Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.
Commander Baldwin to
Mr. Welles.
United States Steamer
Vanderbilt, New
York,
May 2,
1864.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge
receipt of your communication under date April 29, enclosing
copy of a deposition made by the master and others of a Bahama
wrecking vessel in reference to my acts when in command of this
ship, on the 6th of January last, in the neighborhood of Nassau,
New Providence.
In explanation I have to state, that on the day mentioned I gave
chase to a steamer, cotton-loaded, undoubtedly a blockade
runner, she being at the time about eighteen miles northeast of
Eleuthera; as I gained on her and commenced firing, the chase
threw overboard her deck load as quickly as they could. I
continued the chase, firing some thirteen shots, until the
steamer was in neutral waters, when I went round and commenced
picking up what cotton I could.
The reports of my guns brought several wrecking vessels out from
the various keys, and this one may have been one of them, who
got all the cotton they could. I did not consider I had any
right to prevent them, and did not; though had I succeeded in
capturing the steamer, I should not have permitted them to have
taken a bale.
In regard to the statement made, that “an officer from the deck
of the war vessel pointed a pistol at them,” &c., &c., I
beg leave to state that I was the officer, and certainly had no
pistol in my hands that day; that on their coming close
alongside to take a bale which we were getting hold of with a
grapnel, I shook my hand at them and said I would take it away
from them if they attempted to touch it.
In regard to the threat to run down, &c, I explain that the
schooner attempted to run square across my bows. I hailed that I
would not give way; that if he did not haul his wind I should
run into him.
All these occurrences took place nearer four miles than three
from the shore.
I presume the chase threw overboard fully 150 bales of cotton, of
which we got, in all, just fifty bales, and the wrecking
schooners the balance, although we had six boats out; and half
of these fifty bales were got late in the afternoon, some
fifteen miles off, when there were no wrecking schooners in
sight; this part speaks for itself.
In conclusion, permit me to state that I believe I acted with
great forbearance towards these impertinent and unthankful
fellows. Had they behaved to a vessel-of-war of their own flag
as they did on this occasion to me, I believe they would have
been severely punished for it at Nassau.
[Page 608]
Trusting that the above statement of facts will prove
satisfactory, I have the honor to subscribe myself, sir, your
obedient servant,
C. H. BALDWIN, Commander United States
Navy,
Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D.
C.
