The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1848-10-09

less able to offer in adequate terms my ack-
nowledgement for the very flattering language
in which this greeting has been rendered by
the talented citizen who has just addressed me-
| can only, therefore, offer you my warmest
thanks, and assure you that the style of my
reception here is particularly grateful to my
feelings. This simple and republican manner
of meeting my fellow citizens carries me back |
10 the pleasant scenes of my early life. ] was
reared from infancy to early manhood in the
West-among men of the most primitive
tastes and republican simplicity, we there fire.
quently met on occasions like this, TO exchange
freely our opinions on National and State al
fairs, and TO devise measures for the defence
of our borders, which at that day the General
Government was sometimes unable TO protect.
On these occasions were often collected, too.
those men of iron hearts and iron nerves who
had not only aided the Father OF our Country
in achieving our independence, and stood by
his side i'm many ofhis hard fought battles. but
who afterwards filled, with honor to our coun-
try, conspicuous places in our legislative bod
les, both National and State. have been ed
ucated in the simple and republican habits so
happily illustrated in this scene, and do not
|expect to change them i'll my old days. You
will then understand me when / assure you
again, that the manner of my reception here
is more agreeable to my feelings and taste than
could be all the pomp and pageantry OF re-
ception at the most splendid Court of Europe.
The complimentary language in which you
have been pleased to allude to my military SER
vices, which now embrace a period OF more
than forty years, and especially to the actions
in which have been engaged during that time,
commencing with the defence of Fort Harrison,
in 1912, and ending with the battle of Buena
Vista, has awaken within me the most CRATE
full emotions. feel particularly gratified at
the just tribute Of praise which you have paid,
in speaking of these services, to the gallant
men whom | commanded on those occasions,
and to whom / feel deeply indebted for our
success. | claim nothing save the good for
tune of being the leader of such men on the
occasion referred to; and TO their zeal in sus-
tanning me, and to their bold hearts and strong
arms, are we indebted for our victories. The
manner in which you have alluded to my be-
ing stripped of my troops on the Rio Grande,
and to my being left, as 1t might seem, at the
mercy Of the enemy, just before the battle OF
Buena Vista, renders it proper, probably, that
| should make few remarks in relation 10 that
matter l received at Victoria, while on my
way to Tampico-a movement which had ad-
vised the War Department should make, for
Chief of the army, stripping me of the greater
portion of my command, aud particularly Of
| my regular troops and volunteers well instruc-
ted. The order was received by me with much
surprise, and, | must confess, produced the
strongest feelings of regret, modification and
disappointment, as | knew that Gen. Santa
Anna was within striking distance OF my line,
with an army of Is, 900, probably the best ap-
pointed one ever collected in Me xico. After
putting most Of the troops then with me al
Victoria en- route for ampico-the larger por-
ton of the commands at Monterey and Saltil-
10 having been already Withdrawn for the same
ul timate desiination--l was instructed TO return
| TO the former place, where it was expected
would remain on the defensive, with the small
force then under my orders. A few days after
reaching that point, learned that the greatest
alarm prevailed among the advance at Saltillo,
in consequence of the capture at Encarnacion
| of Majors Borland and Gaines, with thei party
| of about eighty picked men from the Arkansas
and Kentucky cavalry-folowed few days
| afterwards by the departure of a detachment oil
picked men under Capt Heady, also of the
Kentucky cavalry.
| About the same time received communi-
cation from Gen. Wool, then commanding at
Saltillo, urging me to join him with all The
| troops at my disposal, stating that Gen. Santa
Anna was at least preparing, if he was not al
ready cn route, to strike a blow at Sdltillo
Immediately joined Gen. Wool with 700 or 500
men, and few days afterwards concentrated
all the troops, which were generally encamped
by regiments, and took my position at Aqua
Nueva, In order that all the Ulcers might be-
come better acquainted with each other and
their duty, and that generally more thorough
| system of disci pline and instruction could be
adopted to prepare all hands for service. While
here, | was advised by the War Department
and the General in chief TO occupy Monterey.
This advice believed then, as do now, was
given at hazard, and in ignorance of my situa-
| ton, of that of the enemy, and OF the country
| declined 10 adopt it, and determined 10 fight
| the Mexican General Immediately after he
crossed tn desert country which lay just in
my front, and before he could have time TO re-
fresh and organize his army, which l knew
| would be much worn out and disordered by a
| march of l50 miles across this desert without
sufficient provisions and supplies, and with a
great scarcity of water. In this determination
| so far as ] know, was most cordially sustain
ed by the officers OF my command About tw o
weeks after taking my position at Aqua Nueva,
ii was ascertained by my advanced parties that
Santa Anna was at hand with his army. We
then fell back 10 Buena Vista, ranch some
six miles in front of Saltillo, where we took
up strong position, and where we could east
ly communicate with our depot in the latter
place. Upon this ground determined TO give
battle. The enemy arrived in our front on the
morning of the 23d, and summoned me TO SUR
| render at discretion about one o'clock of the