Already, in October, the San Jacinto, now commanded by Commander Ronckendorff, had been ordered to cruise in the Vest Indies, in search of the Alabama, and the latter had not been at Martinique a day before the sloop came in. She carried one Xi-inch and ten Ix-inch guns; so that in armament the Alabama was not a match for her. As the Governor of Martinique proposed to enforce the ‘twenty-four hours’ rule, the San Jacinto did not come to anchor, but went out to cruise beyond the marine league, waiting for the enemy to leave the harbor. She did not have long to wait. On the 20th, early in the evening, the Alabama put out. Signal was made from an American brig in the harbor, and Semmes was prepared for a critical moment. But the night was dark, and the San Jacinto was lying well out from the entrance; and though she had two boats on the watch, the Alabama got out unobserved. As the San Jacinto, how ever, was deficient in speed, she would have had some difficulty in bringing on an engagement, even if she had met the enemy.
After coaling at Blanquilla from the Agrippina, Semmes shaped his course for the Mona Passage and thence for the Windward Passage. He remained cruising in and near the latter for five days. On the 7th of December, the Ariel, one of the mail-steamers for which he had been waiting, was captured, with a large number of passengers. These he proposed to land at Kingston, before burning the ship, but the prevalence of yellow fever prevented him from carrying out
