E. G. Eastman to William H. Seward, December 12, 1863

[Untitled]

SIR: I have the honor to inform you that on the 7th instant the United States steamer Kearsarge called off this harbor and sent ashore sixteen men in a pilot-boat, with a note to me. I returned on board the Kearsarge in the pilot-boat, saw the captain, and from him I obtained a statement, a copy of which I enclose. These men, it seems, stowed themselves away on board the Kearsarge, while in this port, in hopes to be shipped when at sea, instead of which the captain took them to Brest, sent them ashore, and then retook them on board and enlisted them in the service, of the United States for the term of three years, as I understand.

It seems then he feared he had done wrong, and, afraid of trouble, when he got up steam, came across here, and put these men ashore, with scarcely any explanations.

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

I certify that the United States steamer Kearsarge arrived in Queenstown on the night of the 2d of November, 1863, and that on the following day I left the ship for Cork. On my return to Queenstown, accompanied by the American consul, I called upon the admiral in command, and in course of conversation reference was made to a paragraph in the papers that the Kearsarge had come in for the purpose of enlisting men, when I informed the admiral that I had received notice from the executive officer of the Kearsarge that many persons had applied to be shipped, and in response I had directed him to notify all persons that no enlistments would be made, and instructions were given in accordance. On the night of the 5th of November, 1863, while blowing heavy, with thick rainy weather, the Kearsarge went to sea. On the following day report was made to me that several men had been discovered on board, and investigation showed that they had concealed themselves in the ship during the thick and rainy weather of the day or night previous, and, disguised in this way, proceeded in the ship, hoping to be enlisted in the service of the United States after she got to sea. The Kearsarge was on important duty, watching the Florida at Brest, and it was therefore impracticable to return the men to Queens-town immediately. I directed the men to be held at Brest, in apprehension, if they were turned ashore, they would join the Florida, resolving as soon as the Kearsarge left Brest again to put them ashore at Cork. The Kearsarge left Brest again on the 5th of December, 1863, and, in accordance with my resolution, I have this day sent sixteen men ashore in the pilot-boat Petrel, with a list of their names as given to the American consul.