The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-05-08
THE CAPTURE OF ALVARADO.
THE NAVAL COURT OF INQUIRY.
SIXTH DAY.
TESTIMONY oF LIEUT.. HUNTER.


connected with the surrender Of Alvarado nc ! A
The scourge arrived Vera Cruz on the 2sh OF March
1647; while anchored in the harbor Commodore Perry
come alongside. in his boat; whilst passing the heet
at SAcrihcos. and in the midst OF them Com Perry
ordered to proceed up To the castle did so andan
chored under its walls remained there until the Amer
lean flag had been hoised At the city and inc castle
on the rame day proceeded with the sconye 10 Sscrh-
co.'s and anchored: next morning received an order
from Commodore Perry. board the Mississippi to as
sst Captain Breese of that vessel IN the bpckaue OF
Avarado; IL written order was in the cabin OF
the Mississippi; Captain Breese in the cabin at the
time reported him verbally. whilst Ia the cabin;
Commodore Perry alongsid" of the scourge, the
same morning and urged me To hasten IN direction OF
Alvarado; / promptly proceeded and arrived off the
bar at the mouth the river. about dusk perceived
fort on a h fred shot or shell at II; 1t came
to blow; and there being heavy swell stood of aud
during the night; the next morning stood in, and
seeing number of hon semen the beach. presumed
to be cavalry. ordered Lieutenant Marine to fire
gun upon them; gun was fred; after shot white
flag hosted by the Mexcans upon n staff or lance
Mt the same time. boat coming the mouth of
the river with a white tag flying; directed the FIR
ing to and caused white flag to he hoistei ut
the forehead Of tn. Seourge; the in the boat
came on hoard; my Interpreter lieutenant Marine)
informed me think. that they were the captain OF
the fort the acade and pilot they said the troops
bad evacuat' d the city during The nsht and were re-
treating in the direction Of Tac1talpau. asked this
deputation if they had a pilot with them they told
they had; Immediately directed him 70 pilot me in
tbe river Anchored imned atcly OF the town.
(Alvarado) close ashore sent Lieutenant Marine
shore with orders for assemblage of the town
ri and 10 demand an unconditional SURE nler of the
place The surrender received. and / placed
Passed Midshpman Temple with five or seven men, TO
hold possession Of il until some superior officer arri
we'd and then to hand it TO him Got under weigh
and proceeded in pursut towards Thcotalpan; in
passing up the river discovered vessel, from which
men escaping to the shore; ordered Passed Mid
shipman Pringe to TAXI possession OF their vessel and
with armed men he pursued the retreatng party into
the chspparal when they escaped him: directed Act
ing. Master Bankhcad to go board this ehooner and
following him mysslf found her to be loaded with
shells rocks powder and muskets; she scuttled;
the musket locks broken aud the powder was
wet; everything board totally unit for service;
ordered Bankhead to burn her. and. after burn-
ing her to the waters edge to follow the Soourge up
the river: whilst procerdng the Scourge captured
two three other vessels About two In the morning
of the lst of April anchored with spring cable close
to the town Of Tlacotapan: hred "A gun at it: sent
Lieutenant Marine ashore with orders to demand
surrender of the town giving him twenty minutes to
report after some consultation the authorities
on To the Scourge and rendered me unconditional
surrender which | rceiy d. About twelve. during
the day got under weigh and proceeded back to Ava
rado where i arrived IN same evening immediately
went on shore ana ortcd to the chief
of the American squadron: returned to the Sc0urgs
ana hndibg Prtngle whom | had left in charge Of
prize vessel had not returned aud fearful acct
dent might have b.faen him ordered my boat. with
an extra number Of ARMED and my clerk (lIr
Mclntosh) TO join me; poocsedcd up the river some
eight nine miles. Ia assist rrncle if needed: whist
gorg up saw vessel und the land; boarded her and
took possession. and anchored hr off Avarado then
started in search Of Priugle again. but had not
gone far before he returning with his prize
and we returned to the Scourge
Court-Did you receive any orders from Cap
tain Ereese aft the interview alluded 10 In he cabin
OF the Mississippi! A.-None h. asked me il | could
tow him out Conmodre Perry was there the same
morning and ordered me TO go mmed.ateiy to assist
In the blockade
Court Did you receive amy orders from Commodore
Perry. further than stated To assist Captain Brecse
Al od ne verbally told me not TO 20 into Alvarado
TINS was at the same time received the written or
der to assist Captain rresc and given In the cabin of
the Mississippi stated this ut the court. martha
which tried me for disobeying orders don't d,ny IT,
Court-Did Commodore Perry assign any reason for
desiring you not TO enter Alvarado' Al don't
court-Whst were the orders given nv Comma dore
Perry when be came alongside of the scourge A
To proceed at once of Aivarado
Court (vsi hally )-And Hockade9 A-Yes
Court-Did the captain Of the fort aud Others who
youssy VISITED the se"nrgr from the fort assign any
.ehs"hs io1 ne feufAt OF the mexican troops A
None; said they had rr,rcated during the night
Cowt-Lock at thi- copy Of record of court martial
winch ~es shown AND = II that u copy of the or
der giving You by Comma dorr Perry Ayes
Tie court showed Captain Hunter n letter contain
ed In the proc cdings OF the said court and which he
recognized IA having written.
Court You stated you directed white flag to be
hoist'd when r,ceyihgs dtpuiAtoh from the fort NJ
The mouth 81 the river-how long DID you keep 1t ny
ing A.-Cant,ay how long ordered IL to be hoist.
ed In answor 10 one from the shore. to lst them
th, y might GENE on buard my imprcs-ion Is. II
TAKEN down soon after the Mexcans arrived board
with Gag 81 truce.
Court-when the Nrxicans camo on board did
they any thing Of disposition Of thor people to
resist A.-1h.y did not.
Court-Did youlrsn. in any way the strength of the
rctr atir NJ, sesn fr m AIvarado AsLearued
from the alcaldc. or other authorities think that
there were from three 10 avc hundred men also hsarI
cslde Of that place
Court st.te. II you can whether the shot or she'll
you hrt nj the mouth a. the river m short fort
" hon trst FREQ close In towards the fort
think the shot far the fort but can speak
positive as TO wbrth'r II did reach il.
Court-Can a vessel without the bar an proech the
fort nearer than III, bar itself9 A.-Yes.
Court tverbaIy)-whhout crossing the BAR A
court-Dc you know from any reliable source, the
amount Of prop'rt, removed from Avarado, from the
time of your fret appearance of the hsrbor to the pc.
riod u the arrival ~ the army aud navy, ADo not
know they burnt two vsssnls "a saw never heard
Of anything having been removed.
Ccurt-Did the Mexicshs offer any resistance 10 you
before or after entering the Aivarado river! A-Non.
thorities at Avarudo aud faevtapan written or YER
bal THY We r. rsdursd Go writing
Conri-osn you iurnih the original copies Of these
stipulationsi A.-Yes; I will do -oon n. get
Procession Of my papers. which shall do In day
yarsdo that combined moycm,n mt WIS In contempla-
tion upon the town Al h.d no such Instructions
expected an attack would b. made. but did not know
Court t,erbaly)-why did you think so A-Be.
cause tho naval forces moving In that direction
sud that " WIS important TO take II.
Court, (verbelyl-llave you any hiug further to
stste' A.-Nothing txe,pt may desire to correct
or iurnisb scme stst ments
GeueIsl Scott sworn
Question by the court Were you employed In and
about Vera Cur during the latter part Of March ana
early PAR, ~ April lSl7 And N 80 in what cana
city, A i sas there At that time. aud in command
Of the American army.
cited With ths surrender Of Ararado and its de-
psnd,nces or any hing lsadng to resulting there
from II 80 state oil you kbow. / not in
the particular expedition Rgaiust AvRrado. aud can
only sp.sk - that from Ucisl reports made BY
cfcers % the aud fnrce- who served In that csped
ton; the movement dttsd out AZ the instance of
Commodore P,rry and thr junciure of the two
brsnchts 81 the service the army aud navy ganer
ally arranged or eEr'd upon by him and myself,
Briradicr General Cu'tman with some cavalry half
a battery sud some general stsd officers 81 the
army cCmpostd the Lara part ~ the expeditions re-
ceived reports from Quitman 81 the expedition and
frCm Captain Irwin 81 the Cuartrmast-rs depart
Mt Who cent with che troups. these are pub
lisfcd In the congressional Documents they we're
forwarded by ne to the scat ~ government: think
rrcrts Of nhcers cent TO aid Iutmsn. made
orsly and n rsquirtd 20 give thu m. should ind a
difcult 20 do The objects proposed In arranging
this attsck several hrst. 10 capture the pace
the forts guns and enemy. troops object common
% the service tn, special duty Of the navy to open
the hRrior TO supply water sud PROVISIONS the army
ALEC required ffesh prcvifiuns- beef particularly a
etmnssry was seut with special Instructions TO pur
chsse. The quaftsrmsster. (fr~in. whom vel re-
member, vac directed ~ soon ss the city should be
csptursd o. purchss. az indefinite number of horses
ehd nuise fer utpurtiug The baggage q the army