The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-08-13

the authority with which he was clothed to call to him
such auxiliary force as he might need. "Wsr actually
existing aud territory having been invaded General
Taylor has called on the Governor of Texas for four
1signed) JK. POLK
General GAINES continued-And why did Gen Tay-
Tor hesitate so long to comply with the Discretionary
power gwen him, to call for volunteers Not having
the benefit OF testimony upon this point
will take leave here to express what have often else
where intimated settled conviction that the pscu
liar character oil the delicate trust confded
Taylor rendered probable that he would see be-
cause he could not see precisely the proper time call
tites He could not feel disposed incur the censure
of calling out 5000 or 10000 volunteers expense
Of some millions Of dollars without being previously
assured that would be commenced. He was
always ready and willing to meet the first shock Of
place under his Command There are apprehend some s
few party and party who would be dis
posed 70 act upon the principle that the work Of preps
place before the work of destruction shall have begun
or may have been completed These votares of party
tactics might assai the wisdom question the chvalry
of officer who would not be satisfied 20 anyw
with whatever force his government might 1T place
until after had arrived at the age Of General Taylor
But have since been convinced of the propriety of
ample for its accomplishment and in case like
that of Gen being required at all times have an
army fully equato the estimated rca opposed
to him such forces probable may speedily be con-
centrated upon the threatened frontier have stated else
where and to This Court nat on bearing Of the outbreak
army in the beginning Of May 1885, the patriotic and
talented Governors Of Louisiana Kentucky Missouri
and Alabama and the chivarc Legislature of Louisia
cordially co-operated with in doing every thing
which ervent patriotism military mind and high moral
courage could accomplish under the adverse circum-
of the busy Of planting only to com
ply with General Taylors regusiton, but make as
doubly by antcipatinghe regular requis
tons confidently expected from the Department of War
to hasten to the seat Of to enable General Tay
Tor put down all opposition not only to conquer
the army by which he surrounded, under the able
Mexican General Arista but also to and beat the
forces Fastening 10 the Rio Grande under the
i'm M al he neV IF
timated ut fifteen thousand men, Great numbers of the
enerprising young men OF the interior, constituting
fair representation of the military talent and chvary of
fourteen States of the West and South estimated at from
forty thousand to sixty thousand Of the brave and the
free are generally to be found in the City OF New Or
leans at all times between the middle November and
the first of April but after this last mentioned PERIOD
sonal trade probably from eight TO nine enths of the
whole number, usually return to their homes by the
sooner have doubt that twenty thousand of these
superior volunteers could have been obtained in the
course Of forty hours As it was however.
OF the gallant rough and ready" young men, including
thousands who after returned prepared for action
| had embarked on board the hundreds of magnificent
steamers that had departed from the city in March, and
the first week in April And Notwithstanding the great
exertons of ell the State and city authorities with the
most respectable citizens of ali professions and OF all poll
teal parties, found that during the first week or
ten days OF May but two small battaons had been
rolled and made ready for service Among them were
many Of the most talented men Of louisiana members Of
the legislature, and other respectable citizens such as
had commanded divisions, brigades and regiments It
under these adverse circumstances while reports
daily arriving from various parts of Mexico and Tex.
as, representing the movement Of at least fifteen thou
sand brave Mexican troops TO Matamoras that invited
the governors of the great and patriotic States of Ken
lucky, and Tennessee, Missouri Mississippi and Aaba.
manot indeed to order out draft any part of the mi
la of their respective states-as am sure might have
done with perfect proprety il not under positive orders
70 the contrary1nut 70 anticipate regular call which
department OF war; for force, than equal that
which had deemed it to be my duty to invite into the
United States service for the immediate Of Gen.
era Tay lors army II was upon the principle that
invited the gallant Judge Lafayette Saunders, with
other respectable citizens Of Louisiana and Mississippi
to raise regiments of mounted gunner With this Tor.
mdabe description of force Judge Saunders had served
with much distinction when youth, as Tennessee vo.
lunteer against the British and their red allies in the
Creek nation and in tho defence Of New Orleans under
Jackson in 1914 and 1875 1t was obvious to me and
had doubt it would be equally obvious the militia.
ry advisers of the President from the southern States
that the most efficient description Of force for
the acclimated men, and accmatcd horses to be found
only in the southwe ste and southern made my
cient, not only to General Taylor able as
trusted he would be- to maintain his position, until the
him to profit BY any victory he might achieve By promp
ly following up the blow or, if overpowered-and it
was solemn duty to keep in view the possibility Of
that sad result deemed 1t proper, in time to provide
force and supplies sufficient to hold the enemy in
check, until ffty thousand men, with corresponding
maintain command Of that frontier As in the event
Of defeat of General army the best instructed
troops in America If not in Europe not less than from
fifty thousand to seventy five thousand would have
been required to repair the damagesthe physical
damages that must have resulted from such disaster
The moral effect Of such disaster would have been r
reparabc during the present century These conside-
rations added to the deep and irresistible impression
my mind expressed to Governor Johnson, General
Felix Houston General De Buys and Colonel Grymes
and hundreds Of other Of experience and talent that
Mexico could not have been SO blind to
| hostes without some assurance Of help from her
European friends-and consequently that we might
strict blockade and our at sea and the ports
of Louisiana and eastward thereof at least to Key West
mensced by war steamers and by Paixhan guns With
duty bound to obtain all the mounted gunner, the
tllery infantry and riasmen, which invited into the
service Of the United States, did In the of
1914 to prepare for action With these impressions too,
took measures to place at Forts Jackson, St. Phillip,
and other unprotected forts volunteer battalion of
tery, with companies Of infantry not corps of
arcersn stated in the list of imputaons arrayed
against but in selecting volunteers for garrison
service think it is the duty Of every officer always to
give decided preference to such mechanics-black.
ooyed in the repair or construction of atoms or
chevaux de frieze and floating batteries to cooperate
with forts in the protection Of four great seaperts
without which they cannot be defended Even now at
with neghboring power, will take leave here to
ask, whether 4 would net be prudent and proper to
ton of the Mississippi river and some Of our
other nlets, which | found exposed, and took
Companies like most Of the mounted gunmen which
had Invited into the service arrived at the point
Of their destination nor DID they cost tho United states
made arrangements for raising these valuable corps
pended, as assured hundreds of dollars in their
audabe efforts to anticipate the acquisitions which had
pc rhaps confidently assured them had to
expect Their fervent desire to render prompt and es
sentis service, sgnally checked not chilled by
the order Of the Secretary Of War dated the 18th and
ceved the Doth May, 1886, from Adjutant General
Iones recurring me to counermand my call for several
regiments of mounted gunmen-and for why The
General answers very explicitly, as this requisition
will interfere with the arrangements made by the De-
parmen relative to the quota Of volunteers be called
into the service Of the general government from the
several states, under the new law" But he adds the
volunteer force called into the service from Louisiana
Alabama and on your authority, and which you have
previously reported am instructed to say meets with
the approval Of this Department" Here is order TO
countermand my call for mounted gunmen-not because
the call made without sny specific authority from
the President of the United Statesmen because the emer
gency under which the call made did not indicate
great peril to the country, but because my requsion
would interfere with the arrangements made by the War
Department relative to the quota Of volunteers from the
States under the new law for calls not yet made