The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1878-07-24
CAPTURE OF A CRUISE II
How n New York steamer was Seized
by - Confederate Crew--rhe Re
cent Arrest OF One OF Her
Number On a Charge
of Murder.

Captain John c. Braine, an ex-com-
mander in the Confederate navy and
captain of the expedition which cap
tured the Chesapeake in 1868, char
acterizes the accounts of the capture of
that vessel as telegraphed from Boston
in connection with the arrest of Leu
tenant Henry \. Parr as grossly mac
curate. He scouts the idea of being
himself arrested, and says neither he
nor Parr were ever guilty of piracy,
that they held commissions in the Con-
federate navy and we're only amenda-
bic to the rules of war, and their ex-
plots were in the way of legitimate
warfare.
He conversed freely, and gave what
he called the true account of the cap
ture, substantially as follows: In 1862
Robert Smalls, colored, recently men,
Der of Congress from Beaufort Is. g.
district, was pilot of the steamer Plan
ter, then lying at Charleston. He
killed the guards of the vessel, ran her
out and delivered her over to the Fed
eral authorities. For this Smalls was
presented with a purse and made cap
tain of the steamer. This exploit sug-
gested the idea of retaliation to the
Confederate government. Command
er Braine was ordered to go to New
York and capture any vessel he saw
fit. He left Richmond, Va, in Janu-
airy, 1868, taking with him First Liou-
tenant H. A. Parr, and Second Lieu
tenant David Collins. phsy were all
officers in the Confederate navy. They
ran the blockade, and, after taking
passage On different vessels, reached
Halifax thence they proceeded to st.
John, where they reported tC the Con-
federato agent, who had on deposit
100000 to $500, 900 in gold. with
orders from Jefferson Davis to render
Braine's expedition all the assistance
in his power. Braine drew on him lib
orally, enlisted a crew Of twenty-five
men, and spent the summer in drilling
them. On the LIST Of December he
took his men and made a trip with
them by boat and rail via Boston to
New York. His account of their trip
and their many subterfuges to avoid
detection is very graphic and interest
ing. They passed as company Of
Union recruits going to join their conf
mand. The officers wore their gray
uniforms under citizens dress. On ar
irving at New York each man was
provided with a brace of Colts revolv-
ers and twenty cartridges by cOnfed-
crate government agent in William
street. Sentries were posted to watch
the loading of the Chesapeak, and
whsI she was ready to sail all went on
board except the enlisted engineer,
who had deserted. The vessel pro-
ceeded down the haTbqr, and when OPP
posite the battery made a stop. Braine
supposed they had been betrayed, but
only belated passenger came on board.
At supper the captain told Braine that
none of his mems fare had been paid.
II paid their fare" says Braine, think
ing that l would soon have the money
back. That night myself and Lieu
tenant Parr packed and capped the re-
YOlvers in my state-roOm and secretly
handed them to the men. At half.
past one on Monday morning. Decem-
Der It'll, | aroused Lieutenant Parr.
We donned our naval uniforms of gray,
turned out our men, and informed them
that the time for action had come. On
entering the saloon at two o'clock, the
: lights were turned low, and no one was
! visible but an old skipper sitting by
the stove. He remarked that was up
rather early. l replied that the sea
, air did not agree with me, and that, IL
. the name of the Confederate States o.
America h0 was my prisoner. W.
, made all our captures in the name o
our government, said Braihe, and thu
l charge of piracy falls to the ground.
: then ordered Lieutenant Parr will
r three men to proceed q4 DECK and cap