Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1848-06-08

collected we're sufficient 10 force then way through
the strong guerilla bands which had the dlIiicu',
passages of The Jalupa road. Whl'e mus detained
on tina, inhospitabe coast, IN inc scN'y "eoSo"'
they were exposed to the attacks OF wasting pes
thence, more formidable, and, as 1t unfortunately
proved, more destructive, than Inc Ne%'cah army
When the unwecome news OF the premature
discharge Of this large body Of volunteers was re-
cieved here, unaccompnnied by any explanation
TO show the necessity Of the act, 1t excited very
genera surprise and regret lis consequences
were at once (orescen; but the step had been Ia
ken, and could not be retraced. 1t was loudly
condemned Many did not believe lhnt d
measure which appeared to be so unw'Se
and no injurious TO the operations 0l me army
cond have eliminated from yourself; but they were
less charitable towards the President and secre'
taty of War. Both were denounced for what
they had done; they were unscrpu'ousy chaIgcu
with weakness and incapucily; and beng actuaied
by hostility 10 YOU, and desire TO secure popu-
nrty Of with the volunteers. Nor were these Bit
ter ASA ults nlermiited, until it began 10 be sus-
pecled that they were mlsdlrecled
If you really regarded, on the 9Th OF May, me
augmentation Of your forces MS being o! such "
tai Importance, it Is almost as difficult TO account
for their premature discharge. am nlsled by III.
formation, on which Onght 10 rely, II many OF
these volunteers would not have continued IN ser
ice, if proper measures had been taken at Jal0pn,
while they were indulgiug the hope of par'lcIpaat
ing further trumphs and Of being among those who
wand enjoy the enviabIc distinction Of first enter
ing as ylctors the proud capital Of the Mexican
republic. Though the subject was there present
ed to their consideration, no vigorous efforts seem
! 10 have beeh made no attempt to form new com-
parieS-o or To aus er them INTO service, until this
! powerCul induCemenl was weakened or Withdrawn
until they had been detached from Victorious
army, as If no longer worthy to be part OF 1t
sent sixty miles towards their homes into pesllIen'
,aI region and there brought within the sympa-
lhetic influence Of the sentiments which It was
natural that many should feel and manifest al the
moment Of erbarking 10 return to their families
and friends Considering the manner in which the
Presidents order on this subject was attempted to
be executed, it is not strange that, among more
than three thousand patriotic volunteers, sent away
bv your order of the 4th Of May, only about
"Gfty individuals" were found willing 10 re-eIi-
gage.
You seem to have suddenly conceived The no.
ton of converting the Nrmy,"ilke Cortez, "lnlo
a self sustaining machinei' and, to make the
resemblance between yourself and the Spanish
hero more complete, you INDUCED dream o'
| fancy, uni, you seem to have adopted II as mat
H.,
tons" and YOU became, Like him, always afraid
that the next ship or messenger might recall or
further crippIe' YOU It should not be forgotten,
that the design Of this unaccountable military
movement was first communicated to Mr. Trst,
before YOU had gwen any inimaon OF II 10 your
Government, and while under the purtubailon OF
mind which his unwecome presence in Mexico
had produced Had YOU contdGd this cxtIaordl
nary pInn of campaign 10 him after the happy
churge" in vour relations after you had d'Ses,eu
his "(arragn OF nsoence, concel aud arrogance 49,
and after he, too, mis,nkng notorety Tor lame,
had sought 10 win ii by dsoheylhg the orders OF
his government, defy ing It's authority, and nsSal'ns
us conduct-,his distinguishing mark ot your
confidence m him would have caused much less
surprise This novel conception, so suddenly
adopted, was as suddenly carried out; your army
was indeed, converted 'inro u sell sustaining ma
chine;" YOU discharged the twelve months yolun'
eers, and broke up your posts at Julapa and on
The way to your main depot, asyou announced
ono longer 10 depend on Vera Cruz or home, -
You put yourself beyond the reach Of the supplies
which had been provided by the government, and
rendered yourself, in great measure, lnaccess'
bic to the recruits and evies Except IN strong
parries) (which had been raised to augment your
command. In this way, you rendered unavaIIlng
'o' Ni'c at iS"e'' az wa" ~ 49,"
done by Inc asSuu"us ana '"ceSsd'' 'ano,s VI VI.
war department IN an IT'S o''mc"es' anu ';'." 70"
@ MSH Rp }s lq[ iH INK
Your letter of the 2o,n vi jay wien Mas MOI
received at Washington until the 30th of Deem
her last. abounds with complaints against the
department. and refers in strong terms TO the wants
and suferings of the army at that time. Before
you venture to make It's then destitute c0hu'l'on
ground oil charge against Inc war Department you
ought TO have recoecled that these "iilcton' 'r''
upon ii IN the midst OF your experiments oil max
ing it "a self-susanDg machine and were Inc
legitimate fruits Of that experiment
These sufTer;ngs came upon it before your est.
mated nerod Of isolation from "Vera Cruz and
hnms, b,d half expired When YOU had design
edlv and nrreccssorIv abandoned both, and enter
ad nnon your soIc.sustaininr position "cut uh from
MI sunnlics and rein(nrcemenrs from home Unil
no,bnns btc in Novpmher {" nv what prrtenre o
;nst;ca do Won comnI,in oC tho War Depnr,men
far rho dis,rosses ,ou thus Voluntarily uhcle,
rnon yonrself md the o,Ilon, army under Won
crmmdnu, r.omr,h"s >ory dirrioront from consur,
and reproor is due for The extraordinary etfor,
which were successfully made to reach you will
recruits and supplies in your sequesIed situation
and to rescue you from the embarrassment, in whcl
your Judged measures had involved you.
have brought into view this unaccounlabIe move
ment of yours, with no purpose TO make any com
nent upon il as military measure, but solely II
show that the evils resulting from It are not JUS
grounds of accusation against the War Department
and that the labored attempt to pervert them t.
suCh purpose dscoses the manner and spirit wlll