The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-05-10

coed at once to the point My orders were las stated
and to assist in blockading Alvarado did not con
slider them lean they be fairly considerably as forbiddng
modifying in the slightest degree the general duty Of
every officer having military command In time OF war,
hs ana nI %
opened upon the fort at Mvarado with shot and shells
Apprehensve Of norther, stood of and on during
morning II having moderated stood close In to the bar
again opened upon the forts Shortly afterwards dis
covered two horsemen upon the beach holding II white
flag and boat crossing the bar at the time This
boat brought offer the part Of the authorities to
that as ans s wo 81 to- every
question, so there may be two results to every
affair of this kind. Alvarado Is now in our possess
sion; but let suppose that II not to be; that
we had been foiled a third time in efforts to
take it. What would have been my position. say II
having refused the offer Of the town when the author
ties ready to yield 1.-THE American forces had
been third time bafed in their efforts to capture 1t
Mr. President the worst that can now befal me- Is
trie to the infamy and disgrace which would have re-
manned attached to my name perhaps, long after was
In the grave If you Mr. President Tor any member of
this honorable Court will fancy yourself In my place
when the offer of equalization reached think you
must perceive that 1t placed me in a difficult most
embarrassing postion-one that might have got much
more experienced officer than myself into trouble had
to decide upon the disobeyng of my orders the
to take such responsibility might lead to on the other
had to decide between.two courses-the leading
present personal safety and the possibility Of future in
fanny; the other to personal risk perhaps but by
which tho honor Of the navy and my honor, at least
safe have stated thus the view which took Of
my position, and the motives on which actions
founded will not say Mr. President that under similar
circumstances you would have taken n similar view Of
your position but think may say without the danger
of dissent here elsewhere that taking the view
did that you, any other member Of this honorable
court would have done just what did. My summons
for the surrender Of the city of "Alvarado' not
made until the authorities hesitating to sign the ar
of capitulation thought myself entrappcd when
language. Upon the reception Of that summons they
signed the articles and in the fthc United States
tendencies shortly afterwards learned that after our
attack the evening previous the garrison had fred the
public vessels spiked and buried their guns placed
large quantity Of government property chiefly NUM-
tions Of war board of several small vessels and
proceeding the river in the direction Of the city of
F1aco Talpam." followed, as conceived it to be
my duty and captured Of them loaded with arms,
&c. that got ashore and burned her to prevent her fall
ing into the hands Of the enemy Another worthless to
ourselves the enemy and abandoned and two others
brought to Avarado" The pursuit of these vessels led
to the city Of "Flaca Tapam, where arrived about
two O'Clock in the morning trusting to the suddennoss
Of the attack ordered the unta to assemble, and de-
manded within thirty minutes entire and uncondi-
tonal surrender, and my demands complied with.
contend, Mr. President, and gentlemen Of the Court
that all that happened after the capitulaton of Avara
however foreseen by mel when first accepted Of their
offer to surrender contend that my error consisted in
the original disobedience Of my orders (Which, from
what have since learned, regret), and that what
did afterwards, in great measure obliged to do
Knowing that several small vessels Of the enemy laden
with military stores within my reach, could doubt
that it was my duty destroy capture them! See
ing from the conduct of the enemy Alvarado that
panic prevailed among them and that there pros
pect OF success demanded the immediate and uncon-
ditional surrender Of Fla-ca-Talpam. contend that
these two acts followed as necessary consequence to
my first dsobedience Of orders or the motives that led
to that STEP have made honest exposition to the
Court and hope that you will consider them, together
with the difficulties of my position and my want Of
experience in such matters as some palation of my
ault regret my error apart from the trouble 1t has
tbs sneak
only have certain knowledge of the factD rs
have heard there understanding between tho
commander in-chef and the commanding general
ashore that there to be combined attack made
by the squadron and army on these places; II might
thus seem that had sought to rob Of its just partcpa
ton in this affair that arm Of the service which in the
progress of this has acquired for itself and for
country, so much honor and glory Nothing could be
farther from my Intentions knew nothing of any
such understanding One two matters remain to be
touched upon charged in the two LIST spec Of the
n-chief in signing articles of capitalization, &c,
although aware Of the immediate approach of the
mander chief In regard to the first my error was
one OF simple ignorance. knew that had obtained
Of these places and meant Of course to hand
proach; but had not the remotest intention Of
cising any Of the powers OF commander in-chief
knew or perhaps should rather say had reason to be-
lieve that the commander-in-chief would arrive in
short me but did not know precisely when, still les
| did know that he than Vera Cruz.
In the and specification Of the 2nd charge am charg
ed with having dsobeyed order to call at specified
time at the commander-in-ch chiefs quarters.
Gentlemen, absorbed by the difficulties thai
surrounded that his order to me to report myself
trely escaped my recollection,this may lame
excuse but it has at least the merit of truth But Mr.
acts Of forget the honorable member yesterday
who gave in his testimony, made mistake, and must
say that the confidence with which leave my In
hs hands has been by the handsome manner
In which he corrected his error when reminded Of it,
Mr. President and gentlemen Of the Court have been
much mortified and excited by the many and numerous
difficulties that surround me- have aimed at nothing
but the glory of my countrywide honor and dignity of
the service to which belong leave my case with per-
feet confidence In hands
''' '''' c. q. HUNTER, Lieut. Comdg
FINDINGS AND SENTENCE OF THE COURT.
Tho first specification OF the first charge proven
The second specification OF the first charge 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 reported himself in person to
Captain Samuel L. Brecse, according to his orders; but
that the accused entered the harbor Avara
do instead Of assisting in blockadng that port
The second specification Of the second charge proven
and the accused guilty Of the second charge The Court
then upon due elaboration upon the above findings pro-
nounced the following sentence:
THAT the accused, Lieut. Charles g. Hunter, United
States Navy be dismissed from the United States Home
Squadron and reprimanded by the commanderin chief
which reprmand is to be read the quarterback Of
every vessel OF the squadron in the presence Of the Off
The above Is true copy from the records Of the
Court. (signed) J. BRYAN, Judge Advocate.
THE REpRIMAND OF COMMODORE PERRY.
UNITED STATES FLAG SHIp MssIssIrrr,l
ASror LizARpo, April q, lst7
siR-I enclose herewith the findings and sentence Of
the Court Martial convened on the 7th instant, for
your trial which imposes upon the task Of express
ing in the form OF reprimand my opinion Of your
duct az proven before the Court Martial
However lenicnt the sentence in your may
seem to be- have approved it, ~ can conceive Of no
punishment than dismissal in time Of
from squadron actively engaged before the enemy
The sentence, while II condemns in u most signal
manner your conduct cuts you on from further sssoci
alton in this squadron with men whose patient eudur
ance Of the most trying duties and whose character
courage obedience and subordination have won my
highest appreciation
: How different has been your course Scarcely day
the station and you dsobey orders arroate TO your
self the duties belonging to commander-in chief talk
Of opening upon the town and Of ordering the troops 10
advance when yon had but one gun and not solitary
soldier, and all for the purpose las you sayD OF
securing unmolesed entrance OF the squadron into
the river -, -. 4.
J. IL would be dicult II not impossible, 10 point to
another instance of similar folly and the most char
table construction that be given TO IT, that IN
tho claon of first command you had truly imagined
vourscf actually in command Of the naval and military
attachments then approaching ana with'h SNORT a's
lance Of the Of your exploits
With due respect,
Al