The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-10-06
MArAMoRos, Mexico,

Present.
l. Brevet Brgadier General w. J. Worth.
q Lieutenant Col0DelJ. Garland, 4th infantry
8 Brevet Ii. Col. Il. Cbilds, Sd artillery.
4. Breyet Ii. Col. w. G. Belknap, 9Th infantry.
S. 1t Col II Wilson, lat infantry.
6. Major w. w. Lear, Sd infantry.
7. Breyet Major w. M. Graham, 4th infantry
s. Brevet Major q w. Allen, 4th infantry.
g. Brevet Major J. J. Abererombie, lst infantry.
Captain c. +. French, Judge advocate.
The court then proceeded TO the trial OF Captain
Seth B. Thornton, of the 2d regiment Of Dragons;
who, having heard the general orders" read, was
asked If he had any objection to either Of the mem
bers named therein, to which he replied in the neg
stiye. The court and the judge advocate were then
duly sworn in presence Of the accused. Captain
Thornton asked and obtained permission from the
cour for Breyet Captain Barbour, Sd infantry, and
lot Lieut. BSagg Sd artillery, to attend as his eoun
seL lie Was then arraigned on the following
charges: .- ..
CHARGE I--NEGLECT or DUTY,
"spseifeGIiOn--ln this, that Captain s. B, Thorn
ton, 2d dragons, being in command Of a squadron
OF SAID regiment, dstached from the camp opposite
Ma,amoros, by order Of Brevet General Taylor,
commanding the army Of occupation, 10 watch the
movements Of the enemy, and ascertain Il he had
crossed the Rio Grnnde in force, did omit the neces-
sary AID customary precautions TO secure his com
Inand against surprise, aud did suffer IL 10 be
busesded, Bnd entirely cut off by large force of
the Mexican army; this on the left bank Of the Rio
Grsnde near the rancho Las Rusias,' and on or
about the 25'h Of April, 1886.
"CHARGE 2.-DlsoBEDIENCE OF ORDERS.
"Spteifeaiion---ln this that Captain s. B. Thorn
ton, 81 Dragons, being ~ command Of a squadron
Of said regiment, detached from the camp, opposite
Matamoros, under instructions from BreVet Briga-
der General n. Taylor, commanding army Of occu-
patton IN the following words and figures, to wit
"HEADouARTERs ARMr OF OCCUPATION,
"CAMP NEAR MATAMoRos, Texas,
April IA, 1876.
"SR: The commanding general directs that you
proceed with your squadron up the river rs far as
nine Leagues, examining the country and river care
fully, ascertain It the enemy has crossed to this
side. Should you discover that he has crossed
and in too great force for you TO cope with success
fully, you will return at once TO headquarters,
and report to the commanding general. In you
should signs Of crossing as far as nine leagues
you will likewise return and report the result Of
your examination. The general desires that you
would move with the utmost caution, keeping out
advanced or flank guards, and taking the greatest
care not to be drawn into ambuscade. You will
hold yourself ready cut through any armed party
that may be in your way.
al am, sir, very respectfully,
"Your obedent servant,
"W. w. s. BLISS,
r... east Adjt. Genr.
"Capt s. B. TuoRSros
q 'Second Dragons, commanding squadron.
t"Did, Ia violation Of said Instructions. and OF
verbal instructions Of the same import, COM
municated to him by Breyet Brigader General
Taylor aforesaid, the Oath of April, 1876, omit
the necessary and customary precautions to secure
hts command against surprise, and did suffer it to
be ambuscaded and entirely cut off, by large force
of the Mexican army This, on the left bank of
the Rio Grande, near the Rancho Las Rusias,' on
or about the 25th OF April, l646.
80 .- ~. TAYLOR,
..a "Brevt. Major General U. s. Army"
To which charges and specifications the accused
pleaded "noi guilty"
Capt. w. w. s. Bliss, assistant adjutant general, a
witness for the prosecution was called or to verify
the instructions which had been issued to Captain
Thornton, according to the specifications in the Cd
charge. .t. ..'.. ........
Brevet Major General Taylor, also a witness for
the prosecution, called the verbal in
strucons he had given to Captain Thornton, in the
spirit Of his written instructions.
Question by accused. In your verbal instruc-
tons, did you not direct to ascertain if the
my had artillery?
Witness 1t is possible, but l do not recollect
having done
Question by accused. Did you not say to me, 81
shall expect you back by IL o'clock tomorrow
Witness. Yes, perhaps might.
Capt. W. j. Hardee, ID Dragons, witness for
the prosecution, was sworn, and stated, that 'Late
in the afternoon of the Gath of April last received
orders to get my company ready to proceed up the
received information that the Mexcans had crossed
above in strength.
"Capain Ihornton's command, consisting Of his
company and my own, left the camp opposite Mat
amoros about o'clock at night. Before leaving,
Capt. Thornton gave his instructions to remain in
rear Of the column. Lieut. Mason was with me
We proceeded up the river, with Chipitre our
guide. After proceeding several miles, Capt. Thorn.
ton asked me, if knew where there was any place
suitable to rest for an hour two. told him there
wac a convenient place about Is miles, at rancho.
When we arrived there, he asked me about the To-
caty Of the place, and what disposition it would be
necessary TO make to prevent surprise told him
10 place sentinel up and down the road 200 or 300
yards. No could then approach without his
knowing it. This was done.
"Before daylight the next morning, the march
was resumed do not know il there was any adj
vance guard. 1t was impossible for me to see from
my position in the rear. There was no guard
and no fankers to my knowledge. The condition Of
the woods, however, was such as to be imprac tca-
BILE for horsemen both sides Of the road, and in
most places Of the road, for footmen. In pro-
ceeding upwards, Capt. Thornton made constant in
quries il the enemy had crossed; and ] believe he
was invariably told they had; but all spoke from ru-
NOR. After we had marched about ten miles from
the place where we had halted, we came upon
a rancho where there were or Mexicans. Capt.
Thornton went forward and questioned them with
Chipitre From what could learn, these stated
that the enemy had crossed in force. Our Chipitre
refused TO 60 any further. After this the march
was resumed without him, and It. Mason de-
tsched from the to the front. did not know
for what purpose About miles from this ple e
the command came upon a large field, Of which this
(her1 presenting diagram of the scene) is a rough
sketch Capt. Thornton endeavored TO penetrate
TO the houses in this field by the rear lat on the
diagram) for which purpose he made counter
march, which threw me up the liver, l. e. in front.
"The command having halted, went up to Capt
Thornton to ask him something about his arrange
ments, and he told me to repair again to my posi-
ton, he did not know how soon he might be at
tackled. After returning, Sergeant Clarke, of my
company, co. reported to me that ahorseman had
made his appearance from the chappara and that as
soon az he saw the command he Immediately dis
appeared. reported this to Capt. Thornton as he
was returning from unsuccessful attempt to
penetrate the field. He asked me what direction he
had taken, and small path was pointed out. The
command then entered into the chappsral at the
point G. After penetrating 300 or 400 yards without
discovering the enemy, the column conference.-the ed
a. IA Al. Il