The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-06-09
The Military Court OF Inquiry.

The Military Court OF Inquiry.
FREpERIcK, (Mp June 6, 1S4S.
EVIDENCE GEN QuIrMAN CONTINUED.
Scott directed Gen. Worth who stated that he had
cured scaling ladders which he had found about
the neghborhood Of his quarters to distribute them
equally between Gen. Pillows command and my own.
He then proceeded to converse fully the plan of
attack After a good many remarks and suggestions
connected with the details of the expected movement
of the two columns, during which Gen. Pillow made
some remarks in regard to the movemen MT of his own
column, and in regard to mi ne the conclusion Of
Gen SCOTS instructions to US, to the best Of my
collection that Gen Pillow should advance to the
attack from his position the west of Chaputepec to
the assault of the fortress while my DIVISION for the
support of which Smit his brigade had been ordered
report to me, ordered to advance simultaneously
to assault of the fortress by the Tacubaya road
Gen Scott insructng both Gen Pillow and myself to
move from our positions to the assault, as signal
which he informed would be the cessation of the fl
ring Of the heavy batteries and particularly directed
to make the attack as as possible neous
ly part Of his plan and instructions was. that the
batteries under the direction Of Gen Pillow and my
self should commence at as early an hour as possible,
active cannonade upon the fortress when the firing
of the batteries would be stopped by his orders as
signal to advance to the assault giving permission.
afterwards to recommence the firing of the batteries,
should deem 1t necessary to cover the advance OF
the columns regard the general plan of the attack
upon the fortress of Chapuepec 1t subsequent
ly executed definitely settled by Gen. Scott in that
conference. will not say whether or not his concu
sons not modified by the remarks of other officers
instructions given to at that conference that Gen
Scott instructed me to prevent if possible reinforce
ments being thrown into the CASTLE that night from
the city.
Q-fIad not, if the witness CHANGED to know at the
time, the scaling ladders. pick-axes, Sc. been
earlier ordered by the said Scott well the estab
lishment of the heavy batteries for the prelmi-
nary cannonade of the Castle Of Chapultepec,
and when the distribution of the scaling ladders
between the two assauting columns spoken
of by the said Scott did the witness then learn
that Brevet Major Gen. Worth had been earlier in
structed by the said Scott to collect them from the
village of Tacubaya and neighborhood?
Al aware that the heavy batteries used
at the bombsrdment of the Castle, which opened
their fire the morning of the twelfth, had been
constructed by orders emanatng from Gen Scott and
heard from him. at the conference ut the village of
Pedad before referred to- with view to the reduction
of the Castle of Chaputepec. recollect that either
the 18th 18th, Gen Scott directed me to to
supplying my division with scaling ladders: pickaxes
and crowbars else upon request he stated that
he would that they were furnishedl don't rcmem
Der which At the conference the night of the 18th
informed Gen Scott that | had taken measures to
supply my command in part with those necessary art
cles. Finding that Gen. Worth had the control of
of the scaling ladders, which had been reported
to by py division quartcr-maser requested orders
from Gen Scott that portion of those under the con-
troll of Gen. Worth, should be furnished to my COM
mand. know not whether the scaling ladders secured
by Gen Worth were so secured by orders from head
quarters not.
Q.-Was there at the second conference spoken Of
chat Of Tacubaya), anything said, by the said Scott,
TO the effect that the columns Of the said Pillow and
Qutman were first to march round from different d-
rections the mound Of Chapultepec. meet somewhere
at the basin the side of the Mexican capital where
the two advances to shake hands and make the
mound feel Its isolation
Al do not recoect that to have been stated in sub
stance In the of the conversation the remark
Of shaking hands, used, think, by General Scott
Il am not certain. The remark recoect from some
quarter Perhaps it may have been used by myself in
the expectation of meeting General Pillow in the for
tress. To explain myself more fully. it is necessary
that should state that | recollect proposition
coming from General Scott to assal the hills of Cha
pultepec by surrounding prior to assault the
fortress recolect that in the Of the
saton which preceded the final instructions of Gene
raj Scott he desired instructed General Pillow to
tend portion Of his command 10 his left and sweep
the batteries represented to be the north side of the
hill to which General Pillow made objections to which
paid particular attention; but they left upon my
mind the impression that General Pillow desired to
make with his force tho direct attack up.
the castle to which think General Scott assent
ed stating that the small battery alluded TO might be
taken by General worth's supporting column. will
tween General Scott and General Pillow upon this SUBJ
ect, to which as the movement of my column was not
concerned, did not pay particular attention.
Q.-Was there anything said in that second confe-
by the said Scott the witness about shaking
hands between the witness and Major General Pillow
in reference to any place for them meeting within
the castle OF after carrying that work by
the joint assault!
Al cannot say that there a ny expression used
to shaking Of hands other than at the meeting Of
the two columns nor can ] recollect that any place
was desg mated except in my remark which was in the
fortress My present impression is that this remark of
mine originated from some remak previously made
about shaking hands ! will add that with the excep-
tion Of the recollection Of that expression have
distinct recollection of the conversation that led to it,
will add that the ement Of surrounding the hill
may have been alluded TO In the conversation but GER
tainly such movement was never understood by me
to be seriously contemplated at any time.
Q-Besides taking the batteries outside Of Chapul-
tepec, in the line Of witnesses approach upon the
castle or the main work of the enemy what portion Of
witness division entered the castle Of Chaputepec
and directly participated n its capture
A.-Two regiments of General Shields brigade the
South Carolina and New FORK Volunteers, and the
Second Pennsylvania regiment, under my directions,
crossed the low ground in front Of the batteries al
ludcd to in the question and directly particp
the attack and assault which resulted the capture
Cbapultepec.
Q-Does the witness chance to know what were
Major General Pillows views respecting the Taeubaya
armistice, before the appointment Of the three
missoners, on the part Of the American army. TO
goiate that armistcc and II the witness knows any
thing about said Pillows views at the time referred to
please state them.
Al think had no conversation with General Pill
low prior to the meeting and have recollection Of
knowing his views before the meeting Of the commits
soners.
Q--As the principal Of the American commission.
ors who negotiated the Tacubaya armisticc, has the
witness the Instructions to the American commission
from the said Scott about him; and, If So will he
please produce thsse Instructions
Al have the original instructions, which have
retained since the armstice. (The paper was anded
I'M
at the instance of Major Gen Pillow did or not
the witness nave one or more interviews with the said
Pillow at the quarters of the latter In the capital
iexico some time In the month of October last after
the Leonidas letter had appeared in that capital in
print and also the subject Of the then official mis-
understanding between the said Pillow and the said
Scott and IL so viii the witness please state what the
said Pillow said in the said interview or interviews of
his connection with the authorship Of tina. letter nd
the said Pillows ability or want of ability to discop-
meet himself from the authorship of the said Leondas
letter.
A.-Havng had some confidential and private con.
vcrsston with Gen Pillow about the time alluded to-
End not intending by raising the question intend to