Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-02-05
VIM. RADFoRD, Lieut.. U. s. Navy.
STATEMENT BY LIEUT.. ROWAN.

During last spring. whilst was residing in San Diego
newspaper called the Californian reached that place,
which contained article under the editorial head denying
TO Commodore Stockton the rank of commandern-chief of
the expedition from ''San Diego" to the Pueba or Los
Angeles
shortly after the receipt Of this paper letter from Com
modore Stockton dated San Diego" March 8, ls47,
tanning interrogatores relation that expedition,
and addressed Lieut. Minor Capt Zeln, Puser Speden,
and myself presented TO me, with the answers to those
nteogatores, already prepared, then supposed by
of the officers, TO whom that letter addressed Beev
ing hathe editorial, in the Californian" alluded to, did
injustice to Commodore Stockton and the navy, in denying
him the rank OF commandern Of the expedition, in the
excitement Of the affixed my signature to the pa
per thus ipsiryaiva, dated March 9, ls47.
few hours reflection and deliberate examination Of the
nterrogaores and replies convinced that had unguad
edy gwen assent statements variance with opinions pre-
viousy expresse and believed by me- and certified TO facts
not wbi5 my personal knowledge observation. resolv
ed instantly 10 withdraw my from that letter. and pre-
pared Immediately substitute of date which will be
found in the Californian" of nth July, ls47, and which
defines what conceive to be the relative position Of Gem
modore Stockton and General Keay during the expedition
to Los Angeles. This substitute handed by of the
officers who signed TO Commodore Stockton that officer
has certified that when he handed the substitute TO Commo
doe Stockton he told him that the other letter Chat contain
ing the ntenogaories and reples) should be destroyed.
Judge, then, Of my surprise and modification when saw
this questionable letter published in the Californian of
the Goth June.
In speaking of Gen. Keamy, in the last paragraph of the
substitute being second in command meant that
sideIed him as having command OF the /" troops.
When reported to Commodore Stockton in San Diego
he told take command Of the sailor part the force.
In two three hours afterwards Commodore Stockton
nounced TO the officers presence Of Gen. Kearny, that
Gen. Keany had kindly volunteered take command Of
the troops" Immediately reported 10 Gen. Kearny and
ordered by him to reman where you are, SIR" re-
ceived all my orders from Gen. Keamy his aid Captain
Emory, in relation to the of my command both
on the march and on the sth and 9th.
have made the above statement in justice TO Gen. Kear
ny TO counerac any false impressions which might be made
by the unauthorized publication Of the paper containing the
nterogaores and replies which should have been destroyed
and presumed had been.
The certificate that appended to the letter, written by
Purser Speden from Cudad de los Angeles, is likewise in
tended to reute the Objectionable editorial alluded to-
there certify that I believe his written Of the march
to be circumsanay correct" without endorsing his opinions
or inferences-notbing
Purser Speiden has also referred to and published our
letter (the substitue) without IFS address TO Commodore
Stockton. This was unauthorized by
8. g. ROWAN, Lieut. U. s. N.
U. s. SHIp WARnES, Bar OF MosTKREr, Auo. !, ls47.