Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State
[Report.]
Headquarters Department of
the East,
New York,
March 18,
1865.
General: In compliance with your
instructions, I have investigated the cases of Ernest W. Pratt
and Robert Green, passengers on the Corsica from Nassau, who
arrived last evening at 11 o’clock, and were arrested by officer
James S. Chalker, of the revenue service, not having the
necessary passports, and were brought to these headquarters this
morning for examination.
Pratt was secreted in the captain’s room and Green in the
purser’s room during the time all the other passengers were
being examined by the officer. Pratt was the mate and Green was
the steward of the steamer City of Richmond. This steamer, of
455 tons, was owned by Cranshaw, the rebel agent in London; was
fitted out there, loaded with coals and provisions at that port,
and cleared, with W. Scott as master, about 3d January last for
Bermuda, or any of the West India islands, with the
understanding, on the part of Pratt and Green, that she was to
run the blockade. After leaving London, she dropped down the
Thames river about about eighty miles, to a place called
Greenhigh’s, and there took on board some boxes of
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small-arms, between
sixty and seventy officers and men, and about three hundred
barrels of gunpowder. The regular crew of the City of Richmond
was composed of about forty-five officers and men, taken on at
London. After shipping the ammunition and men, she steamed for
the coast of France, and in about seven days arrived off Belle
Isle, when she met the rebel ram Olinde, and at a distance of
about four miles from shore. She transferred to this ram all the
officers and men taken on at Greenhigh’s, a large quantity of
provisions, and about one hundred and fifty barrels of gunpowder
and all the small-arms; she then steamed for Bermuda, anchored
in the harbor of St. George, where she landed some of her
provisions and balance of gunpowder, took in coal, made some
repairs, and remained in port about a week. She then went to
Nassau, New Providence, where she arrived about the 4th or 5th
March instant. After remaining on board in this port about four
days, all the officers and men were ordered on shore by Captain
Scott, and some functionary was sent from the town to enforce
the order. There had been difficulty between the officers and
crew and Captain Scott, growing out of the manner in which
Captain Scott had discharged the former from the ship. After
they had left the ship, Captain Scott gave her into the hands of
one Captain Davidson, not a British subject, who had come out in
her from London, and was the agent of the owner, Cranshaw. The
City of Richmond was at Nassau when the Corsica left.
The above facts I derived from an examination of Pratt and Green.
The former made his statements very unwillingly, and only in
reply to pressing and searching questions. He knows much more
than he admits, and refused to answer many questions I put to
him. I have no doubt whatever that he was fully aware of the
whole objects of the fitting out the cargo, the passengers, and
the destination of ‘the City of Richmond. I enclose herewith the
certificate of discharge of Pratt and Green, and the
communications to you of Mr. Thomas Kirkpatrick, United States
consul, at Nassau, N. P. The Mr. Howell therein referred to
gives upon his examination no additional facts to those above
stated.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WM. H. LUDLOW, Acting Aide-de-Camp,
and Acting Inspector General, Department of the
East,
Major General John A. Dix, Commanding Department of the
East.
