Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-05-12
From the New York Tribune.
liter Of Gen. Scott 10 the Seereiary ofWar.

ne lcuer Mnlcn lOioWs is the one which was
communicated TO Congress on Wednesday. II
is document which, despite It's length. richly
repays perusal, and will, we believe, create a
profound sensation in the public mind. The re-
buke to the Administration, contained in the
manly and digniicd, though indignant language
Of the letter, will be ielt wherever there are JUS
ice and manliness to appreciate il.
Mexico, FEBRUARY "a, 1848.
SIR: On the 18th instant, received your two
letters Of the 18Th ultmo. and Immediately is.
sued the General Order, No. SO, "a copy enclo-
sed) deyolying tho command Of the Army in
Mexico upon Major General Butler.
As the officers detailed for Ihe Court Of lnqui-
ry, before which am ordered to appear as
criminal, are not known TO have arrived IN the
country, avail myself Of moments leisure TO
recall some Of the neglects, disappontments, in
iuries and rebukes which have been inflicted up
on me by the War Department since my depar.
ture from Washington, November 20, 1876.
To me the business of recrimination, howey-
er provoked, has ever been painful. In this
summary ] shall, therefore, indulge in no wan
tonness Of language, but coufine myself 10 ma
ked historical lacls-leaving conclusions to men
Of sense and candor.
In the hurry Of preparation for Mexico only
four days were allowed me at Washington
when twenty might have been most advantage
ousy employed in the great Bureaux-IhOse Of
the Chief of Engineers, Chief of Ordnance,
Chief Quartermaster and Chief Commissary of
Subsistence. handed you a written request
that one Of three Of our accomplished Captains,
therein named, might be appointed Assistant Ad-
iutants General, with the rank of Major, for du-
ty with me in the field, and there was a vacan-
cy, at the time, for one. My request has never
been attended to, and thus have had no officer
of AdIutanlG Generals Department with me in the
campaign. Can another instance be cited of de-
nying 10 a General-in-Chief, in the field, at the
head Of large army-or even a small one-the
selection of his chief Of the slaff-that is, the
chief in The department of Orders and Cores
pondence!
Early in the following January, asked that
a General Court Martial might be appointed, on
the part of the President, for the trial Of two Of
fcers (named by me) for conduct, each had
committed, that endangered in high degree
the success Of the impending campaign, and
specially referred to The anomalous and fatal act
of Congress, MAY 30, 1880. which prohibited
me, as the "accuser or prosecutor" from order
ing the Court for the trial of the cases. My ap-
pcation has never been noticed. This neglect,
alone, ought early 10 have admonished me that
had no hope of support at Washington, in any
attempt | might nuke (against certain olficers)
TO maintain necessary discipline in the Army |
was about to lead into the field. left Wash
ington highly fatered with The confidence and
kindness the President had Just shown me in
many long personal interviews on military mat
ters. For more than two months my express
sions of gratitude were daily and lervent, nor
were they much less emphatic toward the head
Of the War Department. Proceeding with zeal
and confidence in my most hazardous duties,
learned, January 81, at the Brazos Santiago,
that an attempt was on foot to create a Lieule-
nant General TO take command in the field over
me. Shocked and distressed, | allowed of no
relaxation in my efforts to serve my country,
resolved, for the short lime was likely 10 re-.
main in commission to be
"True as the dial to the sun,
Although it be not shined upon"
yet greater outrage soon followed: failing
to obtain an act for the citizen Lieutenant Cen
eral, bill was pressed into Congress 10 author
ise the placing Junior Major General, just ap-
pointed (the same Individually in command over
all the old Major Generals then in front Of the
enemyi
will not here trust myself TO add soldiers
comment upon those attempts, but may thank
God that He did not allow them; or subsequent
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 lakeup perhaps
at any price, sufficient number of vessels at
New Orleans and Mobile to transport the reg-
ments of my expedition from the Rio Grande
frontier to Vera Cruz, endeavored to impress
upon the War Department the necessity of sem
ding out, from the Northern and Eastern ports,
a certain number of large ships, in ballast in or
der thatthe Expedition not bedelayed; and
in view Of the fixed fact, the return of the Uonlt0
AT Vera Cruz in The spring Of the year-a delay
of few weeks was likely TO prove aota defeat.
In paperransmitlod 10 me-headed" Memo
randum for the QuarIermaster General, mark
ed "War Department, December l5, 49," and
signed by the Secretary, which | received jan
uary 8-it is said;
"Independent of this number Of transport for
troops and ordnance stores (from the Norh)
there will be required say fire ships for the trans
portation of the surf boats now being prepared,
beside which ten vessels must be taken up and
sent out in ballast (Tor woops) unless stores can
be put on board, to make up the number (46) re-
quired by the Commanding General.
The date of this memorandum, is December
Is, more than three weeks after my requisition
and departure from. Washington. OF not one
Of the 'ten vessels" in ballast or with stores
leaving room for lroops) have heard, up TO
this day. Relying upon them, confidently, the
was delayed in whole or in part, at
the Brazos and Tampco, from the 18th of Jan
uary to the 9th of March, leaving, twas feared,
not half the time needed for the reduction of
Vera Cruz and the castle, before the return of
the yellow fever. But half the surl.boals came
at all, and of the siege train aud ordnance stores