The record-union., 1891-08-14
SECRET OF TEE WAR.
How the Shenandoah Might Have
Been Captured.
A Faithful California Official Sent Inn
portant and Timely Information to
the Government and Received a
Brutal Rebuke for His Pains.

Public interest in the careers of the Con-
federate cruisers has been revived by a
recent article from the pen of the eXecu-
tive officer of the Alabama. Similar arti-
cles from the executive officer of the
Florida and the Shenandoah might prove
even more interesting. AS they probably
cannot be furnished, any information
concerning these cruisers ought to be
welcome. Commodore Maffitt has de-
scribed vividly the cruise of the Florida.
The story of the Shenandoah has also
been told, but there is one incident of her
life told now for the first time. Her
career was as destructive as that of either
the Alabama or the Florida.
Captain Semmes of the Alabama de-
stroyed vessels and cargoes valued at
81 ,547 500 Sc, Captain Maffitt of the Flori-
da, property valued at $3, sos, 600 "a, and
Captain Waddell of the Shenandoah,
ships and cargoes valued at Sc, ,4SS, 800 81.
And Waddell's cruise was for only few
months, the others lasting for years.
Much of the destruction caused by the
Shenandoah was after Lees surrender
and after the war was over. Between
June "a and June 2S, 1865, she captured
twenty-eight ships. TWenty-fOur were
burned and four were ransomed. The
four were bonded so as to get rid of pris-
onefS. This destruction ruined the Whal-
ing feet in the North Pacific. The yes
sels were taken in couplets, triplets and
Quartets. Ten captures were burned in
lump above Behring's Straits. 1t was a
strange sight for an arctic latitude. The
icy seas We're illuminated with the flames,
which painted the heavens like an aurora
borealis.
The Confederate cruisers seemed to
have a special spite against the Yankee
whaler. They were helpless victims
The Alabama began her career by burn
ing two of them near the Isle of Flores,
and the Shenandoah finished hers by
obliterating the whaling industry in the
Northern oceans. It has never fairly re-
covered from the blow. 1t has been
charged that it was a foul blow. The
affidavit of Mr.. Temple, laid before tie
tribunal of arbitration at Geneva, asserts
that Captain WaddelI destroyed fifteen
vessels after he knew Of the surrender of
Lee and the suppression Of the insurrec-
ton. 1t derives more weight because of
q similar affidavit made by Mr.. Nye. 1t
is acknowledged that on the 2Sth of June,
while burning the ten whalers, the
Captain received the news ofthe assassin
alton of President Lincoln. This crime
was committed nearly a week after the
surrender Of Lee.
Captain WaddeIl defends his course by
saying that from prize captured on June
%, 1865, he received a newspaper contain
ing the correspondence between Grant
and Lee relative TO the surrender. The
same newspaper, however, informed him
that the seat of the Confederate Govern
ment had been removed trOmRichmOnd to
Danville. 1t also contained proclama-
tion from Jefferson Davis giving assu-
rance of the continuation of the struggle
He claims, therefore, that he bad no right
to suppose that the war was ended, or to
cease his hostile endeavorS. He declares
that he did not hear of the capture of Mr..
Davis until August I'd, a month and four
days after the whaling vessels were de-
strOyed. Then he dismOunted his guns,
closed his ports, whitewashed his fun
nels and sailed for Liverpool in the guise
of a merchantmen. He arrived there on
November 9th, without having spoken
a single vessel during the long voyage
from the y orth Pacific. He saw no land
after leaving Behring's Straits until he
reached the Irish Coast. He evidently
gave everything a wide berth. He had
been making war on his own account
after the war was over. He manifestly
had fears that he might not be able to
make his assumed defense available. 1t
must have been an anxious voyage for
him. 1t would certainly have been much
better for him to sail direct for San Fran
cisco if he had had entire confidence in
the strength of his defense.
The eventful career of the Shenandoah
had a quicker ending if the United States
Government had paid heed TO a faithful
official. He foresaw what was coming
and warned the authorities. He got a
merciless rebuff for his vigilance. The
story is now told for the first time. The
faithful official was Colonel Charles
James, then Collector of the Port of San
Francisco. lie is now in Washington.
Hearing Of his action in the last DAYS of
the war, l called upon him, and found
him in his rooms upon Capitol Hill. AL
though slowly recovering from an attack
of the grip, he received me with charm
ing courtesy. Colonel James is six feet
two, and in years more than the allotted
three score and ten. He has long and
dishelved white hair. His eve is bright,
and his body as straight as an arrow. His
face is scanned with age. and has a
thoughtful expression. He has had con-
siderable experience in political life, and
was appointed Collector by President
Lincoln at the solicitation of Salmon =.
Chase. He had personal acquaintance
with both.
Yes" he replied, in answer to my
question, Il know something of the ca
reer of the Shenandoah. She was the
last Confederate cruiser and the last to
destroy property upon the high seas. The
war began and closed with incendiarism.
About the first act was the burning of
the Norfolk Navy Yard and the last was
January or February, 1865, ! was seated
at my desk in the San Francisco Custom
house, attending TO the regular business
of the office, when man about 80 years
old entered He was slim and neatly
dressed. His eyes were as bright as
those of an eagle. | recognized him at
once. He was hr. Hooper, well-knoWn
shipper. / supposed that he had come to
ask me some question about the revenue
laws, for / was daily and almost hourly
interrogated about them. At second
glance | saw that he was much agitated
as though impressed with the importance
of his mission, ] knew him rs an ardent
and alert Union man, and warm sup
porter of the administration.
"'Do you know said he, that vessel
loaded with anthracite coal has lately
cleared from this port for the Marquesas
Islands?'"
mo, l DON'T 1 replied. I could
not know itunless some one especially
Informed me of it. No one has done so'
Well Hooper continued, such is
the fact, and l think you ought TO know
IT, | came to tell you of II. It's very
suspicious. No one before ever shipped
q cargo OF coal from here to the Marque-
sas'
AT first | did not catch his drift.
knew nm 10 be man of great intelli-
Eence, and not in any sense q babbler.
Ills sayings were always significant. He
knew all about the commerce of the Pa
clflc, and OF the Atlantic, too, for that
matter. He had evidently been looking
over the cIearancoS for business purposes
when he made this discovery l saw
nothing startling it, but he did"
regard this said be, 'as highly i'm
portant. The authorities at Washington
ought TO be informed of IL at once
"'What makes you think so?' l asked
III. l.