The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1848-10-09
For the Vincennes Gazette.

Mr.. EDIToR:-l have taken no active part in
the present canvass for the Presidency, but
have remained calm spectator of the passing
struggle, but recently have become perfectly
disguised with the course pursued by the loco
foco press OF this State, towards Gen. Taylor
his private character being exalted far above
the reach of the most daring culmnator, they
have not dared to attack it, his reputation as
successful military commander, being far above
that Of any other man The country has ever
produced-here they attempt 10 damn him
with faint praise. But they imagine they have
found vulnerable point of attack against
the old hero in his report of the conduct of
the Indiana troops at the battle of Bucna
Vista.
Being evidently satisfied that their materials
of assault was insufficient, they have recently
end, avored to strengthen themselves by calling
upon Lit. Col MADDEN for statement of tie part
taken by the 81 Indiana K giment Oh that &C.
casion, hoping TO extract something from him
prejudicial 10 Gen. Taylor-failing here, they
next as last resort, apply TO Gen Lane, herr
they found ready and willing tool t. their
hand. On the eve Of his departure for Oregon
he has published the most disgraceful comnu-
nication of the day-disgraceful TO himself, Tor
IN the end it will injure no one else. He here
repeatedly charges General Taylor with wilful
talsehood. 1t was certainly prudent in Gen.
Lane TO leave the country as soon as possible,
after making such publication, thereby es
Gaping the scorn and contempt of every honor
able man within the State
now propose sho wing who is the man OF
falsehood, and to whom is Justly chargeabe
the misfortunes of the Indiana troops. L.. Col.
ldadden, whom the calumniators of Gen. lay
lor has called before the public as a witness.
and who is high minded and honorable man
for whom entertain the highest regard, con-
fined himselfto plain statement OF facts, with
out denouncing any one. This was it
should have been, and is no doubt true so far
as il goes.
But there other facts connected with
this affair, of which Col. Hadden has freely
spoken TO his neighbors and friends here which
he did not think proper to mention in his re-
port TO The public, facts, which, when general
ly known, must deeply effect the character of
Gen. Lane as man of truth and veraciiy-
According 10 Col. Hadden's statements, the I'd
Ind. Reg ment on the morning OF the 23d of
February, occu pied the brink of deep ravne
which they could have defended against any
force that could have been brought against them
that Gen. Lane moved the Regiment forward
some or 500 yards out Of sur porting distance
of any other portion of our troops, that they
suddenly encountered some or 5000 of the
enemy, when most terrible conflict ensued, ,
which terminated as any sober man might have
antici pated, Our troops fought with the most
cool and determined valor until they were
completely overwhelmed by numbers, and
forced to give way. The retreat Col. Hadden
belle we'd TO have been necessary and proper, if
il had been conducted i'm order, as il might
have been--he believes if they had not left the
ground they would have been surrounded and
cut off TO a man.
In the evening after the battle was over,
Gen. Lane stated to Col. Hadden that he made
the increment of the morning, and occupied the
ground he did by the orders Gen. WOol-which
Col. II. supposed to be trne until after The
Court of Inquiry in the case of Gen. Lane had
been held. When in conversation with Gen
Wool, he declared to the Col. that he had new
er given such orders TO Lane, and disputed the
fact of the Indiana troops having fought as IA
in advance, as he (Hadden) claimed for them,
saying that if they had, there would not have
been a man left to tell the tale. Now, ask
all candid and honorable men to look at this
statement OF Col. Hadden, and see i'm what a
disgraceiul position it places Lane, when view
ing the disastrous result of his rash and fool |
hardy movement of the morning, and to screen
himself from the just censure which his con
duct merited, resorts to cool and deliberate
falsehoOd, aud Is just the man TO SANDER better
men than himself. But this is not all, Col. |
MADDEN says that there are statements i'm Lanes
report, which are not true, aud that ihey .pere
knopn to be untrue by Lane shcn he made them
that he was determined to neglect some in
divldua!s and sustain others without regard to
hn tr &c I...a