Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-10-21
The Capi,u,a,ion Of Monterey.


We observe In certain quarters disposition eavi at
the easy granted by General Taylor the Mexican
forces after the and capture Of Monterey is
that disposition confined either particular party
civilians alone Il has penetrated ranks of the
army under his command who represented by the let
quite mortified the Generals lcnieney, and
even indignant that their prey should be allowed
them. In reply this 1t only necessary say that the
soldier s In general, but little qusl6ed Judge OF the
manner in which campaign should be conducted In
tusl battle his only thought ca. his only duty,
FIRE his piece the command OF mis- officer load and dis
charge his CANNON to charge charge OF the
N.Y. and. in general obey orders without caring what
they are and without looking the consequences that
may result from carrying them into effect He knows
nothing OF what is done, except what falls under his
immediate eye We asked old British sailor 10
give US idea Of the battle OF Trafalgar in which he
had been engaged His reply wss that all he knew was
that beore the battle he number of SHIPS friends
and enemies that the firing commenced and aftorw ards
he was so blinded by smoke and much engaged with the
gun to which he attached that he knew nothing until
the battle over.
3d. an less degree, presume, il with the soldier in
the ranks He cannot estimate has he the oppouni
TO enquire, into the motives Of the commander; and
without the Possession OF such knowledge impossible
mat ne should form proper judgment.
ot Tar less value than theirs the Judgment of
those who discuss military tactics before snug FIRE at
home or with their feet under the mahogany after good
dinner and rich glass Of Madeira have inspired them
with the sentiments If heroes and patriots 1t easy
SUCH IN imagination, to take than Casar-to
hgh more battles than BOnaparte--t demolish Kingdoms
aoiow-snd To raise ~ Others in their place by word o!
their mouths Much then they competent TO crit
ic'e the acts Of the gcaest military men the world has
ever seen, and decide upon the merits OF every military
movement There are many such military critics-many
sueh heroes oo-amonR 1t is cruel uf them TO deny
het country the aid OF their mighty genius and the Gen.
eral OF the Army OF Occupation assistance of ho inva
liable counsel Let them shake off such unbecoming in.
aeuon' aud repairing in body the Camp Of General
Taylor, eeeiriiV the world BY display Of their proves,
Perhaps, It entrusted with Command thew NAV no, he
so uniortuns'e Mack, who 4 great lecturer upon
nlitary science-perhnps they may be received bv our
GENERAL with more courtesy than itinerant lecturer
upon the art OF killing by Hannibal
Laying aside all jestng however we see not how Gen
eraI Taylor could have done otherwise than be did We
are not military men, and have no, the least tnc,u,e Of
that mania Tor hoodlstIng legal way which seems
to peTvade ,ho whole country We prefer Initiating the
critics we have Jus, spoken or in one particular al least
that OF sitting at home by snug ire leaving General
Taylor to do cur fighting for But a. every body Is
ouel'iig "e are resolved to have opinion too and
We give It as above. General Taylor had with him. 1t
must be remembered but thousand four hundred men,
al the very highest estimate in the Of the
battle, aud Of these, least FIVE hundred had been put
hoTs de combat In order 10 guard Munterev and The
prisoners. thousand in number ne would have been
compelled TO weaken this itle force by detachment 50
large that he could possibly have marched on Salo
strong town oil twelve Thousand inhabitants well for-
ned and prepared offer resistance Of least as effective
did Monterey. Ii supposed too that SAINT, Anna
will either march 10 person. send force OF fifteen nj,
twenty thousand men assist the defence of Salulo
General Taylor them with less than six thousand men s
expected to garrison Monterey, guard thousand
prisoners TO hold fifteen twenty thous and men in check
md to storm strongly fortified city Of twelve thousand
inhabitants defended By persons have lust that
ey are Tar Tom being dchcien; either skill or courage
uch would have been the effect taking the garrison of
Monterey prisoner, and such achievement we buby
suggest yet fell lot OF mortal man. ;,.s,,,
ueleht OF an army more than three own number
while he kept N check the garrison OF Aesia as
Ious Is ms own army was small affair comparison 10
IT, To the difficulties already enumerated must be pdded
Inc certainty OF famine in that pastoral country where
we have heard, man may travel for miles without meet
ing with corn enough to feed his horse
BY the present arrangements all these dfieulte, are
avoided The General has secured strong point as the
base OF his future operations and has LEFT his com;nunca
tons perfectly free. This point the securing Of a good
base has always been reekoned matter Of vital impor
lance by great Generals and the Of It has
ed the destruction Of tlisn one army. We find i,
sedulousy neuleaed and praetsed by all great Generals
who have written military affairs from Cesar 10 Napo
A'S '''c' tAHtHlty Careful upon tins head
oil his campaigns and Col Napier speaking Of him in
neeuon with this very subject says that SO far from being
rash aad preepaie. the rapidy of his movements
eared 10 persons unacquaincd the Brt 70 indicate no
was IN laet the most cautious Of all Generals yelling
tons advance into France 1914, founded precisely
on thus principle. At almost every march he ef, s,ron
fortress m his that defeat would have been
lively harmless, and The destruction Of his army with any
force which the enemy could bring against it, was literally
impossible.
Upon this principle principle recognised and acted
by all great Generals-has General Taylor uroceed,
thus far In HE march upon the city Of Mexico Matano
ros rs one strong point Camargo second, Monterey third
and SauIo ioiH be aiouth. check do him bat lit
te ham--a total defeat will be impossible The sold,,
will fight with confidence, knowing that he is summarized g.
the eaI and the enemy, Il victorious will find the
fruits Of victory snached from his grasp It was Of in.
last importance 10 get Of the stronghold of Mon
terey. Manned by American troops 1t is impregnsbls
That was General Taylor's AIM and who can blame him
for sacrificing secondary object Of such
Importance TO his future operations
We have noticed likewise, dsposiuon TO set Gener,
Worth above General Taylor, in public estimation Their,
should be such rivalry between these two gtest office,
All praise is due to General Worth for the brilliant a..
charge OF his ddyi buyo,, 30 must be recoloced he wa
acting in subordinate capacity. Il has always been th
fate Of great generals, 20 find persons disposed TO sbut
their brightest achievements some one about then,
Bonaparessuccesses were said to be due 10 Behie-V,
kingdoms 10 Pcion and CpwofJ and, 10 our own coun
Try, Jackson'' to Coffee Tho truth is, 40 Of these met
adrnirnbe officers their place; aud without surb
no communicated can perform any great action b.
they entitled to the glory Of tho achievement
which thcy ursstsd 10 bring their contamination tina
the Vennder, who performed bis duty In his own sphere
or the drngoon who boldly followed the lead Of hs Office
into the thickcst Of the battle.
Such s the position Of General worth OF present, Thu
he hiss acted g'Ir9usy will deny. that he is capt
bio Of commanding separately 30 not doubt; iaat
will ever allow himself to be srrct up 10 jealousy Of
ilustrous commander, We d. not believe possible