Jones, Thomas ap Catesby (1790-1858) to Charles M. Armstrong
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02680.01 Author/Creator: Jones, Thomas ap Catesby (1790-1858) Place Written: Sausalito, California Type: Manuscript letter Date: 18 April 1849 Pagination: 2 p. ; 31 x 19.9 cm. Order a Copy
Jones' letter discussing John B. Marchand's "lack of zeal and restiveness" and his "hostility to my lawful authority," written in Marchand's hand. Jones discusses the insubordinate actions of Marchand and two other officers, which he says were caused by "gold mania." Says these officers opposed his orders, and then acted disrespectfully towards their superior officer. Jones' letter attacking these officers has become public, and he assures Lieutenant Armstrong that his censures were only directed towards those three officers, and not intended for other officers under his command. Written on board the "Flag Ship Ohio." Jones, commander of the United States Navy in the Pacific, would later be court martialled for oppressing his junior officers. Written as a wave of "Forty Niners" hit California, follows the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill.
Thomas ap Catesby Jones was commander of the United States Navy in the Pacific. Jones would later be court martialled for oppressing his junior officers.
John B. Marchand was an officer in the United States Navy. He captained the steamer "Memphis" during the Paraguay expedition, served as Captain of the U.S.S. Lackawanna during the Civil War, later promoted to Commodore.
The publication of an extract of my official letter No 34 by the Navy Department, as the matter now stands, might subject the officers of the Squadron indiscriminately to the imputation of being [tainted] at a particular time with the gold mania. Such was never my intention nor belief. My [complaint] of lack of zeal and [restiveness] under needful restraint, were intended for the three Lieutenants who after receiving a most prompt & unequivocal disclaimer of all intention to reflect upon them or [either] of them or to consider their opposition to my order, as resulting from any thing else [] a misconception of their duties, still persisted in their hostility to my lawful authority, Lieutenant Green & Marchand treating my disclaimer with contempt, never so much as acknowledging its receipt in any shape, manner or form, & Lieutenant [Crowen's] acknowledgment being the return of his first very objectionable letter dated, the 19th of October 1848 which Captain [Stribling] had persuaded him to withdraw accompanied by another dated the 21st of October still more objectionable than the first.
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