VIZCAIN0, Sebastian (veeth-cah-ee'-no), Spanish navigator, born in Huelva about 1550; died in Acapulco in 1615. He followed the sea early in life, and, acquiring a great reputation, was made chief pilot of New Spain. Toward the close of the 16th century the general impression in Spain was that California contained great riches, especially in pearls, and orders were given in 1595 to the viceroy of Mexico to arm an expedition for the purpose of exploring that country. Vizcaino was chosen commander, and leaving Acapulco in 1596 with three ships, accompanied by missionaries, he entered the Gulf of California, establishing his headquarters in the port of La Paz, where he built barracks and a church. He despatched expeditions to the interior; but the resistance of the natives, lack of provisions, and the burning of the barracks disheartened his men, and in October of that year he returned to Acapulco. In 1602 he was appointed captain-general of a new expedition that was despatched by the Count de Monterey, by order of Philip III., to explore the Pacific coast north of Cape Mendocino, and to establish in the neighborhood a suitable harbor of refuge for vessels from Manila. He sailed from Adapulco, 5 May, 1602, with three vessels, accompanied by the cosmographer Geronimo Martin, and in June discovered in latitude 36º 40' N. a bay, which he named Monterey, in honor of the viceroy. He began to survey the coast, taking observations of every notable point and inlet with such care that Alexander yon Humboldt, in his " Essai sur le royaume de la Nouvelle Espagne," said that "no pilot had ever performed his duty with such zeal." After passing Cape Mendocino he arrived at Cape Blanco de San Sebastian (now Cape Orford), and from that point despatched the frigate "Tres Reyes," under Lieutenant Martin Aguilar, to the north, who reported on his return that he had reached 46. N., where he discovered the mouth of a large river, probably the Columbia, which foggy weather had prevented him from entering for any distance. Having lost many of his crew by sickness, Vizcaino resolved to return, and entered Acapulco in March, 1603. His report was forwarded to Madrid ; but, although he urged upon the council of the Indies the advantage of colonizing the countries that he had discovered, as he had failed to find precious metals, little attention was paid to his advice. In 1610 he commanded an expedition to Manila, and, being carried out of his course, discovered near Japan a group of islands which he called Isles Rices. At last his representations about colonizing California were heeded, and a new expedition under his command was preparing in Aeapulco when he died. From the observations that were taken by Vizcaino and his staff, thirty-two charts were designed in Mexico by the cosmographer Enrique Martinez, which are preserved in the archives of the council of Indies, and are remarkably exact for the time in which they were made. Vizcaino's reports of his two voyages to California were published by Torquemada in his "Monarquia Indiana" (Madrid, 1615), and that of the second voyage appeared as an appendix to the French edition of Miguel Venegas's "Histoire de la Californie" (Paris, 1767). Leon Pinelo, in his " Biblioteca Oriental y Occidental" (Madrid, 1629), gives extracts of a manuscript of Vizcaino's report of his voyage to Manila, dated 1611, under the title of" Relacion del viage y deseubrimiento de las Isles Rices, que estan cerca del Japan," which was discovered in the library of Barcia, the author of "Historiadores primitivos de las Indies." Hubert H. Bancroft often quotes from him, in his historical works. The greater part of Vizcaino's narratives has been published by Martin Fernandez de Navarrete in his "Coleccion de Viajes y Descubrimientos, etc." (Madrid, 1625-'9), and by Captain James Burney in his" Collection of Voyages to the South Sea" (London, 1811).V0GDES, Israel, soldier, born in Willistown, Chester County, Pennsylvania, 4 August, 1816. He was graduated at the United States military academy, and promoted 2d lieutenant, 1st artillery, 1 July, 1837. For the next twelve years he was assistant professor and principal assistant professor of mathematics in the academy, being promoted 1st lieutenant in 1838, and captain in 1847. He was stationed in Florida from 1849 till 1856, and took part there in the hostilities against the Seminole Indians. After being in command at Fort Moultrie, South Carolina, and connected with the artillery-school for practice at Fortress Monroe, Virginia, in 1858-'61, he was ordered to re-enforce Fort Pickens, Florida, but he was virtually interdicted from carrying out his orders by instructions received from Washington subsequent to his arrival, and it was not until after the inauguration of President Lincoln that he was finally allowed to proceed with the work. He was promoted major, 14 May, 1861. On 9 October he was engaged in repelling the Confederate attack on Santa Rosa island, Florida, during which he was captured. After his release in August, 1862, he served on the staff of General John F. Reynolds in the Maryland campaign of that year. He was commissioned brigadier-general of volunteers in the following November, and was in command of Folly island, South Carolina, from April till July, 1863, when he took part in the construction of the batteries on Lighthouse inlet for the proposed attack on Morris island. He took part in that engagement, and also in the one on Folly island. From August, 1863, till July, 1864, he was occupied in the operations against Fort Sumter and the city of Charleston. On 1 June, 1864, he was made lieutenant-colonel, and on 1 August he became colonel. After seeing further service in Florida, he had charge of the defences of Norfolk and Portsmouth, Virginia, from May, 1864, till April, 1865, in which month he was brevetted brigadier-general in the regular army for gallant and meritorious services in the field during the civil war. On 15 January, 1866, he was mustered out of the volunteer service, and from that date until 2 January, 1881, when he was retired at his own request, after forty-three years of active service, he was in command of the 1st regiment of artillery.