Lord Lyons to Mr.
Seward.
Washington,
April 29, 1864.
Sir: I beg to call your attention to the
enclosed copies of despatches from her Majesty’s consul at New York, and
their enclosures. They relate to complaints made by four men claiming
British protection, and captured on board vessels seized by United
States cruisers; that money and other articles belonging to them have
been taken away from them by United States officers and have
[Page 598]
not been returned. The names
of the men are, Batt Callahan, William Ebbett, Joseph Ebbett, and
William Thompson.
I regret very much to find that, from the statements made by these men,
there is reason to apprehend that several British subjects, captured on
board vessels seized for breach of blockade, are held as prisoners by
the United States government at Camp Hamilton, near Fortress Monroe.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most
obedient, humble servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c., &c.
Mr. Archibald to Lord Lyons.
New York,
April 25, 1864.
My Lord: I have the honor to transmit,
herewith enclosed, for such action thereon as your lordship may
think fit, an affidavit in original, made before me by Batt
Callahan, a British subject, complaining that he has been deprived
of money and personal effects of value by officers of the United
States navy, he being one of the crew of the steamer Scotia,
captured some time back for alleged violation of blockade.
Callahan states, in addition, that he has been for some time since
the vessel’s capture detained as a prisoner at Camp Hamilton, near
Fortress Monroe, Virginia, whence he was a few days ago released,
and that there are at present a number of British subjects in
confinement at the same place, captured about the same time on board
the steamers Don, Mary Ann, and Scotia, on a similar charge.
I have, &c.,
Lord Lyons, &c.,
&c., &c.
[Untitled]
Batt Callahan, being sworn, deposes that he is a British subject,
and has been a resident of Charleston, South Carolina, since
January, 1858. That upon the 28th of February, 1864, deponent
went on board the steamer Scotia, which vessel was then lying at
the port of Wilmington, North Carolina, for the purpose of
working his way to Nassau, N. P., fearing to remain longer in
the Confederate States on account of the conscription which was
at that time being enforced.
That said steamer Scotia sailed from Wilmington, and was, upon
the 1st of. March, captured by the United States ship
Connecticut for violation of blockade; that he and others of the
Scotia’s crew were afterwards transferred to the United States
ship Monticello, and that soon after such transfer were all
searched, and various sums of money taken from their persons by
the officers of the Monticello.
Deponent had upon his person when so searched a bag containing
between fifty-nine and sixty dollars in silver coin, which,
together with a gold watch and chain and two pocket knives, were
taken from him by one of the officers, who gave him a receipt
for the same, of which the annexed is a true copy; and since
that time deponent has not had such sum of money, watch and
chain, or pocket knives restored to him, nor does he know what
has become of them.
Sworn at the British consulate,
New York, this 26th of
April, 1864, before me.
[seal.] E.M. ARCHIBALD, Her Majesty’s
Consul.
Received, March 11, 1864, from Batt Callahan, prisoner of
war, one money bag, (unopened,) two knives, one watch and
chain.
JOHN FUREY, Acting Assist.
Paymaster U. S. Steamer
Monticello.
Mr. Archibald to Lord Lyons.
New York,
April 27, 1864.
My Lord: Referring to my despatch of
yesterday’s date, I have the honor to transmit, herewith enclosed,
copies of three receipts given by the paymaster of the United States
steamer Monticello to three British subjects, captured upon the
steamers Don and Mary Ann for alleged violation of blockade.
The men state that these amounts, as well as some articles of slight
value, such as pocket knives, were taken from their persons by
force, not by the officers of the capturing vessel, but by those of
the United States steamer Monticello, upon which vessel they were
being conveyed as passengers to Fortress Monroe. They report that
several of the Scotia’s and Mary Ann’s men are still in detention at
Camp Hamilton.
I have, &c.,
[Enclosures.]
Received, March 11, from William Ebbett, prisoner of war, one
money bag, (unopened,) and one knife.
JOHN FUREY, Acting Assist. Paymaster,
U.S. Steamer Monticello.
[Untitled]
Received, March 11, from W. Thompson, a prisoner of war, thirteen
dollars and seventy-five cents in silver.
JOHN FUREY, Acting Assist. Paymaster,
U. S. Steamer Monticello.
[Untitled]
Received, March 11, 1864, from Joseph Ebbitt, a prisoner of war,
one knife, one watch, one dollar in silver, and one chain.
JOHN FUREY, Acting Assist. Paymaster,
U. S. Steamer Monticello.
