Year: 1871

NAVY DEPARTMENT,


WASHINGTON, Feb. 18th.


DEAR SIR: In reply to your note in
regard TO the Tennessee, and to quiet
any fears that may have been excited
as to her safety, / beg leave to say that
at the time of her departure the Com
mission had not decided whether they
would proceed directly to San Domingo
City or first visit Samana Bay, or some
other port on the Northern coast of
Dominica; and further, that if she
proceeded directly TO San Domingo
City the voyage would, at an ordinary
rate of speed under steam, consume
from eight to ten days; that no advices
have been received from San Domingo
City or any other port which the Ten
nessee would be likely to make since
the time of her departure. There are
at this season Of the year no lines OF
ordinary and regular communica-
tion from San Domingo City or
other ports in San Domingo to
any place from which we could, since
the time the Tennessee was due at her
destination, have received telegraph or
other advices of her arrival or non-arri-
val there No extraordinary means OF
communication have been provided, and
none are likely to have been employed,
except in case of disaster. That since
she crossed the Gulf stream, probably
about latitude SO north, she would be
out OF the track of vessels bound to our
ports, and that if her voyage was sue.
cesSful we cannot expect advices from
her, except accidentally, until the return
! OF the Tybee, which makes the only
regular communication, and which will
be due at New York in about ten days.


The Tennessee was new ship, nearly
5000 tons burden, carefully and strongly
built, larger than any ship in our squad
ron cruising in the West Indies, aud is
as staunch and seaworthy as any ship
that has been launched since the close
of the war and was found perfectly sea-
worthy in long and boisterous trips.
She is commanded by careful and expe-
rienced officers, has full complement
of officers and men, and is completely
provisioned and equipped. She carries
ten boats along, with large steam
launch. We have heard Of bad weather
in the latitude where she would likely
be, and her route did not take her any
great distance from ports on our own
coast and the West Indies. That in
case of serious accident the survivors, if
any, would most likely be heard from.


The steamer Tybee left New York
on the first of February, sailing in the
track of the Tennessee, and at her
usual rate would have arrived at San
Domingo on the eighth, and in case OF
a disaster to the Tennessee on her way,
or her non:arrival at some port in
the Dominican Republic 10y that date,
news would most likely have been car
ried by one Of Onr own cruisers, or by
extraordinary means, which would In
that case only have been employed to
Jamaica, whence we might by this time
have heard by telegraph. Thus it seems
to me that there is no greater cause for
anxiety concerning the Tennessee than
any other ship OF our navy on the ocean;
that absence Of advices is 10y no means
evidence OF a disaster, but will be
henceforth, and till we finally hear by
regular means, each day. Stronger assur-
ance of safe and peaceful voyage,
and that suggestions of her loss, made
without information and maintained
without cause, are As weak as they are
cruel.


Very Respectfully,


GEORGE NJ. RoBESoN,


Sec'y Of the Navy