Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1848-04-15
COURT OFINQUlRY ON MAJ. GEMS.
SCOTT AND PILLOW AND COL.

The New Orleans Delta and Crescent,
of the 3Oth, contain the proceedings of the
Court OF Inquiry held at Mexico, for the
trial of these officers.
On the first opening Of the Court, after
some unimportant prelimnaries, Gen. Scott
said:
That he felt most anxious 10 reply promptly
10 the charges now before The Court, and there.
fore would pause with great regret in the inquiry.
He regarded every moments delay in the matter
as being injurious in the extreme. During the
investigation contemplated and now before the
Court pending such investigation, he was but
prisoner at large--a prisoner and an accused in.
dvidual in the Republic OF Mexco-nay, in its
very capitol; stricken down from high com
mand-from high military position-the high
est ever occupied by any individual since the
days Of the Father Of his Country. Deeply,
therefore, did he feel all this, and much more so,
that any cause Of delay might arise in this inqui
He paused not for lack OF words nor want OF
deas--they crowded upon him but too fast for
utterance. He felt deeply wounded-he felt
himself rudey thrust down from a position,
which he ght without vanity, surely call one OF
some considerable glory. He was then the
principal criminal before that court. The accu.
ser now stood before the accused, while the &C.
cused was acquitted in advance by the highest
constituted military authority Of the nation. Mr..
President, | wish 10 keep in order; il these re.
marks are not so, bow in Difference to the
court.
The President stated that nothing would APP
pear on the records OF the court which was said
during the absence Of any Of the parties; and
since General Pillow and Colonel Duncan were
not present, what Gen. Scott had Just said would
not be taken down.
On the second day, letter was received by
the Judge Advocate, from Gen. Worth, with
drawing his charges against Gen. Scott. 1t was
as follows:
Headquarters, list Division,
TAcuBAYA, Mexico March Is 1913.
To Gen. 7o,oson, President Court of Inquiry.
SIR-In The matter Of my appeal from Major
General Scott, commander.ln chief Of the army,
the President has done me full and ample jus.
tice. In view OF the interest and harmony Of
the service desire to withdraw the accusation
which made in that appeal against Major Gen.
ersl Scott. have the honor to be, very res
pectfully, your ob't serv't,
(Signed) w. J. WORTH, Bvt. Maj. Gen.
The court then minated that if there were
no objections, the proceedings in the case Of
Gen. Scott would be stayed for the present; and
proposed 10 proceed with the case Of Major Gen.
eral Pillow.
Gen. Scott asked the court not to take up the
case OF Gen. Pillow until it had disposed oil that
OF Col. Duncan. The last named objected, and
Gen. Pillow insisted that his case should be pro-.
ceeded in. He was prepared for it, aud as peace
was now near, he was anxious that no delay
l. 10 Coo lu Joor nod
10 proceed Immediately with the case Of Lieut..
Lieut.. Col. Duncan's case was likely to con.
sumo much time, it would be laid aside, and his
taken up.
Gen, Scott then read paper containing his
charges against Col. Duncan; for writing and
publishing letter, in violation Of General
Regulation OF the army, the statements in which
were injurious to the truth Of history" In re.
ply Col. Duncan said:
In writing the letter 10 which Major General
Scott refers in his paper, just presented to the
court, viz: the "Tampico letter. | believed the
facts therein set forth 10 be substantially true
still belieue so. have no desire to detract di.
rectly or indirectly, from the merit OF any officer
and no one can regret more than myself ii
have done so. | have no Evidence that the state
ments presented in the paper Of Maj Gen. Scott
are facts. If they arc SO, certainly was igno
rant of them when | wrote the Tampco let
ter" and learn them now for the first lime. -
Gen. Scott hereupon expressed himself
satisfied, and dropped the prosecution.
The proceedings in the case of Genera
Pillow were then commenced, of which VIZ
have the first two days. 1t will be recol
lected the charge, or charges, on which
Pillow was arrested, was writing certain
letter, over the signature of Leonidas,
in which he was made the hero, and com
mander-in. chief, of the battles of Contre
ras and Churubusco, which letter he cause'
to be published, to the injury of his fellow
sodiers--it being false in many instances
The charges and specifications are yer,
lengthy, and judging from the testimony Q
Mr.. Freaner, the army correspondent
the New Orleans Delta-in which pape
the letter originally appeared-it seems
together probable, that Gen. Pillow will b
found guilty of putting himself into mag
nifcent hero, at the expense of his brotf
er-soldiers, and without the least regard
truth, in his statements.