When the authorities at
Funchal objected to our presence in the harbor, and seriously and persistently insisted that the
Laurel should proceed at once to sea,
Ramsey was ready with a broken piece of machinery, without which he insisted that his engines could not be made to move.
The delicate and tedious work of repair was entrusted by the authorities to their own workmen on shore, so anxious were they to get rid of us. While they were still hammering away the
Sea King arrived and signalled, and the
Laurel steamed out to join her.
Not far from
Madeira, and of the same group, is the Desertas, and under the lee of that uninhabited rock both vessels anchored, and all guns, supplies, etc., were transferred from the
Laurel to the
Sea King; whereupon the first entry in the log of the
Shenandoah was made as follows:
at sea, October 19, 1864.
Having received everything from the steamer
Laurel at sea, put ship in commission as
Confederate States steamer
Shenandoah, and shipped twenty-three men, as petty officers, seamen, firemen and coal heavers.
Weighed anchor at 2 P. M., and at 6 o'clock parted company with the
Laurel, when we hoisted the
Confederate ensign for the first time.
At 6. 15 stood under steam to the southward and westward.
Pleasant weather, with heavy swell from northward.
Wind northeast.
