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 — John Shaqi
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
_A._ He lowered his boat, and came on board with his own boat and crew.
Captain Baker said to him that he was under the Confederate flag, and
he considered him a prisoner, and his vessel a prize to the Confederate
Government.
_Q._ Repeat that?
_A._ If I bear in mind, Captain Meyer asked what authority he had to
hail his vessel, or to that effect. The reply of Captain Baker, I
think, was that he was under a letter of marque of the Confederate
Government, and he would take him as a prisoner, and his vessel as a
prize to the Southern Confederacy. I do not know the very words, but
that was the purport of the statement, as near as I understood.
_Q._ When Captain Baker hailed the Joseph, do you remember the language
in which he hailed her?
_A._ I think, "Brig, ahoy! Where are you from?" He answered him where
from--I think, from Cardenas; I think, bound to Philadelphia or New
York.
_Q._ Did he inquire about the cargo?
_A._ No, sir, I think not, until Captain Meyer came on board. We were
but a short distance from the brig. The brig was hove to.
_Q._ Do you remember anything further said by Captain Baker, or any of
the prisoners?
_A._ He had some further conversation with Captain Meyer, on the deck,
with respect to the vessel, where from, the cargo, and the like of
that. She had in sugars, as near as my memory serves me.
_Q._ What flag had the Savannah, or how many?
_A._ She had the Confederate flag.
_Q._ What other flags, if any?
_A._ She had the United States flag.
_Q._ Any other?
_A._ No, sir, I do not know that she had any other.
_Q._ Did you notice what flag the Joseph had?
_A._ I did not see her flag, or did not notice it. I saw her name, and
where she hailed from. I knew where she belonged.
_Q._ What was on her stern?
_A._ I think "The Joseph, of Rockland." I knew where it was. I had been
there several times.
_Q._ When the sail was first descried was there any flag flying on the
Savannah?
_A._ No, sir.
_Q._ When you ran down towards the Joseph was there any flying?
_A._ Yes, sir, we had the Confederate flag flying, and, I believe, the
American flag.
_Q._ Which was it?
_A._ I believe both flying--first one, and then the other.
_Q._ Which first?
_A._ I think the Stars and Stripes first. I am pretty certain that Mr.
Evans then hauled that down.
_Q._ When running down toward the Joseph you had the American flag
flying?
_A._ Yes, sir; I think so; and Mr. Evans hauled down that, and put up
the Confederate flag, when we got close to her.
_Q._ She ran with the American flag until close to her, and then ran up
the Confederate flag?
_A._ Yes, when some mile or so of her--in that neighborhood.
_Q._ Do you remember who gave the order to the prize crew to leave the
Savannah and go on board the Joseph?
_A._ Issued the orders? Well, Captain Baker, I believe, told the pilot,
Mr. Evans, to select his men, and go with the boat.
_Q._ And they went on board?
_A._ Yes, they went on board.
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