mate of a merchantman, as prize-master.
My men I could replace—my officers I could not. The following letter of instructions was prepared for the guidance of the prizemaster:
Confederate States steamer Sumter, off Puerto Cabello, July 26, 1861. quartermaster and prize-master, Eugene Ruhl:
You will take charge of the prize schooner, Abby Bradford, and proceed with her, to New Orleans—making the land to the westward of the passes of the Mississippi, and endeavoring to run into Barrataria Bay, Berwick's Bay, or some of the other small inlets.
Upon your arrival, you will proceed to the city of New Orleans, in person, and report yourself to Commodore Rousseau, for orders.
You will take especial care of the accompanying package of papers, as they are the papers of the captured schooner, and you will deliver them, with the seals unbroken, to the judge of the Prize Court, Judge Moise.
You will batten down your hatches, and see that no part of the cargo is touched, during the vo
told the pilot, and several gentlemen from the shore, in great confidence, that I am going back to cruise on the coast of Cuba.
The packet will of course take that intelligence to St. Thomas.
July 23d.—Still coaling, refitting and painting.
Weath of June, that ship giving us chase.
On the morning of the 3d of July, I doubled Cape Antonio, the western extremity of Cuba, and, on the same day, captured, off the Isle of Pines, the American ship, Golden Rocket, belonging to parties in Bangor, s, and worth between thirty and forty thousand dollars. I burned her. On the next day, the 4th, I captured the brigantines Cuba and Machias, both of Maine, also.
They were laden with sugars.
I sent them to Cienfuegos, Cuba.
On the 5th of July, I cwill take charge of the prize bark, Joseph Maxwell, and proceed, with her, to some port on the south side of the island of Cuba, say St. Jago, Trinidad, or Cienfuegos.
I think it would be safest for you to go into Cienfuegos, as the enemy, from the
ts.
We ran the blockade of Pass à L'Outre, by the Brooklyn, on the 30th of June, that ship giving us chase.
On the morning of the 3d of July, I doubled Cape Antonio, the western extremity of Cuba, and, on the same day, captured, off the Isle of Pines, the American ship, Golden Rocket, belonging to parties in Bangor, in Maine.
She. was a fine ship of 600 tons, and worth between thirty and forty thousand dollars. I burned her. On the next day, the 4th, I captured the brigantines Cuba and Machias, both of Maine, also.
They were laden with sugars.
I sent them to Cienfuegos, Cuba.
On the 5th of July, I captured the brigs Ben. Dunning, and Albert Adams, owned in New York, and Massachusetts.
They were laden, also, with sugars.
I sent them to Cienfuegos.
On the next day, the 6th, I captured the barks West Wind, and Louisa Kilham, and the brig Naiad, all owned in New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.
I sent them, also, to Cienfuegos.
On the same day, I ran into that port, m
d forty thousand dollars. I burned her. On the next day, the 4th, I captured the brigantines Cuba and Machias, both of Maine, also.
They were laden with sugars.
I sent them to Cienfuegos, Cuba.
On the 5th of July, I captured the brigs Ben. Dunning, and Albert Adams, owned in New York, and Massachusetts.
They were laden, also, with sugars.
I sent them to Cienfuegos.
On the next day, the 6th, I captured the barks West Wind, and Louisa Kilham, and the brig Naiad, all owned in New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.
I sent them, also, to Cienfuegos.
On the same day, I ran into that port, myself, reported my captures to the authorities, and asked leave for them to remain, until they could be adjudicated.
The Government took them in charge, until the Home Government should give directions concerning them.
I coaled ship, and sailed, again, on the 7th.
On the 17th I arrived at the Island of Curacoa, without having fallen in with any of the enemy's ships.
I coaled again, here—h
