Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-04-08

should be laid aside until next ay in order give Gen Scott
opportunity Of placing theecod the aiud
| ed TO.
The Court then concluded to proceed with the OF Col
Duncan Gen. Pillow being assured that Col DIS case was
likely take up much time Of the Court, should also be laid
aside, and his taken up.
| THE CASE OF LIEUT. COL. DUNCAN.
Gen. Scott rose, and with preface, read the follow
ing document 70 the Court, which now duly organized IN
the case Of Col Duncan
Mr. President, and Gentlemen 9TH Court
desire, under permission make the following statement
in and hearing Of Bevet Lieutenant Colonel Duncan
which may save the time of this Court well that OF the
parties before it.
have laid two charges with specification under each
against the Lieutenant Colonel The first alleges breach
his part an old regulation Of the repubsh
ed aud reeabshed by the President Of the United States
January 2s 847 against the publication in newspapers sc
unauthorized letters reports army the field
pending the campaign they relate to- and which regulation the
President directs all in military authority strictly enforce,
AS principal conseryator at the time the peace
mony, and discipline of army thought my duty
rest Breyc Lieut. COL Duncan for publication OF that cha
se and lard ~, ,he specific eharge n question which duly
he might appoint las other could general court martial
for its trial. The President having thought proper adj
mtted certain, and specific fact order inquiry into, and
trial Of the matter il is clearly Tor uphold this
regulation against the evident indifference the subject
therefore withdraw that charge and its specification and utter
Decline without further orders from the Presdent TO
seeute II before this any other tribunal.
The second charge and specification, which thought i
duty but reluctantly prefer against the gallant
officer relates to matters of fact therein set orth quoted from
the letter. repubhed here under his signature
Hoping and believing that the statements made in that repnb
ed letter. however injurious the truth OF history and
she yse made from the of correct
information and from Intention misrepresent facts
courteousy staff officer invite Lieut. Col Duncan
visit before penned that second charge and its specica
ton intending to point out TO him the errors Of fact commit
tedto refer to the evidence written and oral conte those
and pledged myself through the messenger,
that if the personal interview should result benefit
the Lieutenant Coopel il should not by possibility if could
prevent it, work injury TO him before any My
guest was courte0usly declined
-
uny of saying whether he not ignorant the time Of
writing the letter. OF the acts1st That long before leaving
Pueba for this basn in August last had been bias and
expectation that the American army would be obliged APP
proaeh the Mexican capital 10 the left south about OF the
Lakes Chalco and Xochmilco 3D. That after general head
quarters had reached Ayota. August 1i had showed
equal socitue get additional information of that and
those o the Penon and Mexicacngo Sd That besides send
ing Ayoa August i2t oral instruct to Breye
or General Worth push further inquiry Chalco
the Of the southernmost route (around
lake sent August 13th to that General, written inuc
tons the effect from the placemy quarters at
Ayoa 4th That during stay there, from the ith to the
18th of August, Mexican Of intelligence from Ayola
independent Of Breyet Major General Worh all around to
the villa oil Aocmico TO report to me whether any recent
change had taken place in that route either way of
fetal defences from overlooking OF the lakes and 5t
That in the evening Of the 18th of the month"; caused
Capt ason Of the Engineers to be insrucedto proceed the
morning the headquarters Of Breve Major General
Worth Chaco, order his being employed in reconno
rng the southern in which service the Captain
found himself anticipated by the recommending party under
Lieut. Col Duncan who had already several hours BEFORE
advanced by orders Of the said General acting under my
peated instructions on that service
aware Mr.. President that have right to call up
Lieut. Col Duncan before this Court give either gene
raj specific those points He is therefore entire
y liberty take notice Of Them and certainly his silence
elsewhere but ii he the Interpolation in the arma
tive saying that he ignorant Of the material facts asserted
above stand ready withdraw and abandon, upon his word
the second charge and its specification which have preferred
against him. Respectfully submitted
i MEXICO, MAnca t6, 1913.
m reply
6 writing the letter which Major General Scott refers
in his paper presented the Court, viz the Tampcc
letter. believed therein forth to be su5sana
nHe sill beleve so. had no desire TO detrac directly OF
indirectly from the merits Of officer aud regre
more than myself il | have done So"
Gen. Scott here reiterated that he bad right ntero
gate Lieut. Col D. and that his (Iieut. Col d. - sienc
could not be considered JUDGING him. The gye
did not the inquiry he had made The question
Lieut. Col d. Ignorant Of the facts, &c. On his
to that question would turn the he (Gen shoul
pursue.
Lieut. Col Duncan then made an addition to his forme
answer, and presented the whole the following,
his reply:
ell writing the letter which Major General Scott refer
his paper TO the Court viz Tampico letter
believed the facts therein forth be substantially
Isa 6heue So have no desire TO desct directly or ind
recty from the merit Of any officer, and regre
more than myself IL have done have erience tina
statements presented in the paper Of Major General Scot
facts fthey certainly was ignorant of them whe
III the Tampco letter. and learn them the frs
time. Respectfully submitted.
JAMES DUNCAN, Bvt. 1t. Col
! .Her5cO, March 16, 1siS"
The case Of Col Duncan then, BY order Of the Court
laid aside for the present.
THE CASE OF MAJOR GENERAL PILLOW
After the members had been qualified this case the Judg
Advocate proceeded read the charges Of Gen Scott agans
Gen. Pillow.
Gen Scott also proceeded read written argument
this case which he preaced by observing that he was there
he said BEFORE the accused instead Of accuse scke
down from high command, and far removed from home
famy-paced as crowd where all had TO scrambl
for Justice and therefore he would not prosecute the charge
which he proceeded to detail to the court.
In the statement laid before the court by Gen. Scott wa
forth the repeated efforts and made by the latte
effect amcable arrangement Of what he considered
breach OF discipline committed by officer Of the army
But would appear from the that Gen. Pill
low RETAINED from having any such arrangement expana
ton proposed by Gen. Scott Gen. Scott, in concu
son proposed however, withdraw all the charges mad
against Cen Pillow by him, unless the other case per
empoy ordered by the court by the President OF th
United States, to prosecute them further.
Gen Pillow rose and informed the that he protese
agans, any such that proposed He would pac
himself the justice Of the case, and he demanded in
quy He ready vindicae his conduct and be woul
and did desire an investigation into the hands Of tn
court.
Gen Worth said, that as his had been introduced
and he felt in the termination Of the proceed
ngs Of the court he begged permission file very bre
statement in reference the subject matter then before them
The President and made remark, which did mo-
1~wm~ al, 49,. - - Al