The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-01-08
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NICARAGUA,

Funta Arenas, December 2, 1857. u
SIR Since addressing you the 3Oth ut other events
have transpred to which constrained to call your
attention.
colo and having the Ncauguan flag at the FORE entered
this haror 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 maintain the police of this port
in erogaton of the territorial rights of Nicaragua treat
ing vessels in harbor precisely If they the
high cannot think that your government author
ICES such palpable wrong and injustice
The day several officers from the Saratoga not in
uniform into my camp, regardless of the hail of
the sentinel and without permission from the officer of
the day. They informed that should they do SO
again. the sentry would be instructed to fire them
On the following morning surprised to receive by
the hand OF Lieut. Cilley the following communication
UNITED STATES SHIP SARATOGA,
San Juan Del Norte, Tuesday, Dec. !, 1857.
SIN Lieut. Cilley, the bearer Of this is Of the Off
to whom you offered yesterday the gross ndgnity of
threatening TO shoot them Now such insult to Off
of the United States navy is national offence You
certainly act with very little policy for surely if you
to dare to touch of my officers would feel
justified to retaliae in the extreme and would not hest
tate to do will lay the matter before the commo
ore when he arrives and no doubt he will feel the in
suit deeply than myself. received your despatch
and will forward it to him.
Respectfully,
FRED. CHATARD Commander
few hours after this note sent several boats
filled with armed men, and with boat howzer in one
Of them pulling from the Saratoga to the up
per portion of the Point, where company OF my
were quarered. The United States officer in charge of
the boats Immediately began without notice. to practice
his men in firing, whilst the Ncaraguan officer deployed
his skirmshers to resist any encrOachment
his camp Under such circumstances chance shot might
have brought about collision between the two forces
Seeing from the conduct of the commander of the Saratoga
that he crimnaly seeking to produce collision
deemed il prudent to order the company where his
boats landed into my main camp. you that
it Is only by constant watchfuness and caution my
part that an actual conflict has been prevented
Although had treated the previous notes of Com
inander Chatad with the contempt they merted by
tusg them, he sent me this morning. by the
hands of an officer another communication which the
following is copy "
UNITED STATES SHIT SARATOGA,
December 2, 1857.
SIN AS am entirely opposed to harining any ono un
less know have full right and very good to do
So wish to notify you IN time that your on the
Point in the way of any shot may have to fire to
bring vessels to for determined to bring all ves
sells to- that may fully inquire into their character
OF course do not admit your claim to that SOIL
you yourself in earnest imagine that any nation in the
civilized world can do so either
Respectfully,
FRED'K CHATARD,
Commander.