Evansville weekly journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 184?-18??, 1848-04-13
CouRT0F INQUIRY.

| cases OF Scott, w ORTIZ, Pillow, and Duncan
The great length of these proceedings, even a
condensed by the Louisville papers, alone pre-
vents our giving them in full,-they wOult
occupy our entire sheet, and we cannot spar
the room just now.
Gen. Worth declined prosecuting his char
ges against Gen. Scott, and Gen. Scott declin
ed prosecuting against Gen, Pillow and Colo
mel Duncan, but Pillow insisted on a trial, ant
trial was consequently accorded tohim. We
| give below he proceedings in this case so ia
as they have come to hand, and we agree witt
the Louisville Journal, that the facts presents
very strong case indeed. against Gen. Pillow
and the testimony of Mr.. Freaner seems to in
culpate him beyond the possibility of vindica
ton. Certainly no one can read the specifca
tons, naming as they do times. places. ant
witnesses, and then read Mr. Freaner's evi
dence, without feeling that Gen. Pillows dis
grace is inevitable.
The court after again celebrating, decided tc
take up the case of Maj. Gen. Pillow, and the
commander n-chief submitted the following
cha ges and specifications.
CHARGE FIRsr.-Violation of general reg
ulation or standing order OF the army.
The specification under this charge is thai
Gen. Pillow wrote and despatched, or caused
TO be written and despatched, the famous
.Leonidas letter" glonfying his own con
duct in the ba tiles near Mexico.
CHARGE SEcoND.-Conduct unbecoming an
officer and a gentleman.
There are several specifications under this
nt.. H. IL ~ r.l. -. i
lous, and ungeDtlemaniy statements in the
Leonidas letter-the second specification is as
Specification 2.-In this, that the said Maj
Gen. Pillow, being at Miscoac, nea. the APT
tai of Mexico, on or about August %, 1917,
and knowing that Maj. Gen. Scott, command
ing general of the United States forces in Mex
leo had called from the several principal com
nlanders, under, and in direct communication.
with him, for the usual reports, to aid him, the
said Scott. in drawing up his general report OF
the recent operations of the said forces, In and
about the said fields of Contrtras and Churu
busco, in the valley of Mexico, and the said
Scott would not be able to finish and despatch
The said general report in many days after the
said 29d OF August, by reason of the known de
lays IN sending in the said sub-reports; and the
said Pillow further knowing, or believing that
Jas. l.. Freaner, Esq, then at hand, agent and
correspondent of the newspaper published in
New Orleans, in the United States, called the
New Orleans Delta, or the Delta of New Or
leans, was in the habit of sending off private
expresses to Vera Cruz, in Mexico. with com
munications 10 the said newspaper, the said
Pillow, in order to anticipate the said intended
report OF the said commander general, and to
forestall public opinion in the United States,
through the public press of the same, in his,
the said Pillows favor-he, the said Pillow,
did, on or about the 25d of August. and at Mis-
.coac, as aforesaid, write, dictate, or cause to
be written, letter, article or communication
addressed to the Editors of the New Orleans
Delta" which, letter, article or communica-
ton, with certain interlineations and additions
in the proper hand writing of him; the SAID
Pillow, was, by himself, in person delv-
cred TO the said Freaner, to be despatch
ed by the said Freaner for publication in
the said newspaper, or TO be incorporated in
one to be written by the said Freaner, and to
be despatched and published as above-whch
letter, article, Or communication, so delivered
by the said Pillow, is in the words, figures, and
marks including ensures, and interlineations
as follows:
GREAT BATTLE OF MEXICO.
Commenced on the 18Th, under the command Of
Maj. Gen. Pillow, haUing force of $500
men. The enemy had II 900 men, (of lrhom
5000 aecre cuualry,) and q pieces Of artiL
Icry.
EDS. DELTA: Gen. Pillows order for the at
tack was that Gen. Twiggs should advance
with one brigade OF his division, and assault
the enemy S strong work In front, while the
other should turn his left wing and assail the
work in reverse. He also placed at the dispo-
sition of Gen. Twiggs, Capt. Magruders bat
terry, and Lieut.. Calendars howitzer battery,
(both of which belonged to the proper division
OF Gen. Piliow.)
Having thus opened the battle, he then adj
vanced Gen Cadwallader's brigade to support
the brigade of Col. Riley, who had moved to
turn the enemy's left, and attack in reverse;
and advanced Gen. Pierce's brigade to support
Gen. Saith, who had advanced to assault
the work in front.
The action had now become with the adj
vancing forcesl very severe-and Gen. Pillow,
seeing five or six thousand men advancing
from the city 10 reinforce the enemy, whom he
apprehended would fall upon Gen. Cadwalla-
der's rear. detached, from Gen. Pierce's brigade,
Col. Morgan's regiment (Which was yet within
reach and ordered it instantly TO the support Of
Gen. Cadwalader, who, seeing so large forge
approaching his rear, threatening to overwhein
him, halted his forward movements, confront
| him completely at bay. The forces under Gen
Smith, Col. Riley, and Gen. Pierce were hotly
engaged with the enemy's strong battery anC
large force of infantry and cavalry, until it was
quite dark. Magruder's battery and Calender.
howitzer battery were both very much cut Il
pieces and disabled. Late in the evening
Gen. Scott came upon the field, and brough
with him Gen. Shields brigade of volunteers
who he advanced 10 the support of the forces
now under Gen. CadwalIadcr, but it was too
late-they did not get into position until in The
night.
The next morning before daylight, the brig
ade of Gen. Pierce advanced, in execution o
the original order of battle; renewed the assault
in front. while Riley's brigade supported b.
Cadwallader, turned his LETT, assailed the enc
my's works in reverse, and calamity carried it
capturing large force of the enemy, % guns
(among them those lost at Buena Yista.) an
killing IN the engagement between. 600 and 80
of the enemy.
! Having achieved this signal and brilliant vic
toay, Gen. Pillow Immediately resolved to pun
sue the retreating forces of the enemy. an
while his troops were flushed with victory
give battle 10 large force ID still at SAINT
: Angelo, which he did, and drove them befor