Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-05-23
STEAMER VIRGINIUS.
Extracts from the Official Report to the
War Department in Reference to
Her Detention and Departure
from AspinWall.

New YORK, May pa special from
Washington gives the official report to
the Navy Department, of Lieutenant
Commander White, of the United States
steamer Kansas, in relation to the de-
parture of the steamer Nirginius from
the harbor at Aspinwall and the means
taken by his vessel to infOrce respect for
the flag under which the Virginius
sailed. The following are the extracts
The American Consul having in
formed me that there was no cause
whatever for the detention of the Nir-
ginius, and that he had shipped her
crew that day, and that her papers
would be ali ready at an early hour the
next moTning-thet twenty-siXth instant
Il, therefore, came on board the ship
for action, and loaded the battery. This
l did under cover of darkness, for the
reason that | thought it best
to make no demonstration which
might lead the commander of
the Pizarro to believe that preparations
were being made with hostile intent, for
the reason that they were precautionary
measures merely, and / did not desire
to do anything which might be con-
strued as mere bravado. During the
next day, the twenty-sixth instant,
preparations for sea were plainly visible
on board the Virginius. Her motions
were closely followed by the PiZarro.
Bothsvessels were getting up steam and
their boats were hoisted. The large
rife pivot OF the Pizarro mounted on the
mortar-deck was pointed on the Vir-
ginius, rs well as her two starbOard
broadside guns. l therefore sent the
men quietly to quarters, making no dis
play above the rail, neither showing a
crew at the rified dtWenty-pounder or the
forecastle, nor making a display of a
marine guard on the poop-deck. !
served out an ample supply Of ammuniz
ton for small arms and pistols, and in
spected carefully all arrangements for
supplying powder and fighting the guns
and made preparations for shipping and
buoying the cable, This being done |
caused the men to leave their quarters
with their belts equipped, TO lie Deposited
at the guns, ready for use at moments
warning. At five minutes to two O'Clock
in the afternoon the Yirglnius got under
weigh, and at the same moment we
shipped our chain, went to quarters, and
cast loose the battery and saRded down
the decks fore and aft. The Virgtnius
Immediately took up position on our
bow. We steamed ahead so as to bring
the Pizarro on our starboard quarter. In
this relative position the two vessels
proceeded to sea, the Virginius being
about two cables length ahead, and the
Pizarro three cables length off our star
board quarter. The Kansas stayed by
the Virginius until the PizarrO, some
five miles astern, then returned to the
harbor.
cannot conclude this report without
expressing to you with what pride ]
looked ON the officers and men OF
this vessel as we steamed out OF
the harbor, as they stOQd on the
sanded decks, armed and equipped, at
their loaded guns. / could read deter
mination in the faces of all. Every
man would have done his duty. Should
an engagement have taken place,
leave it to those who believe in the guns
of American men-of-war to conjecture
what would have been the result.
The following is the Endorsement OF
the Secretary of the Navy:
"Thc whole course and conduct in re-
lati9n to the Yirginius is approved in
every respect.
(Signed) "GEO. NJ. RoBESoN,p