Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1848-01-28
GENERALS SCOTT AND WORTH.
COURT OF INQUIRY AT PUEBLA.

Gomez" in relation to the difficulties be-
tween Generals Scott and Worth. In giving
if piece, it is proper to state that the late ar
rest of General Worth. at the city of Mexico,
had no connection with the circumstances here
mentioned though it seems to have been caus-
ed by rupture of similar character
Messrs. Editors-IR one of my letters, writ
ten from Puebla, Mexico, promised to ex-
plain the mystery that up to this time exists
as to the serious and much to be regretted diff
ficulty existing between the two distinguished
and gallant officers above named, and to fur
nish for your valuable journal the proceedings
OF the Court of Inquiry demanded by General
Worth, growing out of the causes that led TO
this disruption With view of redeeming
that promise, and for the purpose of removing
erroneous and unjust impressions against the
general-in-chief of the army, | propose TO
trespass once more upon the notice of your
readers.
To correct understanding of the merits of
the controversy, it is proper to remark, that
the first cause of complaint on the part of
Brevet Ma or General Worth against the gen.
eral-in-chief, was the unqualified disapproba-
ton of the latter of the terms of capituIation
entered into by the former with the municipal
authorities ofthe city of Puebla, in his advance
upon and occupation of that city. General
Worth, it will be recollected, was directed by
Gen'l Scott to act with his division as the ad-
vance corps of the army until reaching and
occupying Puebla. AS a matter of history,
and tor the purpose of permitting every man
to draw his own conclusions of the business
or unfalrness of Gen'l SCOTS disapproval of
the terms OF that capitulation, | deem it due
to all concerned to insert copy of the capt.
ulation, deem it due to all concerned to i'll
sert copy of the capitulation itself 1t is in
these words:
During the occupation of the capital of Pu-
ebla by the troops of the United States, they
will inviolably respect the Catholic religion,
which the nation processes, the public wor-
ship and morals, the persons and property OF
all the inhabitants.
The civil local authorities will continue in
the free exercise of their functions, conforma
bly, to the laws of the country In conse-
quence, if the General of said troops should
consider any other measure necessary, besides
those dictated heretofore, especially for the
maintenance of public order and tranquility, he
will communicate his wishes on said subject
to the above mentioned authorities, respective
ly, according to their nature, and sustain and
protect such measures.
The custody of the prisoners and officers in
charge of the municipality will continue In
charge of the force which the civil authority
has allotted to it, composed of forty men OF
the battalion of the free Qibus) allowed to go
free from Vera Cruz as convict guard, until
it be relieved by that of the United States,
when said prison guard will be allowed to re-
tire with their arms
Approved and granted:
w. J. WORTH, Ma ]. Gent Cong.
m Z ~ n A n
HeIquarters, Chichapa, May IS, 1847.
The second cause of complaint on the part
Of Gen'l Worth, against the general-in-chiet
was the disapprobation of the latter, at cir
cular addressed by the former to has division
alone, at period when the entire force OF the
army, including the general in-chief, was gar
risoned in the city of Puebla, with the excep-
ton of the small force left at Jalapa under
Col Childs That circular purported to con-
vey the information to the first division, OF
which Gen'l Worth was the commanding Off
Ger, that design was contemplated by the
citizens of Puebla to poison the fountains from
whence our army drew their daily supply OF
water, and in that way destroy US; and pla
cling them op their guard against such lahu-
man and nefarious designs, If In reality there
was any ground OF apprehension whatever
that such threats had been made, or II made.
whether there was the slightest possibility OF
their being put in execution.
To the exceptions taken by the general-ln-
chief at these two official acts of Gen'l Worth,
the latter became greatly incensed, and per-
hitting his feelings to pervert his better luds-
ment, became most violently and bitterly lnlm-
ical to the general-in-chief The result was,
what every rejecting officer in the army most
deeply regretted, a rupture In those friendly
relations which for upwards OF thirty years
had existed between these two gallant and
Justly distinguished military chieftains:
A brief statement by Brevet Maj. Gen:
Worth, of the matters in which he conceived
himself wronged by the general-in- chief, and
to which the investigation extended under the
order instituting the court, in the following
terms, viz:
1. In the matter of an interview had May
18th, at Chichapa, Mexico, between Brevet
Mai Gen. Worth, commanding st division OF
the army, and the civil authorities OF Puebla,
at the instance of said Brevet Maj Gen.-the
general-in chief verbally and in writing) has
improperly, in manner an in matter, charac-
terized the proceedings at said interview, to
the prejudice and wrong of said brevet ma or
general.
2. II the matter of a circular, which was
addressed to Brevet Mai. Gen. Worth, to the
LIST division on or about June 10th, 1847-
the general in chief, verbally and in writing,
has hastily and injurously characterized said
circular, and in manner uncalled for, and to
the undeserved reproach Of said inferior Off
GERS.
After the investigation Of the above matters,
the court made the following decision in the
| case -
Op1N1oN.-That regarding the regards of
the general n-chief, dated June 18th inst, en-
dorsed upon the translated copy of letter
! from the Mexican Judge Duran to Maj Gen.
Scott. dated the 10th Of June, inst, as hypo-
thetical and applicable only to claims urged
by the Mexican authorities, which the gener-
al-in-chief at the time of his remarks, sup
posed to be without authority" and which
Brevet Mai. Gen. Worth insists were not con-
ceded by any of his official acts -the court
can perceive nothing in the remarks OF the
general-in-chief TO which Ma. Gen. Worth
could properly take exception
The court is further OF opinion, that the
terms of stipulations granted by Brevet MAJ:
| Gen. Worth to the functonarles OF the city OF
Puebla upon his entrance with the advanced
corps of the army into that city on the 18th
of Nav last were unnecessarily yielded, and
in effect, detrimental to the public service
And that the grant of these privileges, was IN
contravention of the ninth and tenth para
graphs of General Orders No. 20, published
at Tampico, on the 10Th day of February. and
,ras not acarrented by the letter Oh INSTRUCTIONS