The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-07-12

tas and civilized beings against the rage and brutality o
health and although they know that in your noble
soul win be found the best reward OF your conduct they
desire address the expression of their gratitude
and high esteem am honored IN being The organ ofihe
public continent and payyi91a 70 accept ~ with the as
! "God and liberty %
This is trophy OF new kind in war; won by thirty
Missonrians and worthy TO held up TO the admiration OF
Christendom.
The long march from Chihuahua to Monterey was
made in the character OF protection and deiyeance
than of conquest and invasion. Armed enemies were
not met, and peaceful people were not disturbed. You
arrived in the month of May in General Taylors camp
and about in condition to vindicate each of you for
himself, your lawful title to the double soubiquet OF the
General with the addition to II which the colonel OF the
expedition has supphedragged--as well as rough and
ready No doubt you all showed title, at that time, to
that third Soubque but to you now gayly attred
so sprucely equipped might suppose that you had
never for instant, been stranger 10 the virtues OF
ehsseuse and the elegant transformations of the fashion
able tailor Thanks perhaps, to the difference between
pay the lump at the end OF service and dribblets along
| in the course OF 1T.
You arrived in Gen Taylor's camp ragged and rough,
as we well conceive, and ready as can quickly
show You reported for duty you asked for service =
such a march upon San Luis de Poos, Zacaecas, or
the "hals OF the Montezumas;" anything in that way
that the General should have mind 10. II he was go
ing upon any excursion OF that kind, all right. No mat
ter about iagues that passed. expraons OF ser
vice that might you TO go, and only asked
the privilege. That is what call ready. Unhapply, the
conqaeror Of Palo Alto Resaca de la Palma, Monterey
and Buena VISTA was not exactly in the condition that
the Lieutenant General that might have been, Intended
him TO be. lie was not at the head OF 10000 men! ne
not at the head of any thousands that would enable
him TO march and had 10 decline the proiered service
Thus the long marched and well-ought volunteershe
rough the ready and the raggedhad to turn their faces
towards home, still more than thousand miles distant
But this being mostly by water you hardly count it in the
recital of your march. But this is unjust omission,
and against the presidents as well as unjust =" Inc
ten thousand counted the voyage the Black sea as
well the march from Babylon; and twenty centuries
admit the validity OF the count. The present age ana
poserity will include in " the going out and coming IN
of the Missouri Chihuahua volunteers, the water voyage
as well as the land march and then the expedition OF
the thousand will exceed that of the ten by some two
thousand miles.
The last nine hundred miles of your land march, from
Chihuahua to Maamoras, you made in forty five days
bringing seventeen pieces OF artillery eleven OF which
were taken from the Sacramento and BracitO. Your
horses, travelling the whole distance without United
States provender astonished to find themselves
gaed, on their arrival the Rio Grande frontier, with
hay, corn and oats from the States You marched far
Their than the fahest, fought well the best, left
der and quiet in your tran and cost less money than
any.
and fighting all the time, bringing trophies OF cannon and
standards from fields whose names unknown to you
before you set out and only grevng that you could not
have gone further Ten pieces OF cannon, rolled out OF
Chihuahua to arrest your march, now roll through the
streets OF St Louis, to grace your trlHmphal return.
Many standards all pierced with bullets while waving
over the heads of the enemy at the Sacramento,
wave at the head OF your column. The black flag,
brought to the Bracito to indicate the refusal of that
quarter which It's bearers so soon needed and received
now takes its place among your trophies and hangs
dropping in their nobler presence To crown the whole
TO make public and private happiness go together-to
spare the cypress where the laurel hangs in clusters
this long and pcrilous march, with all its accidents of
field and camp, presents incredibly small list OF com
rades lost Almost all return! and the JOY OF families
resounds interminged with the appauses of the State.
have said that you made your long expedition with
out government oders and so indeed you did. Iou re-
ceved no orders from your government, but, without
know ing it, you fulfilling its orders-orlers which
reached you Happy the soldier who executes the
command OF his government happier still he who anti
cpales command and does what is wanted before he is
bid This s your Aou did the right thing at The
right time wand hat the Intended you do and
without knowing It's Intentions The facts are these:
Early in the month OF November last the President ask
ed my opinion on the manner OF conducting the war.
submitted plan 10 him, which addition to other things
required all the disposable troops in New Mexico, and
all the Americans in that quarter who could be engaged
for dashing expedition, to down through Chihua
hua and the State Of Durango, and necessary Zaca
ecas, and get into communication with General Tayors
right early possible in the month of March In
fact the disposable Assourans in New Mexico were TO
be one of three columns destined for combined move
ment on the city OF Mexico, all to be the tableand
and ready for the movement in the month of March The
President approved the pan and the Missourans being
most distant orders were despatched TO New Mexico to
the orde and delivered it to the commanding officer
Santa Fe Col. Price, on the 23d of FebruaIy-us five
days before you fought the marvellous battle OF Sacra-
mento.
| well remember what passed between the President
and myself at the time he resolved TO give this order 1t
awakened his soicude for your safety II was to send
small body of men great distance into the heart of
hostile country and upon the contingency of uniting
combined movement, the means for which had not yet
been obtained from Congress The President made it
question, and very properly whether safe or pr
dent to start the small Missouri column before the
men of the left and centre assured answered that
my own rule in public affairs to do what thought
right, and leave il with others TO do what they
thought right and that believed it the proper
course for him 10 follow on the present occasion On
this view he acted. He gave the order GO without
waiting to whether Congress would furnish the means
OF executing the combined plan; and for his consolation
undertook to guaranty your safety. Let the worst
come 10 the worst, promised him that you would take
of yourselves. Though the other parts of the plan
should ia--though you should become far involved in
the advance, and deeply compromised in the enemy's
country, and without support-s relied your cour-
skill, and enterprise to excae yourselves from ev
cry dangerto make day light through all the Mexicans
that should stand before you--cut your way ou-and
make good your retreat to Tayors camp This is what
promised the President in November last and what you
script volume Uhe duplicate Of il in the hands of the
Presdent) from which will read you page to show
you that you the happy soldiers who have done the
Will OF the government, without knowing its will:
The RIGHT wING.-To be composed of all the dsposa-
bic troops in New Mexicoo.advance rapidly through the
States OF chihuahua and Durango and towards Zacaecas
and to attain position about a line with Gen Tavor
capital This column to lighto have no renr- 70
keep itself mounted from horses in the countryand TO on
me centre column, or cut It's way ii the main object
fails"
This is what proposed for you in the month of
November last and what pledged myself TO the Presi-
dent you would perform; and nobly have you redeemed
the pledge
But this WAC fret Tho only time