Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-06-05
A Mystery Explained.


The public will readily recall the capture some mouths
AGO off the barbor of Charleston, of yacht in which
Msor Reid Sanders c. A., endeavoring TO run the
blockade for Nassau and the obtaining by the enemy Of
certain important dispatches to our Commissioners in
Europe and other correspondence, of which he was the
bearer. The wonder at the time was universal that
Major S did not throw the documents in his keeping
into the sea when he asceraiued his capture inev
table. He was himself Immediately taken North and
closely Imprisoned and thus cut off from the Oppor
tunity of making explanation. Not long since the
New York Tribune volunteered to tell how the thing
WAS done. but, as we had no means of udgi Of the
tutbfulness of its account we did not publish it. Ac
corsng TO the Tribune certain adroit rascal named
Arnold Harris, well known to the habues of Washing
ton, was The party through whom it was managed. Har
rs it will be recolscted taken prisoner the field
of Manassas few days after the first tattle Their and
was brought to this city and imprisoned. After some
time he succeeded in obtaining his release by throwing
dust in the eyes OF our authorities and through the
friendly interposton Of certain Of his old political as
soeiates and boon companions about Washington TIE
release was unconditional and he was allowed the free
dom of the city and country. We remember to have
heard that courtesies and inequalities very freely
extended to him By parties who knew all the secrets of
the Government and Who in the unreserve of cOnvi-
vial occasions, no doubt made him as familiar with
those secrets as they themselves After this he
North, but subsequently, reappeared here and fully
was he admitted to the confidence Of parties connected
with important secret plans and arrangements of the
Government that he chosen to aid Major Sanders
in getting to Europe with dispatches in which these
nsps and arrangements were discussed The Tri6ue's
seeount which we have no now the of reproduc.
ing, explains fully how he led Major S into trap and
BETRAYED him into the hands Of the enemy. The valua
BILE service of the spy and traitor literally appauded
nv Greeley and of course literally rewarded by Lin
coin II is to be hoped that this additional lesson of
being careful as to whom they trust has not been lost
upon our own authorities.
The following document, which has been placed in
our hands BY frie of Major Sanders shows that the
TIlbune's account is true:
[CoPY LONDON, SOth March, 1868.
This is to certify that was mate of the yacht "Mer.
curry commanded by Captain Arnold Harris and owned
Inv Major Ried Sanders. Said yacht captured by
the Yankee bockading squadron on the morning of the
5th of January. The dispatch mail bag with heavy
weight was lowered into the water by myself and saw
1t until il disappeared into fourteen fahoms Of water.
Major Sanders anu my suPPoseu Ina' " 'e let'eIS
and dispatches we're in the bag thus sunk but to
we afterwards found out that Captain Harris
had distracted from the bag tin containing
desn.tehes. which he delivered to the captain of the
| o lak City. Capt in harris man@uvered the yacht
from the beginning in such manner as to ensure her
capture Alter the capture, Captain Harris sepa-
rated from us and sent North supposed, with
his reward Capt Harris had not the power to take the
entire bag or no doubt he would have done Major
Sanders had not the slightest suspicion of his fidelity,
hence his ability to abstract part Of the dispatches
which besides, he must have done while we were al
asleep on the night of the Sd of January Except for
the foul play of Captain Harris in the manGuvering Of
the Yacht there is scarcely doubt but that would
have successfully run the blockade.
| WILLIAM RENsHAw,
| Mate Of the Mercury"
Witness to signature Of Mr.. RensbaW:
j. PHARo,
! J. p. Sober.