Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1846-08-20
The Mexican CnrnDaiyn.

The Mexican Campaign.
The N. York Courier has a letter from
New Orleans which clearly shows the reck.
lessncss of expense, and the ignorance of the
War Department. II is rich country that
can stand the expense Of a war like this:-
"Thc Mexican war drags its slow length
along, and will continue to do 80. | see by !
the papers that The wagons for Gen. Taylor
have just been contracted for b. the govern.
ment, in New Jersey, aud to be delivered
there IN September, and be out at the Rio |
GTande. suppose, IN October or November.
How wise and proper was Gen. Sco,l's ad.
vice, that the volunteers for the expedition
should be organized and fully prepared at
home, IN their respective States, where they
could be put into state Of proper drill and
discipline, without unnecessary and fatiguing
exposure and risk of sickness, and al one
fourth probably one.tenth Of the expense
They would then come together. in Mexico,
well and properly organized and cipned
80 soon as all the other necessary arrange
men,s had been made. and supplies procured
and collected, and enter Immediately on the
active campaign-instead OF which they are
hurried forward in the most raw condition
without proper supplies or arrange enents-
with great suffering and exposure, and have
been, and are still, to be kept inactive 10 large
bodies on the Rio Grande-either under a
tropical sun, or up TO their knees in mud,
whilst the contracts for their march are being
completed all over the Union, and they most
miserably provided for either as to their com
fort or health. with discomfort, sickness and
mortality among them-arIsing from continual
inactivity-and the absence 0f suitable or
rangemens for their comfort and support
Had all this plan been adopted, and all the
means collected for the campaign during the
summer. and full arrangements for the trans.
portation OF the troops and supplies. and the
whole put ~ motion simultaneously in the
United States by the 18th of September. they
would have gone forward, not only with
double the efficiency and one fourth the ex
pense they now do, but also earlier than they
will now probably move into Mexico. Every
thing Is now done N the most confused and
unsystematic manner-all is hurry and haste,
and nothing is well done-for instance, large
quantities OF bulky supplies, and among other
things, some hundreds OF wagons are sen,
here from the North, instead of being sent
direct to Point Isabel, which could be done
with great saving Of time and expense.
A large ship from Philadelphia brought
cargo OF these wagons, which were landed
some time since, and after lying exposed toI
our tropical sun on the Levee for eight or
ten days. splitting and cracking. with their
wheels and springs, the same ship IS chartered
to reload them for the x 10 Grandc, q, freight
double that from Philadc phia-nt least double
what II ought 10 be from thence, though think
II probable Mere, rs well as here, the Govern
nent pay at least double what individuals
would. II is really enough to disgust any
body, to see the manner the whole affair ls
being conducted and the way they are going
on, the Treasury, even after issuing the ten
millions of Treasury Notes, Wi. be bankrupt
before Congress again meets.
"Our volunteers are rapidly returning, and
the most OF them have actually arrived. II Is
really serious thing To thus throw 5 or 6000I
men upon this city at this dread season of the
year, without any means of enjoyment, and
at the very moment that yellow ievcr may be
expected. though fortunately it has not yet
appeared; II II does, It will sweep them off
by hundreds, for few Of them are natives and
though many may have boen here for some
time, yet large portion also were not per
manent residents, and bu, few acclimated. III
Is altogether a cruel business Their short
term of service, and their outfit aud advance
received from the Government. will leave
them without any balance due them.
"A batch Of Mr. Polk's Major and Brigadier
Generals left two days since, IN the New
York. Oh Lord! oh Lord such men to com.
mand our armies. | al!udc particularly tol
the Brlgsdlers-all Of them young lawyers,
VAIN and concehed, talking ,he most childish
rhodomon'ade, and as they promcnadcd the
streets and displayed themselves. looking
down to admire their uniforms, and seeming
to say do look at Inc am Brlgadiern Ma
Jor General Patterson is daily expected here
from Phlladclpha, en- route for the army
lie and General Butler, expect will prove
good appointments.
IL have seen a letter from an officer of the
army, dated lst August, which says Gen
Worth has been ordered to form camp of
lo.OOO menat Camargo, and to send a sufii
cient force to establish depot 90 miles from
thence, on the road to Monterey. al,o
learn from good authority, that Gen. Taylor
does not intend 10 advance to Monterey with
more than 1000 men, which in that country
will be more efficient than a larger force, on
account OF supplies and the difficulty of trans
portation, and will be abundantly strong to
lace any force the enemy can present.
"The Government funds are entirely OK.
hausled here, not only in tho hands of the dis.
Durslng officers, but in the deposi,e Bank
where they are run down to a very low
figure"
ItIE