Letter

William H. Seward to Charles Hale, December 4, 1866

Mr. Seward to Mr. Hale.

No. 25.]

Sir: The Secretary of the Navy has instructed Admiral Goldsborough to send a proper national armed vessel to Alexandria to receive from you John H. Surratt, a citizen of the United States, who is in your custody as an arrested fugitive, charged with the crime of assassination of the late Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, and of an attempt to assassinate William H. Seward, Secretary of State of the United States, in the month of April, 1865. You will deliver the before-named to the commanding officer of the vessel upon his reporting to you his arrival at Alexandria.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

Charles Hale, Esq., &c., &c., &c.

Sources
FRUS u2014 Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session of the Thirty View original source ↗
U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian. Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session of the Thirty.