Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1848-01-20

in his Brigade, 10 Gen. Lane, which has been placed
in our hands is made public.
1t is not only abundant vIndication from SIAN
ders upon him, upon the troops under MS command.
and upon the in which they engaged-but it
affords more intimate account of many facts con-
necied with operations about Pueba than has yet been
published.
Tie causes which called forth this communication
will be found very fully stated IN the paper itself.
Gen. Lane has rendered many and important
vices to the country that his fellow citizens will be
ready and eager hi, officers to repel any
umny against him, especially when originating in
the statements of Mexicans.
He is worthy representative of western character
all of It's ndomitabe courage-its reslstess ener-
gy-its generosity and integrity.
For the Indiana State Sentinel.
COPY OF PROCEEDINGS
OF Meeting Of the Officers If the United States
Army, held at Pueblo, MericO, Dec. 9, lS47.
PUEBLA, Mexico, Dec. g. lS47.
To Brig. Gen. JOSEPH LANE,
Commanding Department Of Puebia.
SIR: Tie undersigned, officers IN the Brig I'M
der your command, have seen, with Infinite regret,
communication from the Bishop of Puebla, covering
and enclosing 4 communication from ST.. Baltazar.
retec, addressed through Col. Chllds, Civil and Mill
tary Governor ofths city, to the General commanding
ID chef.
In these papers, complaint is made that, through
your direction PERMISSION, and by The troops under
your COMMAND, defeDceeSs towns have been entered,
and the persons and property of non-cOmbatans out
raged,-that churches have been broken open, espe-
! ciaily that of San Francisco at TIaxcala aud the
sacred vestments stolen therefrom, in public pro-
taDation by soldiers. &C. &c.
1t is further set forth that these acts of outrage and
sacrllege had been committed contrary To the protest.
atoms of Governor Chllds,-that he had done all
hIs power to remedy them but that he had been
unable to all the church property pluDdered
Ilaxcala-5nd 10 prevent future like of desecra-
ton, the GeneraIinchief is implored to ''Strike at
the root Of the eSH by directing the order especially
to you Tor the restraint vi the troops under your
mediate command.
This document, printed in the Spanish tongue, is
being hawked ebout and sold by hundreds the
streets, al time when the lntlamabe and vindctve
populace is encouraged to Of open hostility and
secret assassination, by the small number of troops
under your command, and your inability from the ab-
sence OF mounted men, TO scourgc heretofore, the
enemys guerrIllas back to their lairs at a distance.
/ 1t seems lnconceyabe to Us that Gov. Childs,-if
he possesses knowledge of the true character of this
document, ID view of the regulations, of all estabs-
ed mlary etiquette, OF the truth kROW it to be
and OF the honor OF American arms,-can have for
warded at ali, much less with approval, these libes
upon you AID your command. But in the possible
contingency that he may have transmitted 1t, through
lnadveFtancy otherwise, ii is due you, to our
selves, and to truth aid the national arms to state
the facts they We do, therefore, General,
make the following statement which you are al hber-
y to use as you deem expedlent the correctness OF
which we prepared to maintain by any test and
before any tribunal.
First, then In relation to the entering of defence
less towns, and the outragng of the persons and pro-
perry of non-combatans-so far this relates to the
city of Puebia you entered 1t with your command at
the earnest and repeated solicitation Of Gov. Chllds,
to 1t aud him from infatuated enemy, quar-
tered aud fortified in more than of its many
churches. 1t was not a defenceless place Col Cor
man and his officers testify that they fired
upon near the eastern gate of the city, also can
! 1t. Col. DnmODt, commanding detachment of that
regiment, and the officers under him. and they fought
and pursued strong body Of guerrias, interchang-
ing volley after yolley into and through II. Colonel
BrOHgh and his officers can declare that they were
fired upon by mores than fifty guerrillas from the
church OF San Francisco, on the topmost splre OF
which Aoated Lancer's flag upon their first enter
And 1t. Col Moore of the Ohio Regt, COMMA nd
ing detachment with his officers, can also affirm
that they Sought and pursued another large body of
the enemy from to street, being also fired upon
from widows and house tops at almost every step
and that the eUemy made final and desperate stand
under cover of the church at the Alameda further,
that, before the door Of that very church, they found
the horribly mntilated corpses eff several soldiers OF
Col. Chlld's command, who had been over powered
and slain that very morning.
That sOme acts of pillage were committed that at
teTDoOD and the night following is true. There are
bad men every where, and it cannot be claimed that
your command is wholly exempt. Something, how
ever, must be allowed 10 the excited passions OF men,
SO opposed by enemy fighting, not for victory, bu
for slaughter and something more must be allowed
Tor the first chaos OF conquered city, before govern
can be organized Yet even IN respect to these
acts. we unitedly that they less extensive
and fragrant than the wrongs committed by the Next
can troops upon their own people, non-combattants
these latter being Witnesses that by far the greater
portion OF them were Committed by men under the
Immediate command Of Gov. Childs, and that every
possible effort made by you, sir, eventually with
success, TO arrest them.
And equally unwarranted is the charge in respect
to the entrances of AtlXco, Tlascala and Maamoras
The enemy had contested every practicable position
for six miles OF the road leading to Atlixco. ROUTED
and driven with loss from each of these, by the caval
~ under command OF Capts. Ford and Lewis, they
lined the hedges and house tops, the outskirts
the town, and discharged repeated volleys Of sDai
arms the head of the infantry column approached
IL was then quite dark-tLe plan of the town un
knOwn-the enemy in apparent force, ano, all sup
posed, with artillery Under these circumstances
with the advice and appreciation of every field Office
your person. you directed the artillery to oPe'
aud continue It's FIRE until the enemy's musketry wal
sllenced. Even then, the town not formally sur
rendered, until we had entered it in force. The com
mand Of Col Brough was 9uartered In the buildings
appeDdaBt to church, I'D which were found quaDtl
" OF bread for the eDemys troops room, seats, ink
paper, and brazier containing yet living GOALS
that same room having been the guerrilla beadquar
tiers. Ia another church, we hav. since been cred
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