Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-10-02
Prorrc., of the War.

The interesting intelligence from the Army Of Invasion,
inserted an another column, and which prepares US TO look
for news Of an engagement between the opposing forces by
the neat arrival from Mexico, would have reached us two
days earlier, but for the failure OF the Southern mail on
Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. Tho New Orleans
papers are still one day in arrear but NC are happy TO per.
csiyo. by IN article in the last Washington Union, that the
repeated failures OF the mail. North and South, have at
length Attracted the attention OF tho Postmaster General.
who gives assurance that no eIerion shall be spared to cor
rect these frequent and perplexing disapPointmenis.
1t seems to be apparent that the Mexican government, is
stTaining every nerve to coneeti in the vicinity Of Monterey
a force sufficiently large to meet the impending assault
and, IL bravo words" always foreshadowed gallant deeds.
we might, after reading the bombsstc proclamation of
General Ampudis, who is again the head Of the Mexican
army, Notwithstanding his alleged cowArdice on the 9th Of
May, very naturally a~pprehend the discontinue OF the IN
vsding force. But we feel all reasonable confidence, should
a battle take place. that the result will not be less glorious
10 the American arms than were the engagements on the
Rio Grande in May last.
The New Orleans Tropic contains an account Of 4
somewhat amusing occurrence between General Taylor
aud one or two OF the recently appointed Volunteer Bnga-
der Generals, who seem 10 entertain n very exalted opin-
ION Of their own military qualifications, while they have
formed a very low estimate of those of Gen. Taylor
"This, (says the TropicO would have been all well enough,
or at most was but an exhibition OF a very common weak
ness, with gentlemen who have but recently sporied
I'VE paultNt aiu At cNofNf oWd u WIN NAftlithSeo Nhl-
Gers OF the regular army, considered pardonable. But one
or two Of these volunteer officers, who had been honored
by the government with a commission of Brigadier Gene.
rl, not only felt aud looked Us we have minated above,
but had even spoken unsdvisedly with their lips They
had said, in effect, that If the entire army was under their
control. matters would 60 on swimmingly, and the army
would soon make its victorious entrance into the city Of
Mexico. The accomplished, gallant, experienced and for
bearing Regular officers can stand a good deal, but this
was going & lirle too far; and it is said that Gen. Taylor
gave a Volunteer BFigadieT, who talked in this wise, the
shorts saying, Sir, / am the eommander-in-ehie until !
am supurseded;' and, turning 10 his Adjuant General, said,
Capt. Bliss, order this gentleman TO garrison Santiago with
his brigade The astouished Bngadier said, General,
suppose | am attacked by a superior force, what am l to
dor Fall back on New Orleans was the rough and
ready reply. We learn that another Breadier talked
large TO Gea. Worth, and that the latter Cficer's indigna-
uon being aroused, he was answered in language not par
ticularly meek and courteous"
The result of this campaign will convince the country
that volunteers. however reliable for defensive purposes,
vii never answer as an aggressive force. Ii the war with
Mexico shall be long proIacted. the necessity of a consi-
derablo addition TO the regular army will be Imperative
Economy as well as efficiency will be consulted by the
substitution. Ten thousand wel-discipined and well off.
cered regulars will constitute a more formidable and reli-
able army Of invasion, than four times the number Of yo.
lunteers, called into service necessarily for short periods,
Offered by men selected with very liule regard to their
military qualifications, and entering themselves upon this
new mode Of life in u spirit of wild adventure, rather than
with a just appreciation Of the duties OF 4 soldier, Of the
sacrifices TO which they must necessarily be subjected, and
OF the hardships and indignities TO which, from their pre-
Nious habits as well as from the social position OF many of
them, they find it extremely difficult to submit. Brave men
we doubt not they are-asb brave as those who fought under
Gen. Taylor on the Sh and 9Th Of May; but they are ne
cessmily deficient in that sef-reliance as well as in that
confidence in each other, which nothing but n rigorous
discipline can inspire. Should the volunteers alone en-
counter q Mexican army, we doubt not that in the onset
they would be rs impetuous and as rash as any troops in the
world but il met by a stern and steady resistance, such as
that, which, by the admission OF our own officers, General
Taylor encountered on the 9Th and 9th Of May, by Mexi-
can troops, Standing firmly in position under an incesssnt
fire OF artillery and the furious charges Of our cavalry and
infantry, it is scarcely to be doubted that the slightest wa
Vering in any part OF tho line would be succeeded by a pa
mic end Q route. Hall the number OF regulars, trained 10
the use OF arms, and having confidence as well in each
other as in themselves, under the same circumstances,
would in all probability achieve a splendid victory.