Tales of Whalers in the Civil War 371 



Finally the rising tide reached the deck where 

 Randall and his men were working their pivot 

 gun. The order to abandon ship had already 

 been given, and those able to do so had fled over 

 the rail, all but Randall's crew. The water 

 was lapping their feet, but they lingered until 

 Randall aimed and fired the gun, and then with 

 the water sissing into the gun's hot muzzle they 

 leaped for life. 



On the recommendation of Lieutenant Morris, 

 who is memorable forever as one who would 

 "sink alongside" rather than surrender, Master 

 Randall was promoted to the rank of volunteer 

 lieutenant "for coolness and bravery." He 

 eventually obtained the commission as ensign in 

 the regular line of the navy, and was placed on 

 the retired list as a lieutenant commander on 

 August 6, 1886. 



Although more than forty years have now 

 passed since the end of the Civil War, the old 

 ship merchants of New England, and especially 

 the whale-ship owners, yet find some difficulty in 

 calling the Confederate cruisers by any other 

 name than "pirates." The thorough work done 



