Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-05-02
NAVAL GENERAL oRnrs

the City Of Washington on the 18th day Of March.
1851; Captain James Armstrong, of the Navy, was
tried on the following charges and .pscincations
preferred against him by direction Of the Secretary
Of the Navy:
CHARGE -N.gI.et Of Da,v.
| Specification l In this: that the said Cant,in
! James Armstrong being, on the twelfth day Of
January, eighteen hundred md sixty-one. in com.
mand Of the United States Navy Yard at War
rDgton, State Of Florida and naval force thereat
adequate to a defense Of said yard, did then and
there, on the demand of Commissioners OF the
state OF Florida, supported by military force
from the States of Alabama and Florida snrrende,
to them. without resistance said ward. the public
property theIeat and portion Of the force under
his command.
Specification Q. In this: tha, the said Captain
James Armstrong being, on the seventh day Of
January, or thereabout, eighteen hundred and
| Gxty-one, In command Of the United States Navy
Yard at Warrington, State Of Florida, and the
naval forces thereat, and having reason 10 appre.
hend the approach Of hostile force did then and
there, and at all times subsequent thereto to the
tweinh Gay OF January, inclusive, eighteen hum
dred and sixtyone, fafi to "a ke the ordinary and
! proper measures for the defense of said yard and
| the public property thereat
Specification In this: that the said Captain
james Armstrong being, on the ninth day Of Jan.
uary. eighteen hundred and sixty-one, in com.
mand as set forth In the last preced ng specifca.
ven, old then and there, and at all times subse-
quent thereto TO the twelfth 6sy Of Jsnuarv.
inclusive, eighteen hundred and sixty.one neglect
TO remove to Fort Pickens other place OF safety
the men under his command and munitions of
war; ana other public property in his charge, or
the latter to destroy; although at the time afore-
said be was In constant expectation of the approach
OF a hostile force which he believed be could not
VITO the forces under his command, successfully
CHARGE If.-Diso6edi,nee Of Orders ana Conduct
tnbscoming an OEieer.
| opee.hcnf'on ln this: that the said Captain
James rms rong being, the ninth day of Jam
uary, eighteen hundred and sixiy-one In com.
mand Of the United States Navy Yard at War
flhSton, Florida and the naval forces thereat and
m Tho nrlli
and In receipt also, at that time of an order from
the Secretary of the Navy, dated January the
third, eighteen hundred and sixty-one-of the
tenor following: "Be viyilant to protect the pubic
| property. The commanding officer at Fort Bar
rancas has been instructed to consult with YOU
You will cooperate with him. did. then and
/ there, and at times subsequent thereto to the
twelfth OF January, eighteen hundred and sixty.
one in violation Of said order neglect to send the
marlEes, and other men snder his command to
Fort Pickens to coo peTate In the defense thereof
and 10 remove to a place Of safety the public
property In bis CHARGE or to take any measures or
Practice any Wig tlance for the protection Of said
Navy Yard and the public property attached
thereto. except to double the guard at one of the
| gates of said yard.
Specfeation2. ,. In this: that the said Captain
lanes Armstrong, being In command Of the
United States Navy Yard at Warrington Florida
and the naval forces thereat and under instruc-
tions from the Secretary Of the Navy directing
MN 70 be vigilant - protect the public property.
and 10 cooperate with the commanding officer at
Fort Barran"as who was Lieutenant Slemmer
United States Army, did, on the tenth day of
January, eighteen hundred and sIxty-one, then
ana there, IN accordance with an understanding
| previo Isly had with Lieutenant S,emner Dis
| patch the steamer WYandotte to aid him Leu
tenant y emmer, In the defense of his post Fort
Plckens. Florida, to which be. Lieutenant Slem.
| mer, had removed; and thereafter to wit on the
twelfth day Of January, eighteen hundred and
| sixty one, the said Captain James Armstrong In
violation OF such understanding and his Instruc-
tons issued, without the knowledge of lieutenant
siemmer, to Lieutenant . III Berryman COM
nanding said steamer. an order of the following
tenor: You will continue TO COD perate with the
commanding officer at Fort Pickens; but should
an attack be made, you will not fire a gun unless
oe actually necessary In the defense OF the YES
sci under your command: In the event Of the
capture nf the fort you will proceed immediately
70 The station to which you have been ordered by
The Navy Department. 1t is reported that the
yard is surrounded by armed men -
/ Upon these charges and spec hcatIons the ''fnd-
| ingn OF the Court 10 in the following terms:
! The Court, having maturely considered the
whole case with the evidence and the defence
| IL Thatthe first specification Of the frst charge
| against the said Captain James Armstrong is
prored, except as to the words in said spechca-
! uon-'adequate 90 a defence Of said ward
! "2. That the second specification Of the frst
is pTortd
- That the third specification Of the frs,
| charge is proved except that the accused dld re-
! move or send TO Fort Pickens thirty men-a part
| OF his commard-thirty muske's and some am
4 DrOvislOns
| And the Court thereupon further a nd that the
| said Captain James Armstrong is guilty Of the
first charge Of nscEsct Of duty
| :" And the Court doth fur her fad:
| a That the first specification of the second
cehfge against the accused Is pTorsd, except that
thirty men-a part OF his command-were sent by
!he sald captain James Armstrong to coo perate In
the defence OF Fort Pickens
| And they further find:
| charge is proved
And thereoDon thn Nou,t
tain James Armstrong TO be gully Of the second
G"a'ge OF d'sobsdisnee Of orders and conduct un-
becoming Officer "
And the sentence OF the Court is:
Z" hat the said Captain James Armstrong be
suspended from duty for the term OF five wears
with thT loss Of pay for the first half OF the said
term, ana he reprman9ed by the honorable Sec
retary OF the Navy In general orders
have approved this sentence, and Captain
James Armstrong will accordingly be suspended
from duty for the term OF FIVE years from this
| term ~ ~
In carrying into execution that part OF tn. ,en.
| tence which directs that Captain Armstrong, he
| reprimandei In general orders | have a p,infnI
duty to perform. The sentence In this case mIgbt
be considered severe, without the addition of a
| rePrimand; but Court composed of officers the
highest in rank, and most experienced in the ser,
vice, has deemed otherwise. and its Judgment
cannot but be approved. The misconduct, in
deed, which led to this trial. does not feet alone
the reputation and discipline OF the naval service
but the interests Of the whole people And the
age and length Of service Of the oficer who ba.
been found guilty Of direlictinn of duty, under
such circumstances, instead Of constituting any
claim TO lenitY, only render IL the more inlpera.
vindicated. "S
twas the duty Of Captain Armstrong, as the
commanding officer OF the naval force at Pensa-
COLA duty winch be could not but know was
| expressly and strictly enjoned" on him by law
to show In himself 20 good example of na.riot
ism " as well as to be yigiant In inspecting the
conduct' of those under bis command What
ever the embarrassments of his position NAV have
oeen, an earnest patriotism would have taught
MIN 10 make the best possible Of all the re.
sources al bis disposal-adequ uate or Inadequate
ana 70 have impaired zeal by his example to those
around him; instead of suffering the promptings
OF loyalty to be chscked, either by any spscuIs.
lions or conjectnres of his own or any suggestions
from others, Is to the possible views and designs
| OF superiors In office. Had be discbarged III,
duty with stern fidelity, he might have dissp-
| pointed some; but-as events have recently shown
| In the case Of another officer, placed i'm similar
| circumstances would have been upheld by
| the applause Of his fellow countryn,en. and the
respect even Of antagonists. The safest "A well az
tue most honorable Irse for every ind yidnaI in
n