The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-06
[REpoRTED FoR THE REPUBLIC
CAPTURE OF ALVARADO.


[REpoRTEp FoR THE REpUBLIc.l
CAPTURE OF ALvARADO.
Naval Court OF Inquiry.
Minutes Of the Proceedings Of Naval Court Of In
qtiry, convened at annapolis, Maryland, ON the
18th day Of Aril, 1850, BY Virtue Of a precept
from the honorable the Secretary Of the Many.
[Concluded.1
SATURDAY, April 81, 1885,
The court met.
Captain IdtnaH recalled.
Captain Hunter Did the army move along the
beach?
Ans,oer. them at Anton Lizardo; can't say
how far they continued it,
Captain Hunter. -How many troops and what
the naval force engaged in the march towards AL
varado?
AnsUer.-Of the troops, knew nothing; all small
vessels of the squadron and some large ships.
Captain Hunter Were you ordered to contract
for horses, and by whom?
Anstoer.-Not to contract, but to make terms for
| their delivery; by Commodore Perry.
Captain Hunter Did you find any difficulty in
arranging for delivery OF horses mules and cattle;
if So it attributable to the premature surrender
of Alvarado?
Ans,oer-No difficulty; to deliver FIVE hum
dred; said it was all they could procure.
Court.-When you made the terms, did they as
| sign any reasons for not being able to furnish
more?
-Ansioer.-No reason.
The court adjourned.
MONDAY, April 30, 1850.
The court met.
Passed Midshipnan Temple, sworn.
Cotrt.-Were you employed in the Gulf of Mex
leo, &c.?
-AnsDer Yes in the steamer Scourge
CoTf.-Are you acquainted with any crcum-
stances connected with surrender of Alvarado SC. )?
Anstoer.-Left SACRIFICES on Both March, arrived
| off ARarado river afternoon; on way down
preparations were made for crossing the bar at
night and cutting out vessels lying in the stream;
of the bar fired two guns at fort; high
as to cause an abandonment Of the boat expedition.
During the night, standing off and on, could see
| the enemy burning their vessels; next morning
fired another gun at the fort when about firing
another, it was reported that there were horsemen
on the beach carrying flag of truce; soon after
boat was seen coming out, with white flag also;
we then hoisted white flag; the boat, with the
captain Of the fort, came alongside, and reported
| that the enemy had fled during the night frs
firing their vessels, and the town being without
defence, he was sent by the alcalde TO surrender
il; the captain of the fort piloted in the river
before crossing the bar caused the white flag 10 bs
hauled down; anchored off Alvarado Lieuten-
| ant Marine, with others, and the two Mexi-
cans went ashore; met the authorities, and re.
ceived a surrender of the town; il in writing;
they returned board, and / was ordered TO
hold possession of the place until superior off,
Ger should arrive; selected five men; went ashore;
| the American flag was hoisted little fort
| in the town; went into town about sunset or
dered my men TO occupy small fort along the
river, upon which hoisted another American flag;
thinking it possible General Quitman might arrive
during the night and my campfire, I ordered
the alcalde 10 furnish me with courier, and mott
fed General Quitman that held the place; next
morning the squadron came in sight; the place
occupied about two miles down the river dis
| tant from the town; boat came in; went on board
the flag ship and reported TO Commodore Perry;
at his order brought my men back, and went on
board myself returning, saw General Quitman
/ the Scourge then came down the river, and took
my men on board Of her.
Cowf.-Why did you think General Quitman
might come in during the nights
| Ansicc.-Alcade told me large body Of our
| troops were within ten miles Of the town.
Commodore Pery-What was the condition Of
| the forts at Alvarado and its vicinity, and was
there any disposition TO resist the Scourge or mo-
lest your squad1
Ans,oer .-fhe forts generally were in bad repair;
most Of them sand forts near mouth Of river
one had four carronades mounted, one unloadcd
another wth ordinary charge, and two loaded 10
the muzzle; and mentioned several other forts
with dismounted pieces of cannon along the
shores, &c.
Ouptain Htmter.-Can you state how many in
habitants at AlvaradoI
Ans,or.-Apparently, the ordinary citizens
cannot say as TO number previous TO occupation.
Captain H,mter.-Did you hear any remarks
made by Commodore Perry relative TO the officers
of the Scourge, in the matter of taking Alvarado?
The Court, after deliberaton, with closed doors,
declared this question inadmissibc.
Captain Huntsr.--I have no further question to
ask the Witness and no desire to detain the court
longer. My clerk, Mr. Mcintosh, Colonel Davis,
| (of one of the Departments at Washington,) who
aid TO General Qutman, and Mr.. Pnngle,
| (now retired citizcn,) who was passed mid
shipman in the Scourge, are absent, but am will
ing to rest the matter with the court.
| Commodore Perry.-I desire 10 explain in refer
ence TO certain papers My letters to the Secretary
OF the Navy OF the 4th and 10th Of April 1s47, with
enclosures, were transmitted, now feel sure, by
the same conveyance; on inquiring for them some
time Last month at the Department, they we're not
on fe-at least that OF the 10th; was there any
note or memorandum of il on file or books of the
Office; wrote TO the Secretary urging that they be
traced OUT and il possible recovered the log book Of
the scourge could not then be found; since then
ceved letter informing me Of the recovery Of the
papers and letters, they having been misplaced
among private papers of the late Secretary, and
conveyed to his home; the papers related TO the
| court martial.
| Captain Hunfsr.-Were the charges preferred by
Commodore Perry against Captain Hunter in the
mslaid papers referred TOT
Ans,cu.-Prcsume they were; they were put up
by my aid, Lieutenant Parker; had received direc-
tion from the Department TO furnish rough copy
Of the records Of that court, which forwarded and
IL is now ON file here. have no more TO say; no
desire TO ask more questions.
\ The court expressing no desire to interrogate
further the witnesses in attendance were released,
| and the court cleared.
The court, after due time 10 make up it's record,
Occupying some two days,) 10 DO forwarded 10 the
Secretary Of the Navy, in accordance with the pre-.