Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-05-10
BOMBARDMENTO OF VALPARAISO
Commodore Rodgers official Re-
port.
U. S. STEAMSHIP VANDERBILT, ]
VALPARAISO, March 81.

SIR-I have the honor TO announce
that upon my arrival in this port, with
the squadron under my command, l
called upon the English admiral, who
had informed me that he intended 10 pre-
vent any sudden bombardment, snd
would only suffer it after ample notice.
To this made no reply; but, having
considered the matter, sought occasion,
the next day, to say that | would join
him in preventing any sudden lombard
ment, and would also go as much far
ther as he choose. | assured him that
the Monadnock could take care of the
Numancia; that from target expert
ments | had witnessed, | was absolutely
certain that, in not less than thirty sec
onds, and not more than thirty minutes,
the Monadnock herself, entire unassist-
ed, would leave only the mast heads of
the Numancia above water; and that
ohr wooden vessels, English and Ameri-
can, could look out for the wooden YES
sells OF the Spaniards.
In thus Offering to go beyond the let
ter of my instructions to observe strict
neutrality. acted upon the supposition
that neutrality among the nations did
not preclude all well directed efforts to
keep the peace for them that as peace
able citizen is not obliged to stand by
| inert while another is suffering from the
unlawful violence of third person, but
may Justly interfere with force to prevent
any infraction Of the laws-a murder,
for example,-so nation, witnessing
the like disturbance among her sister
nations, 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 law, for the protection of
neutral persons and neutral property.
l considered that Spain had left her
colonies under stringent colonial pol
! icy and religious intolerance. In the
course of time encouraged by the more
| liberal laws of state Of freedom, for
! eigners had been induced to settle in the
country Chilly, and to embark their cap
ital in commerce and other industrial
pursuits. Towns had sprung up along
the coast, railroads had been built and
other national resources developed.
Ideas, as well as manufactures had been
introduced, the wealth and intelligence
meanwhile remaining with the foreign
ers. At last Chilli had reached the goal
in human progress marked by the estab-
lishment of religious liberation and
now Spain, on a point Of etiquette, rath-
er than from any great political end, as
| believe, proposes to burn the property
and destroy the towns along the sea
coast, as far as she sees fit. Is it right
that she should thus exercise her powers
of destruction unrestrained along the
shores of this continent? The mode OF
warfare which Spain proposes Is terri
BILE, but it seems to me such as will pro
woke private animosity rather than co.
cree the national will, and therefore
that it is not directed to its Legitimate
end, and consequently that such war
fare might be resisted.
lam aware that action in the premi-
SEES, on our part, involves great respon-
sibilities, but had reached the conclu-
sion that with England as an ally, it was
my duty then to act. | told the Eng
lish admiral what | have written, anC
frankly added that his commerce was
more extensive than ours and more con-
venient to the coast Of Spain, but as he
had more to suffer in consequence of q
rupture with Spain, he had also more tC
preserve by interference; that his inter
ests in Chilli rose to thousands while
ours were only hundreds. The English
admiral said at first that he would &C
with me, for I had plainly declared that
| would not take step without him.
said | had no intention of becoming 8
cats paw to draw European chestnutS
out of the fire, and then have the power
| served laughing at my singed paws
while they enjoyed the fruits OF my te
merity. The English admiral finally de
termined to throw the responsibility up
on the English minister, who did no
choose to act in the premises. English
cooperation having failed, no separat
action on my part was taken, as none
had been proposed. | used such meas
ures as | could to prevent the lombard
ment, but without success.
This morning, at 9 O'clock the Span
iSh admiral opened upon the town will
shot and shell, directing his fire princi
pally upon the public buildings an(
warehouses. After a continuous bonn
bardment Of two hours and fifty min
utes, the firing ceased and the Spanish
admiral withdrew his vessels. Four o
the store buildings connected with tn
CUSTOM house were entirely destroyed
with their contents. Other adjOinin:
buildings, used for the same purpose
were very much injured. The value 0
J merchandise destroyed in these wa
vaguely estimated at twenty-five mil
lions. The intendencia or governmen
house, the bolsa or exchange, and tn
+ railroad buildings were damaged to
considerable extent. Naturally and In
evitably parts of the city which tn
Spanish admiral declared that he did no
= intend to imperiI received many Of hi
: missels. Several blocks of privat
, buildings were destroyed by fire, an
churches and converts and hospital
were not exempt from injury. Fe'
lives were lost-not more than eight Q
2 ten.
e l enclose herewith copies Of letters &C
dressed to me by the foreign1residents {
Valparaiso, representing the interests
nearly all the nationslities Of Christer
= dom bearing an official character, with
= copy of my answer; also copies of tn
d manifesto and letter of the Spanish ad