Right Hon. Earl Russell to Charles Francis Adams, April 16, 1863

Lord Russell to Mr. Adams.

Sir: With reference to your letter of the 10th instant, in which you repeated the denial you had formerly made of the truth of the report that men were being recruited in this country for the United States army, I think it right to communicate to you the substance of a report which has just been made to her Majesty’s government with regard to the number of persons who are now being shipped as emigrants from Queenstown for New York.

It is stated that within the last fortnight 1,278 emigrants have sailed, the greater number being strong, active young men; that it cannot be doubted that they are intended for the United States army, and that, in fact, many of them do not deny it.

A certain number of these men were militiamen from Cork and its vicinity, and they informed the emigration officer that they would get from $250 to $300 bounty. It also, appears that the prospect of this large bounty has been held out to young men, by general rumor, throughout the country.

It is further stated that the friends of these persons in America are paid so much for obtaining and bringing them out to New York.

I do not think it necessary to encumber this letter with further statements of a more or less trustworthy character which have reached her Majesty’s government corroborative of this asserted recruiting of her Majesty’s subjects for service in the United States army, and I shall therefore merely add that I am informed that about 800 young men were booked to sail from Queenstown by the steamer of the 9th instant, it being freely spoken of that all the young men were going to join the northern army, and that although the Inman Company have put on additional steamers, the number of applicants for passage is so great that they cannot all be accommodated, and that several hundreds are consequently left behind each week.

I have the honor to be. with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,