Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-06-06

the ADMINISTRATOR his army should be captured OF deeated
by the Mexcans. Mr.. Polk, thus speaking through the
Unon after setting forth the situation of Gen. Taylor and
his army, says
II should be understood Gen. Taylor has been for
months authorized to call for any auxiliary forces from
Texas Louisiana and other ofthe Southwestern States
fact for such orcemels he might deem necessary
for him possess But, like gallant officer believing his
force adequate any enemy which might present it,
self every danger he omitted to
the authority with which he has been entrusted His Of
other consideration, and he
made his cal TO hmse against all contingencies
Here official CHARGE made the 9th of May against
Gen Taylor that he had not apprehended his position,
but had made mistake for the want of clear military udg-
ment in calling the Governors of the neighboring
States and By reason Of his ocn bnder has position had
become grave charge truly against military
commander in such position, to be thus made by the Pres
dent of the United Siates through the medium Of his organ
and if true demonstrated the General be unfit the
trust.
In few days afterwards viz the 18th May the President
sent his touching this subject Congress and in it
follows the dca though covered up by the ace Of
cold and selfish politician. After presenting the condition OF
things upon the Rio Grande, he proceeds
Anticipating the possibility Of crisis like that which ar
rived Instructions were given August last precauona-
y measure against invasion or threatened INVASION authorizing
General Taylor the emergency required accept voun-
teers not from Texas only but from the States of Louisiana
Alabama Mssisspp Tennessee and Kentucky and
pondg letters addressed the respective Governors
those States These repeated and IN Jan
uay last soon after the incorporation of Texas into union
of States General Taylor further authorized by the Pre-
sident TO make requson upon the Executive Of tat
for such OF its militia force may be needed repe
or TO secure the country against apprehended invasion On
the approach OF considerable Mexican force promptly and
efficiently the authority with which he clothed
call to him such auxiliary force he might need"
The President communicates distinctly Congress the Pc
r which, by the last news General Taylor and his army
placed, and also in detail the portions of four several
dispatches which he had caused be him. in which
he empowered to call for such renfocemens any
gers envonng him might require The Presidents purpose
transparent he saying Congress the country in
the event Of Taylor and his army falling, " not respo
sble The General four times at considerable Intervals
empowered to summon to his aid renforcements he neglect
ed to do defeat and disgrace to the American
the consequences and his head mne the ac
countaby and there be the punishment" The fate of the
gallant General was then all doubtful and peous An up
night brave and magnanmous President rising to the of
ness OF his position would have done the General full justice
and after giving the details before recouned would have fair
stated the forces that had been placed under his command
what promised him and been neglected be
and what he had required addition to the numbers actually
IN his camp All this necessary to fair judgment upon
the conduct of the General and let whether the Pre-
siden preparing to mislead the public mind by withhold
ing 1T and thus to make victim OF Taylor and him
SELF if it became necessary From the best information can
obtain when the General left his camp open his
cation with Point Isabel, he left about five hundred men in
his fortified camp opposite Matamoras One says be
took with h fifteen hundred men, another hun
dred, and there eighty soldiers besides Transfers who
do not belong to the army at Point Isabel According TO
this computation, Taylo whole effective force twenty,
hundred and eighty. Now let US see how many had
been promised him.
In the despatch General Taylor from the War Depart
ment dated 23d August Is45 than nine months since
he informed An order has been this day ISSUED for send
ing one thousand into Texas to join those under
your command When tho existing orders are carried into
effect you viii have with you force of four thousand men
of the regular army"
In the despatch from the Adutant General TO him of 18th
September lS45, is this passage 81 send herewith COPY
Of the estimated strength Of the regular force ordered
'Taxau T.. Ar
War and the Commanding General. The aggregate is
33o, from which, you will see three bundled are
deducted on account of the various casualties incident to the
service This reduction would make the army of occupa-
ton when all the troops shall have arrived about
1000" -Four thousand effective men of the regular force
was what promised Gen. Taylor to enable him to occupy
and ward Oft danger from Texas have seen he had less
nan twenty three hundred when hosilies began Let
sec what he said about reinforcements
In his despatch to the Department dated goth August
ls45, he says:
81 beg to call your attention the condition of the ar
company serving in this army regard TO the number Of
men soon to be discharged and the necessity of supplying
their places as early IN the autumn practicable
he' report o. Lieut. Bragg appears that twelve win
De discharged by the end OF Noyemberhere being fy
enlisted in the company There will thus at the end Of
November be fourteen vacancies the company some
Refreshments should reduce the NUMBER upon can
not reckon with any degree Of certainty To render COM
pany efhcent with four pieces, sixty required 10
complete which number, should the General nhie fit
to add detachment TO the company for this service twenty
two recruits will be required"
The great Importance OF keeping this small force eff
hcient condition. will excuse for urging the necessity
sending out good recruits the company as the adj
anced will render IL pass through New Orleans
The field battery much my regret has arrived
could get no guns of suitable calber from the St Marys
soop OF but have procured three pieces inderent
equipped and small supply of ammunition from the citizens
OF the place"
On the 18th October last his despatch to the Depart
ment, he says:
"Thee hundred now wanted in the regiments
and detachments here which NUMBER hardly doubt
will be increased nearly FIVE hundred by the close of the
year hope measures may be taken supply the requisite
number ofrecruits many be spared depot
In his despatch of November 49, he informs the Department
that he Will discharge few companies Of Texan rangers
which he had taken into service except be retained for
guides, at the end Of the year, when their time would expire
And then he adds: Z" II will then becone necessary TO
strengthen the regular force the frontier &C. In his let
ter OF the 2sh March, 1916, from his camp opposite Mata
moras, he says:
"The attitude of the Mexicans so far decidedly hostile
An interview has been held by my direction with the militia
authorities in Matamoras, but with satisfactory result
Under this state Of things must again and rgely call
your attention 10 The 'ecessity Of speedily sending recruits this
army"
"The militia Texas are SO remote from the border
that we cannot depend upon their aid"
On the 9Th April last the Adjutant General wrote from
this city to General Taylor his post thousand miles
distant
All the dsposabe recruits for the general service from
New York, and Newport Kentucky for your
army, which you will please assign their arrival TO such
regiments ana companies as you may Judge best regret 70
say that the number will but little exceed hundredto
which one hundred be added New Orleans the
regimental depots-in all over three hundred men,
On the 23d April last General Taylor acknowledges the
arrival Of ysx recruits and these were all that he received
previous ohstwo battles included
the estimate ohs strength He had promised by the
inf -