Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-10-23
From The Philadelphia Press.
Lieu,enant Herndon, U. 8. A.

Very crest 10 the general sorrow, at
the untimely loss Of Lieutenant Herndon,
who commanded the Central Ameriea.
and perished with her. 1t is fit that man
thus mourned, who had done SO much |
good work for his country, should not
pass away without some record. lis ft
that leading incidents Of his eyentful
career should be related. not only to his
honor, but to the advantage or other men,
and, more particularly. those who are
now entering life, unmindful of the duties
which, whether in public or private
sphere. they have TO perform.
Willia.n Lewis Herndon was Virgins
ian. born at Fredericksburg, in 1885,
and. at his death. was within few
weeks Of the age of forty-four. AT the
age Of fifteen, he entered the United
States Navy as midshipman. aud was
three years on his first cruise. in the frig-
ate Gueryieys. to the Pacific. Three
more years he was in the Constellation,
on the Mediterranean. Afterwards he
went on cruise to the coast of Brazil, in
the Independence.
The Florida war had commenced by
the time Of his return, and among the ma
val officers who volunteered for active
service was Mr.. Herndon, who was plac>
ed in charge of q small brig at Indian
Key. He remained in this service for
two years, and was attached to the Ma
tional Observatory. at Washington, soon
after his return. Lieutenant Maury, now
so Justly world famous for his practical
application Of science to the purpose Of
navigation, was then in charge of the OBJ
seryatory, and certainly did not permit
Mr.. Herndon (who was his brother>in>
law to make sinecure of the situation.
He was constantly occupied, and his la
bors often extended far into the night,
from the necessity OF having astronomical
observations accurately made. He was
compelled by the oserwork it tasked him
with, to resign the Office after having
held it for three years. The Mexican
war sprung up, and Lieutenant Herndon
applied for employment. He was COM
missioned to the frigate Cumberland. Ere
he could act in this capacity. he was de-.
tached. on the application of Commodore
Perry. and appointed TO command the
small steamer Iris, his duty being 10 keep
up communication between the United
States squadron and the United States
soldiers on shore. His familiarity with
the Spanish language, which he had ae-
| quired in South America. made him very
efficient in this position. in which he con-
tinued until the end of the war. He
then returned. for another year. to the
Observatory ct Washington. and went on
foreign service after that.
While Lieutenant Herndon was attach.
ed TO The United States ship Yandalia. Of
she Pacific Squadron. he received COM
munica,ion from the Superintendent oil
The National Observatory. informing him
that orders to explore the Valley Of the
Amazon would be sent to him by the next
mail. At the time he received
This notice. august $780, the Wanda
liza was at anchor in the harbor Of Valpa.
raise. but was about sailing for the Sand
wich Islands. He was allowed to leave
the ship. and await instructions at Val.
psTaiso. The death Of President Taylo
and the Cabinet changes which followed
delayed the transmission Of the promised
Instructions to Lieut.. Herndon, who flled
up the time adyantageously enough. by
improving his kno uledge Of the Spanish
language, by studying such accessible
works o. treated on the country he was
to explore. and by converting with we'll
informed and intelligent people on the
subject Of his future journey.
In January, 1851, Lieutenan: Herndon
received Instructions (dated October
1851 from Mr.. William A. Graham. Sc.
cretary Of the Navy. directing him to pro-
coed to Lima. "for the purpose Of col
lecting from the monasteries. and other
authentic sources that may be accessible
to you, information concerning the head
waters of the Amazon, and the regions oil
country drained by its Peruvian tributs.
ries." He was directed also to visit the
monasteries Of Bolivia for like purpose
touching the Bolivian tributaries of that
river, if he thought fit. He was informed
that the object Of the Department in as.
signing him this service was with the
view OF directing him to explore the Val
ley OF the Amazon, should the consent oil
Brazil therefor be obtained" He left
Lima. on this mission. on the 26th Jan.
uary. He was employed on the Explora.
ton Of the Valley of the Amazon and its
tributaries, in conjunction with Lieut..
Lardner Gibbon. The instructions were
dated February Is, 1851. Lieut.. Hern>
DOES Report thereof, was printed, with
illustrst tons and fine map. by order OF
Congress, IL 1858. and is as lively and en-.
pertaining as it is accurate and instructive.
He threw much Zig BIT OF hitherto almost
UNEMPLOYED region. and closely observed
not only the geographical features Of the
districts he trayersed. but the natural his
tory. products. and the moral as well as
physical condition Of the inhabitants. He
noticed. also, the commercial capabilities
OF the Amazon; the condition, working.
and yield Of the silver mines; and made
numerous and valuable scientific observa-