The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-01-09
Interesting Letter from the Alabama

Interesting Letter from the Alabama.
AN ENGLISHMAN'S ACCOUNT OF HER
OPERATIONS-CAPT SEAfMES OPT
MON OF THE CONCLUSIONS OF THE
WAR, ETC. 4at.I 10 4isl vtla3 4df
The Liverpool Mercury publishes the
ollow, interesting letter from a petty
officer of the Alabama to a friendin Liver
pool: '@a3 sore ~ z. Z ~
SOUTHERN CONFEDERATE STEAMER ALABAMA
Oct. 80, 1862, lat Al 80, long. As. 8
DEAR - Though / put to this let
ter the date of October so, there is no say
ing, dye see, when you may get it; for,
although have pen and ink and all the
other conveniences for writing, there is no
post Office alongside into which can con-
veniently drop it when written. There
are few tsfriends" to visit the Alabama,
and those persons who board and lodge
with us for time are too much taken up
with their own affairs, and too anxious
about getting away, to do a favor for any
one else Some of them we neither would
nor dare ask However, it must take its
chance when the time comes. 1-'
know your feelings were not in favor
of my embarking in this enterprise; yet
assure you that am taking well with both
the ship, captain and cause > 3 No crew
could be more comfortable than ours is,
though, from the always watchful nature
of the duties which devolve upon us, more
discipline and active duty are enforced
| than vyos choll porhopc irof gorod;f for
Plenty to eat, plenty to drink and plenty
of work to do, is the order of the day, and
of every day. g lai tfd8il ~
| 1t would be an endless task for me to
! attempt to give you even an outline of the
fearful havoc we have committed among
| the Yankee vessels since we left the shores
of the Mersy, or of the destruction of the
many splendid ships, of which not one
plank was left fastened to another. Among
the finest wasa vessel bound for Bremen,
but not very heavy cargo laden the u ave
Crest, bound from New York to Cardiff,
Captain Hammond the Manchester, from
New York. to Liverpool the Three Stars,
whale ship and new bark, the Dunklrd,
Captain Johnston, from New York to Lon
don. We have already taken about twen-
ty vessels, laden with every article which
it is possible almost for the countries of
the world to produce, and they have all
been destroyed with the exception of one
or two, whose commanders have given
bonds for various amounts of ransom to
Captain Semmes, payable to the President
of the Confederate States when peace is
proclaimed The last one which we let off
was the Tonawanda, which lay beside us
several days, and had good deal of Brit
ish property, with some doubtful, aboard
the captain and crew being aboard our
vessel. They were all glad tosget away ).
but the only reason why such a course was
pursued was that they had large number
of females on, board as passengers, which
the skipper said could not be slowed in
our ssfxens" no how. The historical chiv-
airy Of the South, would not permit of our
disturbing or molesting the females !; SO
we. took his bond, put the prisoners we
had on board, and sent her away, Semmes
declaring that it was enough to break a
mans heart to see that he was compelled
to part in such way with SO splendid a
ship. g.s5t -.
1t was next to, a play to hear the fellows
themselves tell how thew were taken. and
what they thought Of us when first sighted,
The mate Of the Manchester stated that all
on board the ship was in good order, go-
ing with stiff breeze from south south
west, when the look out reported sail on
the beam. The red. cross of St. George
was flying, and, the day being clear. our,
! guns were made ont quite visible. The
man at the wheel remarked to the captain,
! ssThere is British man-of-war bearing