Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State.
Captain McKean to Commodore Mervine
.
United
States Steamer Niagara,
Off Southwest Pass of
Mississippi,
September 19,
1861.
Sir: Your communication of the 17th
instant, with the accompanying document, was received on the
18th instant.
The English ship “Perthshire,” Captain James Oates, left the
harbor of Mobile on the 30th of June, 1861, and was boarded by
Lieutenant Spicer, from this ship, and passed by my order, the
fifteen days allowed by the proclamation of the President of the
United States for neutral vessels to depart not having
expired.
I am under the impression that no indorsement was made upon her
register, as I did not consider it necessary.
I arrived off Fort Pickens in the Niagara early on the morning of
the 12th of June, 1861. A large ship, which proved to be the
“Perthshire,” had just anchored.
Immediately after the Niagara had come to anchor, Commander M.
Smith, commanding the United States steamer Massachusetts, came
on board and reported having captured the Perthshire in latitude
27° 27′ and longitude 85° 31′.
I stated to Commander Smith that the Perthshire had left Mobile
within the time allowed by the President’s proclamation; that I
considered the capture illegal, as, by order of the department,
no neutral vessel not having on board contraband of war, was to
be detained or captured unless attempting to leave or enter a
blockaded port after the notification of blockade had been
indorsed on her register. I therefore directed him to release
the “Perthshire,” and to replace such provisions and stores as
might have been used by the prize crew.
She was accordingly released and immediately got under way,
Commander Smith having reported to me that he had not only
replaced such provisions as had been used, but had also supplied
her with water.
I subsequently received from Captain Adams the report of
Commander Smith, a copy of which is herewith submitted. It bears
no date.
As I was in hourly expectation of your arrival from Key West, I
had fully intended reporting the circumstances to you, but it
escaped my memory.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Flag Officer William
Mervine,
Commanding Gulf
Blockading Squadron,
United
States Steam Frigate “Colorado.”
Commander Smith to commanding officer Gulf squadron
.
U. S. Steamer Massachusetts,
Off Pensacola,
Florida
[, undated].
Sir: I have to report that on the
9th instant, in latitude 27° 21′, and longitude 85° 31′, I
boarded and seized as a prize the English ship “Perthshire,”
from Mobile, bound to Liverpool, with a cargo of 2,240 bales
of cotton; said ship having been boarded by one of the
blockading fleet off Pensacola, May 13th, and warned not to
enter the harbor.
Two officers and twenty-nine men were placed on board the
prize, and [Page 181] Mr. Wm.
R. Clark, acting master, was directed to proceed with all
possible despatch and report to the senior commanding
officer of the Gulf squadron for instructions.
In addition to the above, I boarded ship Janico from Mobile,
ship Carl and bark Mary from New Orleans, all loaded with
cotton, and with registers indorsed; also ship Bramley
Moore, from New Orleans, register not indorsed, but allowed
her to proceed upon her voyage, as the time granted vessels
to clear, according to the notification of blockade, had not
expired.
Very respectfully,
MELANCTON SMITH,
Commander.
The Commanding Officer
Gulf Squadron, Pensacola.
[Indorsement by Captain Adams.]
At the time the Perthshire was boarded from this ship and
ordered off from Pensacola there was no blockade of
Mobile or the Mississippi river.
H. A. ADAMS,
Captain
U. S. Frigate “Sabine.”
