Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-05-24
FROM THE VIRGINIA PATRIOT.
COL. WYNkOOP.

purpose of identifying the Whig party with the
enemies Of our country, none are more popular,
than the publication of real OF pretended letters,
from officers serving in Mexico. The pensioncd
organ of MIR. Polk, at Washington, whose insatiate
appetite for defamation has fed upon SANDER until
this species oi moral poison has become kind ''of
nutriment," has been eminenty hospitable i'll the
dispensation of this dclicacy to its patrons Scarce
ly number of that paper appearei for several
months in which there could not be found extracts
from the letters OF some distinguished officer"
rejecting with fiendish maliguity upon the patriot
ism Of that party, whose annals are studded with
acts OF as deep devotion TO country, ever marked
auy band of men, struggling against the corrup-
ton and appliances of power.
Prominent among these le,ter-writing heroes,
who have transmitted to the United States their
sensecss and slanderous libels, aud thus acquired
for themselves publicity they never sought on
the field of battle, stands Col. NYNKooP, of the
Pennsylvania volunteers This gentleman, our
readers will iecoilect, few months since, publish
ed a letter in some locoiOco journal, which was
subsequently copied in every village sheet Of that
party, dissolving his connection with the Wine
party, and assigning reason for his political
postacy, the course of the Wing Members OF Con-
gress, and the Wing press in opposition TO the
war. few facts in regard TO this "doughty war
rior," who thus assumes to brand as towards and
traitors at least moiety Of his countrymcn, may
perhaps serve to add TO that notoriey he is des
perately seeking, and to obtain which he has not
hesitated to woo disgrace and contempt.
Tho first spot of Mexican ground upon which
either ho or his regiment landed (exceptlng the is
land of Lobos,) was the beach near Vera Cruz
The morning after that splendid debarkalion Col.
WYNKooP's regiment, together with LIST and End
Tennessee regiments, under Coils. Campbell and
Haskell, constituting Gen. Pillows brigade, NOV
ed on round the city Arrived at dilapdated
old monastery, these regiments were fired upon
from the chapparral by the foe whom ii concealed.
The LIST Tennessee regiment under Col Campbell,
was ordered to take the magazine upon helghth
from which the greatest part of the firing seemed
directed, while Col WYNKooP was ordered 10
take another heighth little nearer the city, and
upon which there could be seen small body of
Mexican troops Both officers proceeded to dis
charge their duties. Col Campbell succeeded in
taking the magazine without the loss of man.
Col. WYNKoop aftor conducting his regiment to
the base of the hill, led them back again and re-
ported to Gen. Pillow, that the defences Of the
ehaPparrdl rendered the assent impossible, who
immediately ordered forward Col. Haskell, whose
regiment charged the hill, and after slight Skin
mish, hoisted the Tennessee flag from its heighlh
The easy taking of a position which he had deem
cd impossible, would have mortified any man not
favored with less than ordinary sensibility 1t op-
Grated far differently upon Col. WYNKooP. who
being his own "Leondas," sends back to the Uni
ted States, very graphic and exaggerated account
OF that inconsderabe skirnish, in which he repre-
sents himself as being among the first upon top,
and the Pennsylvania flag as the first to float from
the submits So much for his First battle.n
Following him to the field of Cerro Gordo, our
attention is attracted by another letter of his, in
which lie represents himself as being subjected TO
most CALLING fire, and pours out encomlums with
out stint, upon the gallanry with which his reg-
ment bore themselves in that memorable battle
What however, are the facts ? Col. WYNXcoP
never participated actively in the fight, being pa-
ced, as also Col CAMPBELL's regiment, in ra-
vine nearly out Of the range OF the batteries Al
though in this reSerCe position he succeeded, how
ever, in acquiring for himself no very enviahle re-
putation, is proved by the fact, that so lagrant
was his conduct that it brought down upon him
the denuncation of Col Campbell upon whom the
command devolved after the wounding of General
Pillow, and ,cas proclaimed BIZ This gallant officer
as co,card upon The field Of battle. The facts
are as follow: Col Haskell's regiment being re-
pulsed, after loosng one third of their number in
less Than three minutes, preparations Were made
by Col. Campbell. the senior officer, and in com
mand, Gen. Pillow being wounded, to renew the
assault. For this purpose Col. WYNRooP's regi-
ment was ordered forward by Col Campbell. He
refused 10 obey, tremblingy assigning as reason,
that he had been previously ordered by Gen. Pill
low TO hold that position. Col. Campbell told him
that Gen. Pillow was wounded and had assigned
.o CiIci cOHiildnu 10 MIN, as the senior ollcer.
lie still refused to obey, whereupon Col. Campbell
denounced him as pattroon and cOtcGrd--and
called upon his regiment TO follow him as their
commanding officer. The surrender of;the Next
can garrison at this time, caused by the successful
assault of the gallant Harvey upon the main heighth
OF Cerro Gordo, saved this rccreant Vino and
bastard soldier from any farther exhibition Of cow
ardlce. Such is the character Of the wretch, whose
libels upon tho Wing party have furnished so de-
lecabie repast for the political gluttony of Loco
foco presses.
In regard to these facts, which may be question
cd, we assure readers and the public that they
are derived from n reliable source and are suscep-
tole, 1t false of easy refutation by application to
Col. Campbell, of Tennessee. The reason of the
failure of the trial of Col WYNKooP, for such cow
ardly conduct, is found in the fact that Col Camp
bell, who would, of course, have been the most i'm
portant witness was TO return in few weeks with
MS regiment Ghelr term Of service having expired
to the United States and could not, consequently
be expected to remain in Mexico.
In answer also to the argument which may be
alleged, that this cowardly conduct was not MOTTO
ed In the official dispatches Of the BATTLE we have
only TO say, that Gen. Pillow, from fear of the ex-
Posure of his own bungling imbecy, as exhibited
SO strklngly upon that field, failed as is customary
to call for reports from the commanders of regi-
ments. Had not his own incapacity caused him to
violate this military rule, we should have been
spared the necessity Of giving publicity to the above
facts, which are, however, matters of current no.
toTiety among the Tennessee volunteers.
CROCODILE TEARS
''We sincerely regret that Gen. Taylor has snf-
tered himself to be brought out as a candidate for