Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1848-05-19
QUARrERMAsrER GENERALS OFFICE,

w CLSAlIIS tOH SIIJ n pm - AO7O'
SIR: have received the extracts from Gen.
SCOTS letter to you, dated the oath of Febru-
ary, complaining of the want of means of
transportation, of supplies, and of funds from
the Quartermaster's Department; in conse
quence of which, he informs you, he was en-
barrassed and delayed in his operations, as
we'll in the attack on Vera Cruz as in his
movements afterwards; and | have to state
in reply, that delays did occur in the move
ment upon Vera Cruz which were most vexa-
tious, but which were not occasioned by any
neglect or omission on my part, or on that Of
any other officer of the department. as detail
of the facts will show. The memorandum
from the War Department for the Quartermas-
ter General, alluded to by General Scott, fixed
the number of transport ships for his eXpedi-
ton at forty-one, viz twelve for the volun-
., teers, ordnance, and supplies, from the Allan
tic; five for surf-boats or lighters; ten to go
out in ballast for troops on the Gulf of Next
CO and fourteen 10 be supplied by the officers
of the quartermaster's department at New Or
leans and on the Gulf That number, take
it for granted, was determined upon by Gent
Scott himself, or by the War Department, with
his assent as | have not understood that he
at any time objected to the number as INSULT
Gent He complains that the fen in ballast
Tor troops were not sent, and that the embar-
cation was delayed thereby, in whole or in
part, from the 5th OF January to the 9th Of
March,"
Colonel Stanton informs me that the order
10 charter those ten vessels was Counterman-
ded in consequence of letter from me, dated
at BraZos Santiago the 9th day of December,
which was read by General Scott before it was
sealed, and to which he added a postscript
The General no doubt relied upon those YES
sells. | expected them; for | believed they
would be chartered and on the way before
my letter could be received but so boisteriouS
was the season, that thought it unsafe to
trust to their arrival, and made my arrange
ments as if they had actually failed which
fact | reported to General Scott, as well as
now remember, either through Capt. Wayne
or the late Capt Hetzel.
1t will be seen by reference 10 the memoir
andum referred to, that twentY-seven vessels
were TO be sent from the Atlantic with troops,
supplies, and in ballast Not one was sent
in ballast; but there were actually ffty-three
ships, barques, briggs, and schooners, sent with
troops and supplies. 1t was expected that
should furnish fourteen ships. The depart
ment actually furnished at New Orleans, Bra
EOS, and Tampico for the army, before it took
up the line of march into the interior, one
hundred and siXty-thTee vessels, some of which
made several voyages.
submit copy of report from the late
Captain Hetzel, (marked Az dated at the Bra
EOS the 21st of February, 1917, which shows
what had been done by the department up to
that time. Of the 1O2 vessels contained in
that report, five were from the Atlantic-four
only OF which had reported there, the other
had been wrecked. | also submit paper mar
ked b, which is list Of vessels chartered al
IamplCo, to transport thence troops, horses,
and mules.
Under the most favorable circumstances,
much time would have been required to or
ganiZe so extensive transport service; but,
owing TO the drenching rains throughout the
month of January, the ships and other vessels
chartered at New Orleans could not be prepar-
ed and sent to sea as rapidly as was deslrable
and the frightful northers described by GEM
Scott in his letter of the 10Th of January, 1917,
and mentioned in many of his subsequent let
ters' delayed their arrival at the Drazos and
IampIpo, as well as the movement from those
points. Inc time lost from these causes a.
lone, may be ialrly estimated at from twenty
hve 10 thirty days But measure of GEM
Hcott, winch ne seems 10 have overlooked in
cumming up Ills uIlIICultleSS pf0duCpQ not l.
ly embarrassment and increased expense bnt
delays more injurious to the service than the
want of ten ships promised from the Atlantic,
even had others not been substituted in their
place. 1t was the change in the destination
Of the Mississippi, Louisiana, North Carolina
Massachusetts, and Virginia regiments. Hal
the two former been sent direct TO Lobos, am
regiment already at Tampco been left ther
tor the defence OF the place, and the regimen
replaced by the Mississippi regiment been Iel
with General Taylor, double lighterage wonl,
have been avoided at a time when I;ghtpr
were not abundant; delay would have bee,
prevented; and six ships, that were renderp,
comparatively useless, would have been avail
able for The campaign, the places of whicl
had TO be supplied. Had cutters or plot-boat
been despatched to cruise off Cape San Ante
Mo, with orders for the North Carolina, Mas
sachusetts, and Virginia regiments TO procee
direct TO SACRIFICES, double liehterage, as we
as the transports for the troops that replace
them, would have been saved.
General Scott certainly had the right Z
change the destination of those regiments: h,
not you or I, is responsible for the embarras
nent increased eYDense and DELAY cro: