The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-04
[REPoRTEp ron THE REPuBLIc.l
CAPTURE OF ALvARADO.
NAVAL court OF inquiry.

Naval Court OF Inquiry.
Minutes Of The Proceedings Of NaUai Court u
Inquiry concerned at Annapolis, Maryiand' on
the l5M day Of Aprii, 1880 by oirtue Of pre-
cept from the honorable the Secretary Of the Navy.
TUESDAY, April %, 1850.
Captain Isaac Mayo, sworn. 4.
Oourt.-Were you employed in the Gulf Of Mex
ico Scr
-Anstoer Yes; was captain of the Mississippi
CoTt.-Are you acquainted with any circum-
stances connected with the surrender Of Alvarado,
&c.2
44nstoer On the 30th March, in the cabin OF the
vessel, was informed that Captain Breese and Lieu
tenant Hunter had been ordered off Alvarado;
was lying at SACRIFICES; heard the order given
Captain Breese; not sure whether Lieutenant Hun
ter was present or not; did not read the order;
spoke to Captain Breese, and he mentioned its re-
ceipt; Commodore Perry told them to go down and
lay off the river far enough as not to alarm the
people on shore; the Scourge, commanded by Lieu
tenant Hunter, got under weigh and stood down
south; the Albany Captain Breese) also weighed
but was becalmed, and again anchored; same
evening il was reported to me that gun had been
heard down south; Commodore Perry appeared
very uneasy; he remarked that he feared all was
not going on right, and directed me to place an
officer on the lookout; soon afterwards heard the
report of another gun; Commodore Perry became
more uneasy, and going on deck, repeated what
his orders had been; the Scourge not in sight;
orders given if report of gun should be heard
during the night to report it; next morning heard
another gun; Commodore Perry was still more
uneasy, and sent for Captain Sands to come on
board, and ordered him to go down the coast and
what was the matter; he had just returned from
taking troops over the Madein river; on the first
of April; following morning Captain Sands re-
turned, and reported to Commodore Perry that all
was quiet below; during afternoon Of that day got
under weigh; Commodore Perry directed US to
look out for signals from the army; flashes were
given from the vessels in return; stood down, and
on the morning of the 3lst March, anchored off the
mouth of Alvarado river; Commodore Perry joined;
saw troops on shore; on the following morning he
sent for me to come shore, and said he had ap-
pointed me governor Of Alvarado; he gave me a
memorandum Of what he wished done; was re-
quired to obtain all the guns and munitions of war;
the good to send of, and to destroy the rest;
ondly, to send to Tlacotalpan to engage horses for
the army; sent Lieutenant Griffin up for that
purpose; my papers were all lost with my bag
gage) returning home; can furnish no minutes;
stated the price, or if he did, what it was; Colonel
Scott arrived, went up to Tlacotalpan, and pro-
cured the horses; he applied to for bread for his
men; found two men on each horse; gave each two
biscuits; there fifty men, and consequently
could have had but one hundred and twenty five
horses; Colonel Scott said there plenty of
horses, but they not fit for service; also said
the good horses had been driven off by Santa Annals
army; secured all arms, &C.. inquired where all
the inhabitants were, and was told they kept close
house, under direction of their priests; offered them
protection in civil and religious privileges, and
they again reappeared and resumed business; Gen.
eral Quitman departed day or twQ after went
ashore; the alcade told of the surrender of AL
varado, and l went with my interpreter to the
town hall and took copies of the terms of capitula-
ton.
Commodore Pery.-Did you not send Lieutenant
Griffin to Tlacotalpan to purchase horses under
previous stipulations with the authorities9
Anssoer. Perry may have told me
such the case; think he did, think there was
such memorandum; certainly had directions to
send; Commodore Perry told me Alvarado had 80
stipulated to furnish horses.
Commodore Pery-Did not the country border
ing Alvarado river and its tributaries abound with
horses?
4Ans,o1.-Yes, but they were driven off.
Court, Cnterposing do you speak of your own
knowledge Of the fact?
Anscr.-In passing up and down the river, had
them; been told they had been driven of.
Cotrt.--Were there any beeves3
14nstoer. Commodore Perry directed me to keep
beeves on hand; found no difficulty in procuring
them.
CoHt.-How in regard to horses?
4Ansicr.-Saw herds Of horses; tried TO get good
one, but could not
Commodore Pery.-When you procured the sup
plies referred TO- not the United States author
ity established at Alvarado and Tlacotalpan, with
custom houses, and incumbent ON the Mexican
thorities to furnish them under previous stipula-
tionsS
1dnstor.-Yes.
Commodore Perry submitted to the court certain
papers, written in Spanish, which he thought had
been sent him by Captain Mayo; he had not sought
them.
The court caused Professor Girault, of the Naval
School, TO be called, TO whom these papers were
submitted for the purpose Of translation be re-
turned, when translated, for the consideration of
the court.
Captain Mayo's testimony was continued.
Captain Huntsr.--You allude to the pick of the
horses having been driven off from Alvarado; do
you kno" ~ what period tney were 30 drlyenf
Ans,ou.-The alcalde said they had been sent to
Alvarado for Santa Anna, but driven off upon the
approach Of the American forces
Court, (vcrbally. )-What forces'
AnroU.-The alcalde told me If Lieutenant
Hunter had not approached, these horses would
have been taken by the American forces.
Captain Hunfu.-How far was Santa Anna from
Alyarado,
AnsD0.-Can't say; know nothing but what
heard.
Court, (verbally well, what did your hear.
Anspo.-They retrcated before the American
forces took possession Of Alvarado.
Captain Hunto.-How many guns did you find
at Alvarado when you went there; and how many
mounted, and how many dismountedl
dnnon.-Csn't say; there were a great many;
most were dismounted.
Cotrf.-When you obtained the horses and cat
tie, they from individuals or Mexican au-
thoritiesl
Anror. Writing TO the slcalde Of Tlscotalpsn,
informing the alcalde of Alvarado, they were
furnished by them; may have purchased some