NORTH AMERICA. No. 6. (1864.) CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING THE "TUSCALOOSA." Presented to the House of Commons by Command of Her Majesty. LONDON: PRINTED BY HARRISON AND SONS. Correspondence respecting the "Tuscaloosa." No. 1. The Secretary to the Admiralty to Mr. Hammond.—(Received September 20.) Admiralty, September 26, 1863. Sir, I AM commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to send you herewith, for the information of Earl Russell, a copy of a letter from Rear-Admiral Sir Baldwin Walker, dated the 19th August, with copies of its inclosures, relative to the proceedings of vessels of war of the so-styled Confederate States of North America at the Cape of Good Hope. I am, &c. (Signed) W. G. ROMAINE. Inclosure 1 in No. 1. Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker to the Secretary to the Admiralty. "Narcissus," Simon's Bay, August 19, 1863. Sir, I BEG you will be pleased to acquaint my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty with the following particulars relative to the proceedings of the Confederate States' ships of war "Alabama," her reported tender "Tuscaloosa," and the "Georgia," which have recently arrived at the Cape of Good Hope. 2. On the 28th of July an English schooner arrived in Table Bay, and reported that on the previous day she had been boarded by the Confederate steamer "Alabama," fifteen miles north-west of Green Point. After some inquiries the "Alabama" left her, steering south-east. 3. Upon the receipt of this intelligence I ordered Captain Forsyth, of the "Valorous," to hold himself in readiness to proceed to any of the ports in this Colony where the "Alabama" might anchor, in order to preserve the rules of strict neutrality. 4. By a letter addressed to the Governor of this Colony by Captain Semmes, copy of which was telegraphed to me on the 4th instant, it appears that the "Alabama" had proceeded to Saldanha Bay for a few days, anchoring there on the 29th of July. 5. On the 5th instant I received a private telegram, to the effect that the "Alabama" was off Table Bay, when I directed the "Valorous" immediately to proceed to that anchorage; and shortly afterwards a telegram reached me from the Governor stating "that the Alabama had captured a vessel (American), which was in sight, and steering for Table Bay." The "Valorous" reached that Bay at 10·15 P.M., where the "Alabama" had anchored at 3 o'clock in the afternoon of the same day. 6. Captain Forsyth having informed me that the tender to the "Alabama" had been ordered by Captain Semmes to Simon's Bay for provisions, and having learnt that this vessel had been captured off the coast of Brazil, and not been condemned in any Prize Court, I had doubts as to the legality of considering her in the light of a tender, being under the impression that it was a ruse to disguise the real character of the vessel. I therefore wrote to the Governor to obtain the opinion of the AttorneyGeneral of the Colony upon this subject, which correspondence is inclosed. 7. On the 8th of August the tender "Tuscaloosa," a sailing-barque, arrived in Simon's Bay, and the boarding officer having reported to me that her original cargo of wool was still on board, I felt that there were grounds for doubting her real character, and again called the Governor's attention to this circumstance. My letter and his reply are annexed. And I would here beg to submit to their Lordships' notice that this power of a Captain of a ship of war to constitute every prize he may take a "tender," appears to me to be likely to lead to abuse and evasion of the laws of strict neutrality, by being used as a means for bringing prizes into neutral ports for disposal of their cargoes, and secret arrangements-which arrangements, it must be seen, could afterwards be easily carried out at isolated places. 8. The “Alabama," after laying three days in Table Bay, came to this anchorage to caulk and refit. She arrived here on the 9th, and sailed again on the 15th instant. Captain Semmes was guarded in his conduct, and expressed himself as most anxious not to violate the neutrality of these waters. 9. I should observe that, from the inclosed copy of a letter from Captain Forsyth to the Governor, it would appear that the vessel "Sea Bride," taken by the "Alabama" off Table Bay, was beyond the jurisdiction of neutral territory. 10. During his passage to this port Captain Semmes chased another American vessel, the 'Martha Wentzel," standing in for Table Bay. On my pointing out to him that he had done so in neutral waters, he assured me that it was quite unintentional, and, being at a distance from the land, he did not observe that he had got within three miles of an imaginary line drawn from the Cape of Good Hope to Cape Hanglip, but on discovering it he did not detain the vessel. This explanation I considered sufficient. 11. The tender "Tuscaloosa," having been detained by a strong south-easter, got under weigh for the purpose of going to sea on the 14th instant, but anchored again a little distance from the Roman Rock Light-house in consequence of a thick fog prevailing. 12. The "Alabama" did not take in any coal, either here or at Table Bay, but after being caulked she proceeded to sea on the 15th instant, followed by the "Tuscaloosa." Their destinations are unknown. 13. On the 16th instant the Confederate States' steamer "Georgia," Commander Maury, anchored in this Bay. She requires coal, provisions, and caulking. This vessel did not meet the “Alabama” outside. 14. The "Florida," another Confederate States' steamer, is reported to be off this coast, probably cruizing to intercept the homeward-bound American ships from China; indeed, it is with that object these ships are on this part of the Station. 15. I have learnt, since the departure of the "Alabama" and her so-called tender, that overtures were made by some parties in Cape Town to purchase the cargo of wool, but, being unsatisfactory, they were not accepted. It is reported to be Captain Semmes' intention to destroy the "Tuscaloosa" at sea. 16. The "Alabama" is a steamer of about 900 tons, with 8 guns and 150 men. The "Georgia” is an iron steamer of about 700 tons, with 5 guns and 110 men. The "Tuscaloosa " is a sailing-barque of 500 tons, having 2 small guns and 10 men. I have, &c. (Signed) B. W. WALKER. Inclosure 2 in No. 1. Sir, Captain Semmes, C.S.N., to Governor Sir P. Wodehouse. Confederate States' steamer " Alabama," Saldanha Bay, August 1, 1863. AN opportunity is offered me by the coasting schooner "Atlas" to communicate with the Cape, of which I promptly avail myself. I have the honour to inform your Excellency that I arrived in this bay on Wednesday morning last for the purpose of effecting some necessary repairs. As soon as these repairs can be completed I will proceed to sea, and in the meantime your Excellency may rest assured that I will pay the strictest attention to the neutrality of your Government. Inclosure 3 in No. 1. I have, &c. Sir, Captain Forsyth to Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker. "Valorous," Table Bay, August 6, 1863. I HAVE the honour to report my arrival here at 10:15 P.M. last evening, and found the Confederate steamer "Alabama" had anchored at 3 P.M. previously. This morning I put myself in communication with the Commander of that vessel, and he informs me he intends leaving this anchorage at daylight to-morrow, or as soon as he has provisioned, and he proceeds to Simon's Bay for repairs; he also informed me he had a tender which he left cruizing outside, and had ordered her to Simon's Bay, there to procure provisions. On my visiting his Excellency the Governor he requested I would remain here a few days provided you had no objection, in case of the arrival of the Confederate vessel "Florida," which is expected. I have, &c. (Signed) CHARLES C. FORSYTH. Inclosure 4 in No. 1. Rear-Admiral Sir B. Walker to Governor Sir P. Wodehouse. Sir, "Narcissus," Simon's Bay, August 7, 1863. CAPTAIN FORSYTH having informed me that the "Alabama" has a tender outside captured by Captain Semmes on the coast of America, and commissioned by one of the " Alabama's Lieutenants, and as this vessel has been ordered into Simon's Bay for provisions, may I request your Excellency will be good enough to obtain the opinion of the Law Officers whether this vessel ought still to be looked upon in the light of a prize, she never having been condemned in a Prize Court; the Instructions, copy of which I inclose, strictly forbidding prizes captured by either of the contending parties in North America being admitted into our ports. I have, &c. (Signed) B. W. WALKER. |