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Tue Jun 20 1865 Sir Frederick W A Bruce writes SECSTATE "I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 19th instant, relative to Earl Russell's dispatch to me of the 2d June, copy of which I left at the State Department, and I have forwarded a copy of that note to her Majesty's Government.
It is not within my province to discuss the general observations therein contained in the dispatch in question but as the construction I put on its terms differs on one important point from that contained in the note you have done me the honor to address to me, I venture to submit at once the views I entertain of its intention for your consideration. In the note it is stated that -
Her Majesty's Government avow that they will continue still to consider that any United States cruisers which shall hereafter be lying within a British port, harbor, or waters shall be detained twenty-four hours, so as to afford an opportunity for an insurgent vessel then actually being within the said port, harbor, or waters to gain the advantage of the same time for her departure from the same port, harbor, or waters.
On a mature consideration of the terms of Earl Russell's dispatch, its intention appears to me to be different from the statement contained in the above extract. I understand it to lay down that the benefit of the twenty-four-hour rule is withdrawn from the so-called Confederate vessels of war, and that the only exception to this decision will occur under the following circumstances:
If a vessel of this description is lying in a British port when these fresh instructions are received by her Majesty's authorities, the said vessel having already entered that port on the faith of previous proclamations, and if a cruiser of the United States is lying in the same port, the said vessel is there and for the last time to enjoy the benefit of the twenty-four-hour rule.
According to my view, therefore, the case can only arise once on the receipt by her Majesty's authorities of the instructions alluded to in Earl Russell's dispatch; nor do I understand that, excepting the particular and improbable contingency above mentioned, there will be any deviation hereafter from the rules of intercourse as practiced toward the vessels of war of a friendly state."
RADM William Radford, North Atlantic Squadron, writes SECNAV "I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of a communication received from Commander W. H. Macomb, and respectfully ask instructions as to the disposition to be made of the captured property.
As the cotton is likely to deteriorate by exposure, I would respectfully suggest that it be sold at once, and the proceeds of sale be held by the Government until it can be seen what claims, if any, will be made upon it, or until it is properly adjudicated."
SECNAV writes RADM Henry K Thatcher, West Gulf Squadron, "If you are of the opinion that one of the Western river monitors in your squadron, having Eads platform for raising and lowering the guns, can be sent round to Washington in safety, the Department wishes you to send her, accompanied by a vessel or vessels to look out for her in case she needs assistance or towing."
RADM Samuel P Lee, Mississippi Squadron, writes SECNAV from Mound City "I transmit enclosed (1) a corrected copy of my telegram of last night in reply to the Departments telegram of the same date.
The pilots say there is from 7 to 9 feet at low water in the basin (chute) above Mound City; at low water the upper part of it is dry and there is 2 or 3 feet on the bar below it, so that even the lightest draft tinclads can not then get there. There are some logs in this basin dangerous to the bottoms of vessels at low water. All but about a dozen of the tinclads have been discharged of their batteries, armor, etc., and the vessels will soon be laid up.
The balance of the vessels I propose to continue to discharge here, that they may be laid up and their crews discharged (as soon as an order is received from the Bureau of Equipment and Recruiting in regard to surplus men) and great expense saved. The deposit of their material, whether at the naval station or afloat, is made by the crews of the vessels cheaply and conveniently, and this material will be well cared for and kept under cover where necessary, either ashore or afloat.
The arrangement is a good one and is working well. The transfer of material to St. Louis will be made as soon as preparations are made there for its reception.
I am collecting data as to the amount of ordnance material here, so as to know what extent of cover and other accommodation will be required at St. Louis.
After a personal conference with Major [F. D.] Callender, I propose to detail Lieutenant-Commander Babcock, a worthy and attentive officer, a paymaster, an ensign, a gunner, a carpenter, and a few quarter gunners, with such authority and under such instructions as the Department may have communicated to me, to build all the magazines and temporary sheds and make all the arrangements at St. Louis for the care of the ordnance material of this squadron. I understand that the purpose of the Department is to include in this transportation all the ordnance and ordnance material turned in to the station here with that previously on hand, except so much as may be wanted for a six months supply for the squadron. It may be necessary to retain two or three of the light-draft vessels from the proposed sale for the purpose of transporting ordnance material to St. Louis. It may be several months, however, before their services are required if the necessary buildings are to be erected at Jefferson Barracks. I request that the Department will instruct me as to the subject-matter of this letter where necessary."
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