The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-10-10

s,
foman, 10th of March, ls47 asserting his own com;
mand in the expedition, and conradicting editorial
article of the 18th of February, in that paper, claiming
the command for General Kearny
''U. S. FRIGArE CONGRESS,
"Harbor of San Diego March 10, lSf7.
"Io the Editors Of The Californian, Monterey
"GENTLENEN In an editorial article in the Californian
OF the 18th February you may ind the following para
graph:
.'Commodore Stockton announced to the officers that the
choe expedition placed under the command OF General
Kearny himself holding his station commandment CHIEF
of California; and Cen Kearny did command the '0ho<e er
pedition.'
81 take the first opportunity to say 10 you that the
above paragraph not true in any one OF ITS important
particulars 1t not true that placed the DhOle eIped
lion under the command OF Gen Kearny, nor did SO an
nounce II.
son the request of General Kearny, and with the con.
sent of Lieut. Rowan Ito whom, with the consent OF
Lieut. Minor, who had previously held 1t, had gwen
Kearny command the troops and announced it; at
the time stated distinctly that still retained my own
position commander chief; the word California did
not pass my lips upon that occasion.
"Now, Messrs Editors, if you say that delegated,
intended delegate to Gen Kearny, or to any one else
any part Of my duty authority the director of the
expedition, commander chief OF the forces or that
General Keany, any other person but myself, exer
cised pretended to exercise any such power or au
thory from the time left San Diego until we arrived
the Ciudad de los Angeles, then must say to you
that all such statements are false.
"But, Messrs Editors i is quite true that commodore
Stockton did leave San Diego at the head OF the forces at
les in the same way.
There are other most glazing msstatements in the
editorial referred to, which doubt in due season will
be corrected. In the mean time, go on
'sSic tier ad astra."
Your obedient servant,
r. F. STOCKTON.
"P s. This communication has been delayed in the
hope that could be at Monterey before this time.''
Letter from Purser Speden of the 10th of March, to
the same editor conradicting the editorial,
ing himself the author of letter in which an account
of the expedition given, and Commodore Stockton
treated as the commander-n- chief
"U S. SHIP CONGRESS,
'San Diego, March 16, 1s47.
"To the Editors of the Californian, Monterey:
! "GENTLEMEN: have noticed in extra sheet of your
paper under date of the 2sth Of January last
of the battles of the Sh and 9th of January the banks
of the San Gabriel and plains of the Mesa taken from
communication from officer OF the Congress, dated
Ciudad de los Angeles l4th January.
"On referring TO Californian of the 18th of February
following find in the editorial column of that paper the
ton referred to-
Sour object referring this letter. do justice
brave and distinguished officers General Kearny and
az The of this letter states, that in the march from
San Diego Los Angeles the whole was under the imme-
that previous to taking up the line OF march, Commodore
Stockton announced to the officers tha the Whole
placed under the command o General kearny himself
holding his station OF California and
General Kearny did command the whole expedition, and
! Captain Turner the dragons alluded to-
GAS the writer of the communication referred to is the
subscriber, he requests you TO publish the enclosed
papers marked and B. that the public may Judge who
the party is dealing in error and untruths'
''Should the truth of the communication, copy OF
which is herwh enclosed, be sustained BY the evidence
pabe Misrepresentation of the editorial report.
1.-The undersigned has nothing to do with the notices
of the editors in defending the military character of Gen.
Kearny and Captain Mervne which it not his inten-
ton to attack, and he leaves it with the public to judge
how far his expression in the communication, The
attending the Caornians in their fight with Captain
| nd aft ryva ards aIa
them very bold and arrogant Is a matter OF noorety
THE only object Of the undersigned in making the
event that would be interesting TO your American
readers, at least not dreaming it would call forth
| Just attack by you upon his veraclty.
! ''Very respectfully, your obedlent servant,
s. Statement of four naval officers of the 9th of March,
attesting that Commodore Stockton commander
4 in-chief in that expedition:
| "SAN DIEGO, March 8, 1s47
"SR: In answer to your letter of the sth instant we
have state that the expedition from San Diego to the
Ciudad de los Angeles conceived and fitted out by
| Com. Stockton, and commanded by him commander
chief and such he recognised from its concep-
ton TO its successful termination at the Cudad de los
Angeles.
tons during the march COMFORTING with the dignity OF
commander and all flags of truce referred
to him. Commodore Stockton replied to Gen. Flores
(who signed himself COMMANDMENTS chief and governor OF
California; that he would have nothing to do with any
man, set of men, who did not acknowledge him (Com
Stockholm commander chief and governor OF Cali
fornia.
awe considered General Kearny as second in COM
mand from the time left San Diego to the termination
Of the expedition and we believe he was so considered
by all of the officers of the expedition.
"With the highest respect, we remain, your obedient
servants,
S. C. ROWAN, 1t. u. s. NJ, and Major
GEO. MINOR, 1t. U. S. NJ, and @. M
| J.ZElLlN, LIST It, and Bt Capt and A. Bat
i w. SPElDEN, Purser U. S. NJ and Comfy"
6 Statement Of fifteen naval officers including the othe
four attesng the truth of the narrative contained in
the letter of Purser Speiden to the editor OF the Cali
fornian The letter is detailed narrative, written i'm
mediaely after the expedition, and, in recounng the
events, always speaking OF Commodore Stockton az
commander chief, it not being known at Los An
gees at the time of writing that letter Oath January
that General Kearny claimed to have been the com
mander:
"We the undersigned officers of the United States shiI
Congress, who accompanied the troops under the com
mand of Commodore r f. Stockton in the march from
San Diego TO the Cudad de los Angeles and who were
present during the fight OF the sh and 9th of January
do certify to the correctness of the above narration
81. GUEST, Acting Lieutenant
"W. H. THOMPSON, do do
81. ZElLlN, LIST Lieut. and Bv't Capt
u. M. c.
a. M. DUNCAN, Acting Master.
&c. EvERSFIELD, Asst Surgeon
ct. Lee Mdshipman.
"B. +. WELLS, do.
"P. H. HAYWOOD, do, and Acting
Lieut.. on the march.
"R. c. DUVALL do do
''W. SIMMONS, CONS Clerk.
81 SOUTHWICK, Carpenter.
81. Ped, Salmaker