Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-02-27
The Chesapeake Seizure-statement O.
Lieutenant Brain.

Lieutenant Brain.
1t is stated that Lieutenant Brain, who
was connected with the late Confederate
army, and has been for thirty months
confined in the Kings county New
York; penitentiary, is greatly broken
down. Inhammatory rheumatism has
swollen his feet and driven him to the
use OF a crutch, aud silvered his hair ct
the early age of twenty-nine. The story
of his seizure of the Cromwell steamer
Chesapeake has often been told, but
never before from his own lips. He has
sent the following statement to the New
York Tribune:
My name is John G. Brain - not
Braine--and was first lieutenant COM
manding in the Confederate navy. My
commission and orders were written on
fy-sheet note paper, aud they. were
either worn out or lost. The archives of
the Confederate naval department being
destroyed by the Federal forces, it is i'm
possible to obtain the original papers de-
posited there, but have placed affidavits
in the hands of the Attorney General
of the United States, setting out all the
facts in the case. These sfidavits are
by Stephen r. Mallory, the Secretary of
the Confederate Navy; DR.. Jones, su-
ditor, and Mr.. Tidball, Chief Clerk
of the Naval Department; Admiral
Semmes, Captain Matfit and others.
In June, 1868, / received orders from
the department at Richmond to go North
with nv command, consisting of seven
teen officers and men, and take passage
in a steamer with the purpose of csptu-
ring it upon the high seas. The Chesa--
peske sailed from New York for Portland
In December, and took passage upon
her. in obedience to the orders | had
previously received. After seizing the
vessel | was TO proceed to Seal Cove, In
the island of Grand Mansn, off the coast
of Maine for coal, and there hand the
vessel over to Captain John Parker, my
superior officer
In making the capture / detailed
Lieutenant David Cowlins and two men
10 take charge of the engine and fire.
room. The engine-room communicated
with the cabin by door on the port side.
After seeing the men go into the engine
room passed forward, Lieutenant 81.
A. Psrr having charge Of the deck in my
absence.
While forward heard shot fred in
the engine room, aud at once went aft
through the cabin into the engine room,
and thence into the fire room, where |
found the fireman in irons. Returning
to the desk l found no one in the engine
room, but, much TO my regret, saw the
body of the second engineer OF the Chesa-
peake lying across the threshold Of the
door. Going forward / found Lieutenant
] Cowlins, who reported to me that when
he went into the engine room the en-
gineer was below oiling the machinery,
but after securing the fireman be found
that officer at his post. BE ordered the
engineer to surrender as prisoner of war
10 the Confederate States Of Americs, and
that officer replied by firing q shot, which
manned one of the men for life.
Ihad no arms except Coli's revolvers.
On arriving at Seal Cove, after the cap
ture. l found that my superior officer was
not there. remained about three hours,
and then proceeded up the Bay Of Fundy,
meeting Capiin Parker at ses, in pilot
boat, about kixty miles from St. John,
INF. The captain, officers and some Of
the cres Of the Chesapeake were trans
ferred to the pilot boat and taken to st.
John. Captain Parker then took COM
mand, and changing the course Of the
vessel, put into shslburne, NoyA Scoiia,
for the purpose Of eoaliag. While the
vessel was in port was ordered 10 Hall
fax TO procure supplies, and I was never