Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-09-16

Ii was the energy Of Gen. TAYLOR that achieved
this first step.
AT Corpus Christi the first object was 10 organize
train for the transportation of the supplies of the
army. This object, under that most able Quarter
master General, the late Col. Cross, was accom-
plshed with all dispatch Mules and oxen had 10
be found, purchased, and broken to harness, and
the wagons to be procured in the United States.
To the former part of this business Gen. TAYLOR
gave his constant attention, and he might be seen
| every morning, after an early breakfast, riding to
the Quarermasters depot to inspect the cattle offer
ed tor sale. Every economy was exercised; and
probably no Commissary General ever had closer
eye than the Commander of the Army to the Gov
eminent purse-strings. Critically exact and econo
mical in his private affairs, the General no less
SO with those of the Government.
| When. orders reached Corpus Christi for the
movement on the Rio Grande, little delay ensued
before the army was under way. The long trains
moved up to their respective columns, as day after
day the army was put in motion, in the most per-
feet and serviceable order. 1t was an interesting
spectacle, that first movement of the army, after
domication on the plains Of Corpus Christi Of
some seven months. The last tent struck on that
occasion was that Of the Commanding General, he
having, to the last, assured himself that all
right and then by forced marches reached, on the
second night after its departure the advanced CO
lumn, and led it.
The principal army stores of the Ordnance, Quar-
termaster, and Commissariat were transported by
to Point Isabel: and so judicious was the combined
movement, that the fotilla and army arrived, as it
were, at the same moment: and the ,se1t morning,
at daybreak, the latter, with renewed supplies,
enabled to move on the Rio Grande, and all things
arranged for the establishment and defence of a
grand depot at Point Isabel. So well-timed were
all of the arrangements that not moment was lost
in carrying out the orders of the Government. 1t
was perfect cooperation by sea and land.
We now approach the actual scenes of War.
Much as has been said of the battles won by
General TAYLOR in Mexico, the particular oh
judgment and the foresight which dictated, and the
decision which executed them, have been scarcely
noticed at all. The glory of the achievements of the
army under the Generals command is all that seems
to have been much cared for though when the actual
achievements come to be compared with the obsta-
cles overcome and the evils warded off by them, it
will be seen that the objects accomplished by these
victories were as substantial the battles them
selves were brilliant. In reference TO the position
in which Gen. TAYLOR is now placed, almost
against his will, as candidate before the People
for the Chief Magistracy, the soundness Of judg-
ment which he displayed, on all occasions during
his campaigns in Mexico, is of even more interest
to the country than his gaantry in the field
quality more or less partaken with him by all the
Officers, and nearly all the Privates, Volunteers as
well as Regulars, under his command.
The object Of Gen. TAYLoR's march from Fort
Brown lin front of Matamoros) to Point Isabel, in
the opening of the war, was to procure provision
for his forces. His determination 10 march back
10 Fort Brown THE enemy under Arista having
passed the Rio Grande and placed himself between
the two parts Of our army was to save the garri-
son of that fort. With this resolution, he wrote 10
the War Department, under date of the 7th Of May,
that he about to set out on his return to Fort
Brown, and that, if the Mexicans opposed his march;
in whatever force, he should fight them. On that
march, the following day, he did meet them at Palo
Alto, and beat them All knew that the contest would
not end there, and that another conflict must take
place before the object of the march was effected.
Doubts entertained by many of the officers in
Gen. TAyLoR's army about the ability Of so small
force to advance safely against so large one Of the
enemy. The object of the march, the salvation Of the
garrison of Fort Brown, outweighed in the Gene
RAILS mind every consideration Of danger. The ad.
vance was determined upon, the battle Of Resaca
fought and won, the garrison OF Fort Brown rescued
and the Administration saved from disgrace. For il
is much 10 be doubted whether, had Gen. Taylor
failed on the Rio Grande-had his army been de-
stroyed or compelled to capituaie-whether an
army of sufficient force could have been as easily
raised in the United States to face the Mexcans,
flushed with victory, with Santa Anna Ia General Of
never.fang resources and energy at their head, as
itcould be, after Taylor glorious victories, when the
whole country was insprited by them, and all that
our volunteers had to do was to go TO Mexico and
take share in them. But for these early successes,
the result Of TAyLoR's right judgment and reso-
lutte will, the Mexican War might have been Sc
ries Of disasters instead of the unbroken succession
Of victories that it was. ..
After these battles, and rc-establishing his camp
opposite Matamoros, Gen. TAYLOR, with small
! D.. T. ILL., a. ~.