"Confederate States SteamerChicora,"January 31st, 1863."Sir—In obedience to your order, I got under way at 11.30 P.M. yesterday, and stood down the harbor in company with the Confederate States steamerPalmetto State, bearing your flag. We crossed the bar at 4.40 A.M., and commenced the action at 5.20 A.M. by firing into a schooner-rigged propeller, which we set on fire and have every reason to believe sunk, as she was nowhere to be seen at daylight. We then engaged a large sidewheel steamer, twice our length from us on the port bow, firing three shots into her with telling effect, when she made a run for it. This vessel was supposed to be theQuaker City. We then engaged a schooner-rigged propeller and a large sidewheel steamer, partially crippling both, and setting the latter on fire, causing her to strike her flag; at this time the latter vessel, supposed to be theKeystone State, wascompletely at my mercy, I having taken position astern, distant some two hundred yards. I at once gave the order to cease firing upon her, and directed Lieutenant Bier, First Lieutenant of theChicora, to man a boat and take charge of the prize, if possible to save her; if that was not possible, to rescue her crew. While the boat was in the act of being manned, I discovered that she was endeavoring to make her escape by working her starboard wheel, the other being disabled, her colors being down. I at once started in pursuit and renewed the engagement. Owing to her superior steaming qualities she soon widened the distance to some two hundred yards. She then hoisted her flag and commenced firing her rifled guns; her commander, by this faithless act, placing himself beyond the pale of civilized and honorable warfare.[1]We next engaged two schooners, one brig, and one bark-rigged propeller, but not having the requisite speed were unable to bring them to close quarters. We pursued them six or seven miles seaward. During the latter part of the combat, I was engaged at long range with a bark-rigged steam sloop-of-war; but in spite of all our efforts, was unable to bring her to close quarters, owing to her superior steaming qualities. At 7.30 A.M., in obedience to your orders, we stood in shore, leaving the partially crippled and fleeing enemy aboutseven miles clear of the bar, standing to the southward and eastward. At 8 A.M., in obedienceto signal, we anchored in four fathoms waters off the Beach Channel.""It gives me pleasure to testify to the good conduct and efficiency of the officers and crew of theChicora. I am particularly indebted to the pilots, Messrs. Payne and Aldert, for the skillful pilotage of the vessel.""It gives me pleasure to report that I have no injuries or casualties.""Very respectfully, your obedient servant,"J.R. Tucker,Commander, C.S.N."Flag OfficerD.N. Ingraham, C.S.N.,"Commanding Station, Charleston, S.C."
"Confederate States SteamerChicora,
"January 31st, 1863.
"Sir—In obedience to your order, I got under way at 11.30 P.M. yesterday, and stood down the harbor in company with the Confederate States steamerPalmetto State, bearing your flag. We crossed the bar at 4.40 A.M., and commenced the action at 5.20 A.M. by firing into a schooner-rigged propeller, which we set on fire and have every reason to believe sunk, as she was nowhere to be seen at daylight. We then engaged a large sidewheel steamer, twice our length from us on the port bow, firing three shots into her with telling effect, when she made a run for it. This vessel was supposed to be theQuaker City. We then engaged a schooner-rigged propeller and a large sidewheel steamer, partially crippling both, and setting the latter on fire, causing her to strike her flag; at this time the latter vessel, supposed to be theKeystone State, wascompletely at my mercy, I having taken position astern, distant some two hundred yards. I at once gave the order to cease firing upon her, and directed Lieutenant Bier, First Lieutenant of theChicora, to man a boat and take charge of the prize, if possible to save her; if that was not possible, to rescue her crew. While the boat was in the act of being manned, I discovered that she was endeavoring to make her escape by working her starboard wheel, the other being disabled, her colors being down. I at once started in pursuit and renewed the engagement. Owing to her superior steaming qualities she soon widened the distance to some two hundred yards. She then hoisted her flag and commenced firing her rifled guns; her commander, by this faithless act, placing himself beyond the pale of civilized and honorable warfare.[1]We next engaged two schooners, one brig, and one bark-rigged propeller, but not having the requisite speed were unable to bring them to close quarters. We pursued them six or seven miles seaward. During the latter part of the combat, I was engaged at long range with a bark-rigged steam sloop-of-war; but in spite of all our efforts, was unable to bring her to close quarters, owing to her superior steaming qualities. At 7.30 A.M., in obedience to your orders, we stood in shore, leaving the partially crippled and fleeing enemy aboutseven miles clear of the bar, standing to the southward and eastward. At 8 A.M., in obedienceto signal, we anchored in four fathoms waters off the Beach Channel."
"It gives me pleasure to testify to the good conduct and efficiency of the officers and crew of theChicora. I am particularly indebted to the pilots, Messrs. Payne and Aldert, for the skillful pilotage of the vessel."
"It gives me pleasure to report that I have no injuries or casualties."
"Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
"J.R. Tucker,Commander, C.S.N.
"Flag OfficerD.N. Ingraham, C.S.N.,"Commanding Station, Charleston, S.C."
The result of this engagement was a complete demonstration of the futility of any attempt on the part of wooden vessels to contend with iron-clads. The Federal squadron consisted of theHousatonic,Meresdita,Keystone State,Quaker City,Augusta,Flag,Memphis,Stettin,Ottawa, andUnadilla, ten vessels, all of them unarmored, and three, theHousatonic,OttawaandUnadilla, built for war service, the other seven being merchant steamers converted into men-of-war. The Confederate squadron consisted of only two vessels, both iron-clads, thePalmetto StateandChicora, which received no damage whatever during the engagement, either to their hulls, machinery, or crew, whilst several of the ten Federal wooden vessels were seriously injured, though none of them were sunk, their escape from capture or destruction being due to the swiftness of their flight.Their loss was twenty-five killed and twenty-two wounded.
The blockade of Charleston harbor was soon, indeed immediately, re-established, and kept up by the armored frigateNew Ironsidesand a number of heavy "Monitors." There was, from the end of this battle to the evacuation of Charleston by the Confederates, no time when there would have been the least probability of the success of another dash by the Confederate vessels in the harbor upon the Federal squadron blockading.
In the month of February, 1863, Tucker was promoted to the rank of Captain in the Provisional Navy of the Confederate States, and in March following was appointed Flag Officer of the Confederate Forces Afloat at Charleston, theChicorabearing his flag.
On the 7th of April, 1863, Admiral Dupont made his attack on Charleston, with a squadron consisting of the armored frigateNew Ironsidesand eight "Monitors." Tucker, with his usual good judgment, held theChicoraandPalmetto State, aided by a number of rowboats armed with torpedoes, ready to make a desperate and final assault upon the Federal squadron if it should succeed in passing the Confederate forts guarding the entrance to the harbor. Admiral Dupont's squadron was repulsed by the forts, and the Confederate squadron was not engaged.
The Confederate naval forces afloat at Charleston did not possess either the strength or swiftness necessary for an attack on the Federal blockadingsquadron with any reasonable prospect of success, and Tucker therefore turned his attention to attacks by means of torpedo-boats fitted out from his squadron. On the 5th of October, 1863, Lieutenant W.T. Glassell, with a small double-ender steam torpedo-boat, made an attempt to sink theNew Ironsides, lying off Morris' Island. TheNew Ironsideswas not sunk, but she was seriously damaged and was sent North for repairs. The torpedo-boat was filled with water, and her commander, pilot, and engineer, all that were on board of her, were thrown overboard by the shock of the striking and exploding of the torpedo against the bottom of the iron-clad. The torpedo-boat was finally taken back into Charleston harbor by the pilot and engineer, but Lieutenant Glassell was made prisoner after having been in the water about an hour. A torpedo-boat commanded by Lieutenant Dixon of the Confederate Army, and manned by six volunteers from Tucker's squadron and one from the army, attacked and sunk, on the night of February 17th, 1864, the United States steamerHousatoniclying in the North Channel. The torpedo-boat with all on board went to the bottom, but most of the crew of theHousatonicwere saved by taking refuge in the rigging, which was not submerged when the vessel rested on the bottom.
The boat attack on Fort Sumter, made by the Federals on September 8th, 1863, was easily repulsed, and the Charleston squadron materially aided in the repulse.
A battalion of sailors from the recruits on board the receiving-shipIndian Chief, under the commandof Lieutenant Commanding William Galliard Dozier, was detached by Tucker to co-operate with the army on James' Island in August, 1864. This battalion rendered good service, and upon its return to the squadron was kept organized and ready to respond whenever a call for assistance was made upon the Navy by the Army.
Early in 1864 some changes were made in the commanding officers of the squadron; Commander Isaac Newton Brown was ordered to theCharleston, Commander Thomas T. Hunter to theChicora, and Lieutenant Commanding James Henry Rochelle to thePalmetto State. No other changes were made in the commands of the squadron while it existed.
The three iron-clads under Tucker's command at Charleston were all slow vessels, with imperfect engines, which required frequent repairing; for that day, and considering the paucity of naval resources in the South, they were fairly officered, manned and armed. All of them were clad with armor four inches thick, and they were all of the type of theVirginia, orMerrimac, as that vessel is frequently but erroneously called. The commander of the vessels were all formerly officers of the United States Navy, who were citizens of the Southern States and had resigned their commissions in the Federal service when their States seceded from the Union. The lieutenants and other officers were appointed from civil life, but they were competent to perform the duties required of them, and conducted themselves well at all times and under all circumstances. The crews of each vessel numbered from one hundredand twenty to one hundred and sixty men, some of them able-seamen, and most of them efficient and reliable men. Each vessel carried a torpedo, fitted to the end of a spar some fifteen or twenty feet long projecting from the bows in a line with the keel, and so arranged that it could be carried either triced up clear of the water or submerged five or six feet below the surface. The squadron was in a good state of discipline and drill, and, so far as the personnel was concerned, in a very efficient condition.
Every night one or two of the iron-clads anchored in the channel near Fort Sumter for the purpose of resisting a night attack on that place or a dash into the harbor by the Federal squadron.
Not long before the evacuation of Charleston an iron-clad named theColumbiawas launched there. She had a thickness of six inches of iron on her casemate, and was otherwise superior to the other three iron-clads of the squadron. Unfortunately, she was run aground whilst coming out of dock, and so much injured as not to be able to render any service whatever.
Charleston was evacuated by the Confederate forces on the 18th of February, 1865. Several days previous to the evacuation a detachment from the squadron of about three hundred men, under the command of Lieutenant Commanding James Henry Rochelle, consisting of the officers and crews of thePalmetto State,Columbia, and the recruits from the receiving-shipIndian Chief, were dispatched by rail to Wilmington, which the detachment reached only a few days before it was, in turn, abandoned by theConfederate Army. The Charleston naval detachment was ordered to co-operate with the Army as a body of infantry, and was assigned to duty with General Hoke's division, of which it formed the extreme right, resting on Cape Fear river. The position was exposed to an annoying fire from the Federal gunboats in the river, to which no reply could be made, but from which some loss was suffered. The evacuation of Wilmington took place on the 22d of February, 1865, and the Charleston squadron's naval battalion marched out with Hoke's division, to which it remained attached until somewhere in the interior of North Carolina it reunited with Tucker's command.
With the officers and crews of theCharlestonandChicora, Tucker left Charleston on the 18th of February, 1865, the day of the evacuation of the city by the Confederate Army. As far as Florence in South Carolina the Charleston naval brigade traveled by rail, but at that point Tucker received a telegram informing him that the Federal forces were about cutting the railway communication between Florence and Wilmington. This was the last message that came over the wires, and Tucker, knowing that the enemy had succeeded in seizing the railroad, abandoned his intention of making for Wilmington, and marched his command across the country to Fayetteville, where he received orders from the Navy Department to bring his force to Richmond. On the way from Fayetteville to Richmond the detached Charleston naval battalion was reunited to the mainbody under Tucker, and the whole brigade proceeded together to Richmond, and from Richmond it was sent to garrison the Confederate batteries at Drewry's Bluff, of which place Tucker was ordered to assume command, the naval forces afloat in James river being under the command of Rear Admiral Raphael Semmes.
When Tucker took command at Drewry's Bluff the Confederate cause was at its last gasp. Richmond was evacuated by the Confederate Army and Government on the night of the 2d of April, 1865. Strange to relate, Tucker received no orders to retire with his command, and he held his post steadily until, early on the morning of the 3d, the Confederate iron-clads in James river were burnt by their own commanders. When he knew the troops were marching out of Richmond and saw the Confederate iron-clads burning in the river, Tucker thought it was not only justifiable but necessary for him to act without orders, and he retired with his command from Drewry's Bluff. General R.E. Lee told Tucker, when they met, that of all the mistakes committed by the Richmond authorities he regretted none more than the neglect to apprise the naval force at Drewry's Bluff of the intended evacuation of the city.
The naval brigade from Drewry's Bluff, under Flag Officer Tucker, joined the rear guard of the Confederate Army, and was attached to General Custis Lee's division of General Ewell's corps, with which it marched until the battle of Saylor's Creek on the 16th of April, 1865. The naval brigade heldthe right of the line at that battle, and easily repulsed all the assaults made upon it. A flag of truce was sent by the Federal General commanding at that point to inform Tucker that the Confederate troops on his right and left had surrendered, and that further resistance was useless and could only end in the destruction of the sailors. Tucker, believing that the battle had only commenced, refused to surrender, and held his position until reliable information, which he could not doubt, reached him of the surrender of General Ewell and his army corps. The naval brigade surrendered by Tucker numbered some three hundred sailors, who, the opposing force said, did not know when they were whipped. Tucker's sword, which he rendered to General Keifer, was returned to him some years after the war by that gentleman, then a prominent member of Congress.
Tucker was sent North and confined as a prisoner of war until the entire cessation of hostilities, when he was released on parole. On his return to Virginia he found that both the Confederate and State Governments were things of the past, and that he would have to mend his broken fortunes, if mend them he could, by engaging in the business pursuits of civil life. He succeeded, not without difficulty, in obtaining employment as an agent of the Southern Express Company, and was stationed at Raleigh, North Carolina, to take charge of the business matters of the Company in that city.
[1]TheKeystone Statedid not surrender, rescue or no rescue, and her escape ought probably to be regarded as a rescue.
[1]TheKeystone Statedid not surrender, rescue or no rescue, and her escape ought probably to be regarded as a rescue.
Tucker Offered the Command of the Peruvian Fleet, With the Rank of Rear Admiral — Arrives in Lima — No Precedent for the Return of Money — Commissioned a Rear Admiral in the Navy of Peru — Commands the Allied Fleets of Peru and Chile — Spanish War — Tucker's Plan for a Naval Campaign; Projected Expedition Against Manila — Cessation of Hostilities — Tucker Retires From the Command of the Fleet, and Is Appointed President of the Peruvian Hydrographical Commission of the Amazon — Crosses the Andes and Reaches the Amazon — Explores the Yavari River — Ordered to the United States to Superintend the Building of an Exploring Steamer — Returns to the Amazon With SteamerTambo.Expedition Up the Ucayali and Exploration of the Tambo River — Ordered to the United States to Procure a Steamer of Light Draught of Water — Returns to the Amazon With SteamerMairo—Second Expedition Up the Ucayali — Canoe Expedition Up the Pachitea and Exploration of the Pichis River — Expedition Up the Amazon and Huallaga Rivers — Ordered to Lima. Ordered to New York to Superintend theCharts Made by the Hydrographical Commission — Publication of Charts Abandoned on Account of the Financial Condition of Peru — Letter From President Pardo — Letter From Minister Freyre — Tucker Retires to His Home in Petersburg, Virginia — Occupations and Amusements of Old Age — Death — Character and Qualities — Conclusion.
Tucker Offered the Command of the Peruvian Fleet, With the Rank of Rear Admiral — Arrives in Lima — No Precedent for the Return of Money — Commissioned a Rear Admiral in the Navy of Peru — Commands the Allied Fleets of Peru and Chile — Spanish War — Tucker's Plan for a Naval Campaign; Projected Expedition Against Manila — Cessation of Hostilities — Tucker Retires From the Command of the Fleet, and Is Appointed President of the Peruvian Hydrographical Commission of the Amazon — Crosses the Andes and Reaches the Amazon — Explores the Yavari River — Ordered to the United States to Superintend the Building of an Exploring Steamer — Returns to the Amazon With SteamerTambo.Expedition Up the Ucayali and Exploration of the Tambo River — Ordered to the United States to Procure a Steamer of Light Draught of Water — Returns to the Amazon With SteamerMairo—Second Expedition Up the Ucayali — Canoe Expedition Up the Pachitea and Exploration of the Pichis River — Expedition Up the Amazon and Huallaga Rivers — Ordered to Lima. Ordered to New York to Superintend theCharts Made by the Hydrographical Commission — Publication of Charts Abandoned on Account of the Financial Condition of Peru — Letter From President Pardo — Letter From Minister Freyre — Tucker Retires to His Home in Petersburg, Virginia — Occupations and Amusements of Old Age — Death — Character and Qualities — Conclusion.
While residing in Raleigh, North Carolina, Tucker received a letter from the Peruvian Minister to the United States, requesting an interview on affairs of importance. Going to Washington, Tucker saw the Minister, and the result of the interview was that he accepted a proposition to go to Peru and enter the Navy of that Republic as a rear-admiral, his commission to be dated from the time of his arrival at Lima. He was allowed to take with him two staff officers, one with the rank of captain and the other with that of commander.
When Tucker entered the Navy of Peru, that Republic was engaged in a war with Spain. Spain had never recognized the independence of her former South American colonies, and thinking a favorable opportunity had arisen for asserting her dormant claims, the Spanish Government sent an iron-clad frigate, accompanied by several smaller vessels, to attack the Chilean and Peruvian seaport cities on the Pacific coast. The attack upon Valparaiso, the chief port of Chile, was successful, but the Spanishsquadron was beaten off at Callao by the Peruvian batteries. Whilst preparing for the defense of Callao, the Peruvian Government determined to place its naval establishment on such a footing that it would be able to meet any force Spain could send to the Pacific. Tucker had, and most deservedly, the reputation of being a hard fighter, a thorough disciplinarian, and a splendid seaman; hence the Peruvian Government of President Prado directed its Minister at Washington to engage his services if possible. The cause was one which enlisted all Tucker's sympathies, and he agreed to take command of the Peruvian fleet. Tucker became much attached to Peru, and served the Republic zealously and faithfully. He had many warm friends in Lima, and no matter what party held the Government, the trust and confidence reposed in him by the authorities in Lima was always implicit.
Tucker arrived in Lima accompanied by his personal staff, David Porter McCorkle, captain of the fleet, and Walter Raleigh Butt, commander and aide. Just before their leaving New York the Peruvian Minister handed Tucker a bag of gold, with which he was told to pay all the traveling expenses of himself and staff; this was done, but when the party arrived at Lima the bag was still half full. Tucker insisted on returning this surplus to the Government, but there was no precedent for such a thing, and it was not without some difficulty that there could be found an officer of the treasury authorized to receive and receipt for the unexpected money.
The appointment of a foreigner to command their fleet was distasteful to some of the Peruvian officers, and this fact coming to Tucker's knowledge, he informed General Prado, the President of the Republic, that he had no wish that any officer should be forced to serve unwillingly under his command, and preferred resigning if the dissatisfaction at the appointment of a stranger to command the fleet was general or deep-seated. The officers who were dissatisfied were relieved from duty, and others were easily found who were not only willing but anxious to serve under Tucker.
The Peruvian squadron was lying at Valparaiso when Tucker hoisted his flag on board the frigateIndependencia. The Chilean squadron was also lying at Valparaiso, and Tucker, as senior officer present, was in command of the allied fleets of both Peru and Chile.
An efficient state of drill and discipline was soon established in the fleets. A feeble attempt at mutiny broke out on one occasion during the temporary absence of Tucker, but it was easily quelled without bloodshed, and no similar attempt was ever again made whilst Tucker was in command. Officers of the Peruvian Navy, who were themselves opposed to giving foreigners high rank in their service, admitted that the fleet had never been in so good a condition for effective service as whilst it was under Tucker.
The Spanish squadron had retired from the coast, but was expected to return as soon as it had been refitted and revictualed, but no apprehension was feltas to the result of another attack by the Spanish, for the allied fleets were believed to be fully equal to the task of protecting the coasts and ports of the Republics.
Tucker's plan of naval operations was to sail with a small squadron, composed of the most efficient vessels under his command, for Manila, a most important dependency of Spain in the East Indies. He expected to take the Spaniards entirely by surprise, to capture all Spanish vessels in port, and to hold Manila and the other ports of the Philippine Islands until peace was established.
In order to provide for the reappearance of the Spanish fleet on the coast during his absence, Tucker advised the allied Governments to enroll as a naval reserve all the Peruvian and Chilean masters, mates and crews of merchant vessels, pilots and mariners engaged in employments on shore. A part of his plan was that all merchant steamers carrying the flags of the Republics, which could be made available for war purposes, should be inspected and held ready for active service in the Navy and manned by the naval reserve whenever the Government should think it necessary to employ them. This force, with the harbor defense iron-clads, and the forts and batteries on shore, Tucker thought would be a sufficient protection for the coast, whilst his squadron of the most efficient sea-going vessels was absent in the East Indies, where the capture of Manila would have dealt a heavy blow to Spain, and rendered an honorable peace, carrying with it an acknowledgment of theindependence of Peru and Chile, a matter of easy attainment.
This plan, which would probably have been entirely successful if carried out with skill, daring and judgment, as it would have been by Tucker, was favorably considered by the Governments of the allied Republics, but it was not carried out, probably on account of the financial embarrassments under which the Republics labored, and which rendered it exceedingly difficult to find the funds required to fit out the expedition.
The Manila expedition having been abandoned, and the Spanish fleet which had been employed on the Pacific coast having returned home, Tucker requested permission to visit Lima, in order that he might lay before General Prado, President of the Republic, a plan for making an exploration and survey of the Peruvian or Upper Amazon River and its tributaries. The President heartily approved of the enterprise, for the Government was at that very time considering the practicability of opening better communications between the west coast and the eastern part of the country, and of finding an outlet by the waters of the Amazon for the rich productions of the interior.
Tucker resigned his commission as rear-admiral in the Navy of the Republic, and was immediately appointed President of the Peruvian Hydrographical Commission of the Amazon. He left Lima with a full corps of assistants, and made his way across the mountains to the head of navigation on the Palcazu river, where the party was received on board aGovernment steamer that had been dispatched from Iquitos to meet them. The headquarters of the Commission was established at Iquitos, the principal settlement on the Upper Amazon river, and the place where the Government factories and magazines were located.
In the small steamerNaps, belonging to the Government, Tucker made an exploring expedition of two hundred and fifty miles up Yavari, the river which forms the boundary between Peru and Brazil.
None of the Peruvian steamers on the Amazon being suitable for exploring and surveying purposes, the Government at Lima ordered Tucker to proceed to the United States and procure such a vessel as was required for the duty pertaining to his Commission. In obedience to this order Tucker spent some months in the United States, and had a steamer built by Messrs. Pusey, Jones & Co., of Wilmington, Delaware, expressly adapted to the navigation of the shoals and rapids of the Upper Amazon. This vessel, named theTambo, was delivered to Tucker at Para, the Brazilian city at the mouth of the Lower Amazon. Embarking on board theTambo, Tucker took the steamer up the river to Iquitos, where supplies were taken on board sufficient to last for several months. He then proceeded to make an important expedition up the Upper Amazon, the Ucayali and the Tambo rivers. The Tambo river had never been explored, and it was thought that it presented a feasible route for navigation to San Ramon, a military station in the heart of the interior, onlyabout thirty miles distant from the large and important city of Tarmo, which is connected by railway with Lima.
Leaving Iquitos, theTambo, with the Commission on board, passed up the Amazon to the mouth of the Ucayali river, up the Ucayali past the rapids of the "Devil's Leap," and entered the Tambo river. The Tambo was found to be a narrow stream, full of rocks and rapids and not practicable for navigation by steamers. When the steamerTambocould ascend no higher, Tucker fitted out a small boat and pulled some twenty miles farther up the river, but everywhere found such obstructions as rendered it an impracticable route to the interior. It is, perhaps, to be regretted that time did not allow of an examination of the other affluents of the Usayali trending towards San Ramon and Tarmo.
On his return to Iquitos, Tucker was again dispatched to the United States to procure another and smaller exploring steamer. During his absence Captain James Henry Rochelle was directed by the Government at Lima to take charge of the Hydrographical Commission as its acting president.
After an absence of some months, Tucker returned to Iquitos with the new steamer, which was named theMayro, and was little more than a large steam launch, intended for use where a vessel of greater draught of water could not be employed.
The next expedition decided upon was for the exploration of the water route towards Huanaco, by way of the entirely unknown river Pichis. Most ofthe tributaries of the Ucayali had been traveled more or less by the Jesuit priests from the College of Ocopa, but none of them had attempted the route of the Pichis, the banks of which were in possession of roving tribes of Indians, who permitted no stranger to pass through their country. It was thought possible, and even probable, from the stories told by the natives, that the head of the Pichis river would be found well suited for being the eastern terminus of the trans-Andean railway.
In February, 1873, theMayro, with a detachment of the Commission on board, was dispatched from Iquitos, with orders to await at the mouth of the Pachitea river the coming of theTambo. Tucker embarked on board theTamboon the 1st of April with the main body of the Commission, and arrived at the confluence of the Pachitea and Ucayali, seven hundred and sixty-five miles from Iquitos, on the 13th of May. The river had commenced to fall, which rendered it prudent not to ascend the Pachitea in steamers, for had one of them got aground whilst the water was falling, it would probably have remained in that situation until the next annual rise of the river.
The water of the Amazon, and the same may be said of all its tributaries, begins to rise about October, and continues to increase its flood until December. In December there is a short period of no rise, or perhaps even a slight fall, after which the river again continues to rise until May, when the permanent fall commences and continues until thefollowing October, when the annual flood again sets in. Sand bars are constantly forming and shifting in the channel of the river, and for a steamer to run on one of them whilst the water is falling endangers the detention of the vessel until she is floated off by the annual rise in October.
The annual fall of the river having set in when theTamboreached the mouth of the Pachitea, Tucker determined to continue the expedition in canoes. Six of the largest and best canoes that could be procured from the Indians were fitted out, and the whole Commission embarked in them, accompanied by its escort of a dozen Peruvian soldiers under the command of Major Ramon Herrera.
From the 19th to the 30th of May the Commission prosecuted its survey of the Pachitea without interruption, but on the 30th, at a place called Cherrecles Chingana, fifteen or twenty Cashibo Indians came down to the left or north bank of the river, and by signs and gestures signified a desire for friendly communication. The canoes were paddled in to them, and some few presents of such articles as could be spared were distributed among them, and, apparently, received most thankfully. But the Cashibos did not let the occasion pass without showing the treachery for which they are notorious. When the interview was ended, seemingly in the most amicable manner, and as the canoes of the Commission were paddling off, a flight of arrows was discharged at them by a party of Cashibos who had been lying in ambush during the interview. A few volleys fromthe Remington rifles, with which all the members of the Commission were armed, soon dispersed the savages and drove them to the jungle.
Of all the savage tribes that roam about the head waters of the Ucayali, the Cashibos alone are cannibals. They are brave, cunning and treacherous, and are only surpassed by the Campas in their hatred of the white man. The Campas inhabit the spurs and hills at the foot of the eastern Cordilleras, where the Ucayali and Pichis rivers have their origin. They are a fierce, proud and numerous tribe, and are held in great fear by their lowland neighbors. They permit no strangers, especially no whites, to enter their country, and the members of the expedition under Tucker were the first white men who ever ascended the Pichis into the regions of this warlike tribe.
The canoes of the expedition entered the mouth of the Pichis on the 6th of June. Being an unknown river, it became necessary to give names to the prominent points as they were discovered; and these names were used subsequently in making the charts of the surveys of the Commission.
The navigation of the Pichis was found to be clear and unobstructed from its mouth for a distance of fifteen miles up to Rochelle Island, which is in latitude 9° 57' 11" south, longitude 75° 2' 0" west of Greenwich, and three thousand one hundred miles from the Atlantic coast, following the course of the Amazon river. Rochelle Island was reached on the 7th of June, and was named after Captain James Henry Rochelle, the senior member of theCommission. Any steamer which can navigate the Pachitea can ascend the Pichis this far without difficulty, but above Rochelle Island the navigation becomes more difficult, and probably impracticable for any but steamers of very light draught and strong steam power.
On the 15th of June the expedition arrived at the head of canoe navigation on the Pichis. The point was named Port Tucker, after the president of the Commission. Port Tucker is in latitude 10° 22' 55" south, longitude 74° 49' 0" west of Greenwich, distant three thousand one hundred and sixty-seven miles from the mouth of the Amazon, following the course of the river, and one hundred and ninety miles in a direct line from the Pacific coast. The lofty mountains so plainly in sight from Port Tucker are the eastern spurs of the Andes, the chosen land of the savage and numerous Campas Indians.
Several days before the expedition reached the shoals which terminate the navigation of the Pichis, the tom-toms or drums of the Campas were heard night and day beating the assembly of the warriors. The purpose for which the braves were to be assembled was not a matter about which there was the least doubt, but probably sufficient numbers were not got together in time to execute their intentions, for no attack was made on the Commission whilst it was in the Campas country.
During this expedition the Palcazu river was also ascended to Port Prado, or Puerto del Mairo, the head of navigation for steamers of light draught.Port Prado is in latitude 9° 55' 22" south, longitude 75° 17' 45" west of Greenwich, distant three thousand one hundred and nineteen miles from the mouth of the Amazon, following the river, and only about forty miles from the important interior city of Huanaco, to which place it is in contemplation to extend the trans-Andean railway. If the road were continued from Huanaco to Port Prado there would be a complete trans-continental line of communication by railway and steamboats from Lima in Peru to the mouth of the Amazon.
Two new rivers were discovered by the Commission flowing into the Pichis. One of them was named the Trinidad, from having been discovered on Trinity Sunday, and the other was called Herrera-yacu, after Major Ramon Herrera, of the Peruvian Army, who commanded the escort of the Commission. The supplies of the expedition were running too short to allow of any but a cursory examination of these two rivers. The Trinidad, trending to the westward, can only be of value as affording a water route to the plains lying between the Pichis and the Ucayali, but it is possible that the Herrera-yacu may furnish a nearer water route to Cerro de Pasco than any yet known.
Whilst the canoes of the Commission were descending the Pachitea, they were attacked by the Cashibos, who assembled on the banks of the river, and, waiting until the leading canoes had passed, let fly flights of arrows at the canoe which brought up the rear. The Cashibos were dispersed by a few rounds from theRemington rifles of the Commission, and the explorers met with no further forcible opposition on the way to the steamers awaiting them at the mouth of the Pachitea, where they arrived after a canoe voyage of forty-one days, during which many difficulties and some dangers were encountered and overcome. Not a single person under Tucker's command was killed, or died from sickness, during this expedition, and, singular to relate, after all the hardships and exposure endured the explorers were in much better health when they returned to their steamers than when they left them at the beginning of the expedition.
On the 15th of July, 1873, the steamersTamboandMayro, comprising the exploring squadron, reached Iquitos after an absence of three months and ten days. From the 15th of July to the 18th of September the Hydrographical Commission was on shore at Iquitos, employed making charts of the surveys of the late expedition, whilst the steamers were being refitted for further service.
On the 18th of September the Commission again embarked and proceeded to the mouth of the Yavari river, which forms the boundary between Peru and Brazil. The greatest pains were taken to properly establish this point. On a small island in the middle of the river, and very near its confluence with the Amazon, many astronomical observations were taken, resulting in giving the latitude 4° 18' 45" south, longitude 69° 53' 10" west of Greenwich, the distance from the Atlantic coast by the courses of theAmazon being one thousand eight hundred and eleven miles. From the Brazilian frontier the main stream of the Amazon was surveyed and its tributaries examined by the Commission up to Borja, where the river rushes from a narrow gorge of the mountains and leaps into the lowlands. Borja is in latitude 4° 31' 37" south, longitude 77° 29' 43" west of Greenwich. From the Atlantic coast to Borja, a distance of two thousand six hundred and sixty miles, the Amazon is navigable, without serious obstruction or difficulty, for either river or sea-going steamers of several hundred tons burthen.
It would take many long years to make a thorough survey of the waters of the Amazon, which is, in fact, more of an inland sea than a river, with hundreds of branches forming a network of communicating channels extending for sixty or seventy miles on each side of the main stream. At the height of the annual floods the whole country, with the exception of the highest land, on which the towns are invariably built, is covered with water, forming a vast swamp and jungle, traversed in every direction by navigable channels, which at the season of low waters become rivers or natural canals.
The principal object for which the Commission presided over by Tucker had been instituted was accomplished when the main channels of the river and of its affluents was traced from the Peruvian and Brazilian frontiers to the head of navigation of the main river and of its tributaries, so as to show thenearest approach by water communication to the eastern terminus of the trans-Andean railway. This duty having been executed, Tucker was ordered to proceed to Lima for conference with the Government as to the results of the explorations and surveys he had made.
After consultation with Tucker, Señor Pardo, the President of the Republic, directed that charts of the surveys made by the Hydrographical Commission should be published in New York, and that Tucker and two members of the Commission should be detailed to prepare the work for the press and superintend the engraving of the plates. The other members of the Commission returned to their homes, having completed the duty for which they were engaged.
There were some changes from time to time in the Peruvian Hydrographical Commission of the Amazon, but the following list of its members may be taken as correct:
President—John Randolph Tucker. Members—James Henry Rochelle, David Porter McCorkle, Walter Raleigh Butt. Secretaries—Timotéo Smith, Maurice Mesnier. Surgeon—Francis Land Galt. Civil Engineers—Manuel Charron, Manuel Rosas, Thomas Wing Sparrow, Nelson Berkeley Noland. Steam Engineers—John W. Durfey, David W. Bains.
On arriving in the United States, Tucker established an office in New York, and, assisted by Captain Rochelle and Mr. Sparrow, soon had the charts and plans, with explanatory notes, ready for thehands of the printers and engravers; but in consequence of the financial difficulties into which Peru had fallen, the publication was delayed from time to time and finally abandoned altogether, as is shown by the following letter from Señor Pardo, President of the Republic:
Lima, Marzo 13, 1877."Sr. J.R. Tucker."39 Broadway, New York City."Estimado amigo:—He recibido su apreciable carta de 10 del pasado, que me es grato contestar manifestándole que las graves dificultades ecónomicas porgue hoi atravissa la República, oblejan el Gobierno á dar por terminada la comiseon de que fué ud encargado para la publicacion de los Mapas y Cartas topográficas de las regiones Amazonicas."En esta virtud, se sirvirá ud. entregar al señor Freyre, Ministro del Perú en Washington, las reforidas Cartos, Mapas, y todas las demas útiles pertenecientes al Gobierno del Perú, que hoi existen en poder de la Comision que ud. preside; todo bajo de inuentario y con las formalidades necesarias."En cuanto al pagar de sus suldos y los de los Senñores que forman parte de esa Comision, he ordinado al Ministro de Hacienda disponga lo conveniente para su pronto abono, y juzgo que asi-luego les servan completamente satisfechos."Deseandole a ud. la mejor conservacion, me as grato reiterarle las expresiones de mi amistad y particular estima.""Su afrino S.S."Pardo."
Lima, Marzo 13, 1877.
"Sr. J.R. Tucker."39 Broadway, New York City.
"Estimado amigo:—He recibido su apreciable carta de 10 del pasado, que me es grato contestar manifestándole que las graves dificultades ecónomicas porgue hoi atravissa la República, oblejan el Gobierno á dar por terminada la comiseon de que fué ud encargado para la publicacion de los Mapas y Cartas topográficas de las regiones Amazonicas.
"En esta virtud, se sirvirá ud. entregar al señor Freyre, Ministro del Perú en Washington, las reforidas Cartos, Mapas, y todas las demas útiles pertenecientes al Gobierno del Perú, que hoi existen en poder de la Comision que ud. preside; todo bajo de inuentario y con las formalidades necesarias.
"En cuanto al pagar de sus suldos y los de los Senñores que forman parte de esa Comision, he ordinado al Ministro de Hacienda disponga lo conveniente para su pronto abono, y juzgo que asi-luego les servan completamente satisfechos.
"Deseandole a ud. la mejor conservacion, me as grato reiterarle las expresiones de mi amistad y particular estima."
"Su afrino S.S.
"Pardo."
"Lima, March 13, 1877."J.R. Tucker, Esq."39 Broadway, New York City."Esteemed Friend:—I have received and answer with pleasure your appreciated letter of the 10th ultimo, apprising you that the grave economical difficulties which at present afflict the Republic, obliges the Government to order the termination of the commission with which you are charged for the publication of the maps and charts of the Amazonian regions."For this reason, you will be pleased to deliver to Mr. Freyre, Minister of Peru in Washington, the referred to charts, maps and all other articles belonging to the Government of Peru, which now remain in charge of the Commission over which you preside; all to be delivered under inventories and with the necessary forms."In regard to the payment of the salaries of yourself and the other gentlemen who form part of the Commission, I have ordered the Minister of the Treasury to take measures for the prompt disbursement of what may be due, and I judge that in a short times these claims will be completely satisfied."With my best wishes, it gives me pleasure to repeat the expression of my friendship and particular esteem."Truly your faithful Servt.,"Pardo."
"Lima, March 13, 1877.
"J.R. Tucker, Esq."39 Broadway, New York City.
"Esteemed Friend:—I have received and answer with pleasure your appreciated letter of the 10th ultimo, apprising you that the grave economical difficulties which at present afflict the Republic, obliges the Government to order the termination of the commission with which you are charged for the publication of the maps and charts of the Amazonian regions.
"For this reason, you will be pleased to deliver to Mr. Freyre, Minister of Peru in Washington, the referred to charts, maps and all other articles belonging to the Government of Peru, which now remain in charge of the Commission over which you preside; all to be delivered under inventories and with the necessary forms.
"In regard to the payment of the salaries of yourself and the other gentlemen who form part of the Commission, I have ordered the Minister of the Treasury to take measures for the prompt disbursement of what may be due, and I judge that in a short times these claims will be completely satisfied.
"With my best wishes, it gives me pleasure to repeat the expression of my friendship and particular esteem.
"Truly your faithful Servt.,
"Pardo."
In compliance with the directions of President Pardo, the charts made by the Commission were delivered to the Peruvian Legation at Washington. These charts were all ready for publication, and had they been published would have afforded much valuable information in regard to the Upper Amazon and its tributaries, water courses which are daily becoming more and more important to commerce, and which are destined in the not distant future to be navigated by lines of ocean as well as by lines of river steamers.
The following letter from Colonel Manuel Freyre, Peruvian Minister at Washington, describes the charts and plans which Tucker delivered to the Legation, and which it is to be hoped are still preserved:
"Legacion del Peru."Washington, Marzo 22 de 1877.Senor Don Juan R. Tucker, Ex-Presidente de la Comision Hidrografica del Amazonas."La caja que dijó le. depositada en poder del Cónsul Tracy, ha sido recibida en esta Legacion, y contiene los siguientes planos; à saber:"1st. Un plano del Rio Amazonas Peruano, desde lo boca del rio Yavari hasta Borja, termino de la navegacion á vapor, dibujado sobre diez pliegos y en una escala de una pulgada por cada das millas. Los rios Ytaya y Pastaza están incluidos en esta Plano, que cuenta 848 millas del rio Peruano Amazonas, 45 millas del rio Ytaya, y 7 millas del rio Pastaza.""2d. Un plano del rio Yavari desde su boca hasta la confluencia de los rios Yacarana y Yavarasina,dibujado, sobre das pliegos y en una escala de una pulgada por cada dos millas. Este plano cuenta 220 millas del rio Yavari."3d. Un plano del rio Nanay desde su boca hasta el término de la navegacion para vapores de poco calado debujado sobre dos pliegos. Este plano contiene 160 millas del rio Nanay."4th. Un plano del rio Tigre-Yacu desde su boca hasta un punto 111 millas aniba de la boca, dibujado sobre dos pliegos y en una escala de una pulgada por cada dos millas.""5th. Un plano del rio Huallaga desde la boca hasta Rumi-Callirina, el têrmino de la navegacion para vapores, dibujado sobre dos pliegos y en una escala de una pulgada por cada dos millas. Este plano cuenta 169 millas del rio Huallaga."6th. Un plano del rio Morona desde su boca hasta un punto 37 millas arriba de dicha boca, dibujado sobre un pliego y en una escala de una pulgada por cada dos millas.""7th. Un plano del rio Potro desde la boca hasta el término de la navegacion para vapores de poco calada, dibujada sobre un pliego y en una escala de una pulgada por cada dos millas. Este plano contiene 64 millas del rio Potro."8th. Un plano del rio Ucayali desde la boca hasta la confluencia de los rios Urubamba y Tambo, dibujado sobre nueve pliegos y en una escala de una pulgada por cada das millas. Los rios Urubamba y Tambo, desde sus bocas hasta el mas alto punto donde espracticable la navegacion á vapor, están incluidos en este plano, que contiene 885 millas delrio Ucayali, 24 millas del rio Urubamba, y 53 millas del rio Tambo.""9th. Un plano del rio Pachitea desde su boca hasta la confluencia de los rios Palcazu y Pichis, dibujado sobre dos pliegos y en una escala de una pulgada por cada dos millas. Este plano contiene 191 millas del rio Pachitea.""10th. Un plano del rio Palcazu desde la boca hasta el puerto del Mairo, dibujado sobre un pliego y en una escala de una pulgada por cada dos millas. Estate plano contiene 37 millas del rio Palcazu."11th. Un plano del rio Pichis desde la boca hasta el término de navegacion en canoas, dibujado sobre un pliego y en una escala de una pulgada por cada dos millas. Una parte del rio Herrera-yacu y otro parte del rio Trinidad se hallan en este plano, que contiene 85 millas del rio Pichis, 4 millas del rio Trinidad, y 5 millas del rio Herrera-yacu."12th. Un plano del rio Amazonas Peruano y sus afluentes, dibujados sobre un pliego y en una escala de una pulgada por cada quince millas. Este plana contiene 1661 millas del rio Amazonas Peruano y sus afluentes."13th. Todas las mencionadas planos están dibujados sobre treinta y cinco pliegos, siendo cada pliego treinta pulgados de largo por quince pulgada de ancho."14th. Un plano del rio Amazonas Peruano y sus afluentes, dibujado sabre un pliego y en una escala de una pulgada por cada diez millas, siendo el pliego cines piés de largo por cinco piés de ancho. Este plano contiene en un solo pliego todos losreconocimientos verificados por la Comision Hidrografica del Amazonas, que son por todo 2945 millas."Loo demas planos dán los mismos reconocimientos mas detalladamenente."15th. Un plano del pueblo de Yquitos, dibujado sobre un pliego."Dios que á le."Manl. Freyre."
"Legacion del Peru."Washington, Marzo 22 de 1877.
Senor Don Juan R. Tucker, Ex-Presidente de la Comision Hidrografica del Amazonas.
"La caja que dijó le. depositada en poder del Cónsul Tracy, ha sido recibida en esta Legacion, y contiene los siguientes planos; à saber:
"1st. Un plano del Rio Amazonas Peruano, desde lo boca del rio Yavari hasta Borja, termino de la navegacion á vapor, dibujado sobre diez pliegos y en una escala de una pulgada por cada das millas. Los rios Ytaya y Pastaza están incluidos en esta Plano, que cuenta 848 millas del rio Peruano Amazonas, 45 millas del rio Ytaya, y 7 millas del rio Pastaza."
"2d. Un plano del rio Yavari desde su boca hasta la confluencia de los rios Yacarana y Yavarasina,dibujado, sobre das pliegos y en una escala de una pulgada por cada dos millas. Este plano cuenta 220 millas del rio Yavari.
"3d. Un plano del rio Nanay desde su boca hasta el término de la navegacion para vapores de poco calado debujado sobre dos pliegos. Este plano contiene 160 millas del rio Nanay.
"4th. Un plano del rio Tigre-Yacu desde su boca hasta un punto 111 millas aniba de la boca, dibujado sobre dos pliegos y en una escala de una pulgada por cada dos millas."
"5th. Un plano del rio Huallaga desde la boca hasta Rumi-Callirina, el têrmino de la navegacion para vapores, dibujado sobre dos pliegos y en una escala de una pulgada por cada dos millas. Este plano cuenta 169 millas del rio Huallaga.
"6th. Un plano del rio Morona desde su boca hasta un punto 37 millas arriba de dicha boca, dibujado sobre un pliego y en una escala de una pulgada por cada dos millas."
"7th. Un plano del rio Potro desde la boca hasta el término de la navegacion para vapores de poco calada, dibujada sobre un pliego y en una escala de una pulgada por cada dos millas. Este plano contiene 64 millas del rio Potro.
"8th. Un plano del rio Ucayali desde la boca hasta la confluencia de los rios Urubamba y Tambo, dibujado sobre nueve pliegos y en una escala de una pulgada por cada das millas. Los rios Urubamba y Tambo, desde sus bocas hasta el mas alto punto donde espracticable la navegacion á vapor, están incluidos en este plano, que contiene 885 millas delrio Ucayali, 24 millas del rio Urubamba, y 53 millas del rio Tambo."
"9th. Un plano del rio Pachitea desde su boca hasta la confluencia de los rios Palcazu y Pichis, dibujado sobre dos pliegos y en una escala de una pulgada por cada dos millas. Este plano contiene 191 millas del rio Pachitea."
"10th. Un plano del rio Palcazu desde la boca hasta el puerto del Mairo, dibujado sobre un pliego y en una escala de una pulgada por cada dos millas. Estate plano contiene 37 millas del rio Palcazu.
"11th. Un plano del rio Pichis desde la boca hasta el término de navegacion en canoas, dibujado sobre un pliego y en una escala de una pulgada por cada dos millas. Una parte del rio Herrera-yacu y otro parte del rio Trinidad se hallan en este plano, que contiene 85 millas del rio Pichis, 4 millas del rio Trinidad, y 5 millas del rio Herrera-yacu.
"12th. Un plano del rio Amazonas Peruano y sus afluentes, dibujados sobre un pliego y en una escala de una pulgada por cada quince millas. Este plana contiene 1661 millas del rio Amazonas Peruano y sus afluentes.
"13th. Todas las mencionadas planos están dibujados sobre treinta y cinco pliegos, siendo cada pliego treinta pulgados de largo por quince pulgada de ancho.
"14th. Un plano del rio Amazonas Peruano y sus afluentes, dibujado sabre un pliego y en una escala de una pulgada por cada diez millas, siendo el pliego cines piés de largo por cinco piés de ancho. Este plano contiene en un solo pliego todos losreconocimientos verificados por la Comision Hidrografica del Amazonas, que son por todo 2945 millas.
"Loo demas planos dán los mismos reconocimientos mas detalladamenente.
"15th. Un plano del pueblo de Yquitos, dibujado sobre un pliego.
"Dios que á le.
"Manl. Freyre."