A Confederate Biography. Dwight Hughes

that the paperwork showing cargo ownership by the New York firm was fake, intended to avoid interference by Yankee authorities; the flour, like the ship, belonged to Mr. Pendergrast of Baltimore. Waddell concluded that he could not burn the vessel and sent orders across to Chew, catching him just before he lit the match. Whittle was truly sorry for the incident but put the blame on the prevarication or ignorance of Captain Williams. Everything possible was done to return what had been taken and to restore the damage, although much had been lost or destroyed. Adelaide was perfectly seaworthy, however. Williams took the ship back joyfully. He was provided a barrel of sugar and some lamp oil to replace what they had poured all over his decks.

      To further allay federal suspicions, Waddell bonded the “enemy” cargo while recognizing the bogus sale of the vessel, acknowledging it to be under a neutral flag. It was nearly dark as they parted ways. Whittle vowed to explain the situation to Mr. Pendergrast if ever given the chance and sent along a letter to his dear Pattie. “There is no telling how long it will be before she gets it, but I am pretty certain that it will be received some day or other. Oh! How much would I not give just to know that my darlings are well. My thoughts are constantly of them. I console myself very often by reading over and over again the letters to me. Letters full of affection and love.”

      That same day in London—12 November 1864—correspondence arrived on the West Africa mail packet Calabar from Tenerife along with Captain Corbett, formerly of Sea King, and twenty-some of his crewmen. The British consul at Tenerife wrote the secretary of state for foreign affairs reporting the arrival and subsequent departure of Laurel, leaving Corbett and his sailors behind. Sea King, they stated, had been wrecked off the Desertas. But Corbett aroused suspicion by his prevarication and suspicious behavior, so the consul obtained affidavits from four sailors who, among other details, confirmed that they had been instructed to say their ship had foundered. Corbett was placed in custody under suspicion of violating the Foreign Enlistment Act by recruiting British sailors for a foreign navy. Corbett also fully briefed Commander Bulloch in Liverpool.⁶

      Calabar also delivered a letter from the U.S. consul at Tenerife to U.S. minister Adams with a full report from the same sources. Adams’ secretary thought the British consul had covered up; he must have known that Sea King had been sold to rebels and was about to cruise under Semmes. Word was passed to Secretary of State Seward in Washington and to the Navy. The U.S. consul in Liverpool recalled Sea King as an excellent sailer and “altogether a fine vessel for the business of privateering,” which he assumed was now burning and destroying American vessels.⁷