The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-12-15
Ra7oE3
NAVY DsrArrMrSr, Dec. 8, IS
OF THE

STA Since the LAST annual report no naval force
has been maintained in the mediterranean Under the
earnest equest of the Spanish authorities the depot
Port Mshon has been broken up. and taken
remove the stores and withdraw the officers in charge
of them II IN proposed in the coming year to send
suitable force to that station.
After exchanging with the proper officer the ratifca
lions Of the treaty between the United states and china
in December last, Commodore Biddle, with the Column
bus and vincennes the ships under his command has
visited various important points in the China In
the month of May June hessaled for Japan and ex
pected to extend his cruise to Kamschatka.
There IL no reason to doubt that he will render the
valuable service to be expected from officer Of his
experience and Judgment by making country, its
inhsbiting those remote regions more favoraby known
He has probably returned to Macao about this time and
in the month Of January or February the Columbus and
Vincennes will commence their cruise homeward, by
way o. the north Pacific.
On the 9th Of January last orders from this
Columbus to tina northwest coast of America and as
sumo tho command CT the naval forces of the United
States that station No acknowledgement of the order
has been received, and there is no reason to doubt
that he had left Macao before II reached that place.
or that he will promptly obey il on its reaching him
Commodore Skinner relieved in the command OF
tho squadron the Of Africa in the month of juno
last BY Commodore Read. Our naval forces on that
station have been actively and successfully employed in
tho humane duty of suppressng the slave trade. The
squadron consists Of the rgate United States, A. soop
Marion l6 briggs Dolphin and Boxer 10 each and store
ship Southampton, guns
The judcious measures adopted have secured to the
that unacceptable climate Its effects are, however SO
nurops that the cruises have not BEEN and ought not
to be- long on that as other stations The prizes
captured and condemned will contribute thousands
Of dollarsto the navy pensonfund
On the Bszil station, the squadron under Commodore
has been reduced by the return of the gate
Raritan, Captain Gregory and of the sloop Plymouth
Commander Henry, and the detachment Of the sloop
Saratoga. Commander shubrick, for the Pacific. The
frigate Columbia and brig cambridge remain on the
station and although this force is small it has secured
protection TO American commerce within the Limits Of its
Tho frigate Constitution Captain Percva has return
ed to the United States, having made voyage around
the world The special duty assigned to Captain PERCH
val has been satisfactorily performed.
In the Pacific ocean the naval forces of the United
consisted on the of July last OF the gate savannah
sleeps Portsmouth, Levant Warren and Cy ane schoon
er Shark, and store ship RE.
They have been reinforced by the frigate Congress
sloops Saratoga Dale, and PEBBLE, and the nde
pendence The slooP Levant her return home and
end Warren the time for which the Of these
sels enlisted having expired. Commodore W. Branford
Shubrick out in the Independence to relieve Com
modore sloat, under orders issued in August last
In confidential instructions dated the Gath of
dors soas attention particularly to the present aspect
of the relations between this country and Mexico II
the earnest desire of the President pursue the policy
OF peace and he is anxious that you and every part of
your squadron should be sssiduously careful to avoid
any act Of aggression Should Mexico however, be re-
ect the persons snd interests Of citizens of the United
States your station and should you
war against I'd you will at once employ the forces
der your command to the best advantage" The great
distance Of your squadron and the difficulty of
eating with you the cause of Issuing this order" The
officer who thus instructed observed the line of con
duct prescribed to him with such intelligence and de
~ that complaint has been made of any unautho
rized aggression on his part.
On the 7th Of June, 1916 at Mazatlan, Commodore
sioat received satisfactory through Mexico
that the Mexican troops six thousand strong
had by order Of the Mexican government invaded the
territory Of the United states north of the Grande
and had attacked the forces under General Tay or and
hst the squadron OF the United States were bockang
the ports Of Mexico onhe Gulf He properly considered
"these hostes as justify ing his ncing offensive
operations on the west coast and on the 9Th of June
sailed in the figate Savannah for the coast OF Calfor
Of June ISIS He arrived at Monterey on the al Of july
and the It'll demanded surrender of the place
This evadsd and an adequate force landed from the
squadIon took possession OF the town. ami raised the
agof the United States without opposition boodshed
On the sth Commander Montgomery Of the sloop Ports
mouth under the Commodore orders with like success
took of Francisco and part Of the coun
try In the name Of the United States On the l7th he
sent Purser Fauneroy with detachment as far a. the
Mission of st Johns to hoist the nag Of the United
States and TO recover cannon and munitions which had
been buried by the enemy On his arrival he found that
the place had been captured hour two previously
by Lieutenant Col Fremont of the United States army
with whom he returned to Monterey on the 10Th
Monterey and Commodore stockton reported to Commo.
dore sloat for duty part of his squadron On the
10Th Commodore sloat found his nrm health 90 enfee
bled by his arueus duties that he determined to avail
himself Of permisscu which had been given him. in his
discretion to assign the command TO Commodore Stock
ton and sailed for Panama his return home After
encountering much peril and hardship, this gallant and
ms,torcus officer arrived at the seat Of government
y On the 2s.h Of July the Cyane, Captain Msrvins
sailed from Monterey with Lieutenant Colonel Fremont
and small volunteer force board for San Diego to
intercept the retreat Of the Mexican General Castro
Al few dsys after Commodore Stockton called the
Congress frigste for San Pedro and, with detachment
from his squadron, of three hundred and sixty men,
marched TO The ensmys camp. IL was found that the
Pco and General Castro had refreshed 80 precptstely
that Lieutenant Colonel Fremont was disappointed in
interceptpK him. On the 18th, Commodore stockton
Joined By this gallant officer and marcheda distance
Of thirty miles from the sea- and entered without oppo.
son, the Cudad do los Angeles the capital Of the Cali
fornias Eer. III l
And on the 22d of August the nag of the United
States was flying at every commanding position, and
osorns was N the undisputed military possession Of
The conduct ofthe officers and men of the squadron IN
activity courage, and steady discipns soS en,i,ls,
them to the thanks Of the department Efficient aid was
rendered By Leutenant Colonel Fremont aod the volun
tsers under his command. In his hands Commodore
Stockton informs the department. he will leave the mill
tary government when he shall leave California in the
further execution Of his orders.
In the novel situation in which both the commanders
Of our naval forces have been placed without instruc
tons to regulate them in the detail Of their conduct
they have adopted preserve social order
and maintain authority and to Withhold from the enc
are bsievsd to Be warrsnssd BY tue laws Of ""'n
The conduct OF both commanders has been marked by
discretion, spirit Of consultation and sacred respect
for private rights, while the military movements have
bean ably conceived and brilliantly executed.
On her outward voyage, the Congress touched at Ho-
noiulu, and landed MIR Ten Epck the commissioner of
he United States to the Sandwich Islands, II was the
good fortune of Commodore Stockton to contribute
largely to amicable adjustment of unhappy misuA
deys,anding between former agent and the kings
government, which threstsnsd injury to CONNER
ciai interests.
The home squadron the l3th Of May last csnsistsd
Of the frgates Cumberland Rartan and Poiomac soops
Falmouth, John Adams and st. Msry's stsam ers Mis-
ssasppi and Princeton briggs Somers and Porposc and
schosnsr Flirt, under command Of Commodore Conner
II has been increased since by tho sloops Albany and
Boston steamers Spit6re and Vixen briggs Perry and
storsship Relief
HDuring the last two years the of hostilities
on ne part Of Mexico have made to confne
Mexico.
On the 10th of March, ls4s the acting Secretary Of
the Navy, IN con&dential despatch informed Commo
dors Conner that the President Of the United states IL
impressed with belief that possible contingency
that the government Of Mexico may resort to acts Of
hostility against the United States and has directed me
to order the other vessels of the home souadso unr