Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-01-26
Truly yours,
THOMAS w. GILMER
tFrom tae .ftr York T,ibua..i

THE soMERs MUTINY-NAVAL COURT OF INQUIRY.
WEDNESDAY,, Jan. ls.
| Lieut.. Gansevoor re calIed-1he testimony OF The
men before the council Of officers was read over TO
them before il signed They were told when The
testimony read them, that in case Of anv
mistakes they might correct them. | am Of opinion
that, from the best OF my recollection Warner press
ed the positive opinion, without any contingency that
Cromwell was the most dangerous board of the
brig, and ought to be hung The form Of the oath al.
minIstcred 10 the witnesses identified by Lieut.
Ganseyoort. II follows "You do solemnly
swear that the evidence you shall give before this
council OF officers shall be the truth, the whole truth
and nothing but the truth" should think there were
100 hands and 100 feet of iron on board
Commander Mackenze-Will you state how far YOU
were influenced in giving your decisions BY the fear.
Of the Commander,
Witness-l was Influenced solely by the dictates OF
my own conscience. | saw evidences Of fear in
Commander Mackenzie.
Commander Mackenzie-From your KNOWLEDGE nj
The Of the Son,ers, why did not the Commander
enquire particularly to tile sentiments OF the men
to ascertain who could and who could not be de
pended on,
Witness-Because he did not wish 10 mako known
his suspcions he knew that the greater part Of the
| crew were in the plot.
Commander Mackenzie-After the officers were arm
cd, how nnch longer than the day ofexecution could
they have held OUT
Witness-One or two days. ! don think the Young.
Of the strongest
Commander Mackenze-Wha, portion Of tho "a
hours did the Commander pass deck before the dis
covery of the mutiny, and what portion ufter'
Wtness-Previous 10 the discovery he was on deck
should say twothrds Of his time; afterwards nearly
all the time.
| Commander Mackenze-Did you discover any
change Of manner in the prisoners after their arrest,
Witness Their manner was confident; they did 40,
seem to be under any apprehension; they exchanged
looks with others of the stated before. Their
manner did not appear TO change until they were told
they were TO die. read The regulation Of Secretary
Pauding nterdctng the drawing Of tobacco and spr-
its, to snch of the thought proper. am not
aware of Cromwels having done any thing which ia.
duced him, before his execution, to ask my forgiveness
except his medtatng my death. The treatment OF the
crew of the Somers was more humane, more pains
taken 10 supply the with fruits and uxures than
in any of war | was ever in ! have known the
Commander to give the boys fruit purchased for hs own
cabin in consequence Of the pursers having omitted
by mistake 10 obtain that which had been ordered for
| the
| Commander hsckenze-Was there any excess OF
punishments in the Some:s' any unusual punshmenis'
there desire reluctance punish on the par,
| Of the commander
Wness-There was excess Of punishmen,s on
board of the Somes-no unusual punishmenta and The
Commander often RENTED punishment. There were
in The Somers great many Offences don't know
whether the number was extraordinary considering it
crew Of boys. The boys generally punished
by the colt, in few instances with the cat The colt
is single rope, three nds md nine ihrends Thu
colt is administered with the clothes The punish
meni with the ca s much formal mode Of pun
shment than ine colt All hands are called to witness
zone Of the colts used on board the Somers was
produced
Dr.. Leacock recalied-l was present at the Council
Of officers. The testimony read 10 The witnesses.
and they told if there any mistake to correct
it, As surgeon. stae tina, after The ares, and up to
the execution the physical strength OF the officers wac
materially affected By Inc carrying Of heavy arns during
day and night, physical and mental exerton, loss Of
sleep think they were wearing down more and mora
every day. change wac visible in the counteaancs
Of the officers, and the constant complaints heard then
make. During the watch the diers had TO crawl under
the hammocks Of the berth deck every half hour Of the
night, which very fatigueing, when armed
Wales recalled-ln ansv er TO The Judge Advocate
TIE testimony read 10 the witnesses before
The council Of officers when present, Ind they
had leave 10 correct mistakes. Previous TO my cor
vcrsation with Spencer The booms, was as intimate
with him any officer. We have been forward often,
smoking If he wanted to draw anything, he csme in
me. Before that night of the conversation the
5ooms, no conversation had passed between Mr. Spen
Ger and me as to taking the brg-no hints on the sub
ject. The first intlmalion OF any such project
that night. Previous to that night had had
yers.tions inmasians from Cromwell or Small on
that subject. In answer TO Commsnier Nackenze-I
was present wien Cromwell ironed. Witness
stated the conversation in his former examination.
Charles Stewart then recalled, and testified that
before Cromwels execution he heard him ask Lieut..
Gansevoort to forgive him.
Andrew Anderson Before CroTnwals execution, /!
saw him take hold Of Lient. Gsssevoorts hand and
ask his forgiveness.
| John Ford-l cm not now in The service; was ward.
room steward of The Somers; LETT her CT days be
| fore her last cruise.
Com Mackenzie-Di any one say any thing TO you
about mutinyi
Wilness-Yes; the night before she sailed on her
last cruise Mckinley, Of the OF the Somers,
spoke to me Of mu,ny. I was board in he af.
ernoon, waiting for MIR. Wales; he owed me ltt.-
change and told me to wait till evening; waited I'LL.
evening. Capt Mackenzie gave orders fer all to gu
ashore After got out Of the boat, Daniel McK,n.
ley took me aside aud spoke to sSleward says he
there sill be muny board ths time for certain IS
we Of little stores before-you may be glad
| you are not en- board
i , b.. N