Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1866-05-12
The Bombardment of Valparais0-Re-
mort inf Commodore Rodgers.


The following dispatches relative to
the bombardment of Valparaiso have
been received by the Navy Department:
u. S. STEAMSHIP Vanderbilt.
Valparaiso, March 81, 1866. (
SIR have the honor to announce
that upon my arrival at this port with
the squadron under my command,
called upon the English admiral. who
had informed me that he intended to
prevent any sudden bombardment, and
would only suffer it after ample notice.
To this / made no reply, but having
considered the matter, sought the occa-
sion to say the next day that L
would join him in preventing any sud
den bombardment, and that / would
also 90 as much farther as he chose. /
assured him that the Monadnock could
take care of the Numancia; that from
target experiments / had witnessed, j
was absolutely certain that in not less
than 80 seconds, and not more than 30
minutes, the Monadnock herself, entire
ly unassisted, would have only the mast
heads of the Numancia above wa
ter, and that our wooden yes
sells, English and American, could
look out for the wooden vessels of the
Spaniards In thus offering to go be-
yond the letter of instruction to OBJ
serve a strict neutrality, L acted upon
the supposition that neutrality among
the nations, did not preclude all well
directed efforts to keep the peace
among them; that as a peaceable citizen
is not obliged TO stand by inert while
another is suffering from the unlawful
violence of a third person, but may
Justly interfere with force to prevent an
infraction OF the laws-a murder for
example-so q nation witnessing the
like disturbance among her sister ma
tions need not rest absolutely impas-
sive, but with sincere neutrality might
interpose with force if necessary to
keep the operations of belligerents
at least within the law, for the protec-
ton of neutral persons and neutral
property. / am aware that action in
the premises on our part involves great
responsibility, but / had reached the
conclusion that with England as an ally
it was my duty now to aid them. / told
the English Admiral what 1 have
written, and frankly added that his
commerce was more extensive than
ours and more convenient to the coast
of Spain, but as he had more to suffer
in consequence of q rupture with Spain,
and as he had also more to preserve;
that his interests in Chill rose to thou
sands while ours was only hundreds.
The English Admiral said at first that
he would go with me, for l plainly told
him that / would not take a step with
out him. 1 said that had no intention
of becOmlnga catspaw TO draw Euro
pean chestnuts out of the fire and then
have the power l served laughing at
my singed paws, while they enjoyed
the fruits of my temerity. The English
Admiral finally determined to throw
the responsibility upon the English
Minister, who did not choose to act in
the premises. English cooperation
having failed, no separate action on my
part was taken, as none was proposed.
have used such measures as L could TO
bring about an accommodation, but
without success. This morning, at
nine o'clock, the Spanish Admiral
opened upon the town with shot
and shell, directing his fire principally
against public buildings and storehous-
es After a continuous bombardment
of two hours and fifty minutes, the 1ir
lug ceased, and the Spanish Admiral
withdrew his vessels. Four of the
stone BUILDINGS connected with the Gus
tom house were entirely destroyed, with
their contents. Other adjoining build
ings used for the same purpose, were
much injured. The value of merchan-
disc DESTROYED In these was vaguely es-
- IL
erDment house, exchange, and railroad
buildings were damaged TO a considera-
able extent. Naturally and inevitably,
parts of the city, which the Spanish Ad-
miral declared he did not intend to in
lure, received many of his missiles. -
Several blocks of private buildings
were destroyed by fire, and churches,
converts and hospitals were not exempt
from injury. Few lives were lost-not
more than eight or. ten. L enclose
herewith the copies of the letters ad-
dressed to me by the foreign residents
of Valparaiso, representing the interests
of nearly all tlfe nationalities
of christondom, bearing an Off
cial character, with a copy of my an
swer; also copies of the manifesto and
letter of the Spanish Admiral When L
was assured that the English Admiral
was determined not to resista lombard
ment, L called upon him, and said that
as | did not choose TO drift into col
lision where l had no purpose to collide
/ should move out of the Spanish way.
This intention / communicated verbally
TO the Spanish Admiral. Thrust by CIR
cumstances into a position in which it
became necessary to take some part, /
felt a natural anxiety to know whether
the one took meets with the approba.
ton of the Government in my whole
course. / have conferred freely with
our Minister, Gen. Fitzpatrick, and de-
sired the benefit of his advice and assis-
lance in all L have done or offered to do.
He has been consulted, and he has fully
concurred. Ii his name has not been
mentioned before, it was because / did
not wish to break the continuity of my
narrative, and not because / am with
out strong sense of obligation for his
cooperation. have the honor to be,
sir, Your obedient servant,
john RODGERS,
Commodore.