Hoff , Commanding North Atlantic Squadron, United States Flag-Ship Contoocook to Rear-Admiral Hoff, commanding North Atlantic squadron, April 11, 1869

Commodore P. de Krafft to Rear-Admiral Hoff, commanding North Atlantic squadron.

[38] Sir: In obedience to your order of the 8th instant, directing me to “proceed to the city of New Orleans, to communicate with the authorities, civil and military, for the purpose of obtaining all possible information in regard to the supposed fitting out of Cuban expeditions in that vicinity,” I have the honor to report that I arrived in New Orleans on the 9th, and communicated at once with the following officials: Mr. Gray, collector of the port of New Orleans; Mr. Keith, surveyor of the port of New Orleans; Judge Durrell, judge United States district court; General Mower, military commandant department;*Señor Charles Pié, consul d’Espagne.

Upon diligent inquiry, it appears that the four first-named gentlemen neither know nor have they any grounds for believing that such expeditions are proposed in the vicinity of New Orleans. Mr. Gray, collector, has specific instructions from Washington on this subject, and has recently exercised great vigilance to arrest all infractions of the neutrality laws.

Señor Charles Pié, the Spanish consul, has no information of a reliable character, but states that some weeks since there were movements on foot believed to have in view the formation of an expedition against Cuba, but that it failed for want of means; that some negotiations had been commenced for the purchase of a steamer, but that they had failed, as money could not be raised to complete the purchase, and the steamer had found other employment. At this time he has no other or more definite information than flying rumors, which cannot be traced to any authentic source.

[39] From the conversation held with these gentlemen, for the purpose of gaining information on this subject, I am unable to discover that there is even a probability of any such expedition being seriously contemplated, although its *organization has doubtless been discussed, and perhaps proposed.

I am, very respectfully, yours, &c.,