Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-12-18
The FillibHsters at Mobile Seizure OF
the Schooner Susan.

The seizure Of the schooner Susan, Capt.
Henry Maury, near Mobile on the 9th inst,
laden with men has been noticed by tele-
graph. The Mobile papers of Wednesday
bring us st atement of the, affair by Capt.
Maury. He says:
While beating down Mobile Bay on Mon
day, December 9th, at half-past Up. NJ,
the schooner Susan, H. Maury master to
the northward of the Fleet, was brought to
and boarded by the U. S. Revenue Cutter
Robert McLelland, j J. Morrison comman-
der. The boarding officer was S. B. Cald
we'll, I'd Lieutenant Of said cutter, who de-
manded to see the schooner's papers, upon
which Mr.. Maury replied that he had not
cleared, but was bound into the Fleet to
get ready for sea. the schooner then having
her signal flying fora water boat. Lieut..
Caldwell then returned to the cutter.
Soon afterwards he (Lieut CD revisited
the schooner and claimed her as prize in
the name of the United States, an ordered
the schooner to return to Mobile He order
ed the schooner to filled away, and the helm
to be put up, whereupon Mr.. Maury, mas
ter, denied his right to do SO, and immedi-
ately brought the schooner to anchor; but
Mr.. Maury stated to Lieut.. Caldwell that
he had no objections to an officer of the cut
ter remaining on board as guest until the
schooner was ready for sea.
| Lieut. Caldwell then fired pistol as a
signal, and the cutter Immediately sent an
other boat in command of Lieut. Geo F.
White, who came along side, and stated as
the orders of Capt. Morrison to Lieut.. Cald-
we'll to take the schooner to Dog River Bar
and anchor, and if lie wanted an armed crew
he (Capt. Morrison) would send it to him.
Lieut. Caldwell replied that he would 60
back to the cutter and see the captain
Lieut.. White with six men, remained on
board Of the schooner.
Soon afterwards Lieut. Caldwell, accom-
panied by Capt. Morrison) returned to the
schooner with arms (pistols and cutlasses) in
their boat. Capt. Morrison, upon stepping
on board inquired, ''W no commands this
vessele ?" 70 which Mr. Maury replied
II am the commanders" thereupon Capt.
Morrison claimed the schooner as prize to
the United States.
Mr.. Maury asked under what authority
he made the capture. Capt. Morrison re-
piled that he did SO as government officer,
and by virture of orders from the Custom
house at Mobile, not to let the schooner
pass below Dog River Bar. Mr. Maury re-
piled that such course would be illegal
and that he would most assuredly resist any
such an attempt Mr.. Maury also gave or.
ders forbidding any armed men coming on
board, and stated to Capt. Morrison that he
intended taking his vessel into the feet
Capt Morrison then said that by virture o.
the Custom house orders he would sink the
schooner Susan if she undertook to get I'M
der way from where she lay. After some
further conversation between Capt. Morri-
son and Mr.. Maury, in which the former
expressed his determination to take the
schooner to Deg River Bar as prize to the
United States; and the latter expressed
himself also determind not to be taken as {
prize, inasmuch as he had violated no law
Capt. Morrison and Lieut.. Caldwell return
ed to the cutter, leaving on board Lieut.
White as guest Of Mr. Maury. The schoon
er then got underway, and proceeded on he1
course to the Fleet in Mobile Bay. The
cutter also got underway and stood to til.
west ward with her starboard tackle on boarc
the wind being to the southwark.
It was at this stage Of the game that the
cutter got aground and the schooner took
to her heels with the guest still on
board