The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-07-09

THE PRIvATEER SAVANNAH.

THE PRIVATEER SAVANNAH.
The United States steamer Harriet Lane from
Fortress Monroe, arrived at New York on Tues
day, with six invalids from the flagship Minnesota,
the master, Byers and three seamen of the prize
brig Hattie Jackson, and the officers and nine of
the crew of the privateer Savannah. The follow
ing particulars copy from the Evening Post
The Harriet Lane comes to the Brooklyn Navy
Yard to replace her present armament with more
effective ordnance. She is now armed with three
32s, four 24's, and one 12.pound gun, A long
range rifle gun. eight inch, capable of throwing an
elongated shell of one hundred and twenty pounds,
and whose range is said to be five miles, has been
prepared for the Harriet Lane, and will be put on
board. The gun is now at Governors Island
With this gun forward, and, as Capt Faunce de-
sires, four rfed 24s or 32's aft the Harriet Lane
will become one of the most serviceabe vessels in
our Navy.
THE OFFICERS AND CREW OF THE pRIvATEER
..< - SAVANNAH.
The news that the Harriet LaRe had brought a
portion OF the crew of the privateer Savannah.
attracted considerable number of visitors to the
Navy Yard this morning. The vessel, however,
lay IN the stream the buoy. and access to the
vessel vas somewhat difficult. By the courtesy Of
Captain taunce of reporters went on
board, and had an interview with the prisoners
a temporary shelter formed from mainsail, and
were having good time" They were uncon-
fined. The crew were on the starboard side of the
upper deck, sitting a long bench by the side of
the wheel-house. They were all hand -cuffed, but
wore no other irons. .-.
THE OFFICERS.
The captain of the privateer Savannah calls
himself L. Harrison Baker. He says he was born
IN PhIladei phia, and is thirty years old
He is tall full-bearded by no means repulsive
looking man, and was neatly dressed in a suit of
blue flannel. He has lived in Charleston for
long time and has - followed the sea" more or less
for the past fifteen years. He is great on prece-
dents. Everything that he has done has been, to
use his own language, as privateers usually do,"
thus: He took out his letter. and intended to make
short cruise, say thirty days, after the usual
custom of paivateers the men were to share
cording to the proceeds of prizes captured, {" as
prvateers," &c } and the prizes taken to be
sent into the nearest port and delivered to the
Confederate Prize Commissioners who would
decide to their disposal.
His crew generally shipped by an agent
and sent on board. He knew few of the men,
and the best of them were sent in with the first
and only prize captured-the brig Joseph, from
Cardenas. Our reporter noted with some sur
prise the frankness with which Capt Baker spoke
Joseph. 1t will be remembered that the Perry
brought one Of the crew, who is supposed to be
disposed to turn States evidence, and it is upon
his testimony mainly, with regard to the Joseph,
that the District Attorney looks for a conviction
Of the prisoners, There will be no difficulty in
sufdciency of evidence, as all the Off
GERS aud crew speak Of the capture as ordinary
business notwithstanding to "the usual
custom of privateers." /
Iho H.
g the people OF New York thought Of him" He
says that he is not over and above anxious about
his present condition prisoner. He has done
nothing more than {" is usual" &c of We had
tic ight sort Of crew, we should have got away
from the Perry" His vessel was able to get
away from any sailing ship, aud he meant to keep,I
clear Of the steamers, and indeed of United States
vessels generally, ..-.s.
The prisoner, Geo Knickerbocker, brought by
The Perry, claims to be a New Yorker, and to have
oeen impressed. Baker says he shipped with him
as George Livingston, and received $50 as an ad- |
vance at the time Of his shipment.
John HarlestoD is the first officer He is
South Carolina man. 28 years old, and says he is |
1ot sailor; nor does he look like one, but ap- |
oears, he says, like brought up in busi !
less-a delicate-handcd, rather geltlemanly look
ng man.
The sailing master, Henry c. Rowland, is
North Carolina man, % years old, and sailor.
The purser Of the-SaVannah, G. S. Passailsigue, /
s young South Carolinian, So only 19 years DID,"
decidedly good looking, well behaved young
ellow, who has been mailing clerk and assistant
book keeper in the Charleston Mercury Office
[ his is his first cruise purser Of privateer.
The general appearance Of these four men vas
avorable. They had nothing of the desperate or
ven rowdy look that would naturally attach to
nen in their profession. The officers Of the Lane
poke Of them as quiet and we'll behaved, and the
prisoners desired to return their grateful thanks
or the Kindness extended to them BY the officers
10Th of the Perry and Harriet Lane. r
When they were Transferred from the Perry to
he Minnesota they strictly confined, and
0ard. On the Lane the officers were merely re-
treted to their quarters aft, and single sentinel
ept guard over them. Their communication
nth each other unrestrained, and they were
rel fed and kindly treated "as prisoners OF war"
The following description of the landing Of the
rev of the above vessel is taken from the New
FORK Tribune: .--. --...
At o'clock p. m, the marshal and his party
rent down to the Castle Garden pier where they
mbarked on the tug boat s. 4 Stephens, and
roceeded to the Harriet Lane. The marshal, on
topping on board, was met at the gangway by
first Lieut. Constable, to whom he presented his
arrant The lieutenant conducted the marshal
f. to an enclosure made of an old sail, and there