Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1837-04-20
GENERALS SCOTT AND GAINES.


the Court Of Inquiry in the case Of these
two officers, has been published Mt length
in the Globe, with the Presidents ap-
proval, and in Justice TO these distinguish
ed officers, and rs matter for future
reference, we extract the most important
parts Of said opinions.
As to GEN. ScoTT, the opinion, which
is long, ia divided into two heads:
lst. In reference to the failure Of
General Scott's campaign in Florida the
Court, after an elaborate review Of the
facts and testimony, come to this conclu-
sion:
"The Court, after n careful review Of
the great mass Of testimony taken in the
foregoing investigation, finds that Major
General Scott was amply clothed with
authority 10 create the means Of prose-
cutting the Seminole war to n successful
issue; but is of opinion that, at the time
he was invested with the command, the
season was too far advanced for him to.
collect, appoint, and put in motion his
forces, until n day too late to compass
the object. 1t appears that after using
great diligence and energy, he was not
the enemy's strongholds, before tho 28th
Of March, and then without sufficient
means for transporting the necessary
supplies to enable him to remain there
long enough to seek out the scattered
forces Of the enemy
"The Court, therefore, ascribo the
failure Of the campaign to the want Of
time to operate. The insalubrity Of the
climate after the middle Of April. The
impervious swamps and hammocks that
abound in the country occupied by the
enemy, affording him cover and retreat
at every step. An absence Of all knowl-
edge by the General, or any part Of his
forces, Of the topography Of the country,
together with the difficulty Of obtaining,
in time, the means of Transporting sup
plies for the army.
"The Court is further Of opinion, from
the testimony OF many officers of rank
and intelligence, who served in the
campaign, that Major General Scott was
jealous and indie fatigable in the dis
charge Of his duties; and that his plan Of
campaign was we'll devised, and prose-
cuted with energy, steadiness, and abili-
ty.
Cd. As to the delay in opening and
prosecuting the campaign in Georgia
and Alabama against the Creeks, the
conclusion is this:
"Upon a careful examination of the
abundant testimony taken in the forego-
ing case, the Court is Of opinion that no
delay, which it was practicable to have
avoided, was made by Major General
Scott, in opening the campaign ngains,
the Creek Indians. On the contrary, it
appears that he took the earliest mea-
surcs to provide arms, munitions, and
provisions for his forces, who were found
almost wholly destitute; and as soon IA
aims could be put into the hands of the
volunteers, they were, in succession, de-
tached and placed in position to prevent
the enemy from retiring upon Florida,
and whenever they could move against
the main body Of the enemy as soon az
"From the testimony Of the Governor
of Georgia, Of Major General Sanford,
commander Of the Georgia volunteers,
and many other winesse Of high rank
and Standing, who were acquainted with
the Topography Of the country, and the
position and strength Of the enemy, the
Court is of opinion that the plan Of cam.
paign, adopted by Major General Scott,
was well calculated to lead TO sue essful
results, and that it was prosecuted by 4
him, as far as practicable, with zeal and
ability, until recalled from tho COM
mard."
As to General Gaines, in reference to
the failure Of his campaign in Florida, we
have this conclusions:
"The Court, after carefully reviewing
and colating the testimony Of Captains
Hitchcock and Nc Call, Colonel Twiggs,
General Smith, and others, in reference
to the operations and peculiar situation
Of the army at Camp lizard, finds it diff
cult to come IN a conc l,ision as TO the real
causes Of the failure Of the campaign.-I
1t appears, although the army was sur
rounded and repeatedly nssailed by the
enemy, in its fortified position, from the
29ih February to the 9Th Of March, and
straitened in the means Of subsistence.
that. however important to the chivalry
and reputation Of the troops, No sally
was made to test the result of such
movement, which it is possible might
have issued in the defeat and subjcction
Of the enemy, and have brought the war
to close. But The Court, however,