The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-07-07

sistant Adjatant General and CAPT Ker OF I'd bagoon
ls 70 the same fact also and that they heard Cen Scott
Capt Ker estes that he heard me tell Cen Scott what
9ues nau given which he stated were as follows Cen
uon IN 'front.' and the remainder the enenys left flank
the attack in 'front.' and Gen Cadwaader and Col Morgan
Were 10 support the movement on the flank.
had been done by me up to the time he reached the mound
Now, what had zen done! Let the record of this Court
answer Col Riley tesie that he the first ordered 5g
me- in person. to cross the pedege andtun the left flank f
Gen Cadwaade tesfies that he was ordered B raet GROSS
the pedTega support Col Rieys movement and check an
relnocenen OF the enemy that might be thrown from
In obedienceto bis orde.s Col Riley crossed the pedregal
passed though the village OF Ensada and gaauy repused
several assaults OF the enemy cavalry thrown out from his
camp.
peregat-ganed the village OF Ensada, where he took
sIon and checked heavy reinforcement OF the enemy
thrown OIt from the city.
Col Riley SAYS he should have assault ID the camp Of Con
rera the afternoon of the 18TH had he been supported
Gen Calwaader proves that he should have joined Col
Riley and with him assaulted the camp, had the rein.
ioTcements before mentioned made their appearance and
da He further says, No doubt the assault would have
been successful for the ground proved be favorable
ana tile camp weaker than It was believed TO be,
from distance
That part o8Pierces Brigade was ordered by me to sup,
1t IS no where ContrOyeied.
Lieut. Ripley proves that he heard me suggest to General
TWiggs the prOpey of sending part of his division
tack the IN front, and the remainder his left
flank, and that would support the movement with d.
Gen Twggs does not recoect the whole of this convega
ton but this only proves the deC of his memory not that
the COuyelgation did nOt=OCCur
It's pOneT the fact admitted by the prosecution,
came Necessary to gRt before the road Could he %9
neted directed that the work should the road and
assume the command.
This the case anticipation Of which he said to Genepl
Twigss, Sin, The law must be obey L."
When the conversation between Cen Twiggs and myself
above referred to took place the necessity OF general battle
was not apparent-heu my suggestion to Gen TWlggS at
Gen. Twiggs in his QciGL report of Contreras written
only three days after the battle states that Gen Sn tn
0Faerc@ across the pIedresf to Join Col, Riley.
Cen smith tethes that he received orders GbGteCer
in relation to this movement.
Gen. rwggs states in the Oic2 report that GeneG'
CaawaadeT command reached the village OF nsada utter
Gems. Smith and Cadwaader both stify that Cadwaa-
Gers command got there before Smiths Gen. CadwaadeT
states that he got there hour before, and that he had a.
ready checked the requirements under Santa Anna before
Smith reached the yIage-thatIt night fall when
Sm got there and thar important change in the posi-
tons OF the troops took place -er he came up.
1t dIthcu to ndetGnd how tU0 such ,pgrtaRt mac
CHrGCeS could have found their way into Gen Twiggs
port 50 S02R Nhr dayS) after the event to which ela
The fact that these inaccuracies are in the report might ma
turay the author OF them to dSrst the accuracy of
his memory relation these same 0pcrati0HS when
calico upon 70 testify TO the facts OF the case after RRe
Accordingly when his aeuonis particularly directed to
mts that his memory is implicitly to be relied upon Fur
ther Col Riley tetes that when he received his orders to
Of the order replied he dd-irecng him to 20 6nEiRa
he would probably meet Gen Twiggs, who would give him
the same Orier-It uot-std 10 on and ute it-and
that he subsequently did receive order The inquiry
naturally sU-g Is Itsei-hOw did know what orders Gen
Twggs wOuid ave Col Riley, unless had previously com
mumcaed witt Ten. Twiggs that subject This coin
cence too complete and remarkable to be the result
cdent and sustain the defective Carr ter of
Gen. Twggs memory, and the accuracy OF Lieut. RlpeyS
testimony the point This rendered still more con
elusive by Gen. TwIggs statement that after the battle
menced he did not report or advise me OF his orders
mens
All the troops upon the field disposed Of except
MOTgan's regiment.
Gen Scott bis official report claims to have given the
order Tor this Regiment to cross the pedrega and seize the
village OF EnSalda.
In my Official report say that Gen. Scott through me-
this Oder-thOUgh distinctly tel Gen. Scott Off
cia note IN evidence before this cOuthat make this alter
alton IN my report IN Difference to his collection OF the fact
and in opposition 10 my
Let US see what the record OF the Court says on this subject
Capt IT, L. scott Act Asst Adj Cen, teStlies that his
decided impression at the time that ZEN Scott had given
the order but he has no recollection If hartng heard tile or
Lieut. Williams A D. c. of Gen Scott testfies that he
myself which he understood Gen Scott to direct
der MOrgan's Regiment across the pedregal.
Lieut.. Lay, Military Secretary OF Genera Scott testteS
that alter the regiment had got well IN the pedTega ne
quIed what troops those Were and General Scott relied
MORAN Regiment that he had Just ordered to the village
Whthe exception OF that OF Gen. Scott himself ts Is
all the testimony the part OF the prosecution that relates TO
the order in question, aud this amounts 10 nothing.
Two OF the witnesses Capt Scott and Lieut. Lay, do not
profess to have oT personal Eol2lelgG on the
his testimony shows that his knowledge even more limited
than his pret9nslon: -.
HE other witness Tor the prosecution on THIS point
the prosecutor himself
The peculiar attitude he has assumed towards myself
has in sustaining bis charges against me- and, above all that
high sene OF honor and delcacy of feeling which he
PRODUCING himself as a witness before this Court:
In this instance, however in many Others that have oc
cy and other refined qualities Of the heart have been appealed
the theory and practice OF the prosecutor have proved no
tie has put himself upon the stand and his testimony is
upon tile reco-out Of respect for his high position shall
handle both tendery the nature OF the will permit
1t must he admitted that his testimony the bottom
of the question: is comprehensive pointed positive and
he reached the mound he directed me to order Morgan eg
ent across the pedrega and the village OF Ensada
Such the testimony of the prosecutor and though
sustained would be decisive Of hd question issue, but
for the fact that is positively Prohe& by many witnesses
The prosecutor in his testimony, fatty contradicts Lieut.
Williams, as to the place on the mound where Cen Scott
when he said to have given me the order to advance
Lieut. Williams locating the smith side Of the hill as
they ascendng-a point whence the TeintoTcenents
could not be sen-Gen Scott locating the south side
lii, nor the top of the hill, but on secondary
hI In0uud jtH rieg OF the entrenched camp and the
rentoro. nents then approaching from the city
Lieut. Williams says he heard the conversation that oc
cured between Gen. Scott ami myself iatDertechg Gen
SCOTS testimony fully sustaln tins statement and az the
time affords an explanation how Beut Williams
CHANGED TO understand Gen Scott, to nave given me amor
der which did not receive.
This slightly awkward position in which the gallant aid
deCamp placed by his Chief Is hoped wimae him more
guarded for the future giving testimony, and cause him
not to venture again to swear TO facts that he knows little or
The prosecutor is not equally fortunate i'll finding friend
in the hour OF need In vain the record OF the court Is
searched for word that affords support to his testimony
or explanation OF its iHacCuracy.
subject seems to aggava9 the injustice he has done himself
and the defendant.
That Gen. Scott could have been mistakea in the facts
touching this order Is difficult to Imagne-dnd that ne Should
have had the temety to have warped twisted those facts
OF all manner of shape for the purpose Of making the
wrong appear the right tor his own benefit scarcely
Ceivabeyet SUCH seems, at least to have been the
The examination OF passages of his official report
may here be pertinent.
According to his official report, he arrived upon the
field late "a clock IN the afternoon or evening OF
the 18th August His report states as follows
From emin5nCe after arriving near the scene
observed the church and hamets of COntes Cor Ensada
the road leading up from the Capital through the en-
enched camp magdaena, and SEEING at the same tne
the of reniOrcements advancing by that road Or
dered, (tlrOugh Major Gen. Pillow Col MOFgan with hs
regiment the 18th, ill then held in reserve by Piow TO
move forward and occupy COntreras Cor Ensaida
persuaded, if occupied it would arrest the enemy rem
iorcements and ultimately decide the battle =,
This carefully wOrded extract taken IN connection WIN
his own testimony thai OF other witnesses as wei as with
my correspondence with him on the same point worth
volume Of commentary. .,,
it must not be forgotten that although was on the field
from early in the day till late the aitemOOn when Gen
Scott came up and had he himself states every opponu
pity Of recommending the field, yet he. IN the report rom
which this extract taken, mentions no orders ad gwen
no dispositions had made except that mentioned IN me e4
tract viz: ofkoldng this same regiment IN reserve
When Gen Scott upon the ground he asSeooeT az
rfanee the importance OF point Ue village OF Ensaoay
which he designs to be understood had ESCAPED my attention