The San Francisco call., 1896-01-25
Exploits of the Confederate Yes
sells During the War
Recalled.
THE HATTERAs AND ALABAMA
Admiral Wilkes Vexation at Not Re.
ceiving Force Enough to Capture
Southern Cruisers.

ords OF the Union and Confederate Navies
of the War of the Rebellion" has appeared
from the Navy Department It contains a
history of the operations of the cruisers
from January l, 1868, to March 81 1864. AS
IN the first volume, says the Baltimore
Sun, the book is divided into a collection of
reports, orders and letters of Union officers
and such papers, official and personal, of
the Confederate commanders as could be
obtained by the editors. While there is a
division of the Union from the Confeder-
ate documents the papers cover about the
same period of time in each volume, an
arrangement adopted in order to preserve
continuity in the narrative, especially in
the Confederate matter.
The present volume from the CORE
spondence introduced shows very clearly
the inefficiency of the West Indian squad
ron, then commanded by Admiral Charles
Wilkes, to whom fell the gigantic task of
frustrating the blockade-runners and pur-
suing such elusive Confederate vessels as
the Alabama, the Chesapeake and the
Florida. Wilkes letters to the Secretary,
and he wrote many of them, furnish de-
tailed account of his uncessful pur-
suit OF "the rebel Semmes," and
1.-THE Southern pirate" Wilkes nat
urally encountered much difficulty
with diplomatic questions, as did,
In fact, Semmes, and the correspondence
OF both officers is all interesting summary
OF the effort to convince the Governors of
foreign ports that there was no violation
OF the neutrality laws. Secretary Gideon
Welles followed these controversies with
great closeness and good part of Wilkes
contributions to the Navy Department is
divided between report of his movements
and an explanation of his conduct in for
elgn ports. Secretary Welles took occasion
10 warn IVA Wilkes not to trespasS upon what
were really British waters. This note of
warming was sounded in response to the
protest of the British Minister, and Wilkes
very promptly denied a violation of or dis
regard for neutral obligations. In a letter
to the Secretary he says:
1t does seem to me very remarkable that
when the British men-of-war are receiving
every attention and Xxi I1ness in the ports of
the Union they should show such a want OF
common courtesy as TO endeayor to find fault
with or carp at what benefits and small things
indeed, that our vessels derive from the little
intercourse they have had with any of the in
habitants OF these islands. They have ALWAYS
sought us, rather than We them, for. the pur-
pose of profit.
Much of the volume is devoted to an
account OF the pursuit OF the Alabama
including some interesting papers on the
engagement between the United States
steamer Hatteras, under command of
Lieutenant Commander Blake, and the
Confederate ship Alabama, under Semmes.
According to the report of Blake, the dis
aster which overlook his vessel might have
been much more serious. He relates this
last fight on his ship with a directness
that loses none of the dramatic force
which such accounts usually possess. He
says he maintained an active fire with
the double hope OF disabling the Alabama
and of attracting the attention of the
Union fleet off Galveston, which was only
twenty eight miles away AT this time the
Hatteras was on fire in two places and
beyond human power, hopeless wreck
upon the waters. He realized there was
no hope and that the ship was sinking.
There was time for all the survivors to get
from the Hatteras to the Alabama He
adds, as the one consolation left him {:
''Ten minutes after leaving the Hatteras
she went down, bow first, with her pennant
at her masthead, with all her muskeIs and
stores of every character, the enemy not
being able. owing to her rapid sinking, to
obtain single weapon"
Wilkes continued to seek kre-enforcements
and strengthening of the West India
squadron. Some of these Intellectual ap-
peals were not couched in weak or indi-
rect language. In one of the numerous
letters he wrote to Secretary Welies on
this subject he said:
''It seems to me somewhat remarkable
that you should, under the circum stances,
expect captures to be made, and think
on reflection you must do us the Justice
to believe we have done our duty, although
we have not filed our pockets. Nor should
1T surprise you or any one that few
vessels should have escaped our vigilance
wnen you are aware how MANY have run
the blockade with a large number of
efficient vessels guarding the entrances to
Mobile and Charleston harbors.
1t is needless for me to add that have
nothing further to say upon the subject.
You were fully and timely advised of the
condition of the squadron and the motive
have for desiring an increase of force.
You have not thought proper to send it to
me, and, although my views have not
been carried out, l shall not fail to use the
force have to the best advantage
One OF the great difficulties encountered
by Union commanders, according to
Wilkes. was the alleged friendliness OF
British officials for Confederate ships, and
his suspicious led to contracted corre-
spondence with local officers. In letter
ties he states: "A contraband trade is
carried on at this place under the eyes
and with the approval and sanction of the
authorities
One of the interesting incidents of the
war was the discovery by the ecommandant
OF Inc mare lSlanu (CallIOrnla) n Navy-yard
Thomas o. Seifridge, of plot to destroy
that station. He was on the point of send
ing the Saginaw, the sole means of protec-
ton, down the coast, when he found that
an organization had been formed to de-
stroy the yard. The Navy Department
was in constant receipt of similar infoT-
nation and suggestions from private citi-
zens.
There was diversion to the troubles at
home afforded by an engagement which
the Wyoming, under command of Com
mander McDougall, had with some Japan
ese vessels of Shimonseki. An American
steamer, the Pembroke, had been attacked
in Japanese waters by force of ships sent
out by native Prince who had preiu-
dice against foreigners and who was wag-
ing war on his own account. The engage
ment was fierce and relentless one and
the Wyoming exploded the boilers of a
Japanese steamer and sank one of the
other vessels. The American ship was
compelled to withdraw on account of the
pilots ignorance OF those waters. Nc
Dougall, in letter to Welles, said: "The
punishment inflicted and in store for this
Japanese Prince will, trust. teach him a
lesson that will not soon be forgotten"
A full account is given by the official re-
ports of the chase OF the Chesapeake and
the capture of that yasSel in Haiifa "