Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-12-06
MASON AND SLlDELL.
ACCOUNT or THEIR CAPTURE

tive cruise for slavcrs on the West Coast Of
/, Africa, and much reduced in the number Of
her officers and crew. the San Jacnto has been
for the last six weeks continuously cruising
in search Of the Sumter.
On our arrival at Cienfuegos. we learned
by the papers that the Theodore had run the
blockade at Charleston aud arrived at Havana
after lanuing the Confederate Commissioners,
Messrs Mason and Sidell, with their Secre-
taries, Messrs. Eustis and Mcfarland. and
the families Of Mr. Sldel and Mr. Eustus a.
Bardenas, and that they would proceed over
land to Havana. As soon as Capt Wilkes
heard Of it. he determined to pursue the
Theodore and intercept her return to Charles
ton. He took, therefore, sufficient coal to
60 on a short cruise. and lett Cenfuegos on
the 26,h Of October arrived at Havana ON
the 2Sth, and learned that the Theodore had
departed on her return to Charleston Messrs
Slidcll Mason and suite were stil at Havana,
boarding at the Hotel Cub-na kept by
Mers. Brewer. Ono ofs,.nr .-r-ifcers visited
the hotel with some of his friends, and met
Mr.. Mason in the parIor.
When Capt Wilkes heard of their inten-
tion to take passage in the British packet for
Europe, be conceived the bold plan to inter-
cept the British mai, steamer, and in the
20 make them prisoners. We filled up with
coal in great haste took IN provisions, as
part of our daily ations for the crew were
exhausted and left Havana ID inst On the
4th, in the morning, a steam gun boat being
in sight from the masthead, we all were in
hopes that it would prove to be the Theodore.
and orders were given to beat to quarters.-
Scarcely four minutes elaspcd and the San
Jacinto was ready TO receive her foe but we
were doomed TO disappontment--it turned
out to be II. p VI. gunboat Stag, bound from
Key West for Havana. We arrived the same
day at Key Wcst in search Of the Powhatan
or some other steamer TO assist us in inter
cepting the British packet There being
another passage through the New Baham
Channels, Capt. Wilkes plan was. that
steamer should cruise there. while the Jacinto
was cruising in the Old Bahamas, so that the
mail packet could not escape our vigilance
but the Powhatan having left Key West the
day before, and no steamer except the Hunts
vile land she caulkng1 being in port. our
captain. nothing dauntcd, fully resolved to
undertake the boldly conceived enterprise
alone
On the morning of the 5th. we left Key
West, and running TO the north side of Cuba,
touched az Sagna Ia Grand, telegraphed to
our Consul General at Havana, Mr.. Schufelt.
to inform us Of the time OF the British mail
steamer departure from Havana but received
no information. Thence we steered for the
Old Bahama Channel, about 20 miles east Of
: north side of Cuba, 249 miles from Havana.
and about 10 miles from the light house Of
Paredon del Grande. The channel contracts
there to the width of ) miles and we could
not very well miss the object Of our search
q Hs.rl I.fN 4 4 4. 1
t the IN, all our battery loaded, and the bull
t warks around the pivot gun on the lorecastle
removed. Capt Wilkes issued an order to-
Lieut.. D. NJ Fairfax, our executive officer, TO
s have two boats ready manned and armed to
d board the British packet as soon as she should
be hove to under our guns, and in the event
} Of Messrs Mason, Slidell. Eustis and Nc
I Farland being on board Of her. to make them
prisoners and send them Immediately on board
the San Jacinto. and also to offer in his name,
to their families. his cabin, in the event they
should determine TO take a passage TO the T.
0ited States in the San Jacinto. assuring them
that all the attention and comforts we could
command would be placed at their service,
and closed the order with the following re-
mark 81 trust that all those under your
command, ia executing this important and
delicate duty, will conduct themselves with
all the delicacy and kindness which becomes
our naval service
In accordance with this order, Lieut., Fair
fax had the second and third cutters of the
shin manned, armed and kept in readiness, he
having the command of the enterprise.
In the second cutter were the following Of
fcer,. Lieut. d. NJ Fairfax commanding:
Second Assistant Engineer, James b Hous-
ton; Boatswain, II. +, Grace, with an armed
crew.
in the third cutter, Lieut.. J. A. Greer:-
Third Assistant Engineer, George w Hall
Paymasters Clerk, r G. Simpson; Masters
, Mate, Charles b. Dahlgren, with an armed
crew, marines, and party Of mschinists.
In the morning of Sth inst, the officers and
crew anxiously and impatiently looked out for
, the mail steamer. About | 40, the lookout
, at the masthead reported smoke from
, steamer from the Westward, and about | ? m,
she was visible from the deck. We were al
ready for her, beat 10 quarters and soon
as she was within reach of our guns, every
{ gun of our starhoard battery trained up
on her shot from our pivot gun was fired
across her bow. She hoisted English colors,
but showed no disposition to slaken her speed
or heave TO- We hoisted the " Star Span
glod Banner" and as soon as she was close
upon us, fred a shell across her bow, which
D brought her to. Our captain hailed her and
= said he would send a boat on board, and or
a dered Lieut. Fairfax 10 board her he went
in the I'd cutter at the same time Lieut.. Greer
: was all read, in the Sd cutter to shove from
! the port side should his assistance be requir-
i ed.
B. On coming alongside the packet, Lieut..
G Fairfax ordered the other officers to remain
r in the boat with the crew until force should
o become necessary, and went on board alone
The captain OF the mail steamer refused to show
p his papers and passenger list, knowing very
= well the object of oui visit and the character
and mission Of the four gentlemen above
G named But Mr. Mason being recognized a
- part of the armed crew was ordered from the
- boat and came on board. Messrs Mason and
n Sldel were then persuaded to come on board
r the San Jacinto, but declined and said that
+ they would only yield to force /; Mr.. Sidell
- making the remark that "it would require
j. considerable force TO take them on board the
San Jacinto." Lieut.. Fairfax then ordered
Mr. Houston to return to our ship and report
II that the Confederate Commissioners were on
y board the mail steamer and refused 20 go on
'' board the San Jacinto by other means than