The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-05-13

DeIOre MS HSnlng DiOOu showed llSeLL
An older midshipman. by the name of
Wearing, was offensive t him, and
Waddell promptly called him 10 the
field Of honor. In the the
h~igh-spirited Carolinian received a
wound in the hip that aused him to
limp a little all through life.
In the record at the department is
simply-"on leave to recover from the
effects OF a duel" Years afterwards,
when the naval service was undergoing
the transformation Indecent to the
introduction OF steam; when science
was being added to the necessary at
tainments of navy officers; when the
style Of men like John Paul Jones,
johnson Biackly and Lawrence n
Decatur. was becoming obselete-and
machinery, and turrets and armor plates
were about to supplant the Did time
sailing frigates, the change was loud
ly bemoaned. AT that time, among
those who were being educated for the
service. the pluck of Waddell was an
Inspiration; and his sense of honor, his
fearlessness. his bearing. his prompt
challenge OF an older officer to mortal
combat-made him a sort of ideal hero
and invested him with a certain halo
among the young fighters, who thought
Of their future career in the light of
carnage and glory, and who despised
the novelties of armor protection and
fighting at great distance.
In 1S4S. having passed his examina-
tion, he was on duty at the Observatory
at Washington. Three years later, he
was ordered to the practice ship at
Annapolis, and then to the German
town-a vessel named to commemorate
the battle in which his distinguished
grandfather received his mortal wound.
He returned from his last cruise as an
officer in the United States navy in Au-
gust 1851. and rendered his resignation,
which the department refused to &C
cept.
On a dark and stormy night early in
January 1862, he, with his brother-in-
law, Mr.. Inglehart, shipped as oyster
men on board an oyster dredging boat
and sailed out into the Chesapeake;
and after some stirring adventures,
narrowly escaping capture, made good
their way into Dixie.
The navy department at Washington
struck his name from the navy roll,
spitefully entering on the record, dis
missed"
Lieutenant Waddell, who had been
at the naval station at Drewry's Bluff,
was, in 1864, sent abroad to carry on
the work Of distressing the commerce
of the enemy. Vessels carrying the
United States flag had measurably dis
appeared from the Atlantic ocean. But
in the Pacific a whaling fleet was still
to be found. and it was important to
destroy it. The navy department Sc
lected Lieutenant Waddel for that SER
vice. His reputation as a seaman was
superb. and he enjoyed the entire con-
fdence of the department.
Captain Bullock, the representative
of the Confederate government in Eu-
rope, had succeeded in purchasing the
Sea King, a vessel built for the East
| India trade, and then on her maiden
voyage. She was c~ommodious and well
adapted for carrying a large compile
ment OF men. sailed we'll under
n had her screw propeller so adjoust-
ed hat when not in use it could be rails
ed out of he water.
In September, 1864, flag officer Bar
ron, at Paris, pursuant to instructions
from the department, ave to Lieuten-
ant Waddell his particular directions.
They were to the effect that he should
proceed to London and sail on the
steamer Laurel to the Island Of Ma
deira. The Laurel had already on
board a cargo apparently Of merchan-
dize-but really Of cannOn and munit3on
OF war, which a been invoiced as ma
chinery and other innocent goods and
chattels.
The Sea King, having been secretly
purchs sed, also set sail for Madeira.
On October 18th the two vessels met
off Funchal, and, a preconcerted signal
being given, recognized each other, and
proceeded to an anchorage on the
shores of an uninhabited island some
miles distant, where. the transfer Of
stores was rapidly made, and Lieuten-
ant Waddell read his commission, and
raising the Confederate flag over the
Sea King, christened her the Shenan-
doah. Ehe little nook in which the yes
sells lay was we'll protected and the sea
was smooth. The day was bright and
lovely, and Lieutenant Waddel was in
spired by the suspicious circumstances
with the confident hope of success. In
thirteen hours the consort had dis
charged every conceivable outfit inten-
ded for the Shenandoah, and then re-
manned only to receive such passengers
as were to return.
Captain Waddell has left an account
Of the cruise of the Shenandoah, from
which 1 make some quotations: IL
now felt" says Waddell, that 1 had a
good and fast ship unde my feet-but
there was q vast dea to be done and
to accomplish all that, a crew was nee
essary."
In picking out the crews of he two
vessels in England. particular efforts
were made to secure adventurous
spirits, who might be induced to enlis;
on the Shenandoah. No married man
was shipped. and none were taken ex-
cept with the hope that when the time
came they would take service under
the Confederate flag: but out of the 81
men present only % were willing tc
adventure in such an undertaking
Waddells force was indeed so weak
that they could not weigh anchor with
out the assistance of the officers. These
were young Confederates who had beer
sent abroad for such service, among
his l~ieutenants being William G. Whit
tie, of Virginia n John Grunball, Of
South Carolina, who's fine capacity
rendered them OF great assistance tt
Captain Waddell.
The officers threw off their jackets
amid hearty cheers, soon had the an
| Choir hanging at the how: and thu