The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-10-24

The captarc of the Revenue Gutter Caleb CUSHING


The Capture Of the Revenue Cutter Caleb Cushing.
EDITOR NATIONAL Tribune: As the major
ity of people have an idea that the battle of
Gettysburg. Pa, was fought in the most eastern
part of the United States will try and tell
the comrades ofa battle fifsuch it can be called)
that was fought in moro easterly State, viz,
Maine at Portland Harhor, in June, 1863.
The rebel privateer Tacony having captured
and burnt several fishing smacks and other
| craft along the coast of Maine and other places,
conceived and carried into effect tho capture
Of the Revenue Cutter Caleb Cushing, then
lying in the inner harbor and just abreast of
tho City of Portland. Among the fishing
| smacks captured was one called the Archer"
| and taking the yawl-hoat belonging to her,
with mufed oars they rowed into the harbor,
the water of which happened to be calm. AS
the night was dark they got close to the cutter
before being seen and hailed, but giving q
favorable reply we're allowed to approach. I'M
mediately upon gaining the deck of the cutter
they seized the sailors on watch, captured the
boat, and the crew were put in irons and kept
between decks. As there was no wind her
captors were compelled to hitch hawser to
her and row her out of the harbor. As she
"as missed the next morning, no orders hav-
ing Deen given her to proceed to sea by tho
Custom house authorities, under whose orders
she was, q man was sent up to the observatory
on the nights of the city, and discovered her
just outside the harbor, near Portland Light,
about three miles from Fort Probe. How IL
became known she was in rebel hands don't
know, but the steamer Forest City which piled
between Portland aud Boston, and the Chesa.
peakc, which piled between Portland and New
York, were lying in the harbor. They were
fitted up with cotton-bales TO protect them and
brought over TO Fort Preble, where guns, am
muntion, and detachment of my regiment
were put on board after which they started
out to battle with the cutter.
Upon coming within range a few shots were
exchanged, but no damage was done TO either
side. 1t was at last decided to run the cutter
down, and with that end In view steamer got
on each side of her, and putting on all steam
they started. Before getting close to her she
blew up. The rebel officer having in the mean
time seen that there was no chance of her
escape, put his prisoners, officers aud men, who
were manaced, in q boat belonging to tho
cutter without oars, and set them adrift. The
rebels got into their own boat and started for
land Cape Elizabeth), not far away, but were
captured before reaching it. The cutters crew
were also picked up and taken on board.
Upon being questioned, the rebel officer said
he was Lieut.. Braine, OF the G. s. Navy. lie
and his crew were taken back to Fort Preble
and confined in the brick portion of the fort,
whore they remained for some time, when they
were transferred to Fort Warren. Boston harbor,
Mass After the destruction of the Cushing,
another cutter (the j. G. Dobbin) was sent to
Portland to replace her.
While Lieut.. Braine and his party were
prisoners Mt Fort Warren word came TO Port
land that two or three OF his crew had escaped
while being taken 10 the rear. aud had put TO
sea in dory. The cutter Dobbin was sent in
pursuit aud they were recaptnred.
Lieut.. Braine boosted while at Fort Preble
that be would, sooner or later, capture the
steamer Chesapeake which he did, in the fol-
lowing manner: lie selected q crew from those
who had been his fellow prisoners aud they
engaged passage on her from New York to
Portland. On the first night out they arose,
overp0wered tho crew, aud captured her. The
Engineer lShaferl, having refused to remain at
his post whom ordered, was killed aud his body
thrown overheard. After taking charge of the
boat. Lieut.. Braine sent the few passengers on
her to shore, aud started on cruise after more
vessels but meu-0f war being sent In pursuit,
she was ran into Halifax, n. s., whore she was
delivered up to the United States.
Some years after tho war Lieut Braine
happened 10 be in New York, whore he was
recognized, arrested, tried for tho killing Of
Shater, but was acquitted through some teobni-
caIity.
Tho yawl.boat belonging to the Archer was
kept at Fort Prehe, and used al a means of
communication between that boat aud Fort
Scammell, and during ono of the trips in very
bad weather it's crew were told 10 keep outside Of
the buoy In returning 10 scammcll by Ord
nance Serg't Brooks; bnt not needing tho ad.
vice given the boat was swamped, and Lieut.
Col. Edward Collins, retired. then a Lieulen-
ant 10 the regiment took a crew aud one OF the
Engineers boats lying at the wharf, and with
the tillor between his legs no stood mp In The
stern OF tito boat with his cap in his hand
calling on the men 10 hold on 10 the gwamped
boat, that help was ut hand. Two of the party
were drowned, but tho rest were saved, among
them by the nams OF Skinner, who Is
the only one | reniembeF-oue VIC used TO call
"Gen. Burnside" as no favored him very
much. The boat drfird toward Portland, but
whether IL was ever recovered have forgotten.
Should any of tho old regiment who partici-
pated In the capture Of Lieut.. Braine's party
be alive. would like them to give their YER
sion OF IL through fHE NATIONAL TRIBuNE,
as am writing from heaFsay aud memory not
having been at Fort Praba when 10 took place,
aud am no doubt away on In some particulars,
but correct la the main
Trusting sou will publish this, az 10 may BIO
the means Of getting tho whole truth OF tho
afiair--MATT. L. KIPPAx. Drummer, Co. A,
I'd battalion, aud Go. ID, ist Battalion, 18th
IT, y. Inf.
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