George W. Hill to Sam Houston, January 1, 1844 - Page 1
Department of War and Marine
Washington. January 1st 1844
To
His Excellency Sam Houston
Sir:
Having transmitted to your Excellency
estimates for funds necessary to refit for sea the vessels
of War now in Galveston Harbor required to be sold
and maintain them in active service for one year
and to keep the same in ordinary for a like period,
I feel constrained by a sense of duty to the country
and a desire to promote the interest of the service, to
communicate the following facts, a knowledge of which
will be essential, should it be the object to found any
action upon these estimates for the future operations
of the Navy[.] Our naval vessels were built for
the government in the year 1839 and though of
good appearance at the time received, their timbers
have decayed and are still decaying much more
rapidly than vessels built of the best materials and
in the best condition[.] Much expense has been
incurred from time to time in making the essential
repairs, which have in many instances served
to point out other deficiencies[.] Some of them
have been found when placed in dock for repair
entirely eaten through by worms where the copper
was off, by which they are rendered unsafe as slight
injuries may produce free and dangerous leaks[.]
The copper of all the vessels is much worn and they
will soon require to be stripped and newly covered[.]
Considerable portions of the ship Austin and brig
Wharton are bare; worms will readily penetrate their
plank on the approach of warm weather, and if
not recoppered they must sink[.] To effect this and
to make the numerous other required, as well
from decay, as from the injuries caused by the reception
of numerous heavy balls while on the coast of Yucatan
George W. Hill to Sam Houston, January 1, 1844. Texas Navy Papers, Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.