, 1864-02-05

How the Alabama WAS Fitted Out
and Paid For.

How the Alabama WAS Fitted Out
and Paid For.
How She Escaped from Liver.
pool.
On the 1st Of april, 1882, Clarence R.
Yonge, native of Washington City, appear
ed at the legation Of the United States in
London, md desired to reveal the secret his
tory Of the Alabama. His deposition con-
tains matter Of much interest us the follow
ing extracts will show:
DEPOSITION OF CLARENCE Z. ToN1E.
I, Clarence Randolph Yongc, citizen Of
the State Of Georgia, in the United States,
late paymastcr on board the steamer Ain
the Eurica, and built by Messrs. Laird &.
Birkenhead, In England, make oath and say
Us follows:
I came to England in tue steamer Annie
Childs, which sailed from Wilmington, in
North Carolina, carly In February. 1SGa,
March, tSG2, and remained at Liverpool until
the steamer Alaba1na went to sea. I came
over for the express purpose Of acting as
paymastcr to the Alabama. I engaged for
that purpose with Captain James D. Bullock,
at Savannah, Georgia. he had fnll authority
matters about to be mentioned Lieutenant
North had been sent over to England by the
Confederate Government to Eet iEen-clad
vessels built.
Captain Bullock had been over previously,
and had made the contract for building the
| 0rcto aud the Alabama, and was returning to
England 10 assume The command Of the latter
ship. He was directed at the time to assist
Lieut. North with his advice and experiences
| In building the iron-clads, which Lieutenant
North lad been over here expressly. to get
built. was In the Naval Paymaster's Office
| In Savannah, Georgia. under the Confederate
government. Captain Bullock wanted some
one to accompany him.. and was recon,-
mended ey the paymastcr at Savannah to
Capt Bullock.
! was then released By the paymaster from
| my engagement, and Was subsequently ap-
| pointed by Captain Bullock, under the writ
| len authority Of Mr. s. K. Mallory, the Sec
| retary of the Navy, paymaster In the Con-
! 5tderate navy, and assigned to the Alabama.
! continued IS paymaster IN the navy Of the
Confederate States Of America from the time
! Of my appointment in Savannah, Georgia, up
to the time ofmy leaving the Alabama at Port
Royal, In January, 1868.
| The date Of my appointment as paynaster
in the Confederate navy was the 21st day Of
| December, 1861. Previous to this time had
ence with the Confederate government, and
| !, therefore, knew tlat these two vessels, af
te1Warls called the Oreto and Alabama, were
| being built in Eng1and for the Confederate
! government; and by the same means, knew
| that Captain Bullock, who Is a commander
IN the Confederate navy, was the acknow1.
edged agent OF tue Confederate Government
for the purpose Of getting such ships built.
REnEL coRaEsrospEscE.
There Eas some correspondence which
| sew between Captain Bullock and Mr.. s. r.
| Mallory, The Secretary Of the Navy, relative
to purchasing two English vessels which had
been used as transports in the Crimean war,
Captain Bullock advising against purchasing
hem, us being unfit for The service for which
| they were required. wrote the letters from
Captain Bullock (Which he signcd} to the
secretary adris1ng against this purchase
There was correspondencc between Mr. Mal.
lor5 and Captain Bullock (which I saw and
coPicd) to the effect that the money would
be ready and lodged in England to pay fol
these vessels IS 1t fell due.
From what know, am satisfied that t1e
money was all duly paid rs 1t fell dne fol
lock to Frascr, Trenholm q Co., IA hr1n IL
Liverpool, hereinafter agafn referred to,
thanking them. Captain Bullock kept copies
Of Lis correspondence, IN 4 tbcy arc deposit
ed in one Of the banks IN Savannah.
From the time of my coming to England
1 i
business was in paying the officers Of tht
Confederate navy who were over here attach
cd to the Alabama, and sent over Tor that pur
pose, I used to par them monthly, about tn,
first Of the month, at Fraser, Trenholm q
Co. soff1ce, in Liverpool, and drew the money
fsr that purpose from that firm.
Commander James D. Bullock; John Low
lieutenant; Eugene Mafit, midshipman, ami
E. n. M.IAnderson, midshlpman. came over t!
England In the same vessel with myself
first instance to contract for building the tw<
veseels-ttc Oreto, now called the Florida
and the Alabama He came so to contrac
for md In behalf of the Southern Confeder
acy, with the understanding that he Was II
have command Of one Of the vessels. hav
htard him say so; and have learned TIL
also from the correspondence between hin
and Mr. Mallory, Secretary Of the confederat
navy, as before mentioned, which passe
through my hands.
TIE ALABAMA.
at the commencement Of my cngagemen
With Captain Bullock acted as his clerk
The contract for building the Alabama wa
made with Mcssrs. 1aird, Of Birkenhend, b
Captain Bullock. hare seen 1t myself
made copy Of the original. Tho copy va
. in the ship. 1t was signed by Captain Ba
lock. on one Patt and Messrs IL LAIRD 'dt.ao on II
3 Captain Bullock from the original, which b
: las. The slip cost, in United States none,
I about two hundred and flfty-fVe thoasan
9 dollars. This inclrded provisions, DC
8 enough for voyage to the East Indies, "hic
Meesis: Laird were, By the contract; to Pr
J. the veesel sailed, to the best Of my belle
!. Sinclair, Hamilton d Co., Of London, h1
D money. Fraser, Trenholm j. Co., Of Live
J. pool, had money. Tkere was frebcl] gover
b mcnt money in both their hands over he
+ enough for the purpose Of paying for then
g was over to see ;he Alabama before 81
e was launched from Messrs. Laird's yard, On
d was on board the vessel with Captain Bn
II lock, and have met Captain Bullock and OF
= Of tile Messrs. Laird at Fraser, Trenholm
e Co.'s office Captain Bullack supsrlntend1'
:, the building ofthe Alabama and Oreto all
whilst he was here Captain Matthew
r Butcher as the captain who took her to &c
n He Is IN Eng1tsbman, and represented hi
i self as belonging to the royal naval resers
il When the Tessel sailed from Liverpool 81
of had her shot-racks lifted IN the usual pace
q She lad sockets in her decks, and the pi
1t fitted which held fast frames or carriages
Of the pivot guns, and preaching bolts. The
ID had been placed in by the builders ofthe =
). sci. Messrp, Laird g. Co. She was also full
q provisions and st2rea enough 10 for 10
e beds, bedding, cooking utensils, and nj
3, utensils for one hundred men, and poWd
Cd tanks fitted in+
80 We sailed from Liverpool on the e9th
y. Of July. 1862. This was SOME thfee or Is N
rea: on for our sailing at this time, before
"a contemplated, was on account Of lntormatl
II which We had received thatproceedings "
60 being commenced to stop the vessel r.
Ter sailing. Capt Bullock sent Lieut.. toE
n, me on Sunday evening, the 9Th day Of Ju
nd to say that must be It Fraser, Trenholm
ed co.'s office early next morning. The n
nd morning arriyed at halfpas O'Clock Ca
ed Butcher came In and told me the ship tWh
he at that time was called the
nd also Enrica) would sail the next d
is and lie wanted me to-. 60, With =
lot In a few minutes Captain Bull
~, came In, md told me be wanted me to
ng ready to 60 to sea at nin1te'e notice; t
Fa- they were going to send her. right ont
placed my things on the, vessel on that e1
ing. There were about seventy or Gig
1nen In the vessel at this time, under Capt
H. Butcher, who lad been in command OF
"a 70 vessel for more than month before
- - sailed. I vent on the vessel On the mi
-