Robert C. Wood to William H. Seward, March 14, 1865

Mr. Wood to Mr. Seward

Sir: Your dispatch, No. 103, of the 21st ultimo, was received yesterdays. From the despatches arid copies of letters received ere this, and those I now send, you may perhaps think I have more than anticipated my instructions. I am very glad to receive and communicate to this government your last despatch, as the director general of the ministry informed me, a few days since, that the court intrusted with the investigation of the affair of the Staerkodder had discovered “it had not sufficient jurisdiction” to make the examination I desired. I have but recently discovered that the Staerkodder was originally intended for the confederates, and I am credibly informed that the Mr. Puggard I have already mentioned, a Danish merchant in this city, the consignee or correspondent of the ship, and the man who procured her crew and liberty to leave the port under the Danish flag, and whose re-examination I have asked, advanced large sums of money for the building of the Staerkodder, knowing that this vessel was being built for the confederates. I have informed both the minister for foreign affairs and the director general of the ministry of this.

To prevent all laches I again send a copy of my note to the director general, of the 25th ultimo. From a translation of Mr. Blumhe’s note to me, enclosing copies, &c., of the contract with Arman, the French builder, and other papers, you will see what he says of the affair. I am still of the opinion that the Danish government was practised upon by the Frenchmen and one or more of its own subjects, and how far it will screen the latter remains to be seen.

I have the honor to remain your obedient servant,

Mr. Wood to Mr. Vedel

Dear Sir: From information I have received to-day, I have no doubt that the Danish captain of the Staerkodder knew the destination of that ship when she left Copenhagen, and that an examination of some of the crew will implicate him. I think it can be shown, beyond a doubt, that he knew the ship belonged to the confederates when he went into or when he left Nieu Dieppe. I have reason to believe that Mr. Puggard also knew the character of the ship. If this should prove true, and the Danish captain has used the Danish flag as a cloak, does it not only require his arrest and punishment, but also a request from the Danish government to the Spanish government not to consummate the fraud, but to retain the Staerkodder or Stonewall in the Spanish port, where she now is? I will see you at the earliest convenience, and fully explain.

I have the honor to remain, very truly, your obedient servant,