Colombia

Report from Henry Glass to William H. Moody

Rear Admiral Glass informs Secretary of the Navy Moody that the Native peoples are unfriendly towards Panama and the U.S., and would support Colombia. Glass then details where and how the Colombians could use the Natives’ canoes to land troops. Glass does not think Colombia will mount an invasion through Yavisa country. Glass asks if U.S. policy would allow them to resist an invasion, as Panamanian forces are not large enough to do so alone. Glass adds that the health of the troops is improving now that they have been removed to the ships.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-13

Telegram from Henry Glass to H. C. Taylor

Admiral Glass recommends blockading Buenaventura and Tumaco in the event of hostilities with Colombia. The Colombian gunboat Bogota should be captured or destroyed. Each port could be closed with a single vessel and small vessels could patrol between San Miguel Bay and Tumaco.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-14

Extract from letter of commanding officer of Marblehead, senior officer present at Darien Harbor

Extract from a letter from the commanding officer of the USS Marblehead regarding the Colombian forces at Titumati and the attitudes of the region’s indigenous tribes.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-15

Copy of letter from Frederick A. Traut to Joseph Bullock Coghlan

Lieutenant Commander Traut informs Rear Admiral Coghlan regarding a large shipment of powder and dynamite from the Aetna Powder Company, which is believed to be intended for the Colombian Government. At the bottom of the letter, Coghlan notes that the news was already known, having first appeared in the New York Herald, albeit exaggerated.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-15

Letter from Charles Fletcher Lummis to Theodore Roosevelt

Charles Fletcher Lummis begins by discussing his opinion on Prohibition and then continues on to discuss his problem with President Roosevelt interfering in Spanish-American countries.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-15

Report from Joseph Bullock Coghlan to William H. Moody

Report from Rear Admiral Coghlan to Secretary of the Navy Moody concerning military operations in Panama.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-16

Letter from Joseph Bullock Coghlan to William H. Moody

Commander Gleaves of the USS Mayflower reports from Mandingo Bay that the Carti Indians were friendly and that Guayaquilili came aboard the ship and accepted gifts. The next day, Guayaquilili resumed a hostile attitude and Gleaves believes that he only boarded the ship to receive gifts and spy for Colombia. Commander Culver has had friendlier relations with the indigenous people around Pinos Island and Conception Bay.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-16

Letter from John Bassett Moore to Theodore Roosevelt

John Bassett Moore discusses a conversation with Philippe Bunau-Varilla concerning the Panama canal question. He states that he never discussed a possible Panamanian revolt again Colombia.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-07

Chronicle and comment

An article highlighted in the January 9, 1904, issue of The Churchman about President Roosevelt’s message to Congress defends his actions regarding Panama and encourages the ratification of the treaty.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-09

Newspaper articles from the Wall Street Journal

Newspaper clipping with two articles, “Corporations and Campaign Funds” and “Panama Canal Situation,” from the Wall Street Journal. The first article argues that corporate campaign donations are evil as a law of business. The Panama article suggests that Senate and Colombian opposition to the Panama treaty will eventually diminish leading to recognition for the Republic of Panama and an agreement for an American canal across the isthmus.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-06

Orders from William H. Moody to Henry Glass

Secretary of the Navy Moody orders Rear Admiral Henry Glass to withdraw from Yaviza and avoid all hostile demonstrations. Moody also advises that Colombian scouts are moving westward through the northeast of Panama.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-08

Orders from William H. Moody to Joseph Bullock Coghlan

Secretary of the Navy Moody advises Rear Admiral Coghlan that Colombian scouts are moving westward along the northeast shore of Panama, recruiting the Native peoples. Moody recommends a course of action and orders Coghlan to avoid any hostile demonstration.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-08

Letter from William H. Turner to Joseph Bullock Coghlan

Commander Turner reports to Rear Admiral Coghlan on the status of following Coghlan’s orders in Panama. Turner reports on reconnaissance missions to gather information; especially concerning the Fato trail, Hombre de Dios trail, and troops at St. Andrews Island.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-08

Report from Joseph Bullock Coghlan to William H. Moody

Translation of a report from Rear Admiral Coghlan to Secretary of the Navy Moody. Refugees from St. Andrews Island, having arrived in Bocas del Toro, state that Colombian forces have landed on St. Andrews and have been “carrying on there with high hand,” but not molesting U.S. citizens.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-11

Telegram from Henry Glass to William H. Moody

Admiral Glass received a report that Colombian forces occupying Providence and San Andres were short of provisions and sent a party to Bocas del Toro that caused a panic. Admiral Coghlan has been directed to send a vessel to preserve order, prevent delivery of provisions, and verify if the island is claimed by Panama.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-11

Report from Albert Gleaves to Joseph Bullock Coghlan

Lieutenant Commander Gleaves reports to Rear Admiral Coghlan the results of his attempts to gather intelligence from the Native peoples around Caledonia harbor. They left four scouting parties at Nellie to map the terrain, and mapped coastal areas. Gleaves reports extensively on the terrain, the lack of roads and trails, and the rivers with regard to their use for military purposes. The San Blas Indians were unfriendly, as they were strangers. Gleaves was able to meet with the “Big Chief” at Carti, Guayaquilile. The chief wanted them to leave the area and its rivers immediately, and told them that the Chief of Sasardi was the Chief of all the Indians, and the Chief of Bogota was the Chief of all. Gleaves was able to gather intelligence from other Native peoples, as they supported Panama.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-11

Letter from Henry Glass to William H. Moody

Admiral Glass reports on the ships under his command which are stationed off the coast of Panama and monitoring the Panamanian revolution. American forces are preparing an intelligence map of the isthmus while scouting the Darien region and canal zone.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-04

Letter from John Bigstone to Theodore Roosevelt

John Bigstone regrets that he will not be able to attend Mrs. Roosevelt’s reception in the evening because he has a prior engagement. He supports the president’s policy concerning Panama. He believes that the president’s message to the Senate will overcome opposition, except that of Senators George F. Hoar and John T. Morgan, who are intransigent.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-05

Letter from Rafael Reyes to Francis B. Loomis

General Reyes transmits the Colombian government’s report concerning American policy towards Colombia and the revolution in Panama. He lists the treaties and instances where the United States has shown a disregard for Colombia’s territorial rights and has taken advantage of their weakened state.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-01-06

Letter from Charles Fletcher Lummis to Theodore Roosevelt

Charles Fletcher Lummis feels “mighty bad about this Panama business.” He believes that President Roosevelt was misled about foreign affairs but trusts him to get the country back on its feet again.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-12-30