Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-07-28
The PrivaIeer sumter.


Cant Peel of the brig Costa Rica, arrived this
morning on AspinWall, reports, Sth inst, on Cape
Antonio spoke brig Cuba, Capt. J. ID. StrOut from
Trinidad Port of Spain for London. who reported
thato on the 4th inst off the Isle OF Pines was board
ed by the Drivateer Steamer Sumter who declared
the brig prize to the e. 5 A. and put prize
crew of five rnen on board u take her to the near
est mort Capt StrOut succeeded in disGrming
them and put them in irons, and he will bring his
vessel to New York Two of the privateer's m en-
are now on board the Costa Rica
The following note from Capt StrOut IS IN our
possession:
Juy g Of Cape Antcnio, boarded tte brig Costa Bies
and mt tEo privaeers men board. Have get three left
win 20 to New York irs.sad OF LOndOn. D. sIKoUT
The two prisoners from the privateer SUMTER
John Davidson and Henry Spencer, state that they
were impressed on board the vessel IN May last at
New Orleans and that she captured three prizes
while they were on board. two brigs and one ship.
On board of the brig Cuba. one Of the prizes they,
with midshipmAn and two marines, were put on
board as a prize crew. In the course of day or
two the captain of the Cuba repOssessed himself OF
his vessel and put Davidson snl Spencer on board
the Costa Rica and they brought to this city.
Coxswain Van Derzee Of the HarbOr Police boarded
this vessel at Quarantine and brought the prisoners
to the city, and they are now IN charge OF the au-
thOrities.
MORE oy THE sUNrEE PRIvATEERs-sTATEMENT OF
CAPT. sTROUT or THE BRIG CUBA.
The brig Cuba of Millbrige, Captain J. D. Strout,
from Trinidad de Cuba arrived yesterday morning
and is at anchor in Quarantine.
Cant Strout makes the following statement "Sail-
ed from Trinidad de Cuba for London on July 2,
with a cargo Of sugar and mOlasses, shipped by
Nessrs G. Smith 4 Co. On the morning Of July 4
in lat 2I deg 10 min, Ion. IS deg - mn., on the
south side of Cuba, was brought to by shot from
the priyateer Sumter formerly the Habana, and on
| beaying to- was boarded by q boat from her, and
| ordered to cone on board the steamer, and bring
nv ship's papers. The steamer at the time had the
stars and stripes flying from her peak, which was
afterwards taken down and the secession nag hoist
/ ed.
On arriving on board he was ordered below in the
cabin and delivered his papers to the Captain, who
! after examining them, destroyed them, saying he
was a prisoner-that the brig should be taken into
mort and sold At this time Capt. Sloppy OF the
/ brig Machias Of Machias came on board, and after
| presenting his ships papers-whlch were also de-
stroyed-we were told to go on board our vessels
/ and we would be tOwed into some Port IN Cuoa
| Havsers were then got out and the two brgs were
| taken in tow; this about II clock, 4th OF
july and the brigs continued IN tow until a
| NJ on the 5th, when the hawser OF the Machlas
| parted The Cuba was tOwed some ten miles INT
| ther when she was let go Of and search was made
/ for the Machias. On coming up again, they could
not get near enough to our brig to get the haWser
on account of the heavy on, when she proceeded
! on with the Machias. All sail was then made on
/ the Cuba and she was headed in for the land haVr
ing received prize crew OF hve men, consisting OF
one midshipman, two sailors and two marines, who
threatened in case Capt. StrOut or his men refust
/ 10 work the vessel, they would shoot themi cOntn
ned working the vessel in toward the eastward IN
iii the 9TH when the officer concluded to keep her
off for some Southern port, where he would run he 7
| in or on shore The night of the Sth made Cape 81
Antonio when Capt s, his first officer and steward
had matured a plan to retake the brig, and succeed
ed by the mate and steward sezine the arms OF the
sailors and marines forward. while Capt ). took
| care of the officer They made desperate resist
ance. but the plans were too well laid About Two
bours after fell in with brig Costa Rica, Capt Feel
! from AspinwalI for New York. s-d placed the two
| sailors on board Of her.
On the I4th July the midshipman managed 70 gel
pistol in his possession, by breaking open chesI
| while all hands were engaged in working SNIP ana
with it went up into the maiutop being there about
| half an hour When Capt. S. came on deck he told
the Captain that he wanted to speak with MIN; oui
seeing the pistol in his hand the Captain turned 70
| 90 below for arms, when the midshipman threaten
| "a 10 shoet him if he did. The Captain, however
went below, procured revolver, and ordered hin
down on deck. Refusing to comply, two shots were
fired at him. one of which took effect in his should
er and he came down.
The brig is now at anchor in Quarantine. Th'
prisoners we're taken in charge by officer Wander
zee and brought to this city.
Can't. Strout was shown the statements OF th'
men brought home in the Costa Rics, relative 4
their connivanee to the rescHe and pronounces then
entirely false. On the contrary, they rushed al
and attempted to oVerpower him and his men.