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“…provoked strong remonstrances…”

That Napoleon III granted permission to Confederate ships to dock in French ports is inferred from the fact that at this time the Florida had docked at Brest. The ongoing policy would eventually result, the following year, in the Battle of Cherbourg and the sinking of the CSS Alabama. This is one of many letters that demonstrated the United States’ disappointment—delivered in the form of veiled threats.

Letter from U.S. Minister to France William Dayton to Secretary of State William Seward, August 25, 1863. This transcription is held in the State Department archives at the Archives II facility in Washington D.C.

“Weary from his voyage…”

MORGAN, J. M. (1917). Recollections of a Rebel Reefer...With illustrations. Houghton Mifflin Co: Boston & New York, pp. 163, 168.

Transcript of letter from William L. Maury to Flag Officer Barron, January 7, 1864, from an original log book of William L. Maury, in the possession of Russell Hooper, to whom I’m very grateful for his wisdom and his generosity with his substantial collection.

“…well enough to attend a ball…”

There is no document that shows that the Maury cousins reunited in Paris, or that they met Sims. However, this seems very likely. Sources do show that there were many Confederate Navy men in Paris at the time, and that Sims’s home was a place where they gathered. If Sims and the Maurys did meet, it is probable—and maybe inevitable—that their conversation would turn to the singular thing they had in common: Anarcha.

“…the beautiful French wife…”

Williams, F. L. (1963). Matthew Fontaine Maury: Scientist of the sea. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, p. 412.

“Lewis sailed for home.”

Letter from Ann Fontaine Maury to Ann Maury, February 24, 1864, held in the Maury Family materials at the Special Collections department of the Swem Library at William and Mary College in Williamsburg, Virginia.

“…an act of Congress.”

Passed in 1876.

“…in Brentwood, on Long Island.”

Dyson, V. (1950). A century of Brentwood. Brentwood, N.Y: Brentwood Village Press, pp. 120-121.

“…a naval campaign in California.”

Letter from Matthew Fontaine Maury to Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico, November 10, 1863, held at the Archives du ministère des Affaires étrangères, in Paris, France.

“…an offer of a cession of Texas…”

Napoléon III of course denied that such an offer had been made.

Letter from U.S. Minister to France William Dayton to Secretary of State William Seward, September 14, 1863. This transcription is held in the State Department archives at the Archives II facility in Washington D.C.

“…Napoléon betrayed them.”

Needless to say, France did not enter the war on the side of the South. In looking over many documents, I got the sense that Napoleon had been playing both sides all along, attempting to arrange it so that he would have a concession from either side of the war, and that France would benefit no matter who won.

“In 1864, the Alabama docked…”

Letter from U.S. Minister in France William Dayton to the French minister of foreign affairs, June 11, 1864, held at the Archives du ministère des Affaires étrangères, in Paris, France.