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January 5th (search for this): chapter 48
ny tlat Semmes displayed great daring in thus bearding the lion in his den, and entering waters that he knew to be full of his enemy's gun-boats. But lie knew the character of every vessel on the coast, and was well aware that but few of the old tubs in the Federal Navy could catch him. The Florida had distanced the Cuyler, the fastest vessel off Mobile bar, and the Alabama was faster than the Florida. Under these conditions he felt quite safe, as he could either run or fight. On the 5th of January Semmes left the Areas and headed for Galveston. As he approached the harbor, he discovered that, instead of Banks' transports, there were five men-of-war anchored off the town. This was a damper, and for a short time he was undecided what to do. He had promised his men some fun in this vicinity, and did not like to go away without gratifying them. He was soon relieved from his quandary, however, by the look-out aloft reporting that one of the Federal gunboats was coming out in chase.
January 10th (search for this): chapter 48
erely showing his devotion and loyalty to the Republic in a most practical and sensible manner. Semmes also complained that Vanderbilt never redeemed the ransom-bond ; but this was not singular, for the general understanding was tlat these bonds were only to be paid in case the South was successful. On the 23d of December the Alabama joined her coal-ship at Arcas Islands, in the Gulf of Mexico, and prepared to waylay the Banks expedition, which was expected to reach Galveston by the 10th of January. Semmes' plan was to approach the harbor of Galveston at a time when the army transports would probably have arrived, make careful observations of their positions by daylight, and then withdraw until nightfall. He then proposed to run in and attack the fleet under cover of the darkness, and hoped to be able to sink or scatter the whole of them. This was a bold and feasible plan, and no one call deny tlat Semmes displayed great daring in thus bearding the lion in his den, and enteri
January 11th (search for this): chapter 48
earch. It is some such search, replied the other, as the devil may be supposed to make after holy water! This good humor saved the captives from imprisonment, and they were allowed to take their boats with provisions and start for Singapore. After the usual cremation services, the Alabama steamed out past the light-ship, and was once more in the Indian Ocean. Query, were the two ships above-named burned in neutral waters? The Alabama now proceeded to the Bay of Bengal, and on the 11th of January captured and burned the Emma Jane. of Bath. Maine. This was the last vessel burned by Captain Semmes in that quarter. Further continuance in the East Indies did not promise much profit and the Alabama finally proceeded towards the Cape of Good Hope. But even in that quarter there were no prizes to be found. American vessels that were not laid up in port or transferred to the British flag avoided the beaten track. On the 20th of March Semmes went into Cape Town for coal and provi
January 20th (search for this): chapter 48
lized by the first, unexpected, broadside. Semmes did not seem disposed to make much capital out of this victory. Nothing remained for him to do in this vicinity; so, after he had picked up the officers and crew of the Hatteras, he put out all his lights and steamed away for the coast of Yucatan, congratulating himself that he had been able to satisfy his men with this substitute for his contemplated attack on Banks' transports. The Alabama received little damage in the fight, and on January 20th arrived at Jamaica, where the prisoners were landed, on parole, to find their way home as best they could. It is but fair to state that the officers and men of the Hatteras were kindly treated by their captors, and Lieutenant-Commander Blake was received as a guest in the cabin. The Alabama sailed from Jamaica on the 25th of January, 1863, bound for the coast of Brazil. Captain Semmes had been treated with every possible attention by the British officers at Jamaica, and flattered him
March 1st (search for this): chapter 48
safer lines of travel. Still Semmes was amply repaid for watching at the tollgate, even though many passed through without paying toll. He captured the ship Washington from the Chincha Islands with a cargo of guano, bound to Antwerp. Finding difficulties in the way of destroying her neutral cargo. he put his prisoners on board, and let her go on a ransom-bond. The fact was, he was anxious to get rid of his prisoners who were eating him out of house and home. On the morning of the 1st of March the Alabama captured the fine ship John A. Parks, of Hallowell, Maine. Her cargo, consisting of lumber for Montevideo, was. covered by the seals of the British consul, and was as neutral as any cargo could be. But the ship was burned, nevertheless. A large quantity of newspapers were taken from the Parks. which, as they contained many unflattering notices of the Alabama, gave her officers and crew something to sharpen their appetites upon until they overhauled another prize. The nex
March 15th (search for this): chapter 48
ny cargo could be. But the ship was burned, nevertheless. A large quantity of newspapers were taken from the Parks. which, as they contained many unflattering notices of the Alabama, gave her officers and crew something to sharpen their appetites upon until they overhauled another prize. The next vessel taken was the Bethiah Thayer, last from the Chinchas with a cargo of guano for the Peruvian Government, and, as her cargo was properly documented, she was released on bond. On the 15th of March,the ship Punjaub, of Boston, was captured; but as her cargo was English property, and was properly certified to, she was released on a ransom-bond, after the prisoners were all transferred to her. Semmes was getting merciful; the mild climate of the tropics was acting favorably upon his temperament, while his crew, for want of excitement, began to look gloomy and disconsolate. All this time Semmes made but little change in his position, lying under easy sail near the toll-gate, and allo
March 20th (search for this): chapter 48
w proceeded to the Bay of Bengal, and on the 11th of January captured and burned the Emma Jane. of Bath. Maine. This was the last vessel burned by Captain Semmes in that quarter. Further continuance in the East Indies did not promise much profit and the Alabama finally proceeded towards the Cape of Good Hope. But even in that quarter there were no prizes to be found. American vessels that were not laid up in port or transferred to the British flag avoided the beaten track. On the 20th of March Semmes went into Cape Town for coal and provisions, and there found the Tuscaloosa, which vessel lie had sent to cruise on the coast of Brazil and which had been seized by the British authorities and afterwards released. The news received at Cape Town from the Confederate States was far from encouraging; everything seemed to be gradually falling into Federal hands. Captain Semmes, for his part, was quite satisfied with the mischief he had wrought, estimating that he had destroyed or dr
March 23rd (search for this): chapter 48
red; but as her cargo was English property, and was properly certified to, she was released on a ransom-bond, after the prisoners were all transferred to her. Semmes was getting merciful; the mild climate of the tropics was acting favorably upon his temperament, while his crew, for want of excitement, began to look gloomy and disconsolate. All this time Semmes made but little change in his position, lying under easy sail near the toll-gate, and allowing his prey to come to him. On the 23d of March, the Morning Star, of Boston, from Calcutta to London, and the whaling schooner, Kingfisher, of Fairhaven, Massachusetts, were captured. The fact that the cargo of the Morning Star was English saved that vessel, hut the Kingfisher was burned. Although this little vessel did not make as large a bonfire as some of her predecessors, it served tot beguile the time; and, in order to make the spectacle more interesting to his men, Semmes applied the torch at night-fall, when the effect of the
March 25th (search for this): chapter 48
l hands. Captain Semmes, for his part, was quite satisfied with the mischief he had wrought, estimating that he had destroyed or driven for protection under the British flag, one-half of the United States vessels engaged in trade with English ports. Still greater damage was done to American trade with other nations. Commerce with the South American States was practically broken up, and that on the Pacific, including the important whale fishery, greatly crippled. Semmes left Cape Town March 25th, the Alabama keeping in the fair way leading from the Cape of Good Hope to the equatorial region where the Confederate cruisers had been so successful, shortening sail from day to day and tacking to and fro in the high-way, but for some time the American flag was nowhere to be seen among the numerous vessels passing on their way. At last an unlucky Yankee was reported, and although he made all sail and handled his ship with great skill, the Alabama overtook the fugitive. She proved to be
April 22nd (search for this): chapter 48
feeling of humanity at the sufferings so many persons crowded into a small and filthy vessel must undergo troubled Semmes. The apologist for Wirtz, the Andersonville jailer, did not stick at trifles. The Cory suffered the same fate as the Hatch, Semmes being careful to burn both beyond the marine league, so as not to offend the delicate susceptibilities of the Governor of Fernando de Noronha, and to pay due respect to the Empire of Brazil, the great ally of the Confederacy. On the 22d of April, the Alabama was again on the wing under plain sail for a cruise along the Brazilian coast, and in less than twenty-four hours another unfortunate whaler, the Nye, of New Bedford, was in her hands, making the sixteenth whaler that had been captured. The Nye had sent home one or two cargoes of oil, and had now 425 barrels on board. For a moment Semmes thought what a pity to break in upon these old salts, who had encountered so many gales and chased the whale through so many latitudes! B
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