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Picture - Rage Far Out at Sea - by Nigel A JAMES
Mr.
James Bulloch and a Ship that Slipped Through the Net!
The
American Civil War was a period of great commercial opportunity and
the British were very much involved. But, there were rules.
British companies were allowed to provide arms to both sides in the
conflict, but, shipping was different. The British were only allowed
to sell fully armed ships that were ready for war to the north,
whilst the south had to make do with only unarmed ships. But, the
British ship builders and the Confederate States had a way of
avoiding these prohibitive rules. The ships for the south all left
Britain unarmed and were fitted out for war somewhere else along the
route by other British companies. A perfect system. But, there was
one ship that almost sank this adventurous balance. The Alabama.
The
Alabama, which, at the time, was under construction in a Birkenhead
shipyard in England, had caught the attention of the Northern
authorities. They maintained that the ship was “more fitted out
than that was allowed”, and subsequently petitioned the British
government to impound the ship. But, neither the Northern authorities
nor the British government had reckoned with a certain Mr. James
Bulloch, the confederate’s agent in the UK for the purchase of
shipping. James Bulloch found out what was about to take place and
took immediate action! There was no time to be lost.
That
very same afternoon, the Alabama, in great festive mood, left port
for what was officially described as “sea trials”. On board was
the mayor of Birkenhead, his wife, and many other very important high
ranking guests. And, a brass band provided the music.
However,
upon arriving at Holyhead, where the Alabama was due to turn round
and sail back to Birkenhead, the band, the mayor and all the other
fine guests were put ashore. The Alabama then sped out into the
Atlantic as fast as she could go. She evaded the USS Tuscarora and
two other war ships which were waiting for her, and set course for
the Azores. There she was fitted out with British guns and supplied
with British ammunition. The Alabama was ready for service.
And,
in the course of her action packed life, the Alabama captured and
destroyed ten Union ships in mid-Atlantic, she sank the USS Hattras
in an amazingly brief encounter which only lasted thirteen minutes,
and then, on a round-the-world trip, the Alabama captured no fewer
than eighty-four merchant ships. But, then the Alabama met her match.
The
Alabama was defeated and sank off Cherbourg in 1864. Most of the crew
and the captain were rescued by cheering spectators from a nearby
British yacht. But, that wasn’t the end of the story.
The
British had to pay out more than 15 million dollars in gold for
compensation. Much damage had been caused, and many people had lost
their lives due to British incompetence. 15 million dollars. A very
big bill for allowing the Alabama to slip through their fingers. But,
that was war, and where there's money to be made, there's always a
way. And, the Alabama made very much money.
The
Alabama – a ship that slipped through the net.
