Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-01-07
MISCELLANEOUS.

MISCELLANEOUS.
We publish the following from The Pennsylva
nian, as calculated TO throw some light upon a
subject, in which The public takes painful iD,e
rest:
THE TAMPICO LETTER.
The following article appeared in The Mexican
American Star of November II. The Star j.
The official organ Of General Scott, and its stale
ments may therefore be put down as "by authori
ty." The alluSion is 10 the Tampico letter, pub
lshed by US on the 29th instant:
TaE DUNCAN LETrER.-For the sake of de.
cency, we regret that The author of this unforlu.
nate production has made himself known TO The
officers and soldiers of the American Army, aud
that Brevet Colonel James Duncan is the man.
That the letter is erroneous and one. sided, no un
prejndiced man will deny, and, in acknowledging
It's authorship, we conceive that Colonel Duncan
has committed an error, which ii will take him
years OF long service 70 repair.
Colonel Duncan says in his letter TO the Editor
OF the North American, that many officers in the
Army know the statements made 10 be true. We
doubt the fact OF any officer KNOWING their truth,
and say here that the letter IS not only incorrect
but one that is calculated 10 prejudice The public
mind, and TO deract from the well-earned merit oil
the other divisions Of the army, and give all credit
cerned, we will state that, in company with Mr..
Kendall, Of the New Orleans Picayune, we saw
the convent at that place assaulted and carried by
storm, carried while the guns of Colonel Duncan's
battery we're playing upon the bridge head.
In making the above remarks we have no in
tention oil detracting from the merit of General
Worth's Division, for we have seen many corps
ofthat Division behave themselves before the enc.
my in a manner tina, has elected the applause of
In tha hoffl oJ ho
9th, and several other corps of the Infantry,
charged upon the enemys left in the most gal
LIANT style, bnt before this charge could be produce
tive of any beneficial results TO our arms the
convent OF Churubusco was carried by those por-
lions OF the Army who are stated in Col. Dun.
cans letter. to have only APPROACHED and
suffered severely.
We do not conceive for moment that the
statemeu, made By the editor of The NORTH dmer,-
ean-"that the letter was written TO friend, and in
tended for theeye of that friend alone"-is at all
a pallaton Of The errors set down in it. In fact,
we look upon il as rather an asgravalion of them;
for that friend, looking upon those statements as
being made in all the honesty and truth o, friend
ship would not only at once give them publicity,
but would vouch for their correctness; thus throw.
ing the weight and influence OF his character into
the scale.
That an erroneous impression is intended TO be
Acknowledged himself The author of, we will call
on Maj Gen. Pillow, Brig. Gems. Twiggs, Smith,
ami Shields, Coils. Riley Clarke, Garland, and
ali Other officers who, from their exposed position,
were cognZant OF the operations, 10 testify.
A document Of The nature OF the one alluded to
is in every way hurul Il not only CONVEYS
false impression 10 our people al home, but !,
tends to cast discredii upon subsequent statements
OF other writer's. Even the official Statements
L,l ,v;n ha
contract its evil effects; for, as every person knows
the first impression is always the strongest and
hardest to notwithstanding, too, from so dis
,inguished a soufce as Col. Duncan. To use
lhe severe bnt Just language OF the General.in
Chief. "lhe indignation OF all honorable men can
no, fail 10 bring down the conceded and envious
10 their proper level"
edited by our friend Totey, who, by the way,
publishes mos, valuable paper, furnishes the
following reply. The concluding wotds OF the
editorial commen, are sharp enough even Tor the
press ain the S;a,cs;" and the whole sheds good
deal of light upon the topics which asi;atc The
army:
"The following letter speaks for itself. We
cannot but think that the question had been bet
ter settled out OF than 10 the newspapers; but
when press assails citizen, he has au undoubi-
ed right 10 defend himself. We notice that the
an officer OF the army has corrected It's blunders,
and so we have no remarks 10 make in regard 10
It's statements OF Tuesday. Is it not singular
that gentlemen appeal 10 their enemies for proofs
that should have been ELECTED from ffends2
ave have no feeling in this matter and are on
ly acualed by desire 10 serve all alike, as an
independent editor always will. II Col. Duncan,
BY assuming The responsibility OF the Pittsburgh
letter. has done an injury 10 the service, those
,Ia for
structures, know very we'll that The regulations
provide toe proper course 10 be pursued. We pro-
lest against this apparent attempt 10 hang man
frs, and try him afterwards:
CRY OF Mgxico. Nov IT, 1S47.
T1the Editor Of the North Ameyiean:
SIR-An article that appeared in the American
Star of this morning, requires that my name
should again most reluctantly appear in your pa.
per.
Two considerations prompt me TO notice the ar
licle referred to: frstly-the semi-ofcial charac-
ter Of the paper in which il appears; and second.
iy-the position OF The writer, who is generally
believed not TO be the nominal editor.
The writer states that, ain company with Mr.
Kendall of the Picayune, he sau the Convent al
Churubusco assaulted and carried by Storm
red ,ohic the guns of Col. Duncan's battery, scere
olaung upon The bridge head"
GMark how plain tale shall sci him down."
II is fact susceptible OF The most unequivocal
proof that Duncan's battery did not f'c shot al
The bridge head.
This battery was not pu. in position TO fire at
all, Till from ten to fifteen minutes after The bridge
A.ad fell.
Mr.. Kendall stood by the side Of Col. Duncan's
battery from the time il was put in position III! The
,uhls flag was hung oul from the Convent.
AGAIN, the Star says-"The 9th and several
other corps of infantry charged upon the enemy's
let but bsfnrc this charge could be productive OF
anv benefeial result 10 our arms, the Content OF
CHuru5useo ioas carried" &c.
As before stated, the bridge head had fallen
from fen 10 fifteen minutes before Col. Duncan S
battery was put in position. 1tosnty sersn 'o's"d,
were fired from one gun, which must have taken
.ome little time;-lhe Convent could moi, there.
fone have fallen till at least twenty minutes otter
The fauof the bridge had instead OF before IT. as
the Star states.
do NOT wish the foregoing statements 10 be
taken as mere random assertions. am prepared
~ nrove them by numerous distnfsressed eye'wit'
nesses of as high standing as any ofhcefs IN lnls
army. indeed, | entertain no doubt lhat can
even convince the writer of The article IN the
CIR whose errors of statement doubtless are on
H. The resnlt of mistaken impressions.
Ths wr;ter for the Star calls on Gems. Pillow,
,,s;ao. Shields AID Smith, as well as COLONIES
p;I.s Clarke and Garland TO ",estiiy" thai
ns..oneons impressions tocre intended TO be
.sadncedn nv The Tampico letter. This is GER
ipa;niu snneaI;ns 10 high authority, aud II these
gentlemen sustain his appear, II 4us. 1e o.,
lodged that this part OF his case IS maae oa ,.,
The STA, further states that Inc Iamp,.o ,.
Ter ttsnd. to sass dsersdt upon suossqueh' ''A'''