The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-04-30
PUBLIC DOCUMENTS.
General seott's Letter.

GIN On the 18TH ! received your two letters OF the
sb ultmo and Immediately issued the general order NO
10 ropy encIosed) devovng the command oil the army
Wayico upon Major General Butler.
A. he officers detailed for the court OF inquiry, before
bcb I am ordered 10 appear as criminal, are not
Urn N have arrived in the country, avail myself OF
oenrs leisure TO recall some OF the neglects dtsap-
t,nents INJURIES, and rebukes which have been IN
o| mon me BY the War Department, since my de-
tnre from Washington, November %, lS45.
To me the business OF recrminalon, however pro-
,tsJ has ever been painful. In this summary shall,
rsIorp indulge in wantonness OF language, but
a6ne myself 10 naked historical facts-leaving conclu-
ons 10 men OF sense and cahdof
srs allowed me al Washington, when twenty might
ave been most adyantaseously employed IN the great
eauy-hose of the CHIEF engineers, chiei oil ordnance,
MET quareTmaster, and chlei comnissu! OF seosisl.
moo, handed TO YOU written request that one OF three
onr accomplished captains, therein named, might be
uinled assistant adutant general with the rank OF
aior for duty with IN the held; and there acds va
anew at the time for My request has never been
fnded IN and thus have had officer of the Adju-
mi Generals Department with me in the campaign. Can
nofber instance be ced OF denying to a general -in
hei in the field, at the head OF large annyor even
mall ona-he selection OF his chief OF his siatfthat is,
m chief in the department OF orders and correspondence
Early in the following January, asked that general
oprtnaal might be appointed on the part OF the Pres-
ont for The trial of two officers, (named by me) for
onduct each had committed that endangered, in high
qrree the success OF the impending campaign; and |
pecaIy referred the anomalous and fatal act of Con
ess MAY 80, 1897 which prohibited me, as the sac
ser o prsecutOr from ordering the court for the trial
ii NE cases My application has been noticed
This neglect alone ought early TO have admonlshed me
hat had hope OF support at Washington, In any at
Tempt might make against certain ofhcers) to maintain
necessary discipline in the army about to lead INTO
me field | lett Washington highly battered with the
confidence and kindness the President had just shown
Me in many long personal interviews on military matters.
For more than two months my expressions OF gratitude
were daily and feven nor they less emphatic to-
wards the head of the War Department Proceeding
with zeal and confidence in my most hazardous duties,
learned January 81, al the Brazos San Jago, that an
enp was on foot TO lieutenant general to take
command in the field over me. Shocked asd distressed,
allowed of no relaxation in my efforts TO serve my
~ resolved that for the short time was likely to remain
IN commission TO be
'True the dial to the sun,
Although 1t be not shtned upon" a.
vet greater outrage soon followed failing to obtain
m act for the c lieutenant general bill was pressed
pon Congress 10 authorize the placing junior major
general Just appointed uhe same individually in com
and all the old major generals then in front of the
nemy
| will not here trust myself to add soldiers COM
ent upon these attempts but may thank God that He
d not allow them, or subsequent INJURIES, to break
own entirely the spit and abilities (such they are)
with which He had endowed me.
Focseeng, al Washington, that, from the great de-
nands of commerce at the moment it would be difficult
not impossible, 10 take up perhaps at any price, su-
lent number OF vessels al New Orleans and Mobile 10
transport the regiments of my expedition from the Rio
irande frontier TO Vera Cruz, endeavored to impress
pon the War Department the necessity of sending out
rom The northern and eastern ports, certain number OF
large ships in ballast, in order that the expedition might
pot be delayed, and IN view OF "the fixed fact'-the
urn OF the vomio at Vera Cruz in the spring of the
cara delay OF few weeks was likely to prove total
eieat
In paper transmitted to me, headed "Memorandum
or the Quartermaster General" marked "War Depart
nen December IS, 1885," and signed by the Secretary
which received January 8, it is said:
oC IF FIR
PAD ordnance stores from the norh,] there will be re-
ued say, five ships Tor the transportation of the [ur
oats now beng prepared besides which ten vessels musI
taken up and in ballast tor troopl unless
torres can be put on board to make up the NUMBER lO)
elured by the commanding general
The date OF this memorandum is December Is, more
han three weeks after my requison and departure from
ashngton Of not one OF the stem vessels in ballast,
with stores, Qeavlng room for troops,) have heard,
TO this day Relying upon them, confidently, the en-
arcaton delayed, in whole or in part at the Brazos
nd Iampco IRON the 18Th OF January 10 the 9th of
arch leaving was feared, not half the time needed
the reduction OF Vera Cruz and It's castle before the
lurn OF the yellow fever But halt the surf boats came
ALL and OF the siege train and ordnance stores, only
bout one half had arrived when the Mexican flags were
paced by those OF the United States on those fornda-
places We succeeded al last, in reaching the point
attack, In the midst OF trghttul norters BY means in
real part, OF trading craft, small and hazardous picked
accidentally at the Brazos and Tampco; and when the
my got ashore ITS science and vaior had to supply all
eeences IN heavy guns, mortars, and ordnance stores
The irst letter that | received from the department.
er entering The captured city, contained an elaborate
ebuke dated February 22,) for having ordered Col
aney, "a dragons, to remain in the command of the
avary with Major General Taylor, so as to leave Major
uhher OF the same regiment the senior of that arm IN
~ expedition. There was no great difference in the
lumber OF cavalry companies with the two armies This
onKe was written with complacency that argued the
nes professional experience IN such matters, and could
nave been more confident IN its Tone if dictated TO the
eenest general of The recent appointments Yet, with
he power OF selecting commanders of particular corps,
general-ln chief would venture to take upon himself
conduct OF critical campaign Such selections were
made by the Father OF his country and the prin-
pal generals under him. SO in the campaign of 1914,
sei sent away against their wishes, three senior field
moelS OF as many regiments, who were intim, unIn-
Sea and inefficient, in favor of three Juniors, and
n Ue subsequent appreciation OF Major Gen Brown,
ms joining me, and the head of the War Department.
on were well acquainted with the customs of war, in
AZ cases at home and abroad; and without that energy
H part II Is highly probable that no American citizen
u ever have cited the battles of the Niagara without
syn Tor his country. | am happy, however, that be-
ea word had been received from the department, and
,eeu' before 1t could have had any knowledge of the
WWsuoh' had decided TO take with me the frank and
"n' Goohel and hope to learn that he and very
any oher officers have been rewarded with brevets oI
followed :" ~
twas Interference TO the same rebuke, that in ackno wi
Aprll jh
S5 NY lad down by the department I'm the letter OF
~ OF februaryi-l but believing that the practice Of
no, ,'aes army IN tue two with @ Britain would
no weight ~ the particular case waive further
~ wing, at The moment, leisure and inclination
controversy
Abiding to the heavy dsappontments in respect to
Spos, siege trans, and ordnance stores, then al
eb. Is " '' "O''' '0'o'
rSfhaps no expedition was ever 20 unaccounably de
INV n.y. no want OF foresight arrangement, or enc rgl