Year: 1861




| From the Norfolk Day Book, Nov. 81


Commodore Strihgham and the
Hatteras Prisoners.


Some few facts in relation to Commo-
dore Stringham, Of the Minnesota, and
the Hatteras prisoners, having recently
come to our notice, we deem them worthy
OF mention as highly creditable to that
officer. 1t appears that by the articles Of
agreement between Commodore String
ham and Commodore Barron, the Halter
as prisoners surrendered as "prisoners of
war" and on arriving at New York,
Stringham sent dispatch to that effect,
and intimating that they were to be treat
ed as prisoners Of war, and not as rebels
This the administration objected to and
in consequence Of this objection there
sprsng up considerable telegraph cemrnu-
nication between the Commodore and the
administration, and the prisoners we're not
landed for several days after their arrival,
Stringham refusing to surrender them un-
less it was clearly stipulated and agreed
upon on the part Of the Government that
they we're to carry out In good faith what
had been agreed to at Hatteras. 1t is said
that Stringhsm, in the meantime, frequent
ly approached Commodore Barron and
Col. Martin, and assured those gentlemen,
on hi, honor, that they had no cause to
apprehend deceit; that sooner than he
would put them on shore without the full
assurance of the Government that the
impact would be strictly kept, he would
blow up the ship with every soul on board,
himself among the rest However, he
persevered in his determination, aud did
not, or would not, surrender one of them
until his terms we're complied with fully
The course pursued by Com. Stringham
in this case made him unpopular with the
dynasty, and either in consequence Of this
or his utter contempt of those in power,
he resigned his commission and retired to
private life, and several of the officers
under him did the same thing at the same
timo, while Hale, who had been his secre-
tary, continued on, with the determiDa-
ton to leave the Federal service as soon
as an opportunity offered to join the Con-
federate service; and he accordingly left
when he got to Hampton Roads, bringing
away with him certain articles, which, it
is said, caused tho detention of the Fed
eral feet from sailing on their expedition
some two or three days; as, after he left,
they had TO send to Washington to get
them before they could sail, not being
able to do so without them.


On the arrival of the Minnesota in the
harbor of New York, we understand, q
steamboat was chartered by some of those
cowardly scoundrels, the Zouaves, that ran
away from Bull Run so heetly. These
fellows were very eager to get at the un-
armed prisoners for the purpose of mur-
dering them. They were very impudent,
coming close alongside of the ship and in
sulting The prisoners. Commodore String
ham seeing this, ordered the steamer they
were in to keep off q certain distance or
he would sink her. And when the pris-
oners were getting ready to land on the
island, these blood thirsty braves made for
that place, on which the Commodore sent
word to the commander of the island if he
did not clear the island of these miserable
towards he would arm the prisoners for
their own defense against the execrable
wretches, whereupon they took to their
steamer and went back to New York city,


These facts we CLEAN from parties who
were among the prisoners. And it furth-
ermore appears to be confirmed that the
Federal authorities have been for some
time prior to their attack on Hatteras,
very anxious to attempt the capture of
! Norfolk, and have only been dissuaded
from it by Commodore Stringham bitterly
opposing any such fool hardy attempt.
He told them, it appears-Gen. Butler in
particular, who was most eager to urge it
on--that he, Strmgham, would have moth
ing to do with any such folly; that they
could lose twenty thousand men and all
the ships in the Baboon's navy, and they
would then be as far from it as they were
before they commenced.