The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-02-13
SOUTH SEA EXPLORING EXPEDITION
United States Flag Ship Vincennes, !
Ea;aa Islands Anunst IN 1910 (

Sir-I becomes my painful duty TO report TO you
the death of Lieutenant Joseph A. Underwood and
Midshipman Wilkes Henry, of the Exploring Expe-
dition who were rcachcrously killed by the natives Of
the island of Malloo, one OF the FJee group the
24th of July while engaged with others on survey
ing duty and within distance of two thousand feet
from force under Lieutenant Alden, who was in
charge of the party consisting Of three boats four Off
GERS, and thirty men, completing the survey Of the
island it being the last Of the Fejee group to be ex
amined
enclose, herewith, Lieutenant Alden's report de-
failing the circumstances.
the time engaged, about five miles distant,
with the tender Flying Fish making observations up
islands in the vicinity.
At five O'Clock, p NJ, of the 24th, Lieutenant Al
den came alongside the Flying Fish with the bodies,
and reported the circumstances to me. | then pro-
ceeded to Maolo for the purpose Of making arrange
ments for ayenging their deaths, and inficng upon
the natives chastisement for their outrageous
conduct and disposed of the boats around the island,
to prevent their escape from i during the night
On the 25th performed the melancholy duty of in
terring the remains Of the two officers upon unin-
habited island, ten miles distant from Malloo after
which, being joined by the Porpoise, returned and
landed on the latter island, the 26th with all the
force at my disposal and commenced an attack upon
the OF Sualeb and ARA the former being well
fortified by bitches, stockades etc. after the Fejee
mode offered resistance with their muskels, spears,
and clubs but both overcome, the whole
reduced to ashes, many warriors killed and wounded
and their property and provisions destroyed Among
those killed. the chefand principal actors in the
attack upon the officers,
No injury was sustained on our side, except by two
Of the men who were slightly wounded, and all were
safely embarked at sunset.
On the succeeding day received message fiom
the natives on Shore through interpreters, toge-
Their with all the articles taken from the deceased
begging for peace but desired to make the lesson
effective possible, refused until they had begged
pardon and sued for mercy after the Fejee custom
informed them, and landed with force to await
their coming for this purpose Soon after about fifty
of then principal men approached in the most sup
plcating manner, upon their hands and knees, beg
ging pardon, and suing for mercy at the same time
giving the positive of their future
good conduct towards the whites upon which it was
granted with the further condition of their supplying
us with wood water, and fruit the succeeding day
After which, liberated chief who had been captu-
red the preceding day. receiving many promises from
him never again to permit our countrymen to be mo-
Tested.
Aatter myself the whole affair has terminated not
only in suitably ayengng the death of the officers but
inficting an exemplary punishment, tempered with
mercy and due regard TO its beneficial effects, upon
the whole group of the Fejees, by convincing them
that ueacherous acts will not go unpublished; and
TO believe has had its beneficial effect upon
the natives Of the group
II is difficult for to surmise the which led
this melancholy catastrophe, no satisfactory one
could be obtained from the natives who survived 1t
tain the few articles of traffic which Lieutenant I'm
derwood had The attack commenced as is their
TOM upon the officers The escape of the hostage at
the moment be regretted and renders it possible
that the attack was somewhat premidated by the
tivcs encouraged in part by the confidence of the
party, that attack treachery would be attempted
upon large force.
1t is source of much satisfaction that the bodies OF
the deceased were promptly recovered, and suta-
BILE opportunity afforded Of paying them every mark OF
respect, in their interment upon island of small
group, which had not then been named | therefore
called the former Henrys Island and the latter
Under1eood's Group az testimonial of our regard
for the deceased
In bearing testimony to the valuable services, zeal
and abilities evinccd at all times by these officers,
have, in with all, to lament deeply the loss
which not only their relatives and friends but the
country and the expedition has sustained in their de-
cease
take leave TO express my satisfaction of the actvi.
ty and zeal displayed hy Lieutenant Commandani
Ringpod the officers and the crews Of the Porpoisc
Flying Fish and three boats from this ship Of the Pea
cock, who engaged in the attack; also of their
strict observance of the orders to protect the
and children from harm
Shortly after my arrival in the Feejee group, | was
convinced that the natives not to he trusted
der any circumstances and required that all belonging
to the expedition should be armed when visiting the
shore.
also issued an order on the second day after my
arrival applicable to all engaged in boat duty among
the islands, an extract Of which is annexed; and
the three months we have been arduously engaged
in surveying all parts of this extensive group has pre-
vented the of many other serious accidents
have the honor to be, sir
Very respectfully your obedent servant
CHARLES WILKES,
Commanding Exploring Expedition
To the Hon. JAMES X. PAULpSd,
Secretary Of the Navy, Washington