Butler's Steamer Greyhound, the Belle, "Captain Henry" and the Admiral

The USS Connecticut's crew also recognized "Captain Henry"as being a former lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, now lieutenant in the Confederate Navy, George Henry Bier.

The Connecticut sent the Greyhound to Boston with a prize crew under the command of Acting Ensign Samuel Harding, Jr., USN.  However, Lt. Biel was able to get Harding tohelp him escape from Boston to Canada.  For this, Harding was dismissed from the Navy in disgrace, but was later able to get to England where he married Belle Boyd.  (Makes you wonder about this arrangement.)

The Greyhound and its cargo was assessed at $484,000 in prize money which no doubt pleased the Connecticut's crew.  That was a lot of prize money.

Some sources believe that this was the ship that became General Butler's headquarters on the James River in late fall 1864.  On her, Butler visited Admiral Porter at Dutch Gap.  The Greyhound was faster than the admiral's USS Malvern at the time and they went to Fortress Monroe to consult with Assistant Secretary Gustavus V. Fox.

--Old B-Runner