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

fact.) as have heard that there WAS !.
derstanding between the commander en-
and the commanding general ashore, that tbsa,'
was to be combined attack made h, 81
squadron and army, On these places: if n;a sle
thus seem that had sought to rob of its gu!
participation in this affair, that arm of he !aS'
vice which, in the progress of this war Ia
acquired for itself and for our coun,ry "aS
much honor and glory Nothing conl5 20 20
farther from my Intentions knew no,L;s Oe
OF any such understanding. One or two mug
tiers remain to be touched upon. am cbas
ged In the two LIST spec of the LIST cha .al'
with arrogating to myself the power Of So
mander-in- chief, in signing articles of CAM. Mn
lation, &C., although aware of the immef;..
approach of the commander-in-chief. In s
gard to the first, my error was one of smn1.
ignorance | knew that had obtained npu
session of these places, and meant of cons pos'
to hand them over to the first senior officer ths.
might approach; but had not the remot.s,
intention of. exercising any of the powers ~
commander-in-chief. | knew, or perhans
should rather say had reason to believe H..
the commander n-chief would arrive in sbos.
time but did not know precisely when st;n
less did know that he was nearer than Vsra
Cruz ,.
In the 2nd specification of the 2nd charc.
am charged with having disobeyed an orderto
call at specified time at the COMMANDERS
chiefs quarters.
Gentlemen, was so absorbed by the diff
culties that surrounded me, that his order n
me to report myself, entirely escaped nv re-.
collection,-this may seem lame excuse. bnt
1t has at least the merit OF truth. But, M
President, none of US are entirely free from
occasional acts of forgetfulness; the honorabI.
member yesterday who gave in his testimonv
made. mistake, and | must say that the CON-
| fidence with which leave nv case in hi.
hands has been increased by the handsome
manner in which he corrected his error when
reminded of it.
MIR. President and gentlemen of the Court
l have been much mortified and excited. nv
the many and numerous difficulties that sur.
| round me. have aimed at nothing but the
| glory OF my country-the honor and dignity
OF the service to which, belong leave nv
case with perfect confidence in your hands,
c. G. HUNTER, Lieut.. Condo
FINDINGS AND SENTENCE OF THE COURT,
The first specification of the first charge pro.
ven. The second specification of the first
charge proven. The third specification of the
first charge proven.
And the accused guilty of the first charge.
The first specification of the second charge
not proven, of the accused not having report.
ed himself in person to Capt. Sam'l L. Breese,
according to his orders; but proven that the
accused entered the harbor of Alvarado, in.
stead of assisting in blockading that port
The second specification of the second charge
proven, and the accused guilty of the second
charge. The Court then, upon due delibera
ton upon the above findings, pronounced the
| following sentence:
That the accused, Lieut.. Chas G. Hunter,
United States Navy, be dismissed from the
United States Home Squadron, and reprman.
ded by the commander chief, which repri.
mand is to be read on the quarter deck of ev.
cry vessel of the squadron, in the presence Of
the officers and crew.
The ADORE is true copy from the records
of the Court
(Signed,) J. BRYAN, Judge Advocate.
THE REPR1MAND OF COMMODORE PERRY
United States Flag Ship Mississippi
Anton Lzardo. April 9, 1S47.
Sir enclose herewith the findings and sen.
tence of the Court Martial, convened on the
7th inst, for your trial, which imposes upon
me the task of expressing, in the form of rep.
rimand, my opinion Of your conduct as proven
before the Court Martial.
| However lenient the sentence in your case
may seem to be, have approved it, as I can
conceive of no punishment more severe than
a dismissal in time of war from squadron &C.
lively engaged before the enemy. The sen.
tence, while it condemns in a most signal
manner, your conduct, cuts you off from fur.
Their association in this squadron, with men
whose patient endurance of the most trying
duties, and whose character for courage ODE.
) dence, and subordination, have won my high.
est appreciation.
How different has been your course .
Scarcely day on the Station, and you disobey
order, arrogate to yourself the duties belong
ing to Commander in Chief, talk of opening
upon the town, and of ordering the troops to
advance when you had but one gun, and mol
a solitary soldier, and &C all for the purpose,
(as you say,) "of securing an unmolested en-
trance of the squadron 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
detachments then approaching, and within
short distance of the scene of your exploits
With due respect,
(Signed,) M. C. PERRY,
Commander in-Chief of Home Squadron.
: To Lieut. CHARLES G. HUNTER,
United States Navy.