Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-05-20

TRIAL OF LIEUT.. HUNTER.

The proceedings of the Court Martial detailed
for the trial of this officer have found their way
into the papers There we're two charges treat
ing his superior with contempt and disobedienco
OF orders, Under the first charge were three
specifications; 1st arrogating to himself the
power and authority Of the commander-in-chief,
by entering into stipulations for and receiving
the surrender of Alvarado Cd, doing the same
with reference 10 the town Of Fla-ca-tap pail; Sd,
capturing four schooners and burning one, of his
own authority, and without instructions from the
ommander-in.chief, although he knew the said
commander was near at hand. Under the Sec
ond charge we're two specifcations-lst that
having been ordered to report to Commander
Breese, and nssst in the blockade of Alvarado,
Lieut.. Hunter, In disobedlence OF those orders,
entered the harbor and captured the place; I'd,
that having been ordered to report himself in per-
son to the commander-i n-chief, he dsobeyed that
order.
The defence of the accused was well written
and spirited. Its leading idea was that, seeing
good chance Of taking the place, he thought tho
best thing he could do was TO "go ahead" and
he ventured to say that the same view OF the case
would have been taken by any other officer. 1t
he had sinned it was through inexperlence and
want Of judgment. lie knew that one attack on
the place had failed, and another might unless he
availed himselfofthis Opportunity which would
have been great pity. Respecting his disobe,
dience Of the order to report himself, he had
quite forgotten it, amid the excitement Ut the
time.
The finding was, guilty on all the specihca-
tions of the first charge, and on the second spe-
cifcation Of the second charge. The sentence,
as we have before mentioned, was dismissal from
the squadron and q repripand. The latter, read
on the quarter deck of every ship in the squad
tron, was as follows:-.M Y. Commercial.
THE REPRIMAND OF COM. PERRY.
u. S. FLAG SHIP MISSISSIPPI,
ANTON LIzARDo, April 9, le47.
Sir ii enclose herewith the findings and SEN
tence of the Court Martial, convened on the 9TH
instant, for your trial, which imposes upon me
the task of expressing, in the form OF reprimand,
my opinion of your conduct as proven before the
Court Martial.
However lenient the sentence in your case may
seem to be, have approved 1t, as can conceive
of no punishment more severe than a dismissal
in time of war from squadron actively engaged
before the enemy. The sentence, while 1t con-
dennis in most signal manner your conduct,
cuts you off from farther association in this squad
ron, with men whose patient endurance OF the
most trying duties, and whose character for cour-
age, obedience and subordination, have won my
highest appreciation
| How different has been your course? Scarce
| ly day on the station, and you dsobey orders,
arrogate to yourself the duties belonging to
commander chief talk of opening upon the
town, and of ordering the troops to advance,
when you had but one gun and not solitary SOL
der, and all for the purpose" las you say "of
securing an unmoested entrance Of the squad
ron into the river"
1t would be difficult, if not impossible, TO point
to another instance of similar folly and the most
charitable construction that can be given to it is
that in the citation of first command, you had
truly imagined yourself actually in command of
the naval and military attachments then ap-
preaching and within short distance of the
scene OF your exploits.
With due respect
(Signed) NJ. c. PERRY.
ommander-in-Chief Of the Home Squad.
To Lieutenant CHARLES 6. HUNTER,
United States Navy.