Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.
Commander Stevens to
Mr. Welles.
Sir: In reply to your communication of
the 16th instant, concerning the seizure of the English steamer
Victor by the Juniata, under my command, I beg leave to state
that the capture was made on the evening of the 28th May, Moro
Castle then bearing E.SE., (true,) distant 8 miles, and that
this result was arrived at from numerous cross bearings, taken
for the purpose of determining the exact position of the vessel,
by the master of the Juniata, Mr. Kautz, by my orders. I was
thus particular, as I thought it not unlikely the question of
jurisdiction might arise, to be prepared for it. In addition to
this, I directed the first lieutenant of the Juniata to get the
opinion of the officers upon the subject, all of whom agreed
upon the distance being as great at least as reported; and,
moreover, when I inquired of Captain Pearce, upon his coming on
board the Juniata, how far he thought the nearest land was
distant, he replied about five miles, which nearly agrees with
the bearing and distance of Moro Castle, as reported.
In regard to the conduct of Mr. Simpson, the boarding officer of
the Victor, as charged in the statement of Captain Pearce, I
have only to say this is the first intimation I have had of any
such complaint; if Captain Pearce had any ground for just
complaint, he had ample opportunity to have made known his
grievance before.
The officers and crew of the Victor were kept in confinement at
the request of the prize commissioner, to prevent their being
tampered with until he could procure their evidence according to
law.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
T. H. STEVENS, Commander.
Hon. Secretary of the Navy.