Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session Thirty-eighth Congress, Part I
The Secretary to the Admiralty to Mr. Hammond.—(Received December 23.)
Sir: I am commanded by my lords commissioners of the admiralty to send you herewith, for the information of Earl Russell, a copy of a letter, dated the 17th ultimo, from Rear-Admiral Sir Baldwin Walker, with its enclosures, reporting the proceedings of the United States ship-of-war. Vanderbilt at the Cape of Good Hope, after her return from the Mauritius, and the seizure by that ship of the colonial vessel Saxon at Angra Pequena.
I am, &c.,
Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker to the Secretary to the Admiralty.
Sir: I beg you will inform the lords commissioners of the admiralty that the United States ship-of-war Vanderbilt, after leaving this port on the 11th September last, proceeded to Mauritius, in search, I believe, of the confederate ships Alabama and Georgia. Not finding either of those vessels, she returned to Table bay to coal and provision on the 22d ultimo.
When this vessel first touched at this port, the commander requested to be supplied with coals and provisions, which, on the supposition that he had not received any at a British possession for three months, having it was believed come last from Rio de Janeiro, his demands were complied with. It was subsequently ascertained that the Vanderbilt had touched at St. Helena and received about 400 tons of coal, all that was there.
Under these circumstances, with the fact of her having obtained coal at Mauritius, on the question being raised, I expressed to the governor of this colony my opinion that no further supplies should be given her here, in accordance with the provisions of Earl Russell’s letter for the preservation of strict neutrality. The Vanderbilt did not, therefore, receive any coal, and left Table bay on the 27th ultimo, proceeding northward.
On the 6th instant I received a letter from some merchants at Cape Town (a copy of which is enclosed) reporting that the Vanderbilt had met the colonial vessel Atlas and subjected her to very close examination, and as it appeared to be probable that Commander Baldwin would proceed to Ichaboe for the purpose of searching some English vessels there, I despatched the Valorous to that island to prevent anything of the kind, and to acquaint the American captain, if he was not aware of it, that it is a British possession.
The Valorous returned to this port on the 15th instant, reporting (see inclosure No. 2) that the Vanderbilt had visited Angra Pequena, on the west coast of Africa, and having found there the colonial vessel Saxon (lately employed in conveying cattle to Ascension) loading with wool, stated to have been part of the cargo of the Tuscaloosa, disembarked there, (a vessel captured by the Alabama and constituted a tender, but which vessel was not condemned in any prize court, as stated in my letter No. 86 of the 19th August last.) Commander Baldwin seized her, and sent her as a prize to New York, putting the crew into a small English schooner, now on her way to Table Bay. The Valorous did not fall in [Page 259] with the Vanderbilt, nor had that vessel been at Ichaboe. It was also reported to Captain Fersyth that the mate of the Saxon had been shot, but under what circumstances he could not learn.
It is stated that the Vanderbilt took in 250 tons of coal, said to belong to Messrs. de Pass, Spence & Co., of Cape Town, from an island at Angra Pequena.
I should remark that Angra Pequena lies beyond the colonial territory, but our merchants have been there collecting guano, &c.
The Valorous did not find any vessels whatever at Ichaboe, and therefore returned to this anchorage on the 15th instant.
I have, &c,
P. S.—It is stated in the public papers that Penguin island, at Angra Pequena, near which the Saxon is said to have been seized, and whence the coal was taken by the Vanderbilt, is a British possession, and was annexed to the Cape Colony at the same time as Ichaboe, but of this circumstance I am not aware, my instructions being only to take possession of the island of Ichaboe.
Captain Forsyth to Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker.
Sir: In compliance with orders contained in your letter of the 7th instant, I put to sea in her Majesty’s ship, under my command, at 8.30 p. m, the same evening. On the afternoon of the 10th I arrived at Angra Pequena. Finding no vessels at that anchorage, I despatched boats to the islands in the vicinity, and also to the main land, to make inquiries respecting the movements of the United States war-steamer Vanderbilt. The result was that, from information obtained from four men engaged in collecting guano, she had anchored there on the 30th ultimo, and found the English bark Saxon, belonging to Messrs. Saxon, Anderson & Co., of Cape Town, taking in wool, she immediately seized and took forcible possession of the same. It was alleged as the reason for so doing, that she (the Saxon) had on board wool that had been previously disembarked by the Tuscaloosa, prize to the confederate war-steamer Alabama. The crew of the captured vessel, with the exception of the mate, who was shot, (but under what circumstances I could not ascertain,) was put on board the British schooner Isabel, in order to be forwarded to Cape Town. The Saxon left the 1st instant—it is reported for New York.
Early on the morning of the 11th I proceeded to the island of Ichaboe, and there heard that the Vanderbilt sailed from Angra Pequena on the 2d, after having taken on board coals that were deposited at Penguin island in that harbor, the property of Saxon, Anderson & Co. I was also informed that the Isabel had gone to the northward on the coast completing her cargo, preparatory to her return to Cape Town. From orders precluding my searching further to the northward for the Vanderhilt than Ichaboe island, I made the best of my way to rejoin your flag, and beg to report my arrival here this morning.
I have &c.,
Messrs. Saxon and Co. to Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker.
Sir: We have the honor to report that the schooner Atlas, belonging to the second undersigned, arrived at this port on the 4th instant; and the master reports that he was boarded a few days previous in sight of the coast by an [Page 260] armed boat from the United States steamer Vanderbilt, and that he was called upon by the officer in charge and made to show his log-book and papers; after which the vessel’s cabin and hold were searched throughout, and the vessel detained a considerable time.
The master of the Atlas further reports that the officer in charge inquired respecting the movements of the vessels on the coast, and mentioning the names of two belonging to us that are at present loading guano at the British island of Ichaboe, and stating his intention of subjecting those vessels to the same ordeal and indignities.
We would respectfully solicit your excellency that this is most unusual conduct on the part of a foreign vessel of war on a colonial coast, and as this is calculated very seriously to interfere with British commerce, we would solicit your taking such steps as to you may be considered best.
We have &c.,