The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-07-11
WASHINGTON, July 9, lS4S
FINDING of the Military Court of Inquiry-Genc
rails Scott and Pillop

WASHINGTON, July 9, lS4S
FINDING of the Military Court of Inquiry-Genc-
rails Scott and Piliow.
Twas in error in stating the other day that the
Court of Inquiry had been dismissed, as 1t is COM
PEELED to await the PRONUNCIATION of the Presidents
decision. II might occur that the President, not
agreeing with the finding Of the court, would send
1t back for further elaboration, in which case the
court would be obliged to resume its sttings In
the present case, however, nothing of the kind
will arise, the President intends confirming Its
decision, and is merely allowing decent period
to elapse before doing so. The court as l before
stated, has acquitted General Pillow upon every
espA-ge. With reference to the charge that Pillow
fnsaeavored to appropriate the credit due to the
plan OF attack upon Contreras, which the prosecutor
claimed as of right belonging to him, the court
hnd that General Pillow, acting on his own judy
ment, commenced that battle, and that General
Scott, when he arrived the field, acquiesced in
the movements which had been made. The court
does not deny that General Scott would have and
probably did Int nd TO order precisely the same
movement /; but there being no proof of his having
communicated his views to General Pillow, they
consider the latter being entitled to his need of
praise. The court Is also OF opinion that General
Pillow, his official account of the battle did not
do justice TO General p Smith, that officer also
originated, In his own mind, the same plan did
Generals Scott and Pillow In fact, the court ap-
pears TO think that no very great amount of praise
Is due TO the or glnators OF the plan 1t the
only sensible that could have been pursued,
and seems 10 have presented itself to the minds of
several general officers at the same time The
court is particularly severe upon General Scott,
and accuses him OF permitting his personal preju-
dices, and dIshkes 10 warp his mind and do injus-
tice TO General Pillow 1t refers to General SCOTS
dispatches, in which Pillows name is frequently
mentioned with laudatlOns, and considers the at
tempt made by the prosecutor to show that such
laudaions were undeserved as having signally
failed.
it stated in several papers that the court is
to meet again TO try General Scott upon charges
preferred by Pillow. 1t may be so, but such
Information has yet been communicated to the
court, and Lam inclined to tEink-and upon pretty
good authority too-wi not be. General Pillow
now stands In a better position before the country
than he has ever previously done, and the only
effect which could be achieved by prosecuting
charges against General Scott, would be to raise
up sympathy for HIM at the expense of Pillow.
General Pillow stands before the country as
an ill-used man, and attempt to blacken General
Scotts character can in nowise add to the repu-
tatlon of the former. Independent of this, these
Co lrts Of Inquiry perfect farces, with which
people have already been surfeited, and the powers
that be will scarcely risk another dose.
Whilst upon tins matter may well refute
error which prevails pretty generally, namely
that General Pillow formerly law partner
OF Mr.. Folks. This is not the case. They never
were connected IN any way They were both
brought up IN the same town, and were intIm te
frienC 8, that all. General Pillow stands at the
head OF the bar in his native place, where he en-
joys &C Cd rtputaioo Tor alb lty. OMEGA.