Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-05-29
ra1f OF TIE ssA SALVADOR

menked last Thursday morning before ne
Military Court convened for that purpose
In San Francisco. The pirates were AZ
rested on the 10th day of November last
on board the United States steamer Sal
vador, just outside the Bay of Panama,
by Captain h. P. Davenport, Of the U. s.
frigate Lancaster, who went aboard the
Salvador with o party Of marines for
that purpose, by order Of Acting Rear
Admiral Person, who was aboard the
Lancaster at the time. The Captain tes-
tiled before the Court that information
had been received from three sources that
the prisoners intended to capture the Sal
vador and convert her into cruiser" but
he did not state what those three sources
were. The prisoners made no resistance
to capture. In fact, they had no chance
to do so. They were very quietly caught
in their own trap. Each had an English
passport, signed at Nassau, and they pro-
tested strongly but Intellectually against
being searched, on the ground that they
were British subjects. On search being
made, there was found on their persons
and among their baggage, pistols, charts
handouts and manacles, and three Seces-
sion flags. After the capture, their leader,
Captain Hogg, requested to be treated as
a prisoner of war, and said that he was
acting under orders Of Secretary Mallory.
A number of documents were found IN
their possession, and there is no want OF
documentary evidence to convict them.
The following letter Of instruction by
Mallory, Secretary of the rebel navy, to
the chief pirate, was found under sofa
cushion, where one Of the party had at
tempted to conceal it at the time the cap
ture was being made. 1t explains the
reason of their taking passage on the Sal
vador: .e.t....- .EF
Confederate States Of America
.-4u-a Navy Department,
RICHMOND, May II, 1864.
Acting Master Thomas E. Hogg, c. S. Navy,
Richmond, Va.
SIR: You will proceed with the men under
your command, from Wilmington BY the
shortest and safest route to the Port OF Pan
ANA. At that port you will take passage on
board either the Guatemala or San Salvador,
the two Federal screw steamers trading be-
tween Panama and Realejo. After reaching
the high sea, you will consider upon and de-
wise a means to capture the vessel in the
name Of the Confederate States, and effect
the capture without fail. Your conduct to-
ward the people of the captured vessel will be
guided BY that spirit Of humanity which ever
characterizes the conduct Of our naval OH
GERS. Having secured the steamer, organized
your crew, and hoisted the flag Of the Con-
federate States, you will adopt prompt mea-
sures to arm your vessel, and proceed TO
cruise against the enemy in the Pacific. II
practicable, you will report to or communl-
cate with Captain r. Semmes, Of the z. 5.
ship Alabama, and obey such orders as he
may give you. The rights Of neutrals must
be strictly regarded. The importance OF es-
tablishing and maintaining wholesome
naval discipline is enjoined upon yourself
and your officers. Should you seek neutral
ports for supplies or otherwise, you will be
careful to observe the usual naval courtesies
and customs towards those in authority and
upon all proper occasions you will seek to
place the character Of the contest in which
we are engaged, and the principles involved
in it, in their proper light. Should you at
any time hesitate as to your course as a Con-
federate cruiser, your judgment may be gov
erned BY the consideration that you are to DO
the enemy, in accordance with the rules OF
civilized warfare, the greatest harm IN the
shortest time. And you will enforce upon
YOUR officers and men the performance OF
their duty in that spirit OF humanity which
ever distinguishes a Confederate naval officer.
You will endeayor to strike blow at the CAL
ifornia trade, and whalemen in the Pacific;
and should you capture bullion, it is suggest
ed, that, il no better means for shipping 1t to
Europe offers, you place it in the hands OF
British merchant, Of established character, at
Valparaiso. A French man-of-war might
receive il on board, in freight, for France.
At your request, Acting Master F: NJ. Harris
is ordered to report to you for duty in this
enterprise. am, respectfully, your obedient
servant, .. II. MALtohI,
-, .-,... Secretary of the Navy.
P.S. You will ship your men regularly in
the service Of the Navy, in the usual manner,
and are authorized TO make such acting ap-
pointments Of officers as your ship may re-
ouire, reporting their names, and, in all cases,
the evidence Of their fitness and character TO
the Department. ~ S. b. MALLORY,
Secretary Of the Nayy.k
b