page_title: Paraguay expedition
section_title: Approach to Asunción
hierarchical_section_title: Paraguay expedition / Approach to Asunción
caption_attribution_description: Parcial del daguerrotipo original de Justo José de Urquiza (1801-1870)
context_page_description: The Paraguay expedition was an American diplomatic mission and nineteen-ship squadron ordered by President James Buchanan to South America to demand redress for certain wrongs alleged to have been done by Paraguay, and seize its capital Asunción if it was refused. The expedition was sent without an adequate investigation of the facts; most modern scholars have considered Buchanan's complaints were probably unjustified. The real cause of the misunderstandings was that neither country had employed a competent diplomatic service. Buchanan may have had had an ulterior motive, such as, to distract public opinion from the domestic concerns that afflicted his presidency.
  At the time it was the largest naval squadron ever sent from the United States, and it caused a great impression in the Platine basin. Even so, had it come to war, the strategic position of Paraguay in the heart of South America was strong. Further, owing to shore-based administrative incompetence, the squadron had serious deficiencies. Hence the expedition has been described as "woefully inadequate" for the job and "a military bluff carried off with commendable skill".
context_section_description: Units of the expedition began arriving in Montevideo, Uruguay in December 1858.  It caused intense alarm in the region.
  Judge Bowlin, however, appreciated it was essential to convey America's peaceful intentions.  To do that, he wrote, the diplomatic mission intended to go up to Paraguay in USS Fulton alone, other U.S. vessels to go no further than Corrientes, Argentina.  Maybe Paraguay would object to Fulton entering its territorial waters, in which case they would travel on a Paraguayan steamer, for "I am resolved to have no controversy with them on so immaterial a point". 
  The larger ships remained in Montevideo while the lighter vessels went up the Paraná River, where all of them ran aground more than once and had to be extricated by the revenue cutter Harriet Lane, on loan from New York Harbor, and named after Buchanan's niece.  Some stopped at Rosario, Argentina, while others steamed up to the town of Paraná.  At that time the small town was capital of the Argentine Confederation, because the State of Buenos Aires had seceded.   There they met Justo José de Urquiza, president of the Argentine Confederation.
  General Urquiza had major problems of his own.  His cash-strapped Argentine Confederation was struggling with the State of Buenos Aires, which had successfully bribed his navy to defect.  He had good relations with López of Paraguay, and wanted to keep it that way, because he hoped for an alliance against Buenos Aires. Conversely, Buenos Aires hated López, so American aggression would suit them well, wrote Bowlin. Urquiza decided to try his utmost to persuade López to come to a friendly settlement with Commissioner Bowlin, and went to Asunción himself, preceding the Americans.
  As Judge Bowlin got nearer to the Paraguayan capital his sense of fairness and deepening knowledge led to him to become increasingly skeptical about the Rhode Island company's claim.  
  As planned, no American vessels went further than Corrientes, Argentina, except USS Fulton, which steamed on to Paraguay. Fulton carried Commodore Shubrick, Commissioner Bowlin, and secretary and interpreter Sam Ward.   (After the parties came to terms, Water Witch was invited up to Asunción.)
  The Fortress of Humaitá was a few miles up the mouth of the Paraguay River, and Fulton approached it with caution.   They came to the Londres battery.  According to one account,
  Sixteen ominous apertures pointed their gloom, and whatever else they may contain, upon us; and, like the eyes of the figure in the picture, seemed to follow the vessel’s motion, with a precision that is not always agreeable under similar circumstances. These apertures are those of the casemate battery, constructed of brick, but very deep, and defended by the very formidable battery of sixteen eight-inch guns... To the left of the casemate we discovered a more substantial structure, viz.: twenty-five gun battery of thirty-two and twenty-four pounders, besides two eight-inch. Spacious barracks showed that no mean force defended the place, and though there was neither the disturbance nor the disorder of men rushing to their guns, or forming battalions, I occasionally caught a glimpse of the mass that awaited in the rear the ordeal through which we were passing. None of the batteries were manned except the casemate, whose large guns were prepared for the destruction they might well occasion.
  To a hail from the shore, the USS Fulton came to anchor, and despatched a boat saying she was Fulton, an American naval vessel bound to Asunción with a United States Commissioner on board.  They asked if there was any objection to the Fulton proceeding on her course.  A pacific answer was shortly received.  Fulton arrived at the Paraguayan capital on January 24, 1859, 1,300 miles from the sea.
caption: Justo José de Urquiza, President of the Argentine Confederation, was more than keen to promote a settlement between López and the U.S.A.
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