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Mississippi (United States) (search for this): chapter 47
ends. The Federal Government should have sent swift vessels to all parts of the world as soon as it became evident that the Confederates had designs on its commerce. President Lincoln's proclamation declaring Confederate privateers pirates was unheeded by European Governments, and it must have been evident that the success of the Sumter would prompt the Confederates to send as many vessels as possible on the same errand. Had the Sumter been captured soon after her escape from the Mississippi River, there would probably have been no more Confederate cruisers, the Confederacy would have been deprived of its most energetic agent in this line of business, and the ocean commerce of the United States would have been uninterrupted. After sending off the Maxwell, the Sumter pursued her course along the Spanish main and through the Caribbean Sea to the Port of Spain, in the Island of Trinidad. An English merchant vessel, passing out, paid the Sumter the honor of a salute by lowering
Brazil (Brazil) (search for this): chapter 47
enture. Great latitude had been given Semmes in his instructions, and his plan was to make a cruise upon the coast of Cuba, destroy all American shipping he could meet with in that quarter, coal at some convenient point, and finally proceed to Brazil. Accordingly, the Sumter steamed along the coast of Cuba, in the direct track of vessels bound for the Gulf, and while between the coast and the Isle of Pines two sail were reported in sight, both standing in the same direction with the Confeders Lieutenant Porter ascertained from the crew of the Abby Bradford the whereabouts of the Sumter, he obtained the permission of Flag-officer McKean, and started in pursuit of the Confederate vessel, following her from port to port to the coast of Brazil, and thence to the equator, from which point Semmes shaped his course, so that his trail was lost. After having dispatched the Bradford, Semmes put to sea, and was no sooner outside the harbor than an American vessel was sighted. In less than
West Indies (search for this): chapter 47
d received his pay, ready to pounce upon them and take them back again for another fee. Nothing could better please that sort of man than this game of semi-piracy. Probably he was a descendant of some of those pirates who infested the Spanish West Indies in 1824-26, murdering the crews of American merchant vessels, plundering their cargoes, and then destroying the vessels. Semmes was determined not to lay himself liable for violating any neutrality laws; he was too conscientious for that. ast had heard of the Sumter's escape and had taken a new route homeward consequently. Semmes gained little by cruising between the parallels of 2°.30′ and 9.30′ North and the Meridians 41°.30′ and 47°.30′ West. So he made his way back to the West Indies, while the Powhatan about the same time followed in his track. On the 24th of October, the Sumter captured the schooner Daniel Trowbridge, of New Haven, loaded with everything a cruiser could desire, her deck even being filled with live
Rhode Island (Rhode Island, United States) (search for this): chapter 47
ore. So when the American vessels were supposed to be beyond the imaginary line, the Sumter was let loose like a tiger on its prey. A booming gun and the hoisting of the Confederate flag soon disclosed the Sumter's character, and in a short time the three vessels were prizes to the Confederate steamer and joined the others off Cienfuegos. When the sea-breeze set in, Semmes stood into the harbor, followed by his six prizes, much to the astonishment of those who had seen the West Wind of Rhode Island, the Louisa Killum of Massachusetts, and the Naiad of New York, sail but a few hours before on their legitimate business. Semmes was treated at Cienfuegos with all due courtesy, and hobnobbed with the Captain of the Port, who had at first fired upon him with musketry, not knowing what flag he sailed under; but when Semmes assured him that he did not come to sack the town like the buccaneers of old, the official took him to his heart. He had but a vague idea of the locality of the Sout
Gibraltar Bay (Michigan, United States) (search for this): chapter 47
, which proved to be the bark Investigator, of Searsport, Maine. The cargo being clearly the property of neutrals, the vessel, after giving a ransom-bond, was allowed to proceed on her course. Commander Semmes had now to be somewhat careful of seizing neutral property, as he was in civilized Europe and not among a set of half-breeds before whose council windows he could flash his shells, or hector a pack of feeble officials. That night the Sumter lay in the man-of-war anchorage in Gibraltar Bay. It was not necessary to tell the inhabitants of Gibraltar what the Sumter was, for she had been expected. It was quite in keeping that Semmes should announce his arrival by burning a ship; but it would have been still more suited to his character if he had waited until night to illuminate the shores of Spain and Africa, and run into the anchorage, showing the Confederate flag by the lurid light of the flames. Some of the officers of the garrison of Gibraltar, being ardent admirers
East India (search for this): chapter 47
she should have been followed up until captured or driven from the ocean. Commander Semmes having appointed a prize-agent to take charge of his prizes until they could be taken to a Southern port for adjudication before a Court of Admiralty, and obtained a supply of coal and provisions from his neutral friends at Cienfuegos, departed from that port on the 8th of July with the intention of proceeding via Barbadoes to Cape St. Roque, in the great line of travel for vessels bound from the East Indies to the United States or Europe. Owing to the strength of the trade-winds his coal ran short. and lie made sail for the Dutch island of Curacoa, and on the 16th the Sumter entered the port of St. Anne — the capital town of this little colony. The American consul did all he could to persuade the Governor that the Sumter was not a legitimate vessel-of-war, and that officer, therefore, forbade the ship's entering the port, saying that he had received recent orders from Holland to that effe
Montgomery (Alabama, United States) (search for this): chapter 47
er civil war based on State Rights theories. Commander Semmes resigned his commission in the United States Navy on the 15th of February, 1861, and made the best of his way to the capitol of the Southern Confederacy, temporarily fixed at Montgomery, Alabama. On his arrival he put himself in communication with Mr. Conrad, Chairman of the Confederate States Naval Committee, and when President Davis reached the city, a few days afterwards, offered his services to the Confederate Government. Thlow in conferring increased rank until sure that their officers had earned a reward. The following order from Mr. Mallory was sent to Semmes the day after his interview with that gentlemen: Confederate States of America, Navy Department, Montgomery, April 18, 1861. Sir — You are hereby detached from duty as Chief of the Light-house Bureau, and will proceed to New Orleans and take command of the steamer Sumter--named in honor of our recent victory over Fort Sumter. The following office
Havana (Cuba) (search for this): chapter 47
to seize the Spanish vessel he first encountered. Semmes at the time was simply an insurgent like Lopez, the Cuban fillibuster, who was garotted in the plaza at Havana, (because belligerent rights had not been accorded him,) and he was under the ban of proclamation. By sunset the wind had died away, and the night came on of sd whom I knew to be timid, as are all the subordinate officers of absolute Governments. I presumed that the Governor would telegraph it to the Captain General at Havana, and that the latter would hold the subject in abeyance until he could hear from the home Government. Nor was I disappointed in this expectation, for Lieutenanean Sea from the 3rd to the 27th of July, 1861, had captured ten prizes, and not a Federal gunboat had been heard of, although the United States Consul-General at Havana had been promptly informed of all his transactions at Cienfuegos. Five of the fast steamers purchased for the purpose of carrying stores to the several squadrons
England (United Kingdom) (search for this): chapter 47
Granting belligerent rights. the policy of England and France. Semmes' reputation. the commisitish Government will be of any benefit to Great Britain in the end is doubtful, for, in case she s armies. In recognizing these cruisers, Great Britain and France were encouraging a kind of predhorities towards the Confederacy. France and England had issued proclamations forbidding the introby all the leading powers of Europe, viz.: Great Britain, France, Spain, etc., as your Excellency me to be just, in the face of the truckling of England and of France. Semmes had been in the Caridetained to prevent their doing mischief. Great Britain would not condone such an offence as givinmade a target of her prizes. What would Great Britain have thought had Ireland thrown off her alish Government. It might be advisable for Great Britain to proclaim her neutrality, but there was and the idea doubtless suggested itself that England was establishing a precedent which might give[7 more...]
Europe (search for this): chapter 47
rates to adopt. This view was also taken by the leading nations of Europe, who gave in many instances all the aid and comfort to the Confedern war with foreign enemies. What would become of any Government in Europe if, at the breaking out of an insurrection, the military forces shossion to the United States, as it excluded Confederate prizes from European ports; but it was really the other way, since it recognized the Coavel for vessels bound from the East Indies to the United States or Europe. Owing to the strength of the trade-winds his coal ran short. andd as belligerents, in the present war, by all the leading powers of Europe, viz.: Great Britain, France, Spain, etc., as your Excellency must France to back her, and would be acknowledged by all the Powers of Europe in less than six months. In Maranham, during their stay, Commandomewhat careful of seizing neutral property, as he was in civilized Europe and not among a set of half-breeds before whose council windows he
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