Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session Thirty-eighth Congress, Part II

Mr. Seward to Lord Lyons.

Department of State, Washington, July 20, 1864.

My Lord: Recurring to that portion of your note of the 21st of May last which relates to the treatment and imprisonment of the crew of the Sylvanus, I have the honor to communicate a copy of a letter of the 17th ultimo, and of its accompaniments upon the subject, from the Secretary of the Navy, in which are stated the reasons for placing the crew of that vessel in irons.

I have the honor to be, with high consideration, my lord, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

Right Hon. Lord Lyons, &c., &c., &c.

Mr Welles to Mr. Seward.

Navy Department, Washington, June 17, 1864.

Sir: Referring to my letter of the 10th instant, I have the honor to enclose herewith a copy of a communication, dated the 11th instant, from Lieutenant Commander F. H. Baker, commanding the United States steamer Huron, and a copy of a communication from Commodore C. K. Stribling, commander of the Philadelphia navy yard, dated the 13th instant, stating the necessity which existed for putting the crew of the schooner Sylvanus in irons.

Very respectfully, &c.,

GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.

Mr. Baker to Mr. Welles.

United States Steamer Huron, Navy Yard, Philadelphia, June 11, 1864.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, dated 10th instant, requesting me to inform the department what necessity existed for keeping the officers and crew of the Sylvanus in irons while on board the Huron.

In reply, I have respectfully to state that the officers of the Sylvanus never were, to my knowledge, put in irons. The crew, with one passenger, (six in all,) were by orders put in irons the night of the capture, all being very drunk and some being disrespectful to me. On the next morning they were released, and were not again put in irons until some nights after, when the chief boatswain’s mate reported to me that the officers and crew of the Sylvanus were keeping together and whispering, and that the watch were apprehensive they might give trouble or attempt to get away. The Huron was at that time quite short-handed, and I deemed it wise to put the prisoners in irons. Upon other nights, though not in irons, a sentry was, as a matter of precaution, placed over them; at the same time I gave orders to allow them to go on deck when necessary. As the prisoners were leaving the Huron to go north the master of the Sylvanus thanked me for my kindness to himself and crew.

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

FRANCIS H. BAKER, Lieutenant Commander.

Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C.

Forwarded:

C. K. STRIBLING, Commandant

Mr. Stribling to Mr. Welles.

Commandant’s Office, U. S. Navy Yard, Philadelphia, June 13, 1864.

Sir: Referring to your letter of the 10th instant, I beg leave to report that in the case of the crew of the British schooner Sylvanus, the men were put in single irons to prevent their escape on the passage to Fort Lafayette. Acting Master John West, a reliable and experienced officer, had charge of these men, and he, on his own responsibility, put them in irons, deeming it a necessary precaution against their escape on the passage. The usual practice, so far as I know, is to put prisoners (blockade-runners) in irons if there is any insubordination or disposition to make their escape. Where there are but a few men in charge of one officer the prisoners are usually in a car with passengers, and it requires the utmost vigilance on the part of the officer to prevent their escape, if they wish to do so.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

C. K. STRIBLING, Commandant.

Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C.