Sorry about the link, Neil. It is for Lincoln's address which is found in the Journal of the Senate, 37th Congress, 2nd Session, December 3, 1861, beginning at the bottom of page 13.
Chuck,
No, I don't know where they were captured or where the negroes were taken. In the past I had read more about this capture that ended with the captain being convicted and sentenced to death, but I don't recall where or any of the details.
There was an 1820 report given by a Senator Smith listing the U.S and foreign ships that were engaged in the trade between 1804 and 1808 which entered into Charleston. 61 ships were listed as belonging to ports in the free states, and 67 were listed as belonging to ports in slave states - 61 of those belonging to Charleston. The owners of these ships from both northern and southern ports were more than often British, and many ships belonging to Charleston harbor were owned by people in Rhode Island. So its hard for me to discern who actually was engaged in the trade. The owner is likely from one place, investors possibly from another, crew likely from all over, And what sense does it make anyway? If cocain smugglers disproportionately came from Texas, Florida and California, I wouldn't want to say that those states were engaged in drug smuggling, or that they didn't spend more resources tring to stop it than, say, Iowa.
While the ships and owners were openly registered during the last years of the African slave trade, the nature of post 1808 smuggling means that we can probably never know how much was carried on and by whom. Buchanan claimed that the African trade into the US had been completely stopped, with the Wanderer being the last ship. I can't imagine how slaves could have been imported into the country during the war years except from maybe Cuba directly to a port in a slave state, but I'm sure I'll probably be shown wrong on that.
Any idea of Where the 5 vessels being outfitted were captured?
Just found this: THE EXECUTION OF GORDON, THE SLAVE-TRADER.
Harper's Weekly, March 8, 1862
NOT the least important among the changes which are taking place in the current of national policy and public opinion is evidenced by the fact that on Friday, 21st February, in this city, NATHANIEL GORDON was hung for being engaged in the slave-trade. For forty years the slave-trade has been pronounced piracy by law, and to engage in it has been a capital offense. But the sympathy of the Government and its officials has been so often on the side of the criminal, and it seemed so absurd to hang a man for doing at sea that which, in half the Union, is done daily without censure on land, that no one has ever been punished under the Act. The Administration of Mr. Lincoln has turned over a new leaf in this respect. Henceforth the slave-trade will be abandoned to the British and their friends. The hanging of Gordon is an event in the history of our country.
He was probably the most successful and one of the worst of the individuals engaged in the trade. A native of Maine, he had engaged in the business many years since, and had always eluded justice. The particular voyage which proved fatal to him was undertaken in 1860. The following summary of the case we take from the Times: http://www.sonofthesouth.net/slavery/slave-trader.htm
I use it, generally for journals of congress, which includes the Confederate Congress. It is helpful for details of when promotions were approved, for example, as well as many facts one might need documentation about.
On that home page, click on 'Goverment, Law', then on the next page find U.S. Congress - Documents ~ 1774-1875. Then away you go.
__________________ -
"It was a very peculiar time." - Franklin D. Cossitt
Ancestors in USA Army: 6th IA Inf, 11th IL Cav, 1st AL Cav; 122nd NY Inf; 6th MI Cav; 35th MA Inf; 100th IL Inf; 1st CO Inf/Cav; 22nd IN Inf
In an old thread on pretty much the same there was a link or a citation re: attempts to catch slavers. The Atlantic is a big ocean and actually catching a slaver with a load was, as Sam said, a matter of luck, but the authorities were getting better at identifying potential slavers and intercepting them. An abnormal sized crew, holds made for carrying humans sardine style, cargo that doesn't fit with the skipper's story ...
Interesting catchup.
Ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
Chuck,
No, I don't know where they were captured or where the negroes were taken. In the past I had read more about this capture that ended with the captain being convicted and sentenced to death, but I don't recall where or any of the details.
While the ships and owners were openly registered during the last years of the African slave trade, the nature of post 1808 smuggling means that we can probably never know how much was carried on and by whom. Buchanan claimed that the African trade into the US had been completely stopped, with the Wanderer being the last ship. I can't imagine how slaves could have been imported into the country during the war years except from maybe Cuba directly to a port in a slave state, but I'm sure I'll probably be shown wrong on that. Cedarstripper
1st...Thanks for that link on Gordon.
I think the implication has been that the slaves taken by the 5 ships in question, if any actually were, or others including Gordon's were All intended for the US. Although it is Possible, I see no proof that Gordon's shipload of slaves was Only intended for the US, whether directly or indirectly. In the Navy OR's I located material on the 5 ships mentioned earlier, with some just completed for slave transporting, and the others in process of being fixed for the trade, but again, nothing shows the ships were absolutely intended for a slave trade to the US. However, I do concede that they Might have been, before a charge brought against me of trying to distort the information I've read.
We should understand that the British and the US, were attempting to stop all slave trade from Africa, not just trade intended to the US.
I do believe, that over the years, after the trade had been banned, its probable that Some were imported here. However, I don't believe it was extensive enough to increase the number of slaves here enough to be even noticed.
Just a few thoughts
Chuck in IL
There is really nothing in this thread to further the original posters belief that the CS Navy did more to hinder the slave trade than the USN.
Slavery legal and quite profitable in the CS... not all that profitable in the Union. Hmmm... I wonder just where does that profitable cargo get shipped to? Slaves purchased directly from an overseas shipper working out of Cuba were likely considerably cheaper than those purchased from Virginia but still a serious profit/deal for the shipper/buyer.
As my wifes line began courtesy of an import that arrived in Charleston in 1860 there is NO doubt of the illegal importation of slaves into the South, at least in one verifiable case. Where you find one buyer playing fast & loose w/ the law there are others.
How much the USN vs CSN had to do w/ it... little evidence of any kind has been shown on this thread.
__________________ Shane Christen
American Legion Post 352
SUVCW Camp Abernethy# 48
Lifetime NRA member
3rd MN VI
For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Eccl 1:18
The point of the original question was to highlight the involvement of New England ship-owners in the business of transhipping slaves from Africa to the Caribbean and South America. That quite a few businessmen made a good fortune in the practice cannot be denied. That any of the cargo ever reached southern shores is debatable. But it remains that, in fact, some nabobs made their fortune in the trade in defiance of the US and international laws.
As to which Navy had the greatest deterrent effect? There are too many conflicting conditions to render a judgement. The US and European navies were directed to intercept slavers. Who got the most? Who knows? Was the CSN ever directed to apprehend slaveships?
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
Here's my chance to ask, have yous guys (y'all) seen the movie Amistad (sp?). Yeah, yeah, I hear you. This should be in the movie/book review section; but it was a very good (and graphic) movie.
Calicoboy
__________________ My dear mother:- I have come safely through two more terrible engagements with the enemy, that at South Mountain and the great battle of yesterday (Antietam). Our splendid regiment is almost destroyed. We have had nearly 400 men killed and wounded in the battles. Seven of our officers were shot and three killed in yesterday's battle and nearly 150 men killed and wounded. All from less than 300 engaged. The men have stood like iron....Maj. Rufus Dawes, 6th Wisconsin Volunteers
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