The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1846-06-23
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY. )
Washington, May 27, 1916. )

Washington, May 27, ls46. )
Sir:-I had the honor to receive your
letter of yesterday, at my office, about 9
O'Clock at night.
Asyou do not say that'you had shown my
explanatory note to you of the previous
night, May 25, to the President, may
beg you to lay the fair copy (herewith)
before him! In this copy have insert
ed in brackets material word; 'slriends"
-accidently omitted in hurry of wri-
ting, and also a developement of my mean
ing in another place, in red ink and in
brackets.
Allow me to recapitulate some of the
principal facts in my present 10 me un-
! fortunate misunderstanding with the War
Department.
About the 18th inst, both you and the
! President expressed the desire, very ex-
plicitly, that should conduct, on an ex-
! tensive scale, with the new forces about
to be raised. the conquest Of a peace with
I in Mexico. | considered myself honor
ed by the intended appointment, and !
beg that my expression on the occasion,
which Ineed not here repeat may be re-
membered.
have said in my letter 10 you of the
2lst instant, Il have received no orders
as yet, assigning me to the immediate COM
mand of the army about to be raised"
&c. No officer Of the army or navy was
ever despatched by any executive, on dis
tant and important service, without WRIT
TEN instructions, or orders from his gov
ernment. | have received no such paper,
and have never even heard that such pa
per had been drawn up, or was even in
preparation for me. 1t is evident, then,
that, without written instructions, or or
ders, could not have left my hahitual du-
ties here, independent ofthe preliminary
arrangements for the formidable move
menls contemplated against Mexico.
On the 18th instant, hearing that Mex
ican troops had passed the Rio Grande.
and Of the capture OF Capt. Thornton s
detachment. addressed letter to Gen.
Taylor, copy of which annex. and
| beg it also, with this letter. may be
laid before the President. The letter to
Gen. Taylor was twice sent up to you
before it was despatched, and at your In
stance, was changed (by the omission OF
paragraph to the exact shape of this
copy.
lis last paragraph in these words: g
do not now expect TO reach the Rio
Grande much ahead of the heavy rein
forcements alluded to above, or to assume
the immediate command in that quarter
, before my arrival.
I quote this paragraph 10 show that
: did not expect TO be sent 10 the ltic
Grande, and did not even suspect it was
the intention of the President, or your
self, to send me thither. much ahead o
the heavy reinlorcements alluded to -
viz: some twenty odd thousand volun
: teers, besides few additional regulars.
Though | had occasion TO see YOU
twice or thrice in the meantime, | hcarC
no complaint from YOU, and received nc
correction of that misapprehension-if
in fact, had fallen into any-beiore the
evening of the Goth inst. when you spoke
: of the impotence manifested at my oc
cupations Tor delay here-which com
/ plaint caused my letter to you OF the mex
morning-May 2lst.
1t seemed, therefore, evident to me a
: the time, that your complaint had beeI
Caused by the out of door clamors Il
e which have since alluded.
] Three hours before received your let
! ter Of the 25th inst. conveying the dis
: pleasure of the Executive, and withou
!, the least expectation Of receiving such
d letter, | had sent in to you my report o
e note of the same day, (the 25th} whicl
: concluded with this declaration:
), 81 think my preliminary and neccssa
r ry occupation may be ended here in (say
three days more, when-promising Tia
e after the great and brilliant victories c
: the gallant Taylor, (of which we hav
e recently heard, should be ashamed t
e supercede him before the arrival of compe
/ tent reinforcements to penetrate the int
r ror Of Mexico. and to conquer peace
s shall be ready for any Instructions 0
II orders with which the President ma
d honor me-
C And again on that day the night {
| the 25th) after receiving the censure {
n the President, through your letter, eor
at cluded my prompt explanatory reply
% thus:
n Whether it shall be the pleasure (
u the President to send me to the Ri
l. Grande, (which | would prefer or I
)f retain me here, can only say am equa
ri ly ready to do my duty in either poslio
L with all my zeal and all my ability"
re still hope when the President sha
'e have read that explanatory letter and III
S foregoing exposition Of facts attentivel
he may be willing to reeur to his origin
Ie purpose. and accord to my senior ran
c, the preference which | have never cease