Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 September 1882 — EXPLOITS OF OUR NAVY. [ARTICLE]

EXPLOITS OF OUR NAVY.

Hew Officers Have Het Emerfeaciea. [From the Philadelphia Press.] Without mentioning those instances where our navy gained great distinction and renown in foreign waters, while acting under direct authority of Congress, in the bombardment of Algiers and Tripoli, daring the conquest of California, the war with Mexico, and the two wars with England, our small but ever gallant and alert naval forces have earned and sustained a reputation for prompt and efficient action in the protection of American interests abroad which has been the pride and boast of all true and patriotic Americans. During the year 1823, the Porto Rioo (Spanish) privateers having upon several occasions interrupted our commerce, Commodore Porter sent a communication oh the subject to the authorities of tho island. Lieut. W. H. Cooke, in command of the brig Fox, in attempting to enter the port of St. Johns, in order to receive a reply to the Commodore’s official communication, was fired upon and killed. Commodore Porter threatened to bombard the town, and was dissuaded from doing so only by the prompt apology of the authorities of the island. Again in October, 1823, Lient. Platt, commanding the United States brig Beagle, learning that one of our merchants doing business at St. Thomas had been plundered by Spanish pirates, and his goods taken to Foxado, a small port on the island of Porto Rioo, proceeded thither to recover his property. On making known the object of their visit, Lieuts. Platt and Ritchie were arrested and detained under guard for a day. Commodore Porter,, with his characteristic promptness, proceeded to Foxado to demand explanation and redress. Finding that the authorities, upon his arrival there, intended to open fire upon his vessel, ne landed a force of sailors and marines, took their batteries, and compelled from the offenders the fullest apologies. In February, 1832, Commodore Downes, in the frigate Potomac, ascertained that the Malays had captured the American ship Friendship, of Salem, Mass. An expedition was fitted out from the Potomac, officered by Lieuts. Shubriok, Hoff, lugersoll and Totten, of the navy, and Lieut. Edson, of the marines. TI9 Malays made a determined resistance, but were finally overcome and several of their forts captured and destroyed. For this action the officers of the expedition received the thanks of the department. While Commander Kelly was at Shanghai, in 1854, in the aloop-of-war Plymouth, a combined attack of the English and American forces was made upon the encampment of the Imperialists in retaliation for aggressions committed by them upon British residents. In tbis action the Chinese were severely punished. This voluntary aot of Commander Kelly received the approval of the President and the department. In the latter part of June, 1853, while Commander Ingraham, in the sloop-of-war St. Louis, was at Smyrna, Turkey, he reoeived information that a Hungarian named Martin Koszta, with an American passport and papers, had been arrested by some Austrian officials (09 the charge of being a deserter from the Austrian army), and was held prisoner on board an Austrian brig-of-war, which vessel was supported by an Austrian steam gunboat. Commander Ingraham immediately made a demand for Koszta’s release, at the same time running out his guns and preparing his ship for action. Koszta was promptly released, and the spirited action of Commodore Ingraham reoeived the highest commendation frost the Government, and a gold medal was awarded him by Congress. In Jannary, 1854, Lient. Strain, of the navy, was engaged in exploring a route across the Isthmus. During the progress of the work the natives committed various outrages upon the persons and DroDertv of American citizens employed fn of connected with the Burvev. In retaliation, Capt. Hollins, in the sloop-of-war Cayne, bombarded and destroyed the town of San Juan de Nicaragua. In April, 1858, Lieut. Almy, in the Fulton, compelled the release of six American vessels that had been seized and detained by the authorities at Tampico, Mexico. On this occasion the Mexican Government desired to refer the matter of the seizure of these vessels to the official action of the respective Governments. “You will release the vessels first,” said Almy; “then the Government can indulge in all the ‘palaver’ they want to.” In August, 1858, Capt Kelly, in the Saranac, compelled by a display of force at San Juan de Sur, in Nicaragua, the release of twd American citizens who had been unjustly imprisoned. In August, 1858, Commander Sinclair visited Waga, one of the Feejees, and inflicted summary punishment upon the natives for the murder of two American citizens. He destroyed their town and laid waste the country for miles.