The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-10-20
THE coNFEDERATE WAR VESSELS.


the Cape of Good Hope.
The Alabama, Captain Semmes; Georgia, Capt
Many. and Tuscaloosa, Lieut.. Low, were all Ia OF
off the hagbor of Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope,
in August and were driving brisk business
among the Yankee shipping. The Cape Town
Argus, of August 10th, says:
During the whole of Saturday the Alabama lay
quietly at anchor in Table bay, the waters Of which
had then become comparatively calm, but With the
Valorous no longer alongside, that vessel having
dragged her anchors during Friday night and
.driftei considerable distance to leeward. In the
latter part of the day, although the weather was
gloomy, goody number of visitors went OFT to
the vessel, and were received with the courteous
urbanity which distinguished the conduct of the
officers of the ship towards the crowds who
thronged around her on Thursday.
As soon as it was known that the Alabama was
in Saidanba bay, Mr. Graham, the United States
Consul at Cape Town, addressed letter to the
Governor, requesting that the vessel might be set
once seized and sent to England, from whence she
clandesaaely escaped" on the ground that the
British Government, which had a treaty Of asnity
and commerce with the United States had not
"recognized the persons in rebellion against the
United States as Government at all" His Tx
cellency replied that he had Instructions or au-
thority to seize or detain the vessel and that the
course taken by Captain Semmes was, ID his opin-
ion, in conformity W th the instructions he bad
received relative to ships-ofwar and priVateers be-
longing to the Government of the United States
and the States calling themselves the Confederate
States visiting British ports.
Against the capture of the Sea Bride Mr. Ora
ham protested. on the ground that the capture was
made within British waters, contending that neu-
trail waters limited to the fighting distance
from land, which, since the invention of Armstrong
guns, must be held to be six miles. He also sub
sequently claimed her forfeiture on the ground
that, Cd the day succeeding her capture the prize
crew on board Of her brought her within a mile
and half of Green Point lighthouse, which he
maintained "was a violation Of neutrality much
az if the capture had taken place at that distance
from land" But on both points the decision of
the Governor was adverse to his views Mr. Ora
ham also claimed the delivery to him, as the Off
cial agent of the former owners Of the Conrad, OF
the Tuscaloosa, on the ground that being prize
and 'not having been condemned by an admiralty
court of any recognized Government" she was
debarred from entering any British port, and ought,
therefore, "to revert to her real owners" the
moment she violated the Queens proclamation.
His Excellency replied that he was not aware OF
any provision of international law by which captur-
ed ships, as soon as they entered neutral ports,
reverted to their real owners He believed that
the claims of contendng parties to captured vessels
could be determined in the first instance only by
the courts of the captors country and satisfied
that the Tuscaloosa was entitled to be regarded
a vessel Of war.
Against the decision of bis Excellency in each
case MIR. Graham formally "protested" in the name
of his Government.
Having completed on Saturday the repairs
intended to be effected here, at an early hour on
Sunday morning Capt Semmes weighed anchor, and
the Alabama took her first departure from Table
bay.
On Saturday the Confederate cruiser Tuscaloosa,
Lieut.. Low commander, formerly the Conrad, of
Philadelphia, captured by the Alabama and
converted by Capt Semmes into tender to his
ship, put into Simon's bay for the purpose of
reftting. She carries two guns and ten men
before the masts. About fourteen days ago she
fell in with the American ship Santee, bound from
Rangoom to Falmouth, and captured her; but as
the vessel was laden with cargo belonging to
British owners she allowed to proceed on
giving a bond Of S150,000
Afew days after the Tuscaloosa fell in with the
American China clipper ship Snow Squall, eight
hundred tons, homeward bound. 1t was blowing
hard at the time, and the Tuscaloosa having fired
at the Snow Squal without bringing her to, made
chase; but the latter, being the fastest sailer,
escaped.
On Sunday afternoon the Confederate steamer
Georgia, Captain Maury, entered Smon's Bay for
coal and repairs. She appears to be ordinary
built packet boat, certainly not intended for
fighting craft, but having good crew, and being
armed with two Whitworth Iifed guns aft, one
large ffty-six gun forward, and two thirty-twos on
her quarterback, and being fast sailer, is we'll
suited to capture merchant ships and run from
war vessels Of superior armament but inferior
speed. AS she got into the entrance of the harbor
of st. Vincent she discovered man-of-war with
the American colors flying, put about and went to
the north side of the island where she lay until
dark and then stood out for sea.
The Georgia on her way captured the bark Good
Hope, of Boston, bound to Agulhas, with gene
raj cargo Her captain had died some days before,
and his body being preserved in salt, Captain
Maury had it brought on board the Georgia, read
the funeral service it, and committed it to the
deep. During the service the bark j. W. Sever
hove in sight and was chased by the Georgia She
from Boston, bound to the Amoor river, with
machinery for the Russian Government The
prisoners Of the Good Hope were put on board and
she was bonded.
On the 10Th of June she captured the ship Con-
stiturion, of New York, loaded with coal for
Shanghai, made prize of her, and took her into
the island.
On the 2sth of July the Georgia captured the
ship City of Bath of Bath, from Callao to Aus.
werp. The cargo being neutral, she was bonded
aud the prisoners Of the Constitution we're put on
board her.
On the 10th of July the Georgia captured the
ship Prince of Wales, of Bath, from Valparaiso,
bound to Antwerp with guano. The cargo being
neutral, the ship was bonded
a WoNDER.-A man has turned up lately, who