Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/466

 460 Southern Historical Society Papers.

little for our ships to do now upon the open sea. Lieutenant-Com- manding Low, of the Tuscaloosa, * reports that in a cruise of seve- ral months, during which he spoke over one hundred vessels, only one proved to be an American, and she being loaded entirely on neu- tral account, he felt forced to release her after taking a bond. The Alabayna also only picks up a vessel at intervals, although she is in the East Indies, heretofore rich in American traffic. Nevertheless, if all our ships should be withdrawn, the United States flag would again make its appearance; and it is therefore essential to provide the necessary relay of vessels. There is, however, no resisting the logic of accomplished facts. I am now convinced that we cannot get ironclads to sea, and unless otherwise instructed, I will make no more contracts for such vessels, except with such a pecuniary guar- antee for actual delivery upon the ocean as will secure us against loss."

M. Arman having received positive instructions not to attempt to send the ironclad vessels to sea, but being still permitted to suppose that the corvettes would not be stopped if sent to sea without their guns, it was arranged with him to push the completion of the latter vessels to the utmost, and to go on with the armored ships more leisurely, while we were considering what might be done with them. The course of events and the denoiie^nent is more clearly and fairly explained in the following despatch, written to the Secretary of the Navy at the time, than by any version I could give of the transaction now. The despatch referred to was written June loth, 1864, and was as follows: —

" It is now my painful duty to report upon the most remarkable and astounding circumstance that has yet occurred in reference to our operations in Europe. Previous despatches have informed you under what influences, impressions and expectations I undertook the construction of ships of war in the building-yards of France, and how smoothly and satisfactorily the work progressed for several months after it was begun. I reported to you when it became evi- dent that the government was interfering and checking the progress of the work, and finally informed you when the authorities forbade the completion of the rams, and directed the builders of the corvettes to sell them.

" When the consultation between Messrs. Mason, Slidell, and myself


 * Prize of the Alabama^ commissioned by Captain Semmes.