Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-05-14

ring The night, with strong breeze and rough sea.
Towards morning il having moderated, | stood
close in 10 the bar, and again opened upon The
forts. Shortly afterwards discovered TWO horse
men upon The beach, holding Write flag, and a
boat crossing the bar al The same time. This
boat brought me an offer on the part OF The autho.
rites 10 surrender the city. Kermit me here 10
observe, MIR. President, that as there are Two
sides 10 every quesson, so there may be Two re-
sulls 10 every affair Of This kind. Alvarado is
now in our possession; buI lei US suppose that il
was not 10 be; tina, We had been foiled third
time in our efforts 10 take il. What would have
been my position, I say, il |, having refused the
offer of the town when the authorities were ready
10 Weld 1.-THE American forces had been third
time baffed in their efforts 10 capture i'll
MIR. President, The worst that can now hefall me,
is trifle 10 the inlamy and disgrace which would
have remained attached 10 my name, perhaps,
long AFTER was in the grave. lfyou, MIR. Pre-
sidenf, Tor any member OF this honorable Court }
will fancy yourself in my place when The offer Of
capitalization reached me. ] think you must per-
ccive that il placed me in difficult a most en-
barrassing posilion-one that might have got a
much more experienced officer Than myself into
trouble had to decide upon the disobeying of
my orders on The o.e hand, and The possible con-
sequences which my refusal 10 take such re-
spunsibiily might lead 10 on the other. had 10
decide between two courses-lhe one leading 10
present personal safety, and the possibility OF u.
lure infamy; the other TO some personal risk per-
haps, but by which The holor oflhe navy, and my
honor at least, were safe. have stated thus the
view which took of my position, and the mo-
lives on which my actions were founded. | will
moi say, Mr.. Presidcn, llaI, under similar cir
cum stances, you would have taken similar
view of your position; bll think | may say,
without the danger vi DISSENT here or elsewhere,
that, taking the same view did, that you, or any
other member OF This honorable court, would
have done just what did, My summons for the
surrender OF the city Of 'Alvarado" was not
made unlil-lhe authorities hesilaIins 10 sign The
articles Of capiiulalon-l thought myself en-
trapped when il became necessary 10 use strong
measures and strong language. Upon lhe re-
ceplion Of that summons, they signed the ar
ticles, and in the name Of The Uniled States
OF America, | took posse sion OF "Alvarado"
and its dependendencies. Shortly afterwards,
| learned that, after our attack The evening
previous, the garrison had fired the public
vessels spiked and buried heir guns, placed a
large quantity oi government properly chiefly
munitions of war on board Of several small yes
sells, and were proceeding up the river IN The d.
rection OF The city of "rlacoTapam." FOL-
lnred one of them loaded with arms &C., that got
ashore, and burned her TO pr,venl her falling in
TO the hands OF The enemy. Another, worthless
10 ourselves or the ensmy, and abandoned, and
two others, brought 10 "Alvarado." The pur-
suit OF these vessels led me tc the city OF "Tlaca-
Tapam," where ! arrived about Two O'Clock in
the morning; trusting 10 the suddenness Of an At
tack, ordered The jnnla 10 assemble, and de-
manded within thirty minuus an entire and I'M
conditional surrender, and my demands were
complied with. contend, MIR. President, and
gentlemen OF the Court, Ihatall that happened al
Ter the capitulation OF Alvirado, followed as a
natural and necessary consequence (not, how
ever, foreseen By me) when first accepted Of
their offer 10 surrender. contend, thai my crror
consisted in The original disobedience of my or
ders. (Which, from what have since learned !
rsgrel,) and that what did afterwards, was in
great measure obliged 10 do. Knowing that
several small vessels Of The enemy, laden with
military stores, were within my reach, could |
doubt thai il was my duty To destroy or capture
lhem2 Seeing, from the conduct OF The enemy
al Avarado, that panic prevailed among Them.
and that there was prospect Of success, de-
manGed the immediate and unconditional snrreE-
der OF Tla-ca-Tal pam | contend that these two
a.s 'sii-."ad nece: sary consequence my FIRST
OisobedIence Of oTdSfe or the tno.i-o .i-s - ..
pa
coult, and hope mat you will considsrlhem, loge-
Their with The difficulties Of my position, and my
want OF experience in such matters, as some paia.
licn Of my fault. regret my error, apart from Inc
trouble il has brough, upon me. regret il, be-
cause i, has given offence 10 the ccmmander-in-
chief. speak from rumor only have no GER
tain knowledge OF the iaci) as have heard there
was an understanding between The com.nander-in-
chief, and Inc commanding general ashore, that
there was 10 be combined attack made by the
squadron and army, on these places il might
thus seem iha, had sought TO rob OF lis us par
ticipalion in This affair that arm OF the service
which in The progress OF this war, has acquired
for itself and for our country, so much honor and
glory Nothing could be farther from my inien-
iions-l knew nothing f any such understanding.
One or Two matters remain 10 be touched upon
am charged in the Two lst spec. OF the Isl
charge, with arrogaling 10 myself The power OF
ommander-in-chef, in signing articles Of capt.
tulalion, &C., although aware Of the immediate
approach OF the ommander-in.chief In regard
to the first, my error was one Of simple ignorance.
knew that had obtained possession OF these
places, and meant of course 10 hand them over
10 The first senior officer that might approach; but
had moi the remoiest intention OF exercising any
OF the powers Of commander-in.chief. knew or
perhaps should rather say had reason 10 believe,
that The cummandcr-in-chiei would arrive In a
short time; hut did not know precisely when,
still less did know that he was nearer than We
ra Cruz
In the 2nd specification OF the 2nd charge, am
charged with having disobeyed an order 10 call al
specified time al the commander-in chiefs quar-
terS.
Gentlemen was so absorbed 10y the difficulties
that surrounded me, lha, his order 10 me 10 report
tc
NAV seem lame excuse, but il has al least The
merit of truth But, Mr.. President, none OF US
are entirely free from occasional acts Of lorgeiul-
ness the honorable member yesterday who gave
in his testimony, made mistake, and must say
that The confidence with which leave my case in
hi. hancs has heen increased by The handsome
manner in which hp corrected his error when re-
minded of it.
Mr.. President and gentlemen OF the Couri,
have been much mortified and excited, by The
many and numerous difficulties that surround me.
have aimed at nothing but the glory OF my
Countryside honor and dignity OF The service 10
which belong leave my case with perfect
confidence in your hands
c. G. HUNTER, Lieut.. Comdg
FINDINGS AND SENTENCE or THE COURT.
The first specification OF The first charge proven.
The second specification VI The first charge proven.
TIE third specification Of he frs, 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 him
self in person 10 Capt Samuel L. Breese, accord
ing 10 his orders; BIZ, proven that The accused en-
tered the harbog OF Alvarado, instead Of assisting
in bluckading that port.
The second specification OF the second charge
proven, and The accused guilty OF The second
charge. The Court then, upon due deliberaton
upon the above findings, pronounced the follow
ing sentence.
That The accused, Lieut.. Charles G. Hunter
United States Navy, be dismissed from the United
States Home Squadron and reprmanded by The
ommander-in-chief, which reprimand is 10 be
read on the quarterback Of every vessel OF the
squadron, in The presence Of The officers and crew.
The above is true copy from The records OF
The Court.
(signed,) ]. BRYAN, Judge Advocate.
THE REpRlMANp OF COMMODORE PERRY.
UNITED STATES FLAG SHIP MISSISSIPPI,
ANTON Llz.Rpo, April 9, l047.
SiR-l enclose herewith the findings and SEN
lence OF the Court Martial, convened on The 7!h
instant, for your trial, which imPoses upon me The
task OF expressing, in The form OF reprimand, my