Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-11-25


pee, BY General ScoTT and the other Generals
10 his army, to find, If could, some conhr-
nation Of the mighty exploits and feats OF
valor and daring ascribed TO Major General
GIDEON ]. PLLow ia those battles, by ''Ner-
itas," whose effuson appeared in the I'm
ionn some three weeks ago II is true that the
report OF General PiLLow himself, represents
K that gallant officer as having done fright
| smart chance" of planning, ordering and light
ing in each Of those battles but the other re-
ports speak Of him in manner which would
60 to show the reader that General Pillow
was not so transcendenty great on the occa-
sion as 10 eclipse all other Generals
Gen. ScoTT's reports Of the battle Of Moline
del Rey has the following paragraphs
"Hence the decision promptly taken, the
execution of which was assigned 10 Brevet
Major General Worth, whose division was
reinforced with Cadwalader's brigade, of Pill
I lows division, three sluadrous Outrageous I'M
! der Major Sumner, and some heavy guns OF
/ the siege train under Captain Huger, OF the
! Ordnance, and Capt. Drum OF the 4th artille-
/ ry-two officers Of the highest merit
! "For the decisive and brilliant results. beg
to refer TO the report OF the immediate com
| mander-Maior General Worth-ln whose
commentators Of the gallant officers and
men--dead and llving-l heartily concur
! having witnessed, with but llule interference,
/ their noble devotion 10 fame and TO country.
In Gen. ScoTT's report Of the battle OF Mex
leo, or of Chapultepec. the following para
graph occurs;
'Early in the morning of the 18th, | re-
peated the orders of the night before 10 MAJOR
4 General Worth, to be, with his division at
hand, TO support the movement OF MAJOR
General Pillow from our left. The latter
seems soon 10 have called for that entire divis-
ion, standing, momentarily in reserve, and
! Worth sent him Col. Clarke's brigade. The
call, 1t not unnecessary, was at least, from the
circumstances, unknown TO me at the time;
for, soon observing that the very large body oil
the enemy, in the road in front OF MAYOR Gen
eral Qultman's right, was receiving reinforce
| ments from the city--less than mile and a
half to the east sent instructions to Worth,
on our opposite flank, TO turn 10 Chapultepec
with his division, and 10 proceed, cautiously,
by the road at its northern base, In order, If
not met by very superior numbers, to threaten
or TO attack, in rear, that body OF the enemy"
it was after the capture Of Chapu.tepec, and
while Gen. Pillow was PROSTATE upon its
wall, "Veritas" says, that Gen. ScoTr ap-
preached the wounded officer and exclaimed,
"My dear General, you have covered yourself
all over with glory, &c." but nothing of the
kind appears in the official reports
In Gen PILLow's report Of the same battle
there seems to be reluctance to tender the
full award due to Generals WORTH and OUR
MAN. Instance the following extract:
"The reserve. of Gen. Worth's division,
which, moved 10 its position in gallant style,
by their presence inspired the whole COM
mand with increased confidence; and portions
of il participated in the immediate assault, re
suting in the fall of the fortress.
The advance of Gen. Quitman's division,
which was to have assaulted upon the left OF
the position, having fallen under the fire of a
battery on the OUTSIDE of the outer wall, and
being unable to scale it in consequence OF the
want Of ladders, were obliged TO march sever
al hundred yards TO the south, and TO enter the
very breach through which portions OF my
command had passed at the commencement
of the action. The consequence was, that
command did not get into position IN time TO
render me material assistance in the assault !;
though, owing TO the delay at the summit of
the hill. occasoned by the want of ladders,
passed through the breach in the outer wall
under my own observation, had time TO come
up and enter the inner works about the same
time with parts Of my own command, which
had for some time previous completely envel-
oped the work and called out for the ladders"
On the subject of his wound, General PHI
Low speaks as follows in his report:
While this work was being done in a man
ner so truly heroic, and unaer my immediate
and personal superintendence and direction,
Col. Trousdale's command, consisting OF the
IL and 18th regiments Of infantry, and Ma
gruder's field battery, engaged a battery, and
large force of the enemy in the road immedi-
ately on the west Of Chapultepec.
Being with the main body ofmy advancing
forces until was cut down by grape shot al
the base Of the hill, had an opportunity Of
Witnessing in person the distinguished gallant
~ of my commando galantry unsurpassed
by that Of any troops during this war. After
being wounded, | caused some of my soldiers
to carry me forward TO the top of the hill,
where had the proud satisfaction otwltness-
ing the consummaiion ofthis glorious victory,
and saw the stars and stripes raised a
loft upon this formidable work, erected upon
the very site oftheancient palace ofthe renown-
ed MonteZuma.
The gallant Col Ransom, Of the 9th lnfan-
try, fell dead from shot in the forehead while
at the head ofhis command, waving his sword,
and leading ssplendidregmentnp the heights
TO the summit of Chapullepec | had myself
been a witness TO his heroic conduct until a
moment before, when l was cut down by his
side. .
Suffering as am from my wound, which
forces me TO write while lying on my back,
trust shall be pardoned for any omission
which may have occurred in this report.
In storming Chapultepec. having been my
self cut down in the deadly conflict, at tae We
~ walls of the castle, felt doubly the value
Of their his personal staff distinguished ser
vices.
In General WoRTH's report ofthe same bat
tie, there occur the following paragraphs,
which speak for themselves
81 had the orders of the General-in chief 10
take position with the remainder of my divl-
sion, and support the operations of Gen Pill
low. The position was taken at the time and
place appointed, and that general informed of
my preparations, and of my readiness TO sup.
port him. Lieut.. Semmes, (navy,) one of
my aids de camp, whom | despatched with
this intelligence, found General Pillow, soon
after the assault had commenced, wounded at
! III f,,t e tha