Foreign Observers

McClellan had a whole gaggle of these guys "attached" to his staff.
french.jpg

Photo taken during the Penninsular Campaign, includes (seated at table)
Robert Philippe Louis O'Orleans (Duc de Chartres), and Louise Philippe Albert D'Orleans (Duc de Paris),
The man on the ground in the center is Lt Col Henry Charles Fletcher, Scots Fusilier Guards. Fletcher sent regular reports to Sir William Fenwick Williams, British CinC in North America. He also published a three-volume History of the American War (1865).
vol. 1: https://archive.org/details/historyofamerica01fletuoft
vol. 2: https://archive.org/details/historyofamerica02fletuoft
vol. 3: https://archive.org/details/historyofamerica03flet

Another foreign "volunteer adjutant" on McClellan's staff was Lt. Col. Ferdinand Lecomte, who was sent by the Swiss Army as an observer. His report: The War in the United States, a report to the Swiss Military Department, was published in 1863 (he seems to have had rather limited understanding of what was going on over here).
 
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Thanks for your response.
Interesting speculation- but only that, unless someone can provide records of such meetings.
My own opinion is that he was totally on his own- not unique in British military circles at the time- and used his background and 'gift of gab' to gain access far beyond what he was due. Fortunately for him, supporters of the rebel cause wanted to believe he was an official of the Crown, come to assess whether Britain should aid the insurrection.
We do know he told his story in his social circle and wrote about his visit. As I mentioned, his book is a very interesting snapshot of the states he visited and the events he witnessed.
We may never know but if it looks like a duck
1. A full British active duty Colonel
2. Transported on government ships
Is more likely then not an official observer. It's not like the Confederates were not in contact with the British government after,all there was a vice counsel in Charleston.
Freemantle got a lot of face time with top officials for an unofficial visitor.
Leftyhunter
 
Lee seems to give short schrift to these foreigners, Fremantle, for example, enjoyed the hospitality of a number of Confederate officers, but was never long in Lee's company. The only one Lee seems to have taken to was the Prussian Engineer Capt. Justus Scheibert (who had been selected by von Moltke personally to observe and report on the American war).
 
We may never know but if it looks like a duck
1. A full British active duty Colonel
2. Transported on government ships
Is more likely then not an official observer. It's not like the Confederates were not in contact with the British government after,all there was a vice counsel in Charleston.
Freemantle got a lot of face time with top officials for an unofficial visitor.
Leftyhunter
Thanks for your response.
The concept of 'active duty', as we know it today, did not apply to gentleman officers in the British Army. I have already pointed out that it was- and is- not unusual for an officer to 'hitch a ride'. All it takes is approval by, in this case, the ship's commander.
Was he on a 'secret mission? It is possible, though unlikely and unproven.
 
Freemantle very well may of been an official observer. After all Freemantle received free transportation on British government vessels to Cuba then Mexico
Professional courtesy. Not necessarily proof of government sponsorship.
That, and the fact that Fremantle travelled from England to Cuba on the RMS Atrato, a vessel belonging to the private Royal Mail Steam Packet Company- not a government vessel, and presumably not free. He then hitched a ride with a personal friend, Captain Hancock of the Immortalite, to Mexico. Those who think the captains of the Royal Navy would not have the latitude to take passengers should note that on this particular journey Hancock had the latitude to spend five days ashore in order to attend a ball: the British military worked differently in this era.
 
That, and the fact that Fremantle travelled from England to Cuba on the RMS Atrato, a vessel belonging to the private Royal Mail Steam Packet Company- not a government vessel, and presumably not free. He then hitched a ride with a personal friend, Captain Hancock of the Immortalite, to Mexico. Those who think the captains of the Royal Navy would not have the latitude to take passengers should note that on this particular journey Hancock had the latitude to spend five days ashore in order to attend a ball: the British military worked differently in this era.
The British government could easily pay or reimburse Freemantle for his travel expenses. For a guy who was unofficial Freemantle was certainly treated like an official government observer.
Leftyhunter
 
McClellan had a whole gaggle of these guys "attached" to his staff.
View attachment 173996
Photo taken during the Penninsular Campaign, includes (seated at table)
Robert Philippe Louis O'Orleans (Duc de Chartres), and Louise Philippe Albert D'Orleans (Duc de Paris),
The man on the ground in the center is Lt Col Henry Charles Fletcher, Scots Fusilier Guards. Fletcher sent regular reports to Sir William Fenwick Williams, British CinC in North America. He also published a three-volume History of the American War (1865).
vol. 1: https://archive.org/details/historyofamerica01fletuoft
vol. 2: https://archive.org/details/historyofamerica02fletuoft
vol. 3: https://archive.org/details/historyofamerica03flet

Another foreign "volunteer adjutant" on McClellan's staff was Lt. Col. Ferdinand Lecomte, who was sent by the Swiss Army as an observer. His report: The War in the United States, a report to the Swiss Military Department, was published in 1863 (he seems to have had rather limited understanding of what was going on over here).

That picture is excellent.
 
For a guy who was unofficial Freemantle was certainly treated like an official government observer.
Fremantle was treated with courtesy by the Confederates, of course, but most countries desperate for international recognition who are presented with a cultivated young military officer would probably have acted similarly. However, he wasn't treated like an observer by the British. We're well aware of when even unofficial observers passed their impressions directly to the government (Sir James Fergusson, for instance), and yet Fremantle went straight into print without passing a report on to the government. Almost as if he was fortunate in meeting the figures he did, and it made an interesting enough story to be published.
 
Fremantle was treated with courtesy by the Confederates, of course, but most countries desperate for international recognition who are presented with a cultivated young military officer would probably have acted similarly. However, he wasn't treated like an observer by the British. We're well aware of when even unofficial observers passed their impressions directly to the government (Sir James Fergusson, for instance), and yet Fremantle went straight into print without passing a report on to the government. Almost as if he was fortunate in meeting the figures he did, and it made an interesting enough story to be published.
Perhaps so on the other hand he could of been privately debreifed or written a secret report or just told the British government first. You could be right although Freemantle as I noted sure seems like an official observer.
Leftyhunter
 
Nobody has mentioned Count Von Zepplin. Per a previous thread Von Zepplin actually met President Lincoln at a diplomatic reception. Von Zepplin did spend six or so months observing the Civil War and if memory serves then drifted to Wisconsin or thereabouts as a tourist.
Leftyhunter
 
The British government could easily pay or reimburse Freemantle for his travel expenses. For a guy who was unofficial Freemantle was certainly treated like an official government observer.
Leftyhunter
Thanks for your response.
But was he treated differently than any other noted British celebrity and gentleman of the time? The pages of recollections of Victorians is filled with reference to favors done others in their social class. Naval memoirs, in particular, often speak of the delight officers had of having a 'cultured' gentleman aboard on a cruise to break the monotony of long voyages.
 
Thanks for your response.
But was he treated differently than any other noted British celebrity and gentleman of the time? The pages of recollections of Victorians is filled with reference to favors done others in their social class. Naval memoirs, in particular, often speak of the delight officers had of having a 'cultured' gentleman aboard on a cruise to break the monw33otony of long voyages.
Freemantle met with the very top figures of the Confederacy i.e. Davis,Lee Beauregard, Longstreet. Not bad for "an unofficial " observer.
Leftyhunter
 
Freemantle met with the very top figures of the Confederacy i.e. Davis,Lee Beauregard, Longstreet. Not bad for "an unofficial " observer.
Leftyhunter
Thanks for your response.
So they were 'in' on the conspiracy?
I submit that any British gentleman who showed up at the door of these rebel leader, all of whom- like the rest of southerners- were hoping to somehow gain British support for their efforts, would have received the same warm welcome.
 
Thanks for your response.
So they were 'in' on the conspiracy?
I submit that any British gentleman who showed up at the door of these rebel leader, all of whom- like the rest of southerners- were hoping to somehow gain British support for their efforts, would have received the same warm welcome.
Hard to say but it would have been very easy for the Confederate leaders,to get a heads up from the British counsel in Charleston or even through the British embassy in Washington D.C. which had plenty of Confederate spies.
Leftyhunter
 
Nobody has mentioned Count Von Zepplin. Per a previous thread Von Zepplin actually met President Lincoln at a diplomatic reception. Von Zepplin did spend six or so months observing the Civil War and if memory serves then drifted to Wisconsin or thereabouts as a tourist.
Leftyhunter
Interestingly, Von Zepplin was an official observer of the King of Württemburg. After his stay with the U. S. Army, he explored the headwaters of the Mississippi River and made his first balloon flight while he was in St. Paul, Minnesota. That 'first flight' led to his life-long interest in lighter than air flight.
 
Freemantle met with the very top figures of the Confederacy i.e. Davis,Lee Beauregard, Longstreet. Not bad for "an unofficial " observer.
You seem to underestimate how easy it was for someone to meet these people. Sir James Fergusson MP managed the following:

22 September 1861: met General Fremont and General Curtis
25 September 1861: met John J. Crittenden and Beriah M'Guffin [sic], and was seated on the floor of the Kentucky Senate to hear a debate
26 September 1861: met General Anderson.
3 October 1861: met Judah P. Benjamin; had letters of introduction for President Davis, Breckenridge, and Mason, but none were in town.
7 October 1861: met Jefferson Davis.
9 October 1861: met General Tombs, Price, Beauregard and Johnston.
14 October 1861: Met General Huger, who organised a flag of truce to enable Fergusson to return to the North.
15 October 1861: Met Seward
17 October 1861: Visited the Capitol
23 October 1861: Left for home
 
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Hard to say but it would have been very easy for the Confederate leaders,to get a heads up from the British counsel in Charleston or even through the British embassy in Washington D.C. which had plenty of Confederate spies.
Leftyhunter
Thanks for your response.
Perhaps I missed it, but so far as I know, there is no mention of a secret mission involving Fremantle in the consular records. If you- or someone else- can provide such information it would be useful.
And- of course- as a gentleman, he had access to all of Charleston society regardless.
 
Perhaps I missed it, but so far as I know, there is no mention of Freemantle in the consular records. If you- or someone else- can provide such information it would be useful.
You may need to search under Fremantle without a double e, if you're using a text search.
 
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You seem to underestimate how easy it was for someone to meet these people. Sir James Fergusson MP managed the following:

22 September 1861: met General Fremont and General Curtis
25 September 1861: met John J. Crittenden and Beriah M'Guffin [sic], and was seated on the floor of the Kentucky Senate to hear a debate
26 September 1861: met General Anderson.
3 October 1861: met Judah P. Benjamin; had letters of introduction for President Davis, Breckenridge, and Mason, but none were in town.
7 October 1861: met Jefferson Davis.
9 October 1861: met General Tombs, Price, Beauregard and Johnston.
14 October 1861: Met General Huger, who organised a flag of truce to enable Fergusson to return to the North.
15 October 1861: Met Seward
17 October 1861: Visited the Capitol
23 October 1861: Left for home
Not really Feurgason is a British MP not just a British tourist. Members of an important foreign country are going to get more access then a run of the mill tourist.
Leftyhunter
 
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