r
John Franklin's ships was also unsuccessful, and the relief party was
for a long time in imminent danger of a fate similar to Franklin's.
After living for two winters imprisoned in the ice in Smith's Sound,
they abandoned their vessel, which had been largely broken up to
provide fuel, and started on a journey over the ice in sledges. After
eighty-four days of extreme privation and thrilling adventure, they
reached Driscol Bay, where they were found by Commander Hartstone and
Lieutenant Simms, commanding respectively the "Release" and the
"Arctic," which vessels had been fitted out by order of Congress to
rescue them. In October, 1855, the united party reached New York.

In November, 1855, the presence of the United States ship
"Germantown," commanded by Captain Lynch, in the harbor of Montevideo,
prevented an extensive massacre. There had been a rebellion in
Paraguay, and the insurrectionists had capitulated. The government
troops rushed upon them with the intention of despatching them, when a
detachment of United States marines interfered and put an end to the
sanguinary scene. Three years afterward the marines performed
efficient services in Montevideo in protecting foreign residents
against the insurgents in another rebellion.

The rather curious episode of a battle-ship fighting Indians occurred
in 1856. The sloop-of-war "Decatur," Commander Gansevoort, anchored
off Seattle, Washington, to protect the settlers from attacks from a
large body of Indians. The savages appeared, and fought the marines,
who had landed, with much spirit for six hours. At nightfall they
disappeared in the woods, having suffered the loss of a large number
of braves.

One of the most gallant and important of the minor operations of the
navy took place in November of the same year. Trouble having arisen
between the Chinese authorities of the City of Canton and the English
officials in the vicinity, it was thought that American interests
might be injured, and in consequence Commander Foote stationed his
vessel, the sloop-of-war "Portsmouth," of the squadron under
Flag-Officer Armstrong, near the island of Whampoa, and thence
proceeded, in several armed boats, to ascend the river to Canton to
establish an armed neutrality. Several Americans, however, joined the
British in an attack upon the governor's palace, and planted the flag
beside the English colors on the wall of the city. Commander Foote
disavowed this act, but as he was returning