[Extract.]
Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Seward
No. 40.]
Legation of the United States,
Paris,
February 28, 1865.
Sir: On Sunday morning, the 25th instant, I was
called upon very early by a Mr.————, who brought me enclosure No. 1 from
Commodore Craven, of the Niagara, then lying at Ferrol.
Mr. ———— informed me that it was his impression that when Commodore
Craven came around from Corunna to Ferrol, he had intended to run into
and sink the Stonewall, but he found her lying in such a position on his
arrival, for tunately, as to render the success of such an assault
doubtful. Mr. ———— also says, that if the Stonewall were to run into the
Niagara in the bay, of which Commodore Craven is not without
apprehension, she would sink the frigate in two minutes, or if she were
to fire one of her three-hundred pound shots into her, the result would
be nearly as fatal. Either of these contingencies he seemed to think the
Stonewall might possibly be desperate enough to attempt, and trust to
our example in the port of Bahia for her justification in the eyes of
the world.
Craven keeps his steam up, and his cable ready to slip at any moment, so
that he cannot be overtaken by anything but the shot of the Stonewall in
the harbor.
The Sacramento has reached Ferrol, and in an open and rolling sea. I
understand that Craven feels no anxiety about the result of a combat,
though it is apparent from his letter that he is hoping anxiously to be
re-enforced by a monitor.
I cannot hear of Page in Paris, though Mr. ———— informs me that he
tracked him one day in his advance from Spain at every station into
France, and I have no doubt he is now here; I heard that a gentleman of
my acquaintance had seen him here. I thought my authority for believing
him here sufficient for addressing enclosure No. 2 to his excellency the
minister of foreign affairs, on the 26th instant. It occurred to me that
it could do no harm to have the government assign as a reason for not
proceeding against Page, that they did not know his address, for that
would imply that they had no other reason. If, on the other hand, they
had other reasons, I was equally certain that it could do no harm to
know what they might be.
A private note from Mr. Perry, which accompanpied his despatches for you,
sent here for my perusal, and which I forward by this mail, mentions
[Page 234]
that a commission rogatoire has been issued by the French government
to take testimony in Spain in regard to the escape of the Stonewall.
From this he infers, correctly no doubt, that this government is more
active in the matter than it is disposed to admit to us.
Mr. ———— returned to Ferrol by last evening’s train, bearing enclosure
No. 3 to Commodore Craven, and this was intended as a private note, but
I find, upon reflection, that it deserves to enter into the official
record of my proceedings in this case.
* * * * * * * * *
I am sir, with great respect, your very obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State.
Enclosure No. 1.]
Mr. Craven to Mr. Bigelow.
United States Ship Niagara,
Ferrol,
February 20, 1865.
Dear Sir: Your letter of the 13th instant I
have just received. As I have already informed you by telegrams, I
arrived at Corunna on the morning of the 11th instant, and there
learned that the rebel ram Stonewall, Captain Thomas J. Page, had
put into that port on or about the 2d instant, in a leaky condition;
and after remaining there three days went to Ferrol for repairs, and
that she would be ready for sea on or about the 14th instant. On the
evening of the loth I came here and was informed on the following
morning by the military and civil governors of the place that the
Stonewall had been reported as being ready for sea, but her
commander had not appointed a day for sailing. On the morning of the
17th our consular agent came on board, and in great glee informed me
that the governor had called upon him, and said that Captain Page
had asked if there would be any objection on the part of the Spanish
government to his absenting himself for a few days for the purpose
of visiting Paris; that his vessel still leaked badly, and he wished
to confer with the confederate commissioners in relation to selling
the Stonewall, or compelling the contractors to take her back, as
she did not come up to contract and was not seaworthy. On the
evening of the 17th, Page took passage in a Spanish war-steamer for
Corunna, en route for Madrid and Paris. On
the evening of the 18th, our consular agent for Corunna came on
board and informed me that Page had given out to the people at
Corunna that his repairs were all completed, and that he was going
to Paris for the purpose of purchasing another vessel.,
When I arrived at this port, there was lying lashed to the port-side
of the ram a Spanish government hulk, in which were deposited her
stores, ammunition, &c, and for the first two days after our
arrival I noticed that their deck-pumps were frequently used, but
for the last two or three days these symptoms of leakage have
disappeared. The Spanish corvette (hulk) was hauled off from her
side yesterday morning, and to-day she is taking in coal and appears
otherwise ready to sail at any moment. I am inclined to suspect all
reports relative to the continuance of her leak as being “humbug,”
or, in other words, she is “playing possum.”
She is a very formidable vessel, being completely cased with
five-inch plates of iron. Under her top-gallant forecastle is her
casemated 300-pounder Armstrong gun. On her quarter-deck in a turret
are two other rifled guns, 100 or 120 pounders; besides these she
has two smaller guns in broadside.
If she is as fast as reputed to be in smooth water, she would be more
than a match for three such ships as the Niagara. So, sir, you will
readily perceive I am placed in a most unenviable predicament, and
that our only chance for cutting short her career rests upon the
possibility of detaining her here until such time as our government
sees fit to send out the necessary re-enforcements.
In regard to the refusal of the French government to intervene in
this matter, on the ground that the ram was a Danish vessel, &c,
&c, it appears to me that the plea is a forced one. The vessel never was owned by the Danish
government, and Mr. Arman had never completed the sale of her to any
other party; and so far as the fitting of her out and supplying her
with arms, ammunition and a crew, it was done in French waters, in a French port or roadstead—just as much
in violation of neutral rights as if it had been done in the harbor
of Cherbourg or of Brest.
If she had been run down or captured by one of our vessels at the
Isle of Houat, the French would not be long in discovering that we
had committed a breach of neutrality in their port and a gross
outrage upon their flag.
[Page 235]
As for the report of the Iroquois having been seen in Quiberon bay, I
am inclined to believe it false, and grew out of the fact that
another one of these vessels built for the rebels at Nantes, and
afterwards sent to Denmark, was about Belle Isle at that time, and
sailed thence under the confederate flag.
On account of the tardiness of the mails, I purpose sending this
despatch by a special messenger.
I am, my dear sir, very truly yours,
Hon. John Bigelow,
Charge d’ Affaires, &c., &c.,
&c. Paris.
[Enclosure No. 2.]
Mr. Bigelow to Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys.
Legation of the United
States.
Paris,
February 27, 1865.
Sir: I am informed that Thomas J. Page, the
captain of the confederate steamer Stonewall,. is now in Paris.
Your excellency is doubtless aware that Captain Page was on board of
the Stonewall when, under the name of Stoerkodder, she left
Copenhagen, and that he superintended her partial equipment for the
confederate service, in the bay of Quiberon, the last week of
January last, and that he was in command of her when she sailed from
Quiberon bay to the port of Ferrol, in Spain, where she now
lies.
By his part in that proceeding, I am advised that Captain Page was
guilty of a gross viola-tion of the laws of France, and incurred the
penalties of fine and imprisonment.
I hasten to bring the fact of his presence in Paris to the notice of
your excellency, that such steps as are proper may be taken by the
imperial government for the punishment of a crime which was not only
an abuse of the hospitality of France, but a deliberate outrage upon
a friendly power.
I avail myself of this occasion to renew the assurance of the very
high consideration with which I have the honor to remain, your
excellency’s very obedient and very humble servant,
JOHN BIGELOW, Chargé
d’Affaires.
His Excellency M. Drouyn de Lhuys,
Minister of Foreign Affairs,
&c., &c., &c.
[Enclosure No. 3.]
Mr. Bigelow to Commodore Craven.
United States Legation,
Paris,
February 27, 1865.
Dear Commodore: I received your despatch by
private messenger yesterday morning. I hope, and incline to believe,
that your apprehensions in regard to the Stonewall are unfounded,
though the risks are sufficient to justify every precaution. I think
the French government has signified to the Spanish government as
decided a wish for the detention of the Stonewall as could be
reconcilable with its theory of irresponsibility for her movements.
It insists, moreover, that the Stonewall was a Danish vessel, which,
it is true, abused the hospitality of French waters, but escaped
before her presence was recognized by the official authority. I have
as yet no official evidence which authorizes me to dispute the
allegation that the Stonewall was actually a Danish vessel when she
entered Quiberon bay, though I am daily expecting the Danish view of
the case from our minister at Copenhagen. I have not neglected to
present to this government every view of the case which seemed
likely to dispose it to assist in detaining the Stonewall, and have
insisted with as much pertinacity as I thought became my position
upon their concurrence with the Spanish government and our own to
this end. That steps have been taken to punish some of the parties
engaged in equipping the Stonewall and conniving at her escape there
is no doubts To what stage these efforts will be carried time will
determine.
In regard to your own position I hardly feel competent to advise you.
If you have reason to apprehend any danger to your vessel from the
Stonewall in the harbor, you have but one of two courses to
pursue—either you must go out into the open sea where you may
encounter your enemy on fair terms, or you must take steps to
deprive her of the means of injuring you. What those means should be
you alone are competent to judge. Captain Page has certainly made
very public the statement that his ship was in a very distressed
condition when it entered Ferrol, and is unable to cross the ocean.
A letter from one of the officers
[Page 236]
has reached Paris of the same tenor. Whether
these statements are made to mislead, or are genuine, you can best
judge. I would counsel extreme prudence in all your relations with
the Spanish authorities. The United States cannot afford to
establish a precedent which it would not be willing to accept as a
rule. The position of our affairs at home is not so desperate as to
afford us any justification for irregular or lawless warfare, even
if justifiable under different circumstances. An act of lawless
violence peipetrated upon your vessel by the Stonewall in a port of
Spain would probably do your country and its cause more good, and do
the confederates more damage, than the Niagara ever has or can hope
to accomplish in any other way.
But it does not become me to repeat such commonplaces to an officer
of your experience and reputation. I hope most sincerely that you
may pass through your present, as through your past difficulties,
with success, as I am sure you will pass them through with honor. I
shall wait anxiously for news from you and from your gallant
companions. I only regret that I have nothing more definite and
satisfactory to offer you in the way of counsel.
I am, however, very sincerely yours,
Commodore Thomas J. Craven, United States Navy.
