The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-07-28
CONFEDERATE PROPERTY.

A Treasury Agent Estimates that $50, 00O,-
900 Worth Is Now In Wrong Hands.
WASHINGTON, July 27.-Accordipg to a letter
from Mr. Littlepsge. lately employed as an
agent of the Treasury Department. to the Solic-
itor Of the Treasury, dated Oct. 10. 1887, it
seems that he was employed ITO assist in the
prevention and detection Of frauds upon the
customs revenue" Continuing. be said; "After
my several conversations with you, l infer that
my especial assignment will be to recover such
properties belonging to the Confederate States
as have been fraudulsntly or improperly divert
cd or concealed" In concluding, he says:
"Above all, I desire that my special assignments
shall be kept a profound secret" In a letter
dated Nov. IL, 1887, he says he went to his nome
in King William county, Virginia, to examine
his old confederate papers, made and received
while in Europe. under the orders
of the then Confederate States gov
eminent, TO obtain accurate data. He says
he found that in the winter OF 1864 no was
ordered to the confederate ship The Texas, alias
The Pampeiro. This vessel was built at Glas-
cow as a No. i sloop of war, and was to have
received her armament ard equipment while
lying off the coast Of England, by another YES
sci. Captain Henry Sinclair. of the Confsder-
ate States navy. superintenoed the construction
of the vessel. her cost being 81, 400. 600, all of
which was fully paid By the confederate gov
eminent. The vessel. he says, started to sea,
but having been reported as q confederate
cruiser, was seized. Captain Sinclair, rather
than carry her through the courts. secured her
release by guaranteeing that she should not 60
into the hands of the Confederacy until they
should be entitled to have her. He then char
tered her, and when. q few months after. the
Confederacy collapsed. she was sailing under
the same charter. He adds that this vessel
was fully paid for by the confederate govern
ment, and should belong to the United States.
She Is still valuable. and is now trading between
Edinburgh and Copenhagen. He adds that there
are several other Clyde-built steamers con-
structed by the confederate government, sim
ilsrly disposed of by their agents and captains,
which should now belong to the United States.
There were also two powerful rams, built by
Baird e. Co., on the Mersey ostsnsibly for the
Chinese government, but inspected and tested
by confederate officers. They we're. he says,
seized by the British authorities and were final
~ disposed Of by the confederate agents 10
charge, and are now In the British navy. hav-
ing recently besn seen by Admiral Luce at
Bermuda. flying the British fac. Mr.. Littlepage
also speaks of certain powerful Clyde-b built steam
ers and rams built III France for the confederate
Government, and also states that parties who
recently visited Captain Siuclair's house found
tina. its linen, crockery. etc, bore the letters
&C. s. NJ which ase supposed TO have como
from the Texas. He adds that two new Clyde
built steamers. the City Of Petersburg and the
Old Dominion, which were built for the con.
federate government and paid for by 1T. are
running between Liverpool and Dublin. Mr..
Littiepaee files au itemiZed statement OF con-
federate property unrecovered by the United
States government amounting to $50. 600. 900.
most of which is in English hands. He estimates
that there is &C. 900. 900 worth In the United
States. not including the value of many millions
of dollars worth Of cotton belonging 10 the con-
fedsrste government shipped from Brownsville,
Galveston and Matsmoros since the war.