The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1861-08-01

~ ~ A"u 'ho Cuud iuto port ii possible.
lie tried to work her with the crew of
Capt. Strout, and bad given positive or
ders to his men to keep ar ms on, and help
work, whether seamen or not, wherever
it was possible.
The men neglected it; and I, for the
hrst time in four days aud nights. had
left mine off, they being in tie bunk be-
low at the time of Capt Strout's move
ment. / had laid myself down on deck
and gone asleep. When I awoke I found
all the men aft, without arms, and six
men, Capt. Strout, bis mate and five m mcn
ranged opposite and around ne, with
arms in their hands. | Immediately went
below, having been permitted to pass
them, with the intention of getting my
arms but l found them gone, and when |
returned on deck I met the Captain and
mate facing me, with ny pistols. The
Captain demanded my surrender, and
said be had got my arms.
As soon as l got up to him he ordered
me forward, and said everything should
be done fairly with US, &c. He put US in
irons. bot not having enough to reach
round, he tied several of the rnen with
ropes. He took my irons off an hour
after; but l was watched, and atterward
locked up.
The prisoner regarded his capture as
owing more than anything to the fact of
bis having too few men aboard to work
the ship. 1t was rendered then almost
necessary, sometimes, for his own men to
lay by their arms, and his business to be
left at large in order to help. On being
asked With reference to the blockade of
the Mississippi, be hesitated and then said
it was mot as strong as it might be-
1t was evident they had two ships there,
but that was not sufficient to block up the
river. Lieut. Hudgens has followed the
sea for some years, and is acquainted
with all the ropes.
STATEMENT OF JOHN DoNNELLY AND
JOHN OBRIEN.
The former was born in Wisconsin, and
the latter in Ireland, both having sojourn-
ed in New Orleans about six months,
when they were visited by some of the
Tiger Rifes," armed with revolvers, and
muskets, and slung shots, SC, who put
them aboard the receiving ship Star of
the West, anchored off Algiers, which is
opposite New Orleans. They were never
allowed to 60 on shore, and we're kept
there for nearly month The Sumter
went once on trial trip up the river
When transferred to her, about l40 9TH
ers were aboard, and they Immediately
started to the Government Arsenal and
got some powder, after which they sailed
for Passel Outre. They anchored in
little bay about nine miles from the Bar,
and finally started again.
Not seeing the United States vessel
Brooklyn around We were about passing
directly out. The people generally re-
garded the blockade as effective, and our
officers were on the lookout, having con-
staDtly a man at the masthead. We
found that the Brook lyn was watching us,
and had been batting US all the time
On this occasion she had her topmasts
taken down, and We were within four or
FIVE miles of her when We discovered our
mistake, and we returned to watch our
chance. We did not get away for about
a week.
On the 30th Of ] une the Brooklyn went
off to vessel, taken by US to be a Brit
ish ship, and crossed the Bar at precise
Is l2a o'clock. The instant We we're no.
tced the Brooklyn gave chase. She was
at first four miles astern; she followed us
until 4a O'Clock, when, having fallen "a
stern ten miles, she headed about. We
were ordered at once to give three cheers
for the Southern Confederacy, and did
SO, some OF those aboard following very
loud.
The Sumter is propeller, bark ,rigged,
a fne boat, 300 to 400 tuns burden, and
running about 6 knots an hour. She
traded first to the West India Islands,
and the first light we made was Cape An
tonic, Cuba. We overhsulcd a Spanish
brig, and next day captured the Golden
Rocket, from Havana, bound to Cienfue-
gos The latter belonged to Bangor.
No ceremony was made; the crew and
captain-l3 all told, 10 being Spaniards
were ordered aboard the Sumter, and
directed to bring everything they had
with them, nothing of which should be
molested. Some time in the night the
ship was set on fire. This was about 40
miles off Cienfuegos. We then started
oD, and on the morning of the 4th of Ju
ly overhauled the brig Cuba and the brig
Machias, both in charter by the same
charter. master, New. Yorker, and both
loaded with sugar.
Night guards were put aboard at or
o'clock. men on the Cuba, and l off
Ger and men on the Machias. Between
q and o'clock in the morn a hawser
broke, and the Maebias was set adrift.-
They put up all sails on her. and hailed
tho steamer again, which then turned as
adrift and took her in tow. We were
told to follow to Cienfuegos, but lost sight
of her, and on the 9th put about for Flor
| ida On the 9Th or 9th the meu were ly
ing down in the middle of the day, and
their arms were laid in position where