John Bigelow to William H. Seward, February 6, 1865

Mr. Bigelow to Mr Seward

Sir: I received a telegram on Saturday from Mr. Perry, secretary of the legation at Madrid, advising me that a confederate steamer had put into Connina, in Spain, for repairs. The next morning, Sunday, about 11 o’clock, I received another despatch from Mr. Perry (enclosure No. 1) giving such a description of the vessel referred to in his previous despatch as to satisfy me that it was the Stoerkodder, alias the Olinde, alias the Stonewall, and that she had sought refuge in the dock-yard of Ferrol for repairs.

I immediately drove to the minister of foreign affairs, and was fortunate enough to find Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys in his cabinet. I communicated to him the infomation I had received, of which he took a copy, and my reasons for believing the vessel at Ferrol to be the Olinde. After he was fully possessed of my facts, I suggested to his excellency the propriety of immediately instructing his ambassador at Madrid, by telegraph, to ask the Spanish government to detain the vessel at least until the inquest, which the minister of marine was making in the case of the Olinde, was completed, and his excellency had an opportunity of communicating more fully with his minister at Madrid upon the subject. Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys replied that he had written twice to the minister of marine, pressing him for a report of the evidence in the case of the Olinde, but as yet nothing had been received from that department. He could not, he thought, with propriety, give any order upon the subject to his diplomatic agents till he had heard from the minister of marine. He also betrayed some uneasiness, lest in taking the initiative he might be assuming a greater degree of responsibility for what had recently occurred at Quiberon bay than was consistent with his theory, that the Olinde was a Danish and not a French vessel. I explained that a crime had been committed against the laws of France, hence the inquest upon which the minister of marine was engaged; till the authors and extent of that crime were ascertained and punished, France had an interest in detaining the vessel and all on board as contingently liable in damages; that this right was quite independent of the nationality of the vessel upon which there was no immediate occasion to give an opinion. The Olinde was the corps de delit in a sense, and France had a right to insist upon her remaining at Ferrol to await the pending investigation. His excellency seemed to assent to this view, but again referred to the absence of official evidence. I asked him if there would be any impropriety in my going to the minister of marine, showing him my despatch, and discussing the subject with him. “None whatever,” was his prompt reply, and he wished me to mention to the minister of marine that he was waiting for his report, without which he was unable to take any step in the premises.

I immediately went to the minister of marine, whom I was also fortunate enough to find in his cabinet. I made substantially the same communication to him that I had made to the minister of foreign affairs, including the message I had been requested to deliver.

His excellency informed me that the papers in the case of the Olinde were just complete, except that the testimony of Arman had not been taken, and that they were on the point of being sent to the minister of foreign affairs; he said, of course, he could give no orders to the diplomatic agents of the government, but that if I would return to Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys after he had had time to read the report I might renew my proposition, and the despatch might be sent on that night. He suggested that I should go at 2 o’clock, and promised that in the course of the afternoon he would see Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys himself.

I told him I should follow his advice, and in doing so should use his name. Before leaving I saw the report folded, sealed, directed, and delivered into the hands of a messenger, who set out with it to the ministry of foreign affairs. At 2 o’clock I went again to the ministry of foreign affairs, but unfortunately Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys had gone out.

I immediately returned to the legation and addressed to him a communication, of which enclosure No. 2 is a copy.

I then sent the following telegram to Mr. Perry, at Madrid, and to Mr. Sanford, at Brussels:

“February 5, 1865.

“The steamer Stonewall, Captain V. P. Page, 3 cannons, 300 horse-power, 79 men, from Copenhagen, via France, for America, flag of confederates, is at Ferrol, Spain, for repairs. It is doubtless the Olinde.

“BIGELOW.”

I also addressed to Mr. Perry, by mail, a communication, of which enclosure No. 3 is a copy. I received from Mr. Sanford this afternoon the following despatch: “Craven telegraphs from Dover, acknowledging the receipt of my yesterday’s despatch” I presume from this that the Niagara will soon be at Corunna, if she is not under conflicting orders. I omitted to state that in my interview with the minister of foreign affairs he twice asked where our ships were and advised me to send them after her at once. I was sorry not to have any definite information upon the subject.

* * * * * * * * *

To explain where the Olinde was between the 2d of January, when she left Copenhagen, and the 23d, when she arrived off Palais, Belle Isle, I enclose an extract from a letter received from our consul at Elsinore, (enclosure No. 4.) I also enclose an extract from a letter received this morning from our consul at Bordeaux, in reference to the Stoerkodder’s supply of coals, (enclosure No. 5.)

I hope before the departure of the next mail to have something to send you from the minister of foreign affairs in reference to this case.

I remain, sir, with great respect, your very obedient servant,