RANDOLPH, Commander to Wm. Ballard Preston , Secretary of the Wavy, Washington, D. C, August 28, 1849

[686] *Commander Randolph, United States Navy, to Mr. Preston, Secretary of the Navy.

Sir: I have the honor to inform you that the Albany, under my command, is at present anchored as above. Our present anchorage is about ten miles from Round Island, and is the nearest point to the scene of our operations (Round Island) which a vessel of our draught can reach.

I have stationed steamer Water Witch, Lieutqnant-Commandant Totten, close to Round Island, and shall employ the boats of the Albany to assist in guarding the spot night and day, so as to prevent arms and other munitions of war from being landed on the island, and likewise to prevent the adventurers from being taken from the island in sea-going vessels.

Agreeably to your instructions to Commodore Parker, I have communicated and have consulted with the district attorney and with the collector of the customs at New Orleans, and from every information received have satisfied myself that the persons congregated at Round Island are meditating a hostile expedition against either Cuba or the Sierra Madre States of Mexico.

[687] I believe they are not particular where they go, provided they are well paid for their services. Indeed, up to this time the privates are known to be in total ignorance of the point at which they are to disembark *after leaving our waters. We have conversed with many on the subject, and have now three of the privates on board of the Water Witch, on a visit, and they all unite in declaring their ignorance of the point. I much question whether the officers themselves are positively certain where they are going. They are unquestionably a band of reckless adventurers. Pour-fifths of the privates, I am happy to state, are foreigners—Irish and Dutch, chiefly.

After a careful examination of the proclamation of the President, and of your instructions to Commodore Parker, together with information derived from the most reliable sources, I have determined upon adopting a vigorous course with these people.

The leaders are not men of high respectability; four-fifths of the rank and file are foreigners; their operations are conducted with a degree of mystery which precludes honesty of purpose; and every circumstance goes to prove that they are a band of reckless military adventurers. I have, therefore, sent them a written summons to disperse immediately, a copy of which summons I have herewith forwarded to the Department, and trust it will be approved by the honorable Secretary of the Navy.

[688] I stand in great need of two or more small steamers, to assist in blockading and breaking up the establishment on Round Island. I have written to request Captain J. T. Newton to send me the General Taylor, *and, if possible, the Walker too, but neither has arrived as yet.

I am almost induced to send to New Orleans for the purpose of hiring a steamboat to be employed on this service, but shall wait a day or two longer, with the hope that a re-enforcement will be sent from Pensacola.

I am, sir, respectfully, &c.,