Salvador Pirates
Encyclopedia
Salvador Pirates was the name given to the band of Confederate Navy sailors that attempted to seize
a Panama Railroad coastal steamer on the high seas. Their intent was then to arm her and attack the Pacific Mail
steamers and the American whalers
in the North Pacific.
In spring of 1864, the Confederate Navy ordered Captain Thomas Egenton Hogg
and his command to take passage on board a coastal steamer in Panama City
, seize her on the high seas, arm her and attack the Pacific Mail
steamers and the whalers in the North Pacific. In Havana
, the American consul, Thomas Savage, learned about this conspiracy, and notified Rear Admiral
George F. Pearson
at Panama City. The Admiral had the passengers boarding the steamers at Panama City watched and when Hogg's command was found aboard the Panama Railroad steamer Salvador, a force from the USS Lancaster
arrested them and brought them to San Francisco.
The Salvador Pirates as they came to be called, were tried for piracy
by a military commission, convicted, they were sentenced to be hanged, but General Irvin McDowell
commuted their sentences. To prevent any further attempts to seize Pacific coast shipping, General McDowell ordered each passenger on board American merchant steamers to surrender all weapons when boading the ship and every passenger and his baggage was searched. All officers were armed for the protection of their ships.
a Panama Railroad coastal steamer on the high seas. Their intent was then to arm her and attack the Pacific Mail
Pacific Mail Steamship Company
The Pacific Mail Steamship Company was founded April 18, 1848 as a joint stock company under the laws of the State of New York by a group of New York City merchants, William H. Aspinwall, Edwin Bartlett, Henry Chauncey, Mr. Alsop, G.G. Howland and S.S. Howland...
steamers and the American whalers
Whalers
Whalers may refer to:* Danbury Whalers,US ice-hockey team in the Federal Hockey League* Eden Whalers, Australian Rules Football team* Hartford Whalers, former US ice-hockey team* New Bedford Whalers, name of three US soccer teams...
in the North Pacific.
In spring of 1864, the Confederate Navy ordered Captain Thomas Egenton Hogg
Thomas Egenton Hogg
Thomas Egenton Hogg was a master in the Confederate States Navy who participated in raids on Union ships during the American Civil War. He was captured and sentenced to death, but was eventually released from prison, after which he became a businessman and railroad promoter in the U.S. state of...
and his command to take passage on board a coastal steamer in Panama City
Panama City
Panama is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Panama. It has a population of 880,691, with a total metro population of 1,272,672, and it is located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, in the province of the same name. The city is the political and administrative center of the...
, seize her on the high seas, arm her and attack the Pacific Mail
Pacific Mail Steamship Company
The Pacific Mail Steamship Company was founded April 18, 1848 as a joint stock company under the laws of the State of New York by a group of New York City merchants, William H. Aspinwall, Edwin Bartlett, Henry Chauncey, Mr. Alsop, G.G. Howland and S.S. Howland...
steamers and the whalers in the North Pacific. In Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, the American consul, Thomas Savage, learned about this conspiracy, and notified Rear Admiral
Rear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :...
George F. Pearson
George F. Pearson
George Fredrick Pearson was Rear-Admiral of the U. S. Navy, commanding the Pacific Squadron during the later part of the American Civil War.-Early life and career:...
at Panama City. The Admiral had the passengers boarding the steamers at Panama City watched and when Hogg's command was found aboard the Panama Railroad steamer Salvador, a force from the USS Lancaster
USS Lancaster
Four ships of the United States Navy have been named USS Lancaster after Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was a sidewheel steamer built in 1855 and purchased by the US Navy in 1862...
arrested them and brought them to San Francisco.
The Salvador Pirates as they came to be called, were tried for piracy
Piracy
Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence at sea. The term can include acts committed on land, in the air, or in other major bodies of water or on a shore. It does not normally include crimes committed against persons traveling on the same vessel as the perpetrator...
by a military commission, convicted, they were sentenced to be hanged, but General Irvin McDowell
Irvin McDowell
Irvin McDowell was a career American army officer. He is best known for his defeat in the First Battle of Bull Run, the first large-scale battle of the American Civil War.-Early life:...
commuted their sentences. To prevent any further attempts to seize Pacific coast shipping, General McDowell ordered each passenger on board American merchant steamers to surrender all weapons when boading the ship and every passenger and his baggage was searched. All officers were armed for the protection of their ships.