The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-12-28
OUR NAVY.
annual Report - tAe Secretary Of tho Navy
for The Year 1859.

NAVY DEPARTMENT, Dec 2, 1859
sIR-ln the month Of February last the expedition to
Paraguay brought to successful issue. BY your di
rection had taken the necessary steps
strong 10 vcesc, carrying 200 guns and
$500 men, well supplied with ammunition, small arms
whatever necessary its success IN the waters
the La Plata. It consisted Of the fgate Sabine, Flag
Officer W. B. Shubrick, Captain b. A. Adams the frgate
st. lawrence, Flag officer +. Forest Captain B. Hull;
the sloops-of war Falmouth Commander E Farrand and
Preble Commander T. A. jenkins; the briggs Dolphin
Commander Charles Steedman; cambridge, Lieutenant
Commanding F. B. Renshaw, aud Perry, Lieutenant Com
manding r. L. Tghman; the steamers Memphis, Com.
mander ]. b. Marchand; Atalanta, Commander D. B.
Rdgeley; Caledonia, Commander A. l. Case; Southern
Star, Commander A. NJ Pennock; westernport Comman-
der T. 7. Hunter; Fulton, Lieutenant Commanding j. j.
Amy; Water Witch, Lieutenant Commanding R. B. Pc
gram; the n. W. Chaplin, Lieutenant Commanding W.
Ronckendorf Metacomet Lieutenant Commanding w. Fl.
Macomb the revenue steamer Harriet Lane Captain John
Faunce, and the armed storeshps Supply, Lieutenant
Commanding F. Stanly, and Release, Lieutenant Com
The ffgae Sabine, with Flag Officer Shubrick, to whom
the expedition was entrusted, and Mr. Bowin, the
special commissioner Paraguay left New York October
H. 1865 arrived the La Plata December 49, and found
most Of the vessels comprising the expedition already
there On the soth Of the same month Mr. Bown and Flag
Officer Shubrick left Montevde0 with the steamers Fulton
and Water WITCH 30 ascend the river and the 25h day
of January arrived with them Asuncion the capital Of
took formal leave Of the President OF Paraguay having
fully accomplished the objects Of his mission The rela
tons Of the Two countries having been restored and placed
upon the moet cordial footing, new commercial treaty
and special convention having been executed and salts
factory apologies and indemnIes made the Fulton and
Water Witch, with the commissioner and flag officer,
the morning Of the 18th Of February proceeded down the
river All the vessels intended for the expedition capa
BILE ascending the river excepting Of the least import
apce we're above Rosario time have acted Ia case Of
cessity The Fulton. Water WITCH Harriet Lane, Ataanta
Westernport Memphis Caledonia, Southern STAR Prcbe,
nrlp porrv Rala Eup md Tho Az
gentna, carrying lao men, exclusive Of commanding
officers and IS guns, Including % snch shell guns, and
sand bars and other difficulties and distractions Of long
and tedious river navigation were reported ready for
vice and we're n Position TO ope1e against Paraguay
bearing Of Flag officer Shubrick and the officers under his
command in conducting expedition far into the int.
physical difficulties but the fears and appFehensions
prudioes Of numerous States and TO the good conduct OF
the brave men under their command, u the country
largely indebted only for the Of the enterprise
but for the friendly feeling towards the United States
which now prevails in all that part Of South America.
The expense OF the expedition betrayed OF the
ordinary appropriations for the naval SERVICE except the
Of $3.50 oo0o appropriated by Congress- the Sd Of
steamers and side wheel steamer which, from
the deficiency Of light draught vessels in the navy capa
bic Of navigating Tie Pasna "a and the had BE-
chartered accordingly for ak months or longer with the
privilege Of election the part Of the United States TO
and 10 apply all payments for the Of the vessels In
part payment Of the purchase money The due for
the use Of them amounted 10 4187 and the balance,
Sl5l S07 would effect purchase q these vessels
Tho election made, and by the payment Of that
sum the department was released from i6 contract
to restsre them to their former condition, and they
became the property Of the government. They
have since been fitted for the service in which
they are now engaged. Five Of them employed
the coasts Of Africa and Cuba; between the Wash
nston and Gospcrt Navy Yards, IN lieu Of the Water
WITCH which has also been sent TO the coast Of Cuba and
the other the sidewheel steamer in the La Plata and its
tributaries part Of the Brazil squadron The Of
maintaining these vessels In commission 70 not
much greater than that Of maintaining q single steam
higate.
SUPPRESSION o. Tn AFRICAN SLAVE Trade
The purchase Of these steamers enabled the department
adopt efficient for the suppression Of
the African slave trade. Being Of light draugh those
the African slave coast WEI enter harbors and rivers
where the slave traffic originates, while those the
coast OF Cuba will frequent 8 hafbors cruise In the track
Of the slave traders both sides u the island and viii
be very 70 intercept such ~ may escape the vgi
lance Of the former Eight steamers have been detailed
TO suppress this trade, four 10 cruise the Of
Guinea and equal number the coast Of Cuba two
each side Of the Island. II 10 intended 70 employ an
other steamer 70 cruise between New Orleans, Mobile Pen
sacoa and Key West for that and other purposes
she be spared from other objects 10 enable the
ard four steamers 10 be constantly In the neghborhood
Of the places where the trsbc carried on tho depot OF
naval supplies has been removed from Porto Praya In
latitude Borth ID degrees Cape dc Verde 70 st. Paul
de IoAndo in latitude eouth degrees. Under the for
arrangement the vessels Of the squadron then sailing
vessels ony In where calms prevail most Of the
TINA euppl0yad m making the yoyn.e from the prOper