James E. Harvey to the Duke de LoulÉ, March 27, 1865

Mr. Harvey to the Duke de Loulé

Sir: A piratical steamship called the Stonewall entered the harbor of Lisbon yesterday (Sunday) under a flag not recognized by any civilized nation. That vessel quitted the port of Ferrol, Spain, on Saturday, the 25th instant, at 11 o’clock, after having remained there since the 4th of February, that is to say, during a period of seven weeks, the pretext for claiming hospitality being serious injuries previously suffered at sea.

Attention is called particularly to the two facts above stated—first, to show that the excellent condition of the ship is attested by the short passage from Ferrol; and secondly, to demonstrate that upon no pretended plea of humanity can any claim be justified for furnishing coals and supplies after a voyage of little more than twenty-four hours, and after a continuous stay in port of nearly two months.

The Stonewall is a formidable iron-plated armed ship, commanded and officered by persons representing themselves as in the service of a factious insurgent force, who have revolted against the authority and laws of the United States. The open and avowed aim of this piratical craft is to burn and destroy and ravage the property of citizens of the United States on the high seas, and to embroil, if possible, the friendly relations now happily subsisting between Portugal and the United States.

In addition to these grave and undoubted facts, information has just been received from the United States consul at Liverpool, which gives the most serious importance to the presence of the Stonewall here and to the purposes of those concerned in a hostile conspiracy against the commerce and interests of the United States, for which it is proposed to make the ports and islands of this kingdom the base of military operations. The consul’s letter to me, dated March 19, says: “The English brig Fairline, now lying at this port, has taken forty bales of clothing, blankets, supplies and the like, marked C, and numbered from one to twenty; eight large guns, weighing eight and a half tons, each with equipment or fixtures; a quantity of small-arms, and a large quantity of shot and shells suitable and no doubt intended for the guns; also enough coal to supply a large steamer. The shot and shell are computed to weigh one hundred tons. The vessel is ostensibly entered for Rio de Janeiro, but the crew say she is to go actually to Lisbon. There can be no doubt but these guns and supplies are intended for a war steamer, and most probably the Stonewall. The crew of the Fairline was shipped yesterday, but it is not probable that she will sail before Wednesday.”

In another letter, dated March 21, the consul says: “I wrote you on Sunday last about the schooner Delgada taking anchors, and cable for two steamers at Ferrol. I learn this morning that the Delgada had proved too small, and that the schooner Merton Castle is to be substituted in her place. The captain of the former told one of my men that a part of the anchors and cables, together with the stores, were for the rebel iron-clad Stonewall, now at Ferrol. She is to take ten large anchors and two hundred fathoms of large and heavy chain cable. * * * * * The English brig Fairline, in command of Captain Savage, mentioned in my last letter, cleared and sailed this morning for Lisbon.”

The evidence of a collusive intention to outrage the territory of his Majesty and the obligations of the public law are too clear to admit of any reasonable doubt, as is also the design of this audacious conspiracy to wage a piratical warfare against citizens and commerce of the United States.

I have reason to know, positively, that the Stonewall has entered this port to obtain a large stock of coals and provisions, and with a view of increasing her hostile equipment by enlisting seamen and firemen. Such proceedings are forbidden by the royal proclamation of July 29, 1861, by good faith, and by the law of nations applicable to the existing circumstance.

It becomes my duty, therefore, to ask in the name of the United States—

1st. That his Majesty’s government will immediately adopt the necessary measures by which this piratical vessel, now flaunting in an insulting manner, a flag not recognized by any nation, shall forthwith leave the port.

2d. That no supplies of coal shall be allowed.

3d. That all enlistments of seamen, firemen, or others, shall be strictly prohibited.

The urgency of this occasion is such as to admit of no delay, and therefore I permit myself to hope that the decisions of his Majesty’s government will be made known in sufficient time to be telegraphed to-morrow, so as to be forwarded to the United States by the Liverpool packet of Wednesday, the 29th instant.

If supplies and enlistments are in any way permitted here or elsewhere within Portuguese jurisdiction, the government of the United States will be constrained to accept such a proceeding as a most unfriendly act, and to claim the fullest indemnity for every species of depredation that may be committed by this pirate.

I avail myself of this occasion to renew the assurances of my most distinguished consideration.