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John A. Herman writes Theodore Roosevelt in response to reading Roosevelt’s introduction to H. J. Mozans book Along the Andes and Down the Amazon (Following the Conquistadores). Herman has travelled in South and Central America in a parallel journey to Mozans. Not all men agree with Mozans’s conclusions, so Herman appreciates Roosevelt’s approval.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-16
Rear Admiral Coghlan provides a weekly report to Secretary of the Navy Moody. Coghlan details the movements of ships under his command, and that he sent a Marine scouting party to locate positions to defend the canal zone. General Daniel Ortiz sailed to the Atrato River with a small force and has been seen by the USS Newport near Titumati. The majority of the native peoples now support the government in Panama.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-03-14
Joseph Bullock Coghlan is responding to a report from William H. Moody about U.S. vessels withdrawing from Panama and reporting on other military operations around the canal zone.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-03-08
Captain Haan reports information received from two Indian scouts that the Colombian force at Acanti is over 2,000 men, with over 4,000 in the region. Indian chiefs have been asked to supply 400 canoes. Word from Cartegena is that more troops are coming and will attack with or without orders to do so.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-02-19
Translated report from Rear Admiral Coghlan to Secretary of the Navy Moody regarding movement of US Navy ships in the Chiriqui Lagoon, Bocas del Toro, Caledonia, and Mandingo Bay. Bright watches are kept, so Colombian forces can not get by American ships. Coghlan also reports that Native peoples at Mandingo Bay unfriendly, Diablos are friendly, and the rest neutral, and that the Sasardi have promised not to ferry Colombian troops.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-31
C. O. Gardiner and Gunner Ulrich report about their expedition on the Rio Diablo and the Rio Nargandi. Gardiner and Ulrich were led by two Native men of the Rio Diablo tribe, Charlie Smith and Jim Robinson. They report about the navigability of the rivers and the unwillingness of the Natives to have them travel the rivers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-31
Rear Admiral Glass informs Secretary of the Navy Moody that Native peoples had reported that Colombian troops had landed at Acanti, and this was being investigated by scouts.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-02-01
Report from Rear Admiral Coghlan to Secretary of the Navy Moody detailing the movement of ships in Chiriqui Lagoon, Gulf of San Blas, Isle of Pines, Caledonia Harbor, and Cape Tiburon. Coghlan also reports on attempts to ensure the Native peoples will not support Colombia.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-02-02
Lieutenant Commander Gleaves reports to Rear Admiral Coghlan on his meetings with the Native peoples in the Mandingo Harbor area, Gulf of San Blas, where he had done his previous expeditions. He continued scouting and mapping where they had left off on the previous expedition. Gleaves also reports that the Rio Diablo Indians continue to be friendly, and have met and decided to support Panama, and end relations with Colombia. Gleaves’s men are finishing mapping the Gulf of San Blas, and sailing directions will be available soon.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-22
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-13
A translated letter from H. Glass to William H. Moody about navigation routes along the Chucunaque, Tupisa, Tuquesa, and Uounganti rivers, including information about the mindset of Indians who live on or nearby the Chuounaque river.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-08
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-11
Commander Knight reports on military operations of the USS Castine and USS Bancroft in Panama, who have met with representatives of several native Indian tribes. The tribes have been suspicious and uncooperative, though not hostile, and Knight believes they would be so with any strangers. At least one chief, however, seems to favor Colombia and therefore to view the American forces with enmity.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-11