Mac on Tuesday

By Mac
Tuesday, October 15, 2002

Civil War P31.

Although we have noted Maffitt's success, it was British Ship owners who probably gained the greater benefit from Florida's rampage.

American ship owners started to panic, and their insurers were loath to insure both ships and their cargoes, many decided to cut their losses, and sold their vessels at bargain prices to the Brits. The ship yards in Britain were also bulging with orders for new ships, the Civil War became a boon for Britain and her shipping interests and ambitions.

But, when Bulloch made his contract with Laird's to construct Florida, she was registered under the Merchant shipping Act. This gave the British Board of Trade the inherent right to seize the ship, if it violated the Act.

This basically is the reason Maffitt did not take his ship into a British port for repairs, there is little doubt he would have been better served in a British Yard, rather than the slow: "Get it done in due course attitude of the French Dockyard."

As the Civil War progressed and the Confederate Raiders continued to destroy neutral cargoes, a change of attitude to the Southern cause was starting to surface both in England and in Europe.

The British Government now adopted a more neutral policy, as the Confederate cause was seen to falter, when they failed at Gettysburg, and then Vicksburg fell to the North.

The question over ownership of the 300 ton steamer Alexandra goes to Court.
Ever since Bulloch had moved into England to facilitate ship building for the South, he had been constantly dogged by the agents of the American consul at Liverpool, Thomas H. Dudley.

As 1862 was drawing to a close, Dudley was convinced that he had found yet another Confederate ship being built at Liverpool in the yards of W.C.Miller and Son, it must be remembered that this yard had built Florida, and in Thomas' mind were guilty by this association.

This ship, Alexandra , was a small 300 ton screw steamer, and bore very distinct lines to that of Florida.

In fact, Bulloch had nothing to do with the commissioning of the construction of this ship, nor anything to do with her, and was unaware of the owner's intentions.

A Charles K. Prioleau had signed the contract to build her at his expense, and his intention was to run the blockade, sail her to Charleston, and make a gift of Alexandra to the Confederate administration.