she might easily do (as there is water enough, and no military +precautions whatever have been taken to hold it), and thus effectually +seal all the passes of the river by her presence alone, which would +enable the enemy to withdraw the remainder of his blockading force for +use elsewhere. With the assistance of the Jackson and McRae (neither of +which has yet dropped down), I could probably hold my position here +until an opportunity offered of my getting to sea. I shall watch +diligently for such an opportunity, and have no doubt that, sooner or +later, it will present itself. I found, upon dropping down to this +point, that the lights at Pass à L'Outre and South Pass had been +strangely overlooked, and that they were still burning. I caused them +both to be extinguished, so that if bad weather should set in, the +blockading vessel will have nothing "to hold on to," and will be obliged +to make an offing. At present the worst feature of the blockade is that +the Brooklyn has the speed of me, so that, even though I should run the +bar, I could not hope to escape her unless I surprised her, which, with +her close watch of the Bar, at anchor near to, both night and day, it +will be exceedingly difficult to do. I should be quite willing to try +speed with the Powhattan if I could hope to run the gauntlet of her guns +without being crippled; but unfortunately, with all the buoys and other +marks removed, there is a perfectly blind bar except by daylight. In the +meantime I am drilling my gun-crew to a proper use of the great guns and +small arms. With the exception of diarrhoea which is prevailing to some +extent, brought on by too free a use of the river water in the excessive +heats which prevail, the crew continue healthy. + + * * * * * +I have the honour to be, &c., &c., + +(Signed) R. SEMMES. + +Hon. G.E. Mallory, Secretary of the Navy, Richmond, Virginia. + +The following orders were also issued:-- + +"_Orders to be Observed on Board the C.S. Steamer Sumter_." + +"1. The deck will never be left without a lieutenant, except that in +port a midshipman may be assigned to keep the first lieutenant's watch." + +"2. The quarter-deck will at all times be regarded as a place of parade, +and no sitting or lounging will be permitted thereon. For the purposes +of this order all the spar deck abaft the mainmast will be regarded as +the quarter-deck." + +"3. Officers will wear their uniforms at all times when on board ship, +and when on shore on duty." + +"4. No officer will remain out of the ship after ten P.M. without the +special permission of the commander." + +"5. Each division of guns will be exercised at least three times a week; +and there will be an exercise at general quarters twice a week, viz., on +Tuesdays and Fridays." + +"6. The crew will be mustered at quarters for inspection every morning +at nine o'clock (except Sundays), and every evening at sunset." + +"7. On Sundays there will be a general muster for inspection at eleven +A.M., when the officers will appear in undress with epaulettes." + +"8. The chief engineer is to keep the commander informed at all times +(through the first lieutenant) of the condition of his engines, boilers, +&c.; and he is to see that his assistants, &c., are punctual and +zealous in the performance of their duties, and report such as fail +therein to the first lieutenant." + +"9. There will be an engineer at all times on watch in the engine-room +when the ship is under steam, and the engineer on watch will report +every two hours to the officer of the deck how the engines are working, +&c." + +"10. The marine officer will drill his guard once every day when the +weather is suitable, and the duty of the ship does not interfere +therewith." + +"11. The firemen will be exercised once a week, when the pumps, hose, +&c., are to be adjusted, and used as in case of actual fire." + +On the morning of the 29th of June hopes were again excited by a report +from the pilot that the Brooklyn had left her station; and steam being +got up with all speed on board the Sumter, she again dropped down to +Pass à l'Outre, but only to find that the report had been fallacious. +The Brooklyn was still at anchor, though a slight change of berth had +placed her behind the shelter of a mass of trees. Once more, therefore, +the Sumter was brought to an anchor; but on the day following, her +patient waiting was rewarded by the long-looked-for opportunity. On the +morning of the 30th of June the Brooklyn was again reported under way +and in chase of a vessel to leeward; and no sooner was the fact of her +departure fairly verified than steam was got up for the last time, and +the little Sumter dashed boldly across the bar, and stood out to sea. + +Almost at the last moment, however, it seemed as though the attempt to +escape were again to be baffled by difficulties on the part of the +pilot. The man on board of the Sumter lost courage as the moment of +trial came, and professed his inability to take the vessel through the +pass thus left free by the departure of the Brooklyn, alleging as his +excuse that he had not passed through it for more than three months. +Happily the man's cowardice or treachery produced no ill effects; for, +as the Sumter dropped down the river on her way towards the open sea, +another pilot came gallantly off to her in his little boat, and +volunteered to carry her through the Pass. + +The Sumter had not reached within six miles of the bar when her +movements were perceived from the Brooklyn, which at once relinquished +the far less valuable prize on which she had been hitherto intent; and, +changing her course, headed at top speed towards the bar, in hopes of +cutting the Sumter off before she could reach it. The narrow opening +through the bar, distant about six miles from either of the opposing +vessels, now became the goal of a sharp and exciting race. The Sumter +had the advantage of the stream: but the Brooklyn was her superior in +speed, and moreover, carried guns of heavier calibre and longer range. +At length the Pass is reached; and dashing gallantly across it, the +little Sumter starboards her helm and rounds the mud-banks to the +eastward! As she does so the Brooklyn rounds to for a moment and gives +her a shot from her pivot gun. But the bolt falls short; and now the +race begins in earnest! + +The chase had not continued long, when a heavy squall of wind and rain +came up and hid the pursuing vessel from sight; but it soon passed away, +and the Brooklyn was again descried astern, under all sail and steam, +and evidently gaining upon her little quarry. On this the Sumter was +hauled two points higher up, thus bringing the wind so far forward that +the Brooklyn was no longer able to carry sail. And now the chase in her +turn began to gain upon her huge pursuer. But she was now in salt water, +and her boilers were beginning to "prime" furiously. It was necessary to +slacken speed for a time, and as she did so the Brooklyn again recovered +her advantage. Then gradually the foaming in the Sumter's boilers +ceased, and she was again put to her speed. The utmost pressure was put +on; the propeller began to move at the rate of sixty-five revolutions a +minute, and the Brooklyn once more dropped slowly but steadily astern. +At length she gave up the chase, and at four o'clock in the afternoon, +just four hours after crossing the bar, the crew of the Sumter gave +three hearty cheers as her baffled pursuer put up her helm, and, +relinquishing the chase, turned sullenly back to her station at the +mouth of the river. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +_Beginning the cruise--The first prize the Golden Rocket--The capture +burnt--The Cuba and Machias--Cienfuegos--The Ben Dunning and Albert +Adams--Three at once: the West Wind, the Naiad, and the Louisa Kilham--A +fleet of prizes--Saluting the Confederate States' flag--At Cuba--Strict +neutrality--A prize agent--The Governor-General of Cuba--Recapture by +the United States--An accident to the commander--A gale--At Curaçao--The +Dutch Governor--An ex-president in difficulties--The Abby +Bradford--Venezuela--An inhospitable port--The Joseph Maxwell--Military +v. naval--Sagacious skipper--Gulf of Bahia_. + + +The Sumter had now fairly commenced her gallant career. The 1st July +dawned bright and fair with, a light breeze from the south-west, and +the little vessel sped through the water at an average speed of about +eight knots an hour. All that day not a sail appeared in sight. Night +settled down in all the calm splendour of the tropic seas, and nothing +disturbed its serenity save the monotonous beating of the Sumter's +propeller as she steered a south-easterly course down the Gulf of +Mexico. The following day brought her safely to Cape Antonio, which she +rounded under sail and steam, and striking the trade-winds, hoisted up +her propeller and stood away towards the west. + +The afternoon of the 3rd July brought the Sumter her first prize. At +about 3 P.M. a sail was descried in shore, beating to windward, and +steering a course that would bring her almost into contact with the +Confederate vessel. To avoid suspicion, no notice was taken of the +stranger until the two vessels had approached within the distance of a +little more than a mile from each other, when a display of English +colours from the Confederate was answered by the stranger with the stars +and stripes of the United States. Down came the St. George's ensign from +the Sumter's peak, to be replaced almost before it had touched the deck +by the stars and bars, which at that time constituted the flag of the +Confederate States. A shot was fired across the bows of the astonished +Yankee, who at once hove-to, and a boat was sent on board to take +possession of the Sumter's first capture. + +The prize proved to be the ship Golden Rocket, from the Yankee State of +Maine--a fine ship of 690 tons burthen, only three years old, and worth +from 30,000 to 40,000 dollars. She Was bound to Cienfuegos in Cuba, but +had no cargo on board, and Captain Semmes, being unwilling at that early +stage of his cruise to spare a prize crew, determined to destroy the +vessel, and after taking the captain and crew on board the Sumter set +the prize on fire and left her to her fate.[1] + +[Footnote 1: "It was about ten o'clock at night when the first glare of +light burst from her cabin-hatch. Few, few on board can forget the +spectacle. A ship set fire to at sea! It would seem that man was almost +warring with his Maker. Her helpless condition, the red flames licking +the rigging as they climbed aloft, the sparks and pieces of burning rope +taken off by the wind and flying miles to leeward, the ghastly glare +thrown upon the dark sea as far as the eye could reach, and then the +death-like stillness of the scene--all these combined to place the +Golden Rocket on the tablet of our memories for ever. But, +notwithstanding the reluctance with which we did it, we would not have +missed the opportunity for anything on earth. We wanted no war--we +wanted peace; we had dear friends among those who were making war upon +us, and for their sakes, if not for the sake of humanity, we hoped to be +allowed to separate in peace; but it could not be; they forced the war +upon us--they endeavoured to destroy us. For this, and for this alone, +we burn their ships and destroy their commerce. We have no feeling of +enmity against them, and all we ask is to be let alone--to be allowed to +tread the path we have chosen for ourselves."--"_Cruise of the +Sumter_," from the "_Index_" May 1st, 1862.] + + +The following day saw two more prizes fall into the Sumter's hands. +These were the brigantines Cuba and Machias, both of Maine. The captures +were taken in tow and carried off in the direction of Cienfuegos. The +next day, however, the Cuba broke adrift from her hawser, and on being +recovered, a prize crew was sent on board the vessel, with directions to +carry her into Cienfuegos, for which port Captain Semmes was now shaping +his course. + +Arrived off that harbour on the evening of the same day, it was found +too late to attempt to enter, and two more vessels being descried in the +offing, the Machias was cast off, with orders to lay-to until the +morning, and the Sumter started off in chase. On coming up with the two +vessels, at about half-past nine o'clock, they proved to be the United +States brigantines, Ben Dunning and Albert Adams. They were at once +taken possession of, and ordered to make the best of their way in charge +of a prize crew to Cienfuegos. + +The night was passed in standing off and on outside the harbour, and +with the earliest dawn preparations were made for running in. The +weather was bright and clear, and the brief twilight of the tropics +flushed rapidly into the full glare of day, and showed to the watchful +eyes on board the Sumter the welcome spectacle of three more vessels +being towed out to sea by a steamer, the stars and stripes floating +gaily from their peaks. Warily and patiently the little Sumter lay in +wait, under the shelter of the land, until the steamer had cast off her +convoy, and the three unsuspecting vessels were fairly beyond the +maritime league from the neutral shore, within which the law of nations +forbids that captures should be made. Then suddenly her decks swarmed +with men, the black smoke poured from her funnel, the sails filled, and +out she came in pursuit. The chase was brief, and ere long the barque +West Wind, the brigantine Naiad, and the barque Louisa Kilham were in +charge of prize crews, and wending their way sadly back to the port they +had so recently left in full expectation of a prosperous voyage. + +So, with her little fleet of prizes, six in all, before her, the Sumter +steered proudly into the harbour of Cienfuegos. As she passed the fort +which guards the entrance, a hail was heard from the shore, accompanied +by the almost simultaneous report of a couple of musket shots fired over +the vessel, for the purpose, apparently, of enforcing the order to bring +up and come to an anchor. The command having been obeyed, a boat was at +once despatched in charge of Lieutenant Evans to call on the Commandant +and ask an explanation of this inhospitable reception. The message was +brought back, that the flag of the new Confederacy had not been +understood by him, and that the vessel had consequently been brought up +in compliance with the standing order that no vessel, whether of war or +otherwise, should be permitted to pass until her nationality had been +ascertained. Explanations, of course, followed, and in the evening came +the Commandant, with the Governor's permission either to land or go to +sea, but accompanied by an intimation that the six prizes would be +detained until instructions could be received from headquarters +concerning them. + +Lieutenant Chapman was now sent on shore with the following despatch for +the Governor, and also to make arrangements for coaling and for the +safety and ultimate disposition of the prizes: + + C.S. Sumter. Cienfuegos, Island of Cuba, + July 6th, 1861. + +Sir,--I have the honour to inform your Excellency of my arrival at the +Port of Cienfuegos with seven prizes of war. These vessels are the +brigantines Cuba, Machias, Ben Dunning, Albert Adams and Naiad; and +barques West Wind and Louisa Kilham, property of citizens of the United +States, which States, as your Excellency is aware, are waging an unjust +and aggressive war upon the Confederate States, which I have the honour, +with this ship under my command, to represent. I have sought a port of +Cuba with these prizes, with the expectation that Spain will extend to +cruisers of the Confederate States the same friendly reception that in +similar circumstances she would extend to the cruisers of the enemy; in +other words, that she will permit me to leave the captured vessels +within her jurisdiction until they can be adjudicated by a Court of +Admiralty of the Confederate States. As a people maintaining a +Government _de facto_, and not only holding the enemy in check, but +gaining advantages over him, we are entitled to all the rights of +belligerents, and I confidently rely upon the friendly disposition of +Spain, who is our near neighbour in the most important of her colonial +possessions, to receive us with equal and even-handed justice, if not +with the sympathy which our unity of interest and policy, with regard to +an important social and industrial institution, are so well calculated +to inspire. A rule which would exclude our prizes from her ports during +the war, although it should be applied in terms equally to the enemy, +would not, I respectfully suggest, be an equitable or just rule. The +basis of such a rule, as, indeed, of all the conduct of a neutral during +war, is equal and impartial justice to all the belligerents; and this +should be a substantial and practical justice, and not exist in delusive +or deceptive terms merely. Now, a little reflection will, I think, show +your Excellency that the rule in question cannot be applied in the +present war without operating with great injustice to the Confederate +States. It is well known to your Excellency that the United States being +a manufacturing and commercial people, whilst the Confederate States +have been thus far almost wholly an agricultural and planting people, +the former had within their limits and control almost the whole naval +force of the old Government, and that they have seized and appropriated +this force to themselves, regardless of the just claims of the +Confederates States to a portion, and a large portion of it, as +tax-payers out of whose contributions it was created. The United States +are thus enabled to blockade all the important ports of the Confederate +States. In this condition of things, observe the practical working of +the rule which I am discussing. + +It must be admitted that we have equal belligerent rights with the +enemy. + +One of the most important of these rights in a war against a commercial +people, is that which I have just exercised, of capturing his property +upon the high seas. But how are the Confederate States to enjoy to its +full extent the benefit of this right, if their cruisers are not +permitted to enter neutral ports with their prizes, and retain them +there in safe custody until they can he condemned and disposed of? + +They cannot send them to their own ports for the reasons already stated. +Except for the purpose of destruction, therefore, their right of capture +would be entirely defeated by the adoption of the rule in question, +whilst the enemy would suffer no inconvenience from it, as all his ports +are open to him. I take it for granted that Spain will not think of +acting upon so unjust and unequal a rule. + +But another question arises, indeed has already arisen, in the cases of +some of the very captures which I have brought into port. The cargoes of +several of the vessels are claimed, as appears by certificates found +among the papers, as Spanish property. + +This fact cannot of course be verified, except by a judicial proceeding +in the Prize Courts of the Confederate States. + +But whilst this fact is being determined, what is to be done with the +property? I have the right to destroy the vessels, but not the cargoes, +in case the latter should prove to be, as claimed, Spanish property--but +how am I to destroy the former, and not the latter? I cannot before +sentence unlade the cargoes and deliver them to the claimants, for I do +not know that the claims will be sustained; and I cannot destroy them, +for I do not know that the claims will not be sustained. + +Indeed, one of the motives which influenced me in seeking a Spanish +port, was the fact that these cargoes were claimed by Spanish subjects, +whom I was desirous of putting to as little inconvenience as possible in +the unlading and reception of their property, after sentence, should it +be restored to them. + +It will be for your Excellency to consider and act upon these grave +questions, touching alike the interests of both our Governments. + +I have the honour to be, &c., &c., + +R. SEMMES. + + His Excellency Don Jose de la Pozuela, + Governor of the City of Cienfuegos, Island of Cuba. + +At eight o'clock on the morning of the 7th July, Lieutenant Chapman +returned, bringing with him Don Isnaga and Don Mariano Dias, two Cuban +gentlemen, warm sympathizers with the Confederate cause. The latter of +these gentlemen was at once appointed prize agent, and after partaking +of the hospitality of the ship, they returned to shore, and the +remainder of the day was spent on board the Sumter in replenishing the +various stores that had begun to run low after her cruise. In the course +of the day about 100 tons of coal and 5000 gallons of water were +shipped, besides a quantity of fresh provisions for the crew; and at +about 10 P.M. an answer arrived from the Governor to the despatch sent +on shore the previous evening by Lieutenant Chapman. + +It stated that the Captain-General of Cuba had given instructions as +follows:-- + +1. No cruiser of either party can bring their prizes into Spanish ports. + +2. If in any captures the territory of Cuba has been violated, the +Spanish courts will themselves judge of the matter. + +3. Any prizes will be detained until instructions can be had from the +Queen. + +These points being ascertained, the prizes already at anchor were left +to the care of the prize agent, Don Dias, and at about midnight the +Sumter hove up her anchor and again proceeded to sea. Nothing had as yet +been seen of the prize brig Cuba, which had been left in charge of a +prize crew a day or two before, nor, indeed, did she ever arrive at the +rendezvous, being recaptured by the enemy, and carried off to the United +States. + +Shortly after leaving Cienfuegos, a sail was descried in the offing, +which, however, on being overhauled, proved to be only a Spanish brig, +and the Sumter accordingly kept on her course, between 9 and 10 P.M. +passing the Cayman Islets, which, Captain Semmes remarks in his journal, +are laid down some fifteen or sixteen miles to the westward of their +real position. Daylight of the 9th July found the little Sumter +struggling against a strong trade wind and heavy sea, off the western +end of Jamaica, the blue mountains of which picturesque island remained +in sight during the entire day. + +At this period an accident occurred which for some time deprived the +Sumter of the active supervision of her commander. Always of delicate +constitution, and ill-fitted for the rough part he had now to play, he +had lately been still further weakened by illness; and on mounting the +companion-ladder, for the purpose of desiring that the vessel might not +be driven at so high a speed against the heavy head-sea, a sudden +giddiness came over him, and after leaning for a few moments with his +head upon his arm, altogether lost consciousness, and fell heavily +backwards down the companion to the cabin floor, where he lay for some +time in a state of insensibility. The result of this fall was some very +serious bruises, with a difficulty in breathing, which for some days +kept him confined to his hammock. At this time, however, the Sumter was +quite out of the ordinary track of commerce, and was labouring slowly +through a heavy sea against the steady and tenacious trade-wind at the +rate of little more than five knots an hour, making terrible inroads +upon the small supply of coal which was so precious to her. + +The 13th July found the trade-wind increased to a regular gale, the +Sumter making literally no way at all against the heavy head-sea. In +this state of affairs it was found necessary to abandon the previous +intention of making for Barbados, as there was not sufficient coal on +board to last the distance. This project, therefore, was given up, the +vessel's head turned from the sea, the fires let down, the ship got +under sail, and a new course shaped for Curaçao. Here it was hoped that +a fresh supply of coal might be obtained, and the little Sumter +staggered along under a press of canvas towards her new destination, the +violent motion causing great distress to the captain, who was still +confined to his cabin, and almost entirely to his hammock. + +On the 15th July, the weather moderated for a time, and a warm sunny +afternoon, with comparatively little sea, gave an interval of rest. The +next morning saw the wind again blowing freshly, but at 9 A.M. land was +seen on the starboard bow, and at four in the afternoon the Sumter +passed the north end of the island of Curaçao, running down the coast to +within about a mile of St. Anne's, where she arrived at a little after +seven o'clock. A gun was fired as a signal for a pilot, and soon after +one came off, promising to return again in the morning, and carry the +vessel into harbour. + +Morning came, and, true to his word, the pilot once more made his +appearance upon deck. But the remainder of his promise he was unable to +fulfil. "The Governor regrets," he said, in reply to Captain Semmes' +inquiries, "that he cannot permit you to enter, he having received +express orders to that effect." A little diplomacy, however, soon +removed the difficulty, which had arisen from the urgent representations +of the United States consul on the previous evening, aided, no doubt, by +a defective description of the vessel from the pilot. Lieutenant Chapman +was sent on shore with the following letter to the Governor:-- + + C.S. steamer Sumter, off St. Anne's, + Curaçao, July 17th, 1861. + +HIS EXCELLENCY GOVERNOR CROL: + +Sir,--I was surprised to receive by the pilot this morning a message +from your Excellency to the effect, that this ship could not be +permitted to enter the harbour unless she was in distress, as your +Excellency had received orders from your Government not to admit vessels +of war of the Confederate States of America to the hospitality of the +ports under your Excellency's command. I must respectfully suggest that +there must be some mistake here, and I have sent to you the bearer, +Lieut. Chapman, C.S. Navy, for the purpose of an explanation. Your +Excellency must be under some misapprehension as to the character of +this vessel. She is a ship of war, duly commissioned by the Government +of the Confederate States, which States have been recognised as +belligerents in the present war by all the leading Powers of +Europe--viz., Great Britain, France, Spain, &c., as your Excellency must +be aware. It is true that these Powers have prohibited both belligerents +from bringing prizes into their several jurisdictions, but no one of +them has made a distinction either between the prizes or the cruisers +themselves of the belligerents, the cruisers of both Governments being +admitted to the hospitalities of the ports of all these great Powers on +terms of perfect equality. Am I to understand from your Excellency that +Holland has adopted a different rule, and that she not only excludes the +prizes, but the ships of war themselves of the Confederate States, and +this at the same time that she admits the cruisers of the United States, +thus departing from her neutrality in this war, ignoring the +Confederate States as belligerents, and aiding and assisting their +enemy? If this he the position which Holland has assumed in this +contest, I pray your Excellency to be kind enough to say as much to me +in writing. + +I have the honour to be, &c., &c. + +(Signed) R. SEMMES. + +Governor Crol, St. Anne's, Curaçao. + + +This explanation removed all difficulties, and by 11 A.M. the requisite +permission had been obtained, and the Sumter was safely at anchor in the +lagoon. + +Here she lay for some days, surrounded by bum-boats filled with +picturesque natives of all colours, chattering like parrots, and almost +as gaudy in their plumage. Meanwhile the crew were hard at work +replenishing the coal-bunkers, filling up wood and water, taking in +fresh provisions, and effecting the necessary repairs after the late +cruise. While thus employed, a visit was received from a Venezuelan, who +in very good English represented himself as a messenger or agent of +President Castro, now in exile at Curaçao with four of his cabinet +ministers. This emissary's object was to negotiate a passage in the +Sumter for Don Castro and some twenty of his officers, with arms, +ammunition, &c., to the mainland opposite. This proposition, however, +Captain Semmes politely but very promptly declined, on the grounds, +firstly, that he was not going in the direction indicated; and secondly, +that if he were, it would be an undue interference on the part of a +neutral with the revolutionary parties now contending for the control of +Venezuela. + +"It was remarked," he writes, "that Castro was the _de jure_ President;" +to which I replied, "that we did not look into these matters, the +opposite party being in _de facto_ possession of the government." + +At Curaçao the Sumter remained until the 24th July, coaling, refitting, +provisioning, and allowing each of her crew in turn a short run on +shore, to recruit his spirits and get rid of his superfluous cash. At +noon on the 24th she was once more under way, leaving behind her, +however, one of her seamen, a worthless fellow of the name of John Orr, +who, enticed away, as was suspected, by a Yankee captain and the Yankee +keeper of a public-house, took the opportunity to make his escape from +the ship. The loss, however, was not of importance; and after one or two +slight attempts to trace him, the Sumter stood out of the harbour and +shaped her course towards Venezuela. + +Daybreak of the 25th July again presented to the eager eyes on board of +the Sumter the welcome apparition of a sail. Chase was immediately +given, and at half-past six the Abby Bradford, from New York to Puerto +Caballo, was duly seized and taken in tow, her Captain proceeding with +her upon her original course towards Puerto Caballo. It was late before +that place was reached, and the night was spent standing off and on +outside the harbour. With the return of day, however, the Sumter ran +once more along the shore; and, without waiting for a pilot, steered +boldly past the group of small, bold-looking islands, and dropped her +anchor in the port. + +No sooner was the anchor down than the following letter was despatched +to the Governor, asking permission to leave the prize until +adjudication:-- + + C.S. steamer Sumter. Puerto Caballo, + July 26th, 1861. + +Sir,--I have the honour to inform your Excellency of my arrival at this +port in this ship, under my command, and with the prize schooner Abby +Bradford, captured by me about seventy miles to the northward and +eastward. The Abby Bradford is the property of citizens of the United +States, with which States, as your Excellency is aware, the Confederate +States, which I have the honour to represent, are at war; and the cargo +would appear to belong also to citizens of the United States, who have +shipped it on consignment to a house in Puerto Caballo. Should any claim +be given, however, for the cargo, or any part of it, the question of +ownership can only be decided by the Prize Courts of the Confederate +States. In the meantime, I have the honour to request that your +Excellency will permit me to leave this prize vessel with her cargo in +the port of Puerto Caballo, until the question of prize can be +adjudicated by the proper tribunals of my country. This will be a +convenience to all parties, as well to any citizen of Venezuela who may +have an interest in the cargo, as to the captors, who have also valuable +interests to protect. + +In making this request, I do not propose that the Venezuelan Government +shall depart from a strict neutrality between the belligerents; as the +same rule it applies to us, it can give the other party the benefit of, +also. In other words, with the most scrupulous regard for the +neutrality, she may admit both belligerents to bring their prizes into +her waters; and of this neither belligerent can complain, since whatever +favour is extended to its enemy is extended also to itself. + +I have an additional and cogent reason for making this request, and that +is, that the rule of exclusion, although it might be applied in terms to +both belligerents, would not operate equally and justly upon them both. +It is well known to your Excellency that the Northern United States +(which are now making an aggressive and unjust war upon the Confederate +States, denying to the latter the right of self-government, which is +fundamental in all republics, and invading their territories for the +purpose of subjugation) are manufacturing and commercial states, whilst +the Confederate States have been thus far agricultural and planting +states; and that, as a consequence of this difference of pursuits, the +former States had in their possession at the commencement of this war +almost all the naval force of the old Government, which they have not +hesitated to seize and appropriate to their own use, although a large +proportion of it belonged of right to the Confederate States, which had +been taxed to create it. + +By means of this naval force, dishonestly seized as aforesaid, the enemy +has been enabled to blockade all the important ports of the Confederate +States. + +This blockade necessarily shuts out the cruisers of the Confederate +States from their own ports, and if foreign Powers shut them out also, +they can make no other use of their prizes than to destroy them. Thus +your Excellency sees that, under the rule of exclusion, the enemy could +enjoy his right of capture to its full extent, his own ports being all +open to him, whilst the cruisers of the Confederate States could enjoy +it _sub modo_ only, that is, for the purpose of destruction. A rule +which would produce such effects as this is not an equal or a just rule +(although it might in terms be extended to both parties); and as +equality and justice are of the essence of neutrality, I take it for +granted that Venezuela will not adopt it. + +On the other hand, the rule admitting both parties alike, with their +prizes, into your ports, until the Prize Courts of the respective +countries can have time to adjudicate the cases as they arrive, would +work equal and exact justice to both; and this is no more than the +Confederate States demand. + +With reference to the present case, as the cargo consists chiefly of +provisions which are perishable, I would ask leave to sell them at +public auction for the benefit of "whom it may concern," depositing the +proceeds with a suitable prize agent until the decision of the court can +be known. With regard to the vessel, I request that she may remain in +the custody of the same agent until condemned and sold. + +I have the honour to be, &c., &c. + +(Signed) R. SEMMES. + + His Excellency the Governor and Military Commander + of Puerto Caballo. + +To this, however, that functionary could not be induced to assent, his +reply being that such a proposition was altogether beyond his province +to entertain, and that the Sumter must take her departure within +four-and-twenty hours. At daylight, therefore, on the 27th, a prize crew +was sent on board of the Abby Bradford, with orders to proceed to New +Orleans, and at six o'clock the Sumter was again outside of the +inhospitable port of Puerto Caballo. + +The anchor was not fairly at the cathead when a sail was reported +seaward, which on capture proved to be the barque Joseph Maxwell, of +Philadelphia. The capture having taken place at about seven miles from +the port to which she was bound, and half of the cargo being the +property of a neutral owner, a boat was despatched with her master and +the paymaster of the Sumter to endeavour to effect negotiation. The +proposition was, that the owner of the neutral half of the cargo should +purchase at a small price the remaining half and the vessel herself, +which should then be delivered to him intact without delay. This little +arrangement, however, was somewhat summarily arrested by the action of +the Governor, who, much to Captain Semmes' astonishment, sent off orders +that the prize should at once be brought into port, there to remain in +his Excellency's custody, until a Venezuelan court should have decided +whether the capture had or had not been effected within the marine +league from the coast prescribed by international law! + +This somewhat extraordinary demand did not receive the respect or +obedience on which its promulgator had doubtless relied. Beating to +quarters, and with his men standing to their guns in readiness for +instant action, the Sumter stood out once more towards her prize; sent +the master and his family ashore in one of his own boats, put a prize +crew on board the Maxwell, and despatched her to a port at the south +side of Cuba. It is believed that these unfriendly demonstrations on the +part of the Governor of Puerto Caballo were owing to a fear that the +Sumter was in truth employed upon some such enterprise as that on which +the agent of Don Castro at Curaçao had vainly endeavoured to engage her, +and was endeavouring to effect a landing for revolutionary troops. + +The Sumter now again stood away upon her course towards the eastward, +and at five in the evening came across an hermaphrodite brig, from whose +peak floated the hated but welcome stars and stripes. This time, +however, it was able to wave in safe defiance before the eyes of the +dreaded foe, for the sagacious master had kept carefully "within jumping +distance" of the shore, and the sacred "marine league of neutrality" +protected the vessel from the fate that had befallen so many of her +countrymen. + +The afternoon of the 28th July found the Sumter off the island of +Tortuga, and at eleven that evening the ship was hove to in thirty-two +fathoms of water off the eastern end of Margaritta. Two more days' run +along the Venezuelan coast, at times in so dense a fog that it was +necessary to run within a mile of the shore in order to "hold on" to the +land, and the Gulf of Bahia was reached. Following close on the track of +a vessel just arrived from Madeira, and acquainted with the harbour, the +Sumter held on her course through the Huero or Umbrella Passage, and +shortly after noon anchored off the town of Port of Spain, receiving as +she did so a salute from the ensign of an English brig passing out of +the harbour. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +_Excitement--Taking the bull by the horns--official visits--H.M.S. +Cadmus--Captain Semmes' commission--At sea again--A dull time--Wind and +current hostile--Cayenne--French politeness--False hopes--At +Paramaribo--A hot pursuit--A loyal Yankee--Doubtful security--Not to be +beaten--To sea again--A parting arrow_. + + +The arrival of the Sumter at Port of Spain appeared to create no small +excitement among the inhabitants, official and non-official, of that +little colony. The Governor at once proceeded to take legal opinion as +to the propriety of permitting the suspicious stranger to coal, and a +long leading article in the colonial paper gave expression to the +editor's serious doubts whether the Sumter were really what she +represented herself to be, a regularly commissioned vessel of war, and +not, after all, a privateer. The legal advisers of the Governor seem to +have reported favourably on Captain Semmes' request, for permission was +given to take on board the requisite supplies, and the Sumter's coaling +proceeded, though not with much rapidity. + +The morning of the 2nd August introduced on board a visitor of a new +description. Through the heavy tropical rain which had been pouring +almost incessantly since the arrival of the Sumter, covering the calm +water of the harbour with little dancing jets, and drumming on the +steamer's decks the most unmusical of tattoos, a little dingy was seen +approaching, and in due time brought alongside of the Confederate +man-of-war the master of a Baltimore brig, which, was lying at anchor +some little distance off. The worthy skipper had heard of the terrible +doings of his new neighbour, and in no little anxiety for his own fate +had determined to take the bull by the horns, and inquire on board the +Sumter herself whether he would be permitted to depart without +molestation. Great was the poor, man's delight when he was hailed as a +native of a sister State, and informed that Maryland, though compelled +by superior force to maintain an apparent allegiance to her enemy, was +still considered a friend by her natural allies of the South, and that +strict orders had therefore been given to Set her commerce pass +unharmed. With a lightened heart he returned on board his vessel, and +the Baltimore brig went on her way rejoicing. + +The afternoon of the same day brought two more visitors in the persons +of two English officers in mufti; but the international courtesy did not +extend so far as returning the official visit made on Captain Semmes' +behalf by Lieutenant Chapman, and Government-house remained +unrepresented on board the Sumter. "His Excellency," it is to be feared, +had taken offence at the slight passed upon his official position by +Captain Semmes, in not having taken care to recover his health and +strength sufficiently early to be able to make the official visit in +person! + +The morning of the 4th August would have seen the Sumter again under way +but for some informality in the paymaster's vouchers, which had to be +rectified; and during the delay thus occasioned, H.M. ship Cadmus +entered the harbour, and the Sumter's departure was postponed with the +object of communicating with her. Accordingly, a lieutenant was sent on +board the new arrival, the visit being promptly returned by an officer +of similar rank from the Cadmus, who, after exchanging the usual +civilities, delivered himself of a polite message from Captain Hillyer, +to the effect, that as the Sumter was the first vessel he had as yet +fallen in with under the flag of the Confederate States, he would be +obliged if Captain Semmes would favor him with a sight of his +commission. To this, of course, the latter had no objection; and the +demands of courtesy having been satisfied by the previous production of +the English lieutenant's commission, that of Captain Semmes was duly +exhibited, and the ceremonial visitor departed. + +The next morning brought Captain Hillyer himself on board, and a long +conversation ensued on the war and various kindred topics, the English +Captain leaving behind him a most agreeable impression. The visit over, +steam was once more got up on board the Sumter, and at 1 P.M. she +steamed out through the eastern or Mona Island passage, and running down +the picturesque coast, with its mountain sides uncultivated but covered +with numerous huts, passed at ten o'clock that evening between Trinidad +and Tobago, and entered once more upon the broad North Atlantic. + +For some days the time now hung somewhat heavily upon the hands of the +little community. A solitary brigantine only was seen, and she so far to +windward, that with the short supply of coal afforded by the not +overscrupulous merchants of Port of Spain, it was not thought worth +while to incur the expense and delay of a chase. The Sumter was now +terribly in need of an excitement. Not a living thing was in sight, but +the glittering schools of flying fish which ever and anon darted into +view, and skimming rapidly over their surface sank again beneath the +waves, only to be once more driven for a brief refuge to the upper air +by their unseen but relentless enemies below. Drill and exercise were +now the order of the day during the hours of light, and as the sun set +and the tropic night came rushing swiftly up over the yet glowing sky, +chessboards and backgammon-boards were brought out, and discussions, +social, political, and literary, divided the long hours of inaction with +the yarn and the song, and other mild but not ineffectual distractions +of life at sea. + +Still it was with feelings of no small satisfaction that "green water" +was again reached, and the Sumter found herself within about ninety +miles of the (Dutch) Guiana coast. Hopes were now entertained of soon +reaching Maranham, but the next day showed them to be fallacious. A +strong northerly current had set in, and, in addition to this drawback, +it was discovered that the defalcations of the Port of Spain coal +merchants were more serious than had been supposed, and there was not +sufficient fuel left for the run. Next day matters were worse rather +than better. The northerly current was running at the extraordinary rate +of sixty miles in the twenty-four hours, a speed equal to that of the +Gulf Stream in its narrowest part. Only three days' fuel remained, and +making allowance for the northerly set, there were fully 550 miles to be +accomplished before Maranham could be reached. + +Still the Sumter held patiently on her course in hopes of a change; but +no change came. Wind and current were as hostile as ever, and the +observations of the 11th August giving lat. 2° 38' N., long. 47° 48' W., +the question of the voyage to Maranham, or even to Para, appeared +definitely settled, and letting his fires go down, Captain Semmes put up +his helm, made all sail, and stood away on a N.W. course, hoping to find +a fresh supply of coal at some of the ports of Guiana under his lee. + +The afternoon of that day saw the sky clear, the sea almost calm, and +the little Sumter, rolling along on the long, lazy swell, with all her +starboard studding-sails set, at about three or four knots an hour, +towards Cape Orange, from which point it was intended to make her way +into Cayenne. + +Here she arrived on the 15th August, but her hopes were again doomed to +disappointment. On coming to anchor, officers were at once despatched +with the usual complimentary messages to the Governor, and a request to +be informed whether the vessel could be supplied with coal. These +officers, however, were not permitted to land, the reason given being, +that they were without a clean bill of health from their last port. It +was in vain to represent the perfect state of health of the crew, and +the length of time they had been at sea. The official mind was closed +against any argument but that of the _consigne_. Five days' quarantine +were ordered, and five days' quarantine must be undergone, before the +salubrious shores of Cayenne could be exposed to the danger of infection +from the new comers; and as the authorities accompanied this fiat with +the statement, that there was no coal to be had in the place even for +the supply of their own government vessels, our captain determined to +make no further trial upon the discussion, but to seek his supplies +elsewhere. + +The afternoon of the next day brought the Sumter to the coast of (Dutch) +Guiana; but there being no pilot to be found, she was compelled to come +to an anchor in about four fathoms of water. Here, as the sun set, the +dark smoke of a steamer was discovered against the glowing sky, and +suspicion was at once aroused that the new comer must be a Yankee +cruiser on the look-out for the Confederate "pirates." The drums beat to +quarters on board of the little Sumter; decks were cleared for action; +ports were triced up, guns run out, and every preparation made to give +the supposed enemy a warm reception. Darkness had closed in as the +suspected vessel approached; the thump, thump, thump of her screw +sounding plainly on the still night air. Silently she approached the +watchful cruiser, steering completely round her anchorage, as though +herself suspicious of the character of her new companion. No hostile +demonstration, however, followed; the night was too dark to distinguish +friend from foe; and the strange sail having come to anchor at some +little distance from the Sumter, and evincing no disposition to assume +the offensive, the guns were run in again, and the men were at length +dismissed to the hammocks. + +Early next morning steam was again got up on board the Confederate +cruiser, which ran down under French colours for a closer examination of +the stranger, who was lying quietly at anchor about two miles in-shore +of her. As the Sumter approached she also mounted the tricolor, at the +sight of which the pretended nationality of the cruiser was laid aside, +and the stars and bars flew out gaily from her mizen-peak. The Frenchman +appeared much pleased at having thus fallen in with the celebrated +Sumter; and being, like her, bound into Paramaribo, and of considerably +lighter draught, invited her to follow him into the river, where a pilot +might be obtained. + +Arrived in Paramaribo the Sumter received tidings of the United States +steamer Keystone State, which had been "in pursuit" of her for some +time. This vessel was not very much larger than the Sumter, and their +crews and armaments were very nearly equal, so there were great hopes on +board the Confederate of a brush with the enemy on something like equal +terms. These hopes, however, like so many others, were doomed to +disappointment. By some fatality the Keystone State could never manage +to come up with her quarry. While the latter had been coaling at +Trinidad, she was performing a similar operation at Barbados, arriving +thence at Trinidad after the Sumter had sailed. From this port she again +started "in pursuit," but her chances of overtaking her enemy may +perhaps have been somewhat affected by the fact, that on learning that +the Sumter had started eastward, she at once followed upon a westerly +track, which, doubtless to the great grief of her commander and crew, +somehow failed to bring her alongside of the vessel of which she was in +search.[2] + +[Footnote 2: The writer of the Notes in the _Index_ remarks on this +curious proceeding:--"Rather a strange idea we thought. It put us in +mind of a sportsman in California who was very anxious to kill a grisly +bear. At length he found the trail, and after following it for some +hours gave it up and returned to camp. On being questioned why he did +not follow in pursuit, he quietly replied that the trail was getting +_too fresh_. It must have been so with the Keystone State--the trail was +getting too fresh."] + +But if the United States war vessels were somewhat eccentric in their +notion of a hot pursuit, it must be admitted that the United States +consuls and other agents on shore were by no means equally scrupulous. +Every possible expedient to prevent the Sumter from obtaining the +necessary supplies of coal was tried by the consul at Paramaribo, but +with less success than his strenuous exertions deserved. His first idea +was to buy up all the coal in the port, and a handsome price was +offered--in bonds on the United States government--for that purpose. But +with singular blindness to their own interests the merchants of +Paramaribo declined to put their trust in these bonds, and the ready +money not being forthcoming the hopeful scheme was compelled to be +abandoned. Undismayed by this first failure, the gallant Yankee next +sought to charter all the lighters by which the coal could be conveyed +on board, and here he was very nearly successful. One or two of the +owners however declined to be bought up, and in the lighters supplied +by them the process of coaling commenced. Still the persevering consul +was not to be beaten. Failing the owners of the contumacious barges, +their crews were yet accessible to the gentle influences at his command, +and some forty tons of coal found their way to the bottom of the +harbour, instead of to the Sumter's bunkers for which they had been +destined. + +At length, however, in spite of both active Yankee and dilatory +Dutchmen, the operation was completed, and the little Sumter once more +ready for sea. Even now, however, she was not to get away without a +parting arrow from her indefatigable enemy. On the morning of her +proposed departure the captain's negro servant went on shore as usual +for the day's marketing, when he was waylaid by the worthy Yankee and +persuaded indefinitely to postpone his return. Poor fellow! if his fate +was anything like that of thousands of others "set free" by their +so-called friends of the North, he must have long ere this most bitterly +repented his desertion. + +There was no time, however, to spare for searching after the runaway, so +after a brief conference with the authorities, who were apparently not +over anxious for his arrest, the Sumter got up steam and once more +proceeded in the direction of Maranham. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +_Leave Paramaribo--Across the equator--A day of misfortunes--On a +sandbank--A narrow escape--Maranham--A Yankee protest--Bold +assertions--A visit to the President--News--False alarms--Paying +bills--A patriot--Off again--A prize--The Joseph Park--News of Bull +Run--A sad birthday._ + + +A whole month had thus been lost through the failure of the Sumter's +coal off the mouth of the Amazon. News, too, had been received at +Paramaribo that six or seven large fast steamers were in hot pursuit; +and as it was not likely that all of these--the larger, perhaps, more +especially--would adopt the tactics of the Keystone State, it was an +object with the solitary little object of their vengeance to make the +best of her way to some safer cruising ground. + +On the 31st August, then, she took her final leave of Paramaribo, and +running some eight or nine miles off the coast in a northerly direction +as a blind, altered her course to east half-south, with the intention of +avoiding the current by which she had on the former occasion been so +baffled, by keeping along the coast in soundings where its strength +would be less felt. + +The 4th September found her well past the mouth of the Amazon, bowling +along under all fore-and-aft sails, with bright, clear weather, and a +fresh trade-wind from about east by south. This was about her best point +of sailing, and there being no longer any current against her, her log +showed a run of 175 miles in the twenty-four hours. On the same day a +strange sail was seen, but time and coal were now too valuable to be +risked, and the temptation to chase was resisted. In the evening the +equator was crossed, and the little Sumter bade farewell to the North +Atlantic, and entered on a new sphere of operations. + +The 5th September was a day of misfortunes. The weather was thick and +lowering; the wind rapidly increasing; to half a gale, and the little +vessel straining heavily at her anchor. In heaving up, a sudden jerk +broke it short off at the shank, the metal about the broken part proving +to have been very indifferent. She now ran very cautiously and anxiously +towards the light, and into the bay, no pilot being in sight. For some +time all went well, and the chief dangers appeared to be over, when +suddenly the vessel ran with a heavy shock upon a sandbank, knocking off +a large portion of her false keel, and for the moment occasioning +intense anxiety to all on board. Fortunately, however, the bank was but +a narrow ridge, and the next sea carried the little vessel safely across +it, and out of danger. Much speculation, however, was excited by this +unlooked-for mishap, but a careful examination of the ship's position on +the chart failed to elucidate the mystery: the part of the bay where the +Sumter had struck being marked as clear ground. It was fortunate, at all +events, that the vessel escaped clear, for within the next hour and a +half the tide fell five feet, which with so heavy a load as that on +board the Sumter could not but have occasioned a terrible strain had she +been lying on the top of the bank. + +Finding the soundings still so irregular as to threaten further danger, +the Sumter now came to an anchor, and some fishing boats being perceived +on the shore at a little distance, a boat was despatched which speedily +returned with a fisherman, who piloted her safely to the town of +Maranham. She was visited by a Brazilian naval officer, who +congratulated her captain not a little on his fortunate escape, the +Brazilian men-of war never thinking of attempting the passage without a +coast pilot. + +The day following that on which the Sumter arrived at Maranham was the +Brazilian Independence Day. The town put on its gayest appearance; +men-of-war and merchantmen tricked themselves out with flags from deck +to truck, while the guns of the former thundered a salute across the +ordinarily quiet bay. Amidst their universal demonstration the Sumter +alone remained unmoved. The nation whose flag she bore had not yet been +recognised by the Brazilian government, and it would therefore have been +the height of incongruity to sport the slightest bunting on such an +occasion. The more so as the good folks of Maranham, though to all +appearance personally well disposed towards the Confederates, were in +such dread of officially committing themselves, that they did not +venture to invite the officers of the newly-arrived vessel to the grand +ball given by the authorities in honour of the day. + +On Monday, the 9th September, Captain Semmes took up his quarters on +shore, and proceeded to make a formal call on the President of the +Department. That functionary, however, pleaded indisposition, appointing +the hour of noon on the following day for the desired interview. +Meanwhile Captain Semmes had hardly returned to his comfortable quarters +at the Hotel do Porto, ere he, in his turn, received a visit from +Captain Pinto of the Brazilian navy, and the Chief of Police, a +confidential friend of the President--the object of these gentlemen +being to read to him a formal protest from the consul of the United +States to the government, against the Sumter's being permitted to +receive coal or other supplies in the port. Amongst other equally bold +statements this document asserted that the Confederate cruiser had not +been permitted to enter the ports of any other European power. +Assertions like these were of course easily disposed of, and it was +agreed that the question should be discussed at the morrow's interview. +The account of this discussion had, perhaps, better be given in Captain +Semmes' own words:-- + +_Tuesday, September 11th_.--Called upon the President at twelve, and was +admitted to an interview; the Chief of Police and Captain Pinto being +present. I exhibited to the President my commission, and read to him a +portion of my instructions, to show him that it was the desire of the +Confederate States to cultivate friendly relations with other powers, +and to pay particular respect to neutral property and rights; and the +better to satisfy him that he might supply me with coal without a +departure from neutrality, and to contradict the false sentiments of the +United States Consul, I exhibited to him a newspaper from Trinidad, +setting forth the fact that the question of the propriety of supplying +me with coal in that island, had been formally submitted to the law +officers of the Crown, and decided in my favour, &c. + +The President then announced to me that I might purchase whatever +supplies I wanted, coal included, munitions of war only excepted. I then +stated to him that this war was in fact a war as much in behalf of +Brazil as of ourselves, and that if we were beaten in the contest, +Brazil would be the next one to be assailed by Yankee propagandists. +These remarks were favourably received, the three gentlemen evidently +sympathizing with us. + +Captain Semmes continues his short diary as follows:-- + +Fresh wind and cloudy. Painting ship, and making preparations for the +reception of coal. We are looking anxiously for the arrival of the Rio +mail steamer, as we have a report brought by a Portuguese vessel from +Pernambuco that a great battle has been fought; that we have beaten the +enemy; and that we have marched upon Washington. God grant that our just +cause may thus have triumphed! The whole town is agog discussing our +affairs. Different parties take different views of them: the opposition +party in the legislature, which is in session, being disposed to censure +the government for its reception of us. + +_Thursday, September 12th_.--Clear, with passing clouds; trade-wind +fresh, as usual at this season of the year. Indeed, these winds will +continue to increase in force until December, when they will gradually +give place to the rains. It has been a favourite project of mine from +the commencement of the cruise, to run off Cape St. Roque, and there +waylay the commerce of the enemy in its transit both ways; but the +strong gales and strong current which now prevail, will interfere for +the present with my plan, and I must postpone it for awhile. If the war +continues I shall hope to put it in execution at the proper time. It was +at one time reported to-day that there were two United States vessels of +war awaiting us outside, off Santa Anna; but the report proved to be the +offspring of the excited imaginations of the townspeople. Had a +conversation this evening with Senor Rodrigues, an intelligent lawyer +and the Speaker of the Deputies, on the subject of the war. I found him +pretty well informed, considering that he had received his information +through the polluted channels of the Northern newspapers. + +He seemed to think that we had been _precipitate_ in breaking off our +connexion with the North; but I told him we had been the most patient, +long-suffering people in the world, and waited till the last moment +possible, in hope that the fanaticism which swayed the North would have +passed away; and that the responsibility of breaking up the once great +government of the North rested entirely upon the propagandists of that +section. + +_Friday, September 13th_.--Cloudy, with the wind very fresh from the +eastward. The town is still busy discussing our affairs. A deputy asked +me seriously yesterday if the President had not ordered me to haul my +flag down, as not being recognised. He said that the Assembly had called +upon him for an explanation of the course he had adopted towards us, but +that he had declined to respond. + +It is reported, too, that there are two ships of war awaiting us outside +near the Santa Anna light. + +_Saturday, September 14th._--Cloudy, with fresh trades. Having finished +coaling and receiving our other supplies, we are engaged to-day in +paying off our bills. I have been enabled to negotiate a draft for two +thousand dollars upon the Secretary of the Navy; Mr. T. Wetson, one of +our fellow-countrymen temporarily here, having been patriotic enough to +advance me this sum on the faith of his government. He not only thus +aided us, but was very anxious to come on board in person, if he could +have wound up his business in time. In the evening at 7 P.M. I removed +on board from the Hotel do Porto, preparatory to going to sea to-morrow. + + * * * * * + +On Sunday, the 15th September, the Sumter was again under way, and +passed out of the harbour in charge of a pilot, Mr. Wetson accompanying +her until she was fairly outside. No Yankee vessels were found, as had +been reported, and the pilot being discharged, and a warm farewell +exchanged with Mr. Wetson, the Sumter stood away upon a north-east +course in the direction of her proposed cruising-ground in the calm belt +between the trades, the Cape San Roque project being for the present +abandoned. A dull time now commenced, great difficulty being experienced +in forcing the vessel towards her cruising-ground against the current, +which at times would carry her out of her course at the rate of more +than fifty miles a day. Whilst thus beating wearily and patiently +towards the station where it was hoped that more prizes might be +obtained, a curious phenomenon was observed, of which the following +account is given in the journal:-- + +_Monday, September 23d_.--Clear, with passing clouds. Wind right from +the south-east, veering and hauling two or three points. We have +experienced in the last two or three days a remarkable succession of +tide lips, coming on every twelve hours, and about an hour before the +passage of the moon over the meridian. We have observed five of these +lips, and with such regularity, that we attribute them to the lunar +influence attracting the water in an opposite direction from the +prevailing current, which is east, at the rate of some two miles per +hour. We had a small gull fly on board of us to-day at the distance of +five hundred miles from the nearest land. The tide lips came up from the +south and travelled north, approaching first with a heavy swell, which +caused us, being broadside on, to roll so violently that we kept the +ship off her course from two to three points to bring the roller more on +the quarter. These rollers would be followed by a confused tumultuous +sea, foaming and fretting in every direction, as if we were among +breakers. We were in fact among breakers, though fortunately with no +bottom near. No boat could have lived in such a cauldron as was produced +by this meeting of the waters. They generally passed us in about three +quarters of an hour, when everything became comparatively smooth again. +No observation to-day for latitude, but by computation we are in +latitude 5.25 N. and longitude (chronometer) 42.19 W. Current east by +north 58 miles. So curious were the phenomena of the lips that the +officers and men came on deck upon their approach to witness them. + + * * * * * + +It was many a long week now since the sight of an enemy had gladdened +the eyes of the Sumter's little crew, when, on the 25th of September, +the welcome cry of "Sail, ho!" was once more heard from the masthead. +Steam was at once got up, and the United States colors displayed from +the Confederate cruiser. A short pause of expectation, an eager scrutiny +of the stranger, as the blue and red bunting fluttered for a few moments +upon his deck, while his men were busy with the signal halyards, and +then a joyous cheer greeted the well-known stars and stripes, as they +rose above her bulwarks, and mounted slowly to her mizen peak. + +She was not a very valuable prize, being merely a small brigantine, +called the Joseph Park, of Boston, six days out from Pernambuco, in +ballast. But she was the first fruits of a fresh cruise, and right +joyously did the boat's crew pull on board her to haul down the enemy's +flag, and replace it with the saucy stars and bars.[3] + +[Footnote 3: The author of the "Notes" in the _Index_ writes:-- + +"The officer who boarded the Joseph Park asked the captain if he had +cargo. 'No.'--'Have you any specie?' 'Not a dollar.'--'Then, captain, +you must get into the boat, and go with me on board the Sumter.' 'What +are you going to do with me when I get on board?' The officer told him +it would depend entirely upon circumstances; that if he behaved himself, +and did not try to conceal anything, he would receive kind treatment; +that it all depended upon himself 'Well,' said he, 'captain' (he called +the officer who had boarded him captain) 'I _have_ got a thousand +dollars down below, and I guess I had better give it to you.' So he went +below, and from out of some little hole took the bag containing the +gold. The officer asked him why he had hidden the money, as we had the +United States colours up. He said he thought it was the Sumter, and +wanted to be on the safe side. The whole scene between the officer and +the captain of the Joseph Park was ludicrous in the extreme. The answers +to questions with that Yankee nasal twang and Yankee cunning, the +officer seeing through it and enjoying it all the while, made many jokes +in our mess afterwards."] + +This done, the crew were transferred to the captain's vessel, and a +prize crew passed on board of the Joseph Park, with instructions to keep +within sight of the Sumter, and signal her immediately on perceiving any +suspicious sail. So the two cruised for some days in company, the Joseph +Park keeping to windward during the day, and at night running down under +cover of the Sumter's guns. This capture was none the less welcome for +the news she brought in a file of recent papers from Pernambuco, of the +first victory of the South at Manassas, or Bull Run, as well as of the +successes achieved in Missouri over the troops of General Lyon. Poor +Joseph Park! she had little anticipated her fate, and not a little +amusement was created among her captors by an entry in her log of the +day after leaving Pernambuco:--"We have a tight, fast vessel, and we +don't care for Jeff. Davis!" "My unfortunate prisoner," remarks Captain +Semmes, "had holloa'd before he was out of the wood." + +The journal continues:-- + +_Friday, September 27th._--This is my fifty-second birthday, and so the +years roll on, one by one, and I am getting to be an old man! Thank God, +that I am still able to render service to my country in her glorious +struggle for the right of self-government, and in defence of her +institutions, her property, and everything a people hold sacred. We have +thus far beaten the Vandal hordes that have invaded and desecrated our +soil; and we shall continue to beat them to the end. The just God of +Heaven, who looks down upon the quarrels of men, will avenge the right. +May we prove ourselves in this struggle worthy of Him and of our great +cause! My poor distressed family! How fondly my thoughts revert to them +to-day! My dear wife and daughters, instead of preparing the accustomed +"cake" to celebrate my birthday, are mourning my absence, and dreading +to hear of disaster. May our Heavenly Father console, cherish, and +protect them! + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +_A dull time--"Sail, oh-h-h!"--An exciting chase--No prize--A +gale--Jack's holiday--A new cruising-ground--Dead calm--An enlightened +Frenchman--A near thing--Patience!--The Daniel Trowbridge--A lucky +haul--In closer--Double Duns--The prize schooner's revenge--Good news +from home--An apology--In hopes of a fight--Disappointment--The West +India station--Another blank--Martinique_. + + +Another dull time now set in. On the 28th September the prize crew were +recalled from the Joseph Park, which, after doing duty for some hours +longer as a look-out ship, was finally at nightfall, set on fire, and +burned to the water's edge. And now day after day passed by, unrelieved +save by the little common incidents of a peaceful voyage. + +One day it would be a flying-fish that had leaped on board, and paid the +penalty of its indiscretion by doing duty next morning on the captain's +breakfast-table; another day a small sword-fish performed a similar +exploit; while on a third a heavy rain provided the great unwashed of +the forecastle with the unaccustomed luxury of copious ablutions in +fresh water. But not a sail was to be seen. Once only a simultaneous cry +from half-a-dozen sailors of "Light on the starboard bow!" produced a +temporary excitement, and caused the engineers to "fire up" at their +utmost speed. But the alarm proved false. The red light that had been so +confidently reckoned on as the port lantern of some steamer moving +across the Sumter's bows, was at length set down as a mere meteor, or it +might be some star setting crimson through the dim haze of the distant +horizon. Luck seemed quite to have deserted the Confederate flag. They +were lying in the very track of vessels between San Roque and New York. +Allowing a space of seventy-five miles on either side of the Sumter's +station as the extent of this track, and calculating upon a radius of +observation from her masthead of fifteen miles, one-fifth of the whole +number passing should certainly have come within her ken. Yet in the +course of seventeen weary days one vessel only had been seen, and the +Sumter's stock of patience was beginning to run very low. + +At length, at ten o'clock on the morning of the 5th October, the welcome +cry was again heard. "Sail, oh--h--h!" was shouted from the masthead +with a lengthened emphasis, as though the look-out would mark the +unusual fact with a special note of admiration. The stranger was dead to +windward, and miles away, probably some seventeen or eighteen at the +very least. But not a moment was lost in starting in pursuit. Steam was +got up, sails furled, the vessel's head brought round in the direction +of the chase, and in less than half an hour from the first announcement +of her appearance, the Sumter was dashing through the water at +top-speed in pursuit. + +The chase was long and animated. At first starting the stranger had all +the advantage of a stiff, steady breeze, whilst the Sumter was compelled +to trust altogether to her powers of steaming; and the former, being a +fine, fast vessel, appeared, if anything, rather to gain upon her +pursuer. Gradually, however, as the two vessels changed their relative +bearings, the Sumter also was enabled to avail herself of her fore and +aft canvas, and now she began to gain rapidly upon the chase. Three +hours and a quarter passed in this exciting contest; but at length the +pursuer had come fairly within range, and the chase was over. Up went +the Stars and Stripes to the Sumter's peak, and the usual pause of +excited expectation ensued; when, after bungling awhile with his signal +halyards, as though playing with his pursuer's hopes and fears, the red +ensign of England rose defiantly from the deck, and there was to be no +prize after all. + +Very indignant was the captain of the Spartan at being hove-to by a +Yankee, and great was the amusement of the boarding officer as he was +welcomed with the observation that "the Northerners were catching h----" + +"How so?" inquired he. + +"Why by getting themselves so badly whipped by the Southerners." + +It was observed that the worthy speaker appeared somewhat surprised at +the perfect good-humour and satisfaction with which the intelligence was +received. + +The night now set in wet and wild. The wind increased to a moderate gale +with a remarkably heavy sea, and violent rain-squalls passing at +intervals over the vessel. The little Sumter rolled and pitched about as +though she, too, were weary of the long period of inaction, and +determined to effect some kind of diversion on her own account. Morning +broke heavy and threatening, with the barometer at 29-87; and by noon it +was blowing a whole gale, and the ship labouring so heavily that the +ceremony of mustering the hands and reading the Articles of War, +customary on the first Sunday of every month, was perforce dispensed +with, and "Jack"--as usual, when bad weather has fairly set in, and the +ship has been made snug--got his holiday. + +Towards night the gale, which had hauled gradually round from E.N.E. to +S.E. and S.S.E. in the course of some eight or ten hours, began to +moderate. By the next morning it had altogether broken, and though the +clouds were still leaden, and the sea ran high after the blow of +yesterday, the Sumter was once more able to make sail; and shaking the +reefs out of her topsails, she stood away again towards the S.S.E. + +The end of the week saw her well upon her way towards a new cruising +ground, the Western side of the crossing having been fairly given up as +a hopeless job, and Captain Semmes shaping his course for the Eastern +crossing. At noon on Saturday, the 12th October, the new station was +reached, the vessel's position on that day being in lat. 6.56 N., long. +44.41 W.; the weather calm, the sun shining dimly through a greyish veil +of mist, and the little steamer rolling from side to side upon the long, +heaving swells, her yards creaking and her sails flapping heavily +against the masts with that dull, hopeless sound, more trying to the +sailor than the fiercest gale. + +Gales and calms--sunshine and rain-squalls--long rolling swell--heavy +sea, and not a break in the monotonous round. Thirty-eight days out, and +in all that time but two vessels spoken and one solitary prize! + +_Thursday, October 24th_.--Cloudy, with the wind from the eastward. At +half-past six in the morning descried a sail in the north east. Got up +steam and gave chase. At nine came up with a brig, which proved to be a +Frenchman, La Mouche Noire, from Nantes to Martinique. Sent a boat on +board of him. He had no newspapers, and said he knew the United States +were at war--we had the United States colours flying--but with whom he +did not know. Enlightened Frenchman! Or this may teach us a lesson of +humility, as showing us how little is thought in Europe of the American +Revolution. The brig was a clumsy specimen of architecture, and was out +forty-two days. We detained her less than half-an-hour, and permitted +her to go on her course again. Our ill-luck seems to culminate; for two +out of the only three sail we have seen in thirty-nine days have proved +to be foreign. + +_Friday, October 25th_.--Fresh breeze from the north, and trade-wind +weather. Morning, a few rain-squalls, clearing, but with passing clouds, +as the sun gained altitude. Afternoon heavy, overcast sky, with half a +gale of wind. At 2.50 P.M. descried a sail on the starboard-quarter, +bearing about S.E. Got up steam and gave chase, and at 5 P.M. came up +with her. Fired a blank cartridge and spoke a Prussian ship, which I +caused to heave-to for the purpose of sending a boat on board of him; +but, as in the meantime the wind freshened, and considerable sea had +arisen, and as I had no doubts of the character of the ship, I gave him +leave to fill away and proceed on his course (to some one of the +Windward Islands) without boarding him. As I was rounding the ship to, +near this vessel, we came so near a collision that my heart stood still +for a moment as the bows of the huge, heavy-laden ship passed our +quarter, almost near enough to graze it. If she had been thrown upon us +by one of the heavy seas that were running, we should probably have been +cut down to the water's edge and sunk in a few minutes. This will give +me a lesson as to the space my long ship requires to turn in when she +has a sea on the quarter or bow. We are forty days out to-day, have seen +four sails, and three of the four have proved to be foreign. I am not +discouraged, however, but I have had an excellent opportunity to +practise the Christian virtue of patience, which virtue I think I am a +little deficient in. + +_Sunday, October 27th_.--A beautiful clear day, with a light breeze from +the E.N.E., and a few summer-like passing trade-clouds. Mustered the +crew. Two sail in one day! 8.30 A.M. A sail was descried in the S.E. We +immediately gave chase with all sail, and added steam to sails in about +an hour and a half. We came up with the chase about 3 P.M.; the vessel +proving very fast. We showed, as usual, the United States colours, the +chase showing the same. Fired a blank cartridge and ordered him to +heave-to. Sent a boat on board and captured him, hauling down the United +States and hoisting our own flag as our officer got on board. She proved +to be the schooner Daniel Trowbridge, of New Haven, Connecticut, from +New York to Demerara, with a cargo of provisions; cargo belonging to +same owner as vessel, D. Trowbridge, of Connecticut. Sent a prize crew +on board, and left in pursuit of another sail that had been descried in +the meantime, with which we came up at dark. She proved to be a +brigantine from Nova Scotia to Demerara (English). Permitted her to +proceed on her course. Banked fires, and put the ship under sail, with a +light at the peak, and the prize in company. + +_Monday, October 28th_.--Fine clear weather, with a moderate sea and a +light breeze. Called the prize within hail; hoisted out the long-boat +and sent her alongside and commenced receiving provisions. I felt truly +thankful to a kind Providence for this windfall, for we were running +short of provisions--beef bad, and weevily bread. And here were more +than we needed, and of the best. Pork, beef, hams, flour, bread, +crackers (biscuits), &c.; this was truly a Yankee cargo, there being a +large number of pigs, sheep, and geese on board. A busy, bustling day, +with boats passing to and fro, and men busy on both ships with boxes, +barrels, &c. To get at the cargo we threw overboard the superincumbent +articles, and strewed the sea with Connecticut wooden ware and brooms. + +_Tuesday, October 29th_.--Another favourable day for unloading the +prize. Wind light from the East, and not too much sea on. We are filling +up with five months' provisions. In the meantime we are enjoying the +luxury, far away out at sea and forty-three days from port, of fresh +meat; the sheep on board the prize being in excellent condition, and I +have them slaughtered in sufficient numbers for the crew. At noon the +sky becoming overcast; lat. 16.54 N., long. 57.33 W. + +_Wednesday, October 30th_.--A beautiful serene day, with a light breeze +from the S.E. and a smooth sea. At 7 A.M., "Sail, ho!" from aloft. +Despatched a couple of boats to the prize schooner to bring away some of +the live stock, and sent orders to the prize master to set fire to the +prize and return on board. These orders being all executed and the boats +run up, at 8.30, steamed in pursuit of the strange sail. At eleven came +up with, and sent a boat on board of the Danish brig Una, from +Copenhagen to Santa Cruz, sixty-nine days out. Permitted her to proceed +on her course after a detention of about half-an-hour. We showed her the +United States colours. This evening, having directed the junior +lieutenant to send to the master of the prize schooner Daniel +Trowbridge, for the log slates of the schooner which he, the master, had +put among his private baggage, it was reported to me that the master in +delivering these articles to the messenger, the sergeant of marines, +used this insolent language--"D---- them. I hope they will do them no +good, and if they want a shirt I can lend them that too." I had the man +seized and put in double irons. Lat. 16.40 N., long. 58.16 W. + +_Thursday, October 31st_.--Beautiful clear weather, with a light +breeze from the North and East. Got up and sunned the ball cartridges, +some of which had been damaged by the damp, and overhauled the pumps +which had gotten out of order. At 2 A.M. a light having been reported to +me, I ordered steam gotten up and made pursuit. As we came up with it, +we found it to be a burning fragment of the schooner which we had fired +eighteen hours before. Banked fires. We have been greatly interested +since our last capture in examining a lot of newspapers found on board. +They are as late as the 8th October, and give us most cheering accounts +of the war. We have gloriously whipped the enemy at all points, and have +brought Missouri and Kentucky out of the Union. The tone of the European +press is highly favourable to our cause, and indicates a prompt +recognition of our independence. And all this cheering information we +get from the enemy himself! Lat. 16.54 N., long. 57.59 W. The master of +the prize schooner Trowbridge, having made a very humble apology for his +conduct of yesterday, and asked to be released from confinement, I +directed him to be discharged from close custody and to have his irons +taken off. + +The Daniel Trowbridge, however, was the last prize that fell to the +Sumter's lot on this cruise. She was now in the full track of vessels +crossing the Line, and scarcely a day passed without one or more being +overhauled; but the Stars and Stripes appeared to have vanished from the +seas. Vessel after vessel was brought-to, now English, now French, now +belonging to some one or other of the innumerable neutral nations, but +not a Yankee was to be seen, and the ship's company began almost to +weary of their profitless task. + +One brief morning's excitement there was, as a large steamer was +descried in the offing, evidently a man-of-war. All was at once alive +and eager on board the little Sumter. The drums beat to quarters, decks +were cleared for action, and every preparation made for combat, as the +Confederate cruiser stood boldly out to meet her expected foe. But again +the eager crew were doomed to disappointment. They were no more to fight +than to capture prizes. As the stranger drew near, the white ensign of +St. George fluttered gracefully to her peak, and after the customary +interchange of civilities, the two vessels went on their respective +courses, and the little Sumter was once more alone on the wide ocean. + +A change of cruising ground was now again resolved on, and a course +shaped for the West Indies. Still, however, without success, and at +length the supply of water beginning to fail, the cruise was abandoned, +and on the 9th November the Sumter steamed into Fort de France in +Martinique, having been fifty-seven days at sea. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +_A French governor--At church--Visitors--On shore--Prisoners +released--Coaling difficulties--Sympathy for the South--A glass of +grog!--St. Pierre--Curiosity--The Iroquois--An attempt to +intimidate--L'Acheron--Yankee notion of neutrality--Masquerading +--Preparations for a fight--The marine league--The Trent outrage--On +the watch--Violation of rights--A bold attempt--Success_. + + +_Saturday, Nov. 9th_.--Weather fine during the morning. At daylight, got +up steam and stood in for the land northward of Fort St. Louis' Bay, +running down the coast as we approached. The coast, all the way into the +anchorage, is bold and clear. Ran within three hundred yards of Point +Negro, passing a passenger steamer bound to St. Pierre, and anchored in +six fathoms water, with the south end of the fort bearing E. 1/4 S., +and the wharf about N. by E. A pilot soon after came on board, and we +got up anchor and went in to the anchorage E. of the fort, the health +officer visiting us in the meantime, and giving us _pratique_. + +Sent a lieutenant to call on the Governor, and afterwards visited him +myself. I stated in this interview that I had come into Martinique to +refresh my crew, and obtain such supplies as I needed, coal included. +The Governor replied that he could not supply me with coal from the +Government stock, but I was free to go into the market and purchase what +I wanted, he, the Governor, _not knowing anything about it_; and that as +to my prisoners, if the United States consul at St. Pierre would become +responsible for their maintenance, I might land them. With his consent, +I sent the two masters up to St. Pierre in the packet to see this +consul, and arrange the matter. I despatched also the paymaster to look +after coal and clothing for the crew, giving leave to Lieutenant Chapman +to accompany him. The Governor at one time ordered me to shift my berth, +by returning to my first anchorage; but countermanded the order upon my +demanding an explanation of it. He seemed disposed, too, to restrict my +procuring supplies _at this place_, on the ground that it was merely the +seat of government and a military and naval station; but upon my +insisting upon my right, under the Imperial proclamation, to be treated +in all respects as a lawful belligerent, be abandoned his point. The +French colonies are governed by the minister of Marine, naval officers +being the governors and chief officials. The Governor of Martinique is a +rear-admiral. + +_Sunday, Nov. 10th._--Rain in the early morning, clearing towards eight +o'clock. Went on shore and accompanied M. Guerin to the Governor's mass, +at 8 A.M. The interior of the church is very pleasing, with rare +valuable paintings. The congregation was small. A detachment (one +company from each regiment), entered the main aisle, and formed in +double lines, a few minutes before the commencement of the service. The +Governor and his staff entered punctually, and the service lasted about +three-quarters of an hour. Fine music from a band in the orchestra. The +blacks and whites occupy pews indiscriminately, though there is no +social mixture of the races. All colours have the same political rights, +notwithstanding which the jealousy and hatred of the whites by the +blacks is said to be very great. Was visited by M. Guerin. and a number +of gentlemen--members of the Colonial Legislature and others--to whom I +explained the true issue of the war--to wit, an abolition crusade +against our slave-property; our population, resources, victories, +&c.--to all of which they listened with much appearance of +gratification, and which they also expressed from time to time, +lamenting the blind policy of their Home Government. Mustered the crew, +and read Articles of War. Three of the prisoners have shipped. Let +another batch of liberty-men go on shore. Two of yesterday's batch did +not come off in time this morning. Since came on board. Visited the +Savannah to hear the music, which is given every Sunday evening. It was +a gay and beautiful scene: the moon, the shade, the trees, the statue of +Josephine, the throng of well-dressed men and women, the large band and +the fine music, the ripple of the sea; and last, though not least, the +Katy-dids, so fraught with memories of home, dear home! Visited M. +Guerin after the music, and made the acquaintance of his charming +family, consisting of wife, daughter-in-law, and niece, who gave some +music on the piano and a song. M. Guerin's mother died a nun in the city +of Baltimore, where M. Guerin was himself educated. He retains his early +impressions of Baltimore very vividly. + +_Monday, November 11th_.--Weather clear and pleasant, with refreshing +trade-winds; watering ship. Visited the town, and went a-shopping in +company with M. Guerin. Found French manufactured clothing, &c., +reasonably cheap. In the afternoon strolled on the heights in rear of +the town, and was charmed with the picturesque scenery on every hand. +The little valleys and nooks in which nestle the country houses are +perfect pictures, and the abrupt and broken country presents delightful +changes at every turn. I saw but few signs of diligent cultivation. The +negro race is here, as everywhere else, an idle and thriftless one; and +the purlieus of the town where they are congregated are dilapidated and +squalid. The statue of Josephine in the Savannah is a very fine specimen +of sculpture. It represents her in her customary dress, and she appears, +indeed, a charming woman. This is her native island. The United States +consul came down to-day from St. Pierre, and I landed the remainder of +the prisoners, twelve in number, putting them on parole. I had them all +assembled in the gangway, and questioned them as to their treatment on +board. They all expressed themselves satisfied with it. The officers +returned from St. Pierre, and reported that coal was to be had, but that +the Collector of Customs had prohibited the merchants from sending it to +us. Wrote to the Governor on the Subject:-- + +Confederate States' steamer Sumter, Port Royal, Nov. 12th, 1861. + +SIR,--In the interview which I had the honour to hold with your +Excellency on Saturday last, the 9th inst. I understood your Excellency +to assent to the proposition that I might go into the market at St. +Pierre, and purchase such supplies as I might stand in need of, coal +included. The precise position assumed by your Excellency was, that you +would neither assent nor prohibit. On the faith of this understanding, I +despatched one of my lieutenants and my paymaster to St. Pierre, to make +the necessary purchases, and they have returned and reported to me that +they found an abundance of coal in the market, and at reasonable rates, +and that the owners of it are anxious to supply me with it, but that +your Collector of the Customs had _interposed_, and prohibited the +merchants from selling or delivering it to me. For the information of +your Excellency, I will here state that I have been permitted to coal in +all the ports I have heretofore visited, except only at the French port +of Cayenne, where I was informed that there was no coal in the market, +and where it was insisted that I should undergo a quarantine of five +days before communicating with the town. As it was not convenient for me +to undergo this quarantine, I sailed immediately. I have coaled at +Cienfuegos in the island of Cuba, at Curaçao, at Trinidad, at +Paramaribo, and at Maranham. It appears that Spain, Holland, England and +Brazil have each deemed it consistent with their neutrality in the +present war to permit me freely to supply myself with coal. Am I to +understand from the action of your officers at St. Pierre that you have +withdrawn the implied assent given me on Saturday last, and that France, +through your agency, adopts a different and less friendly, rule? Will +France drive a vessel of war of the Confederate States from one of her +islands to a British island to procure coal? And if she does this, on +what principle will she do it? It is a well-settled rule of +international law, that belligerent cruisers have the right to enter +freely into neutral ports for the purpose of replenishing their stores +of provisions, or replacing a lost mast or spar; and why should not they +be equally permitted to receive on board coal? + +Coal is no more necessary to the locomotion of a steamer than is a mast +or spar to a sail-ship; it is no more necessary to a cruiser than +provisions. Without a mast or without provisions a sail-ship could not +continue her cruise against the enemy; and yet the neutral permitted her +to supply herself with these articles. Nor can such supplies as these be +placed on the ground of humanity. It would be inhuman, it is true, to +permit the crew of a belligerent cruiser to perish in your ports by +debarring from access to your markets, from day to day; but it does not +follow that it would be inhuman to prevent her from laying in a stock of +provisions to enable her to proceed to sea, and continue her cruise +against the enemy. It is not humanity to supply a vessel with a lost +mast or a spar, and yet no one doubts that this may be done. Humanity, +then, being out of the question, what possible distinction can your +Excellency draw between supplying a vessel with the articles above +mentioned, and supplying her with coal? + +Without any one of them she would be unable to prosecute her cruise +against the enemy--why, then, will you supply her with a part, and not +with the whole? + +Without troubling your Excellency further, however, with an argument of +the question, I will content myself with stating what I believe to be +the true rule of law, and it is this:--A belligerent ship of war _cannot +increase her armament or her crew in a neutral port, nor supply herself +with ammunition; but with these exceptions she may procure whatever +supply she needs_. + +Although it would be an easy matter for me to run to one of the British, +or Danish, or Dutch Islands, I should regret to be obliged to do so, and +to have to inform my Government of the reason. I would not willingly +have France adopt a rule which would effectually shut us out of her +ports, whilst Holland, Great Britain, Spain, and Brazil admit us freely +into theirs. The rule, prohibiting us from bringing our prizes into +neutral ports, operates very harshly upon us, as the weaker naval power +of the belligerents, without adding to it one still more harsh, and +which has the sanction of neither law nor precedent. If, however, it be +the determination of your Excellency to insist upon my departure without +coal, I beg that you will have the goodness to say as much to me in +writing. Your Excellency is the best judge of your instructions, and of +what they require of you. + +I have the honour to be, + +With much consideration, + + Your obedient Servant, + (Signed) R. SEMMES. + + To his Excellency M. Maussion de Condé, + l'Amiral et Gouverneur de la Martinique. + +We have the gratifying intelligence that Captain Hollins, with some +armed steamers, had driven the enemy from the mouth of the Mississippi, +sinking the Preble, and driving the other vessels on the bar of the S.W. +Pass. Mr. Seward has issued a proclamation, desiring the Governors of +the Northern States to put their forts, &c., in condition, "as well on +the seaboard as on the lakes!" This, with Fremont's abolition +proclamation, will be of great service to us. _Quem Deus,_ &c. The +Governor consents to my coaling at St. Pierre. + +_Friday, November 12th_.--Fine, pleasant weather. Watering ship. I did +not visit the shore to-day; some of the officers are on shore dining, +&c., with the French naval officers. There is evidently great sympathy +for us in the island. We have got on board all our "liberty-men," no one +of them having shown a disposition to desert. At 9 P.M., a drunken +fireman jumped overboard and swam ashore, in spite of the efforts of a +boat to catch him. He thus braved the discipline of the ship solely for +a glass of grog!--so strong upon him was the desire for drink. We sent +an officer for him and caught him in a grog-shop. It is reported to us, +as coming from the Captain of the Port, that there is a frigate cruising +off the Diamond Rock. The ship Siam arrived to-day, with 444 coolies! + +_Translation of Reply received from the Governor, in Answer to the +preceding_. + +Fort de France, 12th November, 1861. + +TO THE CAPTAIN-- + +I have the honour to send you the enclosed letter, which I ask you to +hand to the Collector of Customs at St. Pierre, in which I request him +to permit you to embark freely, as much coal as you wish to purchase in +the market. + +I do not change at all from the position which I took with you on +Saturday last. I do not consider that I am empowered any more to give +you coal from the Government supply of this division, than I am to +interfere with the market to prevent its being sold to you there. + +With the expression of my highest regard for the Captain, + +(Signed) MAUSSION DE CONDÉ. + +_Wednesday, November 13th_.--Got up steam, and unmoored ship at +daylight; and at half-past six passed out of the harbour of Fort Royal, +or rather now Fort de France. The pilot repeated the intelligence that +there was a frigate off the Diamond Rock. As we passed the picturesque +country-seat of the Governor, perched upon a height overlooking the sea, +we hoisted the French flag at the fore. Passed the St. Pierre steamer on +her way down. At eight, came to, in the harbour of St. Pierre, at the +man-of-war anchorage south of the town. Several of the custom-house +officers visited us, saying that they had not come on board officially, +but merely out of civility, and from curiosity to see the ship. Sent a +lieutenant on shore to call on the commandant, and make arrangements +for the-purchase and reception of coal, despatching to the collector +the Government order to permit us to embark it. At 1 P.M., shifted our +berth nearer to the shore, for the convenience of coaling, mooring head +and stern with a hawser to the shore. Received on board thirty tons by 9 +P.M.; sent down the foreyard for repairs. Quarantined the paymaster and +surgeon for being out of the ship after hours, but upon the explanations +of the former, released them both. The market-square near the water is +thronged with a dense crowd, eagerly gazing upon the ship; and the +newspaper of to-day gives a marvellous account of us, a column in +length. Among other amusing stories, they claim me to be a French +officer, formerly serving on board the Mereuse! + +_Thursday, November 14th_.--Rain in the forenoon. Busy coaling, and +getting on board a few necessary stores. It is reported that the +Iroquois sailed from Trinidad on the 2nd November, and that there are +three ships of war of the enemy at St. Thomas', one sail vessel, and two +steamers; and that one of these was expected here last night. She has +not yet made her appearance. It will be difficult for her to prevent our +sailing. At 2.30 P.M. the steam-sloop Iroquois of the enemy made her +appearance, coming round the north end of the island. She had at first +Danish colours flying, but soon changed them for her own. She steamed +ahead of us very slowly, and, taking up a position some half to +three-quarters of a mile from us, stood off and on during the afternoon +and night. Finished receiving our coal and provisions (sugar and rum) at +about 9 P.M., when I permitted the crew to have their hammocks as usual. +Directed everything to be kept ready for action. Visited in the +afternoon by the mayor of the city and some gentlemen, who assured me of +the sympathy of the citizens, and of the colony generally. At 1.30 A.M. +I was called by the officer of the deck, and informed that the Iroquois +was standing in for us, and approaching us very close. Called all hands +to quarters, and made all preparations to receive the enemy in case he +should attempt to run us on board. He sheered off, however, when he came +within three or four hundred yards. He repeated this operation several +times during the mid-watch, imposing upon us as often the necessity of +calling the men to quarters; indeed, from about half-past two they slept +at their guns. Great excitement pervades the entire city. The +market-square, the quays, and the windows of the houses, are thronged by +an eager and curious multitude, expecting every moment to see a combat. +The enemy approached us at one time within a ship's length. + +_Friday, November 15th_.--Fine, bright morning. At 7.30 a French steamer +of war, L'Acheron, Captain Duchaxel, came in from Fort de France, and +made fast to one of the buoys. The Iroquois about a mile from us. At +8.30 sent a boat on board the Frenchman to pay the usual ceremonial +visit. The throng in the town unabated, multitudes being gathered near +the water, looking out at the two ships. At 10 the French captain paid +me a visit. He came up, he said, with orders from the Governor, to +preserve the neutrality of the port between the two belligerents, and in +case the Iroquois came to an anchor, to demand of the captain a promise +that he would not proceed to sea for twenty-four hours after our own +departure. I wrote to the Governor, informing him of the violation of +the neutrality of the port by the Iroquois, and desiring him to apply +the proper remedy:-- + +C.S. steamer Sumter, St. Pierre, Island of Martinique, November 15th, +1861. + +SIR,--I have the honor to inform your Excellency that I am closely +blockaded in this port by the enemy's steam sloop-of-war Iroquois, of +twice my force. This vessel, in defiance of the law of nations, and in +contempt of the neutrality of this island, has boldly entered the +harbour, and without coming to anchor is cruising backwards and forwards +in a menacing attitude, not only within the marine league of the shore, +but within less than a ship's length of this vessel, which is moored not +more than one hundred yards from the beach. During the past night she +several times approached me within fifty or a hundred yards. I deem it +my duty to acquaint your Excellency with these facts, and to invoke your +authority for the preservation of my just rights within your waters. I +take the following principles, applicable to the present case, to be +well settled by the law of nations:--Firstly, that no act of hostility, +proximate or remote, can be committed by any belligerent in neutral +waters; secondly, that when a cruiser of one belligerent takes refuge +within the waters of a neutral power, a cruiser of the opposite +belligerent cannot follow her into those waters for purposes of +hostility, proximate or remote. It is not only unlawful for her to +approach within the marine league, for the purpose of watch and menace, +but it is equally unlawful for her to hover about the coast of the +neutral, at any distance within plain view, for the same purposes. All +these are remote or prospective acts of war, and as such, offensive to +the neutral power. Thirdly, that when opposite belligerents meet by +accident in a neutral port, if one of them departs therefrom, the other +is bound to wait twenty-four hours before departing. For the opposite +belligerent to depart immediately in pursuit, is to avail herself of the +neutral territory for the purpose of war. She commits, by the very fact +of sailing, a remote act of hostility which is offensive to the neutral +state. + +In view of the foregoing facts and principles, I respectfully request +that your Excellency will cause the Iroquois to cease hovering about the +coast of the island for the purpose of watching my movements; in other +words, to withdraw herself out of plain sight. Or if she prefers to come +in, to anchor, to direct either that she shall depart twenty-four hours +before me, or wait twenty-four hours after my departure, whichever she +may prefer. I shall be ready for sea in four or five days, as soon as my +engineers make some necessary repairs to my machinery. + +In conclusion, it is quite possible that the captain of the Iroquois may +arrange some signals for giving him intelligence of my movements, with +the United States consul at this port, and I have therefore to request +that some officer may be charged with the prevention of any such act of +hostility. + +I have the honour to be, &c., + +(Signed) R. SEMMES. + + To His Excellency M. Maussion de Condé, + Admiral and Governor of Martinique, + +During this night the Iroquois did not approach us so near as on the +past night. Closed in the gun-deck ports, got the swinging booms +alongside, and directed the crew, in case of being called to quarters +during the night, to repair to the spar-deck as boarders, boarding being +the mode in which the enemy would attack us, if at all.[4] + +[Footnote 4: On the 14th, at 4 P.M. when we had nearly finished coaling +and other arrangements for sea, a steamer was seen rounding the north +point of the island. She was under Danish colours, and had made, it was +evident, some ludicrous attempts at disguising herself--such, for +instance, as a studied disarrangement of her yards, and some alteration +of her head-booms. I was under the impression at the time that we were +very old birds to be caught with such chaff. She came up slowly at +first, evidently not seeing us as we lay concealed in the shadow of the +hills; but when within about two miles, we could see, with the aid of +our glasses, the water curling from her bows, and we knew that the +Yankee had scented his prey; or, to employ the expressive phrase of our +rough old signal quartermaster, "she had got a bone in her mouth." All +the good citizens of St. Pierre came down to the beach to witness the +scene, and a great many indulged their aquatic instincts by swimming out +to us to await the _dénouement_. The Iroquois was now close on to us, +and when about a hundred yards distant, hauled down the Danish colours, +and set the stars and stripes in their place. Thus we were once more in +the presence of our hated foe. + +The Iroquois is one of the new class of gunboats, powerfully armed with +nine and eleven-inch guns, and is about 1000 tons burden. Her crew +consists of about 200 men; and we knew it was useless for the Sumter to +think of fighting her, our only hope of escape being by strategy. The +enemy stood in close to the land, and sent a boat on shore to +communicate with the U.S. Consul and the French authorities, being, +however, very careful not to drop anchor. Captain Palmer informed his +Excellency the Governor that there was a pirate at anchor in the port of +St. Pierre, and requested permission to destroy her; but this was +refused emphatically, and the irate commander furnished with the +proclamation of his Imperial Majesty Napoleon III., according +belligerent rights to the Confederate States, and decreeing strict +neutrality on the part of France. He was informed that it was necessary +for the Iroquois either to cast anchor, or leave the waters of the isle, +and if accepting the former alternative, that an interval of twenty-four +hours must elapse between the departure of either belligerent; also +that, in case of any breach of neutrality occurring, the forts would +open on the offending party. After remaining stationary for some two +hours, her boat returned. The Iroquois stood out of the harbour, taking +a position a short distance ahead of us, and commenced backing and +filling across our bows. Meanwhile the crew of "the pirate" were not +idle; every preparation was made to repel boarders, and to defend our +ship to the last extremity. The crew were inspected, and every man seen +to be properly armed and equipped for action. We fully expected an +attack that night, and remembered the threats and loud pretensions of +not respecting any neutrality which prevented them from destroying the +Sumter, as made by the commander of the Niagara, and the redoubtable +Porter of the Powhattan,--this latter gentleman having actually followed +us as far as Maranham, only to find the people Sumter-mad on his +arrival. Very few on board the Sumter that night felt any inclination +for slumber; the men were sitting about in groups, commenting in low +tones on the contest which now seemed to be imminent; while those +officers who were at leisure were gathered on the quarter-deck, engaged +in the same interesting discussion. + +At 2 A.M. the word was passed by the look-outs forward that the Yankee +was bearing down close upon us; and the order passed, almost in a +whisper, "to go to quarters." I never saw men obey an order with more +alacrity. In a few minutes the boarders, pikemen, and small-arm men were +ranged in three lines close to our low rail, to await his attack, all +preserving a perfect silence that seemed death-like. When about twenty +feet distant from us, we heard the deep tones of her bell in the +engine-room, as it rang the order to back; but not before we had +discovered her men at quarters, and, in fact, presenting every +appearance of a ship intending to board an enemy. A single stray +pistol-shot would have brought on the engagement, and to judge from the +lights and signals glancing along the fortifications, the Frenchmen +would have taken a hand, too. The appearance of our decks next morning +was amusing. The men were strewn about promiscuously fully armed and +accoutred for battle, endeavouring to obtain some rest; a stranger might +easily have imagined us to be a buccaneer. Captain Palmer stated next +day that he was afraid we would board him in boats, when asked the +meaning of his threatening manoeuvres; but it was difficult to believe +that the commander of a ship of war would make such a flimsy excuse; and +let us hope for his own credit that he did not really believe his own +statement. The demeanour of the crew was most satisfactory. No noise or +bustle could be noticed; but a quiet, firm determination was expressed +in the countenance of each man to defend our noble little ship to the +bitter end, and never strike our flag to the foe. These flagrant +violations of neutrality greatly irritated the inhabitants, and the +better portion of them threw off their thin mask of indifference, and +openly expressed sympathy for us. Some were so excited as to volunteer +to go with us; but their kind offers were not accepted. The negroes, +however, did not seem to recognise us for what we really are, their best +friends, but were somewhat opposed to the Sumter; and their allegiance +to our enemy was made the subject of one of Captain Palmer's voluminous +despatches to Mr. Gideon Welles.--_Index._] + + +_Saturday, November 10th._--The Iroquois ahead of us, about a mile +distant. At 10 A.M., I returned the visit of the French commander. I +pointed out to him the insolent manner in which the Iroquois was +violating the neutrality of the port. No additional order had been +received from the Governor. Scraping and painting ship, and repairing +the engine to put it in thorough condition for service. At meridian the +Iroquois came to anchor about half a mile from us, at the man-of-war +anchorage. The captain of the Acheron visited me, to say the Governor +had directed him to inform me that if I preferred it, he would be glad +to have me visit Fort de France with my ship, where he could afford me +more ample protection, and whither, he presumed, the Iroquois would not +follow me; and if she did, that he would compel her to depart from +French waters. + +I replied that before deciding upon this invitation, I would wait and +see whether the Iroquois accepted the condition of remaining twenty-four +hours after my departure, or departing twenty-four hours before me. The +Iroquois got under way again immediately after anchoring, and in the +evening the captain of the Acheron sent a lieutenant on board of me, to +say that the commander of the Iroquois refused to accept the condition, +and that he had been directed to withdraw himself beyond the marine +league in consequence. She remained a few hours to supply herself with +refreshments, and as night fell took her station; but not at the +distance of a marine league _during the night_. + +We have thus taught this ignoramus Yankee captain some knowledge of, and +some respect for, the laws of neutrality. In the afternoon I took a +delightful stroll along the beach northward. + +_Sunday, November 17th._--Morning fine. Visited the church opposite the +ship, and heard mass. The congregation was very large, composed chiefly +of blacks--women. We were politely shown into the trustees' pew. A short +sermon, chiefly addressed to some young persons who had just made their +first communion, was delivered by a good-looking young priest, who had +fair command of language, and was easy and graceful in his manner. + +A sort of police officer or fugleman officiated here, as at Fort +Royal--a feature which I did not like. The Iroquois preserves her +distance by daylight. + +_Monday, November 18th._--The enemy cruising off the harbour as usual. +Daring the morning a French man-of-war schooner arrived from Fort de +France, with the Governor on board (who visits St. Pierre to distribute +premiums to the schools), and about one hundred troops to reinforce the +fort. Repairing our machinery and painting ship. Some boatmen have been +imprisoned by the authorities for going out to the enemy. At nightfall +the Director of the Customs came off to see me, and said that the +Governor had told him he expected to see the Captain of the Sumter at +his (the Director's) house; adding, that he said this of his own +accord--the Governor not having authorized him to say as much to me. I +took the hint, and went on shore at 8 P.M., accompanied by my clerk, to +call on his Excellency. He did not seem to have anything in particular +to say, except to renew his invitation for me to go to Fort de France in +my ship, which I declined, on the ground that this would be a more +convenient port from which to escape, and one affording more facilities +for the repairs of my engine. He told me that the Captain of the +Iroquois pleaded ignorance as to his violation of the neutrality of the +port; but added, he knew better. An American (enemy) schooner got under +way at dusk, and stood out to the Iroquois, where she remained about an +hour before proceeding on her cruise to the northward and westward. + +_Tuesday, November 19th._--Some surf observable this morning, increasing +until about 4 P.M.; the wind variable, settling for a short time in the +south-east. I became anxious on account of my berth, which was +represented to me as insecure, in case of a blow from seaward. I sent +and got a pilot on board, but when he came he said he thought we should +not have bad weather; and as by this time the sea had gone down, I was +of his opinion, and concluded to remain at my anchors for the present, +especially as the repairs to our machinery would be finished by +to-morrow evening. Heavy rain in the evening. The Iroquois within the +marine league. Visited by the commander of the French schooner of war, +whom we called on yesterday. About 10 P.M. the British mail steamer +arrived from St. Thomas. Sent a boat on board of her, and got English +papers to the 1st November. She brings intelligence of the enemy's +steamer St. Jacinto, having boarded an English steam-packet, and taken +out of her Messrs. Slidell and Mason, who had been carried to the +Havannah by the Nashville. The English people will regard this as an +insult to their flag, and in this way it may do us good. Night clear; +moon rising a little before eight. Not quite darkness enough for our +purpose yet. + +_Wednesday, November 20th._--Morning clear; wind variable. The Iroquois +never loses sight of us, violating the neutrality of the port by night +by coming within the marine league to observe us. Sent the engineer on +shore to hurry the repair of his pumps. Loosed sails. Furled at +meridian, and ordered the fires to be lighted at 1 P.M.; the weather +looking unsettled, heeled the ship and scraped the grass off her port +side near the water-line. The Iroquois crawled in again last night +within about a mile and a half. As it was cloudy we lost sight of her in +the early part of the night for the first time. + +_Thursday, November 21st._--Cloudy, with slight showers of rain. Drew +the charges from the battery and reloaded it; and examined and put in +order for action the small arms. Got up some barrels of salt provisions +and arranged them on each side of the quarter-deck to trim ship. She lay +an inch or two too much by the head. A boat employed filling up our +water. Changed our fasts to the shores in readiness for a move. Hurrying +the engineer with his work. I fear every moment to see another enemy's +ship arrive. During the morning the Governor returned in the Acheron to +Fort de France. In the afternoon the Acheron came back. Wrote a note to +the latter complaining of the continued violation of the neutrality of +the port by the enemy's ship. Engineer not ready, so we are obliged to +lie over another day. + + C.S. Steamer Sumter, St Pierre, + Nov. 21st, 1861. + +SIR,--It becomes my duty to complain of the continued violation of the +neutrality of this port, and of my right of asylum, by the enemy's steam +sloop of war the Iroquois. + +This vessel, in shameful disregard of the warnings she has received from +his Excellency the Governor, comes every night, under cover of the +darkness, within a mile and a-half, or less, of the anchorage. Last +night, at nine o'clock, she was seen from my deck with the naked eye, +assisted by an occasional flash of lightning; and as the night was +comparatively obscure, no vessel, not being under sail, could have been +seen at a greater distance than from a mile to a mile and a quarter. + +I have besides to inform you, that two small boats communicated with the +enemy in broad daylight yesterday, one of them pulling, upon leaving +her, to the north point, and the other to the south point, of the +harbour. + +I have, &c., &c., (Signed) R. SEMMES. + +To M. Duchaxel, Commander of His French Majesty's steamer, L'Acheron. + +_Friday, November 22nd._--The enemy about two and a half miles distant. +The engineer will be ready to-day, and, God willing, we will get out +to-night. Wrote to the captain of the Acheron, in reply to the position +assumed by the governor:-- + + C.S. Steamer Sumter, St. Pierre, + Nov. 22nd, 1861. + +SIR,--I have had the honour to receive your letter of yesterday, in +which you communicate to me the views of the Governor of Martinique +relative to the protection of my right of asylum in the waters of this +island; and I regret to say that those views do not appear to me to come +up to the requirements of the international code. The Governor says, +"that it does not enter into his intentions to exercise towards the +Iroquois, either by night or by day, so active a surveillance as you +desire." And you tell me that "we ought to have confidence in the strict +execution of a promise made by a commander in the military marine of the +American Union, so long as he has not shown to us evidence that this +engagement has not been scrupulously fulfilled." It would appear from +these expressions that the only protection I am to receive against the +blockade of the enemy is a simple promise exacted from that enemy, that +he will keep himself without the marine league of the land; the Governor +in the meantime exercising no watch by night or by day to see whether +this promise is complied with. In addition to the facts related by me +yesterday, I have this morning to report that one of my officers, being +on shore in the northern environs of the town last night, between eight +and nine o'clock, saw two boats, each pulling eight oars, the men +dressed in dark clothing, with the caps usually worn by seamen of the +Northern States, pulling quietly in towards the beach. He distinctly +heard a conversation between them in English, one of them +saying--"Harry, there she is; I see her"--in allusion, doubtless, to the +presence of my vessel. These boats, no doubt, have orders to make signal +to the Iroquois the moment they discover me under way. Now, with all due +deference to his Excellency the Governor, I cannot see the difference +between the violation of the neutrality of these waters by the enemy's +boats, and by his ship. And if no strict surveillance is to be +"exercised either by night or by day," I am receiving very much such +protection as the wolf would accord to the lamb. Is it an act of love +for the enemy to approach me with his boats for the purpose of +reconnaissance, and especially during the night? and I have the same +right to demand that he keep his boats beyond the marine league as that +he keep his ship at that distance. Nor am I willing to rely upon his +promise, that he will not infringe my rights in this particular. It +appears to me further, especially after the knowledge of the facts which +I have brought to your notice, that it is the duty of France to exercise +surveillance over her own water, "both by night and by day," when an +enemy's cruiser is blockading a friendly belligerent, who has sought +the asylum in those waters accorded to him by the law of nations. I +have, therefore, respectfully to request that you will keep a-watch by +means of guard boats, at both points of this harbour, to prevent the +repetition of the hostile act which was committed against me last night; +or, if you will not do this yourself, that you will permit me to arm +boats and capture the enemy when so approaching me. It would seem quite +plain, either that I should be protected, or be permitted to protect +myself. Further, it is in plain violation of neutrality for the enemy to +be in daily communication with the shore, whether by means of his own +boats, or boats from the shore. If he needs supplies, it is his duty to +come in for them; and if he comes in, he must anchor; and if he anchor, +he must accept the condition of remaining twenty-four hours after my +departure. It is a mere subterfuge for him to remain in the offing, and +supply himself with all he needs, besides reconnoitreing me closely by +means of boats. I protest against this act also. I trust you will excuse +me for having occupied so much of your time by so lengthy a +communication, but I deem it my duty to place myself right upon the +record in this matter. I shall seize an early opportunity to sail from +these waters; and if I should be brought to a bloody conflict with an +enemy, of twice my force, by means of signals given him in the waters of +France, either by his own boats or others', I wish my government to know +that I protested against the unfriendly ground assumed by the Governor, +that "it does not enter into his intentions to exercise towards the +Iroquois either by night or by day, so active a surveillance as you [I] +require." + + I have the honour to be, &c., &c., + (Signed) R. SEMMES. + + M. Duchaxel, + Commander of H.I.M. Steamer, L'Acheron. + + + C.S. Steamer Sumter, St. Pierre, + Nov. 23, 1861. + +SIR,--I have the honor to inform you that the pilot of the enemy's +steamer Iroquois habitually spends his time on shore in this port; and +that last night he slept on board the enemy's topsail schooner moored +near the beach, in the vicinity of the English barque Barracouta. I have +ample evidence outside of my ship to establish these facts. Now, it must +be obvious to you that the enemy has sent this man into French waters to +act as a spy upon my movements; and he has, no doubt, in his possession +rockets or other signals, with which to communicate my departure to his +ship. This man, though only a pilot, and temporarily employed on board +the Iroquois, is in law as much an officer of that ship, for the time +being, as any one of her lieutenants. + +The case, then, may be stated thus:--A lieutenant of the Iroquois not +only spends his time _habitually_ on shore, but sleeps at night on board +another vessel of the enemy, instead of sleeping at a hotel, the better +to enable him to observe my movements, and communicate them to his ship. +And yet all this is permitted by the authorities! + +I most respectfully but earnestly protest against this violation of my +rights. As I stated in my letter of yesterday, an act of reconnaissance +(and still more an act of reconnaissance for the purpose of giving +information by signal) is an act of war; and will France permit an act +of war to be committed against me in her own waters, and under the eye +of her authorities, civil and military? + +In conclusion, I request that you will issue an order, requiring this +spy to depart to his ship, and that you will also take the proper steps +to prevent the schooner in which he stays from making any signals to the +enemy. + + I have the honor to be, &c., &c., + (Signed) R. SEMMES. + + M. Duchaxel, + Commander of H.I.M. Steamer, L'Acheron. + +NOTE.--The Sumter went to sea from the port of St. Pierre on the evening +(8 o'clock) of the date of the preceding letter, and, as was predicted, +the light was burned on board the American schooner to signal her +departure to the Iroquois. + +R.S. + + * * * * * + +Muffled the windlass. Getting on board some water. Last night, between +eight and nine o'clock, the engineer being on shore, near the north end +of the town, saw two of the Iroquois' touts, and heard one of them say +to the other, "Harry, that's she--I see her:" in allusion, doubtless, to +the presence of this vessel. We were all very anxious as the night +approached as to the state of the weather; and lo! for the first time in +five or six days, we had a beautiful star-light night, without a speck +of cloud anywhere to be seen. The enemy continued plain in sight, and +our black smoke, as it issued from the stack, would have betrayed us at +a distance of five miles. We were therefore reluctantly compelled to +give up the attempt. + +_Saturday, November 23rd._--Beautiful clear morning, with every +appearance of settled weather. Fine starlit nights and clear settled +days, though very pleasant to the lover of nature, are not quite such +weather as we require for running a blockade by a ship which keeps +herself in plain sight of us, and which has the heels of us. But we must +have patience, and bide our time. Several sail have come in and departed +during the last twenty-four hours. The enemy in the offing as usual. +Towards noon it began to cloud up, and we had some rain, and I had +strong hopes that we should have a cloudy, dark night. The moon would +not rise until seven minutes past eleven, and if we could be aided by a +few clouds we should have sufficient darkness; for be it known that in +these tropical climates, where almost every star is a moon, there is no +such thing as darkness when the firmament is clear. But my hopes began +to fade, with the day, for one cloud disappeared after another, as the +sun went down, until the night promised to be as serene and bright as +the last. Venus, too, looked double her usual size, and being three +hours bright at sunset, poured forth a flood of light, little less than +that of the moon in a northern latitude. Notwithstanding all these +discouragements, however, I resolved to attempt the run, and having made +all the necessary preparations silently, so as not to awaken the +suspicions of the townspeople, who were always on the alert, at about +five minutes before eight o'clock gun-fire, I directed the chain to be +slipped, and the fasts to the shore cut, and put her under steam. The +enemy being on my starboard bow, and apparently standing towards the +north point of the roadstead, I headed her for the south point, giving +her full steam. So much on the _qui vive_ were the townspeople, that we +had scarcely moved twenty yards when a shout rent the air, and there was +a confused murmur of voices, as if Babel had been let loose. As we +neared the French steamer of war, Acheron, signals were made to the +enemy by means of blue lights from one of the Yankee schooners in port: +perceiving which, and knowing that the signals were so arranged as to +designate our direction, after moving a few hundred yards further, I +doubled, and came back under cover of the land, while I stopped once or +twice to assure myself that the enemy was continuing his course in the +opposite direction, in obedience to his signals; when, as soon as the +engineer could do so (for he had to cool his bearings, and this was +truly an anxious moment for me), I gave her all steam, and stood for the +north end of the island. As we approached it, the Fates, which had +before seemed unpropitious to us, began to smile, and the rain-squall, +which had come up quite unexpectedly, began to envelope us in its +friendly folds, shutting in our dense clouds of black smoke, which were +really the worst tell-tales we had to dread. The first half-hour's run +was a very anxious one for us; but as we began to lose sight of the +lights of the town and to draw away from the land, we knew that the +enemy had been caught in his own trap, and that we had successfully +eluded him. I had warned the French authorities that their neutrality +would be disregarded, and that these signals would be made. The +commander of the Iroquois had been guilty of a shameful violation of +good faith towards the French naval officer, to whom he made a promise +that he would respect the neutrality of the port, by sending his pilot +on shore, and arranging these signals with the Yankee skippers. Yankee +faith and Punic faith seem to be on a par. Our ship made good speed, +though she was very deep, and by half-past eleven we made up with the +south end of Dominica. Here the wind fell, and we ran along the coast of +the island in a smooth sea, not more than four or five miles from the +land. The moon by this time being up, the bold and picturesque outlines +of this island, softened by the rains and wreathed in fleecy clouds, +presented a beautiful night-scene. + +The sleeping town of Rousseau barely showed us the glimmer of a light, +and we passed but one coasting schooner. At 2 A.M., we were off the +north end of the island, but now heavy rain-squalls came up, and +rendered it so thick, that we were obliged to slow down, and even stop +the engine, it being too thick to run. The squall lighting up a little, +we endeavoured to feel our way in the dark; mistook the south for the +north end of Prince Rupert's Bay, and only discovered our mistake when +we had gotten fearfully near the shore, and had whitened our water! +Hauled her broad out, and again put her under very slow steam. The +weather now lighting up more, we put her under headway again, doubled +the island, and shaped our course E. by N. It was now 4:30 A.M., and I +went below and turned in. _Deo gratias._ Poor D., the quartermaster, I +had to depose him from his high office of night look-out this night. He +had been remarked for his keen vision by night; but on this occasion he +was so perturbed, that he saw a steamer bearing down upon him from every +direction--even magnifying small sloops into frigates. The evening of +this day was lovely, and I think I have never seen a more beautiful, +sedative, poetic, love-in-a-cottage landscape, than the valleys and +hills presented in which lies the town of St. Pierre. All these charms +were heightened by the presence of grim-visaged war. Our run took every +one by surprise--several of the officers had breakfast and dinner, +appointments for several days ahead. My crew seem to be highly delighted +at our success in "doing the Yankee;" but I am not sure that an old +boatswain's-mate, and a hard, weather-beaten quartermaster, who had +shaved their heads for a close fight, were not disappointed that it did +not come off. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +_Again at sea--Two captures--The Montmorency--The Arcade--Eastward, +ho!--The Vigilant taken--News from home--Dirty weather--The +whale--Ebenezer Dodge--In irons--A cyclone--The gale rages +--Fire!--Christmas day--No luck--The clank of the pumps--Cadiz_. + + +Once more afloat on the open sea; and at 4 P.M. of Monday November 25th, +a promising commencement was made in the capture of the fine ship +Montmorency, of 1183 tons, laden with Welsh coal for the English Mail +Packet service. And, fortunately so for her, or she would have shared +the fate of the Golden Balance, the Daniel Trowbridge, and other "burnt +offerings" of the little Sumter. As it was, she paid a light toll in the +shape of small supplies of paint, cordage, &c., and entering into a +ransom bond for 20,000 dollars, to be paid to the Confederate States +Government at the end of the war, her captain and crew were paroled, and +she herself permitted to proceed on her voyage. + +At 1.30 P.M., on the 26th November--writes Captain Semmes--showed first +the United States and then our own colours to an English schooner, +probably from the Bahamas to the Windward Islands, and at three captured +the United States schooner Arcade from Portland, Maine, to Port au +Prince, Guadaloupe, loaded with stores. The master and half-owner of the +schooner was Master of the barque Saxony at the time of the loss of the +Central America, and was instrumental in saving lives on that occasion, +for which a handsome telescope had been presented to him. I had the +pleasure of returning the glass to him, captured among the other effects +of his vessel. + +Took the master and crew on board (a rough sea running), and set fire to +her. At 4.40 stood on our course. The blaze of the burning vessel still +in sight at 8 P.M. During the night the wind lulled and became variable. +Hauled down the fore and aft sails, and steered N.E. The prize had no +newspapers on board, but we learned from the master that the great naval +expedition which the enemy had been some time preparing had struck at +Beaufort, South Carolina, on Fort Royal Sound. No result known. + + * * * * * + +After five days of hard fighting with the strong N.E. trade, blowing for +the most part half a gale of wind, and with thick and dirty weather, the +enemy is at length overcome, the sky clears, and the Sumter's head is +turned towards Europe. And now for a time Yankee commerce was to have a +respite, its relentless little enemy directing its attention exclusively +towards maturing her voyage across the Atlantic. She had at this time +but sixty days' water for her own crew, in addition to whom there were +now the six prisoners taken from the schooner. The passage, too, would +have to be made for the most part under canvas, and would probably not +occupy less than fifty days. Of course, she had now but six or seven +days' supply of coal--a small reserve in case of emergency, and hardly +sufficient to enable her to cruise a few days on the other side, and, if +possible, not go quite "empty-handed" into port. + +Still the days were not altogether uneventful, and before the week was +out, a fine prize ran, as it were, into her very arms. Of this capture +the journal gives the following account:-- + +_Tuesday, December 3rd_.--At 6.30 A.M. Sail, ho! a point on the +starboard bow. At 7.30 the sail, which was standing in nearly the +opposite direction from ourselves, approached us within a couple of +miles. We hoisted French colours, when she showed United States'. Took +in all the studding sails, hauled by the wind, tacked, and fired a +shotted gun. The stranger immediately hove to. Lowered a boat, and sent +a lieutenant on board of him. Stood on and tacked, and having brought +the stranger under my guns, I began to feel sure of him (our smoke stack +was down, and we could not have raised steam in less than two hours and +a half). He proved to be the ship Vigilant, of Bath, Maine, bound from +New York to the guano island of Sombrero, in ballast. Captured him. Took +from on board chronometer, charts, &c., and a nine pounder rifled gun, +with ammunition, &c. Set him on fire, and at 3 P.M. made sail. This was +a fine new ship, being only two years old, and worth about 40,000 +dollars. + +Lat. 29.10 N., Long. 57.2-2 W. Steering E. by N. We received a large +supply of New York papers to the 21st November. We learned from these +papers that the San Jacinto was in search of us when she took Messrs. +Mason and Slidell from on board the Trent. The enemy has thus done us +the honour to send in pursuit of us the Powhattan, the Niagara, the +Iroquois, the Keystone State, and the San Jacinto. + + * * * * * + +Dirty weather now for several days, the little vessel rolling and +straining, and withal beginning to leak to an extent which caused no +small anxiety to those in command. Still, however, she was quite up to +mischief, and on the 8th December, the Ebenezer Dodge, twelve days from +New Bedford, bound to the Pacific on a whaling voyage, was added to the +fatal list. Forty-three prisoners were now on board, cooped up with the +crew in the narrow berth deck, when the weather forbade their appearance +on deck, and the little Sumter was beginning to feel herself +overcrowded. + +It became necessary to adopt precautions, and one-half the prisoners +were now kept constantly in single irons, taking it turn and turn about +to submit to the necessary but disagreeable infliction. The wind, too, +hung perseveringly in the east, and things were getting uncomfortable. +They were destined, as the following extracts will show, to be yet more +so. + +_Wednesday, December 11th._--As ugly-looking a morning as one could well +conceive. Thick, dark, gloomy weather, with the wind blowing fresh from +the east, and threatening a gale (bar. 29.70 and falling) and a steady +but moderate rain falling. Put the ship under short sail. Our large +number of prisoners renders the crew very uncomfortable during this bad +weather. At meridian, gale blowing, with thick, driving rain. Lat. +32° 48' N., Long. 49° 32' W.D.R. At 2 P.M., dense clouds hanging very low +all around the horizon in every direction. Wind about E.S.E., inclined +to haul to the southward. Bar. 29.59. The pall of clouds is not so dense +as at noon, and the rain comes only occasionally in squalls. The clouds +are rifted, and appear to be on the point of rapid motion. Wore ship to +the northward and eastward. The wind soon after backed to the northward +and eastward, and we had to run the ship off N.W. for a while. Towards +night, however, the wind went back to E., and blew very fiercely, +raising very heavy and irregular sea-squalls of rain. The lightning was +very vivid. It blew very heavily until about 1 A.M., when it abated for +more than two hours, blowing only in puffs, and then not very hard. Near +the centre of the cyclone, lowest barometer. A little past midnight a +quartermaster entered with the report that the starboard-bow port had +been stove in! It was then blowing furiously. I immediately despatched +the first lieutenant to barricade the port and stop out the water as +effectually as possible, in which he succeeded pretty well. This report +gave me considerable anxiety, as the ports in the gun-deck and the +uppermost works of the ship are her weak points at which the gale would +assault her with most effect. In the meantime the barometer has been +gradually settling, settling, settling--sometimes remaining stationary +for several hours and then going down as before. At 8 P.M. it was 29.53. +We had an awful night--no one able to sleep. + +_Thursday, December 12th_.--Thick, gloomy weather, with the gale raging +as fiercely as ever. It blew very heavily all the morning. The barometer +continued to sink until it reached 29.32--at 6 A.M. its lowest point. +The wind has hauled to the south. We are evidently in a cyclone, having +taken it in its northern quarter, the gale travelling north. On the +starboard tack, its centre has passed to the west of us. Ordered the +donkey engine to be got ready for use last night, in case the ship +should make more water than the small bilge pumps could throw out. +Carried away the flying jibboom at 7.30 A.M.--saved the sail. As the +gale progressed the wind hauled to the south and west; and at 4 P.M., +judging that the strength of the gale had passed us, I kept the ship on +her course, E. by S., which gave a quartering wind and sea; and although +the sea was heavy, and the wind yet blowing a gale, she made beautiful +weather of it, scudding as well as she had lain to. The wind blew fresh +all night, with a slowly rising barometer. + +Escaped the "cyclone," a fresh danger threatened, and from the element +more feared by the sailor than either wind or water in their wildest +moods. It was about midnight of December the 14th that the watch on deck +were startled by the smell of fire, soon followed by the appearance of +smoke pouring out of the ventilator leading up from the berth deck. The +alarm was immediately given; hands turned up and sent to quarters, and a +strict investigation made. Fortunately no damage was done except to a +mattress and pea-jacket which were partly consumed; but the escape was a +narrow one, and the sentries on duty below no doubt considered +themselves well off, to escape with no other punishment for their +carelessness than a week's stoppage of their grog. + +On went the Sumter with varying fortune, now running pleasant races with +some huge whale, that left a track upon the water almost as broad as her +own; now rolling and tumbling in a gale, with ports barricaded to keep +the water out, and donkey engine ringed to keep it under. And at last +the continued bad weather and consequent confinement to the crowded +lower deck, began to tell upon the health of the crew, and no less than +twelve were at one time upon the sick list. The little vessel herself, +too, was getting rapidly invalided. The leak increased terribly, and +fully half the day was taken up at the pumps. The Christmas-tide entries +in the Journal are as follows:-- + +_Tuesday, December 24th_.--An unpropitious Christmas-eve; the gale of +last night continuing, with rain and a densely overcast sky. The +barometer is rising, however, which is a portent that the gale will not +last long. I have abandoned the idea of attempting to run into Fayal. +These Azores seem to be so guarded by the Furies of the storm, that it +would appear to be a matter of great difficulty to reach them in the +winter season. We have thirty-eight days of water on board, allowing a +gallon to a man; but still I have put the officers and crew on the +allowance of three quarts per day. I will run for the Straits of +Gibraltar, which will carry me in the vicinity of Madeira, should I have +occasion to make a port sooner. + +Weather breaking somewhat at noon, but still thickly overcast. No +observation. Lat. 37° 31' N., Long. 31° 71' W. by computation. It +freshened up from the N. at 2 P.M., and blew a gale of wind all night +from N.N.E. to N.N.W. Running off with the wind a little abaft the beam +very comfortably; but the two small pumps were kept going _nearly all +night_. They do little more than keep her free. + +_Wednesday, December 25th_.--Christmas-day! Bringing with it, away here +in mid-ocean, all the kindly recollections of the season and home, and +church and friends. Alas! how great the contrast between these things +and our present condition. A leaky ship filled with prisoners of war, +striving to make a port through the almost constantly recurring gales of +the North Atlantic in mid-winter! Sick list--ten of the crew, and four +prisoners. Wind fresh from the N.W. We are making a good run these +twenty-four hours. Lat. 36'08 N., Long. 28-42 W. Weather cloudy, and +looking squally and ugly, with a falling barometer, it being at noon +29.70; 29.80 is the highest it has been since the last gale. A series of +gales commenced on the 19th inst. Altered our course from S.E. by E. to +S.E. to avoid the St. Mary's bank; a Captain Livingstone having +reported, about forty years ago, that he saw white waters hereabouts, +and no nation having thought it worth while to verify the report. +Thermometer 63°. Heavy rain-squalls. The weather during the night was +dirty and squally, with lightning all around the horizon by turns, and +heavy rain.. Spliced the main-brace. + +The 26th December brought the Sumter off Cape Flyaway, and once more she +was rapidly approaching the ordinary track of commerce. + +_Monday, December 30th_.--Sail, ho! at daylight, and Sail, ho! in +succession during the whole day, until as many as thirty-five were +reported. There were as many as nine or ten in sight at one time, all +standing on the same course for the tide and wind. Got up steam and +began chasing at 8 A.M., and chased until 4 P.M. The first vessel we +overhauled was a Dutch barque, clipper-looking, on board which we sent a +boat; and we afterwards overhauled, and caused to show their papers, +fifteen others of the fleet, every one of which was European!--Viz. +Dutch (ships), 4; English (2 barques and 5 brigs), 7; French (1 ship and +1 brig), 2; Swedish (brig), 1; Prussian (barque), 1; Hamburg (brig), 1. +One of the results of the war is, that in this whole fleet, as far as we +could ascertain, there was not a single Yankee! So many ships at the +same time so far out at sea, is a sight not often seen. The weather was +very thick and rainy, and from the S. to E., a real dirty day; and in +such a state of weather, with so many ships running down our track, we +had serious apprehensions of collisions as the night set in. To guard +against which we set out masthead as well as side lights. At 4.30 P.M., +let the steam go down and made sail. No observations. Lat. 35° 39'; +Long. 17° 33' D.R. + +We first showed the United States colours to all these vessels, and the +only one which saluted it was the Prussian. We afterwards showed our own +flag to a number of them, and they all, with one or two exceptions, +saluted it. The stream of vessels still continued after nightfall--two +having passed us showing lights, one ahead and the other astern. At 6.15 +P.M., or about one hour after dark, the wind was blowing fresh from the +E., and they came down upon us with fearful rapidity. + +_Friday, January 3rd_, 1862.--Ugly looking morning, with a falling +barometer. Several sail were reported from the masthead during the +morning watch. We shortened sail to permit one of them, which was +steering the same course with ourselves, to come up with us. She proved +to be a Spaniard. We then gave chase to another ahead of us, running +before the wind for the Strait of Gibraltar. We chased her some two +hours, when it began to blow a fierce gale from the west, which obliged +us to give over the chase and to haul up to prevent running to leeward +of our port, and to put the ship under short sail and steam. It blew +very fiercely until near sunset, and raised a heavy, short, abrupt sea, +in which the ship rolled more heavily than I had ever seen her before. +This shook our propeller so as to cause the ship to increase her +quantity of water considerably--so much so that the engineer reported +that under short steam he was just keeping her free with his +bilge-pumps, and that if anything happened to these, he feared the other +pumps would not be sufficient. Under these circumstances, I ran in for +the land, cutting short my cruise by a day or two, as Iliad still two or +three days' coal on board. We made the Cadiz Light in the mid-watch--(my +fine chronometers!)--a beautiful red flash, and soon after got +soundings. Ran in for the light under low steam, and at 7 A.M. we were +within four or five miles of it. The morning was wet and gloomy. Fired a +gun, and hoisted the jack for a pilot; and soon after, having received +one on board, we ran into the harbour and anchored. As we approached, +the scene was most beautiful, in spite of the day. The city of Cadiz is +a perfect picture as you approach it, with domes, and towers, and +minarets, and Moorish-looking houses, of a beautiful white stone. The +harbour was crowded with shipping--_very thinly_ sprinkled with Yankees, +who could get no freights--and a number of villages lay around the +margin of the bay, and were picturesquely half hidden in the slopes of +the surrounding mountains, all speaking of regenerate old Spain, and of +the populousness and thrift of her most famous province of Andalusia. +Visited by the health-officer, who informed us that unless we were +specially exempted, we should be quarantined for three days, for not +having a certificate of health from the Spanish Consul at Martinique. A +number of merchant ships hoisted their flags in honour of our arrival, +and one Yankee showed his in defiance. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +_Cadiz harbour--Notice to quit--Local authorities--Wisdom--The Queen of +Spain--Docked--Under repair--Deserters--The honour of the flag--The +Neapolitan--The Investigator--Gibraltar--Official visits--Up the rock--A +legend--Neutrality again--Consular diplomacy--Blockaded--The +Tusoarora--Seven in pursuit._ + + +During the stay of the Sumter at Cadiz, and her subsequent arrival at +Gibraltar, Captain Semmes made the entries in his Journal which will be +found in this chapter. + +_Saturday, January 4th_.--Harbour of Cadiz--ancient Gades--with its +Moorish houses and feluccas, or latteen vessels. Some fine oranges +alongside--the product of this latitude, 36° 32' N., about the same +parallel with Norfolk, Virginia. It is one hundred and eighty-eight days +to-day since we ran the blockade at New Orleans, and of this time we +have been one hundred and thirty-six days at sea. We are informed this +evening that the question of our being admitted to _pratique_ (and I +presume also the landing of our prisoners) has been referred to Madrid +by telegram. + +_Sunday, January 5th_.--Sky partially overcast, with a cool north wind. +Thermometer 56°. Early this morning the health officer came alongside, +and brought me the order from the Government to depart within +twenty-four hours, and a tender of such supplies as I might need in the +meantime. I replied as under:-- + + C.S. Steamer Sumter, Cadiz, + January 5, 1862. + + SIR,--I have had the honour to receive, through the health officer of + the port, an order from the Government of Spain, directing me to proceed + to sea within twenty-four hours. I am greatly surprised at this + unfriendly order. Although my Government has not yet been favourably + recognised by Spain, it has been declared to be possessed of the rights + of belligerents in the war in which it is engaged; and it is the + practice of all civilized nations to extend the hospitality of their + ports to the belligerents of both parties alike--whether the + belligerents be _de facto_ or _de jure_. I am aware of the rules adopted + by Spain, in common with the other great powers, prohibiting belligerent + cruisers from bringing their prizes into her ports; but this rule I have + not violated. I have entered the harbour of Cadiz with my single ship, + and I demand only the hospitality to which I am entitled by the law of + nations--the Confederate States being one of the _de facto_ nations of + the earth, by Spain's own acknowledgment, as before stated. I am sorry + to be obliged to add, too, that my ship is in a crippled condition. She + is damaged in her hull, is leaking badly, is unseaworthy, and will + require to be docked and repaired before it will be possible for her to + proceed to sea. I am therefore constrained, by the force of + circumstances, most respectfully to decline obedience to the order which + I have received, until the necessary repairs can be made. Further, I + have on board forty-three prisoners, confined within a small space, + greatly to their discomfort, and simple humanity would seem to dictate, + that I should be permitted to hand them over to the care of their consul + on shore without unnecessary delay. + + I have, &c. (Signed) R. SEMMES. + + To his Excellency The Military Governor of the Port of Cadiz, Spain. + + At 11.30, a boat with the Spanish flag anchored a short distance from + me, evidently a guard upon my movements. The Yankees have been at work, + no doubt, to bring all this about. The military governor is telegraphing + my reply back, and we shall see what the answer will be. + + I was mistaken in the above. The order to proceed to sea was begotten in + the wise brains of the local authorities. My reply to it having been + telegraphed to Madrid, the authorities were overruled; and the Queen + despatched an order to permit me to land my prisoners, and to make such + repairs as I needed. So this business, which has troubled us a couple of + days, is at an end. This evening, just before dark, a Spanish + steam-frigate came down from the Navy Yard, and anchored near us. + + _Monday, January 6th._--Last night I was aroused at 2.30 A.M., by a boat + from the shore, with a note from the military governor, requesting me to + delay proceeding to sea, that the _benevolent_ intentions of her + Majesty's Government in regard to me might be carried out. The "muddy + heads" on shore had received a despatch from Madrid, in reply to my + letter to them. Weather clear and bracing. Wind from the North. + Thermometer at noon 59.° The steam-frigate disappeared somehow during + the night. Protested, as under, against the presence of a health + guard-boat:-- + + C.S. Steamer "Sumter," + Cadiz, January 6th, 1862. + + SIR,--I have had the honour to receive your Excellency's note + of to-day, in which you inform me that the proceedings of the + local authorities of Cadiz, commanding me to proceed to sea + within twenty-four hours, have been overruled by the Government + at Madrid, and that the Queen had graciously permitted me + to land my prisoners, and to remain to put the necessary repairs + upon my ship. Do me the favour to communicate to her Majesty + my thanks for her prompt and friendly action in the premises. + + In the meantime, allow me most respectfully to protest against + the presence of the guard-boat which has been placed in surveillance + upon my movements, as though I were an ordinary ship + of commerce. Compliance with the laws of quarantine should + be left with me as a matter of honour, and the presence of this + boat implies the suspicion that a ship of war of a friendly Power + could so far forget herself as to infringe the regulations of the + port--a suspicion as unworthy the health authorities of the port + of Cadiz as it is offensive to me. + + I have the honour to be, &c. &c. + + (Signed) R. SEMMES. + + Señor Ignacio Mendez de Vigo, + Military Governor of the Port of Cadiz. + + _Tuesday, January 7th_.--To-day I received a note from Senor + de Vigo, the military Governor, informing me that the Queen's + Government had consented to permit me to land my prisoners, + and to remain for repairs. He puts my remaining, however, on + the ground of necessity arising out of my crippled condition. Received + also a reply from the Yankee Consul to my note about the + prisoners: declined to receive it on account of its being improperly + addressed.[5] Landed all the prisoners. Received another + note from the Governor, requesting me to hurry my repairs, &c. + Sent to the Captain of the port on the subject. Referred by + him to Captain-General. + + [Footnote 5: + +CAPTAIN SEMMES, C.S.N., to U.S. CONSUL, CADIZ, + +C.S. Steamer Sumter, Cadiz, +January 7, 1862. + +Sir,--Your note of this morning having been sent off to me by a common +boatman, I could not learn the name of the writer without breaking +the envelope. Having done so, and ascertained it to be from yourself, +I decline to receive it, as being improperly addressed. My address +is as follows:-- + +COMMANDER H. SEMMES, + +Confederate States Navy, +Commanding C.S. Steamer Sumter. +E.S. Eggleston, U.S. Consul.] + +_Wednesday, January 8th_.--Complained to the Civil Governor of the +Paymaster and Surgeon having been called alongside the guard-boat +(whilst coming on board in a shore boat). Despatched a Lieutenant to San +Fernando to see the Captain-General about docking the ship. He returned +at nightfall, with word that the Captain-General would reply in the +morning. + +_Thursday, January 9th_.--Visited by Engineer of docks at San +Fernando, to learn the extent of the repairs which we shall require, and +to take the dimensions of the ship, to ascertain whether she can enter +the only dock that is empty. A fine, clear day, with a pleasant wind +from the N. Bar. 30'34., the highest that I have ever seen. No answer +from the Captain-General yet (noon), as to our being docked. Besides the +six ships which Mr. Welles says have been in pursuit of me--viz., the +Powhattan, the Niagara, the San Jacinto, the Iroquois, the Keystone +State, and the Richmond--the Ino and the Dacotah are also employed in +this fruitless business. We are fairly in the hands of the +circumlocution office. I suppose they are telegraphing Madrid. The +greatest excitement prevails all over Europe to learn the result of the +English demand for the Commissioners. The general impression is, that +the Yankees will give them up, and that there will be no war. The packet +from New York is expected in England to-day. In the meantime, Great +Britain is calling home her ships of war; the Mediterranean fleet +arrived at Gibraltar on January 2nd, and threw the commercial community +into the greatest consternation. Received final permission this evening +from the Captain-General to enter dock. + +_Saturday, January 11th_.--Visited the shore. Cadiz full of life and +bustle. Met Mr. Oliver; he is from the East. He says Russia is laying +deep schemes for uniting the whole Sclavonic race under her rule; and +that the _cotton_ pressure is felt at Constantinople, up the Danube, +and, in short, all over Eastern Europe. Received permission from the +Governor to land the marine who was sentenced by court-martial to be +discharged. News of the great fire in Charleston. Rumour that the +Yankees have given up the Commissioners. Can scarcely credit it as yet. +Yankee-dom can hardly have fallen so low. + +_Sunday, January 12th_.--Landed the discharged marine. The news that +Messrs. Mason and Slidell have been given up appears to be confirmed. +The subtle diplomacy, notifying the Yankee Government _unofficially_, +that the ultimatum would be withheld a short time, to allow them time to +give up the prisoners _voluntarily_, was resorted to! The Yankee Consul +here gave a dinner on the occasion! The Cadiz papers comment very +unfavourably upon this back-down, and insist that notwithstanding, it is +the duty of the great Powers to interpose and put an end to the war. In +the afternoon we got under way, and passing through the fleet of +shipping, went up to the dock at Caracca, some eight miles east of the +city. The harbor is perfect, the water deep, and the buildings +extensive. The pilot who took me up, says he is the man to run me out by +the enemy, when I am ready--that he was in New Orleans sixty years ago, +and remained a year in Louisiana, where he learned to speak the +language, which he has not yet entirely forgotten. + +_Monday, January 13th_.--At about 10 o'clock the dockyard people came on +board of us, and at 10.30 we were safely docked, and at noon the dock +pumped dry. We suffered very little damage from running ashore at +Maranham. We indented a small place under the forefoot, and knocked off +only a small portion of our false keel instead of the whole of it, as we +supposed. We are now knocking away bulk-heads, and removing magazine and +shell room to get at the shaft. At 1 P.M. called officially upon the +Naval-Commandant, and returned him my thanks for the handsome manner in +which he had docked my ship. I spoke of the back-down of the Yankees, +which he asserted would make them lose caste in Europe. The great fire +at Charleston was alluded to by him, whereupon I remarked that Europe +could see from this incident--(the work of incendiarism prompted and +paid for, no doubt, by the enemy)--the barbarous nature of the war waged +upon us, and told him we were in fact fighting the battles of Spain as +well as our own; for if the barbarians of the North succeeded in +overcoming the South (which, however, I pronounced an impossibility), +and destroying our slave property, in their wild fanaticism and +increasing madness, they would next make war on Cuba and Porto Rico. He +replied that this war could not continue much longer; there were people +and territory enough in North America to make two great governments, and +Europe would, no doubt united, soon interpose. I was treated with great +civility and kindness. + +_Tuesday, January 14th_.--* * * Had an interview to-day with the +Naval-Commandant, who explained to me the orders he had received from +the Government in relation to my ship, which were to put upon her only +the _indispensable_ repairs, without essential alterations. I expressed +myself satisfied with this; told him I knew the solicitude of his +Government to avoid complication; and, that so far as depended upon me, +he might rely upon it that I would permit nothing to be done which might +involve it in any way. Proceeding with the necessary repairs. Some +thousand workmen, many of them convicts, are employed in this yard. They +have in dock, receiving her copper, a heavy steam frigate constructed +here, and another still larger on the stocks. Immense quantities of +timber are in the docks, and though the water is salt it is not attacked +by the worm, the ebb and flow of the tide preventing it. Timber which +has been forty years in these docks is perfectly sound. Five of my +seamen deserted yesterday--all foreigners, I am glad to say. The +Commandant has promised to put the police on the scent, but I have no +expectation I shall get them. + +_Wednesday, January 15th_.--Having had the plank replaced in the bilge, +and re-coppered and overhauled the propeller, we were let out of dock at +1 P.M. These repairs were done with a very bad grace by the Spanish +officials, who seemed in a great hurry to get rid of us, lest the affair +of our being docked should compromise them! This I suppose was due to +official timidity, not to any want of good feeling, as the Commandant of +the yard expressed to me his regret at not being able to put me in +complete repair; personally offering to render me any service in his +power. Our engine not being ready for use, the Captain-General sent a +small steamer to tow me to Cadiz, where we anchored at about 4 P.M. +Whilst lying in the dock, a stampede took place amongst my crew, nine of +them having deserted. Two were brought back; the rest escaped. Some of +these men had behaved themselves very well, but none of them, of course, +had any attachment to the flag, not being natives, or, indeed, citizens +at all, and, sailor-like, they had got tired, and wanted a change. Some, +no doubt, shrank from the arduous and perilous duties of the service in +which they had engaged. They took refuge with the Yankee Consul, and it +was useless to ask to have them given up. The enemy is certainly good +at burning cities by means of negro incendiaries, and at enticing away +our seamen. Another lad ran away from a boat this evening. Have directed +no boat should leave the ship without an officer, and that the officer +be armed, and ordered to shoot any men who attempt to desert. + +_Thursday, January 16th_.--Called my crew aft and had a talk with them +about the bad conduct of their shipmates who had deserted. Told them I +did not believe I had another man on board capable of so base an act; +that men who could run under such circumstances would run from their +guns; and that I did not want such, &c., &c.; and ended by telling them +that when funds arrived they should be permitted to go on liberty. * * * +At 9 P.M., the aide-de-camp of the Military Governor came on board, +bringing a pilot with him, with a peremptory order for me to go to sea. +I replied as under:-- + +C.S. Steamer Sumter, Cadiz, Jan. 16, 1862. + +SIR,--I have the honour to inform you that whilst my ship was in the +dock at Caracca eight of my seamen deserted, and I am informed that they +are sheltered and protected by the United States Consul. I respectfully +request that you will cause these men to be delivered to me, and to +disembarrass this demand of any difficulty that may seem to attend it, +permit me to make the following observations:--[6] + + * * * * * + +3. It has been, and is, the uniform custom of all nations to arrest and +hand over to their proper officers, deserters from ships of war; and +this without stopping to inquire as to the nationality of the deserter. + +[Footnote 6: The paragraphs omitted, contain merely a recapitulation of +the claim of the Confederate States to full belligerent rights.] + +4. If this is the practice in peace, how much more necessary does such a +practice become in war; since, otherwise, the operations of war--remote, +it is true--but still the operations of war, would be tolerated in a +neutral territory. + +5. Without a violation of neutrality, an enemy's consul in a neutral +territory, cannot be permitted to entice any seamen from a ship of the +opposite belligerents, or to shelter or protect the same; for, if he is +permitted to do this, then his domicile becomes an enemy's camp in a +neutral territory. + +6. With reference to the question in hand, I respectfully submit that +the only facts which your Excellency can take cognizance of, are, that +these deserters entered the waters of Spain under my flag, and that they +formed a part of my crew. The inquiry cannot pass a step beyond, and +Spain cannot undertake to inquire, as between the United States Consul +and myself, to which of us the deserters in question more properly +belong. Such a course would be tantamount to an interposition between +two belligerents, and it would be destructive of the essential rights of +ships of war in foreign ports, as well in peace as in war. + +7. I am inclined to admit that if a Spanish subject serving under my +flag should escape to the shore, and should satisfy the authorities that +he was held by me by force, and either without contract, or in violation +of contract, that he might be set at liberty, but such is not the +present case. The nationality of the deserters not being Spanish, Spain +cannot, as I said before, inquire into it. To conclude, the case which I +present is simply this:--Several of my crew, serving on board my ship +under voluntary contracts, have deserted, and taken refuge in the +consulate of the United States. To deprive me of the power, with the +assistance of the police, to recapture these men, would convert the +consulate into a camp, and the consul would be permitted to exercise the +right of a belligerent on neutral territories. + +I have the honour to be, &c., &c. + +(Signed) R. SEMMES. + + Exmo. Sr. Don J. Mendez de Vigo, + Military Governor, Cadiz. + +_Friday, January 17th._--Before I had turned out this morning the +Governor's aid again came on board, stating the order was made +peremptory, that I should go to sea in six hours, or I should be forced. +I called in person on the Governor, a not over bright official, and +endeavoured to make him understand how I was situated, but it seemed +impossible. He promised, however, to send a despatch to Madrid, to the +effect that I had no coals, and was awaiting funds to procure the same; +but, he added, if he received no despatch in the six hours he should +require me to depart. I returned on board, and gave the necessary orders +to get ready for sea. At 4 P.M., whilst I was weighing my anchor, the +General's aide came alongside, and said to me that the Madrid Government +had consented to let me remain twenty-four hours, that a despatch was +being written to me on the subject, to which the Governor desired that I +would reply in writing. I told the officer that, if his Government had +politely acceded to my request, permitting me to remain until my funds +arrived, I could have appreciated it; but that being restricted to +forty-eight hours, I declined to avail myself of the privilege, and +should go to sea; and that the General need not trouble himself to read +me the written despatch, as I had no other reply to make. I got under +way in a few minutes afterwards, and as I was passing out a boat was +seen pulling in great haste towards me, one of the crew holding up a +letter in his hand. I did not stop to receive it; I felt too indignant +at the manner in which I had been treated to be very civil. We passed +outside of the harbour a little before sunset, and held on to the light +until midnight, when we steamed for the Strait of Gibraltar. + +_Saturday, January 18th._--* * * * We entered the Strait of Gibraltar at +about 5 A.M., passing the Tarifa Light, and with the bold shores of both +Africa and Europe in plain sight, in the bright moonlight--bright, +notwithstanding the passing clouds. We made the Gibraltar light about +daybreak, and saw at the same time a number of sail. We gave chase to +two that _looked_ American, which they proved to be, and which we +captured. The first was the barque Neapolitan, of Kingston, +Massachusetts, from Messina to Boston, laden with fruit and fifty tons +of _sulphur_. The whole cargo was stated by the master, in his +depositions, to belong to the Baring Bros., consigned to their agents in +Boston--a falsehood, no doubt. Without stopping to look into the _bona +fides_ of this claim of neutral ownership, it was enough that the +sulphur was contraband, and that the fruit belonged to the same owner; I +destroyed both ship and cargo. No papers as to the latter were produced. +The second vessel was also a barque, the Investigator, of Searsport, +Maine. She being laden with iron ore, the property of neutrals +(Englishmen), I released her on a ransom bond; she was bound to Newport, +Wales. One fourth of the vessel was owned in South Carolina, and the +share of the South Carolina owner was omitted from the ransom +bond--amount of bond being less one-fourth fifteen thousand dollars. +Having burned the Neapolitan, I steamed in for Gibraltar at 2.30 P.M. +Passed under Europa point at about dusk, and stood in, and anchored in +the bay at about 7.30 P.M. Boarded in a few minutes by a boat from an +English frigate, with an offer of service. Sent a boat alongside the +health ship. + +_Sunday, January 19th_.--We found early this morning we had _pratique_. +A number of English officers and citizens came on board. At 10 I called +on board the frigate that had sent the boat on board of us last night, +but was informed that the Captain (who was absent) was not the +commanding officer present, and that the latter lived on shore. At 2 +P.M. I landed at the arsenal and called upon the commanding naval +officer, who received me very politely. I asked the loan of an anchor, +having but one, and the Captain promised to supply me with one if there +should be no objection on the part of the law officers of the Crown! +Walked from the Captain's little oasis--scooped out as it were from the +surface of the Rock, with a nice garden-plot and trees, shrubbery, +&c.--down into the town, and called on Lieutenant-General Sir W.J. +Codrington, K.C.B., the Governor, an agreeable type of an English +gentleman of about fifty to fifty-five years of age. The Governor +tendered me the facilities of the market, &c., and in the course of +conversation said he should object to my making Gibraltar a _station_, +at which to be at anchor for the purpose of sallying out into the Strait +and seizing my prey. I told him that this had been settled as contrary +to law by his own distinguished judge, Sir William Scott, sixty years +ago, and that he might rely upon my taking no step whatever violative of +the neutrality of England, so long as I remained in her ports, &c. The +garrison is about seven thousand strong, and it being Sunday, the +parade-ground and streets were thronged with gay uniforms. Spain, with +her hereditary jealousy and imperiousness of character, is very formal +and strict about intercourse with the Rock. The Duke of Beaufort visited +us to-day. + +_Monday, January 20th_.--Very fresh, threatening a gale. Ship reported +as having dragged her anchor. Ordered steam to be got up and the berth +shifted. Ran in nearer to the eastern shore into four fathom water and +where it was smoother. + +_Tuesday, January 21st_.--The westerly wind is bringing a fleet of ships +into the bay. To-day Colonel Freemantle came on board to return my visit +on the part of the Governor, and to read to me, by the latter's +direction, a memorandum of the conversation which had passed between us +on Sunday. The points noted were--first, that we had agreed that I +should receive all necessary facilities for the repair (from private +sources) and supply of my ship, contraband of war excepted; and, +secondly, that I would not make Gibraltar a station at which to lie at +anchor, and sally out upon my enemy. I assented to the correctness of +the Governor's memorandum. The first Lieutenant and Paymaster ashore +making arrangements for the purchase of an anchor and chain. The house +of Peacock and Co. refused to supply us, because it would offend their +Yankee customers. They made arrangements with another party. The town of +Gibraltar, from the fact that the houses are built on the side of the +Rock, and stand one above the other, presents the beautiful spectacle +every night of a city illuminated. Colonel Freemantle politely requested +me to visit the various batteries, &c. + +_Wednesday, January 22nd_,--Wind still from westward. Received on board +an anchor and chain. Received a letter from Captain Warden, on a point +of international law, to which I assented--to wit, that vessels should +have twenty-four hours' start. + +_Thursday, January 23rd_.--Visited by Captain Warden, the Senior Naval +Officer. Received a letter from Hon. Mr. Yancey, who does not believe +that the blockade will be raised for three months. Ordered a survey upon +the ship. + +_Friday, January 24th_.--Invited to dine with the 100th, a Canadian +regiment. Some of the officers went. Captain Palmer has been relieved by +De Camp. + +_Saturday, January 25th_.--We hear a rumour that the Nashville has been +sold. Ships constantly arriving and departing. + +_Sunday, January 26th_.--A charming, balmy day, resembling April in +Alabama. At 10, went on shore to the Catholic church; arrived as the +military Mass ended: many Catholics in the army. Small church, with +groined arches--remnant of Spanish times. After church took a delightful +stroll into the country, just above the Alameda. It is a labyrinth of +agave and flowers and shrubbery, among which the path zigzags up the +mountain-side; geraniums, and jonquils, and mignonette, and lilies are +wild. One is only surprised, after looking at the apparently barren face +of the rock, to find so much sweetness of Mother Earth. I clambered up a +couple of hundred feet, and from that height the bay, the coasts of +Spain, and sleeping Africa, robed in the azure hue of distance, and the +numerous sail, some under way, and others lying like so many cock-boats, +as seen from the height, at their anchors--the latteen craft speaking of +the far East, &c. Statue of General Elliot. A number of fine-looking +Moors in the streets, picturesque in their loose dresses and snowy +turbans. Gibraltar is, indeed, a city of the world, where one sees every +variety of costume, and hears all tongues. Spanish is the predominant +language among the commercial classes. Major-General Sir John Inglis +(the hero of Lucknow), of the English army, Governor of Corfu, having +arrived on his way to the Ionian Islands, visited us to-day to see our +ship, which he was kind enough to say had become "quite distinguished." + +_Monday, January 27th_.--A general exodus of the shipping this morning +out of the Straits, within which they had been detained some ten days by +a head wind. The English mail steamer from Southampton arrived. Received +from her a _Times_ of the 20th, from which we learn that England had +protested against the barbarity of blocking up the harbour of +Charleston, by sinking a stone fleet. We feel some anxiety for the +safety of Messrs. Mason and Slidell, they having embarked on board the +English gunboat Rinaldo, at Princetown, on the 2nd instant, and not +having been heard of on the 10th, although bound to Halifax. A heavy +gale blew on the eve of their embarkation. + +_Tuesday, January 28th._--Preparing the ship for sea, surveying +machinery, and impatiently awaiting news from London. + +_Wednesday, January 29th._--Visited the shore, and went to the Military +Library and Reading Room, where I found the principal London journals. +Reported that the English Government will consult Parliament about +recognising us. Took a long stroll to the east end of the +Rock--exceedingly broken and picturesque. Came upon a Moorish +burying-ground, looking out upon Africa. Some of the marble slabs had +become almost disintegrated by the weather, so old were they. What a +history of human affections, hopes, aspirations, tribulations, and +disappointments lay buried here! New works, adding additional strength +to this renowned fortress, are still going on. * * * * + +_Thursday, January 30th._--* * * * Visited, in company with Colonel +Freemantle, the famous fortifications, passing through the +galleries--three tiers, one above the other--in the north end of the +Rock. These are huge tunnels, extending from a third to half a mile, +with embrasures from space to space for cannon--the solid Rock forming +the casemates. From these galleries we emerged out on a narrow footway +cut in the rock, and stood perpendicularly over the sea breaking at our +feet, and had a fine view of the N.E. face of the Rock rising in a +magnificent mass some 1500 feet. From this point a tower, called the +Queen of Spain's Chair, was pointed out to me--on the height opposite, +to the northward. The legend connected with which is, that during one of +the sieges of 1752, the Queen of Spain came to this eminence to witness +the assault and capture of the place, and vowed she would not descend +therefrom until the flag of Spain should wave from the Rock. The assault +failed, and the Queen in performance of her vow refused to descend, +until the Governor of Gibraltar, hearing of the determination of her +Majesty, sent her word that he would at a given hour hoist the Spanish +ensign that she might descend. This was done, and the Queen was rescued +from her predicament without breaking her word. + +Having finished our inspection of the Rock, we went through the town, +and passed out on to the neutral ground, from which I returned after a +four hours' ride completely broken down. On the south end, under a +perpendicular wall of rock, that in summer breaks the sun from an early +hour in the afternoon, is the Governor's summer residence, to which he +resorts for protection against the heat. We met his Excellency and lady, +who had come out to look at their summer home, &c. Colonel Freemantle +told me that the Spanish Consul, whom he pointed out as we passed the +Alameda, had stated that I was a Spaniard, or at least that my father +was--a native of Catalonia--that I spoke Catalan as well as English, and +that my name was a common one in that province. + +_Saturday, February 1st._--Witnessed a review of about five thousand +troops in the Alameda. Drums draped with black, and the ornaments of the +officers covered with black crape in respect to the memory of the Prince +Consort. + +_Sunday, February 2nd._--Received letters from N----, informing me, that +as my ship was unseaworthy, Mr. Yancey had determined to send me the new +one built at Liverpool, if I desired it. + +_Wednesday, February 5th._--A United States merchant ship came in and +anchored. Ready for sea. Mr. Joyce came on board, and went afterwards +with the Engineer on shore to look at some coal. Mr. Joyce sent word +that he could not purchase any, there being a combination against us. +Sent the First Lieutenant to the Governor to represent the facts to him, +and to ask for a supply from the public stores. He replied he had no +coal under his control, that it belonged to the naval officer, but that +he did not think it could be supplied. Expressed his astonishment at the +combination of the merchants. Sent a number of men on shore on liberty. + +_Friday, February 7th._--Liberty-men staying over their time. Two of +them have deserted and gone over to the U.S. Consul. One of them has +been badly beaten by the rest of the men. Eleven of them came on board +later. Visited by a Spanish Lieutenant, who had been directed by the +Spanish Naval Commander at Algeciras to see me and state that the U.S. +Consul had complained to the Spanish government that I had violated the +neutrality of Spain by capturing the barque Neapolitan within a mile and +a half of Ceutra, on the Morocco coast, and that the Government had +given the Admiral orders to see that both belligerents in the war should +respect Spanish neutrality. I stated to him in reply that any question +which the capture might present was a matter between our two +Governments, and that I did not recognise the right of the Spanish +Admiral to inquire into the matter. To this the Lieutenant assented. I +then said that I would take the pleasure of showing him, however, for +the information of the Admiral, that the truth had not been represented +to his Government by the United States Consul. I then called my clerk, +and showed him the deposition of the Master of the captured vessel, in +which it was stated that the capture was made within five miles of +Gibraltar! The officer seemed equally astonished and pleased, and +expressed his satisfaction. + +_Saturday, February 8th_.--Early this morning the British frigate +Warrior came in, and anchored near us. Sent a Lieutenant on board to +make the usual complimentary call. Awaiting the arrival of a vessel with +coal, consigned to Mr. Joyce, who promises to supply us. My coxswain ran +off to-day, and I was pulled off by a drunken crew. + +_Sunday, February 9th._--Did not go to church, but remained on board to +be present at muster. Eleven of my vagabonds still on shore. Some of +these, we learn, have gone to the United States Consul, and claimed his +protection. This official has been seducing them off by an emissary. +Wrote to the Governor charging this on the Consul, and wrote also to +Captain Warden, asking to be supplied with coal from the Government +dockyard. + + C.S. Steamer Sumter, Bay of Gibraltar, + Feb. 10, 1862. + +Sir,--I have the honour to state for the information of his Excellency +the Governor of Gibraltar, that I am informed and believe that the +United States Consul, at this place, has, by means of his emissaries, +tampered with, and seduced from their allegiance, several of the crew of +my ship who have visited the shore on liberty. The impropriety and +illegality of such conduct is so manifest that I take it for granted his +Excellency will interpose his authority for my protection. Great +Britain, having proclaimed a strict neutrality in the war now pending +between the United States and Confederate States, is under the +obligation, I respectfully suggest, not only to abstain herself, from +any un-neutral conduct, but to see that all persons whatsoever within +her dominions so abstain. No act of war, proximate or remote, should be +tolerated in her waters by the one belligerent against the other, or by +any citizen or resident against either belligerent. His Excellency will +doubtless concur with me in the justice and propriety of the rule thus +stated. To apply this rule to the present case. Being prompted by +motives of humanity to send my crew on shore, in small detachments, for +exercise and recreation, after a long confinement on shipboard, my +enemy, the United States Consul, sends his agents among them, and by +specious pretences persuades them to desert their ship, and take refuge +under his Consular flag. This Has been done in the case of the following +seamen:--Everett Salmon, John G. Jenkins, Thomas F. Kenny, and perhaps +others. Here is an act of war perpetrated against me in neutral +territory, and the consular residence, or office, has become _quoad hoc_ +a hostile camp. And this conduct is the more objectionable in that the +nationality of most of these men is not American. His Excellency, as a +soldier, knows that no crime is regarded with greater detestation in the +present civilized age of the world, than the one here described. As +between contending armies in the field, an offender caught in the +perpetration of such an act, would be subjected to instant death; and +this, not only because the act is an act of war, but because it is a +dishonourable act of war. And can an enemy make use of neutral territory +to do that, which would subject him to an ignominious death, if he were +without such territory, and within reach of the opposite belligerent? +When my men come within his Excellency's jurisdiction I lose all control +over them, and must rely upon his comity to regain possession of them. +If they leave me of their own freewill, in the absence of the +recognition of my Government, and of treaty stipulation, perhaps I have +no remedy. But when I permit them to go on shore, and enter the +jurisdiction of a neutral and friendly power, I do so with the just +expectation that they will receive the shelter and protection of the +neutral flag; and that they will not be permitted to be run off by my +enemy; and to wheedle and entice a sailor from his ship, and that too +when, perhaps, he is half drunk, is little better than kidnapping him. +In the present case, the violation of the neutral jurisdiction is as +complete as if the Consul had seized my men by force; for he has +accomplished the same object; to wit, weakening his enemy by +stratagem--a stratagem practised by one belligerent against another. If +this act had been committed by a military or naval officer of the enemy, +transiently within the limits of Gibraltar, every one would have been +surprised at it, and would have exclaimed against it as a flagrant +violation of the law of nations. And is the offence of less magnitude +when committed by a Consul, who is peculiarly favored by the law of +nations, as an officer of peace, and one whose pursuits lie wholly in +the walks of commerce? Mr. Sprague, the United States consul, is a +gentleman whom I have heard favourably spoken of, and it is barely +possible I may do him injustice in imputing to him the conduct +described, but the evidence came to me in a very satisfactory shape, and +I shall be ready to produce it if the allegation be denied. Should the +proof be made out to his Excellency's satisfaction, I shall deem it my +duty to request that the Consul be suspended from his functions, and +that the question of withdrawing his Exequatur be referred to the +British Government. + + I have, &c., &c., + (Signed) R. SEMMES. + + To Capt. J. Freeling, Col. Sec. + + C.S. Steamer Sumter, Bay of Gibraltar. + Feb. 10th. + +Sir,--I have the honour to inform you that I have made every effort to +procure a supply of coal, without success. The British and other +merchants of Gibraltar, instigated I learn by the United States Consul, +have entered into the un-neutral combination of declining to furnish the +Sumter with coal on any terms. Under these circumstances, I trust the +Government of her Majesty will find no difficulty in supplying me. By +the recent letter of Earl Russell (31st January, 1862), it is not +inconsistent with neutrality for a belligerent to supply himself with +coal in a British port. In other words, this article has been +pronounced, like provisions, innoxious; and this being the case, it can +make no difference whether it be supplied by the Government or an +individual (the Government being reimbursed the expense), and this even +though the market were open to me. Much more, then, may the Government +supply me with an innocent article, the market not being open to me. +Suppose I had come into port destitute of provisions, and the same +illegal combination had shut me out from the market, would the British +Government permit my crew to starve? Or, suppose I had been a sail ship, +and had come in dismasted, and the dockyard was the only place where I +could be refitted, would you have denied me a mast? and if you would not +deny me a mast, on what principle will you deny me coal, both articles +being declared by your Government innoxious? The true criterion is, not +whether the Government, or an individual may supply the article, but +whether the article itself be noxious or innoxious. The Government may +not supply me with powder--why? Not because I may have recourse to the +market, but because the article is noxious. A case in point occurred +when I was in Cadiz recently. My ship was admitted into a Government +dock, and there repaired; firstly, because the repairs were innocent, +and, secondly, because there were no private docks in Cadiz. So here, +the article is innocent, and there is none in the market (accessible to +me); why then may not the Government supply me? + +In conclusion, I respectfully request that you will supply me with 150 +tons of coal, for which I will pay the cash; or if you prefer it, I will +deposit the money with an agent, who can have no difficulty, I suppose, +in purchasing the same amount of the material from some one of the +hulks, and returning it to her Majesty's dockyard. + +I have, &c., + + (Signed) R. SEMMES. + + Captain E. Warden, Senior Naval Officer, + Gibraltar. + + _Monday, February 10th_.--* * * * Received a visit + from Captain Cochrane, of the Warrior, son of the late Earl + of Dundonald, notorious in the war of 1812, and distinguished + in the South American service. Wrote the following + letter:-- + + C.S. Steamer Sumter, + Bay of Gibraltar, Feb. 10, 1862. + + SIR,--I have the honour to inform you that I have this day + caused to be paid to the Spanish Consul at this port the amount + of the bill contracted by this ship under my command while in + the dock at Caracca. + +I have, &c., + +(Signed) R. SEMMES. + +To the Captain of the Port, Cadiz. + +_Tuesday, February 11th._--* * * * Five men in confinement! The +d----seems to have got into my crew. I shall have to tighten the reins a +little. + +_Wednesday, February 12th_.--* * * * Called on the Governor to have a +talk with him on the subject of my deserters. He took the ground that in +the absence of treaty stipulations he could not deliver a fugitive +unwilling to be returned. Whilst I was with him the Tuscarora was +announced by the telegraph. This ship came in and anchored near us about +12 noon, disguised with her mainyards down, so as to resemble a merchant +steamer. I saw Captain Warden on shore also. He informed me that the +question of my being coaled by the dockyards had been referred by +telegraph to London. + +_Thursday, February 13th._--Blowing a levanter. In the morning a barque +dragged foul of the Tuscarora, and carried away her (the barque's) +foreyards. Later in the day the Tuscarora shifted her berth over to the +Spanish shore, near San Roque. Several vessels took shelter in the +harbour from the gale. Among them a French line-of-battle ship, and a +Spanish side-wheel man-of-war. Shut up in my little cabin by the wet +weather, I have time to brood gloomily over home and the war, and the +prospects of our dear South. + +_Friday, February 14th._ * * *--At noon the Tuscarora got under way, and +stood over to Algeciras. + +_Saturday, February 15th_.--Anniversary of the day of my resignation +from the navy of the United States; and what an eventful year it has +been! The Northern States have been making a frantic and barbarous war +upon thirteen states and nine millions of people; in face, too, of +Madison's words: "If there be a principle that ought not to be +questioned in the United States, it is that every nation has the right +to abolish an old Government and establish a new one. This principle is +not only recorded in every public archive, written in every American +heart, and sealed with the blood of a host of American martyrs, but it +is _the only lawful tenure_ by which the United States hold their +existence as a nation." And then what flood-gates of private misery have +been raised by this war--overwhelming families without number in utter +ruin and desolation. + +Reduced my worthless sergeant to the ranks, and promoted a corporal in +his stead. The British Parliament met on the 6th, and we have in the +papers to-day the address to the Queen, and the speeches of the Earl of +Derby and Lord Palmerston. From the general tone of all these papers we +shall not be acknowledged at present. They say the quarrel is no +business of theirs, and we must fight it out. Astute Great Britain! she +sees that we are able to fight it out, and thus her darling object will +be accomplished without the expenditure of blood or money. + +_Sunday, February 16th_.--* * * * Visited by the Captain of the Scylla +frigate. + +_Monday, February 17th._--* * * * Visited the Warrior. The Governor +and suite and a number of naval and other officers, civilians, and +ladies visited her by appointment at the same time. The Warrior is a +marvel of modern naval architecture, and for a first experiment may be +pronounced a success. She is a monstrous, impregnable floating fortress, +and will work a revolution in shipbuilding. Wooden ships, as +battle-ships, must go out of use. With this single ship I could destroy +the entire Yankee fleet blockading our coast, and this is the best +illustration I can give for the necessity of this revolution in +shipbuilding. The British Government has declined to supply me with coal +from the dockyard, and I must make arrangements to get it from Cadiz. +The London, ship-of-the-line steamer, arrived. + +_Tuesday, February 18th_.--* * * * The Southampton mail steamer arrived, +bringing news from London to the 12th. The news of the defeat and death +of General Zollicoffer is confirmed. + +_Wednesday, February 19th._--Called on Captain Warden, and had a +conversation with him on the subject of our blockade by the Tuscarora. +Called his attention to the prevention of signals, the Tuscarora +communicating with Gibraltar by boats. Gave notice if the Tuscarora came +in I should claim precedence of departure, &c. The Warrior went to sea. +Judging from the tone of the English journals there is no prospect of +our immediate recognition. Sent to Cadiz-for coal. + +_Thursday, February 21st._--* * * * The newspapers state that there are +seven Yankee ships in pursuit of us--four steamers and three sail-ships. +Three of the steamers were at Teneriffe on the 11th of January. A report +has reached us that our Paymaster and ex-Consul Tunstall are prisoners +in Tangier! Received a letter from Captain Warden, informing me that the +Governor had prohibited all vessels in the harbour from making signals, +and had prohibited the Tuscarora from communicating with the harbour by +boats so long as she remained in Spanish waters, &c. + +_Saturday, February 22nd_.--The report is confirmed of the illegal +imprisonment in Tangier of Paymaster Myers and Mr. Tunstall. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +_The Tangier difficulty--Loyalty of United States Consuls--A daring +act--Imprisonment of the two Confederates--Captain Semmes' appeal--No +results--An armed force from the Ino--Threatened rescue--Neutrality +again--Foreign Office intelligence--The Harvest Home--Garnered._ + + +The imprisonment of the two gentlemen alluded to at the conclusion of +the last chapter, is an episode in the history of the Sumter which +demands something more than mere passing notice. When the news of the +occurrence reached England it excited a considerable amount of +attention, as not only did the case exhibit some curious phases of the +working of the law of "strict neutrality," but it also afforded a very +excellent idea of the marvellous loyalty of one of the United States +Consuls. Reference has been previously made to the zealous conduct of +the consular officials of the North. + +It has been shown that at Maranham, Cayenne, Paramaribo, Cadiz, and +Gibraltar, the respective Yankee Consuls acted upon the broad principle +that every Confederate was the natural enemy of the United States, and a +rebel to boot. Not content with simply holding this opinion, the task +these gentlemen set themselves was, to indoctrinate the Governments of +the several countries in which they were located with the same views of +the case. In some cases they succeeded so far as to cause considerable +vexation to Captain Semmes; and if they failed to convince the +authorities, that the Sumter was a piratical craft, they at least +succeeded in occasionally entailing needless delays in obtaining those +necessary supplies, which as an officer in the service of a country +recognised as a belligerent, the commander of the Sumter had a right to +demand. + +The Tangier Consul, however, went far beyond his brethren, for he not +only demanded, but succeeded in effecting the arrest and imprisonment of +an officer and a citizen of the Confederate States. These gentlemen, Mr. +Myers, the Paymaster of the Sumter, and Mr. Tunstall, a private Southern +gentleman, had been despatched by Captain Semmes from Gibraltar to +Cadiz, in search of coal. The vessel in which they embarked touched at +Tangier, and the two Americans landed for the purpose of inspecting the +curious old Moorish city. No sooner were they on shore than the United +States Consul hastened to the authorities, denounced his enemies, and +demanded their arrest, alleging that it was authorized by treaty +stipulation with the United States. After vainly imploring advice from +the representatives of the Christian Powers, the sorely perplexed +authorities complied with this demand, and the two Confederates were +seized, heavily ironed, and kept prisoners in the Consul's house. At the +very first opportunity they communicated with Captain Semmes, and he +with his usual promptitude at once despatched the following letter to +the Governor of Gibraltar:-- + + C.S. Steamer Sumter, Bay of Gibraltar, + February 22nd, 1862. + +Sir,--I have the honour to ask the good offices of His Excellency the +Governor of Gibraltar in a matter purely my own. On Wednesday last, I +despatched from this port, in a French passage-steamer for Cadiz, on +business connected with this ship, my Paymaster, Mr. Henry Myers, and +Mr. T.T. Tunstall, a citizen of the Confederate States, and ex-United +States Consul at Cadiz. The steamer having stopped on her way at +Tangier, and these gentlemen having gone on shore for a walk during her +temporary delay there, they were seized by the authorities, at the +instigation of the United States Consul, and imprisoned. A note from +Paymaster Myers informs me they are both heavily ironed, and otherwise +treated in a barbarous manner. + +I learn further that the pretence upon which the unlawful proceeding +was had, is, that it is authorized by treaty stipulation with the United +States. Unfortunately I have not a copy of this treaty in my possession; +but I presume it provides in the usual form, for the extradition of +criminals, and nothing more. I need not say to his Excellency that +treaties of this description are never applied to political +offenders--which I presume is the only category in which the United +States Consul pretends to place these two gentlemen. An occurrence of +this kind could not have happened, of course, in a civilized community. +The political ignorance of the Moorish Government has been shamefully +practised upon by the unscrupulous Consul. I understand that the British +Government has a diplomatic agent resident at Tangier, and a word from +that gentleman would no doubt set the matter right, and insure the +release of the unfortunate prisoners. And it is to interest this +gentleman in this humane task that I address myself to his Excellency. +May I not ask the favour of his Excellency, under the peculiar +circumstances of the case, to address Mr. Hay a note on the subject, +explaining to him the facts, and requesting his interposition? If any +official scruples present themselves, the thing might be done in his +character as a private gentleman. The Moorish Government would not +hesitate a moment, if it understood correctly the facts and principles +of the case; to wit, that the principal powers of Europe have recognised +the Confederate States as belligerents, in their war against the United +States, and that, consequently, the act of making war against these +States by the citizens of the Confederate States, is not an offence, +political or otherwise, of which a neutral can take cognizance; and even +if it were the former, no extradition treaty is ever meant to apply to +such a case. + +I have the honour, &c. &c. + + (Signed) R. SEMMES. + Capt. S. Freeling, Col. Sec. + +This letter was unattended with success, the maintenance of strict +neutrality being a barrier in the way of any interference on the part of +the British authorities at Gibraltar. Accordingly, Captain Semmes penned +the subjoined formal protest, and despatched it to the Governor of +Tangier. + + C.S. Steamer of war Sumter, Bay of Gibraltar, + February 23rd, 1862. + +His Excellency the Governor of Tangier, Morocco: + +I have the honour to inform your Excellency that intelligence has +reached me of the imprisonment by the Moorish Government at Tangier, of +Mr. Henry Myers, the Paymaster of this ship, and Mr. T.T. Tunstall, a +citizen of the Confederate States, and late United States Consul at +Cadiz. I learn further, that these gentlemen are heavily ironed, and +otherwise treated with inhumanity. I am utterly at a loss to conceive on +what ground this illegal imprisonment can have taken place; though I +learn that the United States Consul demanded it, under some claim of +extradition treaty stipulation. A word or two will suffice to set this +matter right. It must, of course, be known to your Excellency, that the +Confederate States have been acknowledged by the principal powers of +Europe, as belligerents in the war in which they are engaged with the +United States; and that, consequently, the Paymaster of this ship, in +any act of war in which he may have participated, can have been guilty +of no offence, political or otherwise, of which any neutral power can +take cognizance. Indeed, as before stated, the neutral powers of Europe +have expressly recognised the right of the Confederate States to make +war against the United States. No extradition treaty therefore can apply +to Paymaster Myers. Mr. Tunstall not being in the military or naval +service of the Confederate States, can no more be brought within the +terms of any such treaty than Paymaster Myers. I have, therefore, +respectfully to demand, in the name of my Government, and in accordance +with the laws and practice of nations, that these two citizens of the +Confederate States be set at liberty. + +I have the honour, &c., &c. + +(Signed) R. Semmes. + +Determined to leave no stone unturned, the Commander of the Sumter +sought to interest the British Charge d'Affaires in the fate of the two +prisoners, as will be seen by the annexed letter:-- + + C.S. Steamer Sumter, Bay of Gibraltar, + February 23rd, 1864. + +Sir,--May I ask of you the favour to act unofficially for me in a matter +of humanity, by handing to the proper officer the enclosed +communication, demanding the release from imprisonment in Tangier of the +Paymaster of this ship, and of Mr. T.T. Tunstall, a citizen of the +Confederate States. The Moorish authorities have evidently been imposed +upon by false representations as to the character and status of these +gentlemen. I hear that the United States Consul demanded their +imprisonment under some extradition treaty. The absurdity of such a +claim will of course be apparent to you. We are recognised belligerents; +our acts of war are legal therefore, so far as all neutrals are +concerned, and it cannot be pretended that any officer of this ship can +have committed any offence in any act of war in which he may have +participated against the United States, which Morocco can take +cognizance of, or bring under the terms of any extradition treaty. + +I have the honour to be, &c., &c. + +(Signed) R. Semmes. + + John Hay Drummond Hay, C.B., + H.M. Charge d'Affaires, Tangier, Marocco. + +On the 24th Mr. Hay replied, and the following extract from his +communication will best explain the grounds he assumed:--"You," he +writes, "must be aware that Her Britannic Majesty's Government have +decided on observing a strict neutrality in the present conflict between +the Northern and Southern States; it is therefore incumbent on Her +Majesty's officers to avoid anything like undue interference in any +questions affecting the interests of either party which do not concern +the British government; and though I do not refuse to accede to your +request to deliver the letter to the Moorish authorities, I think it my +duty to signify distinctly to the latter my intention to abstain from +expressing an opinion regarding the course to be pursued by Morocco on +the subject matter of your letter." + +To this despatch Captain Semmes forthwith replied, and his letter is +remarkable for the able manner in which the question of neutrality is +dealt with. After thoroughly reviewing the transaction, he sums up as +follows:-- + +"Upon further inquiry I learn that my first supposition that the two +gentlemen in question had been arrested under some claim of extradition +(unfortunately I have not a copy of the treaty between Morocco and the +United States) was not exactly correct. It seems that they were arrested +by Moorish soldiers upon the requisition of the United States Consul, +who claimed to exercise jurisdiction over them as citizens of the United +States, under a provision of a treaty common between what are called the +non-civilized and the civilized nations. This state of facts does not +alter in any degree the reasoning applicable to the case. If Morocco +adopts the _status_ given the Confederate States by Europe, she must +remain neutral between the two belligerents, not undertaking to judge of +the nationality of the citizens of either of the belligerents, or to +decide any other question growing out of the war which does not concern +her own interests. She has no right, therefore, to adjudge a citizen of +the Confederate States to be a citizen of the United States, and not +having this right herself she cannot transfer it by treaty to the United +States Consul." + +The communication, however, produced no effect; and, meanwhile, another +step was taken at Tangier. The United States frigate Ino no sooner +learnt the news of the capture made by the Consul than it ran over to +Tangier, sent a boat on shore with armed men, and carried off the +prisoners. This proceeding was not, however, allowed to be performed +quite so quietly as the Yankees could have wished. The Christian +population, exasperated at the arrest, turned out in force, and fears +were entertained that even the forty men from the Ino would not be able +to secure the safety of their prize. But here the neutral powers were of +assistance: their representatives, with Mr. Drummond Hay at their head, +came to the aid of the captors, calmed the mob, and thus averting the +threatened rescue, enabled the United States to carry off the two +Confederates on board the Ino. + +Captain Semmes, finding he could do nothing with the authorities at +Tangier, communicated with Mr. Mason, the Confederate commissioner in +London, and that gentleman made strong representations at the Foreign +Office, with what results the following statements of facts will show. + +It was on the 28th of February that the captives were finally carried +off from neutral territory, by an armed force from an enemy's ship. On +the 8th of March, Mr. Mason was informed by the Under-Secretary, that +the British Government was under the impression that they had been +released from confinement. On the 6th of March, just two days before Mr. +Mason received this intelligence, the Ino, which had run back to Cadiz, +transferred the two unfortunate prisoners to the Yankee merchant ship, +Harvest Home, which carried them away to a prison in the United States. + +Such was the history of the Tangier difficulty--a question which, at the +time, created considerable stir in Europe, and which is likely to leave +a lasting impression upon the Southern mind. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +"_The poor old Sumter"--The vessel laid up--What the Sumter +did--Official report--A narrow escape--Movements of Captain +Semmes--Useful missions--Appointment to the Alabama_. + + +Meanwhile the search for coal had been continued by the Sumter and at +length a promise of a supply had been obtained. It so happened, however, +that this supply, so long sought and so hardly won, would after all +never be required. + +The little Sumter's days as a cruiser were numbered. By no means a new +boat when first converted by Captain Semmes into a vessel of war, the +hard work and rough usage she had experienced in her seven months at +sea, had been too much for her already enfeebled constitution, and she +was now little better than a wreck. At last she fairly broke down +altogether, was surveyed by a board of her officers, pronounced +unseaworthy, and on the 24th of February Captain Semmes makes the +following entry in his journal:-- + +"And so the poor old Sumter is to be laid up. Well! we have done the +country some service, having cost the United States at least a million +of dollars, one way or another!" + +And so she unquestionably bad. Eighteen vessels captured; seven burned, +with all their cargo on board; and two released on heavy ransom bonds, +represent in themselves no inconsiderable amount of damage. Add to this +the amount really expended in pursuit of her; the enormously increased +rates of insurance; the heavy losses from reluctance to entrust goods in +United States bottoms, or to send ships themselves to sea under the +United States colours, and we have an aggregate of loss that a million +of dollars can hardly cover. + +Her career was now over; but she was ere long to find a successor under +the same command, beside whose exploits her own were to sink almost into +insignificance. The events of the few months that elapsed between the +final abandonment of the Sumter and the Alabama's start on her +adventurous career, may best be gathered from Captain Semmes' own +official report to the Secretary of the Navy at Richmond. + +Nassau, New Providence, June 15 to 20, 1862. + +SIR,--I have the honour to inform you of my arrival at this place, on +the 8th instant, in twenty days, from London. I found here Lieutenants +Maffit and Sinclair, and received from the former your letter of May +29th, enclosing a copy of your despatch to me of May 2d. As you might +conclude from the fact of my being here, the original of the latter +communication had not reached me; nor, indeed, had any communication +whatever from the department. As you anticipated, it became necessary +for me to abandon the Sumter, in consequence of my being hemmed in by +the enemy in a place where it was impossible to put the necessary +repairs upon her-to make her fit to take the sea. For some days after my +arrival at Gibraltar, I had hopes of being able to reach another English +or a French port, where I might find the requisite facilities for +repair, and I patched my boilers, and otherwise prepared my ship for +departure. In consequence of a combination of the coal merchants against +me, however, I was prevented from coaling; and, in the meantime, the +enemy's steamers, Tuscarora and Kearsarge, and the sailing sloop Ino, +too, arrived and blockaded me. Notwithstanding the arrival of these +vessels, I should have made an effort to go to sea, but for the timely +discovery of further defects in my boilers, which took place under the +following circumstances:--An English steamer, having arrived from +Liverpool with an extra quantity of coal on board, offered to supply me. +I got steam up to go alongside of her for the purpose, when, with a very +low pressure, my boilers gave way in so serious a manner as to +extinguish the fires in one of the furnaces. I was obliged, of course, +to "blow off;" and upon a re-examination of the boilers, by a board of +survey, it was ascertained that they had been destroyed to such an +extent as to render them entirely untrustworthy. It was found, indeed, +to be necessary either to supply the ship with new boilers or to lift +the old ones out of her, and renew entirely the arches and other +important parts of them, which could only be done in a machinist's shop, +and with facilities not to be found at Gibraltar. In this state of +things, it became necessary, in my judgment, either to lay the ship up, +or to sell her. Of course, the remaining by her of myself, my officers +and crew, in her disabled and useless condition, was not to be thought +of. Still, I felt that the responsibility was a grave one; and deeming +it more respectful to the department that it should be assumed by some +one higher in authority than myself, I reported the facts to the Hon. +James M. Mason, our commissioner in London, and requested him to assume +the power.[7] + +[Footnote 7: The following is the letter here referred to:-- + + C.S. Steamer Sumter, Bay of Gibraltar, + March 3rd, 1862. + +SIR,--I had the honour to address you a note a day or two ago, +requesting you to assume the responsibility of giving me an order to lay +the Sumter up, that my officers and myself may return to the Confederate +States, to take a more active part in the war. I now enclose you a copy +of a letter addressed to me by the wardroom officers of this ship on the +same subject, by which you will perceive that there is no difference of +opinion between us as to the policy and propriety of the step indicated. +Each succeeding mail is bringing us intelligence that the enemy is +pressing us on all sides, and it would seem that we shall have occasion +for every arm and all our energies and resources to defend ourselves. +The most that we could hope to accomplish by remaining where we are +would be, perhaps, to occupy the attention of an additional steamer of +the enemy. One steamer will always remain to watch the ship, in whatever +condition she may be; and probably no more than two would continue the +blockade if the officers remained by her. The enemy, having some 300 +armed ships afloat, one ship would seem to make no appreciable +difference in his offensive force. I would not press this matter upon +you so earnestly if there was any certainty of my hearing from the +Secretary of the Navy in any reasonable time; but my despatches are +liable to capture, as are his despatches to me, and many months may +therefore elapse before I can receive his orders. I can readily +understand how, under ordinary circumstances, you might hesitate about +giving me this order, but there are frequent occasions in which +responsibility must be assumed, and I respectfully suggest that this is +one of them. To lay the Sumter up without an order from the naval +department involves responsibility either in you or in me; and, as I +stated to you in my last note, it appears to me that the responsibility +may be assumed by you with more propriety than by myself, as you are a +high functionary of the Government, while I am a mere subordinate of a +department. The question of expense, too, is to be considered--the +expenses of the ship, with the utmost economy, being, in round numbers, +1000 dollars per month. Should you decide upon giving me the order, do +me the favour to telegraph me as follows, viz.:--"Your request is +granted--act accordingly." Address me also by mail, as it will take some +days to wind up affairs, and I shall have ample time to receive your +letter before leaving for London. + + Respectfully, &c. &c. (Signed) R. SEMMES + + Hon. Jas. Mason, Com., &c., London.] + +This he did very promptly, and in a few days afterwards I discharged and +paid off in full all the crew, except ten men, and detached all the +officers, except Midshipman Armstrong and a Master's Mate. I placed Mr. +Armstrong in charge of the ship, supplied him with money and provisions +sufficient for himself and his diminished crew for ten months, and +departed myself for London, whither most of the officers also repaired +on their way to the Confederate States. Upon my arrival in London, I +found that the Oreto (Florida) had been despatched some weeks before to +this place; and Commander Bullock having informed me that be had your +orders to Command the second ship he was building, himself, I had no +alternative but to return to the Confederate States for orders. It is +due to Commander Bullock to say, that he offered to place himself +entirely under my orders, and even to relinquish to me the command of +the ship he was building; but I did not feel at liberty to interfere +with your orders. Whilst in London, I ascertained that a number of +steamers were being prepared to run the blockade with arms, &c., and +instead of despatching my officers at once for the Confederate States, I +left men to take charge of these ships, as they should be gotten ready, +and run them in, deeming this the best service they could render the +Government under the circumstances. I came hither myself (accompanied by +my First-Lieutenant and Surgeon), a passenger in the British steamer +Melita, laden with arms, &c., with the same intention. It is fortunate +that I made this arrangement, as many of my officers still remain in +London, and I shall be able to detain them there, to take them with me +in the execution of your order of the 2nd of May, assigning me to the +command of the Alabama. In obedience to this order I shall return by the +first conveyance to England, when the joint energies of Commander +Bullock and myself will be dedicated to the preparation of this ship +for sea. I will take with me Lieut. Kell, Surgeon Galt, and Lieutenant +of Marines, Howell--Mr. Howell and Lieut. Stribling having reached this +port a few days before me, in the British steamer Bahama, from Hamburgh, +laden with arms, &c., for the Confederacy. At the earnest entreaty of +Lieut. Commanding Maffit, I have consented to permit Lieut. Stribling to +remain with him as his First Lieut., on board the Florida; and the +Florida's officers not yet having arrived, Mr. Stribling's place on +board the Alabama will be filled by Midshipman Armstrong, promoted. + +It will, doubtless, be a matter of some delicacy and management to get +the Alabama safely out of British waters without suspicion, as Mr. +Adams, the Northern envoy, and his numerous satellites are exceedingly +vigilant in their espionage. We cannot, of course, think of arming her +in a British port. This must be done at some concerted rendezvous, to +which her battery (and the most of her crew) must be sent in a merchant +vessel. + +The Alabama will be a fine ship, quite equal to encounter any of the +enemy's sloops of the class of the Dacotah, Iroquois, Tuscarora, &c.; +and I shall feel much more independent in her upon the high seas than I +did in the little Sumter. I think well of your suggestion of the East +Indies as a cruising-ground, and hope to be in the track of the enemy's +commerce in those seas as early as October or November next, when I +shall doubtless be able to make other rich "burnt-offerings" upon the +altar of our country's liberties. + +Lieutenant Sinclair having informed me that you said, in a conversation +with him, that I might dispose of the Sumter either by laying her up or +selling her, as my judgment might approve, I will, unless I receive +contrary orders from you, dispose of her by sale upon my arrival in +Europe. As the war is likely to continue for two or three years yet, it +would be an useless expense to keep a vessel so comparatively worthless +so long at her anchors. I will cause to be sent to the Alabama her +chronometers, charts, &c., and I will transfer to the vessel her +remaining officers and crew. + +In conclusion, permit me to thank you very sincerely for this new proof +of your confidence, and for your kind intention to nominate me as one of +the "Captains" under the new Navy Bill. + +I trust I shall prove myself worthy of these marks of your approbation. + +(Signed) R. SEMMES. + +Hon. S. Mallory, Sec. of the Navy. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +_The new vessel--Aide toi et Dieu t'aidera--Accommodation on +board--Cost--Laws of neutrality--Necessary caution--The 29th of July--A +breakfast party--The scene changed--Off--The pursuit--Too late._ + + +The vessel to which Captain Semmes was now appointed had been built +expressly for the Confederate navy, by Messrs. Laird and Sons, of +Birkenhead. She was a small fast screw steam-sloop, of 1040 tons +register, not iron-clad, as was at one time erroneously supposed, but +built entirely of wood, and of a scantling and general construction, in +which strength had been less consulted than speed. Her length over all +was about 220 feet, length of keel, 210 feet; breadth of beam, 32 feet, +and 18 feet from deck to keel. She carried two magnificent engines, on +the horizontal principle, constructed by the same firm, and each of the +power of 300 horses; while her coal-bunkers were calculated to +accommodate about 350 tons of coal. + +The Alabama, or as she should as yet be called, "No. 290," was +barque-rigged, her standing gear being formed throughout of wire rope; +thus combining strength with lightness to the utmost possible extent. +Her ordinary suit of sails consisted of the usual square sails in the +foremast, fore topmast staysail and jib, large fore and main topsails, +maintop sail, topgallant sail and royal, and on the mizen-mast spanker +and gaff topsail. Occasionally, this rig would be varied, as was the +case in entering Cherbourg, just before the close of her eventful +career, when a crossjack yard was got up across the mizen-mast, with +mizen topsail and topgallant yards to match; and the Alabama assumed for +a time the appearance of a full-rigged ship. This, however, was only a +temporary _ruse_, and her ordinary cruising sails were similar to those +commonly in use with vessels of her class. + +A little forward of the mizen-mast was placed the steering apparatus, a +large double wheel, inscribed with the significant words: _Aide toi et +Dieu t'aidera_; a motto which, in the case of the Alabama, has been +better acted up to than such legends usually are. Just before the +funnel, and near the centre of the vessel, was the bridge, at either +side of which hung the two principal boats, cutter and launch; a gig, +and whale-boat, being suspended from the davits on either side of the +quarter-deck, and a small dingy over the stern. On the main deck she was +pierced for twelve guns, with two heavy pivot guns amidships. Her lines +were beautifully fine, with sharp flaring bows, billet head, and +elliptic stern. The cabin accommodation was perhaps somewhat scanty, but +this, in so small a vessel, built altogether for speed, not comfort, was +scarcely to be avoided. The semicircular stern-cabin was, of course, +appropriated to the captain, with a small state-room opening out from it +in the starboard side. Forward of this came the companion ladder, and +forward of this again the wardroom, or senior officers' mess, with small +cabins on either side for the lieutenants, surgeon, and other officers. +Passing through the wardroom, the visitor entered the gunroom, or +"steerage," allotted on the starboard side to the midshipmen, and on the +port to the engineers. Next came the engine-room, occupying an unusual +space for a vessel of the Alabama's size; the coal bunkers, &c.; and +finally, the berth-deck, or forecastle, with accommodation for 120 men. +The lower portion of the vessel was divided into three compartments, of +about equal dimensions. In the aftermost were store-rooms, shell-rooms, +&c.; the midship section contained the furnaces and fire-rooms; whilst +the forward compartment was occupied by the hold, the magazines, and the +boatswain's and carpenter's stores. + +Such was the Alabama, or, as she was long called, "No. 290;" and +considering the peculiar circumstances under which she was built, the +numerous requirements to be satisfied, and the perfection of the +workmanship throughout the vessel, the cost of her construction and +armament cannot but be considered marvellously small. The builder's +charge for hull, spars, sails, boats, cable, and all equipment, except +armament, was £47,500. To this must be added the cost of her batteries, +£2500; magazine tanks, £616; ordnance stores, £500; and small arms, +£600, making a-total cost of £51,716, or in American money, of +250,305.44 dollars. + +It must not be supposed, however, that in leaving the building-yard of +Messrs. Laird, the Alabama's equipment was by any means complete. The +strictest injunctions had been given both to Captain Bullock and Captain +Semmes, to avoid doing anything that would by any possibility be +construed into an infringement of either the municipal law, or the +anxiously-guarded neutrality of England; and as the Foreign Enlistment +Act clearly forbade the _equipment_ of ships of war for belligerent +uses, it was necessary that the new cruiser should leave England +unarmed, and take her chance of capture, until some safe place could be +found for taking her armament on board. + +This was, of course, a delicate operation, and one requiring the +preservation of strict secresy, that the cruisers of the United States +might at least not be enabled to pounce upon their new enemy, until she +had been placed to some extent in a condition for self-defence. Nor was +this the only ground on which caution had to be observed. The career of +the Sumter had given Captain Semmes a clearer idea than he had probably +before possessed of the precise meaning of the word neutrality, as +applied to the present war, and there was too much at stake to run the +risk of detention from any such views of its obligations as had been put +forward in the case of his captive officer at Tangier. The law of the +case might be--he certainly thought it was--clear enough; but there was +no use in throwing temptation in the way of those by whom it was to be +interpreted. The recent cases of the Alexandria, the El Tousson, and the +El Monassir, have shown with sufficient clearness that this calculation +was tolerably correct. + +Accordingly, the reticence which has so distinctively marked the men of +the South throughout the struggle, was most religiously observed in the +case of the Alabama. It was impossible, of course, altogether to conceal +from the diligent researches of Mr. Adams' spies the fact of her +destination. But beyond having a strong suspicion that the vessel so +rapidly approaching completion in Messrs. Laird's yard was intended for +the Confederate States, these astute gentlemen were altogether at fault. +This, however, was enough, and on the application of Mr. Adams an order +was despatched to the Customs' authorities at Liverpool to seize the +ship, and prevent her from going to sea. + +Fortunately for the Confederate vessel her friends were equally on the +watch, and tidings of the projected seizure were promptly conveyed to +Birkenhead. It was necessary now to act with promptitude, and the final +preparations were pushed on with the utmost speed. At length, at a +quarter past nine on the morning of the 29th July, 1862, the anchor was +got up for the first time since she had been afloat, and the "No. 290" +dropped slowly down the Mersey, anchoring that afternoon in Moelfra Bay. + +Even this, however, could not be carried out without considerable +precaution, and it was necessary, as a blind to the suspicious eyes so +constantly employed in watching every movement of the sorely suspected +vessel, to announce that she was merely proceeding for a short trial +trip. To give colour to this pretence, to which her even then unfinished +condition lent a _prima facie_ sanction, a gay party was assembled on +board. A number of ladies, friends and acquaintances of the builders, +enlivened the narrow, and as yet rough and unfinished deck with their +bright costumes, and seemed to afford a sufficient guarantee for the +return of the vessel to port. Luncheon was spread in the cabin, flags +decorated the seats hastily improvised on the sacred quarter-deck, and +all seemed bent upon making holiday. + +Suddenly, however, the scene changed. At a signal from the Alabama a +small steam tug came puffing alongside, and to the visitors' great +astonishment they were politely requested to step on board. Relieved of +her gay cargo, the transformation of the Alabama proceeded with +rapidity. The luncheon had been already cleared away, and now seats and +flags, and all the rest of the holiday paraphernalia began speedily to +disappear. Late that evening and all the next day the bustle of +preparation continued, and at two o'clock in the morning of the 31st +July the anchor was once more weighed, and with a strong breeze from the +S.W. the "No. 290" started off, ostensibly on a voyage to Nassau in the +Bahamas. + +Just in time. That morning the seizure was to have been made. At the +very moment that "No. 290" was heaving up her anchor, a huge despatch +"On Her Majesty's Service" was travelling down to Liverpool, at the top +speed of the north-western mail,[4] commanding the Customs' authorities +to lay an embargo on the ship. The morning was still but very slightly +advanced when through the driving south-westerly squalls came the +gold-laced officials in search of their prize, only to return in outward +appearance considerably crestfallen, inwardly perhaps not altogether so +deeply grieved as a good neutral should have been at the ill success of +their uncomfortable trip. + +Two days more and another actor appeared upon the scene. Like her +colleague at Tangier, the United States frigate Tuscarora had got scent +of a valuable prey, and hurried round to the Mersey at full speed of +sail and steam to secure it. But by the time she arrived at Moelfra Bay, +the "No. 290" was already a couple of days upon her outward voyage. The +game was up, and the only resource of the baffled Yankee now lay in +scolding poor Earl Russell, who certainly had been no willing agent in +the escape of the daring little Confederate cruiser. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +_"No. 290" at sea--The rendezvous--Small mishaps--Good qualities of the +new ship--Nearly discovered--The captain--Terceira--Anxiety about the +crew--Coaling and arming--Getting to rights--Ready for the cruise_. + + +"No. 290" ran rapidly before the S.W. gale up the Irish Channel, and +past the Isle of Man and Ailsa Crag, till as the columns of the Giant's +Causeway began to loom dimly through the driving rain she rounded to, +laid her maintopsail to the mast, and sent a boat on shore with the +pilot and Captain Bullock, who up to this time had been in command of +the vessel. She was now transferred to the charge of Captain J. Butcher, +late of the Cunard service, her other temporary officers being--Chief +Lieutenant, J. Law, of Savannah, Georgia; second, Mr. G. Townley Fullam, +of Hull, England; Surgeon, D.H. Llewellyn, of Easton, Wilts; Paymaster, +C.R. Yonge, of Savannah, Georgia; and Chief Engineer, J. McNair, an +Englishman. The crew, the greater number of whom had been taken on board +in Moelfra Bay, numbered about seventy men and boys, and were shipped +for a feigned voyage, the Confederate captain trusting to the English +love of adventure, to induce them to re-ship when the true destination +of the vessel came to be declared. + +Bidding adieu to the Irish coast she now shaped her course for Terceira, +one of the Western Islands, where she was to meet her consort, and +receive on board the guns and other warlike stores, she had been +restrained by respect for English law, from shipping in Liverpool. +Throughout this run, which occupied nine days, the wind still continued +blowing a strong gale from the southward and westward, with a heavy sea +running, through which "No. 290" dashed along sometimes at a speed of +upwards of thirteen knots an hour. It was not, however, without a +certain amount of risk that this pace was maintained. Amongst other less +serious damages the bow port was stove in by a heavy sea, and altogether +the vessel showed manifest symptoms of the speed at which she had been +driven. But accidents of this kind were of minor importance compared +with the supreme value of time. Once fairly off, and the news of the +escape must spread rapidly through the kingdom. The first whisper of it +would bring the enemy's ships in pursuit, and a single hour's delay in +reaching her destination and placing herself in a condition for +self-defence, might bring one of them alongside, and the career of the +new cruiser be cut short before it had fairly begun. So "No. 290" +"crashed on" at top speed, and on the 10th of August "Land, ho!" was +called from the foremasthead, and she brought up at Porto Praya in +Terceira. + +During this trying voyage the new vessel had given full promise of those +splendid qualities as a sea-boat, on which depended so much of the +extraordinary success of her after career. She was, of course, by no +means in the best trim for sailing, whilst everything about her being +bran new was in the worst possible condition, short of being quite worn +out, in which to enter on so severe a trial. She came through it however +most triumphantly, exhibiting a speed and ease of motion rarely to be +found in combination. All hands arrived at Terceira in the best spirits, +and highly delighted with their new ship. + +The bay of Porto Praya, in which "No. 290" was anchored is of no very +great extent, but presents excellent holding ground for vessels, and is +sheltered from all but easterly winds. Three or four small forts occupy +positions on the shore, but appear never to have been armed, and are at +present falling rapidly into decay. The bay itself is secluded, and not +particularly well supplied with the means of sustenance, fruit and +vegetables being tolerably plentiful, but water very scarce, and beef a +luxury only to be obtained by importing it from Angra, on the other side +of the island. The officers however were kindly and hospitably received +by the inhabitants, and the best the place afforded placed at their +disposal. + +As yet the expected consort of the Confederate vessel had not arrived, +and some anxiety was felt by Captain Butcher and his brother officers, +as day after day passed by, and no signs of her appeared. On the 13th +August, expectations were aroused by the cry of "Sail, ho!" but the new +comer proved to be only a Yankee whaling schooner, from Provincetown; +and additional anxiety was occasioned on her arrival by the indiscretion +of one of the ship's company, by whom the real character and design of +"No. 290" was betrayed to the United States schooner, the speedy +departure of which, after learning the news, seemed ominous of trouble. + +At last, on the 18th, a large barque was observed steering for the brig, +and on a nearer approach proved to be the long-looked-for ship. She was +the Agrippina, of London, Captain McQueen, with a cargo of ammunition, +coal, stores of various descriptions, and six thirty-two pounders. Once +lashed alongside the sloop, and all haste was made to transfer her +cargo, and the crews of the two vessels were busily engaged in this +operation when, on the 20th of August, the smoke of another steamer was +seen on the horizon, and after a brief interval of suspense, lest the +new comer should prove to be a United States vessel of war, in search of +the escaped Confederate, the Bahama, Captain Tessier, made her number, +and three hearty cheers from the crew of "No. 290" gave welcome to +Captain Semmes, and the other officers late of the Sumter. + +Captain Semmes embarked on board the Bahama at Liverpool, on the morning +of Wednesday, 13th August, joining the ship in a steam-tug, the Bahama +having dropped down towards the mouth of the Mersey a few hours +previously. Captain Bullock, who, as it has been said, had seen the new +ship safely off upon her voyage before leaving her at the Giant's +Causeway, and had reported the happy commencement of the adventure, +accompanied him on board the Bahama, in which were also a number of +seamen, shipped, like those on board "No. 290," for a feigned voyage, in +the hope of inducing them to join when the ship was fairly in +commission. + + * * * * * + +As the tug left us to return to the city--writes Captain Semmes--the +crew gave us three hearty cheers, to which we responded. After a passage +of seven days, we made the island of Terceira, and soon afterwards the +port of Praya, at the eastern end of the island, our appointed +rendezvous. As we approached the port we looked with eager eyes for "No. +290," and her consort, the Agrippina, which had been despatched to her +from London with the armament. Greatly to our satisfaction we soon +discovered the spars, and then the hulls of both vessels lying snugly in +the bay, and apparently in contact, and indicating the transhipment of +the battery, &c. + +At about 11.30 A.M. we steamed into the harbour, and were immediately +boarded by Captain Butcher, who reported that he had already gotten on +board all the heavy guns, and many of the paymaster's stores, &c. As the +harbour is open to the east, and as the wind was blowing from the N.E., +driving a considerable swell in, which caused the two vessels to lie +very uneasily alongside of each other, I gave orders that they should +both follow me to the bay of Angra, where we all anchored about 4 P.M. +Hauled the two steamers alongside, and commenced discharging the two +additional guns. + +After having shown the new vessel to the seamen I had on board the +Bahama (numbering thirty-seven), I addressed them, telling them that +they were released from the contract they had entered into at Liverpool, +and were now perfectly free to dispose of themselves, and that I invited +them to enter with me on board my ship. I spoke of the war, explained to +them the object of my contemplated cruise, and the inducements held out +to them of prize-money, &c. This afternoon about one-half the number +shipped; the others hung back, perhaps, for better terms. There are, +perhaps, some sea-lawyers among them influencing their determination. I +moved my baggage on board, and slept my first night on board my new +ship. Warned by the authorities that West Angra was not a port of +entry, and that we must move to East Angra. + +_Thursday, August 21st_.--Clear fine weather. I am charmed with the +appearance of Terceira. Every square foot of the island seems to be +under the most elaborate cultivation; the little fields divided by +hedgerows of what appeared to be sugar-cane. The white one-storied +houses are dotted thickly among all this cultivation, giving evidence of +great populousness in this primitive paradise--so far removed away from +the world, and so little resorted to by commerce. Wind inclined to haul +to the S.E., which will open us to the sea again, and I am, of course, +quite anxious. Received a letter (or rather Captain Butcher, who is +still the nominal commander of the ship, did) from the English Consul, +informing us that the authorities still insisted upon our going round to +East Angra. Replied that we had come in to receive coal from the barque +in our company, &c., and that as the day seemed fine, and we should +probably have a good lee for the purpose, I would go to sea without the +marine league for the purpose. I knew they suspected me of arming as +well as coaling, and hence I resorted to this step to quiet their +apprehensions of my infringing their neutrality. + +Stood along the island--the Bahama in company and the barque +alongside--and hoisted out the gun-carriages, and mounted as many of the +guns as we could. Returned during the afternoon, and after nightfall +anchored in East Angra, with the barque still alongside. We were hailed +very vociferously as we passed in very bad English or Portuguese, we +could not make out which, and a shot was fired at us. The Bahama, which +was following, hauled off and stood off and on during the night; we +continued our course, and anchored about 8.30 P.M. Near midnight I was +aroused from a deep sleep into which I had fallen after the fatigue and +exertions of the day, and informed by the officer of the deck very +coolly that the man-of-war schooner was firing into us. As I knew they +did not dare to fire _into_ me but were only firing at me, perhaps to +alarm me into going out of the harbour, I directed the officer to take +no notice of the proceeding. In the morning we learned that this had +been a false alarm, and that the firing had been from the mail steamer +to bring on board her passengers. + +Had a talk with the old boatswain's-mate, who consented to go with me, +and to use his best exertion to bring over to me all the good men over +whom he could exercise influence. + +_Friday, August 22nd_.--Wind from the S.W., promising us a smooth day +for our work. Called all hands at 6 A.M., and commenced coaling. At 7 +A.M. a number of Custom House officers and the English Consul came on +board. Our coaling was suspended until the two ships could be entered at +the Custom House. We lost a couple of hours by this visit, but I was +gratified to learn as the result of it that we might remain quietly and +continue our coaling, &c. + +We got the remaining guns into position; got up and loaded some of the +rifles; opened a barrel of cartridges, and made sundry other hasty +preparations for defense, in case any attempt should be made to seize +the ship. At 11.30 A.M. signalled the Bahama, and brought her in to her +anchors. Towards night the weather became rainy, and considerable sea +setting in to the harbour, we shoved the barque off to an anchor. During +the night she dragged her anchor, and we were obliged to send a party on +board her to let go another, to prevent her from dragging on shore. +There was quite a row this evening on board the barque, ending in a +general fight, the sailors by some means or other having managed to get +drunk. + +_Saturday, August 23rd._--Morning cloudy and rainy. We were unable to +get the barque alongside, so as to continue coaling before 9 A.M. Still +we are hurrying the operation, and hope to be able to get through by +night. We have all sorts of characters on board, but the crew is working +quite willingly; now and then a drunken or lazy vagabond turning up. The +sharp fellows thinking I am dependent upon them for a crew are holding +back and trying to drive a hard bargain with me. + +Getting the battery to rights, and caulking the screw-well, which leaks +badly when she is under way. Made some acting appointments to fill up my +officers. Received on board a fine supply of fresh provisions and +vegetables for the crew. In this beautiful island all the fruits of the +temperate and many of the torrid zone are produced. Pine-apples, pears, +plums, and melons were brought off to us. + +We finished coaling, except seven or eight tons, by working until 9 +P.M., when the men were fairly fagged out. Hauled the barque off, and +resolved to go out with what coal I had on board, as to finish entirely +would involve a delay of Sunday. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +_Sunday, 24th August--Fairly afloat--Taking command--The white +ensign--Mission of the Alabama--The Modern Tar--At the pumps--Blowing +hard--A fruitless chase--Short-handed--The Ocmulgee_. + + +Sunday seemed destined from the very first to be a notable day in the +annals of the new Confederate cruiser. + +The morning of Sunday, the 24th August, found her afloat ready for sea; +the delicate operation of transhipping stores in an open roadstead +safely accomplished, a supply of coal on board sufficient for some weeks +of average steaming, and six of her guns mounted and ready to cast loose +for action at a moment's notice. The early hours of the morning were +occupied in washing down the decks which were covered thickly with coal, +and making matters above board as shipshape as under the circumstances +could be managed. By noon this was finished, and all was ready for sea. +A brief space was then devoted to the no less necessary operation of +dining, and at noon steam was got up, the anchor weighed, and "No. 290" +stood out to sea, the Bahama still keeping her company. + +For about four or five miles the two vessels kept silently upon their +course, until well beyond all possibility of dispute as to the too +well-remembered maritime league of neutrality. Then as four bells +sounded from the forecastle the crew were summoned aft, all heads were +bared, and stepping in full uniform on to the quarter-deck, Captain +Semmes proceeded in a voice clear and firm, but not altogether free from +emotion, to read aloud to the assembled ships his commission from the +President as Commander of the Confederate States Steam Sloop, ALABAMA. + +As he proceeded, the English flag which had been carried by the vessel +during her days of incognito, was slowly lowered to the deck, and three +little black balls might be seen wriggling their way swiftly but +cautiously to the mastheads and mizen peak of the Alabama. Boom! goes +the starboard forecastle gun as the reading is ended. The three black +balls are "broken out," the long pendant uncurls itself at the main, the +red cross of St. George flutters at the fore, and the pure white ensign +of the Confederacy, with its starry blue cross upon the red ground of +the corner, floats gracefully from the peak, as the little band breaks +into the dashing strains of "Dixie," and three ringing cheers peal out +over the sparkling sea. + +So far all had gone well and hopefully, and the enthusiasm of the moment +had brought a flush to the cheek and a dimness to the eye of many a +weather-beaten tar among the little crew. But enthusiasm is fleeting in +these practical days, and the sound of the last cheer had scarcely died +away upon the summer breeze ere the scene changed, and the true +nineteenth century spirit resumed its sway. The ceremony of hoisting the +flag and taking command completed, Captain Semmes called all hands aft +upon the quarter-deck, and addressed them as he had previously +addressed the crew of the Bahama, inviting them to ship with him in the +Alabama for the cruise. + +The address is described by those who listened to it as most spirited +and effective. It frankly avowed that the principal object of the +Alabama was to cripple the commerce of the enemy. But this would not be +her only aim. Prudence was essential, and he was not to fight a +fifty-gun ship, but when the opportunity offered of engaging on anything +like equal terms, the Alabama would be prompt enough to accept the +combat. "Let me once see you," he said, in conclusion, "proficient in +the use of your weapons, and trust me for very soon giving you an +opportunity to show the world of what metal you are made." + +The address was greeted with an unanimous burst of cheers, and then came +the anxious moment. "It may be supposed," writes Captain Semmes, in +recording the events of that memorable day, "that I was very nervous +about the success of this operation, as the management of the ship at +sea absolutely depended upon it." And of this fact the men were at least +as fully aware as himself. Nor had they any scruples as to availing +themselves most fully of the advantages of their situation. "The modern +sailor," continues Captain Semmes, "has greatly changed in character. He +now stickles for pay like a sharper, and seems to have lost his +recklessness and love of adventure." However this latter proposition may +be, the truth of the former was most amply proved on the day in +question. Jack niggled and haggled, and insisted pertinaciously on the +terms he felt his would-be Captain's necessity enabled him to command; +and in the end Captain Semmes was fain to consent to the exorbitant +rates of £4 10s. a month for seamen, £5 and £6 for petty officers, and +£7 for firemen! "I was glad," he writes, "to get them even upon these +terms, as I was afraid a large bounty in addition would be demanded of +me." + +Very curious was the contrast afforded by this scene with the enthusiasm +that had preceded, and the gallant, dashing, reckless career that +followed it. These men who thus stood out for the last sixpence they +could hope to wring from their employer's necessity, were the same who +subsequently dashed blindfold into the action with the Hatteras, and +later yet, steamed quietly out of a safe harbour with a disabled ship, +to meet an enemy in perfect trim and of superior force, and as their +shattered vessel sank beneath their feet, crowded round the very captain +with whom the hard bargain had been driven, imploring him not to yield. + + + +Finally, the bargaining resulted in the shipping of a crew, all told, of +eighty men; a larger number, perhaps, than Captain Semmes had himself +anticipated, but still not so many by at least twenty-five as were +required for properly manning and fighting the vessel. With these, +however, the Captain was fain to be content, trusting to volunteers from +future prizes to complete his complement. A hard evening's work followed +in preparing allotments of pay to be sent home to the sailors' wives, +and also in paying their advance wages, and sending small drafts for +them to agents in Liverpool. It was not till 11 P.M. that this task was +completed, and then Captains Bullock and Butcher took a final farewell +of the ship, and returned on board the Bahama, which with the remainder +of the two crews steamed away for Liverpool, and the Confederate cruiser +was left alone upon the wide ocean, and had fairly started on her +adventurous career. + +No sooner had the two steamers parted company than sail was made on +board the Alabama. The fires were let down, fore and main topsails were +set, the ship's head turned to the N.E., and by midnight Captain Semmes +was able to leave the deck, and thoroughly worn out with the day's +excitement and exertions, turn in to an uneasy berth in search of a few +hours' repose. + +Of this, however, there was not much to be obtained. The Alabama was no +sooner under way than the wind began to freshen, and soon increased to a +moderate gale. This was accompanied by one of those ugly seaways so +common in the North Atlantic, and the vessel rolled and tumbled in a +manner sufficiently trying, without the addition of the manifold +discomforts inseparably attendant on a first start. These, too, were, as +may well be supposed, not a little aggravated by the hurried manner in +which the transhipment of stores from the Agrippina and Bahama had +perforce been conducted. Everything, in fact, was in the wildest +confusion. The ship herself was dirty and unsettled, and her decks below +lumbered in all directions with all manner of incongruous articles. No +one was berthed or messed, nothing arranged or secured. Spare +shot-boxes, sea-chests, and heavy articles of baggage or cabin furniture +were fetching away to the destruction of crockery and other brittle +ware, and the no small danger of limbs. While to crown all, the upper +works of the vessel which had been caulked in the damp atmosphere of an +English winter, had opened out under the hot sun of the Azores through +every seam, and the eternal clank, clank of the pumps, which it was +fondly hoped had been heard for the last time when the poor, worn-out +little Sumter had been laid up, played throughout the long night a +dismal accompaniment to the creaking of the labouring vessel, and the +wild howling of an Atlantic gale. + +So passed the Alabama's first night at sea. The next day the gale still +continued, and hindered not a little the energetic exertions of the +First Lieutenant, who, whilst Captain Semmes endeavoured, by snatching a +few hours' sleep, to quiet his worn-out nerves, took his turn in the +endeavour to bring something of order out of the apparently hopeless +chaos, and gradually reduce the vessel to the trim and orderly condition +proper to a well-commanded man-of-war. On the Tuesday the gale abated, +though there were still the remains of a heavy sea. Topsails and +gallantsails were set, and the propeller, which had hitherto been merely +disconnected, and left to revolve, was hoisted up out of the water. + +Several days now passed in setting matters to rights, passing spare shot +below, laying the racers for the pivot guns; overhauling and stowing the +magazines; securing furniture, baggage, and other loose articles that +had hitherto pretty well "taken charge" of the deck below; and otherwise +making things somewhat snug and shipshape, and preparing the vessel for +self-defence in case of need. + +By Friday, August 29th, these preparations were nearly completed, and in +the early morning of that day the cry of "Sail, ho!" was heard for the +first time from the look-out at the fore-topgallant crosstrees of the +Alabama. The ship was at once kept away towards her, and after a long +chase, approached at near nightfall to within five or six miles of the +strange sail. The vessel proved to be a brig, and on nearing her Spanish +colours were shown by the Alabama. The brig made no response, and the +cruiser proceeded to fire a blank cartridge, as an intimation of her +character. Still the stranger kept doggedly upon her way, without +response, and it became a question whether ulterior measures should be +taken. After careful examination, however, of all those various +indications by which a sailor can judge of the nationality of a vessel, +almost as effectively as from a sight of her colours, it was decided +that she was, at all events, not an American; and Captain Semmes, +being-anxious to haul by the wind, and make his way with all speed to +the westward, the chase was abandoned, and the Alabama proceeded again +upon her course. + +The next day, Saturday, August 30th, saw the preparations for the +battery complete, and the pivot guns finally mounted, and ready for +action. The men were now allotted to the various stations, and mustered +at quarters, when it was found, that by telling off half a dozen of the +junior officers to complete the crew of the rifled gun, there were just +hands enough to fight the ship. This was satisfactory; and altogether +the five hard days' work since quitting Terceira had resulted in +something more like success in the way of order, comfort, and +efficiency, than it had at first sight appeared possible to anticipate. + +Sunday, August 31st, was a welcome day of rest to all on board; the only +break being a brief run off after a brig to leeward, which on being +challenged with French colours, proved to be a Portuguese. During the +day the Alabama made good running to the westward, under topsails, with +a fresh breeze well on her starboard quarter; and at midnight made all +snug, and brought by the wind on the port tack. The next day was passed +for the most part in quietly lying to under topsails, with her head to +the southward and eastward, whilst the crew were employed in finishing +the fittings of the battery, and scraping the deck and bulwarks clear of +some of the accumulated dirt, till 3 P.M., when she filled away again, +and started upon a N.W. course. + +By Tuesday, Sept. 5th, the Alabama had run into the thirty-eighth +parallel, and the temperature was sensibly altering. Up to this period +no prize had been captured, the few vessels overhauled having all been +under a neutral flag. On this day, however, whilst in chase of a brig, +whose extraordinary swiftness enabled her fairly to show the Alabama a +clean pair of heels, a vessel was descried in the offing, and the +Confederate bore up and made towards her. On approaching she was found +to be lying-to, with her foretopsail laid to the mast, and on a somewhat +nearer inspection, proved evidently to be a whaler. + +English colours were hoisted on board the Alabama, and a cheer was with +difficulty suppressed as the Stars and Stripes rose in answer to the +stranger's deck. Arrived within boarding distance, a boat was at once +sent on board the prize, the Alabama's red ensign giving place to the +Confederate flag as the boarding officer gained her deck. She proved to +be the Ocmulgee, of Edgartown, her captain, by name Abraham Osborn, +being a thorough specimen of the genuine Yankee. She was, of course, +taken possession of, her crew brought on board the Alabama and placed in +irons, and a quantity of rigging, of which the latter was much in need, +together with some beef, pork, and other small stores, transferred to +the captor. A light was then hoisted at her peak; her helm lashed hard +a-lee; the prize crew re-transferred to their own ship, and the Ocmulgee +left to her own devices, the Alabama lying by her during the night. + +The next morning another sail hove in sight, so the prize was fired, and +the Alabama again started off in chase, having taken from the prize +thirty-six prisoners besides the stores, rigging, &c., before alluded +to. The new chase proved to be a Frenchman, bound to Marseilles; and +this fact having been ascertained, the Alabama was kept away N. 1/2 W., +and in two hours afterwards was in sight of the island of Flores. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +_A muster--Prisoners landed--The Starlight--Santa Cruz--Novel night +procession--The Alert--Three sacrifices in a day--Weather Gauge +captured--The Altamaha--A signal--The Benjamin Tucker--Burnt!--The +Courser--Target practice--The Virginia--The Elisha Dunbar_. + + +From the 7th to the 18th of September was a busy time on board the +Alabama. Prize after prize was taken, and Captain Semmes' journal, as +will be seen, is chiefly taken up with records of successful chases. + +_Sunday, September 7th._--Running in for the island of Flores. At 11 +A.M. mustered the crew for the first time, and caused to be read the +Articles of War, to which they listened with great attention. At 3.30 +P.M., having approached sufficiently near the town of Lagens, on the +south side of the island, we sent all the prisoners on shore, having +first paroled them in the three whale-boats belonging to the prize, +Ocmulgee. At 4 P.M. filled away upon the starboard tack to head off a +schooner that appeared to be running in for the island. Having +approached her within a mile, we hoisted the English colours. The chase +not showing her colours in return, fired the lee bow gun. Still paying +no attention to us, but endeavouring to pass us, fired a shot athwart +her bows. Not yet heaving-to, or showing colours, fired a second shot +between her fore and mainmast; she then hoisted the United States +colours and rounded-to. Sent a boat on board and took possession. The +captain coming on board with his papers, she proved to be the Starlight, +of Boston, from Fayal to Boston _viá_ Flores. She had a number of +passengers; among others, some ladies. Put a prize crew on board of her. +Brought on board all the United States seamen, seven in number, +including the captain, and confined them in irons, and ordered the prize +to remain close to us during the night. Some dark clouds hanging over +the island, but the wind light and the sea smooth. + +Among the papers captured were a couple of despatches to the Sewards, +father and son, informing them of our operations at Terceira. This +small craft left Boston only six days before we left Liverpool in the +Bahama. How strangely parties meet upon the high seas! The master was +the cleverest specimen of a Yankee skipper I have met, about +twenty-seven or twenty-eight. He avowed his intention of trying to run +the gauntlet of my shot, deprecated the war, &c., &c. + +_Monday, September 8th_.--* * * * Again stood in to the town of Santa +Cruz, in company with the prize; lowered the cutter, and sent the +prisoners on shore, with a note addressed to the Governor. In the +meantime the Governor himself with several citizens came on board us. +The Governor offered us the hospitalities of the island, and in return I +expressed to him the hope that his fellow-citizens who were passengers, +had suffered no inconvenience from her capture. + +In the afternoon, gave chase and showed English colours to a Portuguese +brigantine. We then wore ship, and chased a barque in the north-west, +with which we came up about sunset. She proved to be the whaling barque +Ocean Rover, from Massachusetts, forty months out, with a cargo of 1100 +barrels of oil. Laid her to for the night, and permitted the captain and +his crew to pull in to the shore (Flores) in his six whale boats. The +sea being smooth, the wind light off shore, and the moon near her full, +this was a novel night procession! + +_Tuesday, September 7th_.--* * * * I was aroused in the mid-watch, +having had about only three hours' sleep, after a day of fatigue and +excitement, by the announcement that a large barque was close aboard of +us. We were lying to at the time in company with our two prizes. Wore +ship very quietly, and gave chase. The chase rather got the wind of us, +though we head-reached upon her, and at daylight we hoisted the English +flag. The barque not responding, fired a blank cartridge. She still not +responding, fired a shot astern of her, she being about two miles +distant. This brought her to with the United States colours at her peak; +put a boat on board, and took possession of her. She proved to be the +Alert, from New London, sixteen days from port; bound, _via_ the Azores, +Cape de Verde, &c., to the Indian Ocean. Supplied ourselves from her +with some underclothing for the men, of which we stood in need. + +About 9 A.M. fired the Starlight; at 11 fired the Ocean Rover; and at 4 +P.M. fired the Alert. Boarded a Portuguese whaling-brig, the master of +which I brought on board with his papers. These proving to be regular, I +dismissed him within a few minutes. Sent the captain and crew of the +Alert on shore, to the village on the north end of Flores, in their own +boats, four in number. + +Sail, ho! at 5 P.M. Filled away, and gave chase to a schooner in the +N.E. She was standing for us at first, but tacked on our approach, and +endeavoured to run. We had shown her the United States colors, and she +also had hoisted them, but she distrusted us. A blank cartridge brought +her round again, and hove her to. Sent a boat on board, and took +possession of the schooner Weather Gauge, of Provincetown, six weeks +out. The last two captures supplied us with large numbers of Northern +newspapers as late as August 18th. * * * + +_Saturday, September 13th_.--Gave chase to a sail reported on the +weather bow, and upon coming up with her, and heaving her to with a +blank cartridge, she proved to be the hermaphrodite whaling brig +Altamaha, from New Bedford, five months out. Little or no success. +Captured her, put a prize crew on board, and made sail in chase of a +barque to windward. + + * * * * * + +_Sunday, September 14th_.--* * * Last night at a quarter past eleven I +was aroused by the report that a large ship was close on board of us. +Hurried on deck, wore ship, and gave-chase; the strange sail being about +two to two and a half miles from us, partially to windward. Made all +sail, held our wind, and gradually eat him out of the wind, as well as +head-reached on him. Fired a blank cartridge, which he disregarded. +Continued to overhaul him, and when we had gotten on his weather-beam, +distant about half a mile from him, fired a second gun, which speedily +brought him to the wind with his maintopsail to the mast. Sent a boat on +board, with an order to the officer to show me a light if she should +prove to be an American; and in a few minutes after the officer got on +board a light was shown at the peak. Lay by him until daylight, when the +captain was brought on board. The ship proved to be the United States +whaler Benjamin Tucker, from New Bedford, eight months out, with about +340 barrels of oil. Crew thirty. Brought everybody on board, received +some soap and tobacco, and fired the ship. Made sail to the S.E. + +_Monday, September 15th_.--* * * Caulking the decks, which are already +quite open. Made the island of Flores from the masthead late in the +afternoon. Exercised the crew at quarters. Shipped one of the prisoners +from last prize--a Hollander. + +_Tuesday, September 16th_.--* * * * At daylight made a schooner on the +starboard bow. Gave chase, and at 7.30 hove her to with a blank +cartridge, and sent a boat on board, she showing United States colours. +She proved to be the whaling schooner Courser, of Provincetown, +Massachusetts. Took possession of her as a prize. Stood in towards +Flores, within four or five miles, and sent all the prisoners from the +last three prizes on shore in their own whale boats, eight in number. +Number of prisoners sixty-eight. About 5 P.M., having taken the prize +some eight or ten miles distant from the land, hove her to, called all +hands to quarters, and made a target of her, firing three rounds from +each gun. The practice was pretty fair for green hands for the first +time. We hulled the target once, and made a number of good line shots. +At dark fired the prize, and made sail to the westward. + +_Wednesday, September 17th_.--* * * At 7.30 A.M. gave chase to a sail on +the starboard bow, and at meridian came up with and took possession of, +the United States whaling barque Virginia, twenty-one days from New +Bedford. Received papers as late as the 28th August. Got on board from +the prize a large supply of soap, candles, &c.; and after bringing the +prisoners on board, fired her; filled away, and made sail to the N.W. + +_Thursday, September 18th_.--* * * Gave chase to a barque, which, +discovering our purpose, made all sail and tried to escape. Came up with +her at 2 P.M., after a chase of about three hours. Hoisted the English +ensign, to which she refused to respond. Fired the starboard bow gun, +and ran up our own flag, when she shortened sail and hove-to. Sent a +prize crew on board, she showing the United States ensign. Brought the +master on board. She proved to be the whaling barque Elisha Dunbar, of +New Bedford, twenty-four days out. As it was blowing fresh and +threatening a gale of wind, we got all the prisoners on board in the +course of about a couple of hours, and set fire to the barque. Reefed +topsails, set the fore trysail with the bonnet off, and stood on a wind +on the starboard tack to the S. and E. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +_Successive gales--Uncomfortable quarters--Weather moderates--Blowing +again--The Emily Farnum and the Brilliant--Neutral cargo--Ransomed--In +flames--The Wave Crest--The Dunkirk--Religious smuggling--A deserter +caught--A court martial--The Tonawanda--Precautions--The Manchester +burnt--Hope--Parting company--The Lamplighter--A hurricane--Great +danger--A cyclone--Safely passed_. + + +After this burst of good fortune in the way of prizes, during which the +Alabama had destroyed upwards of 230,000 dollars' worth of United States +property--or an amount very nearly equal to her own entire cost--in +eleven days, a lull was experienced. A succession of gales from various +points of the compass now prevailed with more or less violence for seven +or eight days, during a great portion of which the Alabama was lying to, +in a heavy sea under close-reefed maintopsail and reefed trysails. + +These were hard times for the prisoners; huddled together on deck, with +no shelter but an extemporized tarpaulin tent between them and the +pelting of the pitiless storm, which drenched the decks alternately with +salt water and fresh, as the heavy rain-squalls came down, or the sea, +glittering with phosphoric light, came dashing over the weather +bulwarks. There was, however, no alternative. The berth-deck was already +fully occupied by the Alabama's own crew, and the unlucky prisoners were +compelled to make the best of their uncomfortable position, and console +themselves with the hope that some vessel with a neutral cargo might +fall on the same ill-fortune with themselves, and afford them a chance +of being paroled and sent ashore. + +As the sun crossed the line the weather moderated, and by the 25th of +September all was again calm and fair, and the crew busy caulking the +decks, which had leaked terribly during the gales. They were followed by +a succession of calms and light baffling winds, the delay occasioned by +which was turned to advantage in practising the crew at the battery, and +with small arms. + +With the commencement of another month the rough weather returned. The +2nd October was a real ugly-looking day, with dense black clouds and a +Newfoundland north-easter blowing freshly. No observation was to be had, +the thick clouds altogether shutting out the sun, and the ship being in +the current of the Gulf Stream, the most she could do was to guess at +her position within some thirty or forty miles. + +On the 3rd the weather moderated, and fortune again smiled upon the +Alabama. The morning watch was not yet over when two sails were +descried, the one ahead, the other on the lee bow, each of which in its +turn was overhauled and captured; the one proving to be the Emily +Farnum, from New York for Liverpool; the other, the Brilliant, from the +same port for London, with a valuable cargo of grain and flour. + +The cargo of the Emily Farnum being neutral property, the vessel was +released as a cartel, the prisoners from the Brilliant being transferred +to her, as also those already on board from the other prizes, a change, +as may well be imagined, sufficiently acceptable to those unfortunate +beings who had now been exposed for nearly three weeks to all the +vicissitudes of an autumn in the North Atlantic. This done, the Emily +Farnum was permitted to proceed upon her way. The Brilliant was then +stripped of everything that could be of use to her captors, set on fire, +and left to her fate.[8] From the papers taken on board of this vessel +the crew of the Alabama learned the good news of the Confederate +victories in Virginia, and also of the successful run of the +screw-steamer Florida into a Confederate port. The two vessels also +brought to the Alabama a prize, in the persons of four new recruits, +which, in the short-handed condition of the ship, was of more real value +to her than the vessels themselves. + +[Footnote 8: One of the Alabama's officers writes in his private +journal:-- + +"It seemed a fearful thing to burn such a cargo as the Brilliant had, +when I thought how the Lancashire operatives would have danced for joy +had they it shared amongst them. I never saw a vessel burn with such +brilliancy, the flames completely enveloping the masts, hull, and +rigging in a few minutes, making a sight as grand as it was appalling."] + +The barque Wave Crest, of and from New York, for Cardiff, with a cargo +of grain, was the Alabama's next victim. She was chased and captured on +the 7th of October, and having no evidence of the neutral ownership of +her cargo, was condemned and set on fire, after serving for some time as +a target, at which her captors might practise their firing. She was +still blazing merrily, when another vessel was descried from the +masthead, and at 9.30 P.M. of a beautiful moonlight night, a blank shot +from the Alabama brought up the smart little brigantine Dunkirk, from +New York, for Lisbon, also loaded with grain. A boat was sent on board +of her, and her papers handed over to one of the Alabama's officers. No +evidence of neutrality, however, was to be found, and before midnight +she too was a blazing wreck, and her captain and crew prisoners on board +the Confederate steamer. + +The Dunkirk proved noteworthy in two ways. On searching through her +papers, it appeared that besides her ostensible cargo she was also +employed in what may be termed a kind of religious smuggling. Some +Portuguese copies of the New Testament were discovered, together with a +number of tracts in the same language, tied up in large bundles, on the +back of one of which was the endorsement:--"Portuguese Tracts; from the +'American Tract Society,' for distribution among Portuguese passengers, +and to give upon the coast to visitors from the shore, &c. When in port, +please keep conspicuously on the cabin table for all comers to read; +but be very careful not to take any ashore, as the laws do not allow +it." + +It appeared, however, that the conscience of the society had pricked +them for this concession to the majesty of the law, and a pen had been +carefully run through the last sentence. A little lower down, upon the +same packet, was written, "As may be convenient, please report (by +letter, if necessary) anything of interest which may occur in connexion +with the distribution; also take any orders for Bibles, and forward them +to John S. Peerin, Marine Agent, New York Bible Society, No. 7 Beekman +Street." + +The other noteworthy fact in connexion with the Dunkirk was the capture +on board of her of one of the seven sailors who had deserted from the +Sumter whilst lying at Cadiz ten months before. This man, whose name was +George Forrest, was at once recognised, and on the day but one after his +capture on board the enemy's vessel, a court-martial, consisting of the +first lieutenant (president); senior second lieutenant; master, chief +engineer, and lieutenant of marines, with the captain's clerk as +judge-advocate, was assembled in the wardroom to try the prisoner for +the crime of desertion. The evidence was, of course, simple enough, and +the man was found guilty, and sentenced to lose all pay, prize money, +etc., already due to him, and to fulfil his original term of service, +forfeiting all pay and allowances, except such as should be sufficient +to provide necessary clothing and liberty money. + +That same afternoon another sail was descried and chased, and just +before sunset the Alabama came up with and brought to, the fine packet +ship Tonawanda, of Philadelphia, belonging to Cope's Liverpool line, and +bound from Philadelphia to Liverpool with a full cargo of grain, and +some seventy-five passengers. Here was a serious matter of +embarrassment; of the seventy-five passengers, some thirty or more were +women, and what to do with such a prize it was hard to know. It was, of +course, impossible to take the prisoners on board; yet Captain Semmes +was, not unnaturally, reluctant to release so fine a vessel if he could +by any possibility so arrange matters as to be able to destroy her. It +was therefore determined to place a prize crew on board, and keep the +ship in company for a time, in hopes that ere long some other vessel of +less value to the enemy, or guarded from destruction by a neutral cargo +might, by good luck, be captured, and thus afford an opportunity of +sending the prisoners away upon cartel. + +Accordingly, a bond was taken of the captain for eighty thousand +dollars, as a measure of precaution, in case it should be found +necessary to let the ship go without further parley, and a prize master +having been put on board the Tonawanda, was ordered to keep company, and +her captor started off on a chase after a brig, which on being +overhauled proved to be English. One transfer, however, was made from +the prize, being nothing less than a well-grown and intelligent negro +lad, named David White, the slave of one of the passengers, who was +transferred to the Alabama as waiter to the wardroom mess, where he +remained until the closing scene off Cherbourg, by no means disposed, so +far as his own word may be taken for it, to regret the change of +masters. + +The following day, as an additional security, the master of the +Tonawanda was brought as a hostage on board the Confederate steamer, the +prisoners from the last two ships burned being at the same time +transferred to the prize. In this manner the two vessels cruised in +company for two or three days--an anxious time enough for the crew and +passengers of the unlucky Tonawanda, who spent most of their time in +eagerly scanning the horizon, in the hope that some armed vessel of +their own nation might appear in sight, and rescue them from their +unpleasant predicament. No such luck, however, was to be theirs; but on +the 11th October, a fresh addition was made to their numbers in the crew +of the Manchester, a fine United States ship from New York to Liverpool, +the glare of which as she, like so many others, was committed to the +flames, by no means alleviated their anxiety, as they thought how soon a +similar fate might befall their own vessel, should fortune not interpose +to arrest the disaster. + +At length, on the 13th October, excitement prevailed on board of both +vessels, and the hopes of the anxious passengers on board the Tonawanda +rose to fever pitch, as a large vessel was seen bearing down under +topsails only, her easy-going style of sailing seeming to prove +conclusively to a sailor's eye, that she must be either a whaler or a +man-of-war. On board the Alabama the former was the favorite +supposition, and hopes ran high of another glorious bonfire fed by tons +of brightly burning sperm oil. The aspirations of the Tonawanda were +naturally in favor of the man-of-war, and it was with difficulty that +considerations of prudence restrained the open exhibition of their +delight as the stranger drew near, and the long pendant floating proudly +from her masthead seemed to assure them that their hopes were to be +fulfilled. + +But disappointment was equally in store for all. The big easy-going ship +proved to be nothing more or less than an ordinary Spanish merchantman, +who, with more regard for personal appearance than maritime etiquette, +had quietly appropriated to herself the distinguishing ornament of a +man-of-war. So the guns of the Alabama, which had been cast loose and +loaded, were again secured, and the crew dismissed from quarters; while +the disconsolate Tonawandas, balked of their fondly anticipated rescue, +shook their fists at the deceptive Spaniard, and went below to digest as +best they might their grievous disappointment. + +At last, however, this time of suspense was over, and kind fortune came +to their assistance in the shape of a threatening gale of so ugly an +appearance that the captain determined not to run the risk of parting +company, and thus altogether losing his awkward, but not the less +valuable prize. Accordingly, having accepted from the master a ransom +bond for eighty thousand dollars, he dismissed him to his ship, and amid +the wildest demonstrations of delight from the closely-packed prisoners +on board, the Tonawanda filled away, and was seen no more. + +The wind now freshened to a tolerably fresh gale. Not sufficient, +however, for the next two days to prevent the Alabama from chasing and +capturing, on the 15th October, the United States barque Lamplighter, of +Boston, from New York to Gibraltar, with a cargo of tobacco, which, +however, as it proved, was never destined to soothe the _ennui_ of the +British soldier at that not very lively station. The sea was running +high, and the boats had a rough time of it in boarding the barque, and +returning with prisoners, &c. However, it was managed at last; the +unlucky vessel was fired, and after burning fiercely for some time, went +headforemost to the bottom, leaving behind her a savoury cloud that +almost tempted her destroyers to regret their work. + +And now it proved indeed fortunate for the prisoners who had so lately +been discharged, that they were not doomed to weather out on the +Alabama's deck the gale that came upon her. The 17th of October saw the +culminating of the bad weather that had prevailed during the last four +or five days, and for some hours the Alabama was exposed to a perfect +hurricane. The storm did not last long, but for about four hours it blew +furiously. It was not yet at its height, and the ship was still carrying +her close reefed maintopsail with reefed main trysail and fore topmast +staysail, when a sharper lurch than usual threw a sudden strain upon the +bumpkin to which the weather main brace was led, and in a moment it had +snapped in two. The mainyard no longer supported by the brace, and +pressed by the whole power of the straining topsail, flew forward and +upward till it was bent nearly double, when with a loud crash it parted +in the slings, splintering the topsail into ribands with a noise like +thunder. + +The ship was now in the greatest peril, for there was no longer +sufficient after canvas to keep her head to the wind against the +powerful pressure of the foretopmast staysail, and in another moment she +must have fallen into the trough of the sea, and probably been at the +least dismasted, if not altogether swamped. But the quick eye of the +captain of the foretop saw the danger, and springing to the staysail +halyards he cut the sail away, and the ship relieved of pressure +forward, again came up to the wind. + +The main trysail was now lowered, though not without splitting the sail, +and a small three-cornered storm trysail hoisted in its place. Even +under this minimum of canvas the tremendous pressure of the gale upon +her spars forced her down in the water several streaks, and the idlers +and boys were lashed for safety under the weather bulwarks, life-lines +being stretched before them to prevent them from falling to leeward. + +So far as it was possible under the circumstances to estimate the +probable extent of this cyclone, its greatest diameter would appear to +have been from about one hundred and sixty to two hundred miles, whilst +the diameter of the vortex, through a considerable portion of which, if +not actually through the centre, the Alabama appears to have passed, +would probably be from about thirty to five-and-thirty or perhaps forty +miles. + +The Alabama took the gale at S.W., the wind hauling afterwards to S., +and the vessel passing completely through the vortex. During that time +it lulled for about half or three-quarters of an hour, then hauled in a +few minutes to about N.N.W., which was the severest portion of the gale, +commencing with the squall by which the mainyard was carried away. The +barometer sank as low as 28.64. At 2 P.M. it had risen to 29.70, but +fell again a little, and then rose gradually. The rise and fall of the +barometer were both very rapid. + +During the violence of the gale, the birds flew very low, and with great +rapidity, and some rain fell, though not a great deal. The surface of +the sea was one sheet of foam and spray, the latter completely blinding +all on deck. A curious result of the gale was a huge knot into which a +strip of the maintopsail, the clew line, and chain sheet had twisted +themselves in a hundred involutions, defying any attempt at extrication +except by aid of the knife. + +During this tremendous storm the Alabama behaved splendidly, proving +herself as fine a sea-boat as ever swam. + +By the evening the storm had lulled, but the sea was still running +fearfully high, and it was not until the next day that it was possible +to set about repairing the damage suffered in this by far the severest +trial through which the Alabama had as yet passed. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +_Out of luck--Tempest-tossed--Rotatory storms--A prize--The case of the +Lafayette--A long chase--The Crenshaw--Neutral or not?--Rough again--The +Lauretta--Condemned!--The Baron de Custine--Released on bond._ + + +The Alabama was again out of luck. For the second time since her +departure from Terceira, nearly a fortnight passed without bringing a +single prize. It was, indeed, hardly to be expected that the splendid +success which had attended the first three weeks of her cruise could be +maintained. From the 1st to the 18th of September, she had captured and +destroyed no less than ten vessels, of an aggregate value of nearly two +hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Then had followed an interval of a +fortnight, during which one vessel only was overhauled, and proving to +be French, permitted to proceed. This dull period over, the 3rd October +had seen the commencement of another run of good fortune, extending over +nearly a fortnight, during which she succeeded in capturing five more +vessels, all of considerable size, and for the most part with valuable +cargoes. In this fortnight alone damage was inflicted upon United States +property to the amount of more than half-a-million of dollars; and it +was but natural that, after so splendid a gift, fortune should for a +time hold her hand. + +Accordingly, for the next ten or twelve days the Alabama lay helplessly +on the ocean, tossed and beaten about by a succession of gales from +every point of the compass, culminating, as we have seen, in the +hurricane of the 16th October. The season was, indeed, most unusually +severe, this month of October being commonly one of calm and fine +weather. A gale at this time is a most unusual occurrence; but for more +than a week a succession of storms was experienced of the most violent +description, while for fully three weeks the weather continued dark, +rough, and gloomy, with strong shifting winds and heavy rain, the thick +clouds rarely separating sufficiently to afford the chance of an +observation. + +Occasionally a break in the murky canopy would give promise of a change +for the better; but a very few hours served to dissipate the rising +hope. The sky would be again overcast, the wind breeze up from a fresh +quarter, and another night of discomfort set in. In addition to this +adverse weather, a still further difficulty was experienced in the +strong current that appeared to set continuously from the westward, +drifting the vessel bodily out of her course at the rate of sixty or +seventy miles a day. During this period, the barometer ranged from +28.64 to 29.70. It was remarkable that the winds appeared to succeed +each other with perfect regularity, rotating, as nearly as possible, +once in every two days, or at the utmost, in two days and a half. The +course taken by these rotatory storms was always the same, and it was a +rare occurrence for the wind to remain stationary in one quarter during +eight or ten successive hours. + +On the 23rd October the gale at last finally broke, and with the return +of better weather the Alabama's luck seemed also about to revive. At +noon a brief break in the clouds just gave time for an observation for +latitude, and this was barely worked out, when "Sail, ho!" was heard +from the masthead; and a fine brig was discovered hull down on the lee +bow. Running down to her under close-reefed topsails, she proved to be +English; but though not destined herself to become a prize, the +deviation in the Alabama's course, occasioned by the chase, proved most +fortunate for her. She had scarcely luffed up again, after ascertaining +the brig's nationality, when again the welcome cry was heard, and the +helm shifted in pursuit. Soon the new chase became clearly discernible +from the quarter-deck, when she proved to be a large ship running to the +northward and eastward under a press of canvas. So determinedly was she +"cracking on" as to have everything set, even to her main-royal, +notwithstanding that the wind was still blowing very nearly half a gale. + +The course of the stranger being diagonal to that of the Alabama, the +speed at which she was travelling soon brought her within speaking +distance, and, as usual, a feint was made for the purpose of extorting a +confession of her nationality. The flag chosen this time was the English +blue ensign, and it was speedily answered by the Stars and Stripes, +which fluttered gaily from the merchantman's peak as she dashed along +under her towering mass of canvas before the breeze, right across the +Alabama's path. + +Another moment and the scene was changed. The Yankee ensign had hardly +reached her peak, when down came the beguiling signal from the Alabama's +flagstaff, and the white folds of the Confederate ensign unfurled +themselves in its stead. A flash, a spurt of white smoke, curling for a +moment from the cruiser's lee-bow, and vanishing in snowy wreaths upon +the wind, and the loud report of a gun from the Alabama, summoned the +luckless Yankee to heave to. In a moment all was in confusion on board +the merchantman. Sheets and halyards were let go by the run, and the +huge cloud of canvas seemed to shrink and shrivel up as the vessel was +rounded to with folded wings like a crippled bird, and with her +foretopsail to the mast, lay submissively awaiting the commands of her +captors. + +She proved to be the ship Lafayette, of Boston, bound to Belfast, with a +full cargo of grain, &c. Of her own nationality there was, of course, no +doubt; but a question now arose about the ownership of the cargo, and +some hours of patient investigation were necessary before Captain Semmes +could determine upon the course to pursue. Finally it was determined +that the claim of neutral ownership was a mere blind to insure against +capture; and at 10 P.M., the ship having been formally condemned, the +crew were transferred to the Alabama, and the prize fired and left to +her fate. + +The following is Captain Semmes' memorandum of the + + + + +CASE OF THE LAFAYETTE. + + +Ship and cargo condemned. The cargo of this ship was condemned by me as +enemy's property, notwithstanding there were depositions of the shippers +that it had been purchased by them on neutral account. These _ex-parte_ +statements are precisely such as every unscrupulous merchant would +prepare, to deceive his enemy and save his property from capture. There +are two shipping houses in this case; that of Craig and Nicoll, and that +of Montgomery Bros.: Messrs. Craig and Nicoll say that the grain +supplied by them belongs to Messrs. Shaw and Finlay, and to Messrs. +Hamilton, Megault, and Thompson, all of Belfast, to which port the ship +is bound, but the grain is not consigned to them, and they could not +demand possession of it under the bill of lading, it being consigned to +_order_, thus leaving the control in the hands of the shippers. The +shippers, farther, instead of sending their grain as freight in a +general ship, consigned to the owners, they paying the freight, charter +the whole ship, and stipulate themselves for the payment of the freight. +If this property had been _bonâ fide_ the property of the parties in +Belfast named in the depositions, it would undoubtedly have been +consigned to them, under a bill of lading authorizing them to demand +possession of it, &c., &c.; the agreement with the ship would have been +that the consignees and owners should pay the freight upon delivery. +Even if this property were purchased, as pretended, by Messrs. Craig and +Nicoll, for the parties named, still their not consigning it to them and +delivering to them the proper bill of lading passing the possession, +left the property under the dominion of Craig and Nicoll, and as such, +liable to capture. The property attempted to be covered by the Messrs. +Montgomery, is shipped by Montgomery Bros. of New York, and consigned to +Montgomery Bros., in Belfast; and the title to the property, so far as +appears in the bill of lading, is in the latter house, or in the branch +house in New York. Further, the mere formal papers of a ship and cargo +prove nothing, unless properly verified, and in this case the master of +the ship, although a part owner of the ship, whose duty it was upon +taking in a cargo in time of war, to be informed of all the +circumstances attending it, and connected with the ownership, knew +nothing, except what he learned from the face of the papers. These +certificates, therefore, were pronounced a fraud, and the cargo as well +as the ship, condemned. 3d Phillimore 610-12 to the effect, that if the +goods are going for account of the shipper, _or subject to his order or +control_ (as in this case), the property is not divested _in transitu_. +The goods shipped by Craig and Nicoll, were consigned to their _order_, +as has been seen. + +As to the Montgomery's, see 3rd Phillimore 605, to the effect that if a +person be a partner in a house of trade in an enemy's country, he is, as +to the concerns and trade of that house, deemed an enemy, and his share +is liable to confiscation as such, notwithstanding his own residence is +in a neutral country. Further, the property consigned to Montgomery +Bros., even admitting the Belfast house not to be a partner in the New +York house, is liable to the same objection, as in the case of Craig and +Nicoll; since, although the property is described as belonging to a +party in Sligo, there is no bill of lading among the papers authorizing +that party to demand the possession. The property is not divested, +therefore, _in transitu_. + +3rd Phillimore, 599, to the effect, that "further proof" is always +necessary when the master cannot swear to the ownership of the property +(as in this case). And as I cannot send my prizes in for adjudication, I +must of necessity condemn in all cases where "further proof" is +necessary, since the granting of "further proof" proceeds on the +presumption that the neutrality of the cargo is not sufficiently +established; and where the neutrality of the property does not fully +appear from the ship's papers and the master's deposition, I had the +right to act upon the presumption of enemy's property. + +By midnight the Lafayette showed only a dim glare on the distant +horizon, but the event formed a topic of discussion for the next two +days, more especially as from the newspapers found on board it was +ascertained that news of the captures on the banks of Newfoundland had +already made its way to the United States, and that the Yankee cruisers +were, therefore, probably by that time in full pursuit. + +The 26th October, however, provided the crew of the Alabama with a +fresh excitement. The weather had cleared beautifully, the wind was +light from the eastward, and the vessel was gliding smoothly and +swiftly, with studding-sails set alow and aloft, over the long, easy +swell, which alone remained to tell of the heavy gales of the past +fortnight. Every one was enjoying the change, and even the strict +discipline of the man-of-war was, for the moment, in some measure +relaxed, as officers and men gave themselves up to the full pleasure of +a period of sunshine and tranquillity, after the long spell of gloom and +storm. The look-out-man alone, high up on the fore topgallant +crosstrees, still swept the horizon as eagerly as ever in search of a +prize. At about noon his vigilance was rewarded by the sight of a sail +on the port-quarter, and in a moment all was again bustle and excitement +on board. Quick as the word could be given, the "flying kites" were +furled, yards braced in, and the ship hauled up on a taut bowline in +chase. + +But the stranger was now well to windward, and fully four or five miles +distant. The Alabama flew through the water with the freshening breeze, +flinging the spray over her sharp bows, and stretching to her task as +though she herself were conscious of the work before her, and eager in +chase. But the strange sail was almost, if not quite, as fast as +herself, and her position so far to windward gave her an immense +advantage. The day, too, was wearing on, and the sky beginning to cloud +over, giving every token of a dark if not a stormy night. If the chase +could only hold on her course till dusk she was safe, and already the +hopes of another prize were beginning to fade, and the anxious +speculators on the forecastle were expecting the order to up helm and +relinquish the chase. + +On the quarter-deck, too, the idea was gaining ground that the affair +was hopeless, and that it was not worth while to keep the ship longer +from her course. But the Alabama was not given to letting a chance slip, +and before finally abandoning the pursuit it was determined to try the +effect of a shot or two upon the nerves of the stranger. A slight cheer, +quickly checked by the voice of authority, rose from the eager crowd on +the forecastle, as the weather bow gun was cast loose and loaded, and in +another minute the bright flash, with its accompanying jet of white +smoke, leaped from the cruiser's bow, as the loud report of a 32 pounder +rang out the command to heave to. + +A moment of breathless suspense, and another cheer rose from the +delighted throng of sailors, as the stranger's sails were seen for a +moment to shiver in the wind, and the frightened chase luffed to the +wind, and then lay motionless with the Stars and Stripes at her +mizenpeak. Another sharp hour's beating and the Alabama was alongside, +and had taken possession of the United States schooner Crenshaw, from +New York to Glasgow, three days out. + +And now began another investigation into the character of the cargo, and +notes were once more carefully compared, lest any _bonâ fide_ neutral +property should become involved in the fate that would otherwise befall +the captured enemy. Finally, however, the case was decided against ship +and cargo, and both were accordingly committed to the flames, the +following entry being made by Captain Semmes of the grounds of his +decision:-- + + +CASE OF THE SCHOONER CRENSHAW. + +This vessel was captured under the North American flag, and had on board +a North American register--there is, therefore, no question as to the +ship. There has been an attempt to cover the cargo, but without success. +The shippers are Francis Macdonald and Co., of the city of New York; and +Mr. James Hutchison, also of New York, deposed before the British +consul, that "the goods specified in the annexed bills of lading were +shipped on board the schooner Crenshaw, for, and on account of, subjects +of Her Britannic Majesty, and that the said goods are wholly and _bonâ +fide_ the property of British subjects." No British subject is named in +the deposition, and no person is therefore entitled to claim under it. +Further: even admitting the goods to have been purchased on British +account, the shipper has not divested himself of the possession by a +proper consignment, under a proper bill of lading. The property is +consigned to the _order of the shipper_, which leaves it entirely under +his control; and it having left the port of New York as his property, +the title cannot be changed while the property is _in transitu_. + +As to the first point--to wit, the failure to point out some particular +British owner of the property--see 3d Phillimore 596, to the following +effect:--"If in the ship's papers, property, in a voyage from an enemy's +port, be described 'for neutral account,' this is such a general mode as +points to no designation whatever; and under such a description no +person can say that the cargo belongs to him, or can entitle himself to +the possession of it as his property," &c. + +And as to the second point--to wit, the failure on the part of the +shipper to divest himself of the title and control of the property by a +proper bill of lading--see 3rd Phillimore 610-12, as follows, viz.: "In +ordinary shipments of goods, unaffected by the foregoing principles, the +question of proprietary interest often turns on minute circumstances +and distinctions, the general principle being, that if they are going +for account of the shipper, or subject _to his order or control_, the +property is not divested _in transitu"_ &c. + + * * * * * + +_Monday, October 27th._--Another gale of wind! In the mid-watch last +night the barometer commenced falling, and by 3 this afternoon it had +gone down to 29.33, where it remained stationary for a time, and then +began to rise slowly, being at 29.45 at 8 P.M. The wind began to blow +freshly from the south, and hauled gradually to the westward, the +barometer commencing to rise when the wind was about W.S.W. In the early +part of the gale we had the weather very thick, with heavy squalls of +rain, clearing about nightfall, with the wind from the W.S.W. + +In the midst of a heavy squall of wind and rain, and with a heavy sea +on, we discovered a brig close aboard of us, on our weather quarter; but +as we were on opposite tacks we soon increased our distance from each +other. Wore ship, and hove to, under close-reefed topsails on the +starboard tack. Being about a degree to the southward of St. George's +Bank, got a cast of the lead at 7 P.M., with no bottom at eighty-five +fathoms. Lat. 39.47 N., Long. 68.06 W., a little over two hundred miles +from New York. + +_Tuesday, October 28th_.--Weather cloudy; wind light from the north, +hauling to the eastward. The heavy sea, from the effects of the gale +yesterday, continued all day rolling and tumbling us about, and keeping +the deck flooded with water. In the morning watch descried a brig +running off to the southward. She being some distance off, and running +in the wrong direction, we did not chase. Soon afterwards another sail +was reported to the westward, standing in our direction; shaped a course +to head her off, and at 11 A.M., having approached her within half a +mile, hoisted the English blue. The stranger showing United States +colours, we hoisted our own, and hove him to with a gun. Brought the +master on board with his papers, and finding the cargo condemnable, got +the crew on board, fired the ship, and filled away. + +The prize proved to be the barque Lauretta, of Boston, from New York, +for Madeira and the Mediterranean. Received papers as late as the 24th. +The intelligence of our captures (as late as the Brilliant) seems to +have created great alarm for the safety of commerce in New York. + +CASE OF THE LAURETTA. + +This ship being under American colours, with an American (U.S.) +register, no question arises as to the ship. There are two shippers of +the cargo, Messrs. Chamberlain, Phelps, and Co., and Mr. H.J. Burden, +both houses of New York city. Chamberlain, Phelps, and Co. ship 1424 +barrels of flour, and a lot of pipe staves, to be delivered at Gibraltar +or Messina, to their own order; and 225 kegs of nails to be delivered at +Messina, to Mariano Castarelli. The bill of lading for the flour and +staves has the following indorsement, sworn to before a notary: "State, +city and county of New York: Louis Contenein being duly sworn, says, +that he is a clerk with Chamberlain, Phelps, and Co., and that part of +the maize in the within bill of lading, is the property of subjects of +the King of Italy." This certificate is of no force or effect for its +generality; it points to no one as the owner of the merchandise, and no +person could claim it under the certificate. See 3rd Phillimore, 596. +Farther: the property is consigned to the _order_ of the shipper. The +title, therefore, remains in him, and cannot be divested _in transitu_. +See 3rd Phillimore, 610-12. The contingent destination of this property, +too, shows that it was property for a market. It was to be delivered +either at Gibraltar or Messina, as the shipper might determine--probably +on advices by steamer, before the ship should reach her destination. She +was to stop, as we have seen, at Madeira, which would give ample time +for the decision. + +The bill of lading for the 225 kegs of nails has a similar indorsement, +except that it is asserted that the whole of the property belongs to +subjects of the King of Italy. It is not sworn that the property belongs +to Castarelli, the consignee, and for aught that appears, Castarelli is +the agent of the shipper to receive this consignment on his, the +shipper's account. The presumption being, that notwithstanding a +consignment in due form by an enemy shipper to a neutral, the property +is enemy's property, until the contrary be shown. The consignment alone +does not show the property to be vested in Castarelli, and the +certificate does not indicate him as the owner. Although Castarelli +could demand possession of the goods, under this consignment, he could +not claim to hold them as his property under the certificate. There is, +therefore, no evidence to show that he is not the mere agent of the +shipper. What renders this consideration still more clear is, that if +the goods had really belonged to Castarelli, it would have been so +stated in the certificate. Why say that the goods belonged to "subjects +of the King of Italy," when the consignee was the real owner? + +The property shipped by H. Jas. Burden consists of 998 barrels of flour +and 290 boxes of herrings, and is consigned to Charles B. Blandly, Esq., +at Funchal, Madeira. The shipper, H.J. Burden, makes the following +affidavit before the British consul in New York, to wit: "That all and +singular the goods specified in the annexed bill of lading, were shipped +by _H.J. Burden_, in the barque Lauretta, for and on account of _H.J. +Burden_, subject of Her Britannic Majesty." Now, Burden may be a very +good subject of Her Britannic Majesty, but he describes himself as of 42 +Beaver Street, New York, and seems to lose sight of the fact, that his +domicile, for the purposes of trade, in the enemy's country, makes him +an enemy, _quoad_ all his transactions in that country. Further: if the +H.J. Burden, the shipper, is not one and the same person with the H.J. +Burden for whom the property is claimed, then there is nothing in the +papers to show that property is vested in the latter, since it is not +consigned to him, nor is it shown that the consignee, Charles B. +Blandly, Esq., is his agent. The presumption, in the absence of proof, +is, that the consignee is the agent of the shipper. + + * * * * * + +_Wednesday, October 29th._--* * * * At 10 A.M. hove to; let down the +propeller, and put the ship under steam. Chased and overhauled a Dutch +barque, and towards nightfall came up with the United States brigantine, +Baron de Custine, from Bangor, with lumber for Cardenas. The vessel +being old, and of little value, I released her on ransom bond, and +converted her into a cartel, sending some forty-five prisoners on board +of her, the crews of the last three ships burned. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +_Disappointment--Out of the track--The Levi Starbuck--Fresh vegetables +--News--The other side of the case--Kindness repaid--The T.B. Wales--A +family--Volunteers--In man-of-war trim_. + + +The month of October went out as it came in with severe and blustering +weather. The Alabama was still upwards of two hundred miles from New +York, and it seemed as though a change would become necessary in her +plans. Ever since starting upon his adventurous cruise, it had been a +favorite scheme with Captain Semmes to make his appearance off this the +very chief of the enemy's ports, and, if not strong enough actually to +threaten the place itself, at all events to make a few captures within +sight of the capital city of the North. It had been, therefore, a +special disappointment to find himself baffled by a continued succession +of hostile winds and contrary currents; and even the brilliant success +that had thus far attended him in the capture of twenty-one vessels and +the destruction of property to very nearly a million of dollars, seemed +hardly to compensate for the failure of his pet project. + +It was fast becoming evident, however, that the scheme for putting in an +appearance off New York must be abandoned, at all events for the +present; and on the 30th October the chief engineer was consulted as to +the amount of coal remaining in the bunkers. The report was unfavorable. +Four days' fuel only was left; and it was clear that even had the vessel +been nearer than she was to her intended cruising ground, this would +have been rather a short supply with which to venture on so dangerous an +experiment. Reluctantly, therefore, the scheme was relinquished, the +fires let down, propeller hoisted up again, and sail made to the +southward and eastward _en route_ for the coal depôt. + +The ship was now out of the track of commerce, and for some time +scarcely a vessel was seen. The 2d November, however, brought a prize in +the shape of the ship Levi Starbuck, five days out from New Bedford, on +a whaling voyage of thirty months to the Pacific Ocean. Like all +whalers, she carried a stronger crew than is common with other vessels +of similar tonnage, and twenty-nine prisoners were transferred from her +to the Alabama. Being bound, too, on so long a cruise, she was well +furnished with all necessaries, and the captor was enabled to supply +himself from her with various articles of which, by this time, and after +the rough weather he had experienced, he had begun to stand somewhat +sorely in need. + +Not the least highly-prized among the spoils of the Levi Starbuck was a +noble collection of cabbages and turnips, fresh from their native soil! +These were, indeed, invaluable. The Alabama had now been upwards of +seventy days at sea, and during nearly the whole of that period her crew +had subsisted entirely on salted provisions. Happily, as yet, no ill +effects had appeared; but the fresh vegetables came most opportunely to +ward off any danger of that scourge of the sailor's existence, scurvy, +to which a longer confinement to salt diet must inevitably have exposed +them. + +Indeed, but for the consciousness of how vitally necessary a change of +diet is to the health of a ship's crew, there would have been something +almost ludicrous in the delight with which the men, who for the last six +months had been almost daily destroying thousands of pounds' worth of +the most valuable property of every description, now hailed the +acquisition of a sack or two of turnips and a few strings of humble +cabbages. But abstinence is a wonderful quickener of apprehension; and +for teaching the true value of the good things of this life, there are +few recipes more effectual than a voyage in the forecastle of a cruising +man-of-war. + +Besides the cabbages and turnips, which were so welcome forward, the +Levi Starbuck contributed not a little to the comfort of the after-part +of the vessel by her contribution of newspapers, which passed eagerly +from hand to hand, through wardroom and steerage, affording a pleasant +change from the worn-out topics of discussion that had now grown +threadbare through the wear-and-tear of many a dull day and stormy +night. The Starbuck's papers brought news from Yankeeland as late as the +28th of October, and not the least important item was that which told of +the excitement occasioned among the enemy by the little craft whose +officers were now jesting merrily over the consternation she had raised, +and the measures that were being taken for her destruction. + +It was certainly not a little amusing to read in the angry columns of +Yankee newspapers, the magnificently-exaggerated accounts of the +depredations of the dreaded Confederate "pirate." It was difficult +sometimes to recognise the events referred to under the gorgeous +embellishments with which they were invested. Occasionally, too, an +exclamation of disgust would be heard from some officer, more excited or +less philosophic than his comrades, as with his head half-buried in some +broad, ill-printed, vilely-smelling sheet, he would declaim from its +columns, for the edification of the mess, paragraph after paragraph of +abuse of the vessel and her officers, and withering denunciations of the +barbarity with which their unfortunate prisoners were treated while on +board. Among those who thus revealed their true nature by abusing and +vilifying the men, who, though enemies, had endeavoured while they had +them in their power to alleviate in every possible way the inevitable +hardships of captivity, the master of the ship Brilliant obtained for +himself an unenviable pre-eminence, by the grossness of the falsehoods +with which he retaliated upon his captors for their mistaken kindness; +and many a vow was registered in the wardroom and gun-room of the +Alabama, that should this gentleman ever again fall into their hands, +they would be wiser than to waste courtesy on one who could so little +appreciate it. + +The Levi Starbuck having been disposed of in the usual manner, sail was +again made upon the Alabama, and on the 5th November, Bermuda, "the +still vexed," was passed, though at too great a distance to sight the +land. + +_Saturday, November 8th._--... In the mid-watch a sail was reported--a +schooner, standing south. Wore ship (1.30 A.M.) and gave chase. Soon +after daylight, the chase being some five miles dead to windward of us, +a ship was discerned standing to the northward and westward. +Discontinued the chase of the schooner, and gave chase to the ship. At +10 A.M., the latter having approached to within a mile of us (we having +United States colours flying), hove her to with a gun, and a change of +flags. Sent a boat, and brought the master on board. She, proved to be +the ship T.B. Wales, of Boston, from Calcutta for Boston. There being no +claim of neutral property among the papers, and the master having no +knowledge on the subject, except that the linseed belonged to the owner +of the ship, condemned both ship and cargo. A large portion of this +cargo was consigned to Baring Brothers, Boston, including 1704 bags of +saltpetre--contraband of war--which would have condemned all the +property of the Barings, even if proof of ownership had been found on +board, which was not the case. + +We are to be embarrassed with two females and some children, the master +having his wife with him, and there being also a passenger and his wife. +I shall bestow them upon the wardroom, having a couple of state rooms +vacated for them. Poor women! They are suffering for the sins of their +wicked countrymen who are waging this murderous war upon us. + + * * * * * + +About nightfall another sail was descried from aloft, and a light was +seen after dark; but we did not get hold of the sail. Just at dark, +having taken all the prisoners on board from the prize, and got her +mainyard on board to replace ours, carried away in, the storm of the +16th ultimo, we set fire to her, and filled away on our course. Nine of +the crew of this ship volunteered, and were shipped as part of our own +crew--an acquisition more valuable than the prize herself. + +_Sunday, November 9th._--... My _ménage_ has become quite home-like +with the presence of women and the merry voices of children. We have had +a quiet Sabbath-day, there being nothing in sight. + + * * * * * + +For some time from this date quiet days preponderated. The Alabama was +now in the region of the trade winds, but it was some time before they +were fairly taken. From the 9th November, in Lat. 27.52 N., Long. 58.24 +W., to the 15th November, in Lat. 21 N., Long. 57.49 W., the wind +continued light and variable, sometimes even for a few hours blowing +directly from the southward. On the 15th November the N.E. trade +appeared to have fairly set in, and from this time fine weather and +favouring breezes became the order of the day. + + * * * * * + +_Sunday, November 16th_.--Beautiful clear weather, with a moderate trade +from about east by south. Woollen clothes becoming uncomfortable. At 11 +A.M. mustered the crew, and inspected the ship. A quiet Sabbath-day, +with nothing in sight. Our ship begins to look quite like a ship of +war--with her battery in fine order, her decks clean, freshly-painted +outside, masts scraped, &c., &c., and the crew well disciplined. Thus +far I have never seen a better disposed or more orderly crew. They have +come very kindly into the traces. + +_Monday, November 17th_.--... Running before the wind, with +studding-sails set on both sides. At 2 P.M. made the island of Dominica, +half a point on the starboard bow. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +_Martinique--News from home--Friendly greetings--Mutiny!--Order +restored--The San Jacinto--Neutrality of the port invaded--Prompt +measures--Expectation--Ready for action--Success--Locking an empty +stable--Temptation--The Clara L. Sparks--Refitting--A court-martial +--Dismissed_. + + +The 18th November saw Captain Semmes again off Martinique, which he had +visited in the Sumter just twelve months before. Making the north end of +the island at about 4 A.M., the propeller was lowered and steam got up, +the day breaking just as the Alabama's screw began to revolve. At 10 +A.M., having run past St. Pierre, she anchored in the harbour of Fort de +France. + +Here she found her faithful consort, the Agrippina, from whom she had +parted at Terceira on the 24th of August. On her departure from that +port, she had returned with all speed to Cardiff, from which she had +again sailed for the rendezvous at Martinique, and was now ready with a +fresh supply of coal for the Alabama, and had been waiting her arrival +just eight days. In addition to the much needed supply of coal, the +Agrippina brought a small mail for the Alabama's officers, who thus +received news from friends at home for the first time for more than +three months. + +No sooner was the anchor down than a lieutenant was sent ashore to pay +the usual visit of ceremony to the Governor, carrying with him a note, +informing his Excellency of the arrival of the Confederate steamer +Alabama in French waters. A few hours brought a courteous reply, +extending to the Alabama the hospitality of the port; and the health +officers having visited the ship, arrangements were made for laying in a +stock of provisions, and such other articles as were required after the +cruise. Nor were the amenities of the Alabama's reception confined to +the authorities alone. An enthusiastic greeting awaited her from almost +every one; the clubs were placed at their disposal, and invitations _à +discretion_ poured in from every side. + +It would, perhaps, have been better for the discipline of the Alabama +had the welcome extended to her crew been somewhat less cordial. Weary +of their long confinement, and bent, as the sailor always seems to be on +first putting into port, on a "good spree," a considerable number of her +men fairly succumbed to the hospitality of the worthy islanders, a +result that was not a little aggravated by the exertions of the +deserter, Forrest. This man appears to have entertained a deliberate +purpose of exciting a mutiny on board of the vessel, and with this +object in view, managed to slip overboard unobserved, swam to a boat, +and returned on board with a quantity of spirits, which he distributed +through the forecastle. The result was a disturbance, which at one time +wore a serious aspect, and which, but for the energy and promptitude of +the means taken to subdue it, might have had very awkward results. + +The Captain of the Alabama, however, was not a man to be intimidated or +taken off his guard. No sooner was the disturbance reported than the +drums beat to quarters, and the sober portion of the crew were at once +directed to seize the rioters. Placed in double irons, and effectually +drenched with buckets of cold water by their laughing comrades, the +unlucky mutineers soon came to their senses, and order was restored. The +ringleader, Forrest, was then triced up in the mizen-rigging, "two hours +on and two off," to await the punishment of his crimes. + +The next day brought a fresh vision of the Stars and Stripes, but this +time from the mizen-peak of a heavily-armed steamer, which appeared +early in the morning, standing in towards the harbour. The Alabama was +at once cleared for action, and, as a precautionary measure, her funds +were despatched on shore for deposit in the event of the engagement +which appeared likely to ensue. This, however, was not to be. The +merchants, thinking evidently that Captain Semmes was in their power, +and must pay their price for taking charge of his treasure, refused to +have anything to do with it at a lower rate than five per cent. To this +the officer in charge would not agree, and the money was again carried +on board. Fortunately, as it turned out, for when the true character of +the stranger came to be ascertained, he proved to be the United States +steamer San Jacinto, of fourteen guns--viz., twelve 68 pounders, and two +eleven-inch shell-guns, and therefore much too heavy for the Alabama to +venture on an attack. This point was but just settled when the merchants +appeared alongside with an abatement in their charges for taking care of +the Confederate treasure; but the chance was gone, and they were +compelled to return as empty-handed as they had come. + +Meanwhile, the authorities ashore had been bestirring themselves to +prevent any violation of the neutrality of their port. A boat was +despatched to the San Jacinto with orders either to come to an anchor, +in which case she must remain in the harbour full twenty-four hours +after the departure of the Alabama, or else to proceed again to sea, and +cruise beyond the limits of the maritime league from the harbour. The +latter alternative being preferred by the United States Captain, the San +Jacinto put her helm aport, and came slowly round, returning to the +prescribed distance from the shore, where she proceeded to steam slowly +backwards and forwards, in the hope of intercepting her little enemy, +should the latter venture to leave her anchorage. + +Pending this submission on the part of the United States cruiser to the +orders of the Governor, the French gunboat Fata received instructions to +get up steam, and shifting her berth, took up her position close +alongside of the Alabama, fully prepared to offer her own contribution +to any controversy that might arise between the two rival vessels. Her +Captain and officers were very friendly, offering every assistance, and +pointing out on the chart the best means of eluding the enemy, the +superiority of whose size and weight put an end to all idea of a +deliberate attack, though there were still some among the crew of the +Alabama who could not relinquish the hope that in making their way out +of the harbour an engagement might be forced upon them. + +All the vigilance of the authorities, however, though extending to the +prohibition of any intercourse whatever between the San Jacinto and the +shore, was unable to prevent the Yankee from establishing a code of +signals by which he might at once be put in possession of any movement +on the part of the Confederate steamer, which he now, no doubt, fully +looked on as his prize. Two of his boats were, as was afterwards +discovered, on the look-out during the night, and an understanding had +been come to with the master of the Yankee vessel lying in the harbour +to signal the Alabama's departure. + +By dusk, Captain Semmes' preparations were completed; the funds, which +the Martinique merchants had allowed to slip through their +too-widely-opened fingers, were safely despatched on their way to +Liverpool; the necessary supplies were on board; and, with decks cleared +for action, all lights carefully extinguished, and all hands at +quarters, the Alabama stole quietly from her anchorage, and steamed +cautiously across the harbour on her way to the open sea. + +It was a period of intense anxiety as the Alabama slipped silently +through the tranquil water of the harbour, each moment bringing her +nearer to the powerful enemy, who, when dusk had shut him from their +view, had been planted in the very centre of the entrance, eagerly +looking out for the expected prize. Presently it was found that her +movements were, at all events, known to the spies of the enemy, and a +succession of signals from the Yankee vessel they had left at anchor +were evidently intended to warn the San Jacinto of the attempted escape. +Momentarily now was expected the flash of the enemy's gun, and the +hoarse roar of his shot, and each crew stood by its loaded gun ready +with a prompt reply. Not a word was uttered on the crowded deck, and so +deep was the silence, that the low throbbing of the Alabama's propeller, +as it revolved slowly in the water, seemed to strike on the ear with a +noise like thunder. But the minutes passed by and the expected broadside +never came. The straining eyes of the look-outs could see no sign of the +San Jacinto. Either she had misunderstood the signals of her accomplice +on shore, or by some strange fatality they had altogether escaped her; +and the Alabama held on her course unmolested, until, at twenty minutes +past eight, less than an hour after the start, she was considered fairly +out of danger of interception. + +The guns were now run in and secured, the word passed to the engineers +to fire up and give her a full head of steam; the men were piped below, +and the Alabama, throwing off the silence in which for the last hour she +had been wrapped fore and aft, darted off merrily over the rippling +waves, in the direction of the island of Blanquilla, at the rate of +fourteen knots an hour. It subsequently transpired that, notwithstanding +all her vigilance and all her pre-arranged signals, the San Jacinto had +been totally unaware of the escape of her agile foe, and actually +remained for four days and four nights carefully keeping guard over the +stable from which the steed had cleverly stolen away. + +The morning of the 21st of November found the Alabama off the Hermanas, +and by 1.30 PM. she was in sight of the island of Blanquilla, the +appointed rendezvous of the Agrippina, who had already, about nine +o'clock that morning, been descried on the port bow making all speed +towards her destined anchorage. Here both vessels arrived in the course +of the afternoon; the Alabama, which was a far swifter sailer than her +merchant tender, being the first to drop anchor, and the Agrippina +following her in. + +As the two vessels neared the shore, a schooner was discovered at anchor +in the little bay, and on the approach of the strangers she hoisted the +Stars and Stripes. On being overhauled by a boat, despatched for that +purpose from the Alabama, she proved to be the United States whaling +schooner, Clara L. Sparks, of Provincetown; and great was the grief and +astonishment of the unlucky master when the white flag of the +Confederacy was discovered floating at the new comer's peak. + +The temptation was great to seize her, and devote her to the flames, but +Captain Semmes was anxious for nothing so much as to avoid all possible +ground of complaint with regard to any infringement of neutrality. It +happened, fortunately for the Clara Sparks, that a few herdsmen from +Venezuela were supporting a miserable existence in the barren island off +which she was anchored, and to make prize of the vessel under these +circumstances, might possibly be construed into a breach of neutral +privilege. In the end, therefore, it was determined not to molest the +whaler; and her master was informed, much to his relief and delight, +that so soon as the Alabama's arrangements were completed, he would be +free to continue his course. Meanwhile, however, it was peremptorily +necessary that he should not be permitted to escape, and reward the +forbearance of his captors by giving her enemy information as to her +whereabout. Orders were therefore given that the master and mate of the +schooner should repair every evening on board the cruiser, remaining +with her till the morning, when they were permitted to return on board, +and resume their avocations. + +At 8 A.M. of Saturday, the 27th November, the operation of coaling +commenced, the men working in groups, which were relieved every two +hours, and by nightfall about seventy tons had been got on board. The +wind was fresh enough to raise a slight sea, causing the two vessels to +chafe considerably as they lay closely locked together for the purpose +of transhipping the coal. But notwithstanding the breeze, the day was so +hot as to deter Captain Semmes from visiting the shore, despite the +inevitable longing, after a confinement on board of more than three +months, to find the foot once more planted on solid ground. Some of the +other officers, however, explored the island, which they found a barren +place enough; the three herdsmen, who constitute the entire population +of the country, maintaining themselves after a fashion, by rearing a few +goats. They must, indeed, lead a life of privation, the island producing +scarcely anything; and even the water supply being extremely scanty, and +so brackish as to be hardly fit for human use. + +Although to-day is the Sabbath--writes Captain Semmes, in his journal of +the following day--I did not consider it any violation of Christian duty +to continue coaling, as we are liable to be surprised at any moment, and +to have our purpose defeated. + +So, too, thought the Alabama's crew, who worked cheerfully on throughout +the day, completing their task by half-past eleven on the Monday +morning. The Alabama had now on board about 285 tons, nearly 200 tons +having been received from the Agrippina. Estimating her consumption at +sixteen tons a day, which would give a moderate rate of steaming, she +had, therefore, in her bunkers fuel for about eighteen days. + +This important matter arranged, the next thing to be done was to send +down the mainyard, which had been carried away in the cyclone, and +roughly fished together, and to supply its place with the second new +spar taken from the ship T.B. Wales. This occupied the greater portion +of the 25th, and Captain Semmes then proceeded to "break out" the hold, +for the purpose of taking stock of his provisions, no opportunity having +yet offered, since the hurried shipment of stores off Terceira, to +ascertain the precise amount in hand of salted provisions, and other +necessaries. Batches of liberty-men were also sent on shore to recruit +themselves with a run upon _terra firma_--an amusement in which such of +the officers as could be spared were but too glad to join. + +Wednesday, the 26th November, saw all these arrangements completed, and +the last batch of liberty-men safely on board again after their run. The +Alabama was now ready for a fresh cruise, but before taking leave of +Blanquilla, there was an act of justice to be done. Accordingly, that +afternoon a court-martial was summoned for the trial of George Forrest, +the seaman who had originally deserted from the Sumter, and who, on his +recapture, had been sentenced to serve out his time, forfeiting all pay, +prize-money, &c. His present offence was that of endeavouring to incite +the crew to mutiny, and of procuring with that object the liquor with +which the rioters of the 18th November had been made intoxicated. + +The case was clearly proved, and after some consultation judgment was +passed, sentencing him to lose all prize-money, and to be dismissed the +ship in disgrace. At a quarter past seven in the evening, all hands were +mustered aft to hear the sentence read; and after a short but effective +address from Captain Semmes, the prisoner was informed that he was now +dismissed the Confederate service with the stain of infamy upon him, and +bundled over the side into the boat that was to convey him to the shore. + + + +This ceremony over, and the ship rid of the incorrigible scoundrel who +had so long disgraced her, the men were dismissed, and preparations made +for the Alabama's departure. She had been already preceded by the +Agrippina, three of whose hands had volunteered in exchange for three +from the steamer, and on the return of the boat no time was lost in +getting her under way. The captain and mate of the Yankee schooner were +released, and the Alabama stood out to sea under easy sail. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +_At sea again--Moulded into shape--House-cleaning--Rates of pay--A +timely capture--The Parker Cook--A fix--A good night's rest--Sangfroid +--Amid jessamine bowers--Looking out for a rich prize--The Mina--"In +consequence of the Alabama."_ + + +The Alabama was now on the look-out for a Californian steamer, and it +was quite possible that in so doing she might run into a fight. However, +should that be the case, there would be no disposition to shirk it. The +vessel was already three months in commission; and though some of her +crew had no doubt been originally a rough lot--the boys especially +picked up in the streets of Liverpool, being designated by Captain +Semmes as most incorrigible young rascals--three months of steady, +strong-handed discipline had done wonders in reducing these rough +elements to order, and making out of a set of merchant sailors, gathered +here and there at random by the prospect of high pay and stirring +adventure, as orderly and well-trained a crew as could be found on board +many a man-of-war of twice her length of service. + +All hands, then, were ready and eager for a brush with the enemy. It was +necessary, of course, that the relative strength of the two ships should +not be too disproportionate; but the approach of an United States ship +of anything like their own force would have been hailed with delight by +all on board. + +Considerable excitement was occasioned when, on the second day after +leaving Blanquilla, a prospect of an encounter seemed to present itself. +It was still early morning when a sail was reported on the lee bow, and +soon the stranger was made out to be a large side-wheel steamer, +barque-rigged, and standing towards the Alabama. She was of considerably +superior size, but it was determined at least to see what she was made +of; and the Alabama was luffed to the wind, while preparations were made +for lowering her propeller and getting her under steam. It was soon +perceived, however, that the stranger was keeping quietly on her course, +without paying the slightest attention to these manoeuvres; and as it +was pretty certain that no enemy's ship, so greatly superior in size, +would lose so tempting an opportunity, it was at once clear that she +must needs be a neutral, probably some French war-steamer bound for +Martinique. So the propeller was left where it was, and the Alabama +slipt away again upon her course. + +At nine o'clock the same morning, the coast of Porto Rico was in sight, +and a few hours afterwards the Alabama entered the Mona Passage, +shortening sail as she did so to permit a barque to run up with her for +the purpose of ascertaining her nationality. The barque, which proved to +be English, dipped her ensign as she passed to the Stars and Stripes +which were flying from the peak of the Alabama; but the compliment not +being really intended for the Confederate vessel, but for her enemies, +was, of course, not returned. + +The Mona Passage being the regular track of United States commerce, it +was looked upon as almost a certainty that at least one cruiser would be +stationed for its protection. A bright look-out, therefore, was kept, +and hopes again ran high of a speedy brush with the Yankees. Nothing, +however, appeared; and the attention of the Alabama was for the most +part devoted throughout the day to strictly domestic affairs. + +To-day--says Captain Semmes, in his journal--has been a great +"house-cleaning" day with the first lieutenant, who, regardless of Mona +Passages, strange sails, &c., is busy with his holy-stones and sand. * * +* + +Gave an order to the paymaster to-day, authorising him to pay the +increased rates agreed upon with the crew off Terceira, viz. + + £ s. Dollars. +Master-at-arms per month 6 0 -- 29.04 +Yeoman " 6 0 -- 29.04 +Ship's steward " 6 0 -- 29.04 +Ship's corporal " 6 0 -- 26.62 +Armorer " 6 0 -- 29.04 + + £ s. Dollars. +Ship's cook per month 5 10 -- 26.62 +Chief boatswain's mate " 6 0 -- 29.04 +Second ditto " 5 10 -- 26.62 +Gunner's mate " 6 0 -- 29.04 +Carpenter's mate " 6 0 -- 29.04 +Sailmaker's mate " 5 10 -- 26.62 +Quartermaster " 5 10 -- 26.62 +Quarter gunners " 5 10 -- 26.62 +Cockswains " 5 10 -- 26.62 +Capt. of forecastle " 5 10 -- 26.62 +Capt. of top " 5 0 -- 24.20 +Capt. of aftguard " 5 0 -- 24.20 +Capt. of hold " 5 0 -- 24.20 +Cabin steward " 5 0 -- 24.20 +Ward-room steward " 5 0 -- 24.20 +Seamen " 4 10 -- 21.78 +O. seamen " 4 0 -- 19.36 +Landsmen " 3 10 -- 14.94 +Boys " 2 0 -- 9.68 +Firemen " 7 0 -- 33.38 +Trimmers " 5 0 -- 24.20 + +_Sunday, November 30th._--Mustered and inspected the crew. +At 9 A.M., sent a boat on board of a Spanish schooner twenty +days from Boston, bound to the port of San Domingo. Received +some newspapers by her as late as to the 13th inst. Soon afterwards +another sail was discovered to leeward, beating up the coast. +Ran down for her, and when within proper distance hoisted United +States colours. The stranger responded with the same; whereupon, +in accordance with our usual practice, we hoisted our own +colours and fired a blank cartridge. This hove her to, when we +sent a boat on board of her. She proved to be the barque Parker +Cook, of and from Boston, bound to Cayes. This was a very +timely capture, as we were running very short of provisions, and +the prize was provision-laden. Got on board from her a quantity +of pork, cheese, crackers, &c.; and at 10 P.M. illuminated the +shores of San Domingo with a flambeau furnished by wicked men +who would gladly see another San Domingo revolution in our +unhappy country. + +In the afternoon the weather became angry, and the wind blew +fresh, raising a considerable sea. As we were in the bight of Samana, +I felt a little uneasy about drifting too near the shore. +These are some of the anxieties of a commander that his officers +scarcely ever know anything about. Our prize was burned off +Cape Raphael. I did not turn in until near midnight; was called +two hours afterwards, upon having run a prescribed distance; +turned in again, and had just fallen comfortably asleep, when the +officer of the deck came down in great haste to inform me that a +large ship was standing down directly for us. We were hove to, +and as the moon had gone down, and the night was dark, I knew +she must be close aboard of us. I immediately ordered the maintopsail +to be filled, and hurrying on a few clothes, sprang on deck. +At a glance I saw that the danger was passed, as the intruder was +abaft the beam, running to leeward. Wore round and followed him. + +_Monday, December 1st._--A stiff trade, with squall clouds. A +whirlwind passed near us. We had just time to take in the port +studding sails, which had been set in chase of the unwelcome disturber +of my rest last night. The chase proved to be a Spanish +hermaphrodite brig. * * * * Land in sight on the port +beam, and at noon the cape just ahead. + +_Tuesday, December 2nd._ * * * * Running down the land. +Off the Grange at noon. Last night, at ten o'clock, a sail was reported +on the port quarter, nearly astern, running down before the +wind like ourselves. Having lights up, and looming up large, I +called all hands to quarters and cleared the ship for action, pivoting +on the port side, and loading the guns. As the stranger +ranged up nearly abeam of us, distant about eight hundred yards, +we discovered him to be a heavy steamer, under steam, and with +all studding sails set on both sides. Here was a fix! We had no +steam ourselves, and our propeller was triced up! + +A few minutes, however, decided our suspense. From the quiet +movement of the steamer on her course, without shortening sail, or +otherwise, so far as we could see, making preparation for battle, it +was quite evident that he was not an enemy. He was a ship of +war--probably a Spaniard, bound from San Domingo to Cuba. +My first intention was to range up alongside and speak him, and +for this purpose I set the foresail and topgallant sails. But we +were soon left far astern, and the stranger was out of sight long +before we could have got up steam and lowered the propeller in +chase. + +About 3 P.M. made the island of Tortuga. A sail reported on +the starboard bow, standing across our bows on the _port_ tack. +Through the stupidity of the look-outs the next thing we knew +was that she was off on the starboard quarter, and to windward +of us, she having been on the _starboard_ tack all the while! I +turned in to-night, hoping to get some rest, as I had been up the +greater part of last night. But after undressing, and before getting +into my cot (10 P.M.), the officer of the deck came below in a +great hurry to say there was a large vessel running down on us--we +were hove to--which appeared to be a steamer. Immediately +ordered the officer to fill away; went on deck, and at a glance +perceived that the sail was a brig running clear of us, and some +distance astern. + +Went below again, and this time succeeded in actually getting +into bed, when I was again aroused by the announcement that a +vessel, with very white canvas, was running down upon us, a little +forward of our weather beam. Went on deck, filled away again, +and ran on under easy sail to assist the stranger's approach. The +night squally, with showers of rain, and the wind fresh. At 1.30 +A.M. the stranger approached, and we spoke him. He was a small +schooner--white, as almost all the West Indian schooners are--Spanish, +&c. Turned in at two o'clock, and at daybreak down came intelligence +again that there were two sail in sight, and at 7 A.M., one of them +being within signal distance, I had again to turn out. This night will +serve as a specimen of a great many spent by me in my cruises. + +_Wednesday, December 3rd._--We are cruising to-day, with the +weather very fine and clear, in the passage between San Domingo +and Cuba. Caused two neutral vessels to show their colours, and +at noon squared away for the east end of Cuba. Where can all +the enemy's cruisers be, that the important passages we have lately +passed through are all left unguarded? They are off, I suppose, in +chase of the Alabama! + +At 10 P.M. a barque, having come quite near us in the bright +moonlight, we fired a blank cartridge to heave him to, and wore +ship. As he disregarded our signal, I directed a round shot to be +fired at him above his hull. This had the desired effect, our shot +passing--as we learned from him afterwards--between his fore-stay +and foremast. He proved to be the French barque, Feu Sacré, +from Port au Prince to Falmouth.[9] When asked why he did +not heave to at the first shot, he replied that he was a Frenchman, +and was not at war with anybody! * * * At midnight made the light on +Cape Maise. + +[Footnote 9: From the boarding officer's memoranda it appears that +the master of this vessel protested vehemently against being annoyed +by United States vessels--the Alabama passing in this case as the U.S. +ship Wyoming.] + +_Thursday, December 4th._--* * * * Standing off and on +Cape Maise, waiting for our Californian friend, who should have +left Aspinwall on the 1st, and should pass this point to-day or to-night. +Fires banked, so as to give us steam at a short notice. Several +sail passing during the day. Exercised the crew at the battery +at sunset. A beautiful bright night, with the wind somewhat too +fresh from the N.E. Lying to off Cape Maise. Everybody on the +tiptoe of excitement, and a good many volunteer look-outs. As for +myself, having put the ship in the right position, I turned in at 10 +P.M., giving orders not to call me for a sail-ship, and got a good +night's rest, of which I stood very much in need. + +_Friday, December 5th._--A very fine morning, with highly-transparent +atmosphere. The west side of Haiti visible, though distant +ninety miles. On this fine balmy morning I enjoyed exceedingly +the cheerful notes of our canary. This is a little prisoner made on +board one of the whalers; and sometimes at early morning I fancy +myself amid "jessamine bowers," inhaling the fragrance of flowers +and listening to the notes of the wild songsters so common in our +dear Southern land. May God speedily clear it of the wicked, +fanatical hordes that are now desolating it under pretence of liberty +and free government! + +If the Californian steamers still take this route, the steamer of +the 1st must have been delayed, otherwise she should have passed +us last night. Several sail in sight, but I cannot yet leave my station +to overhaul them, lest my principal object should be defeated. +At noon, a schooner would insist on stumbling right into my path, +without the necessity of a chase. I brought her to, and she proved +to be United States property. She was the Mina, of and from +Baltimore, for Port Maria, on the north side of Jamaica. Her +cargo being English, I released her on a ransom bond for 15,000 +dollars. She was of ninety tons, and thirteen years old. Kept her +by me until sunset, and then permitted her to depart, having +sent on board her the prisoners from the barque Parker Cook. + +Our hopes of capturing a Californian steamer were considerably +damped by the intelligence given us by the mate of this schooner, +that these steamers no longer ran this route, but that the outward +bound took the Mona Passage (?), and the homeward bound the +Florida gulf passage. Still, I will wait a day or two longer to +make sure that I have not been deceived. + +_Saturday, December 6th._--... At 9 A.M. hoisted +the propeller, and made sail to the northward and eastward. The +outward-bound Californian steamer is due off the Cape to-day, if +she takes this route at all; I will therefore keep the Cape in sight +all day. I glean the following paragraph from a New York letter, +published in a file of the _Baltimore Sun, _received from the +schooner Mina:-- + +"The shipments of grain from this port during the past week +have been almost entirely in foreign bottoms, the American flag +being for the moment in disfavour in consequence of the raid of +the rebel steamer Alabama!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +_The Alabamans lucky day--A trial of speed--Brought to--The Ariel--Buying +an elephant--Prisoners of war--Prize-money--Still on the look-out +--Broken down--A dilemma--Yellow fever--Release of the Ariel +--Under repair_. + + +Sunday again! The Alabama's lucky day; and this time, at +least, destined to be especially marked with white chalk in the +annals of the ship. The morning passed calmly enough; the ship +in her quiet Sabbath trim; and nothing giving token of what was +about to follow, save here and there a group anxiously scanning +the horizon, or eagerly discussing the chances of a rich capture +before nightfall. + +The forenoon wore slowly away, and five bells had just sounded, +when the cry of "Sail, ho!" from the masthead put every one on +the _qui vive, _the excitement growing rapidly more and more intense +as bit by bit the description of the stranger became more +accurate and minute. She is a steamer--and a large one! That +sounded well, and the hopes of the sanguine rose higher and +higher. Brigantine rigged--and a side-wheel steamer!--so far so +good. This answers exactly to the description of the Californian +steamers. A few minutes will decide it now; the Alabama's +canvas has some time since been snugly furled, the fires spread and +well supplied with fresh fuel, the propeller lowered, and the ship's +head turned in a direction to intercept the approaching vessel. +Rapidly the chase looms larger and larger, as the two swift steamers +approach each other at almost top speed. And now the huge +walking-beam can be plainly distinguished, see-sawing up and +down between the lofty paddle-boxes, and the decks appear crowded +with hundreds of passengers, conspicuous among whom are to +be seen the gay dresses of numerous ladies; and--yes, surely that +is the glimmer of bayonets, and that military-looking array drawn +up on the hurricane-deck is a strong detachment of United States +marines! + +Swiftly, and in grim silence, the Alabama approached her huge +but defenceless prey. From her open ports grinned the black +muzzles of her six 32 pounders, each with its crew standing round, +eager for the word. High above them towered the huge, black +pivot-gun, while from the mizzen-peak floated the delusive Stars +and Stripes, the sight of which was to tempt the stranger into a +confession of his own nationality. + +The _ruse_ was, as usual, successful, and as the two vessels crossed, +the Alabama passing a short distance astern of the stranger, the +latter also hoisted United States colours, and expectation gave way +to certainty among the delighted crew of the Confederate steamer. +Down came the Yankee colours from her gaff, and in its stead the +white ensign of the Confederacy fluttered gaily in the breeze, +while a blank shot from the Alabama's lee bow-chaser summoned +the chase to surrender. Surrendering, however, seemed to be the +last thing in the chase's thoughts. Already she was ahead of the +Confederate cruiser, and trusting to her own well-known speed, +appeared determined to make at least one effort to escape. She +held steadily on her course, at top speed, without noticing the +pursuer's summons; the black smoke that poured in volumes from +her funnel, showing no less plainly than the rapid revolutions of +her paddles the strenuous exertions she was making to escape. + +This state of things, however, could not last long. For a few +minutes the chase was permitted to try her speed against that of +her pursuer; but the latter soon found that with the highest pressure +of steam she had been able to raise during the short period +that had elapsed since the enemy first hove in sight, she was by no +means overhauling the chase as rapidly as could be desired. So +the friendly warning having been disregarded, the adoption of +more peremptory measures was decided on, and a shotted gun was +ordered to be fired over her. + +Boom! went the Alabama's bow-chaser, as she yawed for a +moment to permit the gunner to take aim--and boom! at almost +the same instant went one of her broadside guns, the enthusiastic +captain of which could not contain himself until the order to fire +was given, but must needs bring down upon himself a reprimand +from the authorities of the quarter-deck for his precipitation. +Fortunately, however, this irregular shot did no harm--not improbably, +perhaps, from the very fact of its having been launched +so totally without consideration. The first, however, did its +errand most effectively, and the shower of white splinters that flew +from the chase's foremast as the shell, after grazing the funnel, +struck full against it, afforded most satisfactory evidence of the +accuracy of the line. Happily, the shell contented itself with cutting +the foremast very nearly in two, and did not explode until it +had passed safely overboard, otherwise the havoc created by it on +the crowded deck of the steamer must have been fearful. + +The hint, however, was sufficient. The paddles of the chase +ceased to revolve, the huge walking-beam remained poised in midair, +and the steamer rounding to, submitted herself to her captors. +A boat was now lowered and, sent on board of the prize, which +proved to be, as anticipated, the mail steamer Ariel, from New +York to Aspinwall, having on board one hundred and forty marines +on their way to join the enemy's Pacific squadron; several +military and naval officers, among the latter of whom was Commander +Sartori, on his way to take command of the St. Mary's; and about five +hundred other passengers, a large proportion of whom were women and children. + +The Alabama had "bought an elephant," and now the question +arose--what was to be done with her valuable but most unwieldy +acquisition? The first step, of course, was to send a prize +crew on board. The second to transfer to the Alabama sundry +important matters, such as the ship's papers, three large boxes of +specie, a 24 pounder rifled gun, 125 new rifles, 16 swords, and +about 1,000 rounds of ammunition. The marines and officers +were then put on parole, the former being disarmed, and all +pledged not to fight again against the Confederate States until +they should be regularly exchanged. + +But this done, Captain Semmes' task was not half accomplished. +There was still the ship herself to be disposed of, and with her the +remaining five hundred and odd passengers, including among their +number a large proportion of women and children. What was to +be done? It was clear he could not fire the ship until all these +were safely out of her. It was at least equally clear that, squeeze +and contrive how he would, he could not possibly transfer such a +host of prisoners to his own already sufficiently crowded decks. +His only choice, then, was either to release the captured vessel at +once, upon a ransom bond, or to keep her by him for a time in +the hope that something might turn up to obviate the necessity of +so unsatisfactory a step. Captain Semmes decided upon the latter +course, and detaining the captain of the Ariel on board his own +ship, sent a prize crew to take charge of the Ariel, with orders to +keep company with the Alabama through the night. + +This done, the Alabama returned under easy sail to her station +off the Cape, still anxiously looking out for the homeward-bound +steamer, which would of course prove a very far richer prize than +the one home-bound vessel he had captured. The following afternoon +the precaution was taken of disabling the captured vessel, +by removing from her engines the "bonnet of the steam chest +and a steam valve," which were sent into safe custody on board +the Alabama; care being also taken to prevent the Ariel from +availing herself of her sails as a means of escape should-the +Alabama have to start off in pursuit of her homeward-bound +consort. + +No homeward-bound steamer, however, appeared, and it was +now determined to convey the Ariel into Kingston, Jamaica, +where it was proposed to land the passengers, and after providing +the Alabama, from the prize, with coal, provisions, and other +matters of which she stood in need, to take her out again to sea +and burn her. With this view the portions of the machinery +which had been removed during the night were restored to their +places, and the two vessels made sail towards Jamaica, on or about +the line which it was supposed would be taken by the Californian +steamer. + +The next morning was fine, and, with the prize in company, the +island of Navaza was made at about 9.30 A.M., on the port bow; +and five hours afterwards the two steamers were in sight of the +east end of Jamaica. By half-past seven that evening, the Alabama +was within about nine miles of Point Morant Light, and checked her +speed to enable the prize to come up with her. + +And now a catastrophe occurred which, but for the most careful +and excellent management, might have had most serious results. +At about eight o'clock in the evening chase was given to +an hermaphrodite brig, on coming up with which a blank cartridge +was fired, and a boat despatched to board her and examine her +papers. At this moment, up came the engineer to report that the +engine had suddenly become entirely useless from the giving way +of some of the valve castings, and that twenty-four hours, at least, +would be required before the damage could be repaired. At this +untoward intelligence, the captain's first thought was of the chase, +and, casting a rapid glance in that direction, to his equal amazement +and disgust, he perceived that she had not obeyed the signal +to heave to, but was still standing quietly upon her course! + +Here was, indeed, a pleasant predicament. Not a step could +he stir in pursuit, nor did he dare fire a shot after the departing +vessel, for fear, in the darkness of the night, of sending to the +bottom his own boat, which was now in full pursuit of her. +What if the boat should be led away too far in the ardour of the +chase, and of course taking for granted that as soon as the brigantine's +contumacy was discovered, the Alabama herself would at +once be after her? What, too, if the Ariel should get scent of +her captor's predicament, and take this favourable opportunity of +showing her a clean pair of heels, carrying off the unlucky prize +crew as a running horse might carry off the unskilful rider who +had imprudently bestridden it? + +The moment was an anxious one, and great was the relief to +the minds of all who were in the secret, when the welcome sound +of oars working regularly backwards and forwards in their rowlocks +was again heard, and the boat returned, having managed to +overhaul the stranger; the wind having fortunately fallen too +light for her to escape. + +The chase proved to hail from one of the German States, and +was just out of Kingston. According to her statement, this latter +port was now suffering from a severe visitation of yellow-fever. +This intelligence caused an entire change in the Alabama's plans. +It had been Captain Semmes' intention to run into Kingston, and +endeavour, at all events, to obtain permission to discharge his +numerous prisoners; this being, apparently, the only way in +which he could hope to disencumber himself of them, except by +releasing the ship at the same time. To turn some seven hundred +prisoners, however, many of them delicate women and children, +adrift in a place known to be suffering from the fearful scourge of +yellow-fever, would have been an act of inhumanity of which the +Confederate captain was quite incapable. Sorely to his disappointment, +therefore, he felt himself compelled to abandon the Kingston +scheme, and forego the pleasure of making a bonfire of the +splendid steamer that had fallen into his hands. It is an ill wind +that blows nobody any good, and to the yellow-fever were the passengers +by the Ariel indebted for an uninterrupted voyage, and her +owners for the preservation of their valuable vessel. + +The question once decided in favour of the Ariel's release, it was, +of course, under existing circumstances, an object of no small importance +to get the matter concluded as speedily as possible. Had +she only known her captor's crippled condition she would have +had nothing to do but just to have steamed quietly away, taking +the prize-crew with her as compensation for the inconvenience to +which she had been put by her detention. And any moment +might reveal the all-important secret; so without delay, a boat +was again sent on board for the master, who was evidently not +a little relieved on being told that the vessel was to be released. + +Some little discussion now arose as to the amount of ransom to +be exacted, but both parties were equally, though not as openly, +anxious to conclude the transaction; and the amount was finally +fixed at 261,000 dollars--a handsome sum, indeed, but one by +no means exorbitant, when the value of the vessel to be ransomed +is taken into consideration. + +The bond duly signed, and safely deposited among the other +securities of the kind, Captain Semmes breathed more freely, and a +feeling of satisfaction at having steered safely through a situation +of such difficulty, offered some slight compensation for the disappointment +arising from the enforced release of the prize. The two vessels now parted +company; all parties, both civil, naval, and military, on board of the +Ariel, uniting their testimony in eulogy of the quiet, orderly, and +respectful conduct of their unwelcome guests. So with mutual amenities +the two courteous enemies parted, the Ariel steering a course to the S.S.W., +the Alabama still hard at work in the repairs of her machinery, standing off +and on within easy distance of the Jamaica coast, and keeping as far +as possible from the track of vessels until the untoward disaster +should be repaired. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +_Again ready--Gloomy weather--A Norther--The Arcas--The +second Christmas at sea--The war--Plymouth rock leaven--On +the lonely island--"Splicing the main-brace"--Searching for shells--Tired +of hard service--In irons--Well disciplined--A phenomenon--The +new year--In memoriam--To sea again_. + + +The exciting episode of the Ariel was followed by a period altogether +devoid of incident, though by no means destitute either +of interest or anxiety for those on board the Alabama. From +daybreak to dusk the click of the hammer, and the shrill screaming +of the file, arose incessantly from the engine room, as the +engineer and his staff laboured without a pause to repair the +damage to the machinery. The task proved even longer than +had been anticipated, and it was not until the afternoon of the +third day that the mischief had been finally remedied, and the +Alabama was pronounced in a condition to resume with safety her +destructive career. + +Meanwhile, a brighter look-out than ever was kept from her mastheads. +There was still a possibility--though but a slight one--of +falling in with the homeward-bound Californian, for which they +had been waiting so long and so anxiously; whilst it was more +than ever necessary to care against surprise from any of the +enemy's cruisers, who might fairly be expected to be in considerable +force somewhere in the neighbourhood. + +The northern shores of Jamaica, however, off which the Alabama +was now lying, standing along the coast, under easy sail +during the day, and at night laying her maintopsail to the mast, +appeared to be but little frequented by vessels of any kind, and +the cruiser was permitted to carry on her repairs without a single +interruption in the way of either a chase, or a call to quarters. +And it was perhaps as well that such an interval of rest should +have been afforded after the severe strain of the previous few +days. For Captain Semmes, at all events, it was a great boon, +for on that officer's never very robust constitution, the continued +anxiety and constant night-calls on deck, in wind and rain, had +had a very serious effect, and he was fairly laid up with cold and +fever. + +The evening of Friday, December the 12th, saw the repairs of +the machinery of the vessel completed, the Alabama being at, +nightfall about opposite to the little town of St. Anne's. That +evening the crew were exercised at quarters; and the next day, +after a thorough cleaning of the decks, &c., the vessel ran away +to the westward of the Island of Jamaica, _en route_ for another +point of rendezvous, at which to take in fresh coal, and other +needful supplies. + + * * * * * + +_Saturday, December 13th._--... Nothing in sight, and +I intend to see nothing--unless it be a homeward-bound Californian +steamer--at present, as it is important I should make the +run I contemplate without being traced. I should have much +liked to touch at the Caymans for fruit and vegetables for the +crew, but forbear on this account. + + * * * * * + +_Monday, December 15th.--_Fresh trade, ship rolling along under +topsails. This running down, down, the ever-constant trade +wind--to run _up_ against it, by and by, under steam--is not very +pleasant. Still, God willing, I hope to strike a blow of some importance, +and make my way safely out of the Gulf. + +_Wednesday, December 17th._--The wind blew quite fresh during +the night from about N.E. by N. To-day it is blowing a moderate +gale from about N.N.E. This is probably a _norther_ from the +American coast, modified by its contact with the N.E. trade wind. +The clouds look hard and wintry. Close-reefed at nightfall.... +The gale has continued all day, with a rough sea, in +which the ship is rolling and tumbling about. Weather cloudy +and gloomy-looking, and the wind moaning and whistling through +the rigging--enough to give one the blues. These are some of +the comforts of sea-going, and we have had our share of them in +the Alabama. + +_Thursday, December 18th._--The gale continues, with dense +clouds in every direction obscuring the heavens so that we get no +meridian altitude. I got a glimpse of the sun at about nine minutes +past noon. When one's ship is in a doubtful position, how +eagerly and nervously one watches the shifting clouds near noon, +and how remorsely they sometimes close up their dense masses +just at the critical moment, shutting out from us the narrowly-watched +face of the sun! One is foolish enough sometimes almost +to feel a momentary resentment against inanimate nature--weak +mortals that we are! + +The gale has drifted us so far to leeward that the wind from its +present quarter will no longer permit us to "lay through" the +Yucatan passage, so at 2 P.M. we tacked to the southward and +eastward. Weather still thick in the afternoon, with light rain at +intervals. We had a very ugly sea lashing us this morning--the +ship rolling so heavily as to awaken me frequently, though I sleep +in a swinging cot; and the water swashing over the decks, and +rushing by bucketsful down the companion-way, which we are +obliged to keep open to avoid being smothered. + +_Friday, December 19th._--The gale continues with the tenacity +of a norther, this being the third day. This is but a foretaste of +the weather we may expect in the Gulf of Mexico. Being now in +the Gulf of Honduras, there is but a small strip of land between us +and it. + +_Saturday, December 20th._--As ugly a day as one often sees, +with a great variety of wind and weather. In the morning the +wind was fresh from the N.E., with flying clouds, and a bright +sun, now and then obscured. At about 9 A.M. a cloud bank in +the north began to rise, and by 11.30 we had a densely overcast +sky, with heavy rain-squalls. I was running for Cape Catoche, +and was greatly disappointed at not getting a meridian altitude, +especially after the promise of the morning. At about 11.30 +made the land--two islands, as described by the man at the masthead. +At 4 P.M. sounded in twenty-eight fathoms. Weather threatening a gale. +At six, double-reefed the topsails, and sounded in twenty-five fathoms. +I shall endeavour to feel my way around the Cape, and gradually bear up +for the westward. The bank is apparently clean and safe, but still +groping one's way in the dark in strange waters is a somewhat nervous operation. + +_Sunday, December 21st_.--We doubled Cape Catoche very successfully +last night, hauling around it gradually in from twenty-five +to thirty fathoms, and ran along in the latter depth all night, +course W. and W. by S., sounding every hour. The wind blew +half a gale, and the weather looked threatening. This morning +the wind hauled more to the eastward, and moderated somewhat. +The sky still looks wintry, and the sun sheds a lurid light through +a semi-transparent stratum of dull grey clouds. At 11 A.M. mustered +the crews and at meridian passed a large steamer (hull down) +steering to the eastward, probably a French ship of war from Vera +Cruz. + +_Monday, December 22nd._--Ran on during the night in a very +regular line of soundings of twenty fathoms, on a W.S.W. course. +At 9 P.M., having run within about twenty miles of the Areas, +anchored for the night in twenty fathoms. + +_Tuesday, December 23rd._--At 9 A.M. called all hands up anchor; +and at ten we were under way, steering W.S.W.; at meridian +observed six miles to the northward of the Areas, and altered +course to S.W. At 1.30 P.M. made the Areas half a point on the +starboard-bow, distant about twelve miles; and at sunset came +to anchor in eleven fathoms of water, with the south Area bearing +N.W. by N. In the course of the afternoon our coal-ship, +which I had ordered to rendezvous here, hove in sight, and joined +us at the anchorage a few minutes after we came to. + +_Wednesday, December 24th._--In the forenoon went out of the +harbour, and examined the entrances and anchorage. The dangers +are all visible, and it is only necessary to give a berth to the +reefs that make off from the points. There is an inner reef making +off to the westward from the northern island; but it, like the +other, is visible, and there is no danger whatever in approaching +it. The Areas are three low keys, lying in a triangle; the northern +key being the largest. We found a hut on this latter key, a +boat hauled up on the island, a net inside the hut, a boiler or two +for trying out oil, and other evidences of the inhabitancy of fishermen +or turtlers; but this not being the season for these pursuits, +everything had apparently been abandoned for some time. +Numerous birds of the gull species were the only living things +found in the island, and of these there were varieties of old birds +and their fledglings, and some of the former were still laying and +sitting. They seemed to have no fear of our men, and suffered +themselves to be caught by the hand, and knocked on the head +with sticks. The vegetation found was on the larger island, and +on that it consisted of a dense carpeting of sea-kale--not a shrub +of any kind. In the transparent waters on the inner reef, a great +variety of the living coral was found in all its beauty, imitating +the growth of the forest on a small scale. At P.M. we got +under way, and stood in and anchored under the south side of the +larger island in nine fathoms, and moored ship with an open +hawse to the north. + +We entered by the S.E. passage between the south and the +north islands. The barque followed us, coming in by the S.W. +passage between the south and the west islands, and anchored a +little to the S.E. of us. Our anchorage is open to the S.E., but at +this season it does not blow from that quarter, and probably +would not bring in much sea if it did. We feel very comfortable +to-night in snug berth. + +_Thursday, December 25th_.--Christmas-day!--the second Christmas +since we left our homes in the Sumter. Last year we were +buffeting the storms of the North Atlantic, near the Azores; now +we are snugly anchored, in the Arcas: and how many eventful +periods have passed in the interval! Our poor people have been +terribly pressed in this wicked and ruthless war, and they have +borne privations and sufferings which nothing but an intense patriotism +could have sustained. They will live in history as a people +worthy to be free; and future generations will be astonished at +the folly and fanaticism, wickedness and want of principle, developed +by this war among the Puritan population of the North. And in this class +may nine-tenths of the native population of the Northern States be placed, +to such an extent has the "Plymouth Rock" leaven "leavened the whole lump." +A people so devoid of Christian charity, and wanting in so many of the +essentials of honesty, cannot but be abandoned to their own folly by a just and +benevolent God. + +Our crew is keeping Christmas by a run on shore, which they +all seem to enjoy exceedingly. It is, indeed, very grateful to the +senses to ramble about over even so confined a space as the Arcas, +after tossing about at sea in a continued state of excitement for +months. Yesterday was the first time I touched the shore since I +left Liverpool on the 18th August last, and I was only one week +in Liverpool after a voyage of three weeks from the Bahamas; so +that I have in fact been but one week on shore in five months. +My thoughts naturally turn on this quiet Christmas-day, in this +lonely island, to my dear family. I can only hope, and trust them +to the protection of a merciful Providence. The only sign of a +holiday on board to-night is the usual "splicing of the +main-brace"--_Anglicè_, giving Jack an extra allowance of grog. + +_Friday, December 26th._--* * * Weather fine, but the barometer +has gone down the tenth of an inch to day, and is now (7 P.M.) +29.96. I shall begin to look for a norther in about twenty-four +hours. We commenced caulking our leaky decks to-day, and +despatched the launch to assist in ballasting the barque. I strolled +on the islands to-day, and amused myself searching for shells along +the beach. There are some very pretty diminutive shells to be +found, similar to those on the Florida coast; but none of a larger +size than the common "conch," of which there are a few. We +have made free with the turtle nets of the fishermen found in the +huts, and have set them. As yet, we have only caught two or three +small turtle. I landed on the south island to-day, where they are +getting off ballast. This islet is occupied exclusively by the black +man-of-war bird; whilst the north islet seems to be divided between +the white gannet (with the lower edges of its wings black) +and the black warrior; the colonies being quite distinct. The +birds are still laying and incubating. + +_Saturday, December 27th_.--The barometer has risen again, and +the weather still continues fine. Ballasting the barque, and overhauling +and setting up our topmast and lower rigging, and caulking +decks. Took a stroll in the north island towards sunset. It is +dull recreation after the novelty has worn off, with the somewhat +tough walking through the sand, and the smell and filth of the +clouds of gannet. + +_Sunday, December 28th_.--Weather cloudy, with the wind from +the N.E. At 8.30 descried a schooner from aloft in the N.W., the +first sail we have seen, and quite an unexpected sight at this season +of the year. After we had armed and manned the cutter, to +board the sail when it should heave in sight from the deck, it was +ascertained that the look out had been deceived, and that the supposed +sail was probably a cloud in the horizon, it having suddenly +disappeared. + +At 11 A.M. mustered the crew and inspected the ship. A quiet +Sabbath. Strolled on the island towards sunset, with the gannets +for companions, the surf for music, and the heavy sand for a promenade. +The weather cleared at nightfall, with the breeze fresh +from the N.N.E. Some of the men are getting tired of their hard +service; the chief boatswain's-mate having applied to return to +England in the barque. Refused him permission, of course. Constant +cruising, vigilance against being surprised by the enemy, +salt provisions, and a deprivation of the pleasures of port, so +dear to the heart of a seaman, are probably what most of them +did not expect. A tight rein and plenty of work will cure the +evil. + +_Monday, December 29th_.--Weather clear and fine. At daylight +hauled the barque alongside, and commenced coaling. Another +seaman got drunk to-day, and seized his bag to go on board +the barque to return to England. Confined him in double irons. +Many of my fellows no doubt thought they were shipping in a +sort of privateer, where they would have a jolly good time and +plenty of license. They have been wofully disappointed, for I +have jerked them down with a strong hand, and now have a well-disciplined +ship of war, punishment _invariably_ follows immediately +on the heels of the offence. It has taken me three or four months +to accomplish this, but when it is considered that my little kingdom +consisted of one hundred and ten of the most reckless from +the groggeries of Liverpool, this is not much. + +_Tuesday, December 30th_.--The weather still continues remarkably +fine, with a moderate breeze from the E.S.E. We finished coaling to-day, +and hauled the barque off in the afternoon. Getting ready generally for +our dash at the enemy's coasts; or rather, at the enemy on our own coasts, +of which he is in possession. A brig hove in sight to-day to the S. and E., +approaching the islands on the starboard tack, until she became +visible from the bridge, and then tacking--probably a Frenchman, +making way from Vera Cruz to the eastward on the banks. +Took my usual afternoon stroll on shore. About nightfall, the +sky assumes a peculiarly lurid aspect, becoming dark overhead, +whilst the western horizon is lighted up with the rays of the setting +sun, although there is not a cloud visible. One witnessing +such a scene elsewhere would fancy himself on the eve of a storm; +I attribute it to the reflection from the green waters of the bank. +We have cleared away all the old eggs from the gannets' nests, +and these prolific layers are now supplying us with fresh. Of fish +we can catch none, except by trolling. We have no better success +with our turtle nets. + +_Wednesday, December 31st_.--The weather has been good all +day, though we have had a heavy surf on all the reefs, indicating +that there is a gale somewhere in our vicinity--probably a norther, +along the Mexican coast to the west of us. The wind is at N.N.E. +and moderate, and the barometer has been rising all day, though +it has not been a tenth below 30.21; it is now (4 P.M.) 30.15, so +we shall probably not feel the gale here. + +_Thursday, January 1st_.--The first day of the new year. +What will it bring forth? The Almighty for a wise purpose hides +future events from the eyes of mortals, and all we can do is to perform +well our parts, and trust the rest to His guidance. Success, +as a general rule, attends him who is vigilant and active. It is +useful to look back on the first day of the new year and see how +we have spent the past; what errors we have committed, and of +what faults we have been guilty, that we may in the future avoid +the one and reform the other. + +Although the wind blew pretty fresh during the past night, we +did not feel the gale in any force; and to-day it has moderated, +and the weather become fine again. Still caulking and painting. +The former seems to be an interminable job with our small gang +of caulkers. In the afternoon a brig approached the island, near +enough to be seen, hull up, from the deck. She was beating up +the bank to the eastward probably from Vera Cruz. + +_Friday, January 2nd_.--The wind has been fresh all day from +the eastward, bringing in some sea, and as we have been riding +across the tide, the ship has had some motion. Caulking and +painting, tarring down and squaring ratlines, &c. Commenced +condensing water to supply the barque for her return voyage to +England. I must get to sea on Tuesday, though I fear we shall +not have finished caulking; but Banks' expedition must be assembling +off Galveston, and time is of importance to us if we would +strike a blow at it before it is all landed. My men will rebel a little +yet. I was obliged to-day to trice one of them up for a little insolent +behaviour. + +_Saturday, January 3d_.--A gale opened after all from the S.E., +which I had hoped to escape, so rare is it to have blows from this +quarter at this season of the year. We have veered to forty-five +fathoms on each chain, and are in six fathoms water astern (there +being nine where the anchors are), and are tailing directly on the +surf, with a few hundred feet only between us and it, which of +course makes me feel a little solicitude. We are open to the S.E. +winds, though these blow over the bank from landwards. Still +the water is deep and the land distant, and a considerable sea comes +in. I have ordered the fires to be lighted under another boiler to +guard against accidents. The Arcas are a dirty little anchorage +for large ships, being but an open roadstead, affording good shelter +only from the north. There is a very small basin between the two +reefs, running off from the northern island, fit for very small vessels, +where they could be made secure against northerly and southerly +winds; but everywhere they would be exposed more or less +to wind from the westward. + +_Sunday, January 4th_.--Weather clear, with the wind fresh +from the S.E., dying away in the afternoon. Having determined +to get to sea this evening, we commenced getting our coal-bags on +board from the barque, omitting the usual Sunday muster. Busy +with the seamen, as usual on such occasions, sending home their +allotments, &c. The weather begins to portend a norther, so I +have directed the engineer to hold on with his steam for the present. + +_Monday, January 5th_.--It did not blow last night as I expected. +This morning the wind has gone round again. I cannot wait +longer for the norther,[10] so I must get under way. At 11 A.M. +got under way, and stood out from the anchorage under steam. +Let the steam go down, hoisted the propeller, and put the ship +under sail. + +[Footnote 10: One of the officers of the Alabama enters in his journal +that on this day, in anticipation of news being received of Lincoln's +proclamation, a tombstone, consisting of a board about four feet in +length and two in breadth, was sent on shore and placed in the most +prominent position the largest island afforded. Inscribed on the tombstone, +in black letters on a white ground, was the following:--"In memory of +Abraham Lincoln, President of the late United States, who died of nigger +on the brain, 1st January, 1863."--"No. 290." Upon a piece of paper, +protected from the weather, was written in Spanish--"Will the finder +kindly favour me by forwarding this tablet to the United States Consul, +at the first point he touches at?" This affair originated with, and was +executed by, the steerage officers.] + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +_Another mission--General Banks' expedition--To Galveston--Sunday +the 11th of January--A small mistake--Preparing for action +--The Hatteras--A fight in the dark--Sharp and decisive--Surrender +--Rescue of the crew--Sunk!--Casualties--Out of the hornet's nest._ + + +Contrary to her usual aspirations, the principal wish of the Alabama, +as she started on this fresh cruise, was to reach her destination +without having seen a single vessel. She was now in fact on +a service of a kind altogether different from that which had yet +occupied her. In his address to the crew, upon taking command +off Terceira, Captain Semmes had promised that the first moment +they were in a condition of training and discipline, to enable them +to encounter the enemy, they should have an opportunity of doing +so. That time had come, and laying aside for a short period her +more especial _rôle_ of annihilating as rapidly as possible the enemy's +commerce, the Alabama set steadily out in search of a fight. + +The grand expedition of General Banks, which had been the +subject of so much speculation in the United States, and of which +their newspapers had long before duly informed the Confederate +cruiser, seemed to offer the most favourable opportunity possible +for such an enterprise. The expedition would, of course, be accompanied +by one or more armed vessels, but the principal portion +of it would be composed of troop-ships, crowded with the enemy's +soldiers; and should the Alabama but prove victorious in +the fight, these transports would be a prize of more practical importance +than all the grain and all the oil ever carried in a merchantman's +hold. + +It was a daring adventure certainly. To steer, with a solitary +light-armed sloop, close upon a coast, blockaded from north to +south, by hundreds of armed vessels, in deliberate quest of a +squadron, not improbably four or five times stronger than herself, +was an act of almost reckless hardihood, fully in keeping with the +rest of the Alabama's career. The event indeed proved the full +danger of the adventure; whilst, at the same time, nothing could +have more clearly showed how utterly groundless were the dastardly +imputations upon the courage and prowess of her crew, poured out daily +from the foul-mouthed organs of the Northern press. There could be no +question of the fighting qualities, or disposition, of the Confederate +cruiser, after such a test as this. + +For five days the Alabama kept steadily on her course for Galveston, +where she expected to find the fleet of which she was in +search. At length, on Sunday, the 11th January--her "lucky +day"--the moment so anxiously looked for came. + + * * * * * + +Our position at noon--writes Captain Semmes--put us just +within thirty miles of Galveston, and I stood on, intending either +just to sight the shipping at a great distance, without being seen +myself, or else to anchor just out of sight until the moon should +rise the following night, which would be about half-past eleven, +and then run in, and attack, as I hoped, "Banks' expedition." +Owing, however, to a little carelessness in the look-out at "masthead," +we were permitted to approach the ships anchored off the +bar in such plain sight, before they were announced, that we were +discovered, although we tacked immediately and stood off, in the +hopes of eluding the vigilance of the enemy. + +There were three ships found lying off the bar--one heavily-sparred +ship, which our look-out took for a sail frigate, but which +afterwards proved to be the Brooklyn steamer, our old friend that +chased us in the Sumter, and two steamers supposed to be propellers. +Very soon one of the steamers was seen to be getting up +steam, and in about an hour and a half afterwards she was reported +to be under weigh, standing out for us. + +I lowered the propeller, and directed steam to be got in readiness, +and awaited the approach of the stranger, who overhauled us +very slowly, and seemed to reconnoitre us, as he came along, with +great caution. + +All this time we were standing on under topsails away from the +bar, and the stranger was approaching us stern on. I gave my +ship a little motion with the engine occasionally, both to draw the +enemy--for I, of course, supposed him to be such--away from his +consorts, so that in case of a conflict the latter might not hear our +guns, and to prolong the time until dark to enable me to take in +my topsails, and close with him in so short a time that the movement +should not be noticed by him until too late to escape, which +I feared he might attempt, if he saw me turn upon him with the +intention of pursuing him. + +Accordingly, soon after dark--the enemy in the meantime +having approached us so near as not to endanger our losing sight +of him--I clewed up, and furled the topsails, beat to quarters, and +doubled suddenly upon the stranger. He came in quite boldly, +and when within hailing distance of us, hailed us, and inquired-- + +"What ship is that?" + +"Her Majesty's ship Petrel. What ship's that?" + +To this inquiry there was no reply, and although we repeated +it several times there was no rejoinder. + +During the colloquy, I endeavoured to place myself in a raking +position astern of him, which he as carefully avoided by keeping +his broadside to me. From this manoeuvre I knew him pretty +certainly to be an enemy, and having approached to within about +two hundred yards, I directed my First Lieutenant to repeat the +question. "What ship's that?" was accordingly again shouted, +and this time there was a reply. + +We distinctly heard that he was an United States something or +other, but the name we could not make out. I then directed the +First Lieutenant to tell him that this was the Confederate States +steamer Alabama, and to open fire on him immediately, which we +did from our starboard battery. He returned our fire in a minute +or two, and the action was thus commenced. + +We continued to run side by side at a distance ranging from +two to five hundred yards, both of us keeping up a rapid fire of +both artillery and rifles, when, after the lapse of thirteen minutes, +the enemy fired two guns from his off, or starboard side, and +showed a light above his deck in token of his being whipped. + +At once we ceased firing, and approaching him still nearer, +asked him if he surrendered and needed assistance. To both of +these questions he replied in the affirmative, and we immediately +despatched our quarter boats to him; these, with his own four +boats, were busily employed in transporting the crew on board, +which had only been accomplished when the ship went down.[11] + +[Footnote 11: United States Consulate, Kingston, + +Jamaica, Jan., 21, 1868. + +SIR,--It is my painful duty to inform the Department of the destruction +of the United States steamer Hatteras, recently under my command, by +the rebel steamer Alabama, on the night of the 11th instant, off the coast +of Texas. The circumstances of the disaster are as follows:-- + +Upon the afternoon of the 11th inst., at 2.30 P.M., while at anchor in +company with the fleet under Commodore Bell, off Galveston, Texas, I +was ordered by signal from the United States flag-ship Brooklyn to chase +a sail to the southward and eastward. I got under weigh immediately, +and steamed with all speed in the direction indicated. After some time, +the strange sail could be seen from the Hatteras, and was ascertained to +be a steamer, which fact I communicated to the flag-ship by signal. I +continued the chase, and rapidly gained upon the suspicious vessel. +Knowing the slow rate of speed of the Hatteras, I at once suspected that +deception was being practised, and hence ordered the ship to be cleared +for action, with everything in readiness for a determined attack and a +vigorous defence. + +When within about four miles of the vessel, I observed that she had +ceased to steam, and was lying broadside and awaiting us. It was nearly +seven o'clock, and quite dark; but notwithstanding the obscurity of the +night, I felt assured, from the general character of the vessel and her +manoeuvres, that I should soon encounter the rebel steamer Alabama. +Being able to work but four guns on the side of the Hatteras--two short +32 pounders, one 30 pounder rifled Parrot gun, and one 20 pounder rifled +gun,--I concluded to close with her that my guns might be effective, if +necessary. + +I came within easy speaking range--about seventy-five yards--and +upon asking "What steamer is that?" received the answer, "Her Britannic +Majesty's ship Petrel." I replied that I would send a boat aboard, +and immediately gave the order. In the meantime the vessels were +changing positions, the stranger endeavouring to gain a desirable position +for a raking fire. Almost simultaneously with the piping away of the +boat the strange craft again replied, "We are the Confederate steamer +Alabama," which was accompanied with a broadside. I at the same +moment returned the fire. Being well aware of the many vulnerable +points of the Hatteras, I hoped, by closing with the Alabama, to be able +to board her, and thus rid the seas of the piratical craft. I steamed +directly for the Alabama, but she was enabled by her great speed and the +foulness of the bottom of the Hatteras, and consequently her diminished +speed, to thwart my attempt when I had gained a distance of but thirty +yards from her. At this range musket and pistol shots were exchanged. +The firing continued with great vigour on both sides. At length a shell +entered amidships in the hold, setting fire to it, and at the same instant +--as I can hardly divide the time--a shell passed through the sick bay, +exploding in an adjoining compartment, also producing fire. Another +entered the cylinder, filling the engine-room and deck with steam, and +depriving me of my power to manoeuvre the vessel, or to work the pumps, +upon which the reduction of the fire depended. + +With the vessel on fire in two places, and beyond human power, a +hopeless wreck upon the waters, with her walking-beam shot away, and +her engine rendered useless, I still maintained an active five, with the +double hope of disabling the Alabama and attracting the attention of the +fleet off Galveston, which was only twenty-eight miles distant. + +It was soon reported to me that the shells had entered the Hatteras at +the water-line, tearing off entire sheets of iron, and that the water was +rushing in, utterly defying every attempt to remedy the evil, and that +she was rapidly sinking. Learning the melancholy truth, and observing +that the Alabama was on my port bow, entirely beyond the range of my +guns, doubtless preparing for a raking fire of the deck, I felt I had no +light to sacrifice uselessly, and without any desirable result, the lives +of all under my command. + +To prevent the blowing up of the Hatteras from the fire, which was +making much progress, I ordered the magazine to be flooded, and afterwards +a lee gun was fired. The Alabama then asked if assistance was desired, +to which an affirmative answer was given. + +The Hatteras was then going down, and in order to save the lives of my +officers and men, I caused the armament on the port side to be thrown +overboard. Had I not done so, I am confident the vessel would have +gone down with many brave hearts and valuable lives. After considerable +delay, caused by the report that a steamer was seen coming from +Galveston, the Alabama sent us assistance; and I have the pleasure of +informing the Department that every living being was conveyed safely +from the Hatteras to the Alabama. + +Two minutes after leaving the Hatteras, she went down, bow first, +with her pennant at the masthead, with all her muskets and stores of +every description, the enemy not being able, owing to her rapid sinking, +to obtain a single weapon. + +The battery upon the Alabama brought into action against the Hatteras +numbered nine guns, consisting of six long 32 pounders, one +100 pounder, one 68 pounder, and one 24 pounder rifled gun. The great +superiority of the Alabama, with her powerful battery, and her machinery +under the water-line, must be at once recognized by the Department, who +are familiar with the construction of the Hatteras, and her total unfitness +for a conflict with a regular built vessel of war. + +The distance between the Hatteras and the Alabama during the action +varied from twenty-five to one hundred yards. Nearly fifty shots were +fired from the Hatteras, and I presume a greater number from the Alabama. + +I desire to refer to the efficient and active manner in which +Acting-master Porter, executive officer, performed his duty. The conduct +of the Assistant-surgeon, Edward S. Matthews, both during the action +and afterwards, in attending to the wounded, demands my unqualified +commendation. I would also bring to the favourable notice of the Department +Acting-master's mate McGrath, temporarily performing duty as gunner. +Owing to the darkness of the night and the peculiar construction of the +Hatteras, I am only able to refer to the conduct of those officers who came +under my especial attention; but from the character of the contest, and +the amount of damage done to the Alabama, I have personally no reason +to believe that any officer failed in his duty. + +To the men of the Hatteras I cannot give too much praise. Their +enthusiasm and bravery were of the highest order. + +I enclose the report of Assistant-surgeon E.S. Matthews, by which you +will observe that five men were wounded and two killed. The missing, it +is hoped, reached the fleet at Galveston. + +I shall communicate to the Department, in a separate report, the movements +of myself and my command from the time of our transfer to the +Alabama until the departure of the earliest mail from this place to the +United States. + +I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, + + H.C. BLAKE, + Lieutenant Commanding. + +Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy, Washington. + +For a further account of this action from the journal of one of the +junior officers, see Appendix.] + +The prize proved to be the United States gunboat Hatteras, +Lieut.-Commanding H.C. Blake, which officer came on board after his crew +had been transported, and delivered up his sword. I said to him:-- + +"I am glad to see you on board the Alabama, and we will endeavour to +make your time as comfortable as possible." + +The Hatteras had the following armament, viz.:--32 pounders of 27 cwt., +4; 30 pounders, rifled, 2; 20 pounders, rifled, 1; 12 pounders, +howitzer, 1: total, 8. + +The armament of the Alabama was:--32 pounders of 52 cwt., 6; 100 +pounders, rifled, 1; 24 pounders, rifled, 1; 8-inch shell gun, 1: total, +9. + +A great disparity in weight of metal in our power; but we equalized this +to a considerable extent by the fair fight which we showed the enemy in +approaching him so very close as to render his small guns almost as +efficient as larger ones. + +The tonnage of the Hatteras was eleven hundred tons; material, iron, +with watertight compartments; age, eighteen months. Her crew numbered a +hundred and eight men, and eighteen officers; our own numbering a +hundred and eleven men, and twenty-six officers. + +The casualties on both sides were slight. On board the enemy two were +missing (firemen), supposed to have been killed in the fire-room, and +three wounded, one of them severely, and two slightly. On board +ourselves, only two slightly wounded. + +After the action had been over an hour or more, and whilst I was +steaming off on my course, it was reported to me that a boat of the +enemy, containing an acting master and five men, which had been lowered +before we opened fire upon him, to board "Her Majesty's steamer Petrel," +had escaped. As the sea was smooth and the wind blowing gently towards +the shore, distant only about nineteen miles, this boat probably reached +the shore in safety in five or six hours. The night was clear and +starlit, and it would have no difficulty in shaping its course. But for +these circumstances, I should have turned back to look for it, hopeless +as this task must have proved in the dark. The weather continued +moderate all night, and the wind to blow on shore. + +It was ascertained that Galveston had been retaken by us, and that the +Brooklyn and four of the enemy's steam-sloops were off the port, +awaiting a reinforcement of three other ships from New Orleans to +cannonade the place. So there was no "Banks' expedition," with its +transports, heavily laden with troops, &c., to be attacked, and but for +the bad look-out of our man at the masthead, we should have got instead +into a hornet's nest. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +_Crowded with prisoners--Chasing a friend--At Jamaica--Enthusiastic +reception--Rest on shore--Speech making--Up anchor!--A prize--Case of +the Golden Rule--Reinstating the discipline--Capture of the +Chastelain--San Domingo--The Palmetto--Men of the day in the United +States._ + + +The Alabama's little fighting holiday was over, and she returned to her +appointed task of annoying the enemy's commerce. Her course lay towards +Jamaica, the captain being anxious to relieve himself as soon as +possible of the nest of prisoners that crowded his decks, and were +necessarily the occasion of considerable inconvenience to both men and +officers. The latter especially were most uncomfortably crowded, the +captain setting the example of self-sacrifice, by giving up his +state-room for the benefit of Lieutenant Blake, Commander of the sunken +Hatteras. + +It may be supposed that, under these circumstances, the Alabama was not +very anxious to increase the number of her involuntary passengers. Still +duty was duty, and when, on the day following the engagement, a sail was +reported from aloft, chase was at once given, and expectation again on +tiptoe at the thought of a prize. No prize, however, was to be taken +that day. At about half-past two, the Alabama came within +signal-distance of the chase, and was already busy exchanging the usual +information, when the "stranger" barque was discovered to be no other +than their old friend and faithful tender the Agrippina; and the Alabama +continued her course, not a little amused at her own blunder in thus +chasing her most particular friend. + +Another week passed by with no event of interest, the Alabama working +her way towards Jamaica, through a succession of more or less heavy +gales, which, in the crowded state of the ship, were anything but +comfortable. On the 20th January, she sighted land a little before +daybreak, passing Portland at about 3 P.M., and arriving off the +lighthouse on Plum Point at half-past four. Here French colours were +displayed in case of accident, and a gun fired for a pilot. At about +halt-past six, that important individual made his appearance, and in +about three-quarters of an hour more the Alabama was safely at anchor in +Port Royal harbour. + + * * * * * + +_Wednesday, January 21st_.--Found here several English men-of-war--the +Jason, the Challenger, the Greyhound, &c., the Commanders of all of +which called on us. I saw the Commodore (Dunlop) this morning, and +requested of the Governor through him permission to land my prisoners, +&c., which was readily granted. Made arrangements for coaling and +provisioning the ship, and for repairing damages; and in the afternoon +ran up to Kingston, and thence proceeded to the mountains with Mr. Fyfe. + +_Thursday, January 22nd_.--Had a delightful ride over a fine, natural +McAdamized road, for about ten miles, and thence by horse and +bridle-path through the most picturesque of mountainous regions, with +its lovely valleys, abrupt precipices, streams of water, luxuriant +foliage, &c., to Flamstead, the residence of the Rev. Mr. Fyfe, who soon +returned from town and received me most hospitably.[12] Spent a +delightful, quiet day, riding to Flamstead, and walking in the afternoon +along the winding mountain paths. Jamaica--that is, the south side--is a +wilderness, and the town of Kingston a ruin. The negro population idle, +thriftless, and greatly subject to diseases of an inflammatory kind. No +morals--gross superstition, &c. + +[Footnote 12: As soon as our arrival became known the most intense +excitement prevailed. It is impossible to describe the hospitable +welcome we received, every one placing their houses at our disposal. Up +to 9 P.M. visitors were constantly received, all expressing a most +hearty, encouraging sympathy for our cause, and speaking hopefully for +our prospects. Still the same enthusiasm prevails: visitors of each sex +and every class coming on board, officers and men going on shore, and +receiving the most flattering attentions.] + +_Friday, January 23rd_.--Rode over to, and spent a day and night at, +Blocksburgh, visiting _en route_ the English-looking cottage of Captain +Kent, now absent in England. Had some lady-visitors at Blocksburgh in +the evening. + +_Saturday, January 24th_.--Returned to town to-day by the way of Mr. +Mais' fairy little cottage, kept in the nicest of order, and in a +perfect picture of a country. Upon my arrival in town I found that my +friends had _kindly_ put a notice in the papers, informing the good +people that I would be at the Exchange at noon, &c. &c. Was obliged to +go, and made a speech to the people, which was well received. Returned +on board in the evening. + +_Sunday, January 25th_.--Workmen still engaged trying to get the ship +ready for sea to-night. Returned my visits to the English Captains, all +of whom I found very agreeable. Settling the ship's bills, and getting +the drunken portion of my crew on board by aid of the police. Three of +them in broad daylight jumped into a shore boat and tried to escape; but +we pursued and captured them. Work all done, and fires lighted at 5 +P.M., and at half-past eight we steamed out of the harbour. + +_Monday, January 26th_.--At 10.30 A.M. descried a sail, which we came up +with at 1.20 P.M. She proved to be the Golden Rule, from New York for +Aspinwall. Captured and burned her, there being no certificate on board +of the neutrality of the cargo. This vessel had on board masts, spars, +and a complete set of rigging, for the United States brig Bainbridge, +lately obliged to cut away her masts in a gale at Aspinwall. Nine +prisoners. At about 6 P.M., the prize being well on fire, steamed on +our course. + + * * * * * + +CASE OF THE GOLDEN RULE. + +No certificate of the neutral ownership of any portion of the cargo. The +only bills of lading found on board are the following:-- + +Marcial and Co. to Gregorio Miro and Co., 2069.28 dollars; insured +against war risk. + +Keeler and Vonhiss to John Wilson, 724.20 dollars. Consigned to _order_, +and for account and risk of "whom it may concern." + +Woolsey, consigned to _order_. Amount not stated, and no letter of +advice. + +Berner to Field. Amount not stated, and no letter of advice. + +Herques and Maseras to Juan Melendez, 41.58 dollars. + +F. Hernias to Gillas. Amount not stated, and no letter. + + * * * * * + +The Golden Rule furnished a supply of papers containing an abundance of +welcome news. From them the Alabama learned of the safe escape of her +sister cruiser, the Florida, from Mobile, as well as of the foundering +of the United States gunboat Monitor in a gale, during her passage down +the coast. The good news was also received of the entire failure of an +attack on Vicksburg. + +The time was now pretty much taken up in reinstating the discipline +which had been somewhat shaken by the brief stay at Port Royal, and in +awarding due punishment for the various offences there committed. On the +whole, however, considering the hard service the men had undergone, and +the length of the confinement they had sustained without a single +"spell" on shore, the offences could not be considered very numerous. A +few of the petty officers were disrated, and various minor penalties +inflicted, and on the 31st of January the court-martial, which had been +employed on this unpleasant but necessary service, terminated its +sittings and was dissolved. + +Meanwhile another prize had fallen into the Alabama's hands, in the +shape of the United States brig Chastelain, of Boston, from Martinique +and Guadaloupe for Cienfuegos; and the following day, after duly +committing her prize to the flames, the Alabama arrived at San Domingo, +dropping anchor off the town at 6 P.M. + +In the harbour were two other vessels: one a New York brig, under +English colours. The anchor had not been long down when a visit was +received from the Captain of the Port, who proved to be an old +acquaintance of Captain Semmes, he having piloted the brig Porpoise +about the island at the time when the latter officer was First +Lieutenant of that vessel. He seemed much pleased to renew the +acquaintance, and volunteered to take on shore, to the Governor, Captain +Semmes' request for permission to land his prisoners. + +Soon he returned, bringing with him a commander of the Spanish navy with +the required permission. The prisoners were accordingly sent on shore, +from whence they shortly returned, somewhat crestfallen, with the +intelligence that no one was allowed to land after dark. The Captain, +however, being anxious to depart, application was made to the +authorities, who courteously permitted the prisoners to be sent for the +night to the government vessel, undertaking to send them on shore in the +morning. + +This matter was settled, the Alabama again stood out, having thus +displayed for the first time, in San Domingo, the flag of the young +republic. + +The only excitement of the next few days was an alarm of fire, which, on +the 2nd of February, occasioned for a short time very considerable +anxiety. It came from the carelessness of the captain of the hold, who, +in direct violation of the written rules of the ship, took a naked light +into the spirit-room to pump off liquor by. The moment he commenced +operations, the fumes of the spirit took fire, placing the ship for a +few minutes in imminent peril. The danger, however, was brief, for the +captain happened to be on deck at the time, and at once gave the order +to beat to quarters; before it could be obeyed the fire was +extinguished, and the ship's company _quitte pour la peur_. Not so, +however, the delinquent captain of the hold, who was at once sent to +expiate his fault in the durance vile of a suit of double irons. + +The 3rd February brought a small prize in the United States schooner +Palmetto, from New York for St. John's, Porto Rico, with a mixed cargo +of provisions. She, too, laid claim to immunity on the ground of +neutrality of cargo; but inquiry soon led to condemnation, and after +taking from her a large quantity of biscuit, cheese, &c., the crew were +removed on board the Alabama, and the schooner burned. + + * * * * * + +CASE OF THE PALMETTO. + + +The schooner was U.S., per register and flag. The cargo was shipped by +Herques and Maseras, of New York, to Vincente Brothers, in San Juan, +Porto Rico. There was no affidavit or certificate of neutral property on +board, and the cargo would have been condemnable on this ground alone. +It being in an enemy's ship, it is presumed to be enemy's property until +the contrary be shown by proper evidence under oath. The Master, upon +examination, testified that he had no knowledge of the ownership of the +cargo; and this, though he was the agent and charterer of the ship, as +well as Master. The correspondence found on board--that is to say, a +letter from the shippers to the consignee--states that the cargo is +shipped, two thirds on account of the consignee, and one third on +account of the shippers--the parties being the joint owners of the +_undivided_ cargo in these proportions. Therefore, whatever may be the +general business-relations of the parties, they are, _quoad_ this +shipment, partners; and the house in the enemy's country having shipped +the goods, the other partner's share is condemnable, notwithstanding his +residence in a neutral country. See 3rd Phillimore, 605; and the +Vigilantia, 1 Rob., pp. 1-14, 19; the Susa, ib., p. 255. + + * * * * * + +Several days now passed without adventure of any kind, the monotony of +alternate gales and calms being only varied by the receipt of a few old +newspapers from the schooner Hero, of Yarmouth, N.S., giving news of the +angry "resolutions" passed by the New York Chamber of Commerce with +reference to the Alabama; and also--which was of considerably more +importance--the information that the Vanderbilt and Sacramento were both +to sail towards the end of January, in pursuit of the Confederate +cruiser. + +Sunday, the 15th February, dawned dark and gloomy, the wind blowing +nearly a whole gale from the north, and the Alabama dashing along, with +the wind well abeam, under reefed topsails. + +This boisterous Sabbath, writes Captain Semmes, is the second +anniversary of my resignation from the United States navy, and of course +it has called up many reminiscences. I have more and more reason, as +time rolls on, to be gratified at my prompt determination to quit the +service of a corrupt and fanatical majority, which even then had +overridden the constitution, and shown itself in so aggressive and +unscrupulous a form as to give us just cause of alarm. + +But what shall we say of its course since? If the historian perform his +duty faithfully, posterity will be amazed at the wickedness and +corruption of the Northern and Western peoples, and will wonder by what +process such a depth of infamy was reached in so short a time. + +The secret lies here. The politicians had become political +stock-jobbers, and the seekers of wealth had become usurers and +swindlers; and into these two classes may be divided nearly the whole +Yankee population. Such is "Plymouth Rock" in our day, with its Beechers +in the pulpit, and its Lincoln in the chair of Washington! With its +Sumners and its Lovejoys in Congress, and its Simmonses _et id genus +omne_ in the contract market! + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +_Not easily baffled--Two prizes--The Olive Jane--The Golden Eagle--The +white ensign saluted--In trepidation--Obstinacy--The Washington--The +William Edward--Patience Rewarded--Case of the John S. Parks._ + + +More than a week passed without the occurrence of any event worthy of +record. Saturday, the 21st February, however, brought an exciting chase. +By 8 A.M. four vessels had been reported in sight. The first seen proved +too far ahead and to windward, to be worth chasing, and sail was then +made in the direction of two others, which were observed to be +exchanging signals with considerable diligence. Their conversation +ended, they parted company and sailed off in different directions, +evidently with the object of distracting the attention of the Alabama +which was now in full chase. + +But the Alabama was not so easily to be baffled. Devoting her attention +first to the vessel which appeared by her slower rate of sailing to +offer the promise of an easier capture, she got up steam as she went +along, and the black smoke was already poured from her funnel and the +propeller beginning to revolve as she came within hail of the chase. A +blank cartridge was fired as usual; but the stranger kept doggedly upon +his way, evidently determined, if he could not escape himself, at all +events to do his best to increase the chances of his consort. + +Even this chivalrous determination, however, was of no avail. A second +gun from the pursuer quickly followed upon the first, and this time the +command was pointed by the emphatic accompaniment of a round shot which +went whizzing through the rigging of the chase. Finding his enemy in +earnest, the ship now gave up the game, and hove to with the United +States colours at her peak. Putting a prize crew on board, the Alabama +wore round, and started at full speed in the direction of the second +vessel, which was making the best of her way off, and was by this time +some fifteen miles distant. The Alabama was now, however, under a full +head of steam, flying through the water at the rate of three to one of +the chase, and by the end of a couple of hours, she also was brought to, +with the Stars and Stripes flying, and her maintopsail to the mast. + +A rapid investigation of papers resulted in the decision that the claim +of neutral ownership of the cargo was totally unsustained by evidence, +and the crew of the Olive Jane[13] were transferred to the Alabama, and +the barque set on fire, whilst her captor again came round and ran down +to meet his other prize. On communicating with the prize-master in +charge she proved to be the United States ship Golden Eagle, from +Howland's Island in the Pacific Ocean to Cork for orders. + +[Footnote 13: Of Boston, from Bordeaux to New York, with a partial cargo +of French wines and "knickknackeries."] + +The following particulars relating to these two vessels, are given in +Captain Semmes' journal:-- + +CASE OF THE OLIVE JANE. + +Under United States colours and register--from Bordeaux for New +York--cargo consigned generally to houses in New York, with the +exception of five of the shipments which are consigned to _order_; but +there is no claim among the papers of French property, even in these +latter shipments, and _non constat_ but that the property is American, +and that the consignment on the face of the papers was made in this +manner to give a semblance of French ownership, until the property +should reach its destination, when the real owner would claim it under a +duly-indorsed bill of lading, forwarded to him by steamer. At all +events, the presumption of law is, that all property found on board an +enemy is enemy's property, until the contrary be shown by proper +evidence; and no evidence has been presented in this case at all. The +master, though quarter owner of the barque, and who, consequently, +should be well informed as to her cargo, &c., knows nothing, except that +one of the shippers--a Frenchman--told him that forty casks of wine, +worth, perhaps, twenty dollars per cask, belonged to him. Vessel and +cargo condemned. + + * * * * * + +CASE OF THE GOLDEN EAGLE. + +Ship under United States colours and register. From San Francisco, _via_ +Howland's Island, for Cork, laden with guano by the American Guano +Company. Cargo consigned to "orders." There is no question, therefore, +of property. Ship and cargo condemned. + + * * * * * + +On the morning of the 23rd February four vessels were in sight; but on +overhauling them they one and all proved to be under the protection of +neutral flags. One of them, however--a Frenchman from Buenos Ayres to +Havre--relieved the Alabama of two French prisoners, an artist and his +son, captured on board one of the late prizes. One of the other +vessels--the Prince of Wales, from Melbourne to England--dipped her +ensign to the Yankee colours displayed from the Alabama, on which the +latter, unwilling to appropriate a compliment intended for another, +lowered the Stars and Stripes and hoisted her own ensign. Hardly had the +change been effected when a bustle was observed on board the English +vessel, and passengers and crew crowded on deck to have a look at the +renowned Confederate. The formal compliment accorded to the flag first +displayed was renewed with hearty good-will, and this time accompanied +by the most enthusiastic demonstrations from all on board, the men +cheering and the ladies waving their handkerchiefs in honour of the +gallant little cruiser of which they had heard so much. + +The next day, the Alabama being in the vicinity of the crossing of the +30th parallel by the San Roque and India-bound United States ships, sail +was shortened, and a bright look-out kept, but until nearly sunset +nothing was seen; and when, at length, "Sail, ho!" was cried, and the +Confederate cruiser on nearing the stranger showed the Yankee colours, +it was replied to by the tricolour of France. Again, at 9.30 P.M., when +another vessel was descried, there was still no prize, although it +required two cartridges, a chase of three-quarters of an hour, and +vociferous demands in both English and French to compel the vessel to +heave to. When, at last, the Master obeyed the command, it was +discovered that the brig was a Portuguese, bound from Pernambuco to +Lisbon. The officer despatched to overhaul the chase found, on stepping +on board, everything in the wildest confusion, and everybody so alarmed, +that neither skipper, mates, nor seamen seemed to know what they were +about. So great, indeed, was their trepidation, that upon an explanation +being asked of their strange conduct, the excuse given was that they +were too frightened to heave to! + +The 25th February was a blank, only two sail being seen; the one a +Dutchman, the other English. The master of the latter coolly asked the +Alabama to take to England a discharged British seaman, and on the +following morning another master of an English ship made a similar +request--both being met with a refusal. On the 26th, no less than +thirteen sail were sighted by the Alabama, but not one of them displayed +the Yankee flag. The only excitement of the day was an obstinate +Hamburgh barque, which refused to show colours until the Confederate +cruiser was nearly upon her, and even then a blank cartridge was +required to bring her to. + +After the large number of neutrals that the Alabama had overhauled, came +a prize. On the morning of the 27th February, the United States ship +Washington was captured. The vessel was the property of the enemy, but +as she carried a cargo of guano from the Chincha Islands, on account of +the Peruvian government, consigned to their agents at Antwerp, the +Washington was released on giving a ransom bond for 50,000 dollars. The +prisoners on board the Alabama having been transferred to the capture, +the two vessels parted company; the United States ship going on its +course, rejoicing that the neutral cargo she carried had saved her from +a fiery end. Two days after, another prize was taken. On the 1st March, +the Bethia Thayer, of Rockland, Maine, was overhauled, and like the +Washington, having on board guano the property of the Peruvian +government, was released on a bond of 50,000 dollars. + +Shortly after, a suspicious barque, with the English flag at the peak, +hove in sight. Immediately the Alabama set every stitch of canvas, the +stranger did the same, and away the two dashed before the fresh +south-wester that was blowing. The chase was most exciting, and lasted +seven hours; but gradually the Alabama overhauled the suspicious craft, +and at 4.30 P.M. was enabled to signal it. The Confederate hoisted the +United States flag, and announced herself by an assumed name. The barque +replied that she was the William Edward, from Bahia, for Liverpool. +After some further communication, which convinced the Alabama that the +barque was English, the cruiser announced her real name, and permitted +the William Edward to proceed on her course. At nightfall another ship +was chased, which, upon being brought to, also proved to be English, the +Nile, bound from Akyab to London. The master of this vessel informed the +boarding-officer that a United States man-of-war, supposed to be the +Ino, was in the South Atlantic, in eager search of the Alabama! + +At daybreak, on the 2d March, a sail was made out through the hazy +atmosphere, slowly steering towards the cruiser. Patiently the +Confederate waited, as the light wind from the south bore the stranger +towards them; their patience, too, was rewarded, for at 6 A.M., a +boarding-officer stepped on board the ship John S. Parks, of Hallowall, +Maine. The skipper, his wife, and crew, were transferred to the cruiser, +together with sundry stores and provisions; and then, after Captain +Semmes had carefully examined the papers of the capture, the prize was +set fire to, making number thirty-five on the list of the Alabama's +successes. With respect to the cargo of the Parks, there was a plea of +neutrality set up, to which, as the following extracts will show, +Captain Semmes gave the fullest consideration:-- + +CASE OF THE SHIP JOHN S. PARKS. + +Ship under U.S. colours and register. Cargo, white pine lumber, laden on +board at the port of New York. The cargo was shipped by Edward F. +Davidson, who appears, from the statement of the master, to be a large +lumber dealer, and is consigned to Messrs. Zimmerman, Faris, and Co., at +Monte Video, or Buenos Ayres. Annexed to the bill of lading is what +purports to be an affidavit sworn to before "Pierrepont Edwards," who +signs himself as "vice-consul." Above his name are the words, "by the +consul," from which it appears he professes to act for the consul, and +not for himself as "vice-consul."[14] The affiant is Joseph H. Snyder, +who describes himself as of "128, Pearl Street, New York." He states +that the cargo was shipped by Edward F. Davidson, "for and on account of +John Fair and Co., of London, &c." First, as to the _form_ of this +affidavit. A vice-consul is one who acts in place of a consul when the +latter is absent from his post; and when this is the case, he signs +himself as vice-consul, and his acts take effect _proprio vigore_, and +not as the acts of the consul--which this act purports to do. Further, +the Master was unable to verify this document, which, to give it +validity, he should have been able to do--he declaring that he could not +say whether it was a forgery or not. "Although, as has been said, the +ship's papers found on board are proper evidence, yet they are so only +when properly verified; for papers by themselves prove nothing, and are +a mere dead letter if they are not supported by the oaths of persons in +a situation to give them validity." 3rd Phillimore, 394. Further, "Valin +sur l'Ordonnance" says, "Il y a plus, et parceque les pièces en forme +trouvées abord, peuvent encore avoir été concertées en fraude, il a été +ordonné par arrêt de conseil du 26 Octobre, 1692, que les dépositions +contraires des gens de l'équipage prís, prévaudrojent à ces pièces." The +latter authority is express to the point, that papers found on board a +ship are not to be credited, if contradicted by the oath of any of the +crew, and I take it that an inability to verify amounts to the same +thing. For if this had been a _bona fide_ transaction, it was the duty +of the party interested to take the master before the consul to witness +the taking of the deposition, so that he might verify "the paper," if +captured. But why should Mr. Snyder be the party to make this +affidavit? He was not the shipper, but Davidson, a lumber dealer; and +Davidson, who, if he sold the lumber at all, must have known to whom he +sold it, was the proper person to testify to the fact. Further: the +master says that Snyder bought the lumber from Davidson, as he was +informed by his (the master's) brother, who was the owner of the ship. +If so, then Snyder being the owner of the lumber (whether on his own or +foreign account, it matters not) was the real shipper, and not Davidson, +and the proper person to consign it to the consignees, either in his own +name, or in the name of his principal, if he were an agent. But the bill +of lading, and Davidson's letter to the consignees, show that Davidson +was both the shipper and the consignor. The ship was also chartered by +Davidson, and 13,000,000 dollars freight-money paid in advance, for +which Davidson required the owner of the ship to secure him by a policy +of insurance against both marine and _war_ risk--the policy made payable +to him (Davidson) in case of loss. Two questions arise upon that policy: +1st--why, if the property were _bonâ fide_ neutral (the cargo itself was +also insured in London) the war clause should be inserted? and, 2nd--why +Davidson should make the policy payable to himself? If he advanced this +freight money on the credit of the London house, he had no insurable +interest in it; and if the lumber really belonged to the London house, +and was going to their partners or agents at the port of delivery, why +should Davidson pay the freight in advance at all? And if Snyder +purchased the lumber of Davidson, why should Snyder not have made the +advance for his principal instead of Davidson? The conclusion would seem +to be, that Davidson was shipping this lumber on his own account to +agents, in whose hands he had no funds or credit, and as the lumber +might not be sold readily, the ship could not be paid her freight unless +it were paid in advance? Further: the ship had a contingent destination. +She was either to go to Monte Video or Buenos Ayres, as the consignees +might find most advantageous. This looks very much like hunting for a +market. But further still. Although Davidson prepared a formal letter of +consignment to Zimmerman, Faris, and Co., to accompany the consular +certificate, he at the same time writes another letter, in which he +says, "The cargo of John S. Parks I shall have certified to by the +British Consul as the property of British subjects. You will find it a +very good cargo, and should command the highest prices." How is Davidson +interested in the price which this cargo will bring, if it belongs, as +pretended, to the house in London? And if Davidson sold to Snyder, and +Snyder was the agent of the house in London, Davidson should have still +less concern with it. In that same letter in which a general account of +recent lumber shipments is given, the following remarks occur:--"Messrs. +Harbeck and Co. have a new barque, Anne Sherwood, in Portland, for +which they have picked up in small lots a cargo of lumber costing 20,000 +dollars. I have tried to make an arrangement for it to go to you (on +account of John Fair and Co., of London?); but they as yet only propose +to do so, you taking half-interest at twenty-five dollars, and freight +at eighteen dollars, payable at yours (port?), which is too much. If I +can arrange it on any fair terms, I will do so for the sake of keeping +up your correspondence with H. and Co." + +[Footnote 14: Extract from a letter, captured on the barque Amazonian, +from Mr. Edward F. Davidson to Messrs. Zimmerman, Faris, and Co., of +Monte Video:-- + +"You will learn from London of the loss of the ship John S. Parks, and +collection there of insurance on her cargo: the freight is insured here, +at the Great Western Company. They have thirty days, after receipt of +the captain's protest, to pay the loss in. Captain Cooper has arrived in +Portland, and gone to his home at Hallowall; and the company require a +copy of the protest made in London, certified by the Consul, which I +have sent for. In the meantime, I have requested the captain to come to +this, and trust not to have to wait receipt of the document from +London."] + +This letter would seem to show that Zimmerman, Faris, and Co. are +favourite consignees with Davidson, and that he not only consigns his +own lumber to them (for it must be remembered that he is a lumber +dealer) but endeavours to befriend them by getting them other +consignments. It may be that Davidson in New York, John Fair and Co., in +London, and Zimmerman, Faris, and Co., in Buenos Ayres, are all +connected in this lumber business, and that the trade is attempted to be +covered under the name of the London house; or it may be that Davidson +is the sole owner, or a joint owner with Zimmerman, Faris, and Co. In +either case the property is condemnable, being shipped by the house of +trade in the enemy's country. Ship and cargo condemned. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +_Discomforts of life at sea--A stern chase--Seized--The Punjaub +ransomed--Rain-squalls--A luxury--The Morning Star--Neutral cargo--The +Fairhaven--The Ino on the look-out--The Charles Hill--The +Nora--Fire-water--Commercial morality--The Louisa Hatch--Black +Diamonds--Coaling at sea under difficulties--Fernando de Noronna._ + + +Captain Cooper, of the John Parks, and his wife and two nephews, were +fortunate in not being condemned to a long period of captivity. The +burning remains of his unlucky vessel were still within sight, when an +English barque ranged up alongside of the Alabama, and an arrangement +was soon effected with her captain to convey the whole party to England. + +A long interval now, with nothing but the Englishman's excitement--the +weather--to break the weary monotony of an eventless voyage. So far, +however, as gales of wind could offer a distraction, the Alabama had +little of which to complain, and the vessel rolled and tumbled about in +the heavy seas in a manner which sorely tried the endurance of, at all +events, her unfortunate captain. + +The gale still continues, writes Captain Semmes, on the 11th March. Wind +E.N.E. For four days now we have been rolling and tumbling about, with +the wind roaring day and night through the rigging, and rest more or +less disturbed by the motion of the ship. Sea-life is becoming more and +more distasteful to me. The fact is, I am reaching an age when men long +for quiet and repose. During the war my services belong to my country, +and ease must not be thought of; but I trust that the end is not afar +off. The enemy, from many signs, is on the point of final discomfiture. +Nay, a just Providence will doubtless punish the wicked fanatics who +have waged this cruel and unjust war upon us, in a way to warn and +astonish the nations upon earth. Infidelity and wickedness in every +shape let loose upon themselves, must end in total destruction. The +Yankee States have yet to go through an ordeal they little dreamed of in +the beginning of their unholy crusade against the Southern people. + +On the 12th, the vessel was within fourteen degrees of the equator, but +so cool did the weather still continue that all hands were still wearing +woollen clothing, and sleeping under a couple of blankets. The sky +continued grey and overcast, with an occasional slight sprinkle of rain, +and a stiff breeze. The barometer falling steadily until, on the 14th +March, it had reached as low as 29.96, about the usual standard of the +trade winds. + +That night brought, however, a slight relief from the long dullness. It +was just midnight when the startling cry of "Sail, ho! close aboard!" +was heard from the look-out; and in less than five minutes the Alabama +was within hailing distance of a large ship standing close on a wind +towards the northward and westward. + +"Ship ahoy!--what ship's that?" rang hoarsely through the +speaking-trumpet from the deck of the Alabama. But no answer came, and +the hail was repeated. Still no answer, the strange sail keeping +steadily on her course, regardless of every thing, her huge hull +towering up high and dark as she passed almost within harpooning +distance of the Alabama, and shot away again into the darkness, like a +phantom that on being spoken to, had vanished away. + +But the Alabama could have brought-to the Flying Dutchman himself, if he +had attempted to pass by without answering a hail. "Hands, wear ship!" +was the order before the sound of the second summons had well died away. +Up went the helm, round came the Alabama's head in the direction in +which the stranger had disappeared; and with the reefs shaken out of her +topsails, away she went in chase like a greyhound after a hare. + +By the time sail was made, and headway got on the ship, the chase was +some three miles in advance, and gliding swiftly along with a strong +breeze. But though a stern chase is proverbially a long chase, the +splendid sailing qualities of the Alabama soon made themselves felt, and +within three hours after her helm was put up, she was within a few +hundred yards of the stranger, who now hove to at the first summons from +the cruiser's bow-guns. + +She proved to be the United States ship Punjaub, of Boston, from +Calcutta for London, and having an English cargo on board, as appeared +from sworn affidavits among the papers, from the nature of the +voyage--from one British port to another--and from the cargo of jute and +linseed, she was released on a ransom bond for 55,000 dollars, the +remaining prisoners from the John Parks being transferred to her for +passage home. + +The 21st March brought a change of weather, with heavy squalls of rain. +The variety was greatly enjoyed by all on board, Captain Semmes +recording in his journal his own pleasure at once more hearing the roll +of the thunder, for the first time for many months, and the delight with +which both officers and men paddled about on the deck with their bare +feet, enjoying, "like young ducks," the first heavy rain they had +experienced for a considerable time. + +On the morning of Monday, March 23rd, a sail hove in sight, which, being +overhauled about noon, was found to be the United States ship Morning +Star, from Calcutta to London. This ship also had a neutral cargo, duly +vouched as such by the proper legal certificates; so she, too, was +released on ransom bond. A second prize, however, which fell into the +Alabama's hands the same day, was less fortunate. This was the United +States schooner Kingfisher, of Fairhaven, Massachusetts, some months out +on a whaling voyage. It was well for her that she but very recently +discharged into another vessel her second cargo of oil, and could only, +at present, boast of some twenty barrels, all of which were at once +consigned to the flames, together with the unlucky vessel. + +The Kingfisher brought a piece of intelligence which afforded immense +satisfaction to all on board, being of no less a fact than the presence +of the United States sloop of war, Ino, at Ascension, where the +Kingfisher had left her but a fortnight before. This was the identical +vessel that had assisted in the piratical capture of Messrs. Myers and +Tunstall, on neutral ground, scarcely fourteen months before; and all +hands were rejoicing in the prospect of an early brush with her, when +the outrage then perpetrated might be avenged. Anxious as all were for a +fight on any terms, there was possibly not a vessel in the United States +navy they would have more gladly encountered. + +It was a curious circumstance connected with this schooner, that her +master was, according to his account, one of the only three persons in +his native place, Fairhaven, who, in the last fatal election of a +President for the United States, had voted for the Southern candidate, +Breckinridge. + +Two more captures were made on the following day--one, the ship Charles +Hill, of Boston, from Liverpool to Monte Video; the other, the ship +Nora, also of Boston, from Liverpool for Calcutta. In both cases the +usual claim was set up to a neutral ownership of cargo, and as usual on +investigation proved to be altogether unsupported by anything like real +evidence. + +The following are the cases:-- + +CASE OF THE CHARLES HILL. + +Ship under U.S. flag and register, laden with salt (value in Liverpool +six shillings per ton), under charter party with H.E. Falk to proceed +from Liverpool to Monte Video or Buenos Ayres. No claim of neutral +property in the cargo. Ship and cargo condemned. + + * * * * * + +CASE OF THE NORA. + +Ship under the U.S. flag; laden with salt, under charter party with W.N. +de Mattos, of London, to proceed to Calcutta. In the bill of lading the +cargo is consigned to "order;" and on the back of the bill is this +endorsement:--"I hereby certify that the salt shipped on board the Nora +is the property of W.N. de Mattos, of London, and that the said W.N. de +Mattos is a British subject, and was so at the time of shipment. + +"(Signed) H.E. FALK, Agent for W.N. de Mattos." + +At the bottom of the signature is "R.C. Gardner, Mayor," presumed to be +intended for the signature of the Mayor of Liverpool. As this statement +is not under oath, and as there is no seal attached to it, it does not +even amount to an _ex parte_ affidavit. Vessel and cargo condemned. + + * * * * * + +Some valuable supplies were extracted from these two ships, and the +prisoners--one of them a female--having been transferred to the Alabama, +the vessels were fired on the evening of the day after their capture. As +was but too frequently the case in boarding prizes, access was by some +means obtained to their strong liquor, and that evening saw a good deal +of drunkenness on board the Alabama. Unfortunately, the delinquents were +but too often some of the best men in the ship. They could be trusted +with anything in the world but rum or whisky; but against temptation of +this kind they were not proof, and the duty of boarding offered only too +easy an opportunity of indulging this true sailor's taste. However, if +the prizes had their little bit of revenge in thus creating a temporary +disorder among their captors, they in this case, at all events, more +than made up for it, by contributing an accession of half-a-dozen seamen +to the crew, which, notwithstanding the discharge of the men sent home +in the----, was now fast growing very strong. + +The following extract from a letter found on board the Charles Hill may +throw some light on the pretensions of that vessel at all events, to the +protection of neutrality:-- + +CAPTAIN F. PERCIVAL. + +DEAR SIR,--I have read your several letters from Philadelphia. As a +rebel privateer has burned several American ships, it may be well if you +can have your bills of lading endorsed as English property, and have +your cargo certified to by the English Consul, &c. + + * * * * * + +After crossing the equator during the night of the 29th-30th March, the +Alabama experienced a succession of calms and wet weather; at one time +chasing a vessel in so thick a mist that, though not more than a mile or +two ahead, she was more than once lost sight of for an hour at a time. +She was still involved in this misty, uncomfortable weather, when, on +the night of the 4th April, she again fell in with an United States +ship, the Louisa Hatch, deeply laden with that, to the Alabama, most +invaluable article--coal. An investigation of her papers gave the +following result:-- + +CASE OF THE LOUISA HATCH. + +Ship, under U.S. colours. Among the papers is a charter party, dated +London, 1st January, 1863, executed between John Pirie and Co., and +William Grant, the Master, by which the ship was chartered to take coal +to Point de Galle, Ceylon, or Singapore, as ordered, &c. Without any +assignment of this contract, as far as appears, the ship seems to have +been loaded by entirely new parties, to wit, by one J.R. Smith, who +describes himself as the agent of H. Worms, of Cardiff. By the bill of +lading, the ship is to proceed to the. Point de Galle, and there deliver +the coal to the company of Messageries Imperiales. On the back of the +bill of lading is the following certificate:--"I certify that the +within-mentioned cargo is French property, having been shipped by order, +for the account of the Messageries Imperiales." This certificate is +signed by Mr. Smith, but is not sworn to, nor is the order, nor any copy +of the order to ship this cargo to an account of the Messageries +Imperiales, found among the papers. As the ship was not chartered by any +agent of this company, and as the coal was not shipped by any such +agent, Smith being the agent of Worms, and Worms not being described as +the agent of the company, the presumption is that, if there was any such +order at all in the case, it was a mere general understanding that the +company would pay so much per ton for coal delivered for them at their +depots, the property remaining in the shippers until delivery. The +presumption, in the absence of proof, is, that the cargo being on board +an American ship is American; shipped on speculation to the far east, by +the owner, or his agent, in Cardiff; and we have seen that there is no +legal evidence in the case; the unsworn certificate of Mr. Smith not +even amounting to an _ex parte_ affidavit. Ship and cargo condemned. +Probable value of cargo in Cardiff, 2500 dollars. Cost of coal in +Brazil, 15 to 17 dollars per ton. + + * * * * * + +The Alabama now stood away in the direction of Fernando de Noronha, with +her prize in company, with the intention of there taking on board a +fresh supply of coal. The run was not a little protracted by the light +and baffling winds that still prevailed, and as though this was not +enough, fortune must needs play her a trick, by sending her off on a +chase of fourteen miles after a supposed Yankee whaler, which, when at +last overhauled, turned out to be nothing but a poor little +green-painted "Portiguee." + +Rain--rain--rain, the sun sometimes showing himself for an hour or two, +just a few minutes too early, or a few minutes too late, for any +purposes of observation, and then again retiring behind the dense masses +of cloud that hid the whole horizon in one drenching down-pour. And all +this while every mile of latitude of the last importance, as the Alabama +groped her way slowly to the southward and eastward in search of the +little island at which she was to take in her supplies, and which she +might at any moment run past in the darkness altogether! Trying work, +indeed, for the patience of men cooped up in their narrow floating +prison, and longing to be at work again. + +Too trying, at last, to be borne any longer without an effort at action; +so a bold attempt was made at coaling while under way upon the open sea! +Steam was got up, and the prize taken in tow, and then two boats were +lowered, and set to work. But the scheme, bold and ingenious as it was, +was soon found to be impracticable. The boats managed to get loaded from +the captured collier, but they had then to be warped up alongside the +Alabama, and the lowest speed that could be given her was too great for +them to be hauled up against it. So each time, as they were filled, it +was necessary to stop the engine, and thus occasion another difficulty. + +We now--says Captain Semmes--began to part our tow lines by these +stoppages and startings, and it took a long time to get the line fast +again; so after a sleepless night, during which, as I lay in my cot +trying to sleep, it seemed as if a dozen stentors on deck were rivaling +each other in making the night hideous, I sent word to get the boats run +up again, and to continue our course to Fernando de Noronha without +interruption. + +At daylight we made the peak of the island a long way off, some +thirty-eight or forty miles, and in the afternoon at 2.30 came to, with +the peak bearing S.W. 1/2 S. and the N.E. end of the Rat Island N.E. by +E. 1/2 E., depth of water thirteen and a half fathoms. Anchored the +prize near us. But for our steam we should have been still drifting to +the S.W., as the day has been nearly calm throughout. Fernando de +Noronha, in the wayside of the commerce of all the world, is sighted by +more ships, and visited by fewer, than any other spot of earth. It is a +broken, picturesque, volcanic rock, in mid ocean, covered with a +pleasing coat of verdure, including trees of some size, and the top of +the main island is cultivated in small farms, &c. Awfully hot when the +sun shines, and indeed, when he does not shine. Just after dark hauled +the prize alongside, and commenced coaling. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +_An official "in trouble"--On shore again--A breakfast party--On +horseback--Blowing hard--Taken in the net--Easy captures--The Kate +Cory--The Lafayette--A polite Governor--The Louisa Hatch burned, and +Kate Cory burned--Landing prisoners--Tired of waiting--A scramble--Out +of harbour again._ + + +_April 11th._--Light and variable airs; misty from the southward and +eastward, and oppressive; ther. 83°. Last night the two vessels lay +alongside of each other so roughly, and we received so much damage (our +forechannels being crushed in, and our topsail mainyard being carried +away) that we were compelled to haul the prize off, and continue coaling +by means of our boats. + +The authorities on shore having hoisted no colours, we have not set ours +to-day. We were visited this morning by a couple of gentlemen from the +shore, bearing a letter from the Governor in reply to an inquiry I had +caused the Paymaster to address to him on the subject of supplies. Their +interpreter very naively informed me that he was a German, who had been +sentenced to banishment here from Rio, and that he had a year and a-half +to serve. This was said while my servant was drawing the cork of a +champagne bottle. The forger (for such was his offence) taking his glass +of wine with the rest! The Governor informed me that I could procure +supplies of beef, fresh pork, fowls, &c., and that he would be glad to +exchange these articles with me for flour, wine, sugar, coffee, &c. I +was glad to find that he raised no question of neutrality, though he +had, no doubt, been informed by a boat's crew from the shore that got +the information on board, of the ship in my company being a prize. He +kindly invited me to visit the shore. During the night (one o'clock) we +had a surprise in the way of a strange steamer making her appearance, +coming round the point of Rat Island. I had all hands called to +quarters, and the battery made ready, fires extinguished, and chains got +right for slipping. Although she came within a mile of us, with the +intention, as we thought, of coming to anchor, she kept on her course +to the southward and we piped down, the men, much fagged from coaling, +not having lost more than half an hour's rest by the operation. + +_Sunday, April 12th._--The exigencies of war compel me to work to-day in +coaling ship. Weather clear and very hot during morning, clouding about +noon and raining for several hours. + +I visited the island this morning in company with the Surgeon, and +called on the Governor. The surf was too heavy to land, but we found a +bolsa moored at some distance from the shore, and transferring ourselves +to this we were very skillfully put through the surf by three or four +naked fellows, two of them not having even a breech-cloth about their +loins. Fine, well-made fellows they were too. We found horses in +waiting, and rode about a mile to the village and residence of the +Governor--a Major in the Brazilian army; passing an immense sand-drift, +which we had not expected to find on this volcanic rock. + +We found the Governor at breakfast, and he insisted on our seating +ourselves, and making a second breakfast with him in company with his +wife--a sprightly, bright mulatto--and a pretty girl, quite white, of +about sixteen, and the _padre_. After breakfast we were introduced to a +number of what appeared to be the gentry of the island, and who had +assembled thus early to meet us. Having smoked and chatted awhile, we +remounted for a ride over the island. + +We were not in the saddle more than twenty minutes when one of those +showers, so sudden in this climate, overtook us, and gave us a complete +drenching; we had other showers during the day, but were compensated by +the sun hiding himself during the entire ride. We passed under the +shadow of the gigantic peak, and soon reached the summit of the island, +which spreads out into a most beautiful and productive plain of some two +or three hundred acres. The soil is a ferruginous clay of the richest +description, and covered with the choicest vegetation of wild grapes, +Indian corn, the cotton plant, the castor bean, &c., &c. We stopped a +few minutes to examine a manioc manufactory. Continuing our ride, we +passed through a small but dense forest, to a cocoa-nut plantation on +the south-west part of the island, where we found the water-melon +growing in its choice soil--sand. Here we took shelter again from +another heavy rain, and got some fine grapes. Whilst waiting for the +shower to pass, I had quite a talk with the Governor on various topics; +among others, on the state of the mixed races in the Brazils, &c., &c. +The island, at the season at which we visited it, was a gem of +picturesque beauty--exceedingly broken and diversified with dells and +rocks, and small streams, &c., &c. It was the middle of the rainy +season. The little mountain paths as we returned became small brooks +that hummed and purled in their rapid course. I took occasion to inform +his Excellency that my tender was a prize, so that he might be under no +apprehension. Number of convicts 1000. Whole number of population, 2000. +The Governor expressed himself our very good friend, &c., &c. Got on +board at 5 P.M. + +_Monday, April 13th._--Another rainy day. Showers very heavy, but still +we continue our coaling. Wind from northward and westward, and though +light, there is considerable sea on. The bad weather continued all day, +and the night having set in with threatening appearances, I caused +everybody to be brought on board from the prize, to guard against the +possibility of her being driven on shore, and endangering life. I had +the steam got up, and the chain ready for slipping, and was fearful that +I should be obliged to slip; but we held on during the night. Night very +dark, with heavy rain, and much sea on. + +_Tuesday, April 14th._--Wind this morning from about W.S.W.; weather +still louring. Our friends came off from the shore again this morning, +bringing the fresh provisions ordered for the crew. Every thing is very +dear here. Meat forty cents per pound; but still my crew has been so +long on salt diet that flesh is an anti-scorbutic necessity for them. I +have arranged to sell forty or more tons of coal for a Brazilian +schooner there is in the harbour, and had a proposition for purchasing +the prize, which I offered to sell as low as 20,000 dollars; but this +sum seemed to alarm them, they saying there was not so much money in +Fernando de Noronha. Continued our coaling. + +_Wednesday, April 15th._--Weather clear, and light wind from the +eastward. Finished coaling ship this morning. At about 11 A.M. a couple +of whale-boats from two vessels in the offing pulled into the harbour; +went on board our prize, and thence to the shore. Although the two +masters were told that we were the Iroquois, they seemed at once to have +comprehended the true state of the case, and to make haste to put +themselves out of harm's way. We were an hour and more getting up steam +and weighing our anchor for the chase; and if in the meantime these +whaling captains had pulled out to their ships, and run into shore so as +to get within the league, they might have saved them. We gave chase, and +came up with both of them on the south side of the island, about +half-past 3 P.M., and captured them--both of them being without the +league. One the hermaphrodite brig Kate Cory, of Westport, and the other +the barque Lafayette, of New Bedford; the barque we burned, and the +brig we brought into the anchorage, arriving after dark, about 7 A.M. We +sounded in thirteen fathoms on a bank on the south side, on the southern +extremity of which there is a breaker lying out from two and a half to +three miles. There is also a reef off Tobacco Point running out half a +mile. We saw no other dangers. + + * * * * * + +With reference to these captures, the following amusing account is +extracted from the private journal of the officer of the Alabama who was +prize-master on board the Louisa Hatch:-- + +'At noon, on the 15th of April, two vessels were descried to the south, +standing off and on, under reduced sail. At 12:30 two boats were +observed pulling towards us, asking my ship's name, the port I hailed +from, &c. I answered correctly. The person in charge of the other boat +then inquired if the war-steamer was the Alabama. I replied, 'Certainly +not, she was the Iroquois U.S. steamer.' 'Have you any news of the +Alabama?' 'Yes, we had heard of her being in the West Indies, at Jamaica +or Costa Rica, &c.' A conversation ensued, by which I learned that the +boats belonged to the two vessels in the distance, that they were both +whalers put in for supplies, and that seeing the steamer they were +rather dubious as to her nationality, and had therefore spoke me, to +gain the required information. A brisk conversation was then kept up; my +object in engaging them in it was to enable the Alabama to get under way +ere the whalers took the alarm, feeling certain that the preparations +were being made to go after them. + +'I then invited the masters to come on board my ship, which they +cheerfully consented to do, and were within a boat's length, when a cry +of alarm broke from the steersman in the foremost boat. Shouting to his +crew to 'Give way, men; give way for your lives!' he with a few +well-directed, vigorous strokes, turned his boat's head round, and made +for the shore, the other boat following, blank astonishment being +depicted on the face of each member of the crews. To the frantic +inquiries of the person in charge of the other boat as to the cause of +his (the steersman's) extraordinary conduct, his only reply was, +'There!' pointing to a small Confederate flag of about fifteen inches +long and six inches broad, which I had inadvertently left flying at the +gaff; the gaff being lowered down, the little flag having been used as a +dog-vane, in order to tell the direction of the wind, &c. No sooner did +the men perceive it than they redoubled their exertions to gain the +shore; one of the masters calling out that they had spoken a ship a week +ago, from whom they had obtained news of peace. No credence, however, +could be, or was placed in this statement. + +'Immediately after they left I despatched a boat to the Alabama +informing them of the character of my visitors. At 9.15 the Alabama was +observed to get under way, steaming out of the anchorage after the two +vessels. + +'The larger island being between the scene of the Alabama's operations +and the Louisa Hatch, I was not, of course, an eye witness of the +captures. But at 5.30 I observed a dense column of smoke, which, as it +grew later, turned into a ruddy glare, leaving no doubt in our minds as +to the fate of the whalers. At 7 P.M. observed the Alabama coming round +the northern part of the island with a vessel in tow, both anchoring at +7.30. The next morning I learnt that the captures were the barque +Lafayette, of New Bedford, and the brig Kate Cory, of Westport. The +barque was burnt and the brig kept, it being our intention to send off +all the prisoners we had on board, consisting of 140, including the +women stewardesses, in her; but on communicating with the authorities, +it was resolved to land them on the island, a Brazilian schooner +engaging to convey them to Pernambuco. For this purpose provisions for +twenty-one days were sent ashore, the prisoners, after being paroled, +following. + +The remainder of the day was spent in transferring provisions, &c., for +ship's use. The next evening the prizes, the Louisa Hatch and Kate Cory, +slipped cables, and stood seaward. When about five miles from land both +vessels were set fire to; Mr. Evans, the officer in charge of the brig, +returning on board long before me, the strong westerly current rendering +it extremely difficult to stem it. + +'We remained painting and cleaning ship until the 22nd. At 9.30 A.M. we +got under way, steering and cruising towards Bahia, at which place we +arrived on the 11th of May, having captured and burnt four vessels +between Fernando and Bahia. + +'The news of our doings off the islands had preceded us, of course with +additions and manipulations _ad lib._, the schooner having left Noronha +the day previous to our departure. The Governor of Pernambuco had sent +three war vessels to the islands to enforce the neutrality of the place, +which, according to Yankee representations, had been infringed. Not +content with this, the American representatives had succeeded in +procuring the recall of the Governor, whose only crime was that he had +let us anchor off the place--a crime of which he was necessarily +guiltless, because he had no power to prevent our anchoring if we +insisted on it. + +'Whilst at Bahia I was shown a letter from the master of one of the +whaling barques to an agent, in which he wrote that he would spare no +money or time to follow to the uttermost ends of the earth, and bring to +justice, the man who had so cruelly deceived him. This sentence had +reference to my denial of the Alabama and the substitution of the U.S. +steamer Iroquois for that of C.S. steamer Alabama. The ingratitude of +some people!!' + +On the 16th April Captain Semmes resumes his diary as follows:--Weather +clear; wind light from the southward and eastward. Our banner, last +night a lurid flame, is a tall column of smoke advertising us for +twenty-five or thirty miles round. My first intention was to ship all my +prisoners, amounting to about one hundred and ten, in the prize brig, +but the Governor having consented to my landing them, I am busy to-day +getting them on shore, with their baggage and provisions, and receiving +prisoners from the Louisa Hatch. Sun very warm. The Governor paid me a +visit this morning, and requested that I would write him on the subject +of the captures yesterday, stating the fact (with which he was +satisfied, or at least, to which he made no objection) that they were +captured beyond the league from the land, and requesting leave to land +the prisoners, in order that our understanding should assume an official +shape, which I did. + +_Friday, April 17th._--The weather still continues very warm; wind light +from the S.E., and cloudy. Busy receiving and stowing away provisions, +replacing the coal consumed, and getting ready for sea generally. The +landing of so many prisoners amid so small a population has created a +very great stir, and the excitable Brazilians are discussing among +themselves and with the Yankee captains the question of the American war +with great vehemence. Several sail have been reported as usual. The +afternoon set in rainy, and the rain continued all night. Towards +nightfall sent the prizes, Louisa Hatch and Kate Cory, a league outside +the island, and burned them. Received four recruits from the Louisa +Hatch, and more volunteered, but I am full. + +_Saturday, April 18th._--Morning cloudy, with wind light from the S.E. +Loosed sails to-day. I am anxiously expecting the arrival of the +Agrippina, my store ship, from England, which was ordered to rendezvous +here--not so anxiously, however, as if my coal-bunkers were empty. But +she has a couple of additional guns on board, that would make an +important addition to my battery. + +_Sunday, April 19th._--Rain in the morning, with light airs. Our +steam-tubes leak badly, and I am afraid the leaks will increase so as to +give us trouble. Every time we get up steam, even a few pounds for +condensing water, we find that large quantities of hot water flow into +the hold; eight inches escaped in about twelve hours yesterday. +Unfortunately, too, this tubing is laid so low in the bottom of the +ship, as to be out of reach for examination or repairs without being +taken up. The Governor sent me off a fine turkey and some fruit, and his +lady a bouquet of roses. The roses were very sweet, and made me +home-sick for a while. + +_Monday, April 20th._--A dull, heavy, rainy day--the rain coming down at +intervals in torrents, as it is wont to do in these regions. Still +laying at our anchors, waiting for the Agrippina. She should be out +thirty-five days, to-day, from Cardiff. In the afternoon the rain +ceased, except an occasional light sprinkle, but the dull canopy of +clouds did not break, and we had a strong breeze from the S.E. for four +or five hours, indicating the approach of the trades to this latitude. + +_Tuesday, April 21st._--Morning clear, wind light from S.E. The Island +after the rain is blooming in freshness and verdure, and as my eye roams +over its green slopes I long for repose and the quiet of peace in my own +land: I do not think it can be far off. Fresh "trade" in the afternoon. +Towards night the Brazilian steamer sailed with a load of our prisoners. + +_Wednesday, April 22nd._--Cloudy, with squalls for rain. At 9.30 got +under way under steam, and stood to the eastward. Cut away four +whale-boats that the islanders might have a scramble for them. They soon +started in chase! Steamed due east, about forty-five miles, let the +steam go down, and put the ship under sail. No sail seen. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +_A curious prize--The Nye--The Dorcas Prince--An anniversary--The Union +Jack and-the Sea Lark--In the harbour of Bahia--Explanations--Unexpected +meeting--The Georgia--A little holiday--Diplomacy--More +neutrality--Home-sick._ + + +A curious prize was the next that fell into the clutches of the +all-devouring Alabama. A whaling barque, the Nye, of New Bedford, eleven +months out, without having once put into port! Three whole months before +the launching of the Alabama, had that patient little vessel been +ploughing the seas, gathering, as it turned out, only additional fuel +for her own funeral pyre. A weary voyage to have so sad a termination! + +Among her crew, transferred as prisoners to her captor, was a +Lieutenant of Marines from the Quaker State, serving on board the +whaler in the capacity of steward! + +Next came the Dorcas Prince, of and from New York, for Shanghai. Cargo +chiefly coal, probably intended for United States ships of war in the +East Indies--a supposition that undoubtedly gave additional zest to the +bonfire, which--no claim to neutrality being found among her papers--in +due course followed on her capture. + +_Saturday, May 2nd._--An anniversary with me--writes Captain Semmes--my +marriage-day. Alas! this is the third anniversary since I was separated +from my family by this Yankee war! And the destruction of fifty of their +ships has been but a small revenge for this great privation. + +On that day two more were added to the long list, and the barque Union +Jack, of Boston, and ship Sea Lark, of New York, shared the fate of +their fifty predecessors. The former of these two vessels added three +women and two infants to the already far too numerous colony of the +weaker sex, by which the Alabama was now encumbered. + +There was no claim of neutral property among the papers of either of +these ships, except in the case of one Allen Hay, who was the shipper of +five cases of crackers, and ten barrels of butter, on board the Union +Jack. In this case, a Thomas W. Lielie made oath before the British +Consul at New York, that the said articles were shipped "for and on +account of Her Britannic Majesty." This certificate was of no force or +effect, for its _indefiniteness_, as decided in other cases. A claim of +property must point out the owner or owners, and not aver that it +belongs to the subjects of a nation generally. There must be some one +designated who has a right to the possession of the property under the +bill of lading. The certificate was accordingly set aside, and the ship +and cargo condemned. + +Besides the women and children, the Union Jack furnished also another +prisoner of a somewhat unusual character, in the person of the Rev. +Franklin Wright, late editor of a religious paper, and newly-appointed +consul at Foo Chow. The worthy clergyman's entry, however, upon his new +duties was for the time indefinitely postponed by the confiscation of +his appointment, along with the other public papers in his charge. So, +for a time, Foo Chow had to exist without the advantages arising from +the presence of a functionary from the United States. + + * * * * * + +_Monday, May 11th._--Showed the United States colours to a Spanish +brig. In the afternoon ran in and anchored in the harbour of Bahia. A +Portuguese steamer, the only vessel of war found here. No Yankee +man-of-war had been here for some months. The health officer came on +board, just at nightfall. The Agrippina not here, and I begin to fear +that some disaster has befallen her. + +_Tuesday, May 12th._--This morning the President sent a messenger to me +with a copy of the _Diario de Bahia_ of the 8th May, in which appears a +sort of proclamation or request, addressed to me by the President of +Pernambuco, desiring that I should leave Fernando de Noronha in +twenty-four hours after the receipt of the same. This paper seems to be +based on certain false statements carried to Pernambuco by the Yankee +prisoners whom I had sent to this place. It is alleged that I violated +the neutrality of the island, &c. I replied to the President, that there +was no truth in this statement; but that, on the contrary, I had paid +respect to the neutrality of Brazil. In reply to my communication, the +President informed me that I should be admitted to the usual +hospitalities of the port; but the bearer of his despatch took occasion +to say that he hoped I would not stop more than three or four days, as +the President was afraid of being compromised in some way. The master of +an English barque came on board and informed me that he had coal and +provisions for the Confederate steamer Japan, which was to meet him here +on the 6th instant. + +_Wednesday, May 13th_.--Early this morning a strange steamer was +discovered at anchor about half a mile from us; and at 8 A.M., when we +hoisted our colours, to our great surprise and delight, she too hoisted +the Confederate flag. We then exchanged the established signals; and on +sending a boat on board of her, we ascertained that she was the Georgia, +Lieut. Commanding Maury. Chapman and Evans, two of my Sumter +Lieutenants, were on board of her. The Georgia sailed from England about +the 2nd of April, and armed off Ushant. Our ship has been crowded with +visitors ever since we came in. + +_Thursday, May 14th._--At 12.15 P.M. with a party of officers from the +Georgia and my own ship, I took a steam-tug and proceeded up the harbour +to the railroad depot, at the invitation of the manager of the road, for +an excursion into the country, which proved to be very pleasant. We +passed along the whole port of Bahia, the lower town skirting the water, +and the upper town the crests of a semicircular height, the intermediate +space being filled with trees and shrubbery. The houses are mostly +white, and many of them very picturesque. The terminus of the road is a +beautiful and spacious iron building, situated in the middle of a great +square; and the road itself is a very substantial job. We rode out +twenty-four miles through a picturesque country, the road bordered for +most of the way by the bay and lagoons, with beautiful little valleys +occasionally opening on either hand, with their patches of sugar-cane +and cotton. On our return we sat down to a beautiful lunch, with +champagne. Our hosts were attentive and agreeable, and we returned on +board at dusk, after a very pleasant day. The English residents here +have been very attentive to us. Our tug-man, who was a Thames waterman, +dodged in and out among the launches and vessels in a way that only a +Thames man can do. The French mail came in to-day, and brought us news +that the Florida was at Pernambuco. + +_Friday, May 15th._--This morning a person in citizen's dress came on +board and said that the President had requested him to ask me to show +him my commission. I replied that I could have no objection to show my +commission, but it must be to an officer of my own rank, and that this +officer must come on board in his uniform for the purpose; that I could +not show my commission to any person who might come on board in +citizen's dress, bringing me a mere verbal message, and without any +credentials of his rank, &c. I remarked, however, that it would give me +very great pleasure to call on the President myself and exhibit it. To +this he readily assented; and having appointed an hour for the +interview, I went on shore, accompanied by my _aide_, and had a long and +agreeable chat with his Excellency, who was a man of about thirty-five +years of age, tall and delicate-looking, with black eyes and hair. + +We discussed various points relating to the subject of neutral and +belligerent rights, &c.; and I took occasion to repeat the assurances I +had previously given him in my letter, that I had paid due attention to +the neutral rights of Brazil during my visit to Fernando de Noronha, &c. +I told him I only desired him to extend to me and to the Georgia the +same hospitality as he would extend to a Federal cruiser; but that I +might say to him as an individual, that we were entitled to the warm +sympathies of Brazil, &c. + +I arranged about coaling the Georgia and this ship by means of launches, +as there were port objections to the ship being hauled alongside. He +seemed anxious that our stay should be as short as possible, lest our +delay might compromise his neutrality in some way. He said my sailors +had been behaving very badly on shore, and indeed I knew they had. I +told him he would oblige me by securing the rioters and putting them in +prison. This evening we were entertained very handsomely at the +residence of Mr. Ogilvie, where we met all the English society of the +place. + +_Saturday, May 16th._--This day the ship (Castor), from which the +Georgia was coaling, was ordered to be hauled off, and the operation +suspended, the Yankee Consul having alleged to the Government that she +had munitions of war on board. + +_Sunday, May 17th.--_In the morning an officer came on board and read +me a despatch from the President, expressing displeasure at my remaining +so long in the port, and directing me to proceed to sea in twenty-four +hours. The same paper was read on board the Georgia. I replied that the +Government itself had caused our delay, by prohibiting us from coaling +from the ship from which we had purchased our coal; and that I could go +to sea in twenty-four hours after this prohibition was removed, &c., &c. +A party of English ladies and gentlemen visited the ship this afternoon. +We were crowded all day, besides, with miscellaneous visitors. + +_Tuesday, May 19th._--This morning, at the request of the President, I +went on shore to see him, and we had a long and animated discussion, in +which he stated he had certain proofs, adduced by the United States +Consul, to the effect that the coal-ship Castor had been sent here to +meet us, &c.; and that under these circumstances (the ship being +charged, besides, with having munitions of war on board), he felt it his +duty to prevent us from coaling from her, but that we might have free +access to the market, &c. The Consul, too, had told him that I had +shipped one of the prisoners after landing him: the fact being that, +although many of them volunteered, I refused to receive any of them, +having already a full crew on board. In the afternoon addressed a letter +to the President, insisting upon the right to coal from the Castor. + +_Wednesday, May 20th._--We were promised lighters with coal from the +shore this morning; but not one has yet come off--half-past twelve. Just +at nightfall a lighter came alongside, and during the night we filled +up. The next day we got under way and steamed out of the harbour. + +_Sunday, May 24th._--I am quite home-sick this quiet Sunday morning. I +am now two _long, long_ years away from my family, and there are no +signs of an abatement of the war; on the contrary, the Yankees seem to +become more and more infuriated, and nothing short of a war of invasion +is likely to bring them to terms, unless indeed it be the destruction of +their commerce; and for this, I fear, we are as yet too weak. If we can +get and hold Kentucky, the case may be different. Well, we must +sacrifice our natural yearnings on the altar of our country, for without +a country we can have no home. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +_Two more!--The Gildersliene and Justina--Case of the Jabez Snow--The +barque Amazonian--Relieved of prisoners--A hint--The Talisman--Under +false colours--The Conrad--A nobler fate--Re-christened--The Tuscaloosa +commissioned--Short of provisions._ + + +The 25th May witnessed the capture of the ship Gildersliene and the +barque Justina. The latter having a neutral cargo, was ransomed on a +bond for 7000 dollars; the former condemned and burned, after an +investigation terminating in the following decision:-- + +CASE OF THE GILDERSLIENE. + +Ship under the United States colours and register. Charter-party with +Messrs. Halliday, Fox, and Co., of London, who describe themselves as +merchants and freighters, to make a voyage to Calcutta and back to +London or Liverpool. Cargo taken in at Sunderland, and consisting of +coal, said to be shipped for the "service of the Peninsular and Oriental +Steam Navigation Company," but not even averred to be on "their account +and risk." No certificate or other evidence of property; ship and cargo +condemned. Master knows nothing of property except what appears by the +papers. + + * * * * * + +_Friday, May 29th._--We had another chase last night from about 2 A.M., +but with better success than the two previous nights, since at 7.30 A.M. +we came up with and captured the ship Jabez Snow, of Rockport, Maine. +Just at daylight, being within about four miles of her, we hoisted our +own colours, and fired a gun. She did not show any colours in return, +and stood a second gun before heaving to; she finally showed her +colours. Got on board from the prize a quantity of provisions and +cordage; transhipped the crew, and about sunset set her on fire. Found a +letter on board, the writer of which referred to American ships being +under a cloud "owing to dangers from pirates, more politely styled +privateers," which our kind friends in England are so willing "should +slip out of their ports to prey on our commerce." This letter was dated +Boston, November 25th, 1862. + +CASE OF THE JABEZ SNOW. + +Ship under United States colours, cargo coals, from Cardiff for Monte +Video. On the face of the bill of lading is the following: "We certify +that the cargo of coals per Jabez Snow, for which this is the bill of +lading, is the _bonâ fide_ property of Messrs. Wilson, Holt, Lane, & +Co., and that the same are British subjects and merchants; And also that +the coals are for their own use. + +"JNO. POWELL & SONS." + +As this certificate was not sworn to, it added no force to the bill of +lading, as every bill of lading is an unsworn certificate of the facts +it recites. There being no legal proof among the papers to contradict +the presumption that all property found under the enemy's flag is +enemy's property, and as the Master, who was the charterer and agent of +the ship, and whose duty it was to know about all the transactions in +which he was engaged, swore that he had no personal knowledge of the +owner of the cargo, except such as he derived from the ship's papers, +the cargo, as well as the ship, is condemned as prize of war. The +following significant extract from a letter of the Master to his owners, +dated Penrith Roads, April 19th, 1863, was found on board, though not +produced by the Master:-- + +"I have my bills of lading certified by the Mayor, that the cargo is +_bonâ fide_ English property. Whether this will be of any service to me +in the event of my being overhauled by a Southern pirate, remains to be +proved." + +The certificate above recited seems, therefore, to have been procured by +the Master to protect his ship from capture, and not to have been a +spontaneous act of the pretended neutral owners to protect the cargo. +The cargo and advance freight were insured against war-risk, the ship +paying the premium. No effort was made by Wilson, Holt, Lane, & Co., to +protect the cargo, and they were the proper parties to make the oath. +The agent who shipped the coal for this firm, and who wrote the +above-quoted certificate, could only know, of course, that he had +shipped them by order of his principal. Why, then, did Wilson, Holt, +Lane, & Co., decline to make the necessary oath to protect the cargo? +They should have taken the necessary steps to protect either themselves +or the insurers, but they did no such thing. It would seem, probably, +that they were the agents of some American house, and that they could +not, in conscience, take the oath required by law. + + * * * * * + +The next prize was the Amazonian, of Boston, from New York to Monte +Video, captured, after a long chase, on the 2d of June, but not until +two blank shots had failed to bring her to, and the stronger hint of a +round from the rifled gun had convinced her of the impossibility of +escape. + + * * * * * + +CASE OF THE BARQUE AMAZONIAN. + +Ship under United States colours; has an assorted cargo on board, and is +bound from New York to Monte Video. There are two claims of neutral +property--one for twenty cases of varnish and fifty casks of oil, +claimed as shipped on "account of Messrs. Galli & Co., French subjects." +This claim is sworn to by a Mr. Craig, before a notary. It does not aver +that the property is in Messrs. Galli & Co., but simply that it was +shipped "on their account." There is no outside evidence of the truth of +this transaction, as the master knows nothing about it. + + * * * * * + +Right glad was the Alabama to fall in, on the day after this last +capture, with an English brigantine, the master of which proved willing, +in consideration of a gift from Captain Semmes of one of his noble +collection of captured chronometers, to relieve him of the crowd of +prisoners with which he was encumbered. To the number of forty-one they +were forthwith transferred, along with a stock of provisions sufficient +for a fortnight's consumption; and the Alabama breathed freely again, +relieved of her disagreeable charge. + +It may not be an uninstructive, and it is most assuredly an amusing +comment, upon the claims of neutrality so loudly insisted upon, to quote +the following extract from a New York letter, captured on board one of +the recent prizes. It is dated April 7th, and addressed to a +correspondent in Buenos Ayres:-- + +"When you ship in American vessels, it would be as well to have the +British Consul's certificate of English property attached to the bill of +lading and invoices; as in the event of falling in with the numerous +privateers, it would save both cargo and vessel, in all probability. An +American ship, recently fallen in with, was released by the Alabama on +account of a British Consul's certificate showing the greater part of +the cargo to be English property. If you ship in a neutral vessel, we +save five per cent, war insurances." + +Another prize. The Talisman, a fine ship of 1100 tons, under United +States colours and register, with no claim of neutral property in cargo; +and before the glare of her funeral pyre had faded from the horizon, +another hove in sight, so evidently American, that notwithstanding the +English ensign flying at her peak, she was at once brought to and +boarded. And American she proved to be in her origin; but her owners had +been wise, and, so far as her papers went, she had been regularly +transferred to the protection of the British flag--humiliating, perhaps, +to the proud "Yankee nation," but effective as a precaution against +capture; though, had the Confederate cruiser been able to send her into +port for adjudication, the transfer might very possibly, when the +evidence came to be sifted, have proved but a "bogus transaction" after +all. + +So the "Englishman" had to be released, consenting, however, to relieve +the Alabama of a prisoner and his wife, recently captured on board the +Talisman. A week passed away, and then came another instance of a +similar transfer under the strong pressure of fear, the whilom Yankee +barque Joseph Hall, of Portland, Maine, now seeking a humiliating safety +as the "British" Azzopadi, of Port Lewis, Isle of France! + +Alas! for the Stars and Stripes, the Azzopadi was not hull down on the +horizon ere the once-renowned Yankee clipper Challenger lay humbly, with +her maintopsail to the mast, in the very place in which her countryman +had just been performing a similar penance, claiming, as the +British-owned Queen of Beauty, a similar immunity. + +At last, however, as the impatient crew of the Alabama were beginning to +think that their enemy's flag had finally vanished from the face of the +ocean, an adventurous barque hove in sight, with the old familiar +bunting at her peak. She proved to be the Conrad, of Philadelphia, from +Buenos Ayres for New York, partly laden with wool, the ownership of +which was, as usual, claimed as neutral. On investigation, the claim +proved an evident-fabrication, the facts of the case being as follows:-- + +CASE OF THE CONRAD. + +Ship under American colours and register. A Mr. Thomas Armstrong, who +describes himself as a British subject doing business at Buenos Ayres, +makes oath before the British Consul that a part of this wool belongs to +him and a part to Don Frederico Elortando, a subject of the Argentine +Republic. This may or may not be true, but the master is unable to +verify the document, he not having been present when it was prepared, +and not knowing any thing about it. There is, besides, so strong a +current of American trade with Buenos Ayres, that the presumption is, +from the very fact that this wool was going to New York in an American +barque, under the imminency of capture, which our presence in these +seas--well known at Buenos Ayres when the barque sailed--must have +shown, that the property is American, and that the certificate is an +attempt to cover it; Mr. Armstrong probably being a brother or a partner +in the transaction with some American house. Ship and cargo condemned. + + * * * * * + +FURTHER EXAMINATION OF CASE OF CONRAD. + +From an examination of the correspondence in this case, brought on board +after the ship's papers had been examined, it appeared that Mr. +Armstrong, the party shipping a part of the cargo, swears before _his_ +consul that he and one Don Frederico Elortando, are the _owners_ of the +property, and swears before the United States Consul that he is the sole +_owner_ of the property. Both of these oaths cannot be true. It further +appears that, whilst the property in the bill of lading is consigned to +Simon de Visser, Esq., in the letters of Messrs. Kirkland and Von Sachs +it is spoken of as consigned to them. The letters make no mention of any +joint-ownership with Armstrong, but treat the consignment as his sole +property. But though, like so many of her countrymen, condemned, the +Conrad was not to die. A nobler fate was in store for her--no less a +destiny than that of carrying the proud young flag to which she had +succumbed, and taking the sea, under a new name, as the consort of her +captor. Accordingly, Acting-Lieutenant Low was appointed to the command, +assisted by Acting-Master Sinclair and two master's mates. The two +rifled pounders captured in the Talisman were mounted on board, a due +complement of rifles, revolvers, ammunition, &c., supplied, and then the +transformed barque fired her first gun, ran up the Confederate ensign to +her peak, and amid a burst of cheering from her own crew and that of her +consort, made a fresh start in life as the Confederate States +sloop-of-war Tuscaloosa. + +The Alabama was now bound for the Cape of Good Hope, where her faithful +tender, the Agrippina, was again to meet her. On the 27th of June, +however, when in lat. 20.01 S., long. 28.29 W., it was discovered that a +great portion of the supposed month's supply of bread had been destroyed +by weevils, and that there was not enough left for the run. A visit to +some port nearer at hand thus became inevitable, and the ship's course +was accordingly shaped for Rio Janeiro. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +_An insult to the Yankee flag--Fine weather--The Anna F. Schmidt--"What +ship's that?"--The Express--A supply of bread--Saldanha Bay--Visitors +from the country--A funeral--The Tuscaloosa's prize--The capture off +Cape Town--The Sea Bride won--Ship crowded--Sympathy_. + + +_Sunday, June 28th._--At 4.30 this evening brought-to a heavy ship with +a blank cartridge; or rather she seemed to come-to of her own accord, as +she was evidently outsailing us, and was, when we fired, at very long +range. Soon after heaving-to she burned a blue light, and whilst our +boat, with a light in it, was pulling towards her, she burned another. +She afterwards said she would not have hove-to but that she thought we +might be in distress. The boarding officer reported us as the United +States ship Dacotah, and demanded to see the ship's papers, which were +refused, the Master stating that we had no right to see his papers. The +boarding officer having been informed of her name (the Vernon), and that +she was from Melbourne, for London, and being satisfied, from +observation, that she was really an English ship, she being one of the +well-known frigate-built Melbourne packets, returned on board, and the +ship filled away; and she was already at considerable distance from us +when I received the boarding officer's report. Under all these +circumstances, I did not chase him afresh to enforce my belligerent +right of search. _Cui bono_, the vessel being really English? Although, +indeed, the resistance to search by a neutral is good cause of capture, +I could only capture to destroy; and I would not burn an English ship +(being satisfied of her nationality) if the Master persisted to the law +in not showing his papers. Nor did I feel that the Confederate States +flag had any insult to revenge, as the insult, if any, was intended for +the Yankee flag. Most probably, however, the ship being a packet-ship, +and a mail-packet, the Master erred from ignorance. + +Lat. 26.35, long. 32.59.30, current S.E. thirty miles; ship rolling and +tumbling about, to my great discomfort. The fact is, I am getting too +old to relish the rough usage of the sea. Youth sometimes loves to be +rocked by the gale, but when we have passed the middle stage of life, we +love quiet and repose. + +_Tuesday, June 30th._--The bad weather of the past week seems at length +to have blown itself out; and this morning we have the genial sunshine +again, and a clear, bracing atmosphere. With a solitary exception, the +Cape pigeons, true to their natures, have departed. There is still some +roughness of the sea left, however, and the ship is rolling and creaking +her bulk-heads, as usual. Wind moderate from about East. + +Another prize on the 2nd of July, the Anna, F. Schmidt, of Maine, from +Boston for San Francisco; and another cautious Yankee transformed into +an Englishman; and then came a large ship flying before the wind, with +all sail set to her royals, and answering the Alabama's challenge with a +gun from her own bow port. + +A man-of-war this, from her fashion of replying, even had the fact not +been sufficiently apparent from the cut of her heavy yards and lofty +spars. An enemy, perhaps! And wild with the hope of a fight, though it +be with an enemy not much less than double her size, away flies the +Alabama, at top speed of sail and steam, in chase. The sea was smooth, +though with a strong breeze; and ere long the saucy little cruiser +ranged up alongside of the fine frigate, with ten black muzzles grinning +through his ports on either side. + +"This is the Confederate States ship Alabama!" rang out from the +quarter-deck, as the two ships flew through the water, side by +side:--"What ship's that?" + +But there was to be no fight that day. The chase contented herself with +the laconic reply, "Her Britannic Majesty's ship Diomede;" and went +tearing along upon her course under the tremendous press of canvas, +beneath which her spars were bending like a whip, and was soon out of +sight, evidently bound on some errand that would not brook delay. + +Some small compensation for this disappointment was found two days +afterwards in the capture of the fine ship Express, of Boston, from +Callao for Antwerp, loaded with guano, the particulars of which are +recorded as follows:-- + +CASE OF THE SHIP EXPRESS. + +Ship under United States colours and register; cargo guano, shipped by +Senan, Valdeavellano and Co., at Callao, and consigned to J. Sescau and +Co., at Antwerp. On the back of this bill of lading is the following +endorsement: "Nous soussignés chargé d'affaires et consul général de +France à Lima, certifions que la chargement de mille soixante douze de +register de Huano spécifié au présent connaissement, est propriété +neutre." + +Fait à Lima, le 27 Janvier, 1863. + +(Signed and impressed with the Consular seal.) + +This certificate fails to be of any value as proof, for two reasons: +first, it is not sworn to; and secondly, it simply avers the property to +be neutral (the greater part of it, for it does not touch the guano in +sacks), instead of pointing out the owner or owners. A Consul may +authenticate evidence by his seal, but when he departs from the usual +functions of a Consul, and becomes a witness, he must give his testimony +under oath, like other witnesses. This certificate, therefore, does not +even amount to an _ex parte_ affidavit. If the property had been in the +shipper's or consignee's name, it would have been quite as easy to say +so as to put the certificate in its present shape. Why, then, was the +simple declaration that the property was neutral made use of?--the law +with which every Consul, and more especially a chargé d'affaires, is +supposed to be acquainted with, declaring them to be insufficient? The +conclusion from these two facts--viz., that there was no oath taken, and +that there was no owner named--seemed to be that the Consul gave a sort +of matter-of-course certificate, upon the application of some one who +declared the property to be neutral, perhaps with a knowledge to the +fact, or contrary to the fact, neither party taking any oath. Now, the +presumption of law being, that goods found in an enemy's ship belong to +the enemy, unless a distinct neutral character be given to them, by +pointing out the _real owner_, by proper documentary proof, as neither +the bill of lading nor the certificate, which is a mere statement of a +fact, like the bill of lading, not under oath, nor the Master's +testimony, who knows nothing (see his deposition) except as he has been +told by the shipper, amounts to proper documentary proof, the ship and +cargo are both condemned. It must be admitted that this is a case in +which, perhaps, a prize court would grant "further proof;" but as I +cannot do this, and as a distinct neutral character is not impressed +upon the property by former evidence, I must act under the presumption +of law. Sect. 3rd, Phillimore, 596. The charter-party in this case +describes the charterers, J. Sescau and Co., of Antwerp, as agents of +the supreme Peruvian Government. But if so, why was it not certificated +by the government, as was done in the case of the Washington, captured +and released on bond by this ship? And then the master swears that _the +shippers told him_ that the cargo belonged to them; and if the Peruvian +Government must resort to a French official for a certificate, why not, +then, on oath made before him? and why did he not state the fact that it +so belonged, which would have protected it? + + * * * * * + +The Alabama was now again heading for the Cape, the Anna Schmidt having +yielded a supply of bread sufficient, with strict economy, to last out +the passage. There she arrived on the 29th July, anchoring in Saldanha +Bay, at about 1.45 P.M. + +_Thursday, July 30th._--Last night the sky and atmosphere were +singularly brilliant. Landed this morning at eight, to get sight for my +chronometers, this being the first time that I ever set foot on the +Continent of Africa. Saldanha is a gloomy, desert-looking place, the +shore comprised of sand and rock, without trees, but with green patches +here and there. There are three or four farm-houses in sight, scattered +over the hills. The farmers here are mostly graziers. The cattle are +fine and good; a great number of goats graze on the hills, and +sheep-raising is extensive, the mutton being particularly fine. Small +deer are abundant. We had a venison steak for breakfast. The little +islands in the bay abound in rabbits, and there is good +pheasant-shooting in the valleys. Already a party of officers has gone +out to stretch their limbs, and enjoy the luxury of shooting. + +_July 31st._--Took a stroll on shore, and walked round some fine +oat-fields. The soil resembles our hummock land in Florida, and produces +finely. Engaged caulking, painting, &c. An abundance of wild-flowers in +bloom. Huge blocks of granite lie about the sand, and from the tops of +projections, &c. + +_Saturday, Aug. 1st._--I returned on board, after a stroll on shore, at +2 P.M. During my walk I met some farmers in a four-horse waggon coming +to see the ship. They brought me a wild peacock--not quite so large as +our wild turkey. It was without the gorgeous plumage of the domestic +bird. The schooner Atlas came in this afternoon, with letters for me +from some merchants at Cape Town, offering their services to supply me +with coal, &c., and expressing their good-will, &c., &c. I took occasion +by this vessel, which returned immediately, to write to the Governor, +Sir Philip B. Wodehouse, informing him of my presence here. + +_Sunday, Aug. 2nd._--The inhabitants say that this winter has been +remarkable for its general good weather, and for the few gales they have +had. Crowds of country people, from far and near, came on board to look +at the ship to-day. + +_Monday, Aug. 3rd._--Another crowd of visitors to-day, who came in their +country waggons and on horseback. They all speak Dutch, and it is rare +to find one among them who speaks English. Although it is nearly half a +century since England took final possession of the colony, the English +language has made but little progress, the children being taught by a +Dutch schoolmaster, and the papers being, many of them, printed in +Dutch. There was an intelligent young _boer_ (about twenty-three) among +them, who had never been on board a ship before. He was quite excited by +the novelty of everything he saw. Some of the female visitors were +plump, ruddy, Dutch girls, whose large rough hands, and awkward bows and +curtsies, showed them to be honest lasses from the neighboring farms, +accustomed to milking the cows and churning the butter. I found the +geranium growing wild in my rambles to-day. Just as we were going to +sun-down quarters, a boat came alongside with the body of Third +Assistant-engineer Cummings, who accidentally shot himself with his gun. + +_Tuesday, Aug. 4th._--In the afternoon, at three, the funeral procession +started from shore with the body of the deceased engineer. He was taken +to a private cemetery about a mile and a half distant, and interred with +the honours due to his grade, the First Lieutenant reading the funeral +service. This is the first burial we have had from the ship. + +_Wednesday, Aug. 5th._--At 6 A.M. got up the anchor, and getting under +way, steamed out of the bay and shaped our course for Cape Town. At 9.30 +descried a sail a point on the starboard bow, and at 10.30 came up with +and sent a boat on board of the Confederate barque Tuscaloosa, and +brought Lieutenant Lowe on board. He reported having captured, on the +31st July the American ship Santee, from the eastward, laden with rice, +certificated as British property, and bound for Falmouth. He released +her on ransom for 150,000 dollars. I directed Lieutenant Lowe to proceed +to Simons Bay for supplies. Steamed in for the town. At 12.30 made a +barque, two points on starboard bow; gave chase, and at about 2 P.M. +came up with and hove the chase, she having up United States colours. +This was a close pursuit, as the barque was not more than five or six +miles from the shore when we came up with her. The Master might have +saved himself if he had stood directly in for the land; but we ran down +upon him under English colours, and he had no suspicion of our character +until it was too late. The United States consul at once protested +against our violation of British waters (!). The Governor telegraphed to +the Admiral (Walker), at Simon's Bay, to send a man-of-war round; and +about 10 P.M. her Majesty's steamship Valorous, Captain Forsyth, came in +and anchored. Some correspondence has passed between the Governor and +myself on the subject of the capture, and I believe he is satisfied as +to distance, &c. Put a prize crew on board the prize (Sea Bride), and +directed her to stand off and on until further orders. The moment our +anchor was dropped we were crowded with visitors. + +_Thursday, Aug. 6th._--Notwithstanding the bad weather, the ship has +been crowded with visitors all the morning, and my cabin has been +constantly filled with people pressing to shake hands with me, and to +express sympathy for my cause. During the night we had some thunder and +lightning, first from the S.E., and then from the N.W.; and the wind +springing up, very gently at first, freshened to a gale by morning, with +showers of rain and hail. Communicated with the prize, and directed the +Prizemaster, in case he should be blown off by a gale, to rendezvous at +Saldanha Bay by the fifteenth of the month. Captain Forsyth, of the +Valorous, came on board. Returned his visit. + +_Friday, Aug. 7th._--I should have been under way for Simons Bay this +morning but for the gale. The wind is blowing very fresh from northward +and westward, with dense clouds climbing up and over the Table, Lion's +head, &c.--presenting a very fine spectacle, with the rough waters, the +ships with struck upper yards, and the town half enveloped with flying +mists, &c. The bold watermen in all the gale are cruising about the bay +under reefed sails, some of them with anchors and cables, ready to +assist any ships that may require it. Last night, in the first watch, a +sail was reported to be on the shore near the lighthouse and firing +signal guns. Very soon we saw two or three boats put out to her +assistance. In the morning we heard that it was a Brazilian brig, and +that the crew was saved. The brig is fast breaking up in the gale. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +_Wrecked!--A narrow escape--Respect for neutral waters--The Martha +Wenzell--At the Cape--Dense fogs--Heavy weather--"Are you a vessel of +war?"---Firmness and obstinacy--Simon's Town--Misrepresentations--A +little rest--Land-sharks--A night scene--To the Indian Ocean--The barque +Amanda._ + + +_Saturday, August 8th,_ 1863.--The gale broke last night, but there is +still some breeze blowing, and the sea is quite rough. Last night a +Bremen brig was wrecked off Point Monille. We heard her firing guns, and +I feared at first it was our prize; and yet I could not conceive how my +Prizemaster, who was acquainted with the soundings, could have made such +a mistake. The weather has checked the throng of visitors, and yet a few +get off to us, asking for autographs, and looking curiously at the ship. +We are finishing our repairs, and getting supplies on board. Our prize +has not made her appearance to-day. She will rendezvous at Saldanha Bay +on the 15th inst. + +_Sunday, August 9th,_ 1863.--Weather has again become fine. At 6 A.M. +precisely, we moved out of the bay, and steamed along the coast towards +the Cape. We gave chase to two sail off the mouth of False Bay, and +overhauling them, one proved to be an English, and the other an American +barque. The latter we boarded; but when I came to get bearings and plot +my position, it unfortunately turned out that I was within a mile, or a +mile and a quarter, of a line drawn from the Cape Lighthouse to the +opposite headland of the bay, and therefore within the prescribed limit +of jurisdiction. The master of the barque, in the meantime, having come +on board, I informed him of those facts, and told him to return to, and +take possession of his ship, as I had no authority to exercise any +control over him; which he did, and in a few minutes more, we were under +steam standing up the bay. What a scene for the grim old Cape to look +down upon. The vessel boarded was the Martha Wenzell, of Boston, from +Akyab for Falmouth. At 2 P.M. anchored in Simon's Bay, and was boarded +by a Lieutenant from the flag-ship of Admiral Walker. + +_Monday, August 10th._--Weather fine. I called on Admiral Walker at his +residence, and was presented by him to his family, and spent an +agreeable half hour with them, giving them a brief outline of our +quarrel and war. Dined on board the Chinese gunboat Kwang-Tung, +Commander Young. This is one of Laird's side-wheel steamers, built for +Captain Sherrard Osborne's fleet. Capt. Bickford, of the Narcissus, and +Lieut. Wood, flag Lieutenant, dined with us. + +_Tuesday, August 11th._--Weather fine. Visited the flag-ship of +Rear-Admiral Sir Baldwin W. Walker and the Kwang-Tung. Employed caulking +and refitting ship. Many visitors on board. + +_Wednesday, August 12th._--Wind fresh from the southward and eastward. +Photographers and visitors on board. The Kwang-Tung made a trial trip of +her engines, after having repaired them, with the Admiral's family on +board. Wind freshened to a gale towards night. + +_Thursday, August 13th.-_--Weather cloudy; blowing a moderate gale from +the S.E. The Tuscaloosa is ready for sea, but is detained by the +weather. Dined with Rear-Admiral Walker; Governor Sir Philip Wodehouse +and lady were of the party. My sailors are playing the devil as usual. +They manage to get liquor on board the ship, and then become +insubordinate and unruly. We have to force some of them into irons. The +man Weir, whom I made a Quartermaster, has run off; also two of the +Stewards, and two dingy boys; the latter were apprehended and brought on +board. + +_Friday, August 14th._--We have a dense fog to-day and calm. The +Tuscaloosa, which went out at daylight, anchored some four or five miles +outside the harbour. The mail steamer from England arrived at Cape Town +to-day, bringing us news of Lee's invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania. +Finished our repairs this evening. + +_Saturday, August 15th._--We were ready to get under way at daylight +this morning, but were delayed by the dense fog until eleven o'clock, +when we moved out of the harbour. As we neared the Cape another fog bank +rolled over and enveloped us for a couple of hours. At 2.30, boarded an +English barque. At 3, let the steam go down, and raised the propeller. +Weather threatening. Barometer 29.80. Took single reefs in the topsails. +At 11 P.M. a steamer passed close, to leeward of us. + +Light winds and thick weather now for rather more than a week, varied by +a stiff northwester on the 22nd August, lasting over the greater part of +two days. + +_Tuesday, August 25th._--Dense, cloudy morning. Got a glimpse of the sun +and latitude at twelve o'clock. Our freshwater condenser is about giving +out, the last supply of water being so salt as to be scarcely drinkable. +This will be a serious disaster for us if we cannot remedy it at Cape +Town, for we have no tank room for more than eight days' supply, and no +place to store casks except on deck, where they would interfere with the +guns. And so I have borne up to run for Angra Pequena, where I expect to +pick up my prize-crew that I may return to Simon's Bay to see what can +be done, without further delay. I am quite knocked up with cold and +fever, but sick as I may be, I can never lie by and be quiet, the +demands of duty being inexorable and incessant. + +_Thursday, August 27th._--Morning fine; made all sail at early daylight +and stood in for the land, having every promise of getting latitude at +meridian for position, and running in to an anchor early in the +afternoon. But an ominous fog-bank, that we had noticed hanging over the +land for a short time before, suddenly enveloped us at eight, and shut +us in so completely as to render it difficult to see a hundred yards in +any direction; the wind the while blowing fresh from the south; weather +cool and uncomfortable, and the rigging dripping rain. Hove to, and +awaited anxiously the disappearance of the fog; but hour after hour +passed, and still no change--six, seven bells struck, and the fog +appeared to grow more dense, and the wind to increase; wore ship, and +put her head off shore; went below, and turned in, in supreme disgust. +At 1.30 aroused by the report that there was a topsail schooner close +aboard. She ran down for us, when we backed main topsail, and sent a +boat and brought the Master on board. Being like ourselves bound for +Angra, he consented to pilot us in. Filled away, and made sail. We were +to-day, at noon, by computation, W.S.W. from Pedestal Point (Angra); +distance about ten miles. The fog continued most relentlessly until 4 +P.M., when it disappeared, and we wore ship for the land, and were +probably on the point of making it just at sunset, when the fog came on +again, and enveloped everything in impenetrable darkness. Wore ship +seaward, and stood off and on during the night: the weather blustering. + +_Friday, August 28th._--Morning cloudy, wind blowing half a gale. At +8.50 took a single reef in the topsail--the schooner in sight to +leeward. At 9.30 made the land, and soon came in full view of it. My +would-be pilot could not recognise it, until the schooner, having run in +ahead of us, ran down, to leeward, by which we knew that she had made +out our position. I followed her, and ran in, and anchored in Sheerwater +Bay; my pilot being of no sort of assistance to me, he seeming to have a +very imperfect knowledge of the locality. Soon after anchoring, a boat +came out of the lagoon to us, and we recognised some of our prize-crew +of the Sea Bride in her. + +In effect the Tuscaloosa and the prize had both been three days in the +harbour of Angra Pequena. In the afternoon we got up our anchor again, +and ran into the lagoon, and anchored near the Sea Bride in seven +fathoms of water. A number of the officers are off this evening to visit +the Tuscaloosa--no doubt to get a _good drink of fresh water_. I have +sent my pitcher for some, being nearly parched up with the salt-water we +have been drinking for the last three days. We are lying in _smooth +water_, in a snug harbour, and I hope to get what I have not had for +several nights--a good night's rest. A more bleak and comfortless +prospect, in the way of landscape, could scarcely present itself to the +eye. Nothing but land and rock--not a sprig of vegetation of any kind to +be seen. In fact it never rains here, and this is consequently a guano +region. We passed a bank of guano in Halifax island, a shanty, a few +labourers, and a large army of penguins spread out with much solemnity +on the island. + +_Saturday, August 29th._--Getting on board flour, &c., from the Sea +Bride, and water from the schooner--1500 gallons, which will enable us +to cruise some twenty days. Hauled a borrowed sieve in the afternoon, +and caught a fine lot of fish. + +_Sunday, August 30th._--At 10.30 mustered the crew, and landed James +Adams, O.S., discharged by sentence of court-martial, with forfeiture of +pay and prize-money. + +_Monday, August 31st,_--At 7 A.M. got under way, and stood out of the +harbour. + + * * * * * + +The Alabama was now visited by a succession of the heavy gales prevalent +during winter time in the neighbourhood of the Cape. On the 7th +Sept.--Captain Semmes writes--we had a rough, ugly night of it, with a +continuance, and even increase of the gale, and a short and abrupt sea, +in which the ship occasionally rolled and pitched with violence, +frequently thumping my cot against the beams overhead and awaking me. +Shipped large quantities of water through the propeller well; cabin-deck +leaking. + +_Tuesday, September 8th._--Weather cloudy, the sun shining faintly +through the grey mass. Gale continues; the wind (E.S.E.) not having +varied a hair for the last sixteen hours. Barometer gradually falling; +ship rolling and pitching in the sea, and all things dreary-looking and +uncomfortable. I am supremely disgusted with the sea and all its +belongings; the fact is, I am past the age when men ought to be +subjected to the hardships and discomforts of the sea. Seagoing is one +of those constant strifes which none but the vigorous, the hardy, and +the hopeful--in short, the youthful, or at most, the middle-aged--should +be engaged in. The very roar of the wind through the rigging, with its +accompaniments of rolling and tumbling, hard, overcast skies, gives me +the blues. This is a double anniversary with me. It was on the 8th of +September that I received my first order for sea-service (1826); and it +was on the 8th of September that Norton's Division fought the battle of +Moline del Ray (1847). What a history of the United States has to be +written since the last event! How much of human weakness and wickedness +and folly has been developed in these years! But the North will receive +their reward, under the inevitable and rigorous laws of a just +government of the world. + +Another week passed with a solitary excitement in the shape of an +obstinate English skipper, who stoutly refused to heave to. The +following account of this affair is extracted from the journal of one of +the Alabama's officers:-- + +Towards evening of the 10th of September the wind fell considerably. At +8.30 P.M. a sail in sight on weather bow. Immediately we turned to +windward, and stood in chase. At 9.45 fired a gun to heave chase to. +Chase, however, still kept on her course. At 10.35 we ran up alongside, +and the officer of the deck hailed her--"Ship ahoy!" "Halloa! heave to, +and I will send a boat on board." "What do you want me to heave to +for?" "That's my business." "Are you a vessel of war?" Captain Semmes +then waxing wroth, replied, "I'll give you five minutes to heave to in." +"You have no right to heave me to unless you tell me who you are." "I'll +let you know who I am." To officer of the deck--"Load that gun with +shot, sir, and rain on that fellow--he's stupid enough to be a +foreigner." "Tell me who you are," yelled out the master of the ship. +"If you are not hove to in five minutes I'll fire into you." Addressing +the officer of the watch, Captain Semmes asked, "Is that gun ready for +firing, sir?" "All ready, sir." "Then stand by to fire." + +The Captain of the ship beginning to realize the fact that we were in +earnest, rolled out a volley of oaths, not only loud, but deep also. +That little ebullition being finished, he hauled his mainsail up and lay +to. Captain Semmes then gave me orders to board and ascertain who the +vessel was, as the reluctance to heave to was suspicious in itself. + +On boarding, the Mate met me at the gangway and introduced me to a tall, +burly man, who proved to be the Master. With the utmost suavity I +inquired, "What ship is this?" "Who are you?" he blurted out. "What ship +is this, captain?" I repeated. "I sha'n't tell you," was the polite +reply. "Captain, what vessel is this?" "Are you a man-of-war?" asked he. +"Of course we are," replied I. "Who are you?" queried he. + +With the greatest distinctness possible, and with the utmost sternness, +I said, "We are--we are the United States steamer Iroquois, Captain +Palmer, on a cruise; and now, having told you this, I have something +more to tell you--namely, that I am come on board to ask questions, not +to answer them; further, I have asked you three times who you are, and +have not yet received an answer. So just step down into the cabin, and +produce the ship's papers." + +With a very ill grace he descended into the cabin, I following, and I +had just removed my cap when he roared out, "Who are you? Are you +English? Say you are an English man-of-war, and I will let you look at +my papers." Said I, "Captain, either you are crazy or else you think I +am. Here we fire a gun, and any man with a grain of sense would have +understood that it was meant for a ship to heave to, more especially +when a nation is at war. You are told to heave to, are boarded, and +asked a question. Instead of replying, you ask, perfectly savagely, 'Who +are you?' I tell you we are the United States ship Iroquois, and then +you ask, 'Are you English? Tell me you are an English man-of-war!' It's +absurd, I tell you." + +"Mr. Officer," yelled he, "'crazy!' 'sense!' 'absurd!' By G--d, sir, if +an English man-of-war were here, no Yankee dare set foot on this deck, +sir. Who are you?" "Captain," I said to the man, "it is time this piece +of folly were ended. Now understand me. Look at that clock: it wants +twelve minutes to eleven; I want to see your papers; I give you two +minutes to produce them in. If, at ten minutes to eleven, the papers are +not forthcoming, I shall adopt measures to place them in my possession." + +I then sat down. Question after question did the worthy skipper ask, but +no reply did I deign to give. At length it wanted but a few seconds to +the time specified, when with a bad grace the irate Master produced his +key, unlocked his safe, and brought forth his papers. Upon examination I +found it was the ship Flora, of and to Liverpool, from Manilla, with a +general cargo. + +While looking over his papers, a ceaseless string of interrogations was +kept up by the Master, to which I returned no answer, merely returning +the papers, and remarking that he had given himself and us also, some +really causeless detention. "Have you any news, captain?" I asked. "Yes, +I have some news; news that some three or four of you would like to be +acquainted with, but news that one of you would rather not know. But I'd +see you Yankees sunk forty fathoms deep before I would tell you it." +"Come, captain, don't be uncharitable; you know what is written in the +Bible." + +He then went on to state what a bad passage he had made so far, having +met with a succession of baffling winds ever since he had left Manilla; +that he had made all sail for a fair wind, and which had only lasted for +a few hours, the wind coming ahead again; and it looking threatening, he +had reduced sail considerably, and was making but slow progress when he +was stopped by us. + +"Stopped by a Yankee, too! That's something I won't forget in a hurry," +said he. + +I could not help laughing at the "offended majesty" air he assumed, and +wishing him a speedy passage, returned on board. From one of my boat's +crew I learnt that the Flora had either seen or been boarded a couple of +days ago by a two-masted long-funnelled steamer, supposed by the Master +to have been a Confederate, though showing Yankee colours. + + * * * * * + +_Wednesday, September 16th._--At 3 P.M. doubled the Cape of Good Hope and +steamed into the anchorage at Simon's Town, which we reached at about +4.30 P.M. The Vanderbilt had left on Friday last, and was reported to +have hovered near the Cape for a day or two. Greatly disarranged by the +news from home--Vicksburg and Port Hudson fallen; Rosecrans' army +marching southwards; and Lee having recrossed the Potomac. Our poor +people seem to be terribly pressed by the Northern hordes. + +But we shall fight it out to the end, and the end will be what an +all-wise Providence shall decree. + +_Thursday, September 17th._--Called on the Admiral, and received a visit +from the Captain of the Narcissus. + +Various misrepresentations had been made to the Admiral as to my +proceedings since I left, &c., by the United States Consul, which I +explained away. Spent an agreeable half-hour with the Admiral and his +lady. There being no coal here--the Vanderbilt having taken it all--I +made arrangements for it to be sent to me from Cape Town. + +_Saturday, September 19._--The steamer Kadie arrived with coals for me +from Cape Town. Hauled her alongside, and commenced coaling. Walked on +shore, and lunched with Captain Bickford. Dispatched letters for the +mail-steamer for England. Liberty-men drunk, and few returning. Dined +with the Admiral. A very pleasant party, composed entirely of naval +officers, including the Captains of the ships present, the +Captain-superintendent of the dockyard, &c. After dinner the young +ladies made their appearance in the drawing-room, and we had some music. + +_Sunday, September 20th._--Hauled the ship over to get at the copper +around the blow-pipe, which was worn off. Visited the shore at half-past +nine, took a long walk, dropped in upon the Post-captain, and went to +church--Father Kiernan saying mass. He is an earnest, simple-minded +Irish priest, with a picturesque little church on the hill-side, and a +small congregation composed chiefly of soldiers and sailors--a seaman +serving mass. Captain Coxon and a couple of the Lieutenants of the +squadron being present. Liberty-men returning in greater numbers +to-day--the money is giving out. + +_Monday, September 21st._--At daylight, hauled the steamer alongside +again, and recommenced coaling. Called to see the ladies at the +Admiral's after dinner, and walked through their quite extensive garden, +winding up a ravine with a rapid little stream of water passing through +it. + +_Tuesday, September 22nd._--A large number of liberty-men on shore yet. +The Yankee Consul, with his usual unscrupulousness, is trying to +persuade them to desert. With one or two exceptions, the whole crew have +broken their liberty--petty officers and all. With many improvements in +the character of the seaman of the present day, in regard to +intelligence, he is, in some respects, as bad as ever. Finished coaling +this evening. + +_Wednesday, September 23rd._--Refitting the fore-topmasts. Some twenty +men still absent. A few are picked up by the Simon's Town police for the +sake of the reward. And the sailor-landlords, those pests of all +sea-ports, are coming on board and presenting bills for board, &c. Of +course these claims are not listened to. It is a common contrivance with +Jack and these sharks, to endeavor to extort money out of their ships. + +The process is simple enough. The landlord gives Jack a glass or two of +bad liquor, and it may be, a meal or two, and it is agreed between them +that a bill of twenty times the value received shall be acknowledged. +The land-shark charges in this exorbitant way for the risk he runs of +not being able to get anything, so he has nothing to complain of when he +happens to come across a captain who is disposed to protect his seamen +from such extortion. Knowing the villains well, I did not permit them to +impose upon me. + +_Thursday, September 24th._--Waiting for the chance of getting over my +deserters from Cape Town. Informed by telegraph, in the afternoon, that +it was useless to wait longer, as the police declined to act. It thus +appears that the authorities declined to enable me to recover my +men--fourteen in number, enough to cripple my crew. This is another of +those remarkable interpretations of neutrality in which John Bull seems +to be so particularly fertile. Informed by telegrams from Cape Town that +vessels had arrived reporting the Vanderbilt on two successive days off +Cape Aguthas and Point Danger. The moon being near its full, I preferred +not to have her blockade me in Simon's Bay, as it might detain me until +I should have a "dark moon," and being all ready for sea, this would +have been irksome; so the gale having lulled somewhat, towards 9 P.M., I +ordered steam to be got up, and at half-past eleven, we moved out from +our anchors. + +The lull only deceived us, as we had scarcely gotten under way, before +the gale raged with increased violence, and we were obliged to buffet it +with all the force of our four boilers. The wind blew fiercely; but +still we drove her between five and six knots per hour in the very teeth +of it. + +Nothing could exceed the peculiar weird-like aspect of the scene, as we +struggled under the full moonlight with the midnight gale. The +surrounding mountains and high lands, seemingly at a great distance in +the hazy atmosphere, had their tops piled with banks of fleecy clouds, +remaining as motionless as snow-banks, which they very much +resembled--the cold south wind assisting the illusion; the angry waters +of the bay breaking in every direction, occasionally dashing on board of +us; the perfectly clear sky, with no sign of a cloud anywhere to be +seen, except those piled on the mountains already mentioned;--the bright +full moon, shedding her mysterious rays on all surrounding +objects--illuminating, yet distancing them--all these were things to be +remembered. And last, the revolving light on the Cape, at regular +intervals, lighting up the renowned old headland. + +We passed the Cape at about 3 A.M., and bearing away gave her the +trysails reduced by their bonnets, and close-reefed topsails; and I +turned in to snatch a brief repose, before the trials of another day +should begin. + +_Friday, September 25th.--Delivered the jail_, as usual, upon getting to +sea. It will take several days, I am afraid, to work the grog out of the +crew, before they are likely to settle down into good habits and +cheerfulness. + +The next fortnight's run through the heavy gales that prevail almost +incessantly in the higher latitudes of the Indian Ocean, brought the +Alabama some 2400 miles upon her course. Two days more brought her off +the Island of St. Paul's, a distance of 2840 miles. Another couple of +days, and she had made about sufficient easting, and began to shape her +course towards the north--the "sunny north." + +A few short extracts from the journal will give sufficient idea of the +period thus passed through:-- + +_October 16th._--Lat. 35.23; Long. 89.55; no observations for current; +distance some 135 miles. The gale in which we lay-to ten hours, having +broken in upon our day's work. Bar. 29.57, and on a stand; running +before the wind, under close-reef and reefed foresail. Afternoon gale +increased, and between twelve and one it blew furiously, the whole sea +being a sheet of foam, the air rendered misty by the spray, and the +heavy seas threatening to jump on board of us, although we were scudding +at the rate of very little less than fifteen knots--the whole +accompanied by an occasional snow-squall from dark, threatening-looking +clouds. It is not often that a wilder scene is beheld: in the meantime +the Cape pigeons are whirling around us, occasionally poising themselves +against the stern, as serenely, apparently, as if the elements were at +rest. The barometer has remained perfectly stationary at 29.57 during +this blow for seven hours (from morning to 7 P.M.), without varying a +single hair's breadth, during all of which time the gale was raging with +unmitigated violence from about S.W. by W. to S.W. During this period, +we were travelling about on an average speed of eleven knots; and of +course this must have been the rate of speed of the vortex--distant from +us probably 150 to 200 miles. At 7 P.M. the mercury began to rise +slowly, and at 8 was at 27.60, the weather looking less angry, and the +squalls not so frequent or violent. Verily, our good ship, as she is +darted ahead on the top of one of those huge, long Indian Ocean waves +that pursue her, seems like a mere cock-boat. + +It is remarkable that this is the anniversary of the cyclone we took off +the banks of Newfoundland. + +_October 18th_--Observing has been particularly vexatious during the +past week. What with the heavy seas constantly rising between the +observer and the horizon, preventing him from producing a contact at the +very instant, it may be, that he is ready for it, the passage of a +flying cloud under the sun when his horizon is all right, and the heavy +rolling of the ship requiring him to pay the utmost care to the +preservation of his balance, and sometimes even to "lose his +sight"--from the necessity of withdrawing one hand suddenly from his +instrument to grasp the rail or the rigging to prevent himself from +falling--what with all these things, the patience of even as patient a +man as myself is sorely tried. Perhaps this stormy tumbling about at sea +is the reason why seamen are so calm and quiet on shore. We come to hate +all sorts of commotion, whether physical or moral. + +At last the region of endless gales was passed, and escaping entirely +the southern belt of calms, the Alabama dashed along in the S.E. trade. +On the 26th October, as she was nearing the Line, news reached her from +an English barque, that the United States sloop Wyoming was on guard in +the Sunda Straits, accompanied by a three-masted schooner. This sloop +being about the Alabama's own size, hopes of a fight were again rife +among both officers and men; and great was their impatience when the +trade at length parted from them, and light, variable winds again began +to baffle the eager ship. + +Drawing slowly nearer to the Straits, news still came from passing ships +of the enemy's presence there, reports going at length so far as to +state, that she had been specially dispatched thither by the United +States consul at Batavia, in search of the Alabama herself. + +At last, on the 6th November, came another prize, the first since +leaving the Cape of Good Hope, nearly six weeks before. She proved to be +the barque Amanda, from Manilla to Queenstown for orders, the following +being the particulars of her case:-- + +CASE OF THE BARQUE AMANDA. + +Ship under U.S. colours and register. Cargo, sugar and hemp. +Charter-party to proceed to Europe or the United States. On the face of +each of the three bills of lading appears the following certificate for +the British Vice-consul at Manilla:-- + +"I hereby certify that Messrs. Ker and Co., the shippers of the +merchandize specified in this bill of lading, are British subjects +established in Manilla, and that according to invoices produced, the +said merchandize is shipped by order, and for account of Messrs. +Halliday, Fox, and Co., British subjects of London, in Great Britain." + +As nobody swears to anything, of course this certificate is valueless, +and the presumption of law prevails, viz., "that all property found +under the enemy's flag is enemy's property," until the contrary be shown +by competent and credible testimony under oath, duly certified to by a +Consul or another officer. Ship and cargo condemned. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +_New cruising-ground--Case of the Winged Racer--A good chase--The +Contest--On the look-out--Not to be deceived--No prizes--Condore--A +French settlement--Kindly greetings--Monkey Island--Far from +home--Whistling Locusts--Instinct--Why no one sees a dead +monkey--Homewards--Yankee ships scarce._ + + +The 8th of November saw the Alabama again in sight of land, and after +anchoring for a night off Flat Point, and sending a boat ashore, in the +vain hope of finding in the Malay villages a supply of some sort of +fresh provision, she again lifted her anchor and proceeded to sea under +steam. + + * * * * * + +_Tuesday, November 10th._--Passed between the islands of Beezee and +Sonbooko, both high and picturesque, the channel about a mile wide, some +villages under the groves of cocoa-nut trees on the former. The naked +natives coming down to the beach to gaze at us. We ran through the +Strait of Sunda about 2 P.M., passing to the westward of Thwart-the-Way. + +Soon after passing out of the Strait and shaping our course, we +discovered a clipper-looking ship, under topsails, standing towards +North Island. Gave chase, although we were in the midst of a rain +squall, and in the course of fifteen or twenty minutes we were near +enough to him to make him show his colours. They were United States, and +upon being boarded he proved to be the Winged Racer, a vessel for which +we had been hunting outside the Strait. We captured him and sent him to +anchor about three miles from North Island (the Island bearing about +W.S.W.), and ran up and anchored near him ourselves. By working hard we +were enabled to get everything we wanted out of him by 2 o'clock A.M.; +and having despatched her crew, together with the crew of the Amanda, in +the boats of the prize, at their own request, we got under way at 4 +A.M., and steamed out of sight of the coast by daylight. We were +fortunate enough to get some fowls, fruits, and vegetables from a +bum-boat of Malays, who made a business of supplying ships. The boat +reported that, when she left Angra about two days before, the Wyoming +was there. Fired the ship. + + * * * * * + +CASE OF THE WINGED RACER. + +Ship under United States colours and register, and no claim of the +neutrality of the cargo among the papers; ship bound to New York. Ship +and cargo condemned. + + * * * * * + +_Wednesday, November 11th._--Made the North Watcher soon after daylight, +and finding that if I continued on at the same speed, I should be up +with Gasper Strait early in the night, and should be obliged to anchor +until daylight, I ordered the steam to be let down, and we were about +making arrangements for getting up the propeller, when a sail was +descried on the port bow, close hauled on the starboard tack. She soon +proved to be a rakish-looking ship, evidently United States. Kept away +from her from time to time as she passed towards our bow, and when we +came near enough we showed her the United States colours. She replied +with the same. I then fired a gun and hoisted our own colours (new +flag). Instead of obeying this signal to heave to, she made sail and +ran. We at once started the fires afresh, the steam having gone entirely +down, and made all sail in pursuit. The chase at this time was about +four miles from us, and for a long time we gained scarcely any thing +upon her. We threw a rifleshot astern him, but he disregarded this also. +Finally, after an exciting chase of one hour and a half (shifting guns, +and sending men aft to trim ship, and giving her a full head of steam), +we came near enough to him to throw a 32 pound shot between his masts, +when he shortened sail, came to the wind, and hove to. If the wind had +been _very_ fresh (it was blowing a good breeze) he would probably have +ran away from us. He proved to be the clipper ship Contest, from +Yokohama (Japan) for New York Captured him, and anchored in the open sea +in fourteen fathoms of water, and took from the prize such supplies as +we wanted. All our people having returned on board about nightfall, it +was discovered soon after that the prize was dragging her anchor, which +she did so fast in the freshened breeze that a boat which was sent to +board and fire her sculled until the officer nearly lost sight of us, +and fearing that if he continued he might lose sight of us altogether in +a rain squall, returned. Got up steam immediately and weighed anchor, +and ran down to the prize, sent a boat crew on board of her and burned +her. + + * * * * * + +CASE OF THE CONTEST. + +Ship under United States colours and register, and no claim for cargo; +ship and cargo condemned. + + * * * * * + +Concluding, that on receiving intelligence of the Alabama's arrival, the +Wyoming, if, in truth, she was near the Strait, would run at once for +Gaspar Passage in search of her, Captain Semmes now determined to double +upon his enemy, and gave her the start of him, holding himself for a few +days in the Java Sea, a little east of the Strait. A week passed by +without any incident worthy of record. At length a change came. + +_Thursday, November 19th_.--At 3.30 P.M. boarded the English ship +Avalanche (transferred) two or three days from Singapore, with +newspapers from England of the 10th of October--only forty days! +Gratified at the general good aspect of the news, and particularly at +our victory at Chicamauga. Reports several American ships laid up at +Singapore, and a general stagnation of American trade. This ship came to +anchor some two miles astern of us, and we sent off the prisoners of the +Contest by her, the Master consenting to take them for a chronometer +which I sent him. He will probably put them on shore at Angra Point. We +first hoisted the Dutch flag, and sent a German, Master's Mate we had, +on board of him; but the Master, when told that we were a Dutch ship of +war, said, "Oh! that won't do; I was on board of her in Liverpool, when +she was launched!" + +_Friday, November 20th_.--Lowered and rigged the cutter, and sent her to +board a couple of barques, which reported four American ships at +Bankok; there about to lay up, lest they should fall in with us, and one +American ship at Manilla. + +_Saturday, November 21st_.--At 3 P.M. got under way under sail, with the +wind from the south-west. + +_Sunday, Nov. 22nd_.--At 3 A.M. lowered the propeller, and went ahead +under steam. Passed within about four miles of Direction Island at 5.15 +P.M. + +_Monday, Nov. 23rd_.--At 8 A.M. made Seraia. + +_Thursday, Nov. 26th_.--Lat. 5.36; Long. 111.42, or within fifty miles +of dangerous ground, towards which the current is setting us. No +anchoring ground. 47 fathoms. After noon, the calm still continuing, let +go a kedge in 50 fathoms of water--mud--and veered to 150 fathoms. + +_Friday, Nov. 27th_.--Noon. The struggle against the current is hopeless +in the death-like calm that prevails, and so we have come-to again with +the kedge. + +_Sunday, Nov. 29th_.--After five days of dead calm, we took the monsoon +this morning at daylight, settling in lightly, and at 9 A.M. we got +under way, and stood to the northward and westward. + +_Thursday, Dec, 3rd_.--At daylight we discovered a small vessel at +anchor near the head of the harbour of the Island of Condore, with +French colours, and awnings and other indications of her being a vessel +of war. Sent a boat in to examine water. Boat returned at 1 P.M. with +the commander of the vessel--a French vessel of war--and I was quite +surprised to learn that we had arrived in civilized waters, and that the +Island of Condore was in the possession of the French. There was a small +garrison of 50 or 60 at the village on the east side. There had been a +recent revolt of the natives, the French officers said; and for this +reason there were few vegetables or fruits to be had, and most of the +natives had betaken themselves to the mountains. Got underway and ran +into the harbour, the Frenchman politely showing me the way, and +anchored in nine fathoms. Got a spring out, so as to present our port +broadside to any enemy that might be disposed to violate neutrality, +and, to save coal, permitted all the fires to go out. A couple of ships, +running before the wind, passed in sight during the day--the ships +prudently running a little out of the track to sight the island in this +uncertain sea. + +_Friday, December 4th._--The harbour is picturesque, with mountains +rising abruptly from the water to the height of 1800 feet, clothed with +dense verdure from water's edge to top, many of the trees being of large +size. The soil is very rich, but there is little cultivated land, the +mountain-sides being too steep. The French have constructed two or three +huts on the northern shore, and a couple of rude jetties, or landing +places of loose stone. Landed on one of these to get sight for the +chronometers. Found a Frenchman overseeing three or four Chinese seamen +chopping wood and thatching a hut. The French make slaves, both here and +on the mainland, of prisoners of war. The island is under the government +of an _Enseign de Vaisseau._ + +The Commander of the Junk is a Midshipman, so that we have gotten among +high dignitaries. Landed at noon, at an inviting little sand-beach on +the south shore, to get latitude--8° 39' 10". Found the ruined hut of a +Frenchman, with his grave close by, and his name carved on the bark of a +tree on the beach. A picturesque burial spot, amid eternal shades, with +the lullaby of the ocean. + +_Saturday, December 5th._--Amused this morning, watching some sedate old +baboons sitting on the sand-beach opposite, and apparently observing the +ship very attentively. Large numbers of these caricatures of humanity +inhabit these islands; yesterday, when a boat landed, great numbers of +young ones were seen gamboling about; but one of the old ones having +called out to them, they soon all disappeared in the thick wood. +Returned the visit of the Frenchman. He is on board a miserable country +craft, of about 40 tons burthen. Sent a boat to the village on the east +side to call on the Governor, and see if we could get some fruit and +vegetables. Boat returned at nightfall. The village is a mere military +port, the native inhabitants, except a few prisoners or slaves, having +fled to the mountains, and no supplies were to be had. The Governor's +residence is a _thatched_ hut, as are all the other houses, with no +industry or taste displayed in their structure. A few patches of +cultivation were visible--rice, fruit, and cotton--the latter looking +rather unpromising. The destroyers of their rice were the monkeys. There +are several varieties of fine large pigeons here, and in abundance. They +are beautiful in feather and fat. A common variety has a green back and +golden tail. This must be a paradise for monkeys, so abundant is their +food in the forests, almost every tree bearing a fruit or nut of some +sort. These French officers had heard and believed that we sunk or +burned every ship we took, _with all on board_, and received the +Paymaster rather coolly at first, but became quite cordial when they +observed we were _Christians_, and did not commit this wholesale murder. + +_Sunday, December 6th_.--Another lonely Sabbath-day--lonely, though in +the midst of one hundred and fifty people. Away, away from home, by half +the circumference of the globe! One of the most frequent and unpleasant +of my experiences since I entered the China Sea, is an _oppressive_ +sense of _great_ distance from home, and the utter strangeness of +everything around me, almost as though I had entered another planet. + +_Monday, December 7th_.--The commander of the island, M. Bizot, visited +me to-day. He is an agreeable and intelligent young man of twenty-four +or five years of age, and appeared very friendly and expressed sympathy +for our cause. His position is a flattering one for a man of his age and +rank, and he seems to have entered upon his duties with pride and zeal. +He brought me a chart of the island, surveyed last year. The French have +been in possession two years and a half. He spoke of my having hoisted +the English flag upon first anchoring, and seemed surprised that we had +not heard of the possession of the island by the French, which, he said, +had been notified to all the Powers. I pleasantly told him that I had +had some notion of taking possession of it myself, but that I had found +the French ahead of me. He brought down for me the welcome present of a +_pig_ and some little fruit, and told me he had a _potato patch_ on +shore, which he would share with me. Fresh provisions of all kinds are +so scarce here that I fear my generous friend has been robbing himself. +He told me that he had one hundred and forty _forçats_--slave-prisoners +--at the village, whom he meant to put to good use in constructing store +and dwelling-houses, &c. The hunters brought on board to-day an East India +bat, or vampire, measuring two feet ten inches from tip to tip of wing. Its +head resembled that of a dog or wolf more than any other animal, its teeth +being very sharp and strong. Among the curiosities of the island is a locust, +that has a whistle almost as loud as that of a railroad. + +_Tuesday, Dec. 8th_.--The Commander of the Junk came on board, and +brought me a couple of fowls. The apes here are very large, and quite +fierce. They will not run from you, but come around you, and grin and +chatter at you. An officer shot one, and he died like a human being, +throwing his hands over his wound and uttering piercing cries! This +monkey was afterwards buried in the sand by his comrades, though the +interment was not quite complete when the operators were interrupted. +This is the reason why nobody ever sees a dead monkey, any more, as the +Singhalese proverb says, than a white crow or a straight cocoa-nut tree. +A curious vegetable product was brought on board to-day, it being to all +appearance a finely-made Havana cigar. The fibre is woody, covered with +a smooth bark, and the colour of dark tobacco. It comes from the tree +perfect in shape, and is not a seed-pod or fruit. One is at a loss to +conceive its use or functions. The illusion caused by its appearance is +perfect. We had no success with the sieve, the fish here being all +jumpers, and jumping out of the net. + +_Wednesday, Dec. 9th_.--The excessive heat and moisture of the climate +here is very enervating. We begin to feel its effects already. It weighs +upon us like a vapour-bath, and we feel indisposed to take the least +exercise; a walk on shore of half a mile or so quite overcomes us. + +_Thursday, Dec. 10th_.--At about 2.30 P.M. a French steamer passed the +Gap, going to the southward. Afterwards informed by the Commander that +it was the mail steamer from Saigon, for Singapore. The Saigon people +are expecting us there. + +_Friday, Dec. 11th_.--In the afternoon the Commander and Surgeon came on +board, bringing us a _bullock_! and some vegetables. + +_Sunday, Dec. 13th_.--The crew dined off the Commander's bullock to-day, +being the first meal of fresh meat since leaving Simon's Town, nearly +three months ago; and yet we have _no one_ on the sick list! +Causes--good water, temperance, strict government, and, as a +consequence, a reasonable degree of contentment, and moderate and +constant employment. The crew has had several runs on shore, too, +without the possibility of getting drunk. A present of cocoa-nuts this +morning from the Commander. This young Frenchman is very attentive to +us. + +_Monday, Dec. 14th_.--To-day we applied the principle of the coffer-dam +to the replacement of the copper around our delivery or blow-pipe, some +three feet below water. The operation proved quite simple and easy of +accomplishment. Getting ready for sea. The news of our "whereabouts" +probably reached Singapore on the evening of Saturday, and it is only +two days from Singapore here, for a fast steamer; and so, whilst the +enemy, should there be one at Singapore, is coming hitherward, we must +be going thitherward to seek coal and provisions. + +_Tuesday, Dec. 15th_.--At daylight got under way, under sail, and stood +out of the harbour--lighting and banking the fires. On account of our +proximity to the shore, and the very light breeze, we had barely room to +pass the point--not more than a ship's length to spare, in case we had +been obliged to let go our anchor. I felt quite nervous for a few +minutes, but held on, and we caught a light breeze that soon sent us +ahead out of danger. + +Well, we are on the sea once more, with our head turned _westward_, or +_homeward_. Shall we ever reach that dear home which we left three years +ago, and which we have yearned after so frequently since? Will it be +battle, or shipwreck, or both, or neither? And when we reach the North +Atlantic, will it still be war, or peace? When will the demon-like +passions of the North be stilled? These are solemn and interesting +questions for us, and an all-wise Providence has kindly hidden the +answers behind the curtain of Fate. A lengthened cruise would not be +politic in these warm seas. The homeward trade of the enemy is now quite +small--reduced probably to twenty or thirty ships per year; and these +may easily evade us by taking the different passages to the Indian +Ocean, of which there are so many, and so widely separated. The foreign +coasting trade (as between one port in China and another, and the trade +to and from Calcutta and to and from Australia), besides facilities for +escape, are almost beyond our reach--at least we could only ransom the +ship, the cargoes being all neutral--that is to say, _such of them as +get cargoes, now not many_. And then there is no cruising or chasing to +be done here successfully, or with safety to oneself, without plenty of +coal; and we can only rely upon coaling once in three months at some +English port. At the other ports there would probably be combinations +made against us, through the influence of the Yankee Consuls. So I will +try my luck around the Cape of Good Hope once more; then to the coast of +Borneo; and thence perhaps to Barbadoes, for coal; and thence---? If the +war be not ended, my ship will need to go into dock, to have much of her +copper replaced, now nearly destroyed by such constant cruising, and to +have her boilers overhauled and repaired; and this can only be properly +done in Europe. Our young officers, who had had so agreeable a change +from the cramped ship to the shores and forests of Condore, with their +guns and their books, had become so attached to the island that they +left it with some regret. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +_In the East--Aor--Marine nomads--Suspicious--At Singapore--A busy +city--Chinese merchants--Whampoa and Co.--Calculating machines--Under +way--The Martaban of Maulmain--Transformation--The Texan +Star--Evasive--Getting at the truth.--Sonora--To the Cape._ + + +The Alabama was now steering for Singapore, and for three or four days +kept her course without the occurrence of anything particularly +noteworthy. On the 19th December she anchored for a time in the bay on +the south-east side of the island of Aor, with its lofty hills clothed +with green to their summits, and its little sandhills and groves of +cocoa-nut trees. The island is unclaimed by any European nation. + +_Sunday, Dec, 20th_.--To-day being Sunday, and the weather being still +thick, and blowing, I have resolved to remain until to-morrow before +making the run for Singapore. Weather improved this morning, however, +and the barometer going up. Several islands visible that were hid from +us yesterday. Pulo Aor looking beautiful and picturesque. Some of the +natives on board with their scant stores of fowls, eggs, and cocoa-nuts. +They are larger than the natives of Condore, and stouter, and more +developed, but with countenances not very prepossessing. The Governor, a +rough-looking, middle-aged fellow, above the common height, pulled out +some greasy papers, the recommendations of former visitors, and desired +that I also would give him one, which I declined, as I knew nothing +about him. Their canoes are light and graceful, and occasionally they +present quite a picture with their gaily-dressed or half-dressed +occupants. We heard their tom-toms and banjoes last night as evening set +in, but a music much sweeter to our ears was a chorus from some _frogs_, +with notes somewhat finer than their relatives on our side of the earth. +These islanders are nothing more than marine nomads, that lead an idle, +vagabond life, intermixed with a good deal of roguery. They have a fine +_physique_, as might be supposed from their open-air mode of life, in +which they have plenty of healthful exercise without being overworked, +as Mother Nature feeds them spontaneously, and they require little more +clothing than they brought into the world with them. + +In the afternoon some of the officers visited the shore, and were +hospitably received. There were from ninety to one hundred natives, men, +women, and children, visible, and there were probably as many more on +the other side of the island, as they have a S.W. monsoon village there. +They seemed to have plenty of fowls, and they are very expert fishermen. +They were gambling--such a thing as labour being out of the question. +The island seems originally to have been a solid mass of rock, the rocky +walls of the mountains peeping out in many places from the midst of the +dense forest, and gradually as time and the elements disintegrated +portions of it, plants and trees took root, until the island became what +it is now, a mass of luxuriant vegetation. There were some fine large +boats carefully hauled up on the beach, quite large enough for piratical +purposes, for which they were probably intended, and some swivels were +lying near the chief man's door. The cocoa-nut tree has climbed the +mountain sides, and waves its feathery foliage from the crests of the +ridges. It is food, and cordage, and light to the natives. Several +delightful little valleys presented themselves, upon which, and on the +adjacent steeps or the mountains, were thatched huts. Probably to the +mere animal part of our nature, the life that these people lead is +happier than any other; wants few and easily supplied, labour not too +pressing, and the simple tastes satisfied with such pleasures as they +find. + +Rain, rain, in the afternoon. Most of the moisture is deposited on the +mountain-tops, and the clouds sweep over it. And now for Singapore, God +willing. + +_Monday, Dec. 21st_--At 3.30 A.M. we got under way, under steam and +sail, and steered S. by E. 32 1/2 miles, South 18 miles, and S. by W. 14 +miles; and the weather setting in very thick, with heavy rain, obscuring +all things, we were obliged to come to in 10 1/2 fathoms, with the north +point of Bintang island bearing, and within 11 miles by computation of +the Pedra Branca lighthouse. We have thus to war against the weather as +well as our enemies. Soon after daylight we made a ship-rigged steamer +on our port bow, bound also for Singapore. She anchored near us astern. +It clearing a little at noon, we got hold of the marks and got under +way, and taking a Malay pilot, anchored off Singapore at 5.30 P.M. + +_Tuesday, Dec. 22d_.--At 9.30 A.M. the pilot came on board, and we ran +up into New Harbour alongside of the coaling depôt, and commenced +coaling. Singapore is quite a large town, with an air of prosperity--a +large number of ships in the harbour. The country is beautiful, and +green, with an abundance of fine fruit, &c.; the country around highly +improved with tasteful houses and well-laid-out grounds. The English +residents call it the Madeira of the East, in allusion to its +healthfulness. Some twenty-two American merchant ships here, most of +them laid up! The Wyoming was here twenty days ago, and left for Rhio +Strait, where she remained for some days. Finished coaling last night, +the operation having occupied no more than ten hours. Received +provisions. + +_Wednesday, Dec. 23rd_.--Weather variable, with occasional showers of +rain--raining heavily in the afternoon. Visited the city, and was +astonished at its amount of population and business. There are from +eighty to one hundred thousand Chinese on Singapore island, nearly all +of them in the city, from twelve to fifteen thousand Malays, and about +fifteen hundred Europeans. Singapore being a free port, it is a great +_entrepôt_ of trade. Great quantities of Eastern produce reach it from +all quarters, whence it is shipped to Europe. + +The business is almost exclusively in the hands of the Chinese, who are +also the artisans and labourers of the place. The streets are thronged +with foot-passengers and vehicles, among which are prominent the ox, or +rather the buffalo cart, and the hacks for hire, of which latter there +are nine hundred licensed. The canal is filled with country boats of +excellent model, and the warehouses are crammed with goods. Money seems +to be abundant and things dear. They are just finishing a tasteful +Gothic church, with a tall spire, which is a notable landmark as you +approach; they are also completing officers' quarters on a hill which +commands the town. Barracks for three or four regiments lie unoccupied a +couple of miles outside the city, and a large court-house. + +The moving multitude in the streets comprises every variety of the human +race, every shade of colour, and every variety of dress, among which are +prominent the gay turbans and fancy jackets of the Mahomedan, Hindu, &c. +Almost all the artisans and labourers were naked, except a cloth or a +pair of short trousers tucked about the waist. The finest dressed part +of the population was decidedly the _jet-black_, with his white flowing +mantle and spotted turban. The upper class of Chinese merchants are +exceeding polite, and seem intelligent. I visited the establishment of +Whampoa and Co. Whampoa was above the middle height, stout, and with a +large, well-developed head. I was told that his profits some years +amounted to forty or fifty thousand pounds! He was sitting in a small, +dingy, ill-lighted little office on the ground floor, and had before him +a Chinese calculating machine, over the numerous small balls of which, +strung on wires, he was running his hands for amusement, as a gambler +will sometimes do with his checks. At the suggestion of the gentleman +who was with me, I requested him to multiply four places of figures by +three places, naming the figures, and the operation was done about as +rapidly as I could write down the result. Their shaved heads, and long +queues, sometimes nearly touching the ground, are curious features of +their personal appearance. The workshops front upon the streets, and in +them busy, half-naked creatures may be seen, working away as +industriously as so many beavers all day long, seeming never to tire of +their ceaseless toil. + +Amid all this busy population I saw but one female in the streets, and +she was of the lower class. Dined in the country with Mr. Beaver. The +ride out was over good roads flanked by large forests and ornamental +trees, among which was the tall, slender, graceful palm of the +betel-nut. The Botanical Gardens are on an elevation commanding a fine +view of the town and the sea, and are laid out with taste, ornamented +with flowering trees and shrubs, and flowers. Hither a band of music +comes to play several times a week, when the townspeople turn out to +enjoy the scene. A few miles beyond the town the whole island is a +jungle, in which abounds the ferocious Bengal tiger. It is said that one +man and a half per day is the average destruction of human life by these +animals. Visited opium-preparation shop. It pays an enormous licence. + +All this beauty fails to reconcile the European lady to this country, I +was told. The eternal sameness of summer, and the heat and moisture, +weigh upon them, and their husbands being away all day on business, they +pine for their European homes. The life seems agreeable enough to the +men. The Governor of the "Straits Settlement" is a Colonel. + +_Thursday, Dec. 24._--Cloudy; five of my men deserted last night. The +Kwang-tung got under way at 8 1/2 A.M., and we followed her and steered +for the strait of Malacca. Several sails in sight; Malay pilot on board. +Passed the Kwang-tung very rapidly. At about 1 P.M. we fired a gun and +hove to an American-looking barque, under English colours, with the +name, "Martaban, of Maulmain," on her stern. Sent a boat on board; and +the officer reporting that she was an American-built ship, with English +register, and that the Master refused to come on board, I went on board +myself to examine the case. There being no bill of sale, the transaction +being recent, the Master and Mate, &c., being Americans, I had no doubt +that the transfer was fraudulent, and captured and burned her. The cargo +had no paper on board connected with it, except the ordinary bill of +lading. It consisted of rice, and was shipped in Maulmain by a Mr. +Cohen, and consigned to his order at Singapore, whither the ship was +bound. Of course, the cargo followed the fate of the ship under such +circumstances. Upon examination of the Master (Pike), under oath, he +admitted that the transfer was a sham, and made to protect the ship from +capture. At 11.30 P.M. came to anchor about four miles distant from +Malacca, bearing N., in fifteen fathoms water, for the purpose of +landing our prisoners. + + * * * * * + +The boarding officer's journal furnishes the annexed description of the +interview with the Master of the prize:-- + +I was sent on board to examine her papers. The barque was American +built, had a new English flag, and on her stern was painted "Martaban, +of Maulmain." We knew that many Yankee vessels had been transferred to +English owners, and of course had to have an English flag; but the +question arose--Was there not some jobbery in this case? Nearing the +Martaban I saw that she was newly painted; pulling round and under the +stern, I saw that a name had been painted over, but could not see what +the name was. I further observed that the last four letters of Maulmain +had been painted much more recently than the other ones, so I determined +to most rigidly scrutinize her papers. Upon my arrival on board, I +inquired after the Captain's health, and then expressed a wish to make a +few inquiries respecting his vessel. + +He with the utmost affability was equally ready to afford me any +information required, at the same time informing me I should find +"everything correct." The vessel I found was the Martaban of Maulmain, +Captain Pike, from Maulmain to Singapore, rice laden. I then requested +to see the ship's papers, which request was readily granted. Accordingly +the register, clearance bills of lading, and crew list, were speedily +produced and examined, not omitting the Master's certificate. These but +corroborated what I previously knew. Putting a few questions to the +Captain, and comparing his answers with the papers, I learned the +following facts--viz., that the barque was American built, that she had +been upwards of five months in Maulmain; that she had been transferred +on the 10th December, after the cargo was in, and on the day in which +she cleared, and only one day previous to her sailing; that the captain +had no certificate or bill of sale, nor, in fact, any papers respecting +the transfer on board; that he, the Captain, was an American, and had +commanded the barque previous to her transfer. + +Taking the register up again and closely scrutinizing it, I observed +what had previously escaped my attention--viz., that the register, which +is a printed form, with spaces for written insertions, had been first +written with a lead pencil, and over that with ink. No professional +registrar or shipmaster would, I felt certain, have so prepared it. +Looking again at the crew list I made another discovery, that all the +names of the crew were written in one handwriting, from the mate to the +boys. Now I well knew that some of the crew, and especially the mates, +would be able to write, and of the mate's ability to use a pen I +speedily satisfied myself by making him produce his logbook, wherein his +name, &c., was written; or, if unable to write, the usual X, his mark, +would have been affixed to each name. I had now no doubt about the +papers, believing them to be false. I then requested the Master to take +his papers and go on board the Alabama, which, however, he positively +refused to do, unless forcibly compelled; stating that "this was an +affair that flag (pointing to the English colours flying at his peak) +wouldn't stand." He still persisting in his refusal to go on board our +ship, I took possession of his vessel, pending Captain Semmes' decision. + + + +Finding that the Mountain wouldn't come to Mahomet, Mahomet went to the +Mountain; for, after calling a man out of my boat and stationing him at +the wheel, I dispatched the boat back to the Alabama with a report of +the irregularity of the papers, and a request for further instructions. +To my surprise, Captain Semmes came himself and stopped at the gangway, +and told the Captain he had come to examine the ship's papers. Captain +Pike signifying his assent, we went into the cabin, and the papers being +produced, I pointed out some of the discrepancies and acts previously +mentioned. + +Captain Semmes then sharply interrogated Pike, insisting upon additional +documents to prove the legality of the transfer. None being forthcoming, +Captain Semmes put some questions, as only a lawyer can (Captain Semmes +not only having studied, but practised law), the answers to which only +convinced Captain Semmes that what he had suspected was true--viz., that +the ship was sailing under false colours, and was to all intents and +purposes an American vessel. + +Captain Pike of course protested, to which Captain Semmes replied by +ordering the destruction of the vessel. Captain Semmes returning to the +Alabama, I ordered the English flag to be hauled down, and directed the +Mates and crew to pack their luggage, and hold themselves in readiness +to go on board our ship. The First Lieutenant coming off, our boats got +off a few stores, and the prisoners were transferred to the Alabama. + +By 5.20 had applied the torch, and regained our ship 5.30. The steamer +Kwang-Tung was observed near our burning prize. We then shaped our +course for Malacca, intending to land our prisoners there. + +About 7.30 the same evening, Mr. Smith, captain's clerk, and self had +the boatswain and a seaman down in the steerage; and putting them on +oath obtained the following additional particulars--viz., that they +shipped on board the Martaban at Hong Kong and Singapore respectively; +that she was then an American vessel, and called the Texan Star, of +Galveston or Boston (she having had two American registers); that she +left Maulmain as the Texan Star, and on leaving there hoisted American +colours; that the name Martaban, of Maulmain, was painted by the +captain's nephew two days after leaving that port; that the English flag +was hoisted for the first time when the Alabama hove in sight this day; +and that no articles were signed by them at Maulmain; nor, indeed, was +any agreement made by the crew to serve in a British vessel, all hands, +in fact, believing her to be American. The Mate having also made a few +admissions, they and the preceding depositions were shown to Captain +Semmes, who, after sending for Captain Pike, put the following questions +to him--viz.: + +What is your name?--Samuel B. Pike. + +Where were you born?--At Newbury Port, Massachusetts. + +Are you a naturalized citizen of any foreign government?--I am not. + +How long have you been in command of the Martaban, formerly the Texan +Star?--Two years and a half. + +In what part of the United States was the Texan Star registered?--She +was built and registered at Boston. + +Has she but one register in America?--There was a change of owners, and +she has had two American registers. + +Who were the owners under the last American register?--John Alkerm, +Samuel Stevens, George L. Rogers, and myself. + +What proportion of the ship did you own?--One-sixth. + +When did you sail from the last port in the United States?--A year ago +last July. + +It is stated in the present British register that Mr. Mark Currie is the +owner?--That is as I understand it. + +Do you state upon your oath that the sale was a _bonâ fide_ sale?--I do +not state that. + +Do you not know that it was intended merely as a cover to prevent +capture?--Yes, I do know it. + +This closed the matter; nothing more was necessary. Here was admission +enough to destroy any legal doubt that might have arisen from the +destruction of a vessel under the English flag. What added to our +triumph was the copy of a letter from Captain Pike to his owners, in +which he stated that "he had taken such precautions as would deceive +Semmes and all the Confederates." Had the Texan Star escaped, how Yankee +cuteness would have been extolled! Why, as the Bostonians have presented +a gold chronometer to the master of the barque Urania for such a daring +deed as hoisting the American flag over his American vessel in a neutral +port (Cape Town), whilst the Alabama was lying there, I say, had the +Texan Star escaped from the Alabama, nothing short of the Presidency, or +a statue in marble, or the deed graved in letters of gold, or some other +equally ridiculous token of admiration, would have awaited the gallant +master, and the fame of his clever trick would have been handed down to +Yankee posterity. + +Captain Semmes thus resumes his diary on the 25th December:--At daylight +sent the prisoners of the Texan Star on shore, with a note to the +Commander. Malacca is a pretty little village, or at least the +sea-point, viewed from our anchorage, with a picturesque hill in the +rear, on which is situated the fort and lighthouse. The flagstaff was +decorated with flags and signals in honour of Christmas Day. A couple of +boats with some English officers and citizens ran off, and visited us +for a few minutes. Got under way at 9.30, under steam; at night anchored +near Parceelar Hill in 25 fathoms water. + +_Saturday, December 26th_.--At 6 A.M. got under way, and stood out for +the lightship, and soon made a couple of American-looking ships ahead, +at anchor; steamed up to the first, which refused to show colours. Sent +a boat on board, when she proved to be the American ship Senora, from +Singapore. Captured her, and steamed to the second, which in like manner +refused to show colours. Upon sending a boat on board, she proved to be +the American ship Highlander, also from Singapore. Captured her. Both of +these ships were very large, being over a thousand tons each. They were +both in ballast, bound to Aycaab for rice. At 10 A.M., having sent off +the crews of the two prizes in their own boats, at their own election, +fired the ships, and steamed out. Passed the lightship at about 11 A.M., +and discharged the pilot. + +From the 26th December to the 13th of January the Alabama steadily +pursued her course, meeting with little adventure. Only four sail were +seen in the period, and these all proved to be neutrals. On the last day +of the year 1863 the North Indian Ocean was entered, and the ship's head +once more laid in the direction of the Cape. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +_The Emma Jane--Quilon--An alarm--Landing prisoners--Johanna and +Mohilla--Friendly authorities--Slavery--A trading monarch--Distance +lends enchantment to the view--Cousins-german of the Sultan--Princes +gardens--Mahommedan sympathy--Off again._ + + +On the 14th January, as the Alabama was lazily drifting in a +north-easterly direction, near the Malabar coast, a ship was discovered +running down towards her. The useful decoy--the United States flag--was +at once hoisted, and the same colours were run up by the stranger. A gun +brought the Yankee vessel to, and the Alabama forthwith took possession +of the Emma Jane of Bath, Maine, bound from Bombay to Amherst in +ballast, and at 8.30 P.M. the prize was set fire to. + +About this period the cruiser experienced a series of calms, and she +drifted with the current rather than sailed. On the 16th of January the +Ghaut Mountains were made, and Captain Semmes makes the following entry +in his journal. + +_Saturday, January 16th._--At meridian made the town of Quilon, and bore +up east 1/2 south for the town of Angenga, which we made about 2 P.M. At +4.30 came to in the road abreast of the fort, and despatched a +Lieutenant on shore to see about landing my prisoners. In the evening +the residing magistrate's son came on board, and I arranged the matter +with him. There being no external trade or shipping at Angenga, the +prisoners could not well get away by sea; but my visitor stated that +there was lagoon navigation inland all the way to Cochin, some +seventy-five miles to the northward, and that at Cochin there were +always means of reaching Bombay and other ports. Native boats were +passing every day between Angenga and Cochin, and if I would send the +necessary provisions on shore for the prisoners, his father would see +them transported to Cochin. I sent a Lieutenant on shore after night +with the son, to arrange the matter with the father; and as the boat was +delayed much beyond her time, and we heard some firing as of revolvers +and muskets, and as there was also some surf running, I became uneasy, +and despatched the First Lieutenant in another boat to look into the +matter. The chief magistrate had only been at public worship--the cause +of the detention of the boat. Both boats returned about 11.30 P.M. + +_Sunday, January 17th._--At daylight I sent all the prisoners on shore, +where they were landed apparently in the presence of half the +village--the native boats taking them through the surf--and at 9.30 got +under way. The town of Angenga was formerly of some importance as a +shipping port for the produce of the country--cocoa-nut oil, pepper, &c. +But all its trade has passed to its more prosperous rival--Cochin. It is +about fifty miles from Travancore, the residence of The Rajah. There is +water communication all the way, and the journey is generally made (in +canoes) in the night to avoid the heat of the sun. The natives are +nearly as black as the Africans, but with straight hair and European +features. A large number of them visited the ship this morning. They +were fine specimens of physical development, and wore scarcely any other +covering than a cloth about the loins. They were sprightly and chatty, +and in their quaint canoes made quite a picture. + + * * * * * + +On the 17th January the Alabama left Angenga, arriving without further +adventure on the 21st at the Island of Minicoy, and after three weeks +more of fine weather, found herself off the island of Comoro. + + * * * * * + +_Tuesday, February 9th_.--At 3.30 A.M. passed in sight of the N.E. end +of Comoro. Soon after daylight made the Islands of Johanna and Mohilla. +At 1.30 P.M. came to anchor about three-quarters of a mile from the +shore. Despatched the Paymaster to the-town to arrange for fresh +provisions. In the afternoon visited by several canoes, with a couple of +poles lashed across the gunwales, attached to a float in each, to +maintain their stability. Stalwart naked negroes were for the most part +their occupants. Many of them spoke a little English. Among others, a +dignitary of the Church came on board with the compliments of the chief +priest (Mahommedan). We made arrangements with him for the supply of the +ship. One of his companions asked me to which of the belligerent parties +I belonged to, the North or the South. I replied, to the South. "Then," +said he, "you belong to the side which upholds slavery." "Yes," said I, +"we belong to the country where the black man is better taken care of +than in any other part of the world." The churchman seeing me put on the +defensive, as it were, came to my aid, and said: "Oh, we are +slaveholders here; being Mahommedans, we have no prejudices that way; +our only trouble is, we cannot get slaves enough. The English, who have +no control over us, we being an independent government, are strong +enough to interfere in everybody's business, and to say to us, that we +bring over from the main no more slaves. The slaves themselves would +gladly come to us, as they are much better off than under their native +chiefs, who are continually making war upon and enslaving one another." + +My informant was himself a full-blooded African negro, as black as the +ace of spades, but with an immaculate white turban on his head, and the +flowing robe and loose jacket of the Mahommedan. + +_Wednesday, February 10th_.--Visited by the King's Dragoman this +morning, who came to pay the respects of the authorities, to say he was +glad to see us in Johanna. In the course of conversation, he was pleased +to say that our ship was well known to him, and the news of our having +appeared off the Cape some months ago had driven off all the Yankee +whalers, several of which had been accustomed to resort hither. King +Abdallah, he said, resided on the east side of the island. The king +himself would come to see us, but was very busy just now patting up a +sugar-mill, which he had just received from the Mauritius. + +The island is a beautiful, picturesque spot. There is quite a mountain +in the interior, and the higher parts of Johanna are densely wooded; the +mountain-sides being in some places so steep that the tops of some trees +touch the trunks and roots of others. + +The inhabitants are a mixture of Arabs and negroes. They are intelligent +and sprightly, and had not only heard of the American war, but said it +bore heavily on them, as they were now compelled to pay a much higher +price for their goods, which are mostly cotton. We have driven away, +they say, all their Yankee trade. The Sultan is a young man of +twenty-eight, with a moderate harem of only five wives. + +_Thursday, February 11th_.--Visited the town to get sights for my +chronometers--which puts the town at 44.26.30 N., just 30" less than +Captain Owen's determination. The town, as viewed from the anchorage, is +a picturesque object, with its tall minaret, its two forts, one perched +on a hill commanding the town, and the other on the sea-beach, and its +stone houses; but the illusion is rudely dispelled on landing. You land +on a beach of rocks and shingle, through a considerable surf even in the +calmest weather. The beach was strewn with the washed clothes of the +ship, and a set of vagabonds of all colour, save only that of the +Caucasian, were hanging about looking curiously on. The town is +dilapidated and squalid to the last degree--the houses of rough stones, +cemented and thatched; the streets five feet wide, and rendered, as it +would seem, purposely crooked. + +It was the second day of the fast of Ramadan, and groups of idlers were +congregated in the narrow porticoes reading the Koran. The language, +which is peculiar to the island, is very soft and pleasing to the ear. +We visited one of the principal houses. The walls were filled with a +number of small niches, receptacles for everything imaginable--coffee-cups, +ornaments, &c. A number of couches were ranged round the room. + +A crowd of half-clad, dirty children gathered round us, but no female +made her appearance. We took our sights among the gaping multitude, all +of whom were very civil and polite, and returned on board about 5 P.M., +having seen all the outside life that was to be seen at Auzuan. The +inside life was, of course, out of our reach. + +Upon coming on deck this morning I was struck with the soft picturesque +beauty of the hills, as shone upon by the morning sun lighting up the +tops and sides, and throwing the valleys and ravines into shade. At +night I am lulled by the roar of the sea upon the beach. It is +delightful to sniff the fragrance of the land as it comes off to us +upon the dew-laden wings of the softest of breezes. My fellows on shore +looked rueful and woe-begone--nature had no charms for them--there was +no liquor to be had! If I were to remain here long, I should send them +on shore as a punishment. + +_Friday, February 12th_.--This is the Mahommedan Sabbath, but they do +not keep it so grimly as the Puritans. We had a number of visitors on +board, and among others, several princes, cousins-german of the Sultan, +one of them being the Commander-in-Chief of the army. He gave me an +account of the affair of the Dale. Some years ago two Yankee whalers +came in. One of them obtained provisions to the amount of two hundred +and fifty dollars, telling the people he was too poor to pay for them in +money, but that he would give them a bill on the Consul at Zanzibar. To +this they assented; the skipper then ran off with his ship in the night, +without giving the bill. They seized the other Captain and took him on +shore, to keep him as a hostage while his ship should go in pursuit of +the runaway and get the promised bill. But they thought better of it in +a few hours, and released him. The Dale came the next season and +demanded twenty-five thousand dollars, threatening to burn the town if +the money was not paid. They could not pay them, there being probably +not so much money in the island. The Yankees then set fire to one end of +the town, cannonaded the fort, doing some damage, and withdrew. This is +about the usual origin of Yankee shipmasters' complaints to their +government. I made a present of a captured Yankee clock to each of the +princes, and gave them a package of writing-paper. They seemed anxious +to get some finery for their wives, but I told them we were not in that +line, like Yankee whalers. + +_Saturday, February 13th_.--Visited the town again to-day. Called at the +houses of a couple of the princes, in which I found everything dirty, +with an attempt at tawdry finery. A black _houri_ was set to fan me. We +were served with rose syrup. Walked to the prince's garden--a beautiful +wilderness of cocoa and betel nuts, sweet orange and mango, with +heterogeneous patches of rice, sweet potatoes and beans, and here and +there a cotton plant. Two or three slave huts were dotted about, and +walls of loose stones ran along crooked lanes and bye-ways. As we came +off, some of the inhabitants were at evening prayer, and others +preparing to take their evening meal. People met us everywhere with +kindly greetings, and the Cadi, a venerable-looking old man, wished me a +safe return to my own country. + +_Sunday, February 14th_.--Visited in force again to-day by the princes, +and other chief men. In the afternoon the high-priest visited me. He was +a fine-looking man--Arab by descent--with a well-developed forehead, +and easy, gentlemanly bearing. He wore a sword, and was evidently looked +upon with great respect by his attendants. He expressed much sympathy +with our cause, and said he would pray to Allah for our success. The +Yankee whalers, he said, invariably stole some of their slaves. Said +they could not do very well without the whalers, as they were the only +traders to the island, and brought them many useful things. + +_Monday, February 15th_.--Received on board some bullocks and fruit; +paid our bills, and were taken leave of affectionately by the simple +people. At meridian moved out of the anchorage under steam, amid the +cheers, given in real English fashion, by the many boatmen that +surrounded us. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +_"Man overboard!"--Blowing hard--Three Years--Wearing out--The Cape +again--Seizure of the Tuscaloosa--Towards Europe--War News--What the +Alabama effected--Case of the Rockingham--The last capture--The +Tycoon--Nineteen overhauled--In the Channel--At Cherbourg._ + + +From the middle to the 28th February there was but little excitement on +board the Alabama. On that day the usual routine of life on a man-of-war +was broken by the cry of "Man overboard." The vessel was at once hove +to, but before a boat could be lowered a gallant fellow, Michael Mars, +leapt overboard, and swimming to the rescue of his shipmate, fortunately +succeeded in saving the man's life. + +On the third of March they saw the first Cape Pigeon and Albatross, and +on the 4th Captain Semmes writes as follows:-- + +The gale still continues, though moderating very fast; sea not so +turbulent, though the surf is thundering into it now and then, and +keeping the decks flooded. 'Tis three years to-day since I parted with +my family in Washington, on the day in which Washington's great republic +was humiliated by the inauguration as President of a vulgar democratic +politician, in whom even the great events in which, by a singular +destiny, he has been called to take a part, have not been able to sink +the mountebank. These three years of anxiety, vigilance, exposure, and +excitement, have made me an old man, and sapped my health, rendering +repose necessary, if I would prolong my life. My ship is wearing out, +too, as well as her commander, and will need a general overhauling by +the time I can get her into dock. If my poor services be deemed of any +importance in harassing and weakening the enemy, and thus contributing +to the independence of my beloved South, I shall be amply rewarded. + + * * * * * + +The Alabama still kept on through gales, with creaking cordage and +jerking tiller ropes, until on the 11th of March the Cape was sighted, +off which they were knocked about until the 20th instant; lying in the +track of vessels bounding before the gale at the rate of ten or twelve +knots an hour, and only able to see them when within a mile of the ship. + +Arrived in Table Bay, Captain Semmes received intelligence of the +seizure of the Tuscaloosa, upon which he at once wrote a despatch to +Admiral Walker.[15] + +[Footnote 15: For papers relating to the seizure of this vessel, see +Appendix.] The Cape was left on the 25th of March, the vessel's head +being laid towards Europe, and on the 29th the following entry is found +in the journal:-- + +"I have at length had a little leisure to read the late papers received +at the Cape. The Yankee Government and people, and with them a great +portion of the English press and people, seem to have jumped suddenly to +the conclusion that we are beaten, and that the war must soon end by our +submission! Mr. Lincoln has even gone so far as to prescribe the terms +on which our States may re-enter the rotten "concern"--to wit, by a +reorganization of the States government by one-tenth of the people. +Verily, the delusion of these men in the matter of this war is +unaccountable. No power on earth can subjugate the Southern States, +although some of them have been guilty of the pusillanimity of making +war with the Yankees against their sisters. History will brand them as +traitors and cowards. As for the tone of the English press, I am not +surprised at it. England is too rich to be generous. Our war for her is +a sort of prize-fight, and she is looking on in about the same spirit +with which her people lately viewed the prize fight between King and +Heenan. Hurrah one; well done the other." + + * * * * * + +From March 29th to April 22d there were no events calling for special +attention, save that on the sixteenth the intelligence was learned from +the master of a French ship that there were no American vessels at the +Chincha Islands, though in July, 1863, there were between seventy and +eighty American sail there. This speaks volumes of the terror the +Alabama had excited. + +The night of the 22d of April was employed in giving chase to a strange +sail, which was overhauled at daybreak on the following morning; and the +United States flag having been responded to by a display of the same +colours, the Alabama boarded and took possession of the guano-laden +ship, Rockingham, which was employed as a target, and then set fire to. +The cargo being claimed as the property of neutrals, Captain Semmes +examined the ship's papers and entered the following in his journal:-- + + +CASE OF THE ROCKINGHAM. + +"Ship under United States colours and register. Is from Callao, bound to +Cork for orders, and loaded with guano. This guano purports to be +shipped by the Guano Consignment Company to Great Britain. One Joseph A. +Danino, who signs for Danino and Moscosa, certifies that the guano +belongs to the Peruvian Government; and Her Britannic Majesty's Acting +Consul at Lima certifies that the said Joseph A. Danino appeared before +him and 'voluntarily declared' 'that the foregoing signature is of his +own handwriting, and also that the cargo above mentioned is truly and +verily the property of the Peruvian Government.' + +"As this is the only certificate of the neutrality of the cargo among +the papers, and as nobody swears to anything in this certificate, there +is no testimony at all. The ship being enemy's property, and the cargo +being presumed to be enemy's property also, from being found on board +the ship, it was incumbent on the neutral parties, if there are any such +in the case, to have documented their property by sworn certificates; +and this rule of law is so well known, that the absence of an oath would +seem to be conclusive as to the fraudulent attempt to cover. Ship and +cargo condemned." + + * * * * * + +This capture was followed by that of the Tycoon, on the 27th of the same +month; and as no claim of neutrality of cargo was made, the ship was +burned. This, as it afterwards turned out, was the last of the Alabama's +prizes. Nineteen other vessels were overhauled before she reached +Cherbourg, but not one of them sailed under the Stars and Stripes. When +it is remembered that no less than sixty-five American ships had been +taken by the gallant cruiser, it is not much to be wondered at that the +Yankee flag was a _rara avis_ on the high seas. + +From the 25th of May to the 10th of June the Alabama was making her way +north, and on the last-named date she was abreast of the Lizard, and was +boarded by a Channel pilot. "I felt," writes Captain Semmes, "great +relief to have him on board, as I was quite knocked up with cold and +fever, and was too ill-qualified physically for exposure to the weather +and watching through the night. And thus, thanks to an all-wise +Providence, we have brought the cruise of the Alabama to a successful +termination." + +Little could Captain Semmes have imagined, when he penned these lines, +that the cruising days of his vessel were so soon to end. The vessel +entered Cherbourg on the morning of the 11th. Two days after news was +received that the Kearsarge would shortly arrive there, intelligence +which was confirmed next day by the appearance of that vessel. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +_The Kearsarge--Preparations--The iron-clad--State of the Alabama--Out +of the harbour--The Deerhound--The Captain's address--Armaments of the +combatants--Plan of action--The engagement--Rapid fire--Badly +wounded--Sinking--The end of the Alabama--In the water--Gallant +conduct--Surgeon Llewellyn--The Deerhound to the rescue--The enemy's +boats--Not a wrack--The informing spirit_. + + +It was written that the Alabama was never to behold the ports of her +country! + +The latest entries in the diary of Captain Semmes are of an interest too +great to permit us to exclude them, prior to the narration of the +memorable duel which closes the history of a vessel whose renown, short +as her career has been, may challenge that of any ship that has spread a +sail upon the waters, and casts a lustre even upon the heroic history of +the Confederate States. + +On Tuesday, June 14th, Captain Semmes writes:-- + +"Great excitement on board, the Kearsarge having made her appearance off +the eastern entrance of the breakwater, at about 11 A.M. Sent an order +on shore immediately for coal (one hundred tons), and sent down the +yards on the mizen-mast, and the topgallant yards, and otherwise +preparing the ship for action. + +"_Wednesday, June 15th._--The Admiral sent off his _aide_ to say that he +considered my application for repairs withdrawn upon my making +application for coal, to which I assented. We commenced coaling this +afternoon. The Kearsarge is still in the offing; she has not been +permitted to receive on board the prisoners landed by me, to which I had +objected in a letter to the Admiral. Mailed a note yesterday afternoon +for Flagofficer Barrow, informing him of my intention to go out to +engage the enemy as soon as I could make my preparations, and sent a +written notice to the U.S. consul, through Mr. Bonfils, to the same +effect. My crew seems to be in the right spirit, a quiet spirit of +determination pervading both officers and men. The combat will no doubt +be contested and obstinate; but the two ships are so equally matched, I +do not feel at liberty to decline it. God defend the right, and have +mercy upon the souls of those who fall, as many of us must!" + + * * * * * + +It has been denied that the captain of the Kearsarge sent a challenge to +the Alabama. Captain Semmes, indeed, says nothing of it himself. What +the Kearsarge did--and with a particular object, there cannot be a +doubt--was, as recorded, to enter the breakwater at the east end, and +"at about 11 A.M., on Tuesday, she _passed through the west end without +anchoring_." These are the words of a French naval captain, who speaks +of what he saw. Few will deny that among brave men this would be +considered something equivalent to a challenge. It was more than a +challenge--it was a defiance. The officer we have quoted adds, that +"anyone could then see her outside protection." It is easy to see +everything after the event. The Kearsarge looked bulky in her middle +section to an inspecting eye; but she was very low in the water, and +that she was _armed_ to resist shot and shell it was impossible to +discern. It is distinctly averred by the officers of the Alabama that +from their vessel the armour of the Kearsarge could not be +distinguished. There were many reports abroad that she was protected on +her sides in some peculiar way; but all were various and indistinct, and +to a practical judgment untrustworthy. Moreover, a year previous to this +meeting, the Kearsarge had lain at anchor close under the critical eye +of Captain Semmes. He had on that occasion seen that his enemy was not +artificially defended. He believes now that the reports of her plating +and armour were so much harbour-gossip, of which during his cruises he +had experienced enough. + +Now the Kearsarge was an old enemy, constantly in pursuit, and her +appearance produced, as Captain Semmes has written, great excitement on +board the Alabama. And let us here call attention to what the officers +and men of the illustrious Confederate ship had been enduring for the +space of two years. During all this time they had been homeless, and +without a prospect of reaching home. They had been constantly crowded +with prisoners, who devoured their provender--of which they never had +any but a precarious supply. Their stay in any neutral harbour was +necessarily short as the perching of a hawk on a bough. Like the hawk's +in upper air, the Alabama's safety as well as her business was on the +high seas. Miserably fed, hunted, eluding, preying, destroying--is this +a life that brave men would willingly have to be continuous? They were +fortified by the assurance of a mighty service done to their country. +They knew that they inflicted tremendous damage upon their giant foe. +They were, perhaps, supported by the sense that their captain's +unrivalled audacity had done more harm to the United States than the +operations of many thousand men. But their days were wretched; their +task was sickening; it demands an imagination that can fix its eye upon +stern, barren duty as a planet never darkened, always visible, for such +a life as this to be carried on uncomplainingly and without a passionate +longing for the bare exercise of hard blows. In addition, they read of +the reproaches heaped upon them by comfortable shore-men. They were +called pirates, and other gloomy titles. The execrations of certain of +the French and English, and of all the United States press, sounded in +their ears across the ocean; but from their own country they heard +little. The South was a sealed land in comparison with the rest of the +world. Opinion spoke loudest in Europe, and though they knew that they +were faithfully, gallantly, and marvellously serving their country in +her sore need, the absence of any immediate comfort, either physical or +moral, helped to make them keenly sensitive to virulent criticism, even +to that of avowed and clamorous enemies. + +It was this state of mind through the whole crew which caused the +excitement on board the Alabama when the Kearsarge steamed in and out of +the breakwater. Now, and at last, our day of action has come! was the +thought of every man on board. The chivalrous give and take of battle +was glorious to men who had alternately hunted and fled for so dreary a +term. They trusted for victory; but defeat itself was to be a +vindication of their whole career, and they welcomed the chances gladly. + +The application for coal at a neutral port was in itself a renunciation +of any further hospitality from the harbour, as Captain Semmes was +aware. The Port-admiral contented himself with pointing it out to him. A +duel is not an unpopular thing in France. The prospective combat of two +apparently equally-matched ships of war would have been sufficient to +have melted any scruples entertained by Frenchmen in authority; they +were only too happy to assist towards an engagement between Federals and +Confederates, the latter being as popular in France as in England, to +say nothing for the sympathy excited for the Alabama. French officers +agreed with Captain Semmes in thinking that there was marked offence and +defiance in the manoeuvres of the Kearsarge, and that he could hardly do +less than go out and meet her. We have done our best to show that the +Captain, whether in his heart he felt the mere chances to be equal or +not, was anxious to persuade himself that they were so. He knew his +opponent to be the heavier in ship, battery, and crew, but "I did not +know that she was also iron-clad," he says. Personally he desired the +battle; the instigations of an enthusiastic crew, unanimous for action, +as also of friendly foreign officers, are to be taken into account. +Those who venture, now that we are enabled to measure by results, to +cast blame upon him, should first, in justice, throw themselves into his +position. President Davis may deplore the loss of a vessel that did a +mighty service, but we doubt not that he will endorse the honourable +words of Mr. Mason in his justification of Captain Semmes, and rejoice +that the man who was the ship, is saved for further service to the +Confederacy. + +On Sunday, in the morning, being the 19th June, the Alabama steamed out +of Cherbourg harbour by the opening to the west, and steered straight to +meet the Kearsarge, accompanied by the French iron-clad La Couronne. The +late foul weather had given way to a gentle breeze, and the subsiding +swell of the Atlantic wave under a clear sky made the day eminently +favourable for the work in hand. All Cherbourg was on the heights above +the town and along the bastions and the mole. Never did knightly +tournament boast a more eager multitude of spectators. It chanced +fortunately that an English steam-yacht, the Deerhound, with its owner, +Mr. John Lancaster, and his family, on board, was in harbour at the +time. The Deerhound followed the Alabama at a respectful distance, and +was the closest witness of the fight. Some French pilot-boats hung as +near as they considered prudent. At the limit of neutral waters the +Alabama parted company with her, escort, and the Couronne returned to +within a league of the shore. + +Left to herself at last, the Alabama made her final preparations for the +coming struggle. Mustering all his ship's company upon the deck, Captain +Semmes addressed them as follows;-- + +"OFFICERS AND SEAMEN OF THE ALABAMA:" + +"You have, at length, another opportunity of meeting the enemy--the +first that has been presented to you since you sunk the Hatteras! In the +meantime, you have been all over the world, and it is not too much to +say that you have destroyed, and driven for protection under neutral +flags, one-half of the enemy's commerce, which, at the beginning of the +war, covered every sea. This is an achievement of which you may well be +proud; and a grateful country will not be unmindful of it. The name of +your ship has become a household word wherever civilization extends. +Shall that name be tarnished by defeat? The thing is impossible! +Remember that you are in the English Channel, the theatre of so much of +the naval glory of our race, and that the eyes of all Europe are at this +moment upon you. The flag that floats over you is that of a young +republic, which bids defiance to her enemy's, whenever and wherever +found. Show the world that you know how to uphold it. Go to your +quarters."[16] + +[Footnote 16: The above is a correct report of Captain Semmes' address +on this occasion. Various statements have appeared as to the way in +which it was continued: received. Captain Semmes states, "The only +replies that were made were shouts from the seamen of 'Never! never!' +when I spoke of the name of their ship being tarnished by defeat."] + +It took three-quarters of an hour for the Alabama to come within range +of the Kearsarge. At the distance of one mile, the Alabama opened fire +with solid shot. The Kearsarge took time to reply. After ten minutes the +firing was sharp on both sides. + +According to the statement of the Captain of the Kearsarge, her battery +consisted of seven guns--to wit, two 11-inch Dahlgrens--very powerful +pieces of ordnance; four 32 pounders, one light rifle 28 pounder. She +went into action with a crew of 162 officers and men. + +The armament of the Alabama consisted of one 7-inch Blakeley rifled gun, +one 8-inch smooth-bore pivot gun, six 32 pounders, smooth-bore, in +broadside. The Alabama's crew numbered not more than 120. On this head +Captain Winslow speaks erroneously. He sets down the Alabama's crew at +150 officers and men. The Alabama had a formidable piece in the Blakeley +rifled gun, but she was destitute of steel shot. + +It will thus be seen that there was inequality between the antagonists. +Captain Winslow speaks of the Alabama having "one gun more" than the +Kearsarge. His two great Dahlgrens gave the balance altogether in his +favour. But in an estimate of the rival capabilities of the two vessels, +the deteriorated speed of the Alabama should be considered as her +principal weakness. Cherbourg had done little to repair the copper of +her bottom, which spread out in broad fans and seriously impeded her +cutting of the water; and it had been found impossible to do more than +to patch up the boilers for the day's business. They were not in a state +to inspire the engineers with confidence. The Kearsarge, on the other +hand, was in first rate condition and well in hand. She speedily showed +that she could overhaul the Alabama. In fact, the Alabama entered the +lists when she should have been lying in dock. She fought with an +exhausted frame. She had the heroism to decide upon the conflict, +without the strength to choose the form of it. After some little +manoeuvring this became painfully evident to Captain Semmes. The +Kearsarge selected her distance at a range of five hundred yards, and +being well protected she deliberately took time and fired with sure +effect. + +Captain Semmes had great confidence in the power of his Blakeley rifled +gun, and we believe it is a confidence not shaken by its failure to win +the day for him. He wished to get within easy range of his enemy, that +he might try this weapon effectively; but any attempt on his part to +come to closer quarters was construed by the Kearsarge as a design to +bring the engagement between the ships to a hand-to-hand conflict +between the men. Having the speed, she chose her distance, and made all +thought of boarding hopeless. + +It was part of the plan of Captain Semmes to board, if possible, at some +period of the day, supposing that he could not quickly decide the battle +with artillery. It was evidently Captain Winslow's determination to +avoid the old-fashioned form of a naval encounter, and to fight +altogether in the new style; his superior steam power gave him the +option. When the Alabama took her death-wound she was helpless. We must +interpret the respectful distance maintained by the Kearsarge up to the +very last, and the persistent plying of her guns while the side of the +sinking ship was visible, as a settled resolution on Captain Winslow's +part to trust to guns alone, and throughout, so that a dangerous +proximity might be shunned. That much homage was paid by him to the +hostile crew, and that his manoeuvre was creditably discreet, few will +deny. + +The crew of the Alabama, seamen and officers, were in high spirits +throughout the engagement, though very early the slaughter set in and +the decks were covered with blood. Their fire was rapid and admirable. +It has been said in the House of Lords by no less a person than the Duke +of Somerset, that her firing was positively bad; and that she hit the +Kearsarge only three times during the action. By Captain Winslow's own +admission the Kearsarge was hit twenty-eight times by shot and shell--or +once to every fifth discharge. No seaman knowing anything of an actual +engagement on the deep will object to the accuracy of such an aim. Had +the Kearsarge shown the same blank sides as the Alabama, another tale +might have been told. Captain Semmes, however, perceived that his shell +rebounded after striking her, and exploded harmlessly. This led him to +rely upon solid shot. The Alabama, not being thus or in any way +shielded, was pierced with shell, and soon showed vast rents in her +after-part. Her pivot-gun was a distinct mark for the enemy, and a +single shell exploding near it killed and wounded half the number of men +by whom it was worked. Each ship fought her starboard broadside, and +steamed in a circle to keep that side to the enemy. So, for an hour, +this, to a distant spectator, monotonous manoeuvre continued, without +perceptibly narrowing the range. Captain Semmes was standing on the +quarter-deck when the chief engineer sent word to say that the ship was +endangered by leakage. The first lieutenant, Mr. Kell, was sent below to +inspect the damage. He returned with word that the ship was sinking. +Captain Semmes at once ordered the ship to be put about and steered +towards shore. But the water was rising in her: the fires were speedily +extinguished. The Alabama's shot from slackening had now ceased. It was +evident to all on board that she was doomed. To have continued firing +would have been to indulge a stupid rancour, and to act in such a manner +is not in the nature of a seaman like Captain Semmes. On the contrary, +his thoughts were directed towards saving the lives of his crew. He gave +command for the Confederate flag to be hauled down. + +Many wild stories are being told of something like a mutiny of the crew +at this desecration of the Southern banner; of how they implored the +Captain to spare them the disgrace of it; and of a certain quartermaster +drawing his cutlass, daring any hand on board to haul down the flag, and +being dramatically threatened with a loaded pistol by Mr. Kell, the +First Lieutenant, and so brought to his senses. The fact is, that the +flag came down quietly and decorously. All on board perceived that there +was no help for it, and that it would be a shocking breach of humanity +to imperil the lives of the wounded men. + +The general detestation of the Yankee was yet more strongly instanced +when the men were struggling for life in the water. The head of every +man was pointed away, as if instinctively, from the vessel that stood +nearest to rescue him. One who was hailed from the Kearsarge with the +offer of a rescue, declined it civilly, and made his way for the neutral +flag. The men swam as if they had still an enemy behind them, and not +one that was ready to save. Tardy as were the boats of the Kearsarge in +descending to perform this office, they found many of the poor fellows +still painfully supporting themselves above the surface. Of these, both +men and officers, when, after being hauled into the boats, they had +dashed the blinding salt water from their eyes and discovered among whom +they were, many sprang overboard again, preferring any risk to the +shelter of the Federalists. Hatred to the flag of the old Union and love +of their Captain appear to have been their chief active passions. When +taken on board the Deerhound, the question as to the safety of Captain +Semmes was foremost in every mouth. + +Captain Semmes asserts that shots were fired at the Alabama after the +signal of surrender. We will not attempt to substantiate a charge like +this: but French officers maintain it to be an undeniable fact that, +after the Confederate flag had been lowered, the Kearsarge fired no less +than five shots into her. We believe that Captain Winslow does not deny +the charge; but asserts that he was unaware of the act of surrender. In +his letter to the _Daily News_, he declares the accusation that he had +been guilty of this act to be "twaddle" (we quote his own phrase). + +The master's mate of the Alabama, Mr. Fullam, was despatched in the +dingey to the Kearsarge with a request that assistance might immediately +be given in rescuing the lives of the wounded men. It was promised, but +the fulfilment of the promise, owing, as we trust it may be proved, to +circumstances incidental to the fight, was, as we have said, tardy. +Captain Winslow expressed himself in kindly terms with regard to his old +shipmate in the days when the Union was not a mockery of its name; +Captain Semmes having served with him in the same vessel many years +back. During Mr. Fullam's absence the Alabama had gone down stern +foremost. All the wounded had been stretched in the whale-boat for +transmission to the Kearsarge. The surgeon of the Alabama, an +Englishman, Mr. David Herbert Llewellyn, son of an incumbent of a +Wiltshire parsonage, and godson of the late Lord Herbert of Lea, was +offered a place in this boat. He refused it, saying that he would not +peril the wounded men, and he sank with the Alabama. The rest of the +crew, with their captain, were already in the waves. Mr. Lancaster +meantime had steamed up to the Kearsarge, requesting permission to +assist in saving life, and he was soon among them, throwing lines from +the yacht, and picking up many exhausted men in his boats. The loss of +men by drowning was nineteen, including an officer (Mr. Llewellyn), +carpenter, and assistant-engineer. The loss in killed and wounded was +twenty-eight, of whom seven were killed. Not a wrack of the Alabama was +secured by the victors in this memorable sea-fight. The captain and his +officers dropped their swords into the deep; the men drove their oars +into the bottoms of the boats. One spirit--the spirit of the +unconquerable Confederation of the Southern States--animated all. Not a +man who was able to support himself in the water, swam towards the +Kearsarge. + +So sank the Alabama. It would have been glorious for her to have won, +but it was not disgraceful that the day went against her. She fought +against odds such as brave commanders are not in the habit of declining; +she fought to the water's edge. An end like this, and the splendid +antecedents she points to, have made her name and that of her captain +household words. Her flag has been indeed a "meteor flag," and that it +shall "yet terrific burn" we may reckon to be probable, when it is +remembered that the informing spirit, of which the good vessel was but +the gross body, is alive, and prepared once more to offer himself to the +land of his choice for service upon the seas. + + + + +APPENDIX. + + * * * * * + +No. I. + +CAPTURES OF THE SUMTER. + + +_Ably Bradford_--Of New York, from New York to Puerto Caballo. Captured +25th July, 1861, N.E. of Laguayra, Venezuela. + +Sent to New Orleans. Recaptured by enemy. + +_Albert Adams_--Of Massachusetts. Captured 5th July, 1861, four leagues +off Cienfuegos. + +Sent to Cienfuegos. Released by Captain-General of Cuba. + +_Arcade_--Of Maine, from Portland, Maine, to Guadaloupe. Captured 26th +November, 1861, in lat. 20° 27' N., long. 57° 15' W. + +Burned. + +_Ben Dunning_--Of Maine. Captured 5th July, 1861, four leagues off +Cienfuegos. + +Sent to Cienfuegos. Released by Captain-General of Cuba. + +_Cuba_--Of Maine, from Trinidad to English ports. Captured 4th July, +1861, in lat. 21° 29' N., long. 84° 06' W. + +Sent to Cienfuegos. Retaken by enemy. + +_Daniel Trowbridge_--Of Connecticut, from New York to Demerara. Captured +27th October, 1861, in lat. 17° 54' N., long. 56° 30' W. + +Burned. + +_Ebenezer Dodge_--Of Massachusetts, from New Bedford to South Pacific +(whaling). Captured 8th December, 1861, in lat. 30° 57' N., long. 51° +49' W. + +Burned. + +_Golden Rocket_--Of Bangor, Maine. Captured 3d July, 1861, in lat. 21° +29' N., long. 84° 06' W. Valued at $35,000. + +Burned. + +_Investigator_--Of Maine, from Spain to Newport, Wales. Captured 18th +January, 1862, in Straits of Gibraltar. Valued at $15,000, + +Released on ransom bond. + +_Joseph Maxwell_--Of Pennsylvania. Captured 27th July, 1861, seven miles +from Puerto Caballo. + +Sent to Cienfuegos. Released by Governor-General of Cuba. + +_Joseph Parkes_--Of Massachusetts, from Pernambuco to Boston. Captured +25th September, 1861, in lat. 6° 20' N., long. 42° 24'W. + +Burned. + +_Louisa Kilham_--Of Massachusetts. Captured 6th July, 1861, five miles +from Cienfuegos. + +Sent to Cienfuegos. Released by Captain-General of Cuba. + +_Machias_--Of Maine, from Trinidad to an English port. Captured 4th +July, 1861, in lat. 21° 29' N., long. 84° 06' W. + +Sent to Cienfuegos. Released by Captain-General of Cuba. + +_Montmorency_--Of Maine, from Newport, Wales, to St. Thomas. Captured +25th November, 1861, in lat. 18° 30' N., long. 58° 40' W. Valued at +$20,000. + +Released under ransom bond. + +_Naiad_--Of New York. Captured 6th July, 1861, five miles from +Cienfuegos. + +Sent to Cienfuegos. Released by Captain-General of Cuba. + +_Neapolitan_--Of Massachusetts, from Messina to Boston. Captured 18th +January, 1862, in Straits of Gibraltar. + +Burned. + +_Vigilans_--Of Maine, from New York to Island of Sombrero. Captured 3d +December, 1861, in lat. 29° 10' N., long. 57° 22' W. Valued at $40,000. + +Burned. + +_West Wind_--Of Rhode Island. Captured 6th July, 1861, five miles off +Cienfuegos. + +Sent to Cienfuegos. Released by Captain-General of Cuba. + + * * * * * + +CAPTURES OF THE ALABAMA. + +_Alert_--Of New London, from New London to the Indian Ocean (whaling). +Captured 9th September, 1862, off Flores. Valued at $20,000. + +Burned. + +_Altamaha_--Of New Bedford, from New Bedford (whaling). Captured 13th +September, 1862, in lat. 40° 34' N., 25° 24' W. Valued at $3,000. + +Burned. + +_Amanda_--Of United States, from Manilla to Queenstown. Captured 6th +November, 1863, in lat. 7° 00' S., long. 103° 19' E. Valued at $104,442. + +Burned. + +_Amazonian_--Of New York, from New York to Monte Video. Captured 2d +June, 1863, in lat. 15° 09', long. 55° 04'. Valued at $97,665. + +Burned. + +_Anna F. Schmidt_--Of Maine, from Boston (_via_ St. Thomas) to San +Francisco. Captured 2d July, 1863, in lat. 26° 14', long. 37° 51'. +Valued at $350,000. + +Burned. + +_Ariel_--Of New York, from New York to Aspinwall. Captured 7th Dec., +1862, off Cape Maize. Valued at $261,000. + +Released on bond. + +_Baron de Castine_--Of Castine, from Bangor to Cardenas. Captured 29th +October, 1862, in lat. about 39° 18' N., long. about 69° 12' W. Valued +at $6,000., + +Released on bond. + +_Benjamin Tucker_--Of New Bedford, from New Bedford (whaling). Captured +14th September, 1862, off Flores. Valued. at $18,000. + +Burned. + +_Bethia Thayer_--Of Maine. Captured 1st March, 1863, in lat. 29° 50' N., +long. 38° 31' W. Valued at $40,000. + +Released on bond. + +_Brilliant_--Of New York, from New York to Liverpool. Captured 3d +October, 1862, in lat. 39° 58' N., long. 50° 00' W. Valued at $164,000. + +Burned. + +_Charles Hill_--Of Boston, from Liverpool to Monte Video. Captured 25th +March, 1863, in lat. 1° 22', long. 26° 08'. Valued at $28,450. + +Burned. + +_Chastelaine_--Of Boston, from Martinique to Cienfuegos. Captured 27th +January, 1863, in lat. 17° 19' N., long. 72° 21' W. Valued at $10,000. +Burned. + +_Contest_--Of the United States, from Yokohama, Japan, to New York. +Captured 11th November, 1863, in lat. 4° 48' S., long. 106° 49' E. +Valued at $122,815. + +Burned. + +_Courser_--Of Province Town, from Province Town (whaling). Captured 16th +September, 1862, off Flores. Valued at $7,000. + +Burned. + +_Crenshaw_--Of New York, from New York to Glasgow. Captured 26th +October, 1862, in lat. 40° 11' N., long. 64° 32' W. Valued at $33,869. + +Burned. + +_Dorcas Prince_--Of New York, from New York to Shanghai. Captured 26th +April, 1862, in lat. 7° 36', long. 31° 57'. Valued at $44,108. + +Burned. + +_Dunkirk_--Of New York, from New York to Lisbon. Captured 7th October, +1862, in lat. about 41° 00' N., long. 53°. Valued at $25,000. + +Burned. + +_Elisha Dunbar_--Of New Bedford, from New Bedford (whaling). Captured +18th September, 1862, in lat. 39° 50' N., long. 35° 25' W. Valued at +$25,000. + +Burned. + +_Emily Farnum_--Of New York, from New York to Liverpool. Captured 3d +October, 1862, in lat. 39° 58' N., long. 50° 00' W. + +Neutral cargo, Released and made a Cartel. + +_Emma Jane_--Of Maine, from Bombay to Amherst (in ballast). Captured +14th January, 1864, in lat. 7° 57' S., long. 76° 09' W. Valued at +$40,000. + +Burned. + +_Express_--Of Callao, from Callao to Antwerp. Captured 6th July, 1863, +in lat. 28° 28', long. 30° 20. Valued at $121,300. + +Burned. + +_Gildersliene_--Of London, from Sunderland to Calcutta. Captured 25th +May, 1863, in lat. 12° 04', long. 35° 10'. Valued at $62,783. + +Burned. + +_Golden Eagle_--Of United States, from San Francisco (_via_ Howland's +Island) to Cork. Captured 21st February, 1863, in lat. 29° 28' N., long. +44° 58' W. Valued at $61,000. + +Burned. + +_Golden Rule_--Of New York, from New York to Aspinwall. Captured 26th +January, 1863, off Jamaica. Valued at $112,000. + +Burned. + +_Hatteras_--Of United States Navy, gunboat. Sunk 11th January, 1863, off +Galveston. Valued at $160,000. + +Sunk. + +_Highlander_--Of the United States, from Singapore to Aycaab (in +ballast). Captured 26th December, 1863. Valued at $75,965. + +Burned. + +_Jabez Snow_--Of Cardiff, from Cardiff to Monte Video. Captured 29th +May, 1863, in lat. 12° 54', long. 35° 18'. Valued at $72,881. + +Burned. + +_John A. Parks_--Of Maine, from New York to Monte Video. Captured 2d +March, 1863, in lat. 29° 25' N., long. 37° 47' W. Valued at $66,157. + +Burned. + +_Justina_--Of the United States. Captured 25th May, 1863, in lat. 12° +04', long. 35° 10'. Valued at $7,000. + +Ransomed. + +_Kate Cory_--Of Westport (whaler). Captured 15th April, 1863, in lat. 4° +08', long. 32° 01'. Valued at $10,568. + +Burned. + +_Kingfisher_--Of Massachusetts, from Fair Haven (on whaling expedition). +Captured 23d March, 1863, in lat. 2° 08' N., long. 26° 08' W. Valued at +$2,400. + +Burned. + +_Lafayette_ (1)--Of New York, from New York to Belfast. Captured 23d +October, 1862, in lat. 39° 34' N., long. 63° 26' W. Valued at $110,337. + +Burned. + +_Lafayette_ (2)--Of New Bedford (whaler). Captured 15th April, 1863, in +lat. 4° 08', long. 32° 01. Valued at $20,908. + +Burned. + +_Lamplighter_--Of Boston, from New York to Gibraltar. Captured 15th +October, 1862, in lat. 41° 32' N., long. 54° 17' W. Valued at $117,600. + +Burned. + +_Lauretta_--Of Boston, from New York to Madeira and Mediterranean. +Captured 28th. October. 1862, in lat. 39° 18' N., long. 67° 35' W. +Valued at $32,880. + +Burned. + +_Levi Starbuck_--Of New Bedford, from New Bedford to the Pacific +(whaling). Captured 2d November, 1862, in lat. 36° 13' N., long. 66° 01' +W. Valued at $25,000. + +Burned. + +_Louisa Hatch_--Of Rockland, from Cardiff to Point de Galle. Captured +4th April, 1863, in lat. 3° 12', long. 26° 9'. Valued at $38,315. + +Burned. + +_Manchester_--Of New York, from New York to Liverpool. Captured 11th +October, 1862, in lat. 41° 08' N., long. 55° 26' W. Valued at $164,000. + +Burned. + +_Morning Star_--Of Boston, from Calcutta to London. Captured 23d March, +1863, in lat. 2° 08' N., long. 26° 08' W. Valued at $61,750. + +Released on bond. + +_Nora_--Of Boston, from Boston to Calcutta. Captured 25th March, 1863, +in lat. 1° 22', long. 26° 08'. Valued at $76,-636. + +Burned. + +_Nye_--Of New Bedford, from New Bedford (whaling barque). Captured 24th +April, 1863, in lat. 5° 45', long. 31° 53'. Valued at $31,127. + +Burned. + +_Ocean Rover_--Of Massachusetts, from Massachusetts (out whaling). +Captured 8th September, 1862, off Flores. Valued at $70,000. + +Burned. + +_Ocmulgee_--Of Edgartown. Captured 5th September, 1862, in about lat. 37° +20' N., long. 28° 08' W. Valued at $50,000. + +Burned. + +_Olive Jane_--Of the United States, from Bordeaux to New York. Captured +21st February, 1863, in lat., 29° 28' N., long. 44° 58' W. Valued at +$43,208. + +Burned. + +_Palmetto_--Of New York, from New York to St. John's, Porto Rico. +Captured 3d February, 1863, in lat. 27° 18' N., long. 6° 16' W. Valued +at $18,430. + +Burned. + +_Parker Cook_--Of Boston, from Boston to Aux Cayes. Captured 30th +November, 1862, in lat. 18° 59' N., long. 68° 45' W. Valued at $10,000. + +Burned. + +_Punjaub_--Of Boston, from Calcutta to London. Captured 15th March, +1863, in lat. 8° 36' N., long. 31° 43' W. Valued at $55,000. + +Released on bond. + +_Rockingham_--Of the United States, from Callao to Cork. Captured 23d +April, 1864, in lat. 15° 52' S., long. 31° 44' W. Valued at $97,878. + +Burned. + +_Sea Lark_--Of New York, from New York to San Francisco. Captured 3d +May, 1863, in lat. 9° 39' S., long. 32° 44' W. Valued at $550,000. + +Burned. + +_Sonora_--Of the United States, from Singapore to Aycaab (in ballast). +Captured 26th December, 1863, off Malacca. Valued at $46,545. + +Burned. + +_Starlight_--Of Boston, from Fayal to Boston. Captured 7th September, +1862, off Flores. Valued at $4,000. + +Burned. + +_Talisman_--Of New York, from New York to Shanghai. Captured 5th June, +1863, in lat. 14° 35', long. 36° 26'. Valued at $139,195. + +Burned. + +_Texan Star_--Of the United States, from Maulmein to Singapore. Captured +24th December, 1863, off Malacca. Valued at $97,628. + +Burned. + +_Tonawanda_--Of Philadelphia, from Philadelphia to Liverpool. Captured +9th October, 1862, in lat. 40° 03' N., long. 54° 38' W. Valued at +$80,000. + +Released on ransom bond. + +_Tycoon_--Of the United States, from New York to San Francisco. Captured +27th April, 1864. in lat. 11° 16', long. 32° 6'. + +Burned. + +_Union_--Of Baltimore, from Baltimore to Jamaica. Captured 5th December, +1862, off Cape Maise. Valued at $15,000. + +Released on bond. + +_Union Jack_--Of Boston, from Boston to Shanghai. Captured 3d May, 1863, +in lat. 9° 39', long. 32° 44'. Valued at $77,000. + +Burned. + +_Virginia_--Of New Bedford, from New Bedford (whaling). Captured 17th +September, 1862, in lat. 40° 03' N., long. 32° 46' W. Valued at $25,000. + +Burned. + +_T.B. Wales_--Of Boston, from Calcutta to Boston. Captured 8th November, +1862, in lat. 29° 15' N., long. 57° 57' W. Valued at $245,625. + +Burned. + +_Washington_--Of New York, from Chincha Islands to Antwerp. Captured +27th February, 1863, in lat. 30° 19' N., long. 40° 01' W. Valued at +$50,000. + +Released on bond. + +_Wave Crest_--Of New York, from New York to Cardiff. Captured 7th +October, 1862, in lat. about 41° 00' N., long. 53°. Valued at $44,000. + +Burned. + +_Weather Gauge_--Of Province Town, from Province Town (whaling). +Captured 9th September, 1862, off Flores. Valued at $10,000. + +Burned. + +_Winged Racer_--Of the United States, from Manilla to New York. Captured +10th November, 1863, in Strait of Sunda. Valued at $150,000. + +Burned. + + + + +No. II. + +COURSE OF THE SUMTER. + +FROM NEW ORLEANS, 30TH JUNE, 1861, TO GIBRALTAR, 18TH JANUARY, 1862. + + 1861. + July 1 Lat. 26.18 N. Long. 87.23 W. + 2 23.04 86.13 + 3 21.29 84.06 + 4 No observation. + 5 Off the Jardinelles. + 6 At Cienfuegos, Cuba. + 7 do do + 8 Off the Caymans. + 9 Off Jamaica. + 10 to 15 No observation. + 16 to 24 At St. Anne's, Curaçao. + 25 to 27 At and off Puerto Caballo. + 28 Off Tortuga. + 29 to + Aug. 5 At Port of Spain. + 6 9.14 59.10 + 7 8.31 56.12 + 8 7.19 53.34 + 9 6.10 50.48 + 10 4.29 48.25 + Aug. 11 Lat. 2.38 N. Long. 47.48 W. + 12 4.10 49.37 + 13 4.56 50.55 + 14 4.49 51.19 + 15 16 At Cayenne. + 17 5.56 + 18 Off the mouth of the Surinam. + 19 to 31 At Paramaribo. + Sept. 1 No observation. + 2 4.50 50.20 + 3 3.05 48.44 + 4 00.44 47.12 + 5 1.03 44.48 + 6 to 15 At Maranham. + 16 00.17 S. 42.59 + 17 2.19 N. 41.29 + 18 3.38 40.57 + 19 4.33 40.41 + 20 4.46 41.00 + 21 5.12 41.59 + 22 5.37 42.12 + 23 5.25 42.19 + 24 5.35 41.27 + 25 6.20 42.27 + 27 6.24 43.10 + 28 6.10 44.20 + 29 6.55 45.08 + 30 7.33 45.28 + Oct. 1 7.39 45.55 + 2 8.19 46.23 + 3 8.30 46.21 + 4 8.55 46.58 + 5 9.13 47.21 + 6 8.31 47.08 + 7 8.13 47.13 + 8 8.52 46.44 + 9 7.21 46.30 + 10 6.22 45.48 + Oct. 11 Lat. 6.38 N. Long. 45.13 W. + 12 6.56 44.41 + 13 7.04 44.47 + 14 8.31 45.46 + 15 9.36 48.11 + 16 10.22 50.05 + 17 11.37 51.49 + 18 13.01 53.12 + 19 13.33 53.46 + 20 13.46 54.06 + 21 14.00 54.07 + 22 14.21 54.16 + 23 14.36 54.37 + 24 15.20 54.51 + 25 16.54 55.30 + 26 18.13 56.04 + 27 17.54 56.30 + 28 17.03 57.07 + 29 16.54 57.33 + 30 16.40 58.16 + 31 16.54 57.59 + Nov. 1 16.52 57.25 + 2 16.32 56.55 + 3 16.35 57.38 + 4 16.43 57.45 + 5 17.10 59.06 + 6 16.39 59.54 + 7 16.00 60.46 + 8 + 9 15.08 61.54 + 10 to 23 At Martinique. + 24 16.12 + 25 18.11 58.48 + 26 20.07 57.12 + 27 22.22 56.27 + 28 24.22 57.12 + 29 25.51 57.36 + 30 27.16 58.29 + Dec. 1 27.38 58.20 + 2 28.12 58.09 + 3 29.10 57.22 + Dec. 4 Lat. 30.03 N. Long. 55.09 W. + 5 30.19 53.02 + 6 29.35 52.02 + 7 29.27 51.35 + 8 30.57 51.49 + 9 31.35 51.14 + 10 32.39 49.47 + 11 32.48 49.32 + 12\ + 13/ 33.28 47.03 + 14 33.49 44.47 + 15 34.00 42.05 + 16 33.24 40.43 + 17 33.24 40.00 + 18 33.53 38.43 + 19 34.30 36.40 + 20 34.17 35.31 + 21 35.17 33.05 + 22 No observation. + 23 36.29 32.32 + 24 27.31 31.30 + 25 36.08 28.42 + 26 35.09 25.56 + 27 35.00 22.49 + 28 35.17 20.53 + 29 35.43 18.59 + 30 35.39 17.33 + 31 35.22 16.27 + 1862. + Jan. 1 35.53 13.14 + 2 35.52 9.36 + 3 35.49 7.00 + +On the 4th of January the Sumter reached Cadiz, and on the 17th left for +Gibraltar. She entered that port on the following day, where she was +finally put out of commission. + + * * * * * + +COURSE OF THE ALABAMA. + + 1862. + Aug. 25 Lat. 39.15 N. Long. 26.30 W. + 26 39.39 26.07 + 27 39.59 24.34 + Aug. 28 Lat. 39.58 N. Long. 21.30 W. + 29 38.56 19.23 + 30 37.23 19.06 + 31 Lat. by acc. 36.23 21.54 + Sept. 1 Lat. 35.33 22.17 + 2 35.29 24.22 + 3 36.16 25.56 + 4 37.22 28.08 + 5 No observation. + 6\ + to | Off Flores. + 11/ + 12 40.17 34.05 + 13 40.34 35.24 + 14 40.12 33.02 + 15 40.03 32.46 + 16 Off Flores. + 17 40.03 32.46 + 18 39.50 35.25 + 19 38.32 35.03 + 20 37.20 36.26 + 21 36.35 36.58 + 22 35.21 37.26 + 23 34.43 38.38 + 24 34.52 48.28 + 25 34.59 41.10 + 26 35.35 41.36 + 27 37.12 43.13 + 28 37.40 42.00 + 29 37.09 43.13 + 30 38.87 45.03 + Oct. 1 40.27 46.31 + 2 40 to 40.30 48 to 48.20 + 3 39.58 50.00 + 4 39.52 50.41 + 5 40.19 51.14 + 6 41.02 53.50 + 7 No observation. + 8 Lat. (D.R.) 41.00 Long. (D.R.) 55.43 + Long. Chro. 54.37 + 9 Lat. 40.03 Long. 54.38 + 10 41.13 53.45 + 11 41.08 55.26 + Oct. 12 Lat. 41.42 N. Long. 56.48 W. + 13 Assumed 40.30 59.28 + 14 41.21 59.31 + 15 41.32 59.17 + 16 (D.R.)42.16 59.18 + 17 (D.R.)42.06 59.46 + 18 Supposed 41.25 59.10 + 19 40.21 62.08 + 20 40.28 62.40 + 21 40.18 62.40 + 22 By acct. 40.16 64.17 + 23 39.34 63.26 + 24 40.04 62.05 + 25 39.57 63.18 + 26 40.11 64.32 + 27 39.47 68.06 + 28 39.18 67.35 + 29 No observation. + 30 39.18 69.12 + 31 37.51 67.34 + Nov. 1 36.15 65.55 + 2 36.13 66.01 + 3 35.17 67.11 + 4 34.27 63.30 + 5 31.34 61.27 + 6 29.05 61.22 + 7 29.03 59.22 + 8 29.15 57.57 + 9 27.51 58.24 + 10 25.40 57.50 + 11 24.05 57.36 + 12 22.58 57.37 + 13 22.08 57.43 + 14 21.11 57.49 + 15 20.40 58.24 + 16 18.00 59.27 + 17 15.51 60.20 + 18 13.15 63.01 + 21 12.10 64.35 + 22\ + to | At Island of Blanquilla. + 25/ + 26 13.12 65.30 + Nov. 28 Lat. 16.19 N. Long. 66.06 W. + 29 17.45 67.15 + 30 18.59 68.45 + Dec. 1 19.40 69.49 + 2 20.04 71.50 + 3 20.12 72.58 + 4 \ + to | Off Cape Maise, Jamaica, and Cuba. + 12 / + 13 18.47 78.28 + 14 18.16 80.43 + 15 18.39 83.06 + 16 19.16 84.10 + 17 19.18 84.25 + 18 19.47 85.46 + 19 20.00 85.31 + 20 21.20 86.32 + 21 22.06 88.40 + 22 21.26 91.15 + 23 20.18 91.50 + 24 \ + to | At the Arcas. + 31 / + 1863. + n. 1 \ + to | At the Arcas. + 5 / + 6 21.11 93.13 + 7 22.35 94.26 + 8 24.36 94.45 + 9 26.19 94.11 + 10 27.45 94.42 + 11 28.51 94.55 + 12 28.03 93.08 + 13 27.05 90.37 + 14 25.58 88.58 + 15 26.16 88.35 + 16 23.43 87.35 + 17 21.45 85.34 + 18 19.50 82.51 + 19 18.30 80.34 + 20 \ + to | At Port Royal. + 25 / + Jan.26 Lat. 17.50 N. Long. 74.52 W + 27 17.19 72.21 + 28 17.56 70.28 + 29 At San Domingo. + 30 19.31 67.38 + 31 21.45 68.06 + Feb. 1 24.08 68.18 + 2 26.17 68.06 + 3 27.18 66.10 + 4 28.00 64.11 + 5 27.10 61.30 + 6 25.44 60.32 + 7 26.36 60.15 + 8 25.41 58.48 + 9 24.51 57.55 + 10 24.32 56.53 + 11 24.52 56.34 + 12 25.15 56.36 + 13 26.08 55.32 + 14 27.09 53.17 + 15 28.29 50.07 + 16 28.45 46.57 + 17 28.11 45.01 + 18 28.15 44.37 + 19 28.04 44.29 + 20 28.32 45.05 + 21 29.28 44.58 + 22 29.33 44.57 + 23 30.21 43.55 + 24 30.32 42.50 + 25 30.22 41.03 + 26 30.23 40.42 + 27 30.19 40.01 + 28 30.07 39.38 + March 1 29.50 38.31 + 2 29.25 37.47 + 3 28.42 36.59 + 4 27.02 35.44 + 5 26.04 35.23 + 6 24.09 32.20 + 7 24.30 35.12 + 8 22.36 34.32 + 9 20.22 33.53 + Mar. 10 Lat. 18.26 N. Long. 33.17 W. + 11 16.18 32.36 + 12 13.57 31.47 + 13 11.31 31.25 + 14 9.24 31.48 + 15 8.36 31.43 + 16 7.46 30.21 + 17 7.53 30.34 + 18 7.14 29.26 + 19 5.59 28.01 + 20 4.32 27.00 + 21 2.47 26.23 + 22 2.11 26.24 + 23 2.08 26.08 + 24 1.41 26.13 + 25 1.22 26.08 + 26 1.12 26.32 + 27 No observation. + 28 00.46 26.19 + 29 00.18 26.10 + 30 00.34 S. 25.35 + 31 00.39 25.19 + April 1 1.00 25.20 + 2 2.10 26.02 + 3 2.52 25.58 + 4 3.12 26.09 + 5 3.25 27.04 + 6 3.46 28.00 + 7 3.57 30.07 + 8 4.01 Long. (D.R.) 31.17 + 9 4.08 32.01 + 10 \ + to | At Fernando de Noronha. + 22 / + 23 4.42 31.49 + 24 5.45 31.53 + 25 6.22 31.44 + 26 7.36 31.57 + 27 8.16 32.18 + 28 8.19 31.40 + 29 8.22 31.07 + 30 9.02 31.39 + May 1 9.17 32.17 + May 2 Lat. 9.37 S Long. 32.34 W + 3 9.39 32.44 + 4 8.48 32.34 + 5 10.06 32.45 + 6 10.24 32.30 + 7 12.08 33.07 + 8 12.30 33.52 + 9 12.55 34.49 + 10 13.29 36.07 + 11 \ + to |At Bahia. + 21 / + 22 13.04 37.36 + 23 12.33 36.39 + 24 11.34 34.54 + 25 12.04 35.10 + 26 11.39 34.47 + 27 12.15 35.05 + 28 12.54 35.18 + 29 13.31 35.38 + 30 14.19 35.36 + 31 +June 1 14.44 35.15 + 2 15.01 34.56 + 3 15.09 35.04 + 4 14.46 34.57 + 5 14.35 36.26 + 6 15.17 35.26 + 7 16.07 35.37 + 8 15.55 35.28 + 9 16.55 35.36 + 10 16.17 34.35 + 11 15.32 33.46 + 12 17.25 34.24 + 13 19.21 35.37 + 14 19.54 35.18 + 15 22.38 35.11 + 16 23.41 35.36 + 17 23.54 35.53 + 18 24.16 37.15 + 19 24.57 39.01 + 20 25.48 40.18 + 21 25.46 40.16 + June 22 Lat. 25.55 S. Long. 40.21 W. + 23 25.24 38.40 + 24 25.19 36.36 + 25 25.56 33.44 + 26 Lat.(D.R.) 26.40 30.16 + 27 26.01 28.29 + 28 25.57 30.31 + 29 26.35 32.59 + 30 25.56 35.12 + July 1 25.38 36.38 + 2 26.14 37.51 + 3 26.31 37.33 + 4 27.27 34.37 + 5 27.58 31.43 + 6 28.28 30.20 + 7 29.45 27.36 + 8 30.00 24.20 + 9 29.57 21.16 + 10 29.29 17.47 + 11 28.00 15.12 + 12 26.44 13.32 + 13 28.13 13.27 + 14 29.21 11.31 + 15 30.07 8.06 + 16 Lat.(D.R.)30.39 4.05 + 17 30.16 00.20 + 18 29.54 3.04 E. + 19 at.(D.R.)29.47 5.32 + 20 29.57 7.23 + 21 30.43 10.19 + 22 31.33 12.37 + 23 31.59 14.12 + 24 33.24 14.51 + 25 33.56 15.34 + 26 33.26 16.37 + 27 33.46 17.17 + 28 33.46 17.31 + 29 \ + to | At Saldanha Bay, and the Cape. + Aug. 16 / + 17 34.03 17.11 + 18 33.24 16.56 + 19 32.52 17.09 + Aug. 20 Lat. 32.45 S. Long. 16.55 E. + 21 33.14 15.41 + 22 32.13 16.08 + 23 31.43 15.30 + 24 31.24 14.34 + 25 31.18 13.37 + 26 27.57 14.12 + 27 No observation. + 28 \ + to | At Angra Pequena. + 30 / + 31 26.51 14.40 + Sept. 1 No observation. + 2 28.37 10.13 + 3 29.43 8.59 + 4 30.04 8.46 + 5 30.24 9.28 + 6 30.35 11.16 + 7 31.17 11.07 + 8 31.41 11.16 + 9 32.30 12.49 + 10 33.16 15.20 + 11 33.10 16.37 + 12 33.43 16.03 + 13 33.51 17.34 + 14 34.28 17.43 + 15 34.26 17.30 + 16 \ + to | At Simon's Town. + 24 / + + 25 35.26 18.15 + 26 37.28 17.58 + 27 37.52 19.03 + 28 39.02 23.07 + 29 39.02 27.20 + 30 39.12 31.59 + Oct. 1 39.15 35.46 + 2 38.27 39.02 + 3 38.46 42.49 + 4 38.43 46.56 + 5 38.47 49.20 + 6 38.44 53.33 + 7 37.51 57.30 + Oct. 8 Lat. 38.04 S. Long. 60.23 E. + 9 38.16 64.15 + 10 38.26 68.57 + 11 38.28 72.40 + 12 38.46 77.12 + 13 38.15 80.29 + 14 37.47 83.42 + 15 35.23 89.55 + 16 35.23 89.55 + 17 32.59 93.28 + 18 30.59 96.17 + 19 28.26 98.43 + 20 25.33 99.42 + 21 22.41 100.12 + 22 21.13 100.10 + 23 18.52 100.10 + 24 15.45 101.25 + 25 Lat. (D.R.) 12.26 Long. (D.R.) 102.00 + 26 10.27 102.13 + 27 9.55 Long. 101.50 + 28 9.38 101.51 + 29 9.20 101.53 + 30 9.09 102.14 + 31 8.53 102.50 + 1 8.55 103.51 + 2 9.30 103.28 + 3 9.17 103.31 + 4 8.31 103.06 + 5 7.22 103.15 + 6 7.00 103.19 + 7 6.59 103.27 + 8 \ + to | Off Flat Point. + 10 / + 11 4.48 106.49 + 12 4.19 108.00 + 13 3.59 107.25 + 14 3.44 109.05 + 15 3.03 109.27 + 16 2.44 109.16 + 17 \ + to | Off the Malays. + 23 / + Nov. 24 Lat. 3.40 N Long. 109.45 E. + 25 Supposed Lat. 3.50 Supposed Long. 110.30 + 26 4.36 111.42 + 27 4.51 111.54 + 28 4.51 111.54 + 29 5.01 111.47 + 30 6.14 110.31 + Dec. 1 7.30 108.42 + 2 8.30 107.15 + 3 \ + to | At Cindore. + 14 / + 15 8.24 106.48 + 16 7.18 107.27 + 17 (D.R.) 6.11 106.12 + 18 4.48 105.10 + 19 \ + and | At Island of Aor. + 20 / + 21 \ + to | At and off Singapore. + 26 / + 27 4.08 100.11 + 28 Supposed 4.46 99.40 + 29 Supposed 5.29 98.16 + 30 5.39 96.40 + 31 Off N. end of Sumatra. +1864. + Jan. 1 6.23 93.35 + 2 5.39 93.08 + 3 5.29 92.33 + 4 6.05 Long. (D.R.) 91.40 + 5 6.29 90.37 + 6 6.07 88.40 + 7 5.39 87.22 + 8 5.22 84.53 + 9 5.05 82.09 + 10 5.14 79.50 + 11 5.49 78.25 + 12 7.26 76.02 + 13 7.33 76.01 + 14 7.57 76.09 + 15 8.25 76.08 + Jan. 16 At Quilon. + 17 Lat. 8.40 N. Long. 76.32 E. + 18 8.31 76.30 + 19 8.05 75.05 + 20 7.29 74.28 + 21 No observation. + 22 7.52 70.22 + 23 7.04 67.17 + 24 7.03 64.28 + 25 6.27 61.49 + 26 5.33 59.19 + 27 5.01 56.36 + 28 4.02 53.46 + 29 2.43 51.00 + 30 00.50 48.42 + 31 1.31 S. 47.20 + Feb. 1 3.15 46.13 + 2 4.48 45.40 + 3 6.47 44.44 + 4 8.24 44.26 + 5 10.18 43.47 + 6 10.42 44.00 + 7 10.44 43.50 + 8 10.45 43.42 + 9 \ + to | At Islands of Johanna and Mohilla. + 16 / + 17 13.41 43.04 + 18 14.15 42.45 + 19 15.03 42.24 + 20 16.00 41.45 + 21 17.02 41.31 + 22 18.43 41.20 + 23 19.49 41.23 + 24 20.29 41.19 + 25 21.18 41.44 + 26 23.36 41.15 + 27 25.31 40.00 + 28 27.11 37.51 + 29 29.16 36.17 + March 1 31.32 34.37 + 2 33.20 32.22 + 3 35.05 29.49 + March 4 Lat. 35.11 S. Long. 23.28 E. + 5 35.51 26.43 + 6 39.09 24.58 + 7 35.10 24.03 + 8 35.49 21.39 + 9 35.46 20.29 + 10 35.42 20.13 + 11 35.08 18.21 + 12 33.57 17.06 + 13 33.35 16.10 + 14 34. 3 15.20 + 15 33.48 15.23 + 16 32.50 16.31 + 17 33.10 16.22 + 18 No observation. + 19 32.57 15.55 + 20 33.51 17.31 + 21 \ + to | At the Cape. + 24 / + 25 34.02 18.10 + 26 33.41 15.52 + 27 31.50 12.39 + 28 31.36 10.09 + 29 30.25 8.25 + 30 28.53 6.55 + 31 28.00 4.50 + April 1 26.13 2.40 + 2 24.17 0.24 + 3 22.35 1.29 W. + 4 21.01 3.13 + 5 19.37 4.44 + 6 18.41 4.22 + 7 17.15 3.44 + 8 17.42 5.50 + 9 18.00 8.53 + 10 18.12 11.47 + 11 18.25 14.42 + 12 18.47 17.13 + 13 18.55 19.43 + 14 18.58 22.33 + 15 19. 9 25.-- + 16 19.17 26.42 + April 17 Lat. 19.12 S. Long. 27.33 W. + 18 19.22 28.57 + 19 19.13 29.36 + 20 18.49 30.01 + 21 18.18 30.26 + 22 17.23 30.56 + 23 15.52 31.44 + 24 15.19 32. 6 + 25 13.59 32. 4 + 26 13. 5 32.22 + 27 11.16 32. 6 + 28 10. 5 31.46 + 29 8. 9 31.29 + 30 5.26 30.12 + May 1 2.25 30.38 + 2 00.13 30.41 + 3 1.43 N. 31.28 + 4 3.30 32.38 + 5 5. 6 34.19 + 6 7.15 36. 7 + 7 9.40 37.36 + 8 11.54 38.43 + 9 14.13 39.43 + 10 16.43 40.33 + 11 18.37 41.09 + 12 20.10 41.25 + 13 20.33 41.19 + 14 20.53 41.09 + 15 21.12 40.55 + 16 22.05 41.16 + 17 22.57 41.50 + 18 24.33 41.57 + 19 26.32 41.50 + 20 28.04 41.33 + 21 29.24 40.42 + 22 30.25 39.54 + 23 31.39 38.39 + 24 33.13 36.49 + 25 35.51 35.41 + 26 37.43 33.53 + 27 38.42 32.50 + 28 39.23 32.31 + 29 39.51 (D.R.) 32.25 + May 30 Lat. 40.25 N. Long. 30.22 W. + 31 40.54 27.15 + June 1 41.35 24.15 + 2 42.07 22.15 + 3 42.18 20.30 + 4 42.10 18.04 + 5 41.58 16.31 + 6 42.31 15.42 + 7 43.47 14.12 + 8 45.45 (D.R.) 12.06 + 9 47.34 9.07 + 10 49.18 6.03 + 11 On this day the Alabama entered Cherbourg harbour. + + + + +No. III. + +Mr. LAIRD'S SPEECH ON THE ALABAMA. + + +The following is a full report of Mr. Laird's speech in the +House of Commons on Friday night:--After the discussion that +has taken place about the Alabama, I shall not trouble the +house with many remarks. I can only say, from all I know +and all I have heard, that from the day the vessel was laid down +to her completion everything was open and above-board in this +country. (Cheers.) I also further say that the officers of the +Government had every facility afforded them for inspecting the +ship during the progress of building. When the officers came +to the builders they were shown the ship, and day after day the +customs officers were on board, as they were when she finally +left, and they declared there was nothing wrong. ("Hear," +from Mr. Bright.) They only left her when the tug left, and +they were obliged to declare that she left Liverpool a perfectly +legitimate transaction. (Hear, hear.) One point has been +overlooked in this discussion. If a ship without guns and without +arms is a dangerous article, surely rifled guns and ammunition +of all sorts are equally--(cheers)--and even more dangerous. (Cheers.) +I have referred to the bills of entry in the custom houses of London +and Liverpool, and I find there have been vast shipments of implements +of war to the Northern States through the celebrated houses of Baring +and Co.--(loud cheers and laughter)--Brown, Shipley and Co., of Liverpool, +and a variety of other names, which I need not more particularly +mention, but whose Northern tendencies are well known to +this house. (Hear, hear.) If the member for Rochdale, or the +honourable member for Bradford, wishes to ascertain the extent +to which the Northern States of America have had supplies of +arms from this country, they have only to go to a gentleman +who, I am sure, will be ready to afford them every information, +and much more readily than he would to me or to any one else +calling upon him--the American consul in Liverpool. Before +that gentleman the manifest of every ship is laid, he has to give +an American pass to each vessel; he is consequently able to +tell the exact number of rifles which have been shipped from this +country for the United States--information, I doubt not, which +would be very generally desired by this house. (Loud cries of +"Hear.") I have obtained from the official custom house returns +some details of the sundries exported from the United Kingdom to the +Northern States of America from the 1st of May, 1861, to the 31st +of December, 1862. There were--muskets, 41,500 (hear, hear); rifles, +341,000 (cheers); gun flints, 26,500; percussion caps, 49,982,000 +(cheers and laughter); and swords, 2,250. The best information I could +obtain leads me to believe that from one-third to a half may be added +to these numbers for items which have been shipped to the Northern +States as hardware. (Hear, hear.) I have very good reason +for saying that a vessel of 2,000 tons was chartered six weeks +ago for the express purpose of taking out a cargo of "hardware" +to the United States. (Cheers.) The exportation has not +ceased yet. From the 1st of January to the 17th March, 1863, +the custom bills of entry show that 23,870 gun-barrels, 30,802 +rifles, and 3,105,800 percussion caps were shipped to the United +States. (Hear, hear). So that if the Southern States have +got two ships, unarmed, unfit for any purpose of warfare--for +they procured their armaments somewhere else--the Northern +States have been well supplied from this country through the +agency of some most influential persons. (Hear, hear.) Now, +it has been stated--and by way of comparison treated as matter +of complaint--that during the Crimean war the Americans behaved +so well that the honourable member for Bradford and the +member for Birmingham both lauded their action as compared +with that of our own Government. Now, I have heard that a +vessel sailed from the United States to Petropaulovski. (Cries +of "Name.") If honourable members will allow me I will go +on, and first I propose to read an extract from the _Times_, written +by their correspondent at San Francisco, dated the 29th of +January, 1863:-- + +"Now, this case of the Alabama illustrates the saying that +a certain class should have a good memory. During the Crimean war, +a man-of-war (called the America, if I remember) was built in America +for the Russian Government, and brought out to the Pacific, filled with +arms and munitions, by an officer in the United States navy. This +gentleman took her to Petropaulovski, where she did service against +the allied squadron, and she is still in the Russian navy. (Cries of 'No,' +and 'Hear, hear.') We made no such childish fuss about this act +of 'hostility' by a friendly Power, which we could not prevent, +as our friends are now making about the Alabama, whose departure +from England our Government could not stop." + +The America was commanded by a Lieutenant Hudson, who--if +my information be correct, and I have no doubt that it is--was +then, or had been just previously, a lieutenant in the American +navy; he was the son of a most distinguished officer in the +same service, Captain Hudson. I am further informed that +some doubts having arisen about the character of this ship, the +American men-of-war in the different ports she called at protected +her; and, on her arrival in Russia, the captain who took +her out was, I know, very handsomely rewarded for his services. +(Hear, hear.) Now, I will go a step further about the Northern +States. In 1861, just after the war broke out, a friend of +mine, whom I have known for many years, was over here, and +came to me with a view of getting vessels built in this country +for the American Government--the Northern Government. (Hear, hear.) +Its agents in this country made inquiries; plans and estimates were +given to my friend, and transmitted to the Secretary of the American +Navy. I will read an abstract from this gentleman's letter, dated the +30th of July, 1861. It is written from Washington, and states-- + +"Since my arrival here I have had frequent interviews with +our 'Department of Naval Affairs,' and am happy to say that +the Minister of the Navy is inclined to have an iron-plated ship +built out of the country. (Hear, hear.) This ship is designed +for a specific purpose, to accomplish a definite object. I send +you herewith a memorandum handed me last evening from the +department, with the request that I would send it to you by +steamer's mail of to-morrow, and to ask your immediate reply, +stating if you will agree to build such a ship as desired, how +soon, and for how much, with such plans and specifications as +you may deem it best to send me." + +(Loud cheers.) The extract from the memorandum states +that "the ship is to be finished complete, with guns and everything +appertaining." (Renewed cheering and laughter.) On the 14th of August +I received another letter from the same gentleman, from which the +following is an extract: + +"I have this morning a note from the Assistant-Secretary +of the Navy, in which he says, 'I hope your friends will tender +for the two-iron plated steamers.'" (Hear, hear.) After this, +the firm with which I was lately connected, having made contracts +to a large extent with other persons, stated that they were +not in a position to undertake any orders to be done in so short +a time. This was the reply: + +"I sent your last letter, received yesterday, to the Secretary +of the Navy, who was very desirous to have you build the iron-plated +or bomb-proof batteries, and I trust that he may yet decide +to have you build one or more of the gunboats." + +(Loud cheers.) I think, perhaps, in the present state of the +law in America, I shall not be asked to give the name of my +correspondent (hear), but he is a gentleman of the highest respectability. +If any honourable member wishes, I should have no hesitation in handing +the whole correspondence, with the original letters, into the hands of +you, sir, or the First Minister of the Crown, in strict confidence, +because there are communications in these letters respecting the views +of the American Government which I certainly should not divulge, which +I have not mentioned or alluded to before. But seeing that the American +Government are making so much work about other parties, +whom they charge with violating or evading the law, though in +reality they have not done so, I think it only fair to state those +facts. (Cheers.) As I said before, they are facts. (Hear, +hear.) I do not feel at liberty to state those points to which I +have referred, as being of a confidential character, but, if any +honourable gentleman feels a doubt regarding the accuracy of +what I have stated, I shall feel happy to place the documents in +the hands of the Speaker, or of the First Minister of the Crown, +when he will see that they substantiate much more than I have +stated. (Cheers.) I do not wish to occupy the House longer; +but I must say this, that to talk of freedom in a land like the +Northern States of America is an absurdity. Almost every +detective that can be got hold of in this country is employed. +(Hear, hear.) I believe there are spies in my son's works in +Birkenhead, and in all the great establishments in the country. +A friend of mine had detectives regularly on his track in consequence +of some circumstances connected with his vessels. If that be freedom, +I think we had better remain in the position in which we now are. +(Cheers and laughter.) In conclusion, I will allude to a remark which +was made elsewhere last night--a remark, I presume, applying to me or +to somebody else, which was utterly uncalled for. (Hear.) I have only +to say that I would rather be handed down to posterity as the builder of a +dozen Alabamas than as the man who applies himself deliberately +to set class against class (loud cheers), and to cry up the institutions +of another country, which, when they come to be tested, are of no value +whatever, and which reduce liberty to an utter absurdity. (Cheers.) + + + + +No. IV. + +THE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE HATTERAS. + +_From the Journal of an Officer of the_ ALABAMA. + + +_Sunday, 11th._--Fine moderate breeze from the eastward. +Read Articles of War. Noon: Eighteen miles from Galveston. +As I write this some are discussing the probability of a fight +before morning. 2.25 P.M.: Light breeze; sail discovered by +the look-out on the bow. Shortly after, three, and at last five, +vessels were seen; two of which were reported to be steamers. +Every one delighted at the prospect of a fight, no doubt whatever +existing as to their being war-vessels--blockaders we supposed. +The watch below came on deck, and of their own accord began preparing +the guns, &c., for action. Those whose watch it was on deck were engaged +in getting the propeller ready for lowering; others were bending a cable +to a kedge and putting it over the bow--the engineers firing up for steam, +officers looking to their side-arms, &c., and discussing the size of +their expected adversary or adversaries. At 2.30 shortened sail +and tacked to the southward. 4 P.M.: A steamer reported +standing out from the fleet toward us. Backed maintopsail and +lowered propeller. 4.50: Every thing reported ready for action. +Chase bearing N.N.E., distant ten miles. Twilight set in about +5.45. Took in all sail. At 6.20 beat up to quarters, manned +the starboard battery, and loaded with five second shell; turned +round, stood for the steamer, having previously made her out to +be a two-masted side-wheel, of apparent 1,200 tons, though at +the distance she was before dark we could not form any correct +estimate of her size, &c. + +At 6.30 the strange steamer hailed and asked, "What +steamer is that?" We replied (in order to be certain who he +was), "Her Majesty's ship Petrel! What steamer is that?" +Two or three times we asked the question, until we heard, +"This is the United States steamer----," not hearing the +name. However, United States steamer was sufficient. As no +doubt existed as to her character, we said, at 6.35, that this was +the "Confederate States steamer, Alabama," accompanying the +last syllable of our name with a shell fired over him. The signal +being given, the other guns took up the refrain, and a tremendous +volley from our whole broadside given to him, every shell striking +his side, the shot striking being distinctly heard on board our vessel, +and thus found that she was iron. + +The enemy replied, and the action became general. A most +sharp spirited firing was kept up on both sides, our fellows peppering +away as though the action depended on each individual. And so it did. +Pistols and rifles were continually pouring from our quarter-deck +messengers most deadly, the distance during the hottest of the fight +not being more than forty yards! It was a grand, though fearful sight, +to see the guns belching forth, in the darkness of the night, sheets of +living flame, the deadly missiles striking the enemy with a force that +we could _feel_. Then, when the shells struck her sides, especially the +percussion ones, her whole side was lit up, and showing rents of five or +six feet in length. One shot had just struck our smoke-stack, and wounding +one man in the cheek, when the enemy ceased his firing, and +fired a lee gun; then a second, and a third. The order was +given to "Cease firing." This was at 6.52. A tremendous +cheering commenced, and it was not till everybody had cleared +his throat to his own satisfaction, that silence could be obtained. +We then hailed him, and in reply he stated that he had surrendered, +was on fire, and also that he was in a sinking condition. He +then sent a boat on board, and surrendered the U.S. gunboat, +Hatteras, nine guns, Lieutenant-Commander Blake, 140 men. +Boats were immediately lowered and sent to his assistance, when +an alarm was given that another steamer was bearing down for +us. The boats were recalled and hoisted up, when it was found +to be a false alarm. The order was given, and the boatswain +and his mates piped "All hands out boats to save life;" and soon +the prisoners were transferred to our ship--the officers under +guard on the quarter deck, and the men in single irons. The +boats were then hoisted up, the battery run in and secured, and +the main brace spliced. All hands piped down, the enemy's +vessel sunk, and we steaming quietly away by 8.30, all having +been done in less than two hours. In fact, had it not been for +our having the prisoners on board, we would have sworn nothing +unusual had taken place--the watch below quietly sleeping in +their hammocks. The conduct of our men was truly commendable. +No flurry, no noise--all calm and determined. The coolness +displayed by them could not be surpassed by any old veterans--our +chief boatswain's mate apparently in his glory. "Sponge!"--"Load +with cartridge!"--"Shell-fire seconds!"--"Runout!"--"Well, +down compressors!"--"Left, traverse!"--"Well!"--"Ready!"--"Fire!"--"That's +into you!"--"Damn you! that kills your pig!"--"That stops your wind!" +&c., &c., was uttered as each shot was heard to strike with a crash that +nearly deafened you. The other boatswain's mate seemed equally to +enjoy the affair. As he got his gun to bear upon the enemy, he +would take aim, and banging away, would plug her, exclaiming, +as each shot told--"That's from the scum of England!"--"That's +a British pill for you to swallow!" the New York papers +having once stated that our men were the "scum of England." +All other guns were served with equal precision. We were +struck seven times; only one man being hurt during the engagement, +and he only received a flesh-wound in the cheek. One shot +struck under the counter, penetrating as far as a timber, then +glancing off; a second struck the funnel; a third going through +the side across the berth-deck, and into the opposite side; another +raising the deuce in the lamp room; the others lodging in the +coal-bunkers. Taking a shell up and examining it, we found it +filled with sand instead of powder. The enemy's fire was directed +chiefly towards our stern, the shots flying pretty quick over +the quarter-deck, near to where our Captain was standing. As +they came whizzing over him, he, with his usual coolness, would +exclaim--"Give it to the rascals!"--"Aim low, men!"--"Don't +be all night sinking that fellow!" when for all or anything we knew, +she might have been an iron-clad or a ram. + +On Commander Blake surrendering his sword, he said that +"it was with deep regret he did it." Captain Semmes smacked +his lips and invited him down to his cabin. On Blake giving his +rank to Captain Semmes, he gave up his state-room for Blake's +special use, the rest of the officers being accommodated according +to their rank in the wardroom and steerages, all having previously +been paroled, the crew being placed on the berth-deck, our +men sleeping anywhere, so that the prisoners might take their +places. Of the enemy's loss we could obtain no correct accounts, +a difference of seventeen being in their number of killed, the +Hatteras having on board men she was going to transfer to other +ships. Their acknowledged loss was only two killed and seven +wounded. A boat had been lowered just before the action to +board us; as we anticipated, and learnt afterwards, it pulled in +for the fleet and reached Galveston. From conversation with +her First-Lieutenant, I learnt that as soon as we gave our name +and our first broadside, the whole after division on board her left +the guns, apparently paralyzed; it was some time before they +recovered themselves. The conduct of one of her officers was +cowardly and disgraceful in the extreme. Some of our shells +went completely through her before exploding, others burst inside +her, and set her on fire in three places. One went through +her engines, completely disabling her; another exploding in her +steam chest, scalding all within reach. Thus was fought, twenty-eight +miles from Galveston, a battle, though small, yet the first +yard-arm action between two steamers at sea. She was only +inferior in weight of metal--her guns being nine in number, viz., +four thirty-two pounders, two rifled thirty pounders, carrying +60lb. shot (conical), one rifled twenty pounder, and a couple of +small twelve pounders. On account of the conflicting statements +made by her officers, we could never arrive at a correct estimate +of her crew. Our prisoners numbered seventeen officers, one +hundred and one seamen. We further learnt that the Hatteras +was one of seven vessels sent to recapture Galveston, it being +(although unknown to us) in the possession of our troops. We +also found that the flag-ship Brooklyn, twenty-two guns, and the +Oneida, nine guns, sailed in search of us. By their account of +the course they steered they could not fail to have seen us. + + + + +No. V. + +THE ALABAMA IN TABLE BAY. + +[From the _Cape Argus._] + +_August 6th, 1863._ + + +Yesterday, at almost noon, a steamer from the northward +was made down from the signal-post, Lion's-hill. The Governor +had, on the previous day, received a letter from Captain +Semmes, dated Saldanha Bay, informing his Excellency that the +gallant captain had put his ship into Saldanha Bay for repairs. +This letter had been made public in the morning, and had caused +no little excitement. Cape Town, that has been more than +dull--that has been dismal for months, thinking and talking of +nothing but bankruptcies--bankruptcies fraudulent and bankruptcies +unavoidable--was now all astir, full of life and motion. +The stoop of the Commercial Exchange was crowded with merchants, +knots of citizens were collected at the corner of every +street; business was almost, if not altogether suspended. All +that could be gleaned, in addition to the information in Captain +Semmes' letter to the Governor, a copy of which was sent to the +United States Consul immediately it was received, was that the +schooner Atlas had just returned from Malagas Island, where +she had been with water and vegetables for men collecting guanos +there. Captain Boyce, the master of the Atlas, reported that he +had himself actually seen the steamer Alabama; a boat from +the steamer had boarded his vessel, and he had been on board +her. His report of Captain Semmes corroborated that given by +every one else. He said the captain was most courteous and +gentlemanly. He asked Captain Boyce to land thirty prisoners +for him in Table Bay, with which request Captain Boyce was +unable to comply. Captain Semmes said that the Florida was +also a short distance off the Cape, and that the Alabama, when +she had completed her repairs, and was cleaned and painted, +would pay Table Bay a visit. He expected to be there, he said, +very nearly as soon as the Atlas. + +Shortly after the Atlas arrived, a boat brought up some of +the prisoners from Saldanha Bay, and amongst them one of the +crew of the Alabama, who said he had left the ship. All these +waited on the United States Consul, but were unable to give +much information beyond what we had already received. The +news that the Alabama was coming into Table Bay, and would +probably arrive about four o'clock this afternoon, added to the +excitement. About noon a steamer from the north-west was +made known by the signal-man on the hill. Could this be the +Alabama? or was it the Hydaspes, from India, or the Lady +Jocelyn, from England? All three were now hourly expected, +and the city was in doubt. Just after one it was made down, +"CONFEDERATE STEAMER ALABAMA, FROM THE N.W., AND FEDERAL BARQUE +FROM THE S.E." Here was to be a capture by the celebrated Confederate +craft, close to the entrance of Table Bay. The inhabitants rushed off +to get a sight. Crowds of people ran up the Lion's-hill, and to the +Kloof-road. All the cabs were chartered--every one of them; there was +no cavilling about fares; the cabs were taken and no questions asked, +but orders were given to drive as hard as possible. The barque +coming in from the south-east, and, as the signal-man made +down, five miles off; the steamer, coming in from the north-west, +eight miles off, led us to think that the Kloof-road was the best +place for a full view. To that place we directed our Jehu to +drive furiously. We did the first mile in a short time; but the +Kloof-hill for the next two and-a-half miles is up-hill work. +The horse jibbed, so we pushed on, on foot, as fast as possible, +and left the cab to come on. When we reached the summit, we +could only make out a steamer on the horizon, from eighteen to +twenty miles off. This could not be the Alabama, unless she +was making off to sea again. There was no barque. As soon +as our cab reached the crown of the hill, we set off at a breakneck +pace down the hill, on past the Roundhouse, till we came +near Brighton, and as we reached the corner, there lay the Alabama +within fifty yards of the unfortunate Yankee. As the Yankee came round +from the south-east, and about five miles from the bay, the steamer +came down upon her. The Yankee was evidently taken by surprise. The +Alabama fired a gun, and brought her to. When first we got sight of the +Alabama, it was difficult to make out what she was doing; the barque's +head had been put about, and the Alabama lay off quite immovable, as if +she were taking a sight at the "varmint!" The weather was +beautifully calm and clear, and the sea was as smooth and transparent +as a sheet of glass. The barque was making her way slowly from the steamer, +with every bit of her canvas spread. The Alabama, with her steam off, +appeared to be letting the barque get clear off. What could this mean? +no one understood. It must be the Alabama. "There," said the spectators, +"is the Confederate flag at her peak; it must be a Federal +barque, too, for there are the Stars and the Stripes of the States +flying at her main." What could the Alabama mean lying there-- + + "As idly as a painted ship + Upon a painted ocean." + +What it meant was soon seen. Like a cat watching and playing with a +victimized mouse, Captain Semmes permitted his prize to draw off a few +yards, and he then up steam again, and pounced upon her. She first +sailed round the Yankee from stem to stern, and stern to stem again. The +way that fine, saucy, rakish craft was handled was worth riding a +hundred miles to see. She went round the bark like a toy, making a +complete circle, and leaving an even margin of water between herself and +her prize of not more than twenty yards. From the hill it appeared as if +there were no water at all between the two vessels. This done, she sent +a boat with the prize crew off, took possession in the name of the +Confederate States, and sent the barque off to sea. The Alabama then +made for the port. + +We came round the Kloof to visit Captain Semmes on board. As we came we +found the heights overlooking Table Bay covered with people; the road to +Green Point lined with cabs. The windows of the villas at the bottom of +the hill were all thrown up, and ladies waved their handkerchiefs, and +one and all joined in the general enthusiasm; over the quarries, along +the Malay burying-ground, the Gallows Hill, and the beach, there were +masses of people--nothing but a sea of heads as far as the eye could +reach. Along Strand Street and Adderley Street the roofs of all the +houses from which Table Bay is overlooked, were made available as +standing-places for the people who could not get boats to go off to her. +The central, the north, the south, and the coaling jetties, were all +crowded. At the central jetty it was almost impossible to force one's +way through to get a boat. However, all in good time, we did get a boat, +and went off in the midst of dingies, cargo-boats, gigs and wherries, +all as full as they could hold. Nearly all the city was upon the bay; +the rowing clubs in uniform pulled off with favoured members of their +respective clubs on board. The crews feathered their oars in +double-quick time, and their pulling, our "stroke" declared, was "a +caution, and no mistake." Just before getting alongside, we passed +Captain Wilson in the port-boat, who told us that the prize taken was +the Sea Bride, and that there was no difficulty in hearing from Captain +Semmes himself the whole story of the capture. We passed the Federal +barque Urania at her anchorage, and that ship, disregardful of the +privateer, sported all her bunting with becoming pluck. The Stars and +Stripes floated defiantly from her-mizen peak, and her name from her +main. On getting alongside the Alabama, we found about a dozen boats +before us, and we had not been on board five minutes before she was +surrounded by nearly every boat in Table Bay, and as boat after boat +arrived, three hearty cheers were given for Captain Semmes and his +gallant privateer. This, upon the part of a neutral people, is, +perchance, wrong; but we are not arguing a case--we are recording facts. +They did cheer, and cheer with a will, too. It was not, perhaps, taking +the view of either side, Federal or Confederate, but in admiration of +the skill, pluck, and daring of the Alabama, her captain, and her crew, +who now afford a general theme of admiration for the world all over. + +Visitors were received by the officers of the ship most courteously, and +without distinction, and the officers conversed freely and unreservedly +of their exploits. There was nothing like brag in their manner of +answering questions put to them. They are as fine and gentlemanly a set +of fellows as ever we saw; most of them young men. The ship has been so +frequently described, that most people know what she is like, as we do +who have seen her. We should have known her to be the Alabama if we had +boarded her in the midst of the ocean, with no one to introduce us to +each other. Her guns alone are worth going off to see, and everything +about her speaks highly for the seamanship and discipline of the +commander and his officers. She has a very large crew, fine, +lithe-looking fellows, the very picture of English men-of-war's men. + +The second officer told us that it was the Sea Bride they had captured, +and pointed out her captain, who stood aft conversing with a number of +people who had gathered round him. "This, sir," said the officer, "is +our fifty-sixth capture; we have sent her off with about ten of our men +as a crew, and we left a few of her own men on board of her." We asked +him how he liked Saldanha Bay, and his answer was, "It is a very +charming place. Why did you not build Cape Town there?" Our answer was, +"Because we never do anything properly at the Cape." "Ah, sir!" he said; +"that is a great mistake to leave so fine a bay without harbor +conveniences. It is a great deal better than Table Bay. We enjoyed +ourselves capitally there, had some good shooting; one of us shot an +ostrich, a fine fellow, but he got away. Unfortunately, we lost one of +our officers there--one whom we all respected--as fine an officer as +ever trod this ship's deck. He was in a boat in the bay, shooting wild +fowl; he drew his gun towards him, the barrel in his hand; the trigger +caught, the charge passed through his lung, and his only dying words +were, 'Oh, me!' and he fell back a corpse. But for that circumstance, we +should always remember Saldanha Bay with pleasure. The gun was within an +inch of his breast when it went off." + +After this melancholy recital, we walked across to get a little chat +with the prisoner so recently captured. He is a superior man, and spoke +of the loss of his ship in the spirit of a philosopher. He was leaning +against a rail just opposite the cabin. "What can't be cured must be +endured," said he. In answer to our remark, that an hour more would have +saved him, he said, "Yes, it would; I had not the remotest idea of a +capture at this end of the world. I never supposed that she was in this +direction. I was in my cabin, washing," said he, "and my mate came down +and said there was a steamer in sight. 'Capital!' I said; 'it is the +English mail-steamer; I shall be just in time for my letters.' He went +up again, and shortly returning, said, 'She is going to hail us.' 'Hail +us!' I said; 'what the deuce can she want to hail us for?' and I went on +deck. I looked at that (pointing to the Confederate flag), and I soon +saw who we were falling into the hands of. I said, 'Good-bye, mate; we +shall not be long here.' This, sir," he went on to say, "is the second +time I have been captured coming to the Cape. I left New York in the +M.J. Calcon, and was captured by the Florida in 33° West and between 28° +and 29° North. I went home all right, and left New York again on the +28th of May, direct for the Cape." This gentleman's name is Mr. H. +Spaling. + +The next we had an opportunity of conversing with was the chief officer. +This gentleman who, by the way, stands six feet four out of his shoes, +showed us round the ship with just pride. He pointed out to us the +peculiar qualities of the magnificent guns. One of Blakeley's rifle +pieces is a terrible-looking weapon. It throws conical shells of a +hundred weight; and he remarked, "When we fought the Hatteras, these +conical shells struck one after the other in capital style; they +exploded with magnificent effect, and lit up her whole broadside." Many +of the captured crew we observed in irons. + +We were now introduced to Capt. Semmes, who up to this time had been +engaged in the cabin with Mr. W.J. Anderson, of Anderson, Saxon, and +Co., upon the subject of supplies, which are to be provided by the firm. +We received a very cordial greeting from the gallant gentleman, who +remarked that at Bahia, and indeed everywhere he had been, both his +officers and himself had received very great attention from the English +residents. We had always concluded that Captain Semmes, of the +Powhattan, a fine steamer belonging to the States, to whom we were +introduced some years since by the late Mr. D.M. Huckins, American +Consul, was the captain of the Sumter and Alabama; but we found we were +mistaken, and on remarking this to the captain, he said, "Captain Semmes +of the Powhattan is of the same family as myself--he is, indeed, my +cousin; but he was born in the North, his interests are all there, and +he remains in the Federal service." Having desired us to take a seat, he +said he should be happy to give us any information in his power; he had +no secrets, and bade us take notes if we wished so to do. He then +informed us that he had taken fifteen ships since he left Bahia. We told +him that Captain Bartlett, of the ship Fortuna, stated that on the 2d of +July he saw a ship on fire. Our readers will recollect that the +particulars were given in a paragraph immediately after the Fortuna +arrived. It was as follows:--"On the 2d of July, Captain Bartlett saw +some smoke rising up on the horizon, which he supposed to be the smoke +from a steamer. Later in the day, however, a strong reflection of light +was seen in the sky, and which the captain at once believed to be a ship +on fire. All hands were then called up 'to bout ship,' and they stood +towards the spot from whence the light proceeded. This was about six +o'clock; and at two o'clock on the morning of the 3d July, and in lat. +25° 57' South, and in long. 38° 20' West, the Fortuna ran up within +forty yards of a large vessel of 800 or 1000 tons, which was enveloped +in one mass of flame from stem to stern. Nothing remained of her but her +hull; the whole of her rigging, masts, and decks had already been +consumed. As the Fortuna ran towards the wreck, another vessel--the +Oaks--bound to Calcutta, joined her, and the two vessels spoke one +another. From what Captain Bartlett could make out, the captain of the +Oaks told him that in the evening, about half-past six, an English +man-of-war had passed him, and whilst passing she fired two guns, from +which it was concluded that the crew of the burning vessel had been +rescued by the man-of-war." Captain Semmes said Captain Bartlett was +quite right in supposing that the ship had been set on fire by himself. +She was the Annie F. Schmidt, from New York to San Francisco, with a +general cargo on board; but the supposition of the man-of-war coming to +the rescue of the crew was a mistake. "We set her on fire in the night," +said Captain Semmes, "and shortly after we had done so, we heard a +couple of guns. We thought it was another Yankee, and we up steam and +fired a gun for her to heave-to. On coming alongside her, we found she +was Her Majesty's frigate Dido. 'We did not take her, sir,' said the +captain, with a laugh; 'in fact, we never attempt to take any of Her +Majesty's frigates.'" + +We said we would mention that, and we do, as Captain Semmes's last. "The +Dido people," he went on to say, "asked us if we had set the ship on +fire, and I answered we had, and had got the crew safe on board. 'All +right!' was the answer, and we parted. She was a vessel of about 1000 +tons." We asked Captain Semmes if he could give us the names of the +vessels he had captured. He answered that he could. "For," he said, "you +English people won't be neighbourly enough to let me bring my prizes +into your ports, and get them condemned, so that I am obliged to sit +here a court of myself, try every case, and condemn the ships I take. +The European powers, I see, some of them complain of my burning the +ships; but what, if they will preserve such strict neutrality as to keep +me out of their ports, what am I to do with these ships when I take them +but burn them?" He then fetched his record books, and we took the +following down from his lips:--"The ships we have captured were--the +Ocmulgee, of 400 tons, thirty-two men on board; we burned her. The +Alert, a whaler of 700 tons; we burned her. The whaling schooner +Weathergauge; we burned her. The whaling brig Altamaha; we burned her. +The whaling ship Benjamin Tucker; we burned her. The whaling schooner +Courser; we burned her. The whaling barque Virginia; we burned her. The +barque Elisha Dunbar, a whaler; we burned her. The ship Brilliant, with +1000 tons of grain on board; we burned her. The Emily Farnum we captured +and released as a cartel, and having so many prisoners we put some of +them on board her, and sent them off. The Wave Crest, with a general +cargo on board for Europe, we set on fire. The Dunkirk brig, with a +general cargo on board, we burned. The ship Tonawanda we captured, with +a valuable freight on board, and released her, after taking a bond for a +thousand dollars. The ship Manchester, with a cargo of grain, we burned. +The barque Lamplighter, with an assorted cargo for Europe, we burned. +The barque Lafayette, with an assorted cargo, we burned. The schooner +Crenshaw, with an assorted cargo for the West Indies, we burned. The +barque Lauretta, with an assorted cargo on board for Europe, we burned. +The brig Baron de Custine we took a bond for and released. The whaling +ship Levi Starbuck we burned. The T.B. Wales, from Calcutta to Boston, +with a valuable cargo on board, we burned. The barque Martha, from +Calcutta to West Indies, with an assorted cargo, we burned. The schooner +Union we, after boarding, found had some English property on board, and +we released her on bond. The mail steamer Ariel Running between New York +and Aspinwall, we captured. Unfortunately she was going, not returning, +or we should have had a lot of gold. We released her on bond. The United +States gunboat Hatteras, who came out to fight us, had the same number +of guns and crew. Our guns were a little heavier than hers, but we +equalized them by permitting her to fight us at 300 yards. We sunk her +in thirteen minutes by the watch. The barque Golden Rule, with an +assorted cargo, we burned. She belonged to the same company as the +Ariel. The brig Chastelaine we burned. The schooner Palmetto we burned. +The barque Olive Jane we burned. The Golden Eagle, laden with guano, we +burned. The Washington, from the Pacific, with guano, we released on +bond. The Bethia Thayer, from East India, with a valuable cargo on +board, was released on bond. The John A. Parker, with flour and lumber, +from Boston to Buenos Ayres, we burned. The Punjaub, from East India, +we found to have some English cargo on board, we released on bond. The +ship Morning Star we released on bond. The whaling schooner Kingfisher +we burned. The ship Nora, from Liverpool to West Indies, with salt on +board, we burned. The barque Lafayette we burned. The whaling brig Kate +Cory we burned. The whaling barque Nye we burned. The Charles Hall, from +Liverpool, with coal, we burned. + +"The ship Louisa Hatch, from Cardiff to West Indies, we burned. The ship +Dorcas Prince, with a general cargo, we burned. The ship Sea Lark, with +a general cargo from the East Indies, we burned. The barque Union Jack, +from Boston to Shanghai, we burned. We captured a Yankee consul on board +of her; he was on his way to Foochin; we landed him at the Brazils. The +ship Gildersliene, from New York to the East Indies, we burned. The +barque Justina we released on bond, to take home prisoners. The ship +Jabez Snow, from New York to the East Indies, we burned. The barque +Amazonian, from Boston to Buenos Ayres, we burned. The ship Talisman, +from New York to the East Indies, we burned. The barque Conrad, fitted +up as a Federal cruiser, a tender to a man-of-war, we captured and +burned. After these came the Anne F. Schmidt, mentioned before, and the +Sea Bride--and the Sea Bride you saw us take to-day. The estimated value +of these captures is 4,200,000 dollars." + +The American Consul, Mr. Graham, has handed to his Excellency the +Governor a protest against the capture of the Sea Bride, on the ground +that the vessel was in British waters at the time of her being stopped +by the Alabama. His Excellency told Mr. Graham that the decision of the +case remained purely on evidence, but he would see there was no breach +of neutrality. The Captain of the Sea Bride says he is prepared to show +by bearings that he was within two and a half miles of Robben Island. + + + + +No. VI. + +CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING THE TUSCALOOSA. + +_Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker to the Secretary to the Admiralty. +August_ 19, 1863. + +I beg you will be pleased to acquaint my Lords Commissioners of the +Admiralty with the following particulars relative to the proceedings of +the Confederate States ships of war Alabama, her reported tender +Tuscaloosa, and the Georgia, which have recently arrived at the Cape of +Good Hope. + +2. On the 28th of July an English schooner arrived in Table Bay, and +reported that on the previous day she had been boarded by the +Confederate steamer Alabama, fifteen miles north-west of Green Point. +After some inquiries the Alabama left her, steering south-east. + +3. Upon the receipt of this intelligence I ordered Captain Forsyth, of +the Valorous, to hold himself in readiness to proceed to any of the +ports in this colony where the Alabama might anchor, in order to +preserve the rules of strict neutrality. + +4. By a letter addressed to the Governor of this Colony by Captain +Semmes, copy of which was telegraphed to me on the 4th instant, it +appears that the Alabama had proceeded to Saldanha Bay for a few days, +anchoring there on the 29th of July. + +5. On the 5th instant I received a private telegram to the effect that +the Alabama was off Table Bay, when I directed the Valorous immediately +to proceed to that anchorage; and shortly afterwards a telegram reached +me from the Governor stating "that the Alabama had captured a vessel +(American), which was in sight, and steering for Table Bay." The +Valorous reached that Bay at 10.15 P.M., where the Alabama had anchored +at 3 o'clock in the afternoon of the same day. + +6. Captain Forsyth having informed me that the tender to the Alabama had +been ordered by Captain Semmes to Simon's Bay for provisions, and having +learned that this vessel had been captured off the coast of Brazil, and +not been condemned in any Prize Court, I had doubts as to the legality +of considering her in the light of a tender, being under the impression +that it was a ruse to disguise the real character of the vessel. I +therefore wrote to the Governor to obtain the opinion of the +Attorney-General of the Colony upon this subject, which correspondence +is inclosed. + +7. On the 8th of August the tender Tuscaloosa, a sailing barque, arrived +in Simon's Bay, and the boarding officer having reported to me that her +original cargo of wool was still on board, I felt that there were +grounds for doubting her real character, and again called the Governor's +attention to this circumstance. My letter and his reply are annexed. And +I would here beg to submit to their Lordships' notice that this power of +a captain of a ship of war to constitute every prize he may take a +"tender," appears to me to be likely to lead to abuse and evasion of the +laws of strict neutrality, by being used as a means for bringing prizes +into neutral ports for disposal of their cargoes, and secret +arrangements--which arrangements, it must be seen, could afterwards be +easily carried out at isolated places. + +8. The Alabama, after lying three days in Table Bay, came to this +anchorage to caulk and refit. She arrived here on the 9th, and sailed +again on the 15th instant. Captain Semmes was guarded in his conduct, +and expressed himself as most anxious not to violate the neutrality of +these waters. + +9. I should observe that, from the inclosed copy of a letter from +Captain Forsyth to the Governor, it would appear that the vessel Sea +Bride, taken by the Alabama off Table Bay, was beyond the jurisdiction +of neutral territory. + +10. During his passage to this port Captain Semmes chased another +American vessel, the Martha Wentzel, standing in for Table Bay. On my +pointing out to him that he had done so in neutral waters, he assured me +that it was quite unintentional, and, being at a distance from the land, +he did not observe that he had got within three miles of an imaginary +line drawn from the Cape of Good Hope to Cape Hanglip, but on +discovering it he did not detain the vessel. The explanation I +considered sufficient. + +11. The tender Tuscaloosa, having been detained by a strong +south-easter, got under way for the purpose of going to sea on the 14th +instant, but anchored again a little distance from the Roman Rock +lighthouse in consequence of thick fog prevailing. + +12. The Alabama did not take in any coal, either here or at Table Bay, +but after being caulked she proceeded to sea on the 15th instant, +followed by the Tuscaloosa. Their destinations are unknown. + +13. On the 16th instant, the Confederate States steamer Georgia, +Commander Maury, anchored in this bay. She requires coal, provision, and +caulking. This vessel did not meet the Alabama outside. + +14. The Florida, another Confederate States steamer, is reported to be +off this coast, probably cruising to intercept the homeward-bound +American ships from China; indeed, it is with that object these ships +are on this part of the Station. + +15. I have learnt, since the departure of the Alabama, and her so-called +tender, that overtures were made by some parties in Cape Town to +purchase the cargo of wool, but, being unsatisfactory, they were not +accepted. It is reported to be Captain Semmes' intention to destroy the +Tuscaloosa at sea. + +16. The Alabama is a steamer of about 900 tons, with 8 guns, and 150 +men. The Georgia is an iron steamer of about 700 tons, with 5 guns, and +110 men. The Tuscaloosa is a sailing-barque of 500 tons, having 2 small +guns and 10 men. + +_Captain Semmes, C.S.N., to Governor Sir P. Wodehouse. August_ 1, 1863. + +An opportunity is offered me by the coasting schooner Atlas, to +communicate with the Cape, of which I promptly avail myself. + +I have the honour to inform your Excellency that I arrived in this bay +on Wednesday morning last, for the purpose of effecting some necessary +repairs. As soon as these repairs can be completed I will proceed to +sea, and in the meantime your Excellency may rest assured that I will +pay the strictest attention to the neutrality of your Government. + +_Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker to Governor Sir P. Wodehouse. August_ 7, +1863. + +Captain Forsyth having informed me that the Alabama has a tender outside +captured by Captain Semmes on the coast of America, and commissioned by +one of the Alabama's Lieutenants, and as this vessel has been ordered +into Simon's Bay for provisions, may I request your Excellency will be +good enough to obtain the opinion of the Law Officers whether this +vessel ought still to be looked upon in the light of a prize, she never +having been condemned in a Prize Court; the instructions, copy of which +I inclose, strictly forbidding prizes captured by either of the +contending parties in North America being admitted into our ports. + +_Governor Sir P. Wodehouse to Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker, August 8, +1863_. + +I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter +of yesterday's date, and to inclose the copy of an opinion given by the +Acting Attorney-General to the effect that the vessel to which you refer +ought to be regarded as a tender and not as a prize. + +I shall take care to submit this question to Her Majesty's Government by +the next mail, but in the meantime I conclude that your Excellency will +be prepared to act on the opinion of the Attorney-General in respect to +any vessels which may enter these ports in the character of prizes +converted into ships of war by the officers of the navy of the +Confederate States. + +_Extracts from "Wheaton's Elements of International Law."_ + +What constitutes a setting forth as a vessel of war has been determined +by the British Courts of Prize, in cases arising under the clause of the +Act of Parliament, which may serve for the interpretation of our own +law, as the provisions are the same in both. Thus it has been settled +that where a ship was originally armed for the Slave Trade, and after +capture an additional number of men were put on board, but there was no +commission of war and no additional arming, it was not a setting forth +as a vessel of war under the Act. But a commission of war is decisive if +there be guns on board; and where the vessel after the capture has been +fitted out as a privateer, it is conclusive against her, although, when +recaptured, she is navigating as a mere merchant-ship; for where the +former character of a captured vessel had been obliterated by her +conversion into a ship of war, the Legislature meant to look no further, +but considered the title of the former owner forever extinguished. Where +it appeared that the vessel had been engaged in a military service of +the enemy, under the direction of his Minister of the Marine, it was +held as a sufficient proof of a setting forth as a vessel of war; so +where the vessel is armed, and is employed in the public military +service of the enemy by those who have competent authority so to employ +it, although it be not regularly commissioned. But the mere employment +in the enemy's military service is not sufficient; but if there be a +fair semblance of authority, in the person directing the vessel to be so +employed, and nothing upon the face of the proceedings to invalidate it, +the Court will presume that he is duly authorized; and the commander of +a single ship may be presumed to be vested with this authority as +commander of a squadron. + +_Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker to Governor Sir P. Wodehouse. August_ 8, +1863. + +I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter +of this day's date, covering the written opinion of the Acting +Attorney-General of this Colony as to the legality of the so-called +tender to the Confederate States armed ship Alabama, and for which I beg +to express my thanks. + +The vessel in question, now called the Tuscaloosa, arrived here this +evening, and the boarding officer from my flag-ship obtained the +following information: + +That she is a barque of 500 tons, with two small rifled 12 pounder guns +and ten men, and was captured by the Alabama on the 21st June last, off +the coast of Brazil: cargo of wool still on board. + +The admission of this vessel into port will, I fear, open the door for +numbers of vessels captured under similar circumstances being +denominated tenders, with a view to avoid the prohibition contained in +the Queen's instructions; and I would observe that the vessel Sea Bride +captured by the Alabama off Table Bay a few days since, or all other +prizes, might be in like manner styled tenders, making the prohibition +entirely null and void. + +I apprehend that to bring a captured vessel under the denomination of a +vessel of war, she must be fitted for warlike purposes, and not merely +have a few men and two small guns put on board of her (in fact nothing +but a prize crew) in order to disguise her real character as a prize. + +Now this vessel has her original cargo of wool still on board, which +cannot be required for warlike purposes, and her armament and the number +of her crew are quite insufficient for any services other than those of +a slight defence. + +Viewing all the circumstances of the case, they afford room for the +supposition, that the vessel is styled a "tender" with the object of +avoiding the prohibition against her entrance as a prize into our ports, +where, if the captors wished, arrangements could be made for the +disposal of her valuable cargo, the transhipment of which, your +Excellency will not fail to see, might be readily effected on any part +of the coast beyond the limits of this Colony. + +My sole object in calling your Excellency's attention to the case is to +avoid any breach of strict neutrality. + +_Governor Sir P. Wodehonse to Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker. August_ 10, +1863. + +I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter +of the 8th instant, on which I have consulted the Acting +Attorney-General. + +The information given respecting the actual condition of the Tuscaloosa +is somewhat defective, but referring to the extract from Wheaton +transmitted in my last letter, the Attorney-General is of opinion that +if the vessel received the two guns from the Alabama or other +Confederate vessel of war, or if the person in command of her has a +commission of war, or if she be commanded by an officer of the +Confederate navy, in any of these cases there will be a sufficient +setting forth as a vessel of war to justify her being held to be a ship +of war; if all of these points be decided in the negative, she must be +held to be only a prize, and ordered to leave forthwith. + +_Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker to Governor Sir P. Wodehouse. August_ 11, +1863. + +I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's +letter, dated yesterday, respecting the Confederate barque Tuscaloosa +now in this bay. + +As there are two guns on board, and an officer of the Alabama in charge +of her, the vessel appears to come within the meaning of the cases cited +in your above-mentioned communication. + +_Governor Sir P. Wodehouse to the Duke of Newcastle. August_ 19, 1863. + +(Extract.) + +I beg to take this opportunity of making your Grace acquainted with what +has occurred here in connection with the visit of the Confederate States +steamer Alabama. + +On Tuesday, the 4th instant, I received a letter from the Commander of +that vessel, dated the 1st August at Saldanha Bay, announcing his having +entered that bay with a view to effecting certain repairs, and stating +that he would put to sea as soon as they were completed, and would +strictly respect our neutrality. + +When this intelligence was received, the United States Consul called on +me to seize her, or at any rate to send her away instantly; but as the +vessel which brought the news reported that the Alabama was coming +immediately to Table Bay, I replied that I could not seize her, but +would take care to enforce the observance of the neutral regulations. + +On the next day, about noon, it was reported from the signal station +that the Alabama was steering for Table Bay from the north, and that a +Federal barque was coming in from the westward; and soon after, that the +latter had been captured and put about. A little after 2 P.M. the United +States Consul called to state that he had seen the capture effected +within British waters; when I told him he must make his statement in +writing, and an investigation should be made. I also, by telegram, +immediately requested the Naval Commander-in-Chief to send a ship of war +from Simon's Bay. The Alabama, leaving her prize outside, anchored in +the bay 3.30 P.M., when Captain Semmes wrote to me that he wanted +supplies and repairs, as well as permission to land thirty-three +prisoners. After communicating with the United States Consul, I +authorized the latter, and called upon him to state the nature and +extent of his wants, that I might be enabled to judge of the time he +ought to remain in the port. The same afternoon he promised to send the +next morning a list of the stores needed, and announced his intention of +proceeding with all despatch to Simon's Bay to effect his repairs there. +The next morning (August 6th) the Paymaster called on me with the +merchant who was to furnish the supplies, and I granted him leave to +stay till noon of the 7th. + +On the night of the 5th, Her Majesty's ship Valorous had come round from +Simon's Bay. During the night of the 6th the weather became +unfavourable; a vessel was wrecked in the bay, and a heavy sea prevented +the Alabama from receiving her supplies by the time arranged. On the +morning of the 8th, Captain Forsyth, of the Valorous, and the Port +Captain, by my desire, pressed on Captain Semmes the necessity for his +leaving the port without any unnecessary delay; when he pleaded the +continued heavy sea and the absence of his cooking apparatus, which had +been sent on shore for repairs, and had not been returned by the +tradesman at the time appointed, and intimated his own anxiety to get +away. Between 6 and 7 A.M., on Sunday, the 9th, he sailed, and on his +way round to Simon's Bay captured another vessel; but on finding that +she was in neutral waters he immediately released her. + +In the meantime, the United States Consul had, on the 5th August, +addressed to me a written statement that the Federal barque Sea Bride +had been taken "about four miles from the nearest land," and "already in +British waters;" on which I promised immediate inquiry. The next day the +Consul repeated his protest, supporting it by an affidavit of the master +of the prize, which he held to show that she had been taken about two +miles and a half from the land; and the agent for the United States +underwriters, on the same day, made a similar protest. On the 7th, the +Consul represented that the prize had, on the previous day, been brought +within one mile and a half of the lighthouse, which he considered as +much a violation of the neutrality as if she had been there captured, +and asked me to have the prize crew taken out and replaced by one from +the Valorous, which I declined. + +I had, during this period, been seeking for authentic information as to +the real circumstances of the capture, more particularly with reference +to the actual distance from the shore, and obtained through the Acting +Attorney-General statements from the keeper of the Green Point +Lighthouse (this was supported by the Collector of Customs), from the +signal-man at the station at the Lion's Rump, and from an experienced +boatman who was passing between the shore and the vessels at the time. +Captain Forsyth, of the Valorous, also made inquiries of the captain of +the Alabama and of the Port Captain, and made known the result to me. +And upon all these statements I came to the conclusion that the vessels +were not less than four miles distant from land; and on the 8th I +communicated to the United States Consul that the capture could not, in +my opinion, be held to be illegal by reason of the place at which it was +effected. + +In his reply of the 10th, the Consul endeavoured to show how +indefensible my decision must be, if, in these days of improved +artillery, I rested it on the fact of the vessels having been only three +miles from land. This passage is, I think, of considerable importance, +as involving an indirect admission that they were not within three miles +at the time of capture. And I hope your Grace will concur in my view +that it was not my duty to go beyond what I found to be the distance +clearly established by past decisions under international law. + +An important question has arisen in connection with the Alabama, on +which it is very desirable that I should, as soon as practicable, be +made acquainted with the views of Her Majesty's Government. Captain +Semmes had mentioned after his arrival in port, that he had left outside +one of his prizes previously taken, the Tuscaloosa, which he had +equipped and fitted as a tender, and had ordered to meet him in Simon's +Bay, as she also stood in need of supplies. When this became known to +the naval commander-in-chief, he requested me to furnish him with a +legal opinion; and whether this vessel could he held to be a ship of war +before she had been formally condemned in a prize court; or whether she +must not be held to be still a prize, and, as such, prohibited from +entering our ports. The Acting Attorney-General, founding his opinion on +Earl Russell's despatch to your Grace, of the 31st January, 1862, and on +"Wheaton's International Law," states in substance that it was open to +Captain Semmes to convert this vessel into a ship of war, and that she +ought to be admitted into our ports on that footing. + +On the 8th August the vessel entered Simon's Bay, and the Admiral wrote +that she had two small rifled guns, with a crew of ten men, and that her +cargo of wool was still on board. He was still doubtful of the propriety +of admitting her. + +On the 10th August, after further consultation with the Acting +Attorney-General, I informed Sir Baldwin Walker that, if the guns had +been put on board by the Alabama, or if she had a commission of war, or +if she were commanded by an officer of the Confederate Navy, there must +be held to be a sufficient setting forth as a vessel of war to justify +her admission into port in that character. + +The Admiral replied in the affirmative on the first and last points, and +she was admitted. + +The Tuscaloosa sailed from Simon's Bay on the morning of the 14th +instant, but was becalmed in the vicinity until the following day, when +she sailed about noon. The Alabama left before noon on the 15th instant. +Neither of these vessels was allowed to remain in port longer than was +really necessary for the completion of their repairs. + +On the 16th, at noon, the Georgia, another Confederate war steamer, +arrived at Simon's Bay in need of repairs, and is still there. + +Before closing this despatch I wish particularly to request instructions +on a point touched on in the letter from the United States Consul of the +17th instant, viz.: the steps which should be taken here in the event of +the cargo of any vessel captured by one of the belligerents being taken +out of the prize at sea, and brought into one of our ports in a British +or other neutral vessel. + +Both belligerents are strictly interdicted from bringing their prizes +into British ports by Earl Russell's letter to the Lords of the +Admiralty of the 1st June, 1861, and I conceive that a colonial +government would be justified in enforcing compliance with that order by +any means at its command, and by the exercise of force if it should be +required. + +But that letter refers only to "prizes;" that is, I conceive, to ships +themselves, and makes no mention of the cargoes they may contain. +Practically the prohibition has been taken to extend to the cargoes; and +I gathered, from a conversation with Captain Semmes on the subject of +our neutrality regulations, that he considered himself debarred from +disposing of them, and was thus driven to the destruction of all that he +took. But I confess that I am unable to discover by what legal means I +could prevent the introduction into our ports of captured property +purchased at sea, and tendered for entry at the custom-house in the +usual form from a neutral ship. I have consulted the Acting +Attorney-General on the subject, and he is not prepared to state that +the customs authorities would be justified in making a seizure under +such circumstances; and therefore, as there is great probability of +clandestine attempts being made to introduce cargoes of this +description, I shall be glad to be favoured with the earliest +practicable intimation of the views of Her Majesty's Government on the +subject. + +_Captain Semmes, C.S.N., to Sir P. Wodehouse. August_ 5, 1863. + +I have the honour to inform your Excellency of my arrival in this bay, +in the Confederate States steamer Alabama under my command. I have come +in for supplies and repairs, and in the meantime I respectfully ask +leave to land in Cape Town thirty-three prisoners, lately captured by me +on board two of the enemy's ships destroyed at sea. The United States +Consul will doubtless be glad to extend such hospitality and assistance +to his distressed countrymen, as required of him by law. + +_Sir P. Wodehouse to Captain Semmes, C.S.N. August_ 5, 1863. + +I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter announcing +your arrival in this port, and to state that I have no objection to +offer to your landing the prisoners now detained in your ship. + +I have further to beg that you will be good enough to state the nature +and extent of the supplies and repairs you require, that I may be +enabled to form some estimate of the time for which it will be necessary +for you to remain in this port. + +_Captain Semmes, C.S.N., to Sir P. Wodehouse. August_ 5, 1863. + +I have had the honour to receive your letter of this day's date, giving +me permission to land my prisoners, and requesting me to state the +nature of the supplies and repairs which I may require. In the way of +supplies I shall need some provisions for my crew, a list of which will +be handed you to-morrow by the paymaster, and as for repairs my boilers +need some iron work to be done, and my bends require caulking, being +quite open. I propose to take on board the necessary materials here, and +to proceed with all despatch to Simon's Bay for the purpose of making +these repairs. + +_Mr. Adamson to Captain Semmes C.S.N. August_ 6, 1863. + +I am directed by the Governor of this colony to acquaint you that he +has received from the Consul for the United States at this port a +representation, in which he sets forth that an American barque was +yesterday captured by the ship which you command, in British waters, in +violation of the neutrality of the British Government, and claims from +him redress for the alleged outrage. + +His Excellency will be glad, therefore, to receive from you any +explanation you may wish to give as to the circumstances in which the +capture was effected. + +_Captain Semmes, C.S.N., to Mr. Adamson. Cape Town, August_ 6, 1863. + +I have had the honour to receive your communication of this day's date, +informing me that the United States Consul at this port had presented to +his Excellency the Governor a representation in which he sets forth that +an American barque was yesterday captured by this ship under my command +in British waters, in violation of the neutrality of the British +Government, and requesting me to make to his Excellency such +representation as I may have to offer on the subject. + +In reply, I have the honour to state that it is not true that the barque +referred to was captured in British waters, and in violation of British +neutrality; she having been captured outside all headlands, and a +distance from the nearest land of between five and six miles. As I +approached this vessel I called the particular attention of my officers +to the question of distance, and they all agreed that the capture was +made from two to three miles outside the marine league. + +_U.S. Consul to Sir P. Wodehouse. August_ 4, 1863. + +From reliable information received by me, and which you are also +doubtless in possession of, a war steamer called the Alabama is now in +Saldanha Bay, being painted, discharging prisoners of war, &c. + +The vessel in question was built in England to prey upon the commerce of +the United States of America, and escaped therefrom while on her trial +trip, forfeiting bonds of £20,000, which the British Government exacted +under the Foreign Enlistment Act. + +Now, as your Government has a treaty of amity and commerce with the +United States, and has not recognised the persons in revolt against the +United States as a Government at all, the vessel alluded to should be at +once seized and sent to England, from whence she clandestinely escaped. +Assuming that the British Government was sincere in exacting the bonds, +you have doubtless been instructed to send her home to England, where +she belongs. But if, from some oversight, you have not received such +instructions, and you decline the responsibility of making the seizure, +I would most respectfully protest against the vessel remaining in any +port of the colony another day. She has been at Saldanha Bay four [six] +days already, and a week previously on the coast, and has forfeited all +right to remain an hour longer by this breach of neutrality. Painting a +ship does not come under the head of "necessary repairs," and is no +proof that she is unseaworthy; and to allow her to visit other ports +after she has set the Queen's proclamation of neutrality at defiance +would not be regarded as in accordance with the spirit and purpose of +that document. + +_Mr. Adamson to U.S. Consul. August 5,_ 1863. + +I am directed by the Governor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter +of yesterday's date relative to the Alabama. + +His Excellency has no instructions, neither has he any authority, to +seize or detain that vessel; and he desires me to acquaint you that he +has received a letter from the Commander, dated the 1st instant, stating +that repairs were in progress, and as soon as they were completed he +intended to go to sea. He further announces his intention of respecting +strictly the neutrality of the British Government. + +The course which Captain Semmes here proposes to take is, in the +Governor's opinion, in conformity with the instructions he has himself +received relative to ships of war and privateers belonging to the United +States and the States calling themselves the Confederate States of +America visiting British ports. + +The reports received from Saldanha Bay induce the Governor to believe +that the vessel will leave that harbour as soon as her repairs are +completed; but he will immediately, on receiving intelligence to the +contrary, take the necessary steps for enforcing the observance of the +rules laid down by Her Majesty's Government. + +_Mr. Graham (U.S. Consul) to Sir P. Wodehouse. August_ 5, 1863. + +The Confederate steamer Alabama has just captured an American barque off +Green Point, or about four miles from the nearest land (Robben Island). +I witnessed the capture with my own eyes, as did hundreds of others at +the same time. This occurrence at the entrance of Table Bay, and clearly +in British waters, is an insult to England and a grievous injury to a +friendly Power, the United States. + +Towards the Government of my country and her domestic enemies the +Government of England assumes a position of neutrality; and if the +neutrality can be infringed with impunity, in this bold and daring +manner, the Government of the United States will no doubt consider the +matter as one requiring immediate explanation. + +Believing that the occurrence was without your knowledge or expectation, +and hoping you will take such steps to redress the outrage as the +exigency requires, I am, &c. + +_Mr. Rawson to Mr. Graham. August_ 6, 1863. + +I am directed by the Governor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter +of yesterday's date respecting the capture of the Sea Bride by the +Alabama, and to acquaint you that he will lose no time in obtaining +accurate information as to the circumstances of the capture. I have, +&c., + +(Signed) RAWSON W. RAWSON, + +_Colonial Secretary._ + +_Mr. Graham to Sir P. Wodehouse. August_ 6, 1863. + +I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of this +date. + +I beg now to enclose for your Excellency's perusal, the affidavit of +Captain Charles F. White, of the Sea Bride, protesting against the +capture of the said barque in British waters. The bearings taken by him +at the time of capture conclusively show that she was in neutral waters, +being about two and a half miles from Robben Island. This statement is +doubtless more satisfactory than the testimony of persons who measured +the distance by the eye. + +I believe that there is no law defining the word "coast" other than +international law. That law has always limited neutral waters to the +fighting distance from land, which, upon the invention of gunpowder, was +extended to a distance of three nautical miles from land on a straight +coast, and by the same rule, since the invention of Armstrong rifled +cannon, to at least six miles. + +But all waters inclosed by a line drawn between two promontories or +headlands are recognised by all nations as neutral, and England was the +first that adopted the rule, calling such waters the "King's chambers." +By referring to "Wheaton's Digest," page 234, or any other good work on +international law, you will find the above rules laid down and +elucidated. + +The fact that the prize has not already been burned, and that her fate +is still in suspense, is clear proof that Captain Semmes had misgivings +as to the legality of the capture, and awaits your Excellency's assent. +If you decide that the prize was legally taken, you will assume a +responsibility which Captain Semmes himself declined to take. + +_Affidavit of C.F. White._ + +On this 6th day of August, A.D. 1863, personally appeared before me, +Walter Graham, Consul of the United States at Cape Town, Charles F. +White, master of the barque Sea Bride, of Boston, from New York, and +declared on affidavit that on the 3d day of August instant, he sighted +Table Mountain and made for Table Bay, but that on the 4th instant, +night coming on, he was compelled to stand out. On the 5th instant, he +again made for the anchorage, and about two P.M. saw a steamer standing +toward the barque, which he supposed was the English mail steamer, but +on nearing her, found her to be the Confederate steamer Alabama. He, +Captain White, was peremptorily ordered to heave his vessel to as a +prize to the Alabama. One gun was fired, and immediately after the +demand was made another gun was fired. Two boats were lowered from the +Alabama and sent on board the barque. The officer in charge of these +boats demanded the ship's papers, which the said master was compelled to +take on board the said steamer. This happened about a quarter before +three o'clock. He and his crew were immediately taken from his vessel +and placed as prisoners on board the Alabama, the officers and crew +being put in irons. The position of the barque at the time of capture +was as follows:--Green Point Lighthouse bearing south by east; Robben +Island Lighthouse north-east. + +The said appearer did further protest against the illegal capture of +said vessel, as she was in British waters at the time of capture, +according to bearings. + +_Mr. Graham to Sir P. Wodehouse. August 7, 1863_. + +Understanding from your letter of this date, received this morning,[17] +that the case of the Sea Bride is still pending, I enclose the +affidavits of the first officer of that vessel and the cook and steward, +which I hope will throw additional light on the subject. + +[Footnote 17: A formal acknowledgment omitted here as superfluous.] + +From the affidavit of the first officer, it appears that the alleged +prize was brought within one and a half miles of Green Point Lighthouse +yesterday at one o'clock P.M. Now, as the vessel was at that time in +charge of a prize crew, it was a violation of neutrality as much as if +the capture had been made at the same distance from land. + +Pending your decision of the case I would most respectfully suggest that +the prize crew on board the Sea Bride be removed, and that the vessel be +put in charge of a crew from Her Majesty's ship Valorous. + +_Affidavit of James Robertson._ + +On the day and date hereof before me, Walter Graham, Consul for the +United States of America at Cape Town, personally came and appeared +James Robertson, cook and steward of the barque Sea Bride, an American +vessel, and made affidavit that he was on board said barque on the night +of the 5th day of August instant, after the said barque had been +captured as a prize by the Confederate steamer Alabama, and a prize crew +put on board. That at about five minutes before two o'clock A.M. of the +6th instant, the prize crew on board the said barque received a signal +from the Alabama aforesaid to burn the said barque, and immediately all +hands were called to execute that order. That the sails were clewed, a +tar barrel taken from underneath the topgallant forecastle and placed in +the forecastle, and a bucketful of tar, with other combustibles and +ammunition, ordered on the cabin table, but that when these arrangements +were completed, another signal was received from the said Alabama, +countermanding the order to burn the said prize, and to stand off and on +the land until daylight, which orders were obeyed. + +_Affidavit of John Schofield._ + +On the day and date hereof before me, Walter Graham, Consul for the +United States of America at Cape Town, personally came and appeared +John Schofield, first officer of the barque Sea Bride, of Boston, who +made affidavit that he was on board of said vessel at one o'clock P.M. +yesterday, the 6th day of August instant, while she was in possession of +a prize crew of the steamer Alabama; that he took the bearings of said +barque at that time, which were as follows: Robben Island Lighthouse +bore north-east by north one-half north, Green Point Lighthouse bore +south-west one-half west. + +He also deposed that the officer in command of the barque came on deck +about that time, and stamping his foot as if chagrined to find her so +near the land, ordered her further off, which was done immediately. + +I am directed by the Governor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter +of this date, inclosing two affidavits relative to the Sea Bride, and to +state that his Excellency is not prepared to admit that the fact of that +vessel having been brought by the prize crew within one and a half miles +of the Green Point Lighthouse "was a violation of the neutrality as much +as if the capture had taken place at the same distance from land," +although both the belligerents are prohibited from bringing their prizes +into British ports. + +The Governor does not feel warranted in taking steps for the removal of +the prize crew from the Sea Bride. + +_Mr. Bawson to Mr. Graham. August_ 8, 1863. + +With reference to the correspondence that has passed relative to the +capture by the Confederate States steamer Alabama, of the barque Sea +Bride, I am directed by the Governor to acquaint you that, on the best +information he has been enabled to procure, he has come to the +conclusion that the capture cannot be held to be illegal, or in +violation of the neutrality of the British Government, by reason of the +distance from land at which it took place. + +His Excellency will, by next mail, make a full report of the case to Her +Majesty's Government. + +_Mr. Graham to Sir P. Wodehouse. August_ 10, 1863. + +Your decision in the case of the Sea Bride was duly received at four +o'clock p. M. on Saturday. In communicating that decision you simply +announce that the vessel was, in your opinion, and according to evidence +before you, a legal prize to the Alabama; but you omit to state the +principle of international law that governed your decision, and neglect +to furnish me with the evidence relied upon by you. + +Under these circumstances I can neither have the evidence verified or +rebutted here, nor am I enabled to transmit it as it stands to the +American Minister at London, nor to the United States Government at +Washington. An invitation to be present when the _ex parte_ testimony +was taken was not extended to me, and I am therefore ignorant of the +tenor of it, and cannot distinguish the portion thrown out from that +which was accepted. If your decision is that the neutral waters of this +colony only extend a distance of three miles from land, the character of +that decision would have been aptly illustrated to the people of Cape +Town had an American war-vessel appeared on the scene, and engaged the +Alabama in battle. In such a contest with cannon carrying a distance of +six miles (three overland), the crashing buildings in Cape Town would +have been an excellent commentary on your decision. + +But the decision has been made, and cannot be revoked here, so that +further comment at present is, therefore, unnecessary. It can only be +reversed by the Government you represent, which it probably will be when +the United States Government shall claim indemnity for the owners of the +Sea Bride. + +An armed vessel named the Tuscaloosa, claiming to act under the +authority of the so-called Confederate States, entered Simon's Bay on +Saturday the 8th instant. That vessel was formerly owned by citizens of +the United States, and while engaged in lawful commerce was captured as +a prize by the Alabama. She was subsequently fitted out with arms by the +Alabama to prey upon the commerce of the United States, and now, without +having been condemned as a prize by any Admiralty Court of any +recognized Government, she is permitted to enter a neutral port in +violation of the Queen's Proclamation, with her original cargo on board. +Against this proceeding I hereby most emphatically protest, and I claim +that the vessel ought to be given up to her lawful owners. The capture +of the Sea Bride in neutral waters, together with the case of the +Tuscaloosa, also a prize, constitute the latest and best illustration of +British neutrality that has yet been given. + +_Mr. Rawson to Mr. Graham. August_ 10, 1863. + +I am directed by the Governor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter +of this date, and to state with reference to that part of it which +relates to the Tuscaloosa, that his Excellency is still in +correspondence with the Commander-in-chief respecting the character of +that vessel, and the privileges to which she is entitled. + +_Mr. Graham to Sir P. Wodehouse. August_ 12, 1863. + +Upon receiving your last communication to me dated the 10th instant, I +deemed it simply a report of progress on one subject treated of in my +last letter to your Excellency, and I have therefore waited anxiously +for the receipt of another letter from the Colonial Secretary +communicating the final result in the case. Failing to receive it, and +hearing yesterday P.M. that the Tuscaloosa would proceed to Sea from +Simon's Bay to-day, I applied for an injunction from the Supreme Court +to prevent the vessel sailing before I had an opportunity of showing by +witnesses that she is owned in Philadelphia in the United States, and +her true name is Conrad; that she has never been condemned as a prize by +any legally constituted Admiralty Court; and that I am _ex officio_ the +legal agent of the owners, underwriters, and all others concerned. I +have not yet learned the result of that application, and fearing that +delay may allow her to escape, I would respectfully urge you to detain +her in port until the proper legal steps can be taken. + +I am well aware that your Government has conceded to the so-called +Confederate States the rights of belligerents, and is thereby bound to +respect Captain Semmes' commission; but having refused to recognize the +"Confederacy" as a nation, and having excluded his captures from all the +ports of the British Empire, the captures necessarily revert to their +real owners, and are forfeited by Captain Semmes as soon as they enter a +British port. + +Hoping to receive an answer to this and the preceding letter as early as +possible, and that you will not construe my persistent course throughout +this correspondence on neutral rights as importunate, or my remarks as +inopportune, I have, &c. + +_Mr. Rawson to Mr. Graham. August 12, 1863_. + +I am directed by the Governor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter +of this date, and to acquaint you that it was not until late last +evening that his Excellency received from the naval Commander-in-chief +information that the condition of the Tuscaloosa was such as, as his +Excellency is advised, to entitle her to be regarded as a vessel of war. + +The Governor is not aware, nor do you refer him to the provisions of +international law by which captured vessels, as soon as they enter our +neutral ports, revert to their real owners, and are forfeited by their +captors. But his Excellency believes that the claims of contending +parties to vessels captured can only be determined in the first instance +by the Courts of the captor's country. + +The Governor desires me to add that he cannot offer any objection to the +tenor of the correspondence which you have addressed to him on this +subject, and that he is very sensible of the courtesy you have exhibited +under such very peculiar circumstances!!! He gives you credit for acting +on a strict sense of duty to your country. + +_Mr. Graham to Sir P. Wodehouse. August_ 17, 1863. + +I have delayed acknowledging the receipt of your last letter, dated the +12th August, on account of events transpiring, but which have not yet +culminated so as to form the subject of correspondence. + +Your decision that the Tuscaloosa is a vessel of war, and by inference a +prize, astonishes me, because I do not see the necessary +incompatibility. Four guns were taken from on board the Talisman (also a +prize), and put on board the Conrad (Tuscaloosa), but that transfer did +not change the character of either vessel as a prize, for neither of +them could cease to be a prize till it had been condemned in an +Admiralty Court of the captor's country, which it is not pretended has +been done. The Tuscaloosa, therefore, being a prize, was forbidden to +enter Simon's Bay by the Queen's Proclamation, and should have been +ordered off at once; but she was not so ordered. Granting that Her +Majesty's Proclamation affirmed the right of Captain Semmes as a +belligerent to take and to hold prizes on the high seas, it just as +emphatically denied his right to hold them in British ports. Now, if he +could not hold them in Simon's Bay, who else could hold them except +those whose right to hold them was antecedent to his--that is, the, +owners? + +The Tuscaloosa remained in Simon's Bay seven days with her original +cargo of skins and wool on board. This cargo, I am informed by those who +claim to know, has been purchased by merchants in Cape Town; and if it +should be landed here directly from the prize, or be transferred to +other vessels at some secluded harbour on the coast beyond this Colony, +and brought from thence here, the infringement of neutrality will be so +palpable and flagrant that Her Majesty's Government will probably +satisfy the claims of the owners gracefully and at once, and thus remove +all cause of complaint. In so doing it will have to disavow and +repudiate the acts of its executive agents here--a result I have done +all in my power to prevent. + +Greater cause of complaint will exist if the cargo of the Sea Bride is +disposed of in the same manner, as I have reason to apprehend it will be +when negotiations are concluded; for being originally captured in +neutral waters, the thin guise of neutrality would be utterly torn into +shreds by the sale of her cargo here. + +The Georgia, a Confederate war-steamer, arrived at Simon's Bay +yesterday, and the Florida, another vessel of the same class, has +arrived, or is expected hourly at Saldanha Bay, where she may remain a +week without your knowledge, as the place is very secluded. The Alabama +remained here in Table Bay nearly four days, and at Simon's Bay six +days; and as the Tuscaloosa was allowed to remain at Simon's Bay seven +days, I apprehend that the Georgia and Florida will meet with the same +or even greater favours. Under such circumstances further protests from +me would seem to be unavailing, and I only put the facts upon record for +the benefit of my Government and officials possessed of diplomatic +functions. + +_Mr. Rawson to Mr. Graham. August_ 19, 1863. + +I am directed by the Governor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter +of the 17th instant, and to state that he has, during the recent +transactions, endeavoured to act in strict conformity with the wishes of +Her Majesty's Government; he will in like manner pursue the same course +in any future cases which may arise. + +I am to add that His Excellency has no reason to believe that either the +Alabama or the Tuscaloosa have been allowed to remain in the ports of +the Colony for a greater length of time than the state of the weather, +and the execution of the repairs of which they actually stood in need, +rendered indispensable. + +_Statement of Joseph Hopson._ + +Joseph Hopson, keeper of the Green Point Lighthouse, states: + +I was on the look-out on Wednesday afternoon when the Alabama and Sea +Bride were coming in. When I first saw them the steamer was coming round +the north-west of Robben Island, and the barque bore from or about five +miles west-northwest. The barque was coming in under all sail with a +good breeze, and she took nothing in when the gun was fired. I believe +two guns were fired, but the gun I mean was the last, and the steamer +then crossed the stern side of the barque, and hauled up to her on the +starboard side. He steamed ahead gently, and shortly afterwards I saw +the barque put round with her head to the westward, and a boat put off +from the steamer and boarded her. Both vessels were then good five miles +off the mainland, and quite five, if not six, from the north-west point +of Robben Island. + +_Statement of W.S. Field, Collector of Customs._ + +I was present at the old Lighthouse, Green Point, on Wednesday +afternoon, at 2 P.M., and saw the Alabama capture the American barque +Sea Bride, and I agree with the above statement as far as the position +of the vessels and their distance from shore. + +I may also remark that I called the attention of Colonel Bisset and the +lighthouse keeper Hopson to the distance of the vessels at the time of +the capture, as it was probable we should be called upon to give our +evidence respecting the affair, and we took a note of the time it +occurred. + +_Statement of John Roe._ + +I was yesterday, the 5th day of August, 1863, returning from a whale +chase in Hunt's Bay, when I first saw the barque Sea Bride standing from +the westward on to the land. I came on to Table Bay, and when off Camps +Bay I saw the smoke of the Alabama some distance from the westward of +Robben Island. When I reached the Green Point Lighthouse the steamer was +standing up towards the barque, which was about five miles and a half to +the westward of Green Point, and about four and half from the western +point of Robben Island. This was their position (being near each other +at the time) when the gun was fired. + +_Statement of Signalman at the Lion's Rump Telegraph Station._ + +On Wednesday last, the 5th day of August, 1863, I sighted the barque Sea +Bride about seven o'clock in the morning, about fifteen or twenty miles +off the land, standing into Table Bay from the south-west. There was a +light breeze blowing from the north-west, which continued until after +midday. About midday I sighted the Alabama screw steamer standing from +due north towards Table Bay, intending, as it appeared to me, to take +the passage between Robben Island and the Blueberg Beach. She was then +between fifteen and eighteen miles off the land. + +After sighting the steamer, I hoisted the demand for the barque, when +she hoisted the American flag, which I reported to the Port Office, the +barque then being about eight miles off the land from Irville Point. No +sooner had the barque hoisted the American flag than the steamer turned +sharp round in the direction of and towards the barque. The steamer +appeared at that time to have been about twelve miles off the land from +Irville Point, and about four or five miles outside of Robben Island, +and about seven miles from the barque. + +The steamer then came up to and alongside of the barque, when the latter +was good four miles off the land at or near the old Lighthouse, and five +miles off the Island. The steamer, after firing a gun, stopped the +further progress of the barque, several boats were sent to her, and +after that the barque stood out to sea again, and the Alabama steamed +into Table Bay. + +_Captain Forsyth to Sir P. Wodehouse. August_ 6, 1863. + +In compliance with the request conveyed to me by your Excellency, I have +the honor to report that I have obtained from Captain Semmes a statement +of the positions of the Confederate States steamer Alabama and the +American barque Sea Bride, when the latter was captured yesterday +afternoon. + +Captain Semmes asserts that at the time of his capturing the Sea Bride, +Green Point Lighthouse bore from the Alabama south-east about six or six +and a half miles. + +This statement is borne out by the evidence of Captain Wilson, Port +Captain of Table Bay, who has assured me that at the time of the Sea +Bride being captured, he was off Green Point in the port boat, and that +only the top of the Alabama's hull was visible. + +I am of opinion, if Captain Wilson could only see that portion of the +hull of the Alabama, she must have been about the distance from the +shore which is stated by Captain Semmes, and I have therefore come to +the conclusion that the barque Sea Bride was beyond the limits assigned +when she was captured by the Alabama. + +_Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker to the Secretary to the Admiralty. +September_ 17, 1863. + +With reference to my letters dated respectively the 19th and 31st +ultimo, relative to the Confederate States ship of war Alabama, and the +prizes captured by her, I beg to inclose, for their Lordships' +information, the copy of a statement forwarded to me by the Collector of +Customs at Cape Town, wherein it is represented that the Tuscaloosa and +Sea Bride had visited Ichaboe, which is a dependency of this Colony. + +2. Since the receipt of the above-mentioned document, the Alabama +arrived at this anchorage (the 16th instant), and when Captain Semmes +waited on me, I acquainted him with the report, requesting he would +inform me if it was true. I was glad to learn from him that it was not +so. He frankly explained that the prize Sea Bride in the first place had +put into Saldanha Bay through stress of weather, and on being joined +there by the Tuscaloosa, both vessels proceeded to Angra Pequena, on the +West Coast of Africa, where he subsequently joined them in the Alabama, +and there sold the Sea Bride and her cargo to an English subject who +resides at Cape Town. The Tuscaloosa had landed some wool at Angra +Pequena and received ballast, but, he states, is still in commission as +a tender. It will, therefore, be seen how erroneous is the accompanying +report. I have no reason to doubt Captain Semmes' explanation; but he +seems to be fully alive to the instructions of Her Majesty's Government, +and appears to be most anxious not to commit any breach of neutrality. + +3. The Alabama has returned to this port for coal, some provisions, and +to repair her condensing apparatus. + +4. From conversation with Captain Semmes, I find that he has been off +this Cape for the last five days, and as the Vanderbilt left this on the +night of the 11th instant, it is surprising they did not see each other. + +_The Duke of Newcastle to Sir P. Wodehouse. November 4, 1863_. + +I have received your despatch of the 19th August last, submitting for my +consideration various questions arising out of the proceedings at the +Cape of Good Hope of the Confederate vessels Georgia, Alabama, and her +reputed tender, the Tuscaloosa. + +I will now proceed to convey to you the views of Her Majesty's +Government on these questions. + +The capture of the Sea Bride, by the Alabama, is stated to have been +effected beyond the distance of three miles from the shore--which +distance must be accepted as the limit of territorial jurisdiction, +according to the present rule of international law upon that subject. It +appears, however, that the prize, very soon after her capture, was +brought within the distance of two miles from the shore; and as this is +contrary to Her Majesty's orders, it might have afforded just grounds +(if the apology of Captain Semmes for this improper act, which he +ascribed to inadvertence, had not been accepted by you) for the +interference of the colonial authorities upon the principles which I am +about to explain. + +With respect to the Alabama herself, it is clear that neither you nor +any other authority at the Cape could exercise any jurisdiction over +her; and that, whatever may have been her previous history, you were +bound to treat her as a ship of war belonging to a belligerent Power. + +With regard to the vessel called the Tuscaloosa, I am advised that this +vessel did not lose the character of a prize captured by the Alabama, +merely because she was, at the time of her being brought within British +waters, armed with two small rifled guns, in charge of an officer, and +manned with a crew of ten men from the Alabama, and used as a tender to +that vessel under the authority of Captain Semmes. + +It would appear that the Tuscaloosa is a barque of 500 tons, captured by +the Alabama, off the coast of Brazil, on the 21st of June last, and +brought into Simon's Bay on or before the 7th of August, with her +original cargo of wool (itself, as well as the vessel, prize) still on +board, and with nothing to give her a warlike character (so far as is +stated in the papers before me), except the circumstances already +noticed. + +Whether, in the case of a vessel duly commissioned as a ship of war, +after being made prize by a belligerent Government, without being first +brought _infra praesidia_, or condemned by a court of prize, the +character of prize, within the meaning of Her Majesty's orders, would or +would not be merged in that of a national ship of war, I am not called +upon to explain. It is enough to say that the citation from Mr. +Wheaton's book by your attorney-general does not appear to me to have +any direct bearing upon the question. + +Connected with this subject is the question as to the cargoes of +captured vessels, which is alluded to at the end of your despatch. On +this point I have to instruct you that Her Majesty's orders apply as +much to prize cargoes of every kind which may be brought by any armed +ships or privateers of either belligerent into British waters as to the +captured vessels themselves. They do not, however, apply to any articles +which may have formed part of any such cargoes, if brought within +British jurisdiction, not by armed ships or privateers of either +belligerent, but by other persons who may have acquired or may claim +property in them by reason of any dealings with the captors. + +I think it right to observe that the third reason alleged by the +attorney-general for his opinion assumes (though the fact had not been +made the subject of any inquiry) that "no means existed for determining +whether the ship had or had not been judicially condemned in a court of +competent jurisdiction," and the proposition that, "_admitting her to +have been captured by a ship of war of the Confederate States_, she was +entitled to refer Her Majesty's Government, in case of any dispute, to +the court of her States in order to satisfy it as to her real +character." This assumption, however, is not consistent with Her +Majesty's undoubted right to determine within her own territory whether +her own orders, made in vindication of her own neutrality, have been +violated or not. + +The question remains what course ought to have been taken by the +authorities of the Cape-- + +1st. In order to ascertain whether this vessel was, as alleged by the +United States Consul, an uncondemned prize brought within British waters +in violation of Her Majesty's neutrality; and + +2dly. What ought to have been done if such had appeared to be really the +fact. + +I think that the allegations of the United States Consul ought to have +been brought to the knowledge of Captain Semmes while the Tuscaloosa +was still within British waters, and that he should have been requested +to state whether he did or did not admit the facts to be as alleged. He +should also have been called upon (unless the facts were admitted) to +produce the Tuscaloosa's papers. If the result of these inquiries had +been to prove that the vessel was really an uncondemned prize, brought +into British waters in violation of Her Majesty's orders made for the +purpose of maintaining her neutrality, I consider that the mode of +proceeding in such circumstances, most consistent with Her Majesty's +dignity, and most proper for the vindication of her territorial rights, +would have been to prohibit the exercise of any further control over the +Tuscaloosa by the captors, and to retain that vessel under Her Majesty's +control and jurisdiction until properly reclaimed by her original +owners. + +_Sir P. Wodehouse to the Duke of Newcastle. December_ 19, 1863. + +I have had the honour to receive your Grace's despatch of the 4th +ultimo, from which I regret to learn that the course taken here relative +to the Confederate war steamer Alabama and her prizes has not in some +respects given satisfaction to Her Majesty's Government. + +I must only beg your Grace to believe that no pains were spared by the +late Acting Attorney-General or by myself to shape our course in what we +believed to be conformity with the orders of Her Majesty's Government +and the rules of international law, as far as we could ascertain and +interpret them. + +Mr. Denyssen has been so constantly engaged with professional business +since the arrival of the mail that I have been prevented from discussing +with him the contents of your despatch; but I think it right, +nevertheless, to take advantage of the first opportunity for +representing to your Grace the state of uncertainty in which I am placed +by the receipt of this communication, and for soliciting such further +explanations as may prevent my again falling into error on these +matters. In so doing I trust you will be prepared to make allowance for +the difficulties which must arise out of this peculiar contest, in +respect of which both parties stand on a footing of equality as +belligerents, while only one of them is recognized as a nation. + +In the first place, I infer that I have given cause for dissatisfaction +in not having more actively resented the fact that the Sea Bride, on the +day after her capture, was brought a short distance within British +waters. + +Your Grace demurs to my having accepted Captain Semmes' apology for this +improper act, which he ascribed to inadvertence. You will pardon my +noticing that the fact of the act having been done through inadvertence +was established by the United States Consul himself, one of whose +witnesses stated, "the officer in command of the barque came on deck +about that time, and stamping his foot as if chagrined to find her so +near the land, ordered her further off, which was done immediately." + +I confess that on such evidence of such a fact I did not consider myself +warranted in requiring the commander of Her Majesty's ship Valorous to +take possession of the Alabama's prize. + +The questions involved in the treatment of the Tuscaloosa are far more +important and more embarrassing; and first let me state, with reference +to the suggestion that Captain Semmes should have been required to admit +or deny the allegations of the United States Consul, that no such +proceeding was required. There was not the slightest mystery or +concealment of the circumstances under which the Tuscaloosa had come +into, and then was in possession of the Confederates. The facts were not +disputed. We were required to declare what was her actual status under +those facts. We had recourse to Wheaton, the best authority on +International Law within our reach--an authority of the nation with whom +the question had arisen--an authority which the British Secretary for +Foreign Affairs had recently been quoting in debates on American +questions in the House of Lords. + +Your Grace intimates that the citation from this authority by the Acting +Attorney-General does not appear to have any direct bearing upon the +question. + +You will assuredly believe that it is not from any want of respect for +your opinion, but solely from a desire to avoid future error, that I +confess my inability to understand this intimation, or, in the absence +of instructions on that head, to see in what direction I am to look for +the law bearing on the subject. + +The paragraph cited made no distinction between a vessel with cargo and +a vessel without cargo; and your Grace leaves me in ignorance whether +her character would have been changed if Captain Semmes had got rid of +the cargo before claiming for her admission as a ship of war. Certainly, +acts had been done by him which, according to Wheaton, constituted a +"setting forth as a vessel of war." + +Your Grace likewise states, "Whether in the case of a vessel duly +commissioned as a ship of war, after being made prize by a belligerent +Government without being first brought _infra praesidia_, or condemned +by a Court of Prize, the character of prize, within the meaning of Her +Majesty's orders, would or would not be merged in a national ship of +war, I am not called upon to explain." + +I feel myself forced to ask for further advice on this point, on which +it is quite possible I may be called upon to take an active part. I have +already, in error apparently, admitted a Confederate prize as a ship of +war. The chief authority on International Law, in which it is in my +power to refer, is Wheaton, who apparently draws no distinction between +ships of war and other ships when found in the position of prizes; and I +wish your Grace to be aware that within the last few days the commander +of a United States ship of war observed to me that if it were his good +fortune to capture the Alabama, he should convert her into a Federal +cruiser. + +I trust your Grace will see how desirable it is that I should be fully +informed of the views of Her Majesty's Government on these points, and +that I shall be favoured with a reply to this despatch at your earliest +convenience. + +_Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker to the Secretary to the Admiralty. January_ +5, 1864. + +I request you will be pleased to acquaint my Lords Commissioners of the +Admiralty that the barque called the Tuscaloosa, under the flag of the +Confederate States of North America (referred to in my letter of the +19th of August last), termed a tender to the Alabama, returned to this +anchorage on the 26th ultimo from cruising off the coast of Brazil. + +2. In order to ascertain the real character of this vessel, I directed +the boarding officer from my flag-ship to put the questions, as per +inclosure No. 1, to the officer in command, Lieutenant Low, of the +Alabama; and having satisfied myself from his answers that the vessel +was still an uncondemned prize captured by the Alabama under the name of +the Conrad, of Philadelphia, I communicated the circumstances to the +Governor of this Colony, who, concurring in opinion with me that she +ought to be retained under Her Majesty's control and jurisdiction until +reclaimed by her proper owners, for violation of Pier Majesty's orders +for the maintenance of her neutrality, I caused the so-called +Tuscaloosa to be taken possession of; informing Lieutenant Low, at the +same time, of the reason for doing so. + +3. Lieutenant Low has entered a written protest against the seizure of +the vessel, a copy of which, together with the reply of the Governor, I +inclose for their Lordships' information, as well as a copy of all the +correspondence which has passed on this subject. + +4. Lieutenant Low having informed me that he expects the Alabama shortly +to arrive at this place, I have allowed him and his crew to remain on +board the Conrad for the present; but should the Alabama not make her +appearance I have acquainted him that I will grant him and his officers +(probably only one besides himself) a passage to England in one of the +packets. The crew he wishes to discharge if there is no opportunity of +their rejoining the Alabama. + +5. The vessel in question is at present moored in this bay, in charge of +an officer and a few men belonging to Her Majesty's ship Narcissus, +where she will remain until she can be properly transferred to her +lawful owners, as requested by the Governor. + +_Questions to be put to the Officer in Command or Charge of the barque +Tuscaloosa, carrying the Flag of the so-called Confederate States of +America._ + +Ship's name and nation?--Tuscaloosa. Confederate. + +Name and rank of officer in command?--Lieutenant Low, late Alabama. + +Tonnage of the ship?--500. + +Number of officers and men on hoard?--4 officers and 20 men. + +Number and description of guns on board?--3 small brass guns, 2 rifled +12 pounders, 1 smooth-bore-pounder. + +Where is she from?--St. Katherine's, Brazils. + +Where is she bound?--Cruising. + +For what purpose has the ship put into this port?--For repairs and +supplies. + +Is it the same ship that was captured by the Alabama, and afterwards +came to this port on the 9th of August last?--Yes. + +What was her original name, on being captured by the Alabama?--Conrad, +of Philadelphia. + +When was she captured by Alabama?--21st June, 1863. + +To what nation and to whom did she belong before her capture?--Federal +States of America. + +Has she been taken before any legally constituted Admiralty Court of the +Confederate States?--No. + +Has she been duly condemned as a lawful prize by such Court to the +captors?--No. + +What is she now designated?--Tender to the Alabama. + +What papers are there on board to constitute her as the Confederate +barque Tuscaloosa?--The commission of the Lieutenant commanding the +Tuscaloosa from Captain Semmes. The officers also have commissions to +their ship from him. + +Are the papers which belonged to her before she was seized by the +Alabama on board?--No. + +Is there any cargo on board, and what does it consist of?--No +cargo--only stores for ballast. + +(Signed) JOHN LOW, + +_Lieut.-Commander, Confederate States barque Tuscaloosa._ + +(Signed) FRANCIS L. WOOD, + +_Lieutenant and Boarding Officer, Her Majesty's ship Narcissus._ + +_Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker to Lieutenant Low, C.S.N. December_ 27, +1863. + +As it appears that the Tuscaloosa, under your charge and command, is a +vessel belonging to the Federal States of America, having been captured +by the Confederate States ship of war Alabama, and not having been +adjudicated before any competent Prize Court, is still an uncondemned +prize, which you have brought into this port in violation of Her +Britannic Majesty's orders for the maintenance of her neutrality, I have +the honour to inform you that, in consequence, I am compelled to detain +the so-called Tuscaloosa (late Conrad) with a view of her being restored +to her original owners, and I request you will be so good as to transfer +the charge of the vessel to the officer bearing this letter to you. + +_Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker to Sir P. Wodehouse. December_ 28, 1863. + +I have the honour to inform your Excellency that, acting upon your +concurrence in my opinion with reference to the instructions received +from home by the last mail, I have detained the barque Tuscaloosa (late +Conrad of Philadelphia), because she is an uncondemned prize, taken by +the Confederate States ship of war Alabama, and brought into British +waters in violation of Her Majesty's Orders for maintaining her +neutrality, and with the view to her being restored to her original +owners. + +I shall be ready to hand her over to the Consul of the United States at +Cape Town, or to any person you may appoint to take charge of her. + +I should add that Lieutenant Low has given up the Tuscaloosa (late +Conrad) under protest, which he is about to make in writing, a copy of +which shall be transmitted to your Excellency as soon as received. + +_Lieutenant Low, C.S.N., to Sir P. Wodehouse. December_ 28, 1863 + +As the officer in command of the Confederate States ship Tuscaloosa, +tender to the Confederate States steamer Alabama, I have to record my +protest against the recent extraordinary measures which have been +adopted towards me and the vessel under my command by the British +authorities of this Colony. + +In August last the Tuscaloosa arrived in Simon's Bay. She was not only +recognised in the character which she lawfully claimed and still claims +to be, viz., a commissioned ship of war belonging to a belligerent +Power, but was allowed to remain in the harbour for the period of seven +days, taking in supplies and effecting repairs with the full knowledge +and sanction of the authorities. + +No intimation was given that she was regarded in the light of an +ordinary prize, or that she was considered to be violating the laws of +neutrality. Nor, when she notoriously left for a cruise on active +service, was any intimation whatever conveyed that on her return to the +port of a friendly Power, where she had been received as a man-of-war, +she would be regarded as a "prize," as a violater of the Queen's +proclamation of neutrality, and consequently liable to seizure. Misled +by the conduct of Her Majesty's Government, I returned to Simon's Bay on +the 26th instant, in very urgent want of repairs and supplies; to my +surprise I find the Tuscaloosa is now no longer considered as a +man-of-war, and she has by your orders, as I learn, been seized for the +purpose of being handed over to the person who claims her on behalf of +her late owners. + +The character of the vessel, viz., that of a lawful commissioned +man-of-war of the Confederate States of America, has not been altered +since her first arrival in Simon's Bay, and she, having been once fully +recognised by the British authorities in command in this Colony, and no +notice or warning of change of opinion or of friendly feeling having +been communicated by public notification or otherwise. I was entitled to +expect to be again permitted to enter Simon's Bay without molestation. + +In perfect good faith I returned to Simon's Bay for mere necessaries, +and in all honour and good faith, in return, I should on change of +opinion or of policy on the part of the British authorities, have been +desired to leave the port again. + +But by the course of proceedings taken, I have been (supposing the view +now taken by your Excellency's Government to be correct) first misled +and next entrapped. + +My position and character of my ship will most certainly be vindicated +by my Government. I am powerless to resist the affront offered to the +Confederate States of America by your Excellency's conduct and +proceedings. + +I demand, however, the release of my ship; and if this demand be not +promptly complied with, I hereby formally protest against her seizure, +especially under the very peculiar circumstances of the case. + +_Mr. Bawson to Lieutenant Low, C.S.N. December_ 29, 1863. + +I am directed by the Governor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter +of yesterday's date protesting against the seizure of the Tuscaloosa, +whose character you represent to be the same as when, in August last, +she was admitted into the port of Simon's Bay, and I am to acquaint you +in reply that a full report was submitted to Her Majesty's Government of +all that took place on the first visit of the Tuscaloosa, and that the +seizure has now been made in conformity with the opinion expressed by +them on that report. + +Your protest will of course be transmitted for their consideration. + +_Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker to Sir P. Wodehouse. December_ 29, 1863. + +Lieutenant Low, the officer belonging to the Confederate States ship of +war Alabama, late in charge of the barque called the Tuscaloosa +(properly the Conrad of Philadelphia), having sent me a copy of the +protest which he has forwarded to your Excellency against the detention +of that vessel, I think it right to inclose for your information the +copy of my letter to Lieutenant Low[18] explaining the circumstances +under which the so-called Tuscaloosa is detained. + +[Footnote 18: This letter is not given in the Blue Book.] + +_Sir P. Wodehouse to the Duke of Newcastle. January_ 11, 1864. + +I very much regret having to acquaint your Grace that the Confederate +prize vessel the Tuscaloosa has again entered Simon's Bay, and that the +Naval Commander-in-chief and myself have come to the conclusion that, in +obedience to the orders transmitted to his Excellency by the Admiralty, +and to me by your Grace's despatch of the 4th November last, it was our +duty to take possession of the vessel, and to hold her until properly +claimed by her original owners. The Admiral, therefore, sent an officer +with a party of men from the flag-ship to take charge of her, and to +deliver to her commander a letter in explanation of the act. Copies of +his protest, addressed to me, and of my reply, are inclosed. He not +unnaturally complains of having been now seized, after he had on the +previous occasion been recognised as a ship of war. But this is +manifestly nothing more than the inevitable result of the overruling by +Her Majesty's Government of the conclusion arrived at on the previous +occasion by its subordinate officer. + +The Consul for the United States, on being informed of what had taken +place, intimated his inability to take charge of the ship on account of +the owners, and expressed a desire that it should remain in our charge +until he was put in possession of the requisite authority. Accordingly, +after taking the opinion of the Attorney-General, it was arranged that +the vessel should remain in the charge of Sir Baldwin Walker. + +I ought to explain that the seizure was made without previous reference +to the Attorney-General. I did not consider such a reference necessary. +The law had been determined by Her Majesty's Government on the previous +case. The Admiral was of opinion that we had only to obey the orders we +had received, and on his intimating that opinion I assented. + +Your Grace will observe that at the request of the officers of the +Tuscaloosa the Admiral has permitted them to remain on board, in +expectation of the immediate arrival of the Alabama, to which ship they +wish to return. I should otherwise have thought it my duty to provide +them with passages to England at the cost of Her Majesty's Government, +by whom, I conclude, they would be sent to their own country; and it is +probable that if the Alabama should not soon make her appearance, such +an arrangement will become necessary. + +I have only to add that I have thought it advisable, after what has now +occurred, to intimate to the United States Consul that we should +probably be under the necessity of adopting similar measures in the +event of an uncondemned prize being fitted for cruising, and brought +into one of our ports by a Federal ship of war. I did not speak +positively, because I have been left in doubt by your Grace's +instructions whether some distinction should not be drawn in the case of +a ship of war of one belligerent captured and applied to the same use by +the other belligerent, but the Consul was evidently prepared for such a +step. Copies of all the correspondence are inclosed. + +_Mr. Rawson to Mr. Graham. December_ 28, 1863. + +I am directed by the Governor to acquaint you that the Tuscaloosa having +again arrived in Simon's Bay, will, under instructions lately received +from Her Majesty's Government, be retained under Her Majesty's control +and jurisdiction until properly reclaimed by her original holders. + +_Mr. Graham to Sir P. Wodehouse. December_ 28, 1863. + +I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date in +reference to the Tuscaloosa. + +By virtue of my office as Consul for the United States of America in the +British possessions of South Africa, of which nation the original owners +of the Conrad _alias_ Tuscaloosa are citizens, I possess the right to +act for them when both they and their special agents are absent, I can +institute a proceeding _in rem_ where the rights of property of +fellow-citizens are concerned, without a special procuration from those +for whose benefit I act, but cannot receive actual restitution of the +_res_ in controversy, without a special authority. (See United States +Statutes at Large, vol. i., p. 254, notes 2 and 3.) + +Under these circumstances I am content that the vessel in question +should for the present, or until the properly authenticated papers and +power of attorney shall be received from the owners in America, remain +in possession and charge of Her Majesty's naval officers. But should it +hereafter be determined to give the vessel up to any party other than +the real owners, I desire to have sufficient notice of the fact, so that +I may take the proper steps to protect the interests of my absent +fellow-citizens. + +With regard to the property of American citizens seized here at the +Custom-house, and which was formerly part of the Sea Bride's cargo, I +would suggest that it also be held by the Colonial Government, subject +to the order of the original owners. An announcement to that effect from +you would be received with great satisfaction by me. + +[Illustration: THE MESURADO LAGOON] + +_Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker to the Secretary to the Admiralty. January +18, 1864_. + +With reference to my letter of the 5th instant, I have the honour to +submit, for their Lordships' information, a further correspondence +between the Governor of this Colony and myself relative to the American +vessel Conrad, of Philadelphia, lately called the Tuscaloosa. + +2. Lieutenant Low, belonging to the Confederate States ship of war +Alabama, lately in charge of the Tuscaloosa, having paid off and +discharged his crew, finally quitted the vessel on the 9th instant; and +I have ordered him a passage to England by the mail-packet Saxon, +together with his first officer, Mr. Sinclair. + +3. The Conrad now remains in charge of a warrant officer and two +ship-keepers, awaiting to be properly claimed or disposed of as the +Government may direct. + +_Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker to Sir P. Wodehouse. January 6, 1864_. + +With reference to your Excellency's communication of yesterday's date, I +have the honour to inform you that I will make arrangements for the safe +custody of the Conrad, of Philadelphia (late Tuscaloosa), by mooring her +in this bay, and putting ship-keepers in charge of her, until she can be +properly transferred to her lawful owners. + +Lieutenant Low has requested to be allowed to remain on board the +vessel, together with his crew, for the present, as he expected the +Alabama to arrive here shortly, to which arrangement I have made no +objection. + +There are some guns and other articles on board the Conrad said to +belong to the Alabama, a list of which I have already forwarded to your +Excellency. It is a matter for consideration how these things should be +disposed of. + +I think, as a precautionary measure, it may be desirable that some +person on the part of the United States Consul should visit the Conrad, +to observe the state she is in, on being taken into British custody, to +prevent any question thereon hereafter. + +_The Duke of Newcastle to Sir P. Wodehouse. March 4, 1864_. + +I have received your despatches of the 11th and 19th January, reporting +the circumstances connected with the seizure of the Confederate +prize-vessel Tuscaloosa, under the joint authority of the Naval +Commander-in-chief and yourself. I have to instruct you to restore the +Tuscaloosa to the Lieutenant of the Confederate States who lately +commanded her, or, if he should have left the Cape, then to retain her +until she can be handed over to some person who may have authority from +Captain Semmes, of the Alabama, or from the Government of the +Confederate States, to receive her. + +You will receive a further communication from me on this subject by the +next mail. + +_The Duke of Newcastle to Sir P. Wodehouse. March 10, 1864_. + +In my despatch of the 4th instant, I instructed you to restore the +Tuscaloosa to the Lieutenant of the Confederate States who lately +commanded her, or, if he should have left the Cape, then to retain her +until she could be handed over to some person having authority from +Captain Semmes, of the Alabama, or from the Government of the +Confederate States, to receive her. + +I have now to explain that this decision was not founded on any general +principle respecting the treatment of prizes captured by the cruisers of +either belligerent, but on the peculiar circumstances of the case. The +Tuscaloosa was allowed to enter the port of Cape Town and to depart, the +instructions of the 4th of November not having arrived at the Cape +before her departure. The Captain of the Alabama was thus entitled to +assume that he might equally bring her a second time into the same +harbor, and it becomes unnecessary to discuss whether, on her return to +the Cape, the Tuscaloosa still retained the character of a prize, or +whether she had lost that character, and had assumed that of an armed +tender to the Alabama, and whether that new character, if properly +established and admitted, would have entitled her to the same privilege +of admission which might be accorded to her captor, the Alabama. + +Her Majesty's Government have, therefore, come to the opinion, founded +on the special circumstances of this particular case, that the +Tuscaloosa ought to be released, with a warning, however, to the Captain +of the Alabama, that the ships of war of the belligerents are not to be +allowed to bring prizes into British ports, and that it rests with Her +Majesty's Government to decide to what vessels that character belongs. + +In conclusion, I desire to assure you that neither in this despatch, nor +in that of the 4th November, I have desired in any degree to censure you +for the course you have pursued. The questions on which you have been +called upon to decide, are questions of difficulty, on which doubts +might properly have been entertained, and I am by no means surprised +that the conclusions to which you were led have not, in all instances, +been those which have been adopted on fuller consideration by Her +Majesty's Government. + +_Captain Semmes, C.S.N., to Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker, dated C.S.S. +Alabama; Table Bay, March 22, 1864_. + +Sir:--I was surprised to learn upon my arrival at this port of the +detention by your order of the Confederate States barque Tuscaloosa, a +tender to this ship. I take it for granted that you detained her by +order of the Home Government, as no other supposition is consistent with +my knowledge of the candour of your character--the Tuscaloosa having +been formerly received by you as a regularly commissioned tender, and no +new facts appearing in the case to change your decision. Under these +circumstances I shall not demand of you the restoration of that vessel, +with which demand you would not have the power to comply, but will +content myself with putting this my protest against this detention on +the record of the case for the future consideration of our respective +Governments. + +Earl Russell, in reaching the decision which he has communicated to you, +must surely have misapprehended the facts, otherwise I cannot conceive +him capable of so misapplying the law. The facts are briefly +these:--1st. The Tuscaloosa was formerly the enemy's ship Conrad, +lawfully captured by me on the high seas, as a recognized belligerent; +2dly. She was duly commissioned by me as a tender to the Confederate +States steamer Alabama, then, as now, under my command; and 3dly. She +entered English waters not only without intention of violating Her +Britannic Majesty's orders of neutrality, but was received with +hospitality, and no question was raised as to her right to enter under +the circumstances. These were the facts up to the time of Earl Russell's +issuing to you his order in the premises. Let us consider, then, a +moment, and see if we can derive from them, or any of them, just ground +for the extraordinary decision to which Earl Russell has come. + +My right to capture and the legality of the capture will not be denied. +Nor will you deny, in your experience as a naval officer, my right to +commission this, or any other ship lawfully in my possession, as a +tender to my principal ship. Your admirals do this every day, on distant +stations; and the tender, from the time of her being put in commission, +wears a pennant, and is entitled to the immunities and privileges of a +ship of war, the right of capture inclusive. + +Numerous decisions are to be found in your own prize law to this effect. +In other words, this is one of the recognised modes of commissioning a +ship of war, which has grown out of the convenience of the thing, and +become a sort of naval common law, as indisputable as the written law +itself. The only difference between the commission of such a ship and +that of a ship commissioned by the sovereign authority at home is that +the word "tender" appears in the former commission and not in the +latter. The Tuscaloosa having then been commissioned by me in accordance +with the recognised practice of all civilized nations that have a +marine, can any other Government than my own look into her antecedents? +Clearly not. The only thing which can be looked at upon her entering a +foreign port is her commission. If this be issued by competent +authority, you cannot proceed a step further. The ship then becomes a +part of the territory of the country to which she belongs, and you can +exercise no more jurisdiction over her than over that territory. The +self-respect and the independence of nations require this; for it would +be a monstrous doctrine to admit that one nation may inquire into the +title by which another nation holds her ships of war. And there can be +no difference in this respect between tenders and ships originally +commissioned. The flag and the pennant fly over them both, and they are +both withdrawn from the local jurisdiction by competent commissions. On +principle you might as well have enquired into the antecedents of the +Alabama, as of the Tuscaloosa. Indeed, you had a better reason for +inquiring into the antecedents of the former than of the latter, it +having been alleged that the former escaped from England in violation of +your Foreign Enlistment Act. Mr. Adams, the United States Minister, did +in fact demand that the Alabama should be seized, but Earl Russell, in +flat and most pointed contradiction of his late conduct in the case of +the Tuscaloosa, gave him the proper legal reply, to wit: that the +Alabama being now a ship of war, he was estopped from looking into her +antecedents. One illustration will suffice to show you how untenable +your position is in this matter. If the Tuscaloosa's commission be +admitted to have been issued by competent authority, and in due form +(and I do not understand this to be contested except on the ground of +her antecedents), she is as much a ship of war as the Narcissus, your +flag-ship. Suppose you should visit a French port, and the port admiral +should request you to haul down your flag on the ground that you had had +no sufficient title to the ship before she was commissioned, or that she +was a contract ship and you had not paid for her, and the builder had a +lien on her, or that you had captured her from the Russians, and had not +had her condemned by a prize court, what would you think of the +proceeding? And how does the case supposed differ from the one in hand? +In both it is a pretension on the part of a foreign power to look into +the antecedents of a ship of war--neither more nor less in the one case +than in the other. I will even put the case stronger. If it be admitted +that I had the right to commission a tender, and the fact had been that +I had seized a French ship and put her in commission, you could not +inquire into the fact. You would have no right to know but that I had +the orders of my Government for this seizure. In short, you would have +no right to inquire into the matter at all. My ship being regularly +commissioned, I am responsible to my Government for my acts, and my +Government, in the case supposed, would be responsible to France, and +not to you. If this reasoning be correct--and with all due submission to +his lordship I think it is sustained by the plainest principles of the +international code--it follows that the condemnation of a prize in a +prize court is not the only mode of changing the character of a captured +ship. When the sovereign of the captor puts his own commission on board +such a ship, this is a condemnation in its most solemn form, and is +notice to all the world. On principle, if a ship thus commissioned were +recaptured, the belligerent prize court could not restore her to her +original owner, but must condemn her as a prize ship of war of the enemy +to the captors; for prize courts are international courts, and cannot +go behind the pennant and commission of the cruiser. + +Further, as to this question of adjudication, your letter to Lieutenant +Low, the late commander of the Tuscaloosa, assumes that, as the +Tuscaloosa was not condemned, she was therefore the property of the +enemy from whom she had been taken. Condemnation is intended for the +benefit of neutrals, and to quiet the titles of purchasers, but is never +necessary as against the enemy. His right is taken away by force, and +not by any legal process, and the possession of his property _manu +forte_ is all that is required against him. + +Earl Russell having decided to disregard these plain principles of the +laws of nations, and to go behind my commission, let us see what he next +decides. + +His decision is this, that the Tuscaloosa being a prize, and having come +into British waters in violation of the Queen's orders of neutrality, +she must be restored to her original owner. The ship is not seized and +condemned for the violation of any municipal law, such as fraud upon the +revenue, &c.--as, indeed, she could not be so seized and condemned +without the intervention of a court of law--but by the strong arm of +executive power he wrests my prize from me, and very coolly hands her +over to the enemy. It is admitted that all prizes, like other merchant +ships, are liable to seizure and condemnation for a palpable violation +of the municipal law; but that is not this case. The whole thing is done +under the international law. Now, there is no principle better +established than that neutrals have no right to interfere in any manner +between the captor and his prize, except in one particular instance, and +that is where the prize has been captured in neutral waters and +afterwards comes of her own accord within the neutral jurisdiction. In +that case, and in that case alone, the neutral prize court may +adjudicate the case, and if they find the allegation of _infra terminos_ +proved, they may restore the property to the original owner. + +If a lawful prize, contrary to prohibition, come within neutral waters, +the most the neutral can do is to order her to depart without +interfering in any manner with the captor's possession. + +It is admitted that if she obstinately refuses to depart, or conducts +herself otherwise in an improper manner, she may be compelled to depart, +or may, indeed, be seized and confiscated as a penalty for her offence. +But there is no plea of that kind set up here. To show how sacred is the +title of mere possession on the part of a captor, permit me to quote +from one of your own authorities. On page 42 of the first volume of +Phillimore on International Law, you will find the following passage: +"In 1654 a treaty was entered into between England and Portugal, by +which, among other things, both countries mutually bound themselves not +to suffer the ships and goods of the other taken by enemies and carried +into the ports of the other to be conveyed away from the original owners +or proprietors." + +"Now, I have no scruple in saying (observes Lord Stowell in 1798) that +this is an article incapable of being carried into literal execution +according to the modern understanding of the law of nations; for no +neutral country can intervene to wrest from a belligerent prizes +lawfully taken. This is perhaps the strongest instance that could be +cited of what civilians call the _consuetudo obrogatoria."_ + +This being the nature of my title, the reasons should be very urgent +which should justify my being forcibly dispossessed of it. But there are +no such reasons apparent. It is not contended that there was any +misconduct on the part of the Tuscaloosa, unless her entry into a +British port as a Confederate cruiser be deemed misconduct. As stated in +the beginning of this letter, she had no intention of violating any +order of the Queen. Her error, therefore, if it were an error, is +entitled to be considered with gentleness and not with hardship. Her +error was the error of yourself and his Excellency the Governor, as well +as myself. We all agreed, I believe, that she was a lawfully +commissioned ship, and that her commission estopped all further enquiry. +In the meantime, she proceeds to sea thus endorsed, as it were, by the +Colonial authorities; your Home Government overrules your decision; the +Tuscaloosa returns in good faith to your port to seek renewed +hospitality under your orders of neutrality. And what happens? An +English officer, armed with your order, proceeds on board of her, turns +her commander and officers out of her, and assumes possession on the +ground that she has violated the Queen's orders; and this without any +warning to depart or any other notice whatever. In the name of all open +and fair dealing--in the name of frankness, candour, and good faith, I +most respectfully enter my protest against such an extreme, +uncalled-for, and apparently unfriendly course. + +But the most extraordinary part of the proceeding has yet to be stated. +You not only divest me of my title to my prize, but you tell me that you +are about to hand her over to the enemy! On what principle this can be +done I am utterly at a loss to conceive. Although it may be competent to +a Government, in an extreme case, to _confiscate to the Exchequer_ a +prize, there is but one possible contingency in which the prize can be +restored to the opposite belligerent, and that is the one already +mentioned of a capture within neutral jurisdiction. And this is done on +the ground of the nullity of the original capture. The prize is +pronounced not to have been lawfully made, and this being the case, and +the vessel being within the jurisdiction of the neutral whose waters +have been violated, there is but one course to pursue. The vessel does +not belong to the captor, and as she does not belong to the neutral, as +a matter of course she belongs to the opposite belligerent, and must be +delivered up to him. But there is no analogy between that case and the +one we are considering. My capture cannot be declared a nullity. My +title is as good against the enemy as though condemnation had passed. +The vessel either belongs to me or to the British Government. If she +belongs to me, justice requires that she should be delivered up to me. +If she belongs (by way of confiscation) to the British Government, why +should that Government make a gratuitous present of her to one of the +belligerents rather than the other? + +My Government cannot fail, I think, to view this matter in the light in +which I have placed it; and it is deeply to be regretted that a weaker +people struggling against a stronger for very existence should have so +much cause to complain of the unfriendly disposition of a Government +from which, if it represents truly the instincts of Englishmen, it had +the right to expect at least sympathy and kindness in the place of +rigour and harshness. + + + + +No. VII. + +MEASUREMENTS OF THE ALABAMA. + + +We are indebted to Messrs. Laird Brothers, of Birkenhead, for the +following measurements of the Alabama: + +Length About 230 feet. + +Length between perpendiculars, " 213.8 " + +Breadth of beam extreme, " 32.0 " + +Depth moulded, " 19.9 " + +Draft of water when complete, with about + 300 tons coal in bunkers and stores on + board for a six months' cruise, " 15.0 " + +Engines.--300 horse power collective. + +Rig.--Three-masted schooner, with long lower masts and +yards on fore and mainmasts. + +The hull of the vessel built of wood, the general arrangement +of scantling and materials being the same as in vessels of similar +class in Her Majesty's navy. + +The vessel and machinery throughout were built by Messrs. +Laird Brothers at their works at Birkenhead. + +THE END. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Cruise of the Alabama and the +Sumter, by Raphael Semmes + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CRUISE OF THE ALABAMA *** + +***** This file should be named 13163-8.txt or 13163-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/3/1/6/13163/ + +Produced by Curtis Weyant, Graeme Mackreth and PG Distributed +Proofreaders + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Cruise of the Alabama and the Sumter + +Author: Raphael Semmes + +Release Date: August 12, 2004 [EBook #13163] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CRUISE OF THE ALABAMA *** + + + + +Produced by Curtis Weyant, Graeme Mackreth and PG Distributed +Proofreaders + + + + + +[Illustration: RAPHAEL SEMMES.] + +THE CRUISE OF THE ALABAMA AND THE SUMTER. + +FROM THE PRIVATE JOURNALS AND OTHER PAPERS OF COMMANDER R. SEMMES, +C.S.N. AND OTHER OFFICERS. + +Two Volumes in One. + +NEW YORK: + +MDCCCLXIV. + +Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1864, by + +GEO. W. CARLETON, + +in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the +Southern District of New York. + + + + +ADVERTISEMENT + +_TO THE LONDON EDITION._ + + +The following account of the cruise of the two Confederate States +steamers--Sumter and Alabama--is taken from the private journals and +other papers of Captain Semmes. It has been found necessary occasionally +to adopt a narrative form, but the endeavour has been throughout to +adhere as closely as possible to that officer's own words. + +Information has also been most kindly afforded by other officers of the +two vessels, and especially Lieutenant R.F. Armstrong, and Master's Mate +G. Townley Fullam, from whose private journals and other papers much +valuable assistance has been obtained. + +A good deal of controversy has arisen respecting the legality of the +course pursued by the Alabama, in the case of certain vessels claiming +to carry a neutral cargo. In all these cases, however, great care was +taken by Captain Semmes to enter in his journal full particulars of the +claims, and of the grounds on which it was refused admission. These +cases will be found quoted in full in the following volumes. + + + + +CRUISE OF + +THE ALABAMA AND THE SUMTER. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +_The Question at issue--An unexpected point of attack--Captain +Semmes--The President's instructions--Creating a navy--From the old to +the new--An important mission--Appointed to the Sumter--True character +of the Confederate "pirate."_ + + +The President of the American States in Confederation was gathering an +army for the defence of Southern liberty. Where valour is a national +inheritance, and an enthusiastic unanimity prevails, this will not prove +a difficult task. It is otherwise with the formation of a navy. Soldiers +of Southern blood had thrown up their commissions in a body; but sailors +love their ships as well as their country, and appear to owe some +allegiance to them likewise. Nevertheless, if Mr. Davis had not a great +choice of officers, he had eminent men to serve him, as the young +history of the South has abundantly shown. To obtain experienced and +trusty seamen was easier to him in such a crisis than to give them a +command. The Atlantic and the ports of America were ruled at that time +absolutely by President Lincoln. The South had not a voice upon the sea. +The merchants of New York and Boston looked upon the war as something +which concerned them very little. Not a dream of any damage possibly to +be inflicted on them, disturbed the serenity of their votes for the +invasion of the South. Their fleets entered harbour proudly; their +marine swam the ocean unmolested. Though there was war imminent, the +insurance offices were content to maintain their terms upon a peace +standard. What, indeed, was to be feared? The South had not a single +vessel. Here and there a packet-steamer might be caught up and armed, +but what would they avail against such fleet and powerful ships as the +Brooklyn, the Powhattan, and dozens of others? There was, then, a +condition of perfect security, according to the ideas of all American +commercial men. The arrangement, as they understood it, was that they +were to strike the blow, and that no one was to give them the value in +return. + +It happened that Mr. Davis was of another mind. He perceived where a +blow could be struck, on his part, with terrible emphasis, and how. The +obstacles in his way were colossal; but we have learnt that obstacles do +not appal his indomitable genius. On the 14th February, 1861, Captain +Semmes, being then at his residence in the city of Washington, a +Commander in the Federal navy, received the following telegram from +Montgomery:-- + + SIR,--On behalf of the Committee on Naval Affairs, I beg + leave to request that you will repair to this place at your earliest + convenience. + + Your obedient servant, + + C.M. CONRAD, _Chairman_. + +The selection of Captain Semmes for the first hazardous service, +whatsoever it might be, was due to his reputation and patriotism, as +well as to the sagacity of the Confederate chief. He had already, in a +letter to the Hon. Alexander H. Stephens, expressed his willingness to +fight for the South: "his judgment, his inclinations, and his +affections," all hurrying him, as he says, to link his fate with the +first movement of the South. "My fate," he pursues, "is cast with the +South; but I should be unwilling, unless invited, to appear to thrust +myself upon the new Government _until my own State_ has moved." This was +at that time the feeling of many border statesmen. In another letter to +Mr. Curry he had exposed sound practical views of the situation of the +Confederates, as regards their marine, for defence and means of +inflicting damage on their opponents. + +Captain Semmes at once replied that he would attend upon the committee +immediately. His next act was respectfully to resign his commission as +Commander in the Navy of the United States; which resignation was +accepted in the same terms. He ceased similarly to be a member of the +Lighthouse Board. These matters concluded, he telegraphed to the Hon. +J.L.M. Curry, in Montgomery, where the Confederate States' Congress was +sitting, that he was now a free man to serve his struggling country. +Forthwith he was deputed by President Davis to return to the Northern +States, and make large purchases and contracts "for machinery and +munitions, or for the manufacture of arms and munitions of war;" as also +to obtain "cannon and musket-powder, the former of the coarsest grain," +and to engage with a certain proprietor of powder-mills for the +"establishment of a powder-mill at some point in the limits of our +territory." This letter gives a good idea of the business-like qualities +brought by Mr. Davis to his high office. "At the arsenal at Washington," +he writes, "you will find an artificer named Wright, who has brought the +cap-making machine to its present state of efficiency, and who might +furnish a cap-machine, and accompany it, to explain its operations." +Throughout the letter, which is full of minute instructions and weighty +commissions, Mr. Davis shows the fullest confidence in the loyalty and +fitness of the man in whom he placed trust. + +Captain Semmes was engaged in the performance of these immediate duties, +when a confidential communication from Mr. S.R. Mallory, of the Navy +department, gave him warning of two or more steamers, of a class desired +for present service, which might be purchased at or near New +York--"steamers of speed, light draught, and strength sufficient for at +least one heavy gun." + +"The steamers are designed to navigate the waters and enter the bays and +inlets of the coast from Charleston to the St. Mary's, and from Key West +to the Rio Grande, for coast defences;" and Captain Semmes' judgment +will need no further guide when he is told that "their speed should be +sufficient to give them at all times the ability to engage or to evade +an engagement, and that an 8 or 10-inch gun, with, perhaps, two 32, or, +if not, two of smaller calibre, should constitute their battery." + +The Captain's appointment as Commander in the Navy of the Confederate +States, and taking of the oaths, followed in April. On the 18th of that +month, Mr. Mallory detached him from the post he held, by appointment +from the President, of Chief of the Lighthouse Bureau, with orders that +he should proceed to New Orleans and take command of the steamer Sumter. +Captain Semmes saw clearly that war was coming. He perceived, at the +same time, the means by which he could serve his country best. He set +forth for New Orleans without delay. + +Our readers will see, by-and-by, from the quotations we shall make from +the Captain's Log, that he is as little the hungry fire-eater which many +of his admirers suppose him to be, as he is the Black Pirate of the New +York press. Captain Semmes is a native of Charles county, in Maryland, a +State that has furnished numerous patriotic citizens to the South. +Before accepting his new service he had taken honourable farewell of his +old. The Federals had no charge to bring against him before the day when +he stepped on the deck of the then unknown and insignificant Sumter +steam-vessel. What they may have said later is of no particular +consequence; nor can it be thought to be greatly to the discredit of +Captain Semmes that they have cried out loudly, and as men in pain. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +_The Sumter formerly the Savannah packet-ship--Captain Semmes joins and +assumes command--Altering the vessel--Vexatious delays--The war +begins--The river blockaded--Crew of the Sumter--Dropping down the +river--An attempt--No pilots--Vigorous action--Sumter still at her +anchors--Lamps removed from lighthouses--More enemy's ships--Orders on +board the Sumter--False hopes--The 30th of June--A courageous pilot--The +escape of the Sumter--The chase--The enemy baffled._ + + +The little vessel which now constituted the whole strength of the +Confederate navy, was a merchant screw-steamer of 501 tons burthen. She +had been hitherto known as the Havannah, and had plied as a packet-ship +between the port of that name and New Orleans. She was now to be +extemporized into a man-of-war, and in her new guise was to achieve a +world-wide celebrity, and to play no unimportant part in the great +struggle between North and South. + +Arrived in New Orleans, Captain Semmes at once proceeded, in company +with Lieutenant Chapman, to inspect his new command--of which he speaks +with evident satisfaction as a "staunch and well-built" vessel. In her +then condition, however, she was by no means fitted for her new duties; +and he accordingly devoted all his energies towards effecting the +alterations necessary for that purpose. The first step was to +disencumber her decks of the long range of upper cabins, thus materially +increasing her buoyancy as a sea-boat, and diminishing the area exposed +to the enemy's shot and shell. Then a berth-deck was laid for the +accommodation of officers and crew, and the main deck renewed and +strengthened to carry the heavy 8-inch shell-gun, mounted on a pivot +between the fore and mainmasts, and the four 24 pounder howitzers of 13 +cwt. each, to be mounted as a broadside battery. Additional coal-bunkers +were also constructed, and a magazine and shell-room built in a suitable +position, and these and a few other less important changes effected, the +transformation was complete, and the little Sumter ready to proceed upon +her work of devastation. + +It must not, however, be imagined that all this was done without many +and vexatious delays. The emergency had found the new Confederation +altogether unprepared, and trouble and confusion were the inevitable +result. Hitherto, everything had been done by the North. Up to the very +last moment it had been believed that the separation of the two sections +would be peaceably effected; and now the necessary works had to be +hastily carried out by civilian workmen, under the direction of a +department, itself as yet but provisionally and most imperfectly +organized. + +Sorely tried by the delays consequent upon this condition of affairs, +Captain Semmes commences his Diary as follows:-- + +"_New Orleans, May 24th_.--A month has elapsed since I began the +preparation of the Sumter for sea, and yet we are not ready. Leeds +and Co. have not given us our tanks, and we only received the +carriage of the 8-inch gun to-day. The officers are all present, +and the crew has been shipped, and all are impatient to be off. The +river is not yet blockaded, but expected to be to-morrow. It must +be a close blockade, and by heavy vessels, that will keep us in. +Troops are being collected in large numbers in the enemy's States, +marchings and counter-marchings are going on; and the fleet seems +to be kept very busy, scouring hither and thither, but nothing +accomplished. Whilst penning the last paragraph, news reaches us +that the Lincoln Government has crossed the Potomac and invaded +Virginia! Thus commences a bloody and a bitter war. So be it; we +but accept the gauntlet which has been flung in our faces. The +future will tell a tale worthy of the South and of her noble +cause." + +But the delays were not yet over. On the 27th May, the United States +steamer Brooklyn made her appearance, and commenced the blockade of the +river. The following day brought the powerful frigates Niagara and +Minnesota to her assistance; and when on the 1st of June Captain Semmes +began at length to look hopefully seawards, the Powhattan was discovered +carefully watching the only remaining exit from the river. + +One by one, however, the difficulties were fairly overcome, and the +infant navy of the Confederate States was ready to take the sea. The +Sumter's crew consisted of Captain Semmes, commanding, four lieutenants, +a paymaster, a surgeon, a lieutenant of marines, four midshipmen, four +engineers, boatswain, gunner, sail-maker, carpenter, captain's and +purser's clerks, twelve marines, and seventy-two seamen. Thus manned and +equipped, she dropped down the river on the 18th June, and anchored off +the Barracks for the purpose of receiving on board her ammunition and +other similar stores. From thence she again proceeded on the same +evening still lower down the river to Forts Philip and Jackson, where +she brought up on the following day, to await a favourable opportunity +for running the blockade. + +For three days she remained at her new anchorage, this period of +enforced inactivity being diligently employed in drilling and exercising +the crew, and bringing the vessel generally into somewhat better order +than her hurried equipment had as yet permitted her to assume. On the +21st June, however, intelligence was received that the Powhattan had +left her station in chase of two vessels, and that a boat from the +Brooklyn had passed into the river, and was making for the telegraph +station. Captain Semmes at once decided to avail himself of this +opportunity to escape to sea, and getting up steam, proceeded to Pass a +L'Outre, and despatched one of his boats to the lighthouse for a pilot. + +Here, however, an unexpected difficulty occurred. The light-house-keeper +replied that he knew nothing of the pilots, and the Sumter was +accordingly compelled again to bring up, whilst the Confederate +privateer Ivy ran down, at Captain Semmes' request, to the South-west +Pass, to endeavour to procure a pilot for her there. This expedition, +however, met with no better success, and the Ivy returned with the +information that the pilots refused to take charge of the vessel. A +further despatch was addressed to Captain Semmes, from the Captain of +the House of Pilots, to the effect that "no pilots were now on duty." + +It now became necessary to act with vigour, and the Ivy was accordingly +again despatched to the South-west Pass. This time, however, she carried +with her the first lieutenant of the Sumter, with the following +peremptory message to the Master of the Pilot Association to repair +immediately on board, and instructions, if any hesitation were evinced +in complying with this command, to arrest the entire body and bring them +off:-- + + C.S. steamer Sumter, Head of the Passes + June 22nd, 1861. + +SIR,--This is to command you to repair on board this ship with three or +four of the most experienced pilots of the Bar. I am surprised to learn +that an unwillingness has been expressed by some of the pilots of your +Association to come on board the Sumter, and my purpose is to test the +fact of such disloyalty to the Confederate States. If any man disobey +this summons, I will not only have his Branch taken away from him, but I +will send an armed force and arrest and bring him on board. I have the +honour to be, + + Very respectfully, + + Your obedient Servant, + + (Signed) R. SEMMES. + +This extreme measure, however, was not found necessary. The mere threat +was sufficient, and on the following day the master, with several of his +pilots, made their appearance on board the Sumter. After a brief +consultation with Captain Semmes, they one and all, with the exception +of the master, expressed their willingness to take the vessel to sea, +and thereupon the captain, selecting one of the number for this service, +permitted the remainder to depart. + +Meanwhile, however, the golden opportunity had been lost; the Powhattan +had returned to her station, and the harbour was again hermetically +sealed. The Sumter, therefore, was again compelled to return to her +anchors, and eight more days passed wearily away without affording +another opportunity of evasion. The interval of expectation, however, +was again occupied in drilling and exercising the crew, which was now +beginning to get into good working order; measures being also taken for +extinguishing and removing the lamps from the lighthouses at Pass a +L'Outre and the South Pass, Captain Semmes addressing to the Navy +Department at Richmond the following letter upon the subject:-- + + C.S. steamer Sumter, Head of the Passes, + Miss. River, June 30th, 1861. + +SIR,--I have the honour to inform the department that I am still at my +anchors at the "Head of the Passes," the enemy closely investing both of +the practicable outlets. At Pass a L'Outre there are three ships--the +Brooklyn and another propeller, and a large side-wheel steamer; and at +the South-west Pass there is the Powhattan, lying within half-a-mile of +the Bar, and not stirring an inch from her anchors night or day. I am +only surprised that the Brooklyn does not come up to this anchorage, +which she might easily do (as there is water enough, and no military +precautions whatever have been taken to hold it), and thus effectually +seal all the passes of the river by her presence alone, which would +enable the enemy to withdraw the remainder of his blockading force for +use elsewhere. With the assistance of the Jackson and McRae (neither of +which has yet dropped down), I could probably hold my position here +until an opportunity offered of my getting to sea. I shall watch +diligently for such an opportunity, and have no doubt that, sooner or +later, it will present itself. I found, upon dropping down to this +point, that the lights at Pass a L'Outre and South Pass had been +strangely overlooked, and that they were still burning. I caused them +both to be extinguished, so that if bad weather should set in, the +blockading vessel will have nothing "to hold on to," and will be obliged +to make an offing. At present the worst feature of the blockade is that +the Brooklyn has the speed of me, so that, even though I should run the +bar, I could not hope to escape her unless I surprised her, which, with +her close watch of the Bar, at anchor near to, both night and day, it +will be exceedingly difficult to do. I should be quite willing to try +speed with the Powhattan if I could hope to run the gauntlet of her guns +without being crippled; but unfortunately, with all the buoys and other +marks removed, there is a perfectly blind bar except by daylight. In the +meantime I am drilling my gun-crew to a proper use of the great guns and +small arms. With the exception of diarrhoea which is prevailing to some +extent, brought on by too free a use of the river water in the excessive +heats which prevail, the crew continue healthy. + + * * * * * +I have the honour to be, &c., &c., + +(Signed) R. SEMMES. + +Hon. G.E. Mallory, Secretary of the Navy, Richmond, Virginia. + +The following orders were also issued:-- + +"_Orders to be Observed on Board the C.S. Steamer Sumter_." + +"1. The deck will never be left without a lieutenant, except that in +port a midshipman may be assigned to keep the first lieutenant's watch." + +"2. The quarter-deck will at all times be regarded as a place of parade, +and no sitting or lounging will be permitted thereon. For the purposes +of this order all the spar deck abaft the mainmast will be regarded as +the quarter-deck." + +"3. Officers will wear their uniforms at all times when on board ship, +and when on shore on duty." + +"4. No officer will remain out of the ship after ten P.M. without the +special permission of the commander." + +"5. Each division of guns will be exercised at least three times a week; +and there will be an exercise at general quarters twice a week, viz., on +Tuesdays and Fridays." + +"6. The crew will be mustered at quarters for inspection every morning +at nine o'clock (except Sundays), and every evening at sunset." + +"7. On Sundays there will be a general muster for inspection at eleven +A.M., when the officers will appear in undress with epaulettes." + +"8. The chief engineer is to keep the commander informed at all times +(through the first lieutenant) of the condition of his engines, boilers, +&c.; and he is to see that his assistants, &c., are punctual and +zealous in the performance of their duties, and report such as fail +therein to the first lieutenant." + +"9. There will be an engineer at all times on watch in the engine-room +when the ship is under steam, and the engineer on watch will report +every two hours to the officer of the deck how the engines are working, +&c." + +"10. The marine officer will drill his guard once every day when the +weather is suitable, and the duty of the ship does not interfere +therewith." + +"11. The firemen will be exercised once a week, when the pumps, hose, +&c., are to be adjusted, and used as in case of actual fire." + +On the morning of the 29th of June hopes were again excited by a report +from the pilot that the Brooklyn had left her station; and steam being +got up with all speed on board the Sumter, she again dropped down to +Pass a l'Outre, but only to find that the report had been fallacious. +The Brooklyn was still at anchor, though a slight change of berth had +placed her behind the shelter of a mass of trees. Once more, therefore, +the Sumter was brought to an anchor; but on the day following, her +patient waiting was rewarded by the long-looked-for opportunity. On the +morning of the 30th of June the Brooklyn was again reported under way +and in chase of a vessel to leeward; and no sooner was the fact of her +departure fairly verified than steam was got up for the last time, and +the little Sumter dashed boldly across the bar, and stood out to sea. + +Almost at the last moment, however, it seemed as though the attempt to +escape were again to be baffled by difficulties on the part of the +pilot. The man on board of the Sumter lost courage as the moment of +trial came, and professed his inability to take the vessel through the +pass thus left free by the departure of the Brooklyn, alleging as his +excuse that he had not passed through it for more than three months. +Happily the man's cowardice or treachery produced no ill effects; for, +as the Sumter dropped down the river on her way towards the open sea, +another pilot came gallantly off to her in his little boat, and +volunteered to carry her through the Pass. + +The Sumter had not reached within six miles of the bar when her +movements were perceived from the Brooklyn, which at once relinquished +the far less valuable prize on which she had been hitherto intent; and, +changing her course, headed at top speed towards the bar, in hopes of +cutting the Sumter off before she could reach it. The narrow opening +through the bar, distant about six miles from either of the opposing +vessels, now became the goal of a sharp and exciting race. The Sumter +had the advantage of the stream: but the Brooklyn was her superior in +speed, and moreover, carried guns of heavier calibre and longer range. +At length the Pass is reached; and dashing gallantly across it, the +little Sumter starboards her helm and rounds the mud-banks to the +eastward! As she does so the Brooklyn rounds to for a moment and gives +her a shot from her pivot gun. But the bolt falls short; and now the +race begins in earnest! + +The chase had not continued long, when a heavy squall of wind and rain +came up and hid the pursuing vessel from sight; but it soon passed away, +and the Brooklyn was again descried astern, under all sail and steam, +and evidently gaining upon her little quarry. On this the Sumter was +hauled two points higher up, thus bringing the wind so far forward that +the Brooklyn was no longer able to carry sail. And now the chase in her +turn began to gain upon her huge pursuer. But she was now in salt water, +and her boilers were beginning to "prime" furiously. It was necessary to +slacken speed for a time, and as she did so the Brooklyn again recovered +her advantage. Then gradually the foaming in the Sumter's boilers +ceased, and she was again put to her speed. The utmost pressure was put +on; the propeller began to move at the rate of sixty-five revolutions a +minute, and the Brooklyn once more dropped slowly but steadily astern. +At length she gave up the chase, and at four o'clock in the afternoon, +just four hours after crossing the bar, the crew of the Sumter gave +three hearty cheers as her baffled pursuer put up her helm, and, +relinquishing the chase, turned sullenly back to her station at the +mouth of the river. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +_Beginning the cruise--The first prize the Golden Rocket--The capture +burnt--The Cuba and Machias--Cienfuegos--The Ben Dunning and Albert +Adams--Three at once: the West Wind, the Naiad, and the Louisa Kilham--A +fleet of prizes--Saluting the Confederate States' flag--At Cuba--Strict +neutrality--A prize agent--The Governor-General of Cuba--Recapture by +the United States--An accident to the commander--A gale--At Curacao--The +Dutch Governor--An ex-president in difficulties--The Abby +Bradford--Venezuela--An inhospitable port--The Joseph Maxwell--Military +v. naval--Sagacious skipper--Gulf of Bahia_. + + +The Sumter had now fairly commenced her gallant career. The 1st July +dawned bright and fair with, a light breeze from the south-west, and +the little vessel sped through the water at an average speed of about +eight knots an hour. All that day not a sail appeared in sight. Night +settled down in all the calm splendour of the tropic seas, and nothing +disturbed its serenity save the monotonous beating of the Sumter's +propeller as she steered a south-easterly course down the Gulf of +Mexico. The following day brought her safely to Cape Antonio, which she +rounded under sail and steam, and striking the trade-winds, hoisted up +her propeller and stood away towards the west. + +The afternoon of the 3rd July brought the Sumter her first prize. At +about 3 P.M. a sail was descried in shore, beating to windward, and +steering a course that would bring her almost into contact with the +Confederate vessel. To avoid suspicion, no notice was taken of the +stranger until the two vessels had approached within the distance of a +little more than a mile from each other, when a display of English +colours from the Confederate was answered by the stranger with the stars +and stripes of the United States. Down came the St. George's ensign from +the Sumter's peak, to be replaced almost before it had touched the deck +by the stars and bars, which at that time constituted the flag of the +Confederate States. A shot was fired across the bows of the astonished +Yankee, who at once hove-to, and a boat was sent on board to take +possession of the Sumter's first capture. + +The prize proved to be the ship Golden Rocket, from the Yankee State of +Maine--a fine ship of 690 tons burthen, only three years old, and worth +from 30,000 to 40,000 dollars. She Was bound to Cienfuegos in Cuba, but +had no cargo on board, and Captain Semmes, being unwilling at that early +stage of his cruise to spare a prize crew, determined to destroy the +vessel, and after taking the captain and crew on board the Sumter set +the prize on fire and left her to her fate.[1] + +[Footnote 1: "It was about ten o'clock at night when the first glare of +light burst from her cabin-hatch. Few, few on board can forget the +spectacle. A ship set fire to at sea! It would seem that man was almost +warring with his Maker. Her helpless condition, the red flames licking +the rigging as they climbed aloft, the sparks and pieces of burning rope +taken off by the wind and flying miles to leeward, the ghastly glare +thrown upon the dark sea as far as the eye could reach, and then the +death-like stillness of the scene--all these combined to place the +Golden Rocket on the tablet of our memories for ever. But, +notwithstanding the reluctance with which we did it, we would not have +missed the opportunity for anything on earth. We wanted no war--we +wanted peace; we had dear friends among those who were making war upon +us, and for their sakes, if not for the sake of humanity, we hoped to be +allowed to separate in peace; but it could not be; they forced the war +upon us--they endeavoured to destroy us. For this, and for this alone, +we burn their ships and destroy their commerce. We have no feeling of +enmity against them, and all we ask is to be let alone--to be allowed to +tread the path we have chosen for ourselves."--"_Cruise of the +Sumter_," from the "_Index_" May 1st, 1862.] + + +The following day saw two more prizes fall into the Sumter's hands. +These were the brigantines Cuba and Machias, both of Maine. The captures +were taken in tow and carried off in the direction of Cienfuegos. The +next day, however, the Cuba broke adrift from her hawser, and on being +recovered, a prize crew was sent on board the vessel, with directions to +carry her into Cienfuegos, for which port Captain Semmes was now shaping +his course. + +Arrived off that harbour on the evening of the same day, it was found +too late to attempt to enter, and two more vessels being descried in the +offing, the Machias was cast off, with orders to lay-to until the +morning, and the Sumter started off in chase. On coming up with the two +vessels, at about half-past nine o'clock, they proved to be the United +States brigantines, Ben Dunning and Albert Adams. They were at once +taken possession of, and ordered to make the best of their way in charge +of a prize crew to Cienfuegos. + +The night was passed in standing off and on outside the harbour, and +with the earliest dawn preparations were made for running in. The +weather was bright and clear, and the brief twilight of the tropics +flushed rapidly into the full glare of day, and showed to the watchful +eyes on board the Sumter the welcome spectacle of three more vessels +being towed out to sea by a steamer, the stars and stripes floating +gaily from their peaks. Warily and patiently the little Sumter lay in +wait, under the shelter of the land, until the steamer had cast off her +convoy, and the three unsuspecting vessels were fairly beyond the +maritime league from the neutral shore, within which the law of nations +forbids that captures should be made. Then suddenly her decks swarmed +with men, the black smoke poured from her funnel, the sails filled, and +out she came in pursuit. The chase was brief, and ere long the barque +West Wind, the brigantine Naiad, and the barque Louisa Kilham were in +charge of prize crews, and wending their way sadly back to the port they +had so recently left in full expectation of a prosperous voyage. + +So, with her little fleet of prizes, six in all, before her, the Sumter +steered proudly into the harbour of Cienfuegos. As she passed the fort +which guards the entrance, a hail was heard from the shore, accompanied +by the almost simultaneous report of a couple of musket shots fired over +the vessel, for the purpose, apparently, of enforcing the order to bring +up and come to an anchor. The command having been obeyed, a boat was at +once despatched in charge of Lieutenant Evans to call on the Commandant +and ask an explanation of this inhospitable reception. The message was +brought back, that the flag of the new Confederacy had not been +understood by him, and that the vessel had consequently been brought up +in compliance with the standing order that no vessel, whether of war or +otherwise, should be permitted to pass until her nationality had been +ascertained. Explanations, of course, followed, and in the evening came +the Commandant, with the Governor's permission either to land or go to +sea, but accompanied by an intimation that the six prizes would be +detained until instructions could be received from headquarters +concerning them. + +Lieutenant Chapman was now sent on shore with the following despatch for +the Governor, and also to make arrangements for coaling and for the +safety and ultimate disposition of the prizes: + + C.S. Sumter. Cienfuegos, Island of Cuba, + July 6th, 1861. + +Sir,--I have the honour to inform your Excellency of my arrival at the +Port of Cienfuegos with seven prizes of war. These vessels are the +brigantines Cuba, Machias, Ben Dunning, Albert Adams and Naiad; and +barques West Wind and Louisa Kilham, property of citizens of the United +States, which States, as your Excellency is aware, are waging an unjust +and aggressive war upon the Confederate States, which I have the honour, +with this ship under my command, to represent. I have sought a port of +Cuba with these prizes, with the expectation that Spain will extend to +cruisers of the Confederate States the same friendly reception that in +similar circumstances she would extend to the cruisers of the enemy; in +other words, that she will permit me to leave the captured vessels +within her jurisdiction until they can be adjudicated by a Court of +Admiralty of the Confederate States. As a people maintaining a +Government _de facto_, and not only holding the enemy in check, but +gaining advantages over him, we are entitled to all the rights of +belligerents, and I confidently rely upon the friendly disposition of +Spain, who is our near neighbour in the most important of her colonial +possessions, to receive us with equal and even-handed justice, if not +with the sympathy which our unity of interest and policy, with regard to +an important social and industrial institution, are so well calculated +to inspire. A rule which would exclude our prizes from her ports during +the war, although it should be applied in terms equally to the enemy, +would not, I respectfully suggest, be an equitable or just rule. The +basis of such a rule, as, indeed, of all the conduct of a neutral during +war, is equal and impartial justice to all the belligerents; and this +should be a substantial and practical justice, and not exist in delusive +or deceptive terms merely. Now, a little reflection will, I think, show +your Excellency that the rule in question cannot be applied in the +present war without operating with great injustice to the Confederate +States. It is well known to your Excellency that the United States being +a manufacturing and commercial people, whilst the Confederate States +have been thus far almost wholly an agricultural and planting people, +the former had within their limits and control almost the whole naval +force of the old Government, and that they have seized and appropriated +this force to themselves, regardless of the just claims of the +Confederates States to a portion, and a large portion of it, as +tax-payers out of whose contributions it was created. The United States +are thus enabled to blockade all the important ports of the Confederate +States. In this condition of things, observe the practical working of +the rule which I am discussing. + +It must be admitted that we have equal belligerent rights with the +enemy. + +One of the most important of these rights in a war against a commercial +people, is that which I have just exercised, of capturing his property +upon the high seas. But how are the Confederate States to enjoy to its +full extent the benefit of this right, if their cruisers are not +permitted to enter neutral ports with their prizes, and retain them +there in safe custody until they can he condemned and disposed of? + +They cannot send them to their own ports for the reasons already stated. +Except for the purpose of destruction, therefore, their right of capture +would be entirely defeated by the adoption of the rule in question, +whilst the enemy would suffer no inconvenience from it, as all his ports +are open to him. I take it for granted that Spain will not think of +acting upon so unjust and unequal a rule. + +But another question arises, indeed has already arisen, in the cases of +some of the very captures which I have brought into port. The cargoes of +several of the vessels are claimed, as appears by certificates found +among the papers, as Spanish property. + +This fact cannot of course be verified, except by a judicial proceeding +in the Prize Courts of the Confederate States. + +But whilst this fact is being determined, what is to be done with the +property? I have the right to destroy the vessels, but not the cargoes, +in case the latter should prove to be, as claimed, Spanish property--but +how am I to destroy the former, and not the latter? I cannot before +sentence unlade the cargoes and deliver them to the claimants, for I do +not know that the claims will be sustained; and I cannot destroy them, +for I do not know that the claims will not be sustained. + +Indeed, one of the motives which influenced me in seeking a Spanish +port, was the fact that these cargoes were claimed by Spanish subjects, +whom I was desirous of putting to as little inconvenience as possible in +the unlading and reception of their property, after sentence, should it +be restored to them. + +It will be for your Excellency to consider and act upon these grave +questions, touching alike the interests of both our Governments. + +I have the honour to be, &c., &c., + +R. SEMMES. + + His Excellency Don Jose de la Pozuela, + Governor of the City of Cienfuegos, Island of Cuba. + +At eight o'clock on the morning of the 7th July, Lieutenant Chapman +returned, bringing with him Don Isnaga and Don Mariano Dias, two Cuban +gentlemen, warm sympathizers with the Confederate cause. The latter of +these gentlemen was at once appointed prize agent, and after partaking +of the hospitality of the ship, they returned to shore, and the +remainder of the day was spent on board the Sumter in replenishing the +various stores that had begun to run low after her cruise. In the course +of the day about 100 tons of coal and 5000 gallons of water were +shipped, besides a quantity of fresh provisions for the crew; and at +about 10 P.M. an answer arrived from the Governor to the despatch sent +on shore the previous evening by Lieutenant Chapman. + +It stated that the Captain-General of Cuba had given instructions as +follows:-- + +1. No cruiser of either party can bring their prizes into Spanish ports. + +2. If in any captures the territory of Cuba has been violated, the +Spanish courts will themselves judge of the matter. + +3. Any prizes will be detained until instructions can be had from the +Queen. + +These points being ascertained, the prizes already at anchor were left +to the care of the prize agent, Don Dias, and at about midnight the +Sumter hove up her anchor and again proceeded to sea. Nothing had as yet +been seen of the prize brig Cuba, which had been left in charge of a +prize crew a day or two before, nor, indeed, did she ever arrive at the +rendezvous, being recaptured by the enemy, and carried off to the United +States. + +Shortly after leaving Cienfuegos, a sail was descried in the offing, +which, however, on being overhauled, proved to be only a Spanish brig, +and the Sumter accordingly kept on her course, between 9 and 10 P.M. +passing the Cayman Islets, which, Captain Semmes remarks in his journal, +are laid down some fifteen or sixteen miles to the westward of their +real position. Daylight of the 9th July found the little Sumter +struggling against a strong trade wind and heavy sea, off the western +end of Jamaica, the blue mountains of which picturesque island remained +in sight during the entire day. + +At this period an accident occurred which for some time deprived the +Sumter of the active supervision of her commander. Always of delicate +constitution, and ill-fitted for the rough part he had now to play, he +had lately been still further weakened by illness; and on mounting the +companion-ladder, for the purpose of desiring that the vessel might not +be driven at so high a speed against the heavy head-sea, a sudden +giddiness came over him, and after leaning for a few moments with his +head upon his arm, altogether lost consciousness, and fell heavily +backwards down the companion to the cabin floor, where he lay for some +time in a state of insensibility. The result of this fall was some very +serious bruises, with a difficulty in breathing, which for some days +kept him confined to his hammock. At this time, however, the Sumter was +quite out of the ordinary track of commerce, and was labouring slowly +through a heavy sea against the steady and tenacious trade-wind at the +rate of little more than five knots an hour, making terrible inroads +upon the small supply of coal which was so precious to her. + +The 13th July found the trade-wind increased to a regular gale, the +Sumter making literally no way at all against the heavy head-sea. In +this state of affairs it was found necessary to abandon the previous +intention of making for Barbados, as there was not sufficient coal on +board to last the distance. This project, therefore, was given up, the +vessel's head turned from the sea, the fires let down, the ship got +under sail, and a new course shaped for Curacao. Here it was hoped that +a fresh supply of coal might be obtained, and the little Sumter +staggered along under a press of canvas towards her new destination, the +violent motion causing great distress to the captain, who was still +confined to his cabin, and almost entirely to his hammock. + +On the 15th July, the weather moderated for a time, and a warm sunny +afternoon, with comparatively little sea, gave an interval of rest. The +next morning saw the wind again blowing freshly, but at 9 A.M. land was +seen on the starboard bow, and at four in the afternoon the Sumter +passed the north end of the island of Curacao, running down the coast to +within about a mile of St. Anne's, where she arrived at a little after +seven o'clock. A gun was fired as a signal for a pilot, and soon after +one came off, promising to return again in the morning, and carry the +vessel into harbour. + +Morning came, and, true to his word, the pilot once more made his +appearance upon deck. But the remainder of his promise he was unable to +fulfil. "The Governor regrets," he said, in reply to Captain Semmes' +inquiries, "that he cannot permit you to enter, he having received +express orders to that effect." A little diplomacy, however, soon +removed the difficulty, which had arisen from the urgent representations +of the United States consul on the previous evening, aided, no doubt, by +a defective description of the vessel from the pilot. Lieutenant Chapman +was sent on shore with the following letter to the Governor:-- + + C.S. steamer Sumter, off St. Anne's, + Curacao, July 17th, 1861. + +HIS EXCELLENCY GOVERNOR CROL: + +Sir,--I was surprised to receive by the pilot this morning a message +from your Excellency to the effect, that this ship could not be +permitted to enter the harbour unless she was in distress, as your +Excellency had received orders from your Government not to admit vessels +of war of the Confederate States of America to the hospitality of the +ports under your Excellency's command. I must respectfully suggest that +there must be some mistake here, and I have sent to you the bearer, +Lieut. Chapman, C.S. Navy, for the purpose of an explanation. Your +Excellency must be under some misapprehension as to the character of +this vessel. She is a ship of war, duly commissioned by the Government +of the Confederate States, which States have been recognised as +belligerents in the present war by all the leading Powers of +Europe--viz., Great Britain, France, Spain, &c., as your Excellency must +be aware. It is true that these Powers have prohibited both belligerents +from bringing prizes into their several jurisdictions, but no one of +them has made a distinction either between the prizes or the cruisers +themselves of the belligerents, the cruisers of both Governments being +admitted to the hospitalities of the ports of all these great Powers on +terms of perfect equality. Am I to understand from your Excellency that +Holland has adopted a different rule, and that she not only excludes the +prizes, but the ships of war themselves of the Confederate States, and +this at the same time that she admits the cruisers of the United States, +thus departing from her neutrality in this war, ignoring the +Confederate States as belligerents, and aiding and assisting their +enemy? If this he the position which Holland has assumed in this +contest, I pray your Excellency to be kind enough to say as much to me +in writing. + +I have the honour to be, &c., &c. + +(Signed) R. SEMMES. + +Governor Crol, St. Anne's, Curacao. + + +This explanation removed all difficulties, and by 11 A.M. the requisite +permission had been obtained, and the Sumter was safely at anchor in the +lagoon. + +Here she lay for some days, surrounded by bum-boats filled with +picturesque natives of all colours, chattering like parrots, and almost +as gaudy in their plumage. Meanwhile the crew were hard at work +replenishing the coal-bunkers, filling up wood and water, taking in +fresh provisions, and effecting the necessary repairs after the late +cruise. While thus employed, a visit was received from a Venezuelan, who +in very good English represented himself as a messenger or agent of +President Castro, now in exile at Curacao with four of his cabinet +ministers. This emissary's object was to negotiate a passage in the +Sumter for Don Castro and some twenty of his officers, with arms, +ammunition, &c., to the mainland opposite. This proposition, however, +Captain Semmes politely but very promptly declined, on the grounds, +firstly, that he was not going in the direction indicated; and secondly, +that if he were, it would be an undue interference on the part of a +neutral with the revolutionary parties now contending for the control of +Venezuela. + +"It was remarked," he writes, "that Castro was the _de jure_ President;" +to which I replied, "that we did not look into these matters, the +opposite party being in _de facto_ possession of the government." + +At Curacao the Sumter remained until the 24th July, coaling, refitting, +provisioning, and allowing each of her crew in turn a short run on +shore, to recruit his spirits and get rid of his superfluous cash. At +noon on the 24th she was once more under way, leaving behind her, +however, one of her seamen, a worthless fellow of the name of John Orr, +who, enticed away, as was suspected, by a Yankee captain and the Yankee +keeper of a public-house, took the opportunity to make his escape from +the ship. The loss, however, was not of importance; and after one or two +slight attempts to trace him, the Sumter stood out of the harbour and +shaped her course towards Venezuela. + +Daybreak of the 25th July again presented to the eager eyes on board of +the Sumter the welcome apparition of a sail. Chase was immediately +given, and at half-past six the Abby Bradford, from New York to Puerto +Caballo, was duly seized and taken in tow, her Captain proceeding with +her upon her original course towards Puerto Caballo. It was late before +that place was reached, and the night was spent standing off and on +outside the harbour. With the return of day, however, the Sumter ran +once more along the shore; and, without waiting for a pilot, steered +boldly past the group of small, bold-looking islands, and dropped her +anchor in the port. + +No sooner was the anchor down than the following letter was despatched +to the Governor, asking permission to leave the prize until +adjudication:-- + + C.S. steamer Sumter. Puerto Caballo, + July 26th, 1861. + +Sir,--I have the honour to inform your Excellency of my arrival at this +port in this ship, under my command, and with the prize schooner Abby +Bradford, captured by me about seventy miles to the northward and +eastward. The Abby Bradford is the property of citizens of the United +States, with which States, as your Excellency is aware, the Confederate +States, which I have the honour to represent, are at war; and the cargo +would appear to belong also to citizens of the United States, who have +shipped it on consignment to a house in Puerto Caballo. Should any claim +be given, however, for the cargo, or any part of it, the question of +ownership can only be decided by the Prize Courts of the Confederate +States. In the meantime, I have the honour to request that your +Excellency will permit me to leave this prize vessel with her cargo in +the port of Puerto Caballo, until the question of prize can be +adjudicated by the proper tribunals of my country. This will be a +convenience to all parties, as well to any citizen of Venezuela who may +have an interest in the cargo, as to the captors, who have also valuable +interests to protect. + +In making this request, I do not propose that the Venezuelan Government +shall depart from a strict neutrality between the belligerents; as the +same rule it applies to us, it can give the other party the benefit of, +also. In other words, with the most scrupulous regard for the +neutrality, she may admit both belligerents to bring their prizes into +her waters; and of this neither belligerent can complain, since whatever +favour is extended to its enemy is extended also to itself. + +I have an additional and cogent reason for making this request, and that +is, that the rule of exclusion, although it might be applied in terms to +both belligerents, would not operate equally and justly upon them both. +It is well known to your Excellency that the Northern United States +(which are now making an aggressive and unjust war upon the Confederate +States, denying to the latter the right of self-government, which is +fundamental in all republics, and invading their territories for the +purpose of subjugation) are manufacturing and commercial states, whilst +the Confederate States have been thus far agricultural and planting +states; and that, as a consequence of this difference of pursuits, the +former States had in their possession at the commencement of this war +almost all the naval force of the old Government, which they have not +hesitated to seize and appropriate to their own use, although a large +proportion of it belonged of right to the Confederate States, which had +been taxed to create it. + +By means of this naval force, dishonestly seized as aforesaid, the enemy +has been enabled to blockade all the important ports of the Confederate +States. + +This blockade necessarily shuts out the cruisers of the Confederate +States from their own ports, and if foreign Powers shut them out also, +they can make no other use of their prizes than to destroy them. Thus +your Excellency sees that, under the rule of exclusion, the enemy could +enjoy his right of capture to its full extent, his own ports being all +open to him, whilst the cruisers of the Confederate States could enjoy +it _sub modo_ only, that is, for the purpose of destruction. A rule +which would produce such effects as this is not an equal or a just rule +(although it might in terms be extended to both parties); and as +equality and justice are of the essence of neutrality, I take it for +granted that Venezuela will not adopt it. + +On the other hand, the rule admitting both parties alike, with their +prizes, into your ports, until the Prize Courts of the respective +countries can have time to adjudicate the cases as they arrive, would +work equal and exact justice to both; and this is no more than the +Confederate States demand. + +With reference to the present case, as the cargo consists chiefly of +provisions which are perishable, I would ask leave to sell them at +public auction for the benefit of "whom it may concern," depositing the +proceeds with a suitable prize agent until the decision of the court can +be known. With regard to the vessel, I request that she may remain in +the custody of the same agent until condemned and sold. + +I have the honour to be, &c., &c. + +(Signed) R. SEMMES. + + His Excellency the Governor and Military Commander + of Puerto Caballo. + +To this, however, that functionary could not be induced to assent, his +reply being that such a proposition was altogether beyond his province +to entertain, and that the Sumter must take her departure within +four-and-twenty hours. At daylight, therefore, on the 27th, a prize crew +was sent on board of the Abby Bradford, with orders to proceed to New +Orleans, and at six o'clock the Sumter was again outside of the +inhospitable port of Puerto Caballo. + +The anchor was not fairly at the cathead when a sail was reported +seaward, which on capture proved to be the barque Joseph Maxwell, of +Philadelphia. The capture having taken place at about seven miles from +the port to which she was bound, and half of the cargo being the +property of a neutral owner, a boat was despatched with her master and +the paymaster of the Sumter to endeavour to effect negotiation. The +proposition was, that the owner of the neutral half of the cargo should +purchase at a small price the remaining half and the vessel herself, +which should then be delivered to him intact without delay. This little +arrangement, however, was somewhat summarily arrested by the action of +the Governor, who, much to Captain Semmes' astonishment, sent off orders +that the prize should at once be brought into port, there to remain in +his Excellency's custody, until a Venezuelan court should have decided +whether the capture had or had not been effected within the marine +league from the coast prescribed by international law! + +This somewhat extraordinary demand did not receive the respect or +obedience on which its promulgator had doubtless relied. Beating to +quarters, and with his men standing to their guns in readiness for +instant action, the Sumter stood out once more towards her prize; sent +the master and his family ashore in one of his own boats, put a prize +crew on board the Maxwell, and despatched her to a port at the south +side of Cuba. It is believed that these unfriendly demonstrations on the +part of the Governor of Puerto Caballo were owing to a fear that the +Sumter was in truth employed upon some such enterprise as that on which +the agent of Don Castro at Curacao had vainly endeavoured to engage her, +and was endeavouring to effect a landing for revolutionary troops. + +The Sumter now again stood away upon her course towards the eastward, +and at five in the evening came across an hermaphrodite brig, from whose +peak floated the hated but welcome stars and stripes. This time, +however, it was able to wave in safe defiance before the eyes of the +dreaded foe, for the sagacious master had kept carefully "within jumping +distance" of the shore, and the sacred "marine league of neutrality" +protected the vessel from the fate that had befallen so many of her +countrymen. + +The afternoon of the 28th July found the Sumter off the island of +Tortuga, and at eleven that evening the ship was hove to in thirty-two +fathoms of water off the eastern end of Margaritta. Two more days' run +along the Venezuelan coast, at times in so dense a fog that it was +necessary to run within a mile of the shore in order to "hold on" to the +land, and the Gulf of Bahia was reached. Following close on the track of +a vessel just arrived from Madeira, and acquainted with the harbour, the +Sumter held on her course through the Huero or Umbrella Passage, and +shortly after noon anchored off the town of Port of Spain, receiving as +she did so a salute from the ensign of an English brig passing out of +the harbour. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +_Excitement--Taking the bull by the horns--official visits--H.M.S. +Cadmus--Captain Semmes' commission--At sea again--A dull time--Wind and +current hostile--Cayenne--French politeness--False hopes--At +Paramaribo--A hot pursuit--A loyal Yankee--Doubtful security--Not to be +beaten--To sea again--A parting arrow_. + + +The arrival of the Sumter at Port of Spain appeared to create no small +excitement among the inhabitants, official and non-official, of that +little colony. The Governor at once proceeded to take legal opinion as +to the propriety of permitting the suspicious stranger to coal, and a +long leading article in the colonial paper gave expression to the +editor's serious doubts whether the Sumter were really what she +represented herself to be, a regularly commissioned vessel of war, and +not, after all, a privateer. The legal advisers of the Governor seem to +have reported favourably on Captain Semmes' request, for permission was +given to take on board the requisite supplies, and the Sumter's coaling +proceeded, though not with much rapidity. + +The morning of the 2nd August introduced on board a visitor of a new +description. Through the heavy tropical rain which had been pouring +almost incessantly since the arrival of the Sumter, covering the calm +water of the harbour with little dancing jets, and drumming on the +steamer's decks the most unmusical of tattoos, a little dingy was seen +approaching, and in due time brought alongside of the Confederate +man-of-war the master of a Baltimore brig, which, was lying at anchor +some little distance off. The worthy skipper had heard of the terrible +doings of his new neighbour, and in no little anxiety for his own fate +had determined to take the bull by the horns, and inquire on board the +Sumter herself whether he would be permitted to depart without +molestation. Great was the poor, man's delight when he was hailed as a +native of a sister State, and informed that Maryland, though compelled +by superior force to maintain an apparent allegiance to her enemy, was +still considered a friend by her natural allies of the South, and that +strict orders had therefore been given to Set her commerce pass +unharmed. With a lightened heart he returned on board his vessel, and +the Baltimore brig went on her way rejoicing. + +The afternoon of the same day brought two more visitors in the persons +of two English officers in mufti; but the international courtesy did not +extend so far as returning the official visit made on Captain Semmes' +behalf by Lieutenant Chapman, and Government-house remained +unrepresented on board the Sumter. "His Excellency," it is to be feared, +had taken offence at the slight passed upon his official position by +Captain Semmes, in not having taken care to recover his health and +strength sufficiently early to be able to make the official visit in +person! + +The morning of the 4th August would have seen the Sumter again under way +but for some informality in the paymaster's vouchers, which had to be +rectified; and during the delay thus occasioned, H.M. ship Cadmus +entered the harbour, and the Sumter's departure was postponed with the +object of communicating with her. Accordingly, a lieutenant was sent on +board the new arrival, the visit being promptly returned by an officer +of similar rank from the Cadmus, who, after exchanging the usual +civilities, delivered himself of a polite message from Captain Hillyer, +to the effect, that as the Sumter was the first vessel he had as yet +fallen in with under the flag of the Confederate States, he would be +obliged if Captain Semmes would favor him with a sight of his +commission. To this, of course, the latter had no objection; and the +demands of courtesy having been satisfied by the previous production of +the English lieutenant's commission, that of Captain Semmes was duly +exhibited, and the ceremonial visitor departed. + +The next morning brought Captain Hillyer himself on board, and a long +conversation ensued on the war and various kindred topics, the English +Captain leaving behind him a most agreeable impression. The visit over, +steam was once more got up on board the Sumter, and at 1 P.M. she +steamed out through the eastern or Mona Island passage, and running down +the picturesque coast, with its mountain sides uncultivated but covered +with numerous huts, passed at ten o'clock that evening between Trinidad +and Tobago, and entered once more upon the broad North Atlantic. + +For some days the time now hung somewhat heavily upon the hands of the +little community. A solitary brigantine only was seen, and she so far to +windward, that with the short supply of coal afforded by the not +overscrupulous merchants of Port of Spain, it was not thought worth +while to incur the expense and delay of a chase. The Sumter was now +terribly in need of an excitement. Not a living thing was in sight, but +the glittering schools of flying fish which ever and anon darted into +view, and skimming rapidly over their surface sank again beneath the +waves, only to be once more driven for a brief refuge to the upper air +by their unseen but relentless enemies below. Drill and exercise were +now the order of the day during the hours of light, and as the sun set +and the tropic night came rushing swiftly up over the yet glowing sky, +chessboards and backgammon-boards were brought out, and discussions, +social, political, and literary, divided the long hours of inaction with +the yarn and the song, and other mild but not ineffectual distractions +of life at sea. + +Still it was with feelings of no small satisfaction that "green water" +was again reached, and the Sumter found herself within about ninety +miles of the (Dutch) Guiana coast. Hopes were now entertained of soon +reaching Maranham, but the next day showed them to be fallacious. A +strong northerly current had set in, and, in addition to this drawback, +it was discovered that the defalcations of the Port of Spain coal +merchants were more serious than had been supposed, and there was not +sufficient fuel left for the run. Next day matters were worse rather +than better. The northerly current was running at the extraordinary rate +of sixty miles in the twenty-four hours, a speed equal to that of the +Gulf Stream in its narrowest part. Only three days' fuel remained, and +making allowance for the northerly set, there were fully 550 miles to be +accomplished before Maranham could be reached. + +Still the Sumter held patiently on her course in hopes of a change; but +no change came. Wind and current were as hostile as ever, and the +observations of the 11th August giving lat. 2 deg. 38' N., long. 47 deg. 48' W., +the question of the voyage to Maranham, or even to Para, appeared +definitely settled, and letting his fires go down, Captain Semmes put up +his helm, made all sail, and stood away on a N.W. course, hoping to find +a fresh supply of coal at some of the ports of Guiana under his lee. + +The afternoon of that day saw the sky clear, the sea almost calm, and +the little Sumter, rolling along on the long, lazy swell, with all her +starboard studding-sails set, at about three or four knots an hour, +towards Cape Orange, from which point it was intended to make her way +into Cayenne. + +Here she arrived on the 15th August, but her hopes were again doomed to +disappointment. On coming to anchor, officers were at once despatched +with the usual complimentary messages to the Governor, and a request to +be informed whether the vessel could be supplied with coal. These +officers, however, were not permitted to land, the reason given being, +that they were without a clean bill of health from their last port. It +was in vain to represent the perfect state of health of the crew, and +the length of time they had been at sea. The official mind was closed +against any argument but that of the _consigne_. Five days' quarantine +were ordered, and five days' quarantine must be undergone, before the +salubrious shores of Cayenne could be exposed to the danger of infection +from the new comers; and as the authorities accompanied this fiat with +the statement, that there was no coal to be had in the place even for +the supply of their own government vessels, our captain determined to +make no further trial upon the discussion, but to seek his supplies +elsewhere. + +The afternoon of the next day brought the Sumter to the coast of (Dutch) +Guiana; but there being no pilot to be found, she was compelled to come +to an anchor in about four fathoms of water. Here, as the sun set, the +dark smoke of a steamer was discovered against the glowing sky, and +suspicion was at once aroused that the new comer must be a Yankee +cruiser on the look-out for the Confederate "pirates." The drums beat to +quarters on board of the little Sumter; decks were cleared for action; +ports were triced up, guns run out, and every preparation made to give +the supposed enemy a warm reception. Darkness had closed in as the +suspected vessel approached; the thump, thump, thump of her screw +sounding plainly on the still night air. Silently she approached the +watchful cruiser, steering completely round her anchorage, as though +herself suspicious of the character of her new companion. No hostile +demonstration, however, followed; the night was too dark to distinguish +friend from foe; and the strange sail having come to anchor at some +little distance from the Sumter, and evincing no disposition to assume +the offensive, the guns were run in again, and the men were at length +dismissed to the hammocks. + +Early next morning steam was again got up on board the Confederate +cruiser, which ran down under French colours for a closer examination of +the stranger, who was lying quietly at anchor about two miles in-shore +of her. As the Sumter approached she also mounted the tricolor, at the +sight of which the pretended nationality of the cruiser was laid aside, +and the stars and bars flew out gaily from her mizen-peak. The Frenchman +appeared much pleased at having thus fallen in with the celebrated +Sumter; and being, like her, bound into Paramaribo, and of considerably +lighter draught, invited her to follow him into the river, where a pilot +might be obtained. + +Arrived in Paramaribo the Sumter received tidings of the United States +steamer Keystone State, which had been "in pursuit" of her for some +time. This vessel was not very much larger than the Sumter, and their +crews and armaments were very nearly equal, so there were great hopes on +board the Confederate of a brush with the enemy on something like equal +terms. These hopes, however, like so many others, were doomed to +disappointment. By some fatality the Keystone State could never manage +to come up with her quarry. While the latter had been coaling at +Trinidad, she was performing a similar operation at Barbados, arriving +thence at Trinidad after the Sumter had sailed. From this port she again +started "in pursuit," but her chances of overtaking her enemy may +perhaps have been somewhat affected by the fact, that on learning that +the Sumter had started eastward, she at once followed upon a westerly +track, which, doubtless to the great grief of her commander and crew, +somehow failed to bring her alongside of the vessel of which she was in +search.[2] + +[Footnote 2: The writer of the Notes in the _Index_ remarks on this +curious proceeding:--"Rather a strange idea we thought. It put us in +mind of a sportsman in California who was very anxious to kill a grisly +bear. At length he found the trail, and after following it for some +hours gave it up and returned to camp. On being questioned why he did +not follow in pursuit, he quietly replied that the trail was getting +_too fresh_. It must have been so with the Keystone State--the trail was +getting too fresh."] + +But if the United States war vessels were somewhat eccentric in their +notion of a hot pursuit, it must be admitted that the United States +consuls and other agents on shore were by no means equally scrupulous. +Every possible expedient to prevent the Sumter from obtaining the +necessary supplies of coal was tried by the consul at Paramaribo, but +with less success than his strenuous exertions deserved. His first idea +was to buy up all the coal in the port, and a handsome price was +offered--in bonds on the United States government--for that purpose. But +with singular blindness to their own interests the merchants of +Paramaribo declined to put their trust in these bonds, and the ready +money not being forthcoming the hopeful scheme was compelled to be +abandoned. Undismayed by this first failure, the gallant Yankee next +sought to charter all the lighters by which the coal could be conveyed +on board, and here he was very nearly successful. One or two of the +owners however declined to be bought up, and in the lighters supplied +by them the process of coaling commenced. Still the persevering consul +was not to be beaten. Failing the owners of the contumacious barges, +their crews were yet accessible to the gentle influences at his command, +and some forty tons of coal found their way to the bottom of the +harbour, instead of to the Sumter's bunkers for which they had been +destined. + +At length, however, in spite of both active Yankee and dilatory +Dutchmen, the operation was completed, and the little Sumter once more +ready for sea. Even now, however, she was not to get away without a +parting arrow from her indefatigable enemy. On the morning of her +proposed departure the captain's negro servant went on shore as usual +for the day's marketing, when he was waylaid by the worthy Yankee and +persuaded indefinitely to postpone his return. Poor fellow! if his fate +was anything like that of thousands of others "set free" by their +so-called friends of the North, he must have long ere this most bitterly +repented his desertion. + +There was no time, however, to spare for searching after the runaway, so +after a brief conference with the authorities, who were apparently not +over anxious for his arrest, the Sumter got up steam and once more +proceeded in the direction of Maranham. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +_Leave Paramaribo--Across the equator--A day of misfortunes--On a +sandbank--A narrow escape--Maranham--A Yankee protest--Bold +assertions--A visit to the President--News--False alarms--Paying +bills--A patriot--Off again--A prize--The Joseph Park--News of Bull +Run--A sad birthday._ + + +A whole month had thus been lost through the failure of the Sumter's +coal off the mouth of the Amazon. News, too, had been received at +Paramaribo that six or seven large fast steamers were in hot pursuit; +and as it was not likely that all of these--the larger, perhaps, more +especially--would adopt the tactics of the Keystone State, it was an +object with the solitary little object of their vengeance to make the +best of her way to some safer cruising ground. + +On the 31st August, then, she took her final leave of Paramaribo, and +running some eight or nine miles off the coast in a northerly direction +as a blind, altered her course to east half-south, with the intention of +avoiding the current by which she had on the former occasion been so +baffled, by keeping along the coast in soundings where its strength +would be less felt. + +The 4th September found her well past the mouth of the Amazon, bowling +along under all fore-and-aft sails, with bright, clear weather, and a +fresh trade-wind from about east by south. This was about her best point +of sailing, and there being no longer any current against her, her log +showed a run of 175 miles in the twenty-four hours. On the same day a +strange sail was seen, but time and coal were now too valuable to be +risked, and the temptation to chase was resisted. In the evening the +equator was crossed, and the little Sumter bade farewell to the North +Atlantic, and entered on a new sphere of operations. + +The 5th September was a day of misfortunes. The weather was thick and +lowering; the wind rapidly increasing; to half a gale, and the little +vessel straining heavily at her anchor. In heaving up, a sudden jerk +broke it short off at the shank, the metal about the broken part proving +to have been very indifferent. She now ran very cautiously and anxiously +towards the light, and into the bay, no pilot being in sight. For some +time all went well, and the chief dangers appeared to be over, when +suddenly the vessel ran with a heavy shock upon a sandbank, knocking off +a large portion of her false keel, and for the moment occasioning +intense anxiety to all on board. Fortunately, however, the bank was but +a narrow ridge, and the next sea carried the little vessel safely across +it, and out of danger. Much speculation, however, was excited by this +unlooked-for mishap, but a careful examination of the ship's position on +the chart failed to elucidate the mystery: the part of the bay where the +Sumter had struck being marked as clear ground. It was fortunate, at all +events, that the vessel escaped clear, for within the next hour and a +half the tide fell five feet, which with so heavy a load as that on +board the Sumter could not but have occasioned a terrible strain had she +been lying on the top of the bank. + +Finding the soundings still so irregular as to threaten further danger, +the Sumter now came to an anchor, and some fishing boats being perceived +on the shore at a little distance, a boat was despatched which speedily +returned with a fisherman, who piloted her safely to the town of +Maranham. She was visited by a Brazilian naval officer, who +congratulated her captain not a little on his fortunate escape, the +Brazilian men-of war never thinking of attempting the passage without a +coast pilot. + +The day following that on which the Sumter arrived at Maranham was the +Brazilian Independence Day. The town put on its gayest appearance; +men-of-war and merchantmen tricked themselves out with flags from deck +to truck, while the guns of the former thundered a salute across the +ordinarily quiet bay. Amidst their universal demonstration the Sumter +alone remained unmoved. The nation whose flag she bore had not yet been +recognised by the Brazilian government, and it would therefore have been +the height of incongruity to sport the slightest bunting on such an +occasion. The more so as the good folks of Maranham, though to all +appearance personally well disposed towards the Confederates, were in +such dread of officially committing themselves, that they did not +venture to invite the officers of the newly-arrived vessel to the grand +ball given by the authorities in honour of the day. + +On Monday, the 9th September, Captain Semmes took up his quarters on +shore, and proceeded to make a formal call on the President of the +Department. That functionary, however, pleaded indisposition, appointing +the hour of noon on the following day for the desired interview. +Meanwhile Captain Semmes had hardly returned to his comfortable quarters +at the Hotel do Porto, ere he, in his turn, received a visit from +Captain Pinto of the Brazilian navy, and the Chief of Police, a +confidential friend of the President--the object of these gentlemen +being to read to him a formal protest from the consul of the United +States to the government, against the Sumter's being permitted to +receive coal or other supplies in the port. Amongst other equally bold +statements this document asserted that the Confederate cruiser had not +been permitted to enter the ports of any other European power. +Assertions like these were of course easily disposed of, and it was +agreed that the question should be discussed at the morrow's interview. +The account of this discussion had, perhaps, better be given in Captain +Semmes' own words:-- + +_Tuesday, September 11th_.--Called upon the President at twelve, and was +admitted to an interview; the Chief of Police and Captain Pinto being +present. I exhibited to the President my commission, and read to him a +portion of my instructions, to show him that it was the desire of the +Confederate States to cultivate friendly relations with other powers, +and to pay particular respect to neutral property and rights; and the +better to satisfy him that he might supply me with coal without a +departure from neutrality, and to contradict the false sentiments of the +United States Consul, I exhibited to him a newspaper from Trinidad, +setting forth the fact that the question of the propriety of supplying +me with coal in that island, had been formally submitted to the law +officers of the Crown, and decided in my favour, &c. + +The President then announced to me that I might purchase whatever +supplies I wanted, coal included, munitions of war only excepted. I then +stated to him that this war was in fact a war as much in behalf of +Brazil as of ourselves, and that if we were beaten in the contest, +Brazil would be the next one to be assailed by Yankee propagandists. +These remarks were favourably received, the three gentlemen evidently +sympathizing with us. + +Captain Semmes continues his short diary as follows:-- + +Fresh wind and cloudy. Painting ship, and making preparations for the +reception of coal. We are looking anxiously for the arrival of the Rio +mail steamer, as we have a report brought by a Portuguese vessel from +Pernambuco that a great battle has been fought; that we have beaten the +enemy; and that we have marched upon Washington. God grant that our just +cause may thus have triumphed! The whole town is agog discussing our +affairs. Different parties take different views of them: the opposition +party in the legislature, which is in session, being disposed to censure +the government for its reception of us. + +_Thursday, September 12th_.--Clear, with passing clouds; trade-wind +fresh, as usual at this season of the year. Indeed, these winds will +continue to increase in force until December, when they will gradually +give place to the rains. It has been a favourite project of mine from +the commencement of the cruise, to run off Cape St. Roque, and there +waylay the commerce of the enemy in its transit both ways; but the +strong gales and strong current which now prevail, will interfere for +the present with my plan, and I must postpone it for awhile. If the war +continues I shall hope to put it in execution at the proper time. It was +at one time reported to-day that there were two United States vessels of +war awaiting us outside, off Santa Anna; but the report proved to be the +offspring of the excited imaginations of the townspeople. Had a +conversation this evening with Senor Rodrigues, an intelligent lawyer +and the Speaker of the Deputies, on the subject of the war. I found him +pretty well informed, considering that he had received his information +through the polluted channels of the Northern newspapers. + +He seemed to think that we had been _precipitate_ in breaking off our +connexion with the North; but I told him we had been the most patient, +long-suffering people in the world, and waited till the last moment +possible, in hope that the fanaticism which swayed the North would have +passed away; and that the responsibility of breaking up the once great +government of the North rested entirely upon the propagandists of that +section. + +_Friday, September 13th_.--Cloudy, with the wind very fresh from the +eastward. The town is still busy discussing our affairs. A deputy asked +me seriously yesterday if the President had not ordered me to haul my +flag down, as not being recognised. He said that the Assembly had called +upon him for an explanation of the course he had adopted towards us, but +that he had declined to respond. + +It is reported, too, that there are two ships of war awaiting us outside +near the Santa Anna light. + +_Saturday, September 14th._--Cloudy, with fresh trades. Having finished +coaling and receiving our other supplies, we are engaged to-day in +paying off our bills. I have been enabled to negotiate a draft for two +thousand dollars upon the Secretary of the Navy; Mr. T. Wetson, one of +our fellow-countrymen temporarily here, having been patriotic enough to +advance me this sum on the faith of his government. He not only thus +aided us, but was very anxious to come on board in person, if he could +have wound up his business in time. In the evening at 7 P.M. I removed +on board from the Hotel do Porto, preparatory to going to sea to-morrow. + + * * * * * + +On Sunday, the 15th September, the Sumter was again under way, and +passed out of the harbour in charge of a pilot, Mr. Wetson accompanying +her until she was fairly outside. No Yankee vessels were found, as had +been reported, and the pilot being discharged, and a warm farewell +exchanged with Mr. Wetson, the Sumter stood away upon a north-east +course in the direction of her proposed cruising-ground in the calm belt +between the trades, the Cape San Roque project being for the present +abandoned. A dull time now commenced, great difficulty being experienced +in forcing the vessel towards her cruising-ground against the current, +which at times would carry her out of her course at the rate of more +than fifty miles a day. Whilst thus beating wearily and patiently +towards the station where it was hoped that more prizes might be +obtained, a curious phenomenon was observed, of which the following +account is given in the journal:-- + +_Monday, September 23d_.--Clear, with passing clouds. Wind right from +the south-east, veering and hauling two or three points. We have +experienced in the last two or three days a remarkable succession of +tide lips, coming on every twelve hours, and about an hour before the +passage of the moon over the meridian. We have observed five of these +lips, and with such regularity, that we attribute them to the lunar +influence attracting the water in an opposite direction from the +prevailing current, which is east, at the rate of some two miles per +hour. We had a small gull fly on board of us to-day at the distance of +five hundred miles from the nearest land. The tide lips came up from the +south and travelled north, approaching first with a heavy swell, which +caused us, being broadside on, to roll so violently that we kept the +ship off her course from two to three points to bring the roller more on +the quarter. These rollers would be followed by a confused tumultuous +sea, foaming and fretting in every direction, as if we were among +breakers. We were in fact among breakers, though fortunately with no +bottom near. No boat could have lived in such a cauldron as was produced +by this meeting of the waters. They generally passed us in about three +quarters of an hour, when everything became comparatively smooth again. +No observation to-day for latitude, but by computation we are in +latitude 5.25 N. and longitude (chronometer) 42.19 W. Current east by +north 58 miles. So curious were the phenomena of the lips that the +officers and men came on deck upon their approach to witness them. + + * * * * * + +It was many a long week now since the sight of an enemy had gladdened +the eyes of the Sumter's little crew, when, on the 25th of September, +the welcome cry of "Sail, ho!" was once more heard from the masthead. +Steam was at once got up, and the United States colors displayed from +the Confederate cruiser. A short pause of expectation, an eager scrutiny +of the stranger, as the blue and red bunting fluttered for a few moments +upon his deck, while his men were busy with the signal halyards, and +then a joyous cheer greeted the well-known stars and stripes, as they +rose above her bulwarks, and mounted slowly to her mizen peak. + +She was not a very valuable prize, being merely a small brigantine, +called the Joseph Park, of Boston, six days out from Pernambuco, in +ballast. But she was the first fruits of a fresh cruise, and right +joyously did the boat's crew pull on board her to haul down the enemy's +flag, and replace it with the saucy stars and bars.[3] + +[Footnote 3: The author of the "Notes" in the _Index_ writes:-- + +"The officer who boarded the Joseph Park asked the captain if he had +cargo. 'No.'--'Have you any specie?' 'Not a dollar.'--'Then, captain, +you must get into the boat, and go with me on board the Sumter.' 'What +are you going to do with me when I get on board?' The officer told him +it would depend entirely upon circumstances; that if he behaved himself, +and did not try to conceal anything, he would receive kind treatment; +that it all depended upon himself 'Well,' said he, 'captain' (he called +the officer who had boarded him captain) 'I _have_ got a thousand +dollars down below, and I guess I had better give it to you.' So he went +below, and from out of some little hole took the bag containing the +gold. The officer asked him why he had hidden the money, as we had the +United States colours up. He said he thought it was the Sumter, and +wanted to be on the safe side. The whole scene between the officer and +the captain of the Joseph Park was ludicrous in the extreme. The answers +to questions with that Yankee nasal twang and Yankee cunning, the +officer seeing through it and enjoying it all the while, made many jokes +in our mess afterwards."] + +This done, the crew were transferred to the captain's vessel, and a +prize crew passed on board of the Joseph Park, with instructions to keep +within sight of the Sumter, and signal her immediately on perceiving any +suspicious sail. So the two cruised for some days in company, the Joseph +Park keeping to windward during the day, and at night running down under +cover of the Sumter's guns. This capture was none the less welcome for +the news she brought in a file of recent papers from Pernambuco, of the +first victory of the South at Manassas, or Bull Run, as well as of the +successes achieved in Missouri over the troops of General Lyon. Poor +Joseph Park! she had little anticipated her fate, and not a little +amusement was created among her captors by an entry in her log of the +day after leaving Pernambuco:--"We have a tight, fast vessel, and we +don't care for Jeff. Davis!" "My unfortunate prisoner," remarks Captain +Semmes, "had holloa'd before he was out of the wood." + +The journal continues:-- + +_Friday, September 27th._--This is my fifty-second birthday, and so the +years roll on, one by one, and I am getting to be an old man! Thank God, +that I am still able to render service to my country in her glorious +struggle for the right of self-government, and in defence of her +institutions, her property, and everything a people hold sacred. We have +thus far beaten the Vandal hordes that have invaded and desecrated our +soil; and we shall continue to beat them to the end. The just God of +Heaven, who looks down upon the quarrels of men, will avenge the right. +May we prove ourselves in this struggle worthy of Him and of our great +cause! My poor distressed family! How fondly my thoughts revert to them +to-day! My dear wife and daughters, instead of preparing the accustomed +"cake" to celebrate my birthday, are mourning my absence, and dreading +to hear of disaster. May our Heavenly Father console, cherish, and +protect them! + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +_A dull time--"Sail, oh-h-h!"--An exciting chase--No prize--A +gale--Jack's holiday--A new cruising-ground--Dead calm--An enlightened +Frenchman--A near thing--Patience!--The Daniel Trowbridge--A lucky +haul--In closer--Double Duns--The prize schooner's revenge--Good news +from home--An apology--In hopes of a fight--Disappointment--The West +India station--Another blank--Martinique_. + + +Another dull time now set in. On the 28th September the prize crew were +recalled from the Joseph Park, which, after doing duty for some hours +longer as a look-out ship, was finally at nightfall, set on fire, and +burned to the water's edge. And now day after day passed by, unrelieved +save by the little common incidents of a peaceful voyage. + +One day it would be a flying-fish that had leaped on board, and paid the +penalty of its indiscretion by doing duty next morning on the captain's +breakfast-table; another day a small sword-fish performed a similar +exploit; while on a third a heavy rain provided the great unwashed of +the forecastle with the unaccustomed luxury of copious ablutions in +fresh water. But not a sail was to be seen. Once only a simultaneous cry +from half-a-dozen sailors of "Light on the starboard bow!" produced a +temporary excitement, and caused the engineers to "fire up" at their +utmost speed. But the alarm proved false. The red light that had been so +confidently reckoned on as the port lantern of some steamer moving +across the Sumter's bows, was at length set down as a mere meteor, or it +might be some star setting crimson through the dim haze of the distant +horizon. Luck seemed quite to have deserted the Confederate flag. They +were lying in the very track of vessels between San Roque and New York. +Allowing a space of seventy-five miles on either side of the Sumter's +station as the extent of this track, and calculating upon a radius of +observation from her masthead of fifteen miles, one-fifth of the whole +number passing should certainly have come within her ken. Yet in the +course of seventeen weary days one vessel only had been seen, and the +Sumter's stock of patience was beginning to run very low. + +At length, at ten o'clock on the morning of the 5th October, the welcome +cry was again heard. "Sail, oh--h--h!" was shouted from the masthead +with a lengthened emphasis, as though the look-out would mark the +unusual fact with a special note of admiration. The stranger was dead to +windward, and miles away, probably some seventeen or eighteen at the +very least. But not a moment was lost in starting in pursuit. Steam was +got up, sails furled, the vessel's head brought round in the direction +of the chase, and in less than half an hour from the first announcement +of her appearance, the Sumter was dashing through the water at +top-speed in pursuit. + +The chase was long and animated. At first starting the stranger had all +the advantage of a stiff, steady breeze, whilst the Sumter was compelled +to trust altogether to her powers of steaming; and the former, being a +fine, fast vessel, appeared, if anything, rather to gain upon her +pursuer. Gradually, however, as the two vessels changed their relative +bearings, the Sumter also was enabled to avail herself of her fore and +aft canvas, and now she began to gain rapidly upon the chase. Three +hours and a quarter passed in this exciting contest; but at length the +pursuer had come fairly within range, and the chase was over. Up went +the Stars and Stripes to the Sumter's peak, and the usual pause of +excited expectation ensued; when, after bungling awhile with his signal +halyards, as though playing with his pursuer's hopes and fears, the red +ensign of England rose defiantly from the deck, and there was to be no +prize after all. + +Very indignant was the captain of the Spartan at being hove-to by a +Yankee, and great was the amusement of the boarding officer as he was +welcomed with the observation that "the Northerners were catching h----" + +"How so?" inquired he. + +"Why by getting themselves so badly whipped by the Southerners." + +It was observed that the worthy speaker appeared somewhat surprised at +the perfect good-humour and satisfaction with which the intelligence was +received. + +The night now set in wet and wild. The wind increased to a moderate gale +with a remarkably heavy sea, and violent rain-squalls passing at +intervals over the vessel. The little Sumter rolled and pitched about as +though she, too, were weary of the long period of inaction, and +determined to effect some kind of diversion on her own account. Morning +broke heavy and threatening, with the barometer at 29-87; and by noon it +was blowing a whole gale, and the ship labouring so heavily that the +ceremony of mustering the hands and reading the Articles of War, +customary on the first Sunday of every month, was perforce dispensed +with, and "Jack"--as usual, when bad weather has fairly set in, and the +ship has been made snug--got his holiday. + +Towards night the gale, which had hauled gradually round from E.N.E. to +S.E. and S.S.E. in the course of some eight or ten hours, began to +moderate. By the next morning it had altogether broken, and though the +clouds were still leaden, and the sea ran high after the blow of +yesterday, the Sumter was once more able to make sail; and shaking the +reefs out of her topsails, she stood away again towards the S.S.E. + +The end of the week saw her well upon her way towards a new cruising +ground, the Western side of the crossing having been fairly given up as +a hopeless job, and Captain Semmes shaping his course for the Eastern +crossing. At noon on Saturday, the 12th October, the new station was +reached, the vessel's position on that day being in lat. 6.56 N., long. +44.41 W.; the weather calm, the sun shining dimly through a greyish veil +of mist, and the little steamer rolling from side to side upon the long, +heaving swells, her yards creaking and her sails flapping heavily +against the masts with that dull, hopeless sound, more trying to the +sailor than the fiercest gale. + +Gales and calms--sunshine and rain-squalls--long rolling swell--heavy +sea, and not a break in the monotonous round. Thirty-eight days out, and +in all that time but two vessels spoken and one solitary prize! + +_Thursday, October 24th_.--Cloudy, with the wind from the eastward. At +half-past six in the morning descried a sail in the north east. Got up +steam and gave chase. At nine came up with a brig, which proved to be a +Frenchman, La Mouche Noire, from Nantes to Martinique. Sent a boat on +board of him. He had no newspapers, and said he knew the United States +were at war--we had the United States colours flying--but with whom he +did not know. Enlightened Frenchman! Or this may teach us a lesson of +humility, as showing us how little is thought in Europe of the American +Revolution. The brig was a clumsy specimen of architecture, and was out +forty-two days. We detained her less than half-an-hour, and permitted +her to go on her course again. Our ill-luck seems to culminate; for two +out of the only three sail we have seen in thirty-nine days have proved +to be foreign. + +_Friday, October 25th_.--Fresh breeze from the north, and trade-wind +weather. Morning, a few rain-squalls, clearing, but with passing clouds, +as the sun gained altitude. Afternoon heavy, overcast sky, with half a +gale of wind. At 2.50 P.M. descried a sail on the starboard-quarter, +bearing about S.E. Got up steam and gave chase, and at 5 P.M. came up +with her. Fired a blank cartridge and spoke a Prussian ship, which I +caused to heave-to for the purpose of sending a boat on board of him; +but, as in the meantime the wind freshened, and considerable sea had +arisen, and as I had no doubts of the character of the ship, I gave him +leave to fill away and proceed on his course (to some one of the +Windward Islands) without boarding him. As I was rounding the ship to, +near this vessel, we came so near a collision that my heart stood still +for a moment as the bows of the huge, heavy-laden ship passed our +quarter, almost near enough to graze it. If she had been thrown upon us +by one of the heavy seas that were running, we should probably have been +cut down to the water's edge and sunk in a few minutes. This will give +me a lesson as to the space my long ship requires to turn in when she +has a sea on the quarter or bow. We are forty days out to-day, have seen +four sails, and three of the four have proved to be foreign. I am not +discouraged, however, but I have had an excellent opportunity to +practise the Christian virtue of patience, which virtue I think I am a +little deficient in. + +_Sunday, October 27th_.--A beautiful clear day, with a light breeze from +the E.N.E., and a few summer-like passing trade-clouds. Mustered the +crew. Two sail in one day! 8.30 A.M. A sail was descried in the S.E. We +immediately gave chase with all sail, and added steam to sails in about +an hour and a half. We came up with the chase about 3 P.M.; the vessel +proving very fast. We showed, as usual, the United States colours, the +chase showing the same. Fired a blank cartridge and ordered him to +heave-to. Sent a boat on board and captured him, hauling down the United +States and hoisting our own flag as our officer got on board. She proved +to be the schooner Daniel Trowbridge, of New Haven, Connecticut, from +New York to Demerara, with a cargo of provisions; cargo belonging to +same owner as vessel, D. Trowbridge, of Connecticut. Sent a prize crew +on board, and left in pursuit of another sail that had been descried in +the meantime, with which we came up at dark. She proved to be a +brigantine from Nova Scotia to Demerara (English). Permitted her to +proceed on her course. Banked fires, and put the ship under sail, with a +light at the peak, and the prize in company. + +_Monday, October 28th_.--Fine clear weather, with a moderate sea and a +light breeze. Called the prize within hail; hoisted out the long-boat +and sent her alongside and commenced receiving provisions. I felt truly +thankful to a kind Providence for this windfall, for we were running +short of provisions--beef bad, and weevily bread. And here were more +than we needed, and of the best. Pork, beef, hams, flour, bread, +crackers (biscuits), &c.; this was truly a Yankee cargo, there being a +large number of pigs, sheep, and geese on board. A busy, bustling day, +with boats passing to and fro, and men busy on both ships with boxes, +barrels, &c. To get at the cargo we threw overboard the superincumbent +articles, and strewed the sea with Connecticut wooden ware and brooms. + +_Tuesday, October 29th_.--Another favourable day for unloading the +prize. Wind light from the East, and not too much sea on. We are filling +up with five months' provisions. In the meantime we are enjoying the +luxury, far away out at sea and forty-three days from port, of fresh +meat; the sheep on board the prize being in excellent condition, and I +have them slaughtered in sufficient numbers for the crew. At noon the +sky becoming overcast; lat. 16.54 N., long. 57.33 W. + +_Wednesday, October 30th_.--A beautiful serene day, with a light breeze +from the S.E. and a smooth sea. At 7 A.M., "Sail, ho!" from aloft. +Despatched a couple of boats to the prize schooner to bring away some of +the live stock, and sent orders to the prize master to set fire to the +prize and return on board. These orders being all executed and the boats +run up, at 8.30, steamed in pursuit of the strange sail. At eleven came +up with, and sent a boat on board of the Danish brig Una, from +Copenhagen to Santa Cruz, sixty-nine days out. Permitted her to proceed +on her course after a detention of about half-an-hour. We showed her the +United States colours. This evening, having directed the junior +lieutenant to send to the master of the prize schooner Daniel +Trowbridge, for the log slates of the schooner which he, the master, had +put among his private baggage, it was reported to me that the master in +delivering these articles to the messenger, the sergeant of marines, +used this insolent language--"D---- them. I hope they will do them no +good, and if they want a shirt I can lend them that too." I had the man +seized and put in double irons. Lat. 16.40 N., long. 58.16 W. + +_Thursday, October 31st_.--Beautiful clear weather, with a light +breeze from the North and East. Got up and sunned the ball cartridges, +some of which had been damaged by the damp, and overhauled the pumps +which had gotten out of order. At 2 A.M. a light having been reported to +me, I ordered steam gotten up and made pursuit. As we came up with it, +we found it to be a burning fragment of the schooner which we had fired +eighteen hours before. Banked fires. We have been greatly interested +since our last capture in examining a lot of newspapers found on board. +They are as late as the 8th October, and give us most cheering accounts +of the war. We have gloriously whipped the enemy at all points, and have +brought Missouri and Kentucky out of the Union. The tone of the European +press is highly favourable to our cause, and indicates a prompt +recognition of our independence. And all this cheering information we +get from the enemy himself! Lat. 16.54 N., long. 57.59 W. The master of +the prize schooner Trowbridge, having made a very humble apology for his +conduct of yesterday, and asked to be released from confinement, I +directed him to be discharged from close custody and to have his irons +taken off. + +The Daniel Trowbridge, however, was the last prize that fell to the +Sumter's lot on this cruise. She was now in the full track of vessels +crossing the Line, and scarcely a day passed without one or more being +overhauled; but the Stars and Stripes appeared to have vanished from the +seas. Vessel after vessel was brought-to, now English, now French, now +belonging to some one or other of the innumerable neutral nations, but +not a Yankee was to be seen, and the ship's company began almost to +weary of their profitless task. + +One brief morning's excitement there was, as a large steamer was +descried in the offing, evidently a man-of-war. All was at once alive +and eager on board the little Sumter. The drums beat to quarters, decks +were cleared for action, and every preparation made for combat, as the +Confederate cruiser stood boldly out to meet her expected foe. But again +the eager crew were doomed to disappointment. They were no more to fight +than to capture prizes. As the stranger drew near, the white ensign of +St. George fluttered gracefully to her peak, and after the customary +interchange of civilities, the two vessels went on their respective +courses, and the little Sumter was once more alone on the wide ocean. + +A change of cruising ground was now again resolved on, and a course +shaped for the West Indies. Still, however, without success, and at +length the supply of water beginning to fail, the cruise was abandoned, +and on the 9th November the Sumter steamed into Fort de France in +Martinique, having been fifty-seven days at sea. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +_A French governor--At church--Visitors--On shore--Prisoners +released--Coaling difficulties--Sympathy for the South--A glass of +grog!--St. Pierre--Curiosity--The Iroquois--An attempt to +intimidate--L'Acheron--Yankee notion of neutrality--Masquerading +--Preparations for a fight--The marine league--The Trent outrage--On +the watch--Violation of rights--A bold attempt--Success_. + + +_Saturday, Nov. 9th_.--Weather fine during the morning. At daylight, got +up steam and stood in for the land northward of Fort St. Louis' Bay, +running down the coast as we approached. The coast, all the way into the +anchorage, is bold and clear. Ran within three hundred yards of Point +Negro, passing a passenger steamer bound to St. Pierre, and anchored in +six fathoms water, with the south end of the fort bearing E. 1/4 S., +and the wharf about N. by E. A pilot soon after came on board, and we +got up anchor and went in to the anchorage E. of the fort, the health +officer visiting us in the meantime, and giving us _pratique_. + +Sent a lieutenant to call on the Governor, and afterwards visited him +myself. I stated in this interview that I had come into Martinique to +refresh my crew, and obtain such supplies as I needed, coal included. +The Governor replied that he could not supply me with coal from the +Government stock, but I was free to go into the market and purchase what +I wanted, he, the Governor, _not knowing anything about it_; and that as +to my prisoners, if the United States consul at St. Pierre would become +responsible for their maintenance, I might land them. With his consent, +I sent the two masters up to St. Pierre in the packet to see this +consul, and arrange the matter. I despatched also the paymaster to look +after coal and clothing for the crew, giving leave to Lieutenant Chapman +to accompany him. The Governor at one time ordered me to shift my berth, +by returning to my first anchorage; but countermanded the order upon my +demanding an explanation of it. He seemed disposed, too, to restrict my +procuring supplies _at this place_, on the ground that it was merely the +seat of government and a military and naval station; but upon my +insisting upon my right, under the Imperial proclamation, to be treated +in all respects as a lawful belligerent, be abandoned his point. The +French colonies are governed by the minister of Marine, naval officers +being the governors and chief officials. The Governor of Martinique is a +rear-admiral. + +_Sunday, Nov. 10th._--Rain in the early morning, clearing towards eight +o'clock. Went on shore and accompanied M. Guerin to the Governor's mass, +at 8 A.M. The interior of the church is very pleasing, with rare +valuable paintings. The congregation was small. A detachment (one +company from each regiment), entered the main aisle, and formed in +double lines, a few minutes before the commencement of the service. The +Governor and his staff entered punctually, and the service lasted about +three-quarters of an hour. Fine music from a band in the orchestra. The +blacks and whites occupy pews indiscriminately, though there is no +social mixture of the races. All colours have the same political rights, +notwithstanding which the jealousy and hatred of the whites by the +blacks is said to be very great. Was visited by M. Guerin. and a number +of gentlemen--members of the Colonial Legislature and others--to whom I +explained the true issue of the war--to wit, an abolition crusade +against our slave-property; our population, resources, victories, +&c.--to all of which they listened with much appearance of +gratification, and which they also expressed from time to time, +lamenting the blind policy of their Home Government. Mustered the crew, +and read Articles of War. Three of the prisoners have shipped. Let +another batch of liberty-men go on shore. Two of yesterday's batch did +not come off in time this morning. Since came on board. Visited the +Savannah to hear the music, which is given every Sunday evening. It was +a gay and beautiful scene: the moon, the shade, the trees, the statue of +Josephine, the throng of well-dressed men and women, the large band and +the fine music, the ripple of the sea; and last, though not least, the +Katy-dids, so fraught with memories of home, dear home! Visited M. +Guerin after the music, and made the acquaintance of his charming +family, consisting of wife, daughter-in-law, and niece, who gave some +music on the piano and a song. M. Guerin's mother died a nun in the city +of Baltimore, where M. Guerin was himself educated. He retains his early +impressions of Baltimore very vividly. + +_Monday, November 11th_.--Weather clear and pleasant, with refreshing +trade-winds; watering ship. Visited the town, and went a-shopping in +company with M. Guerin. Found French manufactured clothing, &c., +reasonably cheap. In the afternoon strolled on the heights in rear of +the town, and was charmed with the picturesque scenery on every hand. +The little valleys and nooks in which nestle the country houses are +perfect pictures, and the abrupt and broken country presents delightful +changes at every turn. I saw but few signs of diligent cultivation. The +negro race is here, as everywhere else, an idle and thriftless one; and +the purlieus of the town where they are congregated are dilapidated and +squalid. The statue of Josephine in the Savannah is a very fine specimen +of sculpture. It represents her in her customary dress, and she appears, +indeed, a charming woman. This is her native island. The United States +consul came down to-day from St. Pierre, and I landed the remainder of +the prisoners, twelve in number, putting them on parole. I had them all +assembled in the gangway, and questioned them as to their treatment on +board. They all expressed themselves satisfied with it. The officers +returned from St. Pierre, and reported that coal was to be had, but that +the Collector of Customs had prohibited the merchants from sending it to +us. Wrote to the Governor on the Subject:-- + +Confederate States' steamer Sumter, Port Royal, Nov. 12th, 1861. + +SIR,--In the interview which I had the honour to hold with your +Excellency on Saturday last, the 9th inst. I understood your Excellency +to assent to the proposition that I might go into the market at St. +Pierre, and purchase such supplies as I might stand in need of, coal +included. The precise position assumed by your Excellency was, that you +would neither assent nor prohibit. On the faith of this understanding, I +despatched one of my lieutenants and my paymaster to St. Pierre, to make +the necessary purchases, and they have returned and reported to me that +they found an abundance of coal in the market, and at reasonable rates, +and that the owners of it are anxious to supply me with it, but that +your Collector of the Customs had _interposed_, and prohibited the +merchants from selling or delivering it to me. For the information of +your Excellency, I will here state that I have been permitted to coal in +all the ports I have heretofore visited, except only at the French port +of Cayenne, where I was informed that there was no coal in the market, +and where it was insisted that I should undergo a quarantine of five +days before communicating with the town. As it was not convenient for me +to undergo this quarantine, I sailed immediately. I have coaled at +Cienfuegos in the island of Cuba, at Curacao, at Trinidad, at +Paramaribo, and at Maranham. It appears that Spain, Holland, England and +Brazil have each deemed it consistent with their neutrality in the +present war to permit me freely to supply myself with coal. Am I to +understand from the action of your officers at St. Pierre that you have +withdrawn the implied assent given me on Saturday last, and that France, +through your agency, adopts a different and less friendly, rule? Will +France drive a vessel of war of the Confederate States from one of her +islands to a British island to procure coal? And if she does this, on +what principle will she do it? It is a well-settled rule of +international law, that belligerent cruisers have the right to enter +freely into neutral ports for the purpose of replenishing their stores +of provisions, or replacing a lost mast or spar; and why should not they +be equally permitted to receive on board coal? + +Coal is no more necessary to the locomotion of a steamer than is a mast +or spar to a sail-ship; it is no more necessary to a cruiser than +provisions. Without a mast or without provisions a sail-ship could not +continue her cruise against the enemy; and yet the neutral permitted her +to supply herself with these articles. Nor can such supplies as these be +placed on the ground of humanity. It would be inhuman, it is true, to +permit the crew of a belligerent cruiser to perish in your ports by +debarring from access to your markets, from day to day; but it does not +follow that it would be inhuman to prevent her from laying in a stock of +provisions to enable her to proceed to sea, and continue her cruise +against the enemy. It is not humanity to supply a vessel with a lost +mast or a spar, and yet no one doubts that this may be done. Humanity, +then, being out of the question, what possible distinction can your +Excellency draw between supplying a vessel with the articles above +mentioned, and supplying her with coal? + +Without any one of them she would be unable to prosecute her cruise +against the enemy--why, then, will you supply her with a part, and not +with the whole? + +Without troubling your Excellency further, however, with an argument of +the question, I will content myself with stating what I believe to be +the true rule of law, and it is this:--A belligerent ship of war _cannot +increase her armament or her crew in a neutral port, nor supply herself +with ammunition; but with these exceptions she may procure whatever +supply she needs_. + +Although it would be an easy matter for me to run to one of the British, +or Danish, or Dutch Islands, I should regret to be obliged to do so, and +to have to inform my Government of the reason. I would not willingly +have France adopt a rule which would effectually shut us out of her +ports, whilst Holland, Great Britain, Spain, and Brazil admit us freely +into theirs. The rule, prohibiting us from bringing our prizes into +neutral ports, operates very harshly upon us, as the weaker naval power +of the belligerents, without adding to it one still more harsh, and +which has the sanction of neither law nor precedent. If, however, it be +the determination of your Excellency to insist upon my departure without +coal, I beg that you will have the goodness to say as much to me in +writing. Your Excellency is the best judge of your instructions, and of +what they require of you. + +I have the honour to be, + +With much consideration, + + Your obedient Servant, + (Signed) R. SEMMES. + + To his Excellency M. Maussion de Conde, + l'Amiral et Gouverneur de la Martinique. + +We have the gratifying intelligence that Captain Hollins, with some +armed steamers, had driven the enemy from the mouth of the Mississippi, +sinking the Preble, and driving the other vessels on the bar of the S.W. +Pass. Mr. Seward has issued a proclamation, desiring the Governors of +the Northern States to put their forts, &c., in condition, "as well on +the seaboard as on the lakes!" This, with Fremont's abolition +proclamation, will be of great service to us. _Quem Deus,_ &c. The +Governor consents to my coaling at St. Pierre. + +_Friday, November 12th_.--Fine, pleasant weather. Watering ship. I did +not visit the shore to-day; some of the officers are on shore dining, +&c., with the French naval officers. There is evidently great sympathy +for us in the island. We have got on board all our "liberty-men," no one +of them having shown a disposition to desert. At 9 P.M., a drunken +fireman jumped overboard and swam ashore, in spite of the efforts of a +boat to catch him. He thus braved the discipline of the ship solely for +a glass of grog!--so strong upon him was the desire for drink. We sent +an officer for him and caught him in a grog-shop. It is reported to us, +as coming from the Captain of the Port, that there is a frigate cruising +off the Diamond Rock. The ship Siam arrived to-day, with 444 coolies! + +_Translation of Reply received from the Governor, in Answer to the +preceding_. + +Fort de France, 12th November, 1861. + +TO THE CAPTAIN-- + +I have the honour to send you the enclosed letter, which I ask you to +hand to the Collector of Customs at St. Pierre, in which I request him +to permit you to embark freely, as much coal as you wish to purchase in +the market. + +I do not change at all from the position which I took with you on +Saturday last. I do not consider that I am empowered any more to give +you coal from the Government supply of this division, than I am to +interfere with the market to prevent its being sold to you there. + +With the expression of my highest regard for the Captain, + +(Signed) MAUSSION DE CONDE. + +_Wednesday, November 13th_.--Got up steam, and unmoored ship at +daylight; and at half-past six passed out of the harbour of Fort Royal, +or rather now Fort de France. The pilot repeated the intelligence that +there was a frigate off the Diamond Rock. As we passed the picturesque +country-seat of the Governor, perched upon a height overlooking the sea, +we hoisted the French flag at the fore. Passed the St. Pierre steamer on +her way down. At eight, came to, in the harbour of St. Pierre, at the +man-of-war anchorage south of the town. Several of the custom-house +officers visited us, saying that they had not come on board officially, +but merely out of civility, and from curiosity to see the ship. Sent a +lieutenant on shore to call on the commandant, and make arrangements +for the-purchase and reception of coal, despatching to the collector +the Government order to permit us to embark it. At 1 P.M., shifted our +berth nearer to the shore, for the convenience of coaling, mooring head +and stern with a hawser to the shore. Received on board thirty tons by 9 +P.M.; sent down the foreyard for repairs. Quarantined the paymaster and +surgeon for being out of the ship after hours, but upon the explanations +of the former, released them both. The market-square near the water is +thronged with a dense crowd, eagerly gazing upon the ship; and the +newspaper of to-day gives a marvellous account of us, a column in +length. Among other amusing stories, they claim me to be a French +officer, formerly serving on board the Mereuse! + +_Thursday, November 14th_.--Rain in the forenoon. Busy coaling, and +getting on board a few necessary stores. It is reported that the +Iroquois sailed from Trinidad on the 2nd November, and that there are +three ships of war of the enemy at St. Thomas', one sail vessel, and two +steamers; and that one of these was expected here last night. She has +not yet made her appearance. It will be difficult for her to prevent our +sailing. At 2.30 P.M. the steam-sloop Iroquois of the enemy made her +appearance, coming round the north end of the island. She had at first +Danish colours flying, but soon changed them for her own. She steamed +ahead of us very slowly, and, taking up a position some half to +three-quarters of a mile from us, stood off and on during the afternoon +and night. Finished receiving our coal and provisions (sugar and rum) at +about 9 P.M., when I permitted the crew to have their hammocks as usual. +Directed everything to be kept ready for action. Visited in the +afternoon by the mayor of the city and some gentlemen, who assured me of +the sympathy of the citizens, and of the colony generally. At 1.30 A.M. +I was called by the officer of the deck, and informed that the Iroquois +was standing in for us, and approaching us very close. Called all hands +to quarters, and made all preparations to receive the enemy in case he +should attempt to run us on board. He sheered off, however, when he came +within three or four hundred yards. He repeated this operation several +times during the mid-watch, imposing upon us as often the necessity of +calling the men to quarters; indeed, from about half-past two they slept +at their guns. Great excitement pervades the entire city. The +market-square, the quays, and the windows of the houses, are thronged by +an eager and curious multitude, expecting every moment to see a combat. +The enemy approached us at one time within a ship's length. + +_Friday, November 15th_.--Fine, bright morning. At 7.30 a French steamer +of war, L'Acheron, Captain Duchaxel, came in from Fort de France, and +made fast to one of the buoys. The Iroquois about a mile from us. At +8.30 sent a boat on board the Frenchman to pay the usual ceremonial +visit. The throng in the town unabated, multitudes being gathered near +the water, looking out at the two ships. At 10 the French captain paid +me a visit. He came up, he said, with orders from the Governor, to +preserve the neutrality of the port between the two belligerents, and in +case the Iroquois came to an anchor, to demand of the captain a promise +that he would not proceed to sea for twenty-four hours after our own +departure. I wrote to the Governor, informing him of the violation of +the neutrality of the port by the Iroquois, and desiring him to apply +the proper remedy:-- + +C.S. steamer Sumter, St. Pierre, Island of Martinique, November 15th, +1861. + +SIR,--I have the honor to inform your Excellency that I am closely +blockaded in this port by the enemy's steam sloop-of-war Iroquois, of +twice my force. This vessel, in defiance of the law of nations, and in +contempt of the neutrality of this island, has boldly entered the +harbour, and without coming to anchor is cruising backwards and forwards +in a menacing attitude, not only within the marine league of the shore, +but within less than a ship's length of this vessel, which is moored not +more than one hundred yards from the beach. During the past night she +several times approached me within fifty or a hundred yards. I deem it +my duty to acquaint your Excellency with these facts, and to invoke your +authority for the preservation of my just rights within your waters. I +take the following principles, applicable to the present case, to be +well settled by the law of nations:--Firstly, that no act of hostility, +proximate or remote, can be committed by any belligerent in neutral +waters; secondly, that when a cruiser of one belligerent takes refuge +within the waters of a neutral power, a cruiser of the opposite +belligerent cannot follow her into those waters for purposes of +hostility, proximate or remote. It is not only unlawful for her to +approach within the marine league, for the purpose of watch and menace, +but it is equally unlawful for her to hover about the coast of the +neutral, at any distance within plain view, for the same purposes. All +these are remote or prospective acts of war, and as such, offensive to +the neutral power. Thirdly, that when opposite belligerents meet by +accident in a neutral port, if one of them departs therefrom, the other +is bound to wait twenty-four hours before departing. For the opposite +belligerent to depart immediately in pursuit, is to avail herself of the +neutral territory for the purpose of war. She commits, by the very fact +of sailing, a remote act of hostility which is offensive to the neutral +state. + +In view of the foregoing facts and principles, I respectfully request +that your Excellency will cause the Iroquois to cease hovering about the +coast of the island for the purpose of watching my movements; in other +words, to withdraw herself out of plain sight. Or if she prefers to come +in, to anchor, to direct either that she shall depart twenty-four hours +before me, or wait twenty-four hours after my departure, whichever she +may prefer. I shall be ready for sea in four or five days, as soon as my +engineers make some necessary repairs to my machinery. + +In conclusion, it is quite possible that the captain of the Iroquois may +arrange some signals for giving him intelligence of my movements, with +the United States consul at this port, and I have therefore to request +that some officer may be charged with the prevention of any such act of +hostility. + +I have the honour to be, &c., + +(Signed) R. SEMMES. + + To His Excellency M. Maussion de Conde, + Admiral and Governor of Martinique, + +During this night the Iroquois did not approach us so near as on the +past night. Closed in the gun-deck ports, got the swinging booms +alongside, and directed the crew, in case of being called to quarters +during the night, to repair to the spar-deck as boarders, boarding being +the mode in which the enemy would attack us, if at all.[4] + +[Footnote 4: On the 14th, at 4 P.M. when we had nearly finished coaling +and other arrangements for sea, a steamer was seen rounding the north +point of the island. She was under Danish colours, and had made, it was +evident, some ludicrous attempts at disguising herself--such, for +instance, as a studied disarrangement of her yards, and some alteration +of her head-booms. I was under the impression at the time that we were +very old birds to be caught with such chaff. She came up slowly at +first, evidently not seeing us as we lay concealed in the shadow of the +hills; but when within about two miles, we could see, with the aid of +our glasses, the water curling from her bows, and we knew that the +Yankee had scented his prey; or, to employ the expressive phrase of our +rough old signal quartermaster, "she had got a bone in her mouth." All +the good citizens of St. Pierre came down to the beach to witness the +scene, and a great many indulged their aquatic instincts by swimming out +to us to await the _denouement_. The Iroquois was now close on to us, +and when about a hundred yards distant, hauled down the Danish colours, +and set the stars and stripes in their place. Thus we were once more in +the presence of our hated foe. + +The Iroquois is one of the new class of gunboats, powerfully armed with +nine and eleven-inch guns, and is about 1000 tons burden. Her crew +consists of about 200 men; and we knew it was useless for the Sumter to +think of fighting her, our only hope of escape being by strategy. The +enemy stood in close to the land, and sent a boat on shore to +communicate with the U.S. Consul and the French authorities, being, +however, very careful not to drop anchor. Captain Palmer informed his +Excellency the Governor that there was a pirate at anchor in the port of +St. Pierre, and requested permission to destroy her; but this was +refused emphatically, and the irate commander furnished with the +proclamation of his Imperial Majesty Napoleon III., according +belligerent rights to the Confederate States, and decreeing strict +neutrality on the part of France. He was informed that it was necessary +for the Iroquois either to cast anchor, or leave the waters of the isle, +and if accepting the former alternative, that an interval of twenty-four +hours must elapse between the departure of either belligerent; also +that, in case of any breach of neutrality occurring, the forts would +open on the offending party. After remaining stationary for some two +hours, her boat returned. The Iroquois stood out of the harbour, taking +a position a short distance ahead of us, and commenced backing and +filling across our bows. Meanwhile the crew of "the pirate" were not +idle; every preparation was made to repel boarders, and to defend our +ship to the last extremity. The crew were inspected, and every man seen +to be properly armed and equipped for action. We fully expected an +attack that night, and remembered the threats and loud pretensions of +not respecting any neutrality which prevented them from destroying the +Sumter, as made by the commander of the Niagara, and the redoubtable +Porter of the Powhattan,--this latter gentleman having actually followed +us as far as Maranham, only to find the people Sumter-mad on his +arrival. Very few on board the Sumter that night felt any inclination +for slumber; the men were sitting about in groups, commenting in low +tones on the contest which now seemed to be imminent; while those +officers who were at leisure were gathered on the quarter-deck, engaged +in the same interesting discussion. + +At 2 A.M. the word was passed by the look-outs forward that the Yankee +was bearing down close upon us; and the order passed, almost in a +whisper, "to go to quarters." I never saw men obey an order with more +alacrity. In a few minutes the boarders, pikemen, and small-arm men were +ranged in three lines close to our low rail, to await his attack, all +preserving a perfect silence that seemed death-like. When about twenty +feet distant from us, we heard the deep tones of her bell in the +engine-room, as it rang the order to back; but not before we had +discovered her men at quarters, and, in fact, presenting every +appearance of a ship intending to board an enemy. A single stray +pistol-shot would have brought on the engagement, and to judge from the +lights and signals glancing along the fortifications, the Frenchmen +would have taken a hand, too. The appearance of our decks next morning +was amusing. The men were strewn about promiscuously fully armed and +accoutred for battle, endeavouring to obtain some rest; a stranger might +easily have imagined us to be a buccaneer. Captain Palmer stated next +day that he was afraid we would board him in boats, when asked the +meaning of his threatening manoeuvres; but it was difficult to believe +that the commander of a ship of war would make such a flimsy excuse; and +let us hope for his own credit that he did not really believe his own +statement. The demeanour of the crew was most satisfactory. No noise or +bustle could be noticed; but a quiet, firm determination was expressed +in the countenance of each man to defend our noble little ship to the +bitter end, and never strike our flag to the foe. These flagrant +violations of neutrality greatly irritated the inhabitants, and the +better portion of them threw off their thin mask of indifference, and +openly expressed sympathy for us. Some were so excited as to volunteer +to go with us; but their kind offers were not accepted. The negroes, +however, did not seem to recognise us for what we really are, their best +friends, but were somewhat opposed to the Sumter; and their allegiance +to our enemy was made the subject of one of Captain Palmer's voluminous +despatches to Mr. Gideon Welles.--_Index._] + + +_Saturday, November 10th._--The Iroquois ahead of us, about a mile +distant. At 10 A.M., I returned the visit of the French commander. I +pointed out to him the insolent manner in which the Iroquois was +violating the neutrality of the port. No additional order had been +received from the Governor. Scraping and painting ship, and repairing +the engine to put it in thorough condition for service. At meridian the +Iroquois came to anchor about half a mile from us, at the man-of-war +anchorage. The captain of the Acheron visited me, to say the Governor +had directed him to inform me that if I preferred it, he would be glad +to have me visit Fort de France with my ship, where he could afford me +more ample protection, and whither, he presumed, the Iroquois would not +follow me; and if she did, that he would compel her to depart from +French waters. + +I replied that before deciding upon this invitation, I would wait and +see whether the Iroquois accepted the condition of remaining twenty-four +hours after my departure, or departing twenty-four hours before me. The +Iroquois got under way again immediately after anchoring, and in the +evening the captain of the Acheron sent a lieutenant on board of me, to +say that the commander of the Iroquois refused to accept the condition, +and that he had been directed to withdraw himself beyond the marine +league in consequence. She remained a few hours to supply herself with +refreshments, and as night fell took her station; but not at the +distance of a marine league _during the night_. + +We have thus taught this ignoramus Yankee captain some knowledge of, and +some respect for, the laws of neutrality. In the afternoon I took a +delightful stroll along the beach northward. + +_Sunday, November 17th._--Morning fine. Visited the church opposite the +ship, and heard mass. The congregation was very large, composed chiefly +of blacks--women. We were politely shown into the trustees' pew. A short +sermon, chiefly addressed to some young persons who had just made their +first communion, was delivered by a good-looking young priest, who had +fair command of language, and was easy and graceful in his manner. + +A sort of police officer or fugleman officiated here, as at Fort +Royal--a feature which I did not like. The Iroquois preserves her +distance by daylight. + +_Monday, November 18th._--The enemy cruising off the harbour as usual. +Daring the morning a French man-of-war schooner arrived from Fort de +France, with the Governor on board (who visits St. Pierre to distribute +premiums to the schools), and about one hundred troops to reinforce the +fort. Repairing our machinery and painting ship. Some boatmen have been +imprisoned by the authorities for going out to the enemy. At nightfall +the Director of the Customs came off to see me, and said that the +Governor had told him he expected to see the Captain of the Sumter at +his (the Director's) house; adding, that he said this of his own +accord--the Governor not having authorized him to say as much to me. I +took the hint, and went on shore at 8 P.M., accompanied by my clerk, to +call on his Excellency. He did not seem to have anything in particular +to say, except to renew his invitation for me to go to Fort de France in +my ship, which I declined, on the ground that this would be a more +convenient port from which to escape, and one affording more facilities +for the repairs of my engine. He told me that the Captain of the +Iroquois pleaded ignorance as to his violation of the neutrality of the +port; but added, he knew better. An American (enemy) schooner got under +way at dusk, and stood out to the Iroquois, where she remained about an +hour before proceeding on her cruise to the northward and westward. + +_Tuesday, November 19th._--Some surf observable this morning, increasing +until about 4 P.M.; the wind variable, settling for a short time in the +south-east. I became anxious on account of my berth, which was +represented to me as insecure, in case of a blow from seaward. I sent +and got a pilot on board, but when he came he said he thought we should +not have bad weather; and as by this time the sea had gone down, I was +of his opinion, and concluded to remain at my anchors for the present, +especially as the repairs to our machinery would be finished by +to-morrow evening. Heavy rain in the evening. The Iroquois within the +marine league. Visited by the commander of the French schooner of war, +whom we called on yesterday. About 10 P.M. the British mail steamer +arrived from St. Thomas. Sent a boat on board of her, and got English +papers to the 1st November. She brings intelligence of the enemy's +steamer St. Jacinto, having boarded an English steam-packet, and taken +out of her Messrs. Slidell and Mason, who had been carried to the +Havannah by the Nashville. The English people will regard this as an +insult to their flag, and in this way it may do us good. Night clear; +moon rising a little before eight. Not quite darkness enough for our +purpose yet. + +_Wednesday, November 20th._--Morning clear; wind variable. The Iroquois +never loses sight of us, violating the neutrality of the port by night +by coming within the marine league to observe us. Sent the engineer on +shore to hurry the repair of his pumps. Loosed sails. Furled at +meridian, and ordered the fires to be lighted at 1 P.M.; the weather +looking unsettled, heeled the ship and scraped the grass off her port +side near the water-line. The Iroquois crawled in again last night +within about a mile and a half. As it was cloudy we lost sight of her in +the early part of the night for the first time. + +_Thursday, November 21st._--Cloudy, with slight showers of rain. Drew +the charges from the battery and reloaded it; and examined and put in +order for action the small arms. Got up some barrels of salt provisions +and arranged them on each side of the quarter-deck to trim ship. She lay +an inch or two too much by the head. A boat employed filling up our +water. Changed our fasts to the shores in readiness for a move. Hurrying +the engineer with his work. I fear every moment to see another enemy's +ship arrive. During the morning the Governor returned in the Acheron to +Fort de France. In the afternoon the Acheron came back. Wrote a note to +the latter complaining of the continued violation of the neutrality of +the port by the enemy's ship. Engineer not ready, so we are obliged to +lie over another day. + + C.S. Steamer Sumter, St Pierre, + Nov. 21st, 1861. + +SIR,--It becomes my duty to complain of the continued violation of the +neutrality of this port, and of my right of asylum, by the enemy's steam +sloop of war the Iroquois. + +This vessel, in shameful disregard of the warnings she has received from +his Excellency the Governor, comes every night, under cover of the +darkness, within a mile and a-half, or less, of the anchorage. Last +night, at nine o'clock, she was seen from my deck with the naked eye, +assisted by an occasional flash of lightning; and as the night was +comparatively obscure, no vessel, not being under sail, could have been +seen at a greater distance than from a mile to a mile and a quarter. + +I have besides to inform you, that two small boats communicated with the +enemy in broad daylight yesterday, one of them pulling, upon leaving +her, to the north point, and the other to the south point, of the +harbour. + +I have, &c., &c., (Signed) R. SEMMES. + +To M. Duchaxel, Commander of His French Majesty's steamer, L'Acheron. + +_Friday, November 22nd._--The enemy about two and a half miles distant. +The engineer will be ready to-day, and, God willing, we will get out +to-night. Wrote to the captain of the Acheron, in reply to the position +assumed by the governor:-- + + C.S. Steamer Sumter, St. Pierre, + Nov. 22nd, 1861. + +SIR,--I have had the honour to receive your letter of yesterday, in +which you communicate to me the views of the Governor of Martinique +relative to the protection of my right of asylum in the waters of this +island; and I regret to say that those views do not appear to me to come +up to the requirements of the international code. The Governor says, +"that it does not enter into his intentions to exercise towards the +Iroquois, either by night or by day, so active a surveillance as you +desire." And you tell me that "we ought to have confidence in the strict +execution of a promise made by a commander in the military marine of the +American Union, so long as he has not shown to us evidence that this +engagement has not been scrupulously fulfilled." It would appear from +these expressions that the only protection I am to receive against the +blockade of the enemy is a simple promise exacted from that enemy, that +he will keep himself without the marine league of the land; the Governor +in the meantime exercising no watch by night or by day to see whether +this promise is complied with. In addition to the facts related by me +yesterday, I have this morning to report that one of my officers, being +on shore in the northern environs of the town last night, between eight +and nine o'clock, saw two boats, each pulling eight oars, the men +dressed in dark clothing, with the caps usually worn by seamen of the +Northern States, pulling quietly in towards the beach. He distinctly +heard a conversation between them in English, one of them +saying--"Harry, there she is; I see her"--in allusion, doubtless, to the +presence of my vessel. These boats, no doubt, have orders to make signal +to the Iroquois the moment they discover me under way. Now, with all due +deference to his Excellency the Governor, I cannot see the difference +between the violation of the neutrality of these waters by the enemy's +boats, and by his ship. And if no strict surveillance is to be +"exercised either by night or by day," I am receiving very much such +protection as the wolf would accord to the lamb. Is it an act of love +for the enemy to approach me with his boats for the purpose of +reconnaissance, and especially during the night? and I have the same +right to demand that he keep his boats beyond the marine league as that +he keep his ship at that distance. Nor am I willing to rely upon his +promise, that he will not infringe my rights in this particular. It +appears to me further, especially after the knowledge of the facts which +I have brought to your notice, that it is the duty of France to exercise +surveillance over her own water, "both by night and by day," when an +enemy's cruiser is blockading a friendly belligerent, who has sought +the asylum in those waters accorded to him by the law of nations. I +have, therefore, respectfully to request that you will keep a-watch by +means of guard boats, at both points of this harbour, to prevent the +repetition of the hostile act which was committed against me last night; +or, if you will not do this yourself, that you will permit me to arm +boats and capture the enemy when so approaching me. It would seem quite +plain, either that I should be protected, or be permitted to protect +myself. Further, it is in plain violation of neutrality for the enemy to +be in daily communication with the shore, whether by means of his own +boats, or boats from the shore. If he needs supplies, it is his duty to +come in for them; and if he comes in, he must anchor; and if he anchor, +he must accept the condition of remaining twenty-four hours after my +departure. It is a mere subterfuge for him to remain in the offing, and +supply himself with all he needs, besides reconnoitreing me closely by +means of boats. I protest against this act also. I trust you will excuse +me for having occupied so much of your time by so lengthy a +communication, but I deem it my duty to place myself right upon the +record in this matter. I shall seize an early opportunity to sail from +these waters; and if I should be brought to a bloody conflict with an +enemy, of twice my force, by means of signals given him in the waters of +France, either by his own boats or others', I wish my government to know +that I protested against the unfriendly ground assumed by the Governor, +that "it does not enter into his intentions to exercise towards the +Iroquois either by night or by day, so active a surveillance as you [I] +require." + + I have the honour to be, &c., &c., + (Signed) R. SEMMES. + + M. Duchaxel, + Commander of H.I.M. Steamer, L'Acheron. + + + C.S. Steamer Sumter, St. Pierre, + Nov. 23, 1861. + +SIR,--I have the honor to inform you that the pilot of the enemy's +steamer Iroquois habitually spends his time on shore in this port; and +that last night he slept on board the enemy's topsail schooner moored +near the beach, in the vicinity of the English barque Barracouta. I have +ample evidence outside of my ship to establish these facts. Now, it must +be obvious to you that the enemy has sent this man into French waters to +act as a spy upon my movements; and he has, no doubt, in his possession +rockets or other signals, with which to communicate my departure to his +ship. This man, though only a pilot, and temporarily employed on board +the Iroquois, is in law as much an officer of that ship, for the time +being, as any one of her lieutenants. + +The case, then, may be stated thus:--A lieutenant of the Iroquois not +only spends his time _habitually_ on shore, but sleeps at night on board +another vessel of the enemy, instead of sleeping at a hotel, the better +to enable him to observe my movements, and communicate them to his ship. +And yet all this is permitted by the authorities! + +I most respectfully but earnestly protest against this violation of my +rights. As I stated in my letter of yesterday, an act of reconnaissance +(and still more an act of reconnaissance for the purpose of giving +information by signal) is an act of war; and will France permit an act +of war to be committed against me in her own waters, and under the eye +of her authorities, civil and military? + +In conclusion, I request that you will issue an order, requiring this +spy to depart to his ship, and that you will also take the proper steps +to prevent the schooner in which he stays from making any signals to the +enemy. + + I have the honor to be, &c., &c., + (Signed) R. SEMMES. + + M. Duchaxel, + Commander of H.I.M. Steamer, L'Acheron. + +NOTE.--The Sumter went to sea from the port of St. Pierre on the evening +(8 o'clock) of the date of the preceding letter, and, as was predicted, +the light was burned on board the American schooner to signal her +departure to the Iroquois. + +R.S. + + * * * * * + +Muffled the windlass. Getting on board some water. Last night, between +eight and nine o'clock, the engineer being on shore, near the north end +of the town, saw two of the Iroquois' touts, and heard one of them say +to the other, "Harry, that's she--I see her:" in allusion, doubtless, to +the presence of this vessel. We were all very anxious as the night +approached as to the state of the weather; and lo! for the first time in +five or six days, we had a beautiful star-light night, without a speck +of cloud anywhere to be seen. The enemy continued plain in sight, and +our black smoke, as it issued from the stack, would have betrayed us at +a distance of five miles. We were therefore reluctantly compelled to +give up the attempt. + +_Saturday, November 23rd._--Beautiful clear morning, with every +appearance of settled weather. Fine starlit nights and clear settled +days, though very pleasant to the lover of nature, are not quite such +weather as we require for running a blockade by a ship which keeps +herself in plain sight of us, and which has the heels of us. But we must +have patience, and bide our time. Several sail have come in and departed +during the last twenty-four hours. The enemy in the offing as usual. +Towards noon it began to cloud up, and we had some rain, and I had +strong hopes that we should have a cloudy, dark night. The moon would +not rise until seven minutes past eleven, and if we could be aided by a +few clouds we should have sufficient darkness; for be it known that in +these tropical climates, where almost every star is a moon, there is no +such thing as darkness when the firmament is clear. But my hopes began +to fade, with the day, for one cloud disappeared after another, as the +sun went down, until the night promised to be as serene and bright as +the last. Venus, too, looked double her usual size, and being three +hours bright at sunset, poured forth a flood of light, little less than +that of the moon in a northern latitude. Notwithstanding all these +discouragements, however, I resolved to attempt the run, and having made +all the necessary preparations silently, so as not to awaken the +suspicions of the townspeople, who were always on the alert, at about +five minutes before eight o'clock gun-fire, I directed the chain to be +slipped, and the fasts to the shore cut, and put her under steam. The +enemy being on my starboard bow, and apparently standing towards the +north point of the roadstead, I headed her for the south point, giving +her full steam. So much on the _qui vive_ were the townspeople, that we +had scarcely moved twenty yards when a shout rent the air, and there was +a confused murmur of voices, as if Babel had been let loose. As we +neared the French steamer of war, Acheron, signals were made to the +enemy by means of blue lights from one of the Yankee schooners in port: +perceiving which, and knowing that the signals were so arranged as to +designate our direction, after moving a few hundred yards further, I +doubled, and came back under cover of the land, while I stopped once or +twice to assure myself that the enemy was continuing his course in the +opposite direction, in obedience to his signals; when, as soon as the +engineer could do so (for he had to cool his bearings, and this was +truly an anxious moment for me), I gave her all steam, and stood for the +north end of the island. As we approached it, the Fates, which had +before seemed unpropitious to us, began to smile, and the rain-squall, +which had come up quite unexpectedly, began to envelope us in its +friendly folds, shutting in our dense clouds of black smoke, which were +really the worst tell-tales we had to dread. The first half-hour's run +was a very anxious one for us; but as we began to lose sight of the +lights of the town and to draw away from the land, we knew that the +enemy had been caught in his own trap, and that we had successfully +eluded him. I had warned the French authorities that their neutrality +would be disregarded, and that these signals would be made. The +commander of the Iroquois had been guilty of a shameful violation of +good faith towards the French naval officer, to whom he made a promise +that he would respect the neutrality of the port, by sending his pilot +on shore, and arranging these signals with the Yankee skippers. Yankee +faith and Punic faith seem to be on a par. Our ship made good speed, +though she was very deep, and by half-past eleven we made up with the +south end of Dominica. Here the wind fell, and we ran along the coast of +the island in a smooth sea, not more than four or five miles from the +land. The moon by this time being up, the bold and picturesque outlines +of this island, softened by the rains and wreathed in fleecy clouds, +presented a beautiful night-scene. + +The sleeping town of Rousseau barely showed us the glimmer of a light, +and we passed but one coasting schooner. At 2 A.M., we were off the +north end of the island, but now heavy rain-squalls came up, and +rendered it so thick, that we were obliged to slow down, and even stop +the engine, it being too thick to run. The squall lighting up a little, +we endeavoured to feel our way in the dark; mistook the south for the +north end of Prince Rupert's Bay, and only discovered our mistake when +we had gotten fearfully near the shore, and had whitened our water! +Hauled her broad out, and again put her under very slow steam. The +weather now lighting up more, we put her under headway again, doubled +the island, and shaped our course E. by N. It was now 4:30 A.M., and I +went below and turned in. _Deo gratias._ Poor D., the quartermaster, I +had to depose him from his high office of night look-out this night. He +had been remarked for his keen vision by night; but on this occasion he +was so perturbed, that he saw a steamer bearing down upon him from every +direction--even magnifying small sloops into frigates. The evening of +this day was lovely, and I think I have never seen a more beautiful, +sedative, poetic, love-in-a-cottage landscape, than the valleys and +hills presented in which lies the town of St. Pierre. All these charms +were heightened by the presence of grim-visaged war. Our run took every +one by surprise--several of the officers had breakfast and dinner, +appointments for several days ahead. My crew seem to be highly delighted +at our success in "doing the Yankee;" but I am not sure that an old +boatswain's-mate, and a hard, weather-beaten quartermaster, who had +shaved their heads for a close fight, were not disappointed that it did +not come off. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +_Again at sea--Two captures--The Montmorency--The Arcade--Eastward, +ho!--The Vigilant taken--News from home--Dirty weather--The +whale--Ebenezer Dodge--In irons--A cyclone--The gale rages +--Fire!--Christmas day--No luck--The clank of the pumps--Cadiz_. + + +Once more afloat on the open sea; and at 4 P.M. of Monday November 25th, +a promising commencement was made in the capture of the fine ship +Montmorency, of 1183 tons, laden with Welsh coal for the English Mail +Packet service. And, fortunately so for her, or she would have shared +the fate of the Golden Balance, the Daniel Trowbridge, and other "burnt +offerings" of the little Sumter. As it was, she paid a light toll in the +shape of small supplies of paint, cordage, &c., and entering into a +ransom bond for 20,000 dollars, to be paid to the Confederate States +Government at the end of the war, her captain and crew were paroled, and +she herself permitted to proceed on her voyage. + +At 1.30 P.M., on the 26th November--writes Captain Semmes--showed first +the United States and then our own colours to an English schooner, +probably from the Bahamas to the Windward Islands, and at three captured +the United States schooner Arcade from Portland, Maine, to Port au +Prince, Guadaloupe, loaded with stores. The master and half-owner of the +schooner was Master of the barque Saxony at the time of the loss of the +Central America, and was instrumental in saving lives on that occasion, +for which a handsome telescope had been presented to him. I had the +pleasure of returning the glass to him, captured among the other effects +of his vessel. + +Took the master and crew on board (a rough sea running), and set fire to +her. At 4.40 stood on our course. The blaze of the burning vessel still +in sight at 8 P.M. During the night the wind lulled and became variable. +Hauled down the fore and aft sails, and steered N.E. The prize had no +newspapers on board, but we learned from the master that the great naval +expedition which the enemy had been some time preparing had struck at +Beaufort, South Carolina, on Fort Royal Sound. No result known. + + * * * * * + +After five days of hard fighting with the strong N.E. trade, blowing for +the most part half a gale of wind, and with thick and dirty weather, the +enemy is at length overcome, the sky clears, and the Sumter's head is +turned towards Europe. And now for a time Yankee commerce was to have a +respite, its relentless little enemy directing its attention exclusively +towards maturing her voyage across the Atlantic. She had at this time +but sixty days' water for her own crew, in addition to whom there were +now the six prisoners taken from the schooner. The passage, too, would +have to be made for the most part under canvas, and would probably not +occupy less than fifty days. Of course, she had now but six or seven +days' supply of coal--a small reserve in case of emergency, and hardly +sufficient to enable her to cruise a few days on the other side, and, if +possible, not go quite "empty-handed" into port. + +Still the days were not altogether uneventful, and before the week was +out, a fine prize ran, as it were, into her very arms. Of this capture +the journal gives the following account:-- + +_Tuesday, December 3rd_.--At 6.30 A.M. Sail, ho! a point on the +starboard bow. At 7.30 the sail, which was standing in nearly the +opposite direction from ourselves, approached us within a couple of +miles. We hoisted French colours, when she showed United States'. Took +in all the studding sails, hauled by the wind, tacked, and fired a +shotted gun. The stranger immediately hove to. Lowered a boat, and sent +a lieutenant on board of him. Stood on and tacked, and having brought +the stranger under my guns, I began to feel sure of him (our smoke stack +was down, and we could not have raised steam in less than two hours and +a half). He proved to be the ship Vigilant, of Bath, Maine, bound from +New York to the guano island of Sombrero, in ballast. Captured him. Took +from on board chronometer, charts, &c., and a nine pounder rifled gun, +with ammunition, &c. Set him on fire, and at 3 P.M. made sail. This was +a fine new ship, being only two years old, and worth about 40,000 +dollars. + +Lat. 29.10 N., Long. 57.2-2 W. Steering E. by N. We received a large +supply of New York papers to the 21st November. We learned from these +papers that the San Jacinto was in search of us when she took Messrs. +Mason and Slidell from on board the Trent. The enemy has thus done us +the honour to send in pursuit of us the Powhattan, the Niagara, the +Iroquois, the Keystone State, and the San Jacinto. + + * * * * * + +Dirty weather now for several days, the little vessel rolling and +straining, and withal beginning to leak to an extent which caused no +small anxiety to those in command. Still, however, she was quite up to +mischief, and on the 8th December, the Ebenezer Dodge, twelve days from +New Bedford, bound to the Pacific on a whaling voyage, was added to the +fatal list. Forty-three prisoners were now on board, cooped up with the +crew in the narrow berth deck, when the weather forbade their appearance +on deck, and the little Sumter was beginning to feel herself +overcrowded. + +It became necessary to adopt precautions, and one-half the prisoners +were now kept constantly in single irons, taking it turn and turn about +to submit to the necessary but disagreeable infliction. The wind, too, +hung perseveringly in the east, and things were getting uncomfortable. +They were destined, as the following extracts will show, to be yet more +so. + +_Wednesday, December 11th._--As ugly-looking a morning as one could well +conceive. Thick, dark, gloomy weather, with the wind blowing fresh from +the east, and threatening a gale (bar. 29.70 and falling) and a steady +but moderate rain falling. Put the ship under short sail. Our large +number of prisoners renders the crew very uncomfortable during this bad +weather. At meridian, gale blowing, with thick, driving rain. Lat. +32 deg. 48' N., Long. 49 deg. 32' W.D.R. At 2 P.M., dense clouds hanging very low +all around the horizon in every direction. Wind about E.S.E., inclined +to haul to the southward. Bar. 29.59. The pall of clouds is not so dense +as at noon, and the rain comes only occasionally in squalls. The clouds +are rifted, and appear to be on the point of rapid motion. Wore ship to +the northward and eastward. The wind soon after backed to the northward +and eastward, and we had to run the ship off N.W. for a while. Towards +night, however, the wind went back to E., and blew very fiercely, +raising very heavy and irregular sea-squalls of rain. The lightning was +very vivid. It blew very heavily until about 1 A.M., when it abated for +more than two hours, blowing only in puffs, and then not very hard. Near +the centre of the cyclone, lowest barometer. A little past midnight a +quartermaster entered with the report that the starboard-bow port had +been stove in! It was then blowing furiously. I immediately despatched +the first lieutenant to barricade the port and stop out the water as +effectually as possible, in which he succeeded pretty well. This report +gave me considerable anxiety, as the ports in the gun-deck and the +uppermost works of the ship are her weak points at which the gale would +assault her with most effect. In the meantime the barometer has been +gradually settling, settling, settling--sometimes remaining stationary +for several hours and then going down as before. At 8 P.M. it was 29.53. +We had an awful night--no one able to sleep. + +_Thursday, December 12th_.--Thick, gloomy weather, with the gale raging +as fiercely as ever. It blew very heavily all the morning. The barometer +continued to sink until it reached 29.32--at 6 A.M. its lowest point. +The wind has hauled to the south. We are evidently in a cyclone, having +taken it in its northern quarter, the gale travelling north. On the +starboard tack, its centre has passed to the west of us. Ordered the +donkey engine to be got ready for use last night, in case the ship +should make more water than the small bilge pumps could throw out. +Carried away the flying jibboom at 7.30 A.M.--saved the sail. As the +gale progressed the wind hauled to the south and west; and at 4 P.M., +judging that the strength of the gale had passed us, I kept the ship on +her course, E. by S., which gave a quartering wind and sea; and although +the sea was heavy, and the wind yet blowing a gale, she made beautiful +weather of it, scudding as well as she had lain to. The wind blew fresh +all night, with a slowly rising barometer. + +Escaped the "cyclone," a fresh danger threatened, and from the element +more feared by the sailor than either wind or water in their wildest +moods. It was about midnight of December the 14th that the watch on deck +were startled by the smell of fire, soon followed by the appearance of +smoke pouring out of the ventilator leading up from the berth deck. The +alarm was immediately given; hands turned up and sent to quarters, and a +strict investigation made. Fortunately no damage was done except to a +mattress and pea-jacket which were partly consumed; but the escape was a +narrow one, and the sentries on duty below no doubt considered +themselves well off, to escape with no other punishment for their +carelessness than a week's stoppage of their grog. + +On went the Sumter with varying fortune, now running pleasant races with +some huge whale, that left a track upon the water almost as broad as her +own; now rolling and tumbling in a gale, with ports barricaded to keep +the water out, and donkey engine ringed to keep it under. And at last +the continued bad weather and consequent confinement to the crowded +lower deck, began to tell upon the health of the crew, and no less than +twelve were at one time upon the sick list. The little vessel herself, +too, was getting rapidly invalided. The leak increased terribly, and +fully half the day was taken up at the pumps. The Christmas-tide entries +in the Journal are as follows:-- + +_Tuesday, December 24th_.--An unpropitious Christmas-eve; the gale of +last night continuing, with rain and a densely overcast sky. The +barometer is rising, however, which is a portent that the gale will not +last long. I have abandoned the idea of attempting to run into Fayal. +These Azores seem to be so guarded by the Furies of the storm, that it +would appear to be a matter of great difficulty to reach them in the +winter season. We have thirty-eight days of water on board, allowing a +gallon to a man; but still I have put the officers and crew on the +allowance of three quarts per day. I will run for the Straits of +Gibraltar, which will carry me in the vicinity of Madeira, should I have +occasion to make a port sooner. + +Weather breaking somewhat at noon, but still thickly overcast. No +observation. Lat. 37 deg. 31' N., Long. 31 deg. 71' W. by computation. It +freshened up from the N. at 2 P.M., and blew a gale of wind all night +from N.N.E. to N.N.W. Running off with the wind a little abaft the beam +very comfortably; but the two small pumps were kept going _nearly all +night_. They do little more than keep her free. + +_Wednesday, December 25th_.--Christmas-day! Bringing with it, away here +in mid-ocean, all the kindly recollections of the season and home, and +church and friends. Alas! how great the contrast between these things +and our present condition. A leaky ship filled with prisoners of war, +striving to make a port through the almost constantly recurring gales of +the North Atlantic in mid-winter! Sick list--ten of the crew, and four +prisoners. Wind fresh from the N.W. We are making a good run these +twenty-four hours. Lat. 36'08 N., Long. 28-42 W. Weather cloudy, and +looking squally and ugly, with a falling barometer, it being at noon +29.70; 29.80 is the highest it has been since the last gale. A series of +gales commenced on the 19th inst. Altered our course from S.E. by E. to +S.E. to avoid the St. Mary's bank; a Captain Livingstone having +reported, about forty years ago, that he saw white waters hereabouts, +and no nation having thought it worth while to verify the report. +Thermometer 63 deg.. Heavy rain-squalls. The weather during the night was +dirty and squally, with lightning all around the horizon by turns, and +heavy rain.. Spliced the main-brace. + +The 26th December brought the Sumter off Cape Flyaway, and once more she +was rapidly approaching the ordinary track of commerce. + +_Monday, December 30th_.--Sail, ho! at daylight, and Sail, ho! in +succession during the whole day, until as many as thirty-five were +reported. There were as many as nine or ten in sight at one time, all +standing on the same course for the tide and wind. Got up steam and +began chasing at 8 A.M., and chased until 4 P.M. The first vessel we +overhauled was a Dutch barque, clipper-looking, on board which we sent a +boat; and we afterwards overhauled, and caused to show their papers, +fifteen others of the fleet, every one of which was European!--Viz. +Dutch (ships), 4; English (2 barques and 5 brigs), 7; French (1 ship and +1 brig), 2; Swedish (brig), 1; Prussian (barque), 1; Hamburg (brig), 1. +One of the results of the war is, that in this whole fleet, as far as we +could ascertain, there was not a single Yankee! So many ships at the +same time so far out at sea, is a sight not often seen. The weather was +very thick and rainy, and from the S. to E., a real dirty day; and in +such a state of weather, with so many ships running down our track, we +had serious apprehensions of collisions as the night set in. To guard +against which we set out masthead as well as side lights. At 4.30 P.M., +let the steam go down and made sail. No observations. Lat. 35 deg. 39'; +Long. 17 deg. 33' D.R. + +We first showed the United States colours to all these vessels, and the +only one which saluted it was the Prussian. We afterwards showed our own +flag to a number of them, and they all, with one or two exceptions, +saluted it. The stream of vessels still continued after nightfall--two +having passed us showing lights, one ahead and the other astern. At 6.15 +P.M., or about one hour after dark, the wind was blowing fresh from the +E., and they came down upon us with fearful rapidity. + +_Friday, January 3rd_, 1862.--Ugly looking morning, with a falling +barometer. Several sail were reported from the masthead during the +morning watch. We shortened sail to permit one of them, which was +steering the same course with ourselves, to come up with us. She proved +to be a Spaniard. We then gave chase to another ahead of us, running +before the wind for the Strait of Gibraltar. We chased her some two +hours, when it began to blow a fierce gale from the west, which obliged +us to give over the chase and to haul up to prevent running to leeward +of our port, and to put the ship under short sail and steam. It blew +very fiercely until near sunset, and raised a heavy, short, abrupt sea, +in which the ship rolled more heavily than I had ever seen her before. +This shook our propeller so as to cause the ship to increase her +quantity of water considerably--so much so that the engineer reported +that under short steam he was just keeping her free with his +bilge-pumps, and that if anything happened to these, he feared the other +pumps would not be sufficient. Under these circumstances, I ran in for +the land, cutting short my cruise by a day or two, as Iliad still two or +three days' coal on board. We made the Cadiz Light in the mid-watch--(my +fine chronometers!)--a beautiful red flash, and soon after got +soundings. Ran in for the light under low steam, and at 7 A.M. we were +within four or five miles of it. The morning was wet and gloomy. Fired a +gun, and hoisted the jack for a pilot; and soon after, having received +one on board, we ran into the harbour and anchored. As we approached, +the scene was most beautiful, in spite of the day. The city of Cadiz is +a perfect picture as you approach it, with domes, and towers, and +minarets, and Moorish-looking houses, of a beautiful white stone. The +harbour was crowded with shipping--_very thinly_ sprinkled with Yankees, +who could get no freights--and a number of villages lay around the +margin of the bay, and were picturesquely half hidden in the slopes of +the surrounding mountains, all speaking of regenerate old Spain, and of +the populousness and thrift of her most famous province of Andalusia. +Visited by the health-officer, who informed us that unless we were +specially exempted, we should be quarantined for three days, for not +having a certificate of health from the Spanish Consul at Martinique. A +number of merchant ships hoisted their flags in honour of our arrival, +and one Yankee showed his in defiance. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +_Cadiz harbour--Notice to quit--Local authorities--Wisdom--The Queen of +Spain--Docked--Under repair--Deserters--The honour of the flag--The +Neapolitan--The Investigator--Gibraltar--Official visits--Up the rock--A +legend--Neutrality again--Consular diplomacy--Blockaded--The +Tusoarora--Seven in pursuit._ + + +During the stay of the Sumter at Cadiz, and her subsequent arrival at +Gibraltar, Captain Semmes made the entries in his Journal which will be +found in this chapter. + +_Saturday, January 4th_.--Harbour of Cadiz--ancient Gades--with its +Moorish houses and feluccas, or latteen vessels. Some fine oranges +alongside--the product of this latitude, 36 deg. 32' N., about the same +parallel with Norfolk, Virginia. It is one hundred and eighty-eight days +to-day since we ran the blockade at New Orleans, and of this time we +have been one hundred and thirty-six days at sea. We are informed this +evening that the question of our being admitted to _pratique_ (and I +presume also the landing of our prisoners) has been referred to Madrid +by telegram. + +_Sunday, January 5th_.--Sky partially overcast, with a cool north wind. +Thermometer 56 deg.. Early this morning the health officer came alongside, +and brought me the order from the Government to depart within +twenty-four hours, and a tender of such supplies as I might need in the +meantime. I replied as under:-- + + C.S. Steamer Sumter, Cadiz, + January 5, 1862. + + SIR,--I have had the honour to receive, through the health officer of + the port, an order from the Government of Spain, directing me to proceed + to sea within twenty-four hours. I am greatly surprised at this + unfriendly order. Although my Government has not yet been favourably + recognised by Spain, it has been declared to be possessed of the rights + of belligerents in the war in which it is engaged; and it is the + practice of all civilized nations to extend the hospitality of their + ports to the belligerents of both parties alike--whether the + belligerents be _de facto_ or _de jure_. I am aware of the rules adopted + by Spain, in common with the other great powers, prohibiting belligerent + cruisers from bringing their prizes into her ports; but this rule I have + not violated. I have entered the harbour of Cadiz with my single ship, + and I demand only the hospitality to which I am entitled by the law of + nations--the Confederate States being one of the _de facto_ nations of + the earth, by Spain's own acknowledgment, as before stated. I am sorry + to be obliged to add, too, that my ship is in a crippled condition. She + is damaged in her hull, is leaking badly, is unseaworthy, and will + require to be docked and repaired before it will be possible for her to + proceed to sea. I am therefore constrained, by the force of + circumstances, most respectfully to decline obedience to the order which + I have received, until the necessary repairs can be made. Further, I + have on board forty-three prisoners, confined within a small space, + greatly to their discomfort, and simple humanity would seem to dictate, + that I should be permitted to hand them over to the care of their consul + on shore without unnecessary delay. + + I have, &c. (Signed) R. SEMMES. + + To his Excellency The Military Governor of the Port of Cadiz, Spain. + + At 11.30, a boat with the Spanish flag anchored a short distance from + me, evidently a guard upon my movements. The Yankees have been at work, + no doubt, to bring all this about. The military governor is telegraphing + my reply back, and we shall see what the answer will be. + + I was mistaken in the above. The order to proceed to sea was begotten in + the wise brains of the local authorities. My reply to it having been + telegraphed to Madrid, the authorities were overruled; and the Queen + despatched an order to permit me to land my prisoners, and to make such + repairs as I needed. So this business, which has troubled us a couple of + days, is at an end. This evening, just before dark, a Spanish + steam-frigate came down from the Navy Yard, and anchored near us. + + _Monday, January 6th._--Last night I was aroused at 2.30 A.M., by a boat + from the shore, with a note from the military governor, requesting me to + delay proceeding to sea, that the _benevolent_ intentions of her + Majesty's Government in regard to me might be carried out. The "muddy + heads" on shore had received a despatch from Madrid, in reply to my + letter to them. Weather clear and bracing. Wind from the North. + Thermometer at noon 59. deg. The steam-frigate disappeared somehow during + the night. Protested, as under, against the presence of a health + guard-boat:-- + + C.S. Steamer "Sumter," + Cadiz, January 6th, 1862. + + SIR,--I have had the honour to receive your Excellency's note + of to-day, in which you inform me that the proceedings of the + local authorities of Cadiz, commanding me to proceed to sea + within twenty-four hours, have been overruled by the Government + at Madrid, and that the Queen had graciously permitted me + to land my prisoners, and to remain to put the necessary repairs + upon my ship. Do me the favour to communicate to her Majesty + my thanks for her prompt and friendly action in the premises. + + In the meantime, allow me most respectfully to protest against + the presence of the guard-boat which has been placed in surveillance + upon my movements, as though I were an ordinary ship + of commerce. Compliance with the laws of quarantine should + be left with me as a matter of honour, and the presence of this + boat implies the suspicion that a ship of war of a friendly Power + could so far forget herself as to infringe the regulations of the + port--a suspicion as unworthy the health authorities of the port + of Cadiz as it is offensive to me. + + I have the honour to be, &c. &c. + + (Signed) R. SEMMES. + + Senor Ignacio Mendez de Vigo, + Military Governor of the Port of Cadiz. + + _Tuesday, January 7th_.--To-day I received a note from Senor + de Vigo, the military Governor, informing me that the Queen's + Government had consented to permit me to land my prisoners, + and to remain for repairs. He puts my remaining, however, on + the ground of necessity arising out of my crippled condition. Received + also a reply from the Yankee Consul to my note about the + prisoners: declined to receive it on account of its being improperly + addressed.[5] Landed all the prisoners. Received another + note from the Governor, requesting me to hurry my repairs, &c. + Sent to the Captain of the port on the subject. Referred by + him to Captain-General. + + [Footnote 5: + +CAPTAIN SEMMES, C.S.N., to U.S. CONSUL, CADIZ, + +C.S. Steamer Sumter, Cadiz, +January 7, 1862. + +Sir,--Your note of this morning having been sent off to me by a common +boatman, I could not learn the name of the writer without breaking +the envelope. Having done so, and ascertained it to be from yourself, +I decline to receive it, as being improperly addressed. My address +is as follows:-- + +COMMANDER H. SEMMES, + +Confederate States Navy, +Commanding C.S. Steamer Sumter. +E.S. Eggleston, U.S. Consul.] + +_Wednesday, January 8th_.--Complained to the Civil Governor of the +Paymaster and Surgeon having been called alongside the guard-boat +(whilst coming on board in a shore boat). Despatched a Lieutenant to San +Fernando to see the Captain-General about docking the ship. He returned +at nightfall, with word that the Captain-General would reply in the +morning. + +_Thursday, January 9th_.--Visited by Engineer of docks at San +Fernando, to learn the extent of the repairs which we shall require, and +to take the dimensions of the ship, to ascertain whether she can enter +the only dock that is empty. A fine, clear day, with a pleasant wind +from the N. Bar. 30'34., the highest that I have ever seen. No answer +from the Captain-General yet (noon), as to our being docked. Besides the +six ships which Mr. Welles says have been in pursuit of me--viz., the +Powhattan, the Niagara, the San Jacinto, the Iroquois, the Keystone +State, and the Richmond--the Ino and the Dacotah are also employed in +this fruitless business. We are fairly in the hands of the +circumlocution office. I suppose they are telegraphing Madrid. The +greatest excitement prevails all over Europe to learn the result of the +English demand for the Commissioners. The general impression is, that +the Yankees will give them up, and that there will be no war. The packet +from New York is expected in England to-day. In the meantime, Great +Britain is calling home her ships of war; the Mediterranean fleet +arrived at Gibraltar on January 2nd, and threw the commercial community +into the greatest consternation. Received final permission this evening +from the Captain-General to enter dock. + +_Saturday, January 11th_.--Visited the shore. Cadiz full of life and +bustle. Met Mr. Oliver; he is from the East. He says Russia is laying +deep schemes for uniting the whole Sclavonic race under her rule; and +that the _cotton_ pressure is felt at Constantinople, up the Danube, +and, in short, all over Eastern Europe. Received permission from the +Governor to land the marine who was sentenced by court-martial to be +discharged. News of the great fire in Charleston. Rumour that the +Yankees have given up the Commissioners. Can scarcely credit it as yet. +Yankee-dom can hardly have fallen so low. + +_Sunday, January 12th_.--Landed the discharged marine. The news that +Messrs. Mason and Slidell have been given up appears to be confirmed. +The subtle diplomacy, notifying the Yankee Government _unofficially_, +that the ultimatum would be withheld a short time, to allow them time to +give up the prisoners _voluntarily_, was resorted to! The Yankee Consul +here gave a dinner on the occasion! The Cadiz papers comment very +unfavourably upon this back-down, and insist that notwithstanding, it is +the duty of the great Powers to interpose and put an end to the war. In +the afternoon we got under way, and passing through the fleet of +shipping, went up to the dock at Caracca, some eight miles east of the +city. The harbor is perfect, the water deep, and the buildings +extensive. The pilot who took me up, says he is the man to run me out by +the enemy, when I am ready--that he was in New Orleans sixty years ago, +and remained a year in Louisiana, where he learned to speak the +language, which he has not yet entirely forgotten. + +_Monday, January 13th_.--At about 10 o'clock the dockyard people came on +board of us, and at 10.30 we were safely docked, and at noon the dock +pumped dry. We suffered very little damage from running ashore at +Maranham. We indented a small place under the forefoot, and knocked off +only a small portion of our false keel instead of the whole of it, as we +supposed. We are now knocking away bulk-heads, and removing magazine and +shell room to get at the shaft. At 1 P.M. called officially upon the +Naval-Commandant, and returned him my thanks for the handsome manner in +which he had docked my ship. I spoke of the back-down of the Yankees, +which he asserted would make them lose caste in Europe. The great fire +at Charleston was alluded to by him, whereupon I remarked that Europe +could see from this incident--(the work of incendiarism prompted and +paid for, no doubt, by the enemy)--the barbarous nature of the war waged +upon us, and told him we were in fact fighting the battles of Spain as +well as our own; for if the barbarians of the North succeeded in +overcoming the South (which, however, I pronounced an impossibility), +and destroying our slave property, in their wild fanaticism and +increasing madness, they would next make war on Cuba and Porto Rico. He +replied that this war could not continue much longer; there were people +and territory enough in North America to make two great governments, and +Europe would, no doubt united, soon interpose. I was treated with great +civility and kindness. + +_Tuesday, January 14th_.--* * * Had an interview to-day with the +Naval-Commandant, who explained to me the orders he had received from +the Government in relation to my ship, which were to put upon her only +the _indispensable_ repairs, without essential alterations. I expressed +myself satisfied with this; told him I knew the solicitude of his +Government to avoid complication; and, that so far as depended upon me, +he might rely upon it that I would permit nothing to be done which might +involve it in any way. Proceeding with the necessary repairs. Some +thousand workmen, many of them convicts, are employed in this yard. They +have in dock, receiving her copper, a heavy steam frigate constructed +here, and another still larger on the stocks. Immense quantities of +timber are in the docks, and though the water is salt it is not attacked +by the worm, the ebb and flow of the tide preventing it. Timber which +has been forty years in these docks is perfectly sound. Five of my +seamen deserted yesterday--all foreigners, I am glad to say. The +Commandant has promised to put the police on the scent, but I have no +expectation I shall get them. + +_Wednesday, January 15th_.--Having had the plank replaced in the bilge, +and re-coppered and overhauled the propeller, we were let out of dock at +1 P.M. These repairs were done with a very bad grace by the Spanish +officials, who seemed in a great hurry to get rid of us, lest the affair +of our being docked should compromise them! This I suppose was due to +official timidity, not to any want of good feeling, as the Commandant of +the yard expressed to me his regret at not being able to put me in +complete repair; personally offering to render me any service in his +power. Our engine not being ready for use, the Captain-General sent a +small steamer to tow me to Cadiz, where we anchored at about 4 P.M. +Whilst lying in the dock, a stampede took place amongst my crew, nine of +them having deserted. Two were brought back; the rest escaped. Some of +these men had behaved themselves very well, but none of them, of course, +had any attachment to the flag, not being natives, or, indeed, citizens +at all, and, sailor-like, they had got tired, and wanted a change. Some, +no doubt, shrank from the arduous and perilous duties of the service in +which they had engaged. They took refuge with the Yankee Consul, and it +was useless to ask to have them given up. The enemy is certainly good +at burning cities by means of negro incendiaries, and at enticing away +our seamen. Another lad ran away from a boat this evening. Have directed +no boat should leave the ship without an officer, and that the officer +be armed, and ordered to shoot any men who attempt to desert. + +_Thursday, January 16th_.--Called my crew aft and had a talk with them +about the bad conduct of their shipmates who had deserted. Told them I +did not believe I had another man on board capable of so base an act; +that men who could run under such circumstances would run from their +guns; and that I did not want such, &c., &c.; and ended by telling them +that when funds arrived they should be permitted to go on liberty. * * * +At 9 P.M., the aide-de-camp of the Military Governor came on board, +bringing a pilot with him, with a peremptory order for me to go to sea. +I replied as under:-- + +C.S. Steamer Sumter, Cadiz, Jan. 16, 1862. + +SIR,--I have the honour to inform you that whilst my ship was in the +dock at Caracca eight of my seamen deserted, and I am informed that they +are sheltered and protected by the United States Consul. I respectfully +request that you will cause these men to be delivered to me, and to +disembarrass this demand of any difficulty that may seem to attend it, +permit me to make the following observations:--[6] + + * * * * * + +3. It has been, and is, the uniform custom of all nations to arrest and +hand over to their proper officers, deserters from ships of war; and +this without stopping to inquire as to the nationality of the deserter. + +[Footnote 6: The paragraphs omitted, contain merely a recapitulation of +the claim of the Confederate States to full belligerent rights.] + +4. If this is the practice in peace, how much more necessary does such a +practice become in war; since, otherwise, the operations of war--remote, +it is true--but still the operations of war, would be tolerated in a +neutral territory. + +5. Without a violation of neutrality, an enemy's consul in a neutral +territory, cannot be permitted to entice any seamen from a ship of the +opposite belligerents, or to shelter or protect the same; for, if he is +permitted to do this, then his domicile becomes an enemy's camp in a +neutral territory. + +6. With reference to the question in hand, I respectfully submit that +the only facts which your Excellency can take cognizance of, are, that +these deserters entered the waters of Spain under my flag, and that they +formed a part of my crew. The inquiry cannot pass a step beyond, and +Spain cannot undertake to inquire, as between the United States Consul +and myself, to which of us the deserters in question more properly +belong. Such a course would be tantamount to an interposition between +two belligerents, and it would be destructive of the essential rights of +ships of war in foreign ports, as well in peace as in war. + +7. I am inclined to admit that if a Spanish subject serving under my +flag should escape to the shore, and should satisfy the authorities that +he was held by me by force, and either without contract, or in violation +of contract, that he might be set at liberty, but such is not the +present case. The nationality of the deserters not being Spanish, Spain +cannot, as I said before, inquire into it. To conclude, the case which I +present is simply this:--Several of my crew, serving on board my ship +under voluntary contracts, have deserted, and taken refuge in the +consulate of the United States. To deprive me of the power, with the +assistance of the police, to recapture these men, would convert the +consulate into a camp, and the consul would be permitted to exercise the +right of a belligerent on neutral territories. + +I have the honour to be, &c., &c. + +(Signed) R. SEMMES. + + Exmo. Sr. Don J. Mendez de Vigo, + Military Governor, Cadiz. + +_Friday, January 17th._--Before I had turned out this morning the +Governor's aid again came on board, stating the order was made +peremptory, that I should go to sea in six hours, or I should be forced. +I called in person on the Governor, a not over bright official, and +endeavoured to make him understand how I was situated, but it seemed +impossible. He promised, however, to send a despatch to Madrid, to the +effect that I had no coals, and was awaiting funds to procure the same; +but, he added, if he received no despatch in the six hours he should +require me to depart. I returned on board, and gave the necessary orders +to get ready for sea. At 4 P.M., whilst I was weighing my anchor, the +General's aide came alongside, and said to me that the Madrid Government +had consented to let me remain twenty-four hours, that a despatch was +being written to me on the subject, to which the Governor desired that I +would reply in writing. I told the officer that, if his Government had +politely acceded to my request, permitting me to remain until my funds +arrived, I could have appreciated it; but that being restricted to +forty-eight hours, I declined to avail myself of the privilege, and +should go to sea; and that the General need not trouble himself to read +me the written despatch, as I had no other reply to make. I got under +way in a few minutes afterwards, and as I was passing out a boat was +seen pulling in great haste towards me, one of the crew holding up a +letter in his hand. I did not stop to receive it; I felt too indignant +at the manner in which I had been treated to be very civil. We passed +outside of the harbour a little before sunset, and held on to the light +until midnight, when we steamed for the Strait of Gibraltar. + +_Saturday, January 18th._--* * * * We entered the Strait of Gibraltar at +about 5 A.M., passing the Tarifa Light, and with the bold shores of both +Africa and Europe in plain sight, in the bright moonlight--bright, +notwithstanding the passing clouds. We made the Gibraltar light about +daybreak, and saw at the same time a number of sail. We gave chase to +two that _looked_ American, which they proved to be, and which we +captured. The first was the barque Neapolitan, of Kingston, +Massachusetts, from Messina to Boston, laden with fruit and fifty tons +of _sulphur_. The whole cargo was stated by the master, in his +depositions, to belong to the Baring Bros., consigned to their agents in +Boston--a falsehood, no doubt. Without stopping to look into the _bona +fides_ of this claim of neutral ownership, it was enough that the +sulphur was contraband, and that the fruit belonged to the same owner; I +destroyed both ship and cargo. No papers as to the latter were produced. +The second vessel was also a barque, the Investigator, of Searsport, +Maine. She being laden with iron ore, the property of neutrals +(Englishmen), I released her on a ransom bond; she was bound to Newport, +Wales. One fourth of the vessel was owned in South Carolina, and the +share of the South Carolina owner was omitted from the ransom +bond--amount of bond being less one-fourth fifteen thousand dollars. +Having burned the Neapolitan, I steamed in for Gibraltar at 2.30 P.M. +Passed under Europa point at about dusk, and stood in, and anchored in +the bay at about 7.30 P.M. Boarded in a few minutes by a boat from an +English frigate, with an offer of service. Sent a boat alongside the +health ship. + +_Sunday, January 19th_.--We found early this morning we had _pratique_. +A number of English officers and citizens came on board. At 10 I called +on board the frigate that had sent the boat on board of us last night, +but was informed that the Captain (who was absent) was not the +commanding officer present, and that the latter lived on shore. At 2 +P.M. I landed at the arsenal and called upon the commanding naval +officer, who received me very politely. I asked the loan of an anchor, +having but one, and the Captain promised to supply me with one if there +should be no objection on the part of the law officers of the Crown! +Walked from the Captain's little oasis--scooped out as it were from the +surface of the Rock, with a nice garden-plot and trees, shrubbery, +&c.--down into the town, and called on Lieutenant-General Sir W.J. +Codrington, K.C.B., the Governor, an agreeable type of an English +gentleman of about fifty to fifty-five years of age. The Governor +tendered me the facilities of the market, &c., and in the course of +conversation said he should object to my making Gibraltar a _station_, +at which to be at anchor for the purpose of sallying out into the Strait +and seizing my prey. I told him that this had been settled as contrary +to law by his own distinguished judge, Sir William Scott, sixty years +ago, and that he might rely upon my taking no step whatever violative of +the neutrality of England, so long as I remained in her ports, &c. The +garrison is about seven thousand strong, and it being Sunday, the +parade-ground and streets were thronged with gay uniforms. Spain, with +her hereditary jealousy and imperiousness of character, is very formal +and strict about intercourse with the Rock. The Duke of Beaufort visited +us to-day. + +_Monday, January 20th_.--Very fresh, threatening a gale. Ship reported +as having dragged her anchor. Ordered steam to be got up and the berth +shifted. Ran in nearer to the eastern shore into four fathom water and +where it was smoother. + +_Tuesday, January 21st_.--The westerly wind is bringing a fleet of ships +into the bay. To-day Colonel Freemantle came on board to return my visit +on the part of the Governor, and to read to me, by the latter's +direction, a memorandum of the conversation which had passed between us +on Sunday. The points noted were--first, that we had agreed that I +should receive all necessary facilities for the repair (from private +sources) and supply of my ship, contraband of war excepted; and, +secondly, that I would not make Gibraltar a station at which to lie at +anchor, and sally out upon my enemy. I assented to the correctness of +the Governor's memorandum. The first Lieutenant and Paymaster ashore +making arrangements for the purchase of an anchor and chain. The house +of Peacock and Co. refused to supply us, because it would offend their +Yankee customers. They made arrangements with another party. The town of +Gibraltar, from the fact that the houses are built on the side of the +Rock, and stand one above the other, presents the beautiful spectacle +every night of a city illuminated. Colonel Freemantle politely requested +me to visit the various batteries, &c. + +_Wednesday, January 22nd_,--Wind still from westward. Received on board +an anchor and chain. Received a letter from Captain Warden, on a point +of international law, to which I assented--to wit, that vessels should +have twenty-four hours' start. + +_Thursday, January 23rd_.--Visited by Captain Warden, the Senior Naval +Officer. Received a letter from Hon. Mr. Yancey, who does not believe +that the blockade will be raised for three months. Ordered a survey upon +the ship. + +_Friday, January 24th_.--Invited to dine with the 100th, a Canadian +regiment. Some of the officers went. Captain Palmer has been relieved by +De Camp. + +_Saturday, January 25th_.--We hear a rumour that the Nashville has been +sold. Ships constantly arriving and departing. + +_Sunday, January 26th_.--A charming, balmy day, resembling April in +Alabama. At 10, went on shore to the Catholic church; arrived as the +military Mass ended: many Catholics in the army. Small church, with +groined arches--remnant of Spanish times. After church took a delightful +stroll into the country, just above the Alameda. It is a labyrinth of +agave and flowers and shrubbery, among which the path zigzags up the +mountain-side; geraniums, and jonquils, and mignonette, and lilies are +wild. One is only surprised, after looking at the apparently barren face +of the rock, to find so much sweetness of Mother Earth. I clambered up a +couple of hundred feet, and from that height the bay, the coasts of +Spain, and sleeping Africa, robed in the azure hue of distance, and the +numerous sail, some under way, and others lying like so many cock-boats, +as seen from the height, at their anchors--the latteen craft speaking of +the far East, &c. Statue of General Elliot. A number of fine-looking +Moors in the streets, picturesque in their loose dresses and snowy +turbans. Gibraltar is, indeed, a city of the world, where one sees every +variety of costume, and hears all tongues. Spanish is the predominant +language among the commercial classes. Major-General Sir John Inglis +(the hero of Lucknow), of the English army, Governor of Corfu, having +arrived on his way to the Ionian Islands, visited us to-day to see our +ship, which he was kind enough to say had become "quite distinguished." + +_Monday, January 27th_.--A general exodus of the shipping this morning +out of the Straits, within which they had been detained some ten days by +a head wind. The English mail steamer from Southampton arrived. Received +from her a _Times_ of the 20th, from which we learn that England had +protested against the barbarity of blocking up the harbour of +Charleston, by sinking a stone fleet. We feel some anxiety for the +safety of Messrs. Mason and Slidell, they having embarked on board the +English gunboat Rinaldo, at Princetown, on the 2nd instant, and not +having been heard of on the 10th, although bound to Halifax. A heavy +gale blew on the eve of their embarkation. + +_Tuesday, January 28th._--Preparing the ship for sea, surveying +machinery, and impatiently awaiting news from London. + +_Wednesday, January 29th._--Visited the shore, and went to the Military +Library and Reading Room, where I found the principal London journals. +Reported that the English Government will consult Parliament about +recognising us. Took a long stroll to the east end of the +Rock--exceedingly broken and picturesque. Came upon a Moorish +burying-ground, looking out upon Africa. Some of the marble slabs had +become almost disintegrated by the weather, so old were they. What a +history of human affections, hopes, aspirations, tribulations, and +disappointments lay buried here! New works, adding additional strength +to this renowned fortress, are still going on. * * * * + +_Thursday, January 30th._--* * * * Visited, in company with Colonel +Freemantle, the famous fortifications, passing through the +galleries--three tiers, one above the other--in the north end of the +Rock. These are huge tunnels, extending from a third to half a mile, +with embrasures from space to space for cannon--the solid Rock forming +the casemates. From these galleries we emerged out on a narrow footway +cut in the rock, and stood perpendicularly over the sea breaking at our +feet, and had a fine view of the N.E. face of the Rock rising in a +magnificent mass some 1500 feet. From this point a tower, called the +Queen of Spain's Chair, was pointed out to me--on the height opposite, +to the northward. The legend connected with which is, that during one of +the sieges of 1752, the Queen of Spain came to this eminence to witness +the assault and capture of the place, and vowed she would not descend +therefrom until the flag of Spain should wave from the Rock. The assault +failed, and the Queen in performance of her vow refused to descend, +until the Governor of Gibraltar, hearing of the determination of her +Majesty, sent her word that he would at a given hour hoist the Spanish +ensign that she might descend. This was done, and the Queen was rescued +from her predicament without breaking her word. + +Having finished our inspection of the Rock, we went through the town, +and passed out on to the neutral ground, from which I returned after a +four hours' ride completely broken down. On the south end, under a +perpendicular wall of rock, that in summer breaks the sun from an early +hour in the afternoon, is the Governor's summer residence, to which he +resorts for protection against the heat. We met his Excellency and lady, +who had come out to look at their summer home, &c. Colonel Freemantle +told me that the Spanish Consul, whom he pointed out as we passed the +Alameda, had stated that I was a Spaniard, or at least that my father +was--a native of Catalonia--that I spoke Catalan as well as English, and +that my name was a common one in that province. + +_Saturday, February 1st._--Witnessed a review of about five thousand +troops in the Alameda. Drums draped with black, and the ornaments of the +officers covered with black crape in respect to the memory of the Prince +Consort. + +_Sunday, February 2nd._--Received letters from N----, informing me, that +as my ship was unseaworthy, Mr. Yancey had determined to send me the new +one built at Liverpool, if I desired it. + +_Wednesday, February 5th._--A United States merchant ship came in and +anchored. Ready for sea. Mr. Joyce came on board, and went afterwards +with the Engineer on shore to look at some coal. Mr. Joyce sent word +that he could not purchase any, there being a combination against us. +Sent the First Lieutenant to the Governor to represent the facts to him, +and to ask for a supply from the public stores. He replied he had no +coal under his control, that it belonged to the naval officer, but that +he did not think it could be supplied. Expressed his astonishment at the +combination of the merchants. Sent a number of men on shore on liberty. + +_Friday, February 7th._--Liberty-men staying over their time. Two of +them have deserted and gone over to the U.S. Consul. One of them has +been badly beaten by the rest of the men. Eleven of them came on board +later. Visited by a Spanish Lieutenant, who had been directed by the +Spanish Naval Commander at Algeciras to see me and state that the U.S. +Consul had complained to the Spanish government that I had violated the +neutrality of Spain by capturing the barque Neapolitan within a mile and +a half of Ceutra, on the Morocco coast, and that the Government had +given the Admiral orders to see that both belligerents in the war should +respect Spanish neutrality. I stated to him in reply that any question +which the capture might present was a matter between our two +Governments, and that I did not recognise the right of the Spanish +Admiral to inquire into the matter. To this the Lieutenant assented. I +then said that I would take the pleasure of showing him, however, for +the information of the Admiral, that the truth had not been represented +to his Government by the United States Consul. I then called my clerk, +and showed him the deposition of the Master of the captured vessel, in +which it was stated that the capture was made within five miles of +Gibraltar! The officer seemed equally astonished and pleased, and +expressed his satisfaction. + +_Saturday, February 8th_.--Early this morning the British frigate +Warrior came in, and anchored near us. Sent a Lieutenant on board to +make the usual complimentary call. Awaiting the arrival of a vessel with +coal, consigned to Mr. Joyce, who promises to supply us. My coxswain ran +off to-day, and I was pulled off by a drunken crew. + +_Sunday, February 9th._--Did not go to church, but remained on board to +be present at muster. Eleven of my vagabonds still on shore. Some of +these, we learn, have gone to the United States Consul, and claimed his +protection. This official has been seducing them off by an emissary. +Wrote to the Governor charging this on the Consul, and wrote also to +Captain Warden, asking to be supplied with coal from the Government +dockyard. + + C.S. Steamer Sumter, Bay of Gibraltar, + Feb. 10, 1862. + +Sir,--I have the honour to state for the information of his Excellency +the Governor of Gibraltar, that I am informed and believe that the +United States Consul, at this place, has, by means of his emissaries, +tampered with, and seduced from their allegiance, several of the crew of +my ship who have visited the shore on liberty. The impropriety and +illegality of such conduct is so manifest that I take it for granted his +Excellency will interpose his authority for my protection. Great +Britain, having proclaimed a strict neutrality in the war now pending +between the United States and Confederate States, is under the +obligation, I respectfully suggest, not only to abstain herself, from +any un-neutral conduct, but to see that all persons whatsoever within +her dominions so abstain. No act of war, proximate or remote, should be +tolerated in her waters by the one belligerent against the other, or by +any citizen or resident against either belligerent. His Excellency will +doubtless concur with me in the justice and propriety of the rule thus +stated. To apply this rule to the present case. Being prompted by +motives of humanity to send my crew on shore, in small detachments, for +exercise and recreation, after a long confinement on shipboard, my +enemy, the United States Consul, sends his agents among them, and by +specious pretences persuades them to desert their ship, and take refuge +under his Consular flag. This Has been done in the case of the following +seamen:--Everett Salmon, John G. Jenkins, Thomas F. Kenny, and perhaps +others. Here is an act of war perpetrated against me in neutral +territory, and the consular residence, or office, has become _quoad hoc_ +a hostile camp. And this conduct is the more objectionable in that the +nationality of most of these men is not American. His Excellency, as a +soldier, knows that no crime is regarded with greater detestation in the +present civilized age of the world, than the one here described. As +between contending armies in the field, an offender caught in the +perpetration of such an act, would be subjected to instant death; and +this, not only because the act is an act of war, but because it is a +dishonourable act of war. And can an enemy make use of neutral territory +to do that, which would subject him to an ignominious death, if he were +without such territory, and within reach of the opposite belligerent? +When my men come within his Excellency's jurisdiction I lose all control +over them, and must rely upon his comity to regain possession of them. +If they leave me of their own freewill, in the absence of the +recognition of my Government, and of treaty stipulation, perhaps I have +no remedy. But when I permit them to go on shore, and enter the +jurisdiction of a neutral and friendly power, I do so with the just +expectation that they will receive the shelter and protection of the +neutral flag; and that they will not be permitted to be run off by my +enemy; and to wheedle and entice a sailor from his ship, and that too +when, perhaps, he is half drunk, is little better than kidnapping him. +In the present case, the violation of the neutral jurisdiction is as +complete as if the Consul had seized my men by force; for he has +accomplished the same object; to wit, weakening his enemy by +stratagem--a stratagem practised by one belligerent against another. If +this act had been committed by a military or naval officer of the enemy, +transiently within the limits of Gibraltar, every one would have been +surprised at it, and would have exclaimed against it as a flagrant +violation of the law of nations. And is the offence of less magnitude +when committed by a Consul, who is peculiarly favored by the law of +nations, as an officer of peace, and one whose pursuits lie wholly in +the walks of commerce? Mr. Sprague, the United States consul, is a +gentleman whom I have heard favourably spoken of, and it is barely +possible I may do him injustice in imputing to him the conduct +described, but the evidence came to me in a very satisfactory shape, and +I shall be ready to produce it if the allegation be denied. Should the +proof be made out to his Excellency's satisfaction, I shall deem it my +duty to request that the Consul be suspended from his functions, and +that the question of withdrawing his Exequatur be referred to the +British Government. + + I have, &c., &c., + (Signed) R. SEMMES. + + To Capt. J. Freeling, Col. Sec. + + C.S. Steamer Sumter, Bay of Gibraltar. + Feb. 10th. + +Sir,--I have the honour to inform you that I have made every effort to +procure a supply of coal, without success. The British and other +merchants of Gibraltar, instigated I learn by the United States Consul, +have entered into the un-neutral combination of declining to furnish the +Sumter with coal on any terms. Under these circumstances, I trust the +Government of her Majesty will find no difficulty in supplying me. By +the recent letter of Earl Russell (31st January, 1862), it is not +inconsistent with neutrality for a belligerent to supply himself with +coal in a British port. In other words, this article has been +pronounced, like provisions, innoxious; and this being the case, it can +make no difference whether it be supplied by the Government or an +individual (the Government being reimbursed the expense), and this even +though the market were open to me. Much more, then, may the Government +supply me with an innocent article, the market not being open to me. +Suppose I had come into port destitute of provisions, and the same +illegal combination had shut me out from the market, would the British +Government permit my crew to starve? Or, suppose I had been a sail ship, +and had come in dismasted, and the dockyard was the only place where I +could be refitted, would you have denied me a mast? and if you would not +deny me a mast, on what principle will you deny me coal, both articles +being declared by your Government innoxious? The true criterion is, not +whether the Government, or an individual may supply the article, but +whether the article itself be noxious or innoxious. The Government may +not supply me with powder--why? Not because I may have recourse to the +market, but because the article is noxious. A case in point occurred +when I was in Cadiz recently. My ship was admitted into a Government +dock, and there repaired; firstly, because the repairs were innocent, +and, secondly, because there were no private docks in Cadiz. So here, +the article is innocent, and there is none in the market (accessible to +me); why then may not the Government supply me? + +In conclusion, I respectfully request that you will supply me with 150 +tons of coal, for which I will pay the cash; or if you prefer it, I will +deposit the money with an agent, who can have no difficulty, I suppose, +in purchasing the same amount of the material from some one of the +hulks, and returning it to her Majesty's dockyard. + +I have, &c., + + (Signed) R. SEMMES. + + Captain E. Warden, Senior Naval Officer, + Gibraltar. + + _Monday, February 10th_.--* * * * Received a visit + from Captain Cochrane, of the Warrior, son of the late Earl + of Dundonald, notorious in the war of 1812, and distinguished + in the South American service. Wrote the following + letter:-- + + C.S. Steamer Sumter, + Bay of Gibraltar, Feb. 10, 1862. + + SIR,--I have the honour to inform you that I have this day + caused to be paid to the Spanish Consul at this port the amount + of the bill contracted by this ship under my command while in + the dock at Caracca. + +I have, &c., + +(Signed) R. SEMMES. + +To the Captain of the Port, Cadiz. + +_Tuesday, February 11th._--* * * * Five men in confinement! The +d----seems to have got into my crew. I shall have to tighten the reins a +little. + +_Wednesday, February 12th_.--* * * * Called on the Governor to have a +talk with him on the subject of my deserters. He took the ground that in +the absence of treaty stipulations he could not deliver a fugitive +unwilling to be returned. Whilst I was with him the Tuscarora was +announced by the telegraph. This ship came in and anchored near us about +12 noon, disguised with her mainyards down, so as to resemble a merchant +steamer. I saw Captain Warden on shore also. He informed me that the +question of my being coaled by the dockyards had been referred by +telegraph to London. + +_Thursday, February 13th._--Blowing a levanter. In the morning a barque +dragged foul of the Tuscarora, and carried away her (the barque's) +foreyards. Later in the day the Tuscarora shifted her berth over to the +Spanish shore, near San Roque. Several vessels took shelter in the +harbour from the gale. Among them a French line-of-battle ship, and a +Spanish side-wheel man-of-war. Shut up in my little cabin by the wet +weather, I have time to brood gloomily over home and the war, and the +prospects of our dear South. + +_Friday, February 14th._ * * *--At noon the Tuscarora got under way, and +stood over to Algeciras. + +_Saturday, February 15th_.--Anniversary of the day of my resignation +from the navy of the United States; and what an eventful year it has +been! The Northern States have been making a frantic and barbarous war +upon thirteen states and nine millions of people; in face, too, of +Madison's words: "If there be a principle that ought not to be +questioned in the United States, it is that every nation has the right +to abolish an old Government and establish a new one. This principle is +not only recorded in every public archive, written in every American +heart, and sealed with the blood of a host of American martyrs, but it +is _the only lawful tenure_ by which the United States hold their +existence as a nation." And then what flood-gates of private misery have +been raised by this war--overwhelming families without number in utter +ruin and desolation. + +Reduced my worthless sergeant to the ranks, and promoted a corporal in +his stead. The British Parliament met on the 6th, and we have in the +papers to-day the address to the Queen, and the speeches of the Earl of +Derby and Lord Palmerston. From the general tone of all these papers we +shall not be acknowledged at present. They say the quarrel is no +business of theirs, and we must fight it out. Astute Great Britain! she +sees that we are able to fight it out, and thus her darling object will +be accomplished without the expenditure of blood or money. + +_Sunday, February 16th_.--* * * * Visited by the Captain of the Scylla +frigate. + +_Monday, February 17th._--* * * * Visited the Warrior. The Governor +and suite and a number of naval and other officers, civilians, and +ladies visited her by appointment at the same time. The Warrior is a +marvel of modern naval architecture, and for a first experiment may be +pronounced a success. She is a monstrous, impregnable floating fortress, +and will work a revolution in shipbuilding. Wooden ships, as +battle-ships, must go out of use. With this single ship I could destroy +the entire Yankee fleet blockading our coast, and this is the best +illustration I can give for the necessity of this revolution in +shipbuilding. The British Government has declined to supply me with coal +from the dockyard, and I must make arrangements to get it from Cadiz. +The London, ship-of-the-line steamer, arrived. + +_Tuesday, February 18th_.--* * * * The Southampton mail steamer arrived, +bringing news from London to the 12th. The news of the defeat and death +of General Zollicoffer is confirmed. + +_Wednesday, February 19th._--Called on Captain Warden, and had a +conversation with him on the subject of our blockade by the Tuscarora. +Called his attention to the prevention of signals, the Tuscarora +communicating with Gibraltar by boats. Gave notice if the Tuscarora came +in I should claim precedence of departure, &c. The Warrior went to sea. +Judging from the tone of the English journals there is no prospect of +our immediate recognition. Sent to Cadiz-for coal. + +_Thursday, February 21st._--* * * * The newspapers state that there are +seven Yankee ships in pursuit of us--four steamers and three sail-ships. +Three of the steamers were at Teneriffe on the 11th of January. A report +has reached us that our Paymaster and ex-Consul Tunstall are prisoners +in Tangier! Received a letter from Captain Warden, informing me that the +Governor had prohibited all vessels in the harbour from making signals, +and had prohibited the Tuscarora from communicating with the harbour by +boats so long as she remained in Spanish waters, &c. + +_Saturday, February 22nd_.--The report is confirmed of the illegal +imprisonment in Tangier of Paymaster Myers and Mr. Tunstall. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +_The Tangier difficulty--Loyalty of United States Consuls--A daring +act--Imprisonment of the two Confederates--Captain Semmes' appeal--No +results--An armed force from the Ino--Threatened rescue--Neutrality +again--Foreign Office intelligence--The Harvest Home--Garnered._ + + +The imprisonment of the two gentlemen alluded to at the conclusion of +the last chapter, is an episode in the history of the Sumter which +demands something more than mere passing notice. When the news of the +occurrence reached England it excited a considerable amount of +attention, as not only did the case exhibit some curious phases of the +working of the law of "strict neutrality," but it also afforded a very +excellent idea of the marvellous loyalty of one of the United States +Consuls. Reference has been previously made to the zealous conduct of +the consular officials of the North. + +It has been shown that at Maranham, Cayenne, Paramaribo, Cadiz, and +Gibraltar, the respective Yankee Consuls acted upon the broad principle +that every Confederate was the natural enemy of the United States, and a +rebel to boot. Not content with simply holding this opinion, the task +these gentlemen set themselves was, to indoctrinate the Governments of +the several countries in which they were located with the same views of +the case. In some cases they succeeded so far as to cause considerable +vexation to Captain Semmes; and if they failed to convince the +authorities, that the Sumter was a piratical craft, they at least +succeeded in occasionally entailing needless delays in obtaining those +necessary supplies, which as an officer in the service of a country +recognised as a belligerent, the commander of the Sumter had a right to +demand. + +The Tangier Consul, however, went far beyond his brethren, for he not +only demanded, but succeeded in effecting the arrest and imprisonment of +an officer and a citizen of the Confederate States. These gentlemen, Mr. +Myers, the Paymaster of the Sumter, and Mr. Tunstall, a private Southern +gentleman, had been despatched by Captain Semmes from Gibraltar to +Cadiz, in search of coal. The vessel in which they embarked touched at +Tangier, and the two Americans landed for the purpose of inspecting the +curious old Moorish city. No sooner were they on shore than the United +States Consul hastened to the authorities, denounced his enemies, and +demanded their arrest, alleging that it was authorized by treaty +stipulation with the United States. After vainly imploring advice from +the representatives of the Christian Powers, the sorely perplexed +authorities complied with this demand, and the two Confederates were +seized, heavily ironed, and kept prisoners in the Consul's house. At the +very first opportunity they communicated with Captain Semmes, and he +with his usual promptitude at once despatched the following letter to +the Governor of Gibraltar:-- + + C.S. Steamer Sumter, Bay of Gibraltar, + February 22nd, 1862. + +Sir,--I have the honour to ask the good offices of His Excellency the +Governor of Gibraltar in a matter purely my own. On Wednesday last, I +despatched from this port, in a French passage-steamer for Cadiz, on +business connected with this ship, my Paymaster, Mr. Henry Myers, and +Mr. T.T. Tunstall, a citizen of the Confederate States, and ex-United +States Consul at Cadiz. The steamer having stopped on her way at +Tangier, and these gentlemen having gone on shore for a walk during her +temporary delay there, they were seized by the authorities, at the +instigation of the United States Consul, and imprisoned. A note from +Paymaster Myers informs me they are both heavily ironed, and otherwise +treated in a barbarous manner. + +I learn further that the pretence upon which the unlawful proceeding +was had, is, that it is authorized by treaty stipulation with the United +States. Unfortunately I have not a copy of this treaty in my possession; +but I presume it provides in the usual form, for the extradition of +criminals, and nothing more. I need not say to his Excellency that +treaties of this description are never applied to political +offenders--which I presume is the only category in which the United +States Consul pretends to place these two gentlemen. An occurrence of +this kind could not have happened, of course, in a civilized community. +The political ignorance of the Moorish Government has been shamefully +practised upon by the unscrupulous Consul. I understand that the British +Government has a diplomatic agent resident at Tangier, and a word from +that gentleman would no doubt set the matter right, and insure the +release of the unfortunate prisoners. And it is to interest this +gentleman in this humane task that I address myself to his Excellency. +May I not ask the favour of his Excellency, under the peculiar +circumstances of the case, to address Mr. Hay a note on the subject, +explaining to him the facts, and requesting his interposition? If any +official scruples present themselves, the thing might be done in his +character as a private gentleman. The Moorish Government would not +hesitate a moment, if it understood correctly the facts and principles +of the case; to wit, that the principal powers of Europe have recognised +the Confederate States as belligerents, in their war against the United +States, and that, consequently, the act of making war against these +States by the citizens of the Confederate States, is not an offence, +political or otherwise, of which a neutral can take cognizance; and even +if it were the former, no extradition treaty is ever meant to apply to +such a case. + +I have the honour, &c. &c. + + (Signed) R. SEMMES. + Capt. S. Freeling, Col. Sec. + +This letter was unattended with success, the maintenance of strict +neutrality being a barrier in the way of any interference on the part of +the British authorities at Gibraltar. Accordingly, Captain Semmes penned +the subjoined formal protest, and despatched it to the Governor of +Tangier. + + C.S. Steamer of war Sumter, Bay of Gibraltar, + February 23rd, 1862. + +His Excellency the Governor of Tangier, Morocco: + +I have the honour to inform your Excellency that intelligence has +reached me of the imprisonment by the Moorish Government at Tangier, of +Mr. Henry Myers, the Paymaster of this ship, and Mr. T.T. Tunstall, a +citizen of the Confederate States, and late United States Consul at +Cadiz. I learn further, that these gentlemen are heavily ironed, and +otherwise treated with inhumanity. I am utterly at a loss to conceive on +what ground this illegal imprisonment can have taken place; though I +learn that the United States Consul demanded it, under some claim of +extradition treaty stipulation. A word or two will suffice to set this +matter right. It must, of course, be known to your Excellency, that the +Confederate States have been acknowledged by the principal powers of +Europe, as belligerents in the war in which they are engaged with the +United States; and that, consequently, the Paymaster of this ship, in +any act of war in which he may have participated, can have been guilty +of no offence, political or otherwise, of which any neutral power can +take cognizance. Indeed, as before stated, the neutral powers of Europe +have expressly recognised the right of the Confederate States to make +war against the United States. No extradition treaty therefore can apply +to Paymaster Myers. Mr. Tunstall not being in the military or naval +service of the Confederate States, can no more be brought within the +terms of any such treaty than Paymaster Myers. I have, therefore, +respectfully to demand, in the name of my Government, and in accordance +with the laws and practice of nations, that these two citizens of the +Confederate States be set at liberty. + +I have the honour, &c., &c. + +(Signed) R. Semmes. + +Determined to leave no stone unturned, the Commander of the Sumter +sought to interest the British Charge d'Affaires in the fate of the two +prisoners, as will be seen by the annexed letter:-- + + C.S. Steamer Sumter, Bay of Gibraltar, + February 23rd, 1864. + +Sir,--May I ask of you the favour to act unofficially for me in a matter +of humanity, by handing to the proper officer the enclosed +communication, demanding the release from imprisonment in Tangier of the +Paymaster of this ship, and of Mr. T.T. Tunstall, a citizen of the +Confederate States. The Moorish authorities have evidently been imposed +upon by false representations as to the character and status of these +gentlemen. I hear that the United States Consul demanded their +imprisonment under some extradition treaty. The absurdity of such a +claim will of course be apparent to you. We are recognised belligerents; +our acts of war are legal therefore, so far as all neutrals are +concerned, and it cannot be pretended that any officer of this ship can +have committed any offence in any act of war in which he may have +participated against the United States, which Morocco can take +cognizance of, or bring under the terms of any extradition treaty. + +I have the honour to be, &c., &c. + +(Signed) R. Semmes. + + John Hay Drummond Hay, C.B., + H.M. Charge d'Affaires, Tangier, Marocco. + +On the 24th Mr. Hay replied, and the following extract from his +communication will best explain the grounds he assumed:--"You," he +writes, "must be aware that Her Britannic Majesty's Government have +decided on observing a strict neutrality in the present conflict between +the Northern and Southern States; it is therefore incumbent on Her +Majesty's officers to avoid anything like undue interference in any +questions affecting the interests of either party which do not concern +the British government; and though I do not refuse to accede to your +request to deliver the letter to the Moorish authorities, I think it my +duty to signify distinctly to the latter my intention to abstain from +expressing an opinion regarding the course to be pursued by Morocco on +the subject matter of your letter." + +To this despatch Captain Semmes forthwith replied, and his letter is +remarkable for the able manner in which the question of neutrality is +dealt with. After thoroughly reviewing the transaction, he sums up as +follows:-- + +"Upon further inquiry I learn that my first supposition that the two +gentlemen in question had been arrested under some claim of extradition +(unfortunately I have not a copy of the treaty between Morocco and the +United States) was not exactly correct. It seems that they were arrested +by Moorish soldiers upon the requisition of the United States Consul, +who claimed to exercise jurisdiction over them as citizens of the United +States, under a provision of a treaty common between what are called the +non-civilized and the civilized nations. This state of facts does not +alter in any degree the reasoning applicable to the case. If Morocco +adopts the _status_ given the Confederate States by Europe, she must +remain neutral between the two belligerents, not undertaking to judge of +the nationality of the citizens of either of the belligerents, or to +decide any other question growing out of the war which does not concern +her own interests. She has no right, therefore, to adjudge a citizen of +the Confederate States to be a citizen of the United States, and not +having this right herself she cannot transfer it by treaty to the United +States Consul." + +The communication, however, produced no effect; and, meanwhile, another +step was taken at Tangier. The United States frigate Ino no sooner +learnt the news of the capture made by the Consul than it ran over to +Tangier, sent a boat on shore with armed men, and carried off the +prisoners. This proceeding was not, however, allowed to be performed +quite so quietly as the Yankees could have wished. The Christian +population, exasperated at the arrest, turned out in force, and fears +were entertained that even the forty men from the Ino would not be able +to secure the safety of their prize. But here the neutral powers were of +assistance: their representatives, with Mr. Drummond Hay at their head, +came to the aid of the captors, calmed the mob, and thus averting the +threatened rescue, enabled the United States to carry off the two +Confederates on board the Ino. + +Captain Semmes, finding he could do nothing with the authorities at +Tangier, communicated with Mr. Mason, the Confederate commissioner in +London, and that gentleman made strong representations at the Foreign +Office, with what results the following statements of facts will show. + +It was on the 28th of February that the captives were finally carried +off from neutral territory, by an armed force from an enemy's ship. On +the 8th of March, Mr. Mason was informed by the Under-Secretary, that +the British Government was under the impression that they had been +released from confinement. On the 6th of March, just two days before Mr. +Mason received this intelligence, the Ino, which had run back to Cadiz, +transferred the two unfortunate prisoners to the Yankee merchant ship, +Harvest Home, which carried them away to a prison in the United States. + +Such was the history of the Tangier difficulty--a question which, at the +time, created considerable stir in Europe, and which is likely to leave +a lasting impression upon the Southern mind. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +"_The poor old Sumter"--The vessel laid up--What the Sumter +did--Official report--A narrow escape--Movements of Captain +Semmes--Useful missions--Appointment to the Alabama_. + + +Meanwhile the search for coal had been continued by the Sumter and at +length a promise of a supply had been obtained. It so happened, however, +that this supply, so long sought and so hardly won, would after all +never be required. + +The little Sumter's days as a cruiser were numbered. By no means a new +boat when first converted by Captain Semmes into a vessel of war, the +hard work and rough usage she had experienced in her seven months at +sea, had been too much for her already enfeebled constitution, and she +was now little better than a wreck. At last she fairly broke down +altogether, was surveyed by a board of her officers, pronounced +unseaworthy, and on the 24th of February Captain Semmes makes the +following entry in his journal:-- + +"And so the poor old Sumter is to be laid up. Well! we have done the +country some service, having cost the United States at least a million +of dollars, one way or another!" + +And so she unquestionably bad. Eighteen vessels captured; seven burned, +with all their cargo on board; and two released on heavy ransom bonds, +represent in themselves no inconsiderable amount of damage. Add to this +the amount really expended in pursuit of her; the enormously increased +rates of insurance; the heavy losses from reluctance to entrust goods in +United States bottoms, or to send ships themselves to sea under the +United States colours, and we have an aggregate of loss that a million +of dollars can hardly cover. + +Her career was now over; but she was ere long to find a successor under +the same command, beside whose exploits her own were to sink almost into +insignificance. The events of the few months that elapsed between the +final abandonment of the Sumter and the Alabama's start on her +adventurous career, may best be gathered from Captain Semmes' own +official report to the Secretary of the Navy at Richmond. + +Nassau, New Providence, June 15 to 20, 1862. + +SIR,--I have the honour to inform you of my arrival at this place, on +the 8th instant, in twenty days, from London. I found here Lieutenants +Maffit and Sinclair, and received from the former your letter of May +29th, enclosing a copy of your despatch to me of May 2d. As you might +conclude from the fact of my being here, the original of the latter +communication had not reached me; nor, indeed, had any communication +whatever from the department. As you anticipated, it became necessary +for me to abandon the Sumter, in consequence of my being hemmed in by +the enemy in a place where it was impossible to put the necessary +repairs upon her-to make her fit to take the sea. For some days after my +arrival at Gibraltar, I had hopes of being able to reach another English +or a French port, where I might find the requisite facilities for +repair, and I patched my boilers, and otherwise prepared my ship for +departure. In consequence of a combination of the coal merchants against +me, however, I was prevented from coaling; and, in the meantime, the +enemy's steamers, Tuscarora and Kearsarge, and the sailing sloop Ino, +too, arrived and blockaded me. Notwithstanding the arrival of these +vessels, I should have made an effort to go to sea, but for the timely +discovery of further defects in my boilers, which took place under the +following circumstances:--An English steamer, having arrived from +Liverpool with an extra quantity of coal on board, offered to supply me. +I got steam up to go alongside of her for the purpose, when, with a very +low pressure, my boilers gave way in so serious a manner as to +extinguish the fires in one of the furnaces. I was obliged, of course, +to "blow off;" and upon a re-examination of the boilers, by a board of +survey, it was ascertained that they had been destroyed to such an +extent as to render them entirely untrustworthy. It was found, indeed, +to be necessary either to supply the ship with new boilers or to lift +the old ones out of her, and renew entirely the arches and other +important parts of them, which could only be done in a machinist's shop, +and with facilities not to be found at Gibraltar. In this state of +things, it became necessary, in my judgment, either to lay the ship up, +or to sell her. Of course, the remaining by her of myself, my officers +and crew, in her disabled and useless condition, was not to be thought +of. Still, I felt that the responsibility was a grave one; and deeming +it more respectful to the department that it should be assumed by some +one higher in authority than myself, I reported the facts to the Hon. +James M. Mason, our commissioner in London, and requested him to assume +the power.[7] + +[Footnote 7: The following is the letter here referred to:-- + + C.S. Steamer Sumter, Bay of Gibraltar, + March 3rd, 1862. + +SIR,--I had the honour to address you a note a day or two ago, +requesting you to assume the responsibility of giving me an order to lay +the Sumter up, that my officers and myself may return to the Confederate +States, to take a more active part in the war. I now enclose you a copy +of a letter addressed to me by the wardroom officers of this ship on the +same subject, by which you will perceive that there is no difference of +opinion between us as to the policy and propriety of the step indicated. +Each succeeding mail is bringing us intelligence that the enemy is +pressing us on all sides, and it would seem that we shall have occasion +for every arm and all our energies and resources to defend ourselves. +The most that we could hope to accomplish by remaining where we are +would be, perhaps, to occupy the attention of an additional steamer of +the enemy. One steamer will always remain to watch the ship, in whatever +condition she may be; and probably no more than two would continue the +blockade if the officers remained by her. The enemy, having some 300 +armed ships afloat, one ship would seem to make no appreciable +difference in his offensive force. I would not press this matter upon +you so earnestly if there was any certainty of my hearing from the +Secretary of the Navy in any reasonable time; but my despatches are +liable to capture, as are his despatches to me, and many months may +therefore elapse before I can receive his orders. I can readily +understand how, under ordinary circumstances, you might hesitate about +giving me this order, but there are frequent occasions in which +responsibility must be assumed, and I respectfully suggest that this is +one of them. To lay the Sumter up without an order from the naval +department involves responsibility either in you or in me; and, as I +stated to you in my last note, it appears to me that the responsibility +may be assumed by you with more propriety than by myself, as you are a +high functionary of the Government, while I am a mere subordinate of a +department. The question of expense, too, is to be considered--the +expenses of the ship, with the utmost economy, being, in round numbers, +1000 dollars per month. Should you decide upon giving me the order, do +me the favour to telegraph me as follows, viz.:--"Your request is +granted--act accordingly." Address me also by mail, as it will take some +days to wind up affairs, and I shall have ample time to receive your +letter before leaving for London. + + Respectfully, &c. &c. (Signed) R. SEMMES + + Hon. Jas. Mason, Com., &c., London.] + +This he did very promptly, and in a few days afterwards I discharged and +paid off in full all the crew, except ten men, and detached all the +officers, except Midshipman Armstrong and a Master's Mate. I placed Mr. +Armstrong in charge of the ship, supplied him with money and provisions +sufficient for himself and his diminished crew for ten months, and +departed myself for London, whither most of the officers also repaired +on their way to the Confederate States. Upon my arrival in London, I +found that the Oreto (Florida) had been despatched some weeks before to +this place; and Commander Bullock having informed me that be had your +orders to Command the second ship he was building, himself, I had no +alternative but to return to the Confederate States for orders. It is +due to Commander Bullock to say, that he offered to place himself +entirely under my orders, and even to relinquish to me the command of +the ship he was building; but I did not feel at liberty to interfere +with your orders. Whilst in London, I ascertained that a number of +steamers were being prepared to run the blockade with arms, &c., and +instead of despatching my officers at once for the Confederate States, I +left men to take charge of these ships, as they should be gotten ready, +and run them in, deeming this the best service they could render the +Government under the circumstances. I came hither myself (accompanied by +my First-Lieutenant and Surgeon), a passenger in the British steamer +Melita, laden with arms, &c., with the same intention. It is fortunate +that I made this arrangement, as many of my officers still remain in +London, and I shall be able to detain them there, to take them with me +in the execution of your order of the 2nd of May, assigning me to the +command of the Alabama. In obedience to this order I shall return by the +first conveyance to England, when the joint energies of Commander +Bullock and myself will be dedicated to the preparation of this ship +for sea. I will take with me Lieut. Kell, Surgeon Galt, and Lieutenant +of Marines, Howell--Mr. Howell and Lieut. Stribling having reached this +port a few days before me, in the British steamer Bahama, from Hamburgh, +laden with arms, &c., for the Confederacy. At the earnest entreaty of +Lieut. Commanding Maffit, I have consented to permit Lieut. Stribling to +remain with him as his First Lieut., on board the Florida; and the +Florida's officers not yet having arrived, Mr. Stribling's place on +board the Alabama will be filled by Midshipman Armstrong, promoted. + +It will, doubtless, be a matter of some delicacy and management to get +the Alabama safely out of British waters without suspicion, as Mr. +Adams, the Northern envoy, and his numerous satellites are exceedingly +vigilant in their espionage. We cannot, of course, think of arming her +in a British port. This must be done at some concerted rendezvous, to +which her battery (and the most of her crew) must be sent in a merchant +vessel. + +The Alabama will be a fine ship, quite equal to encounter any of the +enemy's sloops of the class of the Dacotah, Iroquois, Tuscarora, &c.; +and I shall feel much more independent in her upon the high seas than I +did in the little Sumter. I think well of your suggestion of the East +Indies as a cruising-ground, and hope to be in the track of the enemy's +commerce in those seas as early as October or November next, when I +shall doubtless be able to make other rich "burnt-offerings" upon the +altar of our country's liberties. + +Lieutenant Sinclair having informed me that you said, in a conversation +with him, that I might dispose of the Sumter either by laying her up or +selling her, as my judgment might approve, I will, unless I receive +contrary orders from you, dispose of her by sale upon my arrival in +Europe. As the war is likely to continue for two or three years yet, it +would be an useless expense to keep a vessel so comparatively worthless +so long at her anchors. I will cause to be sent to the Alabama her +chronometers, charts, &c., and I will transfer to the vessel her +remaining officers and crew. + +In conclusion, permit me to thank you very sincerely for this new proof +of your confidence, and for your kind intention to nominate me as one of +the "Captains" under the new Navy Bill. + +I trust I shall prove myself worthy of these marks of your approbation. + +(Signed) R. SEMMES. + +Hon. S. Mallory, Sec. of the Navy. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +_The new vessel--Aide toi et Dieu t'aidera--Accommodation on +board--Cost--Laws of neutrality--Necessary caution--The 29th of July--A +breakfast party--The scene changed--Off--The pursuit--Too late._ + + +The vessel to which Captain Semmes was now appointed had been built +expressly for the Confederate navy, by Messrs. Laird and Sons, of +Birkenhead. She was a small fast screw steam-sloop, of 1040 tons +register, not iron-clad, as was at one time erroneously supposed, but +built entirely of wood, and of a scantling and general construction, in +which strength had been less consulted than speed. Her length over all +was about 220 feet, length of keel, 210 feet; breadth of beam, 32 feet, +and 18 feet from deck to keel. She carried two magnificent engines, on +the horizontal principle, constructed by the same firm, and each of the +power of 300 horses; while her coal-bunkers were calculated to +accommodate about 350 tons of coal. + +The Alabama, or as she should as yet be called, "No. 290," was +barque-rigged, her standing gear being formed throughout of wire rope; +thus combining strength with lightness to the utmost possible extent. +Her ordinary suit of sails consisted of the usual square sails in the +foremast, fore topmast staysail and jib, large fore and main topsails, +maintop sail, topgallant sail and royal, and on the mizen-mast spanker +and gaff topsail. Occasionally, this rig would be varied, as was the +case in entering Cherbourg, just before the close of her eventful +career, when a crossjack yard was got up across the mizen-mast, with +mizen topsail and topgallant yards to match; and the Alabama assumed for +a time the appearance of a full-rigged ship. This, however, was only a +temporary _ruse_, and her ordinary cruising sails were similar to those +commonly in use with vessels of her class. + +A little forward of the mizen-mast was placed the steering apparatus, a +large double wheel, inscribed with the significant words: _Aide toi et +Dieu t'aidera_; a motto which, in the case of the Alabama, has been +better acted up to than such legends usually are. Just before the +funnel, and near the centre of the vessel, was the bridge, at either +side of which hung the two principal boats, cutter and launch; a gig, +and whale-boat, being suspended from the davits on either side of the +quarter-deck, and a small dingy over the stern. On the main deck she was +pierced for twelve guns, with two heavy pivot guns amidships. Her lines +were beautifully fine, with sharp flaring bows, billet head, and +elliptic stern. The cabin accommodation was perhaps somewhat scanty, but +this, in so small a vessel, built altogether for speed, not comfort, was +scarcely to be avoided. The semicircular stern-cabin was, of course, +appropriated to the captain, with a small state-room opening out from it +in the starboard side. Forward of this came the companion ladder, and +forward of this again the wardroom, or senior officers' mess, with small +cabins on either side for the lieutenants, surgeon, and other officers. +Passing through the wardroom, the visitor entered the gunroom, or +"steerage," allotted on the starboard side to the midshipmen, and on the +port to the engineers. Next came the engine-room, occupying an unusual +space for a vessel of the Alabama's size; the coal bunkers, &c.; and +finally, the berth-deck, or forecastle, with accommodation for 120 men. +The lower portion of the vessel was divided into three compartments, of +about equal dimensions. In the aftermost were store-rooms, shell-rooms, +&c.; the midship section contained the furnaces and fire-rooms; whilst +the forward compartment was occupied by the hold, the magazines, and the +boatswain's and carpenter's stores. + +Such was the Alabama, or, as she was long called, "No. 290;" and +considering the peculiar circumstances under which she was built, the +numerous requirements to be satisfied, and the perfection of the +workmanship throughout the vessel, the cost of her construction and +armament cannot but be considered marvellously small. The builder's +charge for hull, spars, sails, boats, cable, and all equipment, except +armament, was L47,500. To this must be added the cost of her batteries, +L2500; magazine tanks, L616; ordnance stores, L500; and small arms, +L600, making a-total cost of L51,716, or in American money, of +250,305.44 dollars. + +It must not be supposed, however, that in leaving the building-yard of +Messrs. Laird, the Alabama's equipment was by any means complete. The +strictest injunctions had been given both to Captain Bullock and Captain +Semmes, to avoid doing anything that would by any possibility be +construed into an infringement of either the municipal law, or the +anxiously-guarded neutrality of England; and as the Foreign Enlistment +Act clearly forbade the _equipment_ of ships of war for belligerent +uses, it was necessary that the new cruiser should leave England +unarmed, and take her chance of capture, until some safe place could be +found for taking her armament on board. + +This was, of course, a delicate operation, and one requiring the +preservation of strict secresy, that the cruisers of the United States +might at least not be enabled to pounce upon their new enemy, until she +had been placed to some extent in a condition for self-defence. Nor was +this the only ground on which caution had to be observed. The career of +the Sumter had given Captain Semmes a clearer idea than he had probably +before possessed of the precise meaning of the word neutrality, as +applied to the present war, and there was too much at stake to run the +risk of detention from any such views of its obligations as had been put +forward in the case of his captive officer at Tangier. The law of the +case might be--he certainly thought it was--clear enough; but there was +no use in throwing temptation in the way of those by whom it was to be +interpreted. The recent cases of the Alexandria, the El Tousson, and the +El Monassir, have shown with sufficient clearness that this calculation +was tolerably correct. + +Accordingly, the reticence which has so distinctively marked the men of +the South throughout the struggle, was most religiously observed in the +case of the Alabama. It was impossible, of course, altogether to conceal +from the diligent researches of Mr. Adams' spies the fact of her +destination. But beyond having a strong suspicion that the vessel so +rapidly approaching completion in Messrs. Laird's yard was intended for +the Confederate States, these astute gentlemen were altogether at fault. +This, however, was enough, and on the application of Mr. Adams an order +was despatched to the Customs' authorities at Liverpool to seize the +ship, and prevent her from going to sea. + +Fortunately for the Confederate vessel her friends were equally on the +watch, and tidings of the projected seizure were promptly conveyed to +Birkenhead. It was necessary now to act with promptitude, and the final +preparations were pushed on with the utmost speed. At length, at a +quarter past nine on the morning of the 29th July, 1862, the anchor was +got up for the first time since she had been afloat, and the "No. 290" +dropped slowly down the Mersey, anchoring that afternoon in Moelfra Bay. + +Even this, however, could not be carried out without considerable +precaution, and it was necessary, as a blind to the suspicious eyes so +constantly employed in watching every movement of the sorely suspected +vessel, to announce that she was merely proceeding for a short trial +trip. To give colour to this pretence, to which her even then unfinished +condition lent a _prima facie_ sanction, a gay party was assembled on +board. A number of ladies, friends and acquaintances of the builders, +enlivened the narrow, and as yet rough and unfinished deck with their +bright costumes, and seemed to afford a sufficient guarantee for the +return of the vessel to port. Luncheon was spread in the cabin, flags +decorated the seats hastily improvised on the sacred quarter-deck, and +all seemed bent upon making holiday. + +Suddenly, however, the scene changed. At a signal from the Alabama a +small steam tug came puffing alongside, and to the visitors' great +astonishment they were politely requested to step on board. Relieved of +her gay cargo, the transformation of the Alabama proceeded with +rapidity. The luncheon had been already cleared away, and now seats and +flags, and all the rest of the holiday paraphernalia began speedily to +disappear. Late that evening and all the next day the bustle of +preparation continued, and at two o'clock in the morning of the 31st +July the anchor was once more weighed, and with a strong breeze from the +S.W. the "No. 290" started off, ostensibly on a voyage to Nassau in the +Bahamas. + +Just in time. That morning the seizure was to have been made. At the +very moment that "No. 290" was heaving up her anchor, a huge despatch +"On Her Majesty's Service" was travelling down to Liverpool, at the top +speed of the north-western mail,[4] commanding the Customs' authorities +to lay an embargo on the ship. The morning was still but very slightly +advanced when through the driving south-westerly squalls came the +gold-laced officials in search of their prize, only to return in outward +appearance considerably crestfallen, inwardly perhaps not altogether so +deeply grieved as a good neutral should have been at the ill success of +their uncomfortable trip. + +Two days more and another actor appeared upon the scene. Like her +colleague at Tangier, the United States frigate Tuscarora had got scent +of a valuable prey, and hurried round to the Mersey at full speed of +sail and steam to secure it. But by the time she arrived at Moelfra Bay, +the "No. 290" was already a couple of days upon her outward voyage. The +game was up, and the only resource of the baffled Yankee now lay in +scolding poor Earl Russell, who certainly had been no willing agent in +the escape of the daring little Confederate cruiser. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +_"No. 290" at sea--The rendezvous--Small mishaps--Good qualities of the +new ship--Nearly discovered--The captain--Terceira--Anxiety about the +crew--Coaling and arming--Getting to rights--Ready for the cruise_. + + +"No. 290" ran rapidly before the S.W. gale up the Irish Channel, and +past the Isle of Man and Ailsa Crag, till as the columns of the Giant's +Causeway began to loom dimly through the driving rain she rounded to, +laid her maintopsail to the mast, and sent a boat on shore with the +pilot and Captain Bullock, who up to this time had been in command of +the vessel. She was now transferred to the charge of Captain J. Butcher, +late of the Cunard service, her other temporary officers being--Chief +Lieutenant, J. Law, of Savannah, Georgia; second, Mr. G. Townley Fullam, +of Hull, England; Surgeon, D.H. Llewellyn, of Easton, Wilts; Paymaster, +C.R. Yonge, of Savannah, Georgia; and Chief Engineer, J. McNair, an +Englishman. The crew, the greater number of whom had been taken on board +in Moelfra Bay, numbered about seventy men and boys, and were shipped +for a feigned voyage, the Confederate captain trusting to the English +love of adventure, to induce them to re-ship when the true destination +of the vessel came to be declared. + +Bidding adieu to the Irish coast she now shaped her course for Terceira, +one of the Western Islands, where she was to meet her consort, and +receive on board the guns and other warlike stores, she had been +restrained by respect for English law, from shipping in Liverpool. +Throughout this run, which occupied nine days, the wind still continued +blowing a strong gale from the southward and westward, with a heavy sea +running, through which "No. 290" dashed along sometimes at a speed of +upwards of thirteen knots an hour. It was not, however, without a +certain amount of risk that this pace was maintained. Amongst other less +serious damages the bow port was stove in by a heavy sea, and altogether +the vessel showed manifest symptoms of the speed at which she had been +driven. But accidents of this kind were of minor importance compared +with the supreme value of time. Once fairly off, and the news of the +escape must spread rapidly through the kingdom. The first whisper of it +would bring the enemy's ships in pursuit, and a single hour's delay in +reaching her destination and placing herself in a condition for +self-defence, might bring one of them alongside, and the career of the +new cruiser be cut short before it had fairly begun. So "No. 290" +"crashed on" at top speed, and on the 10th of August "Land, ho!" was +called from the foremasthead, and she brought up at Porto Praya in +Terceira. + +During this trying voyage the new vessel had given full promise of those +splendid qualities as a sea-boat, on which depended so much of the +extraordinary success of her after career. She was, of course, by no +means in the best trim for sailing, whilst everything about her being +bran new was in the worst possible condition, short of being quite worn +out, in which to enter on so severe a trial. She came through it however +most triumphantly, exhibiting a speed and ease of motion rarely to be +found in combination. All hands arrived at Terceira in the best spirits, +and highly delighted with their new ship. + +The bay of Porto Praya, in which "No. 290" was anchored is of no very +great extent, but presents excellent holding ground for vessels, and is +sheltered from all but easterly winds. Three or four small forts occupy +positions on the shore, but appear never to have been armed, and are at +present falling rapidly into decay. The bay itself is secluded, and not +particularly well supplied with the means of sustenance, fruit and +vegetables being tolerably plentiful, but water very scarce, and beef a +luxury only to be obtained by importing it from Angra, on the other side +of the island. The officers however were kindly and hospitably received +by the inhabitants, and the best the place afforded placed at their +disposal. + +As yet the expected consort of the Confederate vessel had not arrived, +and some anxiety was felt by Captain Butcher and his brother officers, +as day after day passed by, and no signs of her appeared. On the 13th +August, expectations were aroused by the cry of "Sail, ho!" but the new +comer proved to be only a Yankee whaling schooner, from Provincetown; +and additional anxiety was occasioned on her arrival by the indiscretion +of one of the ship's company, by whom the real character and design of +"No. 290" was betrayed to the United States schooner, the speedy +departure of which, after learning the news, seemed ominous of trouble. + +At last, on the 18th, a large barque was observed steering for the brig, +and on a nearer approach proved to be the long-looked-for ship. She was +the Agrippina, of London, Captain McQueen, with a cargo of ammunition, +coal, stores of various descriptions, and six thirty-two pounders. Once +lashed alongside the sloop, and all haste was made to transfer her +cargo, and the crews of the two vessels were busily engaged in this +operation when, on the 20th of August, the smoke of another steamer was +seen on the horizon, and after a brief interval of suspense, lest the +new comer should prove to be a United States vessel of war, in search of +the escaped Confederate, the Bahama, Captain Tessier, made her number, +and three hearty cheers from the crew of "No. 290" gave welcome to +Captain Semmes, and the other officers late of the Sumter. + +Captain Semmes embarked on board the Bahama at Liverpool, on the morning +of Wednesday, 13th August, joining the ship in a steam-tug, the Bahama +having dropped down towards the mouth of the Mersey a few hours +previously. Captain Bullock, who, as it has been said, had seen the new +ship safely off upon her voyage before leaving her at the Giant's +Causeway, and had reported the happy commencement of the adventure, +accompanied him on board the Bahama, in which were also a number of +seamen, shipped, like those on board "No. 290," for a feigned voyage, in +the hope of inducing them to join when the ship was fairly in +commission. + + * * * * * + +As the tug left us to return to the city--writes Captain Semmes--the +crew gave us three hearty cheers, to which we responded. After a passage +of seven days, we made the island of Terceira, and soon afterwards the +port of Praya, at the eastern end of the island, our appointed +rendezvous. As we approached the port we looked with eager eyes for "No. +290," and her consort, the Agrippina, which had been despatched to her +from London with the armament. Greatly to our satisfaction we soon +discovered the spars, and then the hulls of both vessels lying snugly in +the bay, and apparently in contact, and indicating the transhipment of +the battery, &c. + +At about 11.30 A.M. we steamed into the harbour, and were immediately +boarded by Captain Butcher, who reported that he had already gotten on +board all the heavy guns, and many of the paymaster's stores, &c. As the +harbour is open to the east, and as the wind was blowing from the N.E., +driving a considerable swell in, which caused the two vessels to lie +very uneasily alongside of each other, I gave orders that they should +both follow me to the bay of Angra, where we all anchored about 4 P.M. +Hauled the two steamers alongside, and commenced discharging the two +additional guns. + +After having shown the new vessel to the seamen I had on board the +Bahama (numbering thirty-seven), I addressed them, telling them that +they were released from the contract they had entered into at Liverpool, +and were now perfectly free to dispose of themselves, and that I invited +them to enter with me on board my ship. I spoke of the war, explained to +them the object of my contemplated cruise, and the inducements held out +to them of prize-money, &c. This afternoon about one-half the number +shipped; the others hung back, perhaps, for better terms. There are, +perhaps, some sea-lawyers among them influencing their determination. I +moved my baggage on board, and slept my first night on board my new +ship. Warned by the authorities that West Angra was not a port of +entry, and that we must move to East Angra. + +_Thursday, August 21st_.--Clear fine weather. I am charmed with the +appearance of Terceira. Every square foot of the island seems to be +under the most elaborate cultivation; the little fields divided by +hedgerows of what appeared to be sugar-cane. The white one-storied +houses are dotted thickly among all this cultivation, giving evidence of +great populousness in this primitive paradise--so far removed away from +the world, and so little resorted to by commerce. Wind inclined to haul +to the S.E., which will open us to the sea again, and I am, of course, +quite anxious. Received a letter (or rather Captain Butcher, who is +still the nominal commander of the ship, did) from the English Consul, +informing us that the authorities still insisted upon our going round to +East Angra. Replied that we had come in to receive coal from the barque +in our company, &c., and that as the day seemed fine, and we should +probably have a good lee for the purpose, I would go to sea without the +marine league for the purpose. I knew they suspected me of arming as +well as coaling, and hence I resorted to this step to quiet their +apprehensions of my infringing their neutrality. + +Stood along the island--the Bahama in company and the barque +alongside--and hoisted out the gun-carriages, and mounted as many of the +guns as we could. Returned during the afternoon, and after nightfall +anchored in East Angra, with the barque still alongside. We were hailed +very vociferously as we passed in very bad English or Portuguese, we +could not make out which, and a shot was fired at us. The Bahama, which +was following, hauled off and stood off and on during the night; we +continued our course, and anchored about 8.30 P.M. Near midnight I was +aroused from a deep sleep into which I had fallen after the fatigue and +exertions of the day, and informed by the officer of the deck very +coolly that the man-of-war schooner was firing into us. As I knew they +did not dare to fire _into_ me but were only firing at me, perhaps to +alarm me into going out of the harbour, I directed the officer to take +no notice of the proceeding. In the morning we learned that this had +been a false alarm, and that the firing had been from the mail steamer +to bring on board her passengers. + +Had a talk with the old boatswain's-mate, who consented to go with me, +and to use his best exertion to bring over to me all the good men over +whom he could exercise influence. + +_Friday, August 22nd_.--Wind from the S.W., promising us a smooth day +for our work. Called all hands at 6 A.M., and commenced coaling. At 7 +A.M. a number of Custom House officers and the English Consul came on +board. Our coaling was suspended until the two ships could be entered at +the Custom House. We lost a couple of hours by this visit, but I was +gratified to learn as the result of it that we might remain quietly and +continue our coaling, &c. + +We got the remaining guns into position; got up and loaded some of the +rifles; opened a barrel of cartridges, and made sundry other hasty +preparations for defense, in case any attempt should be made to seize +the ship. At 11.30 A.M. signalled the Bahama, and brought her in to her +anchors. Towards night the weather became rainy, and considerable sea +setting in to the harbour, we shoved the barque off to an anchor. During +the night she dragged her anchor, and we were obliged to send a party on +board her to let go another, to prevent her from dragging on shore. +There was quite a row this evening on board the barque, ending in a +general fight, the sailors by some means or other having managed to get +drunk. + +_Saturday, August 23rd._--Morning cloudy and rainy. We were unable to +get the barque alongside, so as to continue coaling before 9 A.M. Still +we are hurrying the operation, and hope to be able to get through by +night. We have all sorts of characters on board, but the crew is working +quite willingly; now and then a drunken or lazy vagabond turning up. The +sharp fellows thinking I am dependent upon them for a crew are holding +back and trying to drive a hard bargain with me. + +Getting the battery to rights, and caulking the screw-well, which leaks +badly when she is under way. Made some acting appointments to fill up my +officers. Received on board a fine supply of fresh provisions and +vegetables for the crew. In this beautiful island all the fruits of the +temperate and many of the torrid zone are produced. Pine-apples, pears, +plums, and melons were brought off to us. + +We finished coaling, except seven or eight tons, by working until 9 +P.M., when the men were fairly fagged out. Hauled the barque off, and +resolved to go out with what coal I had on board, as to finish entirely +would involve a delay of Sunday. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +_Sunday, 24th August--Fairly afloat--Taking command--The white +ensign--Mission of the Alabama--The Modern Tar--At the pumps--Blowing +hard--A fruitless chase--Short-handed--The Ocmulgee_. + + +Sunday seemed destined from the very first to be a notable day in the +annals of the new Confederate cruiser. + +The morning of Sunday, the 24th August, found her afloat ready for sea; +the delicate operation of transhipping stores in an open roadstead +safely accomplished, a supply of coal on board sufficient for some weeks +of average steaming, and six of her guns mounted and ready to cast loose +for action at a moment's notice. The early hours of the morning were +occupied in washing down the decks which were covered thickly with coal, +and making matters above board as shipshape as under the circumstances +could be managed. By noon this was finished, and all was ready for sea. +A brief space was then devoted to the no less necessary operation of +dining, and at noon steam was got up, the anchor weighed, and "No. 290" +stood out to sea, the Bahama still keeping her company. + +For about four or five miles the two vessels kept silently upon their +course, until well beyond all possibility of dispute as to the too +well-remembered maritime league of neutrality. Then as four bells +sounded from the forecastle the crew were summoned aft, all heads were +bared, and stepping in full uniform on to the quarter-deck, Captain +Semmes proceeded in a voice clear and firm, but not altogether free from +emotion, to read aloud to the assembled ships his commission from the +President as Commander of the Confederate States Steam Sloop, ALABAMA. + +As he proceeded, the English flag which had been carried by the vessel +during her days of incognito, was slowly lowered to the deck, and three +little black balls might be seen wriggling their way swiftly but +cautiously to the mastheads and mizen peak of the Alabama. Boom! goes +the starboard forecastle gun as the reading is ended. The three black +balls are "broken out," the long pendant uncurls itself at the main, the +red cross of St. George flutters at the fore, and the pure white ensign +of the Confederacy, with its starry blue cross upon the red ground of +the corner, floats gracefully from the peak, as the little band breaks +into the dashing strains of "Dixie," and three ringing cheers peal out +over the sparkling sea. + +So far all had gone well and hopefully, and the enthusiasm of the moment +had brought a flush to the cheek and a dimness to the eye of many a +weather-beaten tar among the little crew. But enthusiasm is fleeting in +these practical days, and the sound of the last cheer had scarcely died +away upon the summer breeze ere the scene changed, and the true +nineteenth century spirit resumed its sway. The ceremony of hoisting the +flag and taking command completed, Captain Semmes called all hands aft +upon the quarter-deck, and addressed them as he had previously +addressed the crew of the Bahama, inviting them to ship with him in the +Alabama for the cruise. + +The address is described by those who listened to it as most spirited +and effective. It frankly avowed that the principal object of the +Alabama was to cripple the commerce of the enemy. But this would not be +her only aim. Prudence was essential, and he was not to fight a +fifty-gun ship, but when the opportunity offered of engaging on anything +like equal terms, the Alabama would be prompt enough to accept the +combat. "Let me once see you," he said, in conclusion, "proficient in +the use of your weapons, and trust me for very soon giving you an +opportunity to show the world of what metal you are made." + +The address was greeted with an unanimous burst of cheers, and then came +the anxious moment. "It may be supposed," writes Captain Semmes, in +recording the events of that memorable day, "that I was very nervous +about the success of this operation, as the management of the ship at +sea absolutely depended upon it." And of this fact the men were at least +as fully aware as himself. Nor had they any scruples as to availing +themselves most fully of the advantages of their situation. "The modern +sailor," continues Captain Semmes, "has greatly changed in character. He +now stickles for pay like a sharper, and seems to have lost his +recklessness and love of adventure." However this latter proposition may +be, the truth of the former was most amply proved on the day in +question. Jack niggled and haggled, and insisted pertinaciously on the +terms he felt his would-be Captain's necessity enabled him to command; +and in the end Captain Semmes was fain to consent to the exorbitant +rates of L4 10s. a month for seamen, L5 and L6 for petty officers, and +L7 for firemen! "I was glad," he writes, "to get them even upon these +terms, as I was afraid a large bounty in addition would be demanded of +me." + +Very curious was the contrast afforded by this scene with the enthusiasm +that had preceded, and the gallant, dashing, reckless career that +followed it. These men who thus stood out for the last sixpence they +could hope to wring from their employer's necessity, were the same who +subsequently dashed blindfold into the action with the Hatteras, and +later yet, steamed quietly out of a safe harbour with a disabled ship, +to meet an enemy in perfect trim and of superior force, and as their +shattered vessel sank beneath their feet, crowded round the very captain +with whom the hard bargain had been driven, imploring him not to yield. + + + +Finally, the bargaining resulted in the shipping of a crew, all told, of +eighty men; a larger number, perhaps, than Captain Semmes had himself +anticipated, but still not so many by at least twenty-five as were +required for properly manning and fighting the vessel. With these, +however, the Captain was fain to be content, trusting to volunteers from +future prizes to complete his complement. A hard evening's work followed +in preparing allotments of pay to be sent home to the sailors' wives, +and also in paying their advance wages, and sending small drafts for +them to agents in Liverpool. It was not till 11 P.M. that this task was +completed, and then Captains Bullock and Butcher took a final farewell +of the ship, and returned on board the Bahama, which with the remainder +of the two crews steamed away for Liverpool, and the Confederate cruiser +was left alone upon the wide ocean, and had fairly started on her +adventurous career. + +No sooner had the two steamers parted company than sail was made on +board the Alabama. The fires were let down, fore and main topsails were +set, the ship's head turned to the N.E., and by midnight Captain Semmes +was able to leave the deck, and thoroughly worn out with the day's +excitement and exertions, turn in to an uneasy berth in search of a few +hours' repose. + +Of this, however, there was not much to be obtained. The Alabama was no +sooner under way than the wind began to freshen, and soon increased to a +moderate gale. This was accompanied by one of those ugly seaways so +common in the North Atlantic, and the vessel rolled and tumbled in a +manner sufficiently trying, without the addition of the manifold +discomforts inseparably attendant on a first start. These, too, were, as +may well be supposed, not a little aggravated by the hurried manner in +which the transhipment of stores from the Agrippina and Bahama had +perforce been conducted. Everything, in fact, was in the wildest +confusion. The ship herself was dirty and unsettled, and her decks below +lumbered in all directions with all manner of incongruous articles. No +one was berthed or messed, nothing arranged or secured. Spare +shot-boxes, sea-chests, and heavy articles of baggage or cabin furniture +were fetching away to the destruction of crockery and other brittle +ware, and the no small danger of limbs. While to crown all, the upper +works of the vessel which had been caulked in the damp atmosphere of an +English winter, had opened out under the hot sun of the Azores through +every seam, and the eternal clank, clank of the pumps, which it was +fondly hoped had been heard for the last time when the poor, worn-out +little Sumter had been laid up, played throughout the long night a +dismal accompaniment to the creaking of the labouring vessel, and the +wild howling of an Atlantic gale. + +So passed the Alabama's first night at sea. The next day the gale still +continued, and hindered not a little the energetic exertions of the +First Lieutenant, who, whilst Captain Semmes endeavoured, by snatching a +few hours' sleep, to quiet his worn-out nerves, took his turn in the +endeavour to bring something of order out of the apparently hopeless +chaos, and gradually reduce the vessel to the trim and orderly condition +proper to a well-commanded man-of-war. On the Tuesday the gale abated, +though there were still the remains of a heavy sea. Topsails and +gallantsails were set, and the propeller, which had hitherto been merely +disconnected, and left to revolve, was hoisted up out of the water. + +Several days now passed in setting matters to rights, passing spare shot +below, laying the racers for the pivot guns; overhauling and stowing the +magazines; securing furniture, baggage, and other loose articles that +had hitherto pretty well "taken charge" of the deck below; and otherwise +making things somewhat snug and shipshape, and preparing the vessel for +self-defence in case of need. + +By Friday, August 29th, these preparations were nearly completed, and in +the early morning of that day the cry of "Sail, ho!" was heard for the +first time from the look-out at the fore-topgallant crosstrees of the +Alabama. The ship was at once kept away towards her, and after a long +chase, approached at near nightfall to within five or six miles of the +strange sail. The vessel proved to be a brig, and on nearing her Spanish +colours were shown by the Alabama. The brig made no response, and the +cruiser proceeded to fire a blank cartridge, as an intimation of her +character. Still the stranger kept doggedly upon her way, without +response, and it became a question whether ulterior measures should be +taken. After careful examination, however, of all those various +indications by which a sailor can judge of the nationality of a vessel, +almost as effectively as from a sight of her colours, it was decided +that she was, at all events, not an American; and Captain Semmes, +being-anxious to haul by the wind, and make his way with all speed to +the westward, the chase was abandoned, and the Alabama proceeded again +upon her course. + +The next day, Saturday, August 30th, saw the preparations for the +battery complete, and the pivot guns finally mounted, and ready for +action. The men were now allotted to the various stations, and mustered +at quarters, when it was found, that by telling off half a dozen of the +junior officers to complete the crew of the rifled gun, there were just +hands enough to fight the ship. This was satisfactory; and altogether +the five hard days' work since quitting Terceira had resulted in +something more like success in the way of order, comfort, and +efficiency, than it had at first sight appeared possible to anticipate. + +Sunday, August 31st, was a welcome day of rest to all on board; the only +break being a brief run off after a brig to leeward, which on being +challenged with French colours, proved to be a Portuguese. During the +day the Alabama made good running to the westward, under topsails, with +a fresh breeze well on her starboard quarter; and at midnight made all +snug, and brought by the wind on the port tack. The next day was passed +for the most part in quietly lying to under topsails, with her head to +the southward and eastward, whilst the crew were employed in finishing +the fittings of the battery, and scraping the deck and bulwarks clear of +some of the accumulated dirt, till 3 P.M., when she filled away again, +and started upon a N.W. course. + +By Tuesday, Sept. 5th, the Alabama had run into the thirty-eighth +parallel, and the temperature was sensibly altering. Up to this period +no prize had been captured, the few vessels overhauled having all been +under a neutral flag. On this day, however, whilst in chase of a brig, +whose extraordinary swiftness enabled her fairly to show the Alabama a +clean pair of heels, a vessel was descried in the offing, and the +Confederate bore up and made towards her. On approaching she was found +to be lying-to, with her foretopsail laid to the mast, and on a somewhat +nearer inspection, proved evidently to be a whaler. + +English colours were hoisted on board the Alabama, and a cheer was with +difficulty suppressed as the Stars and Stripes rose in answer to the +stranger's deck. Arrived within boarding distance, a boat was at once +sent on board the prize, the Alabama's red ensign giving place to the +Confederate flag as the boarding officer gained her deck. She proved to +be the Ocmulgee, of Edgartown, her captain, by name Abraham Osborn, +being a thorough specimen of the genuine Yankee. She was, of course, +taken possession of, her crew brought on board the Alabama and placed in +irons, and a quantity of rigging, of which the latter was much in need, +together with some beef, pork, and other small stores, transferred to +the captor. A light was then hoisted at her peak; her helm lashed hard +a-lee; the prize crew re-transferred to their own ship, and the Ocmulgee +left to her own devices, the Alabama lying by her during the night. + +The next morning another sail hove in sight, so the prize was fired, and +the Alabama again started off in chase, having taken from the prize +thirty-six prisoners besides the stores, rigging, &c., before alluded +to. The new chase proved to be a Frenchman, bound to Marseilles; and +this fact having been ascertained, the Alabama was kept away N. 1/2 W., +and in two hours afterwards was in sight of the island of Flores. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +_A muster--Prisoners landed--The Starlight--Santa Cruz--Novel night +procession--The Alert--Three sacrifices in a day--Weather Gauge +captured--The Altamaha--A signal--The Benjamin Tucker--Burnt!--The +Courser--Target practice--The Virginia--The Elisha Dunbar_. + + +From the 7th to the 18th of September was a busy time on board the +Alabama. Prize after prize was taken, and Captain Semmes' journal, as +will be seen, is chiefly taken up with records of successful chases. + +_Sunday, September 7th._--Running in for the island of Flores. At 11 +A.M. mustered the crew for the first time, and caused to be read the +Articles of War, to which they listened with great attention. At 3.30 +P.M., having approached sufficiently near the town of Lagens, on the +south side of the island, we sent all the prisoners on shore, having +first paroled them in the three whale-boats belonging to the prize, +Ocmulgee. At 4 P.M. filled away upon the starboard tack to head off a +schooner that appeared to be running in for the island. Having +approached her within a mile, we hoisted the English colours. The chase +not showing her colours in return, fired the lee bow gun. Still paying +no attention to us, but endeavouring to pass us, fired a shot athwart +her bows. Not yet heaving-to, or showing colours, fired a second shot +between her fore and mainmast; she then hoisted the United States +colours and rounded-to. Sent a boat on board and took possession. The +captain coming on board with his papers, she proved to be the Starlight, +of Boston, from Fayal to Boston _via_ Flores. She had a number of +passengers; among others, some ladies. Put a prize crew on board of her. +Brought on board all the United States seamen, seven in number, +including the captain, and confined them in irons, and ordered the prize +to remain close to us during the night. Some dark clouds hanging over +the island, but the wind light and the sea smooth. + +Among the papers captured were a couple of despatches to the Sewards, +father and son, informing them of our operations at Terceira. This +small craft left Boston only six days before we left Liverpool in the +Bahama. How strangely parties meet upon the high seas! The master was +the cleverest specimen of a Yankee skipper I have met, about +twenty-seven or twenty-eight. He avowed his intention of trying to run +the gauntlet of my shot, deprecated the war, &c., &c. + +_Monday, September 8th_.--* * * * Again stood in to the town of Santa +Cruz, in company with the prize; lowered the cutter, and sent the +prisoners on shore, with a note addressed to the Governor. In the +meantime the Governor himself with several citizens came on board us. +The Governor offered us the hospitalities of the island, and in return I +expressed to him the hope that his fellow-citizens who were passengers, +had suffered no inconvenience from her capture. + +In the afternoon, gave chase and showed English colours to a Portuguese +brigantine. We then wore ship, and chased a barque in the north-west, +with which we came up about sunset. She proved to be the whaling barque +Ocean Rover, from Massachusetts, forty months out, with a cargo of 1100 +barrels of oil. Laid her to for the night, and permitted the captain and +his crew to pull in to the shore (Flores) in his six whale boats. The +sea being smooth, the wind light off shore, and the moon near her full, +this was a novel night procession! + +_Tuesday, September 7th_.--* * * * I was aroused in the mid-watch, +having had about only three hours' sleep, after a day of fatigue and +excitement, by the announcement that a large barque was close aboard of +us. We were lying to at the time in company with our two prizes. Wore +ship very quietly, and gave chase. The chase rather got the wind of us, +though we head-reached upon her, and at daylight we hoisted the English +flag. The barque not responding, fired a blank cartridge. She still not +responding, fired a shot astern of her, she being about two miles +distant. This brought her to with the United States colours at her peak; +put a boat on board, and took possession of her. She proved to be the +Alert, from New London, sixteen days from port; bound, _via_ the Azores, +Cape de Verde, &c., to the Indian Ocean. Supplied ourselves from her +with some underclothing for the men, of which we stood in need. + +About 9 A.M. fired the Starlight; at 11 fired the Ocean Rover; and at 4 +P.M. fired the Alert. Boarded a Portuguese whaling-brig, the master of +which I brought on board with his papers. These proving to be regular, I +dismissed him within a few minutes. Sent the captain and crew of the +Alert on shore, to the village on the north end of Flores, in their own +boats, four in number. + +Sail, ho! at 5 P.M. Filled away, and gave chase to a schooner in the +N.E. She was standing for us at first, but tacked on our approach, and +endeavoured to run. We had shown her the United States colors, and she +also had hoisted them, but she distrusted us. A blank cartridge brought +her round again, and hove her to. Sent a boat on board, and took +possession of the schooner Weather Gauge, of Provincetown, six weeks +out. The last two captures supplied us with large numbers of Northern +newspapers as late as August 18th. * * * + +_Saturday, September 13th_.--Gave chase to a sail reported on the +weather bow, and upon coming up with her, and heaving her to with a +blank cartridge, she proved to be the hermaphrodite whaling brig +Altamaha, from New Bedford, five months out. Little or no success. +Captured her, put a prize crew on board, and made sail in chase of a +barque to windward. + + * * * * * + +_Sunday, September 14th_.--* * * Last night at a quarter past eleven I +was aroused by the report that a large ship was close on board of us. +Hurried on deck, wore ship, and gave-chase; the strange sail being about +two to two and a half miles from us, partially to windward. Made all +sail, held our wind, and gradually eat him out of the wind, as well as +head-reached on him. Fired a blank cartridge, which he disregarded. +Continued to overhaul him, and when we had gotten on his weather-beam, +distant about half a mile from him, fired a second gun, which speedily +brought him to the wind with his maintopsail to the mast. Sent a boat on +board, with an order to the officer to show me a light if she should +prove to be an American; and in a few minutes after the officer got on +board a light was shown at the peak. Lay by him until daylight, when the +captain was brought on board. The ship proved to be the United States +whaler Benjamin Tucker, from New Bedford, eight months out, with about +340 barrels of oil. Crew thirty. Brought everybody on board, received +some soap and tobacco, and fired the ship. Made sail to the S.E. + +_Monday, September 15th_.--* * * Caulking the decks, which are already +quite open. Made the island of Flores from the masthead late in the +afternoon. Exercised the crew at quarters. Shipped one of the prisoners +from last prize--a Hollander. + +_Tuesday, September 16th_.--* * * * At daylight made a schooner on the +starboard bow. Gave chase, and at 7.30 hove her to with a blank +cartridge, and sent a boat on board, she showing United States colours. +She proved to be the whaling schooner Courser, of Provincetown, +Massachusetts. Took possession of her as a prize. Stood in towards +Flores, within four or five miles, and sent all the prisoners from the +last three prizes on shore in their own whale boats, eight in number. +Number of prisoners sixty-eight. About 5 P.M., having taken the prize +some eight or ten miles distant from the land, hove her to, called all +hands to quarters, and made a target of her, firing three rounds from +each gun. The practice was pretty fair for green hands for the first +time. We hulled the target once, and made a number of good line shots. +At dark fired the prize, and made sail to the westward. + +_Wednesday, September 17th_.--* * * At 7.30 A.M. gave chase to a sail on +the starboard bow, and at meridian came up with and took possession of, +the United States whaling barque Virginia, twenty-one days from New +Bedford. Received papers as late as the 28th August. Got on board from +the prize a large supply of soap, candles, &c.; and after bringing the +prisoners on board, fired her; filled away, and made sail to the N.W. + +_Thursday, September 18th_.--* * * Gave chase to a barque, which, +discovering our purpose, made all sail and tried to escape. Came up with +her at 2 P.M., after a chase of about three hours. Hoisted the English +ensign, to which she refused to respond. Fired the starboard bow gun, +and ran up our own flag, when she shortened sail and hove-to. Sent a +prize crew on board, she showing the United States ensign. Brought the +master on board. She proved to be the whaling barque Elisha Dunbar, of +New Bedford, twenty-four days out. As it was blowing fresh and +threatening a gale of wind, we got all the prisoners on board in the +course of about a couple of hours, and set fire to the barque. Reefed +topsails, set the fore trysail with the bonnet off, and stood on a wind +on the starboard tack to the S. and E. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +_Successive gales--Uncomfortable quarters--Weather moderates--Blowing +again--The Emily Farnum and the Brilliant--Neutral cargo--Ransomed--In +flames--The Wave Crest--The Dunkirk--Religious smuggling--A deserter +caught--A court martial--The Tonawanda--Precautions--The Manchester +burnt--Hope--Parting company--The Lamplighter--A hurricane--Great +danger--A cyclone--Safely passed_. + + +After this burst of good fortune in the way of prizes, during which the +Alabama had destroyed upwards of 230,000 dollars' worth of United States +property--or an amount very nearly equal to her own entire cost--in +eleven days, a lull was experienced. A succession of gales from various +points of the compass now prevailed with more or less violence for seven +or eight days, during a great portion of which the Alabama was lying to, +in a heavy sea under close-reefed maintopsail and reefed trysails. + +These were hard times for the prisoners; huddled together on deck, with +no shelter but an extemporized tarpaulin tent between them and the +pelting of the pitiless storm, which drenched the decks alternately with +salt water and fresh, as the heavy rain-squalls came down, or the sea, +glittering with phosphoric light, came dashing over the weather +bulwarks. There was, however, no alternative. The berth-deck was already +fully occupied by the Alabama's own crew, and the unlucky prisoners were +compelled to make the best of their uncomfortable position, and console +themselves with the hope that some vessel with a neutral cargo might +fall on the same ill-fortune with themselves, and afford them a chance +of being paroled and sent ashore. + +As the sun crossed the line the weather moderated, and by the 25th of +September all was again calm and fair, and the crew busy caulking the +decks, which had leaked terribly during the gales. They were followed by +a succession of calms and light baffling winds, the delay occasioned by +which was turned to advantage in practising the crew at the battery, and +with small arms. + +With the commencement of another month the rough weather returned. The +2nd October was a real ugly-looking day, with dense black clouds and a +Newfoundland north-easter blowing freshly. No observation was to be had, +the thick clouds altogether shutting out the sun, and the ship being in +the current of the Gulf Stream, the most she could do was to guess at +her position within some thirty or forty miles. + +On the 3rd the weather moderated, and fortune again smiled upon the +Alabama. The morning watch was not yet over when two sails were +descried, the one ahead, the other on the lee bow, each of which in its +turn was overhauled and captured; the one proving to be the Emily +Farnum, from New York for Liverpool; the other, the Brilliant, from the +same port for London, with a valuable cargo of grain and flour. + +The cargo of the Emily Farnum being neutral property, the vessel was +released as a cartel, the prisoners from the Brilliant being transferred +to her, as also those already on board from the other prizes, a change, +as may well be imagined, sufficiently acceptable to those unfortunate +beings who had now been exposed for nearly three weeks to all the +vicissitudes of an autumn in the North Atlantic. This done, the Emily +Farnum was permitted to proceed upon her way. The Brilliant was then +stripped of everything that could be of use to her captors, set on fire, +and left to her fate.[8] From the papers taken on board of this vessel +the crew of the Alabama learned the good news of the Confederate +victories in Virginia, and also of the successful run of the +screw-steamer Florida into a Confederate port. The two vessels also +brought to the Alabama a prize, in the persons of four new recruits, +which, in the short-handed condition of the ship, was of more real value +to her than the vessels themselves. + +[Footnote 8: One of the Alabama's officers writes in his private +journal:-- + +"It seemed a fearful thing to burn such a cargo as the Brilliant had, +when I thought how the Lancashire operatives would have danced for joy +had they it shared amongst them. I never saw a vessel burn with such +brilliancy, the flames completely enveloping the masts, hull, and +rigging in a few minutes, making a sight as grand as it was appalling."] + +The barque Wave Crest, of and from New York, for Cardiff, with a cargo +of grain, was the Alabama's next victim. She was chased and captured on +the 7th of October, and having no evidence of the neutral ownership of +her cargo, was condemned and set on fire, after serving for some time as +a target, at which her captors might practise their firing. She was +still blazing merrily, when another vessel was descried from the +masthead, and at 9.30 P.M. of a beautiful moonlight night, a blank shot +from the Alabama brought up the smart little brigantine Dunkirk, from +New York, for Lisbon, also loaded with grain. A boat was sent on board +of her, and her papers handed over to one of the Alabama's officers. No +evidence of neutrality, however, was to be found, and before midnight +she too was a blazing wreck, and her captain and crew prisoners on board +the Confederate steamer. + +The Dunkirk proved noteworthy in two ways. On searching through her +papers, it appeared that besides her ostensible cargo she was also +employed in what may be termed a kind of religious smuggling. Some +Portuguese copies of the New Testament were discovered, together with a +number of tracts in the same language, tied up in large bundles, on the +back of one of which was the endorsement:--"Portuguese Tracts; from the +'American Tract Society,' for distribution among Portuguese passengers, +and to give upon the coast to visitors from the shore, &c. When in port, +please keep conspicuously on the cabin table for all comers to read; +but be very careful not to take any ashore, as the laws do not allow +it." + +It appeared, however, that the conscience of the society had pricked +them for this concession to the majesty of the law, and a pen had been +carefully run through the last sentence. A little lower down, upon the +same packet, was written, "As may be convenient, please report (by +letter, if necessary) anything of interest which may occur in connexion +with the distribution; also take any orders for Bibles, and forward them +to John S. Peerin, Marine Agent, New York Bible Society, No. 7 Beekman +Street." + +The other noteworthy fact in connexion with the Dunkirk was the capture +on board of her of one of the seven sailors who had deserted from the +Sumter whilst lying at Cadiz ten months before. This man, whose name was +George Forrest, was at once recognised, and on the day but one after his +capture on board the enemy's vessel, a court-martial, consisting of the +first lieutenant (president); senior second lieutenant; master, chief +engineer, and lieutenant of marines, with the captain's clerk as +judge-advocate, was assembled in the wardroom to try the prisoner for +the crime of desertion. The evidence was, of course, simple enough, and +the man was found guilty, and sentenced to lose all pay, prize money, +etc., already due to him, and to fulfil his original term of service, +forfeiting all pay and allowances, except such as should be sufficient +to provide necessary clothing and liberty money. + +That same afternoon another sail was descried and chased, and just +before sunset the Alabama came up with and brought to, the fine packet +ship Tonawanda, of Philadelphia, belonging to Cope's Liverpool line, and +bound from Philadelphia to Liverpool with a full cargo of grain, and +some seventy-five passengers. Here was a serious matter of +embarrassment; of the seventy-five passengers, some thirty or more were +women, and what to do with such a prize it was hard to know. It was, of +course, impossible to take the prisoners on board; yet Captain Semmes +was, not unnaturally, reluctant to release so fine a vessel if he could +by any possibility so arrange matters as to be able to destroy her. It +was therefore determined to place a prize crew on board, and keep the +ship in company for a time, in hopes that ere long some other vessel of +less value to the enemy, or guarded from destruction by a neutral cargo +might, by good luck, be captured, and thus afford an opportunity of +sending the prisoners away upon cartel. + +Accordingly, a bond was taken of the captain for eighty thousand +dollars, as a measure of precaution, in case it should be found +necessary to let the ship go without further parley, and a prize master +having been put on board the Tonawanda, was ordered to keep company, and +her captor started off on a chase after a brig, which on being +overhauled proved to be English. One transfer, however, was made from +the prize, being nothing less than a well-grown and intelligent negro +lad, named David White, the slave of one of the passengers, who was +transferred to the Alabama as waiter to the wardroom mess, where he +remained until the closing scene off Cherbourg, by no means disposed, so +far as his own word may be taken for it, to regret the change of +masters. + +The following day, as an additional security, the master of the +Tonawanda was brought as a hostage on board the Confederate steamer, the +prisoners from the last two ships burned being at the same time +transferred to the prize. In this manner the two vessels cruised in +company for two or three days--an anxious time enough for the crew and +passengers of the unlucky Tonawanda, who spent most of their time in +eagerly scanning the horizon, in the hope that some armed vessel of +their own nation might appear in sight, and rescue them from their +unpleasant predicament. No such luck, however, was to be theirs; but on +the 11th October, a fresh addition was made to their numbers in the crew +of the Manchester, a fine United States ship from New York to Liverpool, +the glare of which as she, like so many others, was committed to the +flames, by no means alleviated their anxiety, as they thought how soon a +similar fate might befall their own vessel, should fortune not interpose +to arrest the disaster. + +At length, on the 13th October, excitement prevailed on board of both +vessels, and the hopes of the anxious passengers on board the Tonawanda +rose to fever pitch, as a large vessel was seen bearing down under +topsails only, her easy-going style of sailing seeming to prove +conclusively to a sailor's eye, that she must be either a whaler or a +man-of-war. On board the Alabama the former was the favorite +supposition, and hopes ran high of another glorious bonfire fed by tons +of brightly burning sperm oil. The aspirations of the Tonawanda were +naturally in favor of the man-of-war, and it was with difficulty that +considerations of prudence restrained the open exhibition of their +delight as the stranger drew near, and the long pendant floating proudly +from her masthead seemed to assure them that their hopes were to be +fulfilled. + +But disappointment was equally in store for all. The big easy-going ship +proved to be nothing more or less than an ordinary Spanish merchantman, +who, with more regard for personal appearance than maritime etiquette, +had quietly appropriated to herself the distinguishing ornament of a +man-of-war. So the guns of the Alabama, which had been cast loose and +loaded, were again secured, and the crew dismissed from quarters; while +the disconsolate Tonawandas, balked of their fondly anticipated rescue, +shook their fists at the deceptive Spaniard, and went below to digest as +best they might their grievous disappointment. + +At last, however, this time of suspense was over, and kind fortune came +to their assistance in the shape of a threatening gale of so ugly an +appearance that the captain determined not to run the risk of parting +company, and thus altogether losing his awkward, but not the less +valuable prize. Accordingly, having accepted from the master a ransom +bond for eighty thousand dollars, he dismissed him to his ship, and amid +the wildest demonstrations of delight from the closely-packed prisoners +on board, the Tonawanda filled away, and was seen no more. + +The wind now freshened to a tolerably fresh gale. Not sufficient, +however, for the next two days to prevent the Alabama from chasing and +capturing, on the 15th October, the United States barque Lamplighter, of +Boston, from New York to Gibraltar, with a cargo of tobacco, which, +however, as it proved, was never destined to soothe the _ennui_ of the +British soldier at that not very lively station. The sea was running +high, and the boats had a rough time of it in boarding the barque, and +returning with prisoners, &c. However, it was managed at last; the +unlucky vessel was fired, and after burning fiercely for some time, went +headforemost to the bottom, leaving behind her a savoury cloud that +almost tempted her destroyers to regret their work. + +And now it proved indeed fortunate for the prisoners who had so lately +been discharged, that they were not doomed to weather out on the +Alabama's deck the gale that came upon her. The 17th of October saw the +culminating of the bad weather that had prevailed during the last four +or five days, and for some hours the Alabama was exposed to a perfect +hurricane. The storm did not last long, but for about four hours it blew +furiously. It was not yet at its height, and the ship was still carrying +her close reefed maintopsail with reefed main trysail and fore topmast +staysail, when a sharper lurch than usual threw a sudden strain upon the +bumpkin to which the weather main brace was led, and in a moment it had +snapped in two. The mainyard no longer supported by the brace, and +pressed by the whole power of the straining topsail, flew forward and +upward till it was bent nearly double, when with a loud crash it parted +in the slings, splintering the topsail into ribands with a noise like +thunder. + +The ship was now in the greatest peril, for there was no longer +sufficient after canvas to keep her head to the wind against the +powerful pressure of the foretopmast staysail, and in another moment she +must have fallen into the trough of the sea, and probably been at the +least dismasted, if not altogether swamped. But the quick eye of the +captain of the foretop saw the danger, and springing to the staysail +halyards he cut the sail away, and the ship relieved of pressure +forward, again came up to the wind. + +The main trysail was now lowered, though not without splitting the sail, +and a small three-cornered storm trysail hoisted in its place. Even +under this minimum of canvas the tremendous pressure of the gale upon +her spars forced her down in the water several streaks, and the idlers +and boys were lashed for safety under the weather bulwarks, life-lines +being stretched before them to prevent them from falling to leeward. + +So far as it was possible under the circumstances to estimate the +probable extent of this cyclone, its greatest diameter would appear to +have been from about one hundred and sixty to two hundred miles, whilst +the diameter of the vortex, through a considerable portion of which, if +not actually through the centre, the Alabama appears to have passed, +would probably be from about thirty to five-and-thirty or perhaps forty +miles. + +The Alabama took the gale at S.W., the wind hauling afterwards to S., +and the vessel passing completely through the vortex. During that time +it lulled for about half or three-quarters of an hour, then hauled in a +few minutes to about N.N.W., which was the severest portion of the gale, +commencing with the squall by which the mainyard was carried away. The +barometer sank as low as 28.64. At 2 P.M. it had risen to 29.70, but +fell again a little, and then rose gradually. The rise and fall of the +barometer were both very rapid. + +During the violence of the gale, the birds flew very low, and with great +rapidity, and some rain fell, though not a great deal. The surface of +the sea was one sheet of foam and spray, the latter completely blinding +all on deck. A curious result of the gale was a huge knot into which a +strip of the maintopsail, the clew line, and chain sheet had twisted +themselves in a hundred involutions, defying any attempt at extrication +except by aid of the knife. + +During this tremendous storm the Alabama behaved splendidly, proving +herself as fine a sea-boat as ever swam. + +By the evening the storm had lulled, but the sea was still running +fearfully high, and it was not until the next day that it was possible +to set about repairing the damage suffered in this by far the severest +trial through which the Alabama had as yet passed. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +_Out of luck--Tempest-tossed--Rotatory storms--A prize--The case of the +Lafayette--A long chase--The Crenshaw--Neutral or not?--Rough again--The +Lauretta--Condemned!--The Baron de Custine--Released on bond._ + + +The Alabama was again out of luck. For the second time since her +departure from Terceira, nearly a fortnight passed without bringing a +single prize. It was, indeed, hardly to be expected that the splendid +success which had attended the first three weeks of her cruise could be +maintained. From the 1st to the 18th of September, she had captured and +destroyed no less than ten vessels, of an aggregate value of nearly two +hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Then had followed an interval of a +fortnight, during which one vessel only was overhauled, and proving to +be French, permitted to proceed. This dull period over, the 3rd October +had seen the commencement of another run of good fortune, extending over +nearly a fortnight, during which she succeeded in capturing five more +vessels, all of considerable size, and for the most part with valuable +cargoes. In this fortnight alone damage was inflicted upon United States +property to the amount of more than half-a-million of dollars; and it +was but natural that, after so splendid a gift, fortune should for a +time hold her hand. + +Accordingly, for the next ten or twelve days the Alabama lay helplessly +on the ocean, tossed and beaten about by a succession of gales from +every point of the compass, culminating, as we have seen, in the +hurricane of the 16th October. The season was, indeed, most unusually +severe, this month of October being commonly one of calm and fine +weather. A gale at this time is a most unusual occurrence; but for more +than a week a succession of storms was experienced of the most violent +description, while for fully three weeks the weather continued dark, +rough, and gloomy, with strong shifting winds and heavy rain, the thick +clouds rarely separating sufficiently to afford the chance of an +observation. + +Occasionally a break in the murky canopy would give promise of a change +for the better; but a very few hours served to dissipate the rising +hope. The sky would be again overcast, the wind breeze up from a fresh +quarter, and another night of discomfort set in. In addition to this +adverse weather, a still further difficulty was experienced in the +strong current that appeared to set continuously from the westward, +drifting the vessel bodily out of her course at the rate of sixty or +seventy miles a day. During this period, the barometer ranged from +28.64 to 29.70. It was remarkable that the winds appeared to succeed +each other with perfect regularity, rotating, as nearly as possible, +once in every two days, or at the utmost, in two days and a half. The +course taken by these rotatory storms was always the same, and it was a +rare occurrence for the wind to remain stationary in one quarter during +eight or ten successive hours. + +On the 23rd October the gale at last finally broke, and with the return +of better weather the Alabama's luck seemed also about to revive. At +noon a brief break in the clouds just gave time for an observation for +latitude, and this was barely worked out, when "Sail, ho!" was heard +from the masthead; and a fine brig was discovered hull down on the lee +bow. Running down to her under close-reefed topsails, she proved to be +English; but though not destined herself to become a prize, the +deviation in the Alabama's course, occasioned by the chase, proved most +fortunate for her. She had scarcely luffed up again, after ascertaining +the brig's nationality, when again the welcome cry was heard, and the +helm shifted in pursuit. Soon the new chase became clearly discernible +from the quarter-deck, when she proved to be a large ship running to the +northward and eastward under a press of canvas. So determinedly was she +"cracking on" as to have everything set, even to her main-royal, +notwithstanding that the wind was still blowing very nearly half a gale. + +The course of the stranger being diagonal to that of the Alabama, the +speed at which she was travelling soon brought her within speaking +distance, and, as usual, a feint was made for the purpose of extorting a +confession of her nationality. The flag chosen this time was the English +blue ensign, and it was speedily answered by the Stars and Stripes, +which fluttered gaily from the merchantman's peak as she dashed along +under her towering mass of canvas before the breeze, right across the +Alabama's path. + +Another moment and the scene was changed. The Yankee ensign had hardly +reached her peak, when down came the beguiling signal from the Alabama's +flagstaff, and the white folds of the Confederate ensign unfurled +themselves in its stead. A flash, a spurt of white smoke, curling for a +moment from the cruiser's lee-bow, and vanishing in snowy wreaths upon +the wind, and the loud report of a gun from the Alabama, summoned the +luckless Yankee to heave to. In a moment all was in confusion on board +the merchantman. Sheets and halyards were let go by the run, and the +huge cloud of canvas seemed to shrink and shrivel up as the vessel was +rounded to with folded wings like a crippled bird, and with her +foretopsail to the mast, lay submissively awaiting the commands of her +captors. + +She proved to be the ship Lafayette, of Boston, bound to Belfast, with a +full cargo of grain, &c. Of her own nationality there was, of course, no +doubt; but a question now arose about the ownership of the cargo, and +some hours of patient investigation were necessary before Captain Semmes +could determine upon the course to pursue. Finally it was determined +that the claim of neutral ownership was a mere blind to insure against +capture; and at 10 P.M., the ship having been formally condemned, the +crew were transferred to the Alabama, and the prize fired and left to +her fate. + +The following is Captain Semmes' memorandum of the + + + + +CASE OF THE LAFAYETTE. + + +Ship and cargo condemned. The cargo of this ship was condemned by me as +enemy's property, notwithstanding there were depositions of the shippers +that it had been purchased by them on neutral account. These _ex-parte_ +statements are precisely such as every unscrupulous merchant would +prepare, to deceive his enemy and save his property from capture. There +are two shipping houses in this case; that of Craig and Nicoll, and that +of Montgomery Bros.: Messrs. Craig and Nicoll say that the grain +supplied by them belongs to Messrs. Shaw and Finlay, and to Messrs. +Hamilton, Megault, and Thompson, all of Belfast, to which port the ship +is bound, but the grain is not consigned to them, and they could not +demand possession of it under the bill of lading, it being consigned to +_order_, thus leaving the control in the hands of the shippers. The +shippers, farther, instead of sending their grain as freight in a +general ship, consigned to the owners, they paying the freight, charter +the whole ship, and stipulate themselves for the payment of the freight. +If this property had been _bona fide_ the property of the parties in +Belfast named in the depositions, it would undoubtedly have been +consigned to them, under a bill of lading authorizing them to demand +possession of it, &c., &c.; the agreement with the ship would have been +that the consignees and owners should pay the freight upon delivery. +Even if this property were purchased, as pretended, by Messrs. Craig and +Nicoll, for the parties named, still their not consigning it to them and +delivering to them the proper bill of lading passing the possession, +left the property under the dominion of Craig and Nicoll, and as such, +liable to capture. The property attempted to be covered by the Messrs. +Montgomery, is shipped by Montgomery Bros. of New York, and consigned to +Montgomery Bros., in Belfast; and the title to the property, so far as +appears in the bill of lading, is in the latter house, or in the branch +house in New York. Further, the mere formal papers of a ship and cargo +prove nothing, unless properly verified, and in this case the master of +the ship, although a part owner of the ship, whose duty it was upon +taking in a cargo in time of war, to be informed of all the +circumstances attending it, and connected with the ownership, knew +nothing, except what he learned from the face of the papers. These +certificates, therefore, were pronounced a fraud, and the cargo as well +as the ship, condemned. 3d Phillimore 610-12 to the effect, that if the +goods are going for account of the shipper, _or subject to his order or +control_ (as in this case), the property is not divested _in transitu_. +The goods shipped by Craig and Nicoll, were consigned to their _order_, +as has been seen. + +As to the Montgomery's, see 3rd Phillimore 605, to the effect that if a +person be a partner in a house of trade in an enemy's country, he is, as +to the concerns and trade of that house, deemed an enemy, and his share +is liable to confiscation as such, notwithstanding his own residence is +in a neutral country. Further, the property consigned to Montgomery +Bros., even admitting the Belfast house not to be a partner in the New +York house, is liable to the same objection, as in the case of Craig and +Nicoll; since, although the property is described as belonging to a +party in Sligo, there is no bill of lading among the papers authorizing +that party to demand the possession. The property is not divested, +therefore, _in transitu_. + +3rd Phillimore, 599, to the effect, that "further proof" is always +necessary when the master cannot swear to the ownership of the property +(as in this case). And as I cannot send my prizes in for adjudication, I +must of necessity condemn in all cases where "further proof" is +necessary, since the granting of "further proof" proceeds on the +presumption that the neutrality of the cargo is not sufficiently +established; and where the neutrality of the property does not fully +appear from the ship's papers and the master's deposition, I had the +right to act upon the presumption of enemy's property. + +By midnight the Lafayette showed only a dim glare on the distant +horizon, but the event formed a topic of discussion for the next two +days, more especially as from the newspapers found on board it was +ascertained that news of the captures on the banks of Newfoundland had +already made its way to the United States, and that the Yankee cruisers +were, therefore, probably by that time in full pursuit. + +The 26th October, however, provided the crew of the Alabama with a +fresh excitement. The weather had cleared beautifully, the wind was +light from the eastward, and the vessel was gliding smoothly and +swiftly, with studding-sails set alow and aloft, over the long, easy +swell, which alone remained to tell of the heavy gales of the past +fortnight. Every one was enjoying the change, and even the strict +discipline of the man-of-war was, for the moment, in some measure +relaxed, as officers and men gave themselves up to the full pleasure of +a period of sunshine and tranquillity, after the long spell of gloom and +storm. The look-out-man alone, high up on the fore topgallant +crosstrees, still swept the horizon as eagerly as ever in search of a +prize. At about noon his vigilance was rewarded by the sight of a sail +on the port-quarter, and in a moment all was again bustle and excitement +on board. Quick as the word could be given, the "flying kites" were +furled, yards braced in, and the ship hauled up on a taut bowline in +chase. + +But the stranger was now well to windward, and fully four or five miles +distant. The Alabama flew through the water with the freshening breeze, +flinging the spray over her sharp bows, and stretching to her task as +though she herself were conscious of the work before her, and eager in +chase. But the strange sail was almost, if not quite, as fast as +herself, and her position so far to windward gave her an immense +advantage. The day, too, was wearing on, and the sky beginning to cloud +over, giving every token of a dark if not a stormy night. If the chase +could only hold on her course till dusk she was safe, and already the +hopes of another prize were beginning to fade, and the anxious +speculators on the forecastle were expecting the order to up helm and +relinquish the chase. + +On the quarter-deck, too, the idea was gaining ground that the affair +was hopeless, and that it was not worth while to keep the ship longer +from her course. But the Alabama was not given to letting a chance slip, +and before finally abandoning the pursuit it was determined to try the +effect of a shot or two upon the nerves of the stranger. A slight cheer, +quickly checked by the voice of authority, rose from the eager crowd on +the forecastle, as the weather bow gun was cast loose and loaded, and in +another minute the bright flash, with its accompanying jet of white +smoke, leaped from the cruiser's bow, as the loud report of a 32 pounder +rang out the command to heave to. + +A moment of breathless suspense, and another cheer rose from the +delighted throng of sailors, as the stranger's sails were seen for a +moment to shiver in the wind, and the frightened chase luffed to the +wind, and then lay motionless with the Stars and Stripes at her +mizenpeak. Another sharp hour's beating and the Alabama was alongside, +and had taken possession of the United States schooner Crenshaw, from +New York to Glasgow, three days out. + +And now began another investigation into the character of the cargo, and +notes were once more carefully compared, lest any _bona fide_ neutral +property should become involved in the fate that would otherwise befall +the captured enemy. Finally, however, the case was decided against ship +and cargo, and both were accordingly committed to the flames, the +following entry being made by Captain Semmes of the grounds of his +decision:-- + + +CASE OF THE SCHOONER CRENSHAW. + +This vessel was captured under the North American flag, and had on board +a North American register--there is, therefore, no question as to the +ship. There has been an attempt to cover the cargo, but without success. +The shippers are Francis Macdonald and Co., of the city of New York; and +Mr. James Hutchison, also of New York, deposed before the British +consul, that "the goods specified in the annexed bills of lading were +shipped on board the schooner Crenshaw, for, and on account of, subjects +of Her Britannic Majesty, and that the said goods are wholly and _bona +fide_ the property of British subjects." No British subject is named in +the deposition, and no person is therefore entitled to claim under it. +Further: even admitting the goods to have been purchased on British +account, the shipper has not divested himself of the possession by a +proper consignment, under a proper bill of lading. The property is +consigned to the _order of the shipper_, which leaves it entirely under +his control; and it having left the port of New York as his property, +the title cannot be changed while the property is _in transitu_. + +As to the first point--to wit, the failure to point out some particular +British owner of the property--see 3d Phillimore 596, to the following +effect:--"If in the ship's papers, property, in a voyage from an enemy's +port, be described 'for neutral account,' this is such a general mode as +points to no designation whatever; and under such a description no +person can say that the cargo belongs to him, or can entitle himself to +the possession of it as his property," &c. + +And as to the second point--to wit, the failure on the part of the +shipper to divest himself of the title and control of the property by a +proper bill of lading--see 3rd Phillimore 610-12, as follows, viz.: "In +ordinary shipments of goods, unaffected by the foregoing principles, the +question of proprietary interest often turns on minute circumstances +and distinctions, the general principle being, that if they are going +for account of the shipper, or subject _to his order or control_, the +property is not divested _in transitu"_ &c. + + * * * * * + +_Monday, October 27th._--Another gale of wind! In the mid-watch last +night the barometer commenced falling, and by 3 this afternoon it had +gone down to 29.33, where it remained stationary for a time, and then +began to rise slowly, being at 29.45 at 8 P.M. The wind began to blow +freshly from the south, and hauled gradually to the westward, the +barometer commencing to rise when the wind was about W.S.W. In the early +part of the gale we had the weather very thick, with heavy squalls of +rain, clearing about nightfall, with the wind from the W.S.W. + +In the midst of a heavy squall of wind and rain, and with a heavy sea +on, we discovered a brig close aboard of us, on our weather quarter; but +as we were on opposite tacks we soon increased our distance from each +other. Wore ship, and hove to, under close-reefed topsails on the +starboard tack. Being about a degree to the southward of St. George's +Bank, got a cast of the lead at 7 P.M., with no bottom at eighty-five +fathoms. Lat. 39.47 N., Long. 68.06 W., a little over two hundred miles +from New York. + +_Tuesday, October 28th_.--Weather cloudy; wind light from the north, +hauling to the eastward. The heavy sea, from the effects of the gale +yesterday, continued all day rolling and tumbling us about, and keeping +the deck flooded with water. In the morning watch descried a brig +running off to the southward. She being some distance off, and running +in the wrong direction, we did not chase. Soon afterwards another sail +was reported to the westward, standing in our direction; shaped a course +to head her off, and at 11 A.M., having approached her within half a +mile, hoisted the English blue. The stranger showing United States +colours, we hoisted our own, and hove him to with a gun. Brought the +master on board with his papers, and finding the cargo condemnable, got +the crew on board, fired the ship, and filled away. + +The prize proved to be the barque Lauretta, of Boston, from New York, +for Madeira and the Mediterranean. Received papers as late as the 24th. +The intelligence of our captures (as late as the Brilliant) seems to +have created great alarm for the safety of commerce in New York. + +CASE OF THE LAURETTA. + +This ship being under American colours, with an American (U.S.) +register, no question arises as to the ship. There are two shippers of +the cargo, Messrs. Chamberlain, Phelps, and Co., and Mr. H.J. Burden, +both houses of New York city. Chamberlain, Phelps, and Co. ship 1424 +barrels of flour, and a lot of pipe staves, to be delivered at Gibraltar +or Messina, to their own order; and 225 kegs of nails to be delivered at +Messina, to Mariano Castarelli. The bill of lading for the flour and +staves has the following indorsement, sworn to before a notary: "State, +city and county of New York: Louis Contenein being duly sworn, says, +that he is a clerk with Chamberlain, Phelps, and Co., and that part of +the maize in the within bill of lading, is the property of subjects of +the King of Italy." This certificate is of no force or effect for its +generality; it points to no one as the owner of the merchandise, and no +person could claim it under the certificate. See 3rd Phillimore, 596. +Farther: the property is consigned to the _order_ of the shipper. The +title, therefore, remains in him, and cannot be divested _in transitu_. +See 3rd Phillimore, 610-12. The contingent destination of this property, +too, shows that it was property for a market. It was to be delivered +either at Gibraltar or Messina, as the shipper might determine--probably +on advices by steamer, before the ship should reach her destination. She +was to stop, as we have seen, at Madeira, which would give ample time +for the decision. + +The bill of lading for the 225 kegs of nails has a similar indorsement, +except that it is asserted that the whole of the property belongs to +subjects of the King of Italy. It is not sworn that the property belongs +to Castarelli, the consignee, and for aught that appears, Castarelli is +the agent of the shipper to receive this consignment on his, the +shipper's account. The presumption being, that notwithstanding a +consignment in due form by an enemy shipper to a neutral, the property +is enemy's property, until the contrary be shown. The consignment alone +does not show the property to be vested in Castarelli, and the +certificate does not indicate him as the owner. Although Castarelli +could demand possession of the goods, under this consignment, he could +not claim to hold them as his property under the certificate. There is, +therefore, no evidence to show that he is not the mere agent of the +shipper. What renders this consideration still more clear is, that if +the goods had really belonged to Castarelli, it would have been so +stated in the certificate. Why say that the goods belonged to "subjects +of the King of Italy," when the consignee was the real owner? + +The property shipped by H. Jas. Burden consists of 998 barrels of flour +and 290 boxes of herrings, and is consigned to Charles B. Blandly, Esq., +at Funchal, Madeira. The shipper, H.J. Burden, makes the following +affidavit before the British consul in New York, to wit: "That all and +singular the goods specified in the annexed bill of lading, were shipped +by _H.J. Burden_, in the barque Lauretta, for and on account of _H.J. +Burden_, subject of Her Britannic Majesty." Now, Burden may be a very +good subject of Her Britannic Majesty, but he describes himself as of 42 +Beaver Street, New York, and seems to lose sight of the fact, that his +domicile, for the purposes of trade, in the enemy's country, makes him +an enemy, _quoad_ all his transactions in that country. Further: if the +H.J. Burden, the shipper, is not one and the same person with the H.J. +Burden for whom the property is claimed, then there is nothing in the +papers to show that property is vested in the latter, since it is not +consigned to him, nor is it shown that the consignee, Charles B. +Blandly, Esq., is his agent. The presumption, in the absence of proof, +is, that the consignee is the agent of the shipper. + + * * * * * + +_Wednesday, October 29th._--* * * * At 10 A.M. hove to; let down the +propeller, and put the ship under steam. Chased and overhauled a Dutch +barque, and towards nightfall came up with the United States brigantine, +Baron de Custine, from Bangor, with lumber for Cardenas. The vessel +being old, and of little value, I released her on ransom bond, and +converted her into a cartel, sending some forty-five prisoners on board +of her, the crews of the last three ships burned. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +_Disappointment--Out of the track--The Levi Starbuck--Fresh vegetables +--News--The other side of the case--Kindness repaid--The T.B. Wales--A +family--Volunteers--In man-of-war trim_. + + +The month of October went out as it came in with severe and blustering +weather. The Alabama was still upwards of two hundred miles from New +York, and it seemed as though a change would become necessary in her +plans. Ever since starting upon his adventurous cruise, it had been a +favorite scheme with Captain Semmes to make his appearance off this the +very chief of the enemy's ports, and, if not strong enough actually to +threaten the place itself, at all events to make a few captures within +sight of the capital city of the North. It had been, therefore, a +special disappointment to find himself baffled by a continued succession +of hostile winds and contrary currents; and even the brilliant success +that had thus far attended him in the capture of twenty-one vessels and +the destruction of property to very nearly a million of dollars, seemed +hardly to compensate for the failure of his pet project. + +It was fast becoming evident, however, that the scheme for putting in an +appearance off New York must be abandoned, at all events for the +present; and on the 30th October the chief engineer was consulted as to +the amount of coal remaining in the bunkers. The report was unfavorable. +Four days' fuel only was left; and it was clear that even had the vessel +been nearer than she was to her intended cruising ground, this would +have been rather a short supply with which to venture on so dangerous an +experiment. Reluctantly, therefore, the scheme was relinquished, the +fires let down, propeller hoisted up again, and sail made to the +southward and eastward _en route_ for the coal depot. + +The ship was now out of the track of commerce, and for some time +scarcely a vessel was seen. The 2d November, however, brought a prize in +the shape of the ship Levi Starbuck, five days out from New Bedford, on +a whaling voyage of thirty months to the Pacific Ocean. Like all +whalers, she carried a stronger crew than is common with other vessels +of similar tonnage, and twenty-nine prisoners were transferred from her +to the Alabama. Being bound, too, on so long a cruise, she was well +furnished with all necessaries, and the captor was enabled to supply +himself from her with various articles of which, by this time, and after +the rough weather he had experienced, he had begun to stand somewhat +sorely in need. + +Not the least highly-prized among the spoils of the Levi Starbuck was a +noble collection of cabbages and turnips, fresh from their native soil! +These were, indeed, invaluable. The Alabama had now been upwards of +seventy days at sea, and during nearly the whole of that period her crew +had subsisted entirely on salted provisions. Happily, as yet, no ill +effects had appeared; but the fresh vegetables came most opportunely to +ward off any danger of that scourge of the sailor's existence, scurvy, +to which a longer confinement to salt diet must inevitably have exposed +them. + +Indeed, but for the consciousness of how vitally necessary a change of +diet is to the health of a ship's crew, there would have been something +almost ludicrous in the delight with which the men, who for the last six +months had been almost daily destroying thousands of pounds' worth of +the most valuable property of every description, now hailed the +acquisition of a sack or two of turnips and a few strings of humble +cabbages. But abstinence is a wonderful quickener of apprehension; and +for teaching the true value of the good things of this life, there are +few recipes more effectual than a voyage in the forecastle of a cruising +man-of-war. + +Besides the cabbages and turnips, which were so welcome forward, the +Levi Starbuck contributed not a little to the comfort of the after-part +of the vessel by her contribution of newspapers, which passed eagerly +from hand to hand, through wardroom and steerage, affording a pleasant +change from the worn-out topics of discussion that had now grown +threadbare through the wear-and-tear of many a dull day and stormy +night. The Starbuck's papers brought news from Yankeeland as late as the +28th of October, and not the least important item was that which told of +the excitement occasioned among the enemy by the little craft whose +officers were now jesting merrily over the consternation she had raised, +and the measures that were being taken for her destruction. + +It was certainly not a little amusing to read in the angry columns of +Yankee newspapers, the magnificently-exaggerated accounts of the +depredations of the dreaded Confederate "pirate." It was difficult +sometimes to recognise the events referred to under the gorgeous +embellishments with which they were invested. Occasionally, too, an +exclamation of disgust would be heard from some officer, more excited or +less philosophic than his comrades, as with his head half-buried in some +broad, ill-printed, vilely-smelling sheet, he would declaim from its +columns, for the edification of the mess, paragraph after paragraph of +abuse of the vessel and her officers, and withering denunciations of the +barbarity with which their unfortunate prisoners were treated while on +board. Among those who thus revealed their true nature by abusing and +vilifying the men, who, though enemies, had endeavoured while they had +them in their power to alleviate in every possible way the inevitable +hardships of captivity, the master of the ship Brilliant obtained for +himself an unenviable pre-eminence, by the grossness of the falsehoods +with which he retaliated upon his captors for their mistaken kindness; +and many a vow was registered in the wardroom and gun-room of the +Alabama, that should this gentleman ever again fall into their hands, +they would be wiser than to waste courtesy on one who could so little +appreciate it. + +The Levi Starbuck having been disposed of in the usual manner, sail was +again made upon the Alabama, and on the 5th November, Bermuda, "the +still vexed," was passed, though at too great a distance to sight the +land. + +_Saturday, November 8th._--... In the mid-watch a sail was reported--a +schooner, standing south. Wore ship (1.30 A.M.) and gave chase. Soon +after daylight, the chase being some five miles dead to windward of us, +a ship was discerned standing to the northward and westward. +Discontinued the chase of the schooner, and gave chase to the ship. At +10 A.M., the latter having approached to within a mile of us (we having +United States colours flying), hove her to with a gun, and a change of +flags. Sent a boat, and brought the master on board. She, proved to be +the ship T.B. Wales, of Boston, from Calcutta for Boston. There being no +claim of neutral property among the papers, and the master having no +knowledge on the subject, except that the linseed belonged to the owner +of the ship, condemned both ship and cargo. A large portion of this +cargo was consigned to Baring Brothers, Boston, including 1704 bags of +saltpetre--contraband of war--which would have condemned all the +property of the Barings, even if proof of ownership had been found on +board, which was not the case. + +We are to be embarrassed with two females and some children, the master +having his wife with him, and there being also a passenger and his wife. +I shall bestow them upon the wardroom, having a couple of state rooms +vacated for them. Poor women! They are suffering for the sins of their +wicked countrymen who are waging this murderous war upon us. + + * * * * * + +About nightfall another sail was descried from aloft, and a light was +seen after dark; but we did not get hold of the sail. Just at dark, +having taken all the prisoners on board from the prize, and got her +mainyard on board to replace ours, carried away in, the storm of the +16th ultimo, we set fire to her, and filled away on our course. Nine of +the crew of this ship volunteered, and were shipped as part of our own +crew--an acquisition more valuable than the prize herself. + +_Sunday, November 9th._--... My _menage_ has become quite home-like +with the presence of women and the merry voices of children. We have had +a quiet Sabbath-day, there being nothing in sight. + + * * * * * + +For some time from this date quiet days preponderated. The Alabama was +now in the region of the trade winds, but it was some time before they +were fairly taken. From the 9th November, in Lat. 27.52 N., Long. 58.24 +W., to the 15th November, in Lat. 21 N., Long. 57.49 W., the wind +continued light and variable, sometimes even for a few hours blowing +directly from the southward. On the 15th November the N.E. trade +appeared to have fairly set in, and from this time fine weather and +favouring breezes became the order of the day. + + * * * * * + +_Sunday, November 16th_.--Beautiful clear weather, with a moderate trade +from about east by south. Woollen clothes becoming uncomfortable. At 11 +A.M. mustered the crew, and inspected the ship. A quiet Sabbath-day, +with nothing in sight. Our ship begins to look quite like a ship of +war--with her battery in fine order, her decks clean, freshly-painted +outside, masts scraped, &c., &c., and the crew well disciplined. Thus +far I have never seen a better disposed or more orderly crew. They have +come very kindly into the traces. + +_Monday, November 17th_.--... Running before the wind, with +studding-sails set on both sides. At 2 P.M. made the island of Dominica, +half a point on the starboard bow. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +_Martinique--News from home--Friendly greetings--Mutiny!--Order +restored--The San Jacinto--Neutrality of the port invaded--Prompt +measures--Expectation--Ready for action--Success--Locking an empty +stable--Temptation--The Clara L. Sparks--Refitting--A court-martial +--Dismissed_. + + +The 18th November saw Captain Semmes again off Martinique, which he had +visited in the Sumter just twelve months before. Making the north end of +the island at about 4 A.M., the propeller was lowered and steam got up, +the day breaking just as the Alabama's screw began to revolve. At 10 +A.M., having run past St. Pierre, she anchored in the harbour of Fort de +France. + +Here she found her faithful consort, the Agrippina, from whom she had +parted at Terceira on the 24th of August. On her departure from that +port, she had returned with all speed to Cardiff, from which she had +again sailed for the rendezvous at Martinique, and was now ready with a +fresh supply of coal for the Alabama, and had been waiting her arrival +just eight days. In addition to the much needed supply of coal, the +Agrippina brought a small mail for the Alabama's officers, who thus +received news from friends at home for the first time for more than +three months. + +No sooner was the anchor down than a lieutenant was sent ashore to pay +the usual visit of ceremony to the Governor, carrying with him a note, +informing his Excellency of the arrival of the Confederate steamer +Alabama in French waters. A few hours brought a courteous reply, +extending to the Alabama the hospitality of the port; and the health +officers having visited the ship, arrangements were made for laying in a +stock of provisions, and such other articles as were required after the +cruise. Nor were the amenities of the Alabama's reception confined to +the authorities alone. An enthusiastic greeting awaited her from almost +every one; the clubs were placed at their disposal, and invitations _a +discretion_ poured in from every side. + +It would, perhaps, have been better for the discipline of the Alabama +had the welcome extended to her crew been somewhat less cordial. Weary +of their long confinement, and bent, as the sailor always seems to be on +first putting into port, on a "good spree," a considerable number of her +men fairly succumbed to the hospitality of the worthy islanders, a +result that was not a little aggravated by the exertions of the +deserter, Forrest. This man appears to have entertained a deliberate +purpose of exciting a mutiny on board of the vessel, and with this +object in view, managed to slip overboard unobserved, swam to a boat, +and returned on board with a quantity of spirits, which he distributed +through the forecastle. The result was a disturbance, which at one time +wore a serious aspect, and which, but for the energy and promptitude of +the means taken to subdue it, might have had very awkward results. + +The Captain of the Alabama, however, was not a man to be intimidated or +taken off his guard. No sooner was the disturbance reported than the +drums beat to quarters, and the sober portion of the crew were at once +directed to seize the rioters. Placed in double irons, and effectually +drenched with buckets of cold water by their laughing comrades, the +unlucky mutineers soon came to their senses, and order was restored. The +ringleader, Forrest, was then triced up in the mizen-rigging, "two hours +on and two off," to await the punishment of his crimes. + +The next day brought a fresh vision of the Stars and Stripes, but this +time from the mizen-peak of a heavily-armed steamer, which appeared +early in the morning, standing in towards the harbour. The Alabama was +at once cleared for action, and, as a precautionary measure, her funds +were despatched on shore for deposit in the event of the engagement +which appeared likely to ensue. This, however, was not to be. The +merchants, thinking evidently that Captain Semmes was in their power, +and must pay their price for taking charge of his treasure, refused to +have anything to do with it at a lower rate than five per cent. To this +the officer in charge would not agree, and the money was again carried +on board. Fortunately, as it turned out, for when the true character of +the stranger came to be ascertained, he proved to be the United States +steamer San Jacinto, of fourteen guns--viz., twelve 68 pounders, and two +eleven-inch shell-guns, and therefore much too heavy for the Alabama to +venture on an attack. This point was but just settled when the merchants +appeared alongside with an abatement in their charges for taking care of +the Confederate treasure; but the chance was gone, and they were +compelled to return as empty-handed as they had come. + +Meanwhile, the authorities ashore had been bestirring themselves to +prevent any violation of the neutrality of their port. A boat was +despatched to the San Jacinto with orders either to come to an anchor, +in which case she must remain in the harbour full twenty-four hours +after the departure of the Alabama, or else to proceed again to sea, and +cruise beyond the limits of the maritime league from the harbour. The +latter alternative being preferred by the United States Captain, the San +Jacinto put her helm aport, and came slowly round, returning to the +prescribed distance from the shore, where she proceeded to steam slowly +backwards and forwards, in the hope of intercepting her little enemy, +should the latter venture to leave her anchorage. + +Pending this submission on the part of the United States cruiser to the +orders of the Governor, the French gunboat Fata received instructions to +get up steam, and shifting her berth, took up her position close +alongside of the Alabama, fully prepared to offer her own contribution +to any controversy that might arise between the two rival vessels. Her +Captain and officers were very friendly, offering every assistance, and +pointing out on the chart the best means of eluding the enemy, the +superiority of whose size and weight put an end to all idea of a +deliberate attack, though there were still some among the crew of the +Alabama who could not relinquish the hope that in making their way out +of the harbour an engagement might be forced upon them. + +All the vigilance of the authorities, however, though extending to the +prohibition of any intercourse whatever between the San Jacinto and the +shore, was unable to prevent the Yankee from establishing a code of +signals by which he might at once be put in possession of any movement +on the part of the Confederate steamer, which he now, no doubt, fully +looked on as his prize. Two of his boats were, as was afterwards +discovered, on the look-out during the night, and an understanding had +been come to with the master of the Yankee vessel lying in the harbour +to signal the Alabama's departure. + +By dusk, Captain Semmes' preparations were completed; the funds, which +the Martinique merchants had allowed to slip through their +too-widely-opened fingers, were safely despatched on their way to +Liverpool; the necessary supplies were on board; and, with decks cleared +for action, all lights carefully extinguished, and all hands at +quarters, the Alabama stole quietly from her anchorage, and steamed +cautiously across the harbour on her way to the open sea. + +It was a period of intense anxiety as the Alabama slipped silently +through the tranquil water of the harbour, each moment bringing her +nearer to the powerful enemy, who, when dusk had shut him from their +view, had been planted in the very centre of the entrance, eagerly +looking out for the expected prize. Presently it was found that her +movements were, at all events, known to the spies of the enemy, and a +succession of signals from the Yankee vessel they had left at anchor +were evidently intended to warn the San Jacinto of the attempted escape. +Momentarily now was expected the flash of the enemy's gun, and the +hoarse roar of his shot, and each crew stood by its loaded gun ready +with a prompt reply. Not a word was uttered on the crowded deck, and so +deep was the silence, that the low throbbing of the Alabama's propeller, +as it revolved slowly in the water, seemed to strike on the ear with a +noise like thunder. But the minutes passed by and the expected broadside +never came. The straining eyes of the look-outs could see no sign of the +San Jacinto. Either she had misunderstood the signals of her accomplice +on shore, or by some strange fatality they had altogether escaped her; +and the Alabama held on her course unmolested, until, at twenty minutes +past eight, less than an hour after the start, she was considered fairly +out of danger of interception. + +The guns were now run in and secured, the word passed to the engineers +to fire up and give her a full head of steam; the men were piped below, +and the Alabama, throwing off the silence in which for the last hour she +had been wrapped fore and aft, darted off merrily over the rippling +waves, in the direction of the island of Blanquilla, at the rate of +fourteen knots an hour. It subsequently transpired that, notwithstanding +all her vigilance and all her pre-arranged signals, the San Jacinto had +been totally unaware of the escape of her agile foe, and actually +remained for four days and four nights carefully keeping guard over the +stable from which the steed had cleverly stolen away. + +The morning of the 21st of November found the Alabama off the Hermanas, +and by 1.30 PM. she was in sight of the island of Blanquilla, the +appointed rendezvous of the Agrippina, who had already, about nine +o'clock that morning, been descried on the port bow making all speed +towards her destined anchorage. Here both vessels arrived in the course +of the afternoon; the Alabama, which was a far swifter sailer than her +merchant tender, being the first to drop anchor, and the Agrippina +following her in. + +As the two vessels neared the shore, a schooner was discovered at anchor +in the little bay, and on the approach of the strangers she hoisted the +Stars and Stripes. On being overhauled by a boat, despatched for that +purpose from the Alabama, she proved to be the United States whaling +schooner, Clara L. Sparks, of Provincetown; and great was the grief and +astonishment of the unlucky master when the white flag of the +Confederacy was discovered floating at the new comer's peak. + +The temptation was great to seize her, and devote her to the flames, but +Captain Semmes was anxious for nothing so much as to avoid all possible +ground of complaint with regard to any infringement of neutrality. It +happened, fortunately for the Clara Sparks, that a few herdsmen from +Venezuela were supporting a miserable existence in the barren island off +which she was anchored, and to make prize of the vessel under these +circumstances, might possibly be construed into a breach of neutral +privilege. In the end, therefore, it was determined not to molest the +whaler; and her master was informed, much to his relief and delight, +that so soon as the Alabama's arrangements were completed, he would be +free to continue his course. Meanwhile, however, it was peremptorily +necessary that he should not be permitted to escape, and reward the +forbearance of his captors by giving her enemy information as to her +whereabout. Orders were therefore given that the master and mate of the +schooner should repair every evening on board the cruiser, remaining +with her till the morning, when they were permitted to return on board, +and resume their avocations. + +At 8 A.M. of Saturday, the 27th November, the operation of coaling +commenced, the men working in groups, which were relieved every two +hours, and by nightfall about seventy tons had been got on board. The +wind was fresh enough to raise a slight sea, causing the two vessels to +chafe considerably as they lay closely locked together for the purpose +of transhipping the coal. But notwithstanding the breeze, the day was so +hot as to deter Captain Semmes from visiting the shore, despite the +inevitable longing, after a confinement on board of more than three +months, to find the foot once more planted on solid ground. Some of the +other officers, however, explored the island, which they found a barren +place enough; the three herdsmen, who constitute the entire population +of the country, maintaining themselves after a fashion, by rearing a few +goats. They must, indeed, lead a life of privation, the island producing +scarcely anything; and even the water supply being extremely scanty, and +so brackish as to be hardly fit for human use. + +Although to-day is the Sabbath--writes Captain Semmes, in his journal of +the following day--I did not consider it any violation of Christian duty +to continue coaling, as we are liable to be surprised at any moment, and +to have our purpose defeated. + +So, too, thought the Alabama's crew, who worked cheerfully on throughout +the day, completing their task by half-past eleven on the Monday +morning. The Alabama had now on board about 285 tons, nearly 200 tons +having been received from the Agrippina. Estimating her consumption at +sixteen tons a day, which would give a moderate rate of steaming, she +had, therefore, in her bunkers fuel for about eighteen days. + +This important matter arranged, the next thing to be done was to send +down the mainyard, which had been carried away in the cyclone, and +roughly fished together, and to supply its place with the second new +spar taken from the ship T.B. Wales. This occupied the greater portion +of the 25th, and Captain Semmes then proceeded to "break out" the hold, +for the purpose of taking stock of his provisions, no opportunity having +yet offered, since the hurried shipment of stores off Terceira, to +ascertain the precise amount in hand of salted provisions, and other +necessaries. Batches of liberty-men were also sent on shore to recruit +themselves with a run upon _terra firma_--an amusement in which such of +the officers as could be spared were but too glad to join. + +Wednesday, the 26th November, saw all these arrangements completed, and +the last batch of liberty-men safely on board again after their run. The +Alabama was now ready for a fresh cruise, but before taking leave of +Blanquilla, there was an act of justice to be done. Accordingly, that +afternoon a court-martial was summoned for the trial of George Forrest, +the seaman who had originally deserted from the Sumter, and who, on his +recapture, had been sentenced to serve out his time, forfeiting all pay, +prize-money, &c. His present offence was that of endeavouring to incite +the crew to mutiny, and of procuring with that object the liquor with +which the rioters of the 18th November had been made intoxicated. + +The case was clearly proved, and after some consultation judgment was +passed, sentencing him to lose all prize-money, and to be dismissed the +ship in disgrace. At a quarter past seven in the evening, all hands were +mustered aft to hear the sentence read; and after a short but effective +address from Captain Semmes, the prisoner was informed that he was now +dismissed the Confederate service with the stain of infamy upon him, and +bundled over the side into the boat that was to convey him to the shore. + + + +This ceremony over, and the ship rid of the incorrigible scoundrel who +had so long disgraced her, the men were dismissed, and preparations made +for the Alabama's departure. She had been already preceded by the +Agrippina, three of whose hands had volunteered in exchange for three +from the steamer, and on the return of the boat no time was lost in +getting her under way. The captain and mate of the Yankee schooner were +released, and the Alabama stood out to sea under easy sail. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +_At sea again--Moulded into shape--House-cleaning--Rates of pay--A +timely capture--The Parker Cook--A fix--A good night's rest--Sangfroid +--Amid jessamine bowers--Looking out for a rich prize--The Mina--"In +consequence of the Alabama."_ + + +The Alabama was now on the look-out for a Californian steamer, and it +was quite possible that in so doing she might run into a fight. However, +should that be the case, there would be no disposition to shirk it. The +vessel was already three months in commission; and though some of her +crew had no doubt been originally a rough lot--the boys especially +picked up in the streets of Liverpool, being designated by Captain +Semmes as most incorrigible young rascals--three months of steady, +strong-handed discipline had done wonders in reducing these rough +elements to order, and making out of a set of merchant sailors, gathered +here and there at random by the prospect of high pay and stirring +adventure, as orderly and well-trained a crew as could be found on board +many a man-of-war of twice her length of service. + +All hands, then, were ready and eager for a brush with the enemy. It was +necessary, of course, that the relative strength of the two ships should +not be too disproportionate; but the approach of an United States ship +of anything like their own force would have been hailed with delight by +all on board. + +Considerable excitement was occasioned when, on the second day after +leaving Blanquilla, a prospect of an encounter seemed to present itself. +It was still early morning when a sail was reported on the lee bow, and +soon the stranger was made out to be a large side-wheel steamer, +barque-rigged, and standing towards the Alabama. She was of considerably +superior size, but it was determined at least to see what she was made +of; and the Alabama was luffed to the wind, while preparations were made +for lowering her propeller and getting her under steam. It was soon +perceived, however, that the stranger was keeping quietly on her course, +without paying the slightest attention to these manoeuvres; and as it +was pretty certain that no enemy's ship, so greatly superior in size, +would lose so tempting an opportunity, it was at once clear that she +must needs be a neutral, probably some French war-steamer bound for +Martinique. So the propeller was left where it was, and the Alabama +slipt away again upon her course. + +At nine o'clock the same morning, the coast of Porto Rico was in sight, +and a few hours afterwards the Alabama entered the Mona Passage, +shortening sail as she did so to permit a barque to run up with her for +the purpose of ascertaining her nationality. The barque, which proved to +be English, dipped her ensign as she passed to the Stars and Stripes +which were flying from the peak of the Alabama; but the compliment not +being really intended for the Confederate vessel, but for her enemies, +was, of course, not returned. + +The Mona Passage being the regular track of United States commerce, it +was looked upon as almost a certainty that at least one cruiser would be +stationed for its protection. A bright look-out, therefore, was kept, +and hopes again ran high of a speedy brush with the Yankees. Nothing, +however, appeared; and the attention of the Alabama was for the most +part devoted throughout the day to strictly domestic affairs. + +To-day--says Captain Semmes, in his journal--has been a great +"house-cleaning" day with the first lieutenant, who, regardless of Mona +Passages, strange sails, &c., is busy with his holy-stones and sand. * * +* + +Gave an order to the paymaster to-day, authorising him to pay the +increased rates agreed upon with the crew off Terceira, viz. + + L s. Dollars. +Master-at-arms per month 6 0 -- 29.04 +Yeoman " 6 0 -- 29.04 +Ship's steward " 6 0 -- 29.04 +Ship's corporal " 6 0 -- 26.62 +Armorer " 6 0 -- 29.04 + + L s. Dollars. +Ship's cook per month 5 10 -- 26.62 +Chief boatswain's mate " 6 0 -- 29.04 +Second ditto " 5 10 -- 26.62 +Gunner's mate " 6 0 -- 29.04 +Carpenter's mate " 6 0 -- 29.04 +Sailmaker's mate " 5 10 -- 26.62 +Quartermaster " 5 10 -- 26.62 +Quarter gunners " 5 10 -- 26.62 +Cockswains " 5 10 -- 26.62 +Capt. of forecastle " 5 10 -- 26.62 +Capt. of top " 5 0 -- 24.20 +Capt. of aftguard " 5 0 -- 24.20 +Capt. of hold " 5 0 -- 24.20 +Cabin steward " 5 0 -- 24.20 +Ward-room steward " 5 0 -- 24.20 +Seamen " 4 10 -- 21.78 +O. seamen " 4 0 -- 19.36 +Landsmen " 3 10 -- 14.94 +Boys " 2 0 -- 9.68 +Firemen " 7 0 -- 33.38 +Trimmers " 5 0 -- 24.20 + +_Sunday, November 30th._--Mustered and inspected the crew. +At 9 A.M., sent a boat on board of a Spanish schooner twenty +days from Boston, bound to the port of San Domingo. Received +some newspapers by her as late as to the 13th inst. Soon afterwards +another sail was discovered to leeward, beating up the coast. +Ran down for her, and when within proper distance hoisted United +States colours. The stranger responded with the same; whereupon, +in accordance with our usual practice, we hoisted our own +colours and fired a blank cartridge. This hove her to, when we +sent a boat on board of her. She proved to be the barque Parker +Cook, of and from Boston, bound to Cayes. This was a very +timely capture, as we were running very short of provisions, and +the prize was provision-laden. Got on board from her a quantity +of pork, cheese, crackers, &c.; and at 10 P.M. illuminated the +shores of San Domingo with a flambeau furnished by wicked men +who would gladly see another San Domingo revolution in our +unhappy country. + +In the afternoon the weather became angry, and the wind blew +fresh, raising a considerable sea. As we were in the bight of Samana, +I felt a little uneasy about drifting too near the shore. +These are some of the anxieties of a commander that his officers +scarcely ever know anything about. Our prize was burned off +Cape Raphael. I did not turn in until near midnight; was called +two hours afterwards, upon having run a prescribed distance; +turned in again, and had just fallen comfortably asleep, when the +officer of the deck came down in great haste to inform me that a +large ship was standing down directly for us. We were hove to, +and as the moon had gone down, and the night was dark, I knew +she must be close aboard of us. I immediately ordered the maintopsail +to be filled, and hurrying on a few clothes, sprang on deck. +At a glance I saw that the danger was passed, as the intruder was +abaft the beam, running to leeward. Wore round and followed him. + +_Monday, December 1st._--A stiff trade, with squall clouds. A +whirlwind passed near us. We had just time to take in the port +studding sails, which had been set in chase of the unwelcome disturber +of my rest last night. The chase proved to be a Spanish +hermaphrodite brig. * * * * Land in sight on the port +beam, and at noon the cape just ahead. + +_Tuesday, December 2nd._ * * * * Running down the land. +Off the Grange at noon. Last night, at ten o'clock, a sail was reported +on the port quarter, nearly astern, running down before the +wind like ourselves. Having lights up, and looming up large, I +called all hands to quarters and cleared the ship for action, pivoting +on the port side, and loading the guns. As the stranger +ranged up nearly abeam of us, distant about eight hundred yards, +we discovered him to be a heavy steamer, under steam, and with +all studding sails set on both sides. Here was a fix! We had no +steam ourselves, and our propeller was triced up! + +A few minutes, however, decided our suspense. From the quiet +movement of the steamer on her course, without shortening sail, or +otherwise, so far as we could see, making preparation for battle, it +was quite evident that he was not an enemy. He was a ship of +war--probably a Spaniard, bound from San Domingo to Cuba. +My first intention was to range up alongside and speak him, and +for this purpose I set the foresail and topgallant sails. But we +were soon left far astern, and the stranger was out of sight long +before we could have got up steam and lowered the propeller in +chase. + +About 3 P.M. made the island of Tortuga. A sail reported on +the starboard bow, standing across our bows on the _port_ tack. +Through the stupidity of the look-outs the next thing we knew +was that she was off on the starboard quarter, and to windward +of us, she having been on the _starboard_ tack all the while! I +turned in to-night, hoping to get some rest, as I had been up the +greater part of last night. But after undressing, and before getting +into my cot (10 P.M.), the officer of the deck came below in a +great hurry to say there was a large vessel running down on us--we +were hove to--which appeared to be a steamer. Immediately +ordered the officer to fill away; went on deck, and at a glance +perceived that the sail was a brig running clear of us, and some +distance astern. + +Went below again, and this time succeeded in actually getting +into bed, when I was again aroused by the announcement that a +vessel, with very white canvas, was running down upon us, a little +forward of our weather beam. Went on deck, filled away again, +and ran on under easy sail to assist the stranger's approach. The +night squally, with showers of rain, and the wind fresh. At 1.30 +A.M. the stranger approached, and we spoke him. He was a small +schooner--white, as almost all the West Indian schooners are--Spanish, +&c. Turned in at two o'clock, and at daybreak down came intelligence +again that there were two sail in sight, and at 7 A.M., one of them +being within signal distance, I had again to turn out. This night will +serve as a specimen of a great many spent by me in my cruises. + +_Wednesday, December 3rd._--We are cruising to-day, with the +weather very fine and clear, in the passage between San Domingo +and Cuba. Caused two neutral vessels to show their colours, and +at noon squared away for the east end of Cuba. Where can all +the enemy's cruisers be, that the important passages we have lately +passed through are all left unguarded? They are off, I suppose, in +chase of the Alabama! + +At 10 P.M. a barque, having come quite near us in the bright +moonlight, we fired a blank cartridge to heave him to, and wore +ship. As he disregarded our signal, I directed a round shot to be +fired at him above his hull. This had the desired effect, our shot +passing--as we learned from him afterwards--between his fore-stay +and foremast. He proved to be the French barque, Feu Sacre, +from Port au Prince to Falmouth.[9] When asked why he did +not heave to at the first shot, he replied that he was a Frenchman, +and was not at war with anybody! * * * At midnight made the light on +Cape Maise. + +[Footnote 9: From the boarding officer's memoranda it appears that +the master of this vessel protested vehemently against being annoyed +by United States vessels--the Alabama passing in this case as the U.S. +ship Wyoming.] + +_Thursday, December 4th._--* * * * Standing off and on +Cape Maise, waiting for our Californian friend, who should have +left Aspinwall on the 1st, and should pass this point to-day or to-night. +Fires banked, so as to give us steam at a short notice. Several +sail passing during the day. Exercised the crew at the battery +at sunset. A beautiful bright night, with the wind somewhat too +fresh from the N.E. Lying to off Cape Maise. Everybody on the +tiptoe of excitement, and a good many volunteer look-outs. As for +myself, having put the ship in the right position, I turned in at 10 +P.M., giving orders not to call me for a sail-ship, and got a good +night's rest, of which I stood very much in need. + +_Friday, December 5th._--A very fine morning, with highly-transparent +atmosphere. The west side of Haiti visible, though distant +ninety miles. On this fine balmy morning I enjoyed exceedingly +the cheerful notes of our canary. This is a little prisoner made on +board one of the whalers; and sometimes at early morning I fancy +myself amid "jessamine bowers," inhaling the fragrance of flowers +and listening to the notes of the wild songsters so common in our +dear Southern land. May God speedily clear it of the wicked, +fanatical hordes that are now desolating it under pretence of liberty +and free government! + +If the Californian steamers still take this route, the steamer of +the 1st must have been delayed, otherwise she should have passed +us last night. Several sail in sight, but I cannot yet leave my station +to overhaul them, lest my principal object should be defeated. +At noon, a schooner would insist on stumbling right into my path, +without the necessity of a chase. I brought her to, and she proved +to be United States property. She was the Mina, of and from +Baltimore, for Port Maria, on the north side of Jamaica. Her +cargo being English, I released her on a ransom bond for 15,000 +dollars. She was of ninety tons, and thirteen years old. Kept her +by me until sunset, and then permitted her to depart, having +sent on board her the prisoners from the barque Parker Cook. + +Our hopes of capturing a Californian steamer were considerably +damped by the intelligence given us by the mate of this schooner, +that these steamers no longer ran this route, but that the outward +bound took the Mona Passage (?), and the homeward bound the +Florida gulf passage. Still, I will wait a day or two longer to +make sure that I have not been deceived. + +_Saturday, December 6th._--... At 9 A.M. hoisted +the propeller, and made sail to the northward and eastward. The +outward-bound Californian steamer is due off the Cape to-day, if +she takes this route at all; I will therefore keep the Cape in sight +all day. I glean the following paragraph from a New York letter, +published in a file of the _Baltimore Sun, _received from the +schooner Mina:-- + +"The shipments of grain from this port during the past week +have been almost entirely in foreign bottoms, the American flag +being for the moment in disfavour in consequence of the raid of +the rebel steamer Alabama!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +_The Alabamans lucky day--A trial of speed--Brought to--The Ariel--Buying +an elephant--Prisoners of war--Prize-money--Still on the look-out +--Broken down--A dilemma--Yellow fever--Release of the Ariel +--Under repair_. + + +Sunday again! The Alabama's lucky day; and this time, at +least, destined to be especially marked with white chalk in the +annals of the ship. The morning passed calmly enough; the ship +in her quiet Sabbath trim; and nothing giving token of what was +about to follow, save here and there a group anxiously scanning +the horizon, or eagerly discussing the chances of a rich capture +before nightfall. + +The forenoon wore slowly away, and five bells had just sounded, +when the cry of "Sail, ho!" from the masthead put every one on +the _qui vive, _the excitement growing rapidly more and more intense +as bit by bit the description of the stranger became more +accurate and minute. She is a steamer--and a large one! That +sounded well, and the hopes of the sanguine rose higher and +higher. Brigantine rigged--and a side-wheel steamer!--so far so +good. This answers exactly to the description of the Californian +steamers. A few minutes will decide it now; the Alabama's +canvas has some time since been snugly furled, the fires spread and +well supplied with fresh fuel, the propeller lowered, and the ship's +head turned in a direction to intercept the approaching vessel. +Rapidly the chase looms larger and larger, as the two swift steamers +approach each other at almost top speed. And now the huge +walking-beam can be plainly distinguished, see-sawing up and +down between the lofty paddle-boxes, and the decks appear crowded +with hundreds of passengers, conspicuous among whom are to +be seen the gay dresses of numerous ladies; and--yes, surely that +is the glimmer of bayonets, and that military-looking array drawn +up on the hurricane-deck is a strong detachment of United States +marines! + +Swiftly, and in grim silence, the Alabama approached her huge +but defenceless prey. From her open ports grinned the black +muzzles of her six 32 pounders, each with its crew standing round, +eager for the word. High above them towered the huge, black +pivot-gun, while from the mizzen-peak floated the delusive Stars +and Stripes, the sight of which was to tempt the stranger into a +confession of his own nationality. + +The _ruse_ was, as usual, successful, and as the two vessels crossed, +the Alabama passing a short distance astern of the stranger, the +latter also hoisted United States colours, and expectation gave way +to certainty among the delighted crew of the Confederate steamer. +Down came the Yankee colours from her gaff, and in its stead the +white ensign of the Confederacy fluttered gaily in the breeze, +while a blank shot from the Alabama's lee bow-chaser summoned +the chase to surrender. Surrendering, however, seemed to be the +last thing in the chase's thoughts. Already she was ahead of the +Confederate cruiser, and trusting to her own well-known speed, +appeared determined to make at least one effort to escape. She +held steadily on her course, at top speed, without noticing the +pursuer's summons; the black smoke that poured in volumes from +her funnel, showing no less plainly than the rapid revolutions of +her paddles the strenuous exertions she was making to escape. + +This state of things, however, could not last long. For a few +minutes the chase was permitted to try her speed against that of +her pursuer; but the latter soon found that with the highest pressure +of steam she had been able to raise during the short period +that had elapsed since the enemy first hove in sight, she was by no +means overhauling the chase as rapidly as could be desired. So +the friendly warning having been disregarded, the adoption of +more peremptory measures was decided on, and a shotted gun was +ordered to be fired over her. + +Boom! went the Alabama's bow-chaser, as she yawed for a +moment to permit the gunner to take aim--and boom! at almost +the same instant went one of her broadside guns, the enthusiastic +captain of which could not contain himself until the order to fire +was given, but must needs bring down upon himself a reprimand +from the authorities of the quarter-deck for his precipitation. +Fortunately, however, this irregular shot did no harm--not improbably, +perhaps, from the very fact of its having been launched +so totally without consideration. The first, however, did its +errand most effectively, and the shower of white splinters that flew +from the chase's foremast as the shell, after grazing the funnel, +struck full against it, afforded most satisfactory evidence of the +accuracy of the line. Happily, the shell contented itself with cutting +the foremast very nearly in two, and did not explode until it +had passed safely overboard, otherwise the havoc created by it on +the crowded deck of the steamer must have been fearful. + +The hint, however, was sufficient. The paddles of the chase +ceased to revolve, the huge walking-beam remained poised in midair, +and the steamer rounding to, submitted herself to her captors. +A boat was now lowered and, sent on board of the prize, which +proved to be, as anticipated, the mail steamer Ariel, from New +York to Aspinwall, having on board one hundred and forty marines +on their way to join the enemy's Pacific squadron; several +military and naval officers, among the latter of whom was Commander +Sartori, on his way to take command of the St. Mary's; and about five +hundred other passengers, a large proportion of whom were women and children. + +The Alabama had "bought an elephant," and now the question +arose--what was to be done with her valuable but most unwieldy +acquisition? The first step, of course, was to send a prize +crew on board. The second to transfer to the Alabama sundry +important matters, such as the ship's papers, three large boxes of +specie, a 24 pounder rifled gun, 125 new rifles, 16 swords, and +about 1,000 rounds of ammunition. The marines and officers +were then put on parole, the former being disarmed, and all +pledged not to fight again against the Confederate States until +they should be regularly exchanged. + +But this done, Captain Semmes' task was not half accomplished. +There was still the ship herself to be disposed of, and with her the +remaining five hundred and odd passengers, including among their +number a large proportion of women and children. What was to +be done? It was clear he could not fire the ship until all these +were safely out of her. It was at least equally clear that, squeeze +and contrive how he would, he could not possibly transfer such a +host of prisoners to his own already sufficiently crowded decks. +His only choice, then, was either to release the captured vessel at +once, upon a ransom bond, or to keep her by him for a time in +the hope that something might turn up to obviate the necessity of +so unsatisfactory a step. Captain Semmes decided upon the latter +course, and detaining the captain of the Ariel on board his own +ship, sent a prize crew to take charge of the Ariel, with orders to +keep company with the Alabama through the night. + +This done, the Alabama returned under easy sail to her station +off the Cape, still anxiously looking out for the homeward-bound +steamer, which would of course prove a very far richer prize than +the one home-bound vessel he had captured. The following afternoon +the precaution was taken of disabling the captured vessel, +by removing from her engines the "bonnet of the steam chest +and a steam valve," which were sent into safe custody on board +the Alabama; care being also taken to prevent the Ariel from +availing herself of her sails as a means of escape should-the +Alabama have to start off in pursuit of her homeward-bound +consort. + +No homeward-bound steamer, however, appeared, and it was +now determined to convey the Ariel into Kingston, Jamaica, +where it was proposed to land the passengers, and after providing +the Alabama, from the prize, with coal, provisions, and other +matters of which she stood in need, to take her out again to sea +and burn her. With this view the portions of the machinery +which had been removed during the night were restored to their +places, and the two vessels made sail towards Jamaica, on or about +the line which it was supposed would be taken by the Californian +steamer. + +The next morning was fine, and, with the prize in company, the +island of Navaza was made at about 9.30 A.M., on the port bow; +and five hours afterwards the two steamers were in sight of the +east end of Jamaica. By half-past seven that evening, the Alabama +was within about nine miles of Point Morant Light, and checked her +speed to enable the prize to come up with her. + +And now a catastrophe occurred which, but for the most careful +and excellent management, might have had most serious results. +At about eight o'clock in the evening chase was given to +an hermaphrodite brig, on coming up with which a blank cartridge +was fired, and a boat despatched to board her and examine her +papers. At this moment, up came the engineer to report that the +engine had suddenly become entirely useless from the giving way +of some of the valve castings, and that twenty-four hours, at least, +would be required before the damage could be repaired. At this +untoward intelligence, the captain's first thought was of the chase, +and, casting a rapid glance in that direction, to his equal amazement +and disgust, he perceived that she had not obeyed the signal +to heave to, but was still standing quietly upon her course! + +Here was, indeed, a pleasant predicament. Not a step could +he stir in pursuit, nor did he dare fire a shot after the departing +vessel, for fear, in the darkness of the night, of sending to the +bottom his own boat, which was now in full pursuit of her. +What if the boat should be led away too far in the ardour of the +chase, and of course taking for granted that as soon as the brigantine's +contumacy was discovered, the Alabama herself would at +once be after her? What, too, if the Ariel should get scent of +her captor's predicament, and take this favourable opportunity of +showing her a clean pair of heels, carrying off the unlucky prize +crew as a running horse might carry off the unskilful rider who +had imprudently bestridden it? + +The moment was an anxious one, and great was the relief to +the minds of all who were in the secret, when the welcome sound +of oars working regularly backwards and forwards in their rowlocks +was again heard, and the boat returned, having managed to +overhaul the stranger; the wind having fortunately fallen too +light for her to escape. + +The chase proved to hail from one of the German States, and +was just out of Kingston. According to her statement, this latter +port was now suffering from a severe visitation of yellow-fever. +This intelligence caused an entire change in the Alabama's plans. +It had been Captain Semmes' intention to run into Kingston, and +endeavour, at all events, to obtain permission to discharge his +numerous prisoners; this being, apparently, the only way in +which he could hope to disencumber himself of them, except by +releasing the ship at the same time. To turn some seven hundred +prisoners, however, many of them delicate women and children, +adrift in a place known to be suffering from the fearful scourge of +yellow-fever, would have been an act of inhumanity of which the +Confederate captain was quite incapable. Sorely to his disappointment, +therefore, he felt himself compelled to abandon the Kingston +scheme, and forego the pleasure of making a bonfire of the +splendid steamer that had fallen into his hands. It is an ill wind +that blows nobody any good, and to the yellow-fever were the passengers +by the Ariel indebted for an uninterrupted voyage, and her +owners for the preservation of their valuable vessel. + +The question once decided in favour of the Ariel's release, it was, +of course, under existing circumstances, an object of no small importance +to get the matter concluded as speedily as possible. Had +she only known her captor's crippled condition she would have +had nothing to do but just to have steamed quietly away, taking +the prize-crew with her as compensation for the inconvenience to +which she had been put by her detention. And any moment +might reveal the all-important secret; so without delay, a boat +was again sent on board for the master, who was evidently not +a little relieved on being told that the vessel was to be released. + +Some little discussion now arose as to the amount of ransom to +be exacted, but both parties were equally, though not as openly, +anxious to conclude the transaction; and the amount was finally +fixed at 261,000 dollars--a handsome sum, indeed, but one by +no means exorbitant, when the value of the vessel to be ransomed +is taken into consideration. + +The bond duly signed, and safely deposited among the other +securities of the kind, Captain Semmes breathed more freely, and a +feeling of satisfaction at having steered safely through a situation +of such difficulty, offered some slight compensation for the disappointment +arising from the enforced release of the prize. The two vessels now parted +company; all parties, both civil, naval, and military, on board of the +Ariel, uniting their testimony in eulogy of the quiet, orderly, and +respectful conduct of their unwelcome guests. So with mutual amenities +the two courteous enemies parted, the Ariel steering a course to the S.S.W., +the Alabama still hard at work in the repairs of her machinery, standing off +and on within easy distance of the Jamaica coast, and keeping as far +as possible from the track of vessels until the untoward disaster +should be repaired. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +_Again ready--Gloomy weather--A Norther--The Arcas--The +second Christmas at sea--The war--Plymouth rock leaven--On +the lonely island--"Splicing the main-brace"--Searching for shells--Tired +of hard service--In irons--Well disciplined--A phenomenon--The +new year--In memoriam--To sea again_. + + +The exciting episode of the Ariel was followed by a period altogether +devoid of incident, though by no means destitute either +of interest or anxiety for those on board the Alabama. From +daybreak to dusk the click of the hammer, and the shrill screaming +of the file, arose incessantly from the engine room, as the +engineer and his staff laboured without a pause to repair the +damage to the machinery. The task proved even longer than +had been anticipated, and it was not until the afternoon of the +third day that the mischief had been finally remedied, and the +Alabama was pronounced in a condition to resume with safety her +destructive career. + +Meanwhile, a brighter look-out than ever was kept from her mastheads. +There was still a possibility--though but a slight one--of +falling in with the homeward-bound Californian, for which they +had been waiting so long and so anxiously; whilst it was more +than ever necessary to care against surprise from any of the +enemy's cruisers, who might fairly be expected to be in considerable +force somewhere in the neighbourhood. + +The northern shores of Jamaica, however, off which the Alabama +was now lying, standing along the coast, under easy sail +during the day, and at night laying her maintopsail to the mast, +appeared to be but little frequented by vessels of any kind, and +the cruiser was permitted to carry on her repairs without a single +interruption in the way of either a chase, or a call to quarters. +And it was perhaps as well that such an interval of rest should +have been afforded after the severe strain of the previous few +days. For Captain Semmes, at all events, it was a great boon, +for on that officer's never very robust constitution, the continued +anxiety and constant night-calls on deck, in wind and rain, had +had a very serious effect, and he was fairly laid up with cold and +fever. + +The evening of Friday, December the 12th, saw the repairs of +the machinery of the vessel completed, the Alabama being at, +nightfall about opposite to the little town of St. Anne's. That +evening the crew were exercised at quarters; and the next day, +after a thorough cleaning of the decks, &c., the vessel ran away +to the westward of the Island of Jamaica, _en route_ for another +point of rendezvous, at which to take in fresh coal, and other +needful supplies. + + * * * * * + +_Saturday, December 13th._--... Nothing in sight, and +I intend to see nothing--unless it be a homeward-bound Californian +steamer--at present, as it is important I should make the +run I contemplate without being traced. I should have much +liked to touch at the Caymans for fruit and vegetables for the +crew, but forbear on this account. + + * * * * * + +_Monday, December 15th.--_Fresh trade, ship rolling along under +topsails. This running down, down, the ever-constant trade +wind--to run _up_ against it, by and by, under steam--is not very +pleasant. Still, God willing, I hope to strike a blow of some importance, +and make my way safely out of the Gulf. + +_Wednesday, December 17th._--The wind blew quite fresh during +the night from about N.E. by N. To-day it is blowing a moderate +gale from about N.N.E. This is probably a _norther_ from the +American coast, modified by its contact with the N.E. trade wind. +The clouds look hard and wintry. Close-reefed at nightfall.... +The gale has continued all day, with a rough sea, in +which the ship is rolling and tumbling about. Weather cloudy +and gloomy-looking, and the wind moaning and whistling through +the rigging--enough to give one the blues. These are some of +the comforts of sea-going, and we have had our share of them in +the Alabama. + +_Thursday, December 18th._--The gale continues, with dense +clouds in every direction obscuring the heavens so that we get no +meridian altitude. I got a glimpse of the sun at about nine minutes +past noon. When one's ship is in a doubtful position, how +eagerly and nervously one watches the shifting clouds near noon, +and how remorsely they sometimes close up their dense masses +just at the critical moment, shutting out from us the narrowly-watched +face of the sun! One is foolish enough sometimes almost +to feel a momentary resentment against inanimate nature--weak +mortals that we are! + +The gale has drifted us so far to leeward that the wind from its +present quarter will no longer permit us to "lay through" the +Yucatan passage, so at 2 P.M. we tacked to the southward and +eastward. Weather still thick in the afternoon, with light rain at +intervals. We had a very ugly sea lashing us this morning--the +ship rolling so heavily as to awaken me frequently, though I sleep +in a swinging cot; and the water swashing over the decks, and +rushing by bucketsful down the companion-way, which we are +obliged to keep open to avoid being smothered. + +_Friday, December 19th._--The gale continues with the tenacity +of a norther, this being the third day. This is but a foretaste of +the weather we may expect in the Gulf of Mexico. Being now in +the Gulf of Honduras, there is but a small strip of land between us +and it. + +_Saturday, December 20th._--As ugly a day as one often sees, +with a great variety of wind and weather. In the morning the +wind was fresh from the N.E., with flying clouds, and a bright +sun, now and then obscured. At about 9 A.M. a cloud bank in +the north began to rise, and by 11.30 we had a densely overcast +sky, with heavy rain-squalls. I was running for Cape Catoche, +and was greatly disappointed at not getting a meridian altitude, +especially after the promise of the morning. At about 11.30 +made the land--two islands, as described by the man at the masthead. +At 4 P.M. sounded in twenty-eight fathoms. Weather threatening a gale. +At six, double-reefed the topsails, and sounded in twenty-five fathoms. +I shall endeavour to feel my way around the Cape, and gradually bear up +for the westward. The bank is apparently clean and safe, but still +groping one's way in the dark in strange waters is a somewhat nervous operation. + +_Sunday, December 21st_.--We doubled Cape Catoche very successfully +last night, hauling around it gradually in from twenty-five +to thirty fathoms, and ran along in the latter depth all night, +course W. and W. by S., sounding every hour. The wind blew +half a gale, and the weather looked threatening. This morning +the wind hauled more to the eastward, and moderated somewhat. +The sky still looks wintry, and the sun sheds a lurid light through +a semi-transparent stratum of dull grey clouds. At 11 A.M. mustered +the crews and at meridian passed a large steamer (hull down) +steering to the eastward, probably a French ship of war from Vera +Cruz. + +_Monday, December 22nd._--Ran on during the night in a very +regular line of soundings of twenty fathoms, on a W.S.W. course. +At 9 P.M., having run within about twenty miles of the Areas, +anchored for the night in twenty fathoms. + +_Tuesday, December 23rd._--At 9 A.M. called all hands up anchor; +and at ten we were under way, steering W.S.W.; at meridian +observed six miles to the northward of the Areas, and altered +course to S.W. At 1.30 P.M. made the Areas half a point on the +starboard-bow, distant about twelve miles; and at sunset came +to anchor in eleven fathoms of water, with the south Area bearing +N.W. by N. In the course of the afternoon our coal-ship, +which I had ordered to rendezvous here, hove in sight, and joined +us at the anchorage a few minutes after we came to. + +_Wednesday, December 24th._--In the forenoon went out of the +harbour, and examined the entrances and anchorage. The dangers +are all visible, and it is only necessary to give a berth to the +reefs that make off from the points. There is an inner reef making +off to the westward from the northern island; but it, like the +other, is visible, and there is no danger whatever in approaching +it. The Areas are three low keys, lying in a triangle; the northern +key being the largest. We found a hut on this latter key, a +boat hauled up on the island, a net inside the hut, a boiler or two +for trying out oil, and other evidences of the inhabitancy of fishermen +or turtlers; but this not being the season for these pursuits, +everything had apparently been abandoned for some time. +Numerous birds of the gull species were the only living things +found in the island, and of these there were varieties of old birds +and their fledglings, and some of the former were still laying and +sitting. They seemed to have no fear of our men, and suffered +themselves to be caught by the hand, and knocked on the head +with sticks. The vegetation found was on the larger island, and +on that it consisted of a dense carpeting of sea-kale--not a shrub +of any kind. In the transparent waters on the inner reef, a great +variety of the living coral was found in all its beauty, imitating +the growth of the forest on a small scale. At P.M. we got +under way, and stood in and anchored under the south side of the +larger island in nine fathoms, and moored ship with an open +hawse to the north. + +We entered by the S.E. passage between the south and the +north islands. The barque followed us, coming in by the S.W. +passage between the south and the west islands, and anchored a +little to the S.E. of us. Our anchorage is open to the S.E., but at +this season it does not blow from that quarter, and probably +would not bring in much sea if it did. We feel very comfortable +to-night in snug berth. + +_Thursday, December 25th_.--Christmas-day!--the second Christmas +since we left our homes in the Sumter. Last year we were +buffeting the storms of the North Atlantic, near the Azores; now +we are snugly anchored, in the Arcas: and how many eventful +periods have passed in the interval! Our poor people have been +terribly pressed in this wicked and ruthless war, and they have +borne privations and sufferings which nothing but an intense patriotism +could have sustained. They will live in history as a people +worthy to be free; and future generations will be astonished at +the folly and fanaticism, wickedness and want of principle, developed +by this war among the Puritan population of the North. And in this class +may nine-tenths of the native population of the Northern States be placed, +to such an extent has the "Plymouth Rock" leaven "leavened the whole lump." +A people so devoid of Christian charity, and wanting in so many of the +essentials of honesty, cannot but be abandoned to their own folly by a just and +benevolent God. + +Our crew is keeping Christmas by a run on shore, which they +all seem to enjoy exceedingly. It is, indeed, very grateful to the +senses to ramble about over even so confined a space as the Arcas, +after tossing about at sea in a continued state of excitement for +months. Yesterday was the first time I touched the shore since I +left Liverpool on the 18th August last, and I was only one week +in Liverpool after a voyage of three weeks from the Bahamas; so +that I have in fact been but one week on shore in five months. +My thoughts naturally turn on this quiet Christmas-day, in this +lonely island, to my dear family. I can only hope, and trust them +to the protection of a merciful Providence. The only sign of a +holiday on board to-night is the usual "splicing of the +main-brace"--_Anglice_, giving Jack an extra allowance of grog. + +_Friday, December 26th._--* * * Weather fine, but the barometer +has gone down the tenth of an inch to day, and is now (7 P.M.) +29.96. I shall begin to look for a norther in about twenty-four +hours. We commenced caulking our leaky decks to-day, and +despatched the launch to assist in ballasting the barque. I strolled +on the islands to-day, and amused myself searching for shells along +the beach. There are some very pretty diminutive shells to be +found, similar to those on the Florida coast; but none of a larger +size than the common "conch," of which there are a few. We +have made free with the turtle nets of the fishermen found in the +huts, and have set them. As yet, we have only caught two or three +small turtle. I landed on the south island to-day, where they are +getting off ballast. This islet is occupied exclusively by the black +man-of-war bird; whilst the north islet seems to be divided between +the white gannet (with the lower edges of its wings black) +and the black warrior; the colonies being quite distinct. The +birds are still laying and incubating. + +_Saturday, December 27th_.--The barometer has risen again, and +the weather still continues fine. Ballasting the barque, and overhauling +and setting up our topmast and lower rigging, and caulking +decks. Took a stroll in the north island towards sunset. It is +dull recreation after the novelty has worn off, with the somewhat +tough walking through the sand, and the smell and filth of the +clouds of gannet. + +_Sunday, December 28th_.--Weather cloudy, with the wind from +the N.E. At 8.30 descried a schooner from aloft in the N.W., the +first sail we have seen, and quite an unexpected sight at this season +of the year. After we had armed and manned the cutter, to +board the sail when it should heave in sight from the deck, it was +ascertained that the look out had been deceived, and that the supposed +sail was probably a cloud in the horizon, it having suddenly +disappeared. + +At 11 A.M. mustered the crew and inspected the ship. A quiet +Sabbath. Strolled on the island towards sunset, with the gannets +for companions, the surf for music, and the heavy sand for a promenade. +The weather cleared at nightfall, with the breeze fresh +from the N.N.E. Some of the men are getting tired of their hard +service; the chief boatswain's-mate having applied to return to +England in the barque. Refused him permission, of course. Constant +cruising, vigilance against being surprised by the enemy, +salt provisions, and a deprivation of the pleasures of port, so +dear to the heart of a seaman, are probably what most of them +did not expect. A tight rein and plenty of work will cure the +evil. + +_Monday, December 29th_.--Weather clear and fine. At daylight +hauled the barque alongside, and commenced coaling. Another +seaman got drunk to-day, and seized his bag to go on board +the barque to return to England. Confined him in double irons. +Many of my fellows no doubt thought they were shipping in a +sort of privateer, where they would have a jolly good time and +plenty of license. They have been wofully disappointed, for I +have jerked them down with a strong hand, and now have a well-disciplined +ship of war, punishment _invariably_ follows immediately +on the heels of the offence. It has taken me three or four months +to accomplish this, but when it is considered that my little kingdom +consisted of one hundred and ten of the most reckless from +the groggeries of Liverpool, this is not much. + +_Tuesday, December 30th_.--The weather still continues remarkably +fine, with a moderate breeze from the E.S.E. We finished coaling to-day, +and hauled the barque off in the afternoon. Getting ready generally for +our dash at the enemy's coasts; or rather, at the enemy on our own coasts, +of which he is in possession. A brig hove in sight to-day to the S. and E., +approaching the islands on the starboard tack, until she became +visible from the bridge, and then tacking--probably a Frenchman, +making way from Vera Cruz to the eastward on the banks. +Took my usual afternoon stroll on shore. About nightfall, the +sky assumes a peculiarly lurid aspect, becoming dark overhead, +whilst the western horizon is lighted up with the rays of the setting +sun, although there is not a cloud visible. One witnessing +such a scene elsewhere would fancy himself on the eve of a storm; +I attribute it to the reflection from the green waters of the bank. +We have cleared away all the old eggs from the gannets' nests, +and these prolific layers are now supplying us with fresh. Of fish +we can catch none, except by trolling. We have no better success +with our turtle nets. + +_Wednesday, December 31st_.--The weather has been good all +day, though we have had a heavy surf on all the reefs, indicating +that there is a gale somewhere in our vicinity--probably a norther, +along the Mexican coast to the west of us. The wind is at N.N.E. +and moderate, and the barometer has been rising all day, though +it has not been a tenth below 30.21; it is now (4 P.M.) 30.15, so +we shall probably not feel the gale here. + +_Thursday, January 1st_.--The first day of the new year. +What will it bring forth? The Almighty for a wise purpose hides +future events from the eyes of mortals, and all we can do is to perform +well our parts, and trust the rest to His guidance. Success, +as a general rule, attends him who is vigilant and active. It is +useful to look back on the first day of the new year and see how +we have spent the past; what errors we have committed, and of +what faults we have been guilty, that we may in the future avoid +the one and reform the other. + +Although the wind blew pretty fresh during the past night, we +did not feel the gale in any force; and to-day it has moderated, +and the weather become fine again. Still caulking and painting. +The former seems to be an interminable job with our small gang +of caulkers. In the afternoon a brig approached the island, near +enough to be seen, hull up, from the deck. She was beating up +the bank to the eastward probably from Vera Cruz. + +_Friday, January 2nd_.--The wind has been fresh all day from +the eastward, bringing in some sea, and as we have been riding +across the tide, the ship has had some motion. Caulking and +painting, tarring down and squaring ratlines, &c. Commenced +condensing water to supply the barque for her return voyage to +England. I must get to sea on Tuesday, though I fear we shall +not have finished caulking; but Banks' expedition must be assembling +off Galveston, and time is of importance to us if we would +strike a blow at it before it is all landed. My men will rebel a little +yet. I was obliged to-day to trice one of them up for a little insolent +behaviour. + +_Saturday, January 3d_.--A gale opened after all from the S.E., +which I had hoped to escape, so rare is it to have blows from this +quarter at this season of the year. We have veered to forty-five +fathoms on each chain, and are in six fathoms water astern (there +being nine where the anchors are), and are tailing directly on the +surf, with a few hundred feet only between us and it, which of +course makes me feel a little solicitude. We are open to the S.E. +winds, though these blow over the bank from landwards. Still +the water is deep and the land distant, and a considerable sea comes +in. I have ordered the fires to be lighted under another boiler to +guard against accidents. The Arcas are a dirty little anchorage +for large ships, being but an open roadstead, affording good shelter +only from the north. There is a very small basin between the two +reefs, running off from the northern island, fit for very small vessels, +where they could be made secure against northerly and southerly +winds; but everywhere they would be exposed more or less +to wind from the westward. + +_Sunday, January 4th_.--Weather clear, with the wind fresh +from the S.E., dying away in the afternoon. Having determined +to get to sea this evening, we commenced getting our coal-bags on +board from the barque, omitting the usual Sunday muster. Busy +with the seamen, as usual on such occasions, sending home their +allotments, &c. The weather begins to portend a norther, so I +have directed the engineer to hold on with his steam for the present. + +_Monday, January 5th_.--It did not blow last night as I expected. +This morning the wind has gone round again. I cannot wait +longer for the norther,[10] so I must get under way. At 11 A.M. +got under way, and stood out from the anchorage under steam. +Let the steam go down, hoisted the propeller, and put the ship +under sail. + +[Footnote 10: One of the officers of the Alabama enters in his journal +that on this day, in anticipation of news being received of Lincoln's +proclamation, a tombstone, consisting of a board about four feet in +length and two in breadth, was sent on shore and placed in the most +prominent position the largest island afforded. Inscribed on the tombstone, +in black letters on a white ground, was the following:--"In memory of +Abraham Lincoln, President of the late United States, who died of nigger +on the brain, 1st January, 1863."--"No. 290." Upon a piece of paper, +protected from the weather, was written in Spanish--"Will the finder +kindly favour me by forwarding this tablet to the United States Consul, +at the first point he touches at?" This affair originated with, and was +executed by, the steerage officers.] + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +_Another mission--General Banks' expedition--To Galveston--Sunday +the 11th of January--A small mistake--Preparing for action +--The Hatteras--A fight in the dark--Sharp and decisive--Surrender +--Rescue of the crew--Sunk!--Casualties--Out of the hornet's nest._ + + +Contrary to her usual aspirations, the principal wish of the Alabama, +as she started on this fresh cruise, was to reach her destination +without having seen a single vessel. She was now in fact on +a service of a kind altogether different from that which had yet +occupied her. In his address to the crew, upon taking command +off Terceira, Captain Semmes had promised that the first moment +they were in a condition of training and discipline, to enable them +to encounter the enemy, they should have an opportunity of doing +so. That time had come, and laying aside for a short period her +more especial _role_ of annihilating as rapidly as possible the enemy's +commerce, the Alabama set steadily out in search of a fight. + +The grand expedition of General Banks, which had been the +subject of so much speculation in the United States, and of which +their newspapers had long before duly informed the Confederate +cruiser, seemed to offer the most favourable opportunity possible +for such an enterprise. The expedition would, of course, be accompanied +by one or more armed vessels, but the principal portion +of it would be composed of troop-ships, crowded with the enemy's +soldiers; and should the Alabama but prove victorious in +the fight, these transports would be a prize of more practical importance +than all the grain and all the oil ever carried in a merchantman's +hold. + +It was a daring adventure certainly. To steer, with a solitary +light-armed sloop, close upon a coast, blockaded from north to +south, by hundreds of armed vessels, in deliberate quest of a +squadron, not improbably four or five times stronger than herself, +was an act of almost reckless hardihood, fully in keeping with the +rest of the Alabama's career. The event indeed proved the full +danger of the adventure; whilst, at the same time, nothing could +have more clearly showed how utterly groundless were the dastardly +imputations upon the courage and prowess of her crew, poured out daily +from the foul-mouthed organs of the Northern press. There could be no +question of the fighting qualities, or disposition, of the Confederate +cruiser, after such a test as this. + +For five days the Alabama kept steadily on her course for Galveston, +where she expected to find the fleet of which she was in +search. At length, on Sunday, the 11th January--her "lucky +day"--the moment so anxiously looked for came. + + * * * * * + +Our position at noon--writes Captain Semmes--put us just +within thirty miles of Galveston, and I stood on, intending either +just to sight the shipping at a great distance, without being seen +myself, or else to anchor just out of sight until the moon should +rise the following night, which would be about half-past eleven, +and then run in, and attack, as I hoped, "Banks' expedition." +Owing, however, to a little carelessness in the look-out at "masthead," +we were permitted to approach the ships anchored off the +bar in such plain sight, before they were announced, that we were +discovered, although we tacked immediately and stood off, in the +hopes of eluding the vigilance of the enemy. + +There were three ships found lying off the bar--one heavily-sparred +ship, which our look-out took for a sail frigate, but which +afterwards proved to be the Brooklyn steamer, our old friend that +chased us in the Sumter, and two steamers supposed to be propellers. +Very soon one of the steamers was seen to be getting up +steam, and in about an hour and a half afterwards she was reported +to be under weigh, standing out for us. + +I lowered the propeller, and directed steam to be got in readiness, +and awaited the approach of the stranger, who overhauled us +very slowly, and seemed to reconnoitre us, as he came along, with +great caution. + +All this time we were standing on under topsails away from the +bar, and the stranger was approaching us stern on. I gave my +ship a little motion with the engine occasionally, both to draw the +enemy--for I, of course, supposed him to be such--away from his +consorts, so that in case of a conflict the latter might not hear our +guns, and to prolong the time until dark to enable me to take in +my topsails, and close with him in so short a time that the movement +should not be noticed by him until too late to escape, which +I feared he might attempt, if he saw me turn upon him with the +intention of pursuing him. + +Accordingly, soon after dark--the enemy in the meantime +having approached us so near as not to endanger our losing sight +of him--I clewed up, and furled the topsails, beat to quarters, and +doubled suddenly upon the stranger. He came in quite boldly, +and when within hailing distance of us, hailed us, and inquired-- + +"What ship is that?" + +"Her Majesty's ship Petrel. What ship's that?" + +To this inquiry there was no reply, and although we repeated +it several times there was no rejoinder. + +During the colloquy, I endeavoured to place myself in a raking +position astern of him, which he as carefully avoided by keeping +his broadside to me. From this manoeuvre I knew him pretty +certainly to be an enemy, and having approached to within about +two hundred yards, I directed my First Lieutenant to repeat the +question. "What ship's that?" was accordingly again shouted, +and this time there was a reply. + +We distinctly heard that he was an United States something or +other, but the name we could not make out. I then directed the +First Lieutenant to tell him that this was the Confederate States +steamer Alabama, and to open fire on him immediately, which we +did from our starboard battery. He returned our fire in a minute +or two, and the action was thus commenced. + +We continued to run side by side at a distance ranging from +two to five hundred yards, both of us keeping up a rapid fire of +both artillery and rifles, when, after the lapse of thirteen minutes, +the enemy fired two guns from his off, or starboard side, and +showed a light above his deck in token of his being whipped. + +At once we ceased firing, and approaching him still nearer, +asked him if he surrendered and needed assistance. To both of +these questions he replied in the affirmative, and we immediately +despatched our quarter boats to him; these, with his own four +boats, were busily employed in transporting the crew on board, +which had only been accomplished when the ship went down.[11] + +[Footnote 11: United States Consulate, Kingston, + +Jamaica, Jan., 21, 1868. + +SIR,--It is my painful duty to inform the Department of the destruction +of the United States steamer Hatteras, recently under my command, by +the rebel steamer Alabama, on the night of the 11th instant, off the coast +of Texas. The circumstances of the disaster are as follows:-- + +Upon the afternoon of the 11th inst., at 2.30 P.M., while at anchor in +company with the fleet under Commodore Bell, off Galveston, Texas, I +was ordered by signal from the United States flag-ship Brooklyn to chase +a sail to the southward and eastward. I got under weigh immediately, +and steamed with all speed in the direction indicated. After some time, +the strange sail could be seen from the Hatteras, and was ascertained to +be a steamer, which fact I communicated to the flag-ship by signal. I +continued the chase, and rapidly gained upon the suspicious vessel. +Knowing the slow rate of speed of the Hatteras, I at once suspected that +deception was being practised, and hence ordered the ship to be cleared +for action, with everything in readiness for a determined attack and a +vigorous defence. + +When within about four miles of the vessel, I observed that she had +ceased to steam, and was lying broadside and awaiting us. It was nearly +seven o'clock, and quite dark; but notwithstanding the obscurity of the +night, I felt assured, from the general character of the vessel and her +manoeuvres, that I should soon encounter the rebel steamer Alabama. +Being able to work but four guns on the side of the Hatteras--two short +32 pounders, one 30 pounder rifled Parrot gun, and one 20 pounder rifled +gun,--I concluded to close with her that my guns might be effective, if +necessary. + +I came within easy speaking range--about seventy-five yards--and +upon asking "What steamer is that?" received the answer, "Her Britannic +Majesty's ship Petrel." I replied that I would send a boat aboard, +and immediately gave the order. In the meantime the vessels were +changing positions, the stranger endeavouring to gain a desirable position +for a raking fire. Almost simultaneously with the piping away of the +boat the strange craft again replied, "We are the Confederate steamer +Alabama," which was accompanied with a broadside. I at the same +moment returned the fire. Being well aware of the many vulnerable +points of the Hatteras, I hoped, by closing with the Alabama, to be able +to board her, and thus rid the seas of the piratical craft. I steamed +directly for the Alabama, but she was enabled by her great speed and the +foulness of the bottom of the Hatteras, and consequently her diminished +speed, to thwart my attempt when I had gained a distance of but thirty +yards from her. At this range musket and pistol shots were exchanged. +The firing continued with great vigour on both sides. At length a shell +entered amidships in the hold, setting fire to it, and at the same instant +--as I can hardly divide the time--a shell passed through the sick bay, +exploding in an adjoining compartment, also producing fire. Another +entered the cylinder, filling the engine-room and deck with steam, and +depriving me of my power to manoeuvre the vessel, or to work the pumps, +upon which the reduction of the fire depended. + +With the vessel on fire in two places, and beyond human power, a +hopeless wreck upon the waters, with her walking-beam shot away, and +her engine rendered useless, I still maintained an active five, with the +double hope of disabling the Alabama and attracting the attention of the +fleet off Galveston, which was only twenty-eight miles distant. + +It was soon reported to me that the shells had entered the Hatteras at +the water-line, tearing off entire sheets of iron, and that the water was +rushing in, utterly defying every attempt to remedy the evil, and that +she was rapidly sinking. Learning the melancholy truth, and observing +that the Alabama was on my port bow, entirely beyond the range of my +guns, doubtless preparing for a raking fire of the deck, I felt I had no +light to sacrifice uselessly, and without any desirable result, the lives +of all under my command. + +To prevent the blowing up of the Hatteras from the fire, which was +making much progress, I ordered the magazine to be flooded, and afterwards +a lee gun was fired. The Alabama then asked if assistance was desired, +to which an affirmative answer was given. + +The Hatteras was then going down, and in order to save the lives of my +officers and men, I caused the armament on the port side to be thrown +overboard. Had I not done so, I am confident the vessel would have +gone down with many brave hearts and valuable lives. After considerable +delay, caused by the report that a steamer was seen coming from +Galveston, the Alabama sent us assistance; and I have the pleasure of +informing the Department that every living being was conveyed safely +from the Hatteras to the Alabama. + +Two minutes after leaving the Hatteras, she went down, bow first, +with her pennant at the masthead, with all her muskets and stores of +every description, the enemy not being able, owing to her rapid sinking, +to obtain a single weapon. + +The battery upon the Alabama brought into action against the Hatteras +numbered nine guns, consisting of six long 32 pounders, one +100 pounder, one 68 pounder, and one 24 pounder rifled gun. The great +superiority of the Alabama, with her powerful battery, and her machinery +under the water-line, must be at once recognized by the Department, who +are familiar with the construction of the Hatteras, and her total unfitness +for a conflict with a regular built vessel of war. + +The distance between the Hatteras and the Alabama during the action +varied from twenty-five to one hundred yards. Nearly fifty shots were +fired from the Hatteras, and I presume a greater number from the Alabama. + +I desire to refer to the efficient and active manner in which +Acting-master Porter, executive officer, performed his duty. The conduct +of the Assistant-surgeon, Edward S. Matthews, both during the action +and afterwards, in attending to the wounded, demands my unqualified +commendation. I would also bring to the favourable notice of the Department +Acting-master's mate McGrath, temporarily performing duty as gunner. +Owing to the darkness of the night and the peculiar construction of the +Hatteras, I am only able to refer to the conduct of those officers who came +under my especial attention; but from the character of the contest, and +the amount of damage done to the Alabama, I have personally no reason +to believe that any officer failed in his duty. + +To the men of the Hatteras I cannot give too much praise. Their +enthusiasm and bravery were of the highest order. + +I enclose the report of Assistant-surgeon E.S. Matthews, by which you +will observe that five men were wounded and two killed. The missing, it +is hoped, reached the fleet at Galveston. + +I shall communicate to the Department, in a separate report, the movements +of myself and my command from the time of our transfer to the +Alabama until the departure of the earliest mail from this place to the +United States. + +I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, + + H.C. BLAKE, + Lieutenant Commanding. + +Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy, Washington. + +For a further account of this action from the journal of one of the +junior officers, see Appendix.] + +The prize proved to be the United States gunboat Hatteras, +Lieut.-Commanding H.C. Blake, which officer came on board after his crew +had been transported, and delivered up his sword. I said to him:-- + +"I am glad to see you on board the Alabama, and we will endeavour to +make your time as comfortable as possible." + +The Hatteras had the following armament, viz.:--32 pounders of 27 cwt., +4; 30 pounders, rifled, 2; 20 pounders, rifled, 1; 12 pounders, +howitzer, 1: total, 8. + +The armament of the Alabama was:--32 pounders of 52 cwt., 6; 100 +pounders, rifled, 1; 24 pounders, rifled, 1; 8-inch shell gun, 1: total, +9. + +A great disparity in weight of metal in our power; but we equalized this +to a considerable extent by the fair fight which we showed the enemy in +approaching him so very close as to render his small guns almost as +efficient as larger ones. + +The tonnage of the Hatteras was eleven hundred tons; material, iron, +with watertight compartments; age, eighteen months. Her crew numbered a +hundred and eight men, and eighteen officers; our own numbering a +hundred and eleven men, and twenty-six officers. + +The casualties on both sides were slight. On board the enemy two were +missing (firemen), supposed to have been killed in the fire-room, and +three wounded, one of them severely, and two slightly. On board +ourselves, only two slightly wounded. + +After the action had been over an hour or more, and whilst I was +steaming off on my course, it was reported to me that a boat of the +enemy, containing an acting master and five men, which had been lowered +before we opened fire upon him, to board "Her Majesty's steamer Petrel," +had escaped. As the sea was smooth and the wind blowing gently towards +the shore, distant only about nineteen miles, this boat probably reached +the shore in safety in five or six hours. The night was clear and +starlit, and it would have no difficulty in shaping its course. But for +these circumstances, I should have turned back to look for it, hopeless +as this task must have proved in the dark. The weather continued +moderate all night, and the wind to blow on shore. + +It was ascertained that Galveston had been retaken by us, and that the +Brooklyn and four of the enemy's steam-sloops were off the port, +awaiting a reinforcement of three other ships from New Orleans to +cannonade the place. So there was no "Banks' expedition," with its +transports, heavily laden with troops, &c., to be attacked, and but for +the bad look-out of our man at the masthead, we should have got instead +into a hornet's nest. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +_Crowded with prisoners--Chasing a friend--At Jamaica--Enthusiastic +reception--Rest on shore--Speech making--Up anchor!--A prize--Case of +the Golden Rule--Reinstating the discipline--Capture of the +Chastelain--San Domingo--The Palmetto--Men of the day in the United +States._ + + +The Alabama's little fighting holiday was over, and she returned to her +appointed task of annoying the enemy's commerce. Her course lay towards +Jamaica, the captain being anxious to relieve himself as soon as +possible of the nest of prisoners that crowded his decks, and were +necessarily the occasion of considerable inconvenience to both men and +officers. The latter especially were most uncomfortably crowded, the +captain setting the example of self-sacrifice, by giving up his +state-room for the benefit of Lieutenant Blake, Commander of the sunken +Hatteras. + +It may be supposed that, under these circumstances, the Alabama was not +very anxious to increase the number of her involuntary passengers. Still +duty was duty, and when, on the day following the engagement, a sail was +reported from aloft, chase was at once given, and expectation again on +tiptoe at the thought of a prize. No prize, however, was to be taken +that day. At about half-past two, the Alabama came within +signal-distance of the chase, and was already busy exchanging the usual +information, when the "stranger" barque was discovered to be no other +than their old friend and faithful tender the Agrippina; and the Alabama +continued her course, not a little amused at her own blunder in thus +chasing her most particular friend. + +Another week passed by with no event of interest, the Alabama working +her way towards Jamaica, through a succession of more or less heavy +gales, which, in the crowded state of the ship, were anything but +comfortable. On the 20th January, she sighted land a little before +daybreak, passing Portland at about 3 P.M., and arriving off the +lighthouse on Plum Point at half-past four. Here French colours were +displayed in case of accident, and a gun fired for a pilot. At about +halt-past six, that important individual made his appearance, and in +about three-quarters of an hour more the Alabama was safely at anchor in +Port Royal harbour. + + * * * * * + +_Wednesday, January 21st_.--Found here several English men-of-war--the +Jason, the Challenger, the Greyhound, &c., the Commanders of all of +which called on us. I saw the Commodore (Dunlop) this morning, and +requested of the Governor through him permission to land my prisoners, +&c., which was readily granted. Made arrangements for coaling and +provisioning the ship, and for repairing damages; and in the afternoon +ran up to Kingston, and thence proceeded to the mountains with Mr. Fyfe. + +_Thursday, January 22nd_.--Had a delightful ride over a fine, natural +McAdamized road, for about ten miles, and thence by horse and +bridle-path through the most picturesque of mountainous regions, with +its lovely valleys, abrupt precipices, streams of water, luxuriant +foliage, &c., to Flamstead, the residence of the Rev. Mr. Fyfe, who soon +returned from town and received me most hospitably.[12] Spent a +delightful, quiet day, riding to Flamstead, and walking in the afternoon +along the winding mountain paths. Jamaica--that is, the south side--is a +wilderness, and the town of Kingston a ruin. The negro population idle, +thriftless, and greatly subject to diseases of an inflammatory kind. No +morals--gross superstition, &c. + +[Footnote 12: As soon as our arrival became known the most intense +excitement prevailed. It is impossible to describe the hospitable +welcome we received, every one placing their houses at our disposal. Up +to 9 P.M. visitors were constantly received, all expressing a most +hearty, encouraging sympathy for our cause, and speaking hopefully for +our prospects. Still the same enthusiasm prevails: visitors of each sex +and every class coming on board, officers and men going on shore, and +receiving the most flattering attentions.] + +_Friday, January 23rd_.--Rode over to, and spent a day and night at, +Blocksburgh, visiting _en route_ the English-looking cottage of Captain +Kent, now absent in England. Had some lady-visitors at Blocksburgh in +the evening. + +_Saturday, January 24th_.--Returned to town to-day by the way of Mr. +Mais' fairy little cottage, kept in the nicest of order, and in a +perfect picture of a country. Upon my arrival in town I found that my +friends had _kindly_ put a notice in the papers, informing the good +people that I would be at the Exchange at noon, &c. &c. Was obliged to +go, and made a speech to the people, which was well received. Returned +on board in the evening. + +_Sunday, January 25th_.--Workmen still engaged trying to get the ship +ready for sea to-night. Returned my visits to the English Captains, all +of whom I found very agreeable. Settling the ship's bills, and getting +the drunken portion of my crew on board by aid of the police. Three of +them in broad daylight jumped into a shore boat and tried to escape; but +we pursued and captured them. Work all done, and fires lighted at 5 +P.M., and at half-past eight we steamed out of the harbour. + +_Monday, January 26th_.--At 10.30 A.M. descried a sail, which we came up +with at 1.20 P.M. She proved to be the Golden Rule, from New York for +Aspinwall. Captured and burned her, there being no certificate on board +of the neutrality of the cargo. This vessel had on board masts, spars, +and a complete set of rigging, for the United States brig Bainbridge, +lately obliged to cut away her masts in a gale at Aspinwall. Nine +prisoners. At about 6 P.M., the prize being well on fire, steamed on +our course. + + * * * * * + +CASE OF THE GOLDEN RULE. + +No certificate of the neutral ownership of any portion of the cargo. The +only bills of lading found on board are the following:-- + +Marcial and Co. to Gregorio Miro and Co., 2069.28 dollars; insured +against war risk. + +Keeler and Vonhiss to John Wilson, 724.20 dollars. Consigned to _order_, +and for account and risk of "whom it may concern." + +Woolsey, consigned to _order_. Amount not stated, and no letter of +advice. + +Berner to Field. Amount not stated, and no letter of advice. + +Herques and Maseras to Juan Melendez, 41.58 dollars. + +F. Hernias to Gillas. Amount not stated, and no letter. + + * * * * * + +The Golden Rule furnished a supply of papers containing an abundance of +welcome news. From them the Alabama learned of the safe escape of her +sister cruiser, the Florida, from Mobile, as well as of the foundering +of the United States gunboat Monitor in a gale, during her passage down +the coast. The good news was also received of the entire failure of an +attack on Vicksburg. + +The time was now pretty much taken up in reinstating the discipline +which had been somewhat shaken by the brief stay at Port Royal, and in +awarding due punishment for the various offences there committed. On the +whole, however, considering the hard service the men had undergone, and +the length of the confinement they had sustained without a single +"spell" on shore, the offences could not be considered very numerous. A +few of the petty officers were disrated, and various minor penalties +inflicted, and on the 31st of January the court-martial, which had been +employed on this unpleasant but necessary service, terminated its +sittings and was dissolved. + +Meanwhile another prize had fallen into the Alabama's hands, in the +shape of the United States brig Chastelain, of Boston, from Martinique +and Guadaloupe for Cienfuegos; and the following day, after duly +committing her prize to the flames, the Alabama arrived at San Domingo, +dropping anchor off the town at 6 P.M. + +In the harbour were two other vessels: one a New York brig, under +English colours. The anchor had not been long down when a visit was +received from the Captain of the Port, who proved to be an old +acquaintance of Captain Semmes, he having piloted the brig Porpoise +about the island at the time when the latter officer was First +Lieutenant of that vessel. He seemed much pleased to renew the +acquaintance, and volunteered to take on shore, to the Governor, Captain +Semmes' request for permission to land his prisoners. + +Soon he returned, bringing with him a commander of the Spanish navy with +the required permission. The prisoners were accordingly sent on shore, +from whence they shortly returned, somewhat crestfallen, with the +intelligence that no one was allowed to land after dark. The Captain, +however, being anxious to depart, application was made to the +authorities, who courteously permitted the prisoners to be sent for the +night to the government vessel, undertaking to send them on shore in the +morning. + +This matter was settled, the Alabama again stood out, having thus +displayed for the first time, in San Domingo, the flag of the young +republic. + +The only excitement of the next few days was an alarm of fire, which, on +the 2nd of February, occasioned for a short time very considerable +anxiety. It came from the carelessness of the captain of the hold, who, +in direct violation of the written rules of the ship, took a naked light +into the spirit-room to pump off liquor by. The moment he commenced +operations, the fumes of the spirit took fire, placing the ship for a +few minutes in imminent peril. The danger, however, was brief, for the +captain happened to be on deck at the time, and at once gave the order +to beat to quarters; before it could be obeyed the fire was +extinguished, and the ship's company _quitte pour la peur_. Not so, +however, the delinquent captain of the hold, who was at once sent to +expiate his fault in the durance vile of a suit of double irons. + +The 3rd February brought a small prize in the United States schooner +Palmetto, from New York for St. John's, Porto Rico, with a mixed cargo +of provisions. She, too, laid claim to immunity on the ground of +neutrality of cargo; but inquiry soon led to condemnation, and after +taking from her a large quantity of biscuit, cheese, &c., the crew were +removed on board the Alabama, and the schooner burned. + + * * * * * + +CASE OF THE PALMETTO. + + +The schooner was U.S., per register and flag. The cargo was shipped by +Herques and Maseras, of New York, to Vincente Brothers, in San Juan, +Porto Rico. There was no affidavit or certificate of neutral property on +board, and the cargo would have been condemnable on this ground alone. +It being in an enemy's ship, it is presumed to be enemy's property until +the contrary be shown by proper evidence under oath. The Master, upon +examination, testified that he had no knowledge of the ownership of the +cargo; and this, though he was the agent and charterer of the ship, as +well as Master. The correspondence found on board--that is to say, a +letter from the shippers to the consignee--states that the cargo is +shipped, two thirds on account of the consignee, and one third on +account of the shippers--the parties being the joint owners of the +_undivided_ cargo in these proportions. Therefore, whatever may be the +general business-relations of the parties, they are, _quoad_ this +shipment, partners; and the house in the enemy's country having shipped +the goods, the other partner's share is condemnable, notwithstanding his +residence in a neutral country. See 3rd Phillimore, 605; and the +Vigilantia, 1 Rob., pp. 1-14, 19; the Susa, ib., p. 255. + + * * * * * + +Several days now passed without adventure of any kind, the monotony of +alternate gales and calms being only varied by the receipt of a few old +newspapers from the schooner Hero, of Yarmouth, N.S., giving news of the +angry "resolutions" passed by the New York Chamber of Commerce with +reference to the Alabama; and also--which was of considerably more +importance--the information that the Vanderbilt and Sacramento were both +to sail towards the end of January, in pursuit of the Confederate +cruiser. + +Sunday, the 15th February, dawned dark and gloomy, the wind blowing +nearly a whole gale from the north, and the Alabama dashing along, with +the wind well abeam, under reefed topsails. + +This boisterous Sabbath, writes Captain Semmes, is the second +anniversary of my resignation from the United States navy, and of course +it has called up many reminiscences. I have more and more reason, as +time rolls on, to be gratified at my prompt determination to quit the +service of a corrupt and fanatical majority, which even then had +overridden the constitution, and shown itself in so aggressive and +unscrupulous a form as to give us just cause of alarm. + +But what shall we say of its course since? If the historian perform his +duty faithfully, posterity will be amazed at the wickedness and +corruption of the Northern and Western peoples, and will wonder by what +process such a depth of infamy was reached in so short a time. + +The secret lies here. The politicians had become political +stock-jobbers, and the seekers of wealth had become usurers and +swindlers; and into these two classes may be divided nearly the whole +Yankee population. Such is "Plymouth Rock" in our day, with its Beechers +in the pulpit, and its Lincoln in the chair of Washington! With its +Sumners and its Lovejoys in Congress, and its Simmonses _et id genus +omne_ in the contract market! + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +_Not easily baffled--Two prizes--The Olive Jane--The Golden Eagle--The +white ensign saluted--In trepidation--Obstinacy--The Washington--The +William Edward--Patience Rewarded--Case of the John S. Parks._ + + +More than a week passed without the occurrence of any event worthy of +record. Saturday, the 21st February, however, brought an exciting chase. +By 8 A.M. four vessels had been reported in sight. The first seen proved +too far ahead and to windward, to be worth chasing, and sail was then +made in the direction of two others, which were observed to be +exchanging signals with considerable diligence. Their conversation +ended, they parted company and sailed off in different directions, +evidently with the object of distracting the attention of the Alabama +which was now in full chase. + +But the Alabama was not so easily to be baffled. Devoting her attention +first to the vessel which appeared by her slower rate of sailing to +offer the promise of an easier capture, she got up steam as she went +along, and the black smoke was already poured from her funnel and the +propeller beginning to revolve as she came within hail of the chase. A +blank cartridge was fired as usual; but the stranger kept doggedly upon +his way, evidently determined, if he could not escape himself, at all +events to do his best to increase the chances of his consort. + +Even this chivalrous determination, however, was of no avail. A second +gun from the pursuer quickly followed upon the first, and this time the +command was pointed by the emphatic accompaniment of a round shot which +went whizzing through the rigging of the chase. Finding his enemy in +earnest, the ship now gave up the game, and hove to with the United +States colours at her peak. Putting a prize crew on board, the Alabama +wore round, and started at full speed in the direction of the second +vessel, which was making the best of her way off, and was by this time +some fifteen miles distant. The Alabama was now, however, under a full +head of steam, flying through the water at the rate of three to one of +the chase, and by the end of a couple of hours, she also was brought to, +with the Stars and Stripes flying, and her maintopsail to the mast. + +A rapid investigation of papers resulted in the decision that the claim +of neutral ownership of the cargo was totally unsustained by evidence, +and the crew of the Olive Jane[13] were transferred to the Alabama, and +the barque set on fire, whilst her captor again came round and ran down +to meet his other prize. On communicating with the prize-master in +charge she proved to be the United States ship Golden Eagle, from +Howland's Island in the Pacific Ocean to Cork for orders. + +[Footnote 13: Of Boston, from Bordeaux to New York, with a partial cargo +of French wines and "knickknackeries."] + +The following particulars relating to these two vessels, are given in +Captain Semmes' journal:-- + +CASE OF THE OLIVE JANE. + +Under United States colours and register--from Bordeaux for New +York--cargo consigned generally to houses in New York, with the +exception of five of the shipments which are consigned to _order_; but +there is no claim among the papers of French property, even in these +latter shipments, and _non constat_ but that the property is American, +and that the consignment on the face of the papers was made in this +manner to give a semblance of French ownership, until the property +should reach its destination, when the real owner would claim it under a +duly-indorsed bill of lading, forwarded to him by steamer. At all +events, the presumption of law is, that all property found on board an +enemy is enemy's property, until the contrary be shown by proper +evidence; and no evidence has been presented in this case at all. The +master, though quarter owner of the barque, and who, consequently, +should be well informed as to her cargo, &c., knows nothing, except that +one of the shippers--a Frenchman--told him that forty casks of wine, +worth, perhaps, twenty dollars per cask, belonged to him. Vessel and +cargo condemned. + + * * * * * + +CASE OF THE GOLDEN EAGLE. + +Ship under United States colours and register. From San Francisco, _via_ +Howland's Island, for Cork, laden with guano by the American Guano +Company. Cargo consigned to "orders." There is no question, therefore, +of property. Ship and cargo condemned. + + * * * * * + +On the morning of the 23rd February four vessels were in sight; but on +overhauling them they one and all proved to be under the protection of +neutral flags. One of them, however--a Frenchman from Buenos Ayres to +Havre--relieved the Alabama of two French prisoners, an artist and his +son, captured on board one of the late prizes. One of the other +vessels--the Prince of Wales, from Melbourne to England--dipped her +ensign to the Yankee colours displayed from the Alabama, on which the +latter, unwilling to appropriate a compliment intended for another, +lowered the Stars and Stripes and hoisted her own ensign. Hardly had the +change been effected when a bustle was observed on board the English +vessel, and passengers and crew crowded on deck to have a look at the +renowned Confederate. The formal compliment accorded to the flag first +displayed was renewed with hearty good-will, and this time accompanied +by the most enthusiastic demonstrations from all on board, the men +cheering and the ladies waving their handkerchiefs in honour of the +gallant little cruiser of which they had heard so much. + +The next day, the Alabama being in the vicinity of the crossing of the +30th parallel by the San Roque and India-bound United States ships, sail +was shortened, and a bright look-out kept, but until nearly sunset +nothing was seen; and when, at length, "Sail, ho!" was cried, and the +Confederate cruiser on nearing the stranger showed the Yankee colours, +it was replied to by the tricolour of France. Again, at 9.30 P.M., when +another vessel was descried, there was still no prize, although it +required two cartridges, a chase of three-quarters of an hour, and +vociferous demands in both English and French to compel the vessel to +heave to. When, at last, the Master obeyed the command, it was +discovered that the brig was a Portuguese, bound from Pernambuco to +Lisbon. The officer despatched to overhaul the chase found, on stepping +on board, everything in the wildest confusion, and everybody so alarmed, +that neither skipper, mates, nor seamen seemed to know what they were +about. So great, indeed, was their trepidation, that upon an explanation +being asked of their strange conduct, the excuse given was that they +were too frightened to heave to! + +The 25th February was a blank, only two sail being seen; the one a +Dutchman, the other English. The master of the latter coolly asked the +Alabama to take to England a discharged British seaman, and on the +following morning another master of an English ship made a similar +request--both being met with a refusal. On the 26th, no less than +thirteen sail were sighted by the Alabama, but not one of them displayed +the Yankee flag. The only excitement of the day was an obstinate +Hamburgh barque, which refused to show colours until the Confederate +cruiser was nearly upon her, and even then a blank cartridge was +required to bring her to. + +After the large number of neutrals that the Alabama had overhauled, came +a prize. On the morning of the 27th February, the United States ship +Washington was captured. The vessel was the property of the enemy, but +as she carried a cargo of guano from the Chincha Islands, on account of +the Peruvian government, consigned to their agents at Antwerp, the +Washington was released on giving a ransom bond for 50,000 dollars. The +prisoners on board the Alabama having been transferred to the capture, +the two vessels parted company; the United States ship going on its +course, rejoicing that the neutral cargo she carried had saved her from +a fiery end. Two days after, another prize was taken. On the 1st March, +the Bethia Thayer, of Rockland, Maine, was overhauled, and like the +Washington, having on board guano the property of the Peruvian +government, was released on a bond of 50,000 dollars. + +Shortly after, a suspicious barque, with the English flag at the peak, +hove in sight. Immediately the Alabama set every stitch of canvas, the +stranger did the same, and away the two dashed before the fresh +south-wester that was blowing. The chase was most exciting, and lasted +seven hours; but gradually the Alabama overhauled the suspicious craft, +and at 4.30 P.M. was enabled to signal it. The Confederate hoisted the +United States flag, and announced herself by an assumed name. The barque +replied that she was the William Edward, from Bahia, for Liverpool. +After some further communication, which convinced the Alabama that the +barque was English, the cruiser announced her real name, and permitted +the William Edward to proceed on her course. At nightfall another ship +was chased, which, upon being brought to, also proved to be English, the +Nile, bound from Akyab to London. The master of this vessel informed the +boarding-officer that a United States man-of-war, supposed to be the +Ino, was in the South Atlantic, in eager search of the Alabama! + +At daybreak, on the 2d March, a sail was made out through the hazy +atmosphere, slowly steering towards the cruiser. Patiently the +Confederate waited, as the light wind from the south bore the stranger +towards them; their patience, too, was rewarded, for at 6 A.M., a +boarding-officer stepped on board the ship John S. Parks, of Hallowall, +Maine. The skipper, his wife, and crew, were transferred to the cruiser, +together with sundry stores and provisions; and then, after Captain +Semmes had carefully examined the papers of the capture, the prize was +set fire to, making number thirty-five on the list of the Alabama's +successes. With respect to the cargo of the Parks, there was a plea of +neutrality set up, to which, as the following extracts will show, +Captain Semmes gave the fullest consideration:-- + +CASE OF THE SHIP JOHN S. PARKS. + +Ship under U.S. colours and register. Cargo, white pine lumber, laden on +board at the port of New York. The cargo was shipped by Edward F. +Davidson, who appears, from the statement of the master, to be a large +lumber dealer, and is consigned to Messrs. Zimmerman, Faris, and Co., at +Monte Video, or Buenos Ayres. Annexed to the bill of lading is what +purports to be an affidavit sworn to before "Pierrepont Edwards," who +signs himself as "vice-consul." Above his name are the words, "by the +consul," from which it appears he professes to act for the consul, and +not for himself as "vice-consul."[14] The affiant is Joseph H. Snyder, +who describes himself as of "128, Pearl Street, New York." He states +that the cargo was shipped by Edward F. Davidson, "for and on account of +John Fair and Co., of London, &c." First, as to the _form_ of this +affidavit. A vice-consul is one who acts in place of a consul when the +latter is absent from his post; and when this is the case, he signs +himself as vice-consul, and his acts take effect _proprio vigore_, and +not as the acts of the consul--which this act purports to do. Further, +the Master was unable to verify this document, which, to give it +validity, he should have been able to do--he declaring that he could not +say whether it was a forgery or not. "Although, as has been said, the +ship's papers found on board are proper evidence, yet they are so only +when properly verified; for papers by themselves prove nothing, and are +a mere dead letter if they are not supported by the oaths of persons in +a situation to give them validity." 3rd Phillimore, 394. Further, "Valin +sur l'Ordonnance" says, "Il y a plus, et parceque les pieces en forme +trouvees abord, peuvent encore avoir ete concertees en fraude, il a ete +ordonne par arret de conseil du 26 Octobre, 1692, que les depositions +contraires des gens de l'equipage pris, prevaudrojent a ces pieces." The +latter authority is express to the point, that papers found on board a +ship are not to be credited, if contradicted by the oath of any of the +crew, and I take it that an inability to verify amounts to the same +thing. For if this had been a _bona fide_ transaction, it was the duty +of the party interested to take the master before the consul to witness +the taking of the deposition, so that he might verify "the paper," if +captured. But why should Mr. Snyder be the party to make this +affidavit? He was not the shipper, but Davidson, a lumber dealer; and +Davidson, who, if he sold the lumber at all, must have known to whom he +sold it, was the proper person to testify to the fact. Further: the +master says that Snyder bought the lumber from Davidson, as he was +informed by his (the master's) brother, who was the owner of the ship. +If so, then Snyder being the owner of the lumber (whether on his own or +foreign account, it matters not) was the real shipper, and not Davidson, +and the proper person to consign it to the consignees, either in his own +name, or in the name of his principal, if he were an agent. But the bill +of lading, and Davidson's letter to the consignees, show that Davidson +was both the shipper and the consignor. The ship was also chartered by +Davidson, and 13,000,000 dollars freight-money paid in advance, for +which Davidson required the owner of the ship to secure him by a policy +of insurance against both marine and _war_ risk--the policy made payable +to him (Davidson) in case of loss. Two questions arise upon that policy: +1st--why, if the property were _bona fide_ neutral (the cargo itself was +also insured in London) the war clause should be inserted? and, 2nd--why +Davidson should make the policy payable to himself? If he advanced this +freight money on the credit of the London house, he had no insurable +interest in it; and if the lumber really belonged to the London house, +and was going to their partners or agents at the port of delivery, why +should Davidson pay the freight in advance at all? And if Snyder +purchased the lumber of Davidson, why should Snyder not have made the +advance for his principal instead of Davidson? The conclusion would seem +to be, that Davidson was shipping this lumber on his own account to +agents, in whose hands he had no funds or credit, and as the lumber +might not be sold readily, the ship could not be paid her freight unless +it were paid in advance? Further: the ship had a contingent destination. +She was either to go to Monte Video or Buenos Ayres, as the consignees +might find most advantageous. This looks very much like hunting for a +market. But further still. Although Davidson prepared a formal letter of +consignment to Zimmerman, Faris, and Co., to accompany the consular +certificate, he at the same time writes another letter, in which he +says, "The cargo of John S. Parks I shall have certified to by the +British Consul as the property of British subjects. You will find it a +very good cargo, and should command the highest prices." How is Davidson +interested in the price which this cargo will bring, if it belongs, as +pretended, to the house in London? And if Davidson sold to Snyder, and +Snyder was the agent of the house in London, Davidson should have still +less concern with it. In that same letter in which a general account of +recent lumber shipments is given, the following remarks occur:--"Messrs. +Harbeck and Co. have a new barque, Anne Sherwood, in Portland, for +which they have picked up in small lots a cargo of lumber costing 20,000 +dollars. I have tried to make an arrangement for it to go to you (on +account of John Fair and Co., of London?); but they as yet only propose +to do so, you taking half-interest at twenty-five dollars, and freight +at eighteen dollars, payable at yours (port?), which is too much. If I +can arrange it on any fair terms, I will do so for the sake of keeping +up your correspondence with H. and Co." + +[Footnote 14: Extract from a letter, captured on the barque Amazonian, +from Mr. Edward F. Davidson to Messrs. Zimmerman, Faris, and Co., of +Monte Video:-- + +"You will learn from London of the loss of the ship John S. Parks, and +collection there of insurance on her cargo: the freight is insured here, +at the Great Western Company. They have thirty days, after receipt of +the captain's protest, to pay the loss in. Captain Cooper has arrived in +Portland, and gone to his home at Hallowall; and the company require a +copy of the protest made in London, certified by the Consul, which I +have sent for. In the meantime, I have requested the captain to come to +this, and trust not to have to wait receipt of the document from +London."] + +This letter would seem to show that Zimmerman, Faris, and Co. are +favourite consignees with Davidson, and that he not only consigns his +own lumber to them (for it must be remembered that he is a lumber +dealer) but endeavours to befriend them by getting them other +consignments. It may be that Davidson in New York, John Fair and Co., in +London, and Zimmerman, Faris, and Co., in Buenos Ayres, are all +connected in this lumber business, and that the trade is attempted to be +covered under the name of the London house; or it may be that Davidson +is the sole owner, or a joint owner with Zimmerman, Faris, and Co. In +either case the property is condemnable, being shipped by the house of +trade in the enemy's country. Ship and cargo condemned. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +_Discomforts of life at sea--A stern chase--Seized--The Punjaub +ransomed--Rain-squalls--A luxury--The Morning Star--Neutral cargo--The +Fairhaven--The Ino on the look-out--The Charles Hill--The +Nora--Fire-water--Commercial morality--The Louisa Hatch--Black +Diamonds--Coaling at sea under difficulties--Fernando de Noronna._ + + +Captain Cooper, of the John Parks, and his wife and two nephews, were +fortunate in not being condemned to a long period of captivity. The +burning remains of his unlucky vessel were still within sight, when an +English barque ranged up alongside of the Alabama, and an arrangement +was soon effected with her captain to convey the whole party to England. + +A long interval now, with nothing but the Englishman's excitement--the +weather--to break the weary monotony of an eventless voyage. So far, +however, as gales of wind could offer a distraction, the Alabama had +little of which to complain, and the vessel rolled and tumbled about in +the heavy seas in a manner which sorely tried the endurance of, at all +events, her unfortunate captain. + +The gale still continues, writes Captain Semmes, on the 11th March. Wind +E.N.E. For four days now we have been rolling and tumbling about, with +the wind roaring day and night through the rigging, and rest more or +less disturbed by the motion of the ship. Sea-life is becoming more and +more distasteful to me. The fact is, I am reaching an age when men long +for quiet and repose. During the war my services belong to my country, +and ease must not be thought of; but I trust that the end is not afar +off. The enemy, from many signs, is on the point of final discomfiture. +Nay, a just Providence will doubtless punish the wicked fanatics who +have waged this cruel and unjust war upon us, in a way to warn and +astonish the nations upon earth. Infidelity and wickedness in every +shape let loose upon themselves, must end in total destruction. The +Yankee States have yet to go through an ordeal they little dreamed of in +the beginning of their unholy crusade against the Southern people. + +On the 12th, the vessel was within fourteen degrees of the equator, but +so cool did the weather still continue that all hands were still wearing +woollen clothing, and sleeping under a couple of blankets. The sky +continued grey and overcast, with an occasional slight sprinkle of rain, +and a stiff breeze. The barometer falling steadily until, on the 14th +March, it had reached as low as 29.96, about the usual standard of the +trade winds. + +That night brought, however, a slight relief from the long dullness. It +was just midnight when the startling cry of "Sail, ho! close aboard!" +was heard from the look-out; and in less than five minutes the Alabama +was within hailing distance of a large ship standing close on a wind +towards the northward and westward. + +"Ship ahoy!--what ship's that?" rang hoarsely through the +speaking-trumpet from the deck of the Alabama. But no answer came, and +the hail was repeated. Still no answer, the strange sail keeping +steadily on her course, regardless of every thing, her huge hull +towering up high and dark as she passed almost within harpooning +distance of the Alabama, and shot away again into the darkness, like a +phantom that on being spoken to, had vanished away. + +But the Alabama could have brought-to the Flying Dutchman himself, if he +had attempted to pass by without answering a hail. "Hands, wear ship!" +was the order before the sound of the second summons had well died away. +Up went the helm, round came the Alabama's head in the direction in +which the stranger had disappeared; and with the reefs shaken out of her +topsails, away she went in chase like a greyhound after a hare. + +By the time sail was made, and headway got on the ship, the chase was +some three miles in advance, and gliding swiftly along with a strong +breeze. But though a stern chase is proverbially a long chase, the +splendid sailing qualities of the Alabama soon made themselves felt, and +within three hours after her helm was put up, she was within a few +hundred yards of the stranger, who now hove to at the first summons from +the cruiser's bow-guns. + +She proved to be the United States ship Punjaub, of Boston, from +Calcutta for London, and having an English cargo on board, as appeared +from sworn affidavits among the papers, from the nature of the +voyage--from one British port to another--and from the cargo of jute and +linseed, she was released on a ransom bond for 55,000 dollars, the +remaining prisoners from the John Parks being transferred to her for +passage home. + +The 21st March brought a change of weather, with heavy squalls of rain. +The variety was greatly enjoyed by all on board, Captain Semmes +recording in his journal his own pleasure at once more hearing the roll +of the thunder, for the first time for many months, and the delight with +which both officers and men paddled about on the deck with their bare +feet, enjoying, "like young ducks," the first heavy rain they had +experienced for a considerable time. + +On the morning of Monday, March 23rd, a sail hove in sight, which, being +overhauled about noon, was found to be the United States ship Morning +Star, from Calcutta to London. This ship also had a neutral cargo, duly +vouched as such by the proper legal certificates; so she, too, was +released on ransom bond. A second prize, however, which fell into the +Alabama's hands the same day, was less fortunate. This was the United +States schooner Kingfisher, of Fairhaven, Massachusetts, some months out +on a whaling voyage. It was well for her that she but very recently +discharged into another vessel her second cargo of oil, and could only, +at present, boast of some twenty barrels, all of which were at once +consigned to the flames, together with the unlucky vessel. + +The Kingfisher brought a piece of intelligence which afforded immense +satisfaction to all on board, being of no less a fact than the presence +of the United States sloop of war, Ino, at Ascension, where the +Kingfisher had left her but a fortnight before. This was the identical +vessel that had assisted in the piratical capture of Messrs. Myers and +Tunstall, on neutral ground, scarcely fourteen months before; and all +hands were rejoicing in the prospect of an early brush with her, when +the outrage then perpetrated might be avenged. Anxious as all were for a +fight on any terms, there was possibly not a vessel in the United States +navy they would have more gladly encountered. + +It was a curious circumstance connected with this schooner, that her +master was, according to his account, one of the only three persons in +his native place, Fairhaven, who, in the last fatal election of a +President for the United States, had voted for the Southern candidate, +Breckinridge. + +Two more captures were made on the following day--one, the ship Charles +Hill, of Boston, from Liverpool to Monte Video; the other, the ship +Nora, also of Boston, from Liverpool for Calcutta. In both cases the +usual claim was set up to a neutral ownership of cargo, and as usual on +investigation proved to be altogether unsupported by anything like real +evidence. + +The following are the cases:-- + +CASE OF THE CHARLES HILL. + +Ship under U.S. flag and register, laden with salt (value in Liverpool +six shillings per ton), under charter party with H.E. Falk to proceed +from Liverpool to Monte Video or Buenos Ayres. No claim of neutral +property in the cargo. Ship and cargo condemned. + + * * * * * + +CASE OF THE NORA. + +Ship under the U.S. flag; laden with salt, under charter party with W.N. +de Mattos, of London, to proceed to Calcutta. In the bill of lading the +cargo is consigned to "order;" and on the back of the bill is this +endorsement:--"I hereby certify that the salt shipped on board the Nora +is the property of W.N. de Mattos, of London, and that the said W.N. de +Mattos is a British subject, and was so at the time of shipment. + +"(Signed) H.E. FALK, Agent for W.N. de Mattos." + +At the bottom of the signature is "R.C. Gardner, Mayor," presumed to be +intended for the signature of the Mayor of Liverpool. As this statement +is not under oath, and as there is no seal attached to it, it does not +even amount to an _ex parte_ affidavit. Vessel and cargo condemned. + + * * * * * + +Some valuable supplies were extracted from these two ships, and the +prisoners--one of them a female--having been transferred to the Alabama, +the vessels were fired on the evening of the day after their capture. As +was but too frequently the case in boarding prizes, access was by some +means obtained to their strong liquor, and that evening saw a good deal +of drunkenness on board the Alabama. Unfortunately, the delinquents were +but too often some of the best men in the ship. They could be trusted +with anything in the world but rum or whisky; but against temptation of +this kind they were not proof, and the duty of boarding offered only too +easy an opportunity of indulging this true sailor's taste. However, if +the prizes had their little bit of revenge in thus creating a temporary +disorder among their captors, they in this case, at all events, more +than made up for it, by contributing an accession of half-a-dozen seamen +to the crew, which, notwithstanding the discharge of the men sent home +in the----, was now fast growing very strong. + +The following extract from a letter found on board the Charles Hill may +throw some light on the pretensions of that vessel at all events, to the +protection of neutrality:-- + +CAPTAIN F. PERCIVAL. + +DEAR SIR,--I have read your several letters from Philadelphia. As a +rebel privateer has burned several American ships, it may be well if you +can have your bills of lading endorsed as English property, and have +your cargo certified to by the English Consul, &c. + + * * * * * + +After crossing the equator during the night of the 29th-30th March, the +Alabama experienced a succession of calms and wet weather; at one time +chasing a vessel in so thick a mist that, though not more than a mile or +two ahead, she was more than once lost sight of for an hour at a time. +She was still involved in this misty, uncomfortable weather, when, on +the night of the 4th April, she again fell in with an United States +ship, the Louisa Hatch, deeply laden with that, to the Alabama, most +invaluable article--coal. An investigation of her papers gave the +following result:-- + +CASE OF THE LOUISA HATCH. + +Ship, under U.S. colours. Among the papers is a charter party, dated +London, 1st January, 1863, executed between John Pirie and Co., and +William Grant, the Master, by which the ship was chartered to take coal +to Point de Galle, Ceylon, or Singapore, as ordered, &c. Without any +assignment of this contract, as far as appears, the ship seems to have +been loaded by entirely new parties, to wit, by one J.R. Smith, who +describes himself as the agent of H. Worms, of Cardiff. By the bill of +lading, the ship is to proceed to the. Point de Galle, and there deliver +the coal to the company of Messageries Imperiales. On the back of the +bill of lading is the following certificate:--"I certify that the +within-mentioned cargo is French property, having been shipped by order, +for the account of the Messageries Imperiales." This certificate is +signed by Mr. Smith, but is not sworn to, nor is the order, nor any copy +of the order to ship this cargo to an account of the Messageries +Imperiales, found among the papers. As the ship was not chartered by any +agent of this company, and as the coal was not shipped by any such +agent, Smith being the agent of Worms, and Worms not being described as +the agent of the company, the presumption is that, if there was any such +order at all in the case, it was a mere general understanding that the +company would pay so much per ton for coal delivered for them at their +depots, the property remaining in the shippers until delivery. The +presumption, in the absence of proof, is, that the cargo being on board +an American ship is American; shipped on speculation to the far east, by +the owner, or his agent, in Cardiff; and we have seen that there is no +legal evidence in the case; the unsworn certificate of Mr. Smith not +even amounting to an _ex parte_ affidavit. Ship and cargo condemned. +Probable value of cargo in Cardiff, 2500 dollars. Cost of coal in +Brazil, 15 to 17 dollars per ton. + + * * * * * + +The Alabama now stood away in the direction of Fernando de Noronha, with +her prize in company, with the intention of there taking on board a +fresh supply of coal. The run was not a little protracted by the light +and baffling winds that still prevailed, and as though this was not +enough, fortune must needs play her a trick, by sending her off on a +chase of fourteen miles after a supposed Yankee whaler, which, when at +last overhauled, turned out to be nothing but a poor little +green-painted "Portiguee." + +Rain--rain--rain, the sun sometimes showing himself for an hour or two, +just a few minutes too early, or a few minutes too late, for any +purposes of observation, and then again retiring behind the dense masses +of cloud that hid the whole horizon in one drenching down-pour. And all +this while every mile of latitude of the last importance, as the Alabama +groped her way slowly to the southward and eastward in search of the +little island at which she was to take in her supplies, and which she +might at any moment run past in the darkness altogether! Trying work, +indeed, for the patience of men cooped up in their narrow floating +prison, and longing to be at work again. + +Too trying, at last, to be borne any longer without an effort at action; +so a bold attempt was made at coaling while under way upon the open sea! +Steam was got up, and the prize taken in tow, and then two boats were +lowered, and set to work. But the scheme, bold and ingenious as it was, +was soon found to be impracticable. The boats managed to get loaded from +the captured collier, but they had then to be warped up alongside the +Alabama, and the lowest speed that could be given her was too great for +them to be hauled up against it. So each time, as they were filled, it +was necessary to stop the engine, and thus occasion another difficulty. + +We now--says Captain Semmes--began to part our tow lines by these +stoppages and startings, and it took a long time to get the line fast +again; so after a sleepless night, during which, as I lay in my cot +trying to sleep, it seemed as if a dozen stentors on deck were rivaling +each other in making the night hideous, I sent word to get the boats run +up again, and to continue our course to Fernando de Noronha without +interruption. + +At daylight we made the peak of the island a long way off, some +thirty-eight or forty miles, and in the afternoon at 2.30 came to, with +the peak bearing S.W. 1/2 S. and the N.E. end of the Rat Island N.E. by +E. 1/2 E., depth of water thirteen and a half fathoms. Anchored the +prize near us. But for our steam we should have been still drifting to +the S.W., as the day has been nearly calm throughout. Fernando de +Noronha, in the wayside of the commerce of all the world, is sighted by +more ships, and visited by fewer, than any other spot of earth. It is a +broken, picturesque, volcanic rock, in mid ocean, covered with a +pleasing coat of verdure, including trees of some size, and the top of +the main island is cultivated in small farms, &c. Awfully hot when the +sun shines, and indeed, when he does not shine. Just after dark hauled +the prize alongside, and commenced coaling. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +_An official "in trouble"--On shore again--A breakfast party--On +horseback--Blowing hard--Taken in the net--Easy captures--The Kate +Cory--The Lafayette--A polite Governor--The Louisa Hatch burned, and +Kate Cory burned--Landing prisoners--Tired of waiting--A scramble--Out +of harbour again._ + + +_April 11th._--Light and variable airs; misty from the southward and +eastward, and oppressive; ther. 83 deg.. Last night the two vessels lay +alongside of each other so roughly, and we received so much damage (our +forechannels being crushed in, and our topsail mainyard being carried +away) that we were compelled to haul the prize off, and continue coaling +by means of our boats. + +The authorities on shore having hoisted no colours, we have not set ours +to-day. We were visited this morning by a couple of gentlemen from the +shore, bearing a letter from the Governor in reply to an inquiry I had +caused the Paymaster to address to him on the subject of supplies. Their +interpreter very naively informed me that he was a German, who had been +sentenced to banishment here from Rio, and that he had a year and a-half +to serve. This was said while my servant was drawing the cork of a +champagne bottle. The forger (for such was his offence) taking his glass +of wine with the rest! The Governor informed me that I could procure +supplies of beef, fresh pork, fowls, &c., and that he would be glad to +exchange these articles with me for flour, wine, sugar, coffee, &c. I +was glad to find that he raised no question of neutrality, though he +had, no doubt, been informed by a boat's crew from the shore that got +the information on board, of the ship in my company being a prize. He +kindly invited me to visit the shore. During the night (one o'clock) we +had a surprise in the way of a strange steamer making her appearance, +coming round the point of Rat Island. I had all hands called to +quarters, and the battery made ready, fires extinguished, and chains got +right for slipping. Although she came within a mile of us, with the +intention, as we thought, of coming to anchor, she kept on her course +to the southward and we piped down, the men, much fagged from coaling, +not having lost more than half an hour's rest by the operation. + +_Sunday, April 12th._--The exigencies of war compel me to work to-day in +coaling ship. Weather clear and very hot during morning, clouding about +noon and raining for several hours. + +I visited the island this morning in company with the Surgeon, and +called on the Governor. The surf was too heavy to land, but we found a +bolsa moored at some distance from the shore, and transferring ourselves +to this we were very skillfully put through the surf by three or four +naked fellows, two of them not having even a breech-cloth about their +loins. Fine, well-made fellows they were too. We found horses in +waiting, and rode about a mile to the village and residence of the +Governor--a Major in the Brazilian army; passing an immense sand-drift, +which we had not expected to find on this volcanic rock. + +We found the Governor at breakfast, and he insisted on our seating +ourselves, and making a second breakfast with him in company with his +wife--a sprightly, bright mulatto--and a pretty girl, quite white, of +about sixteen, and the _padre_. After breakfast we were introduced to a +number of what appeared to be the gentry of the island, and who had +assembled thus early to meet us. Having smoked and chatted awhile, we +remounted for a ride over the island. + +We were not in the saddle more than twenty minutes when one of those +showers, so sudden in this climate, overtook us, and gave us a complete +drenching; we had other showers during the day, but were compensated by +the sun hiding himself during the entire ride. We passed under the +shadow of the gigantic peak, and soon reached the summit of the island, +which spreads out into a most beautiful and productive plain of some two +or three hundred acres. The soil is a ferruginous clay of the richest +description, and covered with the choicest vegetation of wild grapes, +Indian corn, the cotton plant, the castor bean, &c., &c. We stopped a +few minutes to examine a manioc manufactory. Continuing our ride, we +passed through a small but dense forest, to a cocoa-nut plantation on +the south-west part of the island, where we found the water-melon +growing in its choice soil--sand. Here we took shelter again from +another heavy rain, and got some fine grapes. Whilst waiting for the +shower to pass, I had quite a talk with the Governor on various topics; +among others, on the state of the mixed races in the Brazils, &c., &c. +The island, at the season at which we visited it, was a gem of +picturesque beauty--exceedingly broken and diversified with dells and +rocks, and small streams, &c., &c. It was the middle of the rainy +season. The little mountain paths as we returned became small brooks +that hummed and purled in their rapid course. I took occasion to inform +his Excellency that my tender was a prize, so that he might be under no +apprehension. Number of convicts 1000. Whole number of population, 2000. +The Governor expressed himself our very good friend, &c., &c. Got on +board at 5 P.M. + +_Monday, April 13th._--Another rainy day. Showers very heavy, but still +we continue our coaling. Wind from northward and westward, and though +light, there is considerable sea on. The bad weather continued all day, +and the night having set in with threatening appearances, I caused +everybody to be brought on board from the prize, to guard against the +possibility of her being driven on shore, and endangering life. I had +the steam got up, and the chain ready for slipping, and was fearful that +I should be obliged to slip; but we held on during the night. Night very +dark, with heavy rain, and much sea on. + +_Tuesday, April 14th._--Wind this morning from about W.S.W.; weather +still louring. Our friends came off from the shore again this morning, +bringing the fresh provisions ordered for the crew. Every thing is very +dear here. Meat forty cents per pound; but still my crew has been so +long on salt diet that flesh is an anti-scorbutic necessity for them. I +have arranged to sell forty or more tons of coal for a Brazilian +schooner there is in the harbour, and had a proposition for purchasing +the prize, which I offered to sell as low as 20,000 dollars; but this +sum seemed to alarm them, they saying there was not so much money in +Fernando de Noronha. Continued our coaling. + +_Wednesday, April 15th._--Weather clear, and light wind from the +eastward. Finished coaling ship this morning. At about 11 A.M. a couple +of whale-boats from two vessels in the offing pulled into the harbour; +went on board our prize, and thence to the shore. Although the two +masters were told that we were the Iroquois, they seemed at once to have +comprehended the true state of the case, and to make haste to put +themselves out of harm's way. We were an hour and more getting up steam +and weighing our anchor for the chase; and if in the meantime these +whaling captains had pulled out to their ships, and run into shore so as +to get within the league, they might have saved them. We gave chase, and +came up with both of them on the south side of the island, about +half-past 3 P.M., and captured them--both of them being without the +league. One the hermaphrodite brig Kate Cory, of Westport, and the other +the barque Lafayette, of New Bedford; the barque we burned, and the +brig we brought into the anchorage, arriving after dark, about 7 A.M. We +sounded in thirteen fathoms on a bank on the south side, on the southern +extremity of which there is a breaker lying out from two and a half to +three miles. There is also a reef off Tobacco Point running out half a +mile. We saw no other dangers. + + * * * * * + +With reference to these captures, the following amusing account is +extracted from the private journal of the officer of the Alabama who was +prize-master on board the Louisa Hatch:-- + +'At noon, on the 15th of April, two vessels were descried to the south, +standing off and on, under reduced sail. At 12:30 two boats were +observed pulling towards us, asking my ship's name, the port I hailed +from, &c. I answered correctly. The person in charge of the other boat +then inquired if the war-steamer was the Alabama. I replied, 'Certainly +not, she was the Iroquois U.S. steamer.' 'Have you any news of the +Alabama?' 'Yes, we had heard of her being in the West Indies, at Jamaica +or Costa Rica, &c.' A conversation ensued, by which I learned that the +boats belonged to the two vessels in the distance, that they were both +whalers put in for supplies, and that seeing the steamer they were +rather dubious as to her nationality, and had therefore spoke me, to +gain the required information. A brisk conversation was then kept up; my +object in engaging them in it was to enable the Alabama to get under way +ere the whalers took the alarm, feeling certain that the preparations +were being made to go after them. + +'I then invited the masters to come on board my ship, which they +cheerfully consented to do, and were within a boat's length, when a cry +of alarm broke from the steersman in the foremost boat. Shouting to his +crew to 'Give way, men; give way for your lives!' he with a few +well-directed, vigorous strokes, turned his boat's head round, and made +for the shore, the other boat following, blank astonishment being +depicted on the face of each member of the crews. To the frantic +inquiries of the person in charge of the other boat as to the cause of +his (the steersman's) extraordinary conduct, his only reply was, +'There!' pointing to a small Confederate flag of about fifteen inches +long and six inches broad, which I had inadvertently left flying at the +gaff; the gaff being lowered down, the little flag having been used as a +dog-vane, in order to tell the direction of the wind, &c. No sooner did +the men perceive it than they redoubled their exertions to gain the +shore; one of the masters calling out that they had spoken a ship a week +ago, from whom they had obtained news of peace. No credence, however, +could be, or was placed in this statement. + +'Immediately after they left I despatched a boat to the Alabama +informing them of the character of my visitors. At 9.15 the Alabama was +observed to get under way, steaming out of the anchorage after the two +vessels. + +'The larger island being between the scene of the Alabama's operations +and the Louisa Hatch, I was not, of course, an eye witness of the +captures. But at 5.30 I observed a dense column of smoke, which, as it +grew later, turned into a ruddy glare, leaving no doubt in our minds as +to the fate of the whalers. At 7 P.M. observed the Alabama coming round +the northern part of the island with a vessel in tow, both anchoring at +7.30. The next morning I learnt that the captures were the barque +Lafayette, of New Bedford, and the brig Kate Cory, of Westport. The +barque was burnt and the brig kept, it being our intention to send off +all the prisoners we had on board, consisting of 140, including the +women stewardesses, in her; but on communicating with the authorities, +it was resolved to land them on the island, a Brazilian schooner +engaging to convey them to Pernambuco. For this purpose provisions for +twenty-one days were sent ashore, the prisoners, after being paroled, +following. + +The remainder of the day was spent in transferring provisions, &c., for +ship's use. The next evening the prizes, the Louisa Hatch and Kate Cory, +slipped cables, and stood seaward. When about five miles from land both +vessels were set fire to; Mr. Evans, the officer in charge of the brig, +returning on board long before me, the strong westerly current rendering +it extremely difficult to stem it. + +'We remained painting and cleaning ship until the 22nd. At 9.30 A.M. we +got under way, steering and cruising towards Bahia, at which place we +arrived on the 11th of May, having captured and burnt four vessels +between Fernando and Bahia. + +'The news of our doings off the islands had preceded us, of course with +additions and manipulations _ad lib._, the schooner having left Noronha +the day previous to our departure. The Governor of Pernambuco had sent +three war vessels to the islands to enforce the neutrality of the place, +which, according to Yankee representations, had been infringed. Not +content with this, the American representatives had succeeded in +procuring the recall of the Governor, whose only crime was that he had +let us anchor off the place--a crime of which he was necessarily +guiltless, because he had no power to prevent our anchoring if we +insisted on it. + +'Whilst at Bahia I was shown a letter from the master of one of the +whaling barques to an agent, in which he wrote that he would spare no +money or time to follow to the uttermost ends of the earth, and bring to +justice, the man who had so cruelly deceived him. This sentence had +reference to my denial of the Alabama and the substitution of the U.S. +steamer Iroquois for that of C.S. steamer Alabama. The ingratitude of +some people!!' + +On the 16th April Captain Semmes resumes his diary as follows:--Weather +clear; wind light from the southward and eastward. Our banner, last +night a lurid flame, is a tall column of smoke advertising us for +twenty-five or thirty miles round. My first intention was to ship all my +prisoners, amounting to about one hundred and ten, in the prize brig, +but the Governor having consented to my landing them, I am busy to-day +getting them on shore, with their baggage and provisions, and receiving +prisoners from the Louisa Hatch. Sun very warm. The Governor paid me a +visit this morning, and requested that I would write him on the subject +of the captures yesterday, stating the fact (with which he was +satisfied, or at least, to which he made no objection) that they were +captured beyond the league from the land, and requesting leave to land +the prisoners, in order that our understanding should assume an official +shape, which I did. + +_Friday, April 17th._--The weather still continues very warm; wind light +from the S.E., and cloudy. Busy receiving and stowing away provisions, +replacing the coal consumed, and getting ready for sea generally. The +landing of so many prisoners amid so small a population has created a +very great stir, and the excitable Brazilians are discussing among +themselves and with the Yankee captains the question of the American war +with great vehemence. Several sail have been reported as usual. The +afternoon set in rainy, and the rain continued all night. Towards +nightfall sent the prizes, Louisa Hatch and Kate Cory, a league outside +the island, and burned them. Received four recruits from the Louisa +Hatch, and more volunteered, but I am full. + +_Saturday, April 18th._--Morning cloudy, with wind light from the S.E. +Loosed sails to-day. I am anxiously expecting the arrival of the +Agrippina, my store ship, from England, which was ordered to rendezvous +here--not so anxiously, however, as if my coal-bunkers were empty. But +she has a couple of additional guns on board, that would make an +important addition to my battery. + +_Sunday, April 19th._--Rain in the morning, with light airs. Our +steam-tubes leak badly, and I am afraid the leaks will increase so as to +give us trouble. Every time we get up steam, even a few pounds for +condensing water, we find that large quantities of hot water flow into +the hold; eight inches escaped in about twelve hours yesterday. +Unfortunately, too, this tubing is laid so low in the bottom of the +ship, as to be out of reach for examination or repairs without being +taken up. The Governor sent me off a fine turkey and some fruit, and his +lady a bouquet of roses. The roses were very sweet, and made me +home-sick for a while. + +_Monday, April 20th._--A dull, heavy, rainy day--the rain coming down at +intervals in torrents, as it is wont to do in these regions. Still +laying at our anchors, waiting for the Agrippina. She should be out +thirty-five days, to-day, from Cardiff. In the afternoon the rain +ceased, except an occasional light sprinkle, but the dull canopy of +clouds did not break, and we had a strong breeze from the S.E. for four +or five hours, indicating the approach of the trades to this latitude. + +_Tuesday, April 21st._--Morning clear, wind light from S.E. The Island +after the rain is blooming in freshness and verdure, and as my eye roams +over its green slopes I long for repose and the quiet of peace in my own +land: I do not think it can be far off. Fresh "trade" in the afternoon. +Towards night the Brazilian steamer sailed with a load of our prisoners. + +_Wednesday, April 22nd._--Cloudy, with squalls for rain. At 9.30 got +under way under steam, and stood to the eastward. Cut away four +whale-boats that the islanders might have a scramble for them. They soon +started in chase! Steamed due east, about forty-five miles, let the +steam go down, and put the ship under sail. No sail seen. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +_A curious prize--The Nye--The Dorcas Prince--An anniversary--The Union +Jack and-the Sea Lark--In the harbour of Bahia--Explanations--Unexpected +meeting--The Georgia--A little holiday--Diplomacy--More +neutrality--Home-sick._ + + +A curious prize was the next that fell into the clutches of the +all-devouring Alabama. A whaling barque, the Nye, of New Bedford, eleven +months out, without having once put into port! Three whole months before +the launching of the Alabama, had that patient little vessel been +ploughing the seas, gathering, as it turned out, only additional fuel +for her own funeral pyre. A weary voyage to have so sad a termination! + +Among her crew, transferred as prisoners to her captor, was a +Lieutenant of Marines from the Quaker State, serving on board the +whaler in the capacity of steward! + +Next came the Dorcas Prince, of and from New York, for Shanghai. Cargo +chiefly coal, probably intended for United States ships of war in the +East Indies--a supposition that undoubtedly gave additional zest to the +bonfire, which--no claim to neutrality being found among her papers--in +due course followed on her capture. + +_Saturday, May 2nd._--An anniversary with me--writes Captain Semmes--my +marriage-day. Alas! this is the third anniversary since I was separated +from my family by this Yankee war! And the destruction of fifty of their +ships has been but a small revenge for this great privation. + +On that day two more were added to the long list, and the barque Union +Jack, of Boston, and ship Sea Lark, of New York, shared the fate of +their fifty predecessors. The former of these two vessels added three +women and two infants to the already far too numerous colony of the +weaker sex, by which the Alabama was now encumbered. + +There was no claim of neutral property among the papers of either of +these ships, except in the case of one Allen Hay, who was the shipper of +five cases of crackers, and ten barrels of butter, on board the Union +Jack. In this case, a Thomas W. Lielie made oath before the British +Consul at New York, that the said articles were shipped "for and on +account of Her Britannic Majesty." This certificate was of no force or +effect, for its _indefiniteness_, as decided in other cases. A claim of +property must point out the owner or owners, and not aver that it +belongs to the subjects of a nation generally. There must be some one +designated who has a right to the possession of the property under the +bill of lading. The certificate was accordingly set aside, and the ship +and cargo condemned. + +Besides the women and children, the Union Jack furnished also another +prisoner of a somewhat unusual character, in the person of the Rev. +Franklin Wright, late editor of a religious paper, and newly-appointed +consul at Foo Chow. The worthy clergyman's entry, however, upon his new +duties was for the time indefinitely postponed by the confiscation of +his appointment, along with the other public papers in his charge. So, +for a time, Foo Chow had to exist without the advantages arising from +the presence of a functionary from the United States. + + * * * * * + +_Monday, May 11th._--Showed the United States colours to a Spanish +brig. In the afternoon ran in and anchored in the harbour of Bahia. A +Portuguese steamer, the only vessel of war found here. No Yankee +man-of-war had been here for some months. The health officer came on +board, just at nightfall. The Agrippina not here, and I begin to fear +that some disaster has befallen her. + +_Tuesday, May 12th._--This morning the President sent a messenger to me +with a copy of the _Diario de Bahia_ of the 8th May, in which appears a +sort of proclamation or request, addressed to me by the President of +Pernambuco, desiring that I should leave Fernando de Noronha in +twenty-four hours after the receipt of the same. This paper seems to be +based on certain false statements carried to Pernambuco by the Yankee +prisoners whom I had sent to this place. It is alleged that I violated +the neutrality of the island, &c. I replied to the President, that there +was no truth in this statement; but that, on the contrary, I had paid +respect to the neutrality of Brazil. In reply to my communication, the +President informed me that I should be admitted to the usual +hospitalities of the port; but the bearer of his despatch took occasion +to say that he hoped I would not stop more than three or four days, as +the President was afraid of being compromised in some way. The master of +an English barque came on board and informed me that he had coal and +provisions for the Confederate steamer Japan, which was to meet him here +on the 6th instant. + +_Wednesday, May 13th_.--Early this morning a strange steamer was +discovered at anchor about half a mile from us; and at 8 A.M., when we +hoisted our colours, to our great surprise and delight, she too hoisted +the Confederate flag. We then exchanged the established signals; and on +sending a boat on board of her, we ascertained that she was the Georgia, +Lieut. Commanding Maury. Chapman and Evans, two of my Sumter +Lieutenants, were on board of her. The Georgia sailed from England about +the 2nd of April, and armed off Ushant. Our ship has been crowded with +visitors ever since we came in. + +_Thursday, May 14th._--At 12.15 P.M. with a party of officers from the +Georgia and my own ship, I took a steam-tug and proceeded up the harbour +to the railroad depot, at the invitation of the manager of the road, for +an excursion into the country, which proved to be very pleasant. We +passed along the whole port of Bahia, the lower town skirting the water, +and the upper town the crests of a semicircular height, the intermediate +space being filled with trees and shrubbery. The houses are mostly +white, and many of them very picturesque. The terminus of the road is a +beautiful and spacious iron building, situated in the middle of a great +square; and the road itself is a very substantial job. We rode out +twenty-four miles through a picturesque country, the road bordered for +most of the way by the bay and lagoons, with beautiful little valleys +occasionally opening on either hand, with their patches of sugar-cane +and cotton. On our return we sat down to a beautiful lunch, with +champagne. Our hosts were attentive and agreeable, and we returned on +board at dusk, after a very pleasant day. The English residents here +have been very attentive to us. Our tug-man, who was a Thames waterman, +dodged in and out among the launches and vessels in a way that only a +Thames man can do. The French mail came in to-day, and brought us news +that the Florida was at Pernambuco. + +_Friday, May 15th._--This morning a person in citizen's dress came on +board and said that the President had requested him to ask me to show +him my commission. I replied that I could have no objection to show my +commission, but it must be to an officer of my own rank, and that this +officer must come on board in his uniform for the purpose; that I could +not show my commission to any person who might come on board in +citizen's dress, bringing me a mere verbal message, and without any +credentials of his rank, &c. I remarked, however, that it would give me +very great pleasure to call on the President myself and exhibit it. To +this he readily assented; and having appointed an hour for the +interview, I went on shore, accompanied by my _aide_, and had a long and +agreeable chat with his Excellency, who was a man of about thirty-five +years of age, tall and delicate-looking, with black eyes and hair. + +We discussed various points relating to the subject of neutral and +belligerent rights, &c.; and I took occasion to repeat the assurances I +had previously given him in my letter, that I had paid due attention to +the neutral rights of Brazil during my visit to Fernando de Noronha, &c. +I told him I only desired him to extend to me and to the Georgia the +same hospitality as he would extend to a Federal cruiser; but that I +might say to him as an individual, that we were entitled to the warm +sympathies of Brazil, &c. + +I arranged about coaling the Georgia and this ship by means of launches, +as there were port objections to the ship being hauled alongside. He +seemed anxious that our stay should be as short as possible, lest our +delay might compromise his neutrality in some way. He said my sailors +had been behaving very badly on shore, and indeed I knew they had. I +told him he would oblige me by securing the rioters and putting them in +prison. This evening we were entertained very handsomely at the +residence of Mr. Ogilvie, where we met all the English society of the +place. + +_Saturday, May 16th._--This day the ship (Castor), from which the +Georgia was coaling, was ordered to be hauled off, and the operation +suspended, the Yankee Consul having alleged to the Government that she +had munitions of war on board. + +_Sunday, May 17th.--_In the morning an officer came on board and read +me a despatch from the President, expressing displeasure at my remaining +so long in the port, and directing me to proceed to sea in twenty-four +hours. The same paper was read on board the Georgia. I replied that the +Government itself had caused our delay, by prohibiting us from coaling +from the ship from which we had purchased our coal; and that I could go +to sea in twenty-four hours after this prohibition was removed, &c., &c. +A party of English ladies and gentlemen visited the ship this afternoon. +We were crowded all day, besides, with miscellaneous visitors. + +_Tuesday, May 19th._--This morning, at the request of the President, I +went on shore to see him, and we had a long and animated discussion, in +which he stated he had certain proofs, adduced by the United States +Consul, to the effect that the coal-ship Castor had been sent here to +meet us, &c.; and that under these circumstances (the ship being +charged, besides, with having munitions of war on board), he felt it his +duty to prevent us from coaling from her, but that we might have free +access to the market, &c. The Consul, too, had told him that I had +shipped one of the prisoners after landing him: the fact being that, +although many of them volunteered, I refused to receive any of them, +having already a full crew on board. In the afternoon addressed a letter +to the President, insisting upon the right to coal from the Castor. + +_Wednesday, May 20th._--We were promised lighters with coal from the +shore this morning; but not one has yet come off--half-past twelve. Just +at nightfall a lighter came alongside, and during the night we filled +up. The next day we got under way and steamed out of the harbour. + +_Sunday, May 24th._--I am quite home-sick this quiet Sunday morning. I +am now two _long, long_ years away from my family, and there are no +signs of an abatement of the war; on the contrary, the Yankees seem to +become more and more infuriated, and nothing short of a war of invasion +is likely to bring them to terms, unless indeed it be the destruction of +their commerce; and for this, I fear, we are as yet too weak. If we can +get and hold Kentucky, the case may be different. Well, we must +sacrifice our natural yearnings on the altar of our country, for without +a country we can have no home. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +_Two more!--The Gildersliene and Justina--Case of the Jabez Snow--The +barque Amazonian--Relieved of prisoners--A hint--The Talisman--Under +false colours--The Conrad--A nobler fate--Re-christened--The Tuscaloosa +commissioned--Short of provisions._ + + +The 25th May witnessed the capture of the ship Gildersliene and the +barque Justina. The latter having a neutral cargo, was ransomed on a +bond for 7000 dollars; the former condemned and burned, after an +investigation terminating in the following decision:-- + +CASE OF THE GILDERSLIENE. + +Ship under the United States colours and register. Charter-party with +Messrs. Halliday, Fox, and Co., of London, who describe themselves as +merchants and freighters, to make a voyage to Calcutta and back to +London or Liverpool. Cargo taken in at Sunderland, and consisting of +coal, said to be shipped for the "service of the Peninsular and Oriental +Steam Navigation Company," but not even averred to be on "their account +and risk." No certificate or other evidence of property; ship and cargo +condemned. Master knows nothing of property except what appears by the +papers. + + * * * * * + +_Friday, May 29th._--We had another chase last night from about 2 A.M., +but with better success than the two previous nights, since at 7.30 A.M. +we came up with and captured the ship Jabez Snow, of Rockport, Maine. +Just at daylight, being within about four miles of her, we hoisted our +own colours, and fired a gun. She did not show any colours in return, +and stood a second gun before heaving to; she finally showed her +colours. Got on board from the prize a quantity of provisions and +cordage; transhipped the crew, and about sunset set her on fire. Found a +letter on board, the writer of which referred to American ships being +under a cloud "owing to dangers from pirates, more politely styled +privateers," which our kind friends in England are so willing "should +slip out of their ports to prey on our commerce." This letter was dated +Boston, November 25th, 1862. + +CASE OF THE JABEZ SNOW. + +Ship under United States colours, cargo coals, from Cardiff for Monte +Video. On the face of the bill of lading is the following: "We certify +that the cargo of coals per Jabez Snow, for which this is the bill of +lading, is the _bona fide_ property of Messrs. Wilson, Holt, Lane, & +Co., and that the same are British subjects and merchants; And also that +the coals are for their own use. + +"JNO. POWELL & SONS." + +As this certificate was not sworn to, it added no force to the bill of +lading, as every bill of lading is an unsworn certificate of the facts +it recites. There being no legal proof among the papers to contradict +the presumption that all property found under the enemy's flag is +enemy's property, and as the Master, who was the charterer and agent of +the ship, and whose duty it was to know about all the transactions in +which he was engaged, swore that he had no personal knowledge of the +owner of the cargo, except such as he derived from the ship's papers, +the cargo, as well as the ship, is condemned as prize of war. The +following significant extract from a letter of the Master to his owners, +dated Penrith Roads, April 19th, 1863, was found on board, though not +produced by the Master:-- + +"I have my bills of lading certified by the Mayor, that the cargo is +_bona fide_ English property. Whether this will be of any service to me +in the event of my being overhauled by a Southern pirate, remains to be +proved." + +The certificate above recited seems, therefore, to have been procured by +the Master to protect his ship from capture, and not to have been a +spontaneous act of the pretended neutral owners to protect the cargo. +The cargo and advance freight were insured against war-risk, the ship +paying the premium. No effort was made by Wilson, Holt, Lane, & Co., to +protect the cargo, and they were the proper parties to make the oath. +The agent who shipped the coal for this firm, and who wrote the +above-quoted certificate, could only know, of course, that he had +shipped them by order of his principal. Why, then, did Wilson, Holt, +Lane, & Co., decline to make the necessary oath to protect the cargo? +They should have taken the necessary steps to protect either themselves +or the insurers, but they did no such thing. It would seem, probably, +that they were the agents of some American house, and that they could +not, in conscience, take the oath required by law. + + * * * * * + +The next prize was the Amazonian, of Boston, from New York to Monte +Video, captured, after a long chase, on the 2d of June, but not until +two blank shots had failed to bring her to, and the stronger hint of a +round from the rifled gun had convinced her of the impossibility of +escape. + + * * * * * + +CASE OF THE BARQUE AMAZONIAN. + +Ship under United States colours; has an assorted cargo on board, and is +bound from New York to Monte Video. There are two claims of neutral +property--one for twenty cases of varnish and fifty casks of oil, +claimed as shipped on "account of Messrs. Galli & Co., French subjects." +This claim is sworn to by a Mr. Craig, before a notary. It does not aver +that the property is in Messrs. Galli & Co., but simply that it was +shipped "on their account." There is no outside evidence of the truth of +this transaction, as the master knows nothing about it. + + * * * * * + +Right glad was the Alabama to fall in, on the day after this last +capture, with an English brigantine, the master of which proved willing, +in consideration of a gift from Captain Semmes of one of his noble +collection of captured chronometers, to relieve him of the crowd of +prisoners with which he was encumbered. To the number of forty-one they +were forthwith transferred, along with a stock of provisions sufficient +for a fortnight's consumption; and the Alabama breathed freely again, +relieved of her disagreeable charge. + +It may not be an uninstructive, and it is most assuredly an amusing +comment, upon the claims of neutrality so loudly insisted upon, to quote +the following extract from a New York letter, captured on board one of +the recent prizes. It is dated April 7th, and addressed to a +correspondent in Buenos Ayres:-- + +"When you ship in American vessels, it would be as well to have the +British Consul's certificate of English property attached to the bill of +lading and invoices; as in the event of falling in with the numerous +privateers, it would save both cargo and vessel, in all probability. An +American ship, recently fallen in with, was released by the Alabama on +account of a British Consul's certificate showing the greater part of +the cargo to be English property. If you ship in a neutral vessel, we +save five per cent, war insurances." + +Another prize. The Talisman, a fine ship of 1100 tons, under United +States colours and register, with no claim of neutral property in cargo; +and before the glare of her funeral pyre had faded from the horizon, +another hove in sight, so evidently American, that notwithstanding the +English ensign flying at her peak, she was at once brought to and +boarded. And American she proved to be in her origin; but her owners had +been wise, and, so far as her papers went, she had been regularly +transferred to the protection of the British flag--humiliating, perhaps, +to the proud "Yankee nation," but effective as a precaution against +capture; though, had the Confederate cruiser been able to send her into +port for adjudication, the transfer might very possibly, when the +evidence came to be sifted, have proved but a "bogus transaction" after +all. + +So the "Englishman" had to be released, consenting, however, to relieve +the Alabama of a prisoner and his wife, recently captured on board the +Talisman. A week passed away, and then came another instance of a +similar transfer under the strong pressure of fear, the whilom Yankee +barque Joseph Hall, of Portland, Maine, now seeking a humiliating safety +as the "British" Azzopadi, of Port Lewis, Isle of France! + +Alas! for the Stars and Stripes, the Azzopadi was not hull down on the +horizon ere the once-renowned Yankee clipper Challenger lay humbly, with +her maintopsail to the mast, in the very place in which her countryman +had just been performing a similar penance, claiming, as the +British-owned Queen of Beauty, a similar immunity. + +At last, however, as the impatient crew of the Alabama were beginning to +think that their enemy's flag had finally vanished from the face of the +ocean, an adventurous barque hove in sight, with the old familiar +bunting at her peak. She proved to be the Conrad, of Philadelphia, from +Buenos Ayres for New York, partly laden with wool, the ownership of +which was, as usual, claimed as neutral. On investigation, the claim +proved an evident-fabrication, the facts of the case being as follows:-- + +CASE OF THE CONRAD. + +Ship under American colours and register. A Mr. Thomas Armstrong, who +describes himself as a British subject doing business at Buenos Ayres, +makes oath before the British Consul that a part of this wool belongs to +him and a part to Don Frederico Elortando, a subject of the Argentine +Republic. This may or may not be true, but the master is unable to +verify the document, he not having been present when it was prepared, +and not knowing any thing about it. There is, besides, so strong a +current of American trade with Buenos Ayres, that the presumption is, +from the very fact that this wool was going to New York in an American +barque, under the imminency of capture, which our presence in these +seas--well known at Buenos Ayres when the barque sailed--must have +shown, that the property is American, and that the certificate is an +attempt to cover it; Mr. Armstrong probably being a brother or a partner +in the transaction with some American house. Ship and cargo condemned. + + * * * * * + +FURTHER EXAMINATION OF CASE OF CONRAD. + +From an examination of the correspondence in this case, brought on board +after the ship's papers had been examined, it appeared that Mr. +Armstrong, the party shipping a part of the cargo, swears before _his_ +consul that he and one Don Frederico Elortando, are the _owners_ of the +property, and swears before the United States Consul that he is the sole +_owner_ of the property. Both of these oaths cannot be true. It further +appears that, whilst the property in the bill of lading is consigned to +Simon de Visser, Esq., in the letters of Messrs. Kirkland and Von Sachs +it is spoken of as consigned to them. The letters make no mention of any +joint-ownership with Armstrong, but treat the consignment as his sole +property. But though, like so many of her countrymen, condemned, the +Conrad was not to die. A nobler fate was in store for her--no less a +destiny than that of carrying the proud young flag to which she had +succumbed, and taking the sea, under a new name, as the consort of her +captor. Accordingly, Acting-Lieutenant Low was appointed to the command, +assisted by Acting-Master Sinclair and two master's mates. The two +rifled pounders captured in the Talisman were mounted on board, a due +complement of rifles, revolvers, ammunition, &c., supplied, and then the +transformed barque fired her first gun, ran up the Confederate ensign to +her peak, and amid a burst of cheering from her own crew and that of her +consort, made a fresh start in life as the Confederate States +sloop-of-war Tuscaloosa. + +The Alabama was now bound for the Cape of Good Hope, where her faithful +tender, the Agrippina, was again to meet her. On the 27th of June, +however, when in lat. 20.01 S., long. 28.29 W., it was discovered that a +great portion of the supposed month's supply of bread had been destroyed +by weevils, and that there was not enough left for the run. A visit to +some port nearer at hand thus became inevitable, and the ship's course +was accordingly shaped for Rio Janeiro. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +_An insult to the Yankee flag--Fine weather--The Anna F. Schmidt--"What +ship's that?"--The Express--A supply of bread--Saldanha Bay--Visitors +from the country--A funeral--The Tuscaloosa's prize--The capture off +Cape Town--The Sea Bride won--Ship crowded--Sympathy_. + + +_Sunday, June 28th._--At 4.30 this evening brought-to a heavy ship with +a blank cartridge; or rather she seemed to come-to of her own accord, as +she was evidently outsailing us, and was, when we fired, at very long +range. Soon after heaving-to she burned a blue light, and whilst our +boat, with a light in it, was pulling towards her, she burned another. +She afterwards said she would not have hove-to but that she thought we +might be in distress. The boarding officer reported us as the United +States ship Dacotah, and demanded to see the ship's papers, which were +refused, the Master stating that we had no right to see his papers. The +boarding officer having been informed of her name (the Vernon), and that +she was from Melbourne, for London, and being satisfied, from +observation, that she was really an English ship, she being one of the +well-known frigate-built Melbourne packets, returned on board, and the +ship filled away; and she was already at considerable distance from us +when I received the boarding officer's report. Under all these +circumstances, I did not chase him afresh to enforce my belligerent +right of search. _Cui bono_, the vessel being really English? Although, +indeed, the resistance to search by a neutral is good cause of capture, +I could only capture to destroy; and I would not burn an English ship +(being satisfied of her nationality) if the Master persisted to the law +in not showing his papers. Nor did I feel that the Confederate States +flag had any insult to revenge, as the insult, if any, was intended for +the Yankee flag. Most probably, however, the ship being a packet-ship, +and a mail-packet, the Master erred from ignorance. + +Lat. 26.35, long. 32.59.30, current S.E. thirty miles; ship rolling and +tumbling about, to my great discomfort. The fact is, I am getting too +old to relish the rough usage of the sea. Youth sometimes loves to be +rocked by the gale, but when we have passed the middle stage of life, we +love quiet and repose. + +_Tuesday, June 30th._--The bad weather of the past week seems at length +to have blown itself out; and this morning we have the genial sunshine +again, and a clear, bracing atmosphere. With a solitary exception, the +Cape pigeons, true to their natures, have departed. There is still some +roughness of the sea left, however, and the ship is rolling and creaking +her bulk-heads, as usual. Wind moderate from about East. + +Another prize on the 2nd of July, the Anna, F. Schmidt, of Maine, from +Boston for San Francisco; and another cautious Yankee transformed into +an Englishman; and then came a large ship flying before the wind, with +all sail set to her royals, and answering the Alabama's challenge with a +gun from her own bow port. + +A man-of-war this, from her fashion of replying, even had the fact not +been sufficiently apparent from the cut of her heavy yards and lofty +spars. An enemy, perhaps! And wild with the hope of a fight, though it +be with an enemy not much less than double her size, away flies the +Alabama, at top speed of sail and steam, in chase. The sea was smooth, +though with a strong breeze; and ere long the saucy little cruiser +ranged up alongside of the fine frigate, with ten black muzzles grinning +through his ports on either side. + +"This is the Confederate States ship Alabama!" rang out from the +quarter-deck, as the two ships flew through the water, side by +side:--"What ship's that?" + +But there was to be no fight that day. The chase contented herself with +the laconic reply, "Her Britannic Majesty's ship Diomede;" and went +tearing along upon her course under the tremendous press of canvas, +beneath which her spars were bending like a whip, and was soon out of +sight, evidently bound on some errand that would not brook delay. + +Some small compensation for this disappointment was found two days +afterwards in the capture of the fine ship Express, of Boston, from +Callao for Antwerp, loaded with guano, the particulars of which are +recorded as follows:-- + +CASE OF THE SHIP EXPRESS. + +Ship under United States colours and register; cargo guano, shipped by +Senan, Valdeavellano and Co., at Callao, and consigned to J. Sescau and +Co., at Antwerp. On the back of this bill of lading is the following +endorsement: "Nous soussignes charge d'affaires et consul general de +France a Lima, certifions que la chargement de mille soixante douze de +register de Huano specifie au present connaissement, est propriete +neutre." + +Fait a Lima, le 27 Janvier, 1863. + +(Signed and impressed with the Consular seal.) + +This certificate fails to be of any value as proof, for two reasons: +first, it is not sworn to; and secondly, it simply avers the property to +be neutral (the greater part of it, for it does not touch the guano in +sacks), instead of pointing out the owner or owners. A Consul may +authenticate evidence by his seal, but when he departs from the usual +functions of a Consul, and becomes a witness, he must give his testimony +under oath, like other witnesses. This certificate, therefore, does not +even amount to an _ex parte_ affidavit. If the property had been in the +shipper's or consignee's name, it would have been quite as easy to say +so as to put the certificate in its present shape. Why, then, was the +simple declaration that the property was neutral made use of?--the law +with which every Consul, and more especially a charge d'affaires, is +supposed to be acquainted with, declaring them to be insufficient? The +conclusion from these two facts--viz., that there was no oath taken, and +that there was no owner named--seemed to be that the Consul gave a sort +of matter-of-course certificate, upon the application of some one who +declared the property to be neutral, perhaps with a knowledge to the +fact, or contrary to the fact, neither party taking any oath. Now, the +presumption of law being, that goods found in an enemy's ship belong to +the enemy, unless a distinct neutral character be given to them, by +pointing out the _real owner_, by proper documentary proof, as neither +the bill of lading nor the certificate, which is a mere statement of a +fact, like the bill of lading, not under oath, nor the Master's +testimony, who knows nothing (see his deposition) except as he has been +told by the shipper, amounts to proper documentary proof, the ship and +cargo are both condemned. It must be admitted that this is a case in +which, perhaps, a prize court would grant "further proof;" but as I +cannot do this, and as a distinct neutral character is not impressed +upon the property by former evidence, I must act under the presumption +of law. Sect. 3rd, Phillimore, 596. The charter-party in this case +describes the charterers, J. Sescau and Co., of Antwerp, as agents of +the supreme Peruvian Government. But if so, why was it not certificated +by the government, as was done in the case of the Washington, captured +and released on bond by this ship? And then the master swears that _the +shippers told him_ that the cargo belonged to them; and if the Peruvian +Government must resort to a French official for a certificate, why not, +then, on oath made before him? and why did he not state the fact that it +so belonged, which would have protected it? + + * * * * * + +The Alabama was now again heading for the Cape, the Anna Schmidt having +yielded a supply of bread sufficient, with strict economy, to last out +the passage. There she arrived on the 29th July, anchoring in Saldanha +Bay, at about 1.45 P.M. + +_Thursday, July 30th._--Last night the sky and atmosphere were +singularly brilliant. Landed this morning at eight, to get sight for my +chronometers, this being the first time that I ever set foot on the +Continent of Africa. Saldanha is a gloomy, desert-looking place, the +shore comprised of sand and rock, without trees, but with green patches +here and there. There are three or four farm-houses in sight, scattered +over the hills. The farmers here are mostly graziers. The cattle are +fine and good; a great number of goats graze on the hills, and +sheep-raising is extensive, the mutton being particularly fine. Small +deer are abundant. We had a venison steak for breakfast. The little +islands in the bay abound in rabbits, and there is good +pheasant-shooting in the valleys. Already a party of officers has gone +out to stretch their limbs, and enjoy the luxury of shooting. + +_July 31st._--Took a stroll on shore, and walked round some fine +oat-fields. The soil resembles our hummock land in Florida, and produces +finely. Engaged caulking, painting, &c. An abundance of wild-flowers in +bloom. Huge blocks of granite lie about the sand, and from the tops of +projections, &c. + +_Saturday, Aug. 1st._--I returned on board, after a stroll on shore, at +2 P.M. During my walk I met some farmers in a four-horse waggon coming +to see the ship. They brought me a wild peacock--not quite so large as +our wild turkey. It was without the gorgeous plumage of the domestic +bird. The schooner Atlas came in this afternoon, with letters for me +from some merchants at Cape Town, offering their services to supply me +with coal, &c., and expressing their good-will, &c., &c. I took occasion +by this vessel, which returned immediately, to write to the Governor, +Sir Philip B. Wodehouse, informing him of my presence here. + +_Sunday, Aug. 2nd._--The inhabitants say that this winter has been +remarkable for its general good weather, and for the few gales they have +had. Crowds of country people, from far and near, came on board to look +at the ship to-day. + +_Monday, Aug. 3rd._--Another crowd of visitors to-day, who came in their +country waggons and on horseback. They all speak Dutch, and it is rare +to find one among them who speaks English. Although it is nearly half a +century since England took final possession of the colony, the English +language has made but little progress, the children being taught by a +Dutch schoolmaster, and the papers being, many of them, printed in +Dutch. There was an intelligent young _boer_ (about twenty-three) among +them, who had never been on board a ship before. He was quite excited by +the novelty of everything he saw. Some of the female visitors were +plump, ruddy, Dutch girls, whose large rough hands, and awkward bows and +curtsies, showed them to be honest lasses from the neighboring farms, +accustomed to milking the cows and churning the butter. I found the +geranium growing wild in my rambles to-day. Just as we were going to +sun-down quarters, a boat came alongside with the body of Third +Assistant-engineer Cummings, who accidentally shot himself with his gun. + +_Tuesday, Aug. 4th._--In the afternoon, at three, the funeral procession +started from shore with the body of the deceased engineer. He was taken +to a private cemetery about a mile and a half distant, and interred with +the honours due to his grade, the First Lieutenant reading the funeral +service. This is the first burial we have had from the ship. + +_Wednesday, Aug. 5th._--At 6 A.M. got up the anchor, and getting under +way, steamed out of the bay and shaped our course for Cape Town. At 9.30 +descried a sail a point on the starboard bow, and at 10.30 came up with +and sent a boat on board of the Confederate barque Tuscaloosa, and +brought Lieutenant Lowe on board. He reported having captured, on the +31st July the American ship Santee, from the eastward, laden with rice, +certificated as British property, and bound for Falmouth. He released +her on ransom for 150,000 dollars. I directed Lieutenant Lowe to proceed +to Simons Bay for supplies. Steamed in for the town. At 12.30 made a +barque, two points on starboard bow; gave chase, and at about 2 P.M. +came up with and hove the chase, she having up United States colours. +This was a close pursuit, as the barque was not more than five or six +miles from the shore when we came up with her. The Master might have +saved himself if he had stood directly in for the land; but we ran down +upon him under English colours, and he had no suspicion of our character +until it was too late. The United States consul at once protested +against our violation of British waters (!). The Governor telegraphed to +the Admiral (Walker), at Simon's Bay, to send a man-of-war round; and +about 10 P.M. her Majesty's steamship Valorous, Captain Forsyth, came in +and anchored. Some correspondence has passed between the Governor and +myself on the subject of the capture, and I believe he is satisfied as +to distance, &c. Put a prize crew on board the prize (Sea Bride), and +directed her to stand off and on until further orders. The moment our +anchor was dropped we were crowded with visitors. + +_Thursday, Aug. 6th._--Notwithstanding the bad weather, the ship has +been crowded with visitors all the morning, and my cabin has been +constantly filled with people pressing to shake hands with me, and to +express sympathy for my cause. During the night we had some thunder and +lightning, first from the S.E., and then from the N.W.; and the wind +springing up, very gently at first, freshened to a gale by morning, with +showers of rain and hail. Communicated with the prize, and directed the +Prizemaster, in case he should be blown off by a gale, to rendezvous at +Saldanha Bay by the fifteenth of the month. Captain Forsyth, of the +Valorous, came on board. Returned his visit. + +_Friday, Aug. 7th._--I should have been under way for Simons Bay this +morning but for the gale. The wind is blowing very fresh from northward +and westward, with dense clouds climbing up and over the Table, Lion's +head, &c.--presenting a very fine spectacle, with the rough waters, the +ships with struck upper yards, and the town half enveloped with flying +mists, &c. The bold watermen in all the gale are cruising about the bay +under reefed sails, some of them with anchors and cables, ready to +assist any ships that may require it. Last night, in the first watch, a +sail was reported to be on the shore near the lighthouse and firing +signal guns. Very soon we saw two or three boats put out to her +assistance. In the morning we heard that it was a Brazilian brig, and +that the crew was saved. The brig is fast breaking up in the gale. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +_Wrecked!--A narrow escape--Respect for neutral waters--The Martha +Wenzell--At the Cape--Dense fogs--Heavy weather--"Are you a vessel of +war?"---Firmness and obstinacy--Simon's Town--Misrepresentations--A +little rest--Land-sharks--A night scene--To the Indian Ocean--The barque +Amanda._ + + +_Saturday, August 8th,_ 1863.--The gale broke last night, but there is +still some breeze blowing, and the sea is quite rough. Last night a +Bremen brig was wrecked off Point Monille. We heard her firing guns, and +I feared at first it was our prize; and yet I could not conceive how my +Prizemaster, who was acquainted with the soundings, could have made such +a mistake. The weather has checked the throng of visitors, and yet a few +get off to us, asking for autographs, and looking curiously at the ship. +We are finishing our repairs, and getting supplies on board. Our prize +has not made her appearance to-day. She will rendezvous at Saldanha Bay +on the 15th inst. + +_Sunday, August 9th,_ 1863.--Weather has again become fine. At 6 A.M. +precisely, we moved out of the bay, and steamed along the coast towards +the Cape. We gave chase to two sail off the mouth of False Bay, and +overhauling them, one proved to be an English, and the other an American +barque. The latter we boarded; but when I came to get bearings and plot +my position, it unfortunately turned out that I was within a mile, or a +mile and a quarter, of a line drawn from the Cape Lighthouse to the +opposite headland of the bay, and therefore within the prescribed limit +of jurisdiction. The master of the barque, in the meantime, having come +on board, I informed him of those facts, and told him to return to, and +take possession of his ship, as I had no authority to exercise any +control over him; which he did, and in a few minutes more, we were under +steam standing up the bay. What a scene for the grim old Cape to look +down upon. The vessel boarded was the Martha Wenzell, of Boston, from +Akyab for Falmouth. At 2 P.M. anchored in Simon's Bay, and was boarded +by a Lieutenant from the flag-ship of Admiral Walker. + +_Monday, August 10th._--Weather fine. I called on Admiral Walker at his +residence, and was presented by him to his family, and spent an +agreeable half hour with them, giving them a brief outline of our +quarrel and war. Dined on board the Chinese gunboat Kwang-Tung, +Commander Young. This is one of Laird's side-wheel steamers, built for +Captain Sherrard Osborne's fleet. Capt. Bickford, of the Narcissus, and +Lieut. Wood, flag Lieutenant, dined with us. + +_Tuesday, August 11th._--Weather fine. Visited the flag-ship of +Rear-Admiral Sir Baldwin W. Walker and the Kwang-Tung. Employed caulking +and refitting ship. Many visitors on board. + +_Wednesday, August 12th._--Wind fresh from the southward and eastward. +Photographers and visitors on board. The Kwang-Tung made a trial trip of +her engines, after having repaired them, with the Admiral's family on +board. Wind freshened to a gale towards night. + +_Thursday, August 13th.-_--Weather cloudy; blowing a moderate gale from +the S.E. The Tuscaloosa is ready for sea, but is detained by the +weather. Dined with Rear-Admiral Walker; Governor Sir Philip Wodehouse +and lady were of the party. My sailors are playing the devil as usual. +They manage to get liquor on board the ship, and then become +insubordinate and unruly. We have to force some of them into irons. The +man Weir, whom I made a Quartermaster, has run off; also two of the +Stewards, and two dingy boys; the latter were apprehended and brought on +board. + +_Friday, August 14th._--We have a dense fog to-day and calm. The +Tuscaloosa, which went out at daylight, anchored some four or five miles +outside the harbour. The mail steamer from England arrived at Cape Town +to-day, bringing us news of Lee's invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania. +Finished our repairs this evening. + +_Saturday, August 15th._--We were ready to get under way at daylight +this morning, but were delayed by the dense fog until eleven o'clock, +when we moved out of the harbour. As we neared the Cape another fog bank +rolled over and enveloped us for a couple of hours. At 2.30, boarded an +English barque. At 3, let the steam go down, and raised the propeller. +Weather threatening. Barometer 29.80. Took single reefs in the topsails. +At 11 P.M. a steamer passed close, to leeward of us. + +Light winds and thick weather now for rather more than a week, varied by +a stiff northwester on the 22nd August, lasting over the greater part of +two days. + +_Tuesday, August 25th._--Dense, cloudy morning. Got a glimpse of the sun +and latitude at twelve o'clock. Our freshwater condenser is about giving +out, the last supply of water being so salt as to be scarcely drinkable. +This will be a serious disaster for us if we cannot remedy it at Cape +Town, for we have no tank room for more than eight days' supply, and no +place to store casks except on deck, where they would interfere with the +guns. And so I have borne up to run for Angra Pequena, where I expect to +pick up my prize-crew that I may return to Simon's Bay to see what can +be done, without further delay. I am quite knocked up with cold and +fever, but sick as I may be, I can never lie by and be quiet, the +demands of duty being inexorable and incessant. + +_Thursday, August 27th._--Morning fine; made all sail at early daylight +and stood in for the land, having every promise of getting latitude at +meridian for position, and running in to an anchor early in the +afternoon. But an ominous fog-bank, that we had noticed hanging over the +land for a short time before, suddenly enveloped us at eight, and shut +us in so completely as to render it difficult to see a hundred yards in +any direction; the wind the while blowing fresh from the south; weather +cool and uncomfortable, and the rigging dripping rain. Hove to, and +awaited anxiously the disappearance of the fog; but hour after hour +passed, and still no change--six, seven bells struck, and the fog +appeared to grow more dense, and the wind to increase; wore ship, and +put her head off shore; went below, and turned in, in supreme disgust. +At 1.30 aroused by the report that there was a topsail schooner close +aboard. She ran down for us, when we backed main topsail, and sent a +boat and brought the Master on board. Being like ourselves bound for +Angra, he consented to pilot us in. Filled away, and made sail. We were +to-day, at noon, by computation, W.S.W. from Pedestal Point (Angra); +distance about ten miles. The fog continued most relentlessly until 4 +P.M., when it disappeared, and we wore ship for the land, and were +probably on the point of making it just at sunset, when the fog came on +again, and enveloped everything in impenetrable darkness. Wore ship +seaward, and stood off and on during the night: the weather blustering. + +_Friday, August 28th._--Morning cloudy, wind blowing half a gale. At +8.50 took a single reef in the topsail--the schooner in sight to +leeward. At 9.30 made the land, and soon came in full view of it. My +would-be pilot could not recognise it, until the schooner, having run in +ahead of us, ran down, to leeward, by which we knew that she had made +out our position. I followed her, and ran in, and anchored in Sheerwater +Bay; my pilot being of no sort of assistance to me, he seeming to have a +very imperfect knowledge of the locality. Soon after anchoring, a boat +came out of the lagoon to us, and we recognised some of our prize-crew +of the Sea Bride in her. + +In effect the Tuscaloosa and the prize had both been three days in the +harbour of Angra Pequena. In the afternoon we got up our anchor again, +and ran into the lagoon, and anchored near the Sea Bride in seven +fathoms of water. A number of the officers are off this evening to visit +the Tuscaloosa--no doubt to get a _good drink of fresh water_. I have +sent my pitcher for some, being nearly parched up with the salt-water we +have been drinking for the last three days. We are lying in _smooth +water_, in a snug harbour, and I hope to get what I have not had for +several nights--a good night's rest. A more bleak and comfortless +prospect, in the way of landscape, could scarcely present itself to the +eye. Nothing but land and rock--not a sprig of vegetation of any kind to +be seen. In fact it never rains here, and this is consequently a guano +region. We passed a bank of guano in Halifax island, a shanty, a few +labourers, and a large army of penguins spread out with much solemnity +on the island. + +_Saturday, August 29th._--Getting on board flour, &c., from the Sea +Bride, and water from the schooner--1500 gallons, which will enable us +to cruise some twenty days. Hauled a borrowed sieve in the afternoon, +and caught a fine lot of fish. + +_Sunday, August 30th._--At 10.30 mustered the crew, and landed James +Adams, O.S., discharged by sentence of court-martial, with forfeiture of +pay and prize-money. + +_Monday, August 31st,_--At 7 A.M. got under way, and stood out of the +harbour. + + * * * * * + +The Alabama was now visited by a succession of the heavy gales prevalent +during winter time in the neighbourhood of the Cape. On the 7th +Sept.--Captain Semmes writes--we had a rough, ugly night of it, with a +continuance, and even increase of the gale, and a short and abrupt sea, +in which the ship occasionally rolled and pitched with violence, +frequently thumping my cot against the beams overhead and awaking me. +Shipped large quantities of water through the propeller well; cabin-deck +leaking. + +_Tuesday, September 8th._--Weather cloudy, the sun shining faintly +through the grey mass. Gale continues; the wind (E.S.E.) not having +varied a hair for the last sixteen hours. Barometer gradually falling; +ship rolling and pitching in the sea, and all things dreary-looking and +uncomfortable. I am supremely disgusted with the sea and all its +belongings; the fact is, I am past the age when men ought to be +subjected to the hardships and discomforts of the sea. Seagoing is one +of those constant strifes which none but the vigorous, the hardy, and +the hopeful--in short, the youthful, or at most, the middle-aged--should +be engaged in. The very roar of the wind through the rigging, with its +accompaniments of rolling and tumbling, hard, overcast skies, gives me +the blues. This is a double anniversary with me. It was on the 8th of +September that I received my first order for sea-service (1826); and it +was on the 8th of September that Norton's Division fought the battle of +Moline del Ray (1847). What a history of the United States has to be +written since the last event! How much of human weakness and wickedness +and folly has been developed in these years! But the North will receive +their reward, under the inevitable and rigorous laws of a just +government of the world. + +Another week passed with a solitary excitement in the shape of an +obstinate English skipper, who stoutly refused to heave to. The +following account of this affair is extracted from the journal of one of +the Alabama's officers:-- + +Towards evening of the 10th of September the wind fell considerably. At +8.30 P.M. a sail in sight on weather bow. Immediately we turned to +windward, and stood in chase. At 9.45 fired a gun to heave chase to. +Chase, however, still kept on her course. At 10.35 we ran up alongside, +and the officer of the deck hailed her--"Ship ahoy!" "Halloa! heave to, +and I will send a boat on board." "What do you want me to heave to +for?" "That's my business." "Are you a vessel of war?" Captain Semmes +then waxing wroth, replied, "I'll give you five minutes to heave to in." +"You have no right to heave me to unless you tell me who you are." "I'll +let you know who I am." To officer of the deck--"Load that gun with +shot, sir, and rain on that fellow--he's stupid enough to be a +foreigner." "Tell me who you are," yelled out the master of the ship. +"If you are not hove to in five minutes I'll fire into you." Addressing +the officer of the watch, Captain Semmes asked, "Is that gun ready for +firing, sir?" "All ready, sir." "Then stand by to fire." + +The Captain of the ship beginning to realize the fact that we were in +earnest, rolled out a volley of oaths, not only loud, but deep also. +That little ebullition being finished, he hauled his mainsail up and lay +to. Captain Semmes then gave me orders to board and ascertain who the +vessel was, as the reluctance to heave to was suspicious in itself. + +On boarding, the Mate met me at the gangway and introduced me to a tall, +burly man, who proved to be the Master. With the utmost suavity I +inquired, "What ship is this?" "Who are you?" he blurted out. "What ship +is this, captain?" I repeated. "I sha'n't tell you," was the polite +reply. "Captain, what vessel is this?" "Are you a man-of-war?" asked he. +"Of course we are," replied I. "Who are you?" queried he. + +With the greatest distinctness possible, and with the utmost sternness, +I said, "We are--we are the United States steamer Iroquois, Captain +Palmer, on a cruise; and now, having told you this, I have something +more to tell you--namely, that I am come on board to ask questions, not +to answer them; further, I have asked you three times who you are, and +have not yet received an answer. So just step down into the cabin, and +produce the ship's papers." + +With a very ill grace he descended into the cabin, I following, and I +had just removed my cap when he roared out, "Who are you? Are you +English? Say you are an English man-of-war, and I will let you look at +my papers." Said I, "Captain, either you are crazy or else you think I +am. Here we fire a gun, and any man with a grain of sense would have +understood that it was meant for a ship to heave to, more especially +when a nation is at war. You are told to heave to, are boarded, and +asked a question. Instead of replying, you ask, perfectly savagely, 'Who +are you?' I tell you we are the United States ship Iroquois, and then +you ask, 'Are you English? Tell me you are an English man-of-war!' It's +absurd, I tell you." + +"Mr. Officer," yelled he, "'crazy!' 'sense!' 'absurd!' By G--d, sir, if +an English man-of-war were here, no Yankee dare set foot on this deck, +sir. Who are you?" "Captain," I said to the man, "it is time this piece +of folly were ended. Now understand me. Look at that clock: it wants +twelve minutes to eleven; I want to see your papers; I give you two +minutes to produce them in. If, at ten minutes to eleven, the papers are +not forthcoming, I shall adopt measures to place them in my possession." + +I then sat down. Question after question did the worthy skipper ask, but +no reply did I deign to give. At length it wanted but a few seconds to +the time specified, when with a bad grace the irate Master produced his +key, unlocked his safe, and brought forth his papers. Upon examination I +found it was the ship Flora, of and to Liverpool, from Manilla, with a +general cargo. + +While looking over his papers, a ceaseless string of interrogations was +kept up by the Master, to which I returned no answer, merely returning +the papers, and remarking that he had given himself and us also, some +really causeless detention. "Have you any news, captain?" I asked. "Yes, +I have some news; news that some three or four of you would like to be +acquainted with, but news that one of you would rather not know. But I'd +see you Yankees sunk forty fathoms deep before I would tell you it." +"Come, captain, don't be uncharitable; you know what is written in the +Bible." + +He then went on to state what a bad passage he had made so far, having +met with a succession of baffling winds ever since he had left Manilla; +that he had made all sail for a fair wind, and which had only lasted for +a few hours, the wind coming ahead again; and it looking threatening, he +had reduced sail considerably, and was making but slow progress when he +was stopped by us. + +"Stopped by a Yankee, too! That's something I won't forget in a hurry," +said he. + +I could not help laughing at the "offended majesty" air he assumed, and +wishing him a speedy passage, returned on board. From one of my boat's +crew I learnt that the Flora had either seen or been boarded a couple of +days ago by a two-masted long-funnelled steamer, supposed by the Master +to have been a Confederate, though showing Yankee colours. + + * * * * * + +_Wednesday, September 16th._--At 3 P.M. doubled the Cape of Good Hope and +steamed into the anchorage at Simon's Town, which we reached at about +4.30 P.M. The Vanderbilt had left on Friday last, and was reported to +have hovered near the Cape for a day or two. Greatly disarranged by the +news from home--Vicksburg and Port Hudson fallen; Rosecrans' army +marching southwards; and Lee having recrossed the Potomac. Our poor +people seem to be terribly pressed by the Northern hordes. + +But we shall fight it out to the end, and the end will be what an +all-wise Providence shall decree. + +_Thursday, September 17th._--Called on the Admiral, and received a visit +from the Captain of the Narcissus. + +Various misrepresentations had been made to the Admiral as to my +proceedings since I left, &c., by the United States Consul, which I +explained away. Spent an agreeable half-hour with the Admiral and his +lady. There being no coal here--the Vanderbilt having taken it all--I +made arrangements for it to be sent to me from Cape Town. + +_Saturday, September 19._--The steamer Kadie arrived with coals for me +from Cape Town. Hauled her alongside, and commenced coaling. Walked on +shore, and lunched with Captain Bickford. Dispatched letters for the +mail-steamer for England. Liberty-men drunk, and few returning. Dined +with the Admiral. A very pleasant party, composed entirely of naval +officers, including the Captains of the ships present, the +Captain-superintendent of the dockyard, &c. After dinner the young +ladies made their appearance in the drawing-room, and we had some music. + +_Sunday, September 20th._--Hauled the ship over to get at the copper +around the blow-pipe, which was worn off. Visited the shore at half-past +nine, took a long walk, dropped in upon the Post-captain, and went to +church--Father Kiernan saying mass. He is an earnest, simple-minded +Irish priest, with a picturesque little church on the hill-side, and a +small congregation composed chiefly of soldiers and sailors--a seaman +serving mass. Captain Coxon and a couple of the Lieutenants of the +squadron being present. Liberty-men returning in greater numbers +to-day--the money is giving out. + +_Monday, September 21st._--At daylight, hauled the steamer alongside +again, and recommenced coaling. Called to see the ladies at the +Admiral's after dinner, and walked through their quite extensive garden, +winding up a ravine with a rapid little stream of water passing through +it. + +_Tuesday, September 22nd._--A large number of liberty-men on shore yet. +The Yankee Consul, with his usual unscrupulousness, is trying to +persuade them to desert. With one or two exceptions, the whole crew have +broken their liberty--petty officers and all. With many improvements in +the character of the seaman of the present day, in regard to +intelligence, he is, in some respects, as bad as ever. Finished coaling +this evening. + +_Wednesday, September 23rd._--Refitting the fore-topmasts. Some twenty +men still absent. A few are picked up by the Simon's Town police for the +sake of the reward. And the sailor-landlords, those pests of all +sea-ports, are coming on board and presenting bills for board, &c. Of +course these claims are not listened to. It is a common contrivance with +Jack and these sharks, to endeavor to extort money out of their ships. + +The process is simple enough. The landlord gives Jack a glass or two of +bad liquor, and it may be, a meal or two, and it is agreed between them +that a bill of twenty times the value received shall be acknowledged. +The land-shark charges in this exorbitant way for the risk he runs of +not being able to get anything, so he has nothing to complain of when he +happens to come across a captain who is disposed to protect his seamen +from such extortion. Knowing the villains well, I did not permit them to +impose upon me. + +_Thursday, September 24th._--Waiting for the chance of getting over my +deserters from Cape Town. Informed by telegraph, in the afternoon, that +it was useless to wait longer, as the police declined to act. It thus +appears that the authorities declined to enable me to recover my +men--fourteen in number, enough to cripple my crew. This is another of +those remarkable interpretations of neutrality in which John Bull seems +to be so particularly fertile. Informed by telegrams from Cape Town that +vessels had arrived reporting the Vanderbilt on two successive days off +Cape Aguthas and Point Danger. The moon being near its full, I preferred +not to have her blockade me in Simon's Bay, as it might detain me until +I should have a "dark moon," and being all ready for sea, this would +have been irksome; so the gale having lulled somewhat, towards 9 P.M., I +ordered steam to be got up, and at half-past eleven, we moved out from +our anchors. + +The lull only deceived us, as we had scarcely gotten under way, before +the gale raged with increased violence, and we were obliged to buffet it +with all the force of our four boilers. The wind blew fiercely; but +still we drove her between five and six knots per hour in the very teeth +of it. + +Nothing could exceed the peculiar weird-like aspect of the scene, as we +struggled under the full moonlight with the midnight gale. The +surrounding mountains and high lands, seemingly at a great distance in +the hazy atmosphere, had their tops piled with banks of fleecy clouds, +remaining as motionless as snow-banks, which they very much +resembled--the cold south wind assisting the illusion; the angry waters +of the bay breaking in every direction, occasionally dashing on board of +us; the perfectly clear sky, with no sign of a cloud anywhere to be +seen, except those piled on the mountains already mentioned;--the bright +full moon, shedding her mysterious rays on all surrounding +objects--illuminating, yet distancing them--all these were things to be +remembered. And last, the revolving light on the Cape, at regular +intervals, lighting up the renowned old headland. + +We passed the Cape at about 3 A.M., and bearing away gave her the +trysails reduced by their bonnets, and close-reefed topsails; and I +turned in to snatch a brief repose, before the trials of another day +should begin. + +_Friday, September 25th.--Delivered the jail_, as usual, upon getting to +sea. It will take several days, I am afraid, to work the grog out of the +crew, before they are likely to settle down into good habits and +cheerfulness. + +The next fortnight's run through the heavy gales that prevail almost +incessantly in the higher latitudes of the Indian Ocean, brought the +Alabama some 2400 miles upon her course. Two days more brought her off +the Island of St. Paul's, a distance of 2840 miles. Another couple of +days, and she had made about sufficient easting, and began to shape her +course towards the north--the "sunny north." + +A few short extracts from the journal will give sufficient idea of the +period thus passed through:-- + +_October 16th._--Lat. 35.23; Long. 89.55; no observations for current; +distance some 135 miles. The gale in which we lay-to ten hours, having +broken in upon our day's work. Bar. 29.57, and on a stand; running +before the wind, under close-reef and reefed foresail. Afternoon gale +increased, and between twelve and one it blew furiously, the whole sea +being a sheet of foam, the air rendered misty by the spray, and the +heavy seas threatening to jump on board of us, although we were scudding +at the rate of very little less than fifteen knots--the whole +accompanied by an occasional snow-squall from dark, threatening-looking +clouds. It is not often that a wilder scene is beheld: in the meantime +the Cape pigeons are whirling around us, occasionally poising themselves +against the stern, as serenely, apparently, as if the elements were at +rest. The barometer has remained perfectly stationary at 29.57 during +this blow for seven hours (from morning to 7 P.M.), without varying a +single hair's breadth, during all of which time the gale was raging with +unmitigated violence from about S.W. by W. to S.W. During this period, +we were travelling about on an average speed of eleven knots; and of +course this must have been the rate of speed of the vortex--distant from +us probably 150 to 200 miles. At 7 P.M. the mercury began to rise +slowly, and at 8 was at 27.60, the weather looking less angry, and the +squalls not so frequent or violent. Verily, our good ship, as she is +darted ahead on the top of one of those huge, long Indian Ocean waves +that pursue her, seems like a mere cock-boat. + +It is remarkable that this is the anniversary of the cyclone we took off +the banks of Newfoundland. + +_October 18th_--Observing has been particularly vexatious during the +past week. What with the heavy seas constantly rising between the +observer and the horizon, preventing him from producing a contact at the +very instant, it may be, that he is ready for it, the passage of a +flying cloud under the sun when his horizon is all right, and the heavy +rolling of the ship requiring him to pay the utmost care to the +preservation of his balance, and sometimes even to "lose his +sight"--from the necessity of withdrawing one hand suddenly from his +instrument to grasp the rail or the rigging to prevent himself from +falling--what with all these things, the patience of even as patient a +man as myself is sorely tried. Perhaps this stormy tumbling about at sea +is the reason why seamen are so calm and quiet on shore. We come to hate +all sorts of commotion, whether physical or moral. + +At last the region of endless gales was passed, and escaping entirely +the southern belt of calms, the Alabama dashed along in the S.E. trade. +On the 26th October, as she was nearing the Line, news reached her from +an English barque, that the United States sloop Wyoming was on guard in +the Sunda Straits, accompanied by a three-masted schooner. This sloop +being about the Alabama's own size, hopes of a fight were again rife +among both officers and men; and great was their impatience when the +trade at length parted from them, and light, variable winds again began +to baffle the eager ship. + +Drawing slowly nearer to the Straits, news still came from passing ships +of the enemy's presence there, reports going at length so far as to +state, that she had been specially dispatched thither by the United +States consul at Batavia, in search of the Alabama herself. + +At last, on the 6th November, came another prize, the first since +leaving the Cape of Good Hope, nearly six weeks before. She proved to be +the barque Amanda, from Manilla to Queenstown for orders, the following +being the particulars of her case:-- + +CASE OF THE BARQUE AMANDA. + +Ship under U.S. colours and register. Cargo, sugar and hemp. +Charter-party to proceed to Europe or the United States. On the face of +each of the three bills of lading appears the following certificate for +the British Vice-consul at Manilla:-- + +"I hereby certify that Messrs. Ker and Co., the shippers of the +merchandize specified in this bill of lading, are British subjects +established in Manilla, and that according to invoices produced, the +said merchandize is shipped by order, and for account of Messrs. +Halliday, Fox, and Co., British subjects of London, in Great Britain." + +As nobody swears to anything, of course this certificate is valueless, +and the presumption of law prevails, viz., "that all property found +under the enemy's flag is enemy's property," until the contrary be shown +by competent and credible testimony under oath, duly certified to by a +Consul or another officer. Ship and cargo condemned. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +_New cruising-ground--Case of the Winged Racer--A good chase--The +Contest--On the look-out--Not to be deceived--No prizes--Condore--A +French settlement--Kindly greetings--Monkey Island--Far from +home--Whistling Locusts--Instinct--Why no one sees a dead +monkey--Homewards--Yankee ships scarce._ + + +The 8th of November saw the Alabama again in sight of land, and after +anchoring for a night off Flat Point, and sending a boat ashore, in the +vain hope of finding in the Malay villages a supply of some sort of +fresh provision, she again lifted her anchor and proceeded to sea under +steam. + + * * * * * + +_Tuesday, November 10th._--Passed between the islands of Beezee and +Sonbooko, both high and picturesque, the channel about a mile wide, some +villages under the groves of cocoa-nut trees on the former. The naked +natives coming down to the beach to gaze at us. We ran through the +Strait of Sunda about 2 P.M., passing to the westward of Thwart-the-Way. + +Soon after passing out of the Strait and shaping our course, we +discovered a clipper-looking ship, under topsails, standing towards +North Island. Gave chase, although we were in the midst of a rain +squall, and in the course of fifteen or twenty minutes we were near +enough to him to make him show his colours. They were United States, and +upon being boarded he proved to be the Winged Racer, a vessel for which +we had been hunting outside the Strait. We captured him and sent him to +anchor about three miles from North Island (the Island bearing about +W.S.W.), and ran up and anchored near him ourselves. By working hard we +were enabled to get everything we wanted out of him by 2 o'clock A.M.; +and having despatched her crew, together with the crew of the Amanda, in +the boats of the prize, at their own request, we got under way at 4 +A.M., and steamed out of sight of the coast by daylight. We were +fortunate enough to get some fowls, fruits, and vegetables from a +bum-boat of Malays, who made a business of supplying ships. The boat +reported that, when she left Angra about two days before, the Wyoming +was there. Fired the ship. + + * * * * * + +CASE OF THE WINGED RACER. + +Ship under United States colours and register, and no claim of the +neutrality of the cargo among the papers; ship bound to New York. Ship +and cargo condemned. + + * * * * * + +_Wednesday, November 11th._--Made the North Watcher soon after daylight, +and finding that if I continued on at the same speed, I should be up +with Gasper Strait early in the night, and should be obliged to anchor +until daylight, I ordered the steam to be let down, and we were about +making arrangements for getting up the propeller, when a sail was +descried on the port bow, close hauled on the starboard tack. She soon +proved to be a rakish-looking ship, evidently United States. Kept away +from her from time to time as she passed towards our bow, and when we +came near enough we showed her the United States colours. She replied +with the same. I then fired a gun and hoisted our own colours (new +flag). Instead of obeying this signal to heave to, she made sail and +ran. We at once started the fires afresh, the steam having gone entirely +down, and made all sail in pursuit. The chase at this time was about +four miles from us, and for a long time we gained scarcely any thing +upon her. We threw a rifleshot astern him, but he disregarded this also. +Finally, after an exciting chase of one hour and a half (shifting guns, +and sending men aft to trim ship, and giving her a full head of steam), +we came near enough to him to throw a 32 pound shot between his masts, +when he shortened sail, came to the wind, and hove to. If the wind had +been _very_ fresh (it was blowing a good breeze) he would probably have +ran away from us. He proved to be the clipper ship Contest, from +Yokohama (Japan) for New York Captured him, and anchored in the open sea +in fourteen fathoms of water, and took from the prize such supplies as +we wanted. All our people having returned on board about nightfall, it +was discovered soon after that the prize was dragging her anchor, which +she did so fast in the freshened breeze that a boat which was sent to +board and fire her sculled until the officer nearly lost sight of us, +and fearing that if he continued he might lose sight of us altogether in +a rain squall, returned. Got up steam immediately and weighed anchor, +and ran down to the prize, sent a boat crew on board of her and burned +her. + + * * * * * + +CASE OF THE CONTEST. + +Ship under United States colours and register, and no claim for cargo; +ship and cargo condemned. + + * * * * * + +Concluding, that on receiving intelligence of the Alabama's arrival, the +Wyoming, if, in truth, she was near the Strait, would run at once for +Gaspar Passage in search of her, Captain Semmes now determined to double +upon his enemy, and gave her the start of him, holding himself for a few +days in the Java Sea, a little east of the Strait. A week passed by +without any incident worthy of record. At length a change came. + +_Thursday, November 19th_.--At 3.30 P.M. boarded the English ship +Avalanche (transferred) two or three days from Singapore, with +newspapers from England of the 10th of October--only forty days! +Gratified at the general good aspect of the news, and particularly at +our victory at Chicamauga. Reports several American ships laid up at +Singapore, and a general stagnation of American trade. This ship came to +anchor some two miles astern of us, and we sent off the prisoners of the +Contest by her, the Master consenting to take them for a chronometer +which I sent him. He will probably put them on shore at Angra Point. We +first hoisted the Dutch flag, and sent a German, Master's Mate we had, +on board of him; but the Master, when told that we were a Dutch ship of +war, said, "Oh! that won't do; I was on board of her in Liverpool, when +she was launched!" + +_Friday, November 20th_.--Lowered and rigged the cutter, and sent her to +board a couple of barques, which reported four American ships at +Bankok; there about to lay up, lest they should fall in with us, and one +American ship at Manilla. + +_Saturday, November 21st_.--At 3 P.M. got under way under sail, with the +wind from the south-west. + +_Sunday, Nov. 22nd_.--At 3 A.M. lowered the propeller, and went ahead +under steam. Passed within about four miles of Direction Island at 5.15 +P.M. + +_Monday, Nov. 23rd_.--At 8 A.M. made Seraia. + +_Thursday, Nov. 26th_.--Lat. 5.36; Long. 111.42, or within fifty miles +of dangerous ground, towards which the current is setting us. No +anchoring ground. 47 fathoms. After noon, the calm still continuing, let +go a kedge in 50 fathoms of water--mud--and veered to 150 fathoms. + +_Friday, Nov. 27th_.--Noon. The struggle against the current is hopeless +in the death-like calm that prevails, and so we have come-to again with +the kedge. + +_Sunday, Nov. 29th_.--After five days of dead calm, we took the monsoon +this morning at daylight, settling in lightly, and at 9 A.M. we got +under way, and stood to the northward and westward. + +_Thursday, Dec, 3rd_.--At daylight we discovered a small vessel at +anchor near the head of the harbour of the Island of Condore, with +French colours, and awnings and other indications of her being a vessel +of war. Sent a boat in to examine water. Boat returned at 1 P.M. with +the commander of the vessel--a French vessel of war--and I was quite +surprised to learn that we had arrived in civilized waters, and that the +Island of Condore was in the possession of the French. There was a small +garrison of 50 or 60 at the village on the east side. There had been a +recent revolt of the natives, the French officers said; and for this +reason there were few vegetables or fruits to be had, and most of the +natives had betaken themselves to the mountains. Got underway and ran +into the harbour, the Frenchman politely showing me the way, and +anchored in nine fathoms. Got a spring out, so as to present our port +broadside to any enemy that might be disposed to violate neutrality, +and, to save coal, permitted all the fires to go out. A couple of ships, +running before the wind, passed in sight during the day--the ships +prudently running a little out of the track to sight the island in this +uncertain sea. + +_Friday, December 4th._--The harbour is picturesque, with mountains +rising abruptly from the water to the height of 1800 feet, clothed with +dense verdure from water's edge to top, many of the trees being of large +size. The soil is very rich, but there is little cultivated land, the +mountain-sides being too steep. The French have constructed two or three +huts on the northern shore, and a couple of rude jetties, or landing +places of loose stone. Landed on one of these to get sight for the +chronometers. Found a Frenchman overseeing three or four Chinese seamen +chopping wood and thatching a hut. The French make slaves, both here and +on the mainland, of prisoners of war. The island is under the government +of an _Enseign de Vaisseau._ + +The Commander of the Junk is a Midshipman, so that we have gotten among +high dignitaries. Landed at noon, at an inviting little sand-beach on +the south shore, to get latitude--8 deg. 39' 10". Found the ruined hut of a +Frenchman, with his grave close by, and his name carved on the bark of a +tree on the beach. A picturesque burial spot, amid eternal shades, with +the lullaby of the ocean. + +_Saturday, December 5th._--Amused this morning, watching some sedate old +baboons sitting on the sand-beach opposite, and apparently observing the +ship very attentively. Large numbers of these caricatures of humanity +inhabit these islands; yesterday, when a boat landed, great numbers of +young ones were seen gamboling about; but one of the old ones having +called out to them, they soon all disappeared in the thick wood. +Returned the visit of the Frenchman. He is on board a miserable country +craft, of about 40 tons burthen. Sent a boat to the village on the east +side to call on the Governor, and see if we could get some fruit and +vegetables. Boat returned at nightfall. The village is a mere military +port, the native inhabitants, except a few prisoners or slaves, having +fled to the mountains, and no supplies were to be had. The Governor's +residence is a _thatched_ hut, as are all the other houses, with no +industry or taste displayed in their structure. A few patches of +cultivation were visible--rice, fruit, and cotton--the latter looking +rather unpromising. The destroyers of their rice were the monkeys. There +are several varieties of fine large pigeons here, and in abundance. They +are beautiful in feather and fat. A common variety has a green back and +golden tail. This must be a paradise for monkeys, so abundant is their +food in the forests, almost every tree bearing a fruit or nut of some +sort. These French officers had heard and believed that we sunk or +burned every ship we took, _with all on board_, and received the +Paymaster rather coolly at first, but became quite cordial when they +observed we were _Christians_, and did not commit this wholesale murder. + +_Sunday, December 6th_.--Another lonely Sabbath-day--lonely, though in +the midst of one hundred and fifty people. Away, away from home, by half +the circumference of the globe! One of the most frequent and unpleasant +of my experiences since I entered the China Sea, is an _oppressive_ +sense of _great_ distance from home, and the utter strangeness of +everything around me, almost as though I had entered another planet. + +_Monday, December 7th_.--The commander of the island, M. Bizot, visited +me to-day. He is an agreeable and intelligent young man of twenty-four +or five years of age, and appeared very friendly and expressed sympathy +for our cause. His position is a flattering one for a man of his age and +rank, and he seems to have entered upon his duties with pride and zeal. +He brought me a chart of the island, surveyed last year. The French have +been in possession two years and a half. He spoke of my having hoisted +the English flag upon first anchoring, and seemed surprised that we had +not heard of the possession of the island by the French, which, he said, +had been notified to all the Powers. I pleasantly told him that I had +had some notion of taking possession of it myself, but that I had found +the French ahead of me. He brought down for me the welcome present of a +_pig_ and some little fruit, and told me he had a _potato patch_ on +shore, which he would share with me. Fresh provisions of all kinds are +so scarce here that I fear my generous friend has been robbing himself. +He told me that he had one hundred and forty _forcats_--slave-prisoners +--at the village, whom he meant to put to good use in constructing store +and dwelling-houses, &c. The hunters brought on board to-day an East India +bat, or vampire, measuring two feet ten inches from tip to tip of wing. Its +head resembled that of a dog or wolf more than any other animal, its teeth +being very sharp and strong. Among the curiosities of the island is a locust, +that has a whistle almost as loud as that of a railroad. + +_Tuesday, Dec. 8th_.--The Commander of the Junk came on board, and +brought me a couple of fowls. The apes here are very large, and quite +fierce. They will not run from you, but come around you, and grin and +chatter at you. An officer shot one, and he died like a human being, +throwing his hands over his wound and uttering piercing cries! This +monkey was afterwards buried in the sand by his comrades, though the +interment was not quite complete when the operators were interrupted. +This is the reason why nobody ever sees a dead monkey, any more, as the +Singhalese proverb says, than a white crow or a straight cocoa-nut tree. +A curious vegetable product was brought on board to-day, it being to all +appearance a finely-made Havana cigar. The fibre is woody, covered with +a smooth bark, and the colour of dark tobacco. It comes from the tree +perfect in shape, and is not a seed-pod or fruit. One is at a loss to +conceive its use or functions. The illusion caused by its appearance is +perfect. We had no success with the sieve, the fish here being all +jumpers, and jumping out of the net. + +_Wednesday, Dec. 9th_.--The excessive heat and moisture of the climate +here is very enervating. We begin to feel its effects already. It weighs +upon us like a vapour-bath, and we feel indisposed to take the least +exercise; a walk on shore of half a mile or so quite overcomes us. + +_Thursday, Dec. 10th_.--At about 2.30 P.M. a French steamer passed the +Gap, going to the southward. Afterwards informed by the Commander that +it was the mail steamer from Saigon, for Singapore. The Saigon people +are expecting us there. + +_Friday, Dec. 11th_.--In the afternoon the Commander and Surgeon came on +board, bringing us a _bullock_! and some vegetables. + +_Sunday, Dec. 13th_.--The crew dined off the Commander's bullock to-day, +being the first meal of fresh meat since leaving Simon's Town, nearly +three months ago; and yet we have _no one_ on the sick list! +Causes--good water, temperance, strict government, and, as a +consequence, a reasonable degree of contentment, and moderate and +constant employment. The crew has had several runs on shore, too, +without the possibility of getting drunk. A present of cocoa-nuts this +morning from the Commander. This young Frenchman is very attentive to +us. + +_Monday, Dec. 14th_.--To-day we applied the principle of the coffer-dam +to the replacement of the copper around our delivery or blow-pipe, some +three feet below water. The operation proved quite simple and easy of +accomplishment. Getting ready for sea. The news of our "whereabouts" +probably reached Singapore on the evening of Saturday, and it is only +two days from Singapore here, for a fast steamer; and so, whilst the +enemy, should there be one at Singapore, is coming hitherward, we must +be going thitherward to seek coal and provisions. + +_Tuesday, Dec. 15th_.--At daylight got under way, under sail, and stood +out of the harbour--lighting and banking the fires. On account of our +proximity to the shore, and the very light breeze, we had barely room to +pass the point--not more than a ship's length to spare, in case we had +been obliged to let go our anchor. I felt quite nervous for a few +minutes, but held on, and we caught a light breeze that soon sent us +ahead out of danger. + +Well, we are on the sea once more, with our head turned _westward_, or +_homeward_. Shall we ever reach that dear home which we left three years +ago, and which we have yearned after so frequently since? Will it be +battle, or shipwreck, or both, or neither? And when we reach the North +Atlantic, will it still be war, or peace? When will the demon-like +passions of the North be stilled? These are solemn and interesting +questions for us, and an all-wise Providence has kindly hidden the +answers behind the curtain of Fate. A lengthened cruise would not be +politic in these warm seas. The homeward trade of the enemy is now quite +small--reduced probably to twenty or thirty ships per year; and these +may easily evade us by taking the different passages to the Indian +Ocean, of which there are so many, and so widely separated. The foreign +coasting trade (as between one port in China and another, and the trade +to and from Calcutta and to and from Australia), besides facilities for +escape, are almost beyond our reach--at least we could only ransom the +ship, the cargoes being all neutral--that is to say, _such of them as +get cargoes, now not many_. And then there is no cruising or chasing to +be done here successfully, or with safety to oneself, without plenty of +coal; and we can only rely upon coaling once in three months at some +English port. At the other ports there would probably be combinations +made against us, through the influence of the Yankee Consuls. So I will +try my luck around the Cape of Good Hope once more; then to the coast of +Borneo; and thence perhaps to Barbadoes, for coal; and thence---? If the +war be not ended, my ship will need to go into dock, to have much of her +copper replaced, now nearly destroyed by such constant cruising, and to +have her boilers overhauled and repaired; and this can only be properly +done in Europe. Our young officers, who had had so agreeable a change +from the cramped ship to the shores and forests of Condore, with their +guns and their books, had become so attached to the island that they +left it with some regret. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +_In the East--Aor--Marine nomads--Suspicious--At Singapore--A busy +city--Chinese merchants--Whampoa and Co.--Calculating machines--Under +way--The Martaban of Maulmain--Transformation--The Texan +Star--Evasive--Getting at the truth.--Sonora--To the Cape._ + + +The Alabama was now steering for Singapore, and for three or four days +kept her course without the occurrence of anything particularly +noteworthy. On the 19th December she anchored for a time in the bay on +the south-east side of the island of Aor, with its lofty hills clothed +with green to their summits, and its little sandhills and groves of +cocoa-nut trees. The island is unclaimed by any European nation. + +_Sunday, Dec, 20th_.--To-day being Sunday, and the weather being still +thick, and blowing, I have resolved to remain until to-morrow before +making the run for Singapore. Weather improved this morning, however, +and the barometer going up. Several islands visible that were hid from +us yesterday. Pulo Aor looking beautiful and picturesque. Some of the +natives on board with their scant stores of fowls, eggs, and cocoa-nuts. +They are larger than the natives of Condore, and stouter, and more +developed, but with countenances not very prepossessing. The Governor, a +rough-looking, middle-aged fellow, above the common height, pulled out +some greasy papers, the recommendations of former visitors, and desired +that I also would give him one, which I declined, as I knew nothing +about him. Their canoes are light and graceful, and occasionally they +present quite a picture with their gaily-dressed or half-dressed +occupants. We heard their tom-toms and banjoes last night as evening set +in, but a music much sweeter to our ears was a chorus from some _frogs_, +with notes somewhat finer than their relatives on our side of the earth. +These islanders are nothing more than marine nomads, that lead an idle, +vagabond life, intermixed with a good deal of roguery. They have a fine +_physique_, as might be supposed from their open-air mode of life, in +which they have plenty of healthful exercise without being overworked, +as Mother Nature feeds them spontaneously, and they require little more +clothing than they brought into the world with them. + +In the afternoon some of the officers visited the shore, and were +hospitably received. There were from ninety to one hundred natives, men, +women, and children, visible, and there were probably as many more on +the other side of the island, as they have a S.W. monsoon village there. +They seemed to have plenty of fowls, and they are very expert fishermen. +They were gambling--such a thing as labour being out of the question. +The island seems originally to have been a solid mass of rock, the rocky +walls of the mountains peeping out in many places from the midst of the +dense forest, and gradually as time and the elements disintegrated +portions of it, plants and trees took root, until the island became what +it is now, a mass of luxuriant vegetation. There were some fine large +boats carefully hauled up on the beach, quite large enough for piratical +purposes, for which they were probably intended, and some swivels were +lying near the chief man's door. The cocoa-nut tree has climbed the +mountain sides, and waves its feathery foliage from the crests of the +ridges. It is food, and cordage, and light to the natives. Several +delightful little valleys presented themselves, upon which, and on the +adjacent steeps or the mountains, were thatched huts. Probably to the +mere animal part of our nature, the life that these people lead is +happier than any other; wants few and easily supplied, labour not too +pressing, and the simple tastes satisfied with such pleasures as they +find. + +Rain, rain, in the afternoon. Most of the moisture is deposited on the +mountain-tops, and the clouds sweep over it. And now for Singapore, God +willing. + +_Monday, Dec. 21st_--At 3.30 A.M. we got under way, under steam and +sail, and steered S. by E. 32 1/2 miles, South 18 miles, and S. by W. 14 +miles; and the weather setting in very thick, with heavy rain, obscuring +all things, we were obliged to come to in 10 1/2 fathoms, with the north +point of Bintang island bearing, and within 11 miles by computation of +the Pedra Branca lighthouse. We have thus to war against the weather as +well as our enemies. Soon after daylight we made a ship-rigged steamer +on our port bow, bound also for Singapore. She anchored near us astern. +It clearing a little at noon, we got hold of the marks and got under +way, and taking a Malay pilot, anchored off Singapore at 5.30 P.M. + +_Tuesday, Dec. 22d_.--At 9.30 A.M. the pilot came on board, and we ran +up into New Harbour alongside of the coaling depot, and commenced +coaling. Singapore is quite a large town, with an air of prosperity--a +large number of ships in the harbour. The country is beautiful, and +green, with an abundance of fine fruit, &c.; the country around highly +improved with tasteful houses and well-laid-out grounds. The English +residents call it the Madeira of the East, in allusion to its +healthfulness. Some twenty-two American merchant ships here, most of +them laid up! The Wyoming was here twenty days ago, and left for Rhio +Strait, where she remained for some days. Finished coaling last night, +the operation having occupied no more than ten hours. Received +provisions. + +_Wednesday, Dec. 23rd_.--Weather variable, with occasional showers of +rain--raining heavily in the afternoon. Visited the city, and was +astonished at its amount of population and business. There are from +eighty to one hundred thousand Chinese on Singapore island, nearly all +of them in the city, from twelve to fifteen thousand Malays, and about +fifteen hundred Europeans. Singapore being a free port, it is a great +_entrepot_ of trade. Great quantities of Eastern produce reach it from +all quarters, whence it is shipped to Europe. + +The business is almost exclusively in the hands of the Chinese, who are +also the artisans and labourers of the place. The streets are thronged +with foot-passengers and vehicles, among which are prominent the ox, or +rather the buffalo cart, and the hacks for hire, of which latter there +are nine hundred licensed. The canal is filled with country boats of +excellent model, and the warehouses are crammed with goods. Money seems +to be abundant and things dear. They are just finishing a tasteful +Gothic church, with a tall spire, which is a notable landmark as you +approach; they are also completing officers' quarters on a hill which +commands the town. Barracks for three or four regiments lie unoccupied a +couple of miles outside the city, and a large court-house. + +The moving multitude in the streets comprises every variety of the human +race, every shade of colour, and every variety of dress, among which are +prominent the gay turbans and fancy jackets of the Mahomedan, Hindu, &c. +Almost all the artisans and labourers were naked, except a cloth or a +pair of short trousers tucked about the waist. The finest dressed part +of the population was decidedly the _jet-black_, with his white flowing +mantle and spotted turban. The upper class of Chinese merchants are +exceeding polite, and seem intelligent. I visited the establishment of +Whampoa and Co. Whampoa was above the middle height, stout, and with a +large, well-developed head. I was told that his profits some years +amounted to forty or fifty thousand pounds! He was sitting in a small, +dingy, ill-lighted little office on the ground floor, and had before him +a Chinese calculating machine, over the numerous small balls of which, +strung on wires, he was running his hands for amusement, as a gambler +will sometimes do with his checks. At the suggestion of the gentleman +who was with me, I requested him to multiply four places of figures by +three places, naming the figures, and the operation was done about as +rapidly as I could write down the result. Their shaved heads, and long +queues, sometimes nearly touching the ground, are curious features of +their personal appearance. The workshops front upon the streets, and in +them busy, half-naked creatures may be seen, working away as +industriously as so many beavers all day long, seeming never to tire of +their ceaseless toil. + +Amid all this busy population I saw but one female in the streets, and +she was of the lower class. Dined in the country with Mr. Beaver. The +ride out was over good roads flanked by large forests and ornamental +trees, among which was the tall, slender, graceful palm of the +betel-nut. The Botanical Gardens are on an elevation commanding a fine +view of the town and the sea, and are laid out with taste, ornamented +with flowering trees and shrubs, and flowers. Hither a band of music +comes to play several times a week, when the townspeople turn out to +enjoy the scene. A few miles beyond the town the whole island is a +jungle, in which abounds the ferocious Bengal tiger. It is said that one +man and a half per day is the average destruction of human life by these +animals. Visited opium-preparation shop. It pays an enormous licence. + +All this beauty fails to reconcile the European lady to this country, I +was told. The eternal sameness of summer, and the heat and moisture, +weigh upon them, and their husbands being away all day on business, they +pine for their European homes. The life seems agreeable enough to the +men. The Governor of the "Straits Settlement" is a Colonel. + +_Thursday, Dec. 24._--Cloudy; five of my men deserted last night. The +Kwang-tung got under way at 8 1/2 A.M., and we followed her and steered +for the strait of Malacca. Several sails in sight; Malay pilot on board. +Passed the Kwang-tung very rapidly. At about 1 P.M. we fired a gun and +hove to an American-looking barque, under English colours, with the +name, "Martaban, of Maulmain," on her stern. Sent a boat on board; and +the officer reporting that she was an American-built ship, with English +register, and that the Master refused to come on board, I went on board +myself to examine the case. There being no bill of sale, the transaction +being recent, the Master and Mate, &c., being Americans, I had no doubt +that the transfer was fraudulent, and captured and burned her. The cargo +had no paper on board connected with it, except the ordinary bill of +lading. It consisted of rice, and was shipped in Maulmain by a Mr. +Cohen, and consigned to his order at Singapore, whither the ship was +bound. Of course, the cargo followed the fate of the ship under such +circumstances. Upon examination of the Master (Pike), under oath, he +admitted that the transfer was a sham, and made to protect the ship from +capture. At 11.30 P.M. came to anchor about four miles distant from +Malacca, bearing N., in fifteen fathoms water, for the purpose of +landing our prisoners. + + * * * * * + +The boarding officer's journal furnishes the annexed description of the +interview with the Master of the prize:-- + +I was sent on board to examine her papers. The barque was American +built, had a new English flag, and on her stern was painted "Martaban, +of Maulmain." We knew that many Yankee vessels had been transferred to +English owners, and of course had to have an English flag; but the +question arose--Was there not some jobbery in this case? Nearing the +Martaban I saw that she was newly painted; pulling round and under the +stern, I saw that a name had been painted over, but could not see what +the name was. I further observed that the last four letters of Maulmain +had been painted much more recently than the other ones, so I determined +to most rigidly scrutinize her papers. Upon my arrival on board, I +inquired after the Captain's health, and then expressed a wish to make a +few inquiries respecting his vessel. + +He with the utmost affability was equally ready to afford me any +information required, at the same time informing me I should find +"everything correct." The vessel I found was the Martaban of Maulmain, +Captain Pike, from Maulmain to Singapore, rice laden. I then requested +to see the ship's papers, which request was readily granted. Accordingly +the register, clearance bills of lading, and crew list, were speedily +produced and examined, not omitting the Master's certificate. These but +corroborated what I previously knew. Putting a few questions to the +Captain, and comparing his answers with the papers, I learned the +following facts--viz., that the barque was American built, that she had +been upwards of five months in Maulmain; that she had been transferred +on the 10th December, after the cargo was in, and on the day in which +she cleared, and only one day previous to her sailing; that the captain +had no certificate or bill of sale, nor, in fact, any papers respecting +the transfer on board; that he, the Captain, was an American, and had +commanded the barque previous to her transfer. + +Taking the register up again and closely scrutinizing it, I observed +what had previously escaped my attention--viz., that the register, which +is a printed form, with spaces for written insertions, had been first +written with a lead pencil, and over that with ink. No professional +registrar or shipmaster would, I felt certain, have so prepared it. +Looking again at the crew list I made another discovery, that all the +names of the crew were written in one handwriting, from the mate to the +boys. Now I well knew that some of the crew, and especially the mates, +would be able to write, and of the mate's ability to use a pen I +speedily satisfied myself by making him produce his logbook, wherein his +name, &c., was written; or, if unable to write, the usual X, his mark, +would have been affixed to each name. I had now no doubt about the +papers, believing them to be false. I then requested the Master to take +his papers and go on board the Alabama, which, however, he positively +refused to do, unless forcibly compelled; stating that "this was an +affair that flag (pointing to the English colours flying at his peak) +wouldn't stand." He still persisting in his refusal to go on board our +ship, I took possession of his vessel, pending Captain Semmes' decision. + + + +Finding that the Mountain wouldn't come to Mahomet, Mahomet went to the +Mountain; for, after calling a man out of my boat and stationing him at +the wheel, I dispatched the boat back to the Alabama with a report of +the irregularity of the papers, and a request for further instructions. +To my surprise, Captain Semmes came himself and stopped at the gangway, +and told the Captain he had come to examine the ship's papers. Captain +Pike signifying his assent, we went into the cabin, and the papers being +produced, I pointed out some of the discrepancies and acts previously +mentioned. + +Captain Semmes then sharply interrogated Pike, insisting upon additional +documents to prove the legality of the transfer. None being forthcoming, +Captain Semmes put some questions, as only a lawyer can (Captain Semmes +not only having studied, but practised law), the answers to which only +convinced Captain Semmes that what he had suspected was true--viz., that +the ship was sailing under false colours, and was to all intents and +purposes an American vessel. + +Captain Pike of course protested, to which Captain Semmes replied by +ordering the destruction of the vessel. Captain Semmes returning to the +Alabama, I ordered the English flag to be hauled down, and directed the +Mates and crew to pack their luggage, and hold themselves in readiness +to go on board our ship. The First Lieutenant coming off, our boats got +off a few stores, and the prisoners were transferred to the Alabama. + +By 5.20 had applied the torch, and regained our ship 5.30. The steamer +Kwang-Tung was observed near our burning prize. We then shaped our +course for Malacca, intending to land our prisoners there. + +About 7.30 the same evening, Mr. Smith, captain's clerk, and self had +the boatswain and a seaman down in the steerage; and putting them on +oath obtained the following additional particulars--viz., that they +shipped on board the Martaban at Hong Kong and Singapore respectively; +that she was then an American vessel, and called the Texan Star, of +Galveston or Boston (she having had two American registers); that she +left Maulmain as the Texan Star, and on leaving there hoisted American +colours; that the name Martaban, of Maulmain, was painted by the +captain's nephew two days after leaving that port; that the English flag +was hoisted for the first time when the Alabama hove in sight this day; +and that no articles were signed by them at Maulmain; nor, indeed, was +any agreement made by the crew to serve in a British vessel, all hands, +in fact, believing her to be American. The Mate having also made a few +admissions, they and the preceding depositions were shown to Captain +Semmes, who, after sending for Captain Pike, put the following questions +to him--viz.: + +What is your name?--Samuel B. Pike. + +Where were you born?--At Newbury Port, Massachusetts. + +Are you a naturalized citizen of any foreign government?--I am not. + +How long have you been in command of the Martaban, formerly the Texan +Star?--Two years and a half. + +In what part of the United States was the Texan Star registered?--She +was built and registered at Boston. + +Has she but one register in America?--There was a change of owners, and +she has had two American registers. + +Who were the owners under the last American register?--John Alkerm, +Samuel Stevens, George L. Rogers, and myself. + +What proportion of the ship did you own?--One-sixth. + +When did you sail from the last port in the United States?--A year ago +last July. + +It is stated in the present British register that Mr. Mark Currie is the +owner?--That is as I understand it. + +Do you state upon your oath that the sale was a _bona fide_ sale?--I do +not state that. + +Do you not know that it was intended merely as a cover to prevent +capture?--Yes, I do know it. + +This closed the matter; nothing more was necessary. Here was admission +enough to destroy any legal doubt that might have arisen from the +destruction of a vessel under the English flag. What added to our +triumph was the copy of a letter from Captain Pike to his owners, in +which he stated that "he had taken such precautions as would deceive +Semmes and all the Confederates." Had the Texan Star escaped, how Yankee +cuteness would have been extolled! Why, as the Bostonians have presented +a gold chronometer to the master of the barque Urania for such a daring +deed as hoisting the American flag over his American vessel in a neutral +port (Cape Town), whilst the Alabama was lying there, I say, had the +Texan Star escaped from the Alabama, nothing short of the Presidency, or +a statue in marble, or the deed graved in letters of gold, or some other +equally ridiculous token of admiration, would have awaited the gallant +master, and the fame of his clever trick would have been handed down to +Yankee posterity. + +Captain Semmes thus resumes his diary on the 25th December:--At daylight +sent the prisoners of the Texan Star on shore, with a note to the +Commander. Malacca is a pretty little village, or at least the +sea-point, viewed from our anchorage, with a picturesque hill in the +rear, on which is situated the fort and lighthouse. The flagstaff was +decorated with flags and signals in honour of Christmas Day. A couple of +boats with some English officers and citizens ran off, and visited us +for a few minutes. Got under way at 9.30, under steam; at night anchored +near Parceelar Hill in 25 fathoms water. + +_Saturday, December 26th_.--At 6 A.M. got under way, and stood out for +the lightship, and soon made a couple of American-looking ships ahead, +at anchor; steamed up to the first, which refused to show colours. Sent +a boat on board, when she proved to be the American ship Senora, from +Singapore. Captured her, and steamed to the second, which in like manner +refused to show colours. Upon sending a boat on board, she proved to be +the American ship Highlander, also from Singapore. Captured her. Both of +these ships were very large, being over a thousand tons each. They were +both in ballast, bound to Aycaab for rice. At 10 A.M., having sent off +the crews of the two prizes in their own boats, at their own election, +fired the ships, and steamed out. Passed the lightship at about 11 A.M., +and discharged the pilot. + +From the 26th December to the 13th of January the Alabama steadily +pursued her course, meeting with little adventure. Only four sail were +seen in the period, and these all proved to be neutrals. On the last day +of the year 1863 the North Indian Ocean was entered, and the ship's head +once more laid in the direction of the Cape. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +_The Emma Jane--Quilon--An alarm--Landing prisoners--Johanna and +Mohilla--Friendly authorities--Slavery--A trading monarch--Distance +lends enchantment to the view--Cousins-german of the Sultan--Princes +gardens--Mahommedan sympathy--Off again._ + + +On the 14th January, as the Alabama was lazily drifting in a +north-easterly direction, near the Malabar coast, a ship was discovered +running down towards her. The useful decoy--the United States flag--was +at once hoisted, and the same colours were run up by the stranger. A gun +brought the Yankee vessel to, and the Alabama forthwith took possession +of the Emma Jane of Bath, Maine, bound from Bombay to Amherst in +ballast, and at 8.30 P.M. the prize was set fire to. + +About this period the cruiser experienced a series of calms, and she +drifted with the current rather than sailed. On the 16th of January the +Ghaut Mountains were made, and Captain Semmes makes the following entry +in his journal. + +_Saturday, January 16th._--At meridian made the town of Quilon, and bore +up east 1/2 south for the town of Angenga, which we made about 2 P.M. At +4.30 came to in the road abreast of the fort, and despatched a +Lieutenant on shore to see about landing my prisoners. In the evening +the residing magistrate's son came on board, and I arranged the matter +with him. There being no external trade or shipping at Angenga, the +prisoners could not well get away by sea; but my visitor stated that +there was lagoon navigation inland all the way to Cochin, some +seventy-five miles to the northward, and that at Cochin there were +always means of reaching Bombay and other ports. Native boats were +passing every day between Angenga and Cochin, and if I would send the +necessary provisions on shore for the prisoners, his father would see +them transported to Cochin. I sent a Lieutenant on shore after night +with the son, to arrange the matter with the father; and as the boat was +delayed much beyond her time, and we heard some firing as of revolvers +and muskets, and as there was also some surf running, I became uneasy, +and despatched the First Lieutenant in another boat to look into the +matter. The chief magistrate had only been at public worship--the cause +of the detention of the boat. Both boats returned about 11.30 P.M. + +_Sunday, January 17th._--At daylight I sent all the prisoners on shore, +where they were landed apparently in the presence of half the +village--the native boats taking them through the surf--and at 9.30 got +under way. The town of Angenga was formerly of some importance as a +shipping port for the produce of the country--cocoa-nut oil, pepper, &c. +But all its trade has passed to its more prosperous rival--Cochin. It is +about fifty miles from Travancore, the residence of The Rajah. There is +water communication all the way, and the journey is generally made (in +canoes) in the night to avoid the heat of the sun. The natives are +nearly as black as the Africans, but with straight hair and European +features. A large number of them visited the ship this morning. They +were fine specimens of physical development, and wore scarcely any other +covering than a cloth about the loins. They were sprightly and chatty, +and in their quaint canoes made quite a picture. + + * * * * * + +On the 17th January the Alabama left Angenga, arriving without further +adventure on the 21st at the Island of Minicoy, and after three weeks +more of fine weather, found herself off the island of Comoro. + + * * * * * + +_Tuesday, February 9th_.--At 3.30 A.M. passed in sight of the N.E. end +of Comoro. Soon after daylight made the Islands of Johanna and Mohilla. +At 1.30 P.M. came to anchor about three-quarters of a mile from the +shore. Despatched the Paymaster to the-town to arrange for fresh +provisions. In the afternoon visited by several canoes, with a couple of +poles lashed across the gunwales, attached to a float in each, to +maintain their stability. Stalwart naked negroes were for the most part +their occupants. Many of them spoke a little English. Among others, a +dignitary of the Church came on board with the compliments of the chief +priest (Mahommedan). We made arrangements with him for the supply of the +ship. One of his companions asked me to which of the belligerent parties +I belonged to, the North or the South. I replied, to the South. "Then," +said he, "you belong to the side which upholds slavery." "Yes," said I, +"we belong to the country where the black man is better taken care of +than in any other part of the world." The churchman seeing me put on the +defensive, as it were, came to my aid, and said: "Oh, we are +slaveholders here; being Mahommedans, we have no prejudices that way; +our only trouble is, we cannot get slaves enough. The English, who have +no control over us, we being an independent government, are strong +enough to interfere in everybody's business, and to say to us, that we +bring over from the main no more slaves. The slaves themselves would +gladly come to us, as they are much better off than under their native +chiefs, who are continually making war upon and enslaving one another." + +My informant was himself a full-blooded African negro, as black as the +ace of spades, but with an immaculate white turban on his head, and the +flowing robe and loose jacket of the Mahommedan. + +_Wednesday, February 10th_.--Visited by the King's Dragoman this +morning, who came to pay the respects of the authorities, to say he was +glad to see us in Johanna. In the course of conversation, he was pleased +to say that our ship was well known to him, and the news of our having +appeared off the Cape some months ago had driven off all the Yankee +whalers, several of which had been accustomed to resort hither. King +Abdallah, he said, resided on the east side of the island. The king +himself would come to see us, but was very busy just now patting up a +sugar-mill, which he had just received from the Mauritius. + +The island is a beautiful, picturesque spot. There is quite a mountain +in the interior, and the higher parts of Johanna are densely wooded; the +mountain-sides being in some places so steep that the tops of some trees +touch the trunks and roots of others. + +The inhabitants are a mixture of Arabs and negroes. They are intelligent +and sprightly, and had not only heard of the American war, but said it +bore heavily on them, as they were now compelled to pay a much higher +price for their goods, which are mostly cotton. We have driven away, +they say, all their Yankee trade. The Sultan is a young man of +twenty-eight, with a moderate harem of only five wives. + +_Thursday, February 11th_.--Visited the town to get sights for my +chronometers--which puts the town at 44.26.30 N., just 30" less than +Captain Owen's determination. The town, as viewed from the anchorage, is +a picturesque object, with its tall minaret, its two forts, one perched +on a hill commanding the town, and the other on the sea-beach, and its +stone houses; but the illusion is rudely dispelled on landing. You land +on a beach of rocks and shingle, through a considerable surf even in the +calmest weather. The beach was strewn with the washed clothes of the +ship, and a set of vagabonds of all colour, save only that of the +Caucasian, were hanging about looking curiously on. The town is +dilapidated and squalid to the last degree--the houses of rough stones, +cemented and thatched; the streets five feet wide, and rendered, as it +would seem, purposely crooked. + +It was the second day of the fast of Ramadan, and groups of idlers were +congregated in the narrow porticoes reading the Koran. The language, +which is peculiar to the island, is very soft and pleasing to the ear. +We visited one of the principal houses. The walls were filled with a +number of small niches, receptacles for everything imaginable--coffee-cups, +ornaments, &c. A number of couches were ranged round the room. + +A crowd of half-clad, dirty children gathered round us, but no female +made her appearance. We took our sights among the gaping multitude, all +of whom were very civil and polite, and returned on board about 5 P.M., +having seen all the outside life that was to be seen at Auzuan. The +inside life was, of course, out of our reach. + +Upon coming on deck this morning I was struck with the soft picturesque +beauty of the hills, as shone upon by the morning sun lighting up the +tops and sides, and throwing the valleys and ravines into shade. At +night I am lulled by the roar of the sea upon the beach. It is +delightful to sniff the fragrance of the land as it comes off to us +upon the dew-laden wings of the softest of breezes. My fellows on shore +looked rueful and woe-begone--nature had no charms for them--there was +no liquor to be had! If I were to remain here long, I should send them +on shore as a punishment. + +_Friday, February 12th_.--This is the Mahommedan Sabbath, but they do +not keep it so grimly as the Puritans. We had a number of visitors on +board, and among others, several princes, cousins-german of the Sultan, +one of them being the Commander-in-Chief of the army. He gave me an +account of the affair of the Dale. Some years ago two Yankee whalers +came in. One of them obtained provisions to the amount of two hundred +and fifty dollars, telling the people he was too poor to pay for them in +money, but that he would give them a bill on the Consul at Zanzibar. To +this they assented; the skipper then ran off with his ship in the night, +without giving the bill. They seized the other Captain and took him on +shore, to keep him as a hostage while his ship should go in pursuit of +the runaway and get the promised bill. But they thought better of it in +a few hours, and released him. The Dale came the next season and +demanded twenty-five thousand dollars, threatening to burn the town if +the money was not paid. They could not pay them, there being probably +not so much money in the island. The Yankees then set fire to one end of +the town, cannonaded the fort, doing some damage, and withdrew. This is +about the usual origin of Yankee shipmasters' complaints to their +government. I made a present of a captured Yankee clock to each of the +princes, and gave them a package of writing-paper. They seemed anxious +to get some finery for their wives, but I told them we were not in that +line, like Yankee whalers. + +_Saturday, February 13th_.--Visited the town again to-day. Called at the +houses of a couple of the princes, in which I found everything dirty, +with an attempt at tawdry finery. A black _houri_ was set to fan me. We +were served with rose syrup. Walked to the prince's garden--a beautiful +wilderness of cocoa and betel nuts, sweet orange and mango, with +heterogeneous patches of rice, sweet potatoes and beans, and here and +there a cotton plant. Two or three slave huts were dotted about, and +walls of loose stones ran along crooked lanes and bye-ways. As we came +off, some of the inhabitants were at evening prayer, and others +preparing to take their evening meal. People met us everywhere with +kindly greetings, and the Cadi, a venerable-looking old man, wished me a +safe return to my own country. + +_Sunday, February 14th_.--Visited in force again to-day by the princes, +and other chief men. In the afternoon the high-priest visited me. He was +a fine-looking man--Arab by descent--with a well-developed forehead, +and easy, gentlemanly bearing. He wore a sword, and was evidently looked +upon with great respect by his attendants. He expressed much sympathy +with our cause, and said he would pray to Allah for our success. The +Yankee whalers, he said, invariably stole some of their slaves. Said +they could not do very well without the whalers, as they were the only +traders to the island, and brought them many useful things. + +_Monday, February 15th_.--Received on board some bullocks and fruit; +paid our bills, and were taken leave of affectionately by the simple +people. At meridian moved out of the anchorage under steam, amid the +cheers, given in real English fashion, by the many boatmen that +surrounded us. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +_"Man overboard!"--Blowing hard--Three Years--Wearing out--The Cape +again--Seizure of the Tuscaloosa--Towards Europe--War News--What the +Alabama effected--Case of the Rockingham--The last capture--The +Tycoon--Nineteen overhauled--In the Channel--At Cherbourg._ + + +From the middle to the 28th February there was but little excitement on +board the Alabama. On that day the usual routine of life on a man-of-war +was broken by the cry of "Man overboard." The vessel was at once hove +to, but before a boat could be lowered a gallant fellow, Michael Mars, +leapt overboard, and swimming to the rescue of his shipmate, fortunately +succeeded in saving the man's life. + +On the third of March they saw the first Cape Pigeon and Albatross, and +on the 4th Captain Semmes writes as follows:-- + +The gale still continues, though moderating very fast; sea not so +turbulent, though the surf is thundering into it now and then, and +keeping the decks flooded. 'Tis three years to-day since I parted with +my family in Washington, on the day in which Washington's great republic +was humiliated by the inauguration as President of a vulgar democratic +politician, in whom even the great events in which, by a singular +destiny, he has been called to take a part, have not been able to sink +the mountebank. These three years of anxiety, vigilance, exposure, and +excitement, have made me an old man, and sapped my health, rendering +repose necessary, if I would prolong my life. My ship is wearing out, +too, as well as her commander, and will need a general overhauling by +the time I can get her into dock. If my poor services be deemed of any +importance in harassing and weakening the enemy, and thus contributing +to the independence of my beloved South, I shall be amply rewarded. + + * * * * * + +The Alabama still kept on through gales, with creaking cordage and +jerking tiller ropes, until on the 11th of March the Cape was sighted, +off which they were knocked about until the 20th instant; lying in the +track of vessels bounding before the gale at the rate of ten or twelve +knots an hour, and only able to see them when within a mile of the ship. + +Arrived in Table Bay, Captain Semmes received intelligence of the +seizure of the Tuscaloosa, upon which he at once wrote a despatch to +Admiral Walker.[15] + +[Footnote 15: For papers relating to the seizure of this vessel, see +Appendix.] The Cape was left on the 25th of March, the vessel's head +being laid towards Europe, and on the 29th the following entry is found +in the journal:-- + +"I have at length had a little leisure to read the late papers received +at the Cape. The Yankee Government and people, and with them a great +portion of the English press and people, seem to have jumped suddenly to +the conclusion that we are beaten, and that the war must soon end by our +submission! Mr. Lincoln has even gone so far as to prescribe the terms +on which our States may re-enter the rotten "concern"--to wit, by a +reorganization of the States government by one-tenth of the people. +Verily, the delusion of these men in the matter of this war is +unaccountable. No power on earth can subjugate the Southern States, +although some of them have been guilty of the pusillanimity of making +war with the Yankees against their sisters. History will brand them as +traitors and cowards. As for the tone of the English press, I am not +surprised at it. England is too rich to be generous. Our war for her is +a sort of prize-fight, and she is looking on in about the same spirit +with which her people lately viewed the prize fight between King and +Heenan. Hurrah one; well done the other." + + * * * * * + +From March 29th to April 22d there were no events calling for special +attention, save that on the sixteenth the intelligence was learned from +the master of a French ship that there were no American vessels at the +Chincha Islands, though in July, 1863, there were between seventy and +eighty American sail there. This speaks volumes of the terror the +Alabama had excited. + +The night of the 22d of April was employed in giving chase to a strange +sail, which was overhauled at daybreak on the following morning; and the +United States flag having been responded to by a display of the same +colours, the Alabama boarded and took possession of the guano-laden +ship, Rockingham, which was employed as a target, and then set fire to. +The cargo being claimed as the property of neutrals, Captain Semmes +examined the ship's papers and entered the following in his journal:-- + + +CASE OF THE ROCKINGHAM. + +"Ship under United States colours and register. Is from Callao, bound to +Cork for orders, and loaded with guano. This guano purports to be +shipped by the Guano Consignment Company to Great Britain. One Joseph A. +Danino, who signs for Danino and Moscosa, certifies that the guano +belongs to the Peruvian Government; and Her Britannic Majesty's Acting +Consul at Lima certifies that the said Joseph A. Danino appeared before +him and 'voluntarily declared' 'that the foregoing signature is of his +own handwriting, and also that the cargo above mentioned is truly and +verily the property of the Peruvian Government.' + +"As this is the only certificate of the neutrality of the cargo among +the papers, and as nobody swears to anything in this certificate, there +is no testimony at all. The ship being enemy's property, and the cargo +being presumed to be enemy's property also, from being found on board +the ship, it was incumbent on the neutral parties, if there are any such +in the case, to have documented their property by sworn certificates; +and this rule of law is so well known, that the absence of an oath would +seem to be conclusive as to the fraudulent attempt to cover. Ship and +cargo condemned." + + * * * * * + +This capture was followed by that of the Tycoon, on the 27th of the same +month; and as no claim of neutrality of cargo was made, the ship was +burned. This, as it afterwards turned out, was the last of the Alabama's +prizes. Nineteen other vessels were overhauled before she reached +Cherbourg, but not one of them sailed under the Stars and Stripes. When +it is remembered that no less than sixty-five American ships had been +taken by the gallant cruiser, it is not much to be wondered at that the +Yankee flag was a _rara avis_ on the high seas. + +From the 25th of May to the 10th of June the Alabama was making her way +north, and on the last-named date she was abreast of the Lizard, and was +boarded by a Channel pilot. "I felt," writes Captain Semmes, "great +relief to have him on board, as I was quite knocked up with cold and +fever, and was too ill-qualified physically for exposure to the weather +and watching through the night. And thus, thanks to an all-wise +Providence, we have brought the cruise of the Alabama to a successful +termination." + +Little could Captain Semmes have imagined, when he penned these lines, +that the cruising days of his vessel were so soon to end. The vessel +entered Cherbourg on the morning of the 11th. Two days after news was +received that the Kearsarge would shortly arrive there, intelligence +which was confirmed next day by the appearance of that vessel. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +_The Kearsarge--Preparations--The iron-clad--State of the Alabama--Out +of the harbour--The Deerhound--The Captain's address--Armaments of the +combatants--Plan of action--The engagement--Rapid fire--Badly +wounded--Sinking--The end of the Alabama--In the water--Gallant +conduct--Surgeon Llewellyn--The Deerhound to the rescue--The enemy's +boats--Not a wrack--The informing spirit_. + + +It was written that the Alabama was never to behold the ports of her +country! + +The latest entries in the diary of Captain Semmes are of an interest too +great to permit us to exclude them, prior to the narration of the +memorable duel which closes the history of a vessel whose renown, short +as her career has been, may challenge that of any ship that has spread a +sail upon the waters, and casts a lustre even upon the heroic history of +the Confederate States. + +On Tuesday, June 14th, Captain Semmes writes:-- + +"Great excitement on board, the Kearsarge having made her appearance off +the eastern entrance of the breakwater, at about 11 A.M. Sent an order +on shore immediately for coal (one hundred tons), and sent down the +yards on the mizen-mast, and the topgallant yards, and otherwise +preparing the ship for action. + +"_Wednesday, June 15th._--The Admiral sent off his _aide_ to say that he +considered my application for repairs withdrawn upon my making +application for coal, to which I assented. We commenced coaling this +afternoon. The Kearsarge is still in the offing; she has not been +permitted to receive on board the prisoners landed by me, to which I had +objected in a letter to the Admiral. Mailed a note yesterday afternoon +for Flagofficer Barrow, informing him of my intention to go out to +engage the enemy as soon as I could make my preparations, and sent a +written notice to the U.S. consul, through Mr. Bonfils, to the same +effect. My crew seems to be in the right spirit, a quiet spirit of +determination pervading both officers and men. The combat will no doubt +be contested and obstinate; but the two ships are so equally matched, I +do not feel at liberty to decline it. God defend the right, and have +mercy upon the souls of those who fall, as many of us must!" + + * * * * * + +It has been denied that the captain of the Kearsarge sent a challenge to +the Alabama. Captain Semmes, indeed, says nothing of it himself. What +the Kearsarge did--and with a particular object, there cannot be a +doubt--was, as recorded, to enter the breakwater at the east end, and +"at about 11 A.M., on Tuesday, she _passed through the west end without +anchoring_." These are the words of a French naval captain, who speaks +of what he saw. Few will deny that among brave men this would be +considered something equivalent to a challenge. It was more than a +challenge--it was a defiance. The officer we have quoted adds, that +"anyone could then see her outside protection." It is easy to see +everything after the event. The Kearsarge looked bulky in her middle +section to an inspecting eye; but she was very low in the water, and +that she was _armed_ to resist shot and shell it was impossible to +discern. It is distinctly averred by the officers of the Alabama that +from their vessel the armour of the Kearsarge could not be +distinguished. There were many reports abroad that she was protected on +her sides in some peculiar way; but all were various and indistinct, and +to a practical judgment untrustworthy. Moreover, a year previous to this +meeting, the Kearsarge had lain at anchor close under the critical eye +of Captain Semmes. He had on that occasion seen that his enemy was not +artificially defended. He believes now that the reports of her plating +and armour were so much harbour-gossip, of which during his cruises he +had experienced enough. + +Now the Kearsarge was an old enemy, constantly in pursuit, and her +appearance produced, as Captain Semmes has written, great excitement on +board the Alabama. And let us here call attention to what the officers +and men of the illustrious Confederate ship had been enduring for the +space of two years. During all this time they had been homeless, and +without a prospect of reaching home. They had been constantly crowded +with prisoners, who devoured their provender--of which they never had +any but a precarious supply. Their stay in any neutral harbour was +necessarily short as the perching of a hawk on a bough. Like the hawk's +in upper air, the Alabama's safety as well as her business was on the +high seas. Miserably fed, hunted, eluding, preying, destroying--is this +a life that brave men would willingly have to be continuous? They were +fortified by the assurance of a mighty service done to their country. +They knew that they inflicted tremendous damage upon their giant foe. +They were, perhaps, supported by the sense that their captain's +unrivalled audacity had done more harm to the United States than the +operations of many thousand men. But their days were wretched; their +task was sickening; it demands an imagination that can fix its eye upon +stern, barren duty as a planet never darkened, always visible, for such +a life as this to be carried on uncomplainingly and without a passionate +longing for the bare exercise of hard blows. In addition, they read of +the reproaches heaped upon them by comfortable shore-men. They were +called pirates, and other gloomy titles. The execrations of certain of +the French and English, and of all the United States press, sounded in +their ears across the ocean; but from their own country they heard +little. The South was a sealed land in comparison with the rest of the +world. Opinion spoke loudest in Europe, and though they knew that they +were faithfully, gallantly, and marvellously serving their country in +her sore need, the absence of any immediate comfort, either physical or +moral, helped to make them keenly sensitive to virulent criticism, even +to that of avowed and clamorous enemies. + +It was this state of mind through the whole crew which caused the +excitement on board the Alabama when the Kearsarge steamed in and out of +the breakwater. Now, and at last, our day of action has come! was the +thought of every man on board. The chivalrous give and take of battle +was glorious to men who had alternately hunted and fled for so dreary a +term. They trusted for victory; but defeat itself was to be a +vindication of their whole career, and they welcomed the chances gladly. + +The application for coal at a neutral port was in itself a renunciation +of any further hospitality from the harbour, as Captain Semmes was +aware. The Port-admiral contented himself with pointing it out to him. A +duel is not an unpopular thing in France. The prospective combat of two +apparently equally-matched ships of war would have been sufficient to +have melted any scruples entertained by Frenchmen in authority; they +were only too happy to assist towards an engagement between Federals and +Confederates, the latter being as popular in France as in England, to +say nothing for the sympathy excited for the Alabama. French officers +agreed with Captain Semmes in thinking that there was marked offence and +defiance in the manoeuvres of the Kearsarge, and that he could hardly do +less than go out and meet her. We have done our best to show that the +Captain, whether in his heart he felt the mere chances to be equal or +not, was anxious to persuade himself that they were so. He knew his +opponent to be the heavier in ship, battery, and crew, but "I did not +know that she was also iron-clad," he says. Personally he desired the +battle; the instigations of an enthusiastic crew, unanimous for action, +as also of friendly foreign officers, are to be taken into account. +Those who venture, now that we are enabled to measure by results, to +cast blame upon him, should first, in justice, throw themselves into his +position. President Davis may deplore the loss of a vessel that did a +mighty service, but we doubt not that he will endorse the honourable +words of Mr. Mason in his justification of Captain Semmes, and rejoice +that the man who was the ship, is saved for further service to the +Confederacy. + +On Sunday, in the morning, being the 19th June, the Alabama steamed out +of Cherbourg harbour by the opening to the west, and steered straight to +meet the Kearsarge, accompanied by the French iron-clad La Couronne. The +late foul weather had given way to a gentle breeze, and the subsiding +swell of the Atlantic wave under a clear sky made the day eminently +favourable for the work in hand. All Cherbourg was on the heights above +the town and along the bastions and the mole. Never did knightly +tournament boast a more eager multitude of spectators. It chanced +fortunately that an English steam-yacht, the Deerhound, with its owner, +Mr. John Lancaster, and his family, on board, was in harbour at the +time. The Deerhound followed the Alabama at a respectful distance, and +was the closest witness of the fight. Some French pilot-boats hung as +near as they considered prudent. At the limit of neutral waters the +Alabama parted company with her, escort, and the Couronne returned to +within a league of the shore. + +Left to herself at last, the Alabama made her final preparations for the +coming struggle. Mustering all his ship's company upon the deck, Captain +Semmes addressed them as follows;-- + +"OFFICERS AND SEAMEN OF THE ALABAMA:" + +"You have, at length, another opportunity of meeting the enemy--the +first that has been presented to you since you sunk the Hatteras! In the +meantime, you have been all over the world, and it is not too much to +say that you have destroyed, and driven for protection under neutral +flags, one-half of the enemy's commerce, which, at the beginning of the +war, covered every sea. This is an achievement of which you may well be +proud; and a grateful country will not be unmindful of it. The name of +your ship has become a household word wherever civilization extends. +Shall that name be tarnished by defeat? The thing is impossible! +Remember that you are in the English Channel, the theatre of so much of +the naval glory of our race, and that the eyes of all Europe are at this +moment upon you. The flag that floats over you is that of a young +republic, which bids defiance to her enemy's, whenever and wherever +found. Show the world that you know how to uphold it. Go to your +quarters."[16] + +[Footnote 16: The above is a correct report of Captain Semmes' address +on this occasion. Various statements have appeared as to the way in +which it was continued: received. Captain Semmes states, "The only +replies that were made were shouts from the seamen of 'Never! never!' +when I spoke of the name of their ship being tarnished by defeat."] + +It took three-quarters of an hour for the Alabama to come within range +of the Kearsarge. At the distance of one mile, the Alabama opened fire +with solid shot. The Kearsarge took time to reply. After ten minutes the +firing was sharp on both sides. + +According to the statement of the Captain of the Kearsarge, her battery +consisted of seven guns--to wit, two 11-inch Dahlgrens--very powerful +pieces of ordnance; four 32 pounders, one light rifle 28 pounder. She +went into action with a crew of 162 officers and men. + +The armament of the Alabama consisted of one 7-inch Blakeley rifled gun, +one 8-inch smooth-bore pivot gun, six 32 pounders, smooth-bore, in +broadside. The Alabama's crew numbered not more than 120. On this head +Captain Winslow speaks erroneously. He sets down the Alabama's crew at +150 officers and men. The Alabama had a formidable piece in the Blakeley +rifled gun, but she was destitute of steel shot. + +It will thus be seen that there was inequality between the antagonists. +Captain Winslow speaks of the Alabama having "one gun more" than the +Kearsarge. His two great Dahlgrens gave the balance altogether in his +favour. But in an estimate of the rival capabilities of the two vessels, +the deteriorated speed of the Alabama should be considered as her +principal weakness. Cherbourg had done little to repair the copper of +her bottom, which spread out in broad fans and seriously impeded her +cutting of the water; and it had been found impossible to do more than +to patch up the boilers for the day's business. They were not in a state +to inspire the engineers with confidence. The Kearsarge, on the other +hand, was in first rate condition and well in hand. She speedily showed +that she could overhaul the Alabama. In fact, the Alabama entered the +lists when she should have been lying in dock. She fought with an +exhausted frame. She had the heroism to decide upon the conflict, +without the strength to choose the form of it. After some little +manoeuvring this became painfully evident to Captain Semmes. The +Kearsarge selected her distance at a range of five hundred yards, and +being well protected she deliberately took time and fired with sure +effect. + +Captain Semmes had great confidence in the power of his Blakeley rifled +gun, and we believe it is a confidence not shaken by its failure to win +the day for him. He wished to get within easy range of his enemy, that +he might try this weapon effectively; but any attempt on his part to +come to closer quarters was construed by the Kearsarge as a design to +bring the engagement between the ships to a hand-to-hand conflict +between the men. Having the speed, she chose her distance, and made all +thought of boarding hopeless. + +It was part of the plan of Captain Semmes to board, if possible, at some +period of the day, supposing that he could not quickly decide the battle +with artillery. It was evidently Captain Winslow's determination to +avoid the old-fashioned form of a naval encounter, and to fight +altogether in the new style; his superior steam power gave him the +option. When the Alabama took her death-wound she was helpless. We must +interpret the respectful distance maintained by the Kearsarge up to the +very last, and the persistent plying of her guns while the side of the +sinking ship was visible, as a settled resolution on Captain Winslow's +part to trust to guns alone, and throughout, so that a dangerous +proximity might be shunned. That much homage was paid by him to the +hostile crew, and that his manoeuvre was creditably discreet, few will +deny. + +The crew of the Alabama, seamen and officers, were in high spirits +throughout the engagement, though very early the slaughter set in and +the decks were covered with blood. Their fire was rapid and admirable. +It has been said in the House of Lords by no less a person than the Duke +of Somerset, that her firing was positively bad; and that she hit the +Kearsarge only three times during the action. By Captain Winslow's own +admission the Kearsarge was hit twenty-eight times by shot and shell--or +once to every fifth discharge. No seaman knowing anything of an actual +engagement on the deep will object to the accuracy of such an aim. Had +the Kearsarge shown the same blank sides as the Alabama, another tale +might have been told. Captain Semmes, however, perceived that his shell +rebounded after striking her, and exploded harmlessly. This led him to +rely upon solid shot. The Alabama, not being thus or in any way +shielded, was pierced with shell, and soon showed vast rents in her +after-part. Her pivot-gun was a distinct mark for the enemy, and a +single shell exploding near it killed and wounded half the number of men +by whom it was worked. Each ship fought her starboard broadside, and +steamed in a circle to keep that side to the enemy. So, for an hour, +this, to a distant spectator, monotonous manoeuvre continued, without +perceptibly narrowing the range. Captain Semmes was standing on the +quarter-deck when the chief engineer sent word to say that the ship was +endangered by leakage. The first lieutenant, Mr. Kell, was sent below to +inspect the damage. He returned with word that the ship was sinking. +Captain Semmes at once ordered the ship to be put about and steered +towards shore. But the water was rising in her: the fires were speedily +extinguished. The Alabama's shot from slackening had now ceased. It was +evident to all on board that she was doomed. To have continued firing +would have been to indulge a stupid rancour, and to act in such a manner +is not in the nature of a seaman like Captain Semmes. On the contrary, +his thoughts were directed towards saving the lives of his crew. He gave +command for the Confederate flag to be hauled down. + +Many wild stories are being told of something like a mutiny of the crew +at this desecration of the Southern banner; of how they implored the +Captain to spare them the disgrace of it; and of a certain quartermaster +drawing his cutlass, daring any hand on board to haul down the flag, and +being dramatically threatened with a loaded pistol by Mr. Kell, the +First Lieutenant, and so brought to his senses. The fact is, that the +flag came down quietly and decorously. All on board perceived that there +was no help for it, and that it would be a shocking breach of humanity +to imperil the lives of the wounded men. + +The general detestation of the Yankee was yet more strongly instanced +when the men were struggling for life in the water. The head of every +man was pointed away, as if instinctively, from the vessel that stood +nearest to rescue him. One who was hailed from the Kearsarge with the +offer of a rescue, declined it civilly, and made his way for the neutral +flag. The men swam as if they had still an enemy behind them, and not +one that was ready to save. Tardy as were the boats of the Kearsarge in +descending to perform this office, they found many of the poor fellows +still painfully supporting themselves above the surface. Of these, both +men and officers, when, after being hauled into the boats, they had +dashed the blinding salt water from their eyes and discovered among whom +they were, many sprang overboard again, preferring any risk to the +shelter of the Federalists. Hatred to the flag of the old Union and love +of their Captain appear to have been their chief active passions. When +taken on board the Deerhound, the question as to the safety of Captain +Semmes was foremost in every mouth. + +Captain Semmes asserts that shots were fired at the Alabama after the +signal of surrender. We will not attempt to substantiate a charge like +this: but French officers maintain it to be an undeniable fact that, +after the Confederate flag had been lowered, the Kearsarge fired no less +than five shots into her. We believe that Captain Winslow does not deny +the charge; but asserts that he was unaware of the act of surrender. In +his letter to the _Daily News_, he declares the accusation that he had +been guilty of this act to be "twaddle" (we quote his own phrase). + +The master's mate of the Alabama, Mr. Fullam, was despatched in the +dingey to the Kearsarge with a request that assistance might immediately +be given in rescuing the lives of the wounded men. It was promised, but +the fulfilment of the promise, owing, as we trust it may be proved, to +circumstances incidental to the fight, was, as we have said, tardy. +Captain Winslow expressed himself in kindly terms with regard to his old +shipmate in the days when the Union was not a mockery of its name; +Captain Semmes having served with him in the same vessel many years +back. During Mr. Fullam's absence the Alabama had gone down stern +foremost. All the wounded had been stretched in the whale-boat for +transmission to the Kearsarge. The surgeon of the Alabama, an +Englishman, Mr. David Herbert Llewellyn, son of an incumbent of a +Wiltshire parsonage, and godson of the late Lord Herbert of Lea, was +offered a place in this boat. He refused it, saying that he would not +peril the wounded men, and he sank with the Alabama. The rest of the +crew, with their captain, were already in the waves. Mr. Lancaster +meantime had steamed up to the Kearsarge, requesting permission to +assist in saving life, and he was soon among them, throwing lines from +the yacht, and picking up many exhausted men in his boats. The loss of +men by drowning was nineteen, including an officer (Mr. Llewellyn), +carpenter, and assistant-engineer. The loss in killed and wounded was +twenty-eight, of whom seven were killed. Not a wrack of the Alabama was +secured by the victors in this memorable sea-fight. The captain and his +officers dropped their swords into the deep; the men drove their oars +into the bottoms of the boats. One spirit--the spirit of the +unconquerable Confederation of the Southern States--animated all. Not a +man who was able to support himself in the water, swam towards the +Kearsarge. + +So sank the Alabama. It would have been glorious for her to have won, +but it was not disgraceful that the day went against her. She fought +against odds such as brave commanders are not in the habit of declining; +she fought to the water's edge. An end like this, and the splendid +antecedents she points to, have made her name and that of her captain +household words. Her flag has been indeed a "meteor flag," and that it +shall "yet terrific burn" we may reckon to be probable, when it is +remembered that the informing spirit, of which the good vessel was but +the gross body, is alive, and prepared once more to offer himself to the +land of his choice for service upon the seas. + + + + +APPENDIX. + + * * * * * + +No. I. + +CAPTURES OF THE SUMTER. + + +_Ably Bradford_--Of New York, from New York to Puerto Caballo. Captured +25th July, 1861, N.E. of Laguayra, Venezuela. + +Sent to New Orleans. Recaptured by enemy. + +_Albert Adams_--Of Massachusetts. Captured 5th July, 1861, four leagues +off Cienfuegos. + +Sent to Cienfuegos. Released by Captain-General of Cuba. + +_Arcade_--Of Maine, from Portland, Maine, to Guadaloupe. Captured 26th +November, 1861, in lat. 20 deg. 27' N., long. 57 deg. 15' W. + +Burned. + +_Ben Dunning_--Of Maine. Captured 5th July, 1861, four leagues off +Cienfuegos. + +Sent to Cienfuegos. Released by Captain-General of Cuba. + +_Cuba_--Of Maine, from Trinidad to English ports. Captured 4th July, +1861, in lat. 21 deg. 29' N., long. 84 deg. 06' W. + +Sent to Cienfuegos. Retaken by enemy. + +_Daniel Trowbridge_--Of Connecticut, from New York to Demerara. Captured +27th October, 1861, in lat. 17 deg. 54' N., long. 56 deg. 30' W. + +Burned. + +_Ebenezer Dodge_--Of Massachusetts, from New Bedford to South Pacific +(whaling). Captured 8th December, 1861, in lat. 30 deg. 57' N., long. 51 deg. +49' W. + +Burned. + +_Golden Rocket_--Of Bangor, Maine. Captured 3d July, 1861, in lat. 21 deg. +29' N., long. 84 deg. 06' W. Valued at $35,000. + +Burned. + +_Investigator_--Of Maine, from Spain to Newport, Wales. Captured 18th +January, 1862, in Straits of Gibraltar. Valued at $15,000, + +Released on ransom bond. + +_Joseph Maxwell_--Of Pennsylvania. Captured 27th July, 1861, seven miles +from Puerto Caballo. + +Sent to Cienfuegos. Released by Governor-General of Cuba. + +_Joseph Parkes_--Of Massachusetts, from Pernambuco to Boston. Captured +25th September, 1861, in lat. 6 deg. 20' N., long. 42 deg. 24'W. + +Burned. + +_Louisa Kilham_--Of Massachusetts. Captured 6th July, 1861, five miles +from Cienfuegos. + +Sent to Cienfuegos. Released by Captain-General of Cuba. + +_Machias_--Of Maine, from Trinidad to an English port. Captured 4th +July, 1861, in lat. 21 deg. 29' N., long. 84 deg. 06' W. + +Sent to Cienfuegos. Released by Captain-General of Cuba. + +_Montmorency_--Of Maine, from Newport, Wales, to St. Thomas. Captured +25th November, 1861, in lat. 18 deg. 30' N., long. 58 deg. 40' W. Valued at +$20,000. + +Released under ransom bond. + +_Naiad_--Of New York. Captured 6th July, 1861, five miles from +Cienfuegos. + +Sent to Cienfuegos. Released by Captain-General of Cuba. + +_Neapolitan_--Of Massachusetts, from Messina to Boston. Captured 18th +January, 1862, in Straits of Gibraltar. + +Burned. + +_Vigilans_--Of Maine, from New York to Island of Sombrero. Captured 3d +December, 1861, in lat. 29 deg. 10' N., long. 57 deg. 22' W. Valued at $40,000. + +Burned. + +_West Wind_--Of Rhode Island. Captured 6th July, 1861, five miles off +Cienfuegos. + +Sent to Cienfuegos. Released by Captain-General of Cuba. + + * * * * * + +CAPTURES OF THE ALABAMA. + +_Alert_--Of New London, from New London to the Indian Ocean (whaling). +Captured 9th September, 1862, off Flores. Valued at $20,000. + +Burned. + +_Altamaha_--Of New Bedford, from New Bedford (whaling). Captured 13th +September, 1862, in lat. 40 deg. 34' N., 25 deg. 24' W. Valued at $3,000. + +Burned. + +_Amanda_--Of United States, from Manilla to Queenstown. Captured 6th +November, 1863, in lat. 7 deg. 00' S., long. 103 deg. 19' E. Valued at $104,442. + +Burned. + +_Amazonian_--Of New York, from New York to Monte Video. Captured 2d +June, 1863, in lat. 15 deg. 09', long. 55 deg. 04'. Valued at $97,665. + +Burned. + +_Anna F. Schmidt_--Of Maine, from Boston (_via_ St. Thomas) to San +Francisco. Captured 2d July, 1863, in lat. 26 deg. 14', long. 37 deg. 51'. +Valued at $350,000. + +Burned. + +_Ariel_--Of New York, from New York to Aspinwall. Captured 7th Dec., +1862, off Cape Maize. Valued at $261,000. + +Released on bond. + +_Baron de Castine_--Of Castine, from Bangor to Cardenas. Captured 29th +October, 1862, in lat. about 39 deg. 18' N., long. about 69 deg. 12' W. Valued +at $6,000., + +Released on bond. + +_Benjamin Tucker_--Of New Bedford, from New Bedford (whaling). Captured +14th September, 1862, off Flores. Valued. at $18,000. + +Burned. + +_Bethia Thayer_--Of Maine. Captured 1st March, 1863, in lat. 29 deg. 50' N., +long. 38 deg. 31' W. Valued at $40,000. + +Released on bond. + +_Brilliant_--Of New York, from New York to Liverpool. Captured 3d +October, 1862, in lat. 39 deg. 58' N., long. 50 deg. 00' W. Valued at $164,000. + +Burned. + +_Charles Hill_--Of Boston, from Liverpool to Monte Video. Captured 25th +March, 1863, in lat. 1 deg. 22', long. 26 deg. 08'. Valued at $28,450. + +Burned. + +_Chastelaine_--Of Boston, from Martinique to Cienfuegos. Captured 27th +January, 1863, in lat. 17 deg. 19' N., long. 72 deg. 21' W. Valued at $10,000. +Burned. + +_Contest_--Of the United States, from Yokohama, Japan, to New York. +Captured 11th November, 1863, in lat. 4 deg. 48' S., long. 106 deg. 49' E. +Valued at $122,815. + +Burned. + +_Courser_--Of Province Town, from Province Town (whaling). Captured 16th +September, 1862, off Flores. Valued at $7,000. + +Burned. + +_Crenshaw_--Of New York, from New York to Glasgow. Captured 26th +October, 1862, in lat. 40 deg. 11' N., long. 64 deg. 32' W. Valued at $33,869. + +Burned. + +_Dorcas Prince_--Of New York, from New York to Shanghai. Captured 26th +April, 1862, in lat. 7 deg. 36', long. 31 deg. 57'. Valued at $44,108. + +Burned. + +_Dunkirk_--Of New York, from New York to Lisbon. Captured 7th October, +1862, in lat. about 41 deg. 00' N., long. 53 deg.. Valued at $25,000. + +Burned. + +_Elisha Dunbar_--Of New Bedford, from New Bedford (whaling). Captured +18th September, 1862, in lat. 39 deg. 50' N., long. 35 deg. 25' W. Valued at +$25,000. + +Burned. + +_Emily Farnum_--Of New York, from New York to Liverpool. Captured 3d +October, 1862, in lat. 39 deg. 58' N., long. 50 deg. 00' W. + +Neutral cargo, Released and made a Cartel. + +_Emma Jane_--Of Maine, from Bombay to Amherst (in ballast). Captured +14th January, 1864, in lat. 7 deg. 57' S., long. 76 deg. 09' W. Valued at +$40,000. + +Burned. + +_Express_--Of Callao, from Callao to Antwerp. Captured 6th July, 1863, +in lat. 28 deg. 28', long. 30 deg. 20. Valued at $121,300. + +Burned. + +_Gildersliene_--Of London, from Sunderland to Calcutta. Captured 25th +May, 1863, in lat. 12 deg. 04', long. 35 deg. 10'. Valued at $62,783. + +Burned. + +_Golden Eagle_--Of United States, from San Francisco (_via_ Howland's +Island) to Cork. Captured 21st February, 1863, in lat. 29 deg. 28' N., long. +44 deg. 58' W. Valued at $61,000. + +Burned. + +_Golden Rule_--Of New York, from New York to Aspinwall. Captured 26th +January, 1863, off Jamaica. Valued at $112,000. + +Burned. + +_Hatteras_--Of United States Navy, gunboat. Sunk 11th January, 1863, off +Galveston. Valued at $160,000. + +Sunk. + +_Highlander_--Of the United States, from Singapore to Aycaab (in +ballast). Captured 26th December, 1863. Valued at $75,965. + +Burned. + +_Jabez Snow_--Of Cardiff, from Cardiff to Monte Video. Captured 29th +May, 1863, in lat. 12 deg. 54', long. 35 deg. 18'. Valued at $72,881. + +Burned. + +_John A. Parks_--Of Maine, from New York to Monte Video. Captured 2d +March, 1863, in lat. 29 deg. 25' N., long. 37 deg. 47' W. Valued at $66,157. + +Burned. + +_Justina_--Of the United States. Captured 25th May, 1863, in lat. 12 deg. +04', long. 35 deg. 10'. Valued at $7,000. + +Ransomed. + +_Kate Cory_--Of Westport (whaler). Captured 15th April, 1863, in lat. 4 deg. +08', long. 32 deg. 01'. Valued at $10,568. + +Burned. + +_Kingfisher_--Of Massachusetts, from Fair Haven (on whaling expedition). +Captured 23d March, 1863, in lat. 2 deg. 08' N., long. 26 deg. 08' W. Valued at +$2,400. + +Burned. + +_Lafayette_ (1)--Of New York, from New York to Belfast. Captured 23d +October, 1862, in lat. 39 deg. 34' N., long. 63 deg. 26' W. Valued at $110,337. + +Burned. + +_Lafayette_ (2)--Of New Bedford (whaler). Captured 15th April, 1863, in +lat. 4 deg. 08', long. 32 deg. 01. Valued at $20,908. + +Burned. + +_Lamplighter_--Of Boston, from New York to Gibraltar. Captured 15th +October, 1862, in lat. 41 deg. 32' N., long. 54 deg. 17' W. Valued at $117,600. + +Burned. + +_Lauretta_--Of Boston, from New York to Madeira and Mediterranean. +Captured 28th. October. 1862, in lat. 39 deg. 18' N., long. 67 deg. 35' W. +Valued at $32,880. + +Burned. + +_Levi Starbuck_--Of New Bedford, from New Bedford to the Pacific +(whaling). Captured 2d November, 1862, in lat. 36 deg. 13' N., long. 66 deg. 01' +W. Valued at $25,000. + +Burned. + +_Louisa Hatch_--Of Rockland, from Cardiff to Point de Galle. Captured +4th April, 1863, in lat. 3 deg. 12', long. 26 deg. 9'. Valued at $38,315. + +Burned. + +_Manchester_--Of New York, from New York to Liverpool. Captured 11th +October, 1862, in lat. 41 deg. 08' N., long. 55 deg. 26' W. Valued at $164,000. + +Burned. + +_Morning Star_--Of Boston, from Calcutta to London. Captured 23d March, +1863, in lat. 2 deg. 08' N., long. 26 deg. 08' W. Valued at $61,750. + +Released on bond. + +_Nora_--Of Boston, from Boston to Calcutta. Captured 25th March, 1863, +in lat. 1 deg. 22', long. 26 deg. 08'. Valued at $76,-636. + +Burned. + +_Nye_--Of New Bedford, from New Bedford (whaling barque). Captured 24th +April, 1863, in lat. 5 deg. 45', long. 31 deg. 53'. Valued at $31,127. + +Burned. + +_Ocean Rover_--Of Massachusetts, from Massachusetts (out whaling). +Captured 8th September, 1862, off Flores. Valued at $70,000. + +Burned. + +_Ocmulgee_--Of Edgartown. Captured 5th September, 1862, in about lat. 37 deg. +20' N., long. 28 deg. 08' W. Valued at $50,000. + +Burned. + +_Olive Jane_--Of the United States, from Bordeaux to New York. Captured +21st February, 1863, in lat., 29 deg. 28' N., long. 44 deg. 58' W. Valued at +$43,208. + +Burned. + +_Palmetto_--Of New York, from New York to St. John's, Porto Rico. +Captured 3d February, 1863, in lat. 27 deg. 18' N., long. 6 deg. 16' W. Valued +at $18,430. + +Burned. + +_Parker Cook_--Of Boston, from Boston to Aux Cayes. Captured 30th +November, 1862, in lat. 18 deg. 59' N., long. 68 deg. 45' W. Valued at $10,000. + +Burned. + +_Punjaub_--Of Boston, from Calcutta to London. Captured 15th March, +1863, in lat. 8 deg. 36' N., long. 31 deg. 43' W. Valued at $55,000. + +Released on bond. + +_Rockingham_--Of the United States, from Callao to Cork. Captured 23d +April, 1864, in lat. 15 deg. 52' S., long. 31 deg. 44' W. Valued at $97,878. + +Burned. + +_Sea Lark_--Of New York, from New York to San Francisco. Captured 3d +May, 1863, in lat. 9 deg. 39' S., long. 32 deg. 44' W. Valued at $550,000. + +Burned. + +_Sonora_--Of the United States, from Singapore to Aycaab (in ballast). +Captured 26th December, 1863, off Malacca. Valued at $46,545. + +Burned. + +_Starlight_--Of Boston, from Fayal to Boston. Captured 7th September, +1862, off Flores. Valued at $4,000. + +Burned. + +_Talisman_--Of New York, from New York to Shanghai. Captured 5th June, +1863, in lat. 14 deg. 35', long. 36 deg. 26'. Valued at $139,195. + +Burned. + +_Texan Star_--Of the United States, from Maulmein to Singapore. Captured +24th December, 1863, off Malacca. Valued at $97,628. + +Burned. + +_Tonawanda_--Of Philadelphia, from Philadelphia to Liverpool. Captured +9th October, 1862, in lat. 40 deg. 03' N., long. 54 deg. 38' W. Valued at +$80,000. + +Released on ransom bond. + +_Tycoon_--Of the United States, from New York to San Francisco. Captured +27th April, 1864. in lat. 11 deg. 16', long. 32 deg. 6'. + +Burned. + +_Union_--Of Baltimore, from Baltimore to Jamaica. Captured 5th December, +1862, off Cape Maise. Valued at $15,000. + +Released on bond. + +_Union Jack_--Of Boston, from Boston to Shanghai. Captured 3d May, 1863, +in lat. 9 deg. 39', long. 32 deg. 44'. Valued at $77,000. + +Burned. + +_Virginia_--Of New Bedford, from New Bedford (whaling). Captured 17th +September, 1862, in lat. 40 deg. 03' N., long. 32 deg. 46' W. Valued at $25,000. + +Burned. + +_T.B. Wales_--Of Boston, from Calcutta to Boston. Captured 8th November, +1862, in lat. 29 deg. 15' N., long. 57 deg. 57' W. Valued at $245,625. + +Burned. + +_Washington_--Of New York, from Chincha Islands to Antwerp. Captured +27th February, 1863, in lat. 30 deg. 19' N., long. 40 deg. 01' W. Valued at +$50,000. + +Released on bond. + +_Wave Crest_--Of New York, from New York to Cardiff. Captured 7th +October, 1862, in lat. about 41 deg. 00' N., long. 53 deg.. Valued at $44,000. + +Burned. + +_Weather Gauge_--Of Province Town, from Province Town (whaling). +Captured 9th September, 1862, off Flores. Valued at $10,000. + +Burned. + +_Winged Racer_--Of the United States, from Manilla to New York. Captured +10th November, 1863, in Strait of Sunda. Valued at $150,000. + +Burned. + + + + +No. II. + +COURSE OF THE SUMTER. + +FROM NEW ORLEANS, 30TH JUNE, 1861, TO GIBRALTAR, 18TH JANUARY, 1862. + + 1861. + July 1 Lat. 26.18 N. Long. 87.23 W. + 2 23.04 86.13 + 3 21.29 84.06 + 4 No observation. + 5 Off the Jardinelles. + 6 At Cienfuegos, Cuba. + 7 do do + 8 Off the Caymans. + 9 Off Jamaica. + 10 to 15 No observation. + 16 to 24 At St. Anne's, Curacao. + 25 to 27 At and off Puerto Caballo. + 28 Off Tortuga. + 29 to + Aug. 5 At Port of Spain. + 6 9.14 59.10 + 7 8.31 56.12 + 8 7.19 53.34 + 9 6.10 50.48 + 10 4.29 48.25 + Aug. 11 Lat. 2.38 N. Long. 47.48 W. + 12 4.10 49.37 + 13 4.56 50.55 + 14 4.49 51.19 + 15 16 At Cayenne. + 17 5.56 + 18 Off the mouth of the Surinam. + 19 to 31 At Paramaribo. + Sept. 1 No observation. + 2 4.50 50.20 + 3 3.05 48.44 + 4 00.44 47.12 + 5 1.03 44.48 + 6 to 15 At Maranham. + 16 00.17 S. 42.59 + 17 2.19 N. 41.29 + 18 3.38 40.57 + 19 4.33 40.41 + 20 4.46 41.00 + 21 5.12 41.59 + 22 5.37 42.12 + 23 5.25 42.19 + 24 5.35 41.27 + 25 6.20 42.27 + 27 6.24 43.10 + 28 6.10 44.20 + 29 6.55 45.08 + 30 7.33 45.28 + Oct. 1 7.39 45.55 + 2 8.19 46.23 + 3 8.30 46.21 + 4 8.55 46.58 + 5 9.13 47.21 + 6 8.31 47.08 + 7 8.13 47.13 + 8 8.52 46.44 + 9 7.21 46.30 + 10 6.22 45.48 + Oct. 11 Lat. 6.38 N. Long. 45.13 W. + 12 6.56 44.41 + 13 7.04 44.47 + 14 8.31 45.46 + 15 9.36 48.11 + 16 10.22 50.05 + 17 11.37 51.49 + 18 13.01 53.12 + 19 13.33 53.46 + 20 13.46 54.06 + 21 14.00 54.07 + 22 14.21 54.16 + 23 14.36 54.37 + 24 15.20 54.51 + 25 16.54 55.30 + 26 18.13 56.04 + 27 17.54 56.30 + 28 17.03 57.07 + 29 16.54 57.33 + 30 16.40 58.16 + 31 16.54 57.59 + Nov. 1 16.52 57.25 + 2 16.32 56.55 + 3 16.35 57.38 + 4 16.43 57.45 + 5 17.10 59.06 + 6 16.39 59.54 + 7 16.00 60.46 + 8 + 9 15.08 61.54 + 10 to 23 At Martinique. + 24 16.12 + 25 18.11 58.48 + 26 20.07 57.12 + 27 22.22 56.27 + 28 24.22 57.12 + 29 25.51 57.36 + 30 27.16 58.29 + Dec. 1 27.38 58.20 + 2 28.12 58.09 + 3 29.10 57.22 + Dec. 4 Lat. 30.03 N. Long. 55.09 W. + 5 30.19 53.02 + 6 29.35 52.02 + 7 29.27 51.35 + 8 30.57 51.49 + 9 31.35 51.14 + 10 32.39 49.47 + 11 32.48 49.32 + 12\ + 13/ 33.28 47.03 + 14 33.49 44.47 + 15 34.00 42.05 + 16 33.24 40.43 + 17 33.24 40.00 + 18 33.53 38.43 + 19 34.30 36.40 + 20 34.17 35.31 + 21 35.17 33.05 + 22 No observation. + 23 36.29 32.32 + 24 27.31 31.30 + 25 36.08 28.42 + 26 35.09 25.56 + 27 35.00 22.49 + 28 35.17 20.53 + 29 35.43 18.59 + 30 35.39 17.33 + 31 35.22 16.27 + 1862. + Jan. 1 35.53 13.14 + 2 35.52 9.36 + 3 35.49 7.00 + +On the 4th of January the Sumter reached Cadiz, and on the 17th left for +Gibraltar. She entered that port on the following day, where she was +finally put out of commission. + + * * * * * + +COURSE OF THE ALABAMA. + + 1862. + Aug. 25 Lat. 39.15 N. Long. 26.30 W. + 26 39.39 26.07 + 27 39.59 24.34 + Aug. 28 Lat. 39.58 N. Long. 21.30 W. + 29 38.56 19.23 + 30 37.23 19.06 + 31 Lat. by acc. 36.23 21.54 + Sept. 1 Lat. 35.33 22.17 + 2 35.29 24.22 + 3 36.16 25.56 + 4 37.22 28.08 + 5 No observation. + 6\ + to | Off Flores. + 11/ + 12 40.17 34.05 + 13 40.34 35.24 + 14 40.12 33.02 + 15 40.03 32.46 + 16 Off Flores. + 17 40.03 32.46 + 18 39.50 35.25 + 19 38.32 35.03 + 20 37.20 36.26 + 21 36.35 36.58 + 22 35.21 37.26 + 23 34.43 38.38 + 24 34.52 48.28 + 25 34.59 41.10 + 26 35.35 41.36 + 27 37.12 43.13 + 28 37.40 42.00 + 29 37.09 43.13 + 30 38.87 45.03 + Oct. 1 40.27 46.31 + 2 40 to 40.30 48 to 48.20 + 3 39.58 50.00 + 4 39.52 50.41 + 5 40.19 51.14 + 6 41.02 53.50 + 7 No observation. + 8 Lat. (D.R.) 41.00 Long. (D.R.) 55.43 + Long. Chro. 54.37 + 9 Lat. 40.03 Long. 54.38 + 10 41.13 53.45 + 11 41.08 55.26 + Oct. 12 Lat. 41.42 N. Long. 56.48 W. + 13 Assumed 40.30 59.28 + 14 41.21 59.31 + 15 41.32 59.17 + 16 (D.R.)42.16 59.18 + 17 (D.R.)42.06 59.46 + 18 Supposed 41.25 59.10 + 19 40.21 62.08 + 20 40.28 62.40 + 21 40.18 62.40 + 22 By acct. 40.16 64.17 + 23 39.34 63.26 + 24 40.04 62.05 + 25 39.57 63.18 + 26 40.11 64.32 + 27 39.47 68.06 + 28 39.18 67.35 + 29 No observation. + 30 39.18 69.12 + 31 37.51 67.34 + Nov. 1 36.15 65.55 + 2 36.13 66.01 + 3 35.17 67.11 + 4 34.27 63.30 + 5 31.34 61.27 + 6 29.05 61.22 + 7 29.03 59.22 + 8 29.15 57.57 + 9 27.51 58.24 + 10 25.40 57.50 + 11 24.05 57.36 + 12 22.58 57.37 + 13 22.08 57.43 + 14 21.11 57.49 + 15 20.40 58.24 + 16 18.00 59.27 + 17 15.51 60.20 + 18 13.15 63.01 + 21 12.10 64.35 + 22\ + to | At Island of Blanquilla. + 25/ + 26 13.12 65.30 + Nov. 28 Lat. 16.19 N. Long. 66.06 W. + 29 17.45 67.15 + 30 18.59 68.45 + Dec. 1 19.40 69.49 + 2 20.04 71.50 + 3 20.12 72.58 + 4 \ + to | Off Cape Maise, Jamaica, and Cuba. + 12 / + 13 18.47 78.28 + 14 18.16 80.43 + 15 18.39 83.06 + 16 19.16 84.10 + 17 19.18 84.25 + 18 19.47 85.46 + 19 20.00 85.31 + 20 21.20 86.32 + 21 22.06 88.40 + 22 21.26 91.15 + 23 20.18 91.50 + 24 \ + to | At the Arcas. + 31 / + 1863. + n. 1 \ + to | At the Arcas. + 5 / + 6 21.11 93.13 + 7 22.35 94.26 + 8 24.36 94.45 + 9 26.19 94.11 + 10 27.45 94.42 + 11 28.51 94.55 + 12 28.03 93.08 + 13 27.05 90.37 + 14 25.58 88.58 + 15 26.16 88.35 + 16 23.43 87.35 + 17 21.45 85.34 + 18 19.50 82.51 + 19 18.30 80.34 + 20 \ + to | At Port Royal. + 25 / + Jan.26 Lat. 17.50 N. Long. 74.52 W + 27 17.19 72.21 + 28 17.56 70.28 + 29 At San Domingo. + 30 19.31 67.38 + 31 21.45 68.06 + Feb. 1 24.08 68.18 + 2 26.17 68.06 + 3 27.18 66.10 + 4 28.00 64.11 + 5 27.10 61.30 + 6 25.44 60.32 + 7 26.36 60.15 + 8 25.41 58.48 + 9 24.51 57.55 + 10 24.32 56.53 + 11 24.52 56.34 + 12 25.15 56.36 + 13 26.08 55.32 + 14 27.09 53.17 + 15 28.29 50.07 + 16 28.45 46.57 + 17 28.11 45.01 + 18 28.15 44.37 + 19 28.04 44.29 + 20 28.32 45.05 + 21 29.28 44.58 + 22 29.33 44.57 + 23 30.21 43.55 + 24 30.32 42.50 + 25 30.22 41.03 + 26 30.23 40.42 + 27 30.19 40.01 + 28 30.07 39.38 + March 1 29.50 38.31 + 2 29.25 37.47 + 3 28.42 36.59 + 4 27.02 35.44 + 5 26.04 35.23 + 6 24.09 32.20 + 7 24.30 35.12 + 8 22.36 34.32 + 9 20.22 33.53 + Mar. 10 Lat. 18.26 N. Long. 33.17 W. + 11 16.18 32.36 + 12 13.57 31.47 + 13 11.31 31.25 + 14 9.24 31.48 + 15 8.36 31.43 + 16 7.46 30.21 + 17 7.53 30.34 + 18 7.14 29.26 + 19 5.59 28.01 + 20 4.32 27.00 + 21 2.47 26.23 + 22 2.11 26.24 + 23 2.08 26.08 + 24 1.41 26.13 + 25 1.22 26.08 + 26 1.12 26.32 + 27 No observation. + 28 00.46 26.19 + 29 00.18 26.10 + 30 00.34 S. 25.35 + 31 00.39 25.19 + April 1 1.00 25.20 + 2 2.10 26.02 + 3 2.52 25.58 + 4 3.12 26.09 + 5 3.25 27.04 + 6 3.46 28.00 + 7 3.57 30.07 + 8 4.01 Long. (D.R.) 31.17 + 9 4.08 32.01 + 10 \ + to | At Fernando de Noronha. + 22 / + 23 4.42 31.49 + 24 5.45 31.53 + 25 6.22 31.44 + 26 7.36 31.57 + 27 8.16 32.18 + 28 8.19 31.40 + 29 8.22 31.07 + 30 9.02 31.39 + May 1 9.17 32.17 + May 2 Lat. 9.37 S Long. 32.34 W + 3 9.39 32.44 + 4 8.48 32.34 + 5 10.06 32.45 + 6 10.24 32.30 + 7 12.08 33.07 + 8 12.30 33.52 + 9 12.55 34.49 + 10 13.29 36.07 + 11 \ + to |At Bahia. + 21 / + 22 13.04 37.36 + 23 12.33 36.39 + 24 11.34 34.54 + 25 12.04 35.10 + 26 11.39 34.47 + 27 12.15 35.05 + 28 12.54 35.18 + 29 13.31 35.38 + 30 14.19 35.36 + 31 +June 1 14.44 35.15 + 2 15.01 34.56 + 3 15.09 35.04 + 4 14.46 34.57 + 5 14.35 36.26 + 6 15.17 35.26 + 7 16.07 35.37 + 8 15.55 35.28 + 9 16.55 35.36 + 10 16.17 34.35 + 11 15.32 33.46 + 12 17.25 34.24 + 13 19.21 35.37 + 14 19.54 35.18 + 15 22.38 35.11 + 16 23.41 35.36 + 17 23.54 35.53 + 18 24.16 37.15 + 19 24.57 39.01 + 20 25.48 40.18 + 21 25.46 40.16 + June 22 Lat. 25.55 S. Long. 40.21 W. + 23 25.24 38.40 + 24 25.19 36.36 + 25 25.56 33.44 + 26 Lat.(D.R.) 26.40 30.16 + 27 26.01 28.29 + 28 25.57 30.31 + 29 26.35 32.59 + 30 25.56 35.12 + July 1 25.38 36.38 + 2 26.14 37.51 + 3 26.31 37.33 + 4 27.27 34.37 + 5 27.58 31.43 + 6 28.28 30.20 + 7 29.45 27.36 + 8 30.00 24.20 + 9 29.57 21.16 + 10 29.29 17.47 + 11 28.00 15.12 + 12 26.44 13.32 + 13 28.13 13.27 + 14 29.21 11.31 + 15 30.07 8.06 + 16 Lat.(D.R.)30.39 4.05 + 17 30.16 00.20 + 18 29.54 3.04 E. + 19 at.(D.R.)29.47 5.32 + 20 29.57 7.23 + 21 30.43 10.19 + 22 31.33 12.37 + 23 31.59 14.12 + 24 33.24 14.51 + 25 33.56 15.34 + 26 33.26 16.37 + 27 33.46 17.17 + 28 33.46 17.31 + 29 \ + to | At Saldanha Bay, and the Cape. + Aug. 16 / + 17 34.03 17.11 + 18 33.24 16.56 + 19 32.52 17.09 + Aug. 20 Lat. 32.45 S. Long. 16.55 E. + 21 33.14 15.41 + 22 32.13 16.08 + 23 31.43 15.30 + 24 31.24 14.34 + 25 31.18 13.37 + 26 27.57 14.12 + 27 No observation. + 28 \ + to | At Angra Pequena. + 30 / + 31 26.51 14.40 + Sept. 1 No observation. + 2 28.37 10.13 + 3 29.43 8.59 + 4 30.04 8.46 + 5 30.24 9.28 + 6 30.35 11.16 + 7 31.17 11.07 + 8 31.41 11.16 + 9 32.30 12.49 + 10 33.16 15.20 + 11 33.10 16.37 + 12 33.43 16.03 + 13 33.51 17.34 + 14 34.28 17.43 + 15 34.26 17.30 + 16 \ + to | At Simon's Town. + 24 / + + 25 35.26 18.15 + 26 37.28 17.58 + 27 37.52 19.03 + 28 39.02 23.07 + 29 39.02 27.20 + 30 39.12 31.59 + Oct. 1 39.15 35.46 + 2 38.27 39.02 + 3 38.46 42.49 + 4 38.43 46.56 + 5 38.47 49.20 + 6 38.44 53.33 + 7 37.51 57.30 + Oct. 8 Lat. 38.04 S. Long. 60.23 E. + 9 38.16 64.15 + 10 38.26 68.57 + 11 38.28 72.40 + 12 38.46 77.12 + 13 38.15 80.29 + 14 37.47 83.42 + 15 35.23 89.55 + 16 35.23 89.55 + 17 32.59 93.28 + 18 30.59 96.17 + 19 28.26 98.43 + 20 25.33 99.42 + 21 22.41 100.12 + 22 21.13 100.10 + 23 18.52 100.10 + 24 15.45 101.25 + 25 Lat. (D.R.) 12.26 Long. (D.R.) 102.00 + 26 10.27 102.13 + 27 9.55 Long. 101.50 + 28 9.38 101.51 + 29 9.20 101.53 + 30 9.09 102.14 + 31 8.53 102.50 + 1 8.55 103.51 + 2 9.30 103.28 + 3 9.17 103.31 + 4 8.31 103.06 + 5 7.22 103.15 + 6 7.00 103.19 + 7 6.59 103.27 + 8 \ + to | Off Flat Point. + 10 / + 11 4.48 106.49 + 12 4.19 108.00 + 13 3.59 107.25 + 14 3.44 109.05 + 15 3.03 109.27 + 16 2.44 109.16 + 17 \ + to | Off the Malays. + 23 / + Nov. 24 Lat. 3.40 N Long. 109.45 E. + 25 Supposed Lat. 3.50 Supposed Long. 110.30 + 26 4.36 111.42 + 27 4.51 111.54 + 28 4.51 111.54 + 29 5.01 111.47 + 30 6.14 110.31 + Dec. 1 7.30 108.42 + 2 8.30 107.15 + 3 \ + to | At Cindore. + 14 / + 15 8.24 106.48 + 16 7.18 107.27 + 17 (D.R.) 6.11 106.12 + 18 4.48 105.10 + 19 \ + and | At Island of Aor. + 20 / + 21 \ + to | At and off Singapore. + 26 / + 27 4.08 100.11 + 28 Supposed 4.46 99.40 + 29 Supposed 5.29 98.16 + 30 5.39 96.40 + 31 Off N. end of Sumatra. +1864. + Jan. 1 6.23 93.35 + 2 5.39 93.08 + 3 5.29 92.33 + 4 6.05 Long. (D.R.) 91.40 + 5 6.29 90.37 + 6 6.07 88.40 + 7 5.39 87.22 + 8 5.22 84.53 + 9 5.05 82.09 + 10 5.14 79.50 + 11 5.49 78.25 + 12 7.26 76.02 + 13 7.33 76.01 + 14 7.57 76.09 + 15 8.25 76.08 + Jan. 16 At Quilon. + 17 Lat. 8.40 N. Long. 76.32 E. + 18 8.31 76.30 + 19 8.05 75.05 + 20 7.29 74.28 + 21 No observation. + 22 7.52 70.22 + 23 7.04 67.17 + 24 7.03 64.28 + 25 6.27 61.49 + 26 5.33 59.19 + 27 5.01 56.36 + 28 4.02 53.46 + 29 2.43 51.00 + 30 00.50 48.42 + 31 1.31 S. 47.20 + Feb. 1 3.15 46.13 + 2 4.48 45.40 + 3 6.47 44.44 + 4 8.24 44.26 + 5 10.18 43.47 + 6 10.42 44.00 + 7 10.44 43.50 + 8 10.45 43.42 + 9 \ + to | At Islands of Johanna and Mohilla. + 16 / + 17 13.41 43.04 + 18 14.15 42.45 + 19 15.03 42.24 + 20 16.00 41.45 + 21 17.02 41.31 + 22 18.43 41.20 + 23 19.49 41.23 + 24 20.29 41.19 + 25 21.18 41.44 + 26 23.36 41.15 + 27 25.31 40.00 + 28 27.11 37.51 + 29 29.16 36.17 + March 1 31.32 34.37 + 2 33.20 32.22 + 3 35.05 29.49 + March 4 Lat. 35.11 S. Long. 23.28 E. + 5 35.51 26.43 + 6 39.09 24.58 + 7 35.10 24.03 + 8 35.49 21.39 + 9 35.46 20.29 + 10 35.42 20.13 + 11 35.08 18.21 + 12 33.57 17.06 + 13 33.35 16.10 + 14 34. 3 15.20 + 15 33.48 15.23 + 16 32.50 16.31 + 17 33.10 16.22 + 18 No observation. + 19 32.57 15.55 + 20 33.51 17.31 + 21 \ + to | At the Cape. + 24 / + 25 34.02 18.10 + 26 33.41 15.52 + 27 31.50 12.39 + 28 31.36 10.09 + 29 30.25 8.25 + 30 28.53 6.55 + 31 28.00 4.50 + April 1 26.13 2.40 + 2 24.17 0.24 + 3 22.35 1.29 W. + 4 21.01 3.13 + 5 19.37 4.44 + 6 18.41 4.22 + 7 17.15 3.44 + 8 17.42 5.50 + 9 18.00 8.53 + 10 18.12 11.47 + 11 18.25 14.42 + 12 18.47 17.13 + 13 18.55 19.43 + 14 18.58 22.33 + 15 19. 9 25.-- + 16 19.17 26.42 + April 17 Lat. 19.12 S. Long. 27.33 W. + 18 19.22 28.57 + 19 19.13 29.36 + 20 18.49 30.01 + 21 18.18 30.26 + 22 17.23 30.56 + 23 15.52 31.44 + 24 15.19 32. 6 + 25 13.59 32. 4 + 26 13. 5 32.22 + 27 11.16 32. 6 + 28 10. 5 31.46 + 29 8. 9 31.29 + 30 5.26 30.12 + May 1 2.25 30.38 + 2 00.13 30.41 + 3 1.43 N. 31.28 + 4 3.30 32.38 + 5 5. 6 34.19 + 6 7.15 36. 7 + 7 9.40 37.36 + 8 11.54 38.43 + 9 14.13 39.43 + 10 16.43 40.33 + 11 18.37 41.09 + 12 20.10 41.25 + 13 20.33 41.19 + 14 20.53 41.09 + 15 21.12 40.55 + 16 22.05 41.16 + 17 22.57 41.50 + 18 24.33 41.57 + 19 26.32 41.50 + 20 28.04 41.33 + 21 29.24 40.42 + 22 30.25 39.54 + 23 31.39 38.39 + 24 33.13 36.49 + 25 35.51 35.41 + 26 37.43 33.53 + 27 38.42 32.50 + 28 39.23 32.31 + 29 39.51 (D.R.) 32.25 + May 30 Lat. 40.25 N. Long. 30.22 W. + 31 40.54 27.15 + June 1 41.35 24.15 + 2 42.07 22.15 + 3 42.18 20.30 + 4 42.10 18.04 + 5 41.58 16.31 + 6 42.31 15.42 + 7 43.47 14.12 + 8 45.45 (D.R.) 12.06 + 9 47.34 9.07 + 10 49.18 6.03 + 11 On this day the Alabama entered Cherbourg harbour. + + + + +No. III. + +Mr. LAIRD'S SPEECH ON THE ALABAMA. + + +The following is a full report of Mr. Laird's speech in the +House of Commons on Friday night:--After the discussion that +has taken place about the Alabama, I shall not trouble the +house with many remarks. I can only say, from all I know +and all I have heard, that from the day the vessel was laid down +to her completion everything was open and above-board in this +country. (Cheers.) I also further say that the officers of the +Government had every facility afforded them for inspecting the +ship during the progress of building. When the officers came +to the builders they were shown the ship, and day after day the +customs officers were on board, as they were when she finally +left, and they declared there was nothing wrong. ("Hear," +from Mr. Bright.) They only left her when the tug left, and +they were obliged to declare that she left Liverpool a perfectly +legitimate transaction. (Hear, hear.) One point has been +overlooked in this discussion. If a ship without guns and without +arms is a dangerous article, surely rifled guns and ammunition +of all sorts are equally--(cheers)--and even more dangerous. (Cheers.) +I have referred to the bills of entry in the custom houses of London +and Liverpool, and I find there have been vast shipments of implements +of war to the Northern States through the celebrated houses of Baring +and Co.--(loud cheers and laughter)--Brown, Shipley and Co., of Liverpool, +and a variety of other names, which I need not more particularly +mention, but whose Northern tendencies are well known to +this house. (Hear, hear.) If the member for Rochdale, or the +honourable member for Bradford, wishes to ascertain the extent +to which the Northern States of America have had supplies of +arms from this country, they have only to go to a gentleman +who, I am sure, will be ready to afford them every information, +and much more readily than he would to me or to any one else +calling upon him--the American consul in Liverpool. Before +that gentleman the manifest of every ship is laid, he has to give +an American pass to each vessel; he is consequently able to +tell the exact number of rifles which have been shipped from this +country for the United States--information, I doubt not, which +would be very generally desired by this house. (Loud cries of +"Hear.") I have obtained from the official custom house returns +some details of the sundries exported from the United Kingdom to the +Northern States of America from the 1st of May, 1861, to the 31st +of December, 1862. There were--muskets, 41,500 (hear, hear); rifles, +341,000 (cheers); gun flints, 26,500; percussion caps, 49,982,000 +(cheers and laughter); and swords, 2,250. The best information I could +obtain leads me to believe that from one-third to a half may be added +to these numbers for items which have been shipped to the Northern +States as hardware. (Hear, hear.) I have very good reason +for saying that a vessel of 2,000 tons was chartered six weeks +ago for the express purpose of taking out a cargo of "hardware" +to the United States. (Cheers.) The exportation has not +ceased yet. From the 1st of January to the 17th March, 1863, +the custom bills of entry show that 23,870 gun-barrels, 30,802 +rifles, and 3,105,800 percussion caps were shipped to the United +States. (Hear, hear). So that if the Southern States have +got two ships, unarmed, unfit for any purpose of warfare--for +they procured their armaments somewhere else--the Northern +States have been well supplied from this country through the +agency of some most influential persons. (Hear, hear.) Now, +it has been stated--and by way of comparison treated as matter +of complaint--that during the Crimean war the Americans behaved +so well that the honourable member for Bradford and the +member for Birmingham both lauded their action as compared +with that of our own Government. Now, I have heard that a +vessel sailed from the United States to Petropaulovski. (Cries +of "Name.") If honourable members will allow me I will go +on, and first I propose to read an extract from the _Times_, written +by their correspondent at San Francisco, dated the 29th of +January, 1863:-- + +"Now, this case of the Alabama illustrates the saying that +a certain class should have a good memory. During the Crimean war, +a man-of-war (called the America, if I remember) was built in America +for the Russian Government, and brought out to the Pacific, filled with +arms and munitions, by an officer in the United States navy. This +gentleman took her to Petropaulovski, where she did service against +the allied squadron, and she is still in the Russian navy. (Cries of 'No,' +and 'Hear, hear.') We made no such childish fuss about this act +of 'hostility' by a friendly Power, which we could not prevent, +as our friends are now making about the Alabama, whose departure +from England our Government could not stop." + +The America was commanded by a Lieutenant Hudson, who--if +my information be correct, and I have no doubt that it is--was +then, or had been just previously, a lieutenant in the American +navy; he was the son of a most distinguished officer in the +same service, Captain Hudson. I am further informed that +some doubts having arisen about the character of this ship, the +American men-of-war in the different ports she called at protected +her; and, on her arrival in Russia, the captain who took +her out was, I know, very handsomely rewarded for his services. +(Hear, hear.) Now, I will go a step further about the Northern +States. In 1861, just after the war broke out, a friend of +mine, whom I have known for many years, was over here, and +came to me with a view of getting vessels built in this country +for the American Government--the Northern Government. (Hear, hear.) +Its agents in this country made inquiries; plans and estimates were +given to my friend, and transmitted to the Secretary of the American +Navy. I will read an abstract from this gentleman's letter, dated the +30th of July, 1861. It is written from Washington, and states-- + +"Since my arrival here I have had frequent interviews with +our 'Department of Naval Affairs,' and am happy to say that +the Minister of the Navy is inclined to have an iron-plated ship +built out of the country. (Hear, hear.) This ship is designed +for a specific purpose, to accomplish a definite object. I send +you herewith a memorandum handed me last evening from the +department, with the request that I would send it to you by +steamer's mail of to-morrow, and to ask your immediate reply, +stating if you will agree to build such a ship as desired, how +soon, and for how much, with such plans and specifications as +you may deem it best to send me." + +(Loud cheers.) The extract from the memorandum states +that "the ship is to be finished complete, with guns and everything +appertaining." (Renewed cheering and laughter.) On the 14th of August +I received another letter from the same gentleman, from which the +following is an extract: + +"I have this morning a note from the Assistant-Secretary +of the Navy, in which he says, 'I hope your friends will tender +for the two-iron plated steamers.'" (Hear, hear.) After this, +the firm with which I was lately connected, having made contracts +to a large extent with other persons, stated that they were +not in a position to undertake any orders to be done in so short +a time. This was the reply: + +"I sent your last letter, received yesterday, to the Secretary +of the Navy, who was very desirous to have you build the iron-plated +or bomb-proof batteries, and I trust that he may yet decide +to have you build one or more of the gunboats." + +(Loud cheers.) I think, perhaps, in the present state of the +law in America, I shall not be asked to give the name of my +correspondent (hear), but he is a gentleman of the highest respectability. +If any honourable member wishes, I should have no hesitation in handing +the whole correspondence, with the original letters, into the hands of +you, sir, or the First Minister of the Crown, in strict confidence, +because there are communications in these letters respecting the views +of the American Government which I certainly should not divulge, which +I have not mentioned or alluded to before. But seeing that the American +Government are making so much work about other parties, +whom they charge with violating or evading the law, though in +reality they have not done so, I think it only fair to state those +facts. (Cheers.) As I said before, they are facts. (Hear, +hear.) I do not feel at liberty to state those points to which I +have referred, as being of a confidential character, but, if any +honourable gentleman feels a doubt regarding the accuracy of +what I have stated, I shall feel happy to place the documents in +the hands of the Speaker, or of the First Minister of the Crown, +when he will see that they substantiate much more than I have +stated. (Cheers.) I do not wish to occupy the House longer; +but I must say this, that to talk of freedom in a land like the +Northern States of America is an absurdity. Almost every +detective that can be got hold of in this country is employed. +(Hear, hear.) I believe there are spies in my son's works in +Birkenhead, and in all the great establishments in the country. +A friend of mine had detectives regularly on his track in consequence +of some circumstances connected with his vessels. If that be freedom, +I think we had better remain in the position in which we now are. +(Cheers and laughter.) In conclusion, I will allude to a remark which +was made elsewhere last night--a remark, I presume, applying to me or +to somebody else, which was utterly uncalled for. (Hear.) I have only +to say that I would rather be handed down to posterity as the builder of a +dozen Alabamas than as the man who applies himself deliberately +to set class against class (loud cheers), and to cry up the institutions +of another country, which, when they come to be tested, are of no value +whatever, and which reduce liberty to an utter absurdity. (Cheers.) + + + + +No. IV. + +THE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE HATTERAS. + +_From the Journal of an Officer of the_ ALABAMA. + + +_Sunday, 11th._--Fine moderate breeze from the eastward. +Read Articles of War. Noon: Eighteen miles from Galveston. +As I write this some are discussing the probability of a fight +before morning. 2.25 P.M.: Light breeze; sail discovered by +the look-out on the bow. Shortly after, three, and at last five, +vessels were seen; two of which were reported to be steamers. +Every one delighted at the prospect of a fight, no doubt whatever +existing as to their being war-vessels--blockaders we supposed. +The watch below came on deck, and of their own accord began preparing +the guns, &c., for action. Those whose watch it was on deck were engaged +in getting the propeller ready for lowering; others were bending a cable +to a kedge and putting it over the bow--the engineers firing up for steam, +officers looking to their side-arms, &c., and discussing the size of +their expected adversary or adversaries. At 2.30 shortened sail +and tacked to the southward. 4 P.M.: A steamer reported +standing out from the fleet toward us. Backed maintopsail and +lowered propeller. 4.50: Every thing reported ready for action. +Chase bearing N.N.E., distant ten miles. Twilight set in about +5.45. Took in all sail. At 6.20 beat up to quarters, manned +the starboard battery, and loaded with five second shell; turned +round, stood for the steamer, having previously made her out to +be a two-masted side-wheel, of apparent 1,200 tons, though at +the distance she was before dark we could not form any correct +estimate of her size, &c. + +At 6.30 the strange steamer hailed and asked, "What +steamer is that?" We replied (in order to be certain who he +was), "Her Majesty's ship Petrel! What steamer is that?" +Two or three times we asked the question, until we heard, +"This is the United States steamer----," not hearing the +name. However, United States steamer was sufficient. As no +doubt existed as to her character, we said, at 6.35, that this was +the "Confederate States steamer, Alabama," accompanying the +last syllable of our name with a shell fired over him. The signal +being given, the other guns took up the refrain, and a tremendous +volley from our whole broadside given to him, every shell striking +his side, the shot striking being distinctly heard on board our vessel, +and thus found that she was iron. + +The enemy replied, and the action became general. A most +sharp spirited firing was kept up on both sides, our fellows peppering +away as though the action depended on each individual. And so it did. +Pistols and rifles were continually pouring from our quarter-deck +messengers most deadly, the distance during the hottest of the fight +not being more than forty yards! It was a grand, though fearful sight, +to see the guns belching forth, in the darkness of the night, sheets of +living flame, the deadly missiles striking the enemy with a force that +we could _feel_. Then, when the shells struck her sides, especially the +percussion ones, her whole side was lit up, and showing rents of five or +six feet in length. One shot had just struck our smoke-stack, and wounding +one man in the cheek, when the enemy ceased his firing, and +fired a lee gun; then a second, and a third. The order was +given to "Cease firing." This was at 6.52. A tremendous +cheering commenced, and it was not till everybody had cleared +his throat to his own satisfaction, that silence could be obtained. +We then hailed him, and in reply he stated that he had surrendered, +was on fire, and also that he was in a sinking condition. He +then sent a boat on board, and surrendered the U.S. gunboat, +Hatteras, nine guns, Lieutenant-Commander Blake, 140 men. +Boats were immediately lowered and sent to his assistance, when +an alarm was given that another steamer was bearing down for +us. The boats were recalled and hoisted up, when it was found +to be a false alarm. The order was given, and the boatswain +and his mates piped "All hands out boats to save life;" and soon +the prisoners were transferred to our ship--the officers under +guard on the quarter deck, and the men in single irons. The +boats were then hoisted up, the battery run in and secured, and +the main brace spliced. All hands piped down, the enemy's +vessel sunk, and we steaming quietly away by 8.30, all having +been done in less than two hours. In fact, had it not been for +our having the prisoners on board, we would have sworn nothing +unusual had taken place--the watch below quietly sleeping in +their hammocks. The conduct of our men was truly commendable. +No flurry, no noise--all calm and determined. The coolness +displayed by them could not be surpassed by any old veterans--our +chief boatswain's mate apparently in his glory. "Sponge!"--"Load +with cartridge!"--"Shell-fire seconds!"--"Runout!"--"Well, +down compressors!"--"Left, traverse!"--"Well!"--"Ready!"--"Fire!"--"That's +into you!"--"Damn you! that kills your pig!"--"That stops your wind!" +&c., &c., was uttered as each shot was heard to strike with a crash that +nearly deafened you. The other boatswain's mate seemed equally to +enjoy the affair. As he got his gun to bear upon the enemy, he +would take aim, and banging away, would plug her, exclaiming, +as each shot told--"That's from the scum of England!"--"That's +a British pill for you to swallow!" the New York papers +having once stated that our men were the "scum of England." +All other guns were served with equal precision. We were +struck seven times; only one man being hurt during the engagement, +and he only received a flesh-wound in the cheek. One shot +struck under the counter, penetrating as far as a timber, then +glancing off; a second struck the funnel; a third going through +the side across the berth-deck, and into the opposite side; another +raising the deuce in the lamp room; the others lodging in the +coal-bunkers. Taking a shell up and examining it, we found it +filled with sand instead of powder. The enemy's fire was directed +chiefly towards our stern, the shots flying pretty quick over +the quarter-deck, near to where our Captain was standing. As +they came whizzing over him, he, with his usual coolness, would +exclaim--"Give it to the rascals!"--"Aim low, men!"--"Don't +be all night sinking that fellow!" when for all or anything we knew, +she might have been an iron-clad or a ram. + +On Commander Blake surrendering his sword, he said that +"it was with deep regret he did it." Captain Semmes smacked +his lips and invited him down to his cabin. On Blake giving his +rank to Captain Semmes, he gave up his state-room for Blake's +special use, the rest of the officers being accommodated according +to their rank in the wardroom and steerages, all having previously +been paroled, the crew being placed on the berth-deck, our +men sleeping anywhere, so that the prisoners might take their +places. Of the enemy's loss we could obtain no correct accounts, +a difference of seventeen being in their number of killed, the +Hatteras having on board men she was going to transfer to other +ships. Their acknowledged loss was only two killed and seven +wounded. A boat had been lowered just before the action to +board us; as we anticipated, and learnt afterwards, it pulled in +for the fleet and reached Galveston. From conversation with +her First-Lieutenant, I learnt that as soon as we gave our name +and our first broadside, the whole after division on board her left +the guns, apparently paralyzed; it was some time before they +recovered themselves. The conduct of one of her officers was +cowardly and disgraceful in the extreme. Some of our shells +went completely through her before exploding, others burst inside +her, and set her on fire in three places. One went through +her engines, completely disabling her; another exploding in her +steam chest, scalding all within reach. Thus was fought, twenty-eight +miles from Galveston, a battle, though small, yet the first +yard-arm action between two steamers at sea. She was only +inferior in weight of metal--her guns being nine in number, viz., +four thirty-two pounders, two rifled thirty pounders, carrying +60lb. shot (conical), one rifled twenty pounder, and a couple of +small twelve pounders. On account of the conflicting statements +made by her officers, we could never arrive at a correct estimate +of her crew. Our prisoners numbered seventeen officers, one +hundred and one seamen. We further learnt that the Hatteras +was one of seven vessels sent to recapture Galveston, it being +(although unknown to us) in the possession of our troops. We +also found that the flag-ship Brooklyn, twenty-two guns, and the +Oneida, nine guns, sailed in search of us. By their account of +the course they steered they could not fail to have seen us. + + + + +No. V. + +THE ALABAMA IN TABLE BAY. + +[From the _Cape Argus._] + +_August 6th, 1863._ + + +Yesterday, at almost noon, a steamer from the northward +was made down from the signal-post, Lion's-hill. The Governor +had, on the previous day, received a letter from Captain +Semmes, dated Saldanha Bay, informing his Excellency that the +gallant captain had put his ship into Saldanha Bay for repairs. +This letter had been made public in the morning, and had caused +no little excitement. Cape Town, that has been more than +dull--that has been dismal for months, thinking and talking of +nothing but bankruptcies--bankruptcies fraudulent and bankruptcies +unavoidable--was now all astir, full of life and motion. +The stoop of the Commercial Exchange was crowded with merchants, +knots of citizens were collected at the corner of every +street; business was almost, if not altogether suspended. All +that could be gleaned, in addition to the information in Captain +Semmes' letter to the Governor, a copy of which was sent to the +United States Consul immediately it was received, was that the +schooner Atlas had just returned from Malagas Island, where +she had been with water and vegetables for men collecting guanos +there. Captain Boyce, the master of the Atlas, reported that he +had himself actually seen the steamer Alabama; a boat from +the steamer had boarded his vessel, and he had been on board +her. His report of Captain Semmes corroborated that given by +every one else. He said the captain was most courteous and +gentlemanly. He asked Captain Boyce to land thirty prisoners +for him in Table Bay, with which request Captain Boyce was +unable to comply. Captain Semmes said that the Florida was +also a short distance off the Cape, and that the Alabama, when +she had completed her repairs, and was cleaned and painted, +would pay Table Bay a visit. He expected to be there, he said, +very nearly as soon as the Atlas. + +Shortly after the Atlas arrived, a boat brought up some of +the prisoners from Saldanha Bay, and amongst them one of the +crew of the Alabama, who said he had left the ship. All these +waited on the United States Consul, but were unable to give +much information beyond what we had already received. The +news that the Alabama was coming into Table Bay, and would +probably arrive about four o'clock this afternoon, added to the +excitement. About noon a steamer from the north-west was +made known by the signal-man on the hill. Could this be the +Alabama? or was it the Hydaspes, from India, or the Lady +Jocelyn, from England? All three were now hourly expected, +and the city was in doubt. Just after one it was made down, +"CONFEDERATE STEAMER ALABAMA, FROM THE N.W., AND FEDERAL BARQUE +FROM THE S.E." Here was to be a capture by the celebrated Confederate +craft, close to the entrance of Table Bay. The inhabitants rushed off +to get a sight. Crowds of people ran up the Lion's-hill, and to the +Kloof-road. All the cabs were chartered--every one of them; there was +no cavilling about fares; the cabs were taken and no questions asked, +but orders were given to drive as hard as possible. The barque +coming in from the south-east, and, as the signal-man made +down, five miles off; the steamer, coming in from the north-west, +eight miles off, led us to think that the Kloof-road was the best +place for a full view. To that place we directed our Jehu to +drive furiously. We did the first mile in a short time; but the +Kloof-hill for the next two and-a-half miles is up-hill work. +The horse jibbed, so we pushed on, on foot, as fast as possible, +and left the cab to come on. When we reached the summit, we +could only make out a steamer on the horizon, from eighteen to +twenty miles off. This could not be the Alabama, unless she +was making off to sea again. There was no barque. As soon +as our cab reached the crown of the hill, we set off at a breakneck +pace down the hill, on past the Roundhouse, till we came +near Brighton, and as we reached the corner, there lay the Alabama +within fifty yards of the unfortunate Yankee. As the Yankee came round +from the south-east, and about five miles from the bay, the steamer +came down upon her. The Yankee was evidently taken by surprise. The +Alabama fired a gun, and brought her to. When first we got sight of the +Alabama, it was difficult to make out what she was doing; the barque's +head had been put about, and the Alabama lay off quite immovable, as if +she were taking a sight at the "varmint!" The weather was +beautifully calm and clear, and the sea was as smooth and transparent +as a sheet of glass. The barque was making her way slowly from the steamer, +with every bit of her canvas spread. The Alabama, with her steam off, +appeared to be letting the barque get clear off. What could this mean? +no one understood. It must be the Alabama. "There," said the spectators, +"is the Confederate flag at her peak; it must be a Federal +barque, too, for there are the Stars and the Stripes of the States +flying at her main." What could the Alabama mean lying there-- + + "As idly as a painted ship + Upon a painted ocean." + +What it meant was soon seen. Like a cat watching and playing with a +victimized mouse, Captain Semmes permitted his prize to draw off a few +yards, and he then up steam again, and pounced upon her. She first +sailed round the Yankee from stem to stern, and stern to stem again. The +way that fine, saucy, rakish craft was handled was worth riding a +hundred miles to see. She went round the bark like a toy, making a +complete circle, and leaving an even margin of water between herself and +her prize of not more than twenty yards. From the hill it appeared as if +there were no water at all between the two vessels. This done, she sent +a boat with the prize crew off, took possession in the name of the +Confederate States, and sent the barque off to sea. The Alabama then +made for the port. + +We came round the Kloof to visit Captain Semmes on board. As we came we +found the heights overlooking Table Bay covered with people; the road to +Green Point lined with cabs. The windows of the villas at the bottom of +the hill were all thrown up, and ladies waved their handkerchiefs, and +one and all joined in the general enthusiasm; over the quarries, along +the Malay burying-ground, the Gallows Hill, and the beach, there were +masses of people--nothing but a sea of heads as far as the eye could +reach. Along Strand Street and Adderley Street the roofs of all the +houses from which Table Bay is overlooked, were made available as +standing-places for the people who could not get boats to go off to her. +The central, the north, the south, and the coaling jetties, were all +crowded. At the central jetty it was almost impossible to force one's +way through to get a boat. However, all in good time, we did get a boat, +and went off in the midst of dingies, cargo-boats, gigs and wherries, +all as full as they could hold. Nearly all the city was upon the bay; +the rowing clubs in uniform pulled off with favoured members of their +respective clubs on board. The crews feathered their oars in +double-quick time, and their pulling, our "stroke" declared, was "a +caution, and no mistake." Just before getting alongside, we passed +Captain Wilson in the port-boat, who told us that the prize taken was +the Sea Bride, and that there was no difficulty in hearing from Captain +Semmes himself the whole story of the capture. We passed the Federal +barque Urania at her anchorage, and that ship, disregardful of the +privateer, sported all her bunting with becoming pluck. The Stars and +Stripes floated defiantly from her-mizen peak, and her name from her +main. On getting alongside the Alabama, we found about a dozen boats +before us, and we had not been on board five minutes before she was +surrounded by nearly every boat in Table Bay, and as boat after boat +arrived, three hearty cheers were given for Captain Semmes and his +gallant privateer. This, upon the part of a neutral people, is, +perchance, wrong; but we are not arguing a case--we are recording facts. +They did cheer, and cheer with a will, too. It was not, perhaps, taking +the view of either side, Federal or Confederate, but in admiration of +the skill, pluck, and daring of the Alabama, her captain, and her crew, +who now afford a general theme of admiration for the world all over. + +Visitors were received by the officers of the ship most courteously, and +without distinction, and the officers conversed freely and unreservedly +of their exploits. There was nothing like brag in their manner of +answering questions put to them. They are as fine and gentlemanly a set +of fellows as ever we saw; most of them young men. The ship has been so +frequently described, that most people know what she is like, as we do +who have seen her. We should have known her to be the Alabama if we had +boarded her in the midst of the ocean, with no one to introduce us to +each other. Her guns alone are worth going off to see, and everything +about her speaks highly for the seamanship and discipline of the +commander and his officers. She has a very large crew, fine, +lithe-looking fellows, the very picture of English men-of-war's men. + +The second officer told us that it was the Sea Bride they had captured, +and pointed out her captain, who stood aft conversing with a number of +people who had gathered round him. "This, sir," said the officer, "is +our fifty-sixth capture; we have sent her off with about ten of our men +as a crew, and we left a few of her own men on board of her." We asked +him how he liked Saldanha Bay, and his answer was, "It is a very +charming place. Why did you not build Cape Town there?" Our answer was, +"Because we never do anything properly at the Cape." "Ah, sir!" he said; +"that is a great mistake to leave so fine a bay without harbor +conveniences. It is a great deal better than Table Bay. We enjoyed +ourselves capitally there, had some good shooting; one of us shot an +ostrich, a fine fellow, but he got away. Unfortunately, we lost one of +our officers there--one whom we all respected--as fine an officer as +ever trod this ship's deck. He was in a boat in the bay, shooting wild +fowl; he drew his gun towards him, the barrel in his hand; the trigger +caught, the charge passed through his lung, and his only dying words +were, 'Oh, me!' and he fell back a corpse. But for that circumstance, we +should always remember Saldanha Bay with pleasure. The gun was within an +inch of his breast when it went off." + +After this melancholy recital, we walked across to get a little chat +with the prisoner so recently captured. He is a superior man, and spoke +of the loss of his ship in the spirit of a philosopher. He was leaning +against a rail just opposite the cabin. "What can't be cured must be +endured," said he. In answer to our remark, that an hour more would have +saved him, he said, "Yes, it would; I had not the remotest idea of a +capture at this end of the world. I never supposed that she was in this +direction. I was in my cabin, washing," said he, "and my mate came down +and said there was a steamer in sight. 'Capital!' I said; 'it is the +English mail-steamer; I shall be just in time for my letters.' He went +up again, and shortly returning, said, 'She is going to hail us.' 'Hail +us!' I said; 'what the deuce can she want to hail us for?' and I went on +deck. I looked at that (pointing to the Confederate flag), and I soon +saw who we were falling into the hands of. I said, 'Good-bye, mate; we +shall not be long here.' This, sir," he went on to say, "is the second +time I have been captured coming to the Cape. I left New York in the +M.J. Calcon, and was captured by the Florida in 33 deg. West and between 28 deg. +and 29 deg. North. I went home all right, and left New York again on the +28th of May, direct for the Cape." This gentleman's name is Mr. H. +Spaling. + +The next we had an opportunity of conversing with was the chief officer. +This gentleman who, by the way, stands six feet four out of his shoes, +showed us round the ship with just pride. He pointed out to us the +peculiar qualities of the magnificent guns. One of Blakeley's rifle +pieces is a terrible-looking weapon. It throws conical shells of a +hundred weight; and he remarked, "When we fought the Hatteras, these +conical shells struck one after the other in capital style; they +exploded with magnificent effect, and lit up her whole broadside." Many +of the captured crew we observed in irons. + +We were now introduced to Capt. Semmes, who up to this time had been +engaged in the cabin with Mr. W.J. Anderson, of Anderson, Saxon, and +Co., upon the subject of supplies, which are to be provided by the firm. +We received a very cordial greeting from the gallant gentleman, who +remarked that at Bahia, and indeed everywhere he had been, both his +officers and himself had received very great attention from the English +residents. We had always concluded that Captain Semmes, of the +Powhattan, a fine steamer belonging to the States, to whom we were +introduced some years since by the late Mr. D.M. Huckins, American +Consul, was the captain of the Sumter and Alabama; but we found we were +mistaken, and on remarking this to the captain, he said, "Captain Semmes +of the Powhattan is of the same family as myself--he is, indeed, my +cousin; but he was born in the North, his interests are all there, and +he remains in the Federal service." Having desired us to take a seat, he +said he should be happy to give us any information in his power; he had +no secrets, and bade us take notes if we wished so to do. He then +informed us that he had taken fifteen ships since he left Bahia. We told +him that Captain Bartlett, of the ship Fortuna, stated that on the 2d of +July he saw a ship on fire. Our readers will recollect that the +particulars were given in a paragraph immediately after the Fortuna +arrived. It was as follows:--"On the 2d of July, Captain Bartlett saw +some smoke rising up on the horizon, which he supposed to be the smoke +from a steamer. Later in the day, however, a strong reflection of light +was seen in the sky, and which the captain at once believed to be a ship +on fire. All hands were then called up 'to bout ship,' and they stood +towards the spot from whence the light proceeded. This was about six +o'clock; and at two o'clock on the morning of the 3d July, and in lat. +25 deg. 57' South, and in long. 38 deg. 20' West, the Fortuna ran up within +forty yards of a large vessel of 800 or 1000 tons, which was enveloped +in one mass of flame from stem to stern. Nothing remained of her but her +hull; the whole of her rigging, masts, and decks had already been +consumed. As the Fortuna ran towards the wreck, another vessel--the +Oaks--bound to Calcutta, joined her, and the two vessels spoke one +another. From what Captain Bartlett could make out, the captain of the +Oaks told him that in the evening, about half-past six, an English +man-of-war had passed him, and whilst passing she fired two guns, from +which it was concluded that the crew of the burning vessel had been +rescued by the man-of-war." Captain Semmes said Captain Bartlett was +quite right in supposing that the ship had been set on fire by himself. +She was the Annie F. Schmidt, from New York to San Francisco, with a +general cargo on board; but the supposition of the man-of-war coming to +the rescue of the crew was a mistake. "We set her on fire in the night," +said Captain Semmes, "and shortly after we had done so, we heard a +couple of guns. We thought it was another Yankee, and we up steam and +fired a gun for her to heave-to. On coming alongside her, we found she +was Her Majesty's frigate Dido. 'We did not take her, sir,' said the +captain, with a laugh; 'in fact, we never attempt to take any of Her +Majesty's frigates.'" + +We said we would mention that, and we do, as Captain Semmes's last. "The +Dido people," he went on to say, "asked us if we had set the ship on +fire, and I answered we had, and had got the crew safe on board. 'All +right!' was the answer, and we parted. She was a vessel of about 1000 +tons." We asked Captain Semmes if he could give us the names of the +vessels he had captured. He answered that he could. "For," he said, "you +English people won't be neighbourly enough to let me bring my prizes +into your ports, and get them condemned, so that I am obliged to sit +here a court of myself, try every case, and condemn the ships I take. +The European powers, I see, some of them complain of my burning the +ships; but what, if they will preserve such strict neutrality as to keep +me out of their ports, what am I to do with these ships when I take them +but burn them?" He then fetched his record books, and we took the +following down from his lips:--"The ships we have captured were--the +Ocmulgee, of 400 tons, thirty-two men on board; we burned her. The +Alert, a whaler of 700 tons; we burned her. The whaling schooner +Weathergauge; we burned her. The whaling brig Altamaha; we burned her. +The whaling ship Benjamin Tucker; we burned her. The whaling schooner +Courser; we burned her. The whaling barque Virginia; we burned her. The +barque Elisha Dunbar, a whaler; we burned her. The ship Brilliant, with +1000 tons of grain on board; we burned her. The Emily Farnum we captured +and released as a cartel, and having so many prisoners we put some of +them on board her, and sent them off. The Wave Crest, with a general +cargo on board for Europe, we set on fire. The Dunkirk brig, with a +general cargo on board, we burned. The ship Tonawanda we captured, with +a valuable freight on board, and released her, after taking a bond for a +thousand dollars. The ship Manchester, with a cargo of grain, we burned. +The barque Lamplighter, with an assorted cargo for Europe, we burned. +The barque Lafayette, with an assorted cargo, we burned. The schooner +Crenshaw, with an assorted cargo for the West Indies, we burned. The +barque Lauretta, with an assorted cargo on board for Europe, we burned. +The brig Baron de Custine we took a bond for and released. The whaling +ship Levi Starbuck we burned. The T.B. Wales, from Calcutta to Boston, +with a valuable cargo on board, we burned. The barque Martha, from +Calcutta to West Indies, with an assorted cargo, we burned. The schooner +Union we, after boarding, found had some English property on board, and +we released her on bond. The mail steamer Ariel Running between New York +and Aspinwall, we captured. Unfortunately she was going, not returning, +or we should have had a lot of gold. We released her on bond. The United +States gunboat Hatteras, who came out to fight us, had the same number +of guns and crew. Our guns were a little heavier than hers, but we +equalized them by permitting her to fight us at 300 yards. We sunk her +in thirteen minutes by the watch. The barque Golden Rule, with an +assorted cargo, we burned. She belonged to the same company as the +Ariel. The brig Chastelaine we burned. The schooner Palmetto we burned. +The barque Olive Jane we burned. The Golden Eagle, laden with guano, we +burned. The Washington, from the Pacific, with guano, we released on +bond. The Bethia Thayer, from East India, with a valuable cargo on +board, was released on bond. The John A. Parker, with flour and lumber, +from Boston to Buenos Ayres, we burned. The Punjaub, from East India, +we found to have some English cargo on board, we released on bond. The +ship Morning Star we released on bond. The whaling schooner Kingfisher +we burned. The ship Nora, from Liverpool to West Indies, with salt on +board, we burned. The barque Lafayette we burned. The whaling brig Kate +Cory we burned. The whaling barque Nye we burned. The Charles Hall, from +Liverpool, with coal, we burned. + +"The ship Louisa Hatch, from Cardiff to West Indies, we burned. The ship +Dorcas Prince, with a general cargo, we burned. The ship Sea Lark, with +a general cargo from the East Indies, we burned. The barque Union Jack, +from Boston to Shanghai, we burned. We captured a Yankee consul on board +of her; he was on his way to Foochin; we landed him at the Brazils. The +ship Gildersliene, from New York to the East Indies, we burned. The +barque Justina we released on bond, to take home prisoners. The ship +Jabez Snow, from New York to the East Indies, we burned. The barque +Amazonian, from Boston to Buenos Ayres, we burned. The ship Talisman, +from New York to the East Indies, we burned. The barque Conrad, fitted +up as a Federal cruiser, a tender to a man-of-war, we captured and +burned. After these came the Anne F. Schmidt, mentioned before, and the +Sea Bride--and the Sea Bride you saw us take to-day. The estimated value +of these captures is 4,200,000 dollars." + +The American Consul, Mr. Graham, has handed to his Excellency the +Governor a protest against the capture of the Sea Bride, on the ground +that the vessel was in British waters at the time of her being stopped +by the Alabama. His Excellency told Mr. Graham that the decision of the +case remained purely on evidence, but he would see there was no breach +of neutrality. The Captain of the Sea Bride says he is prepared to show +by bearings that he was within two and a half miles of Robben Island. + + + + +No. VI. + +CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING THE TUSCALOOSA. + +_Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker to the Secretary to the Admiralty. +August_ 19, 1863. + +I beg you will be pleased to acquaint my Lords Commissioners of the +Admiralty with the following particulars relative to the proceedings of +the Confederate States ships of war Alabama, her reported tender +Tuscaloosa, and the Georgia, which have recently arrived at the Cape of +Good Hope. + +2. On the 28th of July an English schooner arrived in Table Bay, and +reported that on the previous day she had been boarded by the +Confederate steamer Alabama, fifteen miles north-west of Green Point. +After some inquiries the Alabama left her, steering south-east. + +3. Upon the receipt of this intelligence I ordered Captain Forsyth, of +the Valorous, to hold himself in readiness to proceed to any of the +ports in this colony where the Alabama might anchor, in order to +preserve the rules of strict neutrality. + +4. By a letter addressed to the Governor of this Colony by Captain +Semmes, copy of which was telegraphed to me on the 4th instant, it +appears that the Alabama had proceeded to Saldanha Bay for a few days, +anchoring there on the 29th of July. + +5. On the 5th instant I received a private telegram to the effect that +the Alabama was off Table Bay, when I directed the Valorous immediately +to proceed to that anchorage; and shortly afterwards a telegram reached +me from the Governor stating "that the Alabama had captured a vessel +(American), which was in sight, and steering for Table Bay." The +Valorous reached that Bay at 10.15 P.M., where the Alabama had anchored +at 3 o'clock in the afternoon of the same day. + +6. Captain Forsyth having informed me that the tender to the Alabama had +been ordered by Captain Semmes to Simon's Bay for provisions, and having +learned that this vessel had been captured off the coast of Brazil, and +not been condemned in any Prize Court, I had doubts as to the legality +of considering her in the light of a tender, being under the impression +that it was a ruse to disguise the real character of the vessel. I +therefore wrote to the Governor to obtain the opinion of the +Attorney-General of the Colony upon this subject, which correspondence +is inclosed. + +7. On the 8th of August the tender Tuscaloosa, a sailing barque, arrived +in Simon's Bay, and the boarding officer having reported to me that her +original cargo of wool was still on board, I felt that there were +grounds for doubting her real character, and again called the Governor's +attention to this circumstance. My letter and his reply are annexed. And +I would here beg to submit to their Lordships' notice that this power of +a captain of a ship of war to constitute every prize he may take a +"tender," appears to me to be likely to lead to abuse and evasion of the +laws of strict neutrality, by being used as a means for bringing prizes +into neutral ports for disposal of their cargoes, and secret +arrangements--which arrangements, it must be seen, could afterwards be +easily carried out at isolated places. + +8. The Alabama, after lying three days in Table Bay, came to this +anchorage to caulk and refit. She arrived here on the 9th, and sailed +again on the 15th instant. Captain Semmes was guarded in his conduct, +and expressed himself as most anxious not to violate the neutrality of +these waters. + +9. I should observe that, from the inclosed copy of a letter from +Captain Forsyth to the Governor, it would appear that the vessel Sea +Bride, taken by the Alabama off Table Bay, was beyond the jurisdiction +of neutral territory. + +10. During his passage to this port Captain Semmes chased another +American vessel, the Martha Wentzel, standing in for Table Bay. On my +pointing out to him that he had done so in neutral waters, he assured me +that it was quite unintentional, and, being at a distance from the land, +he did not observe that he had got within three miles of an imaginary +line drawn from the Cape of Good Hope to Cape Hanglip, but on +discovering it he did not detain the vessel. The explanation I +considered sufficient. + +11. The tender Tuscaloosa, having been detained by a strong +south-easter, got under way for the purpose of going to sea on the 14th +instant, but anchored again a little distance from the Roman Rock +lighthouse in consequence of thick fog prevailing. + +12. The Alabama did not take in any coal, either here or at Table Bay, +but after being caulked she proceeded to sea on the 15th instant, +followed by the Tuscaloosa. Their destinations are unknown. + +13. On the 16th instant, the Confederate States steamer Georgia, +Commander Maury, anchored in this bay. She requires coal, provision, and +caulking. This vessel did not meet the Alabama outside. + +14. The Florida, another Confederate States steamer, is reported to be +off this coast, probably cruising to intercept the homeward-bound +American ships from China; indeed, it is with that object these ships +are on this part of the Station. + +15. I have learnt, since the departure of the Alabama, and her so-called +tender, that overtures were made by some parties in Cape Town to +purchase the cargo of wool, but, being unsatisfactory, they were not +accepted. It is reported to be Captain Semmes' intention to destroy the +Tuscaloosa at sea. + +16. The Alabama is a steamer of about 900 tons, with 8 guns, and 150 +men. The Georgia is an iron steamer of about 700 tons, with 5 guns, and +110 men. The Tuscaloosa is a sailing-barque of 500 tons, having 2 small +guns and 10 men. + +_Captain Semmes, C.S.N., to Governor Sir P. Wodehouse. August_ 1, 1863. + +An opportunity is offered me by the coasting schooner Atlas, to +communicate with the Cape, of which I promptly avail myself. + +I have the honour to inform your Excellency that I arrived in this bay +on Wednesday morning last, for the purpose of effecting some necessary +repairs. As soon as these repairs can be completed I will proceed to +sea, and in the meantime your Excellency may rest assured that I will +pay the strictest attention to the neutrality of your Government. + +_Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker to Governor Sir P. Wodehouse. August_ 7, +1863. + +Captain Forsyth having informed me that the Alabama has a tender outside +captured by Captain Semmes on the coast of America, and commissioned by +one of the Alabama's Lieutenants, and as this vessel has been ordered +into Simon's Bay for provisions, may I request your Excellency will be +good enough to obtain the opinion of the Law Officers whether this +vessel ought still to be looked upon in the light of a prize, she never +having been condemned in a Prize Court; the instructions, copy of which +I inclose, strictly forbidding prizes captured by either of the +contending parties in North America being admitted into our ports. + +_Governor Sir P. Wodehouse to Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker, August 8, +1863_. + +I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter +of yesterday's date, and to inclose the copy of an opinion given by the +Acting Attorney-General to the effect that the vessel to which you refer +ought to be regarded as a tender and not as a prize. + +I shall take care to submit this question to Her Majesty's Government by +the next mail, but in the meantime I conclude that your Excellency will +be prepared to act on the opinion of the Attorney-General in respect to +any vessels which may enter these ports in the character of prizes +converted into ships of war by the officers of the navy of the +Confederate States. + +_Extracts from "Wheaton's Elements of International Law."_ + +What constitutes a setting forth as a vessel of war has been determined +by the British Courts of Prize, in cases arising under the clause of the +Act of Parliament, which may serve for the interpretation of our own +law, as the provisions are the same in both. Thus it has been settled +that where a ship was originally armed for the Slave Trade, and after +capture an additional number of men were put on board, but there was no +commission of war and no additional arming, it was not a setting forth +as a vessel of war under the Act. But a commission of war is decisive if +there be guns on board; and where the vessel after the capture has been +fitted out as a privateer, it is conclusive against her, although, when +recaptured, she is navigating as a mere merchant-ship; for where the +former character of a captured vessel had been obliterated by her +conversion into a ship of war, the Legislature meant to look no further, +but considered the title of the former owner forever extinguished. Where +it appeared that the vessel had been engaged in a military service of +the enemy, under the direction of his Minister of the Marine, it was +held as a sufficient proof of a setting forth as a vessel of war; so +where the vessel is armed, and is employed in the public military +service of the enemy by those who have competent authority so to employ +it, although it be not regularly commissioned. But the mere employment +in the enemy's military service is not sufficient; but if there be a +fair semblance of authority, in the person directing the vessel to be so +employed, and nothing upon the face of the proceedings to invalidate it, +the Court will presume that he is duly authorized; and the commander of +a single ship may be presumed to be vested with this authority as +commander of a squadron. + +_Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker to Governor Sir P. Wodehouse. August_ 8, +1863. + +I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter +of this day's date, covering the written opinion of the Acting +Attorney-General of this Colony as to the legality of the so-called +tender to the Confederate States armed ship Alabama, and for which I beg +to express my thanks. + +The vessel in question, now called the Tuscaloosa, arrived here this +evening, and the boarding officer from my flag-ship obtained the +following information: + +That she is a barque of 500 tons, with two small rifled 12 pounder guns +and ten men, and was captured by the Alabama on the 21st June last, off +the coast of Brazil: cargo of wool still on board. + +The admission of this vessel into port will, I fear, open the door for +numbers of vessels captured under similar circumstances being +denominated tenders, with a view to avoid the prohibition contained in +the Queen's instructions; and I would observe that the vessel Sea Bride +captured by the Alabama off Table Bay a few days since, or all other +prizes, might be in like manner styled tenders, making the prohibition +entirely null and void. + +I apprehend that to bring a captured vessel under the denomination of a +vessel of war, she must be fitted for warlike purposes, and not merely +have a few men and two small guns put on board of her (in fact nothing +but a prize crew) in order to disguise her real character as a prize. + +Now this vessel has her original cargo of wool still on board, which +cannot be required for warlike purposes, and her armament and the number +of her crew are quite insufficient for any services other than those of +a slight defence. + +Viewing all the circumstances of the case, they afford room for the +supposition, that the vessel is styled a "tender" with the object of +avoiding the prohibition against her entrance as a prize into our ports, +where, if the captors wished, arrangements could be made for the +disposal of her valuable cargo, the transhipment of which, your +Excellency will not fail to see, might be readily effected on any part +of the coast beyond the limits of this Colony. + +My sole object in calling your Excellency's attention to the case is to +avoid any breach of strict neutrality. + +_Governor Sir P. Wodehonse to Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker. August_ 10, +1863. + +I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter +of the 8th instant, on which I have consulted the Acting +Attorney-General. + +The information given respecting the actual condition of the Tuscaloosa +is somewhat defective, but referring to the extract from Wheaton +transmitted in my last letter, the Attorney-General is of opinion that +if the vessel received the two guns from the Alabama or other +Confederate vessel of war, or if the person in command of her has a +commission of war, or if she be commanded by an officer of the +Confederate navy, in any of these cases there will be a sufficient +setting forth as a vessel of war to justify her being held to be a ship +of war; if all of these points be decided in the negative, she must be +held to be only a prize, and ordered to leave forthwith. + +_Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker to Governor Sir P. Wodehouse. August_ 11, +1863. + +I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's +letter, dated yesterday, respecting the Confederate barque Tuscaloosa +now in this bay. + +As there are two guns on board, and an officer of the Alabama in charge +of her, the vessel appears to come within the meaning of the cases cited +in your above-mentioned communication. + +_Governor Sir P. Wodehouse to the Duke of Newcastle. August_ 19, 1863. + +(Extract.) + +I beg to take this opportunity of making your Grace acquainted with what +has occurred here in connection with the visit of the Confederate States +steamer Alabama. + +On Tuesday, the 4th instant, I received a letter from the Commander of +that vessel, dated the 1st August at Saldanha Bay, announcing his having +entered that bay with a view to effecting certain repairs, and stating +that he would put to sea as soon as they were completed, and would +strictly respect our neutrality. + +When this intelligence was received, the United States Consul called on +me to seize her, or at any rate to send her away instantly; but as the +vessel which brought the news reported that the Alabama was coming +immediately to Table Bay, I replied that I could not seize her, but +would take care to enforce the observance of the neutral regulations. + +On the next day, about noon, it was reported from the signal station +that the Alabama was steering for Table Bay from the north, and that a +Federal barque was coming in from the westward; and soon after, that the +latter had been captured and put about. A little after 2 P.M. the United +States Consul called to state that he had seen the capture effected +within British waters; when I told him he must make his statement in +writing, and an investigation should be made. I also, by telegram, +immediately requested the Naval Commander-in-Chief to send a ship of war +from Simon's Bay. The Alabama, leaving her prize outside, anchored in +the bay 3.30 P.M., when Captain Semmes wrote to me that he wanted +supplies and repairs, as well as permission to land thirty-three +prisoners. After communicating with the United States Consul, I +authorized the latter, and called upon him to state the nature and +extent of his wants, that I might be enabled to judge of the time he +ought to remain in the port. The same afternoon he promised to send the +next morning a list of the stores needed, and announced his intention of +proceeding with all despatch to Simon's Bay to effect his repairs there. +The next morning (August 6th) the Paymaster called on me with the +merchant who was to furnish the supplies, and I granted him leave to +stay till noon of the 7th. + +On the night of the 5th, Her Majesty's ship Valorous had come round from +Simon's Bay. During the night of the 6th the weather became +unfavourable; a vessel was wrecked in the bay, and a heavy sea prevented +the Alabama from receiving her supplies by the time arranged. On the +morning of the 8th, Captain Forsyth, of the Valorous, and the Port +Captain, by my desire, pressed on Captain Semmes the necessity for his +leaving the port without any unnecessary delay; when he pleaded the +continued heavy sea and the absence of his cooking apparatus, which had +been sent on shore for repairs, and had not been returned by the +tradesman at the time appointed, and intimated his own anxiety to get +away. Between 6 and 7 A.M., on Sunday, the 9th, he sailed, and on his +way round to Simon's Bay captured another vessel; but on finding that +she was in neutral waters he immediately released her. + +In the meantime, the United States Consul had, on the 5th August, +addressed to me a written statement that the Federal barque Sea Bride +had been taken "about four miles from the nearest land," and "already in +British waters;" on which I promised immediate inquiry. The next day the +Consul repeated his protest, supporting it by an affidavit of the master +of the prize, which he held to show that she had been taken about two +miles and a half from the land; and the agent for the United States +underwriters, on the same day, made a similar protest. On the 7th, the +Consul represented that the prize had, on the previous day, been brought +within one mile and a half of the lighthouse, which he considered as +much a violation of the neutrality as if she had been there captured, +and asked me to have the prize crew taken out and replaced by one from +the Valorous, which I declined. + +I had, during this period, been seeking for authentic information as to +the real circumstances of the capture, more particularly with reference +to the actual distance from the shore, and obtained through the Acting +Attorney-General statements from the keeper of the Green Point +Lighthouse (this was supported by the Collector of Customs), from the +signal-man at the station at the Lion's Rump, and from an experienced +boatman who was passing between the shore and the vessels at the time. +Captain Forsyth, of the Valorous, also made inquiries of the captain of +the Alabama and of the Port Captain, and made known the result to me. +And upon all these statements I came to the conclusion that the vessels +were not less than four miles distant from land; and on the 8th I +communicated to the United States Consul that the capture could not, in +my opinion, be held to be illegal by reason of the place at which it was +effected. + +In his reply of the 10th, the Consul endeavoured to show how +indefensible my decision must be, if, in these days of improved +artillery, I rested it on the fact of the vessels having been only three +miles from land. This passage is, I think, of considerable importance, +as involving an indirect admission that they were not within three miles +at the time of capture. And I hope your Grace will concur in my view +that it was not my duty to go beyond what I found to be the distance +clearly established by past decisions under international law. + +An important question has arisen in connection with the Alabama, on +which it is very desirable that I should, as soon as practicable, be +made acquainted with the views of Her Majesty's Government. Captain +Semmes had mentioned after his arrival in port, that he had left outside +one of his prizes previously taken, the Tuscaloosa, which he had +equipped and fitted as a tender, and had ordered to meet him in Simon's +Bay, as she also stood in need of supplies. When this became known to +the naval commander-in-chief, he requested me to furnish him with a +legal opinion; and whether this vessel could he held to be a ship of war +before she had been formally condemned in a prize court; or whether she +must not be held to be still a prize, and, as such, prohibited from +entering our ports. The Acting Attorney-General, founding his opinion on +Earl Russell's despatch to your Grace, of the 31st January, 1862, and on +"Wheaton's International Law," states in substance that it was open to +Captain Semmes to convert this vessel into a ship of war, and that she +ought to be admitted into our ports on that footing. + +On the 8th August the vessel entered Simon's Bay, and the Admiral wrote +that she had two small rifled guns, with a crew of ten men, and that her +cargo of wool was still on board. He was still doubtful of the propriety +of admitting her. + +On the 10th August, after further consultation with the Acting +Attorney-General, I informed Sir Baldwin Walker that, if the guns had +been put on board by the Alabama, or if she had a commission of war, or +if she were commanded by an officer of the Confederate Navy, there must +be held to be a sufficient setting forth as a vessel of war to justify +her admission into port in that character. + +The Admiral replied in the affirmative on the first and last points, and +she was admitted. + +The Tuscaloosa sailed from Simon's Bay on the morning of the 14th +instant, but was becalmed in the vicinity until the following day, when +she sailed about noon. The Alabama left before noon on the 15th instant. +Neither of these vessels was allowed to remain in port longer than was +really necessary for the completion of their repairs. + +On the 16th, at noon, the Georgia, another Confederate war steamer, +arrived at Simon's Bay in need of repairs, and is still there. + +Before closing this despatch I wish particularly to request instructions +on a point touched on in the letter from the United States Consul of the +17th instant, viz.: the steps which should be taken here in the event of +the cargo of any vessel captured by one of the belligerents being taken +out of the prize at sea, and brought into one of our ports in a British +or other neutral vessel. + +Both belligerents are strictly interdicted from bringing their prizes +into British ports by Earl Russell's letter to the Lords of the +Admiralty of the 1st June, 1861, and I conceive that a colonial +government would be justified in enforcing compliance with that order by +any means at its command, and by the exercise of force if it should be +required. + +But that letter refers only to "prizes;" that is, I conceive, to ships +themselves, and makes no mention of the cargoes they may contain. +Practically the prohibition has been taken to extend to the cargoes; and +I gathered, from a conversation with Captain Semmes on the subject of +our neutrality regulations, that he considered himself debarred from +disposing of them, and was thus driven to the destruction of all that he +took. But I confess that I am unable to discover by what legal means I +could prevent the introduction into our ports of captured property +purchased at sea, and tendered for entry at the custom-house in the +usual form from a neutral ship. I have consulted the Acting +Attorney-General on the subject, and he is not prepared to state that +the customs authorities would be justified in making a seizure under +such circumstances; and therefore, as there is great probability of +clandestine attempts being made to introduce cargoes of this +description, I shall be glad to be favoured with the earliest +practicable intimation of the views of Her Majesty's Government on the +subject. + +_Captain Semmes, C.S.N., to Sir P. Wodehouse. August_ 5, 1863. + +I have the honour to inform your Excellency of my arrival in this bay, +in the Confederate States steamer Alabama under my command. I have come +in for supplies and repairs, and in the meantime I respectfully ask +leave to land in Cape Town thirty-three prisoners, lately captured by me +on board two of the enemy's ships destroyed at sea. The United States +Consul will doubtless be glad to extend such hospitality and assistance +to his distressed countrymen, as required of him by law. + +_Sir P. Wodehouse to Captain Semmes, C.S.N. August_ 5, 1863. + +I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter announcing +your arrival in this port, and to state that I have no objection to +offer to your landing the prisoners now detained in your ship. + +I have further to beg that you will be good enough to state the nature +and extent of the supplies and repairs you require, that I may be +enabled to form some estimate of the time for which it will be necessary +for you to remain in this port. + +_Captain Semmes, C.S.N., to Sir P. Wodehouse. August_ 5, 1863. + +I have had the honour to receive your letter of this day's date, giving +me permission to land my prisoners, and requesting me to state the +nature of the supplies and repairs which I may require. In the way of +supplies I shall need some provisions for my crew, a list of which will +be handed you to-morrow by the paymaster, and as for repairs my boilers +need some iron work to be done, and my bends require caulking, being +quite open. I propose to take on board the necessary materials here, and +to proceed with all despatch to Simon's Bay for the purpose of making +these repairs. + +_Mr. Adamson to Captain Semmes C.S.N. August_ 6, 1863. + +I am directed by the Governor of this colony to acquaint you that he +has received from the Consul for the United States at this port a +representation, in which he sets forth that an American barque was +yesterday captured by the ship which you command, in British waters, in +violation of the neutrality of the British Government, and claims from +him redress for the alleged outrage. + +His Excellency will be glad, therefore, to receive from you any +explanation you may wish to give as to the circumstances in which the +capture was effected. + +_Captain Semmes, C.S.N., to Mr. Adamson. Cape Town, August_ 6, 1863. + +I have had the honour to receive your communication of this day's date, +informing me that the United States Consul at this port had presented to +his Excellency the Governor a representation in which he sets forth that +an American barque was yesterday captured by this ship under my command +in British waters, in violation of the neutrality of the British +Government, and requesting me to make to his Excellency such +representation as I may have to offer on the subject. + +In reply, I have the honour to state that it is not true that the barque +referred to was captured in British waters, and in violation of British +neutrality; she having been captured outside all headlands, and a +distance from the nearest land of between five and six miles. As I +approached this vessel I called the particular attention of my officers +to the question of distance, and they all agreed that the capture was +made from two to three miles outside the marine league. + +_U.S. Consul to Sir P. Wodehouse. August_ 4, 1863. + +From reliable information received by me, and which you are also +doubtless in possession of, a war steamer called the Alabama is now in +Saldanha Bay, being painted, discharging prisoners of war, &c. + +The vessel in question was built in England to prey upon the commerce of +the United States of America, and escaped therefrom while on her trial +trip, forfeiting bonds of L20,000, which the British Government exacted +under the Foreign Enlistment Act. + +Now, as your Government has a treaty of amity and commerce with the +United States, and has not recognised the persons in revolt against the +United States as a Government at all, the vessel alluded to should be at +once seized and sent to England, from whence she clandestinely escaped. +Assuming that the British Government was sincere in exacting the bonds, +you have doubtless been instructed to send her home to England, where +she belongs. But if, from some oversight, you have not received such +instructions, and you decline the responsibility of making the seizure, +I would most respectfully protest against the vessel remaining in any +port of the colony another day. She has been at Saldanha Bay four [six] +days already, and a week previously on the coast, and has forfeited all +right to remain an hour longer by this breach of neutrality. Painting a +ship does not come under the head of "necessary repairs," and is no +proof that she is unseaworthy; and to allow her to visit other ports +after she has set the Queen's proclamation of neutrality at defiance +would not be regarded as in accordance with the spirit and purpose of +that document. + +_Mr. Adamson to U.S. Consul. August 5,_ 1863. + +I am directed by the Governor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter +of yesterday's date relative to the Alabama. + +His Excellency has no instructions, neither has he any authority, to +seize or detain that vessel; and he desires me to acquaint you that he +has received a letter from the Commander, dated the 1st instant, stating +that repairs were in progress, and as soon as they were completed he +intended to go to sea. He further announces his intention of respecting +strictly the neutrality of the British Government. + +The course which Captain Semmes here proposes to take is, in the +Governor's opinion, in conformity with the instructions he has himself +received relative to ships of war and privateers belonging to the United +States and the States calling themselves the Confederate States of +America visiting British ports. + +The reports received from Saldanha Bay induce the Governor to believe +that the vessel will leave that harbour as soon as her repairs are +completed; but he will immediately, on receiving intelligence to the +contrary, take the necessary steps for enforcing the observance of the +rules laid down by Her Majesty's Government. + +_Mr. Graham (U.S. Consul) to Sir P. Wodehouse. August_ 5, 1863. + +The Confederate steamer Alabama has just captured an American barque off +Green Point, or about four miles from the nearest land (Robben Island). +I witnessed the capture with my own eyes, as did hundreds of others at +the same time. This occurrence at the entrance of Table Bay, and clearly +in British waters, is an insult to England and a grievous injury to a +friendly Power, the United States. + +Towards the Government of my country and her domestic enemies the +Government of England assumes a position of neutrality; and if the +neutrality can be infringed with impunity, in this bold and daring +manner, the Government of the United States will no doubt consider the +matter as one requiring immediate explanation. + +Believing that the occurrence was without your knowledge or expectation, +and hoping you will take such steps to redress the outrage as the +exigency requires, I am, &c. + +_Mr. Rawson to Mr. Graham. August_ 6, 1863. + +I am directed by the Governor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter +of yesterday's date respecting the capture of the Sea Bride by the +Alabama, and to acquaint you that he will lose no time in obtaining +accurate information as to the circumstances of the capture. I have, +&c., + +(Signed) RAWSON W. RAWSON, + +_Colonial Secretary._ + +_Mr. Graham to Sir P. Wodehouse. August_ 6, 1863. + +I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of this +date. + +I beg now to enclose for your Excellency's perusal, the affidavit of +Captain Charles F. White, of the Sea Bride, protesting against the +capture of the said barque in British waters. The bearings taken by him +at the time of capture conclusively show that she was in neutral waters, +being about two and a half miles from Robben Island. This statement is +doubtless more satisfactory than the testimony of persons who measured +the distance by the eye. + +I believe that there is no law defining the word "coast" other than +international law. That law has always limited neutral waters to the +fighting distance from land, which, upon the invention of gunpowder, was +extended to a distance of three nautical miles from land on a straight +coast, and by the same rule, since the invention of Armstrong rifled +cannon, to at least six miles. + +But all waters inclosed by a line drawn between two promontories or +headlands are recognised by all nations as neutral, and England was the +first that adopted the rule, calling such waters the "King's chambers." +By referring to "Wheaton's Digest," page 234, or any other good work on +international law, you will find the above rules laid down and +elucidated. + +The fact that the prize has not already been burned, and that her fate +is still in suspense, is clear proof that Captain Semmes had misgivings +as to the legality of the capture, and awaits your Excellency's assent. +If you decide that the prize was legally taken, you will assume a +responsibility which Captain Semmes himself declined to take. + +_Affidavit of C.F. White._ + +On this 6th day of August, A.D. 1863, personally appeared before me, +Walter Graham, Consul of the United States at Cape Town, Charles F. +White, master of the barque Sea Bride, of Boston, from New York, and +declared on affidavit that on the 3d day of August instant, he sighted +Table Mountain and made for Table Bay, but that on the 4th instant, +night coming on, he was compelled to stand out. On the 5th instant, he +again made for the anchorage, and about two P.M. saw a steamer standing +toward the barque, which he supposed was the English mail steamer, but +on nearing her, found her to be the Confederate steamer Alabama. He, +Captain White, was peremptorily ordered to heave his vessel to as a +prize to the Alabama. One gun was fired, and immediately after the +demand was made another gun was fired. Two boats were lowered from the +Alabama and sent on board the barque. The officer in charge of these +boats demanded the ship's papers, which the said master was compelled to +take on board the said steamer. This happened about a quarter before +three o'clock. He and his crew were immediately taken from his vessel +and placed as prisoners on board the Alabama, the officers and crew +being put in irons. The position of the barque at the time of capture +was as follows:--Green Point Lighthouse bearing south by east; Robben +Island Lighthouse north-east. + +The said appearer did further protest against the illegal capture of +said vessel, as she was in British waters at the time of capture, +according to bearings. + +_Mr. Graham to Sir P. Wodehouse. August 7, 1863_. + +Understanding from your letter of this date, received this morning,[17] +that the case of the Sea Bride is still pending, I enclose the +affidavits of the first officer of that vessel and the cook and steward, +which I hope will throw additional light on the subject. + +[Footnote 17: A formal acknowledgment omitted here as superfluous.] + +From the affidavit of the first officer, it appears that the alleged +prize was brought within one and a half miles of Green Point Lighthouse +yesterday at one o'clock P.M. Now, as the vessel was at that time in +charge of a prize crew, it was a violation of neutrality as much as if +the capture had been made at the same distance from land. + +Pending your decision of the case I would most respectfully suggest that +the prize crew on board the Sea Bride be removed, and that the vessel be +put in charge of a crew from Her Majesty's ship Valorous. + +_Affidavit of James Robertson._ + +On the day and date hereof before me, Walter Graham, Consul for the +United States of America at Cape Town, personally came and appeared +James Robertson, cook and steward of the barque Sea Bride, an American +vessel, and made affidavit that he was on board said barque on the night +of the 5th day of August instant, after the said barque had been +captured as a prize by the Confederate steamer Alabama, and a prize crew +put on board. That at about five minutes before two o'clock A.M. of the +6th instant, the prize crew on board the said barque received a signal +from the Alabama aforesaid to burn the said barque, and immediately all +hands were called to execute that order. That the sails were clewed, a +tar barrel taken from underneath the topgallant forecastle and placed in +the forecastle, and a bucketful of tar, with other combustibles and +ammunition, ordered on the cabin table, but that when these arrangements +were completed, another signal was received from the said Alabama, +countermanding the order to burn the said prize, and to stand off and on +the land until daylight, which orders were obeyed. + +_Affidavit of John Schofield._ + +On the day and date hereof before me, Walter Graham, Consul for the +United States of America at Cape Town, personally came and appeared +John Schofield, first officer of the barque Sea Bride, of Boston, who +made affidavit that he was on board of said vessel at one o'clock P.M. +yesterday, the 6th day of August instant, while she was in possession of +a prize crew of the steamer Alabama; that he took the bearings of said +barque at that time, which were as follows: Robben Island Lighthouse +bore north-east by north one-half north, Green Point Lighthouse bore +south-west one-half west. + +He also deposed that the officer in command of the barque came on deck +about that time, and stamping his foot as if chagrined to find her so +near the land, ordered her further off, which was done immediately. + +I am directed by the Governor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter +of this date, inclosing two affidavits relative to the Sea Bride, and to +state that his Excellency is not prepared to admit that the fact of that +vessel having been brought by the prize crew within one and a half miles +of the Green Point Lighthouse "was a violation of the neutrality as much +as if the capture had taken place at the same distance from land," +although both the belligerents are prohibited from bringing their prizes +into British ports. + +The Governor does not feel warranted in taking steps for the removal of +the prize crew from the Sea Bride. + +_Mr. Bawson to Mr. Graham. August_ 8, 1863. + +With reference to the correspondence that has passed relative to the +capture by the Confederate States steamer Alabama, of the barque Sea +Bride, I am directed by the Governor to acquaint you that, on the best +information he has been enabled to procure, he has come to the +conclusion that the capture cannot be held to be illegal, or in +violation of the neutrality of the British Government, by reason of the +distance from land at which it took place. + +His Excellency will, by next mail, make a full report of the case to Her +Majesty's Government. + +_Mr. Graham to Sir P. Wodehouse. August_ 10, 1863. + +Your decision in the case of the Sea Bride was duly received at four +o'clock p. M. on Saturday. In communicating that decision you simply +announce that the vessel was, in your opinion, and according to evidence +before you, a legal prize to the Alabama; but you omit to state the +principle of international law that governed your decision, and neglect +to furnish me with the evidence relied upon by you. + +Under these circumstances I can neither have the evidence verified or +rebutted here, nor am I enabled to transmit it as it stands to the +American Minister at London, nor to the United States Government at +Washington. An invitation to be present when the _ex parte_ testimony +was taken was not extended to me, and I am therefore ignorant of the +tenor of it, and cannot distinguish the portion thrown out from that +which was accepted. If your decision is that the neutral waters of this +colony only extend a distance of three miles from land, the character of +that decision would have been aptly illustrated to the people of Cape +Town had an American war-vessel appeared on the scene, and engaged the +Alabama in battle. In such a contest with cannon carrying a distance of +six miles (three overland), the crashing buildings in Cape Town would +have been an excellent commentary on your decision. + +But the decision has been made, and cannot be revoked here, so that +further comment at present is, therefore, unnecessary. It can only be +reversed by the Government you represent, which it probably will be when +the United States Government shall claim indemnity for the owners of the +Sea Bride. + +An armed vessel named the Tuscaloosa, claiming to act under the +authority of the so-called Confederate States, entered Simon's Bay on +Saturday the 8th instant. That vessel was formerly owned by citizens of +the United States, and while engaged in lawful commerce was captured as +a prize by the Alabama. She was subsequently fitted out with arms by the +Alabama to prey upon the commerce of the United States, and now, without +having been condemned as a prize by any Admiralty Court of any +recognized Government, she is permitted to enter a neutral port in +violation of the Queen's Proclamation, with her original cargo on board. +Against this proceeding I hereby most emphatically protest, and I claim +that the vessel ought to be given up to her lawful owners. The capture +of the Sea Bride in neutral waters, together with the case of the +Tuscaloosa, also a prize, constitute the latest and best illustration of +British neutrality that has yet been given. + +_Mr. Rawson to Mr. Graham. August_ 10, 1863. + +I am directed by the Governor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter +of this date, and to state with reference to that part of it which +relates to the Tuscaloosa, that his Excellency is still in +correspondence with the Commander-in-chief respecting the character of +that vessel, and the privileges to which she is entitled. + +_Mr. Graham to Sir P. Wodehouse. August_ 12, 1863. + +Upon receiving your last communication to me dated the 10th instant, I +deemed it simply a report of progress on one subject treated of in my +last letter to your Excellency, and I have therefore waited anxiously +for the receipt of another letter from the Colonial Secretary +communicating the final result in the case. Failing to receive it, and +hearing yesterday P.M. that the Tuscaloosa would proceed to Sea from +Simon's Bay to-day, I applied for an injunction from the Supreme Court +to prevent the vessel sailing before I had an opportunity of showing by +witnesses that she is owned in Philadelphia in the United States, and +her true name is Conrad; that she has never been condemned as a prize by +any legally constituted Admiralty Court; and that I am _ex officio_ the +legal agent of the owners, underwriters, and all others concerned. I +have not yet learned the result of that application, and fearing that +delay may allow her to escape, I would respectfully urge you to detain +her in port until the proper legal steps can be taken. + +I am well aware that your Government has conceded to the so-called +Confederate States the rights of belligerents, and is thereby bound to +respect Captain Semmes' commission; but having refused to recognize the +"Confederacy" as a nation, and having excluded his captures from all the +ports of the British Empire, the captures necessarily revert to their +real owners, and are forfeited by Captain Semmes as soon as they enter a +British port. + +Hoping to receive an answer to this and the preceding letter as early as +possible, and that you will not construe my persistent course throughout +this correspondence on neutral rights as importunate, or my remarks as +inopportune, I have, &c. + +_Mr. Rawson to Mr. Graham. August 12, 1863_. + +I am directed by the Governor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter +of this date, and to acquaint you that it was not until late last +evening that his Excellency received from the naval Commander-in-chief +information that the condition of the Tuscaloosa was such as, as his +Excellency is advised, to entitle her to be regarded as a vessel of war. + +The Governor is not aware, nor do you refer him to the provisions of +international law by which captured vessels, as soon as they enter our +neutral ports, revert to their real owners, and are forfeited by their +captors. But his Excellency believes that the claims of contending +parties to vessels captured can only be determined in the first instance +by the Courts of the captor's country. + +The Governor desires me to add that he cannot offer any objection to the +tenor of the correspondence which you have addressed to him on this +subject, and that he is very sensible of the courtesy you have exhibited +under such very peculiar circumstances!!! He gives you credit for acting +on a strict sense of duty to your country. + +_Mr. Graham to Sir P. Wodehouse. August_ 17, 1863. + +I have delayed acknowledging the receipt of your last letter, dated the +12th August, on account of events transpiring, but which have not yet +culminated so as to form the subject of correspondence. + +Your decision that the Tuscaloosa is a vessel of war, and by inference a +prize, astonishes me, because I do not see the necessary +incompatibility. Four guns were taken from on board the Talisman (also a +prize), and put on board the Conrad (Tuscaloosa), but that transfer did +not change the character of either vessel as a prize, for neither of +them could cease to be a prize till it had been condemned in an +Admiralty Court of the captor's country, which it is not pretended has +been done. The Tuscaloosa, therefore, being a prize, was forbidden to +enter Simon's Bay by the Queen's Proclamation, and should have been +ordered off at once; but she was not so ordered. Granting that Her +Majesty's Proclamation affirmed the right of Captain Semmes as a +belligerent to take and to hold prizes on the high seas, it just as +emphatically denied his right to hold them in British ports. Now, if he +could not hold them in Simon's Bay, who else could hold them except +those whose right to hold them was antecedent to his--that is, the, +owners? + +The Tuscaloosa remained in Simon's Bay seven days with her original +cargo of skins and wool on board. This cargo, I am informed by those who +claim to know, has been purchased by merchants in Cape Town; and if it +should be landed here directly from the prize, or be transferred to +other vessels at some secluded harbour on the coast beyond this Colony, +and brought from thence here, the infringement of neutrality will be so +palpable and flagrant that Her Majesty's Government will probably +satisfy the claims of the owners gracefully and at once, and thus remove +all cause of complaint. In so doing it will have to disavow and +repudiate the acts of its executive agents here--a result I have done +all in my power to prevent. + +Greater cause of complaint will exist if the cargo of the Sea Bride is +disposed of in the same manner, as I have reason to apprehend it will be +when negotiations are concluded; for being originally captured in +neutral waters, the thin guise of neutrality would be utterly torn into +shreds by the sale of her cargo here. + +The Georgia, a Confederate war-steamer, arrived at Simon's Bay +yesterday, and the Florida, another vessel of the same class, has +arrived, or is expected hourly at Saldanha Bay, where she may remain a +week without your knowledge, as the place is very secluded. The Alabama +remained here in Table Bay nearly four days, and at Simon's Bay six +days; and as the Tuscaloosa was allowed to remain at Simon's Bay seven +days, I apprehend that the Georgia and Florida will meet with the same +or even greater favours. Under such circumstances further protests from +me would seem to be unavailing, and I only put the facts upon record for +the benefit of my Government and officials possessed of diplomatic +functions. + +_Mr. Rawson to Mr. Graham. August_ 19, 1863. + +I am directed by the Governor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter +of the 17th instant, and to state that he has, during the recent +transactions, endeavoured to act in strict conformity with the wishes of +Her Majesty's Government; he will in like manner pursue the same course +in any future cases which may arise. + +I am to add that His Excellency has no reason to believe that either the +Alabama or the Tuscaloosa have been allowed to remain in the ports of +the Colony for a greater length of time than the state of the weather, +and the execution of the repairs of which they actually stood in need, +rendered indispensable. + +_Statement of Joseph Hopson._ + +Joseph Hopson, keeper of the Green Point Lighthouse, states: + +I was on the look-out on Wednesday afternoon when the Alabama and Sea +Bride were coming in. When I first saw them the steamer was coming round +the north-west of Robben Island, and the barque bore from or about five +miles west-northwest. The barque was coming in under all sail with a +good breeze, and she took nothing in when the gun was fired. I believe +two guns were fired, but the gun I mean was the last, and the steamer +then crossed the stern side of the barque, and hauled up to her on the +starboard side. He steamed ahead gently, and shortly afterwards I saw +the barque put round with her head to the westward, and a boat put off +from the steamer and boarded her. Both vessels were then good five miles +off the mainland, and quite five, if not six, from the north-west point +of Robben Island. + +_Statement of W.S. Field, Collector of Customs._ + +I was present at the old Lighthouse, Green Point, on Wednesday +afternoon, at 2 P.M., and saw the Alabama capture the American barque +Sea Bride, and I agree with the above statement as far as the position +of the vessels and their distance from shore. + +I may also remark that I called the attention of Colonel Bisset and the +lighthouse keeper Hopson to the distance of the vessels at the time of +the capture, as it was probable we should be called upon to give our +evidence respecting the affair, and we took a note of the time it +occurred. + +_Statement of John Roe._ + +I was yesterday, the 5th day of August, 1863, returning from a whale +chase in Hunt's Bay, when I first saw the barque Sea Bride standing from +the westward on to the land. I came on to Table Bay, and when off Camps +Bay I saw the smoke of the Alabama some distance from the westward of +Robben Island. When I reached the Green Point Lighthouse the steamer was +standing up towards the barque, which was about five miles and a half to +the westward of Green Point, and about four and half from the western +point of Robben Island. This was their position (being near each other +at the time) when the gun was fired. + +_Statement of Signalman at the Lion's Rump Telegraph Station._ + +On Wednesday last, the 5th day of August, 1863, I sighted the barque Sea +Bride about seven o'clock in the morning, about fifteen or twenty miles +off the land, standing into Table Bay from the south-west. There was a +light breeze blowing from the north-west, which continued until after +midday. About midday I sighted the Alabama screw steamer standing from +due north towards Table Bay, intending, as it appeared to me, to take +the passage between Robben Island and the Blueberg Beach. She was then +between fifteen and eighteen miles off the land. + +After sighting the steamer, I hoisted the demand for the barque, when +she hoisted the American flag, which I reported to the Port Office, the +barque then being about eight miles off the land from Irville Point. No +sooner had the barque hoisted the American flag than the steamer turned +sharp round in the direction of and towards the barque. The steamer +appeared at that time to have been about twelve miles off the land from +Irville Point, and about four or five miles outside of Robben Island, +and about seven miles from the barque. + +The steamer then came up to and alongside of the barque, when the latter +was good four miles off the land at or near the old Lighthouse, and five +miles off the Island. The steamer, after firing a gun, stopped the +further progress of the barque, several boats were sent to her, and +after that the barque stood out to sea again, and the Alabama steamed +into Table Bay. + +_Captain Forsyth to Sir P. Wodehouse. August_ 6, 1863. + +In compliance with the request conveyed to me by your Excellency, I have +the honor to report that I have obtained from Captain Semmes a statement +of the positions of the Confederate States steamer Alabama and the +American barque Sea Bride, when the latter was captured yesterday +afternoon. + +Captain Semmes asserts that at the time of his capturing the Sea Bride, +Green Point Lighthouse bore from the Alabama south-east about six or six +and a half miles. + +This statement is borne out by the evidence of Captain Wilson, Port +Captain of Table Bay, who has assured me that at the time of the Sea +Bride being captured, he was off Green Point in the port boat, and that +only the top of the Alabama's hull was visible. + +I am of opinion, if Captain Wilson could only see that portion of the +hull of the Alabama, she must have been about the distance from the +shore which is stated by Captain Semmes, and I have therefore come to +the conclusion that the barque Sea Bride was beyond the limits assigned +when she was captured by the Alabama. + +_Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker to the Secretary to the Admiralty. +September_ 17, 1863. + +With reference to my letters dated respectively the 19th and 31st +ultimo, relative to the Confederate States ship of war Alabama, and the +prizes captured by her, I beg to inclose, for their Lordships' +information, the copy of a statement forwarded to me by the Collector of +Customs at Cape Town, wherein it is represented that the Tuscaloosa and +Sea Bride had visited Ichaboe, which is a dependency of this Colony. + +2. Since the receipt of the above-mentioned document, the Alabama +arrived at this anchorage (the 16th instant), and when Captain Semmes +waited on me, I acquainted him with the report, requesting he would +inform me if it was true. I was glad to learn from him that it was not +so. He frankly explained that the prize Sea Bride in the first place had +put into Saldanha Bay through stress of weather, and on being joined +there by the Tuscaloosa, both vessels proceeded to Angra Pequena, on the +West Coast of Africa, where he subsequently joined them in the Alabama, +and there sold the Sea Bride and her cargo to an English subject who +resides at Cape Town. The Tuscaloosa had landed some wool at Angra +Pequena and received ballast, but, he states, is still in commission as +a tender. It will, therefore, be seen how erroneous is the accompanying +report. I have no reason to doubt Captain Semmes' explanation; but he +seems to be fully alive to the instructions of Her Majesty's Government, +and appears to be most anxious not to commit any breach of neutrality. + +3. The Alabama has returned to this port for coal, some provisions, and +to repair her condensing apparatus. + +4. From conversation with Captain Semmes, I find that he has been off +this Cape for the last five days, and as the Vanderbilt left this on the +night of the 11th instant, it is surprising they did not see each other. + +_The Duke of Newcastle to Sir P. Wodehouse. November 4, 1863_. + +I have received your despatch of the 19th August last, submitting for my +consideration various questions arising out of the proceedings at the +Cape of Good Hope of the Confederate vessels Georgia, Alabama, and her +reputed tender, the Tuscaloosa. + +I will now proceed to convey to you the views of Her Majesty's +Government on these questions. + +The capture of the Sea Bride, by the Alabama, is stated to have been +effected beyond the distance of three miles from the shore--which +distance must be accepted as the limit of territorial jurisdiction, +according to the present rule of international law upon that subject. It +appears, however, that the prize, very soon after her capture, was +brought within the distance of two miles from the shore; and as this is +contrary to Her Majesty's orders, it might have afforded just grounds +(if the apology of Captain Semmes for this improper act, which he +ascribed to inadvertence, had not been accepted by you) for the +interference of the colonial authorities upon the principles which I am +about to explain. + +With respect to the Alabama herself, it is clear that neither you nor +any other authority at the Cape could exercise any jurisdiction over +her; and that, whatever may have been her previous history, you were +bound to treat her as a ship of war belonging to a belligerent Power. + +With regard to the vessel called the Tuscaloosa, I am advised that this +vessel did not lose the character of a prize captured by the Alabama, +merely because she was, at the time of her being brought within British +waters, armed with two small rifled guns, in charge of an officer, and +manned with a crew of ten men from the Alabama, and used as a tender to +that vessel under the authority of Captain Semmes. + +It would appear that the Tuscaloosa is a barque of 500 tons, captured by +the Alabama, off the coast of Brazil, on the 21st of June last, and +brought into Simon's Bay on or before the 7th of August, with her +original cargo of wool (itself, as well as the vessel, prize) still on +board, and with nothing to give her a warlike character (so far as is +stated in the papers before me), except the circumstances already +noticed. + +Whether, in the case of a vessel duly commissioned as a ship of war, +after being made prize by a belligerent Government, without being first +brought _infra praesidia_, or condemned by a court of prize, the +character of prize, within the meaning of Her Majesty's orders, would or +would not be merged in that of a national ship of war, I am not called +upon to explain. It is enough to say that the citation from Mr. +Wheaton's book by your attorney-general does not appear to me to have +any direct bearing upon the question. + +Connected with this subject is the question as to the cargoes of +captured vessels, which is alluded to at the end of your despatch. On +this point I have to instruct you that Her Majesty's orders apply as +much to prize cargoes of every kind which may be brought by any armed +ships or privateers of either belligerent into British waters as to the +captured vessels themselves. They do not, however, apply to any articles +which may have formed part of any such cargoes, if brought within +British jurisdiction, not by armed ships or privateers of either +belligerent, but by other persons who may have acquired or may claim +property in them by reason of any dealings with the captors. + +I think it right to observe that the third reason alleged by the +attorney-general for his opinion assumes (though the fact had not been +made the subject of any inquiry) that "no means existed for determining +whether the ship had or had not been judicially condemned in a court of +competent jurisdiction," and the proposition that, "_admitting her to +have been captured by a ship of war of the Confederate States_, she was +entitled to refer Her Majesty's Government, in case of any dispute, to +the court of her States in order to satisfy it as to her real +character." This assumption, however, is not consistent with Her +Majesty's undoubted right to determine within her own territory whether +her own orders, made in vindication of her own neutrality, have been +violated or not. + +The question remains what course ought to have been taken by the +authorities of the Cape-- + +1st. In order to ascertain whether this vessel was, as alleged by the +United States Consul, an uncondemned prize brought within British waters +in violation of Her Majesty's neutrality; and + +2dly. What ought to have been done if such had appeared to be really the +fact. + +I think that the allegations of the United States Consul ought to have +been brought to the knowledge of Captain Semmes while the Tuscaloosa +was still within British waters, and that he should have been requested +to state whether he did or did not admit the facts to be as alleged. He +should also have been called upon (unless the facts were admitted) to +produce the Tuscaloosa's papers. If the result of these inquiries had +been to prove that the vessel was really an uncondemned prize, brought +into British waters in violation of Her Majesty's orders made for the +purpose of maintaining her neutrality, I consider that the mode of +proceeding in such circumstances, most consistent with Her Majesty's +dignity, and most proper for the vindication of her territorial rights, +would have been to prohibit the exercise of any further control over the +Tuscaloosa by the captors, and to retain that vessel under Her Majesty's +control and jurisdiction until properly reclaimed by her original +owners. + +_Sir P. Wodehouse to the Duke of Newcastle. December_ 19, 1863. + +I have had the honour to receive your Grace's despatch of the 4th +ultimo, from which I regret to learn that the course taken here relative +to the Confederate war steamer Alabama and her prizes has not in some +respects given satisfaction to Her Majesty's Government. + +I must only beg your Grace to believe that no pains were spared by the +late Acting Attorney-General or by myself to shape our course in what we +believed to be conformity with the orders of Her Majesty's Government +and the rules of international law, as far as we could ascertain and +interpret them. + +Mr. Denyssen has been so constantly engaged with professional business +since the arrival of the mail that I have been prevented from discussing +with him the contents of your despatch; but I think it right, +nevertheless, to take advantage of the first opportunity for +representing to your Grace the state of uncertainty in which I am placed +by the receipt of this communication, and for soliciting such further +explanations as may prevent my again falling into error on these +matters. In so doing I trust you will be prepared to make allowance for +the difficulties which must arise out of this peculiar contest, in +respect of which both parties stand on a footing of equality as +belligerents, while only one of them is recognized as a nation. + +In the first place, I infer that I have given cause for dissatisfaction +in not having more actively resented the fact that the Sea Bride, on the +day after her capture, was brought a short distance within British +waters. + +Your Grace demurs to my having accepted Captain Semmes' apology for this +improper act, which he ascribed to inadvertence. You will pardon my +noticing that the fact of the act having been done through inadvertence +was established by the United States Consul himself, one of whose +witnesses stated, "the officer in command of the barque came on deck +about that time, and stamping his foot as if chagrined to find her so +near the land, ordered her further off, which was done immediately." + +I confess that on such evidence of such a fact I did not consider myself +warranted in requiring the commander of Her Majesty's ship Valorous to +take possession of the Alabama's prize. + +The questions involved in the treatment of the Tuscaloosa are far more +important and more embarrassing; and first let me state, with reference +to the suggestion that Captain Semmes should have been required to admit +or deny the allegations of the United States Consul, that no such +proceeding was required. There was not the slightest mystery or +concealment of the circumstances under which the Tuscaloosa had come +into, and then was in possession of the Confederates. The facts were not +disputed. We were required to declare what was her actual status under +those facts. We had recourse to Wheaton, the best authority on +International Law within our reach--an authority of the nation with whom +the question had arisen--an authority which the British Secretary for +Foreign Affairs had recently been quoting in debates on American +questions in the House of Lords. + +Your Grace intimates that the citation from this authority by the Acting +Attorney-General does not appear to have any direct bearing upon the +question. + +You will assuredly believe that it is not from any want of respect for +your opinion, but solely from a desire to avoid future error, that I +confess my inability to understand this intimation, or, in the absence +of instructions on that head, to see in what direction I am to look for +the law bearing on the subject. + +The paragraph cited made no distinction between a vessel with cargo and +a vessel without cargo; and your Grace leaves me in ignorance whether +her character would have been changed if Captain Semmes had got rid of +the cargo before claiming for her admission as a ship of war. Certainly, +acts had been done by him which, according to Wheaton, constituted a +"setting forth as a vessel of war." + +Your Grace likewise states, "Whether in the case of a vessel duly +commissioned as a ship of war, after being made prize by a belligerent +Government without being first brought _infra praesidia_, or condemned +by a Court of Prize, the character of prize, within the meaning of Her +Majesty's orders, would or would not be merged in a national ship of +war, I am not called upon to explain." + +I feel myself forced to ask for further advice on this point, on which +it is quite possible I may be called upon to take an active part. I have +already, in error apparently, admitted a Confederate prize as a ship of +war. The chief authority on International Law, in which it is in my +power to refer, is Wheaton, who apparently draws no distinction between +ships of war and other ships when found in the position of prizes; and I +wish your Grace to be aware that within the last few days the commander +of a United States ship of war observed to me that if it were his good +fortune to capture the Alabama, he should convert her into a Federal +cruiser. + +I trust your Grace will see how desirable it is that I should be fully +informed of the views of Her Majesty's Government on these points, and +that I shall be favoured with a reply to this despatch at your earliest +convenience. + +_Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker to the Secretary to the Admiralty. January_ +5, 1864. + +I request you will be pleased to acquaint my Lords Commissioners of the +Admiralty that the barque called the Tuscaloosa, under the flag of the +Confederate States of North America (referred to in my letter of the +19th of August last), termed a tender to the Alabama, returned to this +anchorage on the 26th ultimo from cruising off the coast of Brazil. + +2. In order to ascertain the real character of this vessel, I directed +the boarding officer from my flag-ship to put the questions, as per +inclosure No. 1, to the officer in command, Lieutenant Low, of the +Alabama; and having satisfied myself from his answers that the vessel +was still an uncondemned prize captured by the Alabama under the name of +the Conrad, of Philadelphia, I communicated the circumstances to the +Governor of this Colony, who, concurring in opinion with me that she +ought to be retained under Her Majesty's control and jurisdiction until +reclaimed by her proper owners, for violation of Pier Majesty's orders +for the maintenance of her neutrality, I caused the so-called +Tuscaloosa to be taken possession of; informing Lieutenant Low, at the +same time, of the reason for doing so. + +3. Lieutenant Low has entered a written protest against the seizure of +the vessel, a copy of which, together with the reply of the Governor, I +inclose for their Lordships' information, as well as a copy of all the +correspondence which has passed on this subject. + +4. Lieutenant Low having informed me that he expects the Alabama shortly +to arrive at this place, I have allowed him and his crew to remain on +board the Conrad for the present; but should the Alabama not make her +appearance I have acquainted him that I will grant him and his officers +(probably only one besides himself) a passage to England in one of the +packets. The crew he wishes to discharge if there is no opportunity of +their rejoining the Alabama. + +5. The vessel in question is at present moored in this bay, in charge of +an officer and a few men belonging to Her Majesty's ship Narcissus, +where she will remain until she can be properly transferred to her +lawful owners, as requested by the Governor. + +_Questions to be put to the Officer in Command or Charge of the barque +Tuscaloosa, carrying the Flag of the so-called Confederate States of +America._ + +Ship's name and nation?--Tuscaloosa. Confederate. + +Name and rank of officer in command?--Lieutenant Low, late Alabama. + +Tonnage of the ship?--500. + +Number of officers and men on hoard?--4 officers and 20 men. + +Number and description of guns on board?--3 small brass guns, 2 rifled +12 pounders, 1 smooth-bore-pounder. + +Where is she from?--St. Katherine's, Brazils. + +Where is she bound?--Cruising. + +For what purpose has the ship put into this port?--For repairs and +supplies. + +Is it the same ship that was captured by the Alabama, and afterwards +came to this port on the 9th of August last?--Yes. + +What was her original name, on being captured by the Alabama?--Conrad, +of Philadelphia. + +When was she captured by Alabama?--21st June, 1863. + +To what nation and to whom did she belong before her capture?--Federal +States of America. + +Has she been taken before any legally constituted Admiralty Court of the +Confederate States?--No. + +Has she been duly condemned as a lawful prize by such Court to the +captors?--No. + +What is she now designated?--Tender to the Alabama. + +What papers are there on board to constitute her as the Confederate +barque Tuscaloosa?--The commission of the Lieutenant commanding the +Tuscaloosa from Captain Semmes. The officers also have commissions to +their ship from him. + +Are the papers which belonged to her before she was seized by the +Alabama on board?--No. + +Is there any cargo on board, and what does it consist of?--No +cargo--only stores for ballast. + +(Signed) JOHN LOW, + +_Lieut.-Commander, Confederate States barque Tuscaloosa._ + +(Signed) FRANCIS L. WOOD, + +_Lieutenant and Boarding Officer, Her Majesty's ship Narcissus._ + +_Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker to Lieutenant Low, C.S.N. December_ 27, +1863. + +As it appears that the Tuscaloosa, under your charge and command, is a +vessel belonging to the Federal States of America, having been captured +by the Confederate States ship of war Alabama, and not having been +adjudicated before any competent Prize Court, is still an uncondemned +prize, which you have brought into this port in violation of Her +Britannic Majesty's orders for the maintenance of her neutrality, I have +the honour to inform you that, in consequence, I am compelled to detain +the so-called Tuscaloosa (late Conrad) with a view of her being restored +to her original owners, and I request you will be so good as to transfer +the charge of the vessel to the officer bearing this letter to you. + +_Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker to Sir P. Wodehouse. December_ 28, 1863. + +I have the honour to inform your Excellency that, acting upon your +concurrence in my opinion with reference to the instructions received +from home by the last mail, I have detained the barque Tuscaloosa (late +Conrad of Philadelphia), because she is an uncondemned prize, taken by +the Confederate States ship of war Alabama, and brought into British +waters in violation of Her Majesty's Orders for maintaining her +neutrality, and with the view to her being restored to her original +owners. + +I shall be ready to hand her over to the Consul of the United States at +Cape Town, or to any person you may appoint to take charge of her. + +I should add that Lieutenant Low has given up the Tuscaloosa (late +Conrad) under protest, which he is about to make in writing, a copy of +which shall be transmitted to your Excellency as soon as received. + +_Lieutenant Low, C.S.N., to Sir P. Wodehouse. December_ 28, 1863 + +As the officer in command of the Confederate States ship Tuscaloosa, +tender to the Confederate States steamer Alabama, I have to record my +protest against the recent extraordinary measures which have been +adopted towards me and the vessel under my command by the British +authorities of this Colony. + +In August last the Tuscaloosa arrived in Simon's Bay. She was not only +recognised in the character which she lawfully claimed and still claims +to be, viz., a commissioned ship of war belonging to a belligerent +Power, but was allowed to remain in the harbour for the period of seven +days, taking in supplies and effecting repairs with the full knowledge +and sanction of the authorities. + +No intimation was given that she was regarded in the light of an +ordinary prize, or that she was considered to be violating the laws of +neutrality. Nor, when she notoriously left for a cruise on active +service, was any intimation whatever conveyed that on her return to the +port of a friendly Power, where she had been received as a man-of-war, +she would be regarded as a "prize," as a violater of the Queen's +proclamation of neutrality, and consequently liable to seizure. Misled +by the conduct of Her Majesty's Government, I returned to Simon's Bay on +the 26th instant, in very urgent want of repairs and supplies; to my +surprise I find the Tuscaloosa is now no longer considered as a +man-of-war, and she has by your orders, as I learn, been seized for the +purpose of being handed over to the person who claims her on behalf of +her late owners. + +The character of the vessel, viz., that of a lawful commissioned +man-of-war of the Confederate States of America, has not been altered +since her first arrival in Simon's Bay, and she, having been once fully +recognised by the British authorities in command in this Colony, and no +notice or warning of change of opinion or of friendly feeling having +been communicated by public notification or otherwise. I was entitled to +expect to be again permitted to enter Simon's Bay without molestation. + +In perfect good faith I returned to Simon's Bay for mere necessaries, +and in all honour and good faith, in return, I should on change of +opinion or of policy on the part of the British authorities, have been +desired to leave the port again. + +But by the course of proceedings taken, I have been (supposing the view +now taken by your Excellency's Government to be correct) first misled +and next entrapped. + +My position and character of my ship will most certainly be vindicated +by my Government. I am powerless to resist the affront offered to the +Confederate States of America by your Excellency's conduct and +proceedings. + +I demand, however, the release of my ship; and if this demand be not +promptly complied with, I hereby formally protest against her seizure, +especially under the very peculiar circumstances of the case. + +_Mr. Bawson to Lieutenant Low, C.S.N. December_ 29, 1863. + +I am directed by the Governor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter +of yesterday's date protesting against the seizure of the Tuscaloosa, +whose character you represent to be the same as when, in August last, +she was admitted into the port of Simon's Bay, and I am to acquaint you +in reply that a full report was submitted to Her Majesty's Government of +all that took place on the first visit of the Tuscaloosa, and that the +seizure has now been made in conformity with the opinion expressed by +them on that report. + +Your protest will of course be transmitted for their consideration. + +_Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker to Sir P. Wodehouse. December_ 29, 1863. + +Lieutenant Low, the officer belonging to the Confederate States ship of +war Alabama, late in charge of the barque called the Tuscaloosa +(properly the Conrad of Philadelphia), having sent me a copy of the +protest which he has forwarded to your Excellency against the detention +of that vessel, I think it right to inclose for your information the +copy of my letter to Lieutenant Low[18] explaining the circumstances +under which the so-called Tuscaloosa is detained. + +[Footnote 18: This letter is not given in the Blue Book.] + +_Sir P. Wodehouse to the Duke of Newcastle. January_ 11, 1864. + +I very much regret having to acquaint your Grace that the Confederate +prize vessel the Tuscaloosa has again entered Simon's Bay, and that the +Naval Commander-in-chief and myself have come to the conclusion that, in +obedience to the orders transmitted to his Excellency by the Admiralty, +and to me by your Grace's despatch of the 4th November last, it was our +duty to take possession of the vessel, and to hold her until properly +claimed by her original owners. The Admiral, therefore, sent an officer +with a party of men from the flag-ship to take charge of her, and to +deliver to her commander a letter in explanation of the act. Copies of +his protest, addressed to me, and of my reply, are inclosed. He not +unnaturally complains of having been now seized, after he had on the +previous occasion been recognised as a ship of war. But this is +manifestly nothing more than the inevitable result of the overruling by +Her Majesty's Government of the conclusion arrived at on the previous +occasion by its subordinate officer. + +The Consul for the United States, on being informed of what had taken +place, intimated his inability to take charge of the ship on account of +the owners, and expressed a desire that it should remain in our charge +until he was put in possession of the requisite authority. Accordingly, +after taking the opinion of the Attorney-General, it was arranged that +the vessel should remain in the charge of Sir Baldwin Walker. + +I ought to explain that the seizure was made without previous reference +to the Attorney-General. I did not consider such a reference necessary. +The law had been determined by Her Majesty's Government on the previous +case. The Admiral was of opinion that we had only to obey the orders we +had received, and on his intimating that opinion I assented. + +Your Grace will observe that at the request of the officers of the +Tuscaloosa the Admiral has permitted them to remain on board, in +expectation of the immediate arrival of the Alabama, to which ship they +wish to return. I should otherwise have thought it my duty to provide +them with passages to England at the cost of Her Majesty's Government, +by whom, I conclude, they would be sent to their own country; and it is +probable that if the Alabama should not soon make her appearance, such +an arrangement will become necessary. + +I have only to add that I have thought it advisable, after what has now +occurred, to intimate to the United States Consul that we should +probably be under the necessity of adopting similar measures in the +event of an uncondemned prize being fitted for cruising, and brought +into one of our ports by a Federal ship of war. I did not speak +positively, because I have been left in doubt by your Grace's +instructions whether some distinction should not be drawn in the case of +a ship of war of one belligerent captured and applied to the same use by +the other belligerent, but the Consul was evidently prepared for such a +step. Copies of all the correspondence are inclosed. + +_Mr. Rawson to Mr. Graham. December_ 28, 1863. + +I am directed by the Governor to acquaint you that the Tuscaloosa having +again arrived in Simon's Bay, will, under instructions lately received +from Her Majesty's Government, be retained under Her Majesty's control +and jurisdiction until properly reclaimed by her original holders. + +_Mr. Graham to Sir P. Wodehouse. December_ 28, 1863. + +I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date in +reference to the Tuscaloosa. + +By virtue of my office as Consul for the United States of America in the +British possessions of South Africa, of which nation the original owners +of the Conrad _alias_ Tuscaloosa are citizens, I possess the right to +act for them when both they and their special agents are absent, I can +institute a proceeding _in rem_ where the rights of property of +fellow-citizens are concerned, without a special procuration from those +for whose benefit I act, but cannot receive actual restitution of the +_res_ in controversy, without a special authority. (See United States +Statutes at Large, vol. i., p. 254, notes 2 and 3.) + +Under these circumstances I am content that the vessel in question +should for the present, or until the properly authenticated papers and +power of attorney shall be received from the owners in America, remain +in possession and charge of Her Majesty's naval officers. But should it +hereafter be determined to give the vessel up to any party other than +the real owners, I desire to have sufficient notice of the fact, so that +I may take the proper steps to protect the interests of my absent +fellow-citizens. + +With regard to the property of American citizens seized here at the +Custom-house, and which was formerly part of the Sea Bride's cargo, I +would suggest that it also be held by the Colonial Government, subject +to the order of the original owners. An announcement to that effect from +you would be received with great satisfaction by me. + +[Illustration: THE MESURADO LAGOON] + +_Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker to the Secretary to the Admiralty. January +18, 1864_. + +With reference to my letter of the 5th instant, I have the honour to +submit, for their Lordships' information, a further correspondence +between the Governor of this Colony and myself relative to the American +vessel Conrad, of Philadelphia, lately called the Tuscaloosa. + +2. Lieutenant Low, belonging to the Confederate States ship of war +Alabama, lately in charge of the Tuscaloosa, having paid off and +discharged his crew, finally quitted the vessel on the 9th instant; and +I have ordered him a passage to England by the mail-packet Saxon, +together with his first officer, Mr. Sinclair. + +3. The Conrad now remains in charge of a warrant officer and two +ship-keepers, awaiting to be properly claimed or disposed of as the +Government may direct. + +_Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker to Sir P. Wodehouse. January 6, 1864_. + +With reference to your Excellency's communication of yesterday's date, I +have the honour to inform you that I will make arrangements for the safe +custody of the Conrad, of Philadelphia (late Tuscaloosa), by mooring her +in this bay, and putting ship-keepers in charge of her, until she can be +properly transferred to her lawful owners. + +Lieutenant Low has requested to be allowed to remain on board the +vessel, together with his crew, for the present, as he expected the +Alabama to arrive here shortly, to which arrangement I have made no +objection. + +There are some guns and other articles on board the Conrad said to +belong to the Alabama, a list of which I have already forwarded to your +Excellency. It is a matter for consideration how these things should be +disposed of. + +I think, as a precautionary measure, it may be desirable that some +person on the part of the United States Consul should visit the Conrad, +to observe the state she is in, on being taken into British custody, to +prevent any question thereon hereafter. + +_The Duke of Newcastle to Sir P. Wodehouse. March 4, 1864_. + +I have received your despatches of the 11th and 19th January, reporting +the circumstances connected with the seizure of the Confederate +prize-vessel Tuscaloosa, under the joint authority of the Naval +Commander-in-chief and yourself. I have to instruct you to restore the +Tuscaloosa to the Lieutenant of the Confederate States who lately +commanded her, or, if he should have left the Cape, then to retain her +until she can be handed over to some person who may have authority from +Captain Semmes, of the Alabama, or from the Government of the +Confederate States, to receive her. + +You will receive a further communication from me on this subject by the +next mail. + +_The Duke of Newcastle to Sir P. Wodehouse. March 10, 1864_. + +In my despatch of the 4th instant, I instructed you to restore the +Tuscaloosa to the Lieutenant of the Confederate States who lately +commanded her, or, if he should have left the Cape, then to retain her +until she could be handed over to some person having authority from +Captain Semmes, of the Alabama, or from the Government of the +Confederate States, to receive her. + +I have now to explain that this decision was not founded on any general +principle respecting the treatment of prizes captured by the cruisers of +either belligerent, but on the peculiar circumstances of the case. The +Tuscaloosa was allowed to enter the port of Cape Town and to depart, the +instructions of the 4th of November not having arrived at the Cape +before her departure. The Captain of the Alabama was thus entitled to +assume that he might equally bring her a second time into the same +harbor, and it becomes unnecessary to discuss whether, on her return to +the Cape, the Tuscaloosa still retained the character of a prize, or +whether she had lost that character, and had assumed that of an armed +tender to the Alabama, and whether that new character, if properly +established and admitted, would have entitled her to the same privilege +of admission which might be accorded to her captor, the Alabama. + +Her Majesty's Government have, therefore, come to the opinion, founded +on the special circumstances of this particular case, that the +Tuscaloosa ought to be released, with a warning, however, to the Captain +of the Alabama, that the ships of war of the belligerents are not to be +allowed to bring prizes into British ports, and that it rests with Her +Majesty's Government to decide to what vessels that character belongs. + +In conclusion, I desire to assure you that neither in this despatch, nor +in that of the 4th November, I have desired in any degree to censure you +for the course you have pursued. The questions on which you have been +called upon to decide, are questions of difficulty, on which doubts +might properly have been entertained, and I am by no means surprised +that the conclusions to which you were led have not, in all instances, +been those which have been adopted on fuller consideration by Her +Majesty's Government. + +_Captain Semmes, C.S.N., to Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker, dated C.S.S. +Alabama; Table Bay, March 22, 1864_. + +Sir:--I was surprised to learn upon my arrival at this port of the +detention by your order of the Confederate States barque Tuscaloosa, a +tender to this ship. I take it for granted that you detained her by +order of the Home Government, as no other supposition is consistent with +my knowledge of the candour of your character--the Tuscaloosa having +been formerly received by you as a regularly commissioned tender, and no +new facts appearing in the case to change your decision. Under these +circumstances I shall not demand of you the restoration of that vessel, +with which demand you would not have the power to comply, but will +content myself with putting this my protest against this detention on +the record of the case for the future consideration of our respective +Governments. + +Earl Russell, in reaching the decision which he has communicated to you, +must surely have misapprehended the facts, otherwise I cannot conceive +him capable of so misapplying the law. The facts are briefly +these:--1st. The Tuscaloosa was formerly the enemy's ship Conrad, +lawfully captured by me on the high seas, as a recognized belligerent; +2dly. She was duly commissioned by me as a tender to the Confederate +States steamer Alabama, then, as now, under my command; and 3dly. She +entered English waters not only without intention of violating Her +Britannic Majesty's orders of neutrality, but was received with +hospitality, and no question was raised as to her right to enter under +the circumstances. These were the facts up to the time of Earl Russell's +issuing to you his order in the premises. Let us consider, then, a +moment, and see if we can derive from them, or any of them, just ground +for the extraordinary decision to which Earl Russell has come. + +My right to capture and the legality of the capture will not be denied. +Nor will you deny, in your experience as a naval officer, my right to +commission this, or any other ship lawfully in my possession, as a +tender to my principal ship. Your admirals do this every day, on distant +stations; and the tender, from the time of her being put in commission, +wears a pennant, and is entitled to the immunities and privileges of a +ship of war, the right of capture inclusive. + +Numerous decisions are to be found in your own prize law to this effect. +In other words, this is one of the recognised modes of commissioning a +ship of war, which has grown out of the convenience of the thing, and +become a sort of naval common law, as indisputable as the written law +itself. The only difference between the commission of such a ship and +that of a ship commissioned by the sovereign authority at home is that +the word "tender" appears in the former commission and not in the +latter. The Tuscaloosa having then been commissioned by me in accordance +with the recognised practice of all civilized nations that have a +marine, can any other Government than my own look into her antecedents? +Clearly not. The only thing which can be looked at upon her entering a +foreign port is her commission. If this be issued by competent +authority, you cannot proceed a step further. The ship then becomes a +part of the territory of the country to which she belongs, and you can +exercise no more jurisdiction over her than over that territory. The +self-respect and the independence of nations require this; for it would +be a monstrous doctrine to admit that one nation may inquire into the +title by which another nation holds her ships of war. And there can be +no difference in this respect between tenders and ships originally +commissioned. The flag and the pennant fly over them both, and they are +both withdrawn from the local jurisdiction by competent commissions. On +principle you might as well have enquired into the antecedents of the +Alabama, as of the Tuscaloosa. Indeed, you had a better reason for +inquiring into the antecedents of the former than of the latter, it +having been alleged that the former escaped from England in violation of +your Foreign Enlistment Act. Mr. Adams, the United States Minister, did +in fact demand that the Alabama should be seized, but Earl Russell, in +flat and most pointed contradiction of his late conduct in the case of +the Tuscaloosa, gave him the proper legal reply, to wit: that the +Alabama being now a ship of war, he was estopped from looking into her +antecedents. One illustration will suffice to show you how untenable +your position is in this matter. If the Tuscaloosa's commission be +admitted to have been issued by competent authority, and in due form +(and I do not understand this to be contested except on the ground of +her antecedents), she is as much a ship of war as the Narcissus, your +flag-ship. Suppose you should visit a French port, and the port admiral +should request you to haul down your flag on the ground that you had had +no sufficient title to the ship before she was commissioned, or that she +was a contract ship and you had not paid for her, and the builder had a +lien on her, or that you had captured her from the Russians, and had not +had her condemned by a prize court, what would you think of the +proceeding? And how does the case supposed differ from the one in hand? +In both it is a pretension on the part of a foreign power to look into +the antecedents of a ship of war--neither more nor less in the one case +than in the other. I will even put the case stronger. If it be admitted +that I had the right to commission a tender, and the fact had been that +I had seized a French ship and put her in commission, you could not +inquire into the fact. You would have no right to know but that I had +the orders of my Government for this seizure. In short, you would have +no right to inquire into the matter at all. My ship being regularly +commissioned, I am responsible to my Government for my acts, and my +Government, in the case supposed, would be responsible to France, and +not to you. If this reasoning be correct--and with all due submission to +his lordship I think it is sustained by the plainest principles of the +international code--it follows that the condemnation of a prize in a +prize court is not the only mode of changing the character of a captured +ship. When the sovereign of the captor puts his own commission on board +such a ship, this is a condemnation in its most solemn form, and is +notice to all the world. On principle, if a ship thus commissioned were +recaptured, the belligerent prize court could not restore her to her +original owner, but must condemn her as a prize ship of war of the enemy +to the captors; for prize courts are international courts, and cannot +go behind the pennant and commission of the cruiser. + +Further, as to this question of adjudication, your letter to Lieutenant +Low, the late commander of the Tuscaloosa, assumes that, as the +Tuscaloosa was not condemned, she was therefore the property of the +enemy from whom she had been taken. Condemnation is intended for the +benefit of neutrals, and to quiet the titles of purchasers, but is never +necessary as against the enemy. His right is taken away by force, and +not by any legal process, and the possession of his property _manu +forte_ is all that is required against him. + +Earl Russell having decided to disregard these plain principles of the +laws of nations, and to go behind my commission, let us see what he next +decides. + +His decision is this, that the Tuscaloosa being a prize, and having come +into British waters in violation of the Queen's orders of neutrality, +she must be restored to her original owner. The ship is not seized and +condemned for the violation of any municipal law, such as fraud upon the +revenue, &c.--as, indeed, she could not be so seized and condemned +without the intervention of a court of law--but by the strong arm of +executive power he wrests my prize from me, and very coolly hands her +over to the enemy. It is admitted that all prizes, like other merchant +ships, are liable to seizure and condemnation for a palpable violation +of the municipal law; but that is not this case. The whole thing is done +under the international law. Now, there is no principle better +established than that neutrals have no right to interfere in any manner +between the captor and his prize, except in one particular instance, and +that is where the prize has been captured in neutral waters and +afterwards comes of her own accord within the neutral jurisdiction. In +that case, and in that case alone, the neutral prize court may +adjudicate the case, and if they find the allegation of _infra terminos_ +proved, they may restore the property to the original owner. + +If a lawful prize, contrary to prohibition, come within neutral waters, +the most the neutral can do is to order her to depart without +interfering in any manner with the captor's possession. + +It is admitted that if she obstinately refuses to depart, or conducts +herself otherwise in an improper manner, she may be compelled to depart, +or may, indeed, be seized and confiscated as a penalty for her offence. +But there is no plea of that kind set up here. To show how sacred is the +title of mere possession on the part of a captor, permit me to quote +from one of your own authorities. On page 42 of the first volume of +Phillimore on International Law, you will find the following passage: +"In 1654 a treaty was entered into between England and Portugal, by +which, among other things, both countries mutually bound themselves not +to suffer the ships and goods of the other taken by enemies and carried +into the ports of the other to be conveyed away from the original owners +or proprietors." + +"Now, I have no scruple in saying (observes Lord Stowell in 1798) that +this is an article incapable of being carried into literal execution +according to the modern understanding of the law of nations; for no +neutral country can intervene to wrest from a belligerent prizes +lawfully taken. This is perhaps the strongest instance that could be +cited of what civilians call the _consuetudo obrogatoria."_ + +This being the nature of my title, the reasons should be very urgent +which should justify my being forcibly dispossessed of it. But there are +no such reasons apparent. It is not contended that there was any +misconduct on the part of the Tuscaloosa, unless her entry into a +British port as a Confederate cruiser be deemed misconduct. As stated in +the beginning of this letter, she had no intention of violating any +order of the Queen. Her error, therefore, if it were an error, is +entitled to be considered with gentleness and not with hardship. Her +error was the error of yourself and his Excellency the Governor, as well +as myself. We all agreed, I believe, that she was a lawfully +commissioned ship, and that her commission estopped all further enquiry. +In the meantime, she proceeds to sea thus endorsed, as it were, by the +Colonial authorities; your Home Government overrules your decision; the +Tuscaloosa returns in good faith to your port to seek renewed +hospitality under your orders of neutrality. And what happens? An +English officer, armed with your order, proceeds on board of her, turns +her commander and officers out of her, and assumes possession on the +ground that she has violated the Queen's orders; and this without any +warning to depart or any other notice whatever. In the name of all open +and fair dealing--in the name of frankness, candour, and good faith, I +most respectfully enter my protest against such an extreme, +uncalled-for, and apparently unfriendly course. + +But the most extraordinary part of the proceeding has yet to be stated. +You not only divest me of my title to my prize, but you tell me that you +are about to hand her over to the enemy! On what principle this can be +done I am utterly at a loss to conceive. Although it may be competent to +a Government, in an extreme case, to _confiscate to the Exchequer_ a +prize, there is but one possible contingency in which the prize can be +restored to the opposite belligerent, and that is the one already +mentioned of a capture within neutral jurisdiction. And this is done on +the ground of the nullity of the original capture. The prize is +pronounced not to have been lawfully made, and this being the case, and +the vessel being within the jurisdiction of the neutral whose waters +have been violated, there is but one course to pursue. The vessel does +not belong to the captor, and as she does not belong to the neutral, as +a matter of course she belongs to the opposite belligerent, and must be +delivered up to him. But there is no analogy between that case and the +one we are considering. My capture cannot be declared a nullity. My +title is as good against the enemy as though condemnation had passed. +The vessel either belongs to me or to the British Government. If she +belongs to me, justice requires that she should be delivered up to me. +If she belongs (by way of confiscation) to the British Government, why +should that Government make a gratuitous present of her to one of the +belligerents rather than the other? + +My Government cannot fail, I think, to view this matter in the light in +which I have placed it; and it is deeply to be regretted that a weaker +people struggling against a stronger for very existence should have so +much cause to complain of the unfriendly disposition of a Government +from which, if it represents truly the instincts of Englishmen, it had +the right to expect at least sympathy and kindness in the place of +rigour and harshness. + + + + +No. VII. + +MEASUREMENTS OF THE ALABAMA. + + +We are indebted to Messrs. Laird Brothers, of Birkenhead, for the +following measurements of the Alabama: + +Length About 230 feet. + +Length between perpendiculars, " 213.8 " + +Breadth of beam extreme, " 32.0 " + +Depth moulded, " 19.9 " + +Draft of water when complete, with about + 300 tons coal in bunkers and stores on + board for a six months' cruise, " 15.0 " + +Engines.--300 horse power collective. + +Rig.--Three-masted schooner, with long lower masts and +yards on fore and mainmasts. + +The hull of the vessel built of wood, the general arrangement +of scantling and materials being the same as in vessels of similar +class in Her Majesty's navy. + +The vessel and machinery throughout were built by Messrs. +Laird Brothers at their works at Birkenhead. + +THE END. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Cruise of the Alabama and the +Sumter, by Raphael Semmes + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CRUISE OF THE ALABAMA *** + +***** This file should be named 13163.txt or 13163.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/3/1/6/13163/ + +Produced by Curtis Weyant, Graeme Mackreth and PG Distributed +Proofreaders + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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