The Seizure of the Streamer Planter at Charleston.
--Under the heading of ‘"disgusting treachery and negligence,"’ the Charleston
Mercury, of Wednesday last, thus narrates the particulars of an affair which we have heretofore briefly noticed in our telegraphic column:
‘
Yesterday, at daylight, the steamer
Planter, in the absence of her officers, was taken by four or five of her colored crew from her berth at Southern Wharf to the enemy's fleet.
She is a high-pressure cotton boat, of light draught, formerly plying on the
Pee Dee river, but latterly chartered by the
Government, with her officers and crew, from
Mr. Ferguson, her owner, and used as a transport and guard boat about the harbor of
Charleston.
Her armament was a 32-pounder and a 24-pound howitzer.
The evening previous she had taken aboard four guns for one of the newly- erected works, either that on
Morris Island of Fort Timber, viz: a 42-pounder, rifled and banded, an 8-inch columbiad, both of which had been struck at the reduction of
Fort Sumter, an 8-inch seacoast howitzer, and a 32-pounder.
These guns were to have gone to their destination early in the morning, and been mounted yesterday.
Three sentinels were stationed in sight of her, and a detail of twenty men were within hail for the relief of the post.--Between halt-past three and four o'clock the
Planter steamed up and cast loose, the sentinels having no suspicion of foul play, and thinking she was going about her business — At quarter past four o'clock she passed
Fort Sumter, blowing her whistle, and plainly seen.
She was reported by the corporal of the guard as the guard boat, to the officer of the day,
Capt. Flemming, one of the best and most reliable officers of the garrison.
The fort is only called on to recognize authorized boats passing, taking for granted that they have their officers aboard.
This was done as usual.
The run to
Morris Island goes a long way out past the fort, and then turns.
The Planter on this trip did not turn.
The officers of the
Planter were
Captain Relyea,
Mate Smith, and
Engineer Pitcher.--They have been arrested, and will, we learn, be tried by Court-Martial for disobedience of a standing
general order, that the officers and crews of all light-draught steamers in the employment of the
Government will remain on board day and night.
The result of this negligence may be only the loss of the guns and of the boat, desirable for transportation.
But things of this kind are sometimes of incalculable injury.
The lives and property of this whole community are at stake, and might be jeopardized by events apparently as trifling as this.
It is, therefore, due to the service and the cause, that this breach of discipline, however innocent in intention on the part of the officers, should be dealt with as it deserves.
Without strict-discipline no military operations can succeed.
’
The Charleston
Couriersays:
‘
We are informed that this shameful proceeding is due wholly to the criminal absence of the master,
mate, and engineer, from their posts, and that
General Riptey had arrested them for the purpose of having them court-martialed.
The escape took place in broad daylight, the crew taking advantage of the absence of all the officers, and the vessel having been seen, on her way, by both the police detective and a sentinel on duty, they supposed her on the lawful errand of conveying cannon from one post to another.
’
