Daily national Republican., 1862-11-10
THE REBEL STEAMER ORETO, AND
COMMANDER PREBIE.
Com. Prebie Appeals to the President and
Secretary welles.

Commander Prebe, late Of the navy, who was
dismissed for his negligence in permitting the
rebel steamer Oreto TO break the blockade Of
Mobile, has presented the following appeal to
the President and the Secretary of the Navy;
appeal 10 he President Of the United States.
U. s. STEAM SLooP ONEIDA,
OFF MOBILE, Oct. 10, 1862
To Mc President Of The United States.
SIR: do not believe that you would do in
territorial injustice to any one; yet you have
done me the most cruel injustice, and dismissed
me from a service In which ! have passed
twenty seven years Of my life, without trial,
without hearing, and on insufficient and in
complete evidence.
You have assailed my honor, WHICH is dearer
to me than life, and you have caused to be pro-
claimed that failed TO do my utmost to take
and capture vessel Of the enemy, and omitted
to perform the most ordinary duty of an officer.
This sentence and this opinion you have direct
ed to he read to the assembled crews of every
vessel in commission in the navy, and entered
upon the ships logs.
I can prove by every officer and man on board
this ship, or who was present on the occasion
referred to, that did do my utmost to overtake,
capture, or destroy the Oreto, and that, omit
ting no duty, performed my whole entire duty
cncrgetically and faithfully, as have ever done
while in the service.
! uclnunu. tntTttott, u anu lNll lu-
staut investigation of all the circumstances be-
fore court of inquiry, and when acquitted,
| that my innocence shall he proclaimed In the
same manner Us the sentence has been promul-
gated, and that the record of my disgrace shall,
by official order, be eNpunged from the log
books Of the navy.
As Commander in Chief of the Army and
Navy. ask of you this justice, which am sure
you will grant.
Very respectfully, your obt serv't,
GEORGE HENRY PREBLE.
Commander.
appeal 10 hs Secretd,y Of hhs Nary.
U. s. STEAM-sLooP ONEIDA,
OFF MOBILE, October 8, 1869.
SIa: I have read In newspaper general
ORDER" issued by yourself, by direction Of the
President, dismissing me from the navy for the
neglect of duty in permitting the armed steamer
Oreto to run the blockade off Mobile; said order
stating that failed to do my utmost to over
take, capture, or destroy said vessel, which 1t
was my duty to encounter, and "omitted the
plainest ordinary duty committed to an officer
Such is not the opinion of the officers of this
squadron, who are knowing to all the circum-
stances; and am ready and able to prove did
my duty. and my whole duty, fairly, energeti-
cally, and zealously, and demand the privilege
of court of inquiry, anticipating, when the
circumstances are known, revocation of your
order as public as II has been made, and a res
| toration to this command.
have not waited for the receipt of the OIL
cial announcement of my dismissal, as the dis
grace inflicted on my honored name is more
| than ! can bear.
Though unwilling to boast of my own SER
vices, / refer you to the records of the Navy De-
partment for my twenty-seven years of honora-
Bile service, including active service in the Flor-
da, Mexican and present war, as also on the
coast of China against pirates. Is ii likely,
with such a record, and when my commanding
officer the admiral of the squadron, says there
was mo want of vigilance" would fail to ex-
ert myself to the utmost In chase of a flying
enemyi
! | do not understand what ''plain and ordna-
ry duty omitted.
/ do not think that either yourself or the Pres
ident would do me an intentional injustice, and
believe action has been taken hastily, under
erroneous impressions.
| therefore ask for full and fair investigation
before a court of inquiry or court martial, and
that the decision or sentence may be made as
freely public as your orders.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
GEORGE HENRY PREBLE,
Commander.
Hon. GIDEON WELLEs, Secretary Of The Nary,
UGshiHgtOh, ID. C..