Trial of the Officers and Crew of the Privateer Savannah, on the Charge of Piracy, in the United States Circuit Court for the Southern District of New YorkWarburton, A. F. (Adolphus Frederick)
History
Trial of the Officers and Crew of the Privateer Savannah, on the Charge of Piracy, in the United States Circuit Court for the Southern District of New York
Warburton, A. F. (Adolphus Frederick)
Piracy -- United States; Privateering -- United States; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
the crew were embarked on a small pilot boat and proceeded down to
opposite Fort Sumter, where they were transferred, in small boats, to
the schooner Savannah. We shall show, by the declarations of the
parties who stand charged here to-day, and also by the facts and
circumstances of the equipment of the vessel, the intent and purpose of
this voyage. The Savannah, a schooner of fifty-three or fifty-four
tons, was armed with cannon and small arms. Pistols and cutlasses were
provided for her men. On Sunday afternoon, the 2d of June, she sailed
from opposite Fort Sumter, her crew numbering about twenty men, all of
whom are here with the exception of six, who were detached to form a
prize crew of the brig Joseph. On the morning of Monday, the 3d of
June, a sail was descried; it was remarked among the crew that the
vessel, from her appearance, was undoubtedly a Yankee vessel, as they
termed it--a vessel owned in one of the Northern States of the Union.
She proved to be the brig Joseph, laden with sugar, and bound from
Cardenas, in Cuba, to Philadelphia. The Savannah, displaying the
American flag, gave chase. When within hailing distance, Captain Baker
spoke the Joseph, ordered her captain on board his schooner, and ran up
the rebel standard. Captain Meyer, of the Joseph, perceiving that the
Savannah was armed, and that her men were ready for assault, fearing
for his safety and that of his crew, obeyed the summons. A prize crew
was placed on board the Joseph--the captain of the Savannah declaring
that he "was sailing under the flag of the Confederate Government." The
Savannah proceeded on her cruise. In a few hours afterward, she
descried the United States brig-of-war Perry. Supposing her to be a
merchant vessel, she started in pursuit, fired a gun, and finally fired
several guns. On discovering, however, that the brig was a United
States vessel-of-war, she attempted resistance, Captain Baker saying to
his men, "Now, boys, prepare for action!" When within speaking
distance, the commander of the Perry asked Captain Baker whether he
surrendered, and he replied that he did. The prisoners were transferred
from the Savannah to the Perry; thence to the United States steam
ship-of-war, Minnesota. The Savannah was then taken in charge by a
prize crew from on board the Perry and brought to New York. The
Minnesota, with the prisoners on board, proceeded--on her way to New
York--to Hampton Roads, where, after two days, she transferred the
prisoners to the Harriet Lane, which delivered them at New York. Here
they were given in charge to the United States Marshal. On my official
application, a warrant was issued by a United States Commissioner, and
under it the Marshal, as directed, took formal possession of and held
the prisoners. They were committed for trial and were, within a few
weeks afterwards, indicted by the United States Grand Jury. Although
the guilt and mischief of both piracy and treason may be embraced in
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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