Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-06-30
CAPTAIN BRAlNE'S
Story Of the Capture &C The Steamer
Chesapeake in December, 1868,
While on her Voyage from
New York City to Port
land, Maine.
Proof that Henry A. Parr, Late of the
Confederate Navy, Arrested in BOs-
ton Last Week Charged with
Piracy and Murder, is Not
Guilty.

Chicago Tribune, 9th: A lopg special |
the Tribune from Boston yesterday mornin
announcing the arrest of Henry A. Psrr, late
the Confederate navy, on charge of murder
| committed while engaged in the seizure
| the steamer Chesapeake, in 1868, while o
her voyage from New York to Portland, re
wives one of the most thrilling episodes of tn
war, and one of which no accurate histor
| has heretofore been written. No event eve
| created such excitement in shipping circles
| tor If armed men were gong disguised a
| passengers on ships leaving the most popu
lous and busy seaport of the United State
| and then Selling them on the high seas, NJ
| ship or cargo was safe, and for few day
after tldings of this daring capture by tn
Confederates reached New York, shlppin.
interests were paralyzed, and owners hest
tated to send their vessels to sea. The Fed
eral government was aroused, and no les
than fourteen guDboats and men-of- wa
were dispatched to Nova Scotia to recaptur,
If possible the Chesapeake and her daring
captOrs. The accomplishment of this in
British port, and the subsequent decision de-
clarlng her prize OF war, is a we'll known
chapter of English neutrality. The capture
of Parr in Boston day before yesterday wa:
the second arrest of any of the captors OF the
Chesapeake on the charge of piracy, and hi:
trial will be watched with interest. The true
story of the capture of the Chesapeake the
Tribune is the first to publish, being the fol
lowing interview with
CAPTAIN JOHN C. BRAINE,
ex-commander in the Confederate navy, and
captain of the expedition that captured the
Chesapeake. He is, of course, very high au-
thorlty on the subject, and a most important
witness for Parr in his coming trial for pi-
nNfa g a.
nous ofhc 1rs of the southern navy, crippled
and battle SCARED, and celebrated in history
as the last Confederate prisoner of war re-
leased from a Federal prison, He has since
his release followed peaceful pursuits, living
winters on his orange plantation in Florida
and travelling in the north in summer. He
is at present resident of Chicago, and is
president of the Excelsior manufacturing
company, az LaSalle street, where a reporter
of the Tribune found him yesterday at his
desk. He had read the special dispatch to
the Tribune from Boston announcing the
capture OF his old chief officer, which he de-
clared full of errors as to names and dates.
He stoutly denied that himself or Parr was
ever guilty of piracy or murders; they held
commissions in the Confederate navy, ard
were only amenable to the rules bf war He
conversed freely on the subject secuted the
idea of being arrested, and gave the follow
ing account of the capture of the Chesapeake
and the
ORGANIZATION OF THE EXPEDITION.
In 1862 Robert Smalls. negro pilot on the
steamer Planter, at Charleston, South Caro-
lima, while lying at anchor in the harbor,
killed the three sleeping guards locked their
families below, and then getting up steam,
ran the vessel outside and delivered her to the
Federal blockading fleet Smalls was pre-
sented with a purse, made captain of the
q rt ste hor 40, do, 10,
the feet. He was, until recently, Hon Rob-
ert Smalls, M. e. from the Beaufort district
This suggested the idea of retaliation to the
Confederate government, and they ordered
Commander Braine to proceed to the port of
New York and capture any vessel he saw it,
Commander Braine left Richmond in Janu-
airy, 1863, proceeded to Wilmington, ran the
blockade to st. George, in the Bermudas, and
from there he took passage on the Cunard
steamer Alpha for Halifax, taking with him
two other officers OF the Confederate navy,
First Lieutenant Henry A. Parr, arrested
Tuesday, and Second-Lieutenant David Col
Inns.
Captain Braine said: My orders were di-
rect from Hon. S. Fl. Mallory. secretary Con-
federate navy, and were to go from Halifax di-
rect to st. Johns, New Brunswick, and report
to the Confederate government agent at that
place, who had special orders from President
Davis to render me all assistance in his DOW
er. The agent at st. Johns always had on
deposit from two hundred thousand dollars TO
three hundred thousand dollars gold, and
drew on him literally. Myself and officers
passed the summer months enisting and
drilling crew for our expedition. Twenty
two men were enlisted and drilled thorough
y from three to FIVE hours per day in the
manual OF arms, cutlaSs and pistol exercise.
The drill room was over AN old carriage fac
tory, and though the city swarned with Fed
eral spies they came and went so secretly
that we were never discovered. In October,
1868, | waa
ORDERED TO SPRINGFIELD, MASS,
to make plans of an i'm provement in muskets
the United States government was then max
ing. On reaching Springfield | stopped at
the Massasoit house, representing myself as
a British officer belonging to regiment sta
toned IN Montreal. Isoon became acquaint-
ed with the officers on duty, and had the
entree OF the arsenal. | secured The infor-
nation needed, made my report to the Con-
federate secretary of war, and left for New
York, There stopped at the Wat 'on hotel,
On broadway and reported to the govern
ment agent, and visited several Confederate
otncers stationed in the city. | passed two
weeks inspecting the shipping in The harbor,
and, after examining z great many vessels,
inally selected
THE CHESAPEAKE,
ying at pier No. IA, and plying between New
ork and Portland, Maine. She was a new
crew vessel of eight hundred tons burden,
irst-class engines, and barkentine rig, and |
In Al vessel in every respect. took passage |
IN her to Portland, to see if she would suit !
ny purpose. She behaved admirably al sea
md determined to capture her. From Port |
and ! proceeded direct to st. Johns and mus |
cred roy men, leaving there on the second of |
)pcqn1har yUIth nd
III told, as passengers on the steamer New |
england for Boston. On the vessel getting |
lnder way | found a Federal spy named |
smith, pretending to be a baggageman. |
When the vessel touched at Portland / told |
smith | was going 10 Montreal, and left the |
essel, and went by rail to Boston. Smith s |
uspicions were lulled. and he returned to st. |
ohns. AT Boston | made arrangements /.
With the Confederate government agent to |
ranster my men gcross the city. ! waited |
he arrival or my men at the wharf, and they |
we're transferred to the New London depot in
he coach of the Parker house, being repre-
ented as recruits for the Fourteenth infantry,
hen stationed at New York. This is probably |
HE FIRST CONFEDERATE ARMED FORCE
hat ever invaded the loyal city of Boston
me men carried out we'll their disguise of re-
ruits, and on the train sang John Bro,cn
nd DOZEN toith the Traitors ard Up KIT. tas !
'tdT's with such se.sor that one loyal citizen |
n the train at Worcester, where they stopped
en- minutes for refreshments, treated the |
Whole crowd. At New London we went on
'oard the steamer City OF Boston for New
lork, and the hrst sight that met our eyes
vas two companies of regulars with their
rms stacked on deck. For a moment my
eart beat fast, and | thought we were in a
rap. Myself and officers wore our gray uni
orms under our citizens clothes, and detec-
ION would have been sure it examined At
light o'clock Saturday morning we arrived in
lew York. Detectives swarmed around the
'ier. My men were divided into four squads,
nd escaped detection, going to the saloons
nd hotels in the vicinity. | posted watch
n the wharf, who was relieved every two
ours, as the Chesapeake was loading; and |
vent 70 .he Confederate government agent in
William street to arrange Tor
ARMS AND AMMUNITION.
The men were provided with brace each of |
,olts revolvers and twenty cartridges. At |
lalf-past four o'clock | went on board, and
vhen the vessel sailed at five found all men
N board. except the engineers, who deserted
n New York. The vessel proceeded down |
he harbor, ana opposite the Battery came to
stop. 1t was critical moment. | expect /
d we had been betrayed, and that while .
lnder the guns of The fort we were TO be er-
ested, but it was only a be.ated passenger |