Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-10-24
THE CAPTURE OF ALvARADo.
Midshipman Hunters Method of Appro
priating Perry's Laurc1s.

priating Perry's Laurels.
Charles G. Hunter, or "Alvarado' Hun
ter, as he was called in the navy, was one
of the passed midshipmen during the Mex
lean war; and had been fifteen years in the
service before he had an opportunity to
show the stuff Of which he was made. The
operations of the naval squadron in the
Gulf of Mexico, under the command of
Commodore Matthew G. Perry, known as
Bulldog" Perry, extended from Tampico
on the north along the whole line of Mexi-
can coast south, blockading, bombarding
and capturing the several seaport towns.
After the surrender of Vera Cruz it was
reported to the gruff old commodore that
munitions of war were running the block
ade up the river to Alvarado, a very i'm
portant fortified town held by the Mexi-
cans. The commodore gave Passed Mid
shipman Hunter command of an army
transport about as large as common coal
barge, which was armed with two brass
howitzers and manned by fifteen seamen.
He was given strict orders to go down the
coast and blockade the town of Alvarado
and its harbor by night and day, and to
continue to do so until the commodore ar
rived with his fleet to shell the place into
submission.
emit command he had ever had. When he
was off the harbor he began to shell the
beach, then gradually approaching the
town and finding no resistance COM
menced to shell the place itself. To his
great delight and still greater surprise,
after four or five hours Smelling the Mexi-
can flag was lowered, and flag of truce
announced the surrender of the town.
Hunter Immediately landed all of his force
of fifteen men, leaving the steamer in
charge of the engineers and fremen, and
formally took possession of the town and
Notifications.
In few days Commodore Perry arrived
with his grand feet, prepared for long
siege, and his mind inflated with the idea
that the capture of the place would add
greatly to his laurels. Soon, to his infinite
disgust and surprise, he saw the small
steamer that was in his van signal to the
flagship, on whose quarter deck he stood in
supreme command, 'that the American
flag was now flying over the Notifications
of Alvarado." Swelling with indignation
the commodore sent boat with orders for
Hunter to repair Immediately on board of
the flagship and report tc him.
Hunter obeyed the order at once. and all
the officers of the vessel knowing Hunter
well, and anxious to learn how the episode
would end, crowded around the excitoS
commodore. When Hunter stepped on
the ship Perry forebore the usual courtesy
Of receiving him in his cabin, and ordered
him to the quarter deck. AS soon as he
reached the spot where the commodore
stood the latter, in an indignant tone,
asked Hunter, "What is the meaning of
all this, sir?"
sit means that have captured Alvara-
do" replied Hunter, because we are at war
with Mexico"
His answer so eXasperated the commo-
dore that all formalities ended and he
roared out:
go below Consider yourself in arrest;
Pill have you court -martialed. You have
disobeyed orders. Who ordered you to
take Alvarado. told you to blockade it
only!"
Hunter remained in his room week,
and, seeing no court in view, wrote letter
to the commodore demanding his immedi-
ate release from arrest or a trial. The COM
modore did neither, but sent him to the
United States under charges.
The newspapers got hold of the facts and
published full account of the affair, and
Hunter went to Washington and demand
ed an investigation. Public Indignation
was aroused at Commodore Perry's I'M
warranted course, and congress, taking up
the matter, passed a vote of thanks to
Hunter for his gallant action. He was at
once given command of schooner called
the Shark and sent up the Mediterranean,
where he remained three years. There he
was known to the inhabitants of Port Ma
hon as "Capt. Alvarado Hunter, of the
Big Fish" Hunter died in the Naval hos
pital in New York in 1S54.-Kansas City
Star.