Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-10
pnblif Document.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF
THE NAVY.
Navy DEPARTMENT, Dec. 3, 1855.

Navy DEPARTMENT, Dec. 3, 1855.
SIR: have The honor 10 submit the annual re-
port from this department, exhibiting the duties
performed by the several squadrons, my views of |
the present condition and future prospects of the |
service, aud suggestions in regard 10 further le-
gislation required.
sQUADRoNs.
The home squadron, commanded by Commo.
dore Hiram Pauld ng, consists of the flag ship,
the irlgaie Potomac, Captain l.. Nj. Powell, the
sioops -of-war Saratoga, Commander +. q. Tllton,
and Cyane, Commander A b. Fairfax, and the
steamer Fulton, Lieutenant Commanding X. l..
Tilg hman
The Columbia late the flag ship of The squad
ron. having conveyed from Pensacola 10 San
Juan de Nicaragua the United States ministers
TO Nicaragua and Guatemala, proceeded from
San Juan 10 ST. Thomas. where she arrived on
The 9th OF February. The yellow fever having
made It's appearance on board, she proceeded 10
norfolk, where she arrived on the 18Th OF March.
Commodore Newton was detached from the com
mand of the squadron, and the vessel put out OF
commission
No intelligence has been received touching The
sioop Albany, about whose fate, at The date OF
my last report, paa!n anxiety was tclt. The
steamers Princeton Fulton were both sent in
search If her. The Princeton left Pensacola
the 2lst cI November ran down the coast of
Cuba examined The islands of Ltlle Caymans
and Caymans Hrac, thence 10 King sion, Jamaica.)
Aspinwall, and Key West. The Fulton, Lieu
tenant J. h. Mitchell, sailed from Norfolk the 30lh
OF December, and through the Bahama and
Carlbbee islands-along the Spanish Main 10
Aspinwall-thence 10 San Juan de Nicaragua
thence across 10 jamaica sighting the various
Keys on the way-ihence 10 the Balize Hondu-
ras, and along the coast of Yucatan 10 Cam
peachy-thence 10 Havana and Norfolk where
she arrived on the 9Th of April, making a rapid
and searching cruise, evincive of The most indie
fatigable and untiring zeal Not the slightest
information could be obtained of The missing
ship.
The soop Falmouth, Commasder T. Darrah
Shaw, sailed from Norfolk on the 18th Of Decenl-
Der, and proceeded on cruise through the Wesr
India islands, touching al 81. Thomas, Bay of
SANTANA, city OF 81. Domingo, Pc .au-Prnce, Go
naves, ST. Jago de Cuba. Carthagena. A. pin1 all
and thence 10 Pensacola, where she arrived on the
9Th Of May. The course of the Falmouth
also such would afford opportunity Of OBJ
tanning information in relation 10 the Albany.
The Cyane. Commander IS B. Wilson, having
been put in commission, sailed from Boston,
April Is, 1898, 10 JON this squadron In March,
intelligence having reached the Government that
the Spanish frigate Ferrolanana had fired AT the
United States mail steamer FL Doraso, off the
the coast OF Cuba, while peaceaby pursuing her
cruise IL was deemed necessary and proper that
. sufficient naval force should appear in those
waters, with view 10 the protection of the
rights and property of our citizens, and for the
purpose OF commanding due respect 10 flag
The department, on the 10Th of April, assigned
Commodore Charles S. McCauey To special duty.
squadron, and placed under him the Cyane, The
jamestown, the Princeton, and the Fulton To
these vessels was added, flag ship, the San
Jacnto, Captain G. X. Stribling. They were ac-
lively engaged in cruising and watching over the
interests and rights of our countrymen in that
quarter until early in June The instructions
issued to Commodore McCauey on that interest
ing occasion have already been published. Ii is
certainly gratifying that no occasion occurred for
collision between the national vessels OF the two
ADDreheQsIOu. al
ference having ceased TO exist Commodore Me
Cauey was de ached from this duty.
Commodore Paulding wa assigned 10 the CON-
mand Of this squadron on the lst of JULY and
has for his flag ship the frgate Potomac, Captain
L. M. Powell the Potomac having in company
with the Cyane and Saratoga, made a short
cruise TO the eastward, Commodore Paulding was
ordered 10 proceed with his flagship 10 the coast
of Central America, 10 look after the interests of
our country, and 10 that American citizens
suffer no deiriment from he revolutionary troubles
now distracting Nicaragua. He sailed from New
York under these orders on the 2Sih of Novem-
Der. The other vessels of this squadron are ac-
lively cruising.
BRAZIL SQUADRON.
This squadron Commodore William D. SaIter)
consists Of the flag ship, the frigate Savannah,
Captain Samuel Mercer the sloop-of. war Ger
mantown, Commander VIM. F. Lynch) and the
brig cambridge, Commander James III. Rowan
The store-shlp Relief Commander Stephen G.
Rowan was also attached 10 this squadron but
returned 10 New York on the 10th of November
and has been put out Of commission. The Savan-
nah and Germantown will be relieved during the
ensuing year.
This squadron has been industriously cruising
principally between Rio de Janeiro and the Rio de
la Plata, looking in al s.. Catharines, Montevideo,
and Buenos Ayres. The health Of officers and
men has been good.
Misunderstanding Of very serious nature, in.
volvlng painful collision. having occurred between
our consul and officers OF the Water Witch and
the President OF the republic Of Paraguay, IL was
deemed expedient by Commander 7. ]. Page,
commanding that steamer, on special service 10
discontinue Tor the present the mpleticn of the
survey Of the river Parana, in which considerable
progress had been made. You aware OF the
state of negotiations between the two govern
ments on this subject.
Commander Page has, however, IN the mean
time, in a small steamer chartered for the purpose
proceeded TO the distance Of three hundred and
sixty miles up the river Salado which emp
ties into the Parma at Santa Fe, the prin-
cipal town OF the province Of the same name,
and one Of the Argentine Confederation. Be
yond this distance IL found impossible 10
proceed, on account OF the shallowness of
the water. The Salado had never, before this,
been either ascended or descended 10 this point
The prsctIcabiliiy Of its navigation was problem
unsolved until this exploration. Commander
Page. at last dates, was al Santa Fe, and would
proceed from thence 10 the head or upper waters
OF the Plcomayo, with the hope Of descending that
Others, but never accomplished.
AFRICAN SQUADRON
This squadron Commodore Thomas GRABBED
consists OF his flag chip, the jamestown, (Com.
mander James II Wsrd) the sloops-ofwar Dale
Commander William McBlair) and ST. Louis
Commander John w. Livingston) and the brig
Dolphin, Commander Edward X. ThompsonD
The flag ship jamestown, in the early part Of
the summer, was assigned 10 special duty of the
coast OF Cuba under Commodore McCsuey, She
sailed from Key West on the 9th Of June and ar.
rived al Funchal Roads on the Sth Of July
The 81. Louis, Commander j. w. Livingston
sailed from Philadelphia the 10th OF November
10 relieve the Dale. On her arrival on the coast
the Dale will return to The United States.
Commodore Isaac Mayo, who recently com.
manded this squadron, returned with his aaR-ship
the Constitution TO the United States on the I'd or
June, entering the port OF Portsmouth, N. ii.
When within three or four hundred miles Of Ports.
mouth he received intelligence which Induced him
TO alter his course and proceed 10 Havana for the
purpose Of volunteering his services and that Of
his ship TO Commodore McCauey, II required
The appearance Of the Constitution there was
oppouune and impressive.
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