ADMIRAL WILKES IS MISTAKEN.
As the Alabama left the anchorage of Fernando de Noronha four whale boats
were successively cast adrift, and the islanders made a grand scramble for
the possession of them. The successful ones became capitalists in the eyes
of their fellows, as the boats were better than any others about the
place. The second night at sea, about two hours after midnight a whaling
bark was sighted, and after an hour's chase succumbed to a blank
cartridge. She was the Nye, of New Bedford, and had spent thirty-one
months in the Pacific Ocean. She had sent home one or two cargoes of oil,
and was now homeward bound with 425 barrels more. Everything about the
ship was saturated with oil, and she made a magnificent bonfire. The
sailors were chiefly interested in the store of Virginia tobacco which she
brought them.
April 26th the Dorcas Prince, of New York, bound for Shanghai with a cargo
of coal, was overhauled. The Alabama had her bunkers full of coal, and
consequently this cargo was given to the flames along with the vessel. The
master of the Dorcas Prince had his wife with him, and one of the
Alabama's lieutenants was turned out of his stateroom to make room for the
lady. The lookouts were kept busy reporting sails, but Evans gave little
comfort as to nationality.
"Think she's English, sir," was his frequent answer to queries; or "Not
Yankee, sir--think she's Austrian."
Hardly a nation with any shipping at all that was not represented in this
great ocean roadway. Hanoverian and Uruguayan vessels, both of which were
overhauled, were not identified until they showed their flags.
On Sunday, the third day of May, the Union Jack, of Boston, was chased and
captured. The prize crew having gained her deck, away went the Alabama in
chase of another ship, which was also overhauled in about an hour. She
proved to be the Sea Lark, of New York. The Union Jack was bound for the
coast of China, and her master was taking his family out to make a
temporary home for them somewhere in the far east so long as his business
should require his presence in that part of the world. Rev. Franklin
Wright, just appointed United States consul at Foo Chow, was also a
passenger. Captain Semmes took possession of the new consul's official
documents, intending thus to delay his entering upon his new duties.
Before night both prizes were well on fire.
May 11th Captain Semmes ran into Bahia to land his prisoners. The news of
the Alabama's exploits had preceded her. Acting under orders from Rio
Janeiro, the president of the province of Pernambuco had recalled the
governor of Fernando de Noronha and commenced legal proceedings against
him. Three war vessels had also been dispatched to the island to prevent
further breaches of international law. While the case of the Alabama was
undergoing investigation matters were further complicated by the arrival
of the Confederate steamer Georgia, which had left British jurisdiction
under the name of the Japan, and received her armament off Ushant. News
was also received that the Florida had arrived at Pernambuco, so that
there was now quite a Confederate fleet in Brazilian ports. The final
decision of the Brazilian government was to the effect that the Alabama
had violated the neutrality of Brazilian waters, and henceforth should not
be permitted to enter any of the ports of the empire. In the meantime
Captain Semmes had received all the supplies he needed. He put to sea May
21st. Two weeks later the Agrippina arrived at Bahia, and was blockaded
there together with another ship, the Castor, which had supplies for the
Georgia, by the United States gunboat Onward. The Castor had succeeded in
delivering some coal to the Georgia, but owing to the vigorous protest of
the United States Consul, Thomas F. Wilson, who had received information
leading him to believe that there was ammunition and also two large rifled
cannon on board the Castor, the president of the province had forbidden
the two vessels to lie alongside of each other, and the Georgia was
obliged to take coal from lighters sent from the shore.
The Georgia put to sea April 23d, but the next day the United States war
steamer Mohican arrived, and kept the Castor in port until the arrival of
the Onward. The Onward kept watch over the Castor and the Agrippina until
their masters gave up the contest and sold and discharged their cargoes,
after which they were released from espionage.
* * * * *
In the latter part of January the Vanderbilt, a large and swift side-wheel
steamer carrying fifteen guns, was ordered by Secretary Welles to go in
search of the Alabama. The instructions to Lieutenant Baldwin, who was in
command of her, were as follows:
Navy Department, January 27, 1863.
Sir: As soon as the U. S. S. Vanderbilt is ready you will proceed
with her to sea and resume the search for the steamer Alabama, or
290. You will first visit Havana, where you may obtain information to
govern your future movements. You can then visit any of the islands
of the West Indies or any part of the Gulf at which you think you
would be most likely to overtake the Alabama or procure information
of her.
When you are perfectly satisfied that the Alabama has left the Gulf
or the West Indies and gone to some other locality, you will proceed
along the coast of Brazil to Fernando de Noronha and Rio de Janeiro,
making enquiry at such places as you may think advisable. From Rio
continue your course to the Cape of Good Hope, thence back to St.
Helena, Cape Verde, the Canaries, Madeira, Lisbon, Western Islands,
and New York.
If at any point word is obtained of the Alabama, or any other rebel
craft, you will pursue her without regard to these instructions; and
if the Alabama should be captured by any of our vessels, you will
regard these instructions as void, and return at once to New York,
unless you are in pursuit of some other rebel craft.
The U. S. bark Ino is cruising in the vicinity of St. Helena, and the
U. S. S. Mohican near the Cape Verde. Endeavor to obtain all the
information possible at points where the mail steamers touch, and
communicate with the department as opportunity offers.
I am respectfully, etc.,
GIDEON WELLES.
Secretary of the Navy.
Acting Lieutenant Chas. H. Baldwin,
Commanding U. S. S. Vanderbilt, Hampton Roads.
It will be noticed that the route thus mapped out for the Vanderbilt
corresponded very closely to the one actually taken by the Alabama. The
next day the secretary was informed of the Alabama's fight with the
Hatteras, and the Florida's escape from Mobile, and telegraphed Lieutenant
Baldwin as follows:
* * * proceed with all possible dispatch to Havana, and there be
governed by circumstances, but do not leave the West Indies as long
as the Florida or Alabama are there.
[Illustration: _United States Steamer Vanderbilt._]
Acting Rear Admiral Wilkes, commanding the West India squadron, had come
very near plunging his country into a foreign war in November, 1861. He
then held the rank of Captain, and was in command of the San Jacinto. He
overhauled the British steamer Trent at sea and forcibly removed from her
the Confederate commissioners Mason and Slidell. This act would have been
perfectly justifiable if the Trent had been attempting to run the
blockade, but as she was bound from the neutral port of Havana to an
English port, there was no excuse for the seizure, and the act was
disavowed and the prisoners released by order of President Lincoln.
Nevertheless, Captain Wilkes was advanced to the rank of commodore, and in
September, 1862, made an acting rear admiral and assigned to the command
of the West India fleet, consisting of the Wachusett, Dacotah, Cimarron,
Sonoma, Tioga, Octorara and Santiago de Cuba. Almost from the time of
taking command he had been sending frequent requests to Secretary Welles
for more and better vessels. He felt sure that the Alabama might soon be
captured if his requests were complied with. He complained bitterly
because the Dacotah had been sent on an independent cruise, and because
the San Jacinto, although cruising in the West Indies, was not placed
under his command. He was inclined to make use of any stragglers from
other squadrons which came within his reach. The R. R. Cuyler and the
Oneida, of Admiral Farragut's squadron, after chasing the Florida out of
Mobile, got within the sphere of Admiral Wilkes' influence, and the former
did not get back to her station for six weeks. The Oneida did not get back
at all while Wilkes retained his command. When the Vanderbilt reached the
West Indies Wilkes took possession of her and retained her as his flag
ship until the 13th of June. He persisted in the belief that the main
object of the Alabama and the Florida would be the capture of the
California treasure steamers, although those steamers had long since been
furnished with an armed convoy. When the news of the Alabama's
depredations on the coast of Brazil reached the United States and the
shipping interests began to clamor for protection in that quarter,
Secretary Welles at first replied that the Vanderbilt had already gone
thither. When later reports showed that she was still retained by Wilkes,
the secretary's stock of patience was exhausted, and he relieved Wilkes of
his command.