Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 27.djvu/233

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After explaining tin- ivasons why the Stone :i// did not receive the quantity of coal inti-ndi-d for her, and which should have been sent out from St. Nazaire, he proceeds thus :

"She" (the Slonma/l) " was in a filthy condition, and required more labor to clean her than to get the stores on board and towed afterwards. The weather was very bad and wet, too. and prevented us from lying alongside. It was, therefore, hard to work satisfac- torily. However, on the 28th January, early, the barometer rising and the weather promising well, the Stonewall and this vessel left the bay and soon ran out of sight of land, going nine and ten knots, for San Miguel. It blew a gale at times, with as heavy a sea as I have ever seen. The Stonewall would often ship immense seas, they seeming at all times to cover her from knighthead to taffrail, but yet she never seemed to be injuriously affected by them, but would keep her course very steadily. On the morning of the 3Oth January, after a most uneasy night, we became separated about five miles, this ship having forged ahead, and being afraid to run off in such a heavy sea. About noon, however, it moderated for awhile, and the barom- eter rising steadily, we kept away and ran down to her, signalling, ' How do you do?' Answer, ' All right.' This was so satisfactory that I signalled, 'Shall I go on?' Answer, ' Am very short of coal, and I must make a port, Ferrol.' Signalled, 'Shall I follow you?' Answer, ' Suit your convenience about following.' '

Davidson then added that the detention of his ship had already caused the loss of one moon for running the blockade, and consid- ering the necessity there was of his getting to Bermuda quickly in order to save the next moon, and considering also that it did not appear necessary to the safety of the enterprise that he should remain any longer in company with the Stonewall, he determined to part company, and signalled " Adieu," which was answered with "Many thanks," and then he says : "At I : 30 we parted company, and at 3 : 30 lost sight of her, she still heading the sea to the northward and westward, facing the gale under easy steam, no doubt waiting for the weather to moderate before running down on the cost of Spain." Captain Page also wrote from Isle of d' Houat, near Quiberon, giving a full account of his tedious delays and the disappointment be- fell at not getting a full supply of coal, but he did not like to wait for the return of the coal-tender from St. Nazaire. He advised me that he had taken charge of the ram on behalf of the Confederate government, and that M. Annan's agent, who was with him, had com- plied with all engagements satisfactorily, and was therefore entitled

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