Cruise and Captures of the AlabamaGoodrich, Albert M.
History
Cruise and Captures of the Alabama
Goodrich, Albert M.
Alabama (Screw sloop); United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Naval operations, Confederate
The effete Portuguese race has been ingrafted upon a stupid, stolid
Indian stock in that country. The freed negro is, besides, the equal
of the white man, and as there seems to be no repugnance on the part
of the white race--so called--to mix with the black race, and with
the Indian, amalgamation will go on in that country, until a mongrel
set of curs will cover the whole land. This might be a suitable field
enough for the New England school-ma'am and carpet-bagger, but no
Southern gentleman should think of mixing his blood or casting his
lot with such a race of people.
The fiery "Southern gentleman" was, however, able for the time being to
accommodate his feelings to the requirements of diplomacy, and his
sentiments did not prevent him from making himself agreeable to the
handsome mulatto lady and patting the kinky heads of her children. From
this time forward the influence of the governor's wife was thrown on the
side of an exceedingly liberal interpretation of the law of nations,
wherever the Confederate captain was concerned, that lady little
imagining the storm which was gathering about her husband's head, as a
result of too much official complaisance.
The Alabama remained at this island until April 22d. As the anchorage was
nothing but an open roadstead, it was soon found that the swell of the sea
was too great to permit the two vessels to lie side by side without
damage; and resort was had to the tedious operation of transferring the
coal in boats, thus consuming five days. Meanwhile Captain Semmes was
enjoying fat turkeys, fruit and bouquets sent him by the governor and his
wife, or making agreeable visits to the government house and other places
on the island.
April 15th two vessels were discovered to the southward, and soon after
two whale boats were seen approaching from that direction. Each was in
charge of the captain of one of the vessels in the offing, and they seemed
somewhat apprehensive as to the company into which they had fallen. One of
them hailed the Louisa Hatch and inquired her name and the port she was
from, to which questions correct answers were given by Master's Mate
Fullam, the prize officer in charge. The other captain broke in by asking
if the steamer in the harbor was not the Alabama.
"Certainly not," was the reply, "she is the United States steamer
Iroquois."
"Have you any news of the Alabama?"
"Yes; we have heard of her being in the West Indies, at Jamaica and Costa
Rica."
The prize master then engaged them in conversation, with the idea of
detaining them until the Alabama could get up steam, which he felt sure
would be done with all speed. Considerably reassured, the whaling captains
accepted an invitation to go on board the prize, and had approached within
a few yards when the officer in the forward boat uttered a cry of alarm.
"Give way, men; give way for your lives," he shouted, and hastily turned
the boat's head toward the shore.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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