The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-05-04
Rebel PIet 20 Rurn steamho, i.


IRisbmoDd eorrespondenee New York Tribuns.
The following letters, obtained Yester-
dsv, give an insight into 8 branch Of the
rebel service, whose ramifcations extsnded
it will be remembered, as far IS our north
ern Ia kes and citisss> An important Dor
tion Of Aleshireis report is omitted At
tached TO it sre stidaVits of 6tinson and
Aleshire, the former making oath that the
said A. is one of his secret agents, and the
latter that his statement in regard TO the
destruction Of the Russell Is correct:
RICHMOND, June II, 1863.
SIR; believe il to be in my power to
make arrangements snd employ persons
who would be willing, under my directions,
to cause the destruction of the enemy's g
ships and vessels, and the ship yards and
other public works. I propose to under
take this service, and make the following
offer as to compensation to be allowed me
and my men for the services to be per-
formed; L5 oaT
l. The Government Is to be st no ex-
pense whatever except the simple trsns-
portstion Of myself and men within the
GOnfederscy to such points IS msy be found
the proper base for our action.
2 The Government will pay in full
compensation for our services after they
ara performed, st the following rates:
Twenty-Five per centum on the whole
value of the property destroyed in any one
operation, provided the 7slus of the prop
erty does not exceed 100000. Ifthe value
exceeds that sum, then Is per cent, on the
excess up to 100000, and 10 per cent on
the excess above $500, 600. I undertake 10
furnish in every case where compensation
is claimed, evidence satisfactory to the gov
ernment both of the value Of the property
dstroyed and the facts of the destruction Of
the property by me and my agents.
l expect TO operate principally against
the enemy's vessels on the western rivers,
but hope also to succeed in similar opera
tions st the ship yards, not only in the
West, but In the Atlantic Ststes's cities. I
may El-o act against the establishments for
the manufacture of arms and munitions of
war, and other Government supplies.
Your obsdient seruant ,V
JOSEPH STIEsoN.
To the Honorable Secretary of War.
This application was referred by the
Secretary Of War tothe Navy Department,
as under its special Jurisdiction. From the
following report of Aleshire, a secret agent
of Stinson, it appears that the latter was
duly commissioned in the service which he
sought:
MOBILE, ALA, April I3, 1854.
SIR: am one of Joseph Stinson's &C.
cret agents, appointed by him under the
contract he has with the Navy Depart
ment.
l left Mobile, Alsbsms, on the 18th of
March last, and arrived at Baton Rouge,
Louisiana, on the 24sh inst, where 1 re-
msined until the 2Sth of March. Then 1
took passage on board the steamboat J. II.
Russell, bound from Red River to New
Orleans.
The Russell was pressed into the service
Of the United States Government, and en-
ployed as a transport in their operations on
BED River, and was carrying to New Or
cans cotton, stock, &c, captured up Red
River.
When the Russell was rounded TO at 8
o'clock that night, for the purpose of land
Ig, struck a match and fred two lar
board guns, lust at the moment the torch
light was brought out, and the fire obtained
iuch hesdwsy that they hsd only time to
make her fast and the passengers to go |
lshore with such of their baggage as they |
,ould carry, being unable to save any por-
ion Of her cargo.
The clerk told u1e that she had on board |
90 bales of cotton, 5000 sacks of cotton
eed, 90 mules, l5o hogs, and about 80 cat
le, |
My agreement with Mr.. Joseph Stinson
vas that I should have 10 per cent. of all |
doaN-a-ol IL L. =
ect for me. ISAAC Y. ALEsHIRE.
% Hon. S. R MALLORY, Secretary Navy,
Richmond, Virginia.
The bill brought against the quondam O.
/. Government by Stinson for the perform
nee of the chi Fslric deed of burning q
and thereby jeopardizing the
yes of hundreds of passengers, runs as
blows: