Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-07-29
False IInpufatiOns.

part OF the Wing politicians and editors generally,
for the unpatro,c which they have pursued in
the matter of the Mexican war. The three first of
these imputations are as follows
lt. That for Of the proper means General Taylor
was unable To- follow up his victory at Pao Alto Resaca
de Palma BY pursuing the TetTeatDg Mexcans the
Rio GIande.
I'd That Tor lack Of sufficient means Of transportation
OF ammunun provisions, &c. Geu. raylo could with
safety have done otherwise than he did in accepting the
captuaon Of Monterey, upon the terms condemned BY the
admins alton.
3D. That at Buena Vista Gen. Taylor was left by the
government with OTce small 10 render his defeat
more Than probable in the minds Of the people as well as
the administration"
Not one Of these imputations can be sustained by
good evidence; nor indeed any evidence at all, ex-
cept mere assertion, unsustained by a single fact.
In our semi-weeky paper of July Sd, we copied an
article from the Cincinnati Enquirer, demonstrating
far it went, the untruth and injustice of the
mputatlOnS, by review Of facts derived from Official
The Enquirer has since followed up the
subject, and in that paper of July 9th, we have the
results IN the following article. Every fair-minded
man, wing or democrat. who examines these facts,
will admit that the wing statements above quoted,
are utterly ground!ess.
REDUCTION OF GEN. TAYLOR'S ARMY.
pressure of other matters upon our time and
attention. mas prevented early to this
topic could have desired We shall endeavor
to dispose of ii this morning, and that in as brief
manner possible.
We have seen that Gen. TAYLOR was fully con-
shifted by the President in relation to the movement
OF forces and all other active operations in Mexico
We have also seen that he was not only made ac-
quainted with the change of operations from tine Rio
Grande to the Gulf but that he counselled it, the
only'movenpnt that could successfully be made upon
the city of Mexico and Indicated Vera Cruz the
point. We have not been able, after considerable
search, to lay hand upon the letter of Gen. TAY
LoR to Gen. GAINES but in that document General
Taylor prOnoun:es the route from Saltillo TO San
Luis POos, an mpracicable one. All these things
concurred to determine the War Department in favor
Of the attack upon Vera Cruz, and that line of ope
ratons towards the city of Mexico, which General
ScoTT has thus far SO signally conducted 1t should
be borne in mind, too that in all the correspondence
with General TAYLOR touching this matter, he has
been repeatedly advised that it not designed to
take from hun any force, that he should deem
rg t0r conducting has operations up0 The RIO Grande.
Those operations from his own correspondence, the
Secretary infers. will be confined to securing the
position of the army at Monterey and keeping open
the line OF communication with the Rio Grande.
General TAYLOR, however, is not restrained from
making excursions beyond that point, if he should
see proper to do so-but any such movement is rested
solely upon his discretion.
On the 18th of October 1916, the Secretary for
warded dispatch TO General TAYLOR, in which after
advising him that the season for military operations
upon the Gulf has arrived, and that in the descent
upon Vera Cruz, larger regular force will be re-
CURED than that assigned TO the Tamaulipas expedi
tion.-he remarks:
desired know if in your opinion detachment f
two thousand OF this description OF force be SPAR for
that purpose from those under command Without
senttaHy interfering Nth plans and operations 1t is
nof
Monterey or to embarTass you by dveug troops from The
Rio Gande Uhich you may necessary renfocemens
to the execution Of your contemplated operations"
In a subsequent dispatch under date Of October
I'D the Secretary again to this subject in the
following terms:
known to the it supposed that four thousand troops
would be sufficient force for the enterprise receiving
they would the cooperation Of naval force the gulf
but at least fifteen hundred thousand Of them should
be Of the regular army and under command Of officers
best calculated for such Undertaking Whilst the gov
eminent snxius that nothing should prevent the
expedition to Vera Cruz regarding it Of importance,
yet by withdrawing from your immediate command the
force necessary for this pose the army Nth you may be
placed in danger this expedition must the be either
Deferred or ABANDoNEDa result deeply to be regretted
On the spot you wW knOU the strength Of the force Gdranc-
against and the number Of troops necessary resist
IL; you MEANS to
expose the army under command to the probable hazard
Of disaster"
A copy of this last dispatch was sent to General
PATTERSON, and he was advised that the expedition
was a suggestion of General TAYLOR, and depended
| upon his concurrence On the 25th of November.
the Secretary advised Gen. Taylor that General Scott
had been designated for the command of the expedi-
ton against Vera Cruz. He further informs him that
the despatch of the 18th of October, detailing the
plan Of operations in this quarter. has been inter
copied by the enemy, and that being informed of the
project. vigorous resistance might be expected =
and that this might possibly render necessary larger
force than had been indicated.
On the 18th of November. General Taylor replies
to these communications. He considers 1000 mel
too small a fbrce with which TO move upon Vera
Cruz. He considers 10000 as sufficient to take anC
hold the place, of VIII Oh 1000 should be regulars =
but to move into tine interior and preserve, at the
same time, the base upon the Gulf, he thinks vii
require $4,000 men. He then goes to remark
I" A force Of ten thousand spared from thu
occupation Of the line of Madre Four thousand
be diver ted from Object it to these six housauC
fresh troops from the United States added tn,
proper time the expedition might be undertaken with pro-
mise of success propose, therefore, proceed with thu
preparation for movement rsmpico; and alter accom-
psbing thing that is be me in that quarter will
1t the department approve hold four thousand men, Of hic
perhaps three thousand regulars ready embark SOM
point the cat aud effect junction with additions
fOrce from the States.'
This Is all the correspondence between the Wa
Department and Gen. Taylor, upon this point. |
establishes the following propositions
LIST. That Gen. Taylor was advised and consulte,
with In regard to this movement
I'd. That he counselled it, as we'll because it af
forded better line of operations, that the on
upon which he was operating did not safely admit o
advance.
Sd. That from his correspondence the depart
nent was authorized to consider that Gen. Taylor
operations would be confined To holding Monterey
and keeping open his communications with the Ri
RI Grande.
4lh That the Intervention Of the dispatches O