New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-09
PROTEST OF TIE MAsTER or TIE HARVEY
HIRCH.

/
BIRCH.
Tie following is the protect of Capt. w. Il. Mel
son, master Of the Harvey Birch:
/ I, William Henry Nolson, Of the City of New
York, in the United States Of America, master mar
liner, do soiemnlv, sincerely ard truly swear that
sailed from the raid City OF New-York, on the 2Jth
day Of September last master Of and ID the Emp
Harvey Birch g New York, ship owned ard regis
/ tered in New-York in conformity with the laws OF
the United States, bound for the port Of Hayre De
Grace, IN France, with a cargo consulting o. wheat
About the OH day Of October | arrived at liayTe,
and having discharged the cargo Of my ship and bal
lasted her sailed in her again for the port o. New
York on The lGth day Of November, first having re
ceyed the register list, articles, and all paIere
belonging to The slip in proper lorm from the United
States consul there. On the morning OF Tuesday,
the 18th instant, the ship then being in about lat ~
NJ, long. - W, steamer was made ont bearing
for tho Harvey Birch which, on getting nearer, was
found 10 be- an armed vessel, ana hosted At tie peak
the flag Of the so-csled Confederate States; and
when within bailiug distance pcrsOn Oh board, who
1 learnt the captain, hailcd my ship, saying
Haul down your colo.s and ne1ve the ship too
tie ensign of the nild states being al tlls time rel
al the peak Of Eiy vessel.
This order was complied with, aud then received
he order, " Lower yoIr boat and come on board
which also complied with, taking my ships papers
with After arriving on board the steamer was
inl PRODUCED by the FiT~t Liouenant, by name Fam
lrroy, e. Cart. Pcgram, 20 Commander u the Con-
teier. te States steamer Nashville 10 whom / pro-
duced al the papers OF my ship for examination. u
T show that war engaged in legal trade. Capisin
pegrau took The ships paper; he dtd not return
them and IN holds them, and then told that O
should hold prisoner Of WAY by authority Of lhe
Confederate States.
He then tod ne might 60 ON board my shin, ard
/ ordered TO send ny crew on board the steamer
"a quickly possible. returned to nay ship, and
az once made Preparations 10 leave Ter but orders
were repeatedly given from The steamer 20 hurry az,
aud sufficient line Was not given 20 enable either
Iayseit or 70 gut Onr elects out Of the ship.
The Second Lieutenant. with otner oiioers, came on
board the ship ard tolk charre ~ her, and oldcrs
were given TO sizo fresh stores, &c, and in couse-
qucuce thereof all the iTeth meat, poultry, pigs,
eggf aud butter iIken out aud put On board the
steamer, and especially u whs ordered that al the
Oh tea coffee, and sugar should Uc put on board the
steamer, which was dOue.
When all this had been accomplished, the crew elt
the ship by order oi The Ssrond Lie nGut ! beiag
last on board leaving the Second Lieutenant and his
boat crew in charge OF the slip. After arriving on
board the steamer we saw that tho Harvey Bitch
Was IN flames, and tho Second Lieutenant returned
on board tie steamer with bis boat, which
cured, but the ships quarter-boas, which had been
used IT, communicating were cast adriit Capt. Pegum
now said, A" Now "a II n Ill over viii give her
a gun, or words TO that effect, aud gun vBs dis
charged at the chip, but without apparently hitting
Ler. The steamer then was put GA AN easterly
cOuTee, the crew Of the clip having previously been
put in IRONS i, with my officers, was summoned 10
the captains cabin and there signed, at the request
oil the captain, a document stating that we would
not take up arms against them while II ther cus-
toby, he having said | and my oftcers should have
our liberty on board when we had i.ned il.
1 was frequently told that oath would he ex-
acted of Bs " not TO take up aeninst the Cor
federate States before could be liberated, but
was liberated without any such being taken. The
steamer steamed up the English channel and arrived
at Southampton mt about a. H. on the list inst and
came to anchor in the nyer. Captain Pegram then
then told MT that and my were at liberty, and
might 90 shore, but he refused to put shore,
and therefore employed stean-tug at my own ex
pense and landed my crew in Southampton docks
between and 10 O'Clock a. No. and they were taken
charge OF by the United States Cousul there.
Repeatedly while on board the steamer, in CONVEX
sations with her officers, was told that she was not
cial mission to England, but Naval Officers were IL
command of her. L was told by Of the crew
that the crew originally signed articles at Charleston
s. c., 10 20 to Liverpool but that before Ealing the
officers were ell changed, and new articles Were
brought on board, which the crew were compelled
10 sign by threats Of force.
wac also informed that the crew was composed
of English and Irish. The ehronometer and barom
eter belonging TO the Harvey Birch were taken by
Capt. Pegram, who refuses 10 deliver them up. The |
Harvey Birch was ship six years old, aud Of 49,
tons register. Before we lost sight OF the ship Der
masts had gone the side and che was burnt to
the waters edge. w. IA. NkLsos.
Sworn before me- IN the Consuae Of the Uui.ed States
London, thi. I'D day Of November, 1901.