Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-05-06
GEN. SCOTT AND THE ADMINISTRATION.

The following is the Letter from Major General
ScoTT to Ehe War Department, which. as part of
the Correspondence last laid before Congress in
answer to call upon the Executive, has attracted
SO much d the public attention:
Mexico, FEBRuARr "a, lS4S.
Sra onhe 18th received your two letters Of the 18th
uimo and immediately issued the general order No 50 "a
copy encIos devovng the command of the army in Mexico
upon Major General Butler
As the officers detailed for the Court Of Inquiry before
which am ordered to appear criminal known to
have arrived in the country, avail myself Of moments
leisure recall of the neglecs, dappontmen nju
res and rebukes which have been inflicted upon by the
War Department since my departure from Washington No
vember 90, ls46
To me the business of recrminaon, however provoked
has ever been painful In this summary SHALL therefore,
indulge in wanpnness of language but conne myself to
naked historical s leaving conclusions to men Of sense
and candor.
In the hurry Of preparation for Mexico only four days
were allowed me at Washington when twenty might have
been advaniageousy employed in the great bureaus
those Of the chief engineers chief Of ordnance chief quarter
MASTER and chief comssay Of subsstence handed to you
written request that one Of three our accomplished cap
tans, therein named, might be appointed assistant adu-
tant general, with the rank Of major, for duty with
in the field and there Das vacancy the time for
My request has been attended to- and thus have had
officer of the Adjuan Generals Department with in
the campaign Can anher instance be cited Of denying
generalinche, e6eld. at the head of large army,
or even small one the selection Of his chief Of his staff
that is the chief in the department Of orders and
pondence
Early the following January asked that general
martial might be appointed the part Of the President for
the trial Of officers, named by me for conduct each
had committed that endangered in high degree the
Of the impending campaign and specially referred to the
anomalous and fatal act of Congress- (May 30, $780, which
prohibited me- the accuser prosecutor" from ordering
the court for the trial Of the My application has
been noticed This neglect alone ought early have admo
nished that had no hope Of support at Washington in
any attempt might make (aganst certain oice) to main
tain necessary discipline the army was about lead into
the field. left Washington highly Aatered with the conf
dence and kindness the President had just shown me- many
long personal interviews military matters. For than
months my expressions of gratitude daily and fer
vent they less emphatic towards the head of the
War Department Proceeding with zeal and confidence in
my hazardous Duties learned January 27 the Bra
San Jago, that attempt foot create eute
general to take command in the field Shocked
and distressed, allowed of relaxation in my efforts
my country, resolved for the short time that likely
to remain in commission, TO be
ssTrue as the dial to the SUM-
Although IT be not shined upon"
yet greater outrage followed failing to obtain an
for the citizen lieutenant general bill pressed upon
Congress authorize the placing junior major general just
appointed (he same individually in command all the old
major generals then in front of the enemy
will not here myself to add soldiers comment
upon those attempts, but may thank God that he did
allow hem subsequent INJURIES to break down entirely
the spirit and abilities (such they are) with which he has
endowed me-
Foeseeng at Washington, that from the great demands
of commerce at the moment, it would be difficult if not i'm
possible to take up perhaps any price, sufficient number
of vessels at New Orleans and Mobile transport the reg
ments of expedition from the Rio Grande frontier Vera
Cruz endeavoed TO impress upon the War Department the
necessity Of sending out from the Northern and Eastern ports
certain number of large ships in ballast in order that the
expedition might not be delayed and in view of the fixed
acthe return of the vomito Vera Cruz in the spring
of the yeara delay Of few weeks likely prove total
defeat.
In paper transmitted to me, headed Memorandum for
the Quartermaster Genera" marked "Wa Department De-
cember 5 1885," and signed by the Secretary which
ceived January s, it is said
Independently OF this number Of transports for troops and
ordnance stoes from the North there will be required saw
five ships for the transportation of the sur boats now being
prepared besides which fen vessels be taken up sent
out in ballast for troops, unless be put on board
TO make up the number o) required by the commanding
general"
The date of this memorandum is December l5 more than
three weeks after my requstion and departure from Wash
ngton. OF Of the ten vessels" in ballast or with
stores eavng room for oops have heard up this day.
Relying upon them confidently, the embakaon delayed
in whole in part the Brasos and Tampico from the 18th
of January to the 9th Of March leaving feared not
half the time needed for the reduction of Vera Cruz and its
castle before the return Of the yellow fever But half the
suboats came at all and Of the siege train and ordnance
stores only about oneha had arrived when the Mexican flags
were replaced by those Of the United States on those fom-
dable places We succeeded reaching the point Of
attack, in the midst Of fghtu ntes, by great
part Of trading craft small and hazardous picked up acciden
tally at the Brasos and Tampco; and when the army got
ashore its science and saor had supply all deficiencies in
heavy guns, mortars, and ordnance stores.
The first letter that received from the Department after
entering the captured city, contained an elaborate rebuke
dated February 22 for having ordered Col Harney I'd ra
goon to remain in the command Of the cavalry with Major
General Taylor to leave Major Sumner Of the same re-
gimen the senior Of that my expedition There was
great difference in the number Of cavalry companies with
the two armies This rebuke was written with compla-
ceny that argued the highest professional experience in such
matters and could not have been confident in its tone
Dictated he Of H.