Tri-weekly journal. (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1847-188?, 1847-12-07
REPORT:

tC NOuib lilu dllu ICpOll lOklONinS AnNto
ard circumstances: fhIT
l. That two small howitzers, captured at
Chapultepec, were removed from their carriages
during the forenoon of September 18th; one
was removed by and under the direction of Mr..
WEIGH, follower of the army, especially of
the Sd division, and the other by, and under
the direction of, Lieut.. Hodge, 9Th Infantry;
and, SC far as the testimony shows, this remov-
al from their carriages was made without the
previous knowledge, authority or consent OF
Maj. Gen. Pillow. When the guns were ia
ken from their carriages, they were placed, at
separate times, by the two individuals who
had removed them, in the baggage wagon of
Mai. Gen. Pillow, and this, so far as the testi-
mony shows, without the previous knowledge,
authority or consent of Maj. Gen. Pillow.
2. ltappears from the evidence that Major
Gen. Pillow was informed by an officer acting
on his staff, Passed Midshipman Rogers of the
Navy, on the evening of September IL, that
the two howitzers were then in his, Gen. Pill
lows wagon. 1t does not appear that the gem
eral expressed any surprise when this informa-
ton was communicated TO him, nor is il shown
that he evinced any desire or determination TO
have the howitzers returned 10 their proper
place, but, on the contrary, by his language TO
Mr.. Rogers, at the time, viz: every well, l
think am entitled to them as trophies" there
is conveyed an evident impression that Maj.
Gen. Pillow desired, at least for the moment,
to retain the howitzers for himself.
3 That Lieut.. Col. Howard, 18th Infantry,
the commanding officer of Chapultepec, didre-
port to Maj Gen. Pillow, on the evening of
Sept. IL, that tw small howitzers had disap-
peared from their carriages, and that, about the
middle of the afternoon of Sept la, the same
officer did report TO Gen. Pillow that the two
howitzers had been found in his wagon. 1t
lOoc IL. 49,
Pillow directed or desired the restoration OF
these guns at that time, but, from his language
to Lieut. Col Howard, viz: THAT Mr.. WEIGH,
and Mr.. Rogers, had interested themselves in
getting those guns, 10 be taken away as tro-
phies, and that he (Col H. y better not inter
fere-but TO let them CO." therein conveyed the
evident conclusion that Mai. Gen. Pillow was
aware OF an intention on the part of Messrs.
WEIGH and Rogers to remove the guns to Cha
pultepec, did acculesce in such removal and
did authorize the removal in his own wagon.
a. 1t appears, from the evidence, that on the
night OF the 18th, when the garrison OF Chapul-
tepec was about being reduced in numbers,
and whilst conversing with the staff about the
defences OF the place, Gen. Pillow ordered two
officers OF his staff, to have these howitzers ia
ken out OF the wagon and remounted, with
some other orders relative to the general dis
positions for the defence of the work.
1t was ascertained by his staff officers that
no suitable ammunition could be found for the
howitzers, and that they were ther fore not
used, not mounted, not removed from the wag-
on, and other arrangements for defence were
made without them, and reported to Gen. Pile
low,
The impression is strong and almost conclu-
sive, that this order of Mai. Gen. Pillow, TO his
staff officers could not have indicated desire
on his part for full and final restoration of
these howitzers TO their proper places, as pub
lie property-otherwise the mere fact of fall
ure TO find suitable ammunition for their inn
mediate use could not justify the staff officers
in failing TO obey the order to dismount the
pieces-and it does not appear that the staff
officers were censured for the omission.
3. That the two howitzers were brought TO
town on the 18th ofSeptember, in Gen. Pill
lows wagon; that one was claimed by Mr.. Ro-
gers, and carried to his quarters under his di-
rection, whilst the other was carried to the re-
sidence of Mr.. WEIGH, and for him.
1t does not appear that Maj. Gen. Pillow
had any information of the actual fact, that the
howitzers were in the city OF Mexico, until the
evening of October 8, subsequent to the order
of the general-in- chief, in reation to trophies,
etc., when, and subsequently, he seems to have
used all proper measures to have them restored
And the court is of opinion that further mil
itary proceedings may be disposed with.
The generalin-chief approves of the pro-
ceedings and the opinions of the court in the
foregoing case
The Court of Inquiry, of which Bvt. Major
Gen. Worth is President, is dissolved.
BY command of Major Gen. Scott.
H. l.. SCOTT, A. A. A. G.