Seward and Adams requested an adjournment until the following morning to discuss the proposal. The meeting adjourned, and all agreed to resume at 10 am the next day. When they returned to the American Embassy, Seward and Adams were elated. They congratulated themselves on anticipating the British offer. They spent the rest of the day dictating the counter proposal which included:
The United States accepts the British surrender of all Canadian possessions. This surrender will include the evacuation of Imperial troops, local militia, and any citizens who desire to leave.
Evacuated citizens will receive an indemnity. The amount will be subject to future negotiations between the United Kingdom and the United States. These negotiations will depend on how many Canadian citizens decide to leave.
The Hudson Bay Company will sign a deed of surrender. The Company will retain ownership to Rupert’s Land and administration of their territory but must surrender sovereignty to the United States of America.
Bermuda and the Bahamas will remain United States possessions. Any citizens who wish evacuation will receive an indemnity according to the negotiations highlighted above.
The United States will restore the former British Caribbean colonial possessions to the United Kingdom in current condition.
The United States agrees to recognize the legitimacy and sovereignty of the United Kingdom’s colonial possessions in the Caribbean, Honduras, and in Guiana. No expansion of these colonies is to be permitted.
Restoration of full diplomatic relations between the United States and the United Kingdom.
Canadian acquisitions from Treaty of Hamburg
The conference reconvened the next morning. Ambassador Adams stood up and read the counterproposal from the United States. Lord Cairn protested and insisted on the restoration of Bermuda and the Bahamas. He was dismayed when both Adams and Seward closed their valises, stood and thanked the Crown Prince for his time and efforts. Seward said: “If the British want this war to continue, let the consequences be on their heads.”
Realizing that they had overplayed a weak hand, Lord Stanley stood and said: “Wait, we must confer with our government. I ask for an adjournment until we receive an answer.” Seward replied: “Three days, we will need an answer by then. You can cable London today with our proposal. They should have an answer back within that period.” The conference then adjourned.
Lords Stanley and Cairn returned to the British Embassy and cabled Disraeli with the counter proposal from the United States, and the timeline to resume negotiations. Disraeli called his cabinet into session and began: “The United States has offered us a face-saving means to end this war and recover some of our lost possessions. Yes, we have lost Canada, but with a strong and energetic the United States that would have eventually happened.
We must consolidate what we have, and build a new Royal Navy. Our task needs for the Crown to be strong enough to maintain the balance of power in Europe, and look to Africa and Asia to expand our influence and empire. We cannot afford to be warring with the United States, as that would just drain our resources. My thoughts are that we accept the proposal. However, we set a requirement for a date that the United States evacuate our Caribbean possessions. We should also set a date for resumption of negotiations on the indemnity payments.” Following much discussion, the cabinet agreed. The agreed upon instructions arrived by cable at the United Kingdom’s Embassy in Berlin.
Berlin, July 19, 1868
Backchannel discussions between the British and Prince Frederick laid out the acceptance of the United States’ proposal, with exceptions noted. Prince Frederick conveyed the agreement to Secretary of State Seward who agreed to have the Crown Prince prepare a draft to the treaty. After reading the draft, both Seward and Adams initialed each page. A Prussian courier conveyed the initialed draft to the British Embassy, where Lord Stanley and Lord Cairn both initialed opposite Adams and Seward’s initials.
With all the parties agreed, the signing ceremony occurred on July 21. The treaty called for the immediate resumption of diplomatic relations between the United States and Great Britain. It also set a 90-120-day timetable for the United States Army and Navy to evacuate their conquests in the Caribbean. A similar timetable was set for the British to evacuate Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Victoria. Prisoner exchanges will coincide with the completion of the evacuations. A cable with the text of the treaty arrived in Washington. Lincoln sent it on to the Senate for quick ratification.
Following the signing, everyone attended a gala banquet. Crown Prince Frederick and Victoria basked in the glory of the moment. Chancellor Bismarck secretly gloated, as the prestige of Prussia was enhanced, at the same time, the prestige of Great Britain diminished. Seward negotiated a side agreement with the Prussians. In this agreement, the United States sold the USS Stonewall to the Kingdom of Prussia. At a ceremony in Hamburg Harbor, the Prussian flag replaced the United States flag. Admiral Porter’s squadron anchored in port for a week while the Prussian officers and crew received instructions on the handling of the vessel, which they renamed, Blucher.
Admiral Porter steamed out of Hamburg with his flotilla and a sealed copy of the Treaty of Berlin. Ambassador Adams and Secretary of State Seward possessed other copies and were aboard a luxury steamship. Three weeks later the flotilla steamed into Hampton Roads and steamed up the Potomac towards Washington DC.
The following week the White House hosted a victory banquet. Attendees included the Cabinet, their wives, Admirals Porter, Dahlgren, Lee, and Commodore Treat. In a ceremony following the Banquet, Lincoln awarded Admiral Porter a third star and promoted him to Fleet Admiral. Admiral Dahlgren also received a third star, then announced he intended to retire at the end of the year. Admiral Lee received his second star, and Commodore Treat received his promotion to Rear Admiral.
PART TWO – WORLD POWER
Chapter 14.
August 1, 1868
Brevet Captain Hannibal Johnson exited the train from San Francisco to Elba Nevada, which was the eastern terminus of the Central Pacific Railroad. Accompanying Captain Johnson, were 195 officers and men of Company A, Ninth Cavalry Regiment. Their horses, saddles, and baggage were also on the train. The Ninth Regiment’s assignment was to protect the railroad workers laying track and blasting paths through the mountains for the Central Pacific Railroad, as it headed east towards Promontory Point, Utah Territory.
Captain Johnson mused to himself about his life’s journey which brought him to this point. He was born a freeman in 1838 at his parent’s home in Chelsea Massachusetts. His great-grandfather Hezekiah had been a servant to the Treat family. He had earned his freedom fighting as a gunner mate on one of the Treat privateers during the Revolutionary War. The prize money Hezekiah earned allowed him to buy his freedom, purchase land and build a home. He married another Treat servant named Esther; who was given her freedom as a wedding gift. Hezekiah chose the surname Johnson, as his father was named John. Hezekiah continued to work for the Treat family as a merchant seaman and gradually rose in the ratings to be a Master Mate. He and Esther began a family with their first child Joshua born in 1785. Two years later a second son Caleb, who was Hannibal Johnson’s grandfather was born.
That same year, the Treats joined the Abolitionist Society and freed all their slaves. Together with other abolitionists they sponsored, through the Methodist Church, a school for former slave children and colored children who were born free. When they were of age, both Joshua and Caleb attended the school where they were taught to read, write and cipher. Soon a vibrant community of colored families was established in Chelsea and was named Freemans Village.
Both Caleb and Joshua joined the Treat merchant fleet as apprentice seamen. Under the tutelage of their father, they became competent members of the crew. On June 18, 1812, United States declared war and Great Britain. The Treats obtained Letters of Marque from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, armed the vessels, and took to the seas as privateers. Not wanting to endanger both of his sons on one warship,
Hezekiah transferred Caleb to the 16 gun schooner Shamrock. On August 1, 1812, the Treat fleet of six privateers sailed from Boston to prey on British shipping from Halifax to the Caribbean. Hezekiah and Joshua were aboard the 24 gun brig Sapphire, second largest ship in the fleet.
Caleb’s son John was born in January 1813. His wife, Mary moved in with her mother-in-law Esther while they waited for their men to return. One by one Treat’s Privateers returned to Boston, each with two or three prizes. With each passing day, Mary and Esther became more apprehensive.
On March 3, Shamrock, accompanied by her five prizes sailed past Fort Warren into Boston Harbor, then into Chelsea Creek. Her voyage into the Caribbean had been very successful. Caleb was Master of one of the prizes a schooner named Isis; with six guns. Crews for the prize ships were a mixture of Treat seamen and multi-national merchantmen who original crewed the prize vessels. These seamen were offered the choice to join as privateers or to be put ashore on an island. With the lure of prize money, most joined. The four other Treat vessels were being re-fitted for new voyages. So far, Shamrock had the most successful voyage. The prize court assessors valued the five prizes, then sold at auction. As the master mate of Isis, Caleb received a larger share of the prize money. Shamrock then followed her consorts into the Treat shipyard for repairs.
Caleb was delighted to be reunited with his wife, and to be introduced to his infant son. The Treat family celebrated their victories. However, the celebrations were tempered by the absence of Sapphire. She was several weeks overdue, and concern was growing. Hezekiah had sailed Sapphire, in company with Daphne to the waters off Halifax to search for British shipping. Daphne had already returned with two prizes and reported that the ships had become separated due to several days of thick fog. Another month passed with no sign of Sapphire. Reluctantly, the Treats wrote off the Sapphire and the crew as lost.
Caleb was involved with three additional privateering voyages before the war ended in January 1815. He and Mary had two more children, both girls, Miriam and Elizabeth. The prize money enabled them to build a new and larger home on Hezekiah’s property. Esther chose to live in the original house, never giving up hope that her husband and son would someday return.
John followed the family tradition and joined the growing Treat mercantile business. He accompanied Caleb on several around the world trips and was proud of his father when he became captain of one of the vessels. John married Samantha, a girl from Freemans Village. Their first son Hannibal was born when John was away on a voyage. Over the next ten years, Samantha gave birth to 2 girls named Penelope and Dora.
In 1848 John took Hannibal with him on a voyage to San Francisco. They arrived when gold fever was just beginning. Seeing a golden opportunity, John and Hannibal quit the ship’s crew and headed off to the goldfields to stake their claim. They used their wages to purchase tools, implements, guns, and ammunition needed for the gold fields. In October John and Hannibal loaded their covered wagon, and set off to Sutter’s Mill. They were among the early arrivals and were able to stake a promising claim. Gold was plentiful and readily available by panning. Within a month they had found enough gold to provide them funds to purchase sluicing equipment. That allowed them to channel the water into the sluice, which more than tripled the gold recovery. Soon they added a second sluice; then hired men to operate the equipment, and guards to provide security. Within two years they had become so prosperous that they hired managers to run the claim. That enabled them to purchase a home San Francisco.
John established a mercantile trading company named Johnson & Son, LTD, and built a warehouse near the waterfront. The Treat vessel, where John and Hannibal were previous crew members, made a port of call; and John met with the captain. He recounted their successes and sent a letter back with passage money for Samantha, Penelope, and Dora. When his family arrived the following year, John had constructed a large home near the waterfront marina district. During the next five years, both the mercantile business and the mining operation prospered. San Francisco had become a haven for freed slaves, and the Johnsons were the leading family in this black society. The gold fields were becoming depleted, and John sold the mine to other investors. Hannibal became the manager of the warehouse and absorbed himself in the operation of the mercantile business.
The elections of 1860 elected Abraham Lincoln as President and Leland Sanford as the state’s first Republican Governor. Following the beginning of the Civil War, most the US Federal regiments withdrew east. Southern California was pro-confederacy, while the more populous northern section was pro-union. California experienced its’ own Civil War as partisan rangers from each side pillaged and murdered in the name of their respective cause.
In Los Angeles, the County Sheriff Thomas Sanchez-Avila formed a secessionist militia called The Los Angeles Mounted Rangers. The Under Sherriff, A. J. King formed the secessionist Monte Mounted Rangers. A navy flotilla carrying three companies of Federal Cavalry sailed into Los Angeles. The Cavalry arrested the secessionist leaders, and forcibly disbanded the mounted rangers. Many of the Rangers moved to the territory of Arizona and Texas, where they joined Confederate regiments.
Following the withdrawal of Federal Troops, Governor Sanford formed volunteer companies to protect northern California, and to suppress the Confederate sympathizers. Two of these Regiments, the 1st California Volunteer Infantry, and the First California Volunteer Cavalry came from San Francisco. Hannibal joined the infantry regiment, as it consisted mostly of mixed race volunteers, who were called Californios, or native Californians.
The regiments distinguished themselves protecting the gold fields and suppressing the secessionist ranger companies. They then were deployed to New Mexico territory to counter Confederate attacks out of Arizona Territory, which had declared for the Confederacy. Hannibal received several decorations for bravery under fire. His leadership skills, learned while managing the mercantile business, were noticed by his commanders. He rose through the ranks to sergeant major.
Following the war, Hannibal returned to the mercantile business, but a discontent had begun to grow. He no longer felt fulfilled operating the business. A year later he was visited by Captain Jonathan Mitchell, his former platoon lieutenant. Captain Mitchell was appointed Company Commander in a new colored regiment. He offered Hannibal, a position as the chief non-commissioned officer in the company with his prior rank as a Sergeant Major. Hannibal agreed, and for the next year helped to recruit and train colored soldiers living in the San Francisco area.
Tensions with Great Britain were beginning to grow. The fortifications on Alcatraz Island expanded to consist of 110 cannons, and Captain Mitchell’s company were selected to be the garrison. Alcatraz Island, situated near the middle of the passage known as the Golden Gate, was an ideal location for the placement of a strong fortification. When war broke out with Great Britain, the fortifications on Alcatraz and Fort Point were on alert. Months went by without any action. Gradually, the daily readiness drills became a routine task. A foggy morning on April 1, 1868, brought the stark reality of war to San Francisco. The legend of Hannibal’s Stand became a reality.
Lieutenant Johnson received 30-days leave upon release from the Mare Island Naval Hospital. His orders required him to meet with General Crook in San Francisco upon the completion of his leave. He spent his leave at his father's house in San Francisco. The British burned mercantile warehouse and store during the British sack, but fortunately, it was insured. Hannibal helped his father in the re-building process and the reopening of the warehouse. Towards the end of his leave, a courier arrived with his new orders. Following a family gathering, his parents and sisters wished him a tearful goodbye as he boarded a cab which took him to General Crooks headquarters at Fort Point.
When Hannibal arrived, he learned that General Crook was in a meeting. However, the adjutant indicated that another black officer, 2nd Lieutenant Peter Jones would provide him a tour. Walking the upper battlements, Hannibal was able to gaze across to the devastation
on Alcatraz Island. Lieutenant Jones studied him intently, then asked Hannibal what he remembered of the battle. Hannibal hesitated, then replied: “Everything, it is not something I will ever forget.”
General Crooks adjutant found them and indicated that the General was ready to receive Hannibal. Shaking hands with Lieutenant Jones, Hannibal left with the adjutant, who brought him directly to the General’s office. Hannibal entered and saluted. General Crook said: “At ease, Lieutenant, I have new orders for you.” He first handed Hannibal a small box which contained Captain’s bars, then continued. “Secretary of War Grant has promoted you to Brevet Captain. You will assume command of Company “A” 9th Colored Cavalry. You met Lieutenant Jones; he will be one of your four officers. The other three will arrive tomorrow. You have thirty days to whip them into cavalrymen before being deployed to Nevada. There you will join the regiment. Colonel Grissom will expect you to be at your best. Secretary Grant has invested a lot in you; don’t let him down. Hannibal replied: “Thank you, Sir. I will not disappoint the Secretary. I will live up to his confidence.” Hannibal saluted, General Crook said: “Dismissed.” Pocketing the case of captains bars, Hannibal spun on his heel and marched out of the General’s office.
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