The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-10-09
General Butlsr-General Wool.

public Let it be borne IN mind, that this has not re-
friends but solely from the i'll advised-although proba-
bly, the authorized OF General Woods friend
The accompanying statement OF Major L. Thomas
ssant adutan general, will be read with interest and
conviction by all who know his character and standing
in the army and in society He the chief OF General
Buffers staff and speaks what he knows to be true. The
candor and fairness which apparent in every line of
his letter, will give it weight with impartial public
particularly with those who know Gen Butler
The military skill which evinced by Gen. Butler,
as exhibited by him in his selection of battle ground,
and his criticisms upon others which he examined, can
be exceled only by his magnanimity towards General
Worth, his inferior in rank, IN respecting his requests
matter is submitted as reply to General Woos cores
pondent KENTUCKY.
Render unto Cesar tie things that are Cesa,'s."
WASHINGTON, D. c., Sept. 81, ls47.
:, GENERAL; You see adopt the motto taken by 81. f..
the letter OF Captain James Henry Carleton LAT drsgoons
dated July 81 addressed to Brgader General Wool The
credit to General Wool for generalshp and for having
been the first to select battle ground the field upon
which was fought the everO aforementioned combat OF
Buena Vista; but in doing he secondaly attempts to
disparage you. Captain Carleton then first euen
ant OF of the dragoon companies of General Wools
command having acted as an extra aid de.camp to Gen
Wool for some four five weeks, perhaps, and not,
conceive, situation to know all the military facts
bearing upon the case, Of his own column much
less then, could he know all the facts connected with
entire army corps composed of three commands J. as
the chief of your staff with knowledge of what done
at your headquarters, claim to add to the "dry detail OF
facts of Captain Carleton few other facts to place you
in your proper position
When General Worth expected to be attacked in Sal
llo and sent to General Wool at Parras, ITO miles, for
and he EkeDlse sent express to you at Monterey, so
miles. Both marched promptly; but you, having the
shortest distance 10 march your troops. arrived first at
message from General WORTH stating that the reported
advance OF General Santa Anna proved to be incorrect,
and requesting you to halt your troops some five miles
from Saltilo, where they would be in position to guard
the pass through the mountains by Palemas, village
ten miles from Saltilo. General Mhons cavalry came
Wo this pass to attack General yo General
troops at San Juan de la Vaquea, the place where the
road to Zacatecas passes through the mountains, 20 miles
the measure of General Worth. General Wool did not
halt requested, but TO La Encantada, 10 miles
nearer Saltilo, and then marched ten other miles TO
Aqua Nueva the pass through the mountains leading to
San Luis de Potos being 30 miles from Saltlo. II his
object to take post this latter pass he would have
marched direct from San Juan de la vaquera, ten miles
distant the three places of San Juan de la Vaquera,
La Encanada, and Aqua Nueva situated on the same
plain. forming equiateral triangle of ten miles La En-
the roads from the other places leading to Sallo meet
Your first object was to examine the ground in 'front.'
and you accordingly did 50 with Gen Worth who on
fought stated in my hearing that this was the ground he
had previously selected Before leaving Saltlo he said
giving battle Gen Wool, at this time had not the
place. This. however, does not take from Gen. Wool
any credit for his selection, nor would it # hundred
spot only say that that officer not the first to do
SO. When Sallillo first occupied by troops,
Gen Taylor is known, examined the ground as far
Aqua Nueva and. no doubt his eye rested the very
spot under consideration In remakng upon this ground,
you conceded with Gen WORTH but thought the distance
from the road to the base of the southern range of noun
ains too extensive to be occupied with small force and
thought the left flank could be turned which actually did
take place the subsequent battle Besides the enemys
horse and foot would be perfect liberty pass beyond
the avnes the right and without the range of fire,
and thus gain and attack Saltio Gen. Worths
as ~. al
same objections to the ground at Buena Vista, and pre-
ferred the plain Immediately above Saltillo, which
the place where you determined to give battle The
that determined you these: By selecting the
battle ground Just without SaO, it would be
to leave large detachmens at the place for the potec
ton of the extensive magazines and supplies there in DEPOT
and the force available meet the enemy in open field
would thus be much increased; the force could be dis
posed with both TANKS measuraby protected the nhabit-
of the troops became dsordered or were thrown into
confusion they could the easily be rallied in the
ana Wh should be- fall
treat being intercepted For the above stated,
Gen. Worth concurred with you in preferring the posi-
ton near Salto to that at Buena Vista or any point in
| advance
Having satisfied yourself as to the ground around Sal
to, you determined to hold all the positions taken,
cept that Gen. WOODS main force to fall back
to La Encantada leaving, the two important passes
of Aqua Nueva and San Juan de la vaqueria to be
occupied with cavalry In military point Of view
junction of the two roads from the passes through the
mountains, and sufficiently miles) to strengthen
either pass if threatened, whilst the time the
force covered Saltio, and could readily be reinforced
rom that place In pursuance Of this plan, you in per-
son at Aqua Nueva directed Gen Wool to take post at
La Encantada-whch that general did not wish to do he
prcfenng to remain at Aqua Nueva. He asked you if
you would select the particular spot of his camp ground
to which you replied in the negative. |, however know
of no authority being given to select ''postion lower
down the stream towards Salto," as stated by Capt
Carleton La Encantada the place designed to be
occupied and the place designated In falling back, Gen.
Wool marched past La Encanada and encamped at Buena
Vista, four or five miles nearer Salto on hearing
which, you ordered him return to La Encanada. Gen
Wool thereupon requested to remain at Buena VISTA and
no doubt did represent il good position; but il
olect right, the principal he assigned for not en-
camping at La Encantada was scarcity of water and
that of difficult This differed entirely from
your knowledge of the place. that you ordered exam-
nation to be made by typographical engineer OF Gen
Woos column, and permitted that general to remain at
Buena Vista until report could be made. The officer
having reported abundance of water and of easy
cess the troops took post at La Encantada originally
ordered.
Captain Carleton refers to the bleak winds which
continually swept through the pass of La Encanada and
to the scarcity of fuel The first objection applies pretty
equally the whole pass, being the entire distance from
La Encantada to Salhlo the second would be less felt
at La Encantada fuel taken from the mountains for
tadain other words troops the latter place nearer
TO fuel than at the former by the distance between the
two places.
With respect TO he choice and partialites of the Off
GERS in Saltlo, which Capt Carleton says sit is fair to
presume, Tor many reasons colncident with those
expressed by Gen Butler" need say but little. know
that the ground Tor BATTLE the enemy came, hav-