Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-09-11
THE POSITION OF OUR ARMY IN THE FIELD
PROM rHE SEW YORK ExrnEss OF sArunpAr.

THE POSITION OF OUR ARMY IN THE FIELD.
FROM THE NEW YORK EXPRESS OF SATURDAY.
Ihe whole conduct Of the Administration in carrying on the
present war has been worthy the mbecty with which wa
commenced The almost entirely defenceless position in
which, at most critical periods the army has been left for lack
OF proper supplies and necessary enfocemen the necessity
TO which they have almost all the been reduced to fight
as bravery and as VIGOROUSLY they have against odds more
appalling IMAM those OF numbers have formed the subject of
frequent remark within the past year. Cen Taylors move
mens on the lilo Grande thus hampeed in the earlier
campaigns, and he had to fight once the enemy and his
own Government all the way from Point Isabel to Monterey
General Scott at Washington knew his men, and had an
opportunity OF seeing how incompetent they were to on
and 10 carry out the project they had initiated While hear
Ing them talk at governmental headquarters of the armys
taking the field in force within month or So he knew that
such an army necessary for the purpose could not be
raised and supplied and had camp many months For
this ne was sneeed at and denounced for this he was lam
pooned and carcatured and yet when of his
declared he chose to remain at the post duty
as Of the army rather than expose him
self and the cause Of his country fire in the rear" as
well as to sire in 'front.' how long it the Admin
saton were palpaby serebuked in finding themselves obi
ged seek his indispensable assistance devng the proper
ways and means Of carrying the war With the utter in
capacity they had managed to exhibit thus early in the cam
pagn what had Gen. Scott at Mr. Poks first suggestion gone
to the head Of the army could they have done towards aiding
him in any way enabling him take the field with effect
Nothing whatever.
Follow General Taylor up the day Of Buena VISTA and
what was his progress but continual march against mpend
ing risks and Dangers all arising from the lack of proper rein
orcement and supply And what is his present situation
the situation ne has been left to occupy for months One of
enforced inernes the result Of criminal mprovidence on
nj thai ,a,,ts hok.x1
in their efforts to keep him reinforced The part of the coun
try in which be is stationed full of gueras and every move
ment ne can make to join Gen. Scott before Mexico thereby
rendered full of difficulty and dangers while in such an event
the possibility of leaving the subdued country in safety from
recapture is matter Of doubt if not of absudity.
80 with Gen. Scott in his march upon the capital Where
are his endorsements Where that his strength
which should render his advance matter Of confidence not
certainty to him Though Of the preceding incidents
of the campaign may well be taken have proved the ability
OF our soldiers 10 meet and conquer armies superior num-
bers yet is not good rule go by very well is once
In way and is too much to ask of generals or our
men to throw themselves in the proportion of four be-
fore enemys walled and weored capital in the heart
of that enemys country, without the hope of einocement
support from the Government whose battles they are
fighting
were idle to that the Administration are not response
bic for all this 1t their war; and they made and hav
ing got the country into it. their business ans
y 1t ON and to carry out by every their power
and they have not done it. The job to be performed
IN very different mode from that which they undertook as
the basis OF their action Instead Of dbblng at intervals
handful at time of along the frontiers of the nation to
be subdued and leaving them with precaous supplies and
pushing hem unsupported gradually further into the heart
OF the country until their position became of necessity insulated
instead of keeping them apart and denabled from
cooperating in event of exgency and instead terng
away the time with questionable ngues and idle propositions
through incompetent negotiato for cessation of hosies
the true way to all the energies Of the Gov
upon grand massive endeavo to accomplish
Its object in the only mode by which such have ever
been accomplished 1t has lately been said by keen critic
while reviewing Monhoon book Bonapartes captivity at
St. Helena, that Napoeon great successes during the most
brilliant Of his campaigns the continent arose from his new
dividing his army but keeping it in force and moving down
upon the enemy with all his available strength and is note
worthy that only when he changed his tactics in this
particular, that he failed. So in more than one instance
Enough TO aude to Waterloo where, but the trparite
division of his army with himself point Grouchy at
another and Ny the third the defeat of his arms and
The dmmng Of his dazzling were the consequences
Of his fatal