A naval command should be bestowed on the heroine of this achievement. Among the American vessels captured by the pirate Retribution, was the American brigantine J. P. Ellicott of Bucksport, Me., A. Deveraux, master. Her officers and crew were taken on board the pirate and placed in irons. A crew was placed on board the brig, consisting of Gilbert Hay, prizemaster, recently from fort Lafayette; and John Gilbert, mate; and five seamen. The captain and mate of the J. P. Ellicott wore accompanied by their wives. The wife of the mate was left on board the brig. This woman had cause to fear bad usage at the hands of the prize-master and his mate, and managed to get them intoxicated, when she proposed to the seamen, who were mostly if not all colored people from St. Thomas, to make them prisoners and capture the vessel. She took iron handcuffs from her trunk and put the pirates in irons, and took possession of the vessel. She had studied navigation on the voyage with her husband, and assumed command, sailed for St. Thomas, till she spoke a French vessel, which gave her the right course. She made Tortola, whence she was piloted by colored people to St. Thomas, where she arrived on the 17th ult., and placed the brig in the hands of the U. S. consul, who put the master, mate, and five seamen on board the U. S. steamer Alabama.
Worcester Daily Spy, Worcester, MA