Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-12-08
CONFEDERATE CRUISERS.

CONFEDERATE CRUISERS.
a Letter from AN Omcer of the shena "a.
doah I'm Vindieatioa of Conn
| mander WaddelI.
Missts feDents I'm Regard 10 the Char.
aeter or the Vessel Corrected
History of Her Cruise.
Boston, December THE las. issue of the
Sunday GLcbs contains the following letter:
To the Editor of the sunday Globe:
In the Globe of last Sunday appeared an
| article copied from the Detroit Free Pres
with the caption Confederate Cruisers,n the
writer OF which, in referring TO the Shenan-
doah, has evidently drawn too copiously
from the well-springs of Imagination. The
misstatements contained in the article refer
red to would not have been dee med worthy
of notice were it not for the imputation of
dishoDorable conduct on the part of her COM
mander in taking the ship into an English
port, instead OF making for the nearest
United States navy yard. As an officer of
the Shenandoah, during the whole of her
eventful cruise, L claim the knowledge of a
little more of her history than has become
known to the facile writer in the Detroit
Free Press
In the article in question the Shenandoah
is STYLED a"Confederate privateer." She was
regularly commissioned ship of war under
orders from an acknowledged belligerent
power, and no more privateer than any
in the United States navy. This fact applies
rs well 10 the Alabama, the Florida, the
Tallahassee, the Chick amauga and the
Georgia. If these ships were privateers,
why was not the Merrimac ever mentioned
as Confederate privateer? In the first
year OF the war there we're two privateers
The JEFF Davis and the Nashville, both fitted
out by private enterprise, but the Confeder-
ate government, realizing the objections of
the nations of Europe to privateering, granted
no more letters of margue.
In the article of the Free Tress the Shenau-
doah is accredited with or accused of captur.
ing five whalers "inside of three hours, four OF
which were burned, and the fifth bonded
that che might be loaded with the prisoners"
This is we'll enough as far as it goes, bat the
TACT is that on the day referred to
she captured eleven ships within
twelve hours, burning nine and bonding
two; this was accomplished a. the entrance
to Behring Straits l do not wish to be con-
sidered as exulting in This fact, but merely
give IT as a matter of history. The destruc-
ton of these unarmed whalers was distast.-
ful alike to officers and men. but the orders
ofthe government under which we were act
ing were imperative as 10 the destruction of
the whaling fleet, as it was considered the
nursery of the Federal navy.
The writer referred 10 again asserts that
"the Shenandoah was twice disabled at sea
and in great peril, and on one occasion some
captured whalers set fire 10 her in two places
at once and came near causing her destruc-
tlon." The only lime she was seriously dis
abled was some twelve hours alter leaving
the island OF Tristan d'Acunha, where we
had landed number Of prisoners. This
was an accident 10 her machinery-a break
down. We were then some 120 miles south
OF the island, and within six hours after the
departure of the Sbena1d a Federal iron.
clad The Iroquois, believed touched al the
island, took off the prisoners and started at
full steam for Cape Town, Cape of Good
Hope, in search of the Shenandoah, while
the object OF her vigilance was heading TO-
ward Australia. As 10 the statement OF
whalers having set fire to her-this is too
absurd for even the marines to swallow.
With sentries constantly pacing the deck it
would have been worse than madness to have
attempted anything half SO desperate.
Now as to the charge of conduct not in ac-
cordance with honor on the part of the COM
mauder of the Shenandoah. The Free Press
says: "While the war closed in April the
Shenandoah received no tidings of it until
midsummer. Her commander should then
States hayward and surrendered everything, |
but he did not do SO, much to his discredit |
as an honorable commander. He headed |
for England, and the Shenandoah ran into |
Liverpool with the Confederate flag flying |
and surrendered TO the English authorities. |
OF course the craft was at once transferred |
to;the Federal government"
August 2, 1865, the Shenandoah over
hauled the British bark Barracuda of Liy- |
erpool, from San Francisco, bound for Lon
don, from the captain of which was received |
the first intelligence on board the cruiser of |
the assassination of Lincoln, the surrender
of Lee and the termination of the war. I'm
mediately on the receipt of this news Capt.
Wsddell summoned his officers in council to
express their views as TO the best course to
be pursued under these-to us-unforeseen
Some were in favor of max
ing for an English colonial port in Australia
or New Zealand, but it was fually decided
10 STEER direct for England, and, after dis
her guns and dise uising the ship
as much as possible, her course was laid for
Liverpool. From newspapers received from
the master of the Barracouts, we learned
sufficient TO justify Capt. Waddell in his de-
cision, for in the excited state of public feel
ing throughout the North spirit of vindic-
liveness amounting almost to frenzy even
among the leading men, making no allow
ance for the position of the ship on the high
seas, out of the track of vessels recently from
civilized ports, no other course was open TO
him. 1t would have been suicidal in him TO
attempt to run into any United States naval
station, and fully aware of his status, his
course in this respect has been commended
By the best men North and South.
When the pilot came along -ide of the ship
off Hollyhead he refused to take the ship
into port unless she showed her flag. She
was not then an English ship, as che had
been sold by her former English owners to
he Confederacy, thereby forfeiting her En-
ylish register. She had no United States
-egister, of course could not use the stars aud
stripes, and the pilot persisting in his refusal
o take the ship into port without showing
her colors nothing was left bu. to hoist the
lag under which she was commissioned
As soon the ships anchor was dropped
n the Mersey, the captain of the Shenandoah
nailed communication to the English gov
.rnment Through Ear Russell, then prime
in which he announced the arrival
If the ship in the harbor OF Liverpool, and
LET ailing the circumstances under which he
ought refuge in an English port, and con-
luded by craving the English government to
,e the medium BY which he might surrender
o the United States government the ship and
III IFS appurtenances which by the fortunes
II war reverted 10 the victor.
And now, Mr.. Editor, begging your indul-
renee for trespassing so far upon your val
fable space-my sole object being the vindi-
alton CT as chivalric and honorable a gen.
leman ever trod a quarter deck, am,
ir, respectfully, your obedient servant,
FREDERICK ]. McNULTY, ND.
Boston, December 2, 1882