The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-06-10


therefore, not little alarmed nay, crippled in my
gies by the knowledge OF the Impotence in question;
and beg to say fear no other danger
NV intentions have been after making all preliminary
arrangements here TO pass down the Ohio and Missssip
volunteers on whom mostly rely in the prose-
cuton Of the existing rapidly assembling for the
advance upon Mexcoto ascertain If their supplies Of
every kind in place likely to he in place in
sufficient time Ito hasten one and the other to harmonic
the OF volunteers and to modify their routes
f necessary that all at least sufficient number
sh arrive at the indicated points in the Mexican frontier
at the hest periods and as lar as about the
time All that have hut sketchel deem to be not
only useful to success but indispensable. As soldier
make this assertion without the fear Of contradiction
from any honest and candid soldier
Against the ad eop'andum condemnation Of all other
persons, whoever may be designated for the high
mand in question reliance lin his absencc)
other than the active candid and steady support Of his
eminent If cannot have that upon
will be infinitely better for the country (not speak of
my personal security that other commander OF the
who he may be- he shall al least he judged and support
cd nv in this Office and everywhere else as would
desire If personally in that command to be
My explicit meaning is that do not desire to place
myself in the most perous Of all Positions FIRE upon
Il was distinctly admitted, and laid down basis in
the interviews had the honor to hold with the President
and yourself on the subject that special army Of
thirty thousand troops regulars and twelve months vol
the conquest Of peace in Mexico. / adhere to that
opinion II is foreseen with olerable certainty that
On
vice. The remaining numbers to be made up in vol
unteer horse and loot suppose Of these taken aogs
Their about IL 900 have been actually called for There
yet good time think make the additions suggested
In Of the table. had the honor to submit last night
The question follows BY what time can an army OF
about co., above, be brought act from the dde
ront points agreed in the interviews audedt upon
More than haf of the 900 regulars remain toybe
cruted ! hope they may he obtained and taken to the
Grande though uninstructod by the first of
September next Can two-ihirds, even half Of the
volunteer horse be got to that river much before that
dow of doubt about the patriotism or zeal Of the citi
zens who have been specially called The foot 70
unteers aided by water transportation beeyed 70 be
impossible with the horse) may probably reach all the
points for commencing operations week or two earlier
But horse be necessary element to success land two
thirds If not three-fourths of the Mexican army
derstood to be in the sadde) what utility would there be
in forcing the foot much ahead Of the horse This ought
TO be matter of arrangement, left to the commander of
the special army information may open upon him in
his progress to the Mexican frontier the heads Of
most othem The particular question here then
Can the horse regiment from Kentucky (hc most
nineteen days nearer reach the Rio Grandc Coy land be
il remembercd) much before the day list Of September
aoe
Kentucky that that most distant horse regiment cannot
be assembled SAY at Frankfort on the Bowling green
Thence will probably be obliged to march via. Mem
phis. Fulton: on the Red River, San Antonio de Bexar
SC, line Of 1000 miles The routes Of tho Ten
Arkansas and Mississippi horse will be respec
lively, 400 GOO and 700 miles shorter but the
not day for instruction at its rendezvous or ON the
route reach the Rio Grande before (according to all
computations make here) the middle Of August
think, considering that cannot have THAI 800
regular cavalry the lower Rio Grande commander
KencSy and snne.ses regiments Of horse and al
that have been called from points nearer to the field Of
to be conclusive as to the period best for taking
up lines of operations from and hey ond the lower Rio
All the information that be obtained here, repre-
sents that the rainy season on and south of the Rio
q a1ns ana % about bout n M
horse and the mule becomes soened hough shod) and
diseased disable the animal for travel and work
Again. m at the end OF the rainy and for some
weeks later that in the northern provinces of McKee,
and horses would have the best chance to obtain
drinking water; the horses the best grazing and the
commissares the best beef and mutton for
But another reason has been mentioned why should
don the twelve months volunteers to find their way As
they to the Mexican frontier viz the number Of
in upon Brigadcr General Taylor at Point Iss
bel or opposite to Ma.amoras
THOSE meriorious volunteers can. under the circum-
They could have had of the volunteer act
Of May H. ls46 without which no enrolment for more
than three months would be binding upon them. After
that term, withouta formal reenroment, under the
cent act, for the longer period, officer
whatever They evidently fastened to the of dan
ger to succor our little army there's to from what
they doubt deemed probable surrender destruction
Many of the Louisianians may he ready to become
twelve months volunteers. and to be organized legally
such. AS three months men they could hardly,
in the absence Of hostile forces Monterey
before becoming entitled to mo doubD honorable dis
charge Before the time for that discharge may
tanly he we-if numbers OF them do not volunteer
der tho recent aco send the quotas Of foot called for
ing lis positions and perhaps taking new one e. on the
other side Of the Rio Grande But for the conquest of
Sy asEusr and =
be altogether extravagant IL much larger army, inclu
ding that in position and very differently composed
hnrcn and fnnf hn MT toN
mand such larger army that understood my self like
" to be sent 70 the Mexican frontier. it is always
posed to he doing we'll to supercede him by general Of
higher rank without scniing with correspond
py instrument Of wouniing the honorable pride Of the
gallant and judic Gus Taylor If ordered superscde
him under different circumstances
However the foregoing suggestions Chastity thrown
together) may be viewed have deemed it due TO
them and the wishes or the orders Of the President
With great respect have the honor to remain, sir,
WINFIELD SCOTT
Hos. W. L. Nancy, Secretary of War.
Wan DsrHrMrSr, MAY %, 1916.
SiR have received your letter of the 2lst instant
and considering its extraordinary character and the
grave matters forth therein rejecting upon the mo-
ves and objects Of the President in rendering YOU
he has in an explicit the command OF the forces
destined for the against Mexico deemed it to be
my duty to lay before him. and take his direction in
regard to its contents
The passages in your letter which have excited his
ucep Tegret, tn0se IN Wncn impuc
to the President, in terms not inexpcit, i'll will towards
yourself or precondemnaton and Of conduct
abors Of preparation and crippled your energies 'o'
reference to two three paragraphs in your letter
will show that he is not at liberty to give different
construction to your language. You were through me,
and also At personal interview with the President,
made acquainted with his settled determination to put
you in immediate command of the forces to be employed
in carrying the with Mexico, and you had you
state been devoting time and attention to prclm
nary and preparatory arrangements In tho midst of
these multitudnous aud indispensable occupations you
say9 have learned from that much impotence is
already felt perhaps in high quarters that have not
already put myself in for the Rio Grsnde; and now
with fourteen hours day Of preliminary work remain
ing my hands for many days. find my self compelled
to stop that necessary work guard myself against per
hsps, utter condemnatn in the quarters alluded to-
too old soldier and have had too much special expe
the importance securing m