The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-06-17
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my's picquets fired upon the accommodating nar,as %
der these circumstance 1t impossible for the most
better reconnaissance than here made during ty
days arduous and perous duty exposed the
fire Of the enemys picquets.
knew the works very strong and so reported b,
the general In chief and that II would cost large Dor
ton Of my command to carry them. His reply was
THE enemy 10 there in strong position and force and
must BIZ whipped and direct you to assault him the
front, believing you win do your duty" II had
known the exact strength Of this position, we would
probably have sought other place to have assaled
him. but 1t 10 not probable would have Jared much
better.
1t will be that treat this publication a. coming
alone from Col. Haskell do so, first because having
met thu communication and Col Haskell boz b Mt Mem
phis instantly charged its authorship upon Haskell;
and he Acknowledged that he wrote it, The other officers
who have signed It, am fully persuaded. did without
reneetion and under the impression that had my
official report done them justice. This impression on
their part It will be from my two snicial reports,
and fully SGT forth the strength Of the enemy and
position but they speak of the conduct and bearing Of
.his regmen and officers in terms Of high commenda-
ton That this erroneous impression upon the minds of
tne oneers was produced by Col Haskes representa-
lions nave no doubt; first because the
authorship OF the article he have Of course orr
natedt secondly his excuses and induigences while
to notice his conduct in such w.v ss 10 nrod on
MS part personal will towards myself which has ever
nd IN ms bosom and know him to be my
personal ana political enemy Thirdly that Haskell has
by representations to these officers them In he
ete inat aaS done them nusce and that their
and was suffering in the public estimation Ia
rom thcr complaint that injustice had been them
when in fact, 1t will be that my official reportr
(Which had not then been published least had not
been seen by them do them full and ample justice both
as to their galantry and the strength Of the works a..
| sailed
In these impressions am fully confirmed from the
fact, that Colonel Haskell, rs am informed from the
most reliable sources presented this paper to Captain
| Williams, who commanded the independent Kentucky
company for his signature who Indignantly refused to
sign it, He also presented it to Lieut. Anderson OF his
regiment who had the manlness and frmness to pro-
nounce the article false, and refused to sign It. will
bo a
" with that regiment in that battle and Capt Naylor Of
% Penn regiment and his officers whose position
on this day perfectly identified with the conduct and
character Of the regiment but who independent Of
Haskels influence, have not signed it. There may be-
gimen who have not signed 1t, bat not having list Of
the names of the officers Of the regiment before me-
cannot say; and as have not had opportunity OF
seeing Of these officers since the appearance Of the
artce,an know them to be and gallant men
am left to explain and understand their conduct bv
circumstances, though they point unerringv t. tho
truth, as | believe.
These the Influences which, in Kindness and char
! ity believe controlled them In appending their names
to this article Bo this it may II Is certain thew have
acted without duo reflection, for they have fallen into
the same to the number character OF the
works, and Of what intended to be attacked and
OF what was actually donc-have fallen into the err
ror OF regarding the only practicable order march AZ
bunder OF mine-and have regard my order for the
formation Of Haskels line of battle as reversing the
wings, and changing the rank Of the regiment These
things they have by their signatures testified to- with
out any other information than such they must have
got from Col Haskell himself for held any con
versation with any Of them upon the subject nor dd
issue any written order Of battle for reasons before
given and my personal interview with the Csionels
alone. am bound, therefore, under all the cIrcum
stances to believe that these officers acted hastily and
without reflection and under the influence OF fiso E
pressons produced by Colonel Haskell who abused their
confidence, and gratined his malignant feelings to-
wards me, by masking, under the influence Of
their name, attack upon my character remarkable
only for its mbeclity and absurdity.
II further appears from my report that Col Haskell,
IN the heat of the battle after his field officers were cut
down and his regiment beat back in confusion and dis
| order, left his command and followed me-neary to
tom and that immediately ordered him to return to
his command did not pass upon this conduct Of Gel.
Haskell in precpitately retreatng from the field ac-
ton, without his cap and in advance Of every ofcer
and private of his regiment and passed over in my
report by barely speaking Of the fact without any
mark or observation-and ] did so, from a desire 70
spare his reputation and regret that he these
other officers have voluntarily borne public testimony
to personal courage and gallant bearing the field
| Of battle" that cannot accord the same to him
The question is distinctly ssked-"why l assaulted
with 50 small force9 Az an answer to these oue,tons
refer to the following portion Of my detailed report
Upon arriving at my position for assault / com.
menced the formation of my assaung forces without
the loss OF a moments time had myself placed Col
askels regiment position for assault upon the let
side OF the ange-had placed Col. Roberts regiment
(the supporting force OF Haskcl's regmcnt) In position
short distance in the rear Had ordered wvnkoop's
regiment-the advance Of the other assaung iorcsto
It's positions land 1t was on its way to its position with
Col Campbels regiment as its supporting force when
the enemy discovering position, directed n most
CALLING fire into the command This fire destruc.
tive that IL would have swept away my entire command
remained position long enough
completed the formation OF the forces for the assault
Owing to the mpenetrabc cbaparrx which covered tho
moe isco Of the co9ptry was equally impossible to
movement would not have thrown the force entirely out
OF position Seeing that no alternative left but
to retreat with the whole command In the face Of the
enemy fire. and break up tho order Of battle and
late the orders Of the General in Chief and thus bring
disgrace upon the whole Brigade to dash rapidly for
ward upon the enemys works with the forces which
were In position, instantly my aid camp Lieut.
Rains, with orders TO bring Gel Roberts regiment
quickly possible to the support Of Col Haskell and
directed this last regiment to charge the enemys works
also sent my aid camp Lieut. Anderson, to Colonel
Wynkoop, with orders for similar movement upon the
works in front OF this position being opposite side
Of the angle Haskeis regiment dashed nobly forward
with n shout OF enthusiasm Hence il will be- seen that
the course which took OF charging the works the
| only one left me
1t is manifest therefore, that the effort to throw upon
me the responsibility Of the failure carry the work
assaulted at Cerro Gordo, Is altogether unjust Tho
alleged errors in my orders and dispositions Of the
saulting forces have shown errors but that
they we're the contrary the proper orders and dspo
A most vigorous and determined effort was made to
carry them by Col Haskelrs regiment II was not sue
the almost nsurmeunabo obstacles aud barriers TO
approach. Though Col Roberts In close support
ing distance of Col. Haskell-being within 100 200
yards-and was ordered to his immediate support be-
fore the latter ordered charge he did get
up In time to sustain the assault made by Hasksls
regiment before IL cut down and forced 10 retire
Upon the report Of the fact to though at the time
was entirely disabled in the Of my right arm by
canister shot Immediately formed the whole command
to the attack and had ordered the charge when
the enemy up the white flag and surrendered
While am not disposed 10 charge the fault Of this
failure the misconduct Of officer portion Of
command but TO the GIBRALTAR like strength OF the works
themselves yet IL any body particularly ut fault,
II Col Haskell for precpitately rcreating from tho
field leaving his regiment cut 20 pieces scattered. and
In confusion without any held to command It.
instead Of remaining with his regiment, and reporting
by an officer.
Tho Colonel further says, enjoy the reputation OF
leading his command In this charge at Cerro oordo
was not aware that enjoyed the reputation Of doing
what no where claim to have done Ia my official
report distinctly state that the heab Of the
coumnin person placed his regiment In position
dcred Col Roberts TO his unprecedented Col wyn-
koop TO his pottionand that after having or
which are fully explained in my detailed report ordered
the charge Of his regm entthat then moved across
the line Of the enemys Are intending TO lead in person
the storming party OF which Col. Wynkoop's regiment
constituted the advance-but prevented by wound
received from doing II had led the charge Of Has
kes command think should have led IL differently,
and with and IL the sayertY Of the