Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume 25.
Reverend J. William Jones, Ed.

A very small crew at the start.

The Laurel's crew was intentionally much larger than she needed. It was expected that a number of them, and also most of the crew of the Sea King, would ship on the Shenandoah, but at the last moment, when about to part company, most of them declined to go with us. Under ordinary circumstances we might have appreciated the gravity of the situation of being left with a ship at sea without a crew, but the temper of the officers at that time would hardly have admitted of any delay. A fair complement for the Shenandoah was a crew of about one hundred and ten men, but in addition to the officers, only twenty-three men joined us, not quite twenty-five per cent. of what was needed. In time, however, the crew was increased by shipments from the prizes.