The Confederate privateer Savannah was captured on June 3, 1861 by the U.S.S. Perry. She was sold as contraband and purchased from the New York City Prize Court on July 2, 1861 by the U.S. Navy and recommissioned under the name USS Chotank. Since the United States did not recognize the legitimacy of the Confederacy, it did not recognize the legitimacy of Confederate letters of marque and reprisal. As far as President Lincoln was concerned, Confederate privateers were simply pirates, and he announced that as such they would be hanged if captured. The privateer Savannah with a crew of about 18, was patrolling off Georgetown, South Carolina for Northern commercial vessels, and advanced on a Northern ship that they spotted. Unfortunately for them, it turned out to be the U.S.S Perry which promptly engaged in a onesided shooting contest with the Savannah, which the Perry emphatically won. When the Savannah, was captured by the Federals in early June, the ship's crew was taken to New York to stand trial for piracy. Jefferson Davis replied that he would hang Union prisoners in response, {letter Davis to Lincoln, July 6-8, 1861]. In the South, thirteen of the highest-ranking Union prisoners were selected by lot to face hanging if any of the Confederate privateers were hanged. However, the New York jury was unable to reach a verdict and the crisis passed, until the issue resurfaced as the war progressed.
