Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-06-12


be laid before the President. The letter 10 Goae-
raj Taylor was twice sent up 10 you before it was
despatched, and, al your instance, was changed
by the omission of a paragraph 10 the exact
shape Of this copy.
lis lasl paragraph is in these words: 81 do not
now expect 10 reach the Ris Grdndc much ahead
OF the heavy re-inforcenenls alluded 10 above, or
10 assume The immediate command in that quar-
ter before my arrival"
| quote This paragraph 10 show that did not
expec, 10 be sent 10 the Flo Grande and did not
even suspect il was The intention OF the Presi-
dent or yourself, 10 send me lhilher, ''much ahead
OF the heavy re-nfoTcemanls alluded to"-viz:
some lwenty.odd thousand volunteers, besides
few additional !, uars.
Though had occasion 10 sec you twice or
thrice in the mean time, heard no compliant
from you, and received no correction OF that mis-
apprehensisn-if, in fact, had fallen into any
before the evening of the 10Th instant when you
spoke OF the Impotence manifested al my occu-
palions Cor delay here-whieh complaint CAUSED
my letter 10 you Of The next mofning-May 2lst.
1t seemed, therefore, evident TO me, al the time,
that your complaint had been caused by the out
oidoor clamors 10 which have since alluded.
Three hours before | received your letter of the
18th inst. conveying the dsplsssure OF the Ex-
ecutiVe, and without the least expectation of re-
port or note Of the same day. (ths 25th,) which
concluded with this declaration:
"Ilhink my preliminary and necessary occupa-
lion may be ended here in (say) three days more
disappearing ,ha, after the great and brilliant
victories OF he gallant Taylor, Got which We have
recently heard should be ashamed 10 superSede
him before the arrival Of competent reinforce
mants 10 penetrate the interior Of Mexico, and 10
conquer peace-l shall be ready for any in
structions or orders with which the President may
honor me-"
And again, on that day, (the night OF The 25,h, }
after receiving The censnre OF the President,
Though your letter. concluded my prompt ex-
plaRatory reply, thus:
"Whelher il shall be The pleasure Of the Presi-
dent TO send me 10 the Rio Grande, (Which |
would prefer or 10 retain me here, Can only say,
| am equally ready 10 do my duly in either posi-
ton with all my zeal and all my ability"
| still hope when lho President shall have read
that explanatory letter and the foregoing e1posi-
lion OF facts aEenlively he may be willing 10 re-
cur to his original purpose, and accord 10 my Sc
nior rank the preference which have never
ceased 10 entertain, and which | should have
pressed With incessant yea but for he apprehen-
sions heretofore expressed, and which your l.lier
have nearly, If not quite, removed. therefore
beg 10 claim that command, whenever the PTes-
den, may deem il proper 10 give me The assign
ment-whe,her to-day, or al any other better time,
| he may be pleased 10 designate
In your Tejoinder 10 me Of Yesterday (May
27ih,) which | have acknowledged above, you
| qnoe from my teller OF explanation the words
you are also aware OF other causes Of uneasi-
| ness have against he department" &c, &c.
| Your notice OF this complaint, on my part, is
| 50 liberal-no 10 say kind-ihat am bound 10
he frank and xplici, as 10 OF those causes.
| had uron my mind, in hastily penning those
words, these facts: Btigader General Wool was
called 10 this place, by letter OF your own writ
! Ing, 10 command, under me, one OF the detached
| columns against Mexico, according 10 an under
standing between the President, you and me, 10
that effect. | saw Gen. Wool FIRST The dag OF
! his arrival, (May I'D and communicated TO him
the purpose OF his being called TO this place. In
a day or lwe learned from Gen. Wool that,
1 notwithstanding my inlimation, he had been told
! by you, he might NO. be ultimately assigned 10
that command, because, perhaps, other generals
might be authorized and appointed, Tor the army,
! and called into service from ths States That in
| formation gave me no serious apprehensons Tor
| Gen. Wool or myself, until saw, in the morn
ing OF the Goth, bill reported in the Senate, (aI
yeur immediate instance, knep,) the day before
providing for two major generals, and four braa.
der generals TO bs added 10 the regular military
establishment, besides giving 10 tbs President ,hs
power Of selecting State Generals for the com
mand of The $4,000 volunteers. | then though
Isaw slIsng probability that both Gen. Woo
and myself would be superseded, at least in III,
Tdr ac0in1 4llerico, by two Of the new regular
generals of our respective grades, 10 be appoint
ed, as was generally understood, fron civil OF
political lie. Il was then that my approximations
became serious, as may be seen in my Letter 10
| you OF The following day, (hlay 2lsL) and in ma
ny OF my subsequent acts. From that moment
(beiore my letter ofihe alst3 have mad but little
doabt down 10 last night, that il that bill became a
law-conncciing it with tha clamors agains, me
TO which have alluded should net be SEN
against Mexico
Twill now, however, hope for better fortune
and, appealing to the justice Of the Presidsr
and the rights Of senior rank have the honor 10
remain, sir your most obedien. servant
WINFIELD SCOTT.
PS. | add To the papers, herewith, copy Of
Col. Buffers explanatory nsiss OF rough sketch
made by him Of northern Mexico, which may BE-
valuable. The colonel, ia The notes, is not 50 lu
on the rainy season as he and General J. T. Ma
son were in conversation with me. beg agair
TO refer 10 them personally. W. S.
Hon. WA. L. Marcy, Secretary OF War.
i -. -.