The Confederate Government Seizes The Blockade Runner Alice For Their Use

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/31/2009

A rare war-date blockade running letter, 4pp 4to., written in ink by Theodore D. Jervey, agent for the blockade running firm of Bee & Company, Wilmington, N. C., Feb. 16, 1864 to South Carolina Governor Milledge L. Bonham concerning the seizure by the Confederate government of the blockade runner Alice, reading, in part: "…'your dispatch too late, Navy Department insisted on loading the Alice. If Mr. Porter is not in Colombia better send [Col.] A. P. Aldrich onto Richmond'…before the Alice had discharged her…cargo. Mr. Peters the agt. of the Navy Department furnished me with a notice that he would put the Government quota on board. I replied that the State [South Carolina] had become interested in the boats & that the Sec. of War had released them [to us]…Mr. [Stephen] Mallory [Secretary of the Navy]…replied that Mr. [James] Seddon [Secretary of War]…could not release the boats from the obligation to take out cotton for the Navy Dept…& that the owners [blockade running firm, Bee & Company] must be…required to carry out the contract…Mr. Peters [?] this telegram to me. I replied that…I did not recognize Mr. Mallory's right to interfere & refused to allow the Navy Dept to ship. He [Porter] then waited on Genl. Whiting asking if he felt authorized to detain the vessel. The Gen'l replied that he acted only from the instruction of his superior, the Secry of War & in the absence of instructions would not interfere. The vessel then went on loading but that evening Mr. Seddon telegraphed Gen'l Whiting to 'see that the rights of the Navy Dept were protected'…Genl W[hiting] considered this as tantamount to instructing him to force the vessel to take the quota…& so expressed himself…had I detained the vessel she would not have been able to get out for 2 weeks…the course that Mr. Seddon has pursued is…exceedingly inconsistent. He made the arrangement with the different vessels & then allowed the Navy Dept an interest…so fully was this understood that when the Navy Dept…demanded the 1/3 claim in our boats. We ignored…their claim & only allowed them to ship by the direction of the War Dept. If 'Mr. Seddon did not & could not release the boats from the obligation to the Navy Dept. why did he not…inform Mr. [C. M.] Furman? [Bee & Company representative and president of the Bank of the State of South Carolina.] It is to be regretted that Mr. F did not post himself concerning the facts of the case prior to his visit. Col. Aldrich who was in Richmond at the time…stated that…it would have been better if one of our firm had accompanied Mr. F[urman]…I immediately started [for Richmond] & arrived before Mess. Furman & Porter had left, but they were of the opinion that all that was necessary had been accomplished…the states of North Carolina & Virginia are both interested in boats & are not interfered with by the…Government…I cannot perceive the justice of making our state an exception…I would recommend Col. A. P. Aldrich as one who would make a most earnest & prompt advocate for the state &…if advisable I would accompany Col. A[ldrich]…P. S. Mr. Furman is not prompt or decided enough for this matter…another vessel the Fann[ie] is in & if we don't act promptly the Govt will take her also…". Near fine.

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