An American brig-of-war of 266 tons' burden, and fitted to carry fourteen guns, but carrying ten, with a crew of officers, men, and boys of 120, under command of
Alexander Slidell Mackenzie, cruising along the coast of
Africa, left
Liberia on Nov. 11, 1842, for the
United States, via
St. Thomas.
On Nov. 25
Mackenzie received information through
Lieutenant Gansevoort of a conspiracy on board to seize the brig and convert her into a pirate, etc. The leaders in this movement were reported to be
Midshipman Philip Spencer, son of
John C. Spencer, then
Secretary of War, and
Samuel Cromwell, the boatswain's mate, and a seaman, Elisha Small.
Spencer was arrested on Nov. 27, and the other two on the 28th, and put in irons.
These three were convicted by a court on board, and sentenced to be hanged at the yard-arm, the sentence being carried into effect on Dec. 1, 525 miles from
St. Thomas.
the
Somers arrived at New York, Dec. 14, with several of the boys in confinement.
A naval court of inquiry, convened on Dec. 28, consisting of
Commodores Charles Stewart,
Jacob Jones,
Alexander J. Dallas, and
Ogden Hoffman,
judge advocate, sat until Jan. 19, 1843, and decided that
Commodore Mackenzie had simply performed his duty, etc. This court and verdict did not satisfy public opinion, and for a further vindication
Mackenzie called for a regular court-martial, which was held at the
Brooklyn navy-yard, and by a vote of nine to three also acquitted him. An attempt was now made to bring the case before the circuit court of the
United States, but
Judge Betts, although no overt act had been committed, and the hanging had been done on mere suspicion, dismissed the case for want of jurisdiction.
This case at the time created great excitement, many approving the course of
Mackenzie, and many considering him guilty of a great crime.
the
Somers was lost in the harbor of
Vera Cruz while blockading it, Dec. 8, 1846.
See
MacKENZIEenzie, Alexander Slidell.
