The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-06-28
HISTORY REPEATED.
Another Version of the Capture of the
Ehesapeake,

AhUSMcT NEFB&Dm 0E Gm6 &apIUFG or the
Chesapeake.
CHICAGO, June 27-Capt. John c. Braine-
an ex-commander in the Confederate navy
and captain OF the expedition which captured
the Chesapeake in 1868, characterizes the ac-
counts OF the capture Of that vessel as tele-
graphed from Boston in connection with the
arrest of Lieut.. Henry A. Parr as grossly in
himself arrested, and says neither he nor
Parr were even guilty of piracy, that they
held COMMISSIONS in the Confederate navy
and were amenable to the rules Of war, and
their exploits were in the way of legitimate
warfare, He conversed freely and gave what
he called a true account Of the capture, SUBJ
stantially as follows:
In 1862, Robert Smalis (coloredl recently
member of Congress from Beaufort, South
Carolina District, was pilot of the steamer
Planter, then laying at Charleston. He killed
the guards OF the vessel, ran her out and de-
livered her over to the Federal authorities.
For this Smalls was presented with purse
and made captain Of the steamer. This ex-
Confederate government, and Com'r Braine
was ordered to go to New York and capture
any vessel he saw fit. He left Richmond, Va,
in January, 1868, taking with him First Lieut..
H.. Parr and Second Lieut.. David
Se GNPS Gasy msFs nsTs all and GsFs 2ad orders 9
direct from Hon. $. Ell. Mallory, Secretary of
the Confederate Navy. They ran the block
ade, and after taking passage on different ves-
sells, reached Halifax, thence they proceeded
to ST. John, where they reported to Con-
federate agent, who had on deposit from
500, 900 to 100000 in gold, with orders from
jeff Davis to render Braines expedition all
the assistance in his power. Braine drew on
him enlisted q eEeTH 81 twenty-five
men, and spent the summer drilling them.
On the first Of December ne took the men and
made trip with them by boat and rail, via
Boston TO New York. His account of
the trip and the many subterfuges
to avoid detection are very graphic and
Union recruits going to join their command
The officers wore their gray uniforms under
their citizens dress. On arriving at New
York each man was provided with brace OF
Colts revolvers and twenty cartridges by
Confederate government agent In William
street. Sentlies were posted to watch the
loading of the Chesapeake, and when she was
ready all went aboard except an enlisted
engineer, who had deserted. The vessel pro-
ceeded down the harbor, and when opposite
the battery, made stop, Braine supposing
they had been bretrayed, but only a belated
passenger came an board.
At supper the captain told Braine that none
of his mems fare had been paid. paid their
fare, says Braine, thinking that | would soon
have the money back. That night myself and
Lieut.. Parr packed and capped the revolvers
in my stateroom, and secretly handed them
to the men. At half-past 1 o'clock Monday
morning, December 7, aroused Lieut.. Parr.
We donned naval uniforms of gray, turned
out our men, and told them the time Tor ae-
tion had come.
On entering the saloon at 2 o'clock the
lights were turned low and no one was visible
but an old skipper sitting by the stove. He
remarked / was up rather early. I replied
that the sea air did not agree with me, and
that, In the name of the Confederate States of
America, he was my prisoner. We made all
our captures in the name of our government,
said Braine, and the charge of piracy falls to
the ground. | then ordered Lieut.. Parr with
three men to proceed to the deck and capture
the first officer who had the watch and wait
for orders. Lieut.. Collins / ordered to the
engine-rOom. He took three men, and his Or
ders were to arrest all in the name of the
Confederate States, and on no account to fire
on any man unless he resisted, and then pro-
ceeded to the main deck with the rest of my
men, and posted sentinel at the companion
way. When amidship heard a man run to
the portside and shot was fired at the COM
panion way. 1t was the first officer, who,
disregarding the hail of the sentry, was try
ing to reach the deck again by the man-hole.
He was shot twice.
passed down to the engine room and found
the steam going down. and no engineer on
In irons in front of the furnace. Lieut.. Collins
reported to me that while putting the tiremen
in irons one of them resisted and was fired at;
then the engineer, hearing this, armed HIM
Sell VIII d IOuT DdTTolleu onafpS DeFIng6F,
and on being ordered to surrender fired at
one Of my men. The fire was returned, and
the engineer was killed. This was 0rrin
Shepherd, the second engineer, for whose
murder as a pirate Lieut.. Parr was arrested.
l Immediately went below and found the
engine room. The body was sewed In sheet
and thrown overheard. I took three men
and ordered Capt Willetts to surrender to
the Confederate States as a prisoner Of war.
Instead of so doing he leaped out and ran ten
Or twelve times around the deck before he
was captured. did not like to fire on him.
l put him In irons in the wheel-house.
The second officer | found secreted behind
the ice chest, and put him in irons to keep
the captain company. The chief engineer,
when ordered to surrender, only opened his
door on crack and was fired at and slightly
wouded in the chin, when he dashed out and
ran around the deck in a shirt and rather
cool costume for December weather. Another
of the officers, Henderson, got down on his
knees and begged for his life. ] put him in
irons and sent him to the wheel-house. The
total time occupied in the capture was 35
minutes, including the putting of all the
crew in the fOrecastle in irons,
dOuSed all the lights, changed the ships
course, and took my departure from Cape
Elizabeth light at o'clock that morning, hav-
the English island of. Grand Manan, opposite
Eastport, Maine, and there turn her over to
Capt. Parker, Of the Confederate navy
Capt. Braine concludes his narrative by
telliRg of the chase and capture of the Chesa-
peake by the United States gunboat Ella
Anna, in tho port Of Lahave, where she was
taking coal. He says Parr is wealthy, and
caa fight his own battle, but he does not see
how he can be held on The charge of piracy or
murder.
The Porter Trial