Edouard Jean Pierre Liais was a U.S Consular Agent at Cherbourg, France; the papers in this file are related to his service in that post. Of note are items related to the Alabama and Kearsarge, warships of the Confederate States and United States, respectively. On June 19, 1864, the two ships met and battled off the port of Cherbourg. Union ship Kearsarge was victorious, sinking the Alabama. The file also contain items of general business from the Cherbourg consulate. Three paper folders used by Liais containing miscellaneous notations on the Alabama, Kearsarge, and U.S.S. Richmond are housed in Box 46 (oversize).
Letters to and from Liais. Filed by correspondent.
A newspaper correspondent from The New York Herald.
ALS to Liais. Asking him to inform Kearsarge captain [John A.] Winslow of a change in travel plans. 1 p.
ALS to Liais. Saying goodbye and asking Liais to write him in Paris, mentioning a visit to the hospital at Cherbourg. 2 pp.
U.S. Minister to France, 1861-1864.
ALS to Liais. Marked "Confidential". Asking Liais to telegraph captain John A. Winslow of the Kearsarge with the exact time the Georgia will depart Cherbourg. 1 p.
LS to Liais. Thanking him for the role he played in connection with the battle between the Kearsarge and Alabama. 1 p.
Letter from Liais. Thanking Dayton for a letter and expressing hope that he might someday return to Cherbourg under better circumstances. 1 p.
Draft letter from Liais to the U.S. Consul at Liverpool. Discussing a shipment of wine, requesting a copy of the official U.S. Diplomatic Correspondence for 1864, and sending news from James O. Putnam [U.S. Secretary of State]. 2 pp.
ALS to Liais. Asking Liais to report information about deposits at the Cherbourg custom house, and requesting he distribute some photographs. 2 pp. with original envelope.
AL (draft) from Liais. Responding to the above letter. 1 p.
Letter (copy) to Liais. Discussing a pamphlet written by Edge and photographs of the fight between the Alabama and Kearsarge taken by a Mr. Rondin. 3 pp. with Edge's calling card and a sheet of paper with his address.
Letter (draft) from Liais. Thanking Edge for sending copies of the pamphlet he wrote, saying that photographs have been sent. 1 p.
LS from Liais. Concerning negative rumors surrounding American ship Sabine, asking permission to investigate the matter. 1 p.
Draft letter from Liais. Expressing further concern about some negative activity surrounding the Sabine. 2 pp.
LS to Liais. Announcing the appointment of E. Postel as successor to Liais. Asking Liais to copy and transmit to Postel all the archives in his possession. 2 pp. with original envelope.
Letter from Dwight Morris (U.S. Consul at Havre) to L.M. Goldsborough (Commander of the U.S. European Squadron). Confirming the fidelity and hard work of Liais, and promising to request that Liais continue his service at Cherbourg. 1 p.
U.S. Consul at Havre.
Draft letter from Liais. Tendering the resignation of [Eugene] Liais [Edouard's father] as Consular Agent. Asking that his son, Edouard Jean Pierre Liais, be appointed his successor. 2 pp.
Letter (copy) to Liais. Acknowledging Liais' acceptance of the post of Consul. Saying that the nomination has now been forwarded to Washington, D.C. 1 p.
LS to Liais from Read, Consulate General of the U.S., stationed in Paris. Marked "Personal." Acknowledging receipt of a note and thanking Liais for information about a Mr. Webb. 1 p. with Read's business card.
U.S. Secretary of State, 1861-1869
Letter (copy) from Seward to James O. Putnam (U.S. Consul at Havre). Approving the appointment of Edouard Liais as Consul at Cherbourg. 1 p.
DS. Official certificate appointing Edouard Liais U.S. Vice Consul at Cherbourg. 1 p.
LS to Liais, marked "Unofficial." Asking Liais to recommend travel and lodging in Paris to midshipman L. Wilson, son of a government official. 2 pp.
LS to Liais from the Paymaster of the U.S.S. Kearsarge. Asking Liais to forward some messages and congratulating him on the victory. 1 p.
U.S. Minister at Paris.
On one leaf, two draft letters from Liais. One to Washburne and the other to S.L. Glasgow. Both express astonishment and hurt at Liais' being so quickly and inexplicably dismissed from his post with no word of warning or explanation. 2 pp.
Letter to Liais from E.B. Washburne's secretary. Stating that Liais' complaint (above) has been sent to [U.S. Secretary of State Hamilton] Fish, and saying that the Legation at Paris never had any problems with how Liais conducted his work. 2 pp. with original envelope.
Captain of U.S.S. Kearsarge.
Note, dated 7.30 am. Captain Winslow acknowledging receipt of a telegraph. 1 (torn) leaf.
Letter (copy) to Liais. Responding to a rumor that the Alabama is to receive reinforcements, asking that this be prohibited as the Kearsarge has been denied the same right. 1 p.
LS to Liais, in French. Concerning suspicious characters who have left Cherbourg to board the Alabama. 2 pp.
Filed chronologically.
Copy of the sworn testimony of Thomas Connor, given before the Vice-Consul of the U.S., describing the wreck of American ship Luna, which crashed into rocks off the cost of Balfleur. 2 pp.
Official certificate appointing Liais U.S. Vice Consul at Cherbourg. In French. 1 p.
Cherbourg newspaper Phare de le Manche. 4 pp.
French newspaper. 4 pp.
A copy of rules for dealing with enemy ships. In French. 3 pp.
The U.S. Consular Agency's copy of the muster roll for U.S.S. Kearsarge, noting the type of ship, number of guns, crew members, etc. 1 p.
Statements of various accounts with the U.S. Consular Agency related to U.S.S. Kearsarge, with charges for things such as telegrams, supplies, food, etc. 7 pp.
Bills and receipts from various hotels in Cherbourg charging for the room and board of American sailors and prisoners from the Alabama; many noted as having been paid by Liais. 9 items total.
Receipts for telegrams sent from Cherbourg. 9 total.
Announcement [likely for publication in a newspaper] explaining the death of Union seaman William Gowan from wounds received in the battle between the Kearsarge and Alabama. With a penciled French translation on the back. 2 pp.
The New York Herald newspaper, featuring multiple stories under the headline: "The Naval Battle Off Cherbourg." 8 pp.
Document entitled "In re Alabama," comprised of questions about possible collusion between the Alabama and the Deerhound. [The Deerhound was a private yacht which rescued some of the officers and crew of the Alabama when it began sinking during the battle with the Kearsarge.] With penciled notations on back. On stationery embossed "Edouard Liais/ Cherbourg." 1 p.
Copy of receipt for money paid to a fisherman named Leonard for two and half months of watching the Confederate steamer Georgia by night. 1 p.
Copy of receipt for money paid to Liais (by the U.S. Government), reimbursing postage and telegram fees. 1 p.
DS by Dwight Morris, U.S Consul at Havre. Official declaration of Edouard Liais as U.S. Consular Agent at Cherbourg. Stamped with seal of the U.S. Consulate at Havre. 2 pp.
Telegraph from U.S.S. Richmond Captain Mulling, at Lisbon, to the U.S. consul at Cherbourg, asking about the Sabine. Liais' penciled response on back. 2 pp.
Report of the English steamer City of Richmond, Captain Scott. In French. Noting the size and cargo. Signed by E. Forgel(?). With English translation. 2 pp.
DS. Inventory of the archives of the U.S. consulate at Cherbourg, to be passed from Liais to E. Postel; signed by both. 2 pp.
Penciled notations concerning manufacturers in Cherbourg. In French. 1 p.
Portions of a firsthand account of the battle between the Kearsarge and Alabama. Written on tissue paper (mostly faded) and partially copied onto 1890s letterhead from a French court. 9 pp.