Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-05-09

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sprung from the active field service of Gen Me-
Comb took place at atime subsequent TO that mt
winch McComb was entrusted with an impor-
'ant frontier command, when Gaines or Scott
might have been selected" I will take on mo
to assert, that at that very time, without any
precise Information on the subiect1 both Scott
aud Gaines were hotly engaged and press
ing the common enemy AT the head of their res
pec'ive commands, equally if not more important
IMAM ttat oil McComb, and had repeatedly distin-
guished themselves 1t we are 10 recur to the
'oSenS oil national approhaton--there are no two
men In the arinywho have received as many as
scott and Gaines-Again this letter writer is ss
ss'te as to give even the motives for Brcvetting
mcoomb-Let him be judged by facts and in their
absence by common sense. He SAYS, i'm the re-
Iuc,ion OF the army (inark il was after the must
brilliant service) il impossible to retain hin,
lHie' onb) as Brigader, because he ,cas from, tho
same Sfdte with Gen. Brown" WHY were Scott s.
1aines retained? They are from the same state
AGAIN, 9 he (McComb) was, therefore, placed at
''e neau OF the Engineer corps, and Breyet was
conferred upon him to preserre his rank, with u
iuii understanding, that he should not be COM
ihanded by Gaines Scott-both of whom had
before been his interiors The patchwork of
this writer will he discovered with very little ex-
animation.
Let me ask, what was the principle upon
which officers were retained i'm the army ut its
reduction: presume that of actual service; but
cetcTs Pdr6us, of seniority: Ii so, shall content
myself with the fact, that Scott and Gaines were.
retained They had been brevettcd for brilli-
AM services. But this letter writer does Nc
omo the injustice to say, that he was brevetted
to retal, has rank; and that he passed to the head
oi the Engineer corps, because he could not be
retained as Brigader, but would have been re-
duced to CoIonelcy. The futility Of the motive
assigned by this correspondent of the maryland
e'' ior not retaining McComb as n Brigadier,
mas been already exposed by the retaining OF Scott
ana Gaines. Now, think the retaining of these
TWO oihcers, when the army reduced, is con-
elusive evidence against the claims of McCoinb in
opposition to theirs, both to sarvce and as TO
rank; for, if rank constituted a claim, Scott and
Galnes out-ianked McComb by their Brevets-.
anu III services, none were better acquainted with
them than the Board of Officers. Besides, we CT
items claim to know something of the events of
,he late war, and to judge OF the parts performed
ny the most prominent actors in the arena
cannot conclude my remarks (already extended be-
yond the intended limits) without "a passing notice
Vi me last quotation have made from the letter
writer, TO witt that there "a full understands
ng ION the part oil the President and Senate) that
ne (McCoinb) should not be commanded by either
Scott or Gaaes-both of whom had been his infs
Iiols This is certainly one of the most unlnili-
:. si yaPpoihthents that was ever confirmed by the
Senate we give full credit to the letter-writer
An individual receives a commission (Which il ,
proihoion) with full understanding that he i,
not 10 be commandments by his Interiors for the
law military has provided for such casc-but he
as not to be commanded by his superors for which
The same code has equally provided: for this SIM
PIE reason, that Scott and Gaines had once been
bis interiors. Where is to be, or ought to be. the
limit OF the principle here laid downNto wit: that.
Tor no other reason than that of former inferioritv
tho'e VINO nave even the superiority should not
exercise its attributes, as TO those whose commits
siohs oil certain grade were OF older date? Tn,
idea coniutes itself. 1t is TO be regretted for the
sake oil consistency, chat those who have undcrta-
Ken 10 lay the merits and pretensions of Cen Me-
Comb before the public, had not agreed upon the
reasons which they have severally assigned, WHY
Mctomb was put at the head Of the Engineer
corps, with full understanding that his supe-
ilor-' SCOT anu Gaines, were never TO command
nm; or why, il that had not been done, he would
have been retained i'll the army as Colonel Of
Engineers.
General McComb is more fortunate than ri.
Iher scott or Gaines, III having number OF
ready writer's among his admirers Whilst
his claims have been urged ON Inc attention
oil the Executive and the public by essavs
and communications in several papers INV d;f!.
rent writers, presume,) those OF Scott S Games
nave been lett on the files OF the Department OF
Var, lthe proper repository for the claims of ever
soidIer,) or trusted TO the memories of every MAJ
who has read the history of the late war; NV
o'Ject Is not 10 praise Scott and Gaines or TO
disparage McComb-unless denial that the two
former have been entirely eclipsed, and thrown in
the shade by Gen. McComb is dispararcment-
and then II Is only constructive. But intend
none OF any sort Why should wish 10 pluck a
single leai from the laurel wreath of the warrior
attempt would be unavailing, We're it made IL
would recoil oil me, and prejudice the cause adj
vocate-which Is that of :" even handed Justice
Ii were Capable OF doing injustice to McComb
could gam no credit FOR the Justice intended to
Scott and Gaines. But as | am dealing in facts
tina: relate exclusively 10 McComb, l shall draw
no comparisons between men. IL is unnecessary
except on the part OF those whose duty makes il
Imperative 10 examine relative IA crit s services
inpartIally 10 acquit themselves of their great
trust IN presenting TO the Conscrpt Fathers of the
Republic the name Of the officer most descrvinaJ
t nigh station, for their approval. II is for the
purpose oil correcting the misconceptions that warm
'uulI duoh OF jealous friendship may have produc.
ed, tildt write word in this controversy fol.
low the examples of those writing raneeyrists in
part only III appearing in newspaper. / do not
liehd 10 seize on public opinion by losing no time
alter the death Of General Brown in making an
appeal TO it. Edo not wish TO appear to take the
subject oil the Major General out of the hands OF
the constitutional organ by any interference with
II, by saying who ought TO be appointed Major
General.-AS little should think of forestalne.
or influencing the opinion of the President by y
memorial TO him and the public, rccounng the
merits oil my favoite--ior, such in fact is eye,u
n ewsPaper essay and paragraph tina, has appear
cd from the pens of General McComb's friends
why should !-'cu bono2' Such memorials i'm
ply That the merit they blaZon would he forget
ten or disregarded. II not, why are they written,
Ana II they do, they insnuate that Injustice will
De done by The government, without one effort ON
the part OF his friends, TO prevent it, But do
wish TO pfune away the cxubcrances of ardent
friendship, and TO strip of the lyperbolc in which
Ihe military exploits OF Gen McConb are present
Ell 10 TIE public These writers who have put
ther shoulders to his cause and are pushing IL M
with all their mind and all their strength. NAV
hnd themselves, in the predicanent of Sisvplns
and his stone W hen they think the summit i