Cunningham, John S., ?-1894 to William McBlair
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00722.43 Author/Creator: Cunningham, John S., ?-1894 Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: January 1, 1859 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; 25 x 20 cm. Order a Copy
Reports on the capture of the American schooner "Angeline" by a British ship. Relates a conversation he had with William Kerr, a sailor on the "Angeline," regarding its capture. States that forces from the British steamer "Conflict" captured the "Angeline," despite the fact that she was flying the American flag and had American papers. The British forced the captain to surrender, took the ship and left its crew in Africa. Says the "Angeline" was not a slave ship and wonders why, if the ship was supposedly a slave trader, the British members of the crew were not sent to trial, as they should have been under English law. Hints that the crew of the "Conflict" may have been motivated by profit in their actions. Written on board the U.S.S. "Dale" while at sea.
British records show that the HMS "Conflict," commanded by Richard W. Courtenay, detained the "Angeline of Prospect" on June 11, 1858. According to Courtenay, the papers of the "Angeline," which had been flying the American colors, were suspect and the captain threw the papers and flag overboard after the ship's detention. It was later found that the"Angeline" had a false deck and was fully fitted out as a slave ship. She was condemned as such by British courts.
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