The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-09-23


and sword Is prompt 10 vincaie truth and do battle
Tor hls country The memorable assault of Molino de-
Key. us terrible carnage and glorious victory over
vast Odds was one OF the most important as II was The
most sangunary, of the battles of the Mexican valley
Gen. Worth, and his brave comrades, seized there, with
daring ntrepdiiy and skill, which have superior IN
he annals of war; the key the Mexican capital II is
due 10 history If personal JUSTICE that IT'S iacls
should be faithfully told to the world.
From the New York Herald
! THE UNWRITTEN HISTORY OF THE MEXICAN
| Wharf.-The BATTLE OF MoLlNo DEL REf
| To JAMES GoRDoN BENNETT:
SIR; So little seems TO be known of the true details OF
the battle of Moline del Rey, OF the circumstances
under which fought, that am influenced 10 send
you the accompany ing communication, Tor pubcauon In
your widely circulated journal, IN the hope that II may
prove interesting many of your readers, and possibly
loosen OF the erroneous Impressions mat seem 10
have fastened upon the public mind IN relation TO This
battle.
| BATTLE OF MOLINE DEL REY-The fatal Tacubaya
amistice, which, after repeated vioatonsen the part Of
the enemy Gen. Scott decided TO terminate, declared
at an end on the 9th OF September ls47 Immediately
thereafter the enemy began to make dispositions for the
| defence of his capital.
Early on the 7h was reported General Scott that
the enemy taking up position at Moline del Rey and
It's vicinity, Immediately in the neghborhood, and under
From the top of the Bishops Palace, situated on the
heights OF Tacubaya, the general movements OF The enc
my could be distinctly seq, and thither General Scott
accompanied by General Worth, repaired to reconnollre
AS natural, under the circumstances, the probable
objects and intentions OF the enemy became the subject
of discussion between the two generals.
General Worth believed the enemy preparing for
general battle expressed himself General Scott and
advised immediate attack, with all our disPosable
his preparations General Scott thought difierenty in
formed General Worth that Moline del Rey found
in active operation casting guns and shot, boring the
cannon &C., and stated that the display of force to
protect the foundry during the fabrication of materit,
which the enemy stood greatly in need Of
| Deemng the destruction of the foundry OF importance
| tn frtura ha dIrarfp with MS
DIVISION to brush away the enemy cripple the machine
ry spike destroy the guns. and Withdraw his troops
partial operation, necessary and preparatory to the
final battle for the city; he designed it to be coup de
MAN, accomplished under cover OF the night and Worth
made his preliminary dispositions accordingly.
Satisfied from his own observation, and confirmed in
his belief by subsequent Reconnaissance that the enemy
had other objects in view than the protection of the
foundry, Gen. Worth apprehensive that the work
might be too heavy for his division, unsupported and TO
the exgency that might possibly arise he requested
that his own division might be reinforced which
accordingly done with Cadwalader's brigade.
For reasons that satisfactory himself, and must
be any military who has the slightest claims to
knowledge of his profession, he determined TO take Up
his positions in the night but TO defer the attack till day
lights having communicated the final orders TO his sub
ordinate commanders being indisposed, he retired Soon
AFTER the ordnance officer charge of the heavy guns for
the morrow to General WORMS quarters, and in
formed several officers there present that be directly
dispositions, and that he Gen Scott dsapproved them
saying that Gen Worth must have misunderstood dis
regarded his Instructions he intended the attack to be
made in the night, and the troops TO be Withdrawn to
Tacubaya before daylight.
luetead .b communicating this intelligence TO Gen
WORTH it was considered advisable that an officer should
90 to Gen Scott and him again what Gen Worhs
dispositions and the that had influenced him
to make them, in order that there might be msunder
standing the part of Gen Scott in relation to the APP
preaching operations This was accordingly done. The
officer found Gen Scott at supper with several other OIL
GERS present. the subject of his visit Immediately
taken up and discussed length and breadth BY Gen
Scott who stated that from the most reliable sources
he had positive information that Moline del Rey
foundry in full blast, casting guns and shot from bells
taken from the churches in the city that cap
lures had crippled the enemy in n,aeri, that many of
his works without guns to defend them and that he
was bending his whole energy to supply this important
ject of military night attacks, saying all that anybody
could say in favor Of them, and much than sound
military theory could approve, experience illustrate
The principal not the only argument he urged against
attack by daylight was, that his troops would be ex-
posed to the destructive fire from Chaputepec."
After thoroughly discussing this side of the question:
he pleased consider the arguments on the other
amongst which were-lst That it at least possible
that the work might prove difficult than antici
pated. I'd. That the artillery fire, which in daylight
would be Of great value in the night must be useless
and might prove than useless 3D. That all ex-
perence shovel that artillery fire from elevated positions
need not be deaded, and Cerro Gordo and Monterey
were cited examples to illustrate that Chapultepec
would exercise but little influence in the battle
General woih's order Of battle was again laid before
and explained 10 Gen Scott. who pleased approve
it in every part cuar, except the following:
Worth had ordered Col Garland with his brigade in
case circum favored the movement to follow up
the blow Mtlno del Rey, and make lodgment in the
grove at the base OF Chapultepec, with view TO fac
tate assault upon this work. should it become neces
sary or be thought advisable.
This General Scott disapproved decidedly and ordered
the officer who had waited upon him, to return to Gen
Worth and inform him that it was his Gen. Scotts)
positive instructions that matter how inviting the OPP
portunlty, account he to make any demonsir
ton towards Chapultepec that from all the information
he had received his line of attack upon the city would
be the right of Chaputepec and that once in the city,
Chapultepec must fall by its weight Gen. SCOTS
instructions on this point, as well his approval
others, were duly communicated to Gen Worth the same
such results as | shall hereafter show
The official report of Gen. Worth explains the details
OF the battle and it is believed that, under the crcum
Stances it will stand the test of the scrutiny
TX is commended by some, that the battle had results,
and, therefore, the sacrifice of life unnecessary and
culpabe. Admitting this to be true for moment, how
far was Gen Worth responsible for it, True is, there
was no foundry at Moline del Rey to Destroy but was
Gen Worth responsible for that Gen Scott, UNI
der whose orders Worth fought the battle responsible
| for ii
Ii commanding general allows himself to be deceived
by erroneous information, mistakes the movements OF
the enemy aad bases his operations upon false data the
mistake his owns and to hold his subordinate account
able Tor IT. would be to introduce principle of military
responsibility as novel as it would be unjust
Besides the battle of Moline del Rev was far from be
ing barren of results 1t is the number of cannon
captured. prisoners taken, killed. that constitutes
the Importance OF battle and this important fact ought
never TO be lost sight of in military discussions
The battles of Vera Cruz and Cerro Gordo were fought
at Buena VISTA nearly two months before and over eight
hundred miles distant
Ia Fl Al l...l-