I also enclose a despatch received from our consul at Elsinore, in reply
to one addressed by me to him a few days since, which confirms the
information I had received that the Stoerkodder left full of coals; but
it reveals another fact which may prove of grave importance. The Olinde
seems to have taken in only thirty tons of coal in Denmark. If so, it is
to be presumed that she left Bordeaux loaded with coal, and if so, the
presumption is that her delivery to the confederates, as it has
occurred, was planned before her departure from France. I shall pursue
this inquiry diligently.
I shall request our minister at Lisbon, by this evening’s mail, to put
himself in such relation with the French minister at that court as to
secure the co-operation of the French government in any efforts he may
find it advantageous to make for the seizure of the Olinde, should she
appear in Portuguese waters. I am, sir, with great respect, your very
obedient servant,
[Enclosure No. 1.]
Translation of testimony of Paul Brechoir and John
Bouyer, sailors on board the tug Expedi-tif, taken in the
presence of Mr. dela Montagnie, consul of the United States at
Nantes, and Messrs. Chauvet and his colleague notaries at
Nantes, and certified by them on the 1st
day of February, 1865.
In presence of Mr. John Cordt, Hannens Dedichen, interpreter,
residing at Nantes, fosse, No. 14, who, as also M. de Montagnie
appearing, have testified to the undersigned notaries the
individuality and identity of Messrs. Bouyer and Brechoir.
And after having read these present papers, the appearers, with the
exception of Mr. Brechoir, who, being questioned, declared that he
did not know how to do so, have all signed with the notaries.
The following is the tenor of the annex:
Declaration made before me, consul of the United States at Nantes, in
my bureau, the 1st day of February, 1865.
This day, the 1st of February, 1865, appeared before me the said
Brechoir (Paul) and Bouyer, seamen on board the tug Expeditif, who
made the following declaration:
We left St. Nazaire, on board the tug Expeditif, Saturday evening,
the 21st of January, commanded by Mr. Hahn Hobkirh, pilot Bonin,
residing at St. Nazaire, We had on board a load of coal—it was said
for the San Francisco at Quiberon.
Sunday, 22d of January, we saw an English paddle-wheel steamer, with
two smoke-stacks, at the island of Honat. We arrived at Quiberon
Sunday evening, 22d of January. We thought we were going to meet the
San Francisco, according to what we were told at St. Nazaire. We
remained at Quiberon the 22d and 23d of January, and we left on the
24th in the day time, directly for Honat, and there we found the ram
(iron-clad vessel) Olinde, (the name written on her stern) carrying
the Danish flag at the gaff; the English steamer which we had seen
Sunday was anchored under the stern of the Olinde. The Expeditif
anchored near the ram, and we debarked nearly thirty tons of coal
upon the ram, which could not take any more, her coal-bunkers being
full. We left St. Nazaire with a load of coal.
The 25th, in the morning, forty-two men of the crew of the ram, who
said they were Danes, embarked on board of our vessel (the
Expeditif) and we took them to Quiberon. The same day we returned to
Honat. The English steamer was coming alongside the ram at the time
we left with the forty-two men for Quiberon. and when we returned to
Honat we found her lying off, embarking on board the ram provisions
and munitions in her small boats.
She embarked barrels and boxes, which were emptied on deck and thrown
overboard. It was said that the English steamer had brought a crew
for the ram.
The said John Bouyer declares that he has seen the ram Olinde at
Bordeaux, and that this vessel was constructed in the ship-yard of
Mr. Arman, of Bordeaux, for Denmark. That he would have known the
ram Olinde wherever he might have met her, and that he did not
expect to see the ram in these waters, and that he had recognized
her immediately.
He (Bouyer) had been employed on board vessels of the Bourgoing
company, (called the company of the west and south, ) doing service
between Bordeaux and Nantes, and that he has often seen this ram
while building at Bordeaux.
The workmen in the ship-yards had given to the ram the name of Cochon
(pig) on account of her shape.
That he is certain the Olinde is the same ram; the above-named
declare also that a certain Edmund, an Englishman or an American,
went out with us on board the Expeditif from St. Nazaire, and that
his brother Henry was on board the ram. These two gentlemen returned
with us to St. Nazaire, as also four Danish officers, and the
servant of Mr. Henry left the ram with him. We arrived in the night
of the 25th and 26th of January at St. Nazaire.
The said Gerchais, brother of the pilot of the four tugs at
Paineboeaf, seaman, residing at St. Nazaire, and working in the
dock, left with us upon the Expeditif, and was engaged at the rate
of 175 francs a month to go to Lisbon, but when he saw that the ram
and crew were armed for war he refused to remain. A fireman engaged
himself on board the ram, and offers were also made to us. The ram
was rigged as a brig, with a single high smoke-stack. She was
painted black; the painting upon the iron-coating was nearly worn
off.
The crew seen by the said Gergais on board the ram were armed to the
teeth with pistols and knives. It was said that the Olinde was sold
to the southern confederacy of America.
The crew of the English vessel was rather numerous. It was said they
were for the ram. The English vessel had on board cannon of a large
calibre, which were put on board the ram. It was said on board that
the ram had been sold to the confederates. We were not able to read
the name upon the stern of the English vessel.
The said Edmund is blonde, wearing all his beard, tall and slender,
about thirty years of age. The said’ Henry is also blonde, red
moustaches, no other beard. He is also tall, and about thirty-two
years old. Both spoke French well. Mr. Henry had a red ribbon in his
button hole.
After having heard the above declaration, I have given my signature
this 1st day of February, 1865.
JOHN DE LA MONTAGNIE.
[Page 215]
Consul of the United States at Nantes:
“Certified true, signed and annexed to the memorandum of an act drawn
up by M. Chauvet and his collegue, the undersigned notaries of
Nantes, the 1st of February, 1865, by whom the present paper has
been deposited as a minute.
“Recorded at
Nantes, 2d of February, 1865, fo. 20, verse
case 1st. Received two francs, decime and a half—thirty
centimes.
“GREGOIBE.
“CHAUVET.”