The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-05-26
COMMUNICATIONS.
For the Uaion.



duged IN severe structures the movements OF the ar
my under the command of General Scott not only II
regards want OF skill in the conduct of the campaign,
but also on the more important ground OF disregard OF
the principles OF humanity recognised by the laws OF
modern warfare. Our countymen, who justly pride
themselves their advanced civilization and who pre-
sent TO the world the sublime spectacle of feeding with
the hand from their abundance the starving nations,
while with the other they inlicng summary justice
people who have for years presumed on their mag
nanimy and forbearance, would, am persuaded more
readily overlook the former than forgive the latter The
brilliant results, thus far OF the short campaign have Ell
iectuay repealed the first accusations and in reference 10
the second allegation, it will not trust be considered
intrusion for one who, in speaking OF the siege OF
Vera Cruz, may say
"All which saw and part OF which was"
although the character which he enacted in the drama
an humble one,) to offer few observations
For months antecedent 10 the appearance OF the army
OF the United States before Vera Cruz, II was well known
mamen had been fitted out for the purpose OF making
descent that portion OF the coast and for the reduction
OF the city OF Vera Cruz and OF the castle OF San Juan de
ulloa preparatory TO march on the capital. Alter the
arrival of the transports at Anton Lizardo there was am
pie time, before the investment completed Tor all the
combaidatS to have retired from the city, which all
must have known would be the first object OF attack
and, indeed the foreign consus and neurals not
fled, the 18th of March, OF the danger which awaited
their further residence within lis walls Those who did
not avail themselves OF this interval to remove, OF course
placed themselves in hostile attitude. Your attentive
readers will not fail TO recoec that before our batteries
were opened on the town. the commander niiu-
thoes to surrender The city, (not the castle, as has been
aeged0 on the avowed grounds OF preventing an unne,
cessary eiusion OF beod This act transferred the moral
responsibility from the hands OF the American general TO
those OF the Mexican commander, who could not be sup
posed TO be less interested than his antagonist in the pre-
servaton of the lives OF his counrymen, II was at any
time between the Tsl flag pant and the beating OF
the ddde by the enemy IN his power TO have arrested
the dreadful havoc and destruction which ragged thin
the beleagued city and the consequences OF his refusal to
nerpose rested solely on his own head. After the sum
mons to surrender had been peremporly declined, with
the avowed determination OF holding out 10 the last ex
remity was obviously improper to permit egress from
the enemys works during the continuance OF the siege
and presume that even your unmllltary readers VIII
readily infer the for this course, painful as was
the aecessity 10 our commanding general.
From the complaints which have been uttered 1t might
be supposed that the bombadment OF town was mon
slrous innovation and novelty in warfare; but | will
not insult the intelligence OF my countrymen by enume-
rating the modern instances" in which il has been sue
cessiully esoned 10 by the most civilized nations am
moreover, prepared TO assert that In the case OF Vera
Cruz, was adopted on the Panes principles OF human,
ity, 10 the enemy and that really the OF
preventing an enormous loss of life and property Vera
Cruz is trailed oWnits circuit being, as well az re-
member, hexagonalwith heavily armed forts (eeUen,
think, in number; but now write from memory at the
gales and salient angles arranged as to sweep the
bitches which surround IT, well the ground IN 'front.'
Parts OF those bitches were strengthened with palisades
and frOus de op and the remaining portion were NIL
ed up with growth OF prckly pearsno liing
obstacles those well know who have had occasion to
penetrate them The main streets had been barrcaded,
the pavemens broken up, and placed position
to enade them From the mode OF constructing their hab
taons, every house fortress, and the city was ca
pable OF presenting resistance equal TO that OF oaagos
Besides this, the guns OF the castle commanded the
approaches two sides; and the curtains or walls con-
Meeting the forts together loop holed for muskeuy.
1t will thus be seen that the deences of ordna
ry character; and it must be borne in mind, that the
and fixed ammunition OF the Mexcans Were of
the highest quality OF ordnance preparation, while 1t IS
admitted in army thai their artillery practice with
heavy guns in position is in every respect at least equal
to our own-ther round-shot having been thrown with
accuracy generally striking within the en-
brasres of guns In feld-drferythey infinitely
our interiors, for they can neither manpuvre with the
same facility nor fire with the rapdity precision
II the commander in-chef, in landing at Vera Cruz,
had consulted alone his reputation with the unthinkng
he would, doubtless have carried the city by
escaiade or, formidable the works were, one Of
those who believe that our troops can accomplish any
thlng,) but al the loss of Mt least 1900 men: This
would have constituted great and glorious victory,
at which all would have reloiced with bonires and iu
ercept Me friends Of those ,Dho had fallen
ceSary ricttns But Gen Scott seemed to think that, if
by the display of military skill he could effect the same
resuhe reduction OF the city and castle with but little
loss of Gfethe rejecting and the humane would appre
ciate his motives and his conduct In word, he gene
rousy surrendered the brilliant for the sodthe evanes
cent praise of popular excitement 10 the more discrim
mating Judgment OF poserity
Ii well understood in our camp on the 25th of
Marchtwo practicable breaches having been effected
the walshat if the enemy did not offer to surrender in
twelve hours the city would be assaulted and that the
stonlng parties had been already organized Amongst
the officers there was strong desire manifested that the
city should captulate--and make this admission with
sui any apprehension that it will be misconsrued-for
OF own loss, which felt must be
enormous the wellgrounded belief entertained that
the almost entire destruction Of the city, OF the garrison
and OF the inhabitants, would ensue, The disgracefu
and sangunary of BdddjoS and OF Ciudad Rod
rgo would most assuredy have been reenacted and hui
mainly revolts at the idea. When assert this, do it
adyisedly and think may appeal with confidence to the
officers OF the first division (Which invested the front OF
attack IN reference to the excitement of the SOL
dery who in the hot-blood of an assault it appre
hended, might spare neither age, sex, condition.
And after all, what was the end proposed? 1t was,
understand H. TO establish and advantageous base
for short and effective line of operatons-he true OBJ
retire point being the city of Mexico The reduction of
Vera Cruz and OF the castle affords strong depot OF
arms and munitions of war, with open harbor, (the
best the coas) through which introduce sup
plies and relniorcemens, al pleasure; and, together
with the possession OF Alvarado and Antigua, con-
stute OF the best possible bases for future opera
tons. What we wanted was the place. means
10 great Interior object and, is it not then mat
ter Of congra,ulaon, rather than of censue, that this
has been attained with little delay and with small
sacrifice OF life
cannot bat think that when all the circumstances at
tending the siege OF Vera Cruz and of the castle of San
Juan lie blloa fairly understood will be
regarded emlnenily cFediiahc to our arms The be-
beseged Tan almost unheardof disproporton according
% the rules OF wariare while the latter strongly
enifenched on perfect PLAIN (adordng for an
attacking force within pqniblank range OF their guns)
with 900 pieces Of effective artlley-many OF them
ii the heaviest cabcrand abundant supply of fixed
Compare now the result in this case, with
he celebrated siege 81 the citadel Of Antwerp--a work
j may BE- permitted 10 Judge from personal examina
lion Of boihmuch inferior TO the castle OF Ulloa The
fwnch hcscgIng army, under the command OF Marshal
Gerard, consisted Of G6,sll men. with 22J guns The
Dutch force, under Gen. Chase, numbered 800 men,
with az pieces Of ordnance The ground broken on