The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-07-05

loyalty to the South was concerned, and was warned to be careful of him.
 Peterborough was a master and serv- ed on board the Virginia, the flagship of the James River squadron. He never held lieutenant's commission in the Confederate States navy, except an act ing commission under me My first meeting with Edenborough was in 1864 when l was ordered from Richmond in June, 1864. for tine purpse of capturing the United States mail steamship Roam oke. the Morning or Evening Star, which piled between New York, Havana and New Orleans. left --denborough in Richmond, and proceeded with my of ficers and men to the port of Whining ton. N. C., for the purpose of running the blockade. conveying my crew to St Henry A. Parr of Nashville, Tenn, executive officer and first lieutenat; Thomas R. Little of Mobile, Ala, second lieutenant Robert S. Troft of Mobile. chief engineer; Robert S. Connold of Galveston, Texas. first assistant chief engineer; R. H. Lathrop of New Or leans purser. The seamen were Thomas H. Braddock. James and John Morehead of Kentucky and Thomas Gage of with me at the time
 Peterborough, who claims to have been one of the capturing party. was basking at the time in the sunshine of Richmond. I purchased an old English schooner the Retribution. for the purpose of conveying the crew to the island of Cuba to keep the expedition a secret. Upon arriving at Mantanzas. Cuba. in August. 1864, condemned the vessel and sold her at public auction. transferred my officers and men to the City of Havana. and re- ported to Charles H. Helm, the Confed- crate agent On September @, I had completed my arrangements. and began early in the morning to send my men as as passengers on board the Roanoke, which was to sail in the afternoon. At o'clock, the sailing hour, all of my men went on board We wore our full uni forms under citizens clothing, and were -ully armed with revolvers. each man being supplied with an abundance of handcuffs to iron the prisoners.
 At five minutes to o'clock we drop ped our disguises. surprised the crew. and in ffty-five minutes afterwards had complete command of the ship the only person who was killed being the ship carpenter. The Roanoke had on at the time crew of fifty men and forty-five passengers. There was on board $11 800 in Spanish ounces, and $20,0OO in green backs. then worth about 90 cents on a dollar. Edenborough's statement that he had from $65O00 to $75, 600 in specie, and that each officer received $4,0OO as his share-after the disbursene were very small. The Confederate blockade run ner The Owl upon which. according to his statement. the booty was transfer red, was not in port at the time As the authorities did not allow me to take the ship into port. I was compelled to make the attempt to coal her on high seas. The Confederate agent George P. Black. had sent me two hundred and fifty tons of coal. with provisions, and a crew of twenty men, on the brig Mathilde. After working four days found it impossible to coal the ship and after a consultation with my officers. I decided to burn her. in accordance with my orders from the Secretary of the Navy. After burning the ship on Sunday, October g, I went ashore with my men. We were arrested on the charge of piracy through the influence of the federal consul, but upon proving my commission and orders, I was at once discharged. remained in the island of Bermuda with my officers and men untii the latter part of December, when l received orders from the Con- federate Naval Department to report in person for orders I carried dispatches from Mason and Slidell. and went to sea on board the government blockade runner. The owl Captain J M. Mafiit commanding, who landed me four days afterwards at Lockwood's Folly N. C.
 All the officers and men remained in Bermuda awaiting my return On the 18th of February. 1865. l received orders to proceed to the port Of San Francisco, Cal. for the purpose of capturing one of the Pacific mail steamers on her voy- age to Panama. l obtained my trans portation on the same day and that night news was received that Charles