The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-11-30
From Mr.. Kendaps Letters.
Defence OF Gen. Scott against tho Admtnis-
lratiOn JOurnals.

Cry OF MExIco, Oct Is, 2s47.
see that some of the journals OF the United States,
the n. Y. Sun among Others, are attacking General
Scott for his dilatorness in advancing upon the ity,
contending that his long delay at Puebla was unne-
cessary and that instead OF remaining there 10 suck
oranges he should have advanced al once Without
being the apoogis for all the acts of Gen. s., sense
of justice induces me TO say that he chose the right
time to March from Pueba, and tat had he moved di-
ecty on his arrival there upon this place. the conse-
1uences would have been most disastrous. Grant
that in the early part of June he might have marched
upon and captured the city of Mexico with compare
lively little loss, what would have been Santa Anas
course II requires but very little foresight to say,
that with the force he then had lie would have left the
capital 10 its fate taken up positions in the neghbor-
hood, shut up every avenue of communication, and
leaving hostile population 10 take charge OF the
1000 Americans Gen. Scott could not at that
time have brought more--he would have fallen back
upon Puebla, or else upon the brgades of Generals
Cadwalader and Pierce on their way up, and have
crushed them in detail from the very superiority Of
the numbers he could have brought TO act upon
them II should be recolected that Gen. Scott had
scarce 5000 men all told on his arrival at Puebla
| and that many OF them were recruits, while Santa
Anna already had no inconsderable force organized
although perhaps the capital was not fortified at al
points. Alvarez, with or 5000 men, was at thai
time within striking distance OF Pueba, ready at all
times pounce upon any small force; the guerrilla
parties, even then on the road below Perote, were
sufficiently strong to annoy not check the advance
OF the rcnorcements; and the signal of Gen SCOTS
advance upon the Caplta C0ulu not Dut nuVe
Santa Anna 10 concentrate his forces with those
already in the rear and by succession OF easy
blows, for nj that time he would have had none but
new recruits to contend with his victories would
have been cheaply won and complete. General
| Scott would have been shut up in the capita
| with his insignificant force and the past actor
| of our Government in the way of affording ample
| succor shows that he might have expected from
home in the way OF assistance. Exuting under the
influence of victory, Santa Ana himself would hav,
been the attacking pary--would have assaulted tn,
capital already filed with our cnemies-and II woult
asking much Of the valor of the American
arms TO suppose that they could do more than Gu
their way TO the coast, succession of events, re
| sembling those above enumerated, must have fol
lowed movement upon the capital in the early par
Of summer and another g oche trste another dis
astrous evacuation Of the capital, would have beer
added 10 the annals Of Mexican history,
But what did Gen. Scott do? Chatting under tn
delay in sending reinforcements he still waited hei
arrival Nor was he idle the while. the divisions Q
Gems. Worth Twiggs and Quitman were being con
stanty drilled on the plains bordering Puebla, unit
their discipline was complete, while the hundreds
sick were allowed time to recover and the well TO be
come hardened and Injured to climate new to them
The brigade Of Gen Pierce, the last Of the reinforce
nents expected, arrived at Pueba on the 9th Angus
and on the 7th Gen. Twiggs conmnced the marc
upon the capital the other divisions following in sue
cession The battle Of Mexicohad to be fought sont
where; and although Gen. Scotts force even in Al
gust was too weak for the dangerous enterprise sti
his own skill and that Of his officers combined wit
the obstinate valor OF his soldiers overcame all obsti
Cles. The proud capital of Mexico was heroicall
entered her army dispersed and demoralized, and a
fears OF successful descent upon weak and pa
tally unprotected rear thus done away with An
other course than that pursued by Gen. Scott, wit
the exceedingly limited means at his disposal, woul
have brought ruin and defeat; and 1t i'll become
writers at home, snugly and safely enconsced in the
sanctums to critcise and consure movements the
have no means of understanding.