James A. Seddon to R. 8. McCuLyoH, Esq, January 19, 1864

Sir: In granting you a passport to go beyond the limits of the Confederate States, you are authorized, under an act to organize bodies for the capture and destruction of the enemy’s property by land and sea, approved 17th of February, 1864, to engage in the destruction of the enemy’s property on the high seas or the rivers, lakes, and harbors in the United States or the Confederate States of America, or on the territory of either or both of them. You will be governed, however, by the laws of nations, destroying only army and navy supplies and such other property as may be directly serviceable to the enemy in waging war against the Confederate States of America. Passenger vessels will be exempt from injury at your hands. You are also authorized to instruct and organize outside the limits of the Confederate States a company of men, not to exceed twenty in number, to act under your orders in the performance of the service in which you are hereby empowered to engage, taking strict care to observe the laws and rights of neutrals. You will forward a muster-roll of the company to this Department. Your services will be rendered without pay or other compensation than the percentage of loss or injury caused by you to the enemy’s property, to be awarded by the board of officers appointed for that purpose by this Department to convene in the city of Richmond, Va., the said compensation in no case to exceed 50 per centum of the loss or injury inflicted.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,