The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-06-12

Smithst
Al don't rsOoleet seeing anything In relation
Q.-wtness has stated in his official report of the
battle Of Contreras that Gen Smith % was ordered to
cross the Pedregal" Has witness any to doubt
the accuracy Of the statement in his official report II
not who communicated such official report to General
Smith
Al have no reason to doubt the accuracy of it at
all Gen. Smith was ordered to take his position In
'front.' OF the enemy andto regulate bis movements AFTER
wards oy circumstances. think u communicated the
as witness aware that Gen; Smith has testified
before this court that he received no orders whatever
from anybody to cross the Pedregal !!
Al am not aware OF II.
off witness has made at least two important mis-
takes in his official report written three after tho
battle. when the events were recent and his memory
must have fresh in relation these very opera
tons is il not probable that his memory may be
equally defective in relation pos
sbly less Importance nine months after they trans
pircd
Alt is possible that my memory may be defective
in small matters, nine months after the events &C.
Cured
Q.-Was witness with Gen Pillow ON the night Of
the 10th August in the effort the Pedrega and
join the troops the Pedrcgai II will witness
say whether it possible that night owing to the
extreme roughness of the Pedrega the rain and the
darkness of the night and the absence of all objects by
which to direct your that night to cross the
Pedregal
Al was with Gen. Pillow. endeavori ng to cross the
Pedregal. returned, because had very lame foot,
and on account of the difficulty of crossing on very
dark night. do not think 1t possible to cross
where We attempted that night. There may have been
other places that We knew nothing about.
Cross-erdmined by the Prosecutor :-Q.-Did Col.
Riley at time report to inform the witness that
the said Riley had also received orders from Major Gen
Pillow, similar to those communicated by the witness
viz orders directing Riley with his brigade, to
the Pedrega in the afternoon of August 18th last
Ale did.
General Pillow presented the following paper -
Mr.. PRESIDENT GENTLEMEN CouRr.-Havng
the original record the howler oseher the
opinion Of the in general ordersreng
the defendant asks leave Of the Court file the same
view competent proof this inasmuch it for the
peal Of the from the decision Of the Chief in
was any doubt upon this subject the himself having
as proof this stands now an between the
prosecutor and defendant, to admit the proof
tssnsa GIDEON L. rII 1i5saI M so Gent u.s.
By consent, the application was agreed to.
Gen ScorT desired to have certain heads of beau
tiers of different officers of his staff which published
in the Union the official paper were published by the
direction OF the proper authorities. He named the
chief OF the engineer department and the chief of the
ordnance department. He would. be able by those
gentlemen to fully prove the fact.
In answer to the oral motion of the prosecutor to
summon the chiefs of bureaus Of the War Department
to prove that the letters of different officers of Gen
SCOTS staff were published by authority,
Gen. PILLOW submitted a written request that the
honorable the Secretary of War should be summoned
on the part Of the defence.
Gen. PEARcE sworn for the defence.
Q.Witness will examine the letter here shown him,
from Major Gen. Pillow to Major Gen Scott, bearing
date the Esd august last and say what knowledge he
has OF the delivery to Gen. Scott
A-On the day preceding the date Of the letter,
the I'D August) was the bearer of . note from &c
Pillow to General Scotts quarters and nv impression
is that delivered to ge ntleman nected with
his staff Who he was do not remember. / heard
the letter read before went and believe this is the
letter.
Q-The letter bears date the sd Aug Will witness
say If he Is satisfied the letter written the Odd
and that by mistake it is dated the 23d Aug, 1S47.
Al have doubt it is the letter bore on the 2od
and consequently there must be mistake as to the
Q.-Did witness deliver the letter to Gen Scott, or
to some member Of his staff the 22d of August and
before witness took his seat that
Al did, according to my best recollection have
doubt oft.
Cross-eramined by the proseeutor.--At about what
hour in the day did the witness hand in the letter
has identified to about General Scott's head
quarters
Any impression is that it was about 3 o'clock
The note addressed to me required my there
at that time and think was there about the hour.
Q.-When the said letter handed to witness.
appointed Of the commissioners to negotiate
mistce and had not Major Gen Scott already drawn
up instructions for the American commissioners,
Here frightfu noise was heard in the street. As
1t drew nearer we imagined it to be tin horn
jackass braying. general rush made for the
door, when it discovered to be the music accom-
panying couple of troops volunteer horse looking
quite martial The noise in the for while
pletey drowned all other sounds When silence was
somewhat restored, heard Gen. Towson bawlng out
at the pitch Of his voice, Sergeant, sergeant Or
derby hello. Come back here sir Stop that noise
something which sounded very much like id
fools - But whether applied to the rucstis
who were playing soldiers in the street those within
the room who were making noise, remains mys-
terry. After while the examination proceeded
With, by the witness answering the last question:
Al so understood it,
Q.-Does the witness chance to know what were the
views Of Major General Pillow on the Fl st and 22d Au-
gust last prior to the appointment of commissioners
opposed to an armstice ?
Al never heard Gen. Pillow express any opposition
the 22d of August. had had very little
with him in relation to it, and not certain that he
expressed any opinion either for against it, until the
Q.-Was or not the subject of an armistice
alluded to conversation between Maj. Gen. Pillow
and witness, prior to the appointment of America n
commissioners, relative to a armistice.
Al think ii was.
Q.-Does the witness chance to know whether Maj
American army upon the Mexican capitals about the
18th of September last, whether the said Pillow
not In favor OF Gelay for some purpose and for
what reason!
Al have no knowledge upon that subject.
Odd the witness chance TO be present at any
conversation between Major Gen. Pillow and MIR
Freancr, an agent for the New Orleans Delta the
subject OF communications to that paper and doing
something for his benefit and IL So please state the
substance Of that conversation.
Al remember but one conversation between Gen
Pillow and Mr. Frcaner and that could be hardly called
conversation. ] will state the substance. Gen. Pill
low introduced Mr.. Freaner the correspondent Of
the Delta said he n man to be relied on, and ex
pressed MS Tor the paper and his intention To
endeavor to increase its circulation and influence
Mr. Freancr remarked that the character and circua
ton Of the Delta were already such that it did no.
stand need ofany individuals exertons patronage
words to that effect That is the substance Of all
the conversation ever heard between Cen. Pillow and
Mr.. Freaner,
Q-Was there or not, that occasion. handed by
Major Gen. Pillow to Mr. Freaner. some paper in the
nature OF commu nicaton for tho Deite the basis
Of one!
Aft there was have no rec election of it. think
left the room Immediately after the conversation
have alluded to-
Q-The witness will please look at the date Of the
Leonidas letter handed by the Judge Advocate. and
ray what the witness knows of the assembage about
that time, by Major Gen. Pillow. at his instance OF
many American officers and lately con nected with
the army, for the purpose of writing out making
narratives Of recent military events ia Mexico for the
press at home from materials papers to be
by the said Pillow
Al have no knowledge upon that subiect.