The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-07-19
MAYOR GENERAL PnLow.-We have carefully
perused the defence of Major General Pillow and

erused the defence of Major General Pillow ana
all the censure which has been
leaped upon that officer, and notwithstanding
feeling of pre- judice towards him, which we &C.
knowledge did exist in our mind until very recent
". we are persuaded that General Pillow Is more
snned against than SHINING. We shall do justice
in every case as far as our power, no matter
what the consequences may be, or whom the par
ties are and in asserting that General Pillow has
triumphantly succeeded in clearing his skirts Of
all the dirty nsinuations that have been cast upon
him. we do no more than justice to him as
a soldier and as man.
The substance of the charges brought against
General Pillow and his refutation of them, will be
comprehended from the following extracts from
his defence before the Court Of Inquiry at
Frederick, which constitute the summing up sI
his argument
Having thus considered the charges, and examined
the proof in the case. viii glance rapidly at the re-
suits evolved.
AS to the first charge the proof shows that Pay
master Burns the letter which it's subject mat
ter without my knowledge, and Of course without my
procurement. 1t explains the analogy between the
paper No and this letter. in manner perfectly con-
sistent with my innocence.
The paper No. Containing intcrlineatons in my
handwriting is shown to be copy OF my original re-
Paymaster Burns having without my knowledge TAX
a copy of the report from it wrote the Leoni
das letter Hence the analogy Of these two papers 10
eac other, and of both, to my official report.
AS tie first specification under second charge
is based the assumption that the Leondas letter
written by me, or by my procurement, the charge
falls to the ground when this assumption is proven to
to be false.
The second specification, second charge, alleges
that the Freaner paper is false in certain particulars
have shown that all the controverted parts of that
paper true These parts not controverted are OF
alvntt cd IN In frna
he third specification assumes that claim to have
given precise orders for the particular plan Of attack
carried into successful execution the morning of
the 10th August, at Contreras-and that claim is
false and deliberate invention and afterthought"
have shown that my report does not authorize the
do claim to have given the orders under which
the battle fought upon the 10th, and that
the positions secured that day determined the
victory Of the Goth, is proved by the prosecutor
himself. l claim that the successful assault next
morning in conformity with my original plan
of battle. have never claimed any thing more-con-
cedng to General Cadwalader the high credit due to
his sagacity gallantry, and generalship in promptly
seixng and holding the village of Ansalda and con-
fronting Santa Anna with q force of IL 600 men and
to General Smith the distinguished honor of having
disposed the the pedrga daylight next
morning, and directing the assaulting forces with
Judgment, prudence, galantry and skill to Colonel
Riley, the honor due to his distinguished daring in
directing and commanding in person the advanced as
saulting forces the entrenched camp
have proven this original report of mine to be true
in all its parts, have proven my orders for battle
disposition OF the FORCES, by many witnesses
AS to the fourth specification have admitted that
said thought General Scott seemed paralyzed his
energies by his fatal error in granting the armistce
September-that / entertained that opinion, and
thought then and still think it was well founded but
Scott would not have assaulted Chapultepec nor was
in favor Of taking position and waiting for rein
forcements There no proof to sustain this part of
the specification, except that of MIR. Trst which the
testimony ofthe prosecutor himself (by proving that
not at his quarters between the 9Th and 18th Sept
at Tacubaya) shows was false
In regard to the fifth specification have shown by
q comparison Of the language of my official report,
with that Of the charges that my report is entirely
misconstrued and does not authorize the
placed upon it by this charge have shown that my
division, and the storming party under my command,
we're tns only troops VINO actually in
the credit of it, and that was in advance Of my
mand in the assault until / wounded. l have
proved by the official reports and letters of Gen. Scott
well by many witnesses that my official report is
true and have dsproved the motives attributed to
in this specification.
AS to the sixth specification charging that was in
favor of the armistce until after it entered into
have shown it to be false and that General Scott
it when he wrote the charge That he had in his pos
session both oral and written evidence Of my decided
opposition to this unfortunate measure, and that by
my opposition to the nfatuaton under which he then
chased the phantom of peace, incurred his dspeas-
ure (and that of Mr. Trist which was the true
Of our rupture.
In regard to the seventh and eighth specifications
have shown that the language attributed to Clever
made) harmless, and does not admit Of the con-
struction placed upon it by the prosecutor That, if
true it imports no offence, and have actually dis
proved the charge in the eighth specification
to control the paper there referred to by improper
means.
Having thus met these charges of the prosecutor
and shown myself innocent of every accusation
brought against me, it remains for to take glance
at the conduct and motives Of my accuser &C &c &C.
1t may be said that one side of a story is good
till the other is told and therefore we should not
give an opinion on the merits of this case, until
we have perused the statement of the prosecution
This we concede to be good maxim, but it will
not be appropriate to apply it to the case under
consideration, for a very obvious and sound rea-
son. The testimony and statements on the part
of the prosecution, as well General Pillows de-
fence before the Court of Inquiry, were all read
carefully by the members of that Court and that
Court having acquitted General Pillow, we are
bound, by all the principles of justice and equity
having confidence in the justice, impartiality, and
honor of the members of the Court-to believe the
defence. Believing it, therefore, we DO not hest
tate TO say, that General Pillow is much abused
man, and for the cause of right and justice, are
glad that he succeeded so well as he has, in pass
ing the ordeal to which he has been subjected, I'M
scathed. AS TO the Boosting vein which runs
through some of his reports and letters, we do
think that General Scott should not cast the first
stone, until the "soup'' of the Marcy correspon-
dence should be properly digested.
REVOLUTION IN IRELAND-WILL THERE BE ONE!
That there will be a revolution in Ireland, we
think, is nearly certain; but the great difficulty is
% fix the day and date with any degree of exact
ness. We can calculate new moon ; we can
igure up an eclipse; we can guess pretty much
,cculta,ion; but all these are easy in comparison
@ fixing the day of an Irish revolution. Why1
Because the Irish are uncertain, so hesItating,
SO quarresome, SO disunited, that they never can
all be brought to think for one day alike on the
great subject of their nations wrongs.
The French are an admirable people for main