Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1883 edition. Excerpt: ... Lieutenant Preston will explain in detail how the mail fell into our hands. Major Saunders, who had charge of it, thinks it was thrown overboard, and I submit that he should not be undeceived by the publication in our papers that the official dispatches were taken, as well as the ordinary mail. He is at present on the Powhatan. The captain, Harris, is here, and I thought it best that he should be sent North in the Blackstone, one of our own vessels. Respectfully, etc., S. F. Du Pont, Rear Admiral. Flag Ship Wabash, Port Royal Harbor, S. C., Jan. 9th, 1863. Captain S. W. Godon, United States Ship Powhatan, Senior Officer, Charleston: Sir: -- Your interesting report of the capture of the sloop Mercury, on the 4th inst., has been received. The Hope arrived here, with the prize in tow, near midnight of the 7th. After looking over the letter in pencil referred to particularly in your letter, and some of the other documents, I determined to send the captured mails by a special bearer of dispatches, not being willing to trust them to the ordinary mail, and accordingly ordered my flag, lieutenant Preston, to proceed at once to Washington in the Matanzas, which was to sail on the 8th inst. The captain of the sloop, Harris, will be sent North in the United States store-ship Courier in a few days, and the rebel agent, Major Saunders, in the Blackstone. Please to express to Commander Frailey my commendation of his vigilance in securing this important prize. I approve of the precautions taken to prevent her capture being known in Charleston. I endeavored to keep the fact that the mail had been captured from the people on shore, so that Lieutenant Preston would be the first to inform the Department of it . The Blunt leaves in the morning for your...