Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-08-04

J have gained his rear III jorse, dha ne
been compelled 10 fight them without artillery dui'
muni,ion which would have been disastrous 70
our army.
Upon the whole view, therefore, we cannon ou,
believe thai Capt T. has been honoraoiy anu
r;obtsously acquitted His defence EXHIBITS INC
,rne shirt OF The soldier shows that ne preiefeu
that any other construction should be put upon
his conduct than that of witnl neglect OF h''
duty II was indeed worthy of the man who Ut
tered the striking language, 81 did not stop to
conn, The Mexicans; saw nothing but the Mex
lean flag floating on American SOIL ana was
resolved 10 cul i. down il possible"
rr,,,, ,be 1Iotc,,Oycs RreiRe OF .July l3M.
CAPT THORNTON'S DEFENCE.
The trial Of Cant Thornton, I'd Dragons, on
The charges preferred against him BY Inc Com
mandinn General. for The loss of his squadron OF
dragons. captured on the 25h April last, lermi-
| mated on "Wednesday. II IS long established
custom, we believe in both the Army and Navy
10 bring 10 trial the commander OF an e1pedl-
riop. whenever unfortunate; and this, however
unfortunate 10 individuals, appears but Just 10
the accused and the coun,ry-truth is vndcaled,
and the community learns whether ner interests
are committed to safe hands. Captain Thornton
Capt Barbour, Sd Infantry, and Lieut.. Bragg
Sd Artillery; and, at 10 o'clock on Wednesday,
his written defence was made 10 the Court by
Mr.. Bragg.
Several members Of the Court, veterans who
| had .tormed the breach, could not restrain tear
Of sympa,hy-and many moist eye was to be
seen in the large audience which attended 10
hear the vindication OF this gallant and univef-
sally popular Officer
We regret tina, we are not able 10 lay before
our readers the whole of The admirable defence
OF the gallant Captain. He commenced by stat
ing. that long established principle OF his pro-
| fession. and stern sense Of duty on the part OF
his accusers, had brought him before The Court in
his present position. Success, he was aware,
was. with military men, often the test VI merit;
vet he hoped 10 be able 10 show, even if he were
not successful in his expedition, his failure was
no, owing TO the omission OF necessary precau-
ton.
On the night OF the oath OF April, with com
mand of three commissioned officers and fifty
rank and file, he was ordered 10 reconnol're a
country some twenty seven miles in extent, and
10 bring information, whether the enemy had
crossed the Rio Bravo, his numbers and his posi-.
ton; and he had also further vested orders from
the Commanding General, 10 ascertain, il posi-
bic. whether he had crossed his artillery, and 10
report by the next day al twelve o'clock. lie re-
ferred 10 the testimony OF Capt. Hardee and L.
Cane for the manner in which he executed these
Instructions. He regretted that he could mol lay
before the Court The testimony OF Ii. Mason, but
regarded his loss as nothing, compared with that
Of The friends and relations OF the gallant Young
officer, who Tell as he had liVeu, IN lhe discharge
of his duty.
From the recapilulation Of the testimony OF
CAPTAIN Hardee and Lieutenant Cane, in the de-
fence, il appears that every prccaullon was USED
10 guard against snrprise-that an advance guard
was thrown out; that lankers were impossible, for
the most part, from the nature Of The country, II
being perfect defe, admitting al times single
horseman with difficulty; that when Captain
Thornton halted his squadron, orest his men and
horses which was extremely necessary, a sentl-
mel was placed al both ends Of the road so that no
one could approach without his knowledge.
About daylight next morning, the command pro-
ceeded toward the river and 10 the constant enqul-
res made Of every one that was met, "uhclheI
the enemy had crossed" the reply was "he had,
bul all spoke from rnmor-.lhis Captain Thorn
ion believed To be unreliable authority upon
which he could mol base report, and ne referred,
as IN evidence Of thi> 10 the numerous laise ru-
mors with which the American camp had
abounded for a month previous. Captain l. a.
luded 10 the suspicious conduct oi his GUIDE,
which induced him 10 question his idelity;- and
/
employed in connection with other spies, 10 lead
him into position from which retreat was i'm
po,sbc, Subsequent information, upon which
he could RELY. satisfied him that his return IL
eamp had been cut off that the enemy was In his
rear with force Of 500 cavalry, and party Of
Indians Upon The receipt oil this Information, ne
redoubed his precanons-he increased his ad-
vance guard, and placed il under The command :" .,
keep ahead and md Be- vi ani but no, 10 fire upon
The enemy, unless forced 10 do so. From This
time, Captain Thornton proceeded without a
guide, Chapito having deserted him. Captain
Thornton here argued, and we think concusively
proved that an attempt 10 return would have
been more disastrous than his move forward; he
also commended that "rear guard, /" with such
small force, would have been unlactcal, and, IN
his opinion, unnecessary; and, further, that il
was no, prescribed The rear was assigned to
Captain Hardee, and he never LETT il without
being ordered back BY Captain Thornton. he
went on further 10 state, that il the command had
obeyed his Instructions, they would not have en-
tered the field in which they were afterwards cap
,nred bul, he remarked "no precaulioa from my
self. or any one else, could have altered the result
our fate was sealed long before entering that hed.
Capt. Thornton here summed up the facts OF
the case, as shown by The testimony; ilom which
il appeared he had responsible and somewhat
variant duties 10 perform, that Of commander OF
the squadron and accommodating officer. For
guide, Mexican Of doubtful fidelity; country
OF lweny-seyen miles in extent, with which he
was totally unacquainted, and fifteen hours,
ei.ht OF them in the night, 10 perform this duty in
In the opinion Of his officers, his rear could have
been gained by day. without his being able TO
know it, Spies were upon his actions from the
time OF his leaving the army until his capture
Ordered keep an attitude OF peace, until the first
blow should be struck. The following portion OF
his manly and soldier-lke Defence struck Us 50
forciby that we believe we can repeat il yerba-
tin: at was my misfortune" said Capt. Thorn
ton. ITO secure that first blow upon my devoted
head; but it had TO be secured, and why not by
mel" Capt Thornton here continued, that the
information he obtained was important that by
means OF his capture, Gen. Taylor was able 10
understand his real position, that he was no longer
on debated ground, and as an evidence Of This re-
ferred 10 the immediate call for reniorcements The
industry in the completion OF Fort Brown, and the
march 10 Point Isabel Tor provisions. But for
the loss of his squadron, probably, the thanks OF
a grateful people would not nov be shoWered
upon the heroes OF the battles OF The Rio GIande;
In, instead, The tears OF widows and orphans
might have been met with the usual Indifference
by the national Legislature Captain Thornton
reminded that TO prevent this, he would be willing
AGAIN 10 hide in his bosom the only bleeding
heart amid the rejoicings OF victorious army
| Can't Thornton here remarked, that II hc neglect
ed any OF The usual precautions, it was from
want OF knowledge, ana begged the ccur, 10 ac-
quit him OF neglect and find verdict, il neces-
sary, agains, him Tor incapacity. He Then re-
erred 10 his services in Florida, and thought The
manner in which he discharged his DUTIES there,
well known 10 some oil The Court, wonld enable
him 10 defy such an impuIation Capt Thorn
ton concluded by saying, that his honor and mi
ilary reputation were in the hands Of The Court !;
that the country had found hers safe in their
hands, and with confidence he submitted his 10
them.
THE character of Capito is well known to mos, of
The citizens of Western Texas. he was always here
looked upon as double faced teacherous scoundre
and vi have doubt that he has been IN the cnemys
employ ever since the army landed al Corpus Christi.
/ tynopraphjca error which appeared in the