The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-01-11
COMMUNICATION.
For the Union.
General ButIer-The Baltimore SUM-

General Butler-The Baltimore Sun.
When the correspondents OF the Baltimore Sun, who
followed the army to Monterey, wrote from thence the
transactions of the bloody 'three days." by strange
moral obhquiy, they appeared TO unite in assailing
sometimes by nsnuaton, and sometimes directly-a man
whose whole life, and especially whose conduct on that
occasion, deserved the most glowing euloglum His lofty
yalor which placed him at the head of his column in
front OF the volcano Of the Mexican fire in the streets Of
Monterey, was equaled alone by his prudent in
saving his command from useless slaughter
These correspondents chose to attribute the heavy
losses OF the Baltimore battalion, especially of its gallant
colonel, to the rastnes' OF General Butler who they
siid ordered mprudent and unavailing charge Al
though it turned out that the loss sustained by the Bal
more battalion was comparatively light yet the letter.
It was reported in this city that the widow Of Col Wat
son looked upon General Butler the murderer of her
husband trust that this report had better authority
to rest upon than j. NJ or n b. s. Upon receipt of the
official report OF General Taylor il turned that far
from General Butler having led the Baltimore battalion
INTO useless danger ,cas not under ms commando but
which he made al the head of his division ,ras made BY
the order of General Taylor, in order to relieve Colonel
Garland's command, which had become more closely
gagged than he desired.
Not satisfied with the above, these writers fabricated
an angry controversy between Generals Taylor and But
Ter, IN which angry reprmand for his supposed rash
ness fully administered by the former to the latter and
an immediate order to retreat from the useless danger in
to which the troops had been led given by General
Taylor. All this is proven to be sheer fabrication
he intended to MAINTAIN previous lie.
The friends OF General Butler, Justly indignant at the
attacks made upon such man, then fighting with his
wonted gallany for his country and the endorsement
OF them BY the press which circulated them, resolved to
defend their absent counryman, and article for
warded to the Sun for publication Its insertion
fused; and the unfainess of the refusal aggravated
BY one-sided attack upon the article which was conf
denally sent to the Sun for publication. And if any
thing could add to the outrage, base personal motives
attributed to the author while he was not allowed
hearing before the readers of the Sum- The friends of
General Butler then published through the organs of
highest rank conclusive proofs OF the magnity OF the
lie voice, both whg and democrat, cried shame upon
their authors and clrcuators.
The Baltimore Sun has at length felthe pangs OF
science working in its BOSOM Gf may be allowed the
inquire and on the 9th instant speaks in the subjoned
editorial, its tardy confessions. But in that it makes
the qmende in part only show desire to do JUS
ice by withdrawing all Its Observation-Disclosures for the
sake of General Buffers vndcaon, for that is already
perfected, but for Its repuiaton's sake. X.
January Z, 1917.
"CoRREsroNprNcE-In relaxing. somewhat the stringent
of rules with reference the correspondence
SUM- in order to favor the ainplest expression of fact and
tent minated the other day to the errors of CORE
spondcnts from which, though very coismon character
stc Of the modern press, we have hitherto by careful SUI
pervson, maintained general exemption. 1t is now APP
parent however, by the direct communication have
suted aud also from indirect sources that in detail of
occurrences of correspondents has either wIny
misrepresened inadvertently erred with regard spe-
ciic facts. We incline latter opinion ut present.
from various considerations, of which win be sui
Gent TO mention first, that his letters always bearing
latest dates, always contained variety of facts, the
racy of which proved by subsequents communications
from other second, the absence of with
gard to the statements relating General Butler. in which
the error OF fact This in the
assertion that high words passed between Generals TAYLOR
and Butler the field OF Monterrey siaemeat have
believe entirely unounded. Accompanied with
the testimonials the gaany of General Butler
can but think that the statement certain be
contradiced IL untrue, originated i'm msconception. Ii
otherwise, whatever the object of correspondent might
be- by the utroduc ton OF such
it must be counteraced by the means and there
fore, while regrettng its publication cheerully admit
its nacciracy. We perceive in the Louisville Journal
communication from Lieut. Col Henry Clay of the Ken
lucky volunteers dated Monterey, 4tl December and
erring this subject in which he expresses pleasure in
being able TO contradict the report, and adds that the
amicable relations have existed between Generals Taylor
and Butler and that he is authorized requested to
state"
$40 the Editors of the Louisville Journal.
"CaMP MONTEREY, Dec 4, 1916.
81 observe that in your paper you have contradcted the
ruor OF collision between Major Generals TAYLOR and
Butler am happy TO have it in my power confirm your
statement. The report which has been widely spread in
the newspapers, by etterwriters and Others difficulty
between those high officers the field of battle Monte
rev. is utterly goundless and untrue. Such a report thus
promulgated not only injurious Gen. Butler but also
the public SERVICE in which both he and General Tavor
engaged Ii gives therefore extraordinary pleasure pos
ivey to contradict all such and reports None but
the most amicabo relations have existed between the Of
fcers mentioned and am authorized and reaue sted
publicly to state Yours, faithfully
HENRY CLAY, in,
Lieut. Col I'll Reg'L Ky. Volunteers.
rTUCKER's Jefferson with parts of his CORE