LIFE OF JAMES DWIGHT DANA 



General Order was issued by the Navy Department, 

 evidently so framed as to allay the prevalent apprehen- 

 sions that conquest was proposed. 



' ' NAVY GENERAL ORDER 



" The armament of the Exploring Expedition being adapted merely for 

 its necessary defence, while engaged in the examination and survey of the 

 Southern Ocean, against any attempts to disturb its operations by the sav- 

 age and warlike inhabitants of those islands ; and the objects which it is 

 destined to promote being altogether scientific and useful, intended for the 

 benefit equally of the United States and of all commercial nations of the 

 world : it is considered to be entirely divested of all military character, 

 that even in the event of the country being involved in a war before the re- 

 turn of the squadron, its path upon the ocean will be peaceful and its pur- 

 suits respected by all belligerents. The President has therefore thought 

 proper, in assigning officers to the command of this squadron, to depart 

 from the usual custom of selecting them from the senior ranks of the navy 

 and according to their respective grades in the service, and has appointed 

 Lieutenant Charles Wilkes first officer to command the Exploring Expedi- 

 tion, and Lieutenant William L. Hudson to command the ship Peacock and 

 to be second officer of said squadron and take command thereof in the 

 event of the death of the first officer, or his disability, from accident or 

 sickness, to conduct the operations of the Expedition. 



"(Signed) MAHLON DICKERSON, 



' ' Secretary of the Navy. 



" NAVY DEPARTMENT, June 22, 1838." 



The final instructions, drawn up by Mr. Paulding, were 

 dated August n, 1838, and just one week later the 

 squadron sailed from Norfolk. 



Hampton Roads, the rendezvous, has been the scene 

 of many historic events, but among them, this peaceful 

 incident, the departure of our first naval exploring ex- 

 pedition, should not be forgotten. Three weeks before 

 it sailed, the President, with the Secretaries of the Navy 

 and of War, visited the flag-ship, and were received with 

 all the honors, the only occasion during the continuance 

 of Wilkes's command when a salute was fired. Six ves- 

 sels comprised the squadron : the Vincennes, a sloop-of- 



