The Portland daily press., 1862-09-22
Dismissal Of Commander Preble.
REPORT OF ADMIRAL FARRAGUT
Report Of the Delinquent Officer.
NAVY DEPARTMENT,

NAVY DEPARTMENT,
Sept. 20, 1862.
GENERAL ORDER. Commander George
Henry Preble senior officer in command o
the blockading force having been guilty OF
neglect of duty in permitting the armed steam
er Ovieto to run the blockade, thereby not
only disregarding Article Sd, Sec 10th, of the
articles of War which requires an officer to
do his utmost to overtake and capture or de-
stroy every vessel which it is his duty to en-,
counter, but emitting the plainest ordinary
duty committed to an officer, is by order OF
the President dismissed form the Naval SER
vice, from this date. The commander of each
vessel of War, on the day after the receipt of
this published general order, will cause it to
be read on the quarter deck at general muster,
together with the accompanying reports, and
enter both on the vessels log.
(Signed,) GIDEON WELLES,
Secretary of Navy.
FLAGSHIP HARTFORD, PENSACOLA BAY,
September s, 1862.
DEAR SIR:-I regret to be compelled
again to make another mortifying acknowli
edgement of apparent neglect, to wit: Tmi
running of the blockade at Mobile, by a nj
gun gunboat, and supposed to be Laird's gum
boat, Capt. Bullock. You will perceive, how
ever, from Capt. Preble's report herewith en-
closed, that there was no want of vigilance;
tHc1 saw Htf III goOu tltle Dut Iilleu 10 Sink
or capture her. Why Capt. Preble did not
fire into her after she failed to stop or answer
his hail. cannot imagine. The commander
of the Rachael Seaman says, and 1 believe
they all admit, there never was finer oppor-
tunity for stopping vessel until she passed
them, then however, when it was too late they
commenced firing the Oneido first, the Union
next, and the Reachal Seaman last
Very respect'ly your ob't Ser'vt.
~
Rear Admiral, commanding West Gulf Blk
aiding Squadron.
GIDEON WELLEs, Secretary Navy.
U. S. STEAM SLooP ONEIDA
OF Mobile, Sept
SIR:-I regret to inform yau that a three
masted screw steamer, bearing the English
red ensign and pennant, and carrying four
quarter boats and a battery of eight broadside
guns one or two pivots, and having every ap-
pearance of an English man-ofwar, ran the
blockade this afternoon under the following
circumstance: had sent the Winona to the
windward to- speak q schooner standing in
under sail. The SNAKE of steamer was dis
covered, bearing about southeast aud standing
directly for us. Observing she made black
smoke l immediately got under way and
stood towards her, signalling to the Winona
to chase at discretion. We soon reached the
stranger in company with the Winona, who as
we approached, gradually hauled to the wind
ward. When abeam of him about 100 yards
distant, hailed him but received no reply. |
then fired shot across his bows. He still
ranged ahead without stopping, but still think
ing him an English man-of-war fired two
more shots across his bows and then directed
a shot at him which went over between his
fore and main mast. He SOON hauled down
his flag and trained his guns to bar on us, but
having no flag to fight under, was afraid to fire.
We continued firing at him, assisted by the
Wnona and one of the mortar schooners, but
he made, and by his superior speed and an
dacity managed to escape us. We sent our
shot and shell all around and over him, and
are certain that several of our shell and the
Winona's struck him.
With great modification,
GEO. HENRY PREBLE, Commander.
To Rear Admiral ID. G. Farragut, Comdg. U.
s. Blockading Squadron.