The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-05-21
NEW YORK. FRIDAY MORNING. MAY o. 1s47.

herewith enclosed 1t now my delicate duty to re-
fer to the different acts of personal galanry displayed
by individual officers commissioned officers, pr
Yates ana as many OF these did not under my
observation would again refer the commander Of tho
division to the different reports Of the regmenal
manders with the hope that the merits of all however
humble their situation may be properly brought before
the notice Of the government. To Col Plympton Col
Chids Major Sumner, Major Loring and Capt Alexan-
DER my especial thanks due for their GOODNESS zeal
and gallantry and for the prompttude with which, on
an occasions they executed my orders Capt Steptoe,
81 artillery, Lieut. Hagner and Lieut. Reno Ordnance
Department and Lieut. Seymour the artillery rem
derei efficient service in the management Of the arte-
ry, ON the hill Lieut.. G. w. Smith of tho engineers
with MS company rendered very Efficient service in his
own department well in storming Of the fort The
conduct or Capt Mason of rifles, who unortu
nate a. to lose his leg under observa-
ton aud it Is not the first time have had an opportnn
ty OF witnessing his GOODNESS and nrepidty in danger
Capt Magruders calamity conspicuously displayed
on several occasions, and he rendered efficient ser
vice. lament to refer to the death of Lieut. Ewell,
whose gallant demeanor throughout the several engage
ments with the enemy attracted nv special notice ana
who fell in tho breastwor noby leading his to VIC
tory Particular mention is due to Can't Hanson and
Lieut. Gardner for distinguished gallanry Major Balm
bridge whose good conduct has been on SO
many occasions since the with Mexico the
ond officer in rank in his regiment, and deserves my
warmest appreciation for his gaantry and prompttude
Especial thanks are due to my personal staff Lieut. Van
Dorm, 9TH infantry; Lieut.. Oaks I'd dragoons and
Lieut. Derby typographical engineers for the efficient
aid which they rendered both days in transmitting
my orders and for the individual galantry which they
uniformly displayed. Lieut. Derby wounded, and
Lieut.. Van Dorm killed two Mexican soldiers at
the breastwork with his hands. l have been
reluctant to mention the names Of any where
all acted with much energy ZEAL and in
trepidity. No doubt many behaved those have
mentioned, but who did not come under nv obser-
walton and ] know that all, If occasion had offered,
would have gladly embraced the opportunity for pcrso
nal distinction In the two days had in my brigade,
including the Sd infantry, officers killed, wounded ;
30 non-commissioned officers and privates killed. I75
non.commissoned officers and privates wounded. The
Davis of the rifles and wounded Major Sumner, Capt
s. T. Mason Lieuts G: McLane, D. II. Maury, and A.
Gibbs Of tho rifles Lieats J. N Ward and b. E Bee,
Sd infantry Lieut. ~ T. J. Dana 18th infantry, and
Lieut. Derby typographical engineers.
nave the honor to be- very respectfully your ODE
Col. ID Dragons commanding LIST brigade
TO Lieut.. w. 7. II Books, A. A. A. q. I'd division.
The rest of the documents, accompanying Colonel
liarney's letter are unayoidaby postponed.
ADVANCE OF GEN. SCOTT
From the Y. o. Delta, May 10
We spoke yesterday in terms Of certainty Of Gen.
Scots determination to advance to the capital of
spoke Of him being by this time there and this without
reference to the arrival of the depuaton which was
sad came to his quarters offering him peaceful surren
The Picoyune publishes a letter from Mr. Kendall,
dated Jalapa May 4th in which he says that the for
ward movement had been countermanded-that Gen.
scott had resolved to discharge the volunteers whose
eru OF service is about to expire at Jaapa and would
not proceed further till reinforced by troops Al
though this announcement is made in positive terms,
yet IN subsequent paragraph the writer says
has for there are not Mc.cans anonyh in w
him yet whether such a would be prudent, or
whether such are his intentions not is than any
one can say who is not thoroughly into his secrets
Now, although Mr.. Kendas letter is dated FIVE days
later than tho time at which informant conversed
with Gen Scott still inclined to believe that
statement Is the more correct one Gen Scott was
reserved in the development of his views to nfor
fixed to proceed on forthwith to the capital and the fact
that the term for which many of his had enlisted
was about to expire, was one of the main causes thai
urged his precipitation. He not going, he said tt
waste the fruits Of his at Vera Cruz and Cerr
Gordo by inactivity and indecson His force limit
ed-his money and supplies still more So He would
however, push His force was sufficient to march tc
the capital and to surrender by doing it before
the enemy had time to rally and mako well prepared
resistance Once there he would trust to the govern
ment to promptly and fully reinforce him As for mo-
ney and supplies, both he was determined to have il
but by giving his orders at sight his for
every thing taken.
| These views he commune ated to the Secretary of
War in his dispatches of the Goth ut In three four
days afterwards he have changed his opinions and
likely.
From the New Orleans Bulletin, May I21
We stated yesterday, on the authority of Gen Pillow
that Gen Scott had determined to advance without de-
lay on the capital This determination probably
made with the intention Of retaining for the march, all
the volunteers whose time of service about expiring
but which would not take place until after the army
could reach the capital and they could be replaced by
reinforcements now on their way to Vera Cruz.
By letters however, received from dated
several days after General p left there it appears Gen
Scott had concluded to discharge Jaapa those voun
teers whose terms were nearly expired consisting Of the
two Tennessee and the Georgia and Alabama regiments
and though nothing positive is known that this will alter
his previous intentions Of marching with out delay FOR
the city of Mexico the belief IT, that he will
going beyond Puebla until rsnforcemcnts shall join
him.
notwithstanding all that has been said as to the dis
organization and dispersion of the Mexican army there
would evidently be great risk for Gen Scott, with his
greatly reduced force to advance far into
country where the whole population Is known to be hos
tile, and where they would rise like bees and overwhem
him in case of his army meeting with any check mis-
in his general orders that the army will be principally
dependent the country for It's supplies; and being
thus cut loose from the sea coast it will be highly requ
site he should have sufficient force for the enterprise
which under any contingencies that may arise will
! BILE him to look down all opposition.
The whole force that landed at Vera Cruz, did MOI
exceed 10000 menof these the garrison and the scl
| left at Vera Cruz about l500-thc loss at Cerr
Gordo, 500 the sick and garrison Of Jaapa l000 gar
rison at Peroe 500; and the volunteer regiments
discharged $500 makes aggregate Of 6Oo0 leavn
an effective force Of only 1000 for the march OIL
Puebla We have placed the garrsons at Jalapa and Pc
rote at very low and in tho disturbed state of tn
country we think. at very unsafe number Less thar
pueblo which is citv Of so 600 nbaStants Who eou
even overpower much larger force. This would still
further reduce Gen scotts force, and leave him only
5000 men with which to proceed to the capital without
counting any further deduction for the casualties and
losses on the march Under such circumstances we
think there BIO little doubt that for the present he
will not attempt going beyond Pueba.
IT. however, Gen Scett should continue in the inton
ton Of marching for the capital with his present
means the better plan would be to push forward with
his entire force, leaving garrsons behind and cut
ting himself entirely loose from his communications
The move would be bold one but probably safer than
to weaken his main body by attempting to leave garr
sons in his rear with view to maintain his commune
cations, which could DO rs-opened by the reinforce.
ments on the way TO join him.
We learn that the troops which have been and still
are constantly arriving here, and which to have
reinforced General Taylor, have their destination
changed and will be sent forward with all possible haste
to Gen. Scott.
STATE or AFFAIRS IN THE CITY MEXICO.
From the N. o. Picayunc May ~
We yesterday had the pleasure Of versation with
Mr. Black late American consul at the city Of Mexico
who left there the Sd Of April and arrived yesterday
morning on the brig f. T.. Pierce, Capt Carr in nine
days from Tampico. Mr. Black the 3lst March
shortly after the arrival Of Santa Anna from Bucna
Vista-when doubt the one-legged hero exceed.
ingy annoyed at the immense labor he had been at 10
manufacture victory out Of the battle Of Buena Vista
and fg in anything but an amiabc mood towards the