The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-05-06

rests the charge over and again that you
the prisoners captured at Csrro Gordo IT, in case
where IL 80 to be right and 80 dfhcut to get
wrong you could fall into such obvious mistake what
may not ba expected from you In other matters where
your perverted feelings have freer and wider range
been suppli.d With sScent Of for
the expedition against Vera Crus VIII notice your
four m.morals' to the War Department., Ia which you
demonstrated, a. yeu state that Vera Crux the
true basis If operations and that the enemys capital
could not probably b. reached from the Rio Grande"
cannot discover the psrneuoy OF your allusion to
these four memorials except bs to put forth claim to
the merit Of originating the expedition against Vera
Cruz and of being the first to discover that the most
practicable route to the city of Mexico from that
point on the Gulf; but your known abhorrcnos for q
prurieucy Of fame not earned" ought to shield you
from tho suspicion of such an infrmity.
am you are not ignorant Of the fsot-but II you
are, nevertheless true-that tho expedition against
that great pains had been taken to get information
to the dsences Of that city tho strength of the castle
and the difficulties which would attend the debaroation
Of troops that maps had been procured and carefully
examined that persons who had resided there, and on
subject and the enterprise actually resolved before
the date Of your first memorial and before you were
As early az the OH Of July 1896 within two months
after the declaration OF war and before the main body
az on It's naa Sa b sns
given to that subject On that lay, letter from this
Department. to Con Taylor thus sluded to movement
"If from all the information which you may eommu-
nicate to the department we'll that derived from
other sources, it should appear that the dcultes and
obstacles to the conducting Of campaign from tho Rio
Grsnde the present base Of operations for any
considerable distance into the interior of Mexico will
be very great the department will consider whether the
main invasion should not ultimately place from
point on the say Tampico other point
the vicinity Of Vera Cruz This suggestion is made with
view to call your attention to It, and to obtain from
you ,1ch information =: you m.y DO able to inpsEt.
wade Mexico at some other point than tho Rio Grande
say the vicinity Of Vera Cruz a large and sufficient
rNf hA LOT
Of the Rio Grande by tho time the healthy
iu-say early in November The main army with all its
munitions, could be transported, leaving q sufficient
force behind to hold and occupy the Rio rsnds all
and provinces which you may have conquered
before that time In the OF such being the plan Of
operations yonr opinion desired what increased forc
any, will be required to carry out with We
learn. nat 9 ne army ooua Dc row mes
Its without coming within tho range Of the guns Of
the fortress Of San Juan d'Uioa The town could be
readily taken by land while the fortress being invested
by land and and all communication out OF must
fall. From Vora Cruz to tho city Of Mexico there is
ane road which the dgenoes stage coaches run
daily The distance from Vera Cruz to tho city of Mex
loo Is rot moro than oncthird Of that from tho Rio
Grande to the city Of Mexico"
The subject again brought into view the 18th
OF October In the same year. and more particularly
or At tho date tho plan had been 90 far maursd
that several officers Of the stan and line indicated
determined to employ with the army In any part of
Mexico.
1t was never contemplated here strike at the city
through any other except that from Vera Cruz If the
be pushed to that extent, it required Ella
nothing than ssgscity very slight
Fiction the subject the proprety and the
oessity of making Vera Cruz tho base of military opera
| tions
An alleged deficiency Of to transport the troops
nently presented and confidently relied ON
tain your charge against tho War Department for
lecting this branch Of its duties.
issued It seems to be admitted the proper ORDER
far tho means OF transportation to be drawn
from the NORTH but the allegation s that It issued
too late and never executed was issued, at least
four days before you arrived at New Orleans your
way to the army II promptly executed Il was rea-
your letter. would have arrived receive tho
troops as soon as you would collect them from
their remote and scattering positions in the interior of
Mexico. bring them to tho coast and prepare for
their eubarcstion Whether an order for ships to be
not In for the service they designed for
depends upon the time when the expedition could be
got ready to sail TO determine this regard must be
expedition rather nan to what you may have said on
that subject.
show that rational hope could be entertained that the
expedition would forth before the middle the last
hundred and forty surf boss-al constructed
after you left Washington. Though the department
the expense Of esch At 5000 and thought, By putting
tho principal ship yards the Atlantic In requi
on they might be constructed BY the LIST Of January
To show what reliance to be placed your oaoula
on refer to the fact thst, Though duo regard to
nomy had In procuring these boats, each cost
average $3.50 nearly hvefold your estimate sdins
that you erred much less to the time within which
they could be constructed -nsy more admitting they
you did not expect t6sy could b, m .do-by no r.a
Sensible calculation could they have reached the coast Of
could not 60 forth without them In your letter to ms
dated the 29h of February on Lobos you state that
but sm Al! part OF the transports engaged at New Or
leans under your orders Of the 2Sth December had
arrived aud not of the ten ordered by your my)
memorandum Of the 18th of that month"; and the whole
Aroo ~ thaI Iyau
thus shown by your opinion that under my order
the vessels ought have been 1t the Brasos at
ready sail have vndioated myself from your charge
of having neglected my duty by not issuing that order
voved largely increased expenditure for demurrags
and resulted in no public benefit
But the eraver part Of this charge is that of
these ten vessels" ever arrived. Relying (you say
In the letter under confederation upon them (tho
ten vssses) confidently the smbarostion delayed
In whole or In part 1t the Brasos and Tsmpico, from
the 18th January the 9th OF March, leaving 1t
feared half the time needed for the reduction of
Vera Cruz and its bsore return of yellow
fever" To whomsoevar the caamtous consequences
Of the arrival Of these ten VESSELS" and your
cruel disappointment" in relation to them arc i'm
puabe hs has certainly involved himself In serious
responsibility hope 20 remove the whole OF it from
the head OF the War Department and entertain some
approximations that 1t will fall in part upon the
ding general Of the expedition.
The execution of the whole of the most doul branch
Of duties appertaning to = military expedton-pro-
vding transporation-is by the distribution of the
busnsss in the War Department. allotted to the Quar-
termaster GENERAL AS an expedton against vera
Cruz had been resolved some time before you
assigned to take command Of it, General Jesup had
gone New Orleans BIS In the best position
the necessary preparations for such enterprise From
his great knowledge and long experiences in military
affairs not only in mis- appropriate department, but as
commander In tho Geld the government thought 1t for
that you could have the advice and assistance of
90 BILE q counsellor
Your suggestion that IL might bs necessary to send
ships ballast from the north for transports
elected or unhseded by me. Whistler s would be ne
oessary not depended according to your statement
to upon the means of transportation which could be
procured at New Orleans &c. My hrst step to write
to the Quarsrmsster General then at that place for
Information that subject In my letter to him Of the
18th Of December ! ssid:
at expected that most of the vessels In the service
OF the department be used trans
ports for the expedition IL will be necessary that the
department here Should know what portion the
portstou be furnished by the ordinary which
d~nu iAuao