True Democrat. (Paulding, Miss.) 1845-18??, 1846-09-02

MatamoroS with reinforcement of SIX
thousand men-that reinforcement die
arrive and was never estimated at less than
three thousand men. Remaining in ouI
situation for some time, Ampudia let Gen
II. early know that unless he receded
beyond the NueceS, he should construe his
presence into Declaration of War.
Question by Gen. G.--What the relative
strength of forces at the battle OF Palo
Alto?
Acknowledging from the length of
the Mexican line, contraSted with our own,
their forces could not have been less than
6 TO 1000 men. The American force
consisted of 22ll men.
Question by Gen. CHAD the Mexi-
cans any reinforcement on the 9Th May?
Answer.--It was reported that Ampudia
had reinforced Arista, but to what extent
lam unable TO say. Question by Gen. G.
Il read to you an extract from commu'
nication of the War Department, in these
termS-"The emergency which would
tolerate the making acquisitions for troops,
etc, must be one ointment peril, etc."
was General TAYLoR's army in such
circumstances as would have made, in the
Judgment of the President of the United
States, his duty 10 call ont aid, etc.
Answer.--With a full knowledge of
facts, have no doubt that the President
would have felt it his duty TO call out aid.
The amy did non for one moment conSid-
er itself in danger, never doubling its
ability to repel the Mexcon forces.
Question by Gen. Estimating the
Mexican forces at 1000 men, did you or
not discover some anxiety in General
Taylor'S army to soc some reinforcementS
from Louisiana!
Answer.--No, sir Not man that was
not anxious TO engage the enemy before
reinforcementS arrived. That was my |
impression oflhe feeling of the army, The
Court then adjourned, 10 meet again on
the following Monday. On that day, we
learn from the correspondence of the
Beacon, the examination of Col. Payne
was resumed
Gen. Enthusiastically you know or
did you hear that Council of War was
convened by Gen. Taylor on the 9Th of
May, and previous to his fighting the battle
of the 9th, TO consult on the proprietY of
the step, etc? Answer--.I know nothing of
il of my own knowledge. After returned
10 Point Isabel, (CoI. p, was severely
wounded on the Slh, and was sent back to
Point Isabel for medical and other atten-
tion,) a report reached there that Council
OF War had been Convened, composed of
nine officers, that the six senior officers of
the Council were adverse to leaving the
battle field of the Slh, and the three junior
officers were in favor of leaving and pur-
suing the enemy, among the latter, Cap
tain Duncan, who had so greatly diStin-
guiShed himself in the battle of the 9Th,
rumor had, was the most urgent to pursue
the retreaIing enemy.
Lieut.. Calhoun being again called. was
asked, 'Stale what you know ABOUT Gen.
Gaines order 10 Major Galy, for the pur-
chase of the eight cannon, ETC., aud why
were they purchased"
Answer. They were ordered md pnr-
chased because no AMMUNITION Of that cali
bre was in The depot ofanv Of the rendez-
vous in Gen. G's, division.
The testimony being concluded, Gen.
Gaines closed his defence by addressing {
The Court.
lie argued, that being the senior officer
of!he army aud therefore standing nextin s
command to the President, and being in
The immediate vicinity Of the seat of war,
lie duty imposed by the Constitution upon
The President, Of suppressing instruction
and repelling invasion, necessarily devol-
we'd upon him, where the imminence of the S
hanger was such as TO forbid waiting for
he orders ofthe President. This was the
first ground Of his justification. As the
second, he said he had not called upon the I
States for troops, but had accepted such as 1
came forward and offered their S
ervices and this he argued the volunteers
lad not only right to do, under the con-
guaranty of the right Of the
,eople Ito keep and to bear ARM" but I'M
Ter the circumstances, the enemy having T
inferred the frontier of the country, and the
rmy being in portions situation, it was Il
lis duty 10 accept their services. His third a
was, that letter written 10 u
i'm by the Secretary ofWar, reprimanding {
i'm to calling upon States last summer TO S
end troops for the relief of General Taylor
{ Corpus Christi, admitted his right in
reat emergeucp, TO call for troops. 81
That letter was as follows: n
at cannot be necessary TO appriSe you
1af fhp nufhoFifv IN ruaka m raouieition G.