JUNE 22ND, 1865: Upon learning of the final collapse of the Confederacy, Master John C. Braine, CSN, took passage for Liverpool, England, from Kingston, Jamaica.
On several occasions during the war Braine had led naval parties in successful seizures of Federal merchantmen and quite likely would have been prosecuted for piracy had he been apprehended.
The schooner St. Mary's, which he seized in Chesapeake Bay and had sailed to Nassau, was abandoned in Kingston just prior to his booking passage for Liverpool. Previous to seizing the St. Mary's, he had seized the steamer Chesapeake off Cape Cod (7 December 1863) and the steamer Roanoke off Havana (29 September 1864) while leading Confederate naval parties masquerading as passengers.
This man would be a good topic for a book.
A Really Brainy Decision for Braine. --Old B-R'er
Showing posts with label Braine John C.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Braine John C.. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Sunday, April 19, 2015
Arrival of St. Mary's in Nassau
APRIL 22ND, 1865: Thpmas Kirkpatrick, U.S. Consul at Nassau, New Providence, reported to Rear Admiral Stribling of the East Coast Blockading Squadron that schooner St. Mary's had arrived at Nassau. The Baltimore schooner had been seized in the Chesapeake Bay in a daring raid on 31 March by ten Confederates led by Master John C. Braine, CSN.
Kirkpatrick pressed British authorities to seize the vessel and apprehend her crew for piracy. St. mary's was permitted to put to sea, however, after being judges a legitimate prize..
--Old B-Runner
Kirkpatrick pressed British authorities to seize the vessel and apprehend her crew for piracy. St. mary's was permitted to put to sea, however, after being judges a legitimate prize..
--Old B-Runner
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Confederate Raiding Party Captures the St. Mary's in Chesapeake Bay, Md.
MARCH 31ST, 1865: The St. Mary's, 1 115-ton schooner out of St. Mary's, Maryland, loaded with an assorted cargo valued at $20,000, was boarded and captured off Patuxent River in Chesapeake Bay by a Confederate raiding party led by Master John C. Braine, CSN.
The disguised Southerners were in a yawl and had come alongside the schooner on the pretext that their craft was sinking. Braine too the St. Mary's to sea where they captured the New York bound schooner J.B. Spafford. The latter prize was released after the raiders had placed the St. Mary's crew on board her and had taken the crew members' personal effects.
The Confederates indicated to their captives that their intention was to take the St. Mary's to St. Marks, Florida, but they put into Nassau in April.
ALSO THIS DATE: The USS Iuka, captured British blockade running schooner Comus off the coast of Florida with a cargo of cotton.
----Old B-Runner
The disguised Southerners were in a yawl and had come alongside the schooner on the pretext that their craft was sinking. Braine too the St. Mary's to sea where they captured the New York bound schooner J.B. Spafford. The latter prize was released after the raiders had placed the St. Mary's crew on board her and had taken the crew members' personal effects.
The Confederates indicated to their captives that their intention was to take the St. Mary's to St. Marks, Florida, but they put into Nassau in April.
ALSO THIS DATE: The USS Iuka, captured British blockade running schooner Comus off the coast of Florida with a cargo of cotton.
----Old B-Runner
Monday, September 29, 2014
Steamer Roanoke Seized by Confederates
SEPTEMBER 29, 1864: The steamer Roanoke, bound for New York from Havana, was captured by Confederates under Acting Master John C. Braine, CSN, just off the Cuban coast. Braine's actions caused the Richmond government concern and embarrassment, since the expedition was organized and carried out from the neutral port of Havana. (This was the second Union ship seized by Braine in like manner.)
The resourceful and audacious Braine had outlined his plan to Secretary Mallory earlier in the year, and the secretary had given his approval, with the stipulation that neutral rights were to be strictly observed. With that understanding, Braine was commissioned a temporary acting master.
Instead of boarding the vessel as a passenger in New York, however, he chose to capture her in Havana. With a small group of Confederates, he was able to overcome the ship's officers and take over the ship, steering her for Bermuda.
After attempting to smuggle supplies and coal from Bermuda, unsuccessfully, he determined that the fine steamer could not be taken through the blockade to the Confederacy and the Roanoke was burned off Bermuda.
Braine was held by the British but subsequently released, and was to be heard from again.
Wait and See. --Old B-Runner
The resourceful and audacious Braine had outlined his plan to Secretary Mallory earlier in the year, and the secretary had given his approval, with the stipulation that neutral rights were to be strictly observed. With that understanding, Braine was commissioned a temporary acting master.
Instead of boarding the vessel as a passenger in New York, however, he chose to capture her in Havana. With a small group of Confederates, he was able to overcome the ship's officers and take over the ship, steering her for Bermuda.
After attempting to smuggle supplies and coal from Bermuda, unsuccessfully, he determined that the fine steamer could not be taken through the blockade to the Confederacy and the Roanoke was burned off Bermuda.
Braine was held by the British but subsequently released, and was to be heard from again.
Wait and See. --Old B-Runner
Monday, December 9, 2013
150 Years Ago-- December 7, 1863: Confederates Seize Steamer Chesapeake Off Cape Cod
DECEMBER 7TH:
The steamer Chesapeake, en route from New York to Portland, Maine, was seized by a group of 17 Confederate "passengers" led by John C. Braine.
The undertaking had been plannned in St. John, New Brunswick. Braine and his men went to New York where they purchased side arms and boarded the ship as passengers.
A brief shooting match while at sea resulted in the death of one crew member. They intended to make a run for Wilmington after coaling in Nova Scotia.
The planner of the attack, Captain John Parker (but whose name might have been Vernon G. Locke, former commander of the Confederate privateer Retribution) came on board in the Bay of Fundy and took command.
News of the capture quickly spread and navy ships from Philadelphia northward were ordered to pursue the Chesapeake. On December 17, the USS Ella and Annie (former blockade runner Ella and Annie) recaptured the Chesapeake in Sambro Harbor, Nova Scotia, and it was taken to Halifax where it was restored to its former owners.
Most of the Confederates escaped and John Braine would live to cause more problems for the Union later in the war.
A Bold Confederate Move. --Old B-Runner
The steamer Chesapeake, en route from New York to Portland, Maine, was seized by a group of 17 Confederate "passengers" led by John C. Braine.
The undertaking had been plannned in St. John, New Brunswick. Braine and his men went to New York where they purchased side arms and boarded the ship as passengers.
A brief shooting match while at sea resulted in the death of one crew member. They intended to make a run for Wilmington after coaling in Nova Scotia.
The planner of the attack, Captain John Parker (but whose name might have been Vernon G. Locke, former commander of the Confederate privateer Retribution) came on board in the Bay of Fundy and took command.
News of the capture quickly spread and navy ships from Philadelphia northward were ordered to pursue the Chesapeake. On December 17, the USS Ella and Annie (former blockade runner Ella and Annie) recaptured the Chesapeake in Sambro Harbor, Nova Scotia, and it was taken to Halifax where it was restored to its former owners.
Most of the Confederates escaped and John Braine would live to cause more problems for the Union later in the war.
A Bold Confederate Move. --Old B-Runner
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