Mr. Adams to Mr.
Seward.
No. 546.]
Legation of the United
States, London,
November 27, 1864.
Sir: I transmit copies of two letters from Mr.
Sprague, the consul at Gibraltar, respecting the suspected steamer seen
off Cape Spartel on the 19th instant. Since then nothing more definite
has been heard from her.
It may be that this is the vessel that the bark Agrippina was sent out
from here last week to meet and supply with ammunition, agreeably to the
information furnished from the source already made known to you. My own
impression, however, is, from the color which she is said to be painted,
that she is sooner or later likely to turn up as a blockade runner at
Wilmington or elsewhere.
I have the hon or to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &.
Mr. Sprague to Mr. Adams.
Consulate of the United
States,
Gibraltar,
November 19, 1863—5½. p.
m.
Sir: The British tug-boat Lion Belge, which
plies between Tangier and this port, has just arrived, and her
commander states that there is a confederate man-of-war steamer at
Cape Spartel.
I forward this information to your excellency by telegraph, and also
to our representatives at Paris, Lisbon, Cadiz, &c.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
HORATIO J. SPRAGUE, United States
Consul.
His Excellency Charles F. Adams,, United States Minister, &c., &c.,
&., London.
Mr. Sprague to Mr. Adams.
Consulate of the United
States,
Gibraltar,
November 20, 1863.
Sir: Since I had the honor to address your
excellency last evening, I have closely examined the commander of
the British tug-boat Lion Belge, who reported that he had seen a
confederate war steamer off Cape Spartel. I now beg to enclose a
memorandum of what he has just stated to me on the subject, and have
forwarded a copy thereof to Commander Preble, of the United States
ship Saint Louis, now provisioning at Cadiz.
In the absence of a federal war steamer at hand, this consulate is
without the means of doing anything to protect our merchant vessels.
Fortunately, however, there are but two at present at this port
discharging coals, and I believe very few are now afloat in the
Mediterranean.
I shall feel obliged if you will do me the favor to communicate all
this information to our government at Washington, as the immediate
departure of
[Page 3]
the present steam
packet does not permit me to address the Navy Department direct.
I have the honor to be, sir, in haste, your obedient servant,
HORATIO J. SPRAGUE, United States
Consul.
His Excellency Charles F. Adams, United States Minister, &c., &c.,
&., London.
Captain Hunter’s statement.
Consulate of the United
States,
Gibraltar,
November 20,
1863.
Statement of Captain Hunter, of the British
tug-boat Lion Belge, on her voyage from Tangier to the port
of Gibraltar, on the evening of the 19th of November, 1863.
At 4 p. m, saw a steamer, long, very sharp bow, sort stern,
bark-rigged, with her funnel close to her mizzenmast and painted
cream color, steaming very slow off Cape Spartel, and steering
north—wind east at the time—apparently watching all vessels that
were passing out of the straits; was painted black; saw her
port-holes—four open—but could not see her guns. Her mizzenmast
appeared small, and as if it could be taken down with ease for
disguise. Showed no flag; saw some fifty heads knocking about
the decks. At 8 o’clock of the morning the steam vessel Brunette
reported to Captain Hunter having seen the same steamer further
west, but in the same direction, and slowly steaming up as if
watching. The steamer’s foremast and mainmast are described as
being very heavy and lofty masts.
