The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-02-08
MILITARY COURT OF INQUIRY
RELATIVE TO THE
LOSS Of The STEAMSHIP SAN FRANCISCO,
Full Report or the Proceedings.

Full Report or the PrOee edtngs.
OFFICIAL DoCUagNTs-CoR OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
TELEGRAPHIc NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF WIT
SECOND DAY.
General Winfield Scott presiding
la WEST ELEvlNrH srarr, !
Tuesday, ii O'Clock, A. N.
The Court met pursuant to yesterdays adjournment,
present oil the MEMBERS the Judge advocate and Col W.
Gates being also in attendance.
The proceedings OF yesterday frst read to the
Court BY Major Lee, The Judge Advocate.
Colonel Gates asked leave to INTRODUCES Captain Shields
Of the United States Army to sid h In his business
now before the Court, to which the Court a,ssntsa.
Lit. Col. Swords, witness for the United States re-
sumed his testimony
witness-I hand the Court my letter. referred to
In my testimony yesterday, which Was 10 have been
brought into Court to-day.
The following letter WAS here produced and resd TO the
Court
QcARTHaMAsrR GENERALS OFrTcE,
NKw YoaR, ost. IL, 1853
GFyEpALI have the honor to acknowledge the rscsot
Of your communication Of yesterday Gate to
the transportation Of the troops California aud in order
to place the whole matter before you report my action
On lat Of October reserved your order 0, the soth
Of September to be provided upon my receiving inor.
nation to the time when the troo would ready I,
embark and further dlrectrg to oasut With Gene.
raj Scott N 10 the Al cunt necessary to be provided
Al for the transportation, dsagnssog tins l6Ln Us the
oHy on which the troops woula bs ready to embark.
tsw Gen Scott who changed the time to the 2o.h sap
posing tsA az ioen as they would bs ready the General
sad that it was not material whether they went in q
stssmer clipper or full ship things co utortabls
IA time be lost Immediately advertised for
proposals in the two principal mmsrsl papers Copies
Of the bids resei1ed, with an abstract, marked B.
herewith.
On tho 7th, the day on which the proposals we're
cEened, received your letter Of the h. Greeting
xayi~a Will Woo fn
transportation that wouli BE- reeded. accordingly sd
d., ed him rote. Copy marked O.
On the 10th, the General met Ia this city. when |
subn tilted TO him all the proposals received but partcu
larry calling his attention the steamer San Francisco
and The clippers Westward 10, the Eagle, and the Light
foot, the only ones whose capacity would b. at
all suni ,ens, (ses statement marked d. ~ the
steamer to which General Wool gave tao prefer.
erce would not be ready BY the time ssgnsed by Gsa
Scott by whose direction my elegrsphc despatch TO
Of the 10Th written
On the receipt this morning OF your letter OF yesterday
addressed several inquiries TO Mr. Aspn.s (For his
report copy marked and for farther information Ia
regard to the Iightioot see paper marked
On inquiIirg ~ one OF the principal marine insurince
companies an Informed that the rates Of
the same In clippers ~ in full ships, and am further 10
formed that clippers are not considered better vessels than
ordinary sailing ships The average time to San Fran
cisco is from los liz days by clippers and about $50
by full ships
The steamer John Stephens which they say ia smaller
than the San Francisco measures 93 feat
her upper deck 73 superficial feet her raiu deck,
52ol superficial Feet on her lower deck and is entitled
Geek Very respectfully, sir your obedisnt servant,
THOS. SH ORDS QuArtermkster.
To GEN. TnoaAs JEsur, Qasrtermaster General Wash,
ipgton.
You make th,t letter in the statement Of facts part
o. YOUR testimony here? A. LOO
WitGeHs-l hand in letter from myself to Mr. Aspr
wall, and his letter. Read as 70 lows
QuARrpRMAsrIR's OFFICE
NEW YORK. 0,t. IL, 1853, {
SIR-Having received unics alton from the Quar-
termakter GENERALLY reference to the propositions for the
transportation OF troops to California would thank you
to answer the following questons:--
Can on give positive assurance that the steamer
San Francisco will be ready to take the troops board
and commence her yoJng' BY the 18th OF rext month
What part Of the YES sci t bs appropreei f'r the
baggage and stores, includ az hfsy wAgonsi
Win the vessel tale any citzsn passengers or privats
ireightr
A. At what points will the steamer touch for cospg,
o. What is the probable tno it viii take rerch san
By an Immediate answer to ths above you will much
oblss. your obed't ssry't ,,o,
To II. AsrIywAIL Esq President p. s. Co. New York.
PACIFIC Nail STEAMSHIP CoNrASY
INV YORK, Oct ~. 1853.
UoI. SWORDS. United States Quartermaser, New Yors
Dear SRI have the honor reply to your letter OF
this morning that have again as,uret by the ma
sa am on the LIST u Novenbr -ht,h viii Allow Ms an, nis
time to be ready on tie 18th dem.
The entire steamer sil be at the disposition OF the
government, excepting onya fsw ber.hs for persons
friends OF Captain Watkins in the sscond cabin no.
ped by the officers ard their familisshe aod it's
roont being exclusively allotted to the officers AID
families
g. No citEens passengers or priv.ts eight will be
tlen. The captains friends will even be excluded n
otjeohd TO by the officer commanding the troops.
g. Tho steamer Will touch Tor cosl1g 1t Rio Janero
Valparaiso and Acapulco
Tor estimating the probable time between New YORK aud
San Francisco, and without allowance for the scpsror
qualities and batter promise OF tina sso Fsnceeo pre-
eighty tso) days s the period In which We expect
70 accomplish this voyage.
LAM very respectfully. yours
Il W. AsPIN VAIL President.
O You have ea'd that Gsaer.l Wool zen. you ou the
steamer after you had turned her 90 this regiment
TO see Il the freight left room enough for the troops
other cers associated with iu that operation?
General Wool requested Mr. Aspnwsll 10 20 with
ne and desired to have our opinion / INST Col wash
ngton and Lieut. FREMONT sitter receiving G. en- Woos
and lieut.. Fremont Hsgimental Qalrternaster: !
asked thin TO go with me; they went.
Whist tri, trips had the steamer made to test tie
working q he- rev engines?
A. think thS MADE three trial trips the last trip was
reported BY Aspinwa - entirely saiisfsotofy.
what was the resui. OF the other trl. trips? Did
the ship to sea in either OF her trials below Fort
Hamilton?
A. | Co not know; was rot on beard Of her.
cXoss FZ4aISAIloS OF SWORDS Ky COL GATES ruaD
ARTILLERY.
Q Were yousent or board the steamer San Francisco
with Col Ahercrombie 70 ascertain whether eighty dIa.
aoons tud bs provided for besides the Third artillery,
after Col Gates Lad represented to Gen. Wool that hs
a. tror nothing Of Col. Gates representations 70
Gsn Wool; was sent with Col. fbsrcrornbs 70 he
could take The Grsgocns fnd rspsrted they rot
seni however FOR the reason az heard that they hIi
smallpox snorg them.
O How we've The troops to be Chartered on board the
San Francisco
A. 1hatwss matter that to be left entirely IN
tie commander OF tie troops the whole ship
ever 10 em present the charter party In further
suer to that question. The charter party was ihea
read and the following directed 10 be ENTERED the re-
cord tie only parts Of the instrument fea to the
question stked the witnssel
l. EAh chartered the sntte steamship San Francisco
To be cited up with berths in her atsettgs for the
son Of four hundred and soveoty ys SELLERS
and llupcreBsss more or less.
ALd tie officers, with ther f.miieT, TO be provided
with ttk,e looms In the saloon, and cabin fare.
To recfve no citizen passengers unless authorized 10
DO 10 BY the officer In charge OF the emossha'ion.
The extmns,ion OF this witness here ended.
Lieut. l.. Fremont, of the Third Regiment Of Artii.
leIy witness called for the United safes being svoen
ia due form Of Law, testified - followf:--
DIRECT EXAMINATION
Q You were Regmentai Qusrte7maser 10 tho Third
ARTILLERY III the eobsrkation tho San Francisco A.
state when, how, and under whose direction they