Page:Cambridge Modern History Volume 7.djvu/598

 566 The Alabama and the Kearsarge. [1862-4 in defiance of international law, while lying in the neutral port of Bahia ; and, though orders were issued that she was to be returned to Brazil, she was sunk by her captors, it would appear deliberately, while at Hampton Roads. The Alabama, under Captain Semmes, was the most successful of the commerce-destroyers, cruising for two years and making no less than 69 prizes. She visited in succession the Atlantic, north and south, the Indian Ocean, and the China Sea. Semmes' plan was to take up a position on one of the main trade-routes, and there remain two months, which time it took for the news of his exploits to reach the United States and for the vessels sent to capture him to draw near the spot. Then he moved on to a fresh cruising ground. Nearly all his prizes were made between the Azores and the easternmost point of South America. The Alabama coaled repeatedly in neutral ports; but it must be remembered that in 1863-4 there were no precedents to regulate this practice. Finally she entered the port of Cherbourg on June 11, 1864, standing in need of repairs and a refit. Within three days the Northern sloop of war Kearsarge appeared off the port, and was immediately challenged by Captain Semmes to fight. On June 19 the Alabama came out, steamed outside neutral waters, and engaged her antagonist. The issue was quickly decided. The Alabama V crew, owing to the difficulty of obtaining ammunition, had been compelled to husband their supply and had had but little target practice. The Kearsarge had had constant practice, and was besides slightly superior in weight of metal. The following is a comparison of the two ships : Guns Broadside Crew Casualties Kearsarge 7 366 Ibs. 163 3 Alabama 8 305 150 40 In seventy minutes from the opening of fire, the Alabama lay a sinking wreck upon the surface of the water, and hoisted the white flag. A few minutes later she went down, carrying with her ten of her crew. The career of the Georgia was unsuccessful, as in a year's cruising she only took nine prizes. Except under steam she was useless; and this militated against her success, for coal was not always easily procured by the cruisers. She was sold in 1864. The Shenandoah, towards the close of the war, proceeded to the whaling ground in the Northern Pacific, there made 36 prizes, and, returning to Europe after the Confederacy had fallen, was handed over to the British government. In all, the commerce-destroyers accounted for 261 Northern vessels, two being steamers. The consequences of these depredations upon the shipping of the North were marked. Many Northern vessels were sold by their owners to neutrals ; and the terror inspired by the Confederate cruisers is shown by the fact that these sales, which in 1860, before the war, had amounted to 17,418 tons, rose in 1861 to 26,649 tons; in