The New York herald., 1845-07-08
Trial OF Captain Voorhees,.

nest cooperation and support in accomplishing the ardu
duties squadron and promoting the interest and
dinaton and rigid adherence to the discipline and et
quee which have characterized the efficiency and good
order OF the squadron and which my has
tced so favorably in general orders.
In these expressions of qualification at your individual
course Of duty must beg to include the officers and
crew under your immediate command, who have not
failed to initiate your good example, and attain charac
ter for subordnaton, high efficiency and propety Of de-
pertinent that the most critical cannot but admire and
the most fastidious be proud to emulate
1t were unnecessary TO say with what deep regret
have parted from the beautiful squadron which lately
engrossed all my care, at the very moment when the
successful completion of lahors in establishing its
discipline and efficiency, and the unavoidable but pain
fu austerities OF command and disagreeabc parts of
practice had happily terminated, leaving nothing to
interrupt the duty owe to the service of mutual
existing among SO large body of officers ana crews
But do you that in the command to which
have acceded shall carry with the most grateful
recolcctions and cherish the attachment which
now entertain towards yourself and the officers and
crew under your command, for the distinguished and
faithful manner in winch they discharged their va
GUS duties.
With my kindest thanks to yourself and them and my
best wishes for the happy and honorable completion Of
your cruise
remain with respect and esteem,
Your most obedient servant,
CHAs w. MORGAN,
commonderinchef Of the u s. Naval force the coast
of Brazil.
To Captain Pn,IP +. VOORHEES,,
u S. Frigate Congress, Medt terranean.
This letter read in Court, and identified by Com
modore Morgan, then under examination witness
the part OF the accused the original letter addressed
by him to the accused Being part Of the record Of
the proceedings Of the seventh day and interesting too
have procured copy for your paper in connection
with the other proceedings of the court
wAsHISeroS, D. C., July Sd, lsi5
Ninth day Of The proceedings.
The Court met at the usual hour; the journal OF yes
terday read, corrected, and approved The exam.
the prosecution The following question proposed
by the Judge Advocate Did you have any conversa-
tail of the Horseshoe on the day after when you
up the bay and what that conversation n 1t
TO oy the Gr the as sa
examination OF the counsel on evidence. The question
postponed until tomorrow in order that the counsel
for the accused should have time to produce his author
tiles to substnntiae his objections TO the admssiby of
the question Lieut. Porter thus proceeded in his test
about singlc.reef opsa breeze sometimes little
squally On Monday, the 18th. when the attempt was
made to get under way toward sunset the wind moder
ated. The ship could have been got under way il the
messenger had been dogged.
Crossenamined BY The accusedFrom the entries in the
log-book and together from my recollection, have
stated the condition Of the wind and weather the l5h
10th, and 18th of March The wind Monday
anchors Were sometimes hove short before called
all hands" to weigh the anchor; the orders Of the
Secretary Of the Navy to Captain Voorhees,, made
out in my presence, and heard the Secretary give
orders to send them of Immediately this is the
of my knowing that orders had been sent by mail to
Captain Voorhees,; the Secretary did not send duplicate
Of his orders by to Captain Voorhees, undertake to
relate fully and accurately what passed between Capt
Voorhees, and the pilot did not participate in the con
versation was officer of the deck was officer of the
deck when the pilot came on board and as such at
tended to the general duties on deck and at that time
was stationary Captain Voorhees, had given
orders relating to the pilot and standing by him
for further instructions. After lett the deck at p NJ
and sunset was deck, suppose at different times,
one hour after r. Nj do not recollect hearing any
conversation with the pilot OF there being any be-
tween him and Captain Voorhees, at that time !; do
not recolect OF Captain voorhees, being on deck after
into the cabin was not present and Of did not
hear what passed between them there was deck
when the ship came to anchor the Horse Shoe after
sunset and not again till my watch came on in the morn
ing was on deck when the ship came to anchor on
the Horse Shoe ten or fifteen minutes; it took about
that time to bring the ship anchor do remember
whether Captain Voorhees then deck not !; |
know OF the men being pad of only from rumor spea
at Annapolis think there were from forty to fifty it
the pursers business to make out the accounts and
pay them Off Captain Voorhees, passed through me the
order for the ieutenants to punish the at Ports
mouth, New Hampshire, before we sailed; and was in
serted in the order book five six days after the order
was passed through me, and also before sailed
proceeded to make all sail" the pilot came
board and squared the yards about hour and half
afterwards Judging from what the pilot told
about twenty-five thirty miles South and East
Of Cape Henry light he said he had not the light
now Se e s ne a
were not up when came on deck, but were up when
left the deck at p M.
QUESTION, So far as your experience in the navy
extends, is it not customary for eutenants TO punish
the men without reporting them to the commander?
The Judge Advocate objected to this question
The counsel for the accused stated that the Court
always objected to question, because the Judge Advo
cate always stated his objections to the Court.
The Judge stated he merely said it came under the
same objection former question which was ruled out
by the Court.
The Court was ordered to be cleared.
The counsel for the accused mentioned to the Court
that he had offered to submit his in writing to
'hs oT 0e know clear the
Court imme dstey y precludng Mr.. Cox from present
ing his reasons objections.
The Court was cleared, and on re.assembing the
Judge Advocate informed the accused that the Court
considered the question ruled out by the previous de-
cision question proposed to Commodore Charles W.
Morgan, (Which not ruled out) but declared not
admissible in its then form, and the question was mod
fed and admitted The counsel calling this fact to the
mind OF the Judge Advocate he proposed to alter the
record so as to road that the question objected to IN
its, present form, which was granted and done.
The question was modified follows -" According
to your experience in the navy has it been usual for
captains to allow leutenans to infct punishment for
& 70 s esa
have had authority from the commander to punish
the men dozen over frock jacket for minor
offences with small piece of rattlin stuff without
reporting to the commander. There was no differ
ence on board the Congress from this practice have
spoken Of except that the eutenants restricted to
six lashes have never navgated vessel into Hamp-
ton Roads, the only have Of knowing the depth
and width of the channel is when the soundngs were
taken when we were going into Hampton Roads from
Annapolis with tie Congress; beat up with N. w.
wind and tackled great many times, and from my recol
peared to to be plenty of for any sized ship TO
work I'M the ship beat 1T that time and Mr. Grgg
was the pilot; the course thing w. by N. When
we beat into Hampton Roads the last stretch from the
light boat brought her into the Roads the tide drifting
her up very fast think anchored of the Potomac az
ter we left the Horse Shoe the wind about ~ by
W. the course to the Southwark the change
from light boat to light boat and the number OF courses
down do not know think the distance was about 90
miles. or little from where anchored to the
Roads.
BY The Court While we were at anchor on the tail Of
Horse Shoe there were two three light boats lights in
sight; dio not enquire as to their names.
BY the Judge .4drocdfe.--I have never any
order in any order book the in the order
book Of the Congress. ] have known custom in
ships have sailed when lieutenants punished the
mon with the colt for minor offences but not for
all offences; could have means of knowing
whether such an order established the order
would be given by the captain the eutenans and the
Congress is the first ship in which have sailed as
Lieutenant do not know positively Of any such author
" being given and only presume IT, because no lieuten