The Daily Dispatch: November 7, 1864., [Electronic resource], The Action of the Bermuda authorities in the case of the Captors of the steamer Roanoke.

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The Action of the Bermuda authorities in the case of the Captors of the steamer Roanoke.

The Bermuda papers comment very severely upon the course of the Colonial authorities towards the regularly commissioned officers of the Confederate prize steamer Roanoke, Captain Brain and his officers and men having been arrested at St. Georges, and compelled to spend three nights in a British jail, on a charge admitted to be untenable, and bail refused. This course has been pursued at the instigation and demand of the Federal authorities. It appears that Captain Brain, after capturing the steamer, could not carry her into Wilmington, and had to burn her and land her passengers at Bermuda. To the surprise of all, the Confederates were arrested and sent to jail. They were then examined before a court, and Captain Brain's commission was produced, and his letter of instructions from the Secretary of the Confederate States Navy. The signatures of Mr. Mallory were proved by Mr. Fry. The letter of instructions were as follows:

Confederate States of America,
Navy Department,

Richmond, May 26, 1864,
Acting Master John C. Brain, Confederate States Navy, Richmond, Virginia:
Sir:

You will herewith receive an appointment of Acting Master in the Navy, and will proceed to Wilmington and there make the necessary arrangements to capture upon the high seas the Federal steamer Roanoke, or the steamers Morning or Evening Star, all of which vessels are on a line running between New York and Havana.

In case you succeed in capturing either of the above steamers you will bring her and the prisoners of war into a Confederate port.

The strictest regard for the rights of neutrals and neutral property must be observed, and discipline and subordination preserved among officers and men under your command, as a matter of security and successs.

You are authorized to appoint three acting masters' mates and three acting third assistant engineers, reporting their names to the Department as early as practicable, and you will also report your proceedings under this order.

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,

S. R. Mallory.
Secretary of the Navy.

If the prisoners cannot be sent into the Confederacy you will parole them, taking their parole in writing, embracing the rank, grade, name and age, and taking their pledge not to serve against the Confederate States during the war, unless regularly exchanged.

S. R. Mallory, Secretary.

Mr. Richard Darrell, on the part of the attorney-general, then withdrew the charge, and the accused were released.

The Daily Dispatch: November 7, 1864. Richmond Dispatch. 2 pages. by Cowardin & Hammersley. Richmond. November 7, 1864. microfilm. Ann Arbor, Mi : Proquest. 1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm.

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The Daily Dispatch: November 7, 1864., [Electronic resource]

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The Action of the Bermuda authorities in the case of the Captors of the steamer Roanoke.

Confederate States of America,Navy Department,

If the prisoners cannot be sent into the Confederacy you will parole them, taking their parole in writing, embracing the rank, grade, name and age, and taking their pledge not to serve against the Confederate States during the war, unless regularly exchanged. S. R. Mallory, Secretary.

Mr. Richard Darrell, on the part of the attorney-general, then withdrew the charge, and the accused were released.

Confederate States of America,
Navy Department,

If the prisoners cannot be sent into the Confederacy you will parole them, taking their parole in writing, embracing the rank, grade, name and age, and taking their pledge not to serve against the Confederate States during the war, unless regularly exchanged.

S. R. Mallory, Secretary.