Paraguay expedition
Encyclopedia
The Paraguay Expedition was a United States
Naval
mission sent to Asunción
, Paraguay
in 1858 to demand indemnity and apology from the Paraguayan Government for the 1 February 1855 firing on the US Navy vessel . This was an example of US gunboat diplomacy
.
In 1858, the US Congress authorized a Naval Squadron be sent to Paraguay to seek redress from Paraguay for the shelling of the Water Witch in 1855, which had resulted in the death of the ship's helmsman. President
James Buchanan
appointed James B. Bowlin
, a former Missouri
congressman, as the American commissioner to conduct the negotiations.
To lend credibility and force to Bowlin's demands, Buchanan ordered the Navy to establish a force which could compel compliance. However, only a couple of sailing ships were then assigned to the Brazil Squadron
, and few light-draft, naval steamers
were available elsewhere. To meet the needs of the expedition, the Navy chartered seven steam-propelled merchant ships. The , which conveyed Commissioner Bowlin to Buenos Aires
, was not considered part of the expedition fleet, as she was not designed to act against Paraguay, not being able to ascend the river.
The expedition was led by Flag Officer
William B. Shubrick. The task force departed New York City
on 17 October 1858; but, for the most part, its 19 ships proceeded southward independently. The ships of the expedition formed up at Montevideo
, Uruguay
. The slowest ship, USS M. W. Chapin
, arrived on 29 December. All but two vessels of Shubrick's fleet got underway from Montevideo on 30 December and ascended the Río de la Plata
, the Paraná
and the Paraguay rivers. Upon reaching Rosario
, Water Witch and left their companions behind and continued on to Asunción with Bowlin and Shubrick. They arrived off Asunción on 25 January 1859.
Bowlin went ashore to conduct negotiations with Paraguayan president Carlos Antonio López, which were completed in a fortnight
. As a result of the expedition, Paraguay extended an apology to the United States, indemnified the family of the slain Water Witch crewman, and granted the United States a new and highly advantageous commercial treaty.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Naval
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
mission sent to Asunción
Asunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San...
, Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
in 1858 to demand indemnity and apology from the Paraguayan Government for the 1 February 1855 firing on the US Navy vessel . This was an example of US gunboat diplomacy
Gunboat diplomacy
In international politics, gunboat diplomacy refers to the pursuit of foreign policy objectives with the aid of conspicuous displays of military power — implying or constituting a direct threat of warfare, should terms not be agreeable to the superior force....
.
In 1858, the US Congress authorized a Naval Squadron be sent to Paraguay to seek redress from Paraguay for the shelling of the Water Witch in 1855, which had resulted in the death of the ship's helmsman. President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
James Buchanan
James Buchanan
James Buchanan, Jr. was the 15th President of the United States . He is the only president from Pennsylvania, the only president who remained a lifelong bachelor and the last to be born in the 18th century....
appointed James B. Bowlin
James B. Bowlin
James Butler Bowlin was a U.S. Representative from Missouri.Born near Fredericksburg, Virginia, Bowlin apprenticed to a trade, but abandoned it to teach school.He received a classical education....
, a former Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
congressman, as the American commissioner to conduct the negotiations.
To lend credibility and force to Bowlin's demands, Buchanan ordered the Navy to establish a force which could compel compliance. However, only a couple of sailing ships were then assigned to the Brazil Squadron
Brazil Squadron
The Brazil Squadron, the Brazil Station, or the South Atlantic Squadron was an overseas military station established by the United States in 1826 to protect American commerce in the South Atlantic during a war between Brazil and Argentina...
, and few light-draft, naval steamers
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
were available elsewhere. To meet the needs of the expedition, the Navy chartered seven steam-propelled merchant ships. The , which conveyed Commissioner Bowlin to Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, was not considered part of the expedition fleet, as she was not designed to act against Paraguay, not being able to ascend the river.
The expedition was led by Flag Officer
Flag Officer
A flag officer is a commissioned officer in a nation's armed forces senior enough to be entitled to fly a flag to mark where the officer exercises command. The term usually refers to the senior officers in an English-speaking nation's navy, specifically those who hold any of the admiral ranks; in...
William B. Shubrick. The task force departed New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on 17 October 1858; but, for the most part, its 19 ships proceeded southward independently. The ships of the expedition formed up at Montevideo
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
, Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
. The slowest ship, USS M. W. Chapin
USS Anacostia (1856)
USS Anacostia was a steamer, constructed as a tugboat, that was first chartered by the United States Navy for service during the Paraguay crisis of the 1850s and then commissioned as a U.S. Navy ship. She later served prominently in the Union Navy during the American Civil War.-Under charter to...
, arrived on 29 December. All but two vessels of Shubrick's fleet got underway from Montevideo on 30 December and ascended the Río de la Plata
Río de la Plata
The Río de la Plata —sometimes rendered River Plate in British English and the Commonwealth, and occasionally rendered [La] Plata River in other English-speaking countries—is the river and estuary formed by the confluence of the Uruguay River and the Paraná River on the border between Argentina and...
, the Paraná
Paraná River
The Paraná River is a river in south Central South America, running through Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina for some . It is second in length only to the Amazon River among South American rivers. The name Paraná is an abbreviation of the phrase "para rehe onáva", which comes from the Tupi language...
and the Paraguay rivers. Upon reaching Rosario
Rosario
Rosario is the largest city in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina. It is located northwest of Buenos Aires, on the western shore of the Paraná River and has 1,159,004 residents as of the ....
, Water Witch and left their companions behind and continued on to Asunción with Bowlin and Shubrick. They arrived off Asunción on 25 January 1859.
Bowlin went ashore to conduct negotiations with Paraguayan president Carlos Antonio López, which were completed in a fortnight
Fortnight
The fortnight is a unit of time equal to fourteen days, or two weeks. The word derives from the Old English fēowertyne niht, meaning "fourteen nights"....
. As a result of the expedition, Paraguay extended an apology to the United States, indemnified the family of the slain Water Witch crewman, and granted the United States a new and highly advantageous commercial treaty.
Ships of the expedition
- USS AtlantaUSS Sumpter (1853)USS Sumpter was a steamship in the United States Navy during the American Civil War.Sumpter or Sumter, ex-Atlanta, ex-Parker Vein, was built in 1853 by Hillman and Streaker, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
(subsequently USS Sumpter) - USS M. W. ChapinUSS Anacostia (1856)USS Anacostia was a steamer, constructed as a tugboat, that was first chartered by the United States Navy for service during the Paraguay crisis of the 1850s and then commissioned as a U.S. Navy ship. She later served prominently in the Union Navy during the American Civil War.-Under charter to...
(subsequently USS Anacostia and Alexandria) - USRC Harriet Lane (subsequently USS Harriet Lane)
- USS MemphisUSS Mystic (1853)USS Mystic was a steamer acquired by the U.S. Navy prior to the American Civil War when she was known as the and served in the Paraguay expedition of 1858 and 1859...
(formerly Mount Savage; subsequently USS Mystic and General Custer) - SS CaledoniaUSS Mohawk (1853)The second USS Mohawk was a screw steamship in the United States Navy.Mohawk was built as Caledonia by Teas & Birely, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; launched 11 June 1853; chartered by the Navy 13 September 1858; and entered service soon after, Commander Augustus L. Case in command.Mohawk sailed at...
(subsequently USS Mohawk and SS Alliance) - USS MetacometUSS Pulaski (1854)USS Pulaski, was a side-wheel steamship, in service with the United States Navy. She was named for Kazimierz Pułaski. Named Metacomet when built for commercial owners in 1854, she served as USS Pulaski from 1858 to 1863, when she was sold by the Navy.Metacomet was built at New York City...
(subsequently USS Pulaski) (formerly Eringol) supply ship - USS Southern StarUSS Crusader (1858)USS Crusader was a screw steamer of the United States Navy that served prior to, and during, the American Civil War.Crusader was heavily armed and was used in a "gunboat diplomacy" role when the United States needed to place political pressure on the South American country of Paraguay...
(subsequently USS Crusader) supply ship - USS Western PortUSS Wyandotte (1853)USS Wyandotte was a steamer acquired by the Navy as a gunship for the Paraguay expedition in 1858. When the crisis of the American Civil War occurred, she was recommissioned for service in support of the Union Navy blockade of Confederate waterways....
(formerly SS Western Port; subsequently USS Wyandotte)