The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-11
NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
Court Martial OF Commander Alexander III.
Scmmess

Court Martial OF Commander Alexander II.
scmmes.
WASHINGTON Jan. 10. 1872.
The Navy Department publishes in general orders
the findings OF the court martial convened on the
slst Of October last for the trial Of Commander
Alexander h. Semmes. Of the steamship Ports
mouth which recently arrived at New York, on
these charges
First-Innicting cruel and unlawful punishment
on persons under his command.
Second-Abuse OF his Official power.
Tnif'd-Oppressive and lnhuman conduct unbe-
OF each and all these charges he was found guilty.
duty and rank for three years. and 70 be reprI.
manded IN general order by the Secretary OF the
Navy.
In pronouncing the reprmsnd the secretary
says:-
Commander semmes has been found guilty BY
court composed Of his brother oncers Of permitting
and innicting punishments unauthorized and nle-
lore the department, and the service, and before
the country convicted, not only Of the grave error
Of disregarding the legal rights and immunitles Of
the me9 made dependent upon him for the enjoy.
n SSs a% n for tns
was authorized to innict any punishment what.
tf6ns and viii not be tolerated under any circum.
stances and the sentence Of the Court in this case
Conmander semmes, but in in the nope that Il may
operate as q warning to all who, entrusted, ike
mindful or reckless Of the rights Of those who are
placed under them and TO give an assurance to the
service and to the country that every sucn lnsance
The service must understand and appreciate the
fact that the navy exists and Is maintained Dy law
to the enlisted men only because the law has SO
elevated them, and that 1t Is the interest OF all
Uulous fidelity to the laws enacted for their guild.
ance. The Court dealt very leplently with Com
ton that brave and Jealous offcer has been mis-.
led by wrong traditions and false ideas OF dis
ciplne. Had 1t pronounced mucn severer sen.
approve IL. It only remains for 1t to declare that
the finding and sentence Of the Court are approved
will be published and the reprimand provided for
In the sentence
The Canandaigua to Go into Commission
To.Morrow.
While the new screw OF the United States steamer
Canandagua viii not be completely put In before
Saturday the ship will 90 into commission at ten
O'Clock to- morrow morning. The following officers
have reported for duty
Cdptdtn-Egbert Thompson.
Lieutenant Cornn.anders-E q. Merriman, Ste
Lie,ttenants-L. Z. Lewis e; Is and M,s W. P. Randall.
Adsters-A. Mark and Willie Swift.
| Xidshipmen-wig6t, sanderson, Marshall and
| Hanns.
Suryeon-Henry M. Wells.
| Assistant Surge0n-Henry Stewart
CHEZ EnofneermGeorge $. Bright
| B0dtsUdin-J w. Simmons.
| Gunner-J. w. Bogart.
| Carpenter-Thomas McGlOne.
| IL was originally supposed that the Canandaigua
| was destined for China, but Rear Admiral Smth
has received orders 10 despatch her TO the Meder.
| ranean in place of the Richmond, recently re-
turned to the Philadelphia yard.
| Naval Orders.
| Lieutenant John J. Hunter Is ordered TO torpedo
duty; Passed Assistant Surgeon William J. Simon
| TO the Naval Hospital at Norfolk; Assistant Pay.
| master e. L. Lewis to DUTY In the Philadelphia
| Navy Yard; Second Assistant Engineer J. A. b
| smith TO the Naval Station AT League Island.
| Passed Assistant Surgeon J. b. Parker Is de
| tatched from the Naval Hospital at Chelsea ant
| ordered to the Naval Hospital at New York; Passec
| Assistant Surgeon W. s. Bowen, from the Nava
uospitaI at Norfolk and ordered to the orcester
| Assistant surgeon william M. Nckerson, from IN,
Naval Hospital at Philadelphia and ordered to thu
| Naval Hos pital at New York.