Mr. Seward to Mr.
Burnley.
Department of State,
Washington,
October 1, 1864.
Sir: With reference to the previous
correspondence between this department and her Britannic Majesty’s
legation on the subject, I have the honor to communicate a copy of a
letter of yesterday, addressed to this department by the Secretary of
the Treasury, and from which it appears that it has been deemed
advisable at this juncture to charter the steam propeller Hector for
revenue cutter purposes on the lakes. Any excess which may thus be
occasioned, however, in the arrangement of United States vessels in that
quarter over the limit
[Page 718]
fixed
by the armament of April, 1817, will be temporary only; and as it has
been made necessary by an emergency, probably not then foreseen, may not
be regarded as contrary to the spirit of the stipulation of that
instrument.
I have the honor to be, with high consideration, sir, your obedient
servant,
J. Hume Burnley, Esq. &c., &c., &c.
Mr. Fessenden to Mr. Seward.
Treasury
Department,
September 30, 1864.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter of this date transmitting telegram from
General Hitchcock, and to state that this department has this day
chartered the steam propeller Hector, (at Oswego, New York) for
revenue cutter purposes. This vessel, together with the Winston,
chartered at Buffalo a few days since, will be fitted for service
with all possible despatch.
The telegram is herewith returned.
I am, very respectfully,
W. P. FESSENDEN, Secretary of the
Treasury.
Hon, William H. Seward,
Secretary of State.
[Telegram ]
General Hitchcock to
Mr. Stanton.
Sandusky,
Ohio,
September 23,
1864.
Sir: I take upon myself to express an
opinion that the safety of our commerce on the lakes, and the
security of the cities along the lake shores, make it of the
highest importance, if not an indispensable necessity, that the
government should have several armed vessels fully manned, to
prevent the rebels who find security in Canada from seizing
steamers engaged in commerce, and converting them into war
vessels, with a few of which they may, if not prevented, do us
incalculable mischief. Ex-secretary Thompson is employed in
Canada in setting on foot expeditions of the most dangerous
character. The recent seizure of two steamers in this vicinity
has, indeed, terminated disastrously for the projectors of the
horrible scheme, but the demonstration actually made is a
sufficient warning to induce our government to take immediate
measures to guard against a repetition of it. It will be but an
act of self-defence; and from the disclosures made by Coole, now
in arrest at Johnson’s island, I earnestly recommend that no
time be lost in putting afloat armed vessels upon Lake Ontario,
and speedily upon the upper lakes also. I suppose we are
en-gaged in war, rendering this step justifiable under the
treaty of eighteen fifteen, (1815,) but it is my duty to speak
only of the justifying necessity of the case.
E. A. HITCHCOCK, Major General of
Volunteers.
Hon. E. M. Stanton,
Secretary of War.
