Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-05-29

seron even more extrayagant than the Courier
by saying that # the zeal of the Executive had been
duly seconded by Congress these troops would
have composed part of the expedition against Vera
Cruz which departed from the vicinity of the Rio
Grande, &c early in january.
We shall endeavor briefly to show, not only the
necessity that existed for energy on the part of the
Executive at the opening Of the late Session OF
Congress- but also, in view of the magnitude of the
operations resolved upon, the necessity that pre-
viously existed; by which means the reader will
be better able TO understand what amount of credit
is due TO the Administration for It's ''yery earnest"
efforts and Recommendations seasonably to provide
the materel of war necessary to carry out its own
purposes.
Turning to the Correspondence of the War De-
partmen, see the files either OF the Union or the
Inelligencer Of the latter part of last March, we
find that despatch TO Gen. Taylor, dated on the
9th July, 1886 first presented to him. in the form of
suggestion and inquiry, the question of the ex-
pediency of changing the base of offensive opera
tons, SO as to prosecute the invasion from Tampico
or Vera Cruz, instead Of from the Rio Grande. To
this letter General Taylor replied on the ls Of
August, expressing his opinion against the pract-
cability of an invasion of the capital from Tampico,
and declining 10 give any positive opinion in regard
TO Vera Cruz, as he supposed the Department TO be
the best informed with respect to the condition Of
that place. Al this early period, however, Gen.
Taylor embraced the opportunity to counsel the
War Department that an expedition from the Gulf
coast, such as seemed TO be contemplated, ought TO
be composed principally OF regular troops. :" 1t
may be well questioned" he said, "whether
force Of Volunteers, without much more instruc
ton than those now here receive in season for
such an expedition, can prudently be allowed to
form the bulk of an army destined for so delicate
an operation as descent upon foreign coast
where it can have no proper base of operations or
supplies
On the I'd of September another despatch from
he Secretary of War informed Gen. Taylor that it
vas " intended to make descent on the Gulf coast
of Mexico so soon as the season shall have so far
advanced to render it safe in regard to the
health of our troops" and that attention was turn
d to Tampico as one Of the places for the attack.
But Gen. Taylor was at the same time reminded of
he high importance of possessing the northern pro-
'inces OF Mexico as far south San Luis and,
having this object then in view, the Department
stated that il was moi intended to weaken the force
If his advancing column by any movements on
he coast. The importance 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 to
he Department in reference to its plan of dou-
Ne movement upon the capital, both by way of the
coast and from the Rio Grande, expressed the OPT
lion that it would require from twenty-five to thirty
thousand men, of which at least ten thousand should
,e regular troops.
On the 22d October another despatch was sent TO
General Taylor by the Secretary of War, which
evinced material change of policy on the part OF
the Government Ii admonished him that from ali
the information which the Executive had received
it was led TO believe that he Gen. IT, 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 proceed further into the interior, but
secure his position at whatever place he might
have reached, &c. The same letter then, for the
first time, informed General Taylor that the Co
vernment had determined upon fitting out an expe-
dition against Vera Cruz, and urgently appealed to
him TO detach part of his command in aid of that
purpose.
These communications all go to show the magni-
tude of the designs entertained by the Executive, as
well its knowledge of the necessity of providing
more efficient force successfully to carry them
into effect. Now let us see how dctiUe were its
exerions to raise additional forces in order fully to
appreciate which it is necessary to bear in mind
what is already stated to the extent Of its plans
as well as that an invasion of the capital city of
Mexico, containing hundred and sixty thousand
inhabitants, 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 une-
quivocalIy states that The amount Of force al
ready in service is deemed sufficient for The prose
cution The mar." OF two of these letters which
have seen the light, one is dated on the 9th Of Oc
tober and the other on the It'll Of November, being
both before and after the resolution was arrived at
to invade the capital through Vera Cruz. We give
the latter Of the two, both Of them being the same
in substance, and their material parts correspond
ing precisely:
Wan DEPARTMENT, NOVEMBER III, 1916.
SIR In reply your application of the I'd instant to raise
company of volunteers be attached the I'd regiment Of