Lord Lyons to Mr.
Seward.
Washington,
April 25, 1863.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit to you
herewith a copy of a memorial which I have received from a Mr. Green,
recently residing at Napoleon, Arkansas, but now at Memphis, who
represents to me that he is a British subject, and that he has been
almost totally ruined by the destruction of his property at the former
place by troops in the service of the United States. If, upon
investigation, the statements of Mr. Green be corroborated, as to his
observance of his duties as a neutral, and as to the wanton nature of
the acts by which he was deprived of his property, it seems to be a case
in which compensation should be awarded to him for the losses he has
sustained. I enclose two affidavits which Mr. Green has sent to me in
support of his statements, and I have the honor to request that you will
cause the facts to be fully investigated, and that if they prove to be
such as they are represented to be you will take Mr. Green’s claim into
your serious consideration. I beg you to be so good as to return the
affidavits to me.
The case is only one among many which are daily brought to my notice, in
which British subjects, who state themselves to have remained neutral,
represent that they have suffered heavy losses at the hands of the
United States forces, and that no means of obtaining compensation are
open to them. Such being the case, I deem it right to ask your attention
to the general question of giving compensation for such losses, as well
as the particular claim of Mr. Green.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most
obedient, humble servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c., &c.
[Untitled]
The State of Tennessee, United States of America:
March 28, 1863.
I, Henry Green, temporarily residing in the city of Memphis and State
of Tennessee, in the United States of America, do make oath and say
that I was born in the borough of Evesham, in the county of
Worcester, England; that I have not become a naturalized citizen of
the United States of America; that I am a British subject, holding
allegiance only to the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland or to her
legal successors; that the memorial dated February 28, 1863, and
forwarded by me to the Right Hon. Lord Lyons, and by him received,
is true in every particular. So help me God.
Given under my hand and seal, in the
city of Memphis and State of Tennessee,
United States of America, this 28th day of March,
1863.
HENRY E. GREEK [seal.]
Sworn to and subscribed before me, and
given under my hand and seal of office, at
Memphis, March 28, 1863.
[notarial seal.]
HUME F. HILL, Notary
Public.
[Page 577]
Affidavit of Adam G. Hartman, born in the State
of Indiana, United States of America.
The State of Tennessee, United States of America:
March 29,
1863.
I, Adam G. Hartman, born in the State of Indiana, United States of
America, residing and doing business in the State of Arkansas,
United States, for the past eighteen years, do make oath and say:
That I have known Henry E. Green, an Englishman, residing near the
city of Napoleon, Arkansas, United States, for twelve years and
upwards; that I know him to be a law-abiding, sober, and honest man;
that on the 16th day of December last past, (1862,) or thereabouts,
he was on his farm attending to his legitimate business; that the
army of the United States of America landed at Napoleon; that the
troops spread themselves all over the country, stealing and
destroying all they could find; that they took from said Henry E.
Green almost everything he had in the world; that I know he has been
compelled to sell his house and land at a ruinous sacrifice, to
enable him to get to Memphis and support and provide for his family
when there; that I know he was damaged to a serious amount, and some
articles were destroyed that it would be impossible to estimate
their worth to him; that I was present when the major part of his
property was stolen and destroyed, part of which was carried away on
horseback; that said property was stolen and destroyed by soldiers
of the United States army.
Given under my hand and seal this 28th day of
March, 1863, at the city of Memphis, State
of Tennessee, United States of
America.
A. G. HARTMAN. [seal.]
Sworn to and subscribed before me,
and given under my hand and seal of office, at
Memphis, this 28th March, 1863.
[notarial seal.]
HUME F. HILL, Notary
Public.
[Untitled]
The humble memorial of Henry E. Green, a British subject, born in the
borough of Evesham, in the county of Worcester, England, on the 9th
day of September, 1825, witnesseth: that he owes no allegiance in
any shape, manner, or form, to any power on earth, save to the Queen
of Great Britain and Ireland; that he emigrated to New Orleans,
Louisiana, United States of America, in the year 1850; that he
settled at Napoleon, Arkansas, in 1852, where he has remained ever
since; that he has violated no existing law of said country, but, by
industry and perseverance, acquired considerable means; that on the
16th day of December, 1862, the army of the United States of
America, on board a large fleet of boats, landed at Napoleon,
Arkansas, on the Mississippi river. The troops, apparently under no
control, immediately spread themselves over the city and its
suburbs, “stealing, plundering, and destroying” everything within
their reach; that they came to the residence of your memorialist,
about half a mile from the city, who was sick in bed at the time,
and killed all his stock, robbed him of his money, jewelry, plate,
and every stitch of clothing, both belonging to himself and wife,
and also that of my child, an infant baby of six weeks old, save
what was on our bodies; they even stole the blanket off the baby in
its cradle, cut up his pictures with bowie knives, broke up and
destroyed his furniture and books, and even violated the sanctity of
his burial ground looking for money, and destroyed the likenesses of
his deceased children; that your memorialist’s books and pictures
money could not replace; that your memorialist told them that he was
a British subject, and a noncombatant;
[Page 578]
that your petitioner went to the fleet, but
could not obtain any guard until his property had been stolen or
destroyed, and that during his absence his wife was compelled to
fly, bareheaded, to the woods during a severe snowstorm, to save
herself from outrage from the brutal soldiery; that your petitioner
has since been compelled to sell his house and land for a tenth part
of its value, that he might be enabled to reach some point where he
could claim and obtain the protection of his country; that your
petitioner sold property that three years ago he could have got
$6,000 for, for $1,250 in confederate scrip, worth at this point
only fifty cents on the dollar; that your petitioner’s stock of
| cattle, hogs, mules, &c., was worth |
$2,000 00 |
| Furniture and plate |
1,500 00 |
| Jewelry |
500 00 |
| Books |
1,000 00 |
| Clothing of self, wife, and child |
750 00 |
| My house and six acres adjoining city, worth
$6,000—loss |
5,375 00 |
| Oil paintings and water colors |
750
00 |
| Total |
11,875 00 |
That your memorialist is damaged in prospects and articles impossible
to enumerate, to a large amount; that $20,000 will not more than
replace him as he stood before the raid was made upon him; that he
has been taught from childhood that no matter in what clime or what
country an Englishman resides, the broad flag of his country covers
and protects him from insult and outrage, and in full faith and
confidence your memorialist appeals to you for protection and
restitution; that he is ruined without your help, and is staying in
the city of Memphis, Tennessee, subject to your lordship’s order;
that your memorialist desires restitution of his property, that he
may return to his native country and live in peace; that your
petitioner claims the protection of his country and his national
flag; and, as in duty bound, will ever pray.
HENRY E. GREEN
Memphis,
Tennessee, February 28,
1863
