Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State.
Mr. Wood to Mr. Blumhe
Legation of the United
States,
February 28, 1865.
Sir: From information I have received from
Mr. Hansen, the American consul, communicated to him by one of the
crew of the Sphinx, or Staerkodder, and now the Stonewall, I learn
that when this ship left Copenhagen she had on board another
passenger beside De Riviere, a confederate officer, passing under an
assumed name, and who took command of the ship after she arrived in
French waters, (or when she met another steamer,) or when the Danish
captain ceased to command. I am also informed that the French
engineers who had brought the ship from France were kept on board
this ship (the Staerkodder or whatever name) until the Danish
engineers went on board, or until the day before, or a short time
before she left Copenhagen; and that she had her guns in position
when she left, and coal sufficient for the voyage to Bordeaux. That
when she put back to Elsinore she landed De Riviere, and a Mr.
Puggard brought her another engineer. After leaving Elsinore, and,
as alleged, on account of bad weather, she put into Christians and
or some other port in Norway, coaled and remained there four or five
days, three of which were pleasant, and went to sea in weather more
boisterous than when she entered that port; the ship being a good
sea-boat, but leaky. About thirty-six hours after leaving Norway the
ship altered her course for Nieu Dieppe, in Holland. One of the
engineers remonstrated with the captain, as the weather was fine and
the ship had plenty of coal.
At Nieu Dieppe she again took on board De Riviere and another man,
(Waddell,) also a confederate officer, known to one of the
engineers, and who informed the Danish captain who he was, and who
subsequently became the second officer, or an officer on board the
Staerkodder after she passed into confederate hands.
On the 21st January the Staerkodder arrived off Quiberon, or in
French waters, and came to anchor. Here a man representing himself
as the brother of De Riviere came on board and soon after left. The
next morning the Staerkodder got under way, and was shortly after
met by a ship under English colors, with coal, munitions of war, and
a new crew, and soon after meeting with her was met by a French
steamer. The Danish captain then informed his crew that the ship was
sold, and tried to induce his crew or some of them to enlist and to
remain on board, and which they refused to do, and insisted on being
put on shore. They were set to work by the Danish captain to coal
from the British steamer under the promise of eight francs per man
for doing it. One of the engineers protested against this delivery
of the ship, and insisted that the captain should go into port and
the crew be properly discharged. They were finally landed by the
French steamer, leaving the Danish captain on board and the Danish
flag still flying.
I would request of your excellency that the Danish captain be
examined as to his knowledge or belief as to the truth of the above,
and particularly as to his knowledge or belief of the real names,
character and business of the passengers who left Copenhagen with
him, and of those who came on board in Holland, and what has become
of them, and where he last saw them. And, further, that such of the
engineers and crew be examined as shall be indicated by Mr. Hansen,
the American consul; and, further, that the Mr. or Messrs. Puggard
be examined as to their knowledge or belief of the character of the
Staerkodder, or any of the particulars in the foregoing statement.
And I would further request that inasmuch as Mr. Hansen understands
the Danish language he may be present at such examination, and be
permitted to suggest such questions as may occur to him bearing on
this matter. I need not suggest to your excellency that if the
captain and the agent or agents of this ship are innocent, the more
searching the investigation the better for them. I do not believe
that his Majesty’s government has intentionally departed from the
strictest neutrality; but if it should appear that Danish citizens
have used the Danish flag for a fraudulent or piratical purpose, I
am confident that his Majesty’s government will vindicate its
neutrality.
With renewed assurances of high consideration, I remain your
excellency’s obedient servant,
B. R. WOOD, Minister
Resident.
Mr. Blumhe,
Minister for Foreign Affairs.
