ON BOARD THE "ALABAMA."

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1842, 14 March 1863, Page 3

ON BOARD THE "ALABAMA."

The following is the principal portion of'an interesting communication from a petty officer, who has'been aboard the " Alabama " since she sailed from Liverpool under the now famous cognomen of the "290"?— « Dear ,— Though I put to this letter the date of October 30, there is no saying, d'ye see, when yon may get it ; for, although I have pen and ink and all the other conveniences for writing there is no post-office alongside into which I can conveniently drop it when written. There are few ' friends ' to visit the ' Alabama,' and those persons who board and lodge with us for a time are too much taken up with their own .affairs, and too anxious about getting away, to do a favour for any one else. Some of them we neither would nor dare ask. However, it must take its chance when the time comes. " I know your feelings were not in favour, of my embarking in this enterprise, yet I assure you that I am taking well with both the ship, captain, at^ ovcause. * * * No crew could be more comfort- ■ able than ours is, though, from the always watch-, ful nature of the duties which devolve upon us, more discipline and active doty are enforced than we shall, perhaps, get credit for. Plenty to eat, plenty to drink, and plenty work to do, is the order of the day, and of every day. " It would be an endless task for me to attempt to give you even an outline of the feasful havoc we have committed among the Yankee vessels since we left the shores of the Mersey, or of the destruction of the many splendid ships, of which not one plank was left fastened to another. The finest was a vessel bound for Bremen, but not very heavy cargo laden ; • Wave Qrest,' bound from New York to Cardiff, Captain Hammond; the « Manchester,* from New York to Liverpool'; " the ' Three Stars," whale ship ; and a new barque, the ' Dunkirk,' Captain Johnston, from New York to London . We have already taken about' twenty vessels, laden with every article which- it is possible almost for the countries of the world to produce, and they have all been destroyed with the exception of one or two, whose commanders have given bonds for various amounts of ransom to Captain Semmea, payable to the president of the confederate states when peace is proclaimed. The last one which we let off was the * Tonawanda,' which lay beside us several days, and had a good deal of British property, wifh some doubtful aboard — the captain and crew being aboard our vessel. They were all glad to get away, hut the only reason why such a course was pursued was that they had a large number of females on board at passengers, which the skipper said could not be stowed in * fixings ' nohow. The historical chivalry of the south would not permit of our disturbing or molesting the females, so we took his bond, put the prisoners we had on board, and sent her away, Semmes declaring that it was enough to break a man's heart to see that he was compelled to part in such a way with so splendid a'ship. "II is next to a play to hear the fellows themselves tell how they were taken", and • what they thought of us when first sighted. The mate of the < Manchester ' stated that all on board was in good order, going with a stiff breeze from S.S.W.,' when the look-out reported a sail on the beam. The red cross of St George was flying, and the day being clear, our guns were made out quit© visible. The man at the wheel remarked to the captain, ' There's a British man of war bearing down on us : we had better show our colours. t The captain shortly after ordered them to be hoisted. Away went the stars and stripes, and, almost at the same moment, down went the British ensign, and in its place appeared the full flag of the confederates. AJO lb shot right across the bows astonished the captain, who, after a rapid survey through his glass, exclaimed, ' It's that — — pirate Semmes; the ship is lost !' I may only add that a few hours more and thoy were all prisoners on board the ' Alabama,' and the last I saw of the « Manchester' the succeeding night was a bright sheet of fire in the horizon line as the darkness fell. The prisoners we take are treated at well ai possible, though our, having bo many hands on prevent them from seceiving what might be considered proper aecommodatlon. Some are made comfortable enough, but there are impudent and insulting Yankees who are not thankful even for their lives being spared, and they must take the consequences. " Since we have come into these waters we have got some splendid guns additional, all mounted ; and what with our own crew and the brave volunteers who have since joined us, we are now able to fight as well as run, and both at the same time if need be so. We have also plenty of news about ourselves on board in the New York Time* and EeraU, the Shipping Gazette, Liverpool Mercury, and Gore's Advertiser, &c. Some of the New York papers, illustrated, give frightful pictures of the engagements their vessels have had with us, making them all surrounded, with, smoke and firing into us, all of which we most heartily enjoy. One thing is certain, they never will take the Alabama nor a man of us alive. Captain, officers, and men know their duty, and are quite aware of the doom Which/would befall them if taken, for there are no croakers or skulkers here; but if so unlikely a thing 6hould take place, and the hair of one of our heads be injured, our commander assures us that the government of Riohmond will hang a regiment of Yankee officers in retaliation. ''Captain Semmes (or the admiral as we call * him among ourselves both fore and aft) is of opinion that the war will be settled in the beginning of the year, and in that oase we shall be provided for life, No more sea for me after that; rreviou* to the 20th of this month our prize money alone was worth from £400 to £500 a man. So lam looking forward to the day. when I shall return to^ Liverpool, and, relieved from the drudgery of sea&; ? life, spend my remaining years in peace and con- -'.;;. tentment beneath the shaddpwof the extended wings of the Liver." .