the officers agree that Forrest's rascality stood out, even in that choice collection.
It is as to the result of this severity in discipline that there is a most interesting disagreement of witnesses. Semmes himself declares that it accomplished its ob- ject. "Many of my fellows, no doubt, thought they were shipping in a sort of privateer, where they would have a jolly good time and plenty of license. They have been wofully disappointed, for I have jerked them down with a strong hand, and now have a well-disciplined ship of war." ^^ His officers confirm his statement ener- getically. Lieutenant Sinclair writes : " No better proof of the judicial methods of discipline outlined by Semmes could be submitted, than that under them, though en- gaged in acts somewhat suggesting the pranks of the buccaneers, our crew were as well held in hand as though serving on an English man-of-war in times of perfect peace, and at the same time in a state of perfect content-
With this beatific vision it is really amusing to compare the assertions of some of the prisoners on the Alabama, who inspected conditions with a curious, though perhaps a somewhat malignant eye. ** All the men for- ward are English and Irish," says one observer, "no Americans. The officers are Southerners, and, with the exception of the captain and first lieutenant, seem igno- rant of their duties. The discipline on board was not very good, though the men seemed to be good seamen. They
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