Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1848-05-12

VOL. 4-.--NO. 35,
Public Documents.
Gen. ScOtt's Letter.

"kA1COS reOrudTy "a, 1S4S.
SIR: On the 18th, l received your two let
lers OF the 9th ultlmo, and Immediately issued
the general order No. SO "a copy enclosed) de-
VolVlng the command of the army, in Mexico,
upon Major General Butler.
AS the officers detailed for the court of in
curry before which | am ordered to appear as
CRIMINAL, are not known to have arrived in
the country, | avail myself of moments lei
sure TO recall some of the neglects, disappoint-
ments, injuries, and rebukes which have been
inflicted upon me by the War Department,
since my departure from Washington, Novem-
Der %, 1876.
To me, the business OF recrimnation, how
ever provoked, has ever been painful. In
this summary shall, therefore, indulge in no
wantonness of language, but confne my
self to naked historical facts-leaving conclu-
slons 10 men of sense and candor.
In the hurry of preparation for Mexico, Con-
y four days were allowed me at Washington,
when twenty might have been most advanta-
geousIy employed in the great bureaux-thoge
OF the chief engineers, chief of ordnance, chief
quartermasters, and chief commissaly of sub
sistence) | handed to you a written request,
that one of three of our accomplished captains,
therein named, might be appointed assistant
duty with me in the field; and there uas a va
cancy at the time, for one My request has
never been attended to, and thus ! have had
no officer of the AID jutant Generals Depart
ment with me in the campaign. Can another
instance be cited of denying general in-chief,
in the field, at the head of large army-or
even a small one-the selection OF his chief of
his staf--that is, the chief in the department
OF orders and correspondence?
Early in the following January, asked
that general court-martial might be appoint
ed on the part of the President, for the trial OF
two officers, (named by me,) for conduct each
had committed that endangered, in a high de-
gree, the success of the impending campaign
and | specially referred to the anomalous and
| fatal act of Congress, (May 80, 1900 which
prohibited me, as the 'accuser or prosecutor p
| from ordering the court for the trial of the
cases. My application has never been noticed.
This neglect alone ought early to have ad-
mOnished me that had no hope of support at
Washington, in any attempt | might make
against certain oticers) to maintain necessary
discipline in the army | was aboutto lead into
the field. left Washington highly fattered
with the confidence and kindness the President
had just shown me, in many long personal in
terviews on military matters For more than
two months my expressions OF gratitude were
daily and fervent, nor were they less emphat-
ic towards the head of the War Department.
Proceeding with zeal and confidence in my
most hazardous duties, learned, January 27,
al the Brazos San Jago, that an attempt was
on foot to create a lieutenant general to
take command in the field over me. Shocked
and distressed, allowed of no relaxation in
my efforts to serve my country, resolved that
for the short time | was likely to remain in
commission to be
True as the dial to the sun,
Although it be not shined upon"
A great outrage soon followed failing to
obtain an act for the citizen lieutenant general,
bill was pressed upon Congress to authorize
the placing of ajunior major general just APP
pointed (the same individually in command ov-
er all the old ma jor generals then in front Of
the enemy
will not here trust myself TO add a soldiers
comment upon those attempts; but | may
thank God that He did not allow them, or sub
sequent injuries, to break down entirely the
spirit and abilities (such as they are) with
which He had endowed me.
Foreseeing, at Washington, that, from the
great demands of commerce at the moment, it
would be difficult, if not impossible. to take
up, perhaps at any price, a sufficient number
| of vessels at New Orleans and Mobile 10 trans
port the regiments of my expedition from the
Rio Grande frontier TO Vera Cruz, endeavor-
ed TO impress upon the War Department the
necessity of sending out, from the northern
and eastern ports, certain number of large
ships in ballast, in order that the expedition
might not be delayed, and in view of ''the fixed
fact the return of the vomito at Vera Cruz
in the spring of the year-a delay Of a few
weeks was likely to prove total defeat.
| In paper transmitted TO me, headed Me-
morandum for the Quartermaster General
marked "War Department, December IS,
1877 and signed by the Secretary, which
received January s, it is said
independently of this number of trans
ports for troops and ordnance stores, Lfrom
the north there will be required, say, five
ships for the transportation OF the [surf boats
now being prepared, besides which ten yes
Scis must be taken up and sent out in ballast
flor troops,l unless stores can be put on board
10 make up the number (4O) required by The
commanding general"
| The date of this memorandum is DeCembe
Is, more than three weeks after my reqnisi-
ton and departure from Washington. Of not
one of the " ten vessels in ballast, or with
stores, Qeaving room for troops,) have heard
up to this day. Relying upon them, confident
| ly, the embarkaton was delayed, in whole OF
| in part, at the Brazos and Tampico, from Inc
18th of January to the 9th OF March leaving
it was feared, not half the time needed for the
reduction of Vera Cruz and its castle before
the return of the yellow fever But half the
surf boats came at all; and of the sege train
and ordnance stores, only about one-half had
arrived when the Mexican flags were replaced
by those of the United States on those formid
able places We succeeded, at last, in reach
ing the point of attack, in the midst of fright.
tul northcrs, by means, in great part, of ira
ding craft, small and hazardous, picked up
accidently at the Brazos and Tampico and
when the army got ashore, its science and va
or had to supply all deficiencies in heavy
guns, mortars, and ordnance stores.
The first letter that | received from the de-
partment, after entering the captured city
contained an elaborate rebuke, dated Februa
ry 22.) for having ordered Col. Harvey, &c
dragons, to remain in the command of the
cavalry with Major General Taylor, so as &c
leave Major Sumner, of the same regiment
the senior Of that arm in the expedition. There
was no great difference in the number of cav
airy companies with the two armies. Thi:
rebuke was written with a complacpncv tina
argued the highest professional experience II
such matters, and could not have been NOR,
confident in its tone, if dictated to the greenas
general of the recent appointments. Yet, with
out the power of selecting commanders o
particular corps, no general-in-c would