The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-12
PUBLIC DOCUMENTS.
Report of the Secretary of the Navy.
NAVY DEPARTMENT, Dec. 5, Isl


SIR Since the last annual report no naval force has
been maintained in the Mediterranean. Under the
nest request Of the Spanish authorities the depot at
Port MahOn has been broken up and measures taken 10
remove the stores and withdraw the officers in charge of
them 1t is proposed IN the coming year to send suta-
bic force TO that station
tons OF the treaty between the United States and China,
in December last, Commodore Biddle, with the Columbus
and Nncennes the ships under his command has VISITED
various Important points ~ me emma seas In me
month O May JuHs he sailed for Japan and expected
to extend his cruise to kanschatka.
There Is no reason to doubt that he will renler the
valuable service to be expected from officer OF his
experience and Judgment, By making country, lis
resources and its friendly disposition towards the people
nhabng those remote regions, more iavorably known.
lie has probably returned to Macao about this Tune and
in the month OF January February, the Columbus and
Nncennes will commence their cruise hOmeward, By
way OF the north Pacific
On the 9Th of January last orders were sent from this
department 10 Commodore Biddle 10 proceed with the
Columbus 10 the northwest coast o America, AMI assume
that station. No Acknowledgement Of the order has been
received, and there doubt that he had LETT
Macao before II reached that place. or that he Will
promptly obey il on IL reaching him.
Commodore Skinner was relieved in the command Of
the squadron the coast of Africa the month of June
last BY Commodore Real Our naval forces on that
have been actively and successfully employed in
the humane duty OF supPressng the slave trade. The
squadron consists of the irigate United States, soop
Marion, rs; briggs Dolphin and Boxer, 10 each; and
store ship Southampton, guns,
The uHcious measures adopted have secured to The
officers and extraordinary degree ol health that
unacceptable climate lis effects are, however, lnun-
Gus that the cruises have not been and ought to be-
50 long on that on other stations The prizes cap
mreI aud condemned vii contribute some thousands of
dollars 10 the navy pension fund.
On the Brazil station, the squadron under Commodore
Rousseau has been reduced by the return of the frgate
Rlgllan, CaPan Gregory, and OF the sIoop Plymouth
Commander Henry, and the detachment of the s!OOp
Saratoga, Commander Shubnck, for the Pacific. The
irgate Columbia and brig Banbrldge remain on the
station and although this force is small, It has secured
he UtItz nj
operations.
The irgate Constitution Captain Perciva has returned
10 the United States having made a voyage around the
world The special duty assigned to Captain Perciva has
been satisfactorily performed.
In the Pacific ocean the naval forces of the United
States, under command of Commodore John d. SlOat,
consisted the LIST of July last OF the rgate Savannah,
Scoops Portsmouth, Leyant, Warren and Cyane schooner
Shark, and storeshp Ere,
They have been reinforced By the trgatc Congress the
Scoops Saratoga, Dale and Prebe, and the indie
pendencc The sloop Lcyant her return home, and
authority has been given to send home the Savannah and
Warren, the time Tor winch the crews OF these vessels
enlisted having expired. Commodore ". Branforl Shu
brick out in the independence relieve COmmOdUre
Sloat, under orders issued in August last
In confidential instructions dated the 24th OF June,
lS45, the Secretary OF the Navy called Commodore Soat
attention particularly to the present aspect OF the reIa
lions between this country and Mexico. is the
desire of the President to pursue the policy of peace and
he is yious that YOU and every part OF your squadron
should be assduousy careful TO avoid any act of aggres
SION. Should Mexico, however, be resOutey bent on
hOtes you will be mindful to protect the persons and
interests OF citizens of the United States near your
station: and should you ascertain beyond doubt that
the Mexican government has declared war against us,
you will al once employ the forces under your command
TO the best advantage ''Ihc great distance of your
squadron, and the difficulty of communicating with You,
Is the cause OF issuing this order The officer who was
thus instructed observed the line OF conduct prescribed
to him with such intelligence and fidelity that no COM
paint mas ever been made OF any unauthorized aggression
on his part
On the 7th of June, 1916, at NIazatIan, Commodore
Nm received satisfactory information, through Mexico,
had by order of the Mexican government invaded the
territory of the United States north of the Rio Grande
and had aac ked the forces under General Taylor and
that the squadron Of the United States were bIockadng
me ports OF Mexico on the Gulf He properly considered
these hostes as justfl ing his commencing offensive
or2'onG on the west coast ! and on the sth Of June
ma TO carry out the orders of the department the oath
of June 1913. He arrived at Monterey the I'd OF Ju-
j. and on the It'll demanded surrender of the place.
Inns was eVaet, and an adequate FORCE landed from the
squadron took possession Of the town, and raised the
ag OF the nlted States without opposition bloolshed
TN the 9TH Commander Montgomery, of the sloop Ports
mouth, under the commoIores orders, with like success,
took possession of Francisco and that part of the
try in the name Of the United States. On the l7h he
sent Purser Faunteroy with detachment far as the
Mission OF 81 Johns, to hoist the flag Of the United
oates and TO recover cannon and munitions which hal
been buried by the enemy On his arrival he found that
e place had been captured an hour orWo previously by
Lieutenant COL Fremont of the United States army, with
whom he returned to Monterey on the 10Th.
On the 18th OF July, the frigatc Congress arrived at
core N"at for duty part of his squadron. On the
pa he ordered to the command on shore and on the
10Th Commodore Slnal found his nim health so enfcc-
pea by his aruous duties that he determined to avail
himself OF permission which had been given him. in his
dINrrcuon 10 assign the command Commodore Stock
ton, and sailed for Panama. his return home. After
rnCountcNy much peril and hardship this gallant and
mcrOnOus officer arrived at the of government carly
IN November ast
On the 18th OF July the Cyane, Captain Mervine, sailed
nom Monterey, with Lieutenant Colonel Fremont and a
small volunteer force on board for San Diego inter
Ccpt the retreat of the Mexican General Castro. A few
Gays after, Commodore Stockton sailed in the Congress
rgaic for san Pedro, and with detachment from his
squadron of three hundred and sixty men, marched TO the
enemy camp was found that the camp brok en- up
ana the MeAcanS, under Governor PCO and General Cas-
To, had rctreacd SO preCptaey that Lieutenant Colonel
Fremont was disappointed in incrCcping him On the
18th, Commodore Stockton Joined BY this gallant Of
hcer, and marched distance of thirty miles from the sea-
and entered without opposition, the Cuiad de los An
gees, the capital of the CALIFORNIA;
And on the 2?d of August the har of the United
states was flying nj every commanding position and Cal
orn% was IN the undsputed military possession of the
lnlcd States
The conduct of the officers and men of the squadron in
cSc important operations, has been characterized bv ac-
the thanks OF the department Efficient aid was rendered
h Lieutenant Colonel Fremont and the volunteers under
ms command In his hands, Commodore Stockton in
forms the department. he will leave the military govern
mcnt when he shall leave California in the further OK
ccuhon Of his orders.
In the novel situation in which both the commanders
OF our naval forces have been placed without instnc-
IONS to regulate them in the detail OF their conduct they
nave adopted measures to preserve social order and main