Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-10-06

To respond 10 Tue TCCCpuOU WIN
which have been met by the authorities OF
Pass Christian and the citizens of Harrison Co.
cannot, indeed, expect TO do justice to the oc-
casion, and feel especially less able 70 offer IN
adequate terms my acknowledgements for the
very natterinp language in which this greeting
has been rendered by the talented citizen who
has Just addressed me 1 can only, therefore,
that The style of my reception here is particular
Il, grateful to my feelings. This simple aud re-
publican manner of meeting my fellow citizens
carries me back to the pleasant scenes Of my
early life was reared from infancy to carly
manhood in the Wcst-among men Of the most
primitive tastes and republican simplicity.
We there frequently met on occasions like
this, to exchange freely our opinions on Nation
al and State affairs, aud to devise measures for
the defence Of our borders, which, at that day, |
the General Government was sometimes unable |
to protect. On those occasions were often col |
lccted, too, those men of lion hearts and iron
nerves, who had not only aided the Father Of
our Country in achieving our Independence,
and stood by his side in many Of bis hard fought
battles, but who afterwards filed, with honor to
our country, conspicuous places in our Legislative
bodies, both National and State. have been
educated in the simple and republican habits so
happily illustrated in this scene, and do not ex-
pect to change them in my old days. You will,
then, understand me when l 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 pagcantry of a reception 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 period gilmore than
forty years, and especially 10 the actions in
which have been engaged during that time,
commencing with the dcicaec Of Fort Harrison,
in 1912, and ending with the battle of Buena
Vista, has awakened within me the most CRATE
full emotions. l feel particularly gra:iied ut the
Just tribute Of praise which you have paid, in
speaking of these services, to the gallant men
whom l commanded on those occasions, and to
whom l feel deeply indebted for our success. Il
claim nothing except the good fortune Of being
the leader of such men on the occasion referred
to; and to their zeal in sustaining me, and to
their bold hearts and strong arms, are we in
dcbted for our victories. The manner in which
YOU have alluded to my being stripped of my
troops on the Rio Grande, and to my being LETT,
ms It might seem, TO the mercy Of tho enemy,
Just before the battle Of Buena Vista, renders il
proper, probably, that should make few re-
marks in relation to the matter. W
| received at Victoria, while on my way to
Tampico--a movement which had advised the
War Department should make, for certain
rcasons-au order from the General in Chief Of
the army, stripping me Of the greater portion
of my command, and particularly Of regular
troops and volunteers well instructed. This or
der was received by me with much SURPRISE
and, must confess, produced the strongest feel
ings of regret, modification and disappointment,
as knew that Santa Anna was within striking
distance Of my line, with an army Of $4,000,
probably the best appointed men ever collected
in Mexico. =
AFTER putting most Of the troops with me at
Victoria en- route for Tampico---tlc largest por.
ton of the commands at Monterey and Saltillo
having been already Withdrawn for the same ul-
inmate destination-I was instructed to return |
10 the former place, where il was expected |
would remain on the defensive, with the small
force then under my orders. few DAYS after
reaching that point learned that the greatest
alarm prevailed among the advance at Sallllo,
in consequence Of the capture at Encarnacion Of
Majors Borland and Gaines, with their party Of
about eighty picked men from the Arkansas
and Kentucky cavalry--iollowed few days at |
teTisards by the capture Of a detachment of
picked men under Capt. Hcady also of the
Kentucky cavalry.
About the same time, received communi-
cation from Gen. Wool then commander at Sal
tilo, urging me TO join him with all the troops
at my disposal, stating that Gen, Santa Anna
was at least preparing, il he was not already en-
route, to strike blow at Satillo ] immediate
~ joined Gen. Wool, with 700 or 500 men, and
n few days afterwards concentrated all the
troops, which were generally cncamped by regi-
ments, and took my position at Aqua Nueva,
in order that all the officers might become bet
ter acquainted with each other and their duty,
and that generally more thorough system of
discipline 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 l do now, was given
at hazard, aud in Ignorance Of my situation, of
that OF tine enemy, and OF the country. 1 de-
cliued to adopt it, and decided to fight the Mex.
lean General Immediately after he had crossed
the desert country which lay just in my front.
and before he could have time TO refresh and
recruit his army, whichl knew would be too
much worn out and dsordered by march OF
$50 miles across this desert without sufficient
provisions and supplies, and with great search
ty of water -. .t .,u,
In this determination, so far as know, was
most cordially sustained by the o'neer: OF my
command About TWO weeks AFTER taxing my
p,i sJvanced parties that Santa Anua WINS 1,
L.,d with b;s nrmv We then fell ba.k 10 m.
- v;st. a ranch some s;x m;le. IN front n,
1880 "