[686] *Commander
Randolph, United States
Navy, to Mr. Preston, Secretary
of the Navy.
United States Ship
Albany,
At anchor off the east
end of Horn Island, August 28, 1849.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that
the Albany, under my command, is at present anchored as above. Our
present anchorage is about ten miles from Round Island, and is the
nearest point to the scene of our operations (Round Island) which a
vessel of our draught can reach.
I have stationed steamer Water Witch, Lieutqnant-Commandant Totten,
close to Round Island, and shall employ the boats of the Albany
[Page 702]
to assist in guarding the
spot night and day, so as to prevent arms and other munitions of war
from being landed on the island, and likewise to prevent the
adventurers from being taken from the island in sea-going
vessels.
Agreeably to your instructions to Commodore Parker, I have
communicated and have consulted with the district attorney and with
the collector of the customs at New Orleans, and from every
information received have satisfied myself that the persons
congregated at Round Island are meditating a hostile expedition
against either Cuba or the Sierra Madre States of Mexico.
[687] I believe they are not particular
where they go, provided they are well paid for their services.
Indeed, up to this time the privates are known to be in total
ignorance of the point at which they are to disembark *after leaving
our waters. We have conversed with many on the subject, and have now
three of the privates on board of the Water Witch, on a visit, and
they all unite in declaring their ignorance of the point. I much
question whether the officers themselves are positively certain
where they are going. They are unquestionably a band of reckless
adventurers. Pour-fifths of the privates, I am happy to state, are
foreigners—Irish and Dutch, chiefly.
After a careful examination of the proclamation of the President, and
of your instructions to Commodore Parker, together with information
derived from the most reliable sources, I have determined upon
adopting a vigorous course with these people.
The leaders are not men of high respectability; four-fifths of the
rank and file are foreigners; their operations are conducted with a
degree of mystery which precludes honesty of purpose; and every
circumstance goes to prove that they are a band of reckless military
adventurers. I have, therefore, sent them a written summons to
disperse immediately, a copy of which summons I have herewith
forwarded to the Department, and trust it will be approved by the
honorable Secretary of the Navy.
[688] I stand in great need of two or more
small steamers, to assist in blockading and breaking up the
establishment on Round Island. I have written to request Captain J.
T. Newton to send me the General Taylor, *and, if possible, the
Walker too, but neither has arrived as yet.
I am almost induced to send to New Orleans for the purpose of hiring
a steamboat to be employed on this service, but shall wait a day or
two longer, with the hope that a re-enforcement will be sent from
Pensacola.
I am, sir, respectfully, &c.,
V. M. RANDOLPH,
Commander.
Hon. Wm. Ballard Preston,
Secretary of the Wavy, Washington, D.
C.
[Inclosure.]
Commander Randolph, United States Navy, to the persons encamped on Round Island, near
Pascagoula.
Friends and fellow-countrymen: The
proclamations of the President of the United States, and other
instructions which I have received from the Government at
Washington, make it imperative and proper that I should
immediately take measures to break up your unlawful
[Page 703]
assemblage, and send
you back to your homes; and when I have said a few words to you
in proof of your assemblage being unlawful, and of the utter
impossibility of your evading the vigilance of our squadron and
getting out of our waters to proceed upon your contemplated wild
expedition to make war against nations at peace with our own, I
feel sure you will at once disperse, and seek honest and
peaceful occupations.
[689] *First. The very mystery which m
arks the movements and actions of your officers, and the blind
ignorance of the men as to the destination of the enterprise,
clearly show that the objects and purposes of those at the head
of your affairs are known to be unlawful, and that plunder is
the inducement held out to all who embark in this reckless
expedition.
Second. We have proof that some of you have acknowledged that
your destination was Cuba, and that others of your number have
said that the expedition was fitting out for the invasion of the
Sierre Madre States of Mexico, showing conclusively that your
enterprise is one of a military character.
And lastly. You are vagrants in the eyes of the law and in fact,
and therefore cannot be allowed to occupy your present position,
and must immediately disperse.
I will now prove to you that we have the means of not only
preventing your embarkation to foreign parts, but that we can
force you to abandon your present headquarters.
I shall employ all the vessels now in this vicinity, or which may
hereafter arrive, in such manner as will most effectually bring
about the ends desired:
[690] First. I shall certainly prevent
the steamers Fanny, Maria Burt, or any other steamer or
steamers, *vessel or vessels, of whatever description, from
furnishing the adventurers on Round Island with arms or other
munitions of war.
Second. If said steamers or vessels have arms or other munitions
of war on board, I shall take possession of said arms, &c.,
and detain said steamers or vessels until the men congregated on
Round Island are dispersed.
Third. I shall prevent the band of men on Round Island from
embarking on board of said steamers or vessels, or from having
any communication with them at all.
Fourth. I will make said steamers or vessels anchor within range
of our guns.
Fifth. After to-day, (28th August,) in accordance with a notice
before given them, I shall cut off all supplies of provisions
which may be intended for the persons on Round Island, and shall
rigidly enforce this blockade or embargo until they abandon the
spot and go home.
Sixth. I shall gladly give the persons on Round Island every
facility to get away, taking particular care, however, that they
do not embark in sea-going vessels.
V. M. RANDOLPH,
Commanding United
States Ship Albany, and senior officer afloat in the
Gulf of Mexico.
United States Ship
Albany,
Off Pascagoula, August 28, 1849.
