The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-08-24
GENERAL GAINES.

court, having already appeared IN the newspapers,
we have deemed it our duty to apply to the adju-
tant general for copy of the proceedings. He has
been oblging enough to furnish us with printed
copy, which we hasten to lay before our readers
without note or comment The proceedings, the
opinion of the court and the orders OF the War
Department under the instructions Of the President
of the United States, will sufficiently speak for
themselves.
GENERAL ORDERS WAR DEPARTMENT,
ADJuTANT GENEKALs OFFCE,
No. 80. Washington, August 20, $40.
l. The court of inquiry, whereof BreVet Briga-
der General H. Brady is president, instituted by
General Orders" No 49, Of June 30th, TO investi-
Of Brevet Major General (. p Gaines, command
ing the western division Of the army, and which
convened at Fort Monroe, Virginia, on the 10Th
day Of July ls46, has reported the following facts
and opinion:
"FAcTs."
General Gaines learned at New Orleans, sbou the
LIST May, 1886, that Mexican army, Of superior
force to the army under General Taylor, was adj
yancng TO invade Texas, and that actual
impending. He was informed officially from General
Taylor Of his situation and what auxiliary force Of
volunteers he had called from the States, viz four
regiments from Louisiana, and -four regiments from
Texas; and he requested by Gen. Taylor to aid
the governor Of Louisiana in equpping and for
warding the troops Of that State.
"On the receipt Of this information, Gen. Gaines
wrote 10 the governors Of Mississippi, Alabama,
Tennessee, Kentucky, and Missouri, advising them
to anticipate call from the President OF the United
States for volunteers, and TO make preparations TO
raise the troops II was not, however, in form,
requisition on them to send forward troops before
they called for by the President.
"On the Sd May, Gen. Games sent an officer to
Mobile to raise volunteers for TayloT's army. On
the 4th, one company was raised and embarked for
New Orleans. The whole volunteer force TO be
raised Mobile, Gen Gaines limited by orders Of
May 9th, not to exceed two regiments or twenty
companies.
About the 4lh May the governor Of Missouri,
being at New Orleans, rendered TO General Gaines
regiment, which offer General Gaines accepted.
"On the 9Th May, General Gaines authorized Col
Crane, commanding at Pensacola, whence General
Gaines had Withdrawn the garrison Of regulars to
send TO Texas TO muster into the service one or
more volunteer companies also, informing Col
Crane that he had requested the governor Of Ala
bama 10 send there two volunteer companies; ma
king three more companies called out, author
Ized to be called out for the protection Of Pensacola
"On the 9th May, General Games authorized La
fayeue Saunders raise a regiment Of mounted
gun men, from 500 To 900 men.
On the llth May, he authorized A. NJ. Dunn to
raise company OF 100 men to guard the arsenal al
Baton Rouge
son the 18th May, he authorized A. Rust to raise
a regiment of mounted gun-men-from five 10 ten
companies; each company TO number from 60 to
100 men; thereby authorizing the levy Of 800, or
500, or 600, or 900 men.
inlay 18th. lie authorized w B. Lewis to raise
a regiment Of mounted gun-men--fve to ten COM
panles of 10 to 100 men-amounung TO $50, or 500,
or 700, or 900 men.
"May 18th. He authorized Bale Peyton to raise
a regiment Of ten cOmpanles-eaCh 60 10 100 men
amounting to GOO or 600 men.
INLAY l4th. He authorized F. Buisson to raise
battalion Of two companIes-each 90 to 100
amounting to 100 200 men, to garrison forts
Jackson and ST. Philip I'LL further orders.
"May 10Th. He authorized |. S Gilbert TO raise
regiment of mounted gun-men-6ye to ten COM
panles; each company to be 60 to 100 men-amOunt-
ing to 300, 500, 600, or 900 men.
INLAY Goth. He authorized E. Fetherstone, w
NJ. Fulton, w. S. Hays, J. R. Creepy, and E. L.
Tracy to raise each one regiment Of ten companies
each 60 to 100 The whole amounting to
l,500, 800, 5000, or 5000 men.
"May 22d. He authorized p. B. Starke TO raise
regiment of ten companes-each 60 TO 100 men
making GOO to 1000 men.
"May 23d He accepted the offer Of the governor
of Mississippi to furnish 1900 volunteers-incud-
ing the regiment to be raised by P. B. Starke.
MAY Dist. He ssued orders to complete the
muster of two regiments of volunteers from Ala
bama-ony three companies having been at this
time raised on his previous requsitions.
sin the latter part of May, General Gaines raised
and mustered into service GalIy's battalion of light
artery-three companies-2S6 strong. The pre-
date of this levy does not appear In any docu-
ment before the court, and is not remembered by
the witness examined to this point-Gen Gaines's
assistant ad utant general.
"Ihe court find further, that in consequence of
General Gaines's communication to the governor Of
Kentucky, about the LIST or 4th Of May, represent
ing the situation of General Taylor's army, the gov
ernor raised and sent forward regiment from
Louisville; which its arrival at New Orleans,
about the latter part of the month, General Gaines
accepted and mustered into the service ofthe United
States.
'The foregoing statement shows all the troops
raised or called for by General Gaines. IL appears,
however, that the only troops actually raised and
brought into service by him on these calls were the
St. Louis Legion, Of Missouri, the Louisville Lee
gion, of Kentucky, Peyton's and Featherstons regi-
ments of Louisiana volunteers, and Galy's battalion
of light artillery, and three companies of Alabama
volunteers, raised at Mobile.
s'The court find further that when General Gaines
was relieved from command of the Western Di-
vision, and ordered to repair to Washington city,
and in execution of said order, had arrived at Mo-
bile on the 18th June, he then and there informed
by the governor Of Alabama that much disorder
prevailed among the regiments of volunteers assem-
bIed at that point by the President of the United
States; for which reason the governor applied to
General Gaines receive into the service of the Uni
ted States, for the proper government of these vol
uneers, Brigader General Smith, whom the Cover
nor had commissioned to command them, and his
staff Whereupon General Gaines did receive and
muster into service
Walter Smith, as brigadicr general.
Thomas Casey, assistant adjutant general.
John J. Walker, assistant inspector general.
VIM. p Brown, brigade quartermaster.
Henry X. Zeuypace, paymaster.
Charles B Sanford, ad-de-camp.
Richard Lee Feam, brigade surgeon.
"The order of General Gaines published in this
case directed that il should remain in force till final
instructions should be received from the proper aa-
thorities at Washington; and further directed Cen
Smith organize the volunteers, and as soon as the
said organization should be completed, to proceed
with them without delay to the seat of war.
1.-THE appointment by General Games of certain
volunteers and others to staff Offices, as shown in
the official documents sent as evidence to the court,
not being stated in the order appointing the court,
as one of the matters which It is directed to in
quire it is not considered in this statement of facts,
nor in the opinion Of the court. The facts and
circumstances, however, set forth IN the evidence
for the information Of the Department of War.
ain regard to issues of public stores by order OF