Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-08-04
r,On The M..ano,.. n.,,,r,. y,,, "a
Capt. Thormtou,, D.,,uc.

The trial OF Capt. Thornton, I'd Dragoon. ON IN.
charges preferred sgains, him BY the Gene.
rail- for the oss OF his squadron Of dragons. captured ON
the 25h April last, terminated on "Wednesday Ia 4. .
long established CUSTOM we seeve In both tho Army and
Navy, to bring to trial the commander Of su expedon
whenever uniorunaie and this however, unfortunate to
individuals, appears but just the and the eoun
uy-uuth Is indicated and the community lenns whe,h
or her interests committed safe hands. Capt Thorn
ton was assisted IN the management OF his case by Capt
Barbour, Sd Infantry and Lieut. Bragg u Artillery; and
" IN o'clock, on Wednesday, his written defence wa.
made to tho Courby Mr. Bragg.
Several members OF the Court veteran. xbo had .,,
cd tho breach, could restrain tear of symp.tby-
and many moist eye be seen in the arg, audi
enee which attended to hear the vndcson Of this gallant
and universally popular officer.
We regret that wc able lay before our reader.
the whole OF the admirable defence of the p.ll.p,
lie commences oy stating haa long established principle
OF his profession and stern duty ON the par, Of
his aeeuers had brought him before Court In nj, pro
sent position Success, he aware, was with military
men, often the best Of merit: yet he hoped DO able 10
show he successful in his expedition MI.
failure was not owing to the omission OF necessary pre-
caution. ~
three commissioned officers and fifty rank and f, n. wn.
ordered to reconnoire country "a miles in extent
and TO bring information, whether the enemy had
the Rio Bravo his numbers and his position: and he b,
also further vested orders from the ndinv General
TO ascertain possible whether he had crossed hi, a,,
ey and to report by tho next day at II o'clock. lie rc
tered to the testimony OF Capt Hardee and 1t Cane for
The manner in which he executed these instructions He
regretted that he could lay before tho Court IN,
mony OF Lit Mason, but regarded his nothing conn
pared with that OF his ends and relations Of the gallant
young officer. who fell he had lived in the discharge of
his duty. "
From the ecspitua,ion Of tho testimony of C,p,,in H
dee and Lieutenant Cane in tho defence IL appears thai
every pr caution used guard against surprso-ba
an advance guard was thrown that snkers wero mpas
sable Tor the most part from the Of the country il
oeng perfect dehe admitting at times single horseman
Win difficulty that when Capt Thornton halted IN. ,ouod
ron 10 rest his men and horses which extremely neces
safy sentinel placed both ends OF the road ~. b.
no one could approach without his knowledge About day
sh next morning the command proceeded toward IN, r.
Ne and TO the enquiries made of every ON. d..
was met whether tho enemy had crossed" tho reply wa.
he had but al spoke from rumor-this Can't Thorn,o,
believed To be unreliable authority upon which he could moi
base report and he REFEREED evidence OF this to The
numerous false rumors with which the American camp had
abounded Tor month previous. Capt T. alluded 10 IN.
suspicious conduct OF his guide which induced him 10
non MS hde and subsequent he thought
mat ne was employed Ia with spies TO lend
him into position from which retreat was impos.ble-
subsequent niormaon upon which he could rely salts
ned him that his return camp had been cut off thar IN.
etemy was IN his rear with force OF 500 cavalry and
party OF Indians Upon the receipt OF this information he
edouoed ms Preeauons-he increased his advance guard
ana placed under the command Ut Lieut. Mason with
minute instructions to keep ahead DC vgian, but not
10 hre upon the enemy, unless forced do From this
ume' capt Thornton proceeded without guide Chapito
having deserted him. Capt, Thornton here argued and Nc
hlnk concusivey proved that attempt 10 return woud
nave been more disastrous than move for xnrd he a..
una forca
"ouu nave oeen untacuca and in his opinion unnecessa
Ty and, further, that prescribed The rear y..
assigned to Capt Hardec and he never left il tbou he
ing ordered back by Capt Thornton. He went ON fr,he,
TO stae that the command had obeyed h.. instruction..
they would not have entered the field in which thew were
afterwards esptured but, he remarked 'no preGauton
from myself, any else could have the sn
fate sealed long before entering thai field
Capt Thornon here summoned up facts of the case
SHOWN ny ie testimony, from which appeared he had
too responsible and somewhat duties TO perform
commander SQUADRON .rd
hcer For guide Mexican Of doubtful fidelity: coun
Try oil tweny-seNen miles in extent, with which he was
totally unacquanted, and fifteen hours and eRkt of them
IN 'he night to perform this duty in In the opinion OF
his officers his could have gained by day. without hi,
being able TO know IT, Spies upon his actions from
tne nme oil his leaving the army, until his capture Or
dered To keep attitude OF peace the first blow sbould
be struck. The following portion of this manly and so
ueike defence struck US so oTcbly that believe W.T.
can repeat IT verbatim. at my misfortune" said
Capt Thornton, to that frat blow upon INV deyo
TED nead but had to be secured and why not by me7
capt ihorn'on here continued that the information he OBJ
tanned important; that by means Of his capture
era Taylor able understand his real poson tbs,
he longer debated ground and as an ev,dan.a
o. ms referred 10 the immediate call for renforcemen
the industry IN the completion Of Fort Brown and the
march to Point Isabel for provisions But for IN. loss Of
MS squadron probably, the thanks OF grateful peopl.
would not now be showered upon the heroes Of the battles
OF the mo ITande but instead the widows and or
phans might have been with the usual indifference bv
the national legislature. Capt Thornion, reminded that
to present this he would be willing sgain TO hide in his bo
son. the only bleeding heart amid the reoicinRs of ycto
nous army Capt Thornton, here remarked il he neglect
ed any Of the usual precautions, from want of know
edge and begged the Court aequt him Of neglect and
10 hnd verdict II necessary against him incapacity
lie then referred TO his services Florida and Thought
the manner in which he discharged his duties there well
known to some OF the Court would enable him TO DEFY
such an imputahon Capt Thornton concluded by saying
that his honor and military reputation, in the hands
OF the Court that the country had found safe in their
hands and with confidence he submitted his to them
The character OF Capto to mos, Of the enI
a
double faced eaeheious we have no Doubt that he
has been the enemies employ army at Cor
pus Christi. ~