Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-06-19


weaken the force of his advancing column
by any movements on the coast. The i'm
portance of advancing upon San Luis from
the Rio Grande was again strongly urged
in another letter bearing date on the 22d
September.
On the 18th of October, Gen. Taylor,
writing 10 the Department in reference to
its plan of double movement upon the
capital, both by the way Of the coast and
from the Rio Grande, expressed the opn.
ion that il would require from twenty five
to thirty thousand men, Of which at least
ten thousand should be regular troops.
On the 22d October another despatch
was sevt to Gen. Taylor by the Secretary
of War, which evinced material change
of policy on the part of the government.
1t admonished him that, from all the infor-
nation which the Executive had received.
it was led to believe that he GEM had not
an adequate force in view of the hostility
evinced by the people of Mexico, to render
it safe for him to march upon San Luis
from Monterey, and he was advised not to
proceed further into the interior, but to Sc.
cure his position at whatever place he might
have reached, &c. The same letter, then,
for the first time, informed Gen. Taylor
that the government had determined upon
fitting out an expedition against Vera Cruz
and urgently appealed to him TO detach a
part of his command in aid of that purpose.
The communications all 60 to show the
magnitude of the design entertained by the
Executive, as we'll as its knowledge of the
necessity of providing more efficient
force successfully to carry them into effect.
| Now let US see how actiue were its exer-
tons to raise additional forces; in order
fully to appreciate which it is necessary to
bear in mind what is already stated as TO
the extent of its plans. as we'll as that an
invasion Of the capitol city of Mexico, con-
tanning hundred and sixty thousand inhab-
itants, and situated nearly three hundred
miles from the coast. was resolved upon as
early as the 22d of October.
Could we have access to the letter book
Of the War Department, we should there
find two, if not more letters, addressed to
Governors of States or other persons, in
which the Secretary of War unequivocal-
ly states "that the amount Of force already
in service is deemed sufficient for the prosecu.
ton of the Uar." OF two Of these letters
which have seen the light, one is dated on
the 10th of October and the other on the
18th of November, being both before and
after the resolution was arrived at to in
!, wade the capitol through Vera Cruz We
give the latter of the two, both of them
being the same in substance, and their ma
teriaI points corresponding precisely:
|, WAR DEPARTMENT, Nov. II, 1916.
SIR In reply to your application Of the I'd
instant. to raise company Of volunteers 10 be
attached to the Cd regiment OF infantry from
Kentucky, have the honor to inform you that it
is not contemplated to fill up the regiments that
have been reduced; but should the exgency OF the
war render further call for volunteers necessary,
due consideration will be given TO your patriotic
, offer. II is proper, howerer, to sag that the
amount of force already in serrics is deemed
I sufficient for the prosecution of the ,rar.
, Very respectfully, your obedient servant.
: w. L. MARCY, Sec'y Of War.
t This is the first evidence of the "zealous
: efforts of the Executive to provide an
t amount of force commensurate with its
e plans, of which the Administration presse:
d so repeatedly remind their readers. The
J. next evidence is contained in the following
d "uery earnest recommendation" in the Presi
e dents Message of December sth:
It 81 recommend to you early and favorable con
sideraon the measures proposed by the Secreta
e ry Of War for speedily filing up the rank anc
If file Of the regular army for its greater etcienc,
n in the field, and for raising an additional fore
g. 10 serve during the war with Mexico"
!. Turning to the report Of the Secretar.
m of War here referred to, it will be fount
Of that the ertent of his "earnest recommends
f. tions" on the subject, as well as the nforma
le ton communicated by him in relation to
l. was, in telling Congress that, independent
,r of an unexhausted authority to call int
1t, service volunteers in any reasonable guam
a. tity, there ,0ere many more regular troop
m already authorised By law than had been er
Y listed, and that it was not possible TO forete
,g what number of troops would be required
IN This, Of course, was well calculated to stin
I'd ulate Congress to active exertion! Her
in are the extracts from the Secretary's repol
he which relate to the subject:
tn Authority was given at the last session
Al Congress to increase the rank and file oil the re
or ments in the regular service to more than doub
he the former number. Prompt measures were
I'm ken to procure recruits but they hare not been
m. tended Nth the desired effect. When filled up
al. the maximum allowed by law and Executive a
ell probation, our regular force will be 1898 OF
of GERS and men; but il does not now exceed Il
~ 3OO." This shows deficiency in the numt
o then authorized Of nearly 7,000.l
Iun 1T is mot possible to foreteH with much prec
NC ion ,ohat number of troops The erigencies of
es' ,uar may require for the ensuing year. The e
es- males presented to the Secretary Of the Treas
ian have been made upon the present esablshm
up OF the regular troops. wholly filled up. givin
total force Of l6.99S, exclusive Of enlisted n
les OF ordinance; upon ten additional regiments