The record-union., 1895-08-03
MASON AND SLIDELL.
The Story of Their Capture Very
Graphically Told.
Much Persuasion and Little Force
Were Used-Pointed Remarks Made
by the Officers OF the English
Steamer Trent The Yankees Will
Have to Pay Well for This.''

There is vast amount of highly inter-
esting correspondence relating to the
Union and Confederate navies not prevl-
ouslv published in the first volume the
official records just issued by the Navy
Department, says the Washington CORE
spondent of the Charleston NeWS and
Courier. This work has been in course
of preparation since last July, when Con-
gress voted an appropriation to have the
records compiled and printed IN book
form. The first volume covers the period
from January 10, 1861, to December 81,
1862 Much difficulty was found in col
lecting the records, tor, while the official
reports of commanders Of fleets and OF
vessels acting singly were on tile IN the
Navy Department, it was found that the
correspondence between flag officers and
their subordinates was frequently miss
ing These papers have for the most part
been obtained, and they were used copl-
ously in the compilation of the work.
The reports of the Union commanders
are full and fairly complete.
The Confederate records are not quaIly
complete, owing TO the great difficulty IN
collecting them, and also TO the fact that
large part OF the archives OF the Con-
federate Navy Department were burned
at the close OF the war. The book shows
graphically the extraordinary expansion
OF the Union navy from peace footing
.n 1861, when it was composed OF small
FQuadrons of ships widely separated.
IN DISTANT PARTS
OF the world. to the enormous war fleet
OF 1865, numbering over 600 vessels OF all
descriptions, which maintained an elect
i've block ade on coast line OF over 5000
miles. The papers relating to the crea-
ton OF these fleets are of such Importance
that 1t bias been thought best TO compile
them in separate series.
The first series embraces the orders,
correspondence and reports OF both
Union and Confederate. relating to all
navy operations on the Atlantic and Gulf
Coasts. The second series Will embrace
the reports relating to the condition OF
the Union navy in 1861, before the COM
mencement OF hostilities; the construc-
ton and outfit Of the Confederate navy,
and returns of naval and military prop
erty captured by both navies.
The records will form the first COM
plete naval history of the war based on
official communications. Many OF these
dispatches give graphic accounts of pur-
suits, lights and escapes. The book Is
famous ships of that day and prlvateers
of both services. The two most interest
ing chapters are those devoted to the
Trent affair and the operations of Semmes
and the Alabama. The report of the
Trent affair. made by Captain Wilkes,
which Is supplemented by reports OF the
officers engaged in arrestlng Confederate
emisSaries, together with all the CORE
spondence that passed between the State
Department and the British Foreign
Office, is printed in full, and gives the
first clear account of what actually oc-
Cured when the San Jacinto overlook
the Trent, brought her to with shot
across her bow, and took Slide1 and
Mason prisoners. One of the officers
taking conspicuous part in the arrest
was Lieutenant James a. Greer, recently
retired from the navy as an Admiral.
CAPTAIN WILKES REPORT
Tells what happened in the following
words:
ION reaching Cienfuegos l learned that
Messrs. Slidell and Mason had landed in
Cuba and had reached Havana from
Charleston. | took in some coal and left
with all dispatch on the 10Th of October TO
intercept the return ofthe Theodore, but on
my arrival at Havana on the 3Ist | found
she had departed on her return, and that
Messrs Slidell and Mason, with their
Secretaries and families, were there, and
would depart on the It'll of The month ia
the English steamer Trent for ST. Thomas
on their way to England.
II made up my mind to fill up with
coal and leave the port as soon as pos
sible, and to wait at a suitable position on
The route OF the steamer 10 81. Thomas to
Intercept her and take them out. on the
afternoon of the I'd ! left Havana, In con-
tinuation of my cruise after the Sumpter
on the north side of Cuba. The next day,
when about 10 board a French brig, she
ran into us on the Starboard side of the
main chains and carried away her bow
spirit and foretopmaSt, and suffered other
damage. After taking the ship in tow l
proceeded TO within sight OF Havana
where we let her go. L then went over to
Key West, IN the hopes OF finding the
Powhattan or some other steamer to ac-
company me TO the Bahama Channel, to
make it impossible for the steamer in
which Messrs. Slidell and Mason were to
embark TO escape either in the night or
day. The Powhattan had left but the
day before, and | was therefore disap-
pointed and obliged to rely upon the
vigilance OF the officers and crew of this
ship, and, proceeding next morning to
the north side of the Island of Cuba, COM
municated with Sagua ia Grande on the
9TH, hoping TO receive a telegraphio COM
munication from Mr.. Shufelt, our Con-
sul-General. giving me the time of the
departure OF the steamer.
THE TRENT SIGHTED.
''In this, also, l WIS disappointed, and
rap to The eastward some ninety miles.
where the old Bahama Channel contracts
to the width of twelve miles, some 24O
miles from Havana, and in sight of the
PeredOn Grande lighthouse. There we
cruised until the morning of the Sth,
awaiting the steamer, believing that if
81 a al ha
us about noon OF the Sth, and we could
not possibly miss her. At ll:40 A, NJ. on
the 9Th her smoke was seen; at y our po-
sition was TO the westward of the entrance
into the narrowest part of the channel,
and about nine miles northeast from the
lighthouse, the nearest point of Cuba TO
US.
I'VE were all prepared for her, beat to
quarters, and orders were given to Lieu
tenant ID. NJ. Fairfax 10 have two boats
manned and armed, to board her and
make Messrs. SIidell, Mason. Eutis and
Macfarland prisoners and send them i'm
mediately aboard.
The steamer approached and hoisted
English colors. Our emblem was hoisted
and a shell was fired across her bow; she
maintained her speed and showed no
disposition 10 heave to: then shell was
fired across her bow that brought her to-
] hailed that | intended to send boat
on board, ana Lieutenant FAIRFAX, with
the second cutter of this ship, was
dispatched. He met with some difficulty,
aud, remaining on board the steamer with
q part of the boats crew, sent her back TO
request more assistance. The Captain of
the steamer having declined to show his
papers and passenger list, force became
necessary TO search her. Lieutenant
James a. Greer was at once dispatched in
the third cutter. also
MANNED AND ARMED.
'.NTessrs. Slidell, Mason, Eustis and Mac
farland were recognized and told they
were required to so on board this ship.