Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-06-13

the transport when but few days at sea, was
caused by storm of extraordinary violence, and
the breaking of the piston rod OF the air-pump "a
new construction) al the height Of that storm;
Thai, IN respect tho REORGANIZATION Of The com
uiaad al sea, there seems 10 have been no nsubor-
dinaion or resistance of authority even during the
calamity that long threatened the loss OF every life
on BOARD the transport although great number
OF the men We're green recruits, and although four
OF the regimenal officers had been swept into the
sea, three others, at the same moment wholly dis
abed by hurts, and two more on the sick list, so
that there remained but five company officers
(part OF the time only fouro two of the regimenta
stan officers, (part of the time but one9 and one
field officer for active duty;
+" That, of course, the command was further dis.
organized by the trainers from the wreck 10 the
three relieving vessels and the partial mixing of
companies on board the latter, which under the
circumstances, was almost unavoidable;
But the court with pain is obliged TO add that
In It's opinion there was, from the time of the
wreck until the return into port blameable disor-
CARNATIONS at the head of the command; not the
result OF panic or physical incapaciiy, for Col
Gates, Notwithstanding the loss of interesting
SON washed overheard, seems to have been cool
and active on foot but disorgization resulting
from fatuiy or crookedness of mind which, leav-
ing him alive TO his own immediate wants and
those of his family and TO the first accidental
chance Of escape, caused him 10 neglect nearly
every high duty imposed by his rank and the cir
among his men 10 cheer and animate them of or
ganlzng and directing their labors in pumping,
bailng, and tightening the wreck of organizing
all the company officers " fit for duty including
the staff heutenants, into regular relefs for those
labors and other duties OF regulating the transfer
Of persons and supplies from the wreck TO the
barque Kilby; and of regulating the labors and
issues ofbread and water board ofthat vessel TO
which he was the first TO hasten, instead ofremain-
ing in the steamer to superintend the transfer.
ha no fpft,, 49, 1lI.
cations on the part of the commander threw upon
the junior officers capable Of physical effort aboard
Of each vessel that had Colonel Gates as q passen-
ger, the necessity of supplying his deficiencies by
spontaneous and extraordinary services, with more
or less of voluntary concert among themselves
Thus, on the wreck, second Lieutenant Charles
;. Winder, Van Voast, and Chandler particularly
distinguished themselves, and seem 10 have earned
Just claim TO special commentator; and Brevet
MAYOR Wyse also rendered good services on the
wreck before and after the departure of the
colonel And so again in the Kilby some of the
junior officers there with Colonel Gates were
obliged, under continued prvations and suferings
to take upon themselves many important duties
OF command for the common safety Of all on board.
In this connection, Captain Gardiner, of the LIST
dragons, crippled with the rheumatism, who en-
barked with the Sd artillery as a passenger for
California, and second Lieutenant Van Voast,
seem entitled to special notice.
1.-The court feels itself called upon to specify the
at VI SoioHCi outcS III Taking, against the aQmO-
nilion OF the surgeon, case Of measles lin his
family on board the San Francisco, 10 the great
danger OF many men, women, and children who
were fellow passengers and liable to receive an
infection nearly as bad al sea as the smallpox !;
and also TO specify his declaration, made on board
the klby, in respect 10 extra water, that he cared
nothing for his men, with an oath,) and would
rather twenty of them should die than his child
should suffer, Tor die,)when there was no immedi-
ate danger that any on board would perish from
thirst. The court regard the conduct of Colonel
Gates IN these instances highly selfish and con-
surable.
!" specific accusation having been submitted
by Colonel Gates against Captain Gardiner, before
mentioned, relative to the puroining of food on
board the barque Kilby, the directed that the
under the orders of the War Department institute
ing this court, and Colonel Gates having further
charged the same officer with tampering with
witness sent for by the colonel to support the pre-
vlous accusation, which tampering, if true, would
have been high act Of contempt towards this
court, and Captain Gardiner urging an nvestiga-
tion the court directed Colonel Gates, as prose-
cutor, TO adduce the evidence on which he had
made those grave allegations. Accordingly wit
nesses have been called and examined, and the
court is constrained TO say that the said allegations
against Captain Gardiner were entirely ground
less, and seem to have originated in a spirit of
gross malignity. ag
WINFIELD SCOTT,
"Major general and president Of the court.
-. F. LEE, judge advocate"
VI-The court of inquiry of which Major
General Winfield Scott is president is dissolved.
By order of the Secretary of War:
S. COOPER, adjutant general