The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-10-11
Lcorrs.pondsnce of the Boston rOst.l

MeNlCO,
by brave army and its gallant commanders 1t VIII be
well to review the works OF the hSfofidnS OF those pat
ties, who profess TO have been eye-wl'nesses OF the
scenes and events which they undertake TO describe
1t is pretty well known that ever since the army enter
ed the confines of the Mexican territory, has had in It's
train corps of eter,wrlters, mainly not entirely, at
ached to the New Orleans press This corps OF letter
writers are indeed novelty in the history of modern
warfare, and may be regarded OF the results OF
modern civilization OF perhaps an anomaly peculiar to
American civilization IN It's present stage OF development
But, while IL is novel element OF modern armies, II
would be interesting and useful one, II the lndvd
uas constituting the corps OF letter-wers were all I'M
partial, high minded, and truth telling men, But that
of them not, but are the tools and instruments
of certain Jealous persons in the service or OF designing
politicians we have had ample and abundant evidence In
the one sided and, instances, false accounts,
which they have given of both men and events.
Everything went well at Palo Alto and at Resaca de la
Palma because there engaged in those battles
but the officers and soldiers of the regular army There
then attached to the army no volunteer democratic
generals to emulate the skill and the galanty OF the
officers OF the regular army, and TO win an honorable
fame upon the field of battle, in the assault OF fortified
cities. And, therefore, there none who had per
formed glorious actions, accounts OF which were 10 De
suppressed tea none 70 DC "''Sep'eSs"'su' D0' i'
But this state of things did long continue 1t came
to pass that William Q. Butler, OF Kentucky was APP
pointed a major general This man distinguished
politician of the west-of Mr.. Clay's own State. He
was known to be able and eloquent man in Con
gress. But he known for higher and Drawer quail
ties than required even to distinguish one IN debate
the floor of Congress. He was, indeed hero OF the
last He was known for burning out gang OF In
dians putting the brand TO the barn III which they were
sheltered with his own hand, at the imminent peril OF
his life, thus becoming the first "bdrh burner" OF
note in America. He was known as one OF the brave
kentuckians who in the battle at the river Rasin,
and OF the few who escaped the appalling massa
Gre that afterwards ensued. He was known as Gene
raj Jacksons confidential aid at the battle of New Or
leans, and from that noble old Chief by his gallant
conduct, the proud distinction OF being called "the bra
vest of the brave" This man, therefore, was proper
subject of Misrepresentation for the corps of federal
etter-wrters attached to the first column Of invasion in
Mexico. And accordingly, the first thing hear of
hun, through Them is, that at the assault upon Monte
Iey he needessy exposed the men under his command
and thus sacrificed, unnecessarily the lives OF large
number of them. But when the truth appears, it
turns out that the men got into the difficulty in eonse,
Gen. Butler was sent by.hls superior in command TO
rescue them from the peril into which they had been
forced, which he did in most gallant and daring move,
receiving at the time severe wound, from which he
has not yet recovered So much for Gen. Butler.
will mention more case-hat OF General Pillow.
He appointed from Tennessee, the Presidents
State. He was a lawyer OF great emnence and dstinc
on had acquired large and Independent fortune by his
practice, firm and true democrat, and an eloquent
and formidable advocate OF the principles OF his party
He to rise in his State If he acquired ad
ditional reputation in military service, his enemies felt
that he must be irresistible before the gallant people of
Tennessee The Bells the Fosters, the aagns and the
Balia Peyons and felt all this, and they trembled
at the prospect of his rising military fame. Hence he
TO be slandered and put down: His first operations
at Vera Cruz successful, and favoraby
noticed by the commanding general, that no plausible
pretext for attack upon him presented in that affair
But at Cero Godo was believed the occasion and the
petext afforded to strike at him. Hence see the
assault of Haskell the colonel of the Tennessee regi-
ment laying the blame OF the failure of his regiment to
carry the work they ordered assault upon General
Pillow Haskell jonedn this assault upon General Pill
low by the g officers belonging to the egimen but not
by the democrats. But General Pillow shows that the
faering CT the Tennessee regiment was occasloned by
the sudden retreat of Haskell from the field, with his cap
OH ana ms aa streaming IN ne YIN m %
| do how with
cowardce-very likely he is brave man. notwithstand-
ing the singular which he down the heights
at Ceno Godo, with hat off and hair streaming in the
wind But this assault did not put down General Pillow
On the contrary, he was advanced from brgadiershp
to major geAeralshlp.
Well, no opportunity again happened for attack
upon Gen Pillow until the late battles under the walls of
Mexico and then no opportunity happened for an at
tack upon HIM but only for $50 Of the truth in
saw of these great and glorious battles in letter
published in the Union, from officer in the regular
my In that letter scarcely word was said about any
officer corps of the volunteer forces On reading it,
would have thought that the whole achievement
the work of the regular army under Generals Worth
and Twggs. ] do not say the worthy editor of the
Union had anything to do with this suppression. No
he is the last in the world to countenance any such
thing but he eagerly and very naturally caught hold of
the very first accounts of those great battles however
imperfect they might appear TO pc and ad them before
his readers, as any editor would have done.
Then came the account OF the correspondent OF the
Picayune of New Oreans-a very long and minute ac-
count--in which Gen. Worth, Gen. Twiggs, Gen Scott,
and Gen Persifor Smith, Louisianian, figured largely
the heroes of the glorious two days. while General
Pillow, Gen PIERCE and Gen. Shields barely
toned as being there, but whether they did much Of
any thing credtabe, the people OF the United States
would have been informed if they had depended
upon the Picayune's writer to enlighten them
But when the true accounts come to hand, what turns
out to be the act3 Why, just this: That Gen PHlow
acas the chief commander upon the field that he ner
command 10 Gen. Scott that he superintendent the ope-
rdtions Of the army IN both baes and gaze ecey order
but and that gtUen BY Gen. Scott at PaioS
request. That order was TO Gen Worth to cooperate
with Pillow in carrying in the strongly fortified
position of San Antonio; which was DONE and the for
tress gaanty carried. 1t Pillow who directed in
the field the principal operations OF the army those two
eventful battles. 1t required small show of skill
coolness and bravery Yet the Picayune writer is silent
touching these brilliant deeds. Gen. Pillows name is
scarcely mentioned in his long and minute account of the
battles Nor Justice done Pierce, Shields and others
who distinguished themselves on those occasions
am thus particular stating these facts, order
show the character of the Pcayunes correspondent attach
ed to the army and to caution democrats not to conde
his representations when democratic officers interest
ed The Pcayune is understood TO be in the interests Of
Bale Peyton. 1t is hostile 10 the administration and
It's friends in high positions in the army, and whileit may
not msrepresent, it will not do them justice.
1t appears to have been systematic plan. the part
distinguished democrats who have Joined the army
They resolved that democrat shall gain reputa
ton by gallant deeds, If their sanderous press pre-
vent IT. Hence their lbeous assaults upon Gen Pillow
upon Gen. Butler, and recently upon Gen Pierce Such
ungenerous calumny upon brave and honorable men is
equaed IN arocy only by their traitoous support of
the cause of Mexico.
Such things ought perhaps, to be expected from the
federal press but that officers of the regular army
.lA aEh,b thptr IL