The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-07-27

BEFORE THE COURT OF INQUIRY, JUNE, 1915
tCoNcLuDED.l

Official report, dated Mexico September 18th lsl7
anu addressed TO the general headquarters of the Unte'
States army In Mexico, giving the details of the SAT-
Pillows military operations the l2th and 18th of the
sald month OF September, at the head of part of tn,
American forces, employed the reduction of the enc
nys castle OF Chapuepec falsely states in The said re
port IN order to magnify his zeal and herosn, tina
although wounded IN approaching the said castle The
10Th OF said September, he nevertheless caused himself
TO be borne along with the continued attack or assault
upon me sand castle, evidently Designing by this part
me sad report, to cause to be believed that he
borne along IN the face OF the enemys fire, and up
with the said castle at the moment OF It's capture by the
American forces; whereas the said Pillow on receiving
confusion on one OF his legs ankles, the edge OF
e grove from which he was emerging and at the foot
OF the mound upon which the castle stands, placed him
sell near the same spot at the foot of the said activity
about - yards from the said castle where he was COW
ered from the hfe OF the enemy except for very few
moments next after receiving said contuson and the
SAID fllloW dId there remain until the said castle had
been stormed senced and carried by the said American
iorces'
For the complete refutaon of the allegations made
against me IN this specification, might only refer to the
language OF that part of my report which subject
matter 1t reads as follows:
I'm the achievement of this brilliant victory justice
demands OF ME an acknowledgment OF The claims oil the
gallant officers who noby executed orders Ugh dis
Beng with the main body of my advancing forces
@ h Was eua 6y at the base Of
tn8nished salantry of my command galantry
AFTER being wounded, caused some Of my soldiers to
carry me iorwalio the top OF the HILL where had the
sorIoas victory, and the and stripes raised aor
upon hs formidable work, upon the very site Of the
palace OF the renowned Montezuma."
1t is nowhere asserted even pretended that caused
myself TO be borne along In the face OF the enemys
fire, or that was up with the castle at the precise
manned with the main body of my troops after being
wounded. SO far from it, ii is stated "that being with
the main body OF my advancing forces until was
down by grape shot at the base of the hill had OPP
portunty Of witnessing in person the distinguished gal
lantry Of my command"
From reading this paragraph, it must be evident to
nfan ,laI
idea that after being wounded, was longer with the
main body OF my troops, and had the same opporlu-
nifty for observation which | had enjoyed before the
casualty.
The defence might have rested here, and with simple
comparison OF the words of the specification and report
submitted for the decision of the court whether il was
in that report falsely stated that although wounded,
caused myself to be borne along with the continued
sault upon the CASTLE that designed it should be
Again: Not only is the language and obvious meaning
of my report totally perverted in this specification, but
the report ITSELF thus perverted pronounced false and
charged with having Intentionally made false report,
for the purpose OF magnifyng my own zeal and herosn
The motives assigned as well the alleged facts in
the specification, disappear BY simple reference TO the
language of my reports yet beg leave momentarily to
call the attention OF the court to the official report and
correspondence of the prosecutor in the former of which
he testiiies that this gallant leader was struck down
ache up with the front rank, by agonizng wound y
and in the latter. that he had from icat he personally
saw" received agonizing wound in the able and he
that had had "a t.U d.ois.s,.lsisd part:epa
on IN all the operations OF the army in the valley OF
Mexico"
In concluding the letter of the Sd October, 1917, he
says:
"In haste permit me repeat more, that have,
from my first meeting with yon been anxious, from high
opinion OF intelligence, honor, valor and ZEAL to win
your and confidence any consistent with
truly, anu "0i'0'' "D''l WINFIELD sco'rf"
How completely do these solemn written opinions fas-
y this entire charge This whole specification is based
upon my official report of the stormng of Chapultepec
am charged with making false report in order to mag
Nifty my zeal and heroism.
Ii was struck do,cn with an agonzing wound uchiie
up ,ciM the front rank-if, rom phat he personally
sdao," did my duty sin able and heroic manner, IF
had fuN and most distinguished participation" in all
the operations of the army do not perceive the
sy OF falsying the facts to magnify my zeal and hero
He testifes that he witnessed my conduct and that it
was both sable and heroic"
But, notwithstanding these strong testimonials of my
good conduct which he is the witness dsprove his
charges, have thought proper to introduce tesmo
ny prove to this the facts OF the and show
how unfounded the statements alleged in the spec
cations against mellow ungenerous the insinuations
contained therein and that from them 1t may determine
whether or not | attempted. in my report, "falsey to
magnify my zeal and heroism"
BY reference to the testimony OF Lieut.. Bennett it
will be that wounded near the base OF the
hill of Chapultepec, and after being assisted forward BY
him short distance ordered him to leave me and JON
his company in the assault Captain Sprague proves,
that after he assisted to the foot of the hill and
Lieut. Drum tesfes that when, by Col Andrews's or,
been driven from the ordnance in front OF troops and
before the stormers had commenced scaling the walls OF
the works. he procured party OF men to carry me up the
hill, in obedience to my order.
Sergeant Bates, 9th infantry, who assisted in carrying
up the HILL and who should be supposed to know the
facts of the case testes that the Mexican troops
firing from the works the top OF the hill when was
being carried up.
Lieut. Bennett estities that he inside the works
from ten fifteen minutes after 1t was first entered
Lieut. Ripley, Capt Barnard, and Lieut. Col. tombstone
have testified that they when entered the gate OF
the interior works at the head of the ramp and accord
ing the recollection of the two former arrived there
from ten to fifteen minutes after the works first
tered by our troops; while Lieut. Col Johnstone proves
that the first officer, OF superior rank to himself
whom he inside the works; in which he is sustain
ed by Capt. Barnard.
Lieut. Col. GLADDEN., Lieuts. Tilton, Mcconnell, and
Simpson, and Lieut. Col Howard have testified on this
point as witnesses for the prosecution. Lieut. Col Glad
den proves that he passed person. whom he afterwards
supposed to be myself, being carried up the hill, he
marched up the ramp by the flank that his command
was the advance of the volunteer divisions and that he
inside the work from ten to fifteen minutes after
wards Ga4
Lieut. Tilton also proves that entered the work from
ten to fifteen minutes after its fall
Leuts Mcconnell and Simpson, who did not see me as
entered the gate, but was being carried into the
building place the time of my entrance at twenty and
thirty minutes after the fall OF the castle But Sergeant
Bates, Lieut.. Ripley, and Lieut. Col GLADDEN. clearly
prove that had been placed upon the wall at the east end
Of the works. immediately after my entrance; and Lieut.
Ripley that remained there some time before being car
Lieut., Col Howard testifes that some thirty minutes
or more after the fall Of the castle, he saw person.
whom he told myself borne in through the main
gate upon litter.
Every other person, who has testified to the