150 Years Ago Today: October 20, 1863-- They're Watching

OCTOBER 20TH:

 Commander Bulloch advised Mallory from Liverpool that the ironclads known as 294 and 295, being built in England, had been seized by the British government. He felt that the reason for the seizure was the arrival of a large number of Confederate naval officers in Britain over the previous months.

The CSS Florida had come off the Irish coast six weeks earlier and gone to Brest, France, where it discharged its crew, many of whom were sent to Liverpool. "These circumstances were eagerly seized upon by the United States representatives here, and they have so worked upon Lord Russell as to make him believe that the presence of these officers and men has direct reference to the destination of the rams."

In other words, we've got to be sneakier.

The Old Cloak and Dagger Game, Indeed. --Old B-Runner