Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-03-26

mon sense of The people requires no prompting 10
see the absurdi,y and injustice OF suei' REASONING
But, say the Wings, The President must osal
Tho od;,m Of Taylo,'s disasters. In the flrs'
Mace we do not believe that ne has mel WIN oe-
feat, and much fine Wing capital Tor Inc virginia
elec,iops is about TO explode. Admit however
,ba, his amy has been cut off aud routed; ousn'
the President 10 be held responsible ine iac's
;n,be case remove all doubt upon mat point
I;s rue as the Times states, that, on the lS'n
October, before Gen. Scott was ordered 10 'ne
field The Secretary of War, in a letter 10 zen
TAYLOR refers 10 The scheme under consiaera'ion
n attack Vera Cruz, and desires % know IL IN
Gen. IT'S opinion, detachment OF 2,oOo regular
troops could be spared for that purpose w'inoo
essentially interfering with his (Gen' I.s) plans
and operations. But the Secretary oil war eA-
nressly adds: at is not desired or intended 10
,,eokcn the force with you at Monterey, or to
embarrass you by diverling troops from The Rio
Grande, which you may deem necessary as rein
fo,cemenls to the execution of your orn conlem-
plared operations
In letter Of 22d Ocl., Mr.. Marcy expresses his
opinion 10 Gen. Taylor, that il would not he safe
10 proceed beyond Monterey; but this is left EN-
lirely 10 Gen. It's own judgment. In the same
despatch, Mr.. Marcy writes 10 Gen. Taylor as
follows:
"Upon more full consideration OF The subjecl,
il is believed that Vera Cruz may be taken, and
having possession Of that city, The Castle Of San
Juan dc Ulloa might possibly be reduced or COM
PEELED to surrender. II The expedition could go
iorlh without The object being known TO the enc
my, il is supposed that four thousand troops would
be sufficient force for The enterprise, receiving
as they would The cooperation OF our navalforce
in The gulf but al least fifteen hundred or Two
thousand OF them should be OF The regular army,
and unler The command of officers best cacua-
ted Tor such an undertaking"
The Times quoles this passage, and adds, that
The despatch "divccts" General Taylor according
", to have 1000 men ready 10 embark Tor Vera
Cruz, or such other destination as may be given
to Them, al The earliest practicable period" To
show that there was no ducclon or order from
The Secretary OF War, we quote the whole pas
sage, The most material paris Of which, in
Halies, are omitted by the Times:
"Whilst he government is anxious that no.
thing should occur 10 prevent the expedition TO
Vera Cruz. regarding il OF great importance, yet
it, by Withdrawing from your immediate COM
mand The brce necessary for this purpose, Inc ar
nv NTH vou nau be placed in danger, tils erpedi-
linn must fJr he present, be either deferred aban
doned-a result deeply 10 be regretted. On the
spot YOU will know The strength OF the force adj
yancing against YOU and the number OF troops
necessary 10 resist it. Yop mil bv no means wea-
Ken, uoursd| so as 10 expose tae army andcr your
command The probable hazard Of disaster II is
desirable 10 avoid DELAY. You will therefore,
,1uless Is materially inrfsrcs NTH your omn plan 81
operations or ,ceakcns you loo nneh in your present
pos,tioa, make the necessary arrangements ior
having foIr thousand men-of whom fifteen hum
bred or Two thousand should be regular troops
ready 10 EMBARK Tor Vera Cruz, or such other
destination as may be given them, al the earliest
practicable period"
These qualifications are important 10 correct
understanding Of The facts; they show that The
language OF Mr.. Marcy ought 10 be regarded IN
The lish, of suggestions subject 10 the Judgment
and discretion OF Gen. Taylor.
On The 9Th November Gen. Taylor, in reply
10 The above letter OF the 22d October, deems The
occupaton OF Sallilo important, as necessary
oulpost Of the main force al Monterey, covering
as il does the important defle which leads from
the low country 10 The table land and also The
route 10 Monterey; IS controlling region from
which we may expect considerable supplies OF
breadstufts and cattle" and as "Ihe capital OF
Coahuila, which renders il important IN poli'i'
c,l poin, of view" In regard TO the attack upon
Vera Cruz, he expresses the opinion that "4,ooo
men will be force quite loo small for The pur-
nose contemplated In my despatch OF October
IL | stated 25, 900 troops, Of which 10000 TO be
regulars, as the least force that should make
descent in that quarter, with The view OF march
| inc IN ,h---r;'ni"
He afterwards adds that r,,i,. 10000 mer
cannot be spared from The occupation Of The line
the Sierra Madre, 1000 may be diverted from tha
object, and if 10 these 5000 fresh troops from III,
United States were added at the proper time, tht
expedition might be undertaken with promise o
success. | propose therefore, 10 proceed with TIT
prepa ration for movement on Iampico, and al
ter accomplishing everything that is to be don'
| in that quarter, will, il The department approve
hold 1000 men, Of which, perhaps, 5000 regulars
ready 10 embark al some point on The coast, ant
effect junction with the additional force from The
States. The movement towards Tampico will no
produce any delay, if my views are adopted, ant
| consider il quite important 10 occupy Victoria
and the lower portion Of Tamaulipas, after Sc
curing properly the line TO be held in this quarter
Here, then, il will be seen that Gen. Taylor
expresses no opinion agans, The withdrawal o
the regulars under his command, but, on the con-
rary, signifies his readiness 10 furnish lhem af
Ter The movement on Tampico. In the officia
correspondence published we find nothing later
on this point.
On the 23d Nov. Gen. Scott was appointed to
chief command in Mexico. The letter OF com
mission is as follows:
nWAR DEPARTMENT
Washington, Nov. %, 1886.
"Sir: The President, several days since, com.
municaled in person 10 you his orders TO repair
10 Mexico. to take command of the forces there
assembled and particularly to organize and sci
on foot an expedition 10 operate on the gulf coas.
it, on arriving at the theatre OF action, you shall
deem il TO be practicable. II is mt proposed h
control vour operations IN definite aud poStlre
,naractions, hit gnu arc icfl 10 prosecute them as
your judgmcni, und.r full ricw NJ all The cir
cumslances, shall dictate. The work is before
YOU. and the means provided, Or 10 ne provided
for accomplishing ii, are committed oyon, in the
full confidence that you will use them to The best
advantage.
"Tbe objects which il is desirable TO obtain
have been indicated, and IL is hoped that you will
have The requisite force TO accomplish them.
"Oilhis you mus, be the Judge when prrpara-
lions are made, and The time Tor action has ar
rived Very respectfully, your ob'd serW,
"W. L. MARCY, Secretary OF War.
"Maior General WINFIELD Scott.
"Commanding the Army, Washington"
Could language express more unqualified and
general discretion in the judgment Of the com,
manding Genera7 We deem it unnecessary TO
dwell on this point; The letter speaks for itself
Armed with this lull power, Gen. Scott, in a
letter TO Gen. Taylor from New York, on the 2olh
November, says: "My dear General, shall be
Obliged 10 take from you most oil the gallant offl-
GERS and men Regulars and volunleersl whom