Office of the Historian

[164] *Mr. Hartley, Acting Secretary of the Treasury, to General Sherman, Acting Secretary of War.

Treasury Department,
Washington, October 4, 1869.

Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith, for your information, copy of a telegram received at this Department from D. Rumley, collector of customs at Wilmington, North Carolina, under date of 3d instant, reporting arrival of steamer Lady Sterling, alias Hornet, at Smithville, mouth of Cape Fear River, for the purpose of obtaining coal and provisions; also, copy of a telegram from this Department to that officer, under same date.

I am, very respectfully,

J. F. HARTLEY,
Acting Secretary of the Treasury.

Hon. William T. Sherman,
Acting Secretary of War.

[Inclosure.]

Mr. Rumley, collector, to Mr. Boutwell, Secretary of Treasury.

[Telegram.]
Wilmington, North Carolina, October 3, 1869.

To Hon. George S. Boutwell,
Secretary of the Treasury:

[165] The steamer Lady Sterling, alias Hornet, with one hundred and sixty men and officers, and eight guns, is at Smithville, mouth of the Cape Fear River, touching there for coal *and provisions. Officer of customs boarded for papers and they produced only commission of Cuban government. She is lying under Fort Caswell, and, with the aid of the garrison at Fort Johnson, she can be stopped.

I await your instructions.

D. RUMLEY,
Collector.