Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1847-03-23
GeneraI. scott and TAYLOR.

Generals Scott and Taylor.
The letter "rite Of the N. Orleans papers-par
euary the correspondents OF De!ta-spssk very iudg
nnnt language OF GESEKAL Soorr whom they
abandonment of General Ts,or's plan Of zoe campaign
and the withdrawal Of so large portion of tho force from
thy dcfensive ne the occupancy Of which he advised for
the purpose OF operating the coast While we were
disgused at the barshness of these writers, no
without apprehension confess, when the udngs frs
rescbed Of Santa Annals advance upon Saluo of Gen
Tsylors crncHl position, and Of the pelous condition of
Affairs In the Valley OF the Rio Graude that the expedition
10 Vera Cruz was Of Gen. SCOTS planning, and
Therefore that he might have rendered himself liable the
impuiston OF having made "a mistake" in deyang
from the plan OF the campaign advised and
urged upon the President by Cen Tayor. But in looking
the correspondence between the War Department and
General Taylor, recently communicated by the President
toConRress find. that, long ago 22d of octo-
Der lest IN attack upon Vera Cruz planned by the
President himself, who, through the Secretary of War in
letter OF that date informed Gen. Taylo upon
more full consideration OF the subject ii is believed that
Vera Cruz be taken, and having possession of that
city, the Castle OF ST. Juan Uloa might probably be
reduced compelled TO surrender" You will
therefore, Iad3s the Seeretpry,l unless IT materially
Interfere with your own plan Of operations, weakens
you too much In your present position make the neces
arrangements for having 1000 men, of whom 1900 or
2OOO should be regular toops ready embark Vera
the esres, practicable period This despatch was witt
ten month prior the order given Gen Scott to pro-
coed to Mexico for tho purpose Of taking command the
expedition, which, at that time. the War Department in
tended to confer upon MAJ Gen. Patterson whom Genera
Taylor was directed to dsthch for that purpose.
Tho intention of placing Gen. Patterson in command OF
this expedition was subsequently Abandoned-or although
the l4h Of September, Secretary Marcy in repv 10
request for active service addressed him Two DAYS re
Nousy by Cen Scott informed the General that the Pre-
tiden to whom that reques; had been communicated had
no intention to supersede Cen Toyor" and therefore
could not comply with bis soicaion-yet on the 233 o.
November following, Gen. Scott was officially ordered 70
"rePhr 10 Mexico, take command Of the force. ,bpro
assembled, and PARTICULARLY To ORGANIZE AND SET ON
"Foor AN KHrEpIrIoS on TIE GULF CoIsr #
on arriving at the theatre Of action you shall deem
practicable"
Ii is true, that by these his original instructions some
discretion left 10 Cen Scott. But the attack upon
Vera Cruz had evidently been long an object of great
ciiude al Washington and unfair presume even
he received specific instructions subseouentv
that the judgment Of the Commanding General was 10
great extent influenced by what he be the fnvo,
plan OF the President and his advisers TOR dissenting from
which aud sdho'ing firmly his scheme OF oecupvng
the line of the Sierra Made maintaining defensive
attitude, Gen. Taylor had rendered hmself so obno,,s
To the Executive.
Whether III the execution OF the duty confded {, him.
Cen Scott has displayed waut Of judgment and kill We
have neither the oi determining nor DO we pretend
TO be competent al the information in our possess
Fon to decide Civilians generally Judge by results
rather than by the skill displayed in the achievement c
great victories or the of it, which feat is most
generally attributed But, before the recent tdngs
reached from the Of war; read in the Pbsdel
phia North American. deeply interesting letter from
distinguished officer OF the army Tsmpico. FoEEsHApow
ING PRECISELY WHAT HAS OCCURRED, ascbg tie
winch he predicted To the unfortunate diversion Of the main
body OF troops from San Luis de Potos which he
tended was the point which concentrated energies
should have been directed to attack and canurs
Vera Cruz, which, should it fall hands cannot ma
teraly contribute to the successful prosecution of the
paign, 10 the of that speedy and honorable
pe,ce about which have heard much but which now
seems TO be remote than ever!
We do not kHop that Gen. T5ylor in advancing from
sildo towards San Luis Poos acted under instruction
from the Government: But have right 10 p-esun,o
thai he would in the absence Of such instructions haze
attempted march The desert with lis crippled force
for the purpose Of ainoknR San Luis In Desua,cb of
tho 18th Of October last IN which he clearly and phai
ealy gave he opinon that ought TO occupy d.fsn
sVe line, and not attempt penetrate further into the IN
terror Of Mexico be speaks Secre ary Marcy in this
phsuc i6nguHge 81 hazard nothing in saving that co
lumn to move San Luis from Sadlo should to insure
success be least 80 OGO strong which coo sbood
be regular troops After much reflection, consider tie
above 10 be the smallest lumber Of EFT ctye oops that
could be employed in this without mourning the
hfzsfd OF disaster and perhaps defeat There would be
requrcd, besides keep open our long line project the
dePos and secure the county already gained a force
OF 300 men-hs, without including the force necessary
TO send to TamPico 10 take hold that place" It can
not be presumed repeat entertaining these views that
Gen Taylor would have advanced towards San Luis " d,
s'fce OF about 5000 men, unless be had positive
Instructions IRON Washington 20 make the movement
And II disaster shall have resulted from IT, the country
be OF no loss upon whom nx the fearful osponsibity
We hope however that the genius Of " Old Rough and
Ready and his lucky STAR have enabled him I, sur
mount all the difficulties and pers by which he IL sur
Toundod-ihough. when CONSIDER their mapnitudc y,.
have but for that confd and that IN the
language Of the New Oheans Picay1ue, Is the abilities
Of the commander. prestige VI name that h. ne
yer yet been coupled with defeat