The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1848-09-27


4 CoNrRAsr-HERo OF BuENA VIsTA-HE-
RIO OF HuLL's RRENDER-We copy the fol-
lowing from the Albany Evening Journal. The
statements are declared to be in strict accor-
dance with historical truth; the contrast is q
striking one:
On the 2lst of February, l647, when the
countless army of Santa Anna had taken up
their position at Buena Vista, to vanquish the
Spartan band of citizen soldiers under the COM
mand of Gen. Taylor, this pure and brave man
thus wrote in private letter to friend:
This may be the last communication you
will receive from me; have been stripped by
the government OF regular troops ana Ieauceo
i'm volunteers; and thus stripped and at the
mercy of the foe, have been expected to retreat
or resign; but ] shall do neither. care not
for myself, but feel deeply for the noble soldiers
who are about to be sacrificed for their country
we shall stand still and give them battle, re-
lying on just Providence for right result.
We do not quote this extract 10 euloglse It's
brave author. but TO present contrast furnish
ed by an incident in the history of Gen. Cass.
While the American army was stationed al
Windsor Gen. Cass, accompanied by Col. Mil
Ter, was permitted by Gen. Hull to make re-
connoisance toward Fort Maiden. In approach
| ing the Canards river, party OF British troops
were observed on the bridge. These were tired
upon and speedily retreated in confusion. I'm
stead If pursuing them, Gen. Cass bivouacked
on the bridge and sent messenger to ten.
Hull, asking him what he shoulddo? Gen.
Hull re piled that he could remain or return,
| Just as he pleased-he would assume no res
possibility in the matter. Gen. Cass returned,
although, as his biographers admit, if he bad
followed up his advantage, Fort Maiden ~ould
hare ''fallen at once"
This is the contrast:-When Gen. Tayl Tor was
at Buena Vista, it was very decidedly intlma-
ted to him that he ought to abandon his posi-
ton and fall back upon Monterey. But he
knew that this would be disgrace to himself,
and disaster to the army. To retreat would be
to open the entire valley of the Rio Grande TO
the Mexican hordes under Santa Anna. He
therefore determined to "stand ill and give
them battle" "Retreat" was word which
could not be found in his vocabulary. TIE re-
suit is known to the world. The battle of Bu-
ena Vista was fought and won, and the valley
of the Rio Grande was held by the American
army. The mischief which would have result
ed fro n allowing the host of Mexicans which
were whipped at that great battle, TO scatter
themselves over the vast plains occupied BY
our army-to attack the several feebly garri-
soned posts in detail--can only be appreciated
by military men, but not fully by civilians.
: But how was it when Gen. Cass was simi
: larly situated? Fort Maiden was the key to the
western district of Upper Canada. Ii was tC
that region what Buena Vista was to the vale,
of the Rio Grande. This was known TO Gen
Cass Indeed the importance Of its capture
has been the subject of deliberstion before
council of war; and during that council Col
, Cass professed himself very anxious to lead or
his troops. But he was holder in council than
, on the field. When he might have pursued
the re,reating enemy; and rendered his name
glorious as a hero, he did what Gen. Taylor
would not do under similar circumstances, hi
"retieated.'
siege to Fort Malden-nor was he forbidden tG
do so. He was left with discretionary pow
ers, as was Gen. Taylor al Buena Visla. HI
E could retreat or advance as he pleased. II HI
had advanced-if he had followed up the ad
vantage which he obtained a. the bridge
maiden would have fallen" and the subse
I quent disasters which fell upon our army--tht
dsgraceful surrender at Dstroit-the posses
sion of Michigan by the British-and the ex
+, pensive but glorious battle of the Thames
would have been avoided. That we may no
:. be accused of exaggeration, We quote from the
Argus's biography of Gen. Cass. In the third
: number OF that biography, we find the follow
ing
1.-The only body of regular troops in garrison
at Maiden, with the militia and Indians, had
been defeated with loss, i'm well contested
battle, and the town and garrison itself would
have fallen an easy prey to The advancing troops
before they could possibly have been succored
from Forts George and Erie on the distant Nj
!, agara. Ii required but commander-in- chiei
of anerov decision and courauo tn ha ys prOSe-
n cuted il to triumphant result"
The late John Kenzie, Esq, of Chicago, then
la prisoner at Maiden, informed the writer, in
1921, that there were no troops but those whom
b Col. Cass had engaged, and that the town, il Il
had been attacked, would have fallen at once.
: Without following up these extracts to-day
y with the remarks which they suggest, we asl
d the reader 10 contrast the facts they embody
with those connected with the history of th,
battle of Buena Vista. Gen. Taylor knew thu
importance of preventing the enemy from pass
ing into the valley of the Rio Grande, and al
. though his superiors had intimated to him tina
s he should "retreat," he would do no such thing
: He "stood still"-waited the approach of tn
i, enemy-fought and whipped him.
Gen. Cass knew the importance Of obtain
ing the possession of Fort Maiden. He knew
IS too, that the citizens and soldiers at the For
= were in panic. He had pretended, few
!, days previously, TO be very anxious to captur
the Fort. He was now at the head Of a stron
detachment of brave men-mostly regulars
" under the gallant Col. Miller. He had obtain
ed an advantage at the bridge. 1t was option
al with him whether to advance or retreat.
70 he had advanced, Fort Maiden, "would hav
fallen an easy prey to the advancing troops :
e and Michigan would have been savedirom In
b polluting tread of the enemy. But he ignc
e miniously retreated. because Gen. Hull did nc