I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to your lordship the
assurance of my high consideration.
Mr. Welles to Mr. Seward.
Navy
Department,
July 31. 1863.
Sir: In a communication of her Majesty’s
representative, Lord Lyons, on the 29th of April last, a copy of
which you did me the honor to transmit to this department on the 1st
of May, complaint is made of the capture of the steamer Dolphin, and
of the severe treatment of some of the officers of that vessel,
particularly the chief engineer, who was put in irons, by the prize
officer.
The court, the proper tribunal, has passed upon the validity of the
capture of the Dolphin, and I have the honor to enclose to you a
copy of the report of Acting Master Muldaw, who has recently
returned, in relation to the conduct of the officers of the Dolphin,
which compelled him to adopt rigid measures for his own security and
the safety of the vessel intrusted to him. The necessity of extreme
vigilance on the part of the officers in charge of the persons
captured in attempts to violate our laws, evade the blockade, and
furnish assistance to the insurgents, who are making war on the
government, is great. These persons, engaged in illicit traffic and
communication with rebel enemies, appeal to her Majesty’s government
when detected, and protest, with asseverations of injured innocence,
against the treatment they receive. But we know, when, from mistaken
confidence, our officers have relaxed their vigilance, and the
prisoners have risen upon the prize crew and seized the captured
vessel, there has been no relief to them in the British courts for
mistaken kindness towards those whom they favored, and who took
advantage of the favor extended.
The statement of Acting Master Muldaw will, I trust, prove
satisfactory. He would not, I think, exercise severity without
cause, and I cannot but approve his activity, vigilance, general
intelligence and deportment, as an officer and gentleman, so far as
they have come to my knowledge.
Very respectfully, &c,
GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the
Navy.
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State.
Mr. Muldaw to Mr. Welles.
United States Ship North
Carolina,
New York,
July 23,
1863.
Sir: I have just received your
communication of the 13th instant, enclosing a letter to the
department from Lord Lyons, in relation to the treatment of the
[Page 685]
officers and crew
of the prize steamer Dolphin, and beg leave to submit the
following statement:
First, in relation to confining the chief engineer. I was told by
the cook that he intended to disable the engine, and open some
of the sea-cocks, should an opportunity occur; so I gave an
order to Mr. Messenger, the engineer I had with me, not to allow
him, or the fireman belonging to the vessel, in the engineroom.
As soon as he heard of this, he was very abusive to Mr.
Messenger, telling him that, if they wished to take the vessel
away from us, they could do it easy enough, and talking in such
a way as to convince me that he meditated mischief. I then
determined to confine him, which I did in the presence of the captain of the Dolphin, stating my reasons
for so doing.
The captain states, in his protest, that he found his
chronometers, charts and instruments missing. He threw them overboard himself thinking I would have
to put back to St. Thomas with the vessel. He threw them
overboard off the town of St. John’s, Porto Rico, and I had to
bring the vessel to Key West, about 900 miles, without
instruments or charts. I was entirely alone, having but two
engineers with me, who were engaged most all the time in the
engineroom. My men did get drunk on the champagne which was
stored in the fore hold, notwithstanding I used every effort in
my power to prevent it, both in closing and fastening the
hatches, to severe punishments. I was nearly eight days on board
the vessel, and had to be up all the
time. I made up my mind there should be no Emilie St.
Pierre case with the Dolphin. I could place no dependence on the
men I had with me, but with two exceptions. I had the ship’s
papers in my possession, which I put in a bag and hung on the
binnacle, giving orders to the man at the wheel not to allow any
one but myself to touch them, he being armed with a pistol and
cutlass. And I ordered him not to allow any of the Dolphin crew
to come to the compass, and to use their arms
if occasion required. This is the only harsh treatment
or cruelty that occurred on board the vessel, and this was
absolutely necessary.
We had heavy weather, and got out of coal; so I had to put into
Havana. I there reported all the circumstances to Admiral
Wilkes. There is no doubt in my mind that the captain and
officers of the Dolphin did intend to attempt a recapture; and I
beg leave here to testify to the energy, zeal, and untiring
efforts of Mr. Messenger, second assistant engineer, United
States navy. I think to him is due great credit for his
management of an old engine and a leaky steamer, under very
trying circumstances.
Hoping my explanation will meet with the approval of the
department, I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. W. MULDAW, Acting Master U. S. N.
Late Prize Master, Steamer
Dolphin.
Hon. Gideon Welles,
Secretary of the Navy, &c.
