FESSENDEN, Secretary of the Treasury to William H. Seward, September 23, 1864

[Enclosures ]

Mr. Fessenden to Mr. Seward, September 23, 1864.

Mr. Seward to Mr. Fessenden, September 30, 1864—with an accompaniment.

Mr. Fessenden to Mr. Seward, September 30, 1864.

Mr. Thurston to Mr. Seward, October 20, 1864—with an accompaniment.

Mr. Seward to Mr. Burnley, October 1, 1864.

Mr. Burnley to Mr. Seward, October 4, 1864.

Mr. Seward to Mr. Burnley, October 21, 1864.

Mr. Burnley to Mr. Seward, October 23, 1864.

Mr. Burnley to Mr. Seward; October 23, 1864.

[The last five enclosures are published in this series. See correspondence with British legation.]

Mr. Fessenden to Mr. Seward.

Sir: I have the honor to inform you that a steam propeller has been put in commission as a revenue vessel to cruise on the lakes.

I deem it proper to acquaint you with this fact, in view of any treaty which may exist on this subject.

I am, very respectfully,

Mr. Seward to Mr. Fessenden.

Sir: I enclose for your perusal a copy of a telegram of the 23d instant from General Hitchcock to the Secretary of War, which I will thank you to cause to be returned to this department.

I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,

Major General Hitchcock to Mr. Stanton.

Sir: I take upon myself to express an opinion that the safety of our commerce on the lakes, and the security of the cities along the lake shores, makes it of the highest importance, if not an indispensable necessity, that the government should have several armed vessels fully manned to prevent the rebels, who find security in Canada, from seizing steamers engaged in commerce and converting them into war-vessels, with a few of which they may, if not prevented, do us incalculable mischief. Ex-Secretary Thompson is employed in Canada in setting on foot expeditions of the most dangerous character.

The recent seizure of the two steamers in this vicinity has, indeed, terminated disastrously for the projectors of the horrible scheme; but the demonstration actually made is a sufficient warning to induce our government to take immediate measures to guard against a repetition of it. It will be but an act of self-defence, and from the disclosures made by Coole, now in arrest at Johnson’s island, earnestly recommend that no time be lost i putting afloat armed vessels upon Lake Ontario, and speedily upon the upper lakes also. I suppose we are engaged in war rendering this step justifiable under the treaty of eighteen fifteen, (1815, ) but it is my duty to speak only the justifying necessity of the case.

Mr Fessenden to Mr Seward.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this date transmitting telegram from General Hitchcock, and to state that this department has this day chartered the steam propeller Hector, (at Oswego, New York, ) for revenue cutter purposes. This vessel, together with the Winslow, chartered at Buffalo a few days since, will be fitted for service with all possible despatch, The telegram is herewith returned.

I am, very respectfully,

Mr. Thurston to Mr. Seward.

Sir: Yesterday afternoon, just after I had left the consulate, about half past six o’clock, the evening paper was shown me, and my notice directed to an article announcing that a party of twenty or thirty men had attacked St. Albans, Vermont; had robbed the banks of one or two hundred thousand dollars; had also stolen sufficient number of horses to mount them, and had escaped after killing several citizens and wounding others. I could not credit the report, and immediately telegraphed to G. Merrill, esq., superintendent of the Vermont Central railroad, who returned reply herewith enclosed. Judge Aldis, of the supreme court of Vermont, the gentleman mentioned in the telegram, arrived here at 11 o’clock last night. Directly he arrived, we proceeded to the house of the chief of police, and made request that he would send a body of his police force to the frontiers, and arrest all suspicious persons passing into Canada. The chief declining to act without authority of his superior, Judge Coursol, of the quarter sessions of this city, and whose jurisdiction embraces also the district through which the raiders must pass to reach Montreal, invited us to visit the judge with him to obtain his consent. Accordingly we proceeded to the residence of Judge Cursol, called him from his bed, and laid the object of our visit before him. After some consultation, Judge Coursol decided to proceed to St. John’s, where he had a sergeant of special frontier police and several men, taking with him several men from this city also, and to render all the assistance in his power to arrest the raiders if they attempted to pass into Canada on the cars, either at St. John’s or beyond it. He directed the chief of police to accompany him, and assured us that anything the Canadian authorities could do, they would, and most cheerfully and promptly render every aid possible to arrest the parties concerned in this daring attack, to rob and murder the peaceable citizens of Vermont. This morning, at a quarter before six, they took the cars to St. John’s. Judge Coursol informed me that he had a force of thirty special police distributed along the frontier, on the thoroughfares and other places, to arrest deserters from the regiments stationed at Montreal and Quebec; that, should it be necessary, he would call in all this force, and detail as many men from the police force of Montreal, if it were required. While writing this despatch, a telegram was brought me, directed to Judge Coursol, announcing that six of the robbers of the banks of St. Albans were arrested at Stanbridge; and a few minutes after, another telegram from Judge Aldis, who returned this morning with the other parties, stating that two men had been caught, all of the eight having large amounts of money on their persons. Among the number arrested was the leader of this raid. The details of this outrage, written by Judge Aldis, who Was in St. Albans when the raiders made the attack, I have the honor herewith to enclose, together with the telegram received. The promptness with which Judge Coursol and the chief of the police have responded to our request for assistance; the kindness and courtesy with which they have received us; and the efficient services rendered, shows the determination of the Canadian government and its officials to arrest all offenders under the treaty against the laws of the United States, and the cordial good feeling which they entertain towards our government. I beg to assure the department that everything has been done by the officers of this consulate to render all possible assistance to the citizens of Vermont.

With great respect, I am, sir, your obedient servant,

[Untitled]

During the past two or three days a number of persons, in all about thirty, came to St. Albans by twos and threes, in the different trains, and stopped at the hotels. They were dressed like ordinary travellers, and attracted no attention. To-day, (October 19, ) at about 3 p. m., and at the same moment, parties of five each entered the three banks, and armed with revolvers, which they presented at the heads of the cashier or teller who were in, threatened to shoot them if they resisted or made any noise, and demanded the money. Resistance was out of the question, for in one bank only the cashier was in, in another one teller, and in the third two tellers only. They robbed the banks of what money they could find—the vaults and safes being open—and took an amount in all perhaps $150,000 or $200,000. While these persons were robbing the banks, their confederates at the same time went to the hotels and livery stables and seized horsesn order therewith to escape to Canada. The whole matter was transacted within less than an hour. Of course, in seizing the horses they met with resistance, for this had to be done openly, and they fired a half a dozen shots each at Mr. Fuller, the livery man, and at Mr. Field, the keeper of the American Hotel. While stealing the horses, they also fired at Mr. Morrison, who was walking along peaceably on the sidewalk on the opposite side of the street, and wounded him in the groin, it is feared fatally. They also shot Mr. Huntington, wounding him in the hip, and slightly wounded another. As soon as they had got together horses enough, they left for the north, taking the road by way of Sheldon, (where it is supposed they intended to rob the Missisquoi Bank, ) and thence probably by Franklin to Pigeon Hill, or to Frelighsburg, in Canada. They all came from Canada, so far as their arrivals can be traced. On the plank road, about a mile north of St. Albans, they shot a young girl by the roadside. They threatened to burn the depot and other buildings, but probably felt that delays were dangerous.

There was scarcely a gun or pistol in the village; but in about half an hour after they left, twelve or fifteen of our citizens, who succeeded in getting guns, went in pursuit of them. When about half way to Sheldon, they were heard of as being within about a mile of the robbers. It is to be hoped, they were overtaken there.

Some of the leaders appeared to be disposed to commit no greater outrages than robbing the banks; others seemed to be deperadoes—wretches ready for any crime, and bent on wanton murder.

The banks have offered a reward of ten thousand dollars.

(By telegraph from St. Albans, Vermont.)

Judge Aldis left here on express train to-night for Montreal, The raiders, some twenty or twenty-five men, have collected here within a few days. Had evidently laid their plans; simultaneously entered and robbed the three banks of from one hundred to two hundred thousand dollars; seized horses and saddles enough to mount the party, shooting all persons who resisted, and started for Sheldon, probably to rob the bank there, and then escape to Canada. They were pursued by a party of citizens, on horseback, armed.

(By telegraph from St. Albans.)

To David Thurston, Vice-Consul:

We have arrested two of the robbers on this side of the line, and have them in jail, with considerable money on their persons. Six more have been taken at Stanbridge, or Frelighsburg, among them their leader, and about $50,000 of the money. The whole country both sides of the line is alive with zeal to arrest them. Our governor too much pleased to hear the Canadian authorities so prompt.