Alexandria Gazette

TEXAN NAVY.
To the Editor of the Union.

An article appeared in your paper of Friday last, over the signature of "ONE INTERESTED," who has very unfairly placed before your readers one of the official documents of G. W. Hill at the time Secretary of war and marine of the late republic of Texas; which letter, he says, establishes "that the navy of Texas (before her adoption into the Union) was by the constituted authority disbanded." This identical letter was published in 1843, as evidence that S. Houston believed he was captured by the enemy when he published his proclamation of piracy, &c. against him on the 16th of May, 1843-two days after the date of this letter, which asserts that "the republic was left without a navy in consequence of the step taken by Post Captain E. W. Moore:" which step was that of attacking more than ten times his force off Campeachy, at the suggestion of commission Jas. Morgan. who, in his evidence before the special tribunal established by the Congress of Texas on Feb. 5, 1844, "for the impartial trial of Post Captain E. W. Moore and others says "that he had hazarded the responsibility of suggesting to Com. Moore to attack the Mexican force off Campeachy, for the purpose of preventing a descent upon Galveston, and of saving the republic, if we could."

Commodore Moore also published at the same time a letter from the same Secretary of war and marine to another lieutenant of the Texan navy, in which is the following.

"Department of War and Marine
"Washington, Sept.1, 1843.

"SIR: Your resignation and subsequent communication of the 18th ult. have been received

"Upon receipt of intelligence of the arrival of the ship Austin and brig Wharton, at Galveston, furloughs were immediately forwarded to the care of the naval commissioners, that the officers desiring to do so might leave that city, and obviate the inconvenience of which you complain.

"Should you accept a furlough, by informing the department of your residence, you will receive due notice of the action upon your resignation; which will not deviate from what may be considered 'justice' to yourself and most conducive to the interest and honor of the nation, and benefit to the service.

"I have the honor to be,

"Your obedient servant

"G. W. HILL.
"Secretary of War and Marine.

"To Lieut. A. G. Gray."

Dates are very important things, and in this instance the authority from whom the "one interested" has thought proper to quote to "establish" the interested and utterly groundless assertion in his article referred to, proves directly the reverse when coupled with certain facts well known to the world-for where were the Austin and Wharton at the date of, and some time subsequent to, the letter from G. W. Hill, Secretary of war and marine, to Lieut. G. C. Brenner, dated May 14, 1843? They were off the town of Campeachy; and two days after the date of that letter they had the gallant action with the apparently overwhelming force opposed to them. which lasted over four hours, and which broke up the blockade of Campeachy and forced the Mexican squadron to leave in the night, and abandon their war against Yucatan. Commissioner Morgan, in his testimony before the special tribunal, states "that on that day,(16th of May, 1843) Com. Moore chased them so far out that they could not be seen from the top of the house, which I (then) was on."

The Austin and Wharton arrived at Galveston on the 14th of July, 1843; and G. W. Hill. Secretary of war and marine, writes on the 1st of the following September, the letter to Lieut. A G. Gray, from which I have quoted above. The following session of the Congress of Texas, the President was called on for estimates of the amount required: 1st to support the navy for one year at sea; 2d, to keep the vessels in ordinary for twelve months; and 3d, for the amount required per month, to maintain a watch on board for their preservation in the harbor of Galveston; which were responded to on the 21st December, 1843; and on the 5th of February, 1844, an act was approved and fifteen thousand dollars appropriated, to keep the navy in ordinary; which was its condition on the 16th of the present month, when the governor of the State of Texas was inaugurated. During the whole time since the return of the vessels to Galveston in July, 1843, there have been on duty on board of them. one lieutenant, one purser, two midshipmen, and about twenty petty officers and men.

A FRIEND TO JUSTICE.

Washington City. Feb. 24, 1846.