Office of the Historian

Mr. Preston, Secretary of the Navy, to Captain Tatnall, United States Navy.

[Confidential.]
Navy Department, May 17, 1850.

[675] Sir: By a dispatch, received this morning from *Commander Randolph, of the Albany, I am informed that that vessel, together with the Germantown and Vixen, was at Port an Prince, in the island of St. Domingo, on the 29th ultimo, and that he proposed leaving that port for Havana when his appearance at Port au Prince was no 1onger necessary to carry out certain orders.

It is therefore probable that you may find those vessels at Havana on your arrival there. Orders, similar to those given to you on the 15th instant, have been dispatched to Pensacola, expecting they would be [Page 697] there. Should you fall in with either or all of those vessels, or have it in your power to communicate with them, you will require them to cooperate with you in the execution of the order of the 15th instant.

I am, very respectfully, yours, &c.,

  • WILLIAM BALLARD PRESTON.
  • Captain Josiah Tatnall,
    Commanding U. S. Steamer Saranac, Aquia Creek, Virginia.