Dudley to Charles Francis Adams, United States, January 11, 1864

Mr. Dudley to Mr. Adams.

Sir: I beg to call your attention to copies of these affidavits—one of John Latham; another of his wife, Martha Latham, and the other that of Thomas Winstinley—enclosed.

It is a well-known fact that the steamer Alabama, which was built and fitted out at this port, and manned by British seamen, regularly receives her coal and supplies from this country, and that the families of the men now serving on board are paid once a month here in Liverpool by M. G. Klingender & Co. and Frazer, Trenholm & Co., the one-half part of the wages earned by the men on board this vessel. John Latham, of Swansea, in Wales, was one of the men who enlisted on said steamer. During the time of his service on board, his wife, Martha Latham, received regularly each month the one-half part of his wages, which was sent to her by M. G. Klingender & Co., of 22 Water street, Liverpool. The money was transmitted in post office orders. The letters in which this money was sent are annexed to her affidavit, and copies enclosed to you. At the time of enlisting Mr. Latham received a bounty. He sent £5 of this to his wife by Captain James D. Bullock. This £5 was paid to Thomas Winstinly for her at Frazer, Trenholm & Co.’s office, by their cashier.

I regard these affidavits as important, to show the character and nationality (if she has any) of this vessel, which, built in England, fitted out in England, armed with English guns and manned by English seamen, supplied with coal and other necessaries while cruising, from England in English vessels, by English merchants, and the wages earned by the men while serving on board paid here in Liverpool by these same merchants to their wives and families residing here, stamp her, it seems to me, if anything can, as an English piratical craft.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Deposition of John Latham.

I, John Latham, of 36 Jasper street, Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, engineer, make oath and say as follows:

1. About the 8th or 10th of August, 1862, I signed articles at the Sailors’ Home, Liverpool, to ship in the steamship Bahama, Captain Tessier, for a voyage to Nassau and back. The Bahama went out of the Bramley Moore dock the same night, about 12 o’clock, and went into the river and lay to; Captain Semmes, Captain James D. Bullock and some other officers came on board, and about half past 7 o’clock a. m. a tug-boat came alongside with some seamen on board. The tug-boat accompanied us out about ten miles. The tug then left us, and a tall gentleman, with a reddish face and pock-marked, who came from Cunard, Wilson & Co.’s office, left us and went into the tug. As he left us he said “I hope you will make a good thing of it, and that you will stop where you are going to.” We then proceeded on our voyage, and stood out some days, when we found we were going to the Western isles. About the 17th or 18th of August we arrived at Terceira, and we there found the Alabama and the bark Agrippina. Captain Butcher, who was on board the Alabama, hailed us and told us to go around the island, and he would be after us, but it would take them three-quarters of an hour to get his steam up. We went on and he followed us. The Alabama went under the lee of the island, and a shot was fired across the Bahama’s bows from a battery on shore; so we stopped out until the morning. In the morning we went alongside the Alabama, and some small cases, and a safe containing money, were passed into the Alabama from our ship, and we then parted and anchored a little distance from her, and the bark Agrippina went and discharged the remainder of her cargo into the Alabama. During this time Captain Semmes and Captain Bullock were going backwards and forwards to the Alabama, but would not let any of the officers go. On Monday, the 24th of August, Captain Semmes came on board the Bahama and called us under the bridge—he himself and the officers standing on the bridge. He addressed us and said, “Now, my lads, there is the ship, (pointing to the Alabama;) she is as fine a vessel as ever floated. There is a chance which seldom offers itself to a British seaman, that is, to make a little money. I am not going to put you alongside of a frigate at first, but after I have got you drilled a little, I will give you a nice fight.” He said, “There are only six ships that I am afraid of in the United States navy.” He said, “We are going to burn, sink, and destroy the commerce of the United States. Your prize money will be divided proportionably according to each man’s rank, something similar to the English navy.” Some of the men objected, being naval reserve men. Captain Semmes said, “Never mind that, I will make that all right. I will put you in English ports, where you can get your book signed every three months.” He then said, “Is Mr. Kell on the deck? and all those who are desirous of going with me, let them go aft and give Mr. Kell their names.” A great many went aft, but some refused. A boat came from the Alabama, and those who had agreed to go went on board. Captain Semmes and the officers went on board. Mr. Low, the fourth lieutenant, then appeared in uniform, and he came on board the Bahama, endeavoring to induce the men to come forward and join, and he succeeded in getting the best part of us. I was one who went at the last minute. When I got on board the Alabama I found a great number of men that had gone on board of her from Liverpool. Captain Semmes then addressed us on board the Alabama, and Captain Butcher was there also, who had taken the vessel out. Captain Semmes said he hoped we all would content ourselves, and be comfortable one among another; but any of you that thinks he cannot stand to his gun, I don’t want. He then called the purser, and such as agreed to serve signed articles on the companion hatch, and on signing the men received either two months’ pay in advance, or one month’s wages and a half-pay note. I took a month’s wages and a half pay note for £3 10s. in favor of my wife, Martha Latham, 19 Wellington street, Swansea. The note was drawn on Fraser, Trenholm & Co., Liverpool, but it was paid by Mr. Klingenders, in Liverpool. The note was signed by Captain Semmes, Yonge, who was the paymaster, and Smith, the captain’s clerk. I sent £5 and this half-pay note ashore by Captain Bullock, and he forwarded it with a letter to my wife.

3. Captain Bullock, on the passage out, and after we arrived at Terceira, used arguments to induce us to join the Alabama. On several occasions he advised us and urged the men to join.

4. As soon as the men who consented to go had all signed articles, the English ensign, which the Alabama had been flying, was pulled down and the confederate flag was hoisted, and a gun fired. The men who declined joining left the ship with Captains Bullock and Butcher for the Bahama, and we proceeded under the command of Captain Semmes, and I have in the schedule hereto annexed given a list of the officers and men, with their places of residence.

5. We proceeded on our voyage and cruised about the Western islands for some days, and on the following Sunday we fell in with a whaler and burned her, and we then cruised about, and in about two days we fell in with the schooner Starlight, from Boston. We fired at her four times. Her captain said “If I had but one gun on board I would fight you.” He tried to make the land, but we overhauled him, and he brought to. We kept the crew of the schooner, and on the next day we landed them at the Western isles, and took the schooner in tow for the purpose of decoying other vessels with the stars and stripes. We succeeded in capturing several. Among other vessels, we captured the Manchester, of Philadelphia line of packets, bound from New York to Liverpool. We burnt this vessel, having first taken her crew, and we put them on board the Tonawanda, which we had previously captured, and had them in tow. Amongst the crew there was a man of the name of George Forrest, who one of the midshipmen recognized as having been a seaman on board the Sumter, and had deserted. He was brought on board to Captain Semmes, who told him if he behaved well he should have his pay and prize money as the other men, but that he had a right to detain him throughout the war, without paying him one cent. Forrest was retained on board the Alabama, was frequently punished by having his hands and legs fastened to the rigging, the punishment being known as “the spread eagle,” and he would be kept in this position for four hours at a time, and this was done at least twenty times, and at last they ironed his legs and arms and sent him on shore, on a deserted island called Blencola, some 200 miles from the main land, and left him. The crew subscribed some £17, unknown to Captain Semmes, which we gave him in the hope of its being some inducement to a vessel to take him off.

6. The bark Agrippina, flying the British flag and loaded with coals, from Cardiff, was at Martinque when we arrived there, and she went out to sea, and whilst out she supplied us with coal; after that we went to Arkashees, where we stopped and painted the ship, and then made toward Galveston, and off that place we fell in with the American ship Hatteras, which we sunk; we got her crew on board and proceeded to Port Royal, Jamaica; there I ran away, and left the Alabama; whilst there the Alabama enlisted two British sailors who had deserted from her Majesty’s ships Jason and Steady; Thomas Potter, who was fireman, also ran away, but the men of the Alabama came after him, and arrested him, and took him back to the ship; Clarence Yonge, the purser, also left the ship; I was also arrested at an hotel in Jamaica by the Alabama crew; they wanted to force me on board, but I refused to go until I had seen the governor of the island, whose residence was some fifteen miles distant; and I saw the superintendent of the police, who, on my producing a certificate that I was a naval coast volunteer, on board of her Majesty’s ship Majestic, I was released.

7. My wife received my half pay; she used to receive it by post office order, payable at Swansea; and to obtain this, she every month used to write to Messrs. Fraser, Trenholm & Co., or M. G. Klingender & Co., Liverpool, enclosing the half-pay notes, and the latter firm used to send her a post oifice order for £3 9s. 5d., deducting the cost of the order and the postage. In February or March she wrote as usual for the half pay; they wrote, in reply, that they could send her no more money, as I had left the ship; but they did not return her the half-pay note.

8. On my return I called at Fraser, Trenholm & Co.’s office for the balance of my wages, but they declined to pay me, and denied all knowledge of the ship; but Mr. Cooper gave me the name of Mr. M. G. Klingender, and told me to see him, and see if he could arrange it. I did so, but he told me he would not do so, as they had received a note from Captain Semmes that I had deserted at Jamaica.

9. The guns comprising the armament on the Alabama have Fawcett, Preston & Co.’s marks on them. They were made by this firm.

JOHN LATHAM.

Schedule before referred to—officers and crew of the steamer Alabama.

Raphael Semmes, commander.

J. N. Kell, first lieutenant.

Richard F. Armstrong, second lieutenant.

Joseph Wilson, third lieutenant.

John Low, fourth lieutenant.

——————, Englishman.

Arthur Sinclair, master, (that is, sailing-master.)

Francis L. Gait, surgeon, from Virginia; now acting as paymaster.

Miles J. Freeman, first assistant engineer, ranks as chief; born in Wales; does not know whether naturalized.

David Herbert Llewellyn, assistant surgeon, Englishman.

B. H. Howell, brother-in-law of Jeff. Davis, lieutenant of marines.

(No marines on board.)

W. H. Sinclair, midshipman.

Irving S. Bullock, midshipman; Captain Bullock’s brother.

Eugene Maffitt, midshipman; Captain Maffitt’s son.

Edward Maffitt Anderson, midshipman; son of Colonel Anderson.

W. P. Brooks, second assistant engineer.

S. N. Cumming, third assistant engineer.

Matthew O’Brien, third assistant engineer.

John M. Pundt, third assistant engineer.

George T. Fulham, first master’s mate, Englishman.

James Evans, second master’s mate, Charleston pilot.

W. D. Smith, captain’s clerk.

Benjamin L. McCosky, boatswain.

F. O. Caddy, gunner.

William Robinson, carpenter.

Henry Alcott, sailmaker, Englishman.

Clarence R. Yonge, paymaster.

Petty officers and seamen.

James King, master-at-arms, Savannah pilot.

Adolphus Warmley, Portuguese.

W. A. Ring, quartermaster.

James G. Dent, quartermaster.

William Forrestall, quartermaster, Englishman.

Ralph Masters, quartermaster gunner, Irishman.

William Crawford, Englishman; lives in Liverpool; belongs to royal naval reserve.

George Addison, Englishman; lives in Liverpool.

William Brinton, Englishman; royal naval reserve.

———Robinson, head carpenter.

George Harwood, boatswain’s mate; English pensioner; from English navy; joined her at Liverpool home; now is a southerner, as boatswain; lives in Liverpool.

Michael Kinshler, Irishman, fireman; has a pension in England.

Brent Johnson, second boatswain’s mate, Englishman; naval reserve man; joined vessel at Liverpool.

William Purdy, sailmaker, Irishman by birth; lives in Liverpool; belongs to naval reserve; joined her in Liverpool.

John Latham, fireman, an Englishman; belongs to coast volunteers; enlisted on Alabama at Terceira.

Daniel Roach, fireman, Englishman; resides at Liverpool; belongs to roaly navy reserve; enlisted in Liverpool; left her 22d November.

Thomas Murphy, fireman, Englishman; left her in Western islands.

Thomas Welch, Englishman; left the ship; enlisted in Alabama in Liverpool.

James Smith, captain of forecastle, Englishman; residing in Liverpool; belongs to naval reserve; enlisted on board of Alabama in Liverpool.

Edward Fitzmorris, Englishman; enlisted in Alabama in Liverpool; is at home now; his wife lives at Aigburth.

George Addison, fireman; lives at Liverpool, Copperal Hill; enlisted at Terceira.

James McFudgeon, fireman, Englishman; lives at No. 6 West Derby street; enlisted at Terceira; now at home.

Thomas Potter, Englishman, enlisted in Alabama at Liverpool; lives in Arch street, Liverpool; deserted at Jamaica; they arrested him at Jamaica and carried him on board; his wife lives in Liverpool now.

Samuel Williams, fireman, lives in Liverpool, born in Wales; enlisted in Alabama at Liverpool.

Patrick Bradley, fireman, Englishman, resides in Liverpool; enlisted there.

John Origen, fireman, Irishman; resides in School street, Liverpool; enlisted there.

Oran Duffy, fireman, Irishman.

Peter Duncan, fireman, Englishman; resides in Liverpool; enlisted in Liverpool.

William Nevins, coal-passer, Englishman; belongs to naval reserve; enlisted at Liverpool.

Andrew Shilling, Scotchman; resides at Athol street, Liverpool; has a wife; enlisted at Liverpool; is a fireman.

Charles Puist, coal-passer, is a German.

George Yeoman, ordinary seaman, Englishman; enlisted at Terceira.

George Fremantle, seaman, Englishman; enlisted at Terceira.

Frederick Johns, purser’s steward, Englishman; resides in Liverpool; his father keeps a coal-yard in Howard street; enlisted at Terceira.

John Grandy, boy, English; lives in Liverpool.

Thomas Weir, gunner’s mate, Englishman; enlisted at Liverpool.

James Busman, seaman, Englishman.

Edgar Tripp, seaman, Englishman; lives in London; enlisted in Liverpool.

John Neil, seaman, Englishman; lives with his sister in Manchester street, Liverpool; belongs to naval reserve; enlisted at Terceira.

Thomas Winter, fireman, Englishman; lives in Liverpool; his father is ticket collector at the Adelphi theatre; enlisted in Liverpool.

Samuel Henry, seaman, Englishman; resides in Liverpool; naval reserve man; enlisted in Liverpool.

John Roberts, seaman, Welchman; think he resides at Liverpool; enlisted at Terceira.

John Duggan, seaman, Englishman; resides in Liverpool; belongs to naval reserve; enlisted at Terceira.

Martin Ring, seaman.

Thomas Williams, seaman, Englishman; resides in Liverpool; belongs to naval reserve; enlisted at Terciera.

Robert Williams, seaman, Englishman; resides in Liverpool; belongs to naval reserve; enlisted at Terceira.

Joseph Pearson, seaman, Englishman; belongs to Chester; enlisted at Liverpool.

Joseph Conner, seaman, Englishman; resides in Walnut street. His wife lives there and keeps a butcher’s shop; belongs to naval reserve; enlisted at Terceira.

Thomas McMullen, seaman, Englishman; resides in Liverpool; joined at Terceira.

Michael May, seaman, Englishman; belongs to Bristol; naval reserve; joined at Terceira.

Robert Egan, boy, English; belongs to Chuley.

Malcolm McFarland, seaman, Scotchman; resides in Liverpool; belongs to naval reserve; enlisted at Terceira.

Peter Henry, seaman, Irishman; lives in Liverpool; enlisted at Terceira.

Charles Goodwin, seaman, Englishman; resides in Liverpool; enlisted at Terceira.

James Hicks, captain of the hold; Englishman; resides in Liverpool; enlisted in Liverpool.

George Appleby, yeoman, Englishman; resides in Liverpool; married man; enlisted in Liverpool.

John Emory, seaman, Englishman; resides in Liverpool; belongs to naval reserve; enlisted at Terceira.

William Hearn, seaman, Englishman; resides in Liverpool; belongs to naval reserve; enlisted at Terceira.

Thomas L. Parker, boy, English; stops with Brent Johnson.

A. G. Bartelle, seaman, Portuguese.

Peter Hughes, captain of top; Englishman; resides in Liverpool; belongs to naval reserve; enlisted at Liverpool.

Henry Fisher, seaman, enlisted at Liverpool.

Frank Townsend, seaman, Englishman; enlisted in Liverpool.

George Forrest, seaman, Irishman; taken off the ship Manchester because he had deserted from the Sumter, and tried by a court-martial for causing mutiny, and sent on shore, in irons, to island Blanco and left there. Previous to his being tried for mutiny he was tied up twenty times in the rigging with his arms spread, for four hours at a time, day and night.

Robert Parkinson, wardroom steward, Englishman; resides in Liverpool; enlisted in Liverpool.

Deposition of Martha Latham.

I, Martha Latham, of 18 Wellington street, Swansea, in the county of Glamorgan, wife of John Latham, make oath and say as follows:

My husband was one of the crew of the steamer Alabama. In the month of August, 1862, my husband, who was in Liverpool, wrote me that he was going out in the steamer Bahama, to run the blockade. Some weeks after that I received a letter from my husband, dated at the Western islands, stating that he had joined the steamer Alabama, for £7 a month. On the same day I received a letter from Captain James D. Bullock, enclosing me a half-pay note, signed by Captain Semmes, for the half pay of my husband, while he served on board of said steamer Alabama. The note was payable to me at Fraser, Trenholm & Co.’s, in Liverpool. In the latter part of August, or first part of September, 1862, my husband’s cousin, Thomas Mistainly, 36 Jasper street, Liverpool, received £5 for me from the office in Liverpool. I had sent him Captain Bullock’s letter, and the one from my husband. I sent my half-pay note to Liverpool to draw the money on it. It was returned to me in the letter annexed hereto, marked “A.” I signed my name and sent it to the office of M. G. Klingender & Co., Liverpool, who sent me £3 10s. less seven pence, the expenses. It was sent to me in a post office order, in a letter dated October 3, 1862, annexed hereto, and marked on back, “Exhibit B.” On the 31st October, 1862, M. G. Klingender & Co. sent me another letter, enclosing me another order for £3 9s. 6d. being another month’s half pay on said note.

On the 31st of December, 1862, the Messrs. Klingender & Co. sent me another letter, enclosing me an order for £3 9s. 6d. on account of said note. The letter is annexed hereto, and marked “Exhibit C.” On the back I received another half pay of £3 9s. 6d. It must have been in January, but the letter in which it was sent, as well as the letter written to me by Captain Bullock, above mentioned, has been mislaid. All the money orders were paid to me. In February or March I received from M. G. Klingender & Co. a letter without date, stating that my husband had deserted, and stopping the pay on the allotment note. I had been in the habit of sending them the note every time I drew the money. The last time I sent it they retained it, and sent me the last-mentioned letter, but no money. They still have the allotment note in their possession. The letter from M. G. Klingender & Co., dated 31st October, 1862, above mentioned, is annexed hereto, and marked “Exhibit D.”

The last letter from them to me without date, above mentioned, is also annexed hereto, and marked “Exhibit E.”

MARTHA LATHAM.

Sworn and subscribed to this 3d day of December, 1863.

A.

Messrs. M. G. Klingender & Co. must request Mrs. Martha Latham, before paying her the £3 10s. to sign her name at the back of the allotment note, and then return it to them, when they will remit her a money order for the amount, less cost of order.

Mrs. M. Latham,

19 Wellington street, Swansea, South Wales.

Exhibit B.

Madam: Enclosed please find a money order, payable at the post office of your town, for £3 9s. 5d. In future you must send us your allotment note, signed across a receipt stamp.

Returning you the note, we are yours, &c.

Per M. G. KLINGENDER & CO., C. F. VAN MELLE.

Exhibit D.

Madam: We enclose you a money order for £3 9s. 6d., payable at the post office of your town.

Returning you the note, we are yours, &c.,

Per M. G. KLINGENDER & CO., C. F. VAN MELLE.

Exhibit C.

Messrs. Klingender & Co. enclose Mrs. Martha Latham a post office order for £3 9s. 6d., deducting, as usual, 6d. for cost of order.

Exhibit E.

Madam: We have this day received advices, per West India mail, from St. Domingo, stating that John Latham, with three other men, deserted the Alabama, on the 25th January, at Kingston, Jamaica, and of course their allotment notes must be stopped.

We are &c.

Deposition of Thomas Wistinley.

I, Thomas Wistinley, of Liverpool, in the county of Lancashire, residing at 36 Jasper street, make oath and say: I am a cousin of John Latham. After he had joined the Alabama, in the summer of 1862, his wife, Martha Latham wrote me that Mr. Latham had sent home a part of his advance wages, and requested me to go to Frazer, Trenholm & Co., in Liverpool, and get it for her. I went to Eraser, Trenholm & Co.’s office either the last part of the month of August or the fore of September, 1862. I saw one of the men in the office. I presented him the note. It was for £5. I forget by whom it was signed. The man said, “Well, you are not Martha Latham, and this note is payable to her.” I told him she lived at Swansea, and that she had written me to get it for her, and showed him her letter to me. He then said, if I would leave him the letter and note, he would pay me. I consented to do this, and he paid me £5, which I remitted to Martha Latham, less the expense. The person who paid me, I was told by the other clerks in the office, was Fraser, Trenholm & Co.’s cashier. I left the note and letter with him.

THOMAS WISTINLEY.