Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-05-21

ing the Unlleu states otedliicI HSCOufge.
Charge First-Treating with contempt his
superior, being in the execution OF his office:
Specification First-ln that ne. the said
Lieutenant Charles G. Hunter, U. 5. Navy,
did, on the 31st day of March, lS47, being
then in command of the U. 5. steamer Scourge,
enter the port of Alvarado, and did there AFRO
gate to himself, (the said Lieut. Charles q.
Hunter,) the authority and power. that are
vested only in the Commander Chief, by
entering into stipulations for, and receiving
the surrender of Alvarado and its dependen-
cies.
Specification Second-In that the said Lieut..
Charles G. Hunter, U. S. Navy, did, on the
31st day of March, 1917, with the u S. steam
er Scourge under his command, proceed from
Alvarado to the town of Tla-co- Talpam, with
out any orders or authority, and there demand
the surrender of the said town of Tla-co- Tai
pam. and enter into and sign articles of ca
pitulation, although aware of the immediate
approach of the Commander in Chief, to whom
alone such powers are confded-thus treating
with contempt the authority of his superiors,
being in the execution OF his Office.
Specification Third-In that the said Lieut.
Charles G. Hunter, U. S. Navy, did, on the
31st day of March, 1S47, in proceeding from
Alvarado to 1la-co-Talpam, capture four
| schooners, one of which he set on fire and
burnt, and another he abandoned, thus substi-
tuting his own will for the discretion of the
Commander Chief, who was within few
| hours reach of communication, and treating
with contempt the authority of his superior; ;
all of which is in violation OF the laws OF the
United States, as contained in san act for the
better government of the navy of the United
States, approved April 23d, 1900"
| Charge Second.--Disobedien of orders.
l. Specification First-Tn that he, the said
Lieut.. Charles G. Hunter, United States Navy,
having been ordered to report to CAPT. Samuel
L. Breese, and to assist in blockading the port
of Alvarado, did, in obedience or disregard OF
said orders, enter the harbor and take posses
sion OF the town of Alvarado.
Specification Second-In that he, the said
Lieut.. Charles G. Hunter. United States Navy,
having been ordered on the evening of the LIST
April, 1847, to report himself in person to the
Communicating Chief at his quarters in the
town of Alvarado, at o O'Clock. A. M, of the
following morning, did disobey said order; all
of which is in violation of the laws of the
United States, as contained in sc an act for the
better government of the Navy of the United
States, approved April 23d, 1907
(Signed,) NJ C. PERRY,
Commanding Home Squadron.
! DEFENCE OF LIEUT.. HUNTER.
Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Court
| will not trouble you with unnecessary ver-
biage, but proceed at once to the point. NV
CHARGE to report to Capt Breese, and to assist
in block aiding Alvarado did not consider
them (can they be fairly considered y as for
bidding me to annoy the enemy in every way
in my power, as modifyingin the slightest de-
gree the general duty Of every officer having
a military command in time of war, to modest
and cripple the enemy in every possible way
On the evening of the 3Oth of March, being
sufficiently near, opened upon the fort at AL
varado with shot and shells Apprehensive
of a norther, | stood off and on during the
night, with a strong breeze and rough sea.
Towards morning, it having moderated, stood
close in to the bar, and again opened upon the
forts. Shortly afterwards | discovered two
horsemen upon the beach, holding a white
flag, and a boat crossing the bar at the same
time. This boat brought me an offer on the
part of the authorities to surrender the CITY
Permit me here to observe, Mr.. President, that
as there are two sides to every question, sc
there may be two results to every affair of this
kind. Alvarado is now in our possession
but let us suppose that it was not to be, thai
we bod been fooled third time in our efforts
to take it. What would have been my posi-
ton, say, if having refused the offer of the
town when the authorities were ready to yield
1.-THE American forces had been third time
| bafaed in their efforts to capture 1t? Mr.. Pres
, dent, the worst that can now befall me, is
| trife to the infamy and disgrace which would
have remained attached to my name, perhaps
long after was in the grave. If you, Mr.
5 President, Cor any member of this honorabl.
, Court,) will fancy yourself in my place wher
the offer of capitulaton reached me, thinl
you must perceive that it placed me in diff
cult, most embarrassing position-one tina
might have got much more experienced off
| Ger than myself into trouble. had to decid,
hand, and the possible consequences which
my refusal to take such responsibility nigh
| lead to on the other had to decide between
two courses-the one leading to present per
2 sonal safety. and the possibility of future in
l fanny; the other to some personal risk, per
haps, but by which the honor of the navy
and my honor, at least, were safe. | hav
!, stated thus the view which took of my 20
, sition, and the motives on which my actions
> were founded. | will not say, Mr.. President
that, under similar circumstances, you woult
q have taken similar view of your position
but | think | may say, without the de niger O
dissent here or elsewhere, that, taking tn
same view did, that you, or any other mem
her OF this honorable court, would have don
> just what did. My summons for the surren
der of the city of {" Alvarado" was not mad
untll-the authorities hesitating to sign tn
articles of capitulaton-I thought myself en-
: trapped; when it became necessary to us
q strong measures and strong language: upol
the reception of that summons, they signe'
, the articles, and, in the name of the Unite
States of America, | took possession of d" Al
o varado" and its dependencies Shortly after
wards, | learned that, after our attack tn
evening previous, the garrison had fired tn
public vessels, spiked and buried their guns
placed large quantity of government proper
y ty, chiefly munitions of war, on board of sew
eral small vessels, and were proceeding up tn
q river in the direction of the city of ssTla-co
= Talpam." followed, as | conceived it to b
n my duty, and captured one of them loade
n with arms, &c, thatgot ashore, and burne
n her to prevent her falling into the hands {
4 the enemy. Another, worthless to ourselve
h or the enemy, and abandoned, and two Others
! | brought to &c Alvarado.' The pursuit .
r these vessels led me to the city OF " Tla-cc
$ Taipam,'' where arrived about two ocloc
# in the morning; trusting to the suddenness {
If an attack. | ordered the lunta to assemble, Ar
o demanded within thirty minutes an entire an
; unconditional surrender, and nv demand
. | were complied with 7 contend Mr. prec