Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1846-07-25
HrAnouAaTrns WESTERN DIVISION,


than some Of his assaants sup
posed:
HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DIVISION,
New Orleans, June 7lh 1846.
SrR have to acknowledge the honor OF
your letter of the 28th May--last month.
1t was with surprise learned the Depart
ment Of War regarded with disapprobalion
the request made by me upon the Cover
nors OF Kentucky, and other States, for as
sistance. At the time it was made, 1.-THE
4th May last,) General Taylor was in the
most critical situation. He had been left
with neither adequate means, or men, to
sustain the national /honor-opposed to an
army nearly four times as strong as his
own, and cut of from his military stores.
The country was uncertain whether he
could escape detruction. BY his own gal.
lantry, and the indomnitable courage Of his
officers and men, and The providence OF
God, he extricated himself from the difficult
ty. At this crisis he requested troops TO be
sent to him with all possible despatch. As
commander Of this Division Of the United
States Immediately sought the means OF
meeting his wishes. And ! would have
deemed myself recreant TO my trust, and
tll6IltlHS utoutssdi liolll tiic oi'iSCt u hop
postponed action on the subject for two
weeks, until orders could have been receiv
ed from Washington.
The war Department may deem the mum
Der Of troops asked by me as greater than
the exigency required, This must confess
would astonish me, as the War Department
asked and procured bill authorizing the
lew Of $4,000 volunteers, and approprlating
O,OOO,OOO) ten millions 10 meet the same
exigency.
The War Department seems to be Of
opinion that there is no discretionary pow
err lodged in me to act without positive or
ders. |, therefore, would ask for informa-
tion-if servile instruction should occur
If an Eruption should be made by large
tribes OF Indians--f swarm Of steamers,
with Paixhan guns, were seen lowering
about this sea.coast--or if a general, at the
head of great part Of the army Of the
United States upon the frontier Of neigh
boring State near me, should ask assistance,
would it be my duty 10 refuse all aid until
should have received orders from Washing
ton? humbly conceive that the latter
case has existed within the last month; and
| if have erred IN deeming Gen. Taylor and
his army in a situation so hasardous as to
demand immediate succor, il is an error I'm.
der which the country, Congress, and the
War Department, have equally labored.
Had assistance been delayed by me, and
had General Taylor and his army been cut
off, would have regarded it as an indeliabe
stigma upon my name. am aware that
The exercise Of such a discretion must ever
be at the peril of the officer exercising it.
That peril can never hesitate to incur
whenever the welfare Of the country de
maDds it. If exercise it unwisely, am
willing that my commission shall be forfeit
ed, or if exercise it vainly, or for d,shon
orable purposes, am willing to be shot
| am more than willing to abide the conse'
quences of my conduct in this matter, con
fdent as am, that have not transcribed
my duty, or acted with greater zeal than
the emergency required. If the battles o
the 9Th and 9th of May, so we'll contested
as they were for time, on both sides, hac
resulted in the loss of Taylor's army, il
would have plunged the whole Union into
deep mourning-and into that most pog
nant of all human griefs-an abiding sense
of sei-reproach for the settled and cold in
difference with which his want Of compe
tent force and supplies had been for months
withheld.
The talented and gallant General DE-
Buys, who for long time commanded the
finest division Of volunteers have ever seer
since the war Of 1914 and rs, and who,
am sure, has no superior for the command
of this description Of force, with l.. Texado
Esq. one OF the most promising young mem
bers OF the Legislature, and the talented
Judge Bryce, were not, as you seem to sup
pose, private citizens. They were Louisi
ana volunteers, and gentlemen of high res
pectability, and were appointed by me tc
act as officers Of the general staF-upor
The same principle that the distinguished
| Edward Livingston, A. l.. Duncan, anc
John K. Grymes, all first.rate lawyers, were
appointed by Jackson to'act as staff officers
Jackson's object was, as my object has
ever been upon such occasions, to main
tain the great principle upon which the de-
fence and The independence of our beloved
Union must forever depend; that TO be pri
raie rolunteer is to hold a station ofhigh hon
or, whence an acting general staff may, witt
strict proprlety. be taken and put on duty
in the absence Of the regular staff OF the ar
my.
These appointments, and all the measure.
taken by me to which you object, were
deemed by me as essential duties, and dis
charged by me upon principles sanctioned
by the greatest and best of men ever known
to me, some Of whom took their degrees in
military and political science in the schoo
of our beloved Washington, Greene, and
| Ia al