American naval officer, ship's captain, and explorer (1798-1877) who led the United States Exploring Expedition and, during the Civil War, commanded USS San Jacinto during the Trent Affair in which he stopped a Royal Mail ship and removed two Confederate diplomats, which almost led to war between the United States and the United Kingdom. Civil War-dated LS, one page both sides, 8 x 12.5, December 21, 1862. A letter of “Conditional Orders” addressed from the “Flag Steamer Wachusett” in Grand Cayman, sent to Commander T. H. Stevens of the U. S. Steamer Sonoma regarding the Confederate raider CSS Alabama, in part: “It is my intention to go to ‘Cienfuegos’ [Cuba] direct as possible. The boilers of this steamer are in such a condition that I may not be able to get there in which event, I shall make signal to you to proceed to Cienfuegos, while I will proceed to Cape San Antonio to cruise off there until my coal is barely sufficient to enable me to reach the Havana…Should you hear anything of the Alabama, or that she is expected — you have reason to believe is reliable — you will remain or take such action as may seem to you best, to communicate with me off Cape San Antonio, and notify the Consul at Havana…Should the Alabama be at Cienfuegos, you will not suffer her to escape you even in neutral waters, for she is to be received to all intents and purposes as a Pirate.” In fine condition. In 1862, Secretary Welles sent a squadron commanded by Adm. Charles Wilkes to hunt down Confederate raiders in the Caribbean. In theory, U.S. Navy ships could not pursue enemy ships inside a neutral country's three-mile limit. However, in this rare order, Wilkes tells one of his captains that the Alabama should be confronted, “for she is to be viewed to all intents and purposes as a Pirate.”
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