The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1892-02-04

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guays Jurisdiction she was not properl
a vessel of war, as herobject was entirel,
OF scientific nature. Words to this eff
feet were submitted to Paraguay, ant
our Government demanded reparation
Negotiations, however, proved frutless
Lopez pursued the even tenor of his way
and refused to give any satisfactory an
swer to our demands. Thereupon Con
gress, finding peaceabe communication.
of no avail authorized the Pre- sident O.
the United States to send such nava
force to Paraguay as would compel hel
arbitrary ruler to give the satisfaction
demanded
One of the strongest naval expeditions
ever sent out by the United States up te
that time was ordered to assemble at
| the mouth of La Plata. Nineteen yes
sells were fitted out, seven of them being
steamers specially chartered for the pur
pose on account of the deficiency in our
navy of light-draught ships suited to
the navigation of the rivers to be as.
cended. The squadron carried 200 guns
and 1850 men. Flag Officer W Brad
ford Shubrick was placed in command,
and he took on board his flagship with
him the Hon. Mr.. Bowin, who was APP
pointed a special Commissioners of the
United States intrusted with the nero
tiations
1t was just at the close of 1853 that the
I'M
Water Witch was one of the force, but
this time she was all in trim for hostile
action. The other ships were two frig
ates, the Sabine and the st. Lawrence;
two sloops of-war, the Falmouth and the
Preble; three brigs, the Dolphin, the
Bainbridge, and the Perry; seven steam-
ers, the Memphis, the Caledonia, the
Atlanta, the Southern Star, the Western
port, the M. W. Chaplin, and the Meta
comb; the revenue steamer Harriet Lane,
and two armed store ships, the Supply
and the Release.
On January IS, 1859, this squadron
sailed up and came to anchor off Ascen-
cion, the capital of Paraguay. President
Urguiza, of the Argentine nfederacy,
had volunteered his services as mediator
in the dispute, and had arrived at Para
quay in advance of the United States
officials. Then negotiations were re-
opened, and tMr. Bowlin made his de,
mand for immediate PREPARATION.
Meanwhile such of our warships as
were capable of ascending the river had
made their way through the numerous
difficulties of currents, shoals, and sand
bars, and came to chosen position,
where they made ready in case of neces-
sity to open fire. The force within
striking distance of Paraguay consisted
of $40 men, besides the Officers, and 70
guns, including twenty three nine>inch
shell guns and one eleven nch shell gun.
Then Lopez and his Government came
to the conclusion that the United States
meant business. By February 5 Mr..
BoWlin's demands were acceded to. Sat
isfactory apologies were made for the
firing on the Water Witch, and pecuniary
compensation was given to the family of
the sailor who had been killed. In ad-
dition to this new commercial treaty
was established and cordial relations be-
tween the tive Governments were fully
restored.
When the squadron returned the Sec
rotary of the Navy expressed the satis>
faction of the United States Government
! as follows:
''To the zeal, energy, discretion, and
courteous and gallant bearing of Flag
| Officer Shubrick and the officers under
his command, in conducting an expedi>
ton far into the interior of a remote
country, encountering not only great
physical difficulties, but the fears, APP
prehensions, and prejudices of numerous
States, and to the good conduct of the
men under their command, is the coun
try largely indebted not only for the
success of the enterprise, but for the
friendly feeling towards the United
States which now prevails in all that part
of South America - The Philadel
phia Telegraph.