Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Seward

No. 17.]

Sir: I have received from our consul at Nantes the testimony of two sailors employed on board the steam-tug Expeditif when she was sent with coals to the ram Olinde and to bring off her Danish crew. A translation is enclosed.

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,

JOHN BIGELOW.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.

[Page 214]

[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.


“GREGOIBE.

“CHAUVET.”

[Enclosure No. 2]

United States Consul, Paris:

Stoerkodder on outward clearance; thirty tons coal exported; previous stock on board un-known; went into Christians and, also to the Texel, January 19; left 21st for Bordeaux.

HANSEN.