Benjamin Moran to J. E. Harvey, January 19, 1865

Mr. Moran to Mr. Harvey

My Dear Sir: I write privately to say that there is a double screw propeller now in the harbor of Kingstown, Ireland, which is, no doubt, intended to be used as a rebel gunboat. She is called the Ajax, has but one funnel, painted white, and a black hull. She has iron beams, and is very strong. I cannot learn her tonnage. She has eighty berths, with tables to let down from the ceiling of saloons to accommodate that number of persons; and although she has no guns on board, she has ample room at the bows and stern for pivot guns; and though she has no portholes, her bulwarks are low enough for guns to range over them, and she is a three-decker. Her crew are all in a state of mutiny, and say she is going to Madeira. There are two or three rebel officers on board. She has two masts, but no yards, as she only uses mainsails. She has four boats swung on davits painted white. Her coal is in bags. Her engineer says she is to be used as a gunboat. If we should not stop her I will telegraph to you. She took arms and iron plating on board at Glasgow.

I give you these facts for your own use, so that you may have one of our vessels on the lookout for the Ajax about Madeira. The rebels recently sent away a large number of men from London on a screw steamer of theirs called the City of Richmond. She may be intended to meet the Ajax.

Ever truly,