Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-06-13
HEApauARrEns or the Amy,

HEADQUARTERs OF THE Army,
WAsHISGToS, MAY 81, 1916.
SIN have received orders, as yet assigning me Il
the immediate command of the army about be raised to con
quer peace within Mexico but have been told TO hol
myself in readiness for that service. From that moment
have occupied myself necessarily with the preliminary
arrangements which can only be made advantageousy this
place. through the respective chiefs the general stahe
auan general, quartermaster general commssary genera
OF subsistence, chief OF ordnance, and surgeon general
have been much occupied also in the distribution of the quotas
OF volunteers needed among the several States appoon
ing the horse TO the foot in the study of the of march
and water conveyances for the several bodies troops the
best points in the frontiers of Mexico the study Of the
northern INTERIOR and the southern routes of that republic
looking 10 the of transportation the Rio Grande
and 6eyod that river in determining the depos Of supplies OF
all sorts on this side, &c.
As these matters respectively settled orders and nruc
tons have been will be- given to the chiefs Of the general
stall at this place. and the Of march and convey
ance together with the dcpos for supplies of every descr
ton, finally to be communicated TO the unknown
manders OF volunteers whose services are TO be accepted
In the midst of these muttudnous and Indispensable
paons have learned from you that much impotence is
already felt perhaps in high quarters that have not already
put myself for the Rio Gande; and now with four
teen hours day Of preliminary work remaining my hands
tor many days. find myself compelled to stop that necessary
work, 10 guard myself against perhaps, utter condemnation
the quarters alluded to- am too old soldier and have
had too much special experience not to feel the infinite i'm
porance securing myself against danger Gl will pre-
condemnation) my before advancing upon the public
enemy.
Not an advantageous step be taken in forward march
without the confidence that all is well behind If insecure
that quarter General put his whole heart anu mind
the work 10 be done in front. am, therefore,
little alarmed, nay, crippled my energies by the knowledge
of the Impotence in question: and beg to say fear other
danger.
My intentions have been, after making all preliminary ar
here, pass down the Ohio and Mississippi TO
to myself by correspondence that the youn-
whom mostly rely in the prosecution Of the
lylsfIn ltp
he probable time of their readiness advance upon Mexico
ascertain their supplies of every kind in place.
likely to be in place in sufficient time hasten one and the
he; to harmonic the movements of volunteers and
y their routes t necessary that all, least su-
lent number shall arrive at the indicated points in the
Mexican frontier at the best periods and far practicable
bout the time. All that have but sketched deem
be not only useful to but Indispensable As sol
her make this assertion without the fear Of contradiction
rom any honest and candid soldier
Against the al capdndu condemnation Of all other per.
ons whoever may be designated for the high command in
question: there be reliance lin his absence other than
he active, candid and steady support of his Government,
cannot have that basis to rest upon will be in
ney better for the country not speak of my personal
security that some other commander of the army against
Mexico should be selected No matter who he may be- he
haA at least be judged and supported by me- in this office
and every where else would desire, if personally in that
command to be myself judged and supported.
My explicit meaning is, that do not desire place my.
self in the most perlous of all posonsa fire upon nyrey
1t distinctly admitted, and laid down basis in the
interviews had the honor to hold with the President and
Yourself the subject, that special army of some thirty
thousand troops, regulars and twelve months volunteers
would be necessary for the march against and the conquest
# peace in, Mexico adhere that opinion Ii is fore
Gen. with oerabe certainty, that shall have in many
months than thousand W quite many regulars
applicable 10 that service The remaining numbers be
made up in volunteer horse and foot suppose Of these
aiken together about thousand have actually
'alled for There is good time, Think make the add
lions suggested in Of the tables had the honor to submit
last night.
The question follows BY what time can an army of about
thirty thousand above, be brought the different
points agreed upon in the interviews alluded upon Mexico
More than half of the thousand regulars remain to be
recruited hope they may be obtained and taken the Rio
Grade, though unstructed by the first of September
next Can twohirds half of the volunteer horse
be got to that river much before that time greatly doubt
the possibility, without the shadow Of doubt about the patr
otism zeal of the citizens who have been specially called
upon The foot volunteers aided by transportation
(beeyed to be impossible with the horse may probably reach
al the points for commencing operations week or two earlier
But If horse be necessary element success (and two
thirds II not hreefourths Of the Mexican army are under
stood TO be IN the saddle what utility would there be in fore
the foot much ahead of the horse This ought to be
matter of arrangement left the commander of the special
army, as information may open upon him his progress to
he Mexican frontier the heads of columns or within
Easy corresponding distance with of them The parc
ar question here then, ecurs the horse regiment from
Kentucky, 1.-THE distant from Mexico that from Ten
nessce say nineteen days nearer reach the Rio Gande bv
and be remenbeed) much before the day LIST Of Sepen-
be) before mentioned have learned personally from the
Jealous and intelligent Adutan General Dudley of Ken
lucky that that distant horse regiment cannot be
bIed (say) at Frankfort the Bowling Green, earlier than
the latter part of June.
Thence it will probably be obliged to march via Memphis.
Fulton, the Red river, San Antonio de Bexar &C. line
u some 200 miles, The of the Tennessee Arkan
and Mississippi horse will be respectively say 400 600
and 700 miles shorer but even the middle Tennessee
horse regiment cannot allowing day for instruction nj
It's rendezvous the route, reach the Rio Grande before
according all computations make hcre) the middle
Of August.
Think considering that cannot hope to have more than
800 regular cavalry the lower Rio Gande no commander
would be willing to enter Mexico without both the Kentucky
and Tennessee regiments of horse and all that have been cali
ed from points the field Of expected operations
may now state fact which TO be conclusive to the
period best for taking lines of operations rcm and beyond
the lower Rio Grande
All the information that can be obtained here represents thai
The rainy and south Of the Rio Gande begins about
June and terminates about the LIST Of September that during
hat the hoof Of the horse and the mule becomes soften
ID though shod) and diseased disable animal for
ave and work Again is the end of the rainy season.
md for weeks LATER that in the northern provinces
Mexico and horses would have the best chance OBJ
ain drinking water the horses the best grazing and the com
nssaries the best beef and mutton for men.
But another has been mentioned why should leave
he preliminary work to be done here and abandon the twelve
months volunteers TO find their way they the Mcxi
an frontier viz the number Of patriotic Lousianians who
ave poured and pouring inupon Brevet Bngader Gene
al Taylor, at Point Isabel opposite Maiamoras.
These menorous volunteers under the circumstances
ave legally engaged for three months only. They could
ave had no knowledge Of the volunteer act Of May b. 1896
Without which enrolment for than three months would
e binding upon them After that term without formal re-
nlfnapt tipl.r tha H.