GOLDSBOROUGH, Commodore to Van Valkenburgh, January 11, 1868

Commodore Goldsborough to Mr. Van Valkenburgh.

Dear General: It is with pain and sorrow I write to inform you that about 9 a. m. this morning Rear-Admiral Bell, Lieutenant Commander Reid, and 13 men in the barge belonging to the Hartford, left that ship for Osaka, intending to pay you a visit. As the boat approached the bar she was struck by a heavy sea and capsized immediately. This was seen from all the vessels, and boats were quickly dispatched to their assistance. The last seen of the admiral was either sitting or holding on to the bottom of the boat, and unless he was picked up by some passing Japanese boat, or got hold of an oar, or something else, and washed on shore, I am afraid he and Mr. Reid met a watery grave. It is now about half past 11 o’clock a. m. All the boats have returned but one, and she is inside of the bar, hunting along the beach. The return boats picked up three of the barge’s crew—10 of them still missing. Will you do me the favor to ask of the authorities of Osaka assistance in hunting along the shore opposite the fort for any dead bodies that may have washed up on the beach; also, if the admiral or any of the party have been picked up, requiring assistance, to ascertain their whereaboats? Some, perhaps, if so fortunate as to have been picked up by a passing Japanese boat, may be so exhausted as not able to speak.

I will keep this open until the last moment, and send you the result of the boat now in shore, when she returns to the ship.

At the time of this sad and melancholy occurrence the barge of the Hartford was pulling, without sail, and there was a heavy sea on the bar.

I am, very truly yours, &c.,