New Orleans daily crescent., 1858-01-20
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NICARAGUA.


HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NICARAGUA, |
Punta Arenas December 2, 1857. |
SIR: Since addressing you on the 30th ult other
events have transpred to which am constrained to
call your attention.
On the forenoon of the 30th brig, bearing Sar
dinian colors and having the Niearaguan flag at the
FORE entered this harbo Soon after she rounded the
Point number of armed boats pulled off from the
Saratoga towards the brig and officer boarded her.
Thus, you perceive the Saratoga attempts to main
tain the police of this port in derogation of the ter
ritoria rights Of Nicaragua treating vessels in our
harbor precisely as if they were on the high seas
cannot think that your Government authorizes such
palpabe wrong and injustice.
The day several officers from the Saratoga, not
in uniform came into my camp, regardless OF the hail
of the sentinel, and without permission from the Off
Ger of the day. They were informed that should
they do again, the sentry would be instructed to
fire on them. On the following morning was sur
prsed to receive by the hand of Lieut. Cey the fol-
lowing communication:
UNITED STATES SHIP SARATOGA,
San Juan del Norte, Tuesday, Dec. l, 1857.
SIR Lieut.. Cey, the bearer OF this, is one of the
officers to whom you offered yesterday the gross in
dignity ofthreatening to shoot them. Now, such an
insult to officers of the United States navy is a
tional offence. Yon certainly act with very little
policy for surely if yon to dare to touch one Of
my officers, would feel justified to retaliate in the
extreme, and would not hesitate to do so. will lay
the matter before the commodore when he arrives,
and doubt he will feel the insult more deeply than
myself recaived your dispatch and will forward it
to him.
Respectfully,
FRED. 'CHATARD, Commander.
Gen. VIM WALKER.
few hours after this note was sent several boats
filled with armed men, and with boat howitzer in
one of them, were seen pulling from the Saratoga to
the upper portion of the Point, where company Of
my men were quartered. The United States officer
in charge of the boats Immediately began, without
notice, to practice his men in firing, whilst the Mica
Taguan officer depoyed his command as skirmishers
to resist any encroachment on his camp. Under such
circumstances a chance shot might have brought
! about collision between the two forces. Seeing
| from the conduct of the commander of the Saratoga
that he cTiminaly seeking TO produce collision,
deemed it prudent to order the company where
his boats landed into my main camp. | can assure
you that it is only by constant watchtuness and
tion my part that actual conflict has been pre-
vented
Although had treated the previous notes Of Com.
mander Chatard with the contempt they meFited by
| refusing to answer them, he sent me this morning
by the hands of an officer, another communication,
which the following is copy:
UNITED STATES SHIP SARATOGA, l
December 2, 1857. I
SIR; As am entirely opposed TO harming any ON
unless know have full right and very good reason
to do so, wish to notify you in time that your mel
on the Point are in the way of any shot may hay
20 fire TO bring vessels to- for | am determined q
bring all vessels to- so that may fully inquire int
their character or course / do not admit your CLAIM
to that SOIL nor can you yourself in earnest imagin
that any nation in the civilized world can do 80 eithel
A'spsfSIIHbB''K FREb'K oHArARD,
Commander.
GEN. WIN. WALKER.
You will see that this note re-asserts the right Of
United States vessel to maintain the police OF TIL
d port The commander too, after having admitte
NV claim to exercise the functions of government b