Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-11-26
MISCELLANEOUS.


MISCELLANEOUS.
BRITISH AND AMERICAN WARFARE.
Ell Monitor Republican, (says the New Orleans
Delta) is the name of the famous war journal oil
The CITY of Mexico. 1t has for long time been
the medium through which all the Mexican reyi-
lers of our country have relieved themselves oil
their gall and venom. Before The occupation OF
The civ BY our troops, this journal abored give
10 this war The most vindicive and savage charac-
Ter, exciting the Mexicans 10 all sorts oil oafoar-
Gus and unusual resorts, and infaming their
minds by the most alrocious caiumnies and false
hoods. Now the city is in our possession, and
this same journal, instead OF being utterly demo-
lished and suppressed, is, by the magnanmisy oil
our General, allowed 10 continue its publication,
and whilst its columns are placed under the re-
straints OF martial law, is conceded all lis rlsnls
as a public journal, to as full an extent as the
journals tablshed in the City OF Mexico by
our own citizens. I, is charged with abusing
This liberality by publishing improper articles,
but OF this we have no, as yet had an opportunity
of Judging.
How slrikingly does the conduct OF our Gene.
raj and army towards the City OF Mexico, the
public and private property OF lis citizens, and
The Journals OF the country, compare with The
conduct of The English when they captured the
City of Washington We have now before US a
British volume, styled The Campaigns OF the
British Army at Washington and New orleans,
from which we take the following extracts. De-
scribine the occupation and sacI OF Washington
by The British in 1914, The author who was an
officer in General Ross army, says:
sour troops proceeded without moments de-
Law TO burn and destroy every thing in The most
distant degree connected With the Government
In this general devastation were included The Sc
nate House, the Presidents palace, an extensive
backward and arsenal, barracks Tor Two or lnree
thousand men, several large siorehouses hed
with naval and military stores, some hundreds OF
cannon Of different descriptions, and nearly lWeh-
" thousand stand OF arms There were also two
or three public ropewaIks, which shared The same
fate fine trisale, pierced for sixty guns and just
ready TO be launched several gun-briss and arm
ed schooners, with variety OF sun-boats and
small craft. The powder magazines were set on
FIRE and exploded with tremendous crash, throw
ing down many houses in their vicinity, etc. etc.
"The work Of destruction did not stop here: no.
bic library, several printing Offices, and all inc
national archives, were likewise committed TO the
flames, which, though no doubt the properly OF
Government might better have been spared. =
"The work OF destruction had begun in The CITY
before the rest Of the army had entered IL, and
The blazing OF houses ships and stores, The report
Of eyploding magazines and The crash OF falling
roofs informed Them as they proceeded OF what
was Going forward. Il would be difficult 10 con-
ceive finer spectacle than that which presented
ITSELF as they approached the town. The SKY was
brilliantly lllumined BY the different conilagra-
lions, and dark red light was thrown upon the
road, SO as 10 permit each man TO view distinctly
bis comrades lace.
"Towards morning, violent storm OF rain, &C
companied with thunder and lightning, came on,
which disturbed The rest OF all who were exposed
10 il. The flashes Of lightning We'd in bTiliancy
with the flames which burst from the roofs oil
burning houses, whilst The thunder crowned Tor
time the noise Of crumblng walls and was only
in,errupied by the occasional roar OF cannon and
OF large depols OF gunpowder, as they one by one
exploded"
Such is the heariess description, written by one
OF her own soldiers, of the brutalltes OF nalion
which prcsnm,s now 10 lecture US on Inc oaroari-
lies of The Mexican war. How do they compare
with The course Of our army which has not been
accused of a single act OF wanton destruction OF
the property OF the enemy, public or private, SINCE
il entered their capi,al2 Indeed, the secur''y oi
nronerty and OF life 10 the Mexicans is better es
iablished now by Gen. Scott Than il ever was by
any OF the governments of their own choice NO
heller illustration need be required OF this liber-
atty than the permission allowed 10 I'll Moni-
Tor Republican, to continue lis P1oiica'
ton, How different the conduct OF the BRUSH
troops When Washington was occupied oy
Them. the Office oil The National inteliisencer, a
warm advocate OF the war and OF MIR. Madison's
administration, was sacked; the type thrown into
the Potomac; the cases broken up. and every
thing DESTROYED on the premises. SO Important
an act was this considered, that Acmira! Cock
burn. who has lately gone 10 answer n another
world for atrocities which have given his name
an infamous Immortality in our national an,
nails. snperinlended the work OF destruction, and
derived great apparent enjoyment from Inc wan
ION ruin he had caused. Sui retribulive justice
amply punished their atrocities; this very same
army was nearly annihilaled on the plains OF
Chalnette; and the same writer, who seems 10
pl,at over the scenes OF destruction caused by the
British army in Washington, thus describes The
tnll revenge which our soldiers took on The ever
memorable 9Th OF January, 1915:
"Pron,pled by curiosity, mounted my horse
and rode 10 the front; but OF all the sights ever
witnessed, that which met me there was beyond
comparison the most shocking and The most hui
initiating Within the narrow compass OF lew
hundred wards were gathered together nearly a
thousand bodies, all oil them arrayed in British
uniforms. Not single American was among
them; all were English; and they were thrown
by dozens into shallow holes scarcely deep enough
10 furnish them with slight covering OF earth.
Nor was this all. An American officer stood by
smoking a cigar and apparently counting the
slain. with look of savage exullation; and re-
heating over 10 each individual that approached
him. that their loss amoun,et only 10 eight men
killed and fourteen wounded. The change ofex.
nressio, visible there in every countcnance no
language can portray. Only twenty hours ago,
and all was life and animation; wherever you
wen, Won were inIivened by The sound OF merri-
ment and raery; whilst The expected attack was
mentioned in terms indicative not only OF san.
guine hope, but OF the most perfect confidence as
10 it's results. Now gloom and discomfort every
where prevailed. Disappointment, grief, Indis.
nation and rage succeeded each other in all DO
SONS; nay. 50 completely were The troops over.
whelmed by sense Of disgrace, that for awhile
they retained their sorrow without limiting at lis
cause. Nor was this detection occasioped who'll
" by the consciousness oil laurels tarnished.-
The loss OF comrades was to the lull as afhctlng
as The loss Of honor; for, out OF more than 500O
men brought into the field, no fewer than l,3uU
had iallen"
Thus were the brutal ndignities inflicted by
the British soldery on the capital OF our Repub'
lie avenged by the brave army which the immor-
tal Jackson assembled for the defence of our fair
city.
SUPERIOR COURT.-THE COMMONWEALTH
vs.. ALBERT BEALE.-This case was submitted TO
the jury on Thursday last and having disagreed
in verdict, they continued In the custody OF The
Sergean, till yesterday, lsays the Norfolk Herald
of Tuesday, when, on the motion oil lhe prison.
er's counsel, new evidence was admilied-on the
delivery OF which, The jury returned verdict OF
49,. q