Lieutenant Whittle, Shenandoah's executive officer, wrote in his journal: "We were bereft of ground for hope or aspiration, bereft of a cause for which to struggle and suffer."
Having terminated the raider's commerce destroying mission, Waddell was next confronted with the problem of what to do with the ship-- a decision "which involved not only our personal honor, but the honor of the flag entrusted to us which had walked the waters fearlessly and in triumph."
In addition to avoiding capture as a matter of honor and pride, Waddell was intent on insuring that his crew should be accorded fair and unprejudiced treatment upon surrendering. After much consideration, he decided that these various purposes could best be served by attempting a nonstop voyage to Liverpool, England, via Cape Horn.
And, So It Ends. --Old B-R'er
No comments:
Post a Comment