The sloop-of-war Levant.
--Dispatches received at the Navy Department from
Captain Montgomery,
Flag Officer of the Pacific Squadron, dated
Panama, Feb. 13th, bring no information of the missing sloop-of-war
Levant.
Capt. M. says:
‘
"Since my last dispatch, I have heard from
Captain Ritchie, of the
Saranac, at Payta, a copy of whose brief report of the execution of that part of his orders having reference to the
Levant, is herewith furnished for the information of the Department.
I regret to say that nothing has yet been heard from the missing ship.
We have intelligence of a violent hurricane, in September last, in the region of the ocean through which the
Levant would have to pass, in which an American clipper ship (since arrived at
Valparaiso) was dismasted, and H. B. M. line-of-battle ship
Ganges had her sails blown from the yards.-- I have not learned the name of the clipper ship or other particulars than are here given.
I have not, however, relinquished my hope of hearing of the
Levant, and her officers and crew."
’
The
Levant was a sailing sloop-of-war of the third class, ranking with the Fandalia, Cyane and
St. Louis.
She was built at
Brooklyn twenty-three years ago; was 792 tons burthen, and carried twenty guns.
She served the country well in her time, having cruised actively on the
Home,
African,
East Indies, and Pacific Squadrons.
Side by side with the
San Jacinto, she, during her last commission, threw in her broadside to the
Carrier Forts on the
Canton river, and did much towards capturing them.
The following is a list of her officers:
Commander,
Wm. E. Hunt;
Lieutenants, W.
C. B. S. Porter,
E. C. Stont,
Colville Terrett,
R. T. Bowen,
Dawson PhŒnix, attached to the flag; Purser,
A. J. Watson;
Acting Master, J. C. Morseley;
First Lieutenant of Marines,
R. L. Browning; Passed
Assistant Surgeon,
J. S. Gilliam;
Assistant Surgeon, D. E. Montgomery;
Captain's Clerk,
A. O. Shuff; Purser's Clerk,
C. Woodward;
Acting Boatswain, H. Edmonson;
Acting Gunner, R. S. King;
Carpenter,
John Jarvis;
Sailmaker, C. T. Frost;
Master's Mates,
Wm. Lewis,
P. Morrison,
Samuel H. Brown.
