Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1848-05-13
TRIAL OF GENERAL PILLow,

18th, the twenty-fifth day Of the session Of
the court. The whole evidence, in lis pres
ent stage, is to prove that General Pillow
does not deserve the credit Of planning the
battle Of Contreras. The details are too long
lor the crowded state Of our columns, and we
therefore give synopsis, embracing some Of
the points Of interest: u'et t1
/ Captain Taylor's testimony was very clear.
/ ly against the claim of Gen. Pillow. of having
planned the battle of Contreras. He saws. ~
asked him [the night before the bat,lej how
things looked. He replied, badly. He said
the position was very strong, too strong to be
attacked, and that he was going to report
that fact to Gep Scott, adyisisg him to leave
it, and get in the rear Of San Antonio" Ra-
ther strange opinion for one who had plan
ned the attack
Lieut. Beauregard testified that in con:
sultation Of general and staff officers, at Pie.
dad, Gen Scort expressed decided prefer
ence for attacking Chapultepec, in preference
10 the Garita of San Antonia, but that Gen,
Pillow preferred AN attack on the latter, al
though OH the evening before he had said to
him that the time for attacking the latter had
passed.
John H Peoples, of the American Star,
gave some details of conversation between
himself and Gen. Pillow, in reference to MIR.
Peoples previous notice Of intention to pub
lish the Leonidas letter, with such comments
as he thought it deserved Gen. Pillow said
to him
You must recollect, as said before, that
never forget my friends nor forgive my ene-
mics. At that time the late Capt. Smith, Sd
Infantry, came in, aud the conversation stop
ped After Capt. Smith had left the room,
asked Gen. Pillow if he would allow me to
take that letter which he had addressed, but
not sent to me, that he could shape contra
diction, as he authorised, from. He reminded
me again, when got up to leave the room
that he was second in command, and if Gen
Scott should so home, Or anything were to
happen him. he then would take command of
the army.
The substance of Lieut. Tiltons testimony
is comprised in the following paragraph:
On or about the 22d of Sept, I, together
with another officer, paid a visit of ceremony
to Gen. Pillow. Upon that occasion, the con-
velsation turned upon the battles preceding
our entrance into the city. Major Gen. Pill
low stated to us that the battle of Molino del
Rey was au unfortunate affair; he informed
us that he had lost $50 men, which loss we
(meaning the general ofiicers) sedulously con-
cealed from the army, lest it might have a
dispirting effect on the men, and that Gen.
Scott was stunned or paralysed by this loss
and consequently, upon himself as second in
command, devolved the subsequent move
ments-or words to that effect: do not re-
collect exactly the words used was also
given to understand at the same time, by
Gen. Pillow, that the conception, as well as
the execution, Of the assault upon Chapulte-
pee, originated with himself. With the en-
cepton Of some personal compliments on our.
selves and the Voltigeur regiment, that was,
believe, the substance of the conversation.
Mr.. Trist thus runs a tristful thrust at Gen
P'As claims to the honors of the victory of the
goth August. They had been in Gen. Scott's
room on the night of the 10th, engaged in
consultation respectinGthe contemplated bat
tie of the morrow. Mr.. T says:
The company dropped of until at a very
late hour Of the night, when preparations
were made BY Gen Scott to go to bed, and
he had bed made in his room also for Gen
Pillow. Upon leaving the room to go to my
own, Gen. Pillow followed me, and weni
with me TO my room. He then, in very
solemn tone, seid to me, ''This is goiug TO be
failure" answered that things had GER
tainly not looked very bright at nightfall, bu,
my own spirits had been very much raised
by Capt. Lees arrival, and the information
brought with him. Con. Pillow did not no
{ tice my remark, but, in tone and mapne
implying that had interrupted him, wen
on to say, that 81 call on you now to remem
ber, and bear me witness hereafter, that
+ hare had nothing to do with i,'"' At tha
time, looked upon these words as the dyins
charge of. man who expected to be killed
next day, and in manner corresponding tt
that expression, made him promise, a
] well as recollect, ~ will not forget" HI
then began some further remarks in the SAM
strain, giving his views Of what ought to b
done. H
MIR. Trist further testified, that at meet
ing of many general officers, about the III
Of September, Gen, Scott was in favor of at
lacking Chapultepec, but that Gen. PILLOW
was very reserved. Furthermore, that abou
the same time Gen. Pillow expressed to hin
bis s'aeoided opinion that there should be n
more active operations until the army wa
reinforoed.n He also testifies that Gen. SEQ,
was not cast down nor irresolute after the Al
fair of Mdfiaos del Rey, a. stated by Ger
Pillow, though he was much grisvsd at III
loassiof muhy personal friends. He says
Ireco,,ect. particularly, Martin Scott va
one Of them. His mind, in other rsspects, wa
precisely what have always known II TO b
in regard to all operations of the army, b,