The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-01-04
Commune ated.


During the time that our army was in the occupation
OF the city OF Pueba, preparatory to marching towards
the Mexican capital petition was drawn up by
Der OF officers addressed 10 both houses of the Amer
lcan Congress- praying from them the passage of bill
requiring all superannuated and inefficient officers to retire
from the army and allow her places to become filled by
those who had the ability to perform the duties there
OF; and also praying as many OF these old officers had
provision might be made such as would enable them
after retiring from the service, TO pass the balance of
their lives with responsibility and in comfort This petit
ton was signed by almost all the officers then with the
army many of whom after shed their best blood in
the service OF that country from which they then asked
their Just rights Tor but right for which they petit
toned, that they who had served through the
grade higher than the actually their own because of
the absence OF the ranking officers who by of age
inrmy, or OF incapacity had never into the field
to take The commands belonging 10 them that they who
had done all their duties taken all their risks and respon
slbes, whilst they remained quiet at home read
the spapers accounts OF battles won and hurrah
the gallant deeds of their regiments of their
panesthat they at the close of that war; should con-
tnue in the places they had we'll filled in time of action
and OF dangers snpposng that would suggest itself
every reasoning mind that who could assume the re-
sponslby OF command in time OF war, and in foreign
land and acquit himself noby assuredly the most
proper person to command in time of peace, when ma
ton should be always ready for and that who
shruhk from the postlon was unable to fill it in time
OF war, was certainly unfit to hold in time of peace
And they expected reward from their country high
or than mere nominal brevet commission, which would
again bring them under the command of those who
had remained at home during the campaign to defend
their heahs and their iresdcs They asked after hay-
Ing commanded regiments and companies in battle that
they should not when returned their brOws wreathed
with laurels, be commanded drill and at parade by
those who were absent when men wanted-n5t
fu soldiers They prayed Congress that these
things might, before their return, be remedied and that
the army might be made more efficient by laying upon the
shelf those who were but drawbacks upon its eff
cheney battle had just been fought, glorious in s
results. The enemy lay before them in walled city,
quauple their numbers and going forth to give bat
tle they sent, last request to that country for
which they were TO peril their lives, this petition And
was 1t granted! No; but upon their return-weather
worn veterans, diminished in numbers, after a campaign
OF victories unparalleled in hisory-they find that again
they to be saddled, and rode by an ncubus by
those who patiently, perhaps mpatently waited until
that moment, once more TO resume their places.
| | have above written more than | intended Nv oh
Iec IN writing at all was merely to state few facts
and if they have the effect of opening the ewes OF
those not wully blind shall be satisfied Here they
commence with the artillery-as of the line of the
army they the first in the Army Register
In the whole four regiments OF artillery there are four
colonies, four lieutenant co.ones, and eight majors In
the actos of the valley of Mexico there were with their
regiments not colonel only one lieutenant colonel
and but majors Therefore there were absent from
all the actions all the coonels three Lieutenant coonels
and Six majors to put il in figures, ii is follows
Number of field Officers in four regiments of artillery 6
q" present in actions at Mexico, 8
GO absent from all the actions, Ia
But of sixteen field officers there were in the actions at
Mexico bat three doing duty with their regiments do
not mean to say that OF these thirteen officers were
ever in Mexico. | know that of them were there
for short time; but they soon sent home or
were lett IN depots being unable to endure the fa
sues and incapable of performing their proper duties in
the field EjERCITO