The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-08-09

thefrpreg lous conduct had less caimupon our care
land where the ghborhood being more infested by
robber bands, the people had been to a great extent
driven in 70 the limits of the town. and the chances
were greater that fthe soldiers killed mexican they
would kill some ofthe party ofrobbers II was then
not as stated but that they sent into the pre-
sence of large force-into a country where ifthey
committed Irregularities, they would probably be
fewer, and could be better restrained. Ii is known
to all who have endeavored in any minute degree to
inform themselves that, even after hostliues ceased
after the towns were in possession of our troops
the robher bands hung about that district, and
attacked individuals who wandered too far from
the chain of sentnels. They committed respasses
upon those peaceful inhabitants who had furnished
supplies; and against these harassing enemies was
necessary to send out expeditions ofmounted men.
Then, sir transfer oftroops to place where
they could not do so much harm, and might d. more
| good. There is the answer. Nor am compelled to
stop there. The Texans themselves condemned the
atrocities committed by some Of their country
men, and "A company of them, as understand,
were refused compromising by this battalion, and
were, by force Of moral influence, compelled to
Withdraw. have wish to dwell on cases. and
have not charged my memory with them but |
say TO the Senator, go to any Texan, brave and
honorable as many of them are known to him to
be, who served then and there, and ask him about
the facts; doubt not he will tell him that the
rebukes for such atrocities, il too general never
theless were just within the proper limit of their
application and were tempered to the last degree
! The senator the other day referred to one Of
these brave soldiers who served in that particular
battalion, and who is now in this city. do not
know that the senator knew all the points which
he might gain in his reference. Perhaps he was
not aware that that gentleman was publisher Of
a newspaper after Gen. Taylor entered Matamor-
| as and in that position he was induced to take
notice of him rather harshly. But, sir. that gen
| tlemen, gallant as he was--dashng daring UNI
manageable TO some extent--after his press was
broken up, became a soldier. Ask him, as a SOL
der, whether he ever received any thing but JUS
| tice from Gen. Taylor. Ask him whether he re-
ceived anything but kindness and consideration
when he approached him. Ask him whether he
will endorse any one of the charges which the
Senator from Texas made. think know him
well enough TO anticipate his answer.
| But the senator finds in this letter a request to
the effect that no more troops may be sent from
Texas, and upon this he breaks out again into
rapturous defamation. Now, sir, it was known
that no more troops, except mounted troops, were
expected from Texas if more were drawn that
they would be mounted men /; and, taken in con-
nexion with this known fact, it meant no more
than that Gen. Taylor wanted no more volunteer
cavalry. If should ever have the fortune to
command an army, or, what is much more prob
able, if you, Mr.. President MIR. SHIELDsl should
ever be placed in that responsible situation, our
experience in Mexico would tell us that we wanted
none but regular cavalry--no irregular mounted
men of any kind.
| Then, MIR. President, passing over that-of
which perhaps should not have taken so much
notice---the senator introduces the gallant, lamen-
| ted Walker who he says, was mainly instrumental
| in saving the army at Pao Alto. Now, sir,
| do not deny that hewas very good officer. He
performed rather desperate adventure in bearing
| an express to Fort Brown, when the troops had
marched to Point Isabel but / never before heard
that any event resulted from.that express which
would noe have occurred if it had been captured.
That express, far as know anything Of it, was
inform the garrison of Fort Brown that the troops
at Point Isabel were to return soon as they
could. They would have held out if they had not
heard from them, and if they had returned for
period much longer than elapsed. They never
would have surrendered, had they known that it
would have been a month before the troops would
arrive. And, sir, this very express was guarded,
when it went up, by Capt May, with some of his
Dragons, who went within sight Of Fort Brown
passing the camp Of the enemy. He then waited
for the express man to return, and delayed so long
before returning without him that he was compel
led to pass the enemys camp, in returning, by
daylight and the delay came very near doing an
immense amount Of harm, in cutting off portion
of the cavalry force already very small.
Then, sir, the senator from Texas introduced
another, a highly meritorious, probably more dis
tinguished soldier from Texas---Captain McCul-
loch-a man to whom we all accord high quail
ties as partisan officer, and credit for valuable
services wherever employed He was highly es-
teemed by all portions Of the army But for Cap
tain McCulloch, he claims the fact Of the defence
being made at BueRa Vista. The Senator says !:
| :" Instead Of saying in that report that Captain
McCuoch gave information at Encarnacion which
saved the army, he merely remarks that he was
Of great service on that OCCASION" Yes, sir, it
| was Mr.. McCulloch who reconnoifered the enc
my s camp and gave the first intimatlon Of the adj
vance of Santa Anna and this enabled our troops
to fall back from Aqua Nueva to Buena Vista,
where gallant defence was made. Ii is very
true McCulloch was detached to reconnoitre the
advance of the Mexicans at Encarnacion, and re-
ported the fact that he saw body of McXicans
there--a fact which in itself was worth SO little
that it was necessary to make another reconnois-
sance, and the next one was made two fold. Col
May accommodated i'm the direction of Hedionda
McCulloch in that Of Encarnacion. Col. May
met the enemy by fortuitous advance Of por-
ton of his accommodating party, and it was neces-
sary for it to return by different routes. Colonel
May came in during the night, aid reported the
presence of large force at Hedionda. His lieu
tenant came in the next morning, and reported the
direction of another encampment. This, sir, was
the reconnaissance which compelled us to fall back
on Ruena Vista Had it been known there that
Santa Anna would come from Encarnacion with
his whole force through the pass of Carnero, Gen.
Taylor would probably, with his tents standing,
have fought the battle on that field, and have
beaten them more entirely, If possible, than at
Buena Vista. They would have been compelled
to lay down their arms, and beg for water, of
which they could obtain none short of eighteen
miles in their rear. But, sir, the fact being known
that there were two passes in his rear, which
dered il probable, from the report Of Colonel May,
that if he stood where he was the Mexican army
would turn his position, and take the whole OF his
supplies at Saltillo, compelling him to fight the
enemy in position, perhaps at the very ground he
had himself selected for defence, it became neces-
sary, to avoid this contingency, that he should
fall back. w..4
dislike, Mr.. President, to speak as an eye
witness, and yet cannot tell the whole of this
transaction without speaking Of it as such.
The morning that Col. May came in with the
report Of his observation, there were among the
troops some speculation. and much feeling against
falling back. well remember that the regiment
that had the honor of commanding was then
under arms for inspection. l was then ordered to
strike my tents, and hold myself in readiness to
macrh to Buena Vista that morning unless further
intelligence should inducefurther orders Wehoped
that Captain Mccullough would bring in such intel
ligeDce. We were afraid, however, after the time