Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1848-09-14
Volume VIII#===::;::;;Number 13.

any in the army and but right that justice should
be melted out to them. This is al they ask, and for
them and in their name, well rs for the State from
which they have come respectfully ask that they mry
be rescued from the odum which, from a misapprehen-
sIun OF the facts, has been cast npoh them.
Signed, JOSEPH LANE, Brig. Gen.
This letter was written under belief that General
Wool would forward the proceedings Of the Court,
and also this letter to Gen. Taylor, and I had no
doubt Justice would be Done TO the regiment. Gen.
eral Wool, IN letter few days after dated the ODD
May, at Buena Vsto, says: % Had these facts been
known immediately after the battle, the many reports
OF the regiments want Of gallunry would have been
prevented
After the Court in Bowles's case had concluded its
labors and tie result had been published by General
Wool, seen above, proceeded to make NV supple
mental report which IS dated Buena Vista, Mexico
May 10Th, lS47. This report was seen and read BY
Gen. Taylor, he admits in his letter to e. e. Dunn
referred to below. But besides all this amount of
testimony, which has come to the knowledge Of Gen.
Taylor. had personal interview with him at his
quarters near Monterey. whilst o.. my way ont of
the country about the last of NJ = first of June
In hat interview, which was in the presence of
Major Mooney, Quartermaster, and DR.. D. S. Lane.
Surgeon of the I'd regiment. Gen. Taylor admitted
that the fault was with EOwles and not with the rep-
ment. Dr.. Lane has written out the following state
of tie conversation between General Tavlor and
myself
'Gen. Taylor, after conversng time with Gen.
Lane, in company with Mai. Mooney, and DR. Lane in
his tent al his encampment at tho Walnut Springs near
Monterey Mexico, stated after conversng Familiarity on
the subject of the retreat of The I'd Indiana regiment
the battle of Buena Vista, and evincing full acouain
with all the facts in relation established by
the Courts of Enquiry called by Gen Lane and Colonel
Bowles TO inquire Into their conduct respecivey-that
he very sorry he had left Col. Bowles at the
mouth of the Rio Grapde where he could have done as
well any one, and brought Col Drake up. Had lac
done he said he had doubt that all the dscred that
had fallen on the Stale of Indiana would have been
avoded-that with Col Drake instead of Col. BowIes
the credit OF the Indiana troops would have been safe
The above a surcinci but accurate statement of the
conversation above alluded to, between Gen. Taylor
Gen. Lane.
Signed, d. s LANE"
The interview above alluded to left upon my mind.
and also upon the minds of those who were present
the impression that he would correct his report and
render justice to That brave and much injured reg-
ment.
During the whole conversation, which lasted near
one hour, he appeared to be as familiar with all The
! facts acas myself. What, them was nv aston
ishmeDt, when upon my return home recently, to find
that Gen. Taylor, instead of correcting his report
had written two political letters, in which, in abiding
to the conduct OF the Indiana troops, he again charges
them with having acted the part Of towards
! will give his exact language: Extract from his
| letter to G. q. Dunn, dated
BARON RoUGr. March "a, 164S.
" Ny confidence in the ID regiment, officers and men,
were sill maintained after the occurrences of the 23d
for remembered that in all armies the best and most ex-
perenced troops have times been
subject and yielded panic, by compromising
their reputation fer bravery.
Extract from his letter 10 Defrees dated
| "BAToN RoUeE, March 3, I646.
ln all armies the best and most experienced troops
have been at times subject panics, under murderous
fire of an enemy, which inexpcable. Such it was
most probable, may have been the at the time in
| question:,
I This charge Of cowardce thus repeated again and
again, know to be false, and does every man who
has carefully, and without prejudice, examined the
| case.
Gen. Taylor further says that he had not lost con-
hdence In that regiment, and intended to place them
in action the next day. let this pass for what if
| worth.
Gen. Taylor asserts that nothing has iranspired
since he made his report nor has any statement been
made to him in official shape which affects its &C.
curacy. The first of these assertions have shown
be wholly devoid of truth As the second it is
a technicaliy; the finding Of the Courts of En-
qury thing too notorious to escape the notice of
Gen. Taylor He expresses indeed doubt whether
it reached the hands of his Adutant General in
official form; and, with that doubt on his mind,
he will not be Influenced by the facts it dscloses
no. not even so far TO admit them in unoff-
cial, political letter.
And the same Gen. Taylor. who thus stickles for
extreme official puncto, actually declares, that he
will still receive and transmit TO the war Office, as
Official report from private citizen for such now
is Dr. Bowles. The proof of this is contained in the
following extract from Gen. Tayor's letter to Mr..
Dunn
alt possible that a report made by Col Bowes, even
at this late date might tend much his regi
ment, and himself from unjust imputaiions; and am
ready receive and forward to The War Department, as
official any report of that character which he may ad-
dress TO me-.
The regimen, once under the command ofCo Bowles
mustered out of service 9 months ago; 9 months
ago Dr. Bowes had retired TO private life; and yet
vho will thod llv
recorded, Of military Court authorized by himself,
and ordered by his second in command. held it
were under his eye, and deeply concerning the
reputation of a gallant regiment, of whom one fifth
had fallen. killed or wounded on that day which has
added the chief lustre to his own military fame
actually offers 10 receive private letter (for it would
be nothing more) from citizen Of Orange county
provided that private letter exonerates him (Dr.
Bowles already convicted of having ordered his regi-
do that which Gen. Taylor calls them fugi-
tives'' for doing,) and his regiment from unjust
blame.
further desire to call the attention of the public
and especially of every officer and soldier formerly oil
the I'd Regiment the following passage in General
Tayors letter to Mr.. Dunn:
regard difficulties that occurred in the Cd regi
nent may in this connection TO observe that
Col Buwles called when on his march out OF Mexico
with his regiment in much distress of mind at the attack
which had just been made him. He remarked to me
that of efficient drill and discipline 10 his regiment
due much to his personal difficulties with General
LaDe-that absence
for personal visit Indiana establish bis claim
command Of ita claim which had been denied him by Gen.
Lane the in great measure Of its imper
drill and discipline and his imperfect knowledge OF
the customs and requiremensof the service"
Every word of this statement Of Col. Bowles to
Gen. Taylor here set down. is untrue Colonel
Bowles received his commission from Gov. Whiicomb
on the 3lst of August the first of September he
took command Of the regiment. / addressed TO him
written order as if Colonel on the Both day of Sep
TENDER; and on the 10Th Of October, weeks
after he had his commission in his pocket. he applied
+ TO me for leave of absence, which granted him.