The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-08-13

retarv Of War, who nav could tell whom our
Revolutionary struggle would have ended And
il the War with Mexico is To be conducted upon
the same principle which governed the Dena,,.
ment Of War in the year 1886, when will this
war be brought to close2 In the Seminole
War. General Gaines had the proud Satisfaction
Of raising Regiment of brave Louisiana Volnp
,eers. .fying with them to Tampa Bay, and with
the addition of a few companies of the best or
regulars marching l40 miles through the Fast
Florida Swamps in search of the enemy. meeting
them and heating them in six sharp conflicts, and
forcing them To sue for peace. and making peace
with them: all these movements having been
accomplished in six weeks. For which efficien,
service he was honored with volumes of abusive
epithpts, which he has never deigned Ia refute
His measures censured without a trial and with
out charge. as premature, notwithstanding the
frontier Of Florida was bleeding at every pare
He was ultimately brought before Court of
Inquiry. who acquitted him of any crime or i'm
proper conduc, in Florida: but the Court law
lessly lecturcd him for what the Court had the
wisdom to denounce as improper remarks in his
defence, comparing the conduct of his accuser
with that of certain Major General Benedict
Arnold of the Revolutionary Army. For this
supposed offence the Court tried and reprimanded
him, without giving him any notice of their in
ienon TO call in question his remarks. The
Cour, thus violated the 75th Article ofWar, which
q
General Court Martial.
These things are mentioned here as fuels not
10 complain of the Court, Owo distinguished
members If which are no more, and they were
ALL doubtless, under the impression that they were
acting correctly.) hut merely to suggest the pos
sibility Of The example IF Mr.. Secretary Cass,
in the commencement of The Seminole War-be-
ing too clusely followed in our present war with
Mexico. terminated the Seminole War with
L. .,c
gallant Dade, his brave officers, and near
one hundred men, with several respectable fami
lies and worthy citizens. | was reprimanded
without trial, which invited. The war was
recklessly renewed and continued fur near seven
years, and then ended. (not by iron or leaden
balls, hut by silver dosrsD at an expense Of
twenty five millions Of dollars, and the loss
of officers and men. with unoffending citizens,-
men, ,comen and children, which we should have
estimated at ten times more than twenty FIVE
millions Of dollars In the interim was brought
hefure Court of Inquiry, and denounced in ma
nv ways by the ultra men and ultra presses of
the two great political parties of the country. [
have. nevertheless, continued TO act upon the
same principle which governed me in all the wars
in which had participated during the last forty
six years. am glad, however, to find my recent
conduct approved by the most enlightened men,
and the mast respectable presses of all parties
throughout the Union. And though brought be-
fure Court. more suddenly than upon the occa-
sim of the Seminole War, cannot but think nv
conduct will be better understood and finally an
proved.
Regarding my supposed crime committed at
Muhile, might rest This matter upon the testi-
mony of my Aid de Camp, Captain p. Calhoun.
But ! have been apprsed of the startling fact
that no less parsonage than the senior Senator
from Texas, whose military qualities had often
approved had considered this Mobile affair as
very seriuus offence. ! must not, therefore, pass
il over without correcting the errors of the Mill
tary advisers Of the President of the United
States.
The facts were concisely these: Two gallant
Regiments of Alabamians had been regularly
called unto the service of the United States, had
been at the City of Mobile for some days, impa-
tently waiting for sea steamer or two, to trans
port them to Point Isabel. They had been for
several days regularly mustered in the service of
the United States. On my route from New Or
leans 10 Washington City. under Orders relieving
me of the command of the Western Division. and
directing me TO repair TO Washington ,Dithout
delay. without n,imn,ing the object of this prompt
misunderstanding me 10 infer that was to be
placed on some important duty at Washington,
or 10 receive the confidential views of the De-
partment of War, in reference 10 duties to be as
signed TO me at the seat of war; as The question
whether General Scott would. or wuuld not leave
his Bureau duties. and fly To the seat of war, had
not been then settled or if it had been settled
The result was not known to me. had, however,
promised myself the satisfaction of finding that
Officer cen route for the Rio Grande-and in
this case deemed it quite likely that should be
honored with an Order TO take his place at the
Head of Bureau at the War Depariment-an
honor which never solicited, and which should
accept most cheerfully, whenever my advanced
age or lnfrmiIies should render me unfit for field
service; which hope and trust may not be, du-
mig The next ten years, or during my lifetime
however determined to adhere to my long habit
OF yielding prompt and ready obedience to al law.
ful orders. With these impressions, embarked
on board the mail boat the city, on the | lih
OF June, the day after the receipt of the Order
" repair 10 Washington Without delay" On
my arrival at Mobile. where was DELAYED only
while The mail boat was making ready for her
usual rapid movement, | was notified by His
ExcelIency Governor Chambers. that some disur
der existed in the two Regiments Of Volunteers,
which he convinced me could be corrected by nv
accepting the services Of that meritorous and tai.
ented officer, Brigadier General w. Smith, with
his Staff. ] felt that was on duiy not in
arrest. and that by completing the organization
and efficiency of fine Brigade Of Alabama Vol.
unteers, should be acting in accordance with my
oath OF oftice-to serve The United States hon
estty and faithfully. | acted upon the same
principle which would have governed me had T
seen line well built arch at any Of our Public
Works, wanting only for lis competion the Ken
Stone to keep IL from tumbling down-when I
was the only man within thousand miles Of the
Arch who could secure it, by adding TO the 9th
erwse periec, work. the requisite Kcu Stone
was aware that could do the work, requiring
only ten minutes, without violating the Orders
glvon me To repair TO Washington ,Oitbom de
lay. (See the History Of the Battle Of Vimera
and the Convention Of Cntra, for full exem-
plhcaIlon of the principle upon which | acted)
II VIII he seen from the account Of that battle,
hat The real hero Of that snendld Hicinrv ai lie