Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-06-12
HEAD QUARTERS or rHG Army,

HEAD QUARTERS or THE ARMY,}
Washington May IS, 1916.
respectfully submit TO the Secretary Of War
certain leading points, Oh the settlement OF which
will depend great number oil smaller matters 10
be attended 10, successfully and rapidly.
My alluson is 10 the different STATE quotas of
lwelve-mcnh volunteers which have been called
for, and which are 10 be ordered to march against
Mexico.
| suppose that those volunteers may be by
States assembled al their respective rendezvous
about as follows:
Ohio, quota, al or near Cincinnati, June 90,
1916
Kentucky, quota, nj say FrankioI; or Bowling
Green, June 30, 1876.
Indiana. quota, a, say Madison or Jefferson,
June 20, 1916.
Illinois, quota, at say Quincy and Shawnee
town, June % 1916
Tennessee, quota, at say Nashville and Mem
phs, June IS, 1886
Missouri, quota al say Fort Leavenworth and
Jefferson Barracks, June 25, lSi6.
Arkansas Qnota, al say Washington or Full
ton. June 30, 1916.
Mississippi, quota, at say Nachez, June 80,
1916
Alabama, quota, at say Mobile, June 30, 1916.
(rcNHSld, QuOldj a. Sd OOluIlDuS, on tld CHdl-
tahoochee, June 90 1916
The great difficulty first 10 be considered is, The
placing Of The mounted volunteers q the Rio
Grard., and al the proper poinls-say ltor the
Chihuahua expedilion) little North Of The Prcsi.
do lie Rio Grande; ard (for the march upon
Monterey and Tie South) n Camargo and Maia-
moras, at Rhinosa.
Surprising The rivers 10 be nayigable in all Ju-
~ for steamers Of the middle size, the horse regi-
ments may be transported (bul at great cosl) from
Kentucky Tennessee, &c ria New Orleans and
the Cult OF Mexico, 10 La Baca, "a branch Of
Matagorda bay,) and thence marched 10 The Pre-
sldo de Rio Grande, so as 10 reach that more dis
tanl poin, by (say the Isl Of August. The horse
destined for the lower poinls-as Camaigo, Rhi-
nosa, and Matamoras-misht proceed, by sea, TO
Point Isabel, and thus reach the Rio Grandc
little earlier. But the horse regiment from Ar
kansas would be obliged 10 marth from Fulton 10
the Preside de Rio Grandc, (say) eco miles,
which would delay lis arrival 10 abacI the 10th OF
August.
All The foot vounlecs called fer, aided by
steam, may be taken to the several points On the
Rio Grande 4 little earlier
Il is thus shown according 10 the best calcula-
tons which can be made heie-no mailer how
great the zeal and energy OF the State authorities
aud of he volunteers themselves-thai the whole,
(say 22OOO) nor the greater part of the twelve
| month volunieers-horse and foot-caInot be
brought on the Rio Grande before the Grsl week
in August, il so soon.
Assuming then. The possibility of getting (say)
%, 600 twelve-monlh volunteers (hoIse and foot)
in position on the Rio Grande BY The Isl, or even
the 10Th Of August, and leaving out, for the pre-
sent the possibility Of extending the fegula, regi
mems (theEe or 10 be sent by raw recruits 10
5000 or 1000 men-all within The same time
ccInc next 10 the ses0nd dilicult:-cGn ne hoopS
atier getting IN post.on tokc Up INES ofe5croiopt
6:vond nat rirsr ~ifi any probability, nan, p0Ssi-
6ihip, NJ advantage IN Mc moaM If hag9lst7
This is the queslion-put here in The second
| place; but which is the FIRST in imporiancc-Gow
| 10 be met
! As soldier, whether am 10 command in the
! expedition or not, il is my duty 10 NEE! it, NJ
matter what the danger 10 myself-and know
thai have already been condemned for having
suggested the Isl of September as The earliest day
for marching much beyond the Rio Granie-I
| have now, according 10 better and mos, reliable
| iaformaton come 10 Inc conclusion that such
operations canno. after say the l0.h OF Juac,
| or before The Isl Of October, be assumed with the
least possible advantage This is conclusion
which (under every personal danser) dare an
| nounce, and beg all above me in authority 10
discuss il with severity, bu, also with candor and
| il the conclusion shall he found 10 &c Just, Ina,
| may be cordially and actively sustained
against the clamors OF the ignorant and The SIAN
dsrs OF the malign. make this request, not as
personal favor, but Tor lhs good OF the service,
SO far as my humble abilities, and far greater
experience, may be deemed OF any advantage 10
| that service.
| My conclusion as tothe lst Of October is found
ed on The most satisfactory information derived
from Col. A. Butler, 4 distinguished plbcer in
the war OF 1872, since minister in Mexico, &C.,
and from Gen. J. T. Mason, who has travelled
much in Mexico with Col. Butler I, Is clear 10
my mind that the two know more o. Northern
and Middle Mexico than all other persons, taken
together, within The District Of Columbia. | beg
10 refer 10 them. Theyarc full, precise and sm-
phalic upon the suheci.
II their conclusion (now mine) be adopted By
The higher authorities here, and laid down as a
basis, then these smaller points and details ne
cessarily follow.
Let The State quotas, as above, meet nj their
respective rendezvous without delay, be Inspected,
mustered into The service, and armed, as prompt
lY asrraclicable; let them be supplied with sub
sistence, camp eqnpage, be put under insiruc-
| ton, and held in readiness 10 move in Time 10
reach the Rio Grande, according TO the roules
which may be given, a little before the beginning
OF Ociobcr-say b. the 25h Of September.
sifuction, as cavalry, oras infantry, had better Re
taken al this than the other end OF The line (Rio
Grandc) ofmarch or water transportation; Isl, on
account OF health, (while al resi;) and, ID, on ac-
count ol abundance and cheapness OF subsistence
and other supplies.
But there are offsets agains! these advantages:
Isl. The rivers in August aid September may
not furnish as good navigation as July. End.
Such of the troops as shall be obliged 10 pass by
New Orleans, may, AFTER July, be in danger OF
taking eyclow fever; and Sd. The earlier pre-
sencs OF portion ofthe twelve-month volunteers
may possibly be needed 10 aid in defence OF po-
siIons on The Rio Grande, (say) Matamoras, Rhi-
nosa and Camargo which Gen Taylor may have
aEen, or desire TO take b=fure the large army can
be ready, (say Ocl. lst) 10 take up The long line
OF invasion.
A II these points ain ready to discuss, to bal.
ance and TO settle with tbe Secretary Of War, at
his call; and beg 10 add that they ought 10 be
early settled
Now, hope 10 be pardoned in saying some
thing further in respect 10 myself.
have been preparing, BY looking TO quotas,
rendezvous routes, ION both sides OF the Rio
Grande,] arms, accoutrsments, camp equip.
age, subsistence, means OF transportation,
steamers, wheels and packs, Mexican to-
Biography, &C., &c, in order 10 be ready 10
obey any instructions for distant SERVICE win
which The Presidcn, may honor me. Such
have been my incessant occupations since
The iniimation that | might be required to com
mand The new forces against Mexico. think
my preliminary ana neces AIRY occupations may
be needed here in [sayl three days. more, when,
promising that after The great and brilliant vic
tories of The gallant Taylor, [of which We have
recently heard l should be ashamed 10 SUPER
sede him before the arrival Of competent rein
forccmcnis TO penetrate the interior Of Mexico,
and 10 conquer peace, shall Re ready for any
instructions or orders with which the President
may honor me-
All which is respectfully submitted.
WINFIELD SCOTT.
Hon. w. L. MARCY, Secretary Of War.
HsApauArrE.. or THE Army,
Washington, May 25, 1886
Si-:-Your letter of this dale, received at about
6,r.M., as SAT down to take hasy plate ofsoup,
demands promp. reply
You have taken four days TO reflect, and 10 con-
vic. me, upon my letter TO you OF The sls ms, Of
Official perhaps, personal disIesPsci TO The constl-