The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-04-24
DAILY CRESCENT.
COURT OF INQUIRY.


" ~ " ~ ! Ae .
Reported for the New Orleans sDaily Cresc entu
We give below the main facts of two DAYS evil
dence, the twenty-third and twenty-fourth, 9th
and 18th of the month"; which, not having come
to hand, Were omitted in our former report
TWENTI-TIiIRD D.4Y-.aprH I1A, 1913.
Lieut.. BENNETT, 18th Infantry, cross-examined
questions By DJeace, cont5aaed-Wtness will state
OF the hill and also into the works OF Chapntepec also
whether there was any firing into the work. INTO the bat
terry below. and INTO the fOie at the base OF the hill Wit
viii stale ms recollection OF the matters in the question
AmAii ;e leaving Cen tlow, passed up the NIL on Its
part OF Chapulepec under heavy lire OF musketry
regiments were all on the hill at the time mixed together
twould have been impossible to form company out OF
been difficult to have formed company of any
glmen When arrived at the entrenelment the Volugenr
the Votigeurs, there; very small flag, with
great stasn it, it received from fifty to sixty balls
TO look the wall small ladder with rounds
We We're waiting at this time ior the ladders. |
waiting for the ladders, ordered Sergeant of the
10Th Infantry back and he the ladders about thirty yards
from the ENHANCEMENT the hl-got one and brought 1t
to me IN the entertainments AS soon as received It, ran
pot tall enough TO reach the hind end OF the lad
der over the wall without the assistance OF The smaller ladder
which spoke OF when speaking OF the flag, and passed
with this small ladder hind end over the back wall AT
this moment the three regiments gave three cheers outside
the third who crossed the adder put the wall
and the seventh the Notification, the best my
knowledge Immediately proceeded across the front yard
and arriving al the OF the building OF Cha
pulepec, the who with commenced firing
tie windows OF the second story and made them
firing could enemy there, and ordered them 10 to
low me mic the front yard As turned corner into the
front yard was fired upon by The enemy on the parape
VINO the end this towards the ctede and one
of the wounded in the shoulder, and the fire
turned and the enemy etreaed proceeded Immediately
to the sandbags OF bombplooi In front OF the building
looked under them to ascertain there was any enemy there
found AT this heard heavy firing under
the hill near the gate and ran to the front wall OF Chapu
of the gate three flies deep which this firing
ordered lire on the enemy from the front wall OF Chapu
iltcatons below The euemy now commenced hiring upon
Chapuiepec from the gardens below, from the brushes and
immediately passed round 10 the end OF tine
building, 1or The purpose OF killing as many as could on
the retreat In passing TO the east end OF the budng,
discovered the steps leading the parapet and
up and took some ten or fifteen men with me- w hen
arrived at the extreme end OF the east parapet discovered
the enemy etreatng the edge OF coed, close 10 the
san Cose road. caused three ines 10 be made on them
by the men mad with me- BY this ne company the
14th Infantry having Cos between my lire euemy
ordered my men 10 cease hlng then returned to Tie
steps leading down Oh Inc parapet when tlee saw 1t
beckett, The Hath Infantry, and 1t. PIche OF the 8t
quarreng, with their swords drawn 10 should hoist
tier flag INST the pole. Cen Pillow passed by
entered the front yard and was lad down upon blanket
something very ike one, on some boards IN small Sized
There Is one thing forgot TO stae we Were iIIed on when
Tie parapet, by from the bushes below be-
passed TOO high over our heads After passed
end sergeant, who was on the top OF the building holding
report tnk could easily nave been the first
there SELF and have put the nag up, but was III search
Witness thought that General Pillow could not
have been far from the work when the firing
ceased. Gen. Pillow was brought In about fifteen
minutes after witness entered the work.
Col. Morgan's regiment was halted three times,
and witness believed the orders to have been given
by Gen. Pillow.
The regiment, in its march across the Pedregal,
was delayed by Gen. Cadwalader's brigade, and
by some troops that advancing to the support
of Magruders battery.
Odd witness that his recollection OF the orders
given the 18th Infantry the Major Woods
A-Witness did so he only asserted that there
not much difference between them.
Q.-Doe witness think that Gen. Scott knew he would be
called TO testify
Ale has reason think The only possible
he might have would be- that he examined by an
officer Gen. SCOTS person, what lie could prove.
Gen. Pillow here insisted upon the name of that officer
being given it was then gwen as Lieut. schuyl taunton
who being Court the time said that he was the persen
and that the statement Oh the witness was correct as lar as
l went
Q-Has witness ever had any conversation with Major
General Pillow on the subject OF Brevets!
A.-No!
much for myself, but my Colonel did not do justice,
and glad of this opportunity to get what did upon
Q.Has the witness ever held any conversation with Maj
Gen. Pillow his staff relative to doing him justice Ii
stale what that conversation was!
Al never have except spoken anything about it.
will state what then passed-it nothing respecting Cha
pultepec ALL it respecting the battle of Churubusco
wounded in that battle Col. Howard spoke well
Of me- and Cen Pierce inserted Lieut. beckett instead OF
take, as Lieut. Beckett not in Col Towards
shed by Gen Fierce and my name not mentioned called
on Cen Pillow as had heard lie mad an original OF the
made by Gen Pierce and has never been corrected
day. To the best OF my knowledge asked HIM to write TO
Washington and have ii corrected or to some prominent pa
ten. Pillow has never offered any thing Tor my benefit
any shape form but instead OF that, have made Cen
Pillow of made out OF the limb cut of by
the bali that struck lnm-7or his galIantry o.... J.,
Captain HOOKER called Tor the Detence-enesttagn ~
Dtenee-Was witness the battle on the 18th ct
August last, and in what capacity!
Al there the capacity OF Assistant AdJutant
General OF the Sd Divson-Nia Gen. Pillows division.
come under the fire OF the enemy bring orders from Gen
Scott to Gen Pillow respecting the continuance OF the road
Engineers the practcabity OF the road made
well as the praecabiity OF continuing the road
where Gen. Pillow standing at the base of the hill
beween the enemy's entrenched camp and San Agusn,
spoke English and reported that the force in front
Ten Valencia that there twenty eight pieces OF
and kAew that the enemy had that number Gen. Pillow
to communicate that information to Gen scott at
Scott some conversation at the dinner table, stated IN sub
stance, that he did send Gen. Pillow out there to fight
dressed TO Gen Pillow which understood to be in reply to
note time before had been sent in, through
before myself from which likewise concluded it was not the
intention of Gen Scott have battle fought on that day
That was given to Nj Rodgers as he had taken IN t
other note suppose and by him handed TO Gen Pillow
Immediately returned MajorGenea Pillow. and commu
ncated him what have stated regard to my CONVERSE
ton with Gen Scott and the letter which Gen Scott re
to me- Gen Pillow then directed me to go forward and TO
ascertain from the engineer officer the field, Wfethef or
not he considered road, up the point at which mel
him. practicable for artillery and wagons IN execution VI
that order rode forwari to ovefake MAJOR e 9I HIN
engineer the field that knew Of aIkeI mn
the road was practicable to that point Tor aefy anu
WAGONS To which he replied. that had ridden oyer lle
road and knew as well he did, words to that effect
then asked him if to fight battle 10 con
time the making of the road To which he made similar
reply All OF which reported to Gen. Pillow immediately
afterwards did not consider that was the bearer OF an
order Gen. Pillow from Gen Scott only communicates
10 him the information had gained at the interview
Q-Witness will please state what he knows concerning
the movements of Col Morgans Regiment on the i9h VINO
gave the order and the time which the order was IN
respect to the arrival of Gen. Scout upon the fed Please
also state the words OF the order ~, NJ. I'll l.:
A~Iwas the bearer OF the order TO Col Morgan with ms
reaimen to move forward after having joined Cen RI
low After this interview with MAJOR smith deliYeTed 1t
in these wos: that by direction OF haorGenera Pillow
Won regiment, move to the support oil General
fadaader he desires move as rapidly as possible as
the enemy einorceents reported to be coming out OF
the CITY which fact will report 10 Cen Cadwalader d.
I'll ed what ha