The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1848-04-21


Of the administration towards Gen. Scott
from the hegnning,we give it aninseltlon'
Gen. ScoTr, as the world knows was,
compelled to halt for long time at Pue.
bla, awiting reinforcemenIs which had
been promised him months before. The
official documents demonstrate the most
extraordinary neglect, on the part of the
War Department, 10 supply him with the
means indispensable to his advance.-Fi-
nally came Mr.. TRIsT as Commissioner
with his claim of power to conclude
an armislce and thus take the command
ofhis little army completely out Of the
hands Of Gen. Scott Under this state OF
things the General wrote as follows to
the War Department:
GEN. SCOTT TO MR.. MARCY.
No. 29.1
HEAD QUARTERS OF THE Army.
PvEBLA, June 4, l847
SIR: I arrived here with four troops
Of horse on the 2Sth nlt. Twiggs' divis-
ion came up The next day.
The effe ctive strength oftbis army has
been surprisingly reduced. Besides the
discharge ofseven regiments and two in
dependent companies Of old volunteers.
We had to leave in hospital, about 1000
men at Vera Cruz, as many sick and
wounded at Jalapa, and 200 sick at Pc
role. Here we have on the sick report
1917. Not corps has made forced
march exceptin tho pursuit after the bat
tie Of Cerro Gordo, and every possible
attention has been given to the health of
the troops.
Making the further deductions of the
killed and wounded, the garrisons at We
ra Cruz, Jaapa, and Perote, and we
have here bul $500 effective non com
missioncd officers, ari6cers, musicians
and privates-a force evidently INSULT
cient to garrison this large open city and
to march upon the capitol, where or neal
it we may probably have to beat an ind'f'
ferent army from 1000 TO $4,000 men
This we could do with 1000, but at loss
probably of one fourth of our number
whereas, with 5000, our loss would mo-
exceed somo 300.
We arc still much embarrassed by th,
want of money. But little can be ob
tanned to drafts this side of the capital
and we have not heard of the arrival of
dollar at Vera Cruz for this army. Th'
attempt to subsist it, by living at free quar-
iers or on forced contributions, would b,
the end of military operations.
take tho liberty to enclose copy o
my rejoinder to Mr.. Trist No doubt hi
has forwarded copy Of his most extra
ordinary episle to me. TO have sucl
a flank battery planted against me, amds
critical military operations is a great an
noyancc.
Considering the many cruel disappont
menls, and notifications | have bee
made TO feel since | left Washington, an
the total want of support and sympalh.
on the part of the War Departmet, whic
have 50 long experienced, beg to b
recalled from this army tho moment
may be safe for any person TO embark {
Vera Cruz, which | suppose will DO cal
ly in November, Probably all field OF
erations will be over long before thu
time.
have the honor to remain, sir, wit
high respect your most obedient servan
WINFIELD SCOTT.
;. Hon. WM. l.. MARCY, Sec'y ofWar.
L. IA tha 1F,
) pulse which dictated this letter. 1t beal
marks not simply Of wounded feeling
hut ofa zeal for the good and the 6 lor
, of tho country, thwarted and crushed b
those whose duty it was to aid, sustai
aud second its efforts to the utmost (
their power. General SCOTT felt th
he was not conhded in by the admlnistr
ton, which had broken its promises an
treated his remonstrances with contemp
. uous neglect, and himself with insuI
I, For the good of the service. therefore, |
= requested to be reculled-lhat the Arm
might be placed under some one wi
should possess tho sympathy aud su
port" necessary to its success.
', This was written on the 4th of Jul
: and to show that the recall was not d
sired on his own account-that his so
motive for the request was, the success
the army aud the good of the countr
" nothing more can be necessary than Il
!. following extract from subsequent le
/ ter dated July 25lh:
y GEN SCOTT TO MIR, MARCY.
t. HEADQUARTERS OF ruE ARMY, I
h PUEnLA July IS, lS47.
4.
d Since my acknowledgement of May
e report No. 2s,) | have had but Two Il
tcls from you, dated respectively, Ap
in 80 and May 81, received here in The
til der of their date, June 6, and July7.
.r. | do not acknowledge the justice
ne either ofyour rebukes contained in
of letter Of May 81; and that do not he
nj triumphanlly vidicatc myself, is not fir,
the want of will, means, or ability,
- time.
ke The first letter dated February 22)
at ceived from you, at Vera Cruz, contain
III. a censure, aud am now rebuked for
1. - | .,.,,,,o,ln ,,,ea &c !, l,,l -, L.,