Charles Francis Adams to William H. Seward, April 14, 1864

Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward.

Sir: Since my No. 644, of the 8th of April, I have received two notes from Lord Russell, both dated the 9th instant, on the subject of the alleged enlistments by the commander of the Kearsarge at Queenstown. To these notes I replied on the 11th, and received an acknowledgment from his lordship on the 13th instant. Copies of this later portion of the correspondence are herewith transmitted.

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It is, however, quite plain to me that there was some connivance on board of that ship in the scheme of enlisting these Irishmen. I presume that it was mainly the act of Haley, the Irish petty officer. But the case appears to have been now carried to such a point as to render an investigation necessary.

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

[Extracts from declaration by Daniel O’Connell.]

“A man that was, I believe, a doctor, examined me, being stripped, and told me I was fit for service. I then went forward, and the ship sailed next day.

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“One of the officers of the ship took me (with eight or nine of the men who had come on board at Queenstown) on shore at Brest in a boat, and when the boat had just touched the beach, the officer said: ‘Any of you that wish can go on shore, but if you wish you can enter on board the ship.’ All the men said ‘they would enter,’ upon which the boat returned to the Kearsarge, and we were all sworn to enter the United States navy for three years at $12 per month each, and our names were entered in the ship’s books, and we were provided with the ship’s uniform.”