The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-04-12
From the New Orleans Delta
Proceedings OF the Court Of Iaquiry.
SECOND DAY-MARcH I6. ISIS.

| Gen Scott and said that he present for the
purpose OF hearing anything that could be said against
nm regarding the appeal, which, if he understood cor
5ecty had been placed upon the records Of the court
Inc General then produced paper, which, he said, with
the consent OF the court he intended read, relating TO
the arrest of Lieut. Col Duncan He remarked that he
did not consider it bar in any proceeding regarding any
and all charges brought against him He stood, then,
ready to meet any accusaonphy strong, well
as morally strong he felt conscious
The President OF the court here interposed and Gen
Scott sat down. letter then read as follows by
the Judge Advocate:
HEADQUARTERs OF THE FIRST DIVISION
| Tacubaya, Mexico, March IA, 1913.
10 Ge" AZ Iomson, president Of fhe Court Of Inquiry.
Of the ariy the President ha. done
me full and ample justice In view of the and
which made in that appeal against Major Gen Scott
have the honor to be- very respectfully your obedenl
(Sgned) w. j. WORTH Bvt. Mai, Gen.
The court then closed and remained shut for some
time On the doors being again opened it announced
by the Judge Advocate $50 undersood that proceed
ngs TOR the present in this would be stayed until
next day. also, that all motions and points should be
submitted in writing.
The latter decision was objected to by Gen Scott on
the ground OF the time and inconvenience he would be
subject to, If obliged to commit to writing every ques
hon that would arise in the different turns the proceed
ings might take.
1t was here ntimated by the court, that there were
no objections, the proceedings in the of Gen Scott
would be stayed for the present and proposed to proceed
General Scott said that he would require short time
OF the court to reduce to writing the few remarks made
by hun before leaving the court He desired those re-
marks to be placed upon the records, with few more
remarks he about to utter when he stopped by
the court II would the aecessity of other proceed
no aEa he bs o e a Of the
had disposed of that OF Lieut. Col Duncan He said he
had prepared what he had to say in that in writing,
knowing how difficult it was for the most intelligent
porter and he understood there several presently to
catch every point submitted.
The court made remarks, to which Gen Scott re-
Piled that his object was in pressing the case, to
time to the court
An objection was here raised by Lieut. Col Duncan,
who was understood to say that the court was
gained to inquire into the of Mai Gen Scott alone
and could not take up his Col Duncan's without
being specially qualified for that purpose.
The court was understood to assent.
proposition made by Gen Scott to read the pa
per relating to the charges preferred against Lieut. Col
Duncan; but the court decided against the proposition
Gen; Pillow rose and said he insisted that his case
should be proceeded in. He prepared for it, and de-
sired that he might have at once opportunity of vnd
eating himself. He was the anxious because of
the now strong probabilities Of peace He into the
service under law that would in of peace require
him to go promptly out of it and, if his put
OH might extend beyond the period that he would be
not proceed first with the case of Lieut. Col Duncan
The court suggested that the of Gen. Scott should
first be settled but after further discussions it
determined it should be laid aside until next dav in order
to allow Gen. Scott to place upon the record the paper
above referred to. The court also determined proceed
n.1m,ediaieiy with the case Of Lieut. Col Duncan Gen.
was likely to consume much time, would be laid aside
and his case taken up.
Gen. Scott then read the following paper:
Mr. President and gentlemen of the Court DESIRE
der permission, make the following statement in pres
and hearing of Brevet Lieut. Col Duncan which may
the time of this court, well that of the parties
before it,
have laid two charges with specification under each
his part OF an old general regulation of the army repub
States January g. l847 against the publication in
papers, &c, Of unauthorized letters reports an ar
my in the ed pending the campaign to which they
tary authority strictly to enforce.
As principal the time of the peace har-
mony, and discipline OF the army, thought it my duty to
arrest Breve Lieut. COL Duncan for publication Of that
10 the Peen Of he IN
order that ne appoint Gas no other could) general
proper, admitted certain, and specific fact order
an inquiry into and not trial OF tho matter it clearly
difference subject therefore Withdraw that charge
and its specification and utterly decline, without further
orders IRON the President to prosecute it before this
The second charge and specification which thought
my duty but most reluctantly, prefer against the
gallant officer, relates matters Of fact therein set FORTH
quoted from the same letter. repubshed here under his
Hoping and believing that the statements made in that
letter, however injurious the truth his
tbs want of information, and from intention TO
nisrepesent facts, courieously staff officer
that second charge and its specifications, intending to
point him The of fact his eiter-to refer to
pledged myself through the messenger that if the
personal interview should result in benefit to the lieu
tenant colonel it should by possibility, if could pre-
vent it, work an injury to him before any My
quest was coureously declined @
desire to give to Lieut.. Colonel Duncan another
opportunity OF saying whether he ignorant the
time of writing the letter in question: of the facts ls That
long before leaving Puebla for this basin in August last
had been my bias and expectation that the army
would be obliged to approach the Mexican capital the
left, south about of the lakes Chalco and Xochi
mco; I'd. That after general headquarters had reached
Ayotla August llth, had shown equs, soctude to
anlth eOff haI
Penon and Mexicacingo; 3D., That besides sending from
Ayoua, August 18th, oral instructions TO Bvt Mai Gen
WORTH push further inquiries from Chalco the char
OF the soutEernmost route, (around the Iakes)
that August 18th, to that general written
to the effect, from the place, my quarters
Ayola 4h, That during stay there, from the Ilh to
the 18th of August, sent Mexican of intelligence from
Ayotla independent of Bvt Maj Gen Worth, all around
the village of Xochinco, report to whether any
change had taken place in that route either in the
of artificial deences from OVERLOOKING OF the lakes
and 5t That in the evening oil the 18th of the month";
caused Capt Mason, of the engineers be to
proceed the morning the headquarters of Bvt Mai
Gen. WORTH at Chaco in order his being employed in
the southern route which
apain found himself anticipated by the accommodating par
" under Lieut. Col Duncan who had already, several
hours BEFORE advanced by orders OF the said general
under my repeated instructions, that service.
am aware, Mr.. President that have right call
upon Lieut. Col Duncan before this give either
general or specific answer to those points He is therefore
his silence ought not and in law, operate his
prejudice here or else where but if he the inter
pelation in the affirmative, saying that he was Ignorant OF
the material facts asserted above, stand ready to with
its specifications which have preferred against him.
f'' WINFIELD SCOTT.
Lieut.. Col Duncan then wrote and submitted the fol-