will keep you fully informed of the movements of that power. The number of small vessels under your command is such that you will be able to obtain and to send promptly to the department any information that may require its action. Should Mexico declare war, you will at once dislodge her troops. from any post she may have east of the mouth of the Del Norte; take possession of Tampico; and, if your force is sufficient, will take the castle of San Juan d'Ulloa, it being the determination of the President to preserve peace, if possible; and, if war comes, to recover peace by adopting the most prompt and energetic measures. You are, herewith, possessed of the views of the department. Much is entrusted to your sagacity and good judgment. Keep the department fully advised of your movements. I invite you, also, to communicate your views unreservedly. Very respectfully, your. obedient servant, Commodore D. CONNOR, GEORGE BANCROFT. Commanding U. S. naval forces in the Gulf of Mexico, Pensacola. No. 3. UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, May 13, 1846. COMMODORE: The state of things alluded to in my letter of June 24, 1815, has occurred. You will therefore now be governed by the instructions therein contained, and carry into effect the orders then communicated, with energy and promptitude, and adopt such other measures for the protection of the persons and interests, the rights and the commerce of the citizens of the United States, as your sound judgment may deem to be required. When you establish a blockade, you will allow neutrals twenty days to leave the blockaded ports; and you will render your blockade absolute, except against armed vessels of neutral nations. Commending you and your ships' companies to Divine Providence, I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, Commodore JOHN D. SLOAT, GEORGE BANCROFT. Commanding U. S. Squadron, Pacific. No. 4. UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, May 13, 1846. COMMODORE: Congress having declared that a state of war exists between the United States and the republic of Mexico, you will exercise all the rights that belong to you as commander-in-chief of a belligerent squadron. Your own intimate acquaintance with the condition of Mexico, will instruct you best, what measures to pursue in the conduct of hostilities, in addition to those suggested by the department. You will declare and enforce a blockade of as many of the ports of Mexico as your force will enable you to do effectually, and you will inform the department as speedily as possible of those which you blockade. You will duly notify neutrals of your declaration, and give to it all the publicity in your power. It is believed, that the ports between Guaxacualco and the Del Norte are those to which your attention should principally be directed. Your blockade must be strict and absolute, and only public armed vessels of neutral powers should be permitted to enter the Mexican ports which you shall place in a state of blockade. To neutrals that are already in the ports you will allow twenty days to leave them. In your letter to the department of the 19th of March, you ask if the English mail-steamers that touch monthly at Vera Cruz and Tampico should be included in any blockade which, in the event of hostilities, may become necessary. You are hereby instructed, until further orders, to follow the precedent set by the French in their recent blockade of Vera Cruz, with regard to them. You will seize all the ships and vessels of war belonging to Mexico that may be accessible. If your means will permit you to do so, you will approach Tampico and take, and, if practicable, will hold possession of that town. The department does not suppose your forces to be adequate to attempt the capture of San Juan d'Ulloa. You will keep up a constant communication with our army on the Del Norte, and adopt prompt and energetic measures to render it all assistance that may be in your power. If any of the Mexican provinces are disposed to hold themselves aloof from the central government in Mexico, and maintain pacific relations with the United States, you will encourage them to do so, and regulate your conduct towards them accordingly. You are enjoined to maintain a frequent correspondence with the department. The steamer "Princeton" has sailed to join your squadron, and will be of service, especially as a despatch vessel. The brig "Perry" will sail during the present week for Chagres; and, on its return, will join your command. The brig "Porpoise" will rejoin you on its return from St. Domingo. The brig "Truxton" will follow in a few days. Your force will then consist of the following vessels: Frigate Cumberland, of 44 guns. Raritan, 44 guns. Sloop Falmouth, 20 guns. John Adams, 20 guns. The country relies on you to make such a use of this force as will most effectually blockade the principal Mexican ports, protect our commerce from the depredations of privateers, assist the operations of our army, and lead to the earliest adjustment of our difficulties with Mexico. You will adopt all proper precautions to preserve the health of your me I commend you and your ships' companies to the blessings of Divine Providence. COMMODORE: By my letter of the 13th instant, forwarded to you through different sources, in triplicate, of which a copy is enclosed, you were informed of the existing state of war between this government and the republic of Mexico, and referred to your instructions bearing date June 24th, 1845, in reference to such a contingency, and directed to "carry into effect the orders then communicated, with energy and promptitude, and adopt such other measures for the protection of the persons and interests, the rights and the commerce of the citizens of the United States, as your sound judgment may deem to be required." I transmit you herewith, by the hands of Midshipman McRae, whom you will employ on your station, a file of papers containing the President's message, and the proceedings of Congress relative to the existing state of war with Mexico. The President, by authority of Congress, has made proclamation of war between the United States and Mexico. You will find a copy of the proclamation in the papers enclosed. You will henceforth exercise all the rights that belong to you as commander-in-chief of a belligerent squadron. You will consider the most important public object to be to take and to hold possession of San Francisco,' and this you will do without fail. You will also take possession of Mazatlan and of Monterey, one or both, as your force will permit. If information received here is correct, you can establish friendly relations between your squadron and the inhabitants of each of these three places. Enymas is also a good harbor, and is believed to be defenceless. You will judge about attempting it. When you cannot take and hold possession of a town, you may establish a blockade, if you have the means to do 'it effectually, and the public interest shall require it. With the expression of these views, much is left to your discretion as to the selection of the points of attack, the ports you will seize, the ports which you will blockade, and as to the order of your successive movements. A connexion between California, and even Sonora, and the present government of Mexico, is supposed scarcely to exist. You will, as opportunity offers, conciliate the confidence of the people in California, and also in Sonora, towards the government of the United States; and you will endeavor to render their relations with the United States as intimate and as friendly as possible. It is important that you should hold possession at least of San Francisco, even while you encourage the people to neutrality, selfgovernment, and friendship. You can readily conduct yourself in such a manner as will render your occupation of San Francisco, and other ports, a benefit to the inhabitants. Commodore Biddle has left, or will soon leave China. If occasion offers, you will send letters for him to our agent at the Sandwich Islands, conveying to him the wish of the department that he should appear, at once, off California or Sonora. You will inform the department, by the earliest opportunity, of those ports which you blockade. You will notify neutrals of any declaration of blockade you may make, and give to it all proper publicity. Your blockade must be strict, permitting only armed vessels of neutral powers to enter; but to neutrals already in the ports you will allow twenty days to leave them. The frigate "Potomac" and sloop "Saratoga" have been ordered to proceed as soon as possible into the Pacific; and Captain Aulick in the Potomac, and Commander Shubrick in the Saratoga, directed to report to you at Mazatlan, or wherever else they may find your forces. You would do well, if occasion offers, to send orders to Callao and Valparaiso, instructing them where to meet you. Other reinforcements will be sent you as the exigencies of the service may require. You will communicate with the department as often as you can; and you will, if practicable, send a messenger with despatches across the country to the Del Norte, and so to Washington. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Commodore JOHN D. SLOAT, GEORGE BANCROFT. Commanding U. S. naval forces in the Pacific. No. 6. UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, June 8, 1846. COMMODORE: You have already been instructed, and are now instructed, to employ the force under your command, first, to take possession of San Francisco; next, to take possession of Monterey; next, to take possession of such other Mexican ports as you may be able to hold; next, to blockade as many of the Mexican ports in the Pacific as your force will permit; and to watch over American interests and citizens, and commerce, on the west coast of Mexico. It is rumored that the province of California is well disposed to accede to friendly relations with the United States. You will encourage the people of that region to enter into relations of amity with our country. In taking possession of their harbors, you will, if possible, endeavor to establish the supremacy of the American flag without any strife with the people of California. The squadron on the east coast of Mexico, it is believed, is in the most friendly relations with Yucatan. In like manner, if California separates herself, from our enemy, the central Mexican government, and establishes a government of its own under the auspices of the American flag, you will take such measures as will best promote the attachment of the people of California to the United States; will advance their prosperity; and will make that vast region a desirable place of residence for emigrants from our soil. Considering the great distance at which you are placed from the department, and the circumstances that will constantly arise, much must be left to your discretion. You will bear in mind generally, that this country desires to find in California a friend, and not an enemy; to be connected with it by near ties; to hold possession of it, at least during the war; and to hold that possession, if possible, with the consent of its inhabitants. The sloop-of-war "Dale," Commander McKean, sailed from New York on the 3d instant, to join your squadron. The "Lexington," Lieutenant Bailey, will sail as soon as she can take on board her stores. The "Potomac" and "Saratoga" have also been ordered to the Pacific. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Commodore JOHN D. SLOAT, GEORGE BANCROFT. Commanding U. S. naval forces in the Pacific ocean. |