Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1865-12-14
Tte Gazette &GntllRt
THE SHENANDOAH.

i The rebel ram, Shenandoah hav-
ing surrendered, at Liverpool to the
British authorities, was turned over
by them to Mr.. DUDLEY, the Ameri-
can consul at said place, who went
on board and took formal possession
Of her. She was afterwards sent to
this country, and we see it stated
that she is now in New New York harbor.
The following letter from Captain
WADDELL,, addressed to Lord Rus
SELL, appeared in the, London Times
Of November llth. and will be read
with general interest: .....
"sTsaaER SHENANDOAH, Nov. s.
10 the Right Hon EARL RUSSELL, Her Britannia
Msjesty's Minister FOR Foreign Affairs: s
My LoHDEI have the honor TO announce
tp your Lordship my arrival in the waters
'of the Mersey.- with this vessel lately a
ship o. war in my command belonging to
The Confederate States of America. -l
| Tie Singular position in which | find
rnyself placed, and the absence of all pre-
cedents on the su bject, will, / trust, induce
YOUR Loidship to pardon1a hasty reference
To few facts connected with the cruise
ately made by this ship. commissioned
the ship 10 October, 1854, under orders
from the Naval Department of the Con-
federate States; and, In pursuance of the
same, com mmenced actively cruising against
the euetnys commerce.. My orders di-
r5cted me 70 visit certain seas in preference
to others. In obedience thereto, found
myselfin May, June and July of this year
id the Oksotsz Sea and Arctic Ocean.
Boi h places, if not quite isolated, are still
80 far remoVed from the ordinary channels
Of commerce, that months would elapss
before any news could reach there as to
the progress or termination of the Ameri-
can war.
In consequence of this aw ward circum-
stance | was engaged in the Arctic Ocean
I'd acts of war 80 late as the 25th day Of
Jhne, in ignorance Of the series of freverses
Sustained by our arms IN the field, and the
obilerationa Of the government under
whose authority had been acting. This
Intelligence ! received for the first time on
comma Iicatipg at sea on the I'd of August
with the British bark Barra Couta, Of
LIVERPOOL. IA days from San Francisco.
Your Lordship can imagine my surprise at
the receipt of such intelligence, and /
would have given to it little consideration
il an Engllshman's opinion did not con-
firm theItwar news, though from an
ehemy's port.
| desisled Immediately from further acts
Of war, aud determined to suspend further
action until had communicated with an
European port, when | would learn il that
,nt taI xuu h.u
been intelligent in me to convey this ves-
sci to an American port, simply because
the master of the Barra Couta had said the
war was ended. wasin an embarrassing
position. | diligently examined all the
law writer's at my command, searching q
precedent ttE II Guidance III the future
control, management and final disposal Of
the vessel. ! could find none. History IL:
believe, without para lei. Finding the
uhth ofity Questionable under which con-
sidered this vessel snip of war;, | imme-
diately discontinued cruising, and shaped
| my course for the Atlantic Ocean. IN
AS to the ships disposal | do not con-
| slider that have any right to destroy her,
| or any further right TO command her. % On
! the contrary, think that as all the prop
| srty of the Confederate Government has
reverted, by tho fortune of war, 70 the
Government of the United States Of North
| Amefica, that therefore this vessel, mas
much as it was the property Of the Con-
| federate States, should accompany the
other property already reverted. have,
therefore, sought this port as a suitable one
"te learn the news,n and, if am without
q Government, to surrender the ship, with
| her battery, sma arms, machinery, stores,
| tackle, and apparel complete to Her Maj
| esty's Government for such disposition as
! in it's wisdom should be deemed proper.
I t. I kave'the honor to be, very respectfully,
| YOUR Lordship's obedient servant,
| JAS. J. WADDELL, Commander.