American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-06-11
Major General WINFIELD ScoTT,
Commanding General, sc, SC.
Headquarters OF THE ARMY,
Washington, May 81, 1874

HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
Washington, May 81, 1916.
SIR: | had the honor to receive your letter
Of yesterday, atmy office, about O'Clock al
night
As you 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
E this copy have inserted in brackets material
word-"fiend s"-accideutal omitted III the
hurry of writing, and also a Development OF
my meaning in another place, in red ink and
in brackets.
Allow me to recapituate some OF the princl-
pal facts in my present (to me- unfortunate
misunderstanding with the War Department
About the 9Th instant, both you and the
President expressed the desire, very explicitly,
that should conduct, on an extensive scale,
with the new forces about to be raised, the
conquest of peace within Mexico. | consid-
cred myself honored by the intended appoint
ment, and beg that my expressions on the
occasion, which need not here repeat, may be
remembered.
| have said in my letter to you Of the 2lst
! instant, 81 have received no orders as yet, as
| signing me to the immediate command of the
army about to be raised, &c. No otlceT OF
| the army or navy was ever despatched by any
executive, on distant important service, with
out ioriHen instructions, or orders from his
government have received no such PAPER,
and have never even heard that such paper
had been drawn up, or was even in prepara-
ton for me. 1t is evident then, THAT without
written instructions, or orders, could not have
left my habitual duties here, independent OF
the preliminary arrangements for the tormi-
dable movements contemplated against Mexico.
| On the 18th instant hearing that Mexican
/ troops had passed the Rio Grande, and of the
apture of Captain Thornton's detachment, |
addressed letter to Gen. Taylor, copy OF
which annex, and beg it, also, with this let
ter may be laid before the President. The
letter to Gen. Taylor was twice sent up to you
before it was despatched, and, at your instance,
was changed (by the omission of paragraph
to the exact shape of this copy.
It's last paragraph is in these words; 81 do
not now expect to reach the Rio Grande much
ahead ofthe heavy re-nforcements alluded to
above, or to assume the Nnmediate command
in that quarter before my arrival"
Iquote this paragraph to show that die
not expect to be sent to the Rio GTande, ant
: did not even suspect it was the intention ottht
President, or yourself, to send me thlther
''much ahead of the heavy rentorcements al
T volunteers, besides few additional regulars
Though had occasion to see you twice o
It thrice in the mean time, heard no complain
, from you, and received no correction Of tina
: misapprehension-if, in fact, | had fallen int
i anv-before the evening of the Goth instant
q when you spoke Of the Impotence manifested
l at my occupations (or delay here-whicl
s. complaint caused my letter to you Of the mex
mornnp-hay 2lst.
i 1t seemed, therefore. evident to me, at TIN
. time, that your complaint had been caused b.
q the out-of.door clamors to which have sine,
alluded.
0 Three hours before | received your letter 0
} the 25th instant, conveying the dspleasure 0
o the Executive, and without the least expecta
e ton of receiving such a letter, | had sent in t.
u you my report or note of the same day, 9TH
/ 25th, } which concluded with this declarations
% 81 think my preliminary and necessary oc
II cupation may be ended here in (say) three day
i more, when-premising that after the great ant
brilliant victories of the gallant Taylor, 20
{ which we have recently heard | should b,
= ashamed to supersede him before the arrival O
:, competent reinforcements 10 penetrate the inhe
J rior of Mexico, and to conquer peace shall
u be ready for any instructions or orders witt
which the President may honor me-"
ana dgdli, Ou THAT udy, \lue D1Hl Vi LII
25th,) after receiving the censure of the Presi
dent through your letter, concluded m,
prompt explanatory reply, thus:
"Whether it shall be the pleasure of the Pre-
s,dent to send me to the Rio Grande, (Which
would prefer or to retain me here, can onIy
# say am equally ready to do my duty il
" either position with all my zeal and all m,
IF ability"
,e still hope when the President shall have
D. read that explanatory letter and the foregoing
~ exposition of facts attentively, he may be will
d ing to recur to his original purpose, and accorc
t. to my senior rank the preference which have
re never ceased to entertain, and which SHOULD
~ have pressed with ncessant zeal, but for tn,
y apprehensions heretofore expressed, and whicl
81 your letter have nearly, if not quite removed
4 therefore beg to claim that command, when
:. ever the President may deem it proper to Civ
h me the Observation-Disclosures to-day, or at an
e other better time, he may be pleased to desg
= nate.
h In your rejoinder to me of yesterday (Ma
n 26th,) which have acknowledged above, yo
quote from my letter of explanation the word
N "You are also aware of other causes of uneas
:. ness have against the department" &C., &c.
n Your notice of this complaint, on my part,
" so hberal-not to say kiDd-that am boun
- TO be frank and explicit, as TO one Of thos
i'd causes. had, upon my mind, in hastily per
n