The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-09-21
A NOTED CONFEDERATE
Interesting Interview
With Captain John
G.. Brain.
THE LAST CONFEDERATE TO BE RE-
LEASED.
His Confinement on the Charge of Piracy.

Yesterday morning brief personal in
the TINES announced the fact that Cap
tain John c. Brain of Confederate Naval
fame was in the city.
CAPTAIN Brain was one Of the most gal
liant and distinguished Confederate Naval
officers of the war. He was a regular
"Mosby at sea-" and carried on, under o
commission of commander from the Con-
federate States Government, in COM
mand Of different privateers. a partisan
ranger war upon the high seas.
His first exploit Of note was the cap
ture of the steamer Roanoke" for the
expense of which expedition be was sup
piled with the means by well known par
ties here In Richmond. He was pro-
noted from lieutenant for this act Of gal-
lantry, and being put In command OF an.
other vessel, soon after lin 1869, captured
the steamer Chesapeake right ut the en-
trance of New York harbor. For this
last capture he was charged with piracy
by the Washington Government, and.
after the war had been ended several
months, was arrested and placed in the
Brooklyn penitentiary, where be was
kept for over two years under the charge
of being apirate
Yesterday morning Captain Brain paid
a visit to the TINES office, and without
being aware of it, was interviewed on
the subject of his adventures. His story
reads like a romance, which would re-
quire volumes to narrate.
IN THE pRo0KLys PESIrESrIARY.
The special subject of conversation
with him was his life In the Brooklyn
Penitentiary. He said that while there he
had living death The authorities gave
him all he wished for in the way OF eat
ing, drinking and smoking. but allowed
him no personal liberty whatever. In
consequence, he could not take necessary
recreation, and the strain upon his con-
stitution was fearful. He was anxious
to be brought TO trial, but no trial was
youchsafed him, and he is satisfied that,
being afraid TO try him, the Federal Gov
ernment deliberately sought to worry his
life out of him, just as cat worries The
life ont of a mouse, and exactly as the
government, under Stanton and Andrew
Johnson, tried to worry the life out OF
ex- President Davis at Fortress Monroe,
the only difference being that Brain was
left In prison months after Mr.. Davis
had been finally released on his own
recognizance.
During his imprisonment he was the
recipient of many attentions, and on one
occasion the ladies of Richmond formed
a club and raised money TO supply him
with tobacco and such other luxuries as
he might desire, which were duly for
warded him. He was finally, after nearly
two years and a half Imprisonment, un-
der the absurd charge of being pirate.
released from his dungeon cell on his own
recogniZanee TO attend o trial which
never came, and all charges against him
were dismissed.
HIS VARIOUS SERVICES.
Besides the capture Of the Roanoke
and the Chesapeake, Captain Brain did
other signal service for the Confcderacy.
having captured large number OF mer-
chanimen and other vessels flying the
United States flag. One instance he relat-
ed, in conversation yesterday, which has
decided local interest. lie said that he
had been commissioned by the Confed-
crate Government to enlist crew for
privateer which was lying in the river,
lust below Rockets, waiting for him to
take command He stopped at the old
Spottswood House, corner OF Eighth
and Main streets, and endeayored 10 Sc
cure his men. After several weeks
he managed to enlist crew
of twenty-five aud manned his
vessel. lie proceeded down TO
the capes, but had nothing TO eat but
what oysters he could catch, and nothing
warmer to drink than hot water Round
ing the capes, he proceeded up Chesa-
peak Bay where be encountered gov
ernment transport laden with suffers
supplies and bound for Point Lookout.
One shot across her bows caused this
transport to haul TO, and in a few
moments, the captain Of the transport
and all aboard were released under bond,
the vessel was government prize, and
his starving crew were feeding on officers
rations. This capture occurred about .
o'clock In the morning., and seeing the
necessity of beating a hasty retreat, he
again went down the BAY, and before
daylight was off on the high seas armed
and equipped for an extended cruise.
HIS VISIT HERE.
As already stated, it would require q
volume To narrate all that Captain Brain
told Of his adventures 10 the space OF
two hours. He has letters from Hon.
Jefferson Davis and other prominent
Confederate officials at.esting his gal
lantry and the services he rendered. He
is gentleman Of great ingenuity, and
has discovered a process Of making
cement from furnace Stag. A company
for the manufacture of cement by this
nrocess has been chartered ia Chattano0-