The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1869-03-17
The Case of I.iant Brain.

By the release fLeut Brain the last Of the numer-
ags victims incarcerated in Federal Dungeons during
and subsequent to the war, has been set at liberty.
His capture Of the steamer Chesapeake differed IN
material respect from similar captures made by other
naval officers in the service of the Confederacy and
who acting under orders from their Government
That Government by the bloc ade OF It's ports by the
exchange of prisoners and by repeated decisions OF The
Admiralty Courts, recognised as beilgerent and
It's officers were thereby entitled to all the rights APP
pertaining condition Of beligerenev Yet Lieut..
Brain was denounced pirate and was charged with
numbering the second engineer of the Chesapeake VINO
shot at and wounded of the capors, aud who, al
lhongh wounded in return, is alive at this day.
The audacious falsehood did its destined work From
all the North up the cry of vengeance, although
Mr. Seward apoogsed to the British Government for
the rccaptgre Of the chesapeake in Canadian waters
and by this apology recognised the seizure oil the
steamer by Brain and his companions as legitimate
act of Nevertheless, the same vindictFe spirit
of the dominant faction which demanded the blood OF
Wi,z for the deaths that occurred at Andrrsonvlile
bounded on the Federal authorities to seize Lieutenant
Brain who the being then over, had returned to
the South and was engaged in peaceful pursuits
For the past three years this young man has suffered
close Imprisonment, with an INDICTMENT for piracy and
murder hanging over his head. lie comes out from
his dungeon crippled up with acute rheumatism, and
with hair turned prematprely gray. And now, Ator
ney General Evarts, in his letter directing nollc
proseGu be entered in the case, declares that be en-
tertals no doubt, from the EVIDENCE PLACED before HIM,
" that Brain, at the time OF the action OF Irregular
warfare which constitutes the groud Of the Indictment,
was duly commissioned officer of the navy OF the So
called Confederate Government, and that TACT being
established" he adds, II not disposed further to
insist upon the treatment Of the as falling within
the ordinary principles of the administration CT crml-
nal justice"
Here t:cn in spite Of all reservations, we have the
ocia! recognition of the fact that Lieut. Brain was,
unquestionably at the time he captured the Chesa.
peakr "a duly commissioned officer Of the so-cai!ed
Confederate Stnes;" that the act though qualified as
one OF " irrc gulr warfare in no sense criminal
ore, and tiso vhac Of pir"uy and murder, Tor
which he had been rrcklessl indicted-and under
which it intended he should be tried felon and
punished with death-was false IS it malignant
The story is but Of the many which are equally
illustrative Of the INSCRIPTIONS course OF the Radicals
and which only differ to time, and place, and cir
punstance. At the height of their power and in the
deri4m of the war, every who acted not with them
was an adversary to be senccd crushed aid personal
hate horde Of professional spies secret denuncatio
the subornaton Of servants, and all the Infamous
cngnery Of oppression brought to bear to beat
down opposition The case of Lieut. Brain is, there
fore only singular in that he the last prisoner
mailing in Federal basiile, and that his Imprisonment
was prolonged than that OF others, and his suf
;rrlngs more acute. Baltimore Gazette