The Southern journal., 1846-07-18
CONGRESSIONAL.
w EDNEsDAY, June 81.
SENATE.
, journal having been read

he ITeslQeDl ldlu DelOTe liS tocb :.
ate the following letter from General
Gaines to the Department of War,
which was read and ordered to be
printed.
Head Quarters Western Dipision,)
New Orleans, June 7, 1916.
SIR: ] have to acknowledge the
honor Of your letter Of the 2Sth May
last month.
1t was with surprise | learned the
Department OF War regarded with
disapprobation the request made by
me upon the Governor Of Kentucky.
and other States, for assistance. At
the time 1t was made (the 4th of May
IasD General Taylor was in the most
critical situation. He had been left
with neither adequate means, nor
men, to sustain the national honor
opposed to an army near four times
as strong as his own, and cut off from
his military stores. The country was
uncertain whether he could escape
destruction. By his own galantry
and the indomtable courage Of his of
ficers and men, and the providence OF
God, he extricated himself from the
difficulty. At this crisis he requested
troops to be sent to him with all pos
sible despatch. As commander Of
this division of the United States Ar.
my. Immediately sought the means
of meeting his wishes. And | would
have deemed myself recreant 10 my
trust, and meriting dismissal from the
service, if had postponed action on
the subject for two weeks, until orders
could have been received from Wash
ington.
The War Department may deem
the number Of troops asked by me as
greater than the exigency required.
This ! must confess would astonish
me, as the War Department asked
and procured a bill authorising the
levy of (SI0,000,000) ten millions TO
meet the same exigency.
The War Department seems to be
ofopinion that there is no discretion
airy power lodged in me to act with
out positive orders. |, therefore, would
ask for informaVon-ifa a servile in,
surrection should occur-,if an irrup.
ton should be made by large tribes of
Indians-if swarm of steamers with
Paixhan guns were seen lowering a.
bout this sea coaSt-or if a General,
at the head of great part of the army
of the United States upon the frontier
ola neighborng State near me, should
ask assistance, would it be my duty TO
refuse all aid until | should have re-
received orders from Washington? |
humbly conceive that the latter case
has existed within the last month; and
Iif | have erred in deeming General
Taylor and bis army in situation so
hazardous as to demand immediate
succor, it is an error under which the
country, the Congress, and the War
Department, have equally labored.
Had assistance been delayed by me,
and had Gen. Taylor and his army.
been cut off, would have regarded
it as an indelible stigma upon my
name. am aware that the exercise
of such discretion must ever be at
the peril of the officer exercising it.
That peril can never hesitate to incur
whenever the welfare of my country
demands it.
III exercise it unwisely, | am will
ling that my commission shall be for
feited; or if exercise it vainly, or for
dishonorable purposes, | am willing
to be shot. am more than willing
to abide the consequences of my con-
duct in this matter, confident as ! am
that have not transcribed my duty,
or acted with greater z.al than the
emergency required. II the battles
of the Sth and 9th of May, so well