Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 32.djvu/333

 The Shenandoah. 321

On October igth the two vessels met off Funchal, and, a precon- certed signal being" given, recognized each other, aiid proceeded to an anchorage on the shores of an uninhabited island some miles distant, where the transfer of stores was rapidly made, and Lieu- tenant Waddell read his commission, and raising the Confederate flag over the Sea King, christened her the Shenandoah. The little nook in which the vessels lay was well protected and the sea was smooth. The day was bright and lovely, and Lieutenant Waddell was inspired by the auspicious circumstances with the confident hope of success. In thirteen hours the consort had discharged every conceivable outfit intended for the Shenandoah, and then re- mained only to receive such passengers as were to return.

Captain Waddell has left some account of the cruise of the Shen- andoah, from which I make some quotations : " I now felt, ' ' says Waddell, "that I had a good and fast ship under my feet but there was a vast deal to be done, and to accomplish all that a crew was necessary."

WANTED DARE-DEVILS.

In picking out the crews of the two vessels in England particular efforts were made to secure adventurous spirits, who might be in- duced to enlist on the Shenandoah. No married man was shipped, and none were taken except with the hope that when the time came they would take service under the Confederate flag; but out of the fifty-five men present only twenty-three were willing to adventure in such an undertaking. Waddell' s force was, indeed, so weak that they could not weigh anchor without assistance of the officers. These were young Confederates who had been sent abroad for such service, the first lieutenant being William C. Whittle, of Virginia, whose fine capacity rendered him of great assistance to Captain Waddell.

The officers threw off their jackets, and amid hearty cheers, soon had the anchor hanging at the bow; and the Shenandoah en- tered upon her new career, throwing out to the breeze the flag of the South and taking her place as a Confederate cruiser on her ocean home as a war vessel duly commissioned according to the laws of nations. That flag, wrote Waddell, unfolded itself grace- fully to the favoring breeze and declared the majesty of the country it represented, amid the cheers of a handful of brave-hearted men; and the Shenandoah dashed upon her native element, as if more