The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-05-06

William Conway that Testimonial tho Court
bis behalf shouc be made know throughout ,ne service
II therefore dirccs that this general orsr be publicly
resd early praoscabie ateg its receipt ~ tne com
dere Il ali nay stations sad ali yes sells OF tho navy
in commission IN the presence q tho oicecs and mca an
der their command
NAVY DsrAxTnHAr, April "a, 1851
SENTENCE OF COW. ARMSTRONG.
nc SURRENDER or PENSACOLA NAVY YAsD-sus-
PENSION OF COM. ARMSTRONG.
NAVAL
At Naval General Court Marta convened IN tbs City
Of Washington the 18th day OF MARCH, 1901 Captain
James Armstrong Of tho navy, was srioi tue follow
e charges God specice1as preferred against him ~
oi,eci!on Of tho Secretary OF he Navy
oTiARGk --xSULscr or pury.
Specification / In this that The said Captain James
Armstrong being, the twelfth day Oh January,
Inteo States Navy Yard a. Warrington, safe OF Fori
da and naval force thereat adequate 70 tsfenss u
said yard old then aud there on the dc,osad OF Com
MI OF tie state OF Fori "a, supported ny mill
tuy force from the States &C Alabama and F0riil sur
render TO them, without ros;stance said yard, the
public property theeeas and pTion Of the ofoe uadar
hie command.
c,GcQon 2 10 this, tina. the sail Captain James
Armstrong being, On the seventh day OF January, or
thereabou., eighteen hundred and sgts ia command
tho GATED States Navy Yard II Warrington, state OF
Florida and tae naval forces hereat and having reason
70 apptehend the approach or hostile force, aid then
and Aesc and all times subsequent thereto to tho
~ etn dy OF January nc1sige, eighteen hundred and
sixty fail to take The ordinary and proper Toe ure
Tor the defense 81 said yard and the pnoc properly
tnerest
Spec4foots, g. In this, that the said Captain James
A, nastrorg beng the ninth day 81 January, eighteen
hundred and sixty ore IN command an forth
last preceding specification did then aud there and At all
times subsequent thereto 10 the twelfth day OF January,
inclusive, eighteen hundred and sixty ONO, neglect TO re-
To Fort Pickens other place OF safely the meu
| under his command and munitions Of war and othe-
public property his charge, the latter 10 destroy
although the time aforesaid he constant expect
acn OF tho approach OF hostile force which he te
lievcd DO could not with the force under his command
I successfully resist
n,aGg -plsosEpxNcE ORDERS AND coSDCcr UN8gcoa-
ING Az OFFICER.
Specification In this that the said Captain James
Afitrong being the ninth day OF January, eighteen
hundred and sixty Que, command Of tho United States
Navy Yard at Warrington Florida sad the naval forces
theseat and in charge Of tho public property attached
thereto and "a receipt also, ut that time OF order
from the Secretary Of ihe Navy dated January the third
"Bc vgilant 10 protect the public property. The
andlDg oiCcr is Fort BarrnDcas has been instructed to
consult with you. You VIII cooperate with him'dii 1,
then ANA there and at times subsequent thereto to tho
twelfth OF January, eighteen hundred and sixty in
violation OF said order neglect 10 send the marines and
other under his command to Fort Piokcns cper
ate in tho defense thereof and To remove 20 place OF
safety the public property in his charge to take any
measures practice any vigilance for the protection Of
sad Navy ard and the public property attached thereto
except 10 double the guard al enc tho gates Of SAID
yard.
Specification 2. In this That the said Captain James
Armstrong being in command or the Cnitod States Navy
Yaru at Warrington Florida and the naval for eos
at and under Instructions from the Secretary The
Navy directing him to tie vigan to protect the pub
tic property, AMI To co operate with the commanding Of
,
United states Army, did the 10th Gag Of Jana cry,
1861 then and there, in ordance with understand
ing previously had with Lieutenant Slenmer despatch
the steamer Wyapdol To aid him ieutenaat S,ensner}
the defence Of his post Fort Pckens, Florida which
he icuteNant Slemmcr) had removed: ard thereafter,
10 wit, on Inc 18th Gay OF January, isbl, NE said Cap
tain James Armstrong IN violation Of such understand
ng aud biz Instructions, issued without the knowledge
OF Lieutenant Slemner TO Leutcnant o. n. Bergman
commanding eaid steamer, orsor OF the following
tenor"'iou viii continue 60 operate with the com
manding occr AZ Fort Pickcns but should IN altar be
nd Will r A VlD IL he AN 4itv
fury tn tho defence Of the vessel undor you conaat
Ia the event Of the capture Of the fort you with proceed
Immediately 70 the station u which you have
dered by the Navy Department. 10 reror.d the
yard surrounded ny armed mcu.'
UpJn those charges aud specifications the ''fnaiug'
of tho Court is 10 the following terms
The Court, having Inaturely considered the whole
with the evidence and the defence Aforesaid lind
That tho first specification Of the rst charge against
the said Captain James Armstrong proved except
the WORDS II sad adequate to defence OF
ssid yard"
2. That the second specification Of the first chpge
against The said Captain James Armstrong ia proved
. That the third specification OF tho first charge
proved, except that the accused aii sond to
Fort Pickens thirty mena part Of his comnand-thirsy
visions.
And tho Court ,he-cupon further find that the said
Captain lsmes Armstrong guilty OF tho first charge o.
And The Court Goth further find
L. That the lrst specification Of tho second charge
against The accused Is proved ox,cp that thirty
part Ct his commsnd-werc scnt BY tho said Captain
James Armstrong to operate in the defence Of Fort
lickcns.
md they further 6nd:-
. That the second specification Of the scccnd charge
proved
And thercupco the Court Hnd the said Captain James
Armstroug 10 be guilty OF the second charge Of dsobe
dicnce Of orders and conduct unboooming an officer
And the sentence OF the Court is
That tho ssid Captain James Armstrong be suspended
from duty for tho term OF Eve years with the loss OF
pay for the Ist half Of the said term and be reprmand
I'd by the honorable Secretary Of the Navy 10 general
orders.
have eprrcvc this sentence and Captain James Arm.
strong VIII accordingly be suspended from duty for the
o ave years from this date With loss OF pgy for the
FIRST hail cr the said term.
In carrying into execution that part OF the sentence
which directs that Captain Armstrong DO reprimauded
general orccrs, have painful duty 90 perform The
sentence IN THE cc might be considered severe without
the addition a rcprimand but court composed Of
nccts the highest IN rank and not experienced IN the
service, has doomed otherwise aud tsJuasmcnt cannot
but BE- approved. Tho misconduct, indeed which led 10
stei does not affect aiouc the reputation and disci
pnc Of the naval ce but the interests OF the whole
so has seSr foSs ey ~ dro,on or a,y upser
such circumstances instead or constituting any claim 20
en only render II the imperative that The iisci
pine of the service should be yiadicated.
II WAS tho duty ~ Captain Arrstrong ~ the
needing officer Of the naval force NJ ronsscoia duty
which DO could mol but know expressly and sirciy
euioined' on him by law-to show in himself "a good
example OF patr'otsm a. well as 10 b. "vieant IN
spectng the conduct" Of those under his command
Whatever tho cnbasrassme1ts Of his pcston may have
beca an earnest patriotism would have taught hun 10
make the best possible rse Of all the rosourccs a, his d
pra--fueluhio Or silLtucluatt-Ang 10 nave impaired
zcs by hs example 10 those around him. instead Of SUI
errR the rrvmptngs Of loyalty 80 he checked, either
by ANY srecaisons or conlcctures q hs own, any
suggestions sm others ~ 70 the possible views and Dc
signs Of supcriors IN Office Hal he discharged his duty
with storm ndety he might have disappointed some
but-as events have recently shown Ia tao or Al
other officer placed In similar would
have boon upheld By tho applause Of his fellow country
and the respect 1 antagDnsts. ne safest
wen the honorable course Tor every individual In
the public scryice-whctbe- Commander or subordi.
uaeis 70 BE- true 70 the lg 81 his counlor, no matter
what dicutics or dangers eaco npass II.
ThLs general order VII b. promulgated as fsuN az all
the naval nsiions, aud board OF al vesses Of the
Bavy In commission
GfDFoY wfIfgs, secretary Of the Navy.
NA't bE0srrST, April -, 1901.
TEXAS INTELLIGENCE.
The Galveston hcn5 says -Fron our Austin letter y