Memoirs of Service Afloat, During the War Between the States

THE ALABAMA AT MARTINIQUE--IS BLOCKADED BY THE ENEMY'S STEAMER, SAN JACINTO--HOW SHE ESCAPED THE "OLD WAGON"--THE ISLAND OF BLANQUILLA, THE NEW RENDEZVOUS--COALING SHIP--A YANKE...

ON THE WAY TO MARANHAM--THE WEATHER AND THE WINDS--THE SUMTER RUNS SHORT OF COAL, AND IS OBLIGED TO "BEAR UP"--CAYENNE AND PARAMARIBO, IN FRENCH AND DUTCH GUIANA--SAILS AGAIN, A...

The day after our arrival in Maranham, was a day of feasting and rejoicing by the townspeople--all business being suspended. It was the 7th of September, the anniversary of the...

INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT DAVIS AND SECRETARY MALLORY--MY COMMAND ORGANIZED AS A BRIGADE OF ARTILLERY--BRIGADE MARCHES TO GREENSBORO', NORTH CAROLINA--CAPITULATION BETWEEN GENERA...

THE SUMTER AT MARTINIQUE--PROCEEDS FROM FORT DE FRANCE TO ST. PIERRE--IS AN OBJECT OF MUCH CURIOSITY WITH THE ISLANDERS--NEWS OF THE ARREST OF MESSRS. MASON AND SLIDELL, ON BOAR...

THE PHYSIOGNOMY OF SHIPS--CAPTURE OF THE LAFAYETTE--DECREE OF THE ADMIRALTY COURT ON BOARD THE ALABAMA IN HER CASE, AND IN THAT OF THE LAURETTA--THE CRITICISMS OF THE NEW YORK P...

THE CONNECTING THREAD OF THE HISTORY OF THE WAR TAKEN UP--A BRIEF REVIEW OF THE EVENTS OF THE TWELVE MONTHS DURING WHICH THE ALABAMA HAD BEEN COMMISSIONED--ALABAMA ARRIVES AT CA...

THE YANKEE COLONY IN THE ISLAND OF FLORES--WHAT THE CAPTAINS OF THE VIRGINIA AND ELISHA DUNBAR SAID OF THE ALABAMA, WHEN THEY GOT BACK TO THE LAND OF THE "SAINTS"--THE WHALING S...

THE SUMTER IN TROUBLE--FINDS IT IMPOSSIBLE TO COAL, BY REASON OF A COMBINATION AGAINST HER, HEADED BY THE FEDERAL CONSUL--APPLIES TO THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT FOR COAL, BUT IS REFU...

STEAMING ALONG THE COAST OF VENEZUELA--THE CORAL INSECT, AND THE WONDERS OF THE DEEP--THE ANDES AND THE RAINY SEASON--THE SUMTER ENTERS THE PORT OF SPAIN, IN THE BRITISH ISLAND...

DEPARTURE FROM JAMAICA--CAPTURE OF THE GOLDEN RULE--COASTING THE ISLAND OF HAYTI--CAPTURE OF THE CHASTELAINE--THE OLD CITY OF ST. DOMINGO, AND ITS REMINISCENCES--THE DOMINICAN C...

CAPTURE OF THE STARLIGHT, OCEAN ROVER, ALERT, WEATHER-GAUGE--A RACE BY NIGHT--CAPTURE OF THE ALTAMAHA, VIRGINIA, AND ELIJA DUNBAR--A ROUGH SEA, TOILING BOATS, AND A PICTURESQUE...

Before I read my commission on the quarter-deck of the _Alabama_, I desire to say a word or two as to the legality of her equipment, and to recall to the recollection of the rea...

THE ALABAMA PASSES THROUGH THE STRAIT OF SUNDA, SEEING NOTHING OF THE WYOMING--BURNS THE WINGED RACER JUST INSIDE THE STRAIT--THE MALAY BOATMEN AND THEIR ALARM--ALABAMA MAKES FO...

THE ALABAMA AT THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE--LEAVES ON HER RETURN TO EUROPE--CAPTURE OF THE ROCKINGHAM AND OF THE TYCOON--CROSSES THE EQUATOR INTO THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE, AND ARRIVES...

OTHER INCIDENTS OF THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE ALABAMA AND THE KEARSARGE--THE RESCUE OF OFFICERS AND SEAMEN BY THE ENGLISH STEAM-YACHT DEERHOUND--THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT DEMANDS...

ARRIVAL AT ST. PIERRE OF THE ENEMY'S STEAM-SLOOP IROQUOIS--HOW SHE VIOLATES THE NEUTRALITY OF THE PORT--ARRIVAL OF THE FRENCH STEAMER-OF-WAR ACHERON--THE IROQUOIS BLOCKADES THE...

THE ALABAMA LEAVES FERNANDO DE NORONHA FOR A CRUISE ON THE COAST OF BRAZIL--ENTERS THE GREAT HIGHWAY AND BEGINS TO OVERHAUL THE TRAVELLERS--CAPTURE OF THE WHALER NYE; OF THE DOR...

THE ALABAMA CONTINUES HER CRUISE ON THE COAST OF BRAZIL--AMERICAN SHIPS UNDER ENGLISH COLORS--THE ENEMY'S CARRYING-TRADE IN NEUTRAL BOTTOMS--THE CAPTURE OF THE CONRAD--SHE IS CO...

AUTHOR LEAVES GIBRALTAR, AND ARRIVES IN LONDON--MR. MASON--CONFEDERATE NAVAL NEWS--SOJOURN IN LONDON--AUTHOR EMBARKS ON BOARD THE STEAMER MELITA, FOR NASSAU--SOJOURN IN NASSAU--...

The _Alabama_ was disabled for two or three days, soon after the events recorded in the last chapter, by an accident which occurred to her engine--the giving way of one of the v...

THE "CROSSING" OF THE THIRTIETH PARALLEL--THE TOLL-GATE UPON THE SEA--HOW THE TRAVELLERS PASS ALONG THE HIGHWAY--CAPTURE OF THE WASHINGTON; THE JOHN A. PARKS; THE BATHIAH THAYER...

The _Sumter_ had scarcely swung to her anchors, in the small land-locked harbor described, before she was surrounded by a fleet of bum-boats, laden with a profusion of tropical...

The morning of the 26th of November dawned clear, with the wind more moderate, and a smoother sea. A ship of war being seen to windward, running down in our direction, we beat t...

THE CALM-BELTS, AND THE TRADE-WINDS--THE ARRIVAL OF THE ALABAMA AT THE ISLAND OF MARTINIQUE--THE CURIOSITY OF THE ISLANDERS TO SEE THE SHIP--A QUASI MUTINY AMONG THE CREW, AND H...

ALABAMA CROSSES THE BAY OF BENGAL--THE PILGRIMS TO MECCA AND THE BLACK GIANTS--BURNING OF THE EMMA JANE--THE TOWN OF AUJENGA, AND THE HINDOOS--THE GREAT DESERTS OF CENTRAL ASIA,...

Though the month of October is remarkable for its fine weather, along the American coast, yet here in the Gulf Stream, we had a constant succession of changes, the wind going re...

THE ALABAMA AT SINGAPORE--PANIC AMONG THE ENEMY'S SHIPPING IN THE CHINA SEA--THE MULTITUDE FLOCK TO SEE THE ALABAMA--CURIOUS RUMOR CONCERNING HER--AUTHOR RIDES TO THE COUNTRY, A...

THE AUTHOR LEAVES LIVERPOOL TO JOIN THE ALABAMA--ARRIVAL AT TERCEIRA--DESCRIPTION OF THE ALABAMA--PREPARING HER FOR SEA--THE PORTUGUESE AUTHORITIES--THE COMMISSIONING OF THE SHI...

THE ALABAMA A SHIP OF WAR, AND NOT A PRIVATEER--SKETCH OF THE PERSONNEL OF THE SHIP--PUTTING THE SHIP IN ORDER FOR SERVICE--SAIL AND STEAM--THE CHARACTER OF THE SAILOR--THE FIRS...

A GALE AT CAPE TOWN--ALABAMA GETS UNDER WAY FOR SIMON'S TOWN--CAPTURE OF THE MARTHA WENZELL--THE TUSCALOOSA; HER STATUS AS SHIP OF WAR CONSIDERED--THE TUSCALOOSA PROCEEDS TO SEA...

VOYAGE ACROSS THE ATLANTIC PURSUED--CHRISTMAS-DAY ON BOARD THE SUMTER--CAPE FLY-AWAY, AND THE CURIOUS ILLUSION PRODUCED BY IT--THE SUMTER PASSES FROM THE DESERT PARTS OF THE SEA...

FERNANDO DE NORONHA--ITS FAMOUS PEAK--IS A PENAL SETTLEMENT OF BRAZIL--A VISIT FROM THE GOVERNOR'S AMBASSADORS--A VISIT TO THE GOVERNOR IN RETURN--THE ARISTOCRACY OF THE ISLAND-...

THE SUMTER OFF CADIZ--THE PILLARS OF HERCULES--GIBRALTAR--CAPTURE OF THE ENEMY'S SHIPS NEAPOLITAN AND INVESTIGATOR--A CONFLAGRATION BETWEEN EUROPE AND AFRICA--THE SUMTER ANCHORS...

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE BRITISH STEAM-YACHT DEERHOUND--MR. SEWARD'S DESPATCH, AND MR. LANCASTER'S LETTER TO THE "DAILY NEWS"--LORD RUSSELL'S REPLY TO MR. ADAMS ON THE SUB...

Whilst we were lying at our anchors between the forts, as described in the last chapter, Governor Moore of Louisiana, who had done good service to the Confederacy, by seizing th...

THE ALABAMA PROCEEDS TO JAMAICA, AND LANDS HER PRISONERS--THE CAPTAIN VISITS THE COUNTRY--INTERCOURSE WITH THE ENGLISH NAVAL OFFICERS--EARL RUSSELL'S LETTER--PREPARATIONS FOR SE...

We burned the _Golden Rocket_, as has been seen, on the 3d of July. The next day was the "glorious Fourth"--once glorious, indeed, as the day on which a people broke the chains...

THE EQUIPMENT OF THE ALABAMA ILLUSTRATED BY THAT OF SUNDRY COLONIAL CRUISERS, DURING THE WAR OF 1776--BENJAMIN FRANKLIN AND SILAS DEANE, AS CHIEFS OF A NAVAL BUREAU IN PARIS--TH...

Captain Poor, the commander of the _Brooklyn_, was greatly censured by his Government, for permitting the escape of the _Sumter_. It was even hinted that there had been treason,...

The two principal expounders of the Constitution of the United States, in the North, have been Daniel Webster and Joseph Story, both from Massachusetts. Webster was, for a long...

From what has been said in the last chapter, the reader will have observed how anxious I was to conform my conduct, in all respects, to the laws of war. My hope was, that _some_...

A great change was apparent in New Orleans since I had last visited it. The levee in front of the city was no longer a great mart of commerce, piled with cotton bales, and suppl...

As I am not writing a history of the war, but only of a very small portion of the war, it cannot be expected that I will follow events in a connected train. I have detained the...

AUTHOR MAKES A SHORT VISIT TO THE CONTINENT--RETURNS TO LONDON, AND EMBARKS ON HIS RETURN TO THE CONFEDERATE STATES--LANDS AT BAGDAD, NEAR THE MOUTH OF THE RIO GRANDE--JOURNEY T...

In the previous chapters, I have given a brief outline of the history and formation of the Federal Constitution, proving, by abundant reference to the Fathers, and to the instru...

ANNOYANCE OF THE SPANISH OFFICIALS--SHORT CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE UNITED STATES CONSUL--THE TELEGRAPH PUT IN OPERATION BY THE OFFICIALS BETWEEN CADIZ AND MADRID--THE SUMTER IS O...

AUTHOR SETS OUT FOR RICHMOND--IS TWO WEEKS IN MAKING THE JOURNEY--INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT DAVIS; WITH GENERAL LEE--AUTHOR IS APPOINTED A REAR-ADMIRAL, AND ORDERED TO COMMAND TH...

One of the great difficulties in arguing the question of the relative power of the States and of the Federal Government, consists in the fact that the present generation has gro...

A BRIEF RESUME OF THE HISTORY OF THE WAR, BETWEEN THE COMMISSIONING OF THE SUMTER AND THE COMMISSIONING OF THE ALABAMA--SECRETARY MALLORY, AND THE DIFFICULTIES BY WHICH HE WAS S...

observe why it is, that there is always a short interval of calm before the north-west wind sets in, the second time. The wind within that space is blowing, or rather should blo...

THE EVACUATION OF RICHMOND BY THE ARMY--THE DESTRUCTION OF THE JAMES RIVER FLEET--THE SAILORS OF THE FLEET CONVERTED INTO SOLDIERS--THEIR HELPLESS CONDITION WITHOUT ANY MEANS OF...

THE SUMTER STILL AT GIBRALTAR--SHIP CROWDED WITH VISITORS--A RIDE OVER THE ROCK WITH COLONEL FREEMANTLE--THE "GALLERIES" AND OTHER SUBTERRANEAN WONDERS--A DIZZY HEIGHT, AND THE...

Great pains have been taken, by the North, to make it appear to the world, that the war was a sort of moral, and religious crusade against slavery. Such was not the fact. The pe...

On the evening of the 16th of February, the day after I had resigned my commission, I took a sorrowful leave of my family, and departed for Montgomery, by the way of Fredericksb...

Fort Sumter surrendered on the 13th of April. The next day was a gala day in Montgomery. We had driven an insolent enemy from one of the strongest positions in the South, and th...

ALABAMA AGAIN IN CAPE TOWN--THE SEIZURE OF THE TUSCALOOSA, AND THE DISCUSSION WHICH GREW OUT OF IT--CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE AUTHOR AND ADMIRAL WALKER--FINAL ACTION OF THE HOM...

A few more words, and we shall be in a condition to answer the question which stands at the head of this chapter. Being a legal question, it will depend entirely upon the consti...

THE ALABAMA ON THE INDIAN OCEAN--THE PASSENGERS QUESTIONED, AND CONTRACTED WITH--THE AGULHAS CURRENT--THE "BRAVE WEST WINDS"--A THEORY--THE ISLANDS OF ST. PETER AND ST. PAUL--TH...

The disruption of the American Union by the war of 1861 was not an unforeseen event. Patrick Henry, and other patriots who struggled against the adoption of the Federal Constitu...

The Physiognomy of Ships--Capture of the Lafayette--Decree of the Admiralty Court on board the Alabama in her Case, and in that of the Lauretta--The Criticisms of the New York P...

The Alabama crosses the Bay of Bengal--The Pilgrims to Mecca, and how they received her Boarding-Officer--The Burning of the Emma Jane--The Town of Anjenga, and the Hindoos--The...

The Alabama at Singapore--Panic among the Enemy's Shipping in the China Seas--The Multitude flock to see the Alabama--Curious Rumor concerning a Portion of her Crew--The Author...

The Alabama leaves Fernando de Noronha for a Cruise on the Coast of Brazil--Enters the great Highway, and begins to overhaul the Travellers--Capture of the Whalers Nye; Dorcas P...

The Alabama continues her Cruise on the Coast of Brazil-- American Ships under English Colors--The Enemy's Carrying-Trade in Neutral Bottoms--The Capture of the Conrad--She is c...

The Alabama passes through the Strait of Sunda, seeing nothing of the Wyoming--Burns the Winged Racer just inside of the Strait--The Malay Boatmen, and their Alarm--Alabama make...

The Evacuation of Richmond by the Army--The Destruction of the James River Fleet--The Sailors of the Fleet converted into Soldiers--Their helpless Condition without any Means of...

The Sumter in Trouble--Finds it impossible to coal, by reason of a Combination against her, headed by the Federal Consul-- Applies to the British Government for Coal, but is ref...

The Alabama proceeds to Jamaica, where she lands her Prisoners and refits--Her Commander visits the Country--Intercourse with the English Naval Officers--Earl Russell's Letter--...

The Crossing of the 30th Parallel--The Toll-Gate upon the Sea-- How the Travellers pass along the Highway--Capture of the Washington; John A. Parks; the Bethia Taylor; the Punja...

The connecting Thread of the History of the War taken up--A brief Review of the Events of the last twelve Months, during which the Alabama has been commissioned--The Alabama arr...

Fernando de Noronha--Its Famous Peak--Is a Penal Settlement of Brazil--A Visit from the Governor's Ambassadors--A Visit to the Governor in return--The Aristocracy of the Island-...

Other Incidents of the Battle between the Alabama and the Kearsarge--The Rescue of a Portion of the Crew of the Alabama by the English Steam-Yacht Deerhound--The United States G...

The Alabama on the Indian Ocean--The Passengers questioned, and contracted with--The Agulhas Current--The brave West Winds--A Theory--The Islands of St. Peter and St. Paul--The...

Voyage across the Atlantic pursued--Christmas-day on board the Sumter--Cape Fly-away, and the Curious Illusion produced by it--The Sumter passes from the Desert Parts of the Sea...

The Alabama at Martinique--Is blockaded by the Enemy's Steamer San Jacinto--How she escaped the Old Wagon--The Island of Blanquilla, the Alabama's new Rendezvous--Coaling Ship--...

Departure from Jamaica--Capture of the Golden Rule--Coasting the Island of Hayti--Capture of the Castelaine--The Old City of St. Domingo and its Reminiscences--The Dominican Con...

The Federal Government and the English Steam-Yacht Deerhound-- Mr. Seward's Despatch--Mr. Lancaster's Letter to the "Daily News"--Lord Russell's Reply to Mr. Adams, on the Subje...

The Alabama a Ship of War, and not a Privateer--Sketch of the Personnel of the Ship--Putting the Ship in Order for Service-- Sail and Steam--The Character of the Sailor--The Fir...

The Yankee Colony of the Island of Flores--What the Captains of the Virginia and Elisha Dunbar said of the Alabama when they got back among their Countrymen--The Whaling Season...

Annoyance of the Spanish Officials--Short Correspondence with the U. S. Consul--The Telegraph put in Operation by the Officials between Cadiz and Madrid--The Sumter is ordered t...

The Alabama at the Cape of Good Hope--Leaves on her Return to Europe--Capture of the Rockingham, and of the Tycoon--She crosses the Equator into the Northern Hemisphere, and arr...

Author makes a Short Visit to the Continent--Returns to London, and embarks on his Return to the Confederate States--Lands at Bagdad, near the Mouth of the Rio Grande--Journey t...

Author sets out for Richmond--Is two Weeks in making the Journey--Interview with President Davis; with General Lee-- Author is appointed a Rear-Admiral, and ordered to command t...

Interview with President Davis and Secretary Mallory--Author's Command organized as a Brigade of Artillery--The Brigade marches to Greensboro', N. C.--Capitulation between Gener...

The Equipment of the Alabama illustrated by that of sundry Colonial Cruisers during the War of 1776--Benjamin Franklin and Silas Deane sent to Paris as Chiefs of a Naval Bureau-...

The Sumter at Martinique--Proceeds from Fort de France to St. Pierre--Is an Object of much Curiosity with the Islanders--News of the Arrest of Messrs. Mason and Slidell, on boar...

The Sumter off Cadiz--The Pillars of Hercules--Gibraltar-- Capture of the Enemy's Ships Neapolitan and Investigator--A Conflagration between Europe and Africa--The Sumter anchor...

A Brief _Resume_ of the History of the War, from the date of the commissioning the Sumter, to the commissioning of the Alabama--Secretary Mallory and the Difficulties by which h...

Author leaves Liverpool to join the Alabama--Arrives at Terceira--Description of the Alabama--Preparing her for Sea-- The Portuguese Authorities--The commissioning of the Ship--...

A Gale at Cape Town--The Alabama gets under way for Simon's Town--Capture of the Martha Wenzell--The Tuscaloosa--Her Status as a Ship of War considered--She proceeds to Sea--The...

On the Way to Maranham--The Weather and the Winds--The Sumter runs short of Coal, and is obliged to "bear up"--Cayenne and Paramaribo, in French and Dutch Guiana--Sails again, a...

The Alabama is disabled by an Accident, and stops to repair her Machinery--Proceeds to her New Rendezvous at the Arcas Islands, and thence to Galveston--Engagement with the Unit...

The Sumter still at Gibraltar--Ship crowded with Visitors--A Ride over the Rock with Colonel Freemantle--The Galleries and other Subterranean Wonders--A Dizzy Height, and the Qu...

The Alabama again in Cape Town--The Seizure of the Tuscaloosa, and the Discussion which grew out of it--Correspondence between the Author and Admiral Walker--Action of the Home...

Arrival at St. Pierre of the Enemy's Steam-sloop Iroquois--How she violates the Neutrality of the Port--Arrival of the French Steamer-of-War Acheron--The Iroquois blockades the...

The Calm-Belts and the Trade-Winds--The Arrival of the Alabama at the Island of Martinique--The Curiosity of the Islanders to see the Ship--A Quasi Mutiny among the Crew, and ho...

Steaming along the Coast of Venezuela--The Coral Insect, and the Wonders of the Deep--The Andes and the Rainy Season--The Sumter enters the Port of Spain in the British Island o...

Author leaves Gibraltar and arrives in London--Mr. Commissioner Mason--Confederate Naval News--Short Sojourn in London--Author embarks on board the Steamer Melita for Nassau--Re...

The Sumter on the Wing again--She is put wholly under Sail for the first time--Reaches the Island of Curacoa, and is only able to enter after a Diplomatic Fight 144

Capture of the Starlight; Ocean Rover; Alert; Weather Gauge--A Chase by Moonlight--Capture of the Altamaha; Virginia; Elisha Dunbar--A Rough Sea, Toiling Boats, and a Picturesqu...