The Sun.
London, England, 1863-03-21 00:00:00

Capture and Destruction of three American
Vessels by the Alabama.

SOUTHAMPTON, March 20.
About half-past 12 o'clock this morning a Cowes
pilot-boat arrived in the river with 37 men and
officers of the American ships Golden Eagle, Olive
Jane, and the schooner Palmetto, which had been
captured and burned by the Confederate steamer
Alabama, Captain Semmes.
The officer,' and chews of the said ships were
taken from on board the American ship Washington,
by the pilot-boat, about 30 miles south of the Isle of
Wight, and were landed here, and taken charge of
by the United States Consul at this port, Captain
Britton, who has kindly furnished copies of the fol-
lowing reports, as lodged with him by Captains
Swift, Kallock, and Seland :
"Report, of the capture and burning of the ship
Golden Eagle, E. A. Swift master, by the Con-
federate steamer Alabama, in let. 29.17 N., long.
45,15 W.
" The Golden Eagle was on her passage from
Howland's Island for New Orleans, with a full
cargo of guano, about 1,200 tons. At 10 a.m. on
the 21st ult., the Golden Eagle on the starboard
tack by the wind, saw a sail off the port bow,
standing towards us by the wind. At 11 a.m. spoke
with the barque Olive Jane, of Boston, for New
York. At 11 a.m. made the sail on the port bow
to be a gunboat, saw her smoke pipe, distance some
six miles ; soon after the steamer fired two blank
guns, the Confederate flag at her peak, and tacked
ship heading as ourselves, the wind being very
light at this time, the ship going about four miles
per hour; the steamer soon took in sail, and steamed
direct for my ship; soon after meridian she fired a
shot at us, falling short of the ship. About 1.15
p.m. the steamer fired again, the shot passing very
close ahead of the ship. About 1.30 p.m. the
Alabama preparing to give us another shot, we
brought the maintopsail to the mast ; an armed
boat's crew boarded and took possession of my ship.
The Alabama now started in pursuit of the Olive
Jane, now distant some ten miles, came up with,
took, and set fire to the barque about four p.m. At
six p.m. the Alabama returned to my ship, and I
was ordered on board with all the ship's papers.
After examination of myself and papers by Captain
Semmes, he gave his first lieutenant orders for the
plunder and burning of my ship. They took eff
all the ship's papers and log-book and whatever they
wanted from the ship ; also all my private property
(except a few of my clothes), such as chronometer,
two sextants, glasses, charts, books, in fact, all of
my nautical instruments were taken from me. 1113
officers and crew were allowed to take one small
clothes-bag with them. On my arrival on board the
Alabama my officers and crew w ere put in irons, end
remained on deck while on board. My baggage, and
that of my officers and crew, was searched, and I was
taken below and .ny person searched, and what little
money I had with me, 157 dollars, taken from me.
I was allowed to mess and sleep with the petty offi-
cers in the steerage; by them I was treated very
courteously. At 9 p.m. the Golden Eagle was set
on fire, and at 8 a.m. on the 22d February she went
down. The steamer lay near the burning ship ail
night. On the 27th the Alabama gave chase to a
ship; after firing two blank guns and one shot, the
ship hove to. An armed boat's crew went on board
and took possession of the ship, which proved to be
the ship Washington, of New York, from Callao for
Antwerp. Captain White came on board of the
Alabama. After an examination of his papers, and
ascertaining the fact that as his cargo was English
property they dared not burn his ship, Capt. White
was compelled to give a ransom bond of 50,000 dol-
lars, and take all the prisoners from the Alabama,
39 all told. I was on board the Alabama six days.
Two of my crow joined the pirates and remained on
board.

(Signed) " E. A. SWIFT.
" Master of the late ship Golden Eagle,"
" Report of the capture of the schooner Palmetto,
of Trenton, 0. H. Seland, master, by the Con-
federate steamer Alabama. Captured and burned
Feb. 3, 1863, in lat. 27.2, long. 66.09.
"The Palmetto was on her voyage from New York
for Porto Rico. At 1 p.m., made a sail bearing
south-west. I was steering at that time W.S.W.,
with the wind to the southward. At about 1.30
p.m. I saw that she was a gunboat standing directly
for us. At 2 p.m. saw her set United State colours,
and immediately fire a gun, and then set her Con-
federate flag. I then hove to, the steamer sent an
armed crew on board and took charge of my vessel
and ordered me to take all of my ship's papers and
go on board of the Alabama, to be examined by
Captain Semmes, and after Captain Semmes had
examined all of my papers, he gave orders to the
first lieutenant to take out what provisions would
be necessary, and then to set fire to the vessel.
And in the meantime they Okra ed me to take
one small trunk full of my clothes, and each of
my crew a clothes-bag of clothes, and to return
on board of the Alabama. When we got on
board they put my mate and crew in irons, and
ordered me to mess in the steerage with the petty
officers. The officers of the Alabama took all my
nautical instruments, such as chronometer, qua-
drants, glasses, charts, &c. About 8 p.m., after
they had taken all they wanted from the vessel,
they set fire to her. The Alabama then went on her
way, spoke and boarded a number of foreign vessels,
and, on the 21st February, fell in with and cap•
tared two American vessels—the ship Golden Eagle,
of New Bedford, and the barque (Mee Jane, of
Boston. They were both burnt. On the 27th of
February the Alabama rve chase to a ship which
proved to be the Washington, of New York, from
Chiucha Islands, bound to Antwerp. At 3 p.m.
the Alabama fired two guns, the ship not heaving
to, they fired a shot, which came close to the ship.
The ship hove to, and was boarded by a boat from
the Alabama. The captain came on board, and
was obliged to give a ransom bond of 50,000 dots.,
and to take on board all of the Alabama's prisoners,
including my crew, and the crew of the two vessels
above mentioned. We were all transferred on board
the ship Washington, where we were kindly re-
ceived by the captain."
Report of the capture and burning of the barque
Olive Jane of Boston, Robert Kallock, master, by
the piratical steamer Alabama, February 21st,
1863, lat. 29.17, long. 45.30.
" The Olive Jane was on her way from Bordeaux
for New York with 130 tons of French cargo on

board. At 11 a.m. saw a sail to the nolChwesi

' steering direct for us. At the same time spoke
ship Golden Eagle, of New Bedford, from How-
land's Islar.d bound to Cork. About 12 noon saw a
sail in sight, a steamship, with the Confederate flag
at her peak. In a few moments saw her fire guns
to heave the ship to. She then got up steam and
took in her sail, and steamed direct for the ship.
The wind being very light she soon gained up
with the ship. About 2 p.m. saw them board
the ship, and then square away and made all
sail, steering direct for my vessel, the wind being
so very light that I could use no resistance, but
kept on my course. At 3 p.m. the Alabama com-
menced to fire blank guns, and in a short time came
up alongside of us, and sent an armed crew on board
and took charge of my ship, and ordered me to take
all my ship's papers and to repair on board the
Alabama to be examined by Capt. Semmes, and after
he had examined my papers, he told me that it would
be better for the Confederate Government to pay for
what French goods I had on board than for him not

to burn my barque. He then gave orders to the
first lieutenant for the pluhdtr and burning of my
ship, and to allow me 15 minutes to go on board and
get one small trunk full of my clothes, and to allow
my officers and crew to take with them one bag of
clothes each, and to be sure we took nothing more.
The officers of the Alabama took all my nautical
instruments, such as my barometer, chronometer,
sextants, glasses, and all my books, charts, ship
papers, and ensign. They plundered the cabin of
such things as they wanted, then immediately set
fire to the vessel. When we got on beard the
Alabama, the officers and crew were all put in irons
and kept on deck during our stay on board. I was
conducted down into the steerage, where they
searched my person, and took what money I had
about me. I was then permitted to mess and sleep
with the petty officers, where my accommodaticn,
were very limited. About six p.m. they brought
Capt. Swift, who was treated the same as myself.