The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-09-05
NAVY DEPARTMENT.


18th u The senior naval officer stationed there states
that Commodore Mervine with the flag ship ndepen-
dence sailed thence the Sd ult for San Francisco.
The sloopof Decatur arrived on the 9th ult having
board twenty men, the only remaining sick in the
hospital at Rivas, and last from Punta Arenas Costa
Rica formerly belonging to the army of Gen Walker.
Suboined is list of these
Surgeons X. T. Royston and G. b. Bouton, Major Do
Ian, Captains West and Rayburn, and Priyates Cole,
Burns Boyle Donohoc Dewett, Graham, Green Clarke,
Mccall Cason Madison, Fizzell, Gross, Amaroke Lang
erford, Davies, Kipp, Sgamund, Ingraham, Idc, and
Forbes.
Commander Thatcher of the Decatur, represents the
condition of these most wretched and helpless
Their passage from Rvas to Punta Arenas, where they
were taken on board the Decatar, was made In a small
vessel under Sandman colors in consequence Of which
their suerngs much aggravated by deprivation OF
everything which in their condition require. Even
fresh water to dress their wounds could not be obtained
In the opinion of the captain nothing but speedy
moval to a bracng climate together with the
forts of home and friends the lives of large
portion of them.
The condition Of these commenced improving rap
idly after they reached Panama. under the influence OF
pure sea air and wholesome diet. The Decatur being
much crowded twelve Of them taken board the
John Adams. These men wished to go to New Orleans
with the exception Of four five, who DESTROYS TO
obtain passage 10 San FRANCISCO Inc htter ne seio
officer hoped to have forwarded gratuitousy With ref
eence to the Others he had personal interview with the
agent of the Steamship Company at Aspnwa who de-
cned to forward them from fear that the usual
line of steamers plying between Aspnwall Havana and
New Orleans having been withdrawn for repairing, and
the New York line stopping at Havana instead they
would subject the ship to quarantine Thus in addition
to their not being permitted to land at Panama. except
for immediate transit the commanding officer com
PEELED keep them board Seven Of them, however,
were forwarded to New Orleans in the John L. Stephens
Capt Thatcher also writes that he had visited the capi-
tai Of Costa Rcn, and had interview with General
Manuel Mora late commander i'm chief of the Costa HI
forces assembled in Nicaragua relative to the alleged
forcibe detention Of certain American citizens ON the
Lake of Nicaragua and the San Juan river steamers by
the Costa Rcan authorities Suboined the reply OF
| Gen Mora to the questions which were put TO him
sNo American citizen has at any time been for
chilly detained on the San Juan river, or Lake steam
ers All the engineers, officers, and hands employ
ed or occupied on said at any time were used by
the government Of Costa Rca and men were forced
to remain in any capacity The engineers and captains
employed by me and my subordinates in running the
boats contracted their free H to do such service
and none were retained for any longer period than they
chose or had contracted for
1.-THE engineer of the Virgin whom had reason 70
suspect of treachcrous intentions after having been some
three ,nths in service desired to leave, and permission
was given him to do SO, and leave the country, u nc
chose but he refused passport by way Of San Juan
| river"
Captain Thatcher further states that DIR Royston, an