The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-01-01

Msxcan Affairs.
doRR OF THE DTRvIcULry IN THE cAMP--rHE
rA7rIco LETTER.
From thu EsnnUlvanian, Dec. 81
The fooxin! ssti: IL the M Me- .a~s
ran Of Genera ssos ssd It's ststsmsnts may, there
Ore be put down q "by authority" The auson 10 to
he Tampico letter published by US on the 2eth inst
THE DUNCAN LETTER For the sake Of decency, we
regret that the author Of this unfortunate production
made himself known to the Ulcers and soldiers Of
The American army and that Brsvet Colonel James
Duncan is the man. That the letter Is erroneous and
one sided, unprejudiced man will deny, and in
knowledging its authorship, we conceive that Colonel
Duncan has committed error which 1t will take him
years of long service to repair.
Colonel Duncan Says 10 his letter to the editor
the statements made 80 be true. We doubt the fact
any ocer knowing their TRUTH and say here that the
letter mot only but one that y M 70
earned merit Of the other divisions Of the army, and
give all credit to one. SO far as the battle OF Churu
busco Is concerned will state that in company with
Mr. Kendall, Of the N. O. PicGyune, the convent
at that place assaulted and carried by Storm carried
while the guns Of Colonel Duncsns battery were play
In making the above remarks have 70 intention Of
detracng from the merit Of Cen Worths division for
many corps Of that division behave them
selves before tho enemy In manner that has ELECTED
the applause of their countrymsn In the battle referred
charged upon the snsmys left in the most saant syi
A so~v this charge could be psodsctive Of any bens-
.ss carried b. sos. portions Of the srmy who are
IN Col puncsns letter. V have only approached and
We do not conceive for moment, that the statement
made by the editor Of the North that the
letter was written to fisnd and intended for the eye
cf that friend alone'e ut all paation cf the errors
set down in It, In fact we look upon it rather an
aggravaton Of them for that friend looking upon hose
statements as being made in all the honesty and truth
Of friendship would not only at give them publici
ty but would vouch for their correctness thus
the weight and influence of his character into the seae
d rk. r1oAf h.
ducsd in the efrusion which Col. Duncan has acknow
lodged himself tue author of, will cell on Maj Gen
Riley, Clarke, Garland and ali other officers who from
their exposed position were cognzant OF
document of the nature of the one alluded to- Is in
every way hurtful IL not only conveys false impreg
sion to people at home but tends to cast dscred
official statsmens whe published win scarcely be sur
fcient to oounteract its evil Effects for every person
knows the first impression is always the strongest and
hardest to too from so guished
source a. Col. Duncan. To use the severe but just
language of Gensralin Chief the indignation Of all
honorable men cannot fall to bring down tho conceited
and envous to their proper level.'
The Mexican North .Qmerican of the 10th, edited by
The
ding words of the editorial comment sharp enough
for the press In the States and the whole sheds
good deal of light upon the topics which sgitste the
'he following letter speaks itself We cannot blu.
think that the question had been better settled out Of
than in the newspapers but when press assails cit
zen. he has undoubtsd right to defend himself We
notice that the paper which has assumed this relation
towards ocer Of the army, has corrected Its blum
dsrs, and have remarks to make In regard to
It's statements of Tuesday Is 1t not singular that gen.
tsmsn appeal to their enemies for proofs that should
We have no feelings In this matter and only actu
ated by desirs to serve all alike as an Independent s
tor always will hCol Duncan BY assumiug the reepon'
sbity Of the Pittsburgh letter has done injury to
the service, those who make his conduct theme FOL
newspaper structures know very well that the regula
lions provide the proper be pursued Ws pro-
test against this apparent attempt to hang first
Cry Of MEXICO, Nov II, ls47.
To EDITOR THE NORTH AMERICAN:
sIR-An article that appeared in the .amsrican Sta
Of this morning. requires that name should agall
most reluctantly appear In your paper.
Two considerations prompt me to notice the articl
paper in which 10 appears; and secondly the posto,
OF the writer, who IL generally believed not to be tn
The writer states that in company with Mr. kendall
Of tho Picsyxne he the Convent at Churubusco
Playing upon The bridge
MARX how plain tale shall set him down.
1t is fact susceptible of the most uhequivoca proef
that Col Duncans battery did not FIRE .hot at the
This battery was not put in position to FIRE at all till
from ten to fifteen minutes after the bridge head fell
Mr.. Kendall stood by the side of Col Duncans bstte-
terry from the time it put In position till the white
flag was hung out from the Convent.
Again, the Star says" The 9Th and several other
corps Of infantry charged upon the enemy's eft but
before this charge could be productive Of any beneficial
result to our arms the Convent Of Churubusco
Az before stated the bridge head had fallen from ten to
fifteen minutes before Col Duncans battery put In
position Twenty rounds were fred from gum
could not therefore, have fallen till ut least twenty nj
mites Of er the fall of the bridge head instead Of before
IL, as the Star states.
do not wish the foregoing statemen to be taken a.
mere random assertions. i am prepared to prove them
by numerous disnterested eye-witpesses Of as high
standing any officers in this army; indeed entertain
a he Wrif oft ha
tce In the Star whose errors Of statement doubtless
only the result of mistaken impressions.
The writer for the Star calls Gems Pillow Twiggs
Shields and Smith, ~ well as Coils Riley, Clarke and
Garland to testify that erroneous Impressions were
intended to be produced" by the Tampco letter. This
is certainly appealing to high authority and II these
gentlemen sustain his appeal 1t must be acknowledged
that this part Of his case Is made out.
The Star further states that the Tampico letter "ends
to cast dscredt upon subsequent statements of other
writer's" 1t will be very likely to do IL subsequent
statsments are written rs incautiousy as the OF
this morning
refrain from making any comments on the tone and
temper Of the article In question: no good come of
IT. speaks for itself The writer has followed
ceedDgly bad example and trust when he has occa-
zion to assai anybody else he will be Of his facts
and his tenperthey are of infinite value to great men
Aud is to be hoped that good taste as well as good
policy viii prevent him again quoting from order No
OF all will 1t be forgotten by Its ilustrious author.
Very .1sspsstf%Iy yCrT qbsdisnt servant rvs,
p S-Slnce writing the above, have seen the Star
Of the sth containing certificates from Mexican off,
GERS (prisoners at the time they evep in relation
Those prisoners now relessedor doubtless bundle Of
certificates might be procured from them proving any
at Of tbs state ar. te sorupuous sbent
such small matters. The wonder Is not that the Next
can officers gave but that they should have
been asked or permitted to give them Certificates from
BUR own officers could be procured telling quite diff
Isrent story-but have no disposition to agtate this
Whether n He'd