The Express.
London, England, 1862-04-22 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINARY iurcAtruitz OF A FEDERAL

Pliiisirii.:

LIVERPOOL, MOWDAT.

One of the most extraordinary events hi the
career of the present Atnertesa war was made known is
Liverpool today, by the snivel here of the Confederate
ship Emilie St. Pierre. The gamy of this verners eapture
and recapture mods like a " rommee of the me." film lilt
Calcutta towards the sod of last Nomenbm, lad. with
2,000 balm of gunny bap- a kind of come wens--bound
for St. John's, N. 8., but her real destination was Charla-
tan, if she could reach that port. The vernal was ender
the command of Captain Wilson, and everything went
well with the ship until her arrival off Charleston on the
morning of the 18th of March. The following report of
her capture appeared in the New Turk Herald of April 2 :

" United States steamer James Adger,
off Charleston, S.C.. March 18.
"At half past 12 p.m. to-day sighted a reseal la the
offing, and immediately weighed anchor and started out to
bar. As soon as she saw us start in pursuit she shortened
sail and hove to. She proved to be the Emilie St. Pierre,
new sailing from Liverpool. and previously from Calcutta,
the 284 h November last, and from Sand Head, Dee. 7.
" We cent two officen on board, took possession of her,
and took her to an anchor, cue officer remaining in charge,
the other taking the captain and papers to the senior officer,
who easicismned her as a legal prize to the United States
steamer James Adger. A prize crew was put on board and
ale was seat to Philadelphia.
" The skip wadi built at Bath, Maine, in 1864, and was
formerly a Charleston and Liverpool packet, but has been
employed for the lad three years in the Calcutta and
Charleston' trade. ithe bad • full cargo of gunnies, and was
ostensibly bound to tit. John's, New Brunswick. She
showed no odours, nor was any national ensign found on
board. A few moments before she was boarded they were
observed to throw over the stern a small package, which
immediatel sank. She was formerly owned in Charleston,
and doubtless is at present. Many things on board were
marked Charleston, and Charleston on the stern had been
erased and Liverpool rubstituted."
Now comes a change in the story. All the crew of the
captured ship, with the except:los of the cafes* drwt mate,
cook and steward, were taken off the vessel, and in their
stead were placed a prim crew of 15 men and one lieutenant,
for the purpose of working the ship to Philadelphia. The
course of the Emilie St. Pierre was then shaped for Phila-
delphia. Captain Wilson, his mate, and two men were
permitted to walk the deck, and, as subsequent transactions
show, they mode good me of the priviler allowed
them, fur by a bold stratMem th• 7 relluneci Pm.
maim of the Federal prise. The prise mew of the Emilie
St. Pierre would appear to be a set of easy-gobs roma, par-
ticularly food of their bunks. Before going to red, how-
ever, they always placed the usual guard to keep watch on
deck. The steward was on the qui rive, and watched his
opportunity ; and when the Federal lieutenant was asleep
he crept softly into the cabin where the officer waa, seised
hie arms, and then bye bold manmuvre moored the batches,
so that none of the Federal crew could get op. Clarinda
Wilson sod the remaining portion of hie crew then pro-
ceeded to secure the guard, when a scuffle ensued, in which
the of the Federalists attempted to stab the cook, who fired
at him in return, the ball wounding the man-of-war's man in
the *boulder. This war the only injury sustained by any of the
crew on either side, and aa those below could not get on
deck to assist their comrades, the latter ultimately came to
terms, consented to be made prisoners, and the ship. ones
more to the hands of Captain Wilton, was steered for Liver-
pool. This occurred two days after the mewl was despatched
from Charleston to Philadelphia.
Messrs. Fraser, Trenbolm, and Co., of this town, the
consignees of the Emilie St. Pierre, deny that the vessel
was intended to run the blockade, and state that Captain
Wilson's orders were to call off Charleston, and if the
blockade was raised to enter that port • if not, he was to go
on to St. Jobe's, N.B. They few state that the vessel is
owned in Englaod, is commanded by a British captain, and
manned by a British crew. The chief mate of the Emilie
St. Pierre, they say, is a prisoner in the hands of the
Fedora's.