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 captain's chronometer, sextants, nautical instruments and books
were appropriated by Captain Semmes, and, after hoisting out the
provisions and live stock, they broke up the cabin furniture and
piled it in the cabin, making another pile down the fore hatchway
smeared with tar; they then set fire to the ship, and left her with
all her sails set to sky sails. At 5:30 p. m. they arrived on board
the Alabama, when the captain and crew were subjected to a personal
search. Mrs. Jordan escaped this indignity, but her clothes, together
with the others, were all turned out on deck and minutely
scrutinized. At 6 p. m. the ship was enveloped in flame to the trucks
fore and aft.
From this time Captain Semmes and his officers behaved toward the
captives with civility, and on Sunday, the 17th, ran under the land
at Anjengo and landed them there, with a cask of pork and bag of
bread to carry them to Cochin, Captain Semmes presenting Mrs. Jordan
with a little canister of what was shortly before her own biscuits.
The Alabama stopped a week at the island of Johanna, off the coast of
Africa, near the north end of Madagascar. The population consisted of
negroes, with an admixture of Hindoos and Arabs. The sultan sent off his
grand vizier to welcome the visitors, with an apology for not coming
himself, being busily engaged in erecting a sugar mill--a refreshing
instance of royal industry. Most of the inhabitants wore the scantiest
clothing, and yet nearly all could read and write, and the Mohammedan
religion seemed to be universally accepted. They had heard of the war in
America, and debated upon its merits among themselves. A jet black negro
asked Captain Semmes whether he was fighting for the North or the South.
"For the South," was the answer.
Quick as thought came the reply with a frown of disapproval:
"Then you belong to the side which upholds slavery."
Through the stormy region about the Cape of Good Hope the Alabama passed
once more, and cruised there ten days without sighting a single American
vessel. As she left the harbor of Cape Town March 25th, however, she met
the United States steamer Quang Tung coming in. Fortunately for the
latter, she was already within the marine league; otherwise the
experience of the Sea Bride would have been repeated.
April 22d, off the coast of Brazil the Rockingham was captured. This
vessel was used as a target and then burned. April 27th the torch was
applied for the last time to the Tycoon, of New York. Nineteen other
vessels were overhauled between the coast of Brazil and that of France,
but none of them were American.
CHAPTER XIX.
A NEW ADVERSARY.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account