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: With reference to your note of the 11th of May last, relative to the capture at Brockhaven, Mississippi, on the 20th of July, 1863, of an insurgent mail, containing despatches for your lordship which, it is alleged, were destroyed by the United States troops, I have the honor to enclose, for your information, a copy of a communication of the 30th ultimo upon the subject from Major General Canby.
I have the honor to be, with high consideration, my lord, your obedient servant,
Right Hon. Lord Lyons, &c., &c., &c.
Gen. Canby to Mr. Seward.
Sir: Referring to my communication of the 25th ultimo, enclosing copy of General Orders, No. 10, from these headquarters, relating to captured diplomatic correspondence, I have the honor to invite your attention to the enclosed [Page 680] copies of statements relating to the matter of complaint of the British minister, alleging destruction of correspondence captured at Brockhaven, Mississippi, in July of last year.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
Capt. Bostwick to Capt. Rodgers.
Colonel: I have the honor to return the enclosed communication from Secretary Seward and Lord Lyons, and submit the following report of my investigation :
There have never been any troops from this district sent to Brockhaven since the occupation of this portion of Mississippi by our forces.
In April, 1863, General Grierson made a raid from La Grange, Tennessee, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, passing through Brockhaven, on or about the 28th of April. His command consisted of the 6th and 7th Illinois cavalry and a detachment of the 9th Illinois cavalry.
Some time in July, 1863, an expedition was sent from Baton Rouge to Brockhaven, but what troops composed the command I have not been able to ascertain.
The 2d and 3d Illinois cavalry were stationed at Baton Rouge at that time, and in the 2d Illinois cavalry there was a Lieutenant Colonel Fullerton. I think it is quite probable that he commanded the expedition, and is the officer referred to in Lord Lyons’s communication.
By applying to him the matter can, no doubt, be satisfactorily explained.
I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Lieutenant Colonel H. C. Rodgers, Assistant Adjutant General.
A true copy:
Col. Bush to Mr. Christensen.
Sir: I have the honor to report, in regard to the despatches to Lord Lyons said to have been destroyed at Brockhaven in July, 1863, that Captain Bostwick, assistant inspector general, district of Vicksburg, makes several errors in regard to the 2d Illinois cavalry: First, the regiment was never at Baton Rouge until April, 1864; hence it did not go on a raid from this place in 1863. Second, the regiment never had a lieutenant colonel by the name of Fullerton, but did have a major by that name, who resigned in November last, and now lives in Havana, Mason county, Illinois. Major Fullerton commanded an expedition [Page 681] to Brockhaven in July, 1863; a mail was captured at the latter place. All the information I have been able to obtain in regard to it is contained in the accompanying report of Lieutenant B. T. Garrett, company K, 2d Illinois cavalry.
I remain, very truly, your obedient servant,
C. T. Christensen, Major and Assistant Adjutant General,
A true copy:
Lieutenant Colonel Garrett to Mr. Bush.
Sir: By your orders I make the following report: That on or about July 13 1863, the cavalry brigade under command of Major Hugh Fullerton, 2d Illinois cavalry, entered Brockhaven, Mississippi, took possession of the place, and, among other things, captured a large Confederate States mail, which I was ordered by Major Fullerton to examine and see if any knowledge of importance could be gained therefrom. I further state that I partially examined said mail, but for want of time a thorough examination could not be made. I further state that I found no despatches in said mail from Lord Lyons, or any foreign despatches or papers of any kind whatever; that I destroyed no part of said mail, but simply examined the same, or a part thereof; that if said mail, or any part thereof, was destroyed, it was done by irresponsible and unauthorized parties.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Colonel D. B. Bush, 2d Illinois Cavalry,
A true copy: