Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-10-19
En Eventual EIIs:OrY-Return of Naval
PEisOners-TntcreStIngD Details.
From the WILMINGTON N. @ J Journal, Oct. I5.

From the Wilmington IN. Journal, Oct. Is.
/ On Sunday morning last, Capt. Fritznger, of the
! schooner Fanny Lee of Nassau New Providence
arrived here where he resides. With Captain
ton, s. c., but for many yea's resident Of this
place. Mr.. Shepherd shipped on board the brig
Sarah Star. and was on board that vessel when she
vas captured by the U. S. blOckadlng steamship
! Wabash The account he gives Of what occurred
since he Left this pert Is as follows:
The Sarah Star, loaded principally with naval
stores by Geesrs. G.. G. & W. J. Munro went TO sea
over the Cape Fear Bar, on the 2Slh July, having
cleared for Liverpool. About three O'Clock on the
Friday afternoon OF the same day, she captured
by The Federal steamer Wabash. The Sarah Star
saw the steamer for three hours and steered for
her. When captured the whole crew. with the ex-
cepticn Of the Captain, cock ard cabin boy. were
taken on board the WABASH and carried into Hemp-
ton Roads.
a prize crew yyIs on. on bosrd the brig, win /
was sent to New York. Or the arrival OF the Wa
bash at Hampton Roads, Mr. Shepard was allowed
20 proceed to Washington. The balance of the men
were retained on board the Wabash fcr about
month, hen that vessel was ordered to go 70 Hat
teras, and her prisoners were sent up 20 Baltimore
where all the crew OF the Sarah Star six men) took
the oath except Mr.. Shepard, who refused, ard
was imprisoned IN Fort McHenry for nearly two
week when ne made an attempt to escape and was
retazen and placed irons for ten day. st the exp
ration of which he turned out, destitute Of
money, clothing means In Baltimore he found
vessel bound for Nassau and got passage on board
OF her to thst port where he fell in with Capt4in
FritzingeT, of this Place, who kindly took him on
board his vessel and provided for his immediate ne
cessities Captain FTitznger and Mr.. Shepard left
Nassau in the latter part of September and got into
a Southern port several days since. They both ar
riged home on Sunday morning, as-previOusly
stated.
Dir Shepherd speaks Of the treatment OF prisoners
By the Federsis az being extremely hard. They
gave them hardly enough food to sustain nature and
that Of the cOsrsest lie ssys that from the time of
his capture and transfer to the Wabash until his dis
charge he enjoyed the luxury of no other bed than
the bare plarks afforded, ard he feels the effects
get.
There wore othar':prisoners on board the Wabash
besides the crew of the Sarah Star, among them
John Marshall, Of the P.iyAteer Dixie, who had been
captured on board the schooner Mary Ellis, prize
of the Dixie. Il is believed that Marshall was sent
to Fort Lafayette. A5Fort McHenry he only recol-
lect5 to lave seen one person, prisoner, whom he
recognized even by sight, sad that was Marshall
Kane. former head OF the police Of Baltimore, but
dep0sCj by the L:lColBte military authorities and
sent to Fort McIelTy.
Gr. Shepherd mentions another matter which is
proper 20 be stated SIS warning to our pTlvateeTs
As already stated, the Yankee schooner Mary Ellis
was a prize to the PrlVateer Dixie When the
pr,ze crew was put on the Mary Ellls the cook was
kept On beard TO cook for said prize crew. After
the capture, while on board the Wabash. this cook,
a coored fellow, made his brsg that if the Mary
Ellis had not been taken by the Wabash ne would
have had her whole crew poisoned within an hour
1t will be always advisable to keep look out for
this kind of characters.
Such is the statement of Mr.. Shepherd, cOrrobo-
rated by Capt. Fritzngcr. far as the facts came
under his CogniZance. The Captain met him as
stated, at Nassau, in a most destitute condition,
without shoes, and with no other clothing than q
shirt and pants far dapidste1 as hardly to meet
the requirements of modesty.
As townsman snd brother sailor from a South
ern port he felt it only right to do by Mr. Shepherd
rs h.: would have liked others to have done by him
had the case been his own. He advanced means
for cl0thes Gnd other neCessges his course In doing
SO having subsequently, been fully approved by his
employers.
M. Shepherd is staying &C the Sailors Home; |
Captain Fltzngers family live here, and have done
30 or years, although the captain will be forced to
south very soon to join his vessel which got ihto
P 'rt good way down. There are or two |
ma tiers contained in Mr. Shepherds statement to 1
Th CD we would not give publicity, were it not that
re know DR. s. is willing to qualify as to their truth