Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-11-20
RESIGNATION OF COM. sTRINGHAM.

rTom Lie NoTlolk Ddy DOOM we get the lOliOW1nS
highly interesting statement, which certainly places
Commodore Stringham in very honorable light:
Some few facts in relation to Com. Stringham, of
the Minnesota, and the Hatteras prisoners, having
recently come to our notice, we deem them worthy
of mention as highly crediable to that officer 1t
appears by the articles of agreement between Conn.,
Stringham and Com. Barron, the Ha:teras prisoners
surrendered as prisoners of war" and on arriving
at New York, Stringham sent despatch to that
effect, and intimang that they were to be treated
as prisoners OF war, and not as rebels. This the
administration objected to and in consequence of
this objection, there sprang considerable telegraph
communication between the Com. and the admins
tration and the prisoners not landed for several
days after their arrival Stringham refusing to sur
render them unless it was clearly stipulated and
agreed upon on the part of the Government, that
they were to carry out in good faith what had been
agreed to at Hatteras. 1t is said that Stringham,
in the mean time, frequently approached Com. Bar
ron and COL Martini and assured these gentlemen,
on his honor, that they had no cause to apprehend
deceit that sooner than he would put them on shore
without the full assurance of the Government that
the compact was to be strictly kept he would blow
up the ship with every soul on board, himself among
the rest However, he persevered in his determina-
ton, and did not, or would not, surrender one of
them, until his terms were complied with fully.
The course pursued by Com. Stringham in this
case, made him unpopular with the Dynasty, and
either in consequence of this his utter contempt
of those in power, he resigned his commission and
retired to private life, and several of the officers
under him did the same thing at the same time,
while Hale, who had been his Secretary continued
on, with the determination to leave the Federal
service as soon as an opportunity offered to join the
Confederate service; and he according! left when
he got to Hampton Roads, bringing away with him
certain articles which, it is said caused the deten-
ten of the Federal feet from sailing on their expedi
ton some two or three days; after he left they
had to send to Washington to get them before they
could SAIL not being able to do so without them.
On the arrival of the Minnesota in the harbor of
New York, we understand, steamboat was char
tered BY some of those cowardly scoundrels the
Zouaves, that ran away from Bull Run so feetly.-
These fellows were very eager to get at these I'M
armed prisoners for the purpose Of numbering them.
i They were very impudent, coming close alongside
of the ship, and insulting the prisoners. Com.
Strngham seeing this ordered the steamer they were
in to keep off certain distance or he would sink
her; and when the prisoners were getting ready to
land on the Island, these bloodthirsty brares made
for that place. on which the CON- sent word to the
commander ofthe Island if he did not clear the Island
of these miserable towards, he would arm the pris-
oners for their own defence against the execrable
wretches whereupon they took to their steamer and
went back to New York city.
These facts we learn from parties who were among
the prisoners. And it furthermore appears to be
confirmed, that the Federal authorities have been
for time prior to their attack HatteraS, very
anxious to attempt the capture of Norfolk and have
only been dissuaded from it by Com. Stringham
bitterly opposing any such fool-hardy attempt. He
told them, it appears, Gen. Butler in particular,
who was most eager to urge it on, that he, String
ham, would have nothing to do with any such folly,
that they would lose twenty thousand men, and all
the ships they had in the Balloons Navy, and they
would then be as far from it as they were before
i they commenced. 81. 90. g.. .a.z.s ..s5