Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-06-27

in
san the following letter from General GAINES to the Depart
ment OF War; which was read and ordered to be printed
HEADauARrEns WEsrERs DryIsroS.
Netc Orleans, June 7th 1886
sa have oacnowledge the honor of your letter Of the
2Sth May-last month.
twas with surprise learned the Department of War re-
garded with dsappobaon the request made by upon the
Governors oil kentucky and other States for assistance AT
the time It was made (the 4h Of May ast) General Taylor
was IN the most critical situation. He had been left with
neither adequate means to sustain the national
honor-opposed to an army four times strong as his
own, and cut off from his military stores The country was
uncertain whether he could escape destruction BY his own
galany, and the ndomitabe coui.qe Of his officers and
and the providence of God he excated himself from
the difficulty AT this crisis he requested TRAPS to be sent to
him with all possible dispatch As commander If this dyi
sion OF the United States army, Immediately sought the
means of meeting his wishes And would have 6,Amed
myself recredn to trust and meritng dismissal from ,e
service, if had postponed action the subject for
weeks, until orders could have been received from Wash
ington.
The War Department may deem the number Of troops ask
ed by me greater than the exgency required This
must confess would asonsh me- the War Department
asked and procured bill authorizing the levy OF 1000 vol
unteers and appropang Sl0 000 000) ten monsto meet
the exigency.
The War Department to be of opinion that there is
discretionary power lodged in to act without positive
ORDERS therefore would ask for information if servle
nsurecton should if Eruption should be made by
large tribes of Indians if of steamers with Pax
han guns lowering about this seacoast il
ut the pead OF OF the
States upon the frontier of neighborng State me,
should ask assistance, would it be my duty refuse all aid
until should have received orders from Washington hum
bly, conceive that the latter has existed within the last
month and if have erred in deemng General Taylor and
his army in situation hazardous to demand imme-
date succo it under which the country, the Con-
gress, aud the War Department have equally abored Had
assistance been delayed by me- and had General Taylor and
his army been cut off would have regarded 1t as nde-
BILE stigma upon my that the exercise Of
such discretion be at the peril of the officer exer
cisng it, That peril hesitate to incur whenever
the welfare Of the country demands it, exercise it I'M
wisely willing that my commission shall be forfeited
IT exercise vainy, or for dishonorable purposes, am will
ling to be shot am than willing TO abide the
quences of my conduct in this NATTER confident as am that
have not transcribed my duty, acted with greater zeal
than the emergency required Ii the battles OF the 9Th and
9th Of May well contested they for time on both
Sides had resulted in the loss of Tayors army would have
plunged the whole Union into deep mourning, and into that
poignant of all human gries abiding of self
epoach for the settled and cold Indifference with which his
want Of competent force and supplies had been for months
Witnessed
The talented and gallant General De Buys who for long
time commanded the finest division of volunteers have ever
since the of 1914 and 5 and who sure has
superior for the command Of this description of force with
L. Texada ESQ., of the most promising young members
of the Legislature and the talented Judge Bryce not
you to suppose, private citizens They were Lous
volunteers and gentlemen OF high responsibility, and
appointed by to act officers of the general staff
upon the principle that the distinguished Edward Llv
ngston, A. L. Duncan, and John r. Grymes, all rate
lawyers, appointed by Jackson to act staff officers
Jacksons object was my object has been upon such
OCCASIONS to maintain the great principle upon which me de-
fence and The independence of beloved Union must for
depend that to bea pirate uole 10 hold station
c high honor, whence acting general staff may with
strict pope be taken and put duty in the absence OF the
regular staff of the army.
These appointments and all the taken by me to
which you object deemed by essential duties,
and discharged by upon principles sanctioned by the
greatest and best of known to some OF whom
and lfIca
school Of beloved Washington Greene, and Knox and
in the civic school of jefferson, and Dearborn, and
Galan and, though last not least, in the school Of Mad
son. Eust Dallas, and Armstrong, Monroe, and Calhoun,
the master spirits of the war of 1912 1914 and 'l5
Be assured, sir that will obey with much pleasure the
orders OF the President of the United States according to my
oath of office As to the reprmands with which you have
honored the last year, and In the last and present
month"; although they strike novelties not being
anted by the sentence of general martia yet care
ess submit TO them, they to be source pleasure
to the War Department. and certainly infict injury
can conceive but motive for their frequent
renee, and that is that my shall be banded before
the country that the public may be prepared to with in
difference my passed by in silence if distinguished
officers created in the army If this is so, the labor is
useless very be unable to discharge the active
duties of my profession hough long in the enjoyment Of
excellent health y for already DID, Of contented dispo-
ion, and have received sufficient distinctions duiE ny
humble life. Not the least of these distinctions do rst3
the late prompt Of Congress and the President
and the noble hearted Lousanan and other whole sousd
western and Southern men, IN not only indirectly out
presy generously, and unanimously approving my conduct
in having for many months urged the adoption Of the sin
pal which have recently been carried by aca
nation.
do not wish to have the place of any General other
officer known to J. sir, born at time and rsaiedxs
among who had learned tho art Of marching T.
tincton by tramping under foot the claims Of their d ~
friends or brother soldiers. &Yxki
Very respectfully, yours, ~
EDMUND PENDLETON GAINFs,
Major General United States Army
Commanding the Western Dvisot
Hon. WIN. L. Manor, Secretary of War, Washington
SAME PAPER, SAME DATE.