The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1848-05-05
Another Letter from Gen. Scott...IIi.
Charges against the War Department.

Another Letter from Gen. Scott..-IIis
Charges against the War Department.
The Philadelphia News publishes a three
column letter from General Scott TO the War
Department, in which he enumerates all the
various causes of complaint he has had from
the time he left Washington to the period of
his suspension from the command Of the army.
We, however, have only room for few ex-
tracts:
/ MExIco Feb. oath, l84S.
i Sir-On the 18th instant, received your
two letters of the 18th ultimo, and immediate
lis issued the general order No 59-a copy en-
misunderstanding the command of the army in
Mexico upon Maj. Gen. Butler.
i As the officers detailed for the court OF in
lquiry, before which am ordered to appear as
a criminal, are not known to have arrived in
the country, laval myself of a moments leis
ure to recall some Of the neglects, disappoint
ments, injuries and rebukes, which have been
inflicted upon me by the War Department
since my departure from Washington, Novem-
Der 23d, 1916.
| To me the business of recrmination. how
ever provoked, has ever been painful. In this
summary, shall, therefore, indulge in no wan
tonnes OF language, but confine myself TO ma
ked historical facts, leaving conclusions to men
of sense and candor.
Early in the following January, asked that
a general court martial might be appointed, on
the part Of the President, for the trial of two
officers. (named BY me) for conduct each had
committed that endangered, in high degree,
the success of the impending campaign, and
Especially referred to the anomalous and fatal
act Of Congress, May 20, 1880, which prohib-
lifted me, as the "accuser or prosecutor" from
ordering the court for the trial of the cases.
My application has never been noticed. This
neglect, alone, ought early 10 have admonished
me that had no hope Of support at Washing
ton. in any attempt might make against GER
tain officers,) TO maintain necessary discip-
line in the army was about to lead into the
field.
Here follows an enumeration of the various
Idisappointments in respect to transports, seige
trains, and ordnance stores, he had expert
enced. He then alludes to the ten regiment
bill; which was passed February IL, 1917, and
Isays:-
"My distress may be conceived, by any sol
dier, on learning at Jalapa, April, 81, that the
whole Of that force had been sent under Brig
adler General Cadwallader, TO the Rio Grande
frontierl'
| Ii is not extravagant to say that, if Brigadier
General Cadwalader's forces had not been di-
rected by me to the Rio Grande, where he was
made to lose, without any benefit to Major
Gen. Taylor, much precious time, might have
easily taken this city in the month Of June,
and at one-fifth of the loss sustained in August
and September. The enemy availed himself
Ill.
TRIBE, to organize and discipline, his forces, as
also, to erect numerous and powerful defences
with batteries. Nearly all those extraordinary
prepara tons for our reception were made after
the middle of June. And it is known that the
news of the victory of Buena Vista reached
washington In time to countermand Cadwalla-
ders orders for the Rio Grande, before his de-
parture from New Orleans, Two rifle compa-
lnes with him; received the countermand there,
and joined me early.
The letter then proceeds to quote from sew
leral dispatches TO the War Department, in
which, he complained bitterly of the treatmen,
he had received, which, he adds, were sent off
by the same conveyance with my despatch No.
30, and the charges against Brevet Mai. Gen
Worth, Major General Pillow, and Brew Lieut.
Col. Duncan, together with the appeal against
me OF the former. All these are acknow led
ICED by the Department in the same Letter, dat
led Jan. IL, that recalls me.
IL was that budget of papers that caused the
blow OF power, so long suspended, to fall on a
devoted head. The three arrested officers, and
he who had endeavored TO enforce necessary
discipline against them, are all TO be placed
together be lore the same court. The innocent
and the guilty, the accuser and the accused, the
Judge and his prisoners, are all dealt with a
like. Most impartial Justice! But there is a
rrFfnrtn af Il Il
parties are on trial--if the appealer is to Be
tried at all, which seems TO be doubtful-two
are restored to their corps-one of them to his
orevet rank-and am deprived of my com
mands. There can be but one step more in
the same dir.ction:-throw the rules and arti-
cles OF war into the fire, and leave all ranks in
The army Tree to engage in denunciations and q
general scramble for precedence, authority and
Executive favors. The pronuncia mento on the
: part OF my factious Juniors, is most trium.
plant.
% My recall--under the circumstances a severe
re punishment before trial-but 10 be followed BY
trial here; that may run into the autumn
and on matters lam but partially permitted tC
know by the department and my accusers, i.
very ingeniously placed on two grounds L. Nj,
own request, meaning that of June a, QUOTED
: above. and was no other befo the department
p which had been previously July l2) acknowl
= edged and rebukingy declined. g. The ar
e rest of Brevet Major General Worth for writ
1t ing TO the department "under the pretext ant
D. form of an appeal" an open letter, to be sen
r. through me, in which was gross and falsel,
, accused of "malce" and conduct unbecominl
J, an officer and gentleman" in the matter o
. the general order, No. 349, on the subject o
y putting letters for the new papers at home.
On that second point, the letter from the de
i pertinent, of January 13, is more than ingeni
II ons-it is elahorafe subtle and nrnfonnd-;