Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 32.djvu/70

 58 Southern Historical Society Papers.

[From the New Orleans, La, Picayune, Sunday, December 11, 1904.

ATTEMPTED SALE OF THE FEDERAL FLEET.

Remarkable Episode in the Operations on the Mississippi.

DESERTION OF LIEUTENANT D. W.GLENNEY, U. S. N., IN 1863.

Planned to Deliver Part of the Gunboat Fleet to the Confederate Officials Scheme Came to Naught- Glenney's Escape to Mexico.

The attempted sale by Lieutenant Daniel W. Glenney, of the United States Navy, of a portion of the gunboat fleet in the Mis- sippi river to the Confederate authorities, in May, 1863, has not been heretofore fully given to the public. The correspondence which follows gives all details which are attainable.

On the yth of May, 1863, John J. Pettus, Governor of Missis- sippi, addressed a letter from Jackson to Hon. Jefferson Davis, as follows :

Mr. President, Allow me to consult you on a matter we deem of great interest.

A private citizen, unconnected with the army, some four weeks ago conceived the plan of buying out a considerable portion of the enemy's gunboat fleet. He consulted the Hon. Jacob Thompson in the premises, by whom he was urged to open the negotiations through a suitable agent, with an assurance that the government would approve and indorse the project. The gentleman then pro- cured a shrewd political man, of character and property, whose proximity to the fleet gave him unusual facilities for success. The negotiations have now become so far perfected that we are informed six boats, all north of Vicksburg and south of Memphis, can be had for a consideration not exceeding one-half or two-thirds original cost. The boats will be delivered at the mouth of White river, with all their equipments and armaments. The condition of suc- cess now is the government's indorsement and the money with which to pay. Confederate money will not answer the purpose; it must be either specie or sterling exchange. It will require about $1,000,000 to complete the purchase. It must be done at the