Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session Thirty-eighth Congress, Part II
Mr. Seward to Lord Lyons.
My Lord: Referring to my communication of the 13th of November last, relative to the capture of the British steamship Sir William Peel, near Mata-moras, by the United States gunboat Seminole, I have the honor to enclose the Copy of a letter of the 26th ultimo, and of its accompaniments, addressed to this department by the Secretary of the Navy. From these papers it appears that the legality of the capture is now under judicial investigation, and that all the material facts in the case, as presented, are controverted and denied.
I have the honor to be, with high consideration, your lordship’s obedient servant
Right Hon. Lord Lyons, &c., &c., &c.
Mr. Welles to Mr. Seward.
Sir: Referring to my letter of the 10th of November last, I have the honor to transmit herewith a communication, dated the 1st instant, from Commander Rolando, with enclosures, replying to charges made against him and others of the Seminole, of improper conduct in connexion with the prize steamer Sir William Peel.
The return of the papers, after you shall have finished with them, is requested.
Very respectfully, yours,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.
Commander Rolando to Mr. Welles.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of November 10, in reference to a statement made by the master, 1st officer, and 2d steward of the Sir William Peel, in a protest made by them and communicated by Lord Lyons to the State Department.
[Page 476]On the 11th of September I seized the British steamer Sir William Peel, off the coast of Texas, where she had been landing a portion of her cargo, contraband of war, and was receiving confederate cotton from confederate agents at Brownsville.
The ship was taken possession of by Acting Ensign George B. Stephenson, Master’s Mate John Dennett, and Sergeant Mackie of the marine guard, with thirteen of his guard, and fifteen men from this ship—the seamen composing the boat’s crew who were alongside of the Peel.
As soon as I saw my boats go alongside of the Peel, I went there myself, about 11.30 a. m., and on searching the Sir William Peel I found sufficient contraband of war to justify the seizure.
The master of the Peel, at that time, was not on board, but I instructed his 1st officer to send for him. A short time after his boat was seen returning to the Peel. It was about 2 p. m. when he came on board.
I then informed him (the master of the Peel) upon what grounds I had seized his ship and inquired for his papers. He stated they were at Matamoras. I then told him to send for them, that he would have ample time to obtain them, which he said he would do, the distance to Matamoras being only a ride of six hours from the village of Bagdad, at the mouth of the Rio Grande.
The crew of the Peel, forty-two in number, were then, with their chests and effects, sent to the Seminole in my boats, and on being put on board, all the crew of the Seminole was withdrawn from the Peel except thirteen marines, under charge of Sergeant Mackie, and eight or ten firemen, who were sent to get the engines in readiness for use. At no time were there more than thirteen marines and fifteen men from this ship on board the Peel, and when the men were withdrawn, ten firemen replaced them. At about five p. m. the transfer of the crew of the Sir William Peel, with all their effects, to the Seminole, was completed.
I left the Peel at about 5 30 p. m., and returned to my own ship.
I saw nothing in the conduct of the officers, marines, seamen, or firemen at all calculated to excite such an infamous charge as is made by the officers of the Peel in the protest reflecting on the officers and men of this ship.
On leaving the Sir William Peel, I left the ship in charge of Acting Ensign George B. Stephenson, with Acting Ensign M. H. Karlowski and Acting Master’s Mate John Dennett, to assist in keeping an eye on everything on board, and that a regular watch might be kept on the vessel during the night.
The senior engineer, Mr. Babcock, was also on board in charge of the firemen, making preparations for starting the ship next day.
About 6 o’clock the next morning (on the 12th of September) I returned to the Peel to see the progress that had been made in getting her ready to sail, and found my men engaged shipping the propeller, which took some time. In all other respects the ship was ready.
I found all the officers and crew of the Seminole, who were on board the Peel, perfectly themselves, and no sign of any such conduct as the protest represents. I saw and conversed with the officers in relation to the duties of the night.
The conduct of John Maloney, one of the firemen, for drunkenness and insolence to his superior, on the Sir William Peel, and of Joseph Cooper, marine, also for drunkenness, was brought to my notice, and both men were sent on board the Seminole, and there confined in irons for their offences.
About 7 a. m. the master of the Peel came on deck and stated that during the night there had been drunkenness and disturbance on board the ship, occasioned by the officers and men who were in charge. I told him that there could have been but little drunkenness, as every precaution had been taken to prevent it. Sentinels had been placed wherever he had informed me there was liquor, and what drunkenness had taken place among my men was the consequence of his steward’s having given liquor to them during the night; but that I [Page 477] wished him to point out to me any of the men who had been noisy or created a disturbance, or any officer who had not behaved himself, and that the offence should be noticed. He said: “No, that he could not do so; that he had not left his own room during the night, and that it was only the noise he had heard.”
The officers and firemen continued all that day (12th September) until about 5 p. m. at work on board the Peel. The work being then completed, she was started for New Orleans in charge of the prize officer.
As regards that part of the protest relating to me personally, I have only to pronounce it maliciously and unequivocally false, and in the statements of officers who were left in charge during the time I was not on the Peel, and while I was on board, you will find a continuous refutation of the malicious misstatement of the protest.
I have thought it best that the officers who were in charge while I was not on board the Peel should each forward to you a statement, as it will place before the department the whole chain of events from the time the ship was seized until she sailed for New Orleans.
There was nothing more that came under my notice, and I attributed the report of the master of the Peel about the behavior of my officers and men, as I do the protest, to the bad spirit of a person detected in a wrong, wishing to embroil others that he may escape the punishment for his transgressions in striving to malign character.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. G.
Surgeon Martin to Commander Rolando.
Sir: In answer to the charges of the captain of the prize steamer Sir William Peel, I would state that by his request I visited, professionally, his sick brother. I remained on board the ship some three hours, and during that time I witnessed none of the intoxication he mentions, except some slight cases among the boats’ crews, and I was informed that Captain Thomham’s cabin steward had, in violation of your orders, given the men rum. Before I left I saw him sent on deck by Mr. Stephenson, he having been caught in the act of again giving liquor to our men, His persistence in doing so appears like a design to afford some base for Captain Thomham’s misstatement,
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Commander Henry Rolando, Commanding U S. Steamer Seminole.
Assistant Engineer Babcock to Mr. Welles.
Sir: On the 11th of September last I was ordered by Commander Henry Rolando to go on board the steamer Sir William Peel, taking with me Third [Page 478] Assistant Engineer H. M. Quigg and three firemen. Shortly after my arrival on board the Peel, Commander Rolando came on board and remained until about five o’clock p. m., when he returned to the Seminole. During the time Commander Rolando was on board the Peel I saw him frequently, and received orders from him, both while on board the Peel and after his return to the Seminole, the same day, and I do not hesitate to pronounce the accusation of his being intoxicated as being utterly void of truth.
I neither saw nor heard of any goods of any kind being taken on board the Seminole from the Peel, except that taken by the officers and crew of the Peel.
The steward (as I took him to be) did offer me liquor, and others in my presence.
My duty calling me about the engines during the night, I can only say that the engineers and firemen were all sober and attentive to duty, they coming under my immediate notice.
I had at no time more than nine or ten firemen on board the Peel, and neither stores nor anything belonging to the Peel was touched or taken by any men of the Seminole to my knowledge.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy, Washington.
Acting Ensign Stephenson to Commander Rolando.
Sir: By your order of the 11th of September I proceeded on board the Sir William Peel in charge of the first and second cutters; the first cutter manned by a crew of thirteen men and nine marines; the second cutter, with her crew of six men and four marines, making in all thirty-two men besides the officers.
After taking possession of the ship, according to your strict orders, I posted sentries over hatchways and steward’s pantry, which adjoined the spirit-room, with strict orders to the orderly sergeant to allow no disorderly conduct on the part of the men. At 11.40 a. m. you came on board. I reported to you what I had done. We then proceeded to examine the ship. After making as thorough an examination as we possibly could, you considered yourself justified in making the capture, and gave me orders to have the crew transferred to the Seminole.
I immediately gave orders to the crew to have their effects packed up and be ready to leave the ship at 1 o’clock p. m. At 1 p. m. Acting Ensign F. Kemp-ton came alongside with the launch, and transferred the crew. We then proceeded to heave in the chain, there being out about eighty or ninety fathoms on the port anchor. We hove in to fifteen fathoms. At 5.30 you gave me further orders in regard to getting the ship ready for sea, and strictly charged me to have a sharp eye on the men, and prevent them if possible from getting any liquor.
About 6 p. m. you retured to the Seminole, and left me in charge of the Peel. The ship was making water very fast, and our men were almost constantly at the pumps. Mr. Babcock and myself came on board the Seminole about 7.30 p. m., to see if the engineer of the Peel would go on board and give us some information in regard to the engines. He refused. We then returned to the Peel, and Mr. Babcock, after a great deal of perseverance, succeeded in finding the principal cause of the leak, and stopped it. We then went to work to ship the propeller, and about midnight succeeded in getting it in tolerable good running order.
[Page 479]Notwithstanding all the precaution which was used to prevent the men from getting liquor, there was one or two cases of drunkenness. The steward of the ship seemed determined, at some rate or other, that they should have it. I caught him myself in the act of passing it through the pantry window. I smelled ship’s rum very strong, and I think there must have been considerable passed through that window, which could have been easily done by shutting the pantry door, which would prevent the sentinel from seeing. When I became aware of it, I posted a sentry on the other side of the door, on the berth deck, and near the pantry window; and I know that the firemen of the ship had liquor in their mess-room, and that some of our men were in there drinking with them, until I put a stop to it.
I thought that everything was conducted with great propriety, and great attention paid both to personal feelings and property.
With regard to yourself, sir, I can testify, on oath, that you were not intoxicated, and I think that you are entitled to great praise in the prompt manner in which you despatched your business and got the ship ready for sea.
I further state, sir, that a short time after I went on board the Peel I asked the steward for a glass of water. He said that it was not good without brandy, and immediately produced a bottle; and again, some time in the course of the day, feeling a little hungry, I asked him if he could give me some bread and cheese, which he did, and also brought a bottle of ale of his own accord; and from all the circumstances attending the capture, I infer that it was the intention of the captain of the Peel to ply both officers and men with liquor; but I am happy to say, sir, his designs were frustrated, for, with one or two exceptions, and as I have stated before, both officers and crew were sober, and used every exertion to get the ship ready for sea as soon as possible.
Your obedient servant,
Commander Henry Rolando, Commanding U. S. Steamer Seminole, Sabine Pass.
Acting Ensign Karlowski to Mr. Welles.
Sir: Obedient to your orders, I respectfully submit my statement in regard to the .capture of the English steamer Sir William Peel.
The charge made against Commander Rolando personally I regard as entirely malicious and unfounded, having been in most constant conversation with him in regard of the ship, &c.
About thirty men, marines, were on board the Peel from the Seminole— constantly at work to get the ship ready for sea. A few cases of drunkenness appeared, with means that were supplied by the ship’s steward. Prompt punishment followed, by order of the commander. Ship’s provisions, clothing, &c. have not, to my knowledge, been transferred to this ship, further as it was impossible for any men to do so; the boats were always in charge of an officer.
I remain, respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the United States Navy, Washington.
Acting M. M. Dennett to Commander Rolando.
Sir: I have to state, relative to the capture of the Sir William Peel, that the charges made by the captain of that steamer against the officers and crew of the Seminole, with breaking open his store-room, with stealing and using violence to persons and property, and even going so far as to charge Captain Rolando himself with being in a state of intoxication, are false.
I saw Captain Rolando when he came on board the Sir William Peel. I received orders from him while there, and saw him when he left the ship (about 5 p. m.) and consider the charge of his being intoxicated at the time an unmitigated falsehood, without any foundation whatever. The number of men is also greatly exaggerated, there not being more than thirty men, besides the firemen, on board at any one time, and a more orderly set of men I never saw. I saw but two men whom I thought were intoxicated. They were immediately confined and sent on board the Seminole early the next morning.
I was in the store-room during the time I was on board but twice. I saw the steward there, who gave me a glass of water. I was not there when it was opened; cannot say who opened it.
Among the crew of the Sir William Peel I noticed several whom I thought were intoxicated; the two engineers I considered most decidedly drunk, and one fireman was in such a beastly state of intoxication it was not considered safe to remove him. For my own part, I have never as yet, in my whole life, drank a glass of intoxicating liquor, consequently I consider myself entirely free of the above charge.
If any violence was used to either persons or property, I know nothing of it. I being the youngest officer on board, my duties were mostly confined to the forward part of the ship, and of course I know very little of what took place in the after part.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Commander Henry Rolando, Commanding U. S. Steamer Seminole, Sabine Pass.
Sergeant Mackie to Commander Rolando.
Sir: In obedience to an order from you, I make the following report of the conduct of the officers and crew of the United States steamer Seminole while on board the prize steamer Sir William Peel, during September 11 and 12, 1863, off the Rio Grande.
About noon, on the 11th of September, I was sent on board the Sir William Peel in command of the marine guard of the Seminole, thirteen in number. As soon as I arrived on board the Sir William Peel the guard was stationed at and on all the important parts of the ship, and strict orders given by myself to the sentinels, as well as by the officer, Mr. Stephenson, ensign, then in charge of the Seminole’s crew, numbering in all about thirty men, including the marines, that all liquor be strictly and carefully guarded, and that not a single article of any kind be allowed to be touched by any one whatsoever.
[Page 481]Shortly after 1 p. m. Commander Rolando came on board and inquired for the master of the Sir William Peel, but as he was not on board, the first officer was sent for, and he and Commander Rolando went down into the saloon, and going to the after part of it sat down to await the master’s arrival, which was expected momentarily.
While they were thus waiting the arrival of the master, I and the two sentinels stationed over the steward’s pantry and stores were visited by the steward of the Sir William Peel, and bringing two large decanters of French brandy, asked us to take a drink, and at the same time brought us into the pantry, setting before us several kinds of refreshments, and before leaving produced a bottle of cognac brandy, pouring out a large quantity into glasses for us; but I threw the portion set out for myself upon the deck, and forbade the men to take any. It was, in my opinion, the intention of the steward to make me and my men drunk, if he could do so.
Commander Rolando sent for me about this time, and gave me positive and strict orders concerning the steward’s pantry, especially the liquors contained in it; these orders I communicated at once to the guard.
The master of the Peel came on board about 2 p. m. and went down into the saloon, taking a seat in the after part of it; remained there in close conversation with him (Commander Rolando) for some time.
Commander Rolando came forward as soon as the conversation was ended and gave orders to Mr. Stephenson to take charge of the ship, and to send her crew on board the Seminole. Commander Rolando also directed Mr. Babcock, chief engineer of the Seminole, to go down and take charge of the engines and boilers.
In the execution of these orders they were quietly but firmly carried into effect; no violence of any kind was used, but every facility was afforded the crew of the Sir William Peel, by the officers and men of the Seminole; and indeed, so far from using violence, they, the Seminole’s crew, laid aside their arms and assisted as if they were shipmates, and upon their arrival on board the Seminole the men shared their provisions with them; and so little restraint was placed upon them, they might almost be said to have the ship to themselves.
After thoroughly inspecting every part of the ship, and seeing all her men on board the Seminole, Commander Rolando left the ship, about 5 p. m., for the Seminole, and before leaving he sent for me and gave me very strict orders in regard to the vigilance of the guard, and especially about the store-rooms, and I am confident, as are every officer and man on board at that time, that Commander Rolando was perfectly sober and himself, and I am prepared to take oath to that effect, as at any time since or before his coming on board this vessel.
During the night everything was conducted as quietly and gently as possible, nor were there any evidences of intoxication on the part of the men except in two cases, and that was from the effects of liquor given to them by the steward of the Sir William. Peel; and indeed I had to remonstrate with him several times about it, and once had to relieve a sentinel off duty to prevent his becoming intoxicated. If I had not used authority to prevent the steward from giving the men liquor, nearly every man on board at the time would have become intoxicated, as it was freely offered and given to any one that pleased to accept it.
There were not at any time more than thirty men, including marines, from the Seminole on board the Peel; and when the crew of the Peel was sent to the Seminole, all of our sailors returned and ten firemen were sent to get the engines ready for use; thus during the night there were on board only the guard of thirteen and ten firemen.
I would further state that nothing of any kind was taken or touched by any of the officers or men of the Seminole belonging to the Sir William Peel, that came under my knowledge. [Page 482] The above is a clear, full, and concise statement of all that transpired while I was on board the Sir William Peel, in command of the marine guard. I have the honor to be, sir, yours, very respectfully,
Henry Rolando, Esq., Commander United States Steamer Seminole.