The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1861-12-20

side her, and, as was stated to Us, opened
her ports, and ordered the ship to heave to
the flag to be hauled down, and the captain
to come on board Immediately. This wal
done, and Capt. Nelson soon returned &c
his ship, with orders from the captain of the
Nashville for all the crew to get their things
ready as soon as possible, and 20 on board
the Nashville, as they intended to DESTROY
the Harvey Birch. They were allowed an
hour or an hour and half for this pur.
pose, and got part Of their things out. The
men from the steamer took most of the pro.
visions, with the ships chronometer, bar
ometer, and some of the charts, permitting
Capt. Nelson to retain his own chronomc.
eter but he has lost $1,000 or 81 400
worth of personal effects, books, charts, &c.
They then set fire to the ship, fore and
aft, apparently in the deck houses, and the
vessel was soon in flames from stem to
stern. The three masts were seen to 20
over the side, and the hull was still burn
ing when the steamer left her.
The Harvey Birch was fine full rugged
ship OF l,487 tons, American measurement,
and cost about 1925 900 in her construc
tion.
She had total of twenty-nine souls on
board, including Mr.. Blydenburg, a son of
her owner, who was a passenger, Captain
Nelson, two mates, two boatswains, cook.
steward, carpenter, and twenty seamen.
The men were put in irons on board the
steamer with the exception of the Captain
and Mate, who were treated with great DO.
| liteless) and kept as prisoners until the ar
rival OF the vessel here this morning, when
they were Immediately landed in the docks,
and set at liberty, with all the personal els
fects belonging to them. 1t is stated that
before they were put in irons the Confed-
crate cath was rendered to the men, which
they refused to take, but Capt Nelson tells
US that he is not aware of the fact, although
it may be correct.
WHAT THE REBELS REQUIRED OF CAPT. Nell
SON AND HIS CREW.
Capt. Nelson stated that Commander
Pegram endeavored to compel himself and
crew to take the oath of allegiance, aud
not to take arms against the Southern
States This Is denied by commander PEI
| gram and officers, who state that the onIy
document that Capt. Nelson and officers.
were requested to sign was one OF which
the following is copy:
| CONFEDERATE STATES STEAMER NASHVILLE,
AT SEA, Nov. 10, 1861.
We, the undersigned, officers and passen-
gers on board the United States ship Har-
vey Birch, being now prisoners on board
the Confederate States steamer Nashville,
do pledge to her own Captain our sacred
honor not to bear arms against or in any
manner to countenance hostilities against
such Confederate States till our regular ex
change or discharge.
W. II. NELSON, Master.
CLEMENT F. STEVENS, Mate.
FRANCIS STEWART, I'd Mate.
J. B. BLYDENBURGH, Passenger:
PAUL F. HALLETT, Carpenter.
THoS. w. LOFBYs, Boatswain.
HENRY FREHARD.
GEORGE CERvINONs.
The remainder of the crew, not having
| signed the above document, were placed in
irons until their arrival at this port.
PROTEST OF CAPTAIN NELSON, OF THE HARVEY
| BIRCH.
The following is the protest of Capt w.
FL. Nelson, master of the Harvey Birch:
1, William Henry Nelson, of the city of
of New York, in the United States of
America, master mariner, do solemnly, sim
cerely and truly swear that | sailed from
the said city of New York, on the Goth
day OF September last, as master Of, and in.
the ship Harvey Birch, of New York, a
ship owned and registered in New York, in
conformity with the laws of the United
States, bound for the port of Havre de
Grace, in France, with a cargo consisting
of wheat. About the 9th day of October,
| arrived at Havre, and having discharged
the cargo of my ship and balasted her, l
sailed in her again for the port of New
York, on the 10th day Of November, first
having received the register, crew list, srti-
cles, and all papers belonging to the ship
in proper form from the United States
Consul there. On the morning of Tuesday,
the 10Th inst, the ship then being in about
latitude 4S 6 north, longitude 9 So west, a
steamer was made out bearing for the Har-
vey Birch, which, on getting nearer, was
found to be an armed vessel, and hoisted at
the peak the flag OF the so-called Con-
federate States and when 8ithin hailing
distance a pc son on board, who, | learned,
was the captain, hailed my ship, saying,
| Hdut uo"D goui CoiOiSy duu HtdFo tNe
ship TO-" the ensign OF the United States be-
ing at this time set at the peak OF my vessel
This order was complied with, and then
received the order, Lower your boat and
come on board" which also complied with,
taking my ships papers with me. After
arriving on board the steamer | was intro
duced by tue first lieutenant, by name
Faunteroy, to Capt. Pegram, as commando
er of the Confederate States steamer Nash
vile, to whom | produced all the papers Of
my ship for examination, to show that L
was engaged in legal trade. Capt. Pegram
took the ships papers. He did not return
them, and still holds them, and then told HE
that be should hold me prisoner OF war by
authority of the Confederate States. He
then told me l might go on board my ship,
and | was ordered to send my crew on
board the steamer as quickly as possible.
| returned to my ship, and at once made
preparations to leave her, but orders were
repeatedly given from the steamer to hurry
up, and sufficient time was not given to
enable either myself or my crew to get our
| eff of bo Oh, Tho copnnH tipufop-