The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-10-05
WASHINGTON, Oct. 2, 1916.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2, 1S45.
Inquiry into the Conduct of Lieut.. Mclaughlin
The Court OF Inquiry was convened for the pur-
pose OF taking into consideration resolution
adopted by the House Of Representatives of the U.
States, March Sd, ls45, IN the following Words
Resolved That the Secretary Of the Navy be direct
ed to full investigation into the expenditures of
the Florida squadron under the command of Lieutenant
Mclaughlin and report the to the next session of
Congress with his opinion to the proprety Of the
pendures made by said Mclaughlin, and particularly
to show the amount Of money paid him. and the amount
to which he was entitled"
The Court met pursuant to adjournment, and DR..
V. l.. Godon was called and testified. was passed
Assistant Surgeon under tine command of Lieut..
Mclaughlin, of the Florida squadron; l
board the schooner Van Buren,; | know nothing of
the expenditures OF the hospital; | never saw any
extravagant expenditure in the expedition We had
in one of the boat expeditions scouts, detachment
of the army, and We provided tor them whenever
they required any thing in the medical line. sup
pose there about sixty IN this detachment;
| am now speaking of the hospital supplies and de-
partment altogether; we had an abundant supply OF
provisions; occasionally called for little OF every
deicacy for the sick they were always freely CIV
en- the officers in these scouting parties had pro-
visions provided for them by themselves we re-
ceived at Indian Key, on board OF our vessels,
whatever medicines were required for all those that
were seriously ILL., Captain Burke was the officer
in command OF the detachment | speak Of; pre-
scribed sometimes brandy, but mostly porter /; took
a small portion of Sherry and Madeira VINE, but do
not remember If lsprescrlbed any may have CIV
en- it freely for the sick we obtained some liquors
at Baltimore obtained no liquors from the Indian
KEY hospital the porter as obtained al Key Bys-
clan about dozen bottles.
BY the CoURT.-There was no control OF any
medical officer over any other IN relation TO the
medical supplies for the sick. The ratlons and re-
quisitions of the medical department were never
made out and the accounts were very irregularly
kept We were great deal out OF our vessels and
the service very irregular IL was impossible TO
make returns in the boat expeditions.
DIR JOHNSON from Charleston, s. G. was called
and sworn
druggist business in Charleston, s. G. (The
vouches and bills for medical supplies were here
shown the witness) should Judge that some of
these articles the Charleston prices, although
majority of them exceed those prices about 20 p
per cent retail Some OF the articles double the
price. Any druggist in Charleston would allow
per cent discount upon such bill Of medicines.
BY the COURT never, to my knowledge, sup,
piled the Florida expedition with drugs. ! would
say that the present prices were about right Tor Pur
chases to be made at Charleston and resod In Flor
ida. = -.
DR.. WOODWARD called and sworn
By Lieut.. McLAucHLIN-Of the first precept !
know nothing AS regards the second, no waste OF
stores of any KIND, and particularly the medical
ones, ever came under my observation. was at
tached TO the schooner Flirt, under Lieut.. Mel.
from September 1871, to August, 1872 Ofthe third,
know nothing and know OF cause for behev-
ing that there existed between Lieut. Mel. and any
other person, or any attempt 10 ueIrduu Un0er tne
fourth, know of no unnecessary purchases, or I'M
usually high prices paid for purchases Relatively.
the prices were high, but believe them to have
been the market prices at Key West, Indian Key
believe that any Of the buildings were un-
necessary or the charges too high for erection, &c
As regards the sixth | do not believe there
was any unnecessary purchase OF canoes OF tne
cost extravagant. The canoes were ail emPloyeu !.
the service OF the Government, and they were not
pleasure boats either. AS to the seventh nave no
reason to believe that the buildings were improper
Mel Pa service and paid by the government. I'm
der the eighth head did not know it was the duty
Of the Commanding officer to stop the rat,ons Of me
sick and ignorant that u was done, d nSge and
have reverted to the credit Of the. Navy Hospital
fnnd or are recoverable to that fund. or the nntn
precept, / know nothing OF the tenn , mhom
nothing. do not remember that Lieut. mc1' ""n'