Newsgroups: bit.listserv.history
Date:         Wed, 2 Sep 1992 19:29:15 -0400
From:         Kali Tal <kali@ACCESS.DIGEX.COM>
Subject:      U.S Military Intervention
Comments: To: HISTORY@UBVM.cc.buffalo.edu
              2 Sep 1992 17:49:00 EDT <9209022158.AA02554@access.digex.com>

"Instances of the Use of United States Armed Forces Abroad, 1798-1900"

     1798-1800--Undeclared naval war with France. This contest
included land actions, such as that in the Dominican Republic, city of
Puerto Plata, where marines captured a French privateer under the guns
of the forts.

    1801-1805--Tripoli.  The First Barbary War, including the _George
Washington_ and _Philadelphia_ affairs and the Eaton expedition,
during which a few marines landed with United States Agent William
Eaton to raise a force against Tripoli in an effort to free the crew
of the _Philadelphia_.  Tripoli declared war but not on the United
States.

    1806--Mexico (Spanish territory). Capt. Z.M. Pike, with a platoon
of troops, invaded Spanish terriroty at the headwaters of the Rio
Grande deliberately and on orders from Gen. James Wilkinson.  He was
made prisoner without resistance at a fort he constructed in
present-day Colorado, taken to Mexico, later released after seizure of
his papers. There was a political purpose, still a mystery.

    1806-1810--Gulf of Mexico. American gunboats operated from New
Orleans against Spanish and French privateers, such as LaFitte, off
the Mississippi Delta, chiefly under Capt. John Shaw and Master
Commandant David Porter.

    1810--West Florida (Spanish territory). Gov. Claiborne of
Louisiana, on orders of the president, occupied with troops territory
in dispute east of the Mississippi as far as the Pearl River, later
the eastern boundary of Louisiana. He was authorized to seize as far
east as the Perdido River. No armed clash.

    1812--Amelia Island and other parts of east Florida, then under
Spain. Temporary possession was authorized by President Madison and by
Congress, to prevent occupation by any other power; but possession was
obtained by Gen. George Matthews in so irregular a manner that his
measures were disavowed by the President.

    1812-1815--Great Britain. War of 1812. Formally declared.

    1813--West Florida (Spanish territory). On authority given by
Congress, General Wilkinson seized Mobile Bay in April with 600
soldiers. A small Spanish garrison gave way. Thus we advanced into
disputed territory to the Perdido River, as project in 1810. No
fighting.

    1813-1814--Marquesas Islands.  Built a fort on island of Nukahiva
to protect three prize ships which had been captured from the British.

    1814--Spanish Florida. Gen. Andrew Jackson took Pensacola and
drove out the British with whom the United States was at war.

    1814-1825--Caribbean. Engagements between pirates and American
ships or squadrons took place repeatedly and especially ashore and
offshore about Cuba, Puerto Rico, Santo Domingo, and Yucatan. Three
thousand pirate attacks on merchantment were reported between 1815 and
1823. In 1822, Commodore James Biddle employed a squadron of two
frigates, four sloops of war, two brigs, four schooners, and two
gunboats in the West Indies.

    1815--Algiers. The Second Barbary War, declared by our enemies but
not by the United States. Congress authorized an expedition. A large
fleet under Decatur attacked Algiers and obtained indemnities.

    1815--Tripoli. After securing an agreement from Algiers, Decatur
demonstrated with his squadron at Tunis and Tripoli, where he secured
indemnities for offenses againt us during the War of 1812.

    1816--Spanish Florida. United States forces destroyed Nichols
Fort, called also Negro Fort, because it harbored raiders into United
States territory.

    1816-1818--Spanish Florida: First Seminole War. The Seminole
Indians, whose area was a resort for escaped slaves and border
ruffians, were attacked by troops under Generals Jackson and Gaines
and pursued into northern Florida. Spanish posts were attacked and
occupied, British citizens executed. There was neither a declaration
of war nor any congressional authorization, but the Executive was
sustained.

    1817--Amelia Island (Spanish territory off Florida). Under orders
of President Monroe, United States forces landed and expelled a group
of smugglers, adventurers, and freebooters.

    1818--Oregon. The U.S.S. _Ontario_, dispatched from Washington,
landed at the Columbia River and in August took possession. Britain
had conceded sovereignty but Russia and Spain asserted claims to the
area.

    1820-1823--Africa. Naval units raided the slave traffic pursuant
to the 1819 act of Congress.

    1822--Cuba. Brief landings in pursuit of priates occurred April 8
near Escondido; April 16 near Cayo Blanco; July 11 at Siquapa Bay;
July 21 at Cape Cruz; and October 23 at Camrioca.

    1824--Cuba. In October, the U.S. _Porpoise_ landed blue jackets
near Matanzas in pursuit of pirates.  This was during the cruise
authorized in 1822.

    1824--Puerto Rico (Spanish territory). Commodore David Porter with
a landing party attacked the town of Fajardo which had sheltered
pirates and insulted American naval officers. He landed with 200 men
in November and forced an apology.

    1825--Cuba. In March, cooperating American and British forces
landed at Segua La Grande to capture pirates.

    1827--Greece. In October and November, landing parties hunted
pirates on the islands of Argenteire, Miconi, and Andross.

    1831-1832--Falkland Islands. To investigate the capture of three
American sealing vessels and to protect American interests.

    1832--Sumatra, February 6-9. To punish natives of the town of
Quallah Battoo for depredations on American shipping.

    1833--Argentina, October 31-November 15. A force was sent ashore
at Buenos Aires to protect the interests of the United States and
other countries during an insurrection.

    1835-1836--Peru, December 10, 1835-January 24, 1836, and August
31-December 2, 1836. Marines protected American interests in Callao
and Lima during an attempted revolution.

    1836--Mexico. General Gaines occupied Nacogdoches (Texas),
disputed territory, from July to December during the Texan war for
independence, under orders to cross the "imaginary boundary line" if
an Indian outbreak threatened.

    1838-1839--Sumatra, December 24, 1838-January 4, 1839. To punish
natives of the towns of Quallah Battoo and Muckie (Mukki) for
depredations on American shipping.

    1840-Fiji Islands, July. To punish natives for attacking American
exploring and surveying parties.

    1841--Drummond Island, Kingsmill Group. To avenge the murder of a
seaman by natives.

    1841--Samoa, February 24. To avenge the murder of an American
seaman on Upolu Island.

    1842--Mexico. Commodore T.A.C. Jones, in command of a squadron
long cruising off California, occupied Monterey, Calif., on October
19, believing war had come. He discovered peace, withdrew, and
saluted. A similar incident occurred a week later at San Diego.

    1843--Africa, November 29-December 16. Four United States vessels
demonstrated and landed various parties (one of 200 marines and
sailors) to discourage piracy and the slave trade among the Ivory
coast, etc., and to punish attacks by the natives on American seamen
and shipping.

    1844--Mexico. President Tyler deployed our forces to protect Texas
against Mexico, pending Senate approval of treaty of annexation.
(Later rejected.)  He defended his action against a Senate resolution
of inquiry. This was a demonstration or preparation.

    1846-1848--Mexico, the Mexican War. President Polk's occupation of
disputed territory precipitated it. War formally declared.

    1849--Smyrna. In July, a naval force gained release of an American
seized by Austrian officials.

    1851--Turkey. After a massacre of foreigners (including Americans)
at Jaffa in January, a demonstration by our Mediterranean Squadron was
ordered along the Turkish (Levant) coast. Apparently no shots fired.

    1851--Johanna Island (east of Africa), August. To exact redress
for the unlawful imprisonment of the captain of an American whaling
brig.

    1852-1853--Argentina, February 3-12, 1852; September 17,
1852-April (?) 1853. Marines were landed and maintained in Buenos
Aires to protect American interests during a revolution.

    1853--Nicaragua, March 11-13. To protect American lives and
interests during political disturbances.

    1853-1854--Japan. The "opening of Japan" and the Perry Expedition.

    1853-1854--Ryukyu and Bonin Islands.  Commodore Perry on three
visits before going to Japan and while waiting for a reply from Japan
made a naval demonstration, landing marines twice, and secured a
coaling concession from the ruler of Naha on Okinawa. He also
demonstrated in the Bonin Islands. All to secure facilities for
commerce.

    1854--China, April 4-June 15 or 17. To protect American interest
in and near Shanghai during Chinese civil strife.

    1854--Nicaragua, July 9-15. San Juan del Norte (Greytown) was
destroyed to avenge an insult to the American Minister to Nicaragua.

    1855--China, May 19-21 (?). To protect American interests in
Shanghai, August 3-5 to fight pirates near Hong Kong.

    1855--Fiji Islands, September 12, November 4. To seek reparations
for depredations on Americans.

    1855--Uruguay, November 25-29 or 30. United States and European
naval forces landed to protect American interests during an attempted
revolution in Montevideo.

    1856--Panama, Republic of New Grenada, September 19-22. To protect
American interests during an insurrection.

    1856--China, October 22-December 6. To protect American interests
at Canton during hostilities between the British and the Chinese; and
to avenge an unprovoked assault upon an unarmed boat displaying the
United States flag.

    1847-Nicaragua, April-May, November-December. To oppose William
Walker's attempt to get control of the country. In May, Commander C.H.
Davis of the United States Navy, wtih some marines, received Walker's
surrender and protected his men fromthe retaliation of native allies
who had been fighting Walker. In November and December of the same
year United States vessels _Saratoga_, _Wavash_, and _Fulton_ opposed
another attempt of William Walker on Nicaragua. Commodore Hiram
Paulding's act of landing marines and compelling hte removal of Walker
to the United States, was tacitly disavowed by Secretary of State
Lewis Cass, and Paulding was forced into retirement.

    1858--Uruguay, January 2-27. Forces fromtwo United States warships
landed to protect American property during a revolution in Montevideo.

    1858--Fiji Islands, October 6-16. To chastise the natives for the
murder of two American citizens.

    1858-59--Turkey. Display of naval force along the Levant at the
request of the Secretary of State after massacre of Americans at Jaffa
and mistreatment elsewhere "to remind the authorities (of Turkey) * *
* of the power of the United States."

    1859--Paraguay. Congress authorized a naval squadron to seek
redress for an attack on a naval vessel in the Parana River during
1855. Apologies were made after a large display of force.

    1859--Mexico. Two hundred United States soldeirs corssed the Rio
Grande in pursuit of the Mexican bandit Cortina.

    1859--China, July 31-August 2. For the protection of American
interests in Shanghai.

    1860--Angola, Portuguese West Africa, March 1. To protect American
lives and property at Kissembo when the natives became troublesome.

    1860--Columbia, Bay of Panama, September 27-October 8. To protect
American interests during a revolution.

    1863--Japan, July 16. To redress and insult to the American
flag--firing on an American vessel-at Shimonoseki.

    1864--Japan, July 14-August 3, approximately.  To protect the
United Staes Minister to Japan when he visited Yedo to negotiate
concerning some American claims against Japan, and to make his
negotiations easier by impressing the Japanese with American power.

    1864--Japan, September 4-14--Straits of Shimonoseki. To compel
Japan and the Prince of Nagato in particular to permit the Straits to
be used by foreign shipping in accordance with treaties already
signed.

    1865--Panama, March 9 and 10. To protect the lives and property of
American residents during a revolution.

    1866--Mexico. To protect American residents, General Sedgwick and
100 men in November obtained surrender of Matamoras. After three days,
he was ordered by our governmnt to withdraw. His act was repudiated by
the President.

    1866--China, June 20-July 7. To punish an assault on the American
consul at Newchwang; July 14, for sonsultation with authorities on
shore; August 9, at Shangahi, to help extinguish a serious fire in the
city.

    1867--Island of Formosa, June 13. To punish a horde of savages who
were supposed to have murdered the crew of a wrecked American vessel.

    1868--Japan (Osaka, Hiogo, Nagasaki, Yokohama, and Negata), mainly
February 4-8, April 4-May 12, June 12 and 13. To protect American
interests during the civil war in Japan over the abolition of the
Shogunate and the restoration of the Mikado.

    1868--Uruguay, February 7 and 8, 19-26. To protect foreign
residents and the customhouse during an insurrection at Montevideo.

    1868--Columbia, April 7, as Aspinwall. To protect passengers and
treasure in transit during the absence oflocal police or troops on the
occasion of the death of President of Columbia.

    1870--Mexico, June 17 and 18. To destroy the pirate sh _Forward_,
which had been run aground about 40 miles up the Rio Tecapan.

    1870--Hawaiian Islands, September 21. To place the American flag
at halff mast upon the death of Queen Kalama, when the American consul
at Honolulu would not assume responsiblity for so doing.

    1871--Korea, June 10-12. To punish natives for depredations on
Americans, particularly for murdering the crew of the _General
Sherman_ and burning the schooner, and for later firing on other
American small boats taking soundings up the Salee River.

    1873--Columbia (Bay of Panama), May 7-22, September 23-October 9.
To protect American interests during hostilities over possession of
the government of the State of Panama.

    1873--Mexico. United States troops crossed the Mexican border
repeatedly in pursuit of cattle and other thieves. There were some
reciprocal pursuits by Mexican troops into our border territory. The
cases were only technically invasions, if that, although Mexico
protested constantly. Notable cases were at Remolina in May 1873 and
at Las Cuevas in 1875. Washington orders often supported these
excursions. Agreements between Mexico and the United States, the first
in 1882, finally legitimized such raids. They continued
intermittently, with minor disputes, until 1896.

    1874--Hawaiian Islands, February 12-20. To preserve order and
protect American lives and interests during the inaguration of a new
kind.

    1876--Mexico, May 18. To police the town of Matamoros temporarily,
while it was without other government.

    1882--Egypt, July 14-18. To protect American interests during
warfare between British and Egyptians and looting of the city of
Alexandria by Arabs.

    1885--Panama (Colon), January 18 and 19. To guard the valuables in
transit over the Panama Railroad, and the safes and vaults of the
company during revolutionary activity. In March, April and May in the
cities of Colon and Panama, to reestablish freedom of transit during
revolutionary activity.

     1888--Korea, June. To protect American residents in Seoul during
unsettled political conditions, when an outbreak of the populace was
expected.

    1888-1889--Samoa, November 14, 18888-March 20, 1889. To protect
American citizens and the consulate during a native civil war.

    1888--Haiti, December 20. To persuade the Haitian Government to
give up an American steamer which had been seized onthe charge of
breach of blockade.

    1889--Hawaiian Islands, July 30 and 31. To protect American
interests at Honolulu during a revolution.

    1890--Argentina. A naval party landed to protect our consulate and
legation in Buenos Aires.

    1891--Haiti. To protect American lives and property on Navassa
Island when Negro laborers got out of control.

    1891--Bering Sea, July 2-October 5. To stop seal poaching.

    1891--Chile, August 28-30. To protect the American consulate and
the women and children who had taken refuge in it during a revolution
in Valparaiso.

    1893--Hawaii, January 16-April 1. Ostensibly to protect American
lives and property; actually to promote a provisional government under
Sanford B. Dole. This action was disavowed by the United States.

    1894--Brazil, January. To protect American commerce and shipping
at Rio de Janeiro during a Brazilian civil war. No landing was
attempted but there was a display of naval force.

    1894--Nicaragua, July 6-August 7. To protect American interests at
Bluefields following a revolution.

    1894-1896--Korea, July 24, 1894-April 3, 1896. To protect American
lives and interest at Seoul during and following the Sino-Japanese
War. A guard of marines was kept at the American legation most of the
time until April 1896.

    1894-1895--China. Marines were stationed at Tientsin and
penetrated to Peking for protection purposes during the Sino-Japanese
War.

    1894-1895--China. Naval vessel beached and used as a fort at
Newchwang for protection of American nationals.

    1895--Columbia, March 8-9. To protect American interests during an
attack on the town of Bocas del Toro by a bandit chieftan.

    1896--Nicaragua, May 2-4. To protect American interests in Corinto
during political unrest.

    1898--Nicaragua, February 7 and 8. To protect American lives and
property at San Juan del Sur.

    1898--Spain. The Spanish-American War. Fully declared.

    1898-1899--China, November 5, 1898-March 15, 1899.  To provide a
guard for the legation at Peking and the consuate at Tientsin during
contest between the Dowager Empress and her son.

    1899-Nicaragua. To protect American interests at San Juan del
Norte, February 22 to March 5, and at Bluefields a few weeks later in
connection with the insurrection of Gen. Juan P. Reyes.

    1899--Samoa, March 13-May 15. To protect American interests and to
take part in a bloody contention over the succession to the thrown.

    1899-1901--Philippine Islands. To protect American interests
follwoing the war with Spain, and to conquer the island by defeating
the Filipinos in their war for independence.

From "Instances of the Use of United States Armed Forces Abroad,
1798-1945," Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Relations and the
Committee on Armed Services, 87th Congress, 2nd Session, Mon., Sept.
17, 1962.

I found this document reproduced in Paul Jacobs and Saul Landau, _To
Serve the Devil: Colonials and Sojourners_ Vol. 2 (New York: Vintage)
1971:  338-355.  Jacobs and Landau comment:  "On September 17, 1962,
Secretary of State Dean Rusk presented a joint meeting of the Senate
Committee on Foreign Relations and Armed Services with a list of
American interventions abroad. He made the presentation to justify his
request for passage of a resolution authorizing President Kennedy to
use force against the Cuban revolutionaries just prior to the "Missile
Crisis" of October, 1962. The following document is that official
list, compiled by the State Department. In it the direct relationship
of domestic racism to foreign policy is outlined in stark clarity. The
language is that of the State Department."

Lest we forget.

Kali Tal
_Viet Nam Generation_
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU