The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1888-08-02
CONFEDERATE MILLIONS WHICH UN
Gle SAM DID NOT GET.
Men-of-War Paid for by the Confederate
Government now Flying the British
Flag, Some in the Navy and Some
IN SIerchantIneIi.

to 4 Senate Resolution calling upon
him for evidence in the treasury depart
ment relating to property Of the United
States, or to which the United States
has valid claim, which is held in adj
verse possession, the secretary of the
treasury to-day transmitted to the Sen
ate the reports Of the solicitor of the
treassaHff and the commissioners of in
ternal revenue on the subject, and also
the reports of H. B. Iitt4ieepEaget lately
employed as an agent Of the treasury
department.
The acting solicitor Of the treasury,
in his report, says that there is no per-
sonal property in charge of his Office,
but it has been suggested that there is
personal property now held in adverse
possession to which the United States
has valid claim. If this be true it
would probably be advisable to recon-
mend an appropriation for its detection
and recovery.
The commissioner ofinternal revenue
says that the only property in charge OF
bis office is real estate acquired under
the internal revenu. law. He says be
can furnish such statement, but says it
will take some time, and as he is
doubtful whether the object of the reso-
luton was to obtain such statement, he
asks for more definite instructions.
According to letter from Littlepage
to the solicitor OF the treasury, dated
October 10, 1887, it seems that he was
EMPLOYED ''to assist in the prevention
and detection of frauds upon customs
and revenues He saws:
"After my reversal conversations
with you infer that my special assign
ment will be to recover such properties
belonging to the late Confederate States
as have been fraudulently or improper
ly concealed"
In concluding, he says:
above all, ! desire that my special
assignment be kept u profound secret" "
In letter dated November II, 1887,
Littlepage says he went to his home in
King William County, Virginia, to
examine his old Confederate papers
| made and recorded while in Europe,
which under orders of the then Con-
| fedcrate StatesGovernment to the cap
tain were copied accurately. He says
he found that in the winter of 1864 he
was ordered to the Confederate ship
Texas, alias the Pampeiro. This vessel
was built at Glasgow as No l sloop-of-
war, aud was to have received her
armament and equipment while lying
off the coast of England by another
vessel. Capt. Henry Sinclair, of the
Confederate States navy, superlntended
the construction Of the vessel, her cost
being 81, 400, 900, all of which was fully
paid by the Confederate Government.
The vessel, he says, started to sea, but
having been reported as a Confederate
cruiser was seized. Capt. Sinclair
rather than carry her through the
Courts, secured her release by guaran-
teeing that she should not 60 into the
hands of the Confederacy until they
should be entitled to have her. He
then chartered her, and when, a few
months later, the Confederacy col
lapsed, she was sailing under the same
charter.
He adds that this vessel was fully
paid for by the Confederate Govern
nIent, and should belong to the United
States. She is still valuable and is now
Trading between Edinburg and COpen-
Magen. He adds that there are several
! other Clydebuilt steamers, constructed
by the Confederate Government, SINH.
larly disposed of by their agents tc
captains, which should now belong OF
the United States.
There were also two powerful rams
built by Laird & Co., on the Mersey
ostensibly for the Chinese Government
but inspe ed and tested by Confeder
ate officers. They were, he says, seized
by the British authorities, and were
finally disposed of by the Confederate
agents in charge, and are now in tho
British navy, having recently been seer
by Admiral Luce at Bermuda flying
the British flag.
Littlepage also speaks Of certain pow
erful Clyde built steamers and O
certain rams built in France for the
Confederate Government, and also
states that parties who recently visited
Capt. Sinclair's house found its linen
crockery, cutlery, &C., bore the letters
G.. S. A., which articles are supposed tC
have come from the ship Texas. He
adds that two new Clyde built steam
es, the City of Petersburg and Ole
Dominion, which were built for the
Confederate Government and paid fnl
by it, are now running between Liver
plol and Dublin. He adds:
II beg to file an itemized statement O
Confederate properties unrecovered by
the United States Government, bul
which might have been recovered had
proper steps been taken. / believe thai
a large amount of the property de-
scribed may yet be recovered, although
so many years have elapsed"
The itemized statement here referred
to enumerates property ofvarious kinds
! Gncluding cash amounting in value tc
$50, ,00O, 900, most of which is in English
hands. He estimates that there are
$6, 600, 900 worth Of unrecovered prop
erty in the United States, not including
the value Of many millions Of dollars
worth of cotton belonging to the Con