Mr. Wood to Mr.
Seward
No. 188.]
Legation of the United States,
Copenhagen,
March 22, 1865.
Sir: I herewith enclose my last notes to Mr.
Blumhe, the minister for foreign affairs. My information as to the
confederate officer was received from Mr. Bigelow, our chargé in Paris.
So far, I cannot learn of any suspicious arrivals in this city. Consul
Hansen says he has been informed of enlistments for the confederates,
forwarded to Hamburg by a Danish confederate agent. We have a detective
on the lookout. I have written Consul Andersen.
I remain your obedient servant,
BRADFORD R. WOOD, Minister
Resident.
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State.
Mr. Wood to Mr. Blumhe
Legation of the United
States,
March 20, 1865.
Sir: I have just received information that
two or three confederate insurgent officers, of the names of Doty,
Bishop, and Thomas, were to leave London on the 10th instant, for
Copenhagen, to purchase and equip a vessel for the confederate
service. They doubtless expect to get this vessel to sea as a
private commercial enterprise. Should these men, or any of them,
succeed in their attempt, and by the complicity of subjects of the
King, as in the case of the Staerkodder, I can merely refer your
excellency to the last despatch I have received from the Secretary
of State of the United States, and which I have already
communicated. As the French government are throwing on the Danish
government the responsibility of the escape of the Staerkodder, and
as neither the government of France nor England have permitted such
a ship to leave their ports, and the English government are now
prosecuting those engaged in assisting the confederates, may I hope
his Majesty’s government will be equally prompt in this matter with
those Danish citizens who pay no regard to the neutrality of their
country. I must again ask that Mr. Poggard be re-examined as to the
facts I have hitherto presented, as well as the Danish captain of
the Staerkodder, and especially whether they did not know, or have
reason to believe, before that ship left
[Page 175]
Copenhagen, or before she left Elsinore the
last time, that she belonged to or was intended for the so-called
confederates. I have already asked for the re-examination of some of
the crew, to be designated by the American consul, Mr. Hansen, and
particularly of the engineers, only one of whose names, Belling, I
have learned. I would also request that the Danish minister in Paris
be permitted to furnish the American chargé de affaires, Mr.
Bigelow, with the proofs that the Staerkodder did not belong to the
Danish government.
With renewed assurances of distinguished consideration, I have the
honor to remain, your excellency’s obedient servant,
B. R. WOOD, Minister
Resident.
His Excellency Mr. Blumhe,
Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Mr. Wood to Mr. Blumhe
Legation of the United
States,
March 22, 1865.
Sir: Consul Hansen informs me that one
Block, No. 6 Hyskenstrade, is enlisting men for the confederate
service, and in some instances paying their expenses to Hamburg.
With renewed assurance of distinguished consideration, I have the
honor to remain your excellency’s obedient servant,
B. R. WOOD, Minister
Resident.
His Excellency Mr. Blumhe,
Minister for Foreign Affairs.
