Patrick G. Whalen

Seizure of Steamer Volunteer off Natchez Island, Miss., November 35, 1863

Report of Lieutenant-Commander Ramsay, U. S. Navy, commanding Third District.
U. S. S. CHOCTAW, Off Moutlu of Red River, November 38, 1863.

SIR: I have the honor to report that on the 25th instant the steamer Volunteer was found by Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Pearce, com- manding U. S. S. Fort Hindm~an, foraging at a plantation near the head of Natchez Island, and in obedience to my order of the 11th of September last, referred to in my communication to you of Septem- ber 20, he brought her to this place, arriving at 11.20 p. m. The next morning (November 26), upon examination, I found that neither the officer (Captain John Potter, commanding Company F, Fifty-third Illinois Infantry) in charge of the detachment of soldiers nor the forage master (Private G. W. Ellis, of Company D, Forty-first Illinois Infantry) had any written orders whatever authorizing them to go on any such expedition. Captain Potter stated that he knew nothing about the foraging party, that he only had orders to protect the train, and his orders were verbal. Private Ellis (the forage master) stated that he was ordered to go to the plantation (where the Volunteer was found) and get the corn, and that his orders were verbal. I asked the captain of the Volunteer (Lewis Vandergrift) if he had any orders, and he handed me a written order from Lieutenant. J. E. Jones, acting assistant quartermaster, dated Depot Quarter- masters Office, Natchez, Miss., November 23, 1863, to take on board the teams and proceed to Mary Plantation for the purpose of procuring forage.~~ Seeing that the order was correct, I was about releasing the Volunteer, when I asked Captain Vandergrift in the presence of Acting Volunteer Lieutenants Jos. P. Couthouy and John Pearce and Captain Potter, if anything had been taken on board of the vessel besides the corn. He said nothing else had been taken on board, and then told me he would like to have a private conversation with me and Acting Volunteer Lieutenants Couthouy and Pearce. He then told me in the presence of Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Pearce that there were 11 bales of cotton on board of the Volunteer at that time, that the Army officers and soldiers knew nothing about it, that he had found it hid in the cottonwood on the bar near the head of Natchez Island, and that he swore he would steal that cotton if he had to go to Natchez jail for it at 12 oclock the next day. He said he saw it was new cotton, and he supposed someone stole it from the Government and hid it there. I told him I should seize his boat, and immediately sent Acting Ensign XV. C. Bennett, of this vessel, accompanied by Acting Volun- teer Lieutenant Pearce, to take a list of everything on board of her. I immediately informed Captain Potter that I had seized the Vol- unteer, and that I would send him, with his detachment, wagons, mules, and the contrabands, to Natehez on the Fort Hindman. 598 NAVAL FORCES ON WESTERN WATERS. This I did in conformity with section 7, article 25, of the act for the better government of the Navy, approved July 17, 1862, said wagons, mules, etc., being absolutely necessary for the use of the Army of the United States. Captain Potter, with his detachment, wagons, etc., were trans- ferred to the Fort Hindman as soon as possible and left for Natchez on the afternoon of the 26th. Between 4 and 5 oclock on the afternoon of November 26 I went on board of the T7olunteer, and, while standing in the clerks office, Captain Vandergrift made the same statements to me, in the presence of Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Couthouy, in regard to his having taken the cotton on board, that he made to me in the morning in the presence of Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Pearce. I have the honor to enclose herewith the certificate of Lewis Van- dergrift, captain of the steamer Volunteer, statement of Acting Vol- unteer Lieutenant Jos. P. Couthouy, commanding U. S. S. Osage, list of officers, crew, and passengers of the Volunteer at the time of seizure, inventory of articles found on board of her, list of officers, soldiers, teamsters, and number of contrabands, wagons, horses, and mules transferred from the Volunteer to the U. S. S. Fort Hindrnctn, and I transmit herewith all the papers and writings found on board of the Volunteer. At the time of the seizure of the Volunteer by this vessel, the U. S. steamers Osage, Fort Llindn-ban, and Champion were in company. I have ordered Acting Ensign Ezra Beaman to take charge of the Volunteer and proceed with her to Cairo, Ill. I respectfully request that Mr. Beaman and the prize crew may be returned to their respective vessels as soon as possible. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, FRANK M. RAMSAY, Lieutenant- Commander, Comdg. Choctaw and 3d Dist. Miss. River. Rear-Admiral D. D. PORTER, Commanding Mis~i~~ippt Squadron.