The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-02-14

parments do show with the amounts col
leced American dstngushabe from foreign vessels
and merchandise. - -,
| WASHINGTON, February 10, 1913.
The message was ordered TO lie on the table, and be
printed.
REPORT FROM THE WAR DEPARTMENT
The VICE PRESIDENT laid before the Senate re-
port OF the Secretary of War, made agreeaby to law ac
companled by returns OF the militia OF the United States,
WIN Their arms, accoutremens, and ammunition.
RESOLUTION OF THE LEGISLATURE OF ILLINOIS,
Mr.; BREESE presented preamble and resolution
passed by the Legislature OF the State of Illinois in favor
OF an act granting indemnity to the citizens of that State
who suffered by Indian depredaons during the Black
Hawk war IN 1881 and 1892 which ordered TO be
printed.
PETITIONS.
Mr.. CRlITENDEN presented the memorial of Richard
NJ Johnson, praying compensation for the buildings
erected at his expense for the use OF the Chocow Acad
envy which was referred 10 the Committee Indian
Affairs
Mr.. WESTCOTT presented petition OF citizens of
Milton, IN the State OF Florida, praying thai the public
lands may be divided IN equal proportions ior the free
of the citizens OF the United States which
ered TO the Committee Public Lands, and ordered to
be printed.
Mr.. MILLER presented the memorial of Hezekiah L.
Thistle representing that injustice has been done him by
the Commissioner OF Patents in granting to subsequent
applicant patent for invention claimed by him. and
praying that the Commissioner may he directed by law to
issue patent to HIM Tor sad invention; which was re-
ered to the Committee Patents and the Patent Office
Mr.. CLAYTON sail (: have the honor to present the
memorial OF Passeu Nld-hpman Rogers, asking COM
pensaon Tor losses and Injuries received In the service
OF his country His memorial is couched in terms
modest and unassuming as they respectful TO Con-
gress and gances at the leading incidents of evenu
story OF daring enterprise and heroic ortude, in captivity
and Distress to which there scarcely be found par
alel In the annals of the shall ask of the Senate
that this memorial be printed in order that he may have
the lul benefit OF his own statement and now pro-
pose 10 make few remarks in relation to the claim
which he presents for the purpose OF drawing the
lion of the chairman of the Committee Military Al
II.
cause suppose that Is the committee to whom the me-
mortal may most appropriately be referred This young
officer of the daring few who, in the month of
November, 1916, distinguished for cutting
out aud destroying the Mexican barque, Z" Creole"
then moored under the guns and fastened to the walls
of the fortress OF San Juan de UIloa Subsequent
ly to the destruction of that vessel, the naval com
mander under whom Mr. Rogers served was de irous
that should be made Of the localities in
the vicinity OF Vera Cruz well Tor the purpose oil aid
ing land attack as of destroying the enemys depot OF
ammunition; AMI this young sailor volunteered with
few ohers-a small boats crew-.to perform t',is dan;
gerous service On three successive nights thus small
party penetrated the dense chappaa in the negborhooi
of the city OF Vera Cruz, made complete reconnaissance
OF all the objects of importance which they were sent to
examine, and afterwards reported complete drawings OF
| the localities around the city which were held by Gen.
Worth to be Of great value, he occupied. IN the IN
ve,ment OF the city, the particular spot which was the
subject OF this investigation 1t was during this reconnos-
sance, on the last night OF it, that Mr. Rogers was cap
tured by band of Mexican guards and his capture was
undoubtedly owing his generous impulse in saving
brother officer On that occasion he narrowly escaped
Heath at the moment of his capture, IN consequence OF
the eXaspeated feelings of the Mexicans consequent on
the destruction of the Creole He carried that night
TO prison Vera Cruz, where he remained four days and
nights without susenance, in cell swarmlng with vermn
and where the only intelligence that reached him was that
he had been condemned 10 death spy by civil
buna the sole evidence offered before it being the eff
feet thai he the leader OF the party engaged in cut
ting out and destroying the Creole" He then remained
IN constant expectation of death for many weeks and
when, as he thought, his death-summons was coming,
his only answer TO il the request that he might avoid
the Mexican mode of killing man behind his back, and
meet death American, who could look it in The
face He remained IN that state OF suspense for long
period his Imprisonment at Vera Cruz lasting Tor three
months. For the bloody sentence which
had been recorded against him executed, and
military commission was ordered 10 set upon his case.
When General Scott advancing TO invest Vera Cruz;
Mr. Rogers was marched on foot from that city to Pero,e
and confined in the nOyious cells OF that fortress AS
the American army advanced into Mexico, he again
removed and conveyed to Pupba. All his property had
been lost the wreck of the Somers and that which
conferred NJ him by the hand of friendship charity
was taken from him by the robbers; whilst his life
at the same time in constant peril from the excited
short distance from Pueba, the incensed rabbe stoned
him, and on that occasion also he narrowly escaped
death Owing to this excited state of public feeling, his
of Puebla till midnight, lest he should be pieces
by the exasperaed populace in the city When taken TO
Puebla great peril was he that the foreign residents
OF that State nterceded his behalf, and obtained
order for his removal to the city of Mexico In rags and
wretchedness he marched to the capital, where he
remained prisoner until intelligence OF the battle OF
Cerro Gorjo arrived when General Santa Anna the hero
of the Alamo ordered his victim to be conveyed still fur
Their into the interior knowing that death would be the
consequence of that removal he male successful eo
to escape Always in Infinite peril. he made his way in
Mexican disguise, being often subjected to examination
from bands of guerillas and Mexican guards until he
reached the plains which led him TO Puebla, where
General Scott was preparing with his victorious army
to advance upon the city of Mexico. From his knowl
elge of the localities in the neigh borbood of Mexico
and the numbers and condition of the Mexican forces
| Mr.. Rogers enabled to give valuable in
formation TO the commanderin chief; and his character
Tor courage and intelligence being well known he was
employed "A volunteer aid de-camp by General Pillow
and in all the bloody actions which succeeded, he was
distinguished amongst the bavest of the brave The
dispatches of the commanding general, whose aid ne
was, fully attest his character for skill and gaantry and
recommend hun, in the strongest terms 10 the notice O
the Comman ler-in chief bestowing upon HIM high
euIogiums as any other officer of his division En-
gagged in all the other actions the field, Mr.. Rogers
was particularly distinguished for his conduct. his
brother officers relate in the stormng OF Chapultepec
where he of the who first mounted The
walls OF that fortress, and planted the standard OF his
country ''the halls of the Montezumas The sailo
has returned from the wars; but brevet commits
sion awaits him. because the deck not the felc
of his fame. He has earned his surels upon the land
but although promotion may not attend him for the
service which he performed upon land, his claims fo
justice strengthened by thus service; and the onl,
object which have in view this OCCASION is com
mend his claims for sheer Justice to the consideration OF thu
Committee on Military Affairs. think that a stronger
case could scarcely be presented for the consideration
an American Congress. do not undertake to point on
the mode measure of redress which the demands
h leave that TO the ability, the patriotism, the benevo
nj thp pptIp nj w.