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International Affair

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Posted: Mon Sep 5th, 2011 03:12 am

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Hellcat
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Joined:	Tue Nov 15th, 2005
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Mana:

This is something I came across when trying to come up with something for the writing contest. Kinda turned it down at the time cause I didn't feel it fit the contest.

U. S. S. WYOMING,
Lymoon Pass, near llongkong, April 27, 18G3.

SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of duplicate and triplicate orders of the 26th January, through the house of A. Lowe & CO., to proceed to the Strait of Sunda.
     In my dispatch of the 8th instant, I reported the extent of injuries sustained in the harbor of Swatow. On the 22d the repairs were coinpleted and the ship put afloat. Getting on board our coal and ammunition, I left Amoy on the evening of the 24th and arrived at this anchorage yesterday, to fill up with coal and l)rovisions and proceed south, in obedience to your orders of the 26th January. To day I received the enclosed copies of letters from General Pruyii, our minister in Japan, marked A and B, also C, fi-om our consul at Nagasaki, requesting the presence of this ship during the troubles pending between Japan and England.
     Your order of the 26th January to proceed to the Strait of Sunda and to be governed in my stay there by circumstances was based on the supposition that the Alabama would make her way to China, as nothing had been heard of her since the 7th December up to January 26, the date of your order.
     By the New York Herald of the 25th February it is stated that the brig Golden Rule was captured by the Alabama on the 26th January and the brig Chastelain on the 27th, off the island of San Domingo. I therefore conclude she has not sailed for the East.
     In consideration of the urgent appeal of General Prayn I feel it my duty for the present to proceed immediately to Japan to give such l)rotection as in my power to our countrymen there during the pending difficulties, after which proceed south.
     I trust my course may meet your approbation.
          Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

D. MCDOUGAL,
Commander.

Hon. GIDEON WELLES,
Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C.

NAVY DEPARTMENT, June 6, 1863.

SIR: On the 26th of January last the Department wrote to you concerning the piratical steamer Alabama, and suggested the probability of her leaving the West Indies and seeking some other field for depredations, perhaps the East Indies, and in anticipation of such a movement directed you to proceed at once to the Strait of Sunda for the protection of our commerce in that quarter.
     Nearly three months later, April 15, orders were transmitted to you to return with the Wyoming to Philadelphia, via the Cape of Good hope and the West Indies. This latter order is hereby revoked, and you will remain on your present station until further instructions, and, if you shall not already have done so, proceed as directed in the letter of the 26th of January last.
     Intelligence recently received leads to the impression that the Alabama, accompanied by the Florida, has abandoned the West Indies, and apprehensions are felt that she will direct her cruise to the East Indies. It therefore behooves you to be Vigilant and to be prepared for the appearance of one or both of these vessels in the east, and ready to pursue and, if possible, overtake them in their piratical career.
     Another steamer of the same character left England early in April last and has not been heard of since—the Japan, or Virginia [Georgia], as she has been called. She is a screw steamer of about 500 tons.

     The Alabama and Florida, at last accounts, were committing their depredations a little south of the equator, between longitude 250 and 350 west from Greenwich. On the 24th of April they destroyed the Win. M. Dodge [Oneida], from Shanghai, in latitude 1~ 40’ 5., longitude 290 10’ W.
     The Department has just received your No. 15, dated March 25, at Swatow, reporting an accident to the Wyoming by striking a rock. It is hoped that the damage was not sufficient to cause the loss of her services for a lengthy period.
          Very respectfully, etc.,

GIDEON WELLES,
Secretary of Navy.

Commander D. MODOUGAL,
Commanding U. S. S. Wyoming

U. S. S. WYOMING,
Yokohama, June 12, 1863. (Via Marseilles.)

SIR: The residence of the American consul since the establishment of the consulate at this port has been in the village of Kanagawa, on the opposite side of the bay from Yokohama, who, with two American missionary families, are the only foreigners on that side of the bay.
     On the 31st ultimo the governor of Yokohama requested an interview with the consul, and informed him that for the present it was nnsafe for him and the other foreign families to remain longer in Kanagawa, and advised his immediate removal to this side of the bay, as in case of an outbreak he would not be able to afford that protection that he could in Yokohama. At the request of the consul I brought his family on board that evening, and the next morning the missionary families, to Yokohama. At 1:30 the next morning General Pruyn and suite arrived in a Japanese steamer from Yeddo, having been advised by one of the ministers that, though guarded by 400 or 500 Japanese guards, they could not an swer longer for his personal safety, as the city was full of loomins (cutthroats and robbers), who were committing all kinds of outrages, having only the day previous committed a murder
in the open street a short distance from the legation.
     General Pruyn Las remained in Yeddo [TokioJ since the destruction of the legation by fire on the morning of the 25th May, and would not have left at the time he did had he not been satisfied of the sincerity of the minister who brought him the message and who expressed fear for his own safety in returning to the castle.
     There appears to be a conflicting opinion with regard to Japanese affairs. The general opinion is that the Government is on the eve of a revolution, the principal object of which is the expulsion of foreigners and a return to their ancient exclusiveness. The tycoon and his party are what may be termed the liberal party, who wish trade and intercourse with the world. The party in opposition are composed of many of the most wealthy and powerful princes, with the Mikado, the spiritual emperor, at their head, who are hostile to all foreign intercourse. How matters will end time will determine.
     The difficulties yet remain unsettled between the English and Japanese. It is stated that a conference takes place to-day in which some definite arrangement will be made for the final settlement of demands made.
     On the 7th, Captain Townsend, of the ship Viking, arrived, reporting his ship wrecked on the island of Mecoura Sima [Mikura], latitude 330 55’ N., longitude 139 34’ E., having struck on the morning of the 4th instant, having on board as passengers 458 Chinese, bound to San Francisco.
     The next morning, the 8th, with Consul Fisher on board, I proceeded to the wreck via Simoda, where I stopped to make arrangements for the accommodation of her passengers. At noon of the 9th, arrived at the wreck and immediately took on board all the Chinese and landed them the next morning at Simoda, thence to this place. I left the crew by the vessel to strip her. On that being done a vessel will be dispatched to bring them and what is saved to this port. The vessel lays broadside
on the shore, distant about 50 feet, where all that can be saved will be landed. She will be a total loss, having bilged a short time after striking.
     I am happy to state that the health of the officers and crew still continues good.
     I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

D. MODOUGAL,
Commander.

Hon. GIDEON WELLES,
Secretary of the Navy, Washington.

U. S. S. WYOMING,
Yokohama (Japan), June 22, 1863. (Via Marseilles.)

SIR: I regret to have to inform you of the very sudden and unexpected turn of affairs between the English and Japanese, the result of which will be war unless the latter recede from their present determination.

     On the 15th negotiations had progressed favorably toward an amicable settlement of the demands, the Japanese agreeing to pay the indemnity, and signed a paper to that effect. Two days subsequently a minister arrived from Yeddo [Tokio] with the unlooked for intelligence that his Government repudiated what had been done arid positively refused the payment of the demand.
     The English minister has now placed the affair in the hands of the admiral for settlement.
     Yesterday the admiral addressed a communication to the British consul, to be communicated to British residents (a copy of which was furnished General Pruyn and Consul Fisher), stating that in eight days, yesterday included, he would commence coercive measures unless the demand of his Government were complied with, and that, as he had not a sufficient force for the occupation and protection of Yokohama,
he advised the immediate embarkation of the families of the British as well as other foreign residents.
     Last evening General Pruyn had an interview with the governor of Yokohama, in which he confessed that he had received an order from the Tycoon to expel all foreigners and that orders to that effect had been sent to the other treaty ports. He had been in receipt of the order ten days, and [it] was to be carried into effect in thirty days. As he had not the power to enforce that order here, he would afford all the protection in his power to the residents of the place, with a hope the order would be rescinded. He stated that the Tycoon was in a very dangerous position at Miako [Kioto], but that once away from there matters would be changed for the better. The governor would leave today for Yeddo [Tokio] with a hope of inducing the payment of the money and an amicable settlement of present difficulties.
     To-morrow, it has been announced, the regent will pass the Taicado [Saikaido] on his way to Yeddo [Tokio]. Possibly when he sees the threatening state of affairs [he] may recede from their present determination.
     I have made all the necessary arrangements in my power in case of hostilities for the protection of our countrymen, and will embark them on the first intimation of immediate danger.
     There is an American schooner to sail on the 25th for San Francisco, by which I will write. This I forward by H. B. M. S. Centaur to Shanghai.
          I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

D. MODOUGAL,
Commander.

Hon. GIDEON WELLES,
Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C.

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Posted: Mon Sep 5th, 2011 03:40 am

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2^nd Post

Hellcat
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Joined:	Tue Nov 15th, 2005
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Posts:	679
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Mana:

U. S. S. WYOMING,
Yokohama, July 23, 1863.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your order of the 15th April, to proceed with this ship to the port of Philadelphia.
     Preparations were made to leave on the 11th installt. On the evening of the 10th news was received through Japanese sources that an American steamer had been fired on by a bark and brig of war belonging [to] the Prince of Nagato, at the western outlet of the Inland Sea, and that she disappeared, and supposed sunk. A mail from Shanghai the same evening brought authentic information that the American steamer Pembroke, on her passage from this place to Shanghai through the Inland Sea, had been fired on by the above vessels and had made her escape through the Bungo Passage. Enclosed is a copy of the statement of the affair by the captain of the Pembroke.
     On the 13th we left this place for the scene of the outrage, and arrived off’ the inner entrance of the western outlet of the Inland Sea on the morning of the 16th.
    On the tide proving favorable we proceeded in the straits, and on opening the town of Shimonoseki discovered a steamer, brig, and bark of war at anchor off the town, with Japanese colors at the peak and the flag of the prince at the fore.
     We stood for the vessels, arid on approaching were fired on, as we got in range, by six batteries on different positions, mounting from two to four guns each. Passing between the brig and bark on the starboard hand and the steamer on the port, we received and returned their fire at pistol shot. Rounding the bow of the steamer and getting in position, maintained the action for about one hour. During the affair the
steamer got underway, but two well-directed shells exploded her boilers. The brig appeared to be settling by the stern, and no doubt sunk. The amount of damage done the bark mnst have been serious, as well as great destruction on shore. The straits opposite the city are about three fourths of a mile wide, with strong currents, which made it very difficult to maneuver the ship properly. As I had no charts, and my pilots completely paralyzed and apprehensive of getting on shore (in fact did touch
once), I was induced to withdraw out of action.
     The fire from the shore battery was extremely brisk, and continued so as long as we were in range. We were hulled 11 times, and with considerable damage to smokestack and rigging aloft, which was attributed to our passing within the range they were prepared for.
     I regret to state the loss of 4 killed and 7 wounded (1 of whom since dead). Enclosed is the surgeon’s report.
     It affords me much pleasure to state that the conduct of the officers and crew was all I could desire.
     Lieutenant Barton, in charge of the first division, makes honorable mention of the conduct of Acting Master’s Mate J. E. Sweeney, Peter King, seaman, captain of forward pivot gun; Thomas Saddler, captain top, and Charles J. Murphy, seaman. I would also mentiou the cool conduct of Frank Wyatt, boatswain’s mate, captain of the after pivot gun, and Edward Penney, captain of top and second captain of the
after gun.
     The Prince of Nagato, it appears, has commenced this war on his own account, as he is one of the most powerful and influential of the princes of the Empire and bitterly opposed to foreigners, but the punishment inflicted and in store for him will, I trust, teach him a lesson that will not be soon forgotten.
     On the 7th instant the French dispatch steamer Kienehang, passing through on her way to Shanghai, was fired on and considerably injured, and on the 11th H. N. M. ship Medusa was also fired oil, and sustained some damage and a loss of 4 men and 7 wounded.
     As soon as the outrage on the French steamer was known here the French Admiral Jaur6s left with his flagship and a gunboat for Shimonoseki, and no doubt will complete the punishment due for the wanton violation of existing treaties.
     The Jamestown was at Wusung oii the 16th, to sail immediately for this port via Nagasaki. I shall await her arrival.
     I enclose a proximate plan of the straits, the position of the vessels and shore batteries, and coarse, etc., all of which is respectfully submitted by
          Your obedient servant,

D. MCDOUGAL,
Commander.

Hon. GIDEON WELLES,
Secretary of the Navy, Washington.

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