Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-12-14
THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER.


We publish TO day this mastery and deeply In
leiesting document. We ado2tlhe Unions faith
ful notice, which pays but just compliment 10
the ability and judgment OF much abused Officer:
This admirable document which We hasten 10
lay before our readers, will command and NIX Inc
public attention 10 an extent unexampled, perhaps,
by any previous per emanating from Inc war
Department ofthe United States Written 'hfonsh'
out with a direclness and plainness 81 manner
appropriate 10 a strictly officiai business-iike do
| cument. il porlrays the grand events which have
% AIDE he past year memorable era, both IN The
operations of that department and in The history
of the county, with a condensed clearness of me-
| thod and a massive eloquence OF dcton every
way worthy even Of such achievements. Ia lis
comprehensive grasp Of The vasly-exiended mill
lary organization ard movement which nave, IN
a few months, broken the power fthe Mexican re-
public, this report truly and worhily reflects Inc en-
ergy and reach of thought displayed by the admin
islration in the whole victorious scheme ana con-
duct oflhe war Commencing with bret YET mosI
perspcuous exposition OF the posture CT our MI
iitary affairs in Mexico at the beginning oil The
present Campaign after the capture oil Monterey,
il reciles the organization of the expedition des.
tined TO move first upon Vera Cruz and thence
upop the civ of Mexico. Leaving The force de-
sened for his great enterprise al their place oil
rendezvous. on The island OF Lobos, the narrative
returns TO describe and dolly signaliZe the inter-
mediate movements OF General Taylors column
which resulted in The memorable ballle OF buena
| Vista Returning then TO The main line OF mil
tary operations against the heart Of the enemy,s
country the repor, follows. step by step, Inc lri-
| umpha at march of the gallant army under Gen.
Scot. from its place of embarcalion 10 The Ma
lione Palace OF Mexico. We will not impair
| and weaken these most adequate and impressive
narratives by any attempt al abridgment. Suffice
il TO say, that they do noble justice TO the heroism
which they describe
The collateral expeditions against chihuahua,
Santa Fe, and California, are next summary
described in their due ORDER their important bear
ing upon The results Of the war depicted; and The
signal achievements which marked their success
full progress justly portrayed and appreciated
With these events, and with due notice oil some
subordinate, but highly honorable, successes OF
our arms on the line OF operations from Vera
Cruz 10 the city of Mexico, the military narrative
of the report concludes. No reader can TAIL to
admire the clear analysis, the comprehensive ar
rangement, and The condensed energy OF language
by which all these siganii; enterprises, extending
over half continent, and stretching from the At
Ian,ic 10 The Pacific, are al once marked and APP
preciaed in their individual character, and yet
blended tremendously together as parts oil ono
and The same great system OF events.
Turning from The past TO The tuture-'rom
what has been done TO that which remains 10 be
accomplished report surveys The various
modes of conducting the war which present Them
selves 10 the government, recommends the plan
OF active operation in the enemys country, and
Sums up the strong points Of the argument In its
favor with remarkable bTevily, yet with great
completeness and force. il is not easy 10 see how
any candid Judgment, keeping in view The only
object the war indemnify 10 be secured by
Just and speedy treaty OF peace-can resist the
conclusions of The report on this point.
Our readers will not fail 10 remark the mum.
Der aud variety of other important topics when
tn. report embraces in its statements ana discus
sions The estimate and proposed oGganizaton
of The additional force needed for the war; the su-
pervsion OF our Indian policy, itself an extensive
and complicated sys'em; the affairs and opera
lions of all the bureaus attached 10 the gen.
era staff OF The army, and OF course I'M
der the regulation of The War Department;
the establishment and maintenance oil our
long line of military posts from The Mississippi.
and the supcriniendence OF the general system vi
Qualifications along our inland frontier on Inc
lakes and on The seacoasi,-all these important
objects, forming part Of lie business oil the war
DepaIiment, are so enumerated anu diScusscd III
the report as 10 show hat even under Inc pres
sure and responsibility q organizing Sreat mill
tary operations involving tie rights aud charac-
ter OF the country, and crownng American arms
with the glory OF an tnexampled succession OF
victories The Secretary mas yet neither Ia lied nor
neglected to comprehend and master them in all
their complicated details.
We commend this most able exposition OF the
operations of the War Department TO the public
attention as sure 10 command high respect Tor
The distinguished ability and energy which have
been displayed during the past year in this most
important and anuous branch OF The public ser