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

! by the Mexicau troops, and the song OF peace
would have been heard uninterrupted up to the
present day. Yes, sir, 200 Texan rangers, or
at most 300, he says, would have been sufficient
for that purpose. Yet, sir, squadron Of drd-
goons, before hostilities had commenced, was
sent out 10 observe the river, and reconnotre
above the headquarters of our army. 1t was
commanded by soldier whose gallantry was
never questioned or suspected, and whose daring
finally cost him his life upon The plains OF Mexi-
GO, while his junior captain was one OF the most
accomplished soldiers in our army, one whose
education had been perfected abroad, and they
both had seen service in the field. These off,
GERS, at the head Of their companies-Captains
Thornton and Hardee-were captured in the
neighborhood Of the American encampment by
detachment Of that very army which ne sup
poses $50 Texan rangers could have held in
check, and tanned into peaceful choristry.
But, Mr.. President, is it to be presumed or
asserted that this whole country was thrown into
one general burst Of joys it probable that our
towns were illuminated when the little army on
the Rio Grande repulsed, beat on two fields, a
Mexican army three times their number, advan-
tageously posted and fighting with obstnacy
proportionate to their numerical superiority
but why recount it was an army according to
the senator's dictum, which could have been
fltiu Ill CHECK Nv SOO TdIScIo ID lIuts
sir, that those soldiers who had spent their lives
in acquiring their profession, with an army OF
1000 mcmillan which none was ever more
favorably composed for desperate service, old
soldiers and young leaders--performed only what
$50 Texan rangers could have done so much
more effectually! Shades Of Ringgod and Me-
Intosh, Barbour, Ridgely, and Duncan, and thou,
the hero Of the Mexican war, let not your ashes
be disturbed! The star of your glory will never
be obscured by such fogs and empty clouds as
that 1t will continue to shine brighter and
brighter as long as professional skill is appre-
ciated or bravery is admired or patriotism has a
shrine in the American heart
But, sir, If was not alone in the United States
that the military movements and achievements
on the Rio Grande were viewed with admiration.
The greatest captain of the age--the Duke of
Wellington--the moment he saw the positions
taken and the combinations made upon the Rio
Grande--the moment he saw the communication
opened between the depot at Point Isabel and
the Garrison at Fort Brown, by that mdsterly
movement of which the battles of PalO Alto and
Resaca de la Palma were part--exclaimed that
General Tayloris general indeed. And yet,
sir all history is to be rewritten, all the rapture
and pride of the country at the achievements
upon those bloody fields are to disappear, and
Illc llGub VI SClctCc W JdC utioIc VIC SiHiSi9iD
Of that Senator, by whom we are told that a lit
tie band of mounted riflemen could have done
that which cost so many American lives and
hecatombs of Mexicans The Senator from
Texas spoke in language well calculated to feed
the vanity of his State, but not as historian,
nor, as it seems to me, quite as an American
Senator might, and in a manner still less becom-
ing to an old solder. The Senator goes on to
express the ferocious impatience of the Texans
to pursue the Mexicans, but says they were
restrained and lieutenant colonies from the in
terror were permittedto lead our troops through
the dense chaparrals and jungles of Mexico,
whilst the brave Texans were restrained or taken
to the Southern plains, there to meet beneath
burning suns lingering death of disease.
Mr. President, who restrained them! They
came not until the enemy had gone. They
came not until he had concentrated his forces at
Monterey. They came not till the troops of
Mexico, far beyond the Sierra Madre, and even
from San Luis Potosi, We're reported to have
made junction with the retreating army at
Monterey. Who, then, restrained them? Who
sent them to Southern plains! What lieutenant
colonel led the troops through the jungle and
the chaparral! Sir, the fact is that these troops
were led by the highway, the only way by which
infantry could have been marched The column
was no Jungle and no chaparral The only
detour made from the great route pursued by
the army was made by Texans themselves.
They took the route through China, which is
probably the route referred to by the senator,
and they lost some two or three of their men.
But he says they could have got to the city of
Monterey in june and that they could have
taken the city or been killed. They could not
have got there in June. doubt whether they
could have got there ut any time alone. The
outposts of the enemy retired before the ad-
vanced guard of our army. They no doubt
would have fought smaller force.
But, if they had finally got there, then the
senator has put in very good alternative, or
they could have been killed" They were
brave men. / have no doubt they would have
dared to go wherever their chief would have
ordered; and, if he had been unwise enough to
have ordered them to Monterey, l have no
doubt they would have attempted it, and that
they would have been killed in the attempt.
Then the senator from Texas, in his second
speech, attempts to account for the refusal OF
the Texan infantry to proceed to Monterey,
they having been discharged at Camargo, about
one month before the battle of Monterey. He
says that the reason why the Texans declined
was the appropriately Of the officers, and that
there was no prospect OF further action.
Now, sir, to take up the reasons one at time
The leader OF that infantry regiment had served
with distinction in the army OF the United States,
and was well known as one of the best officers
in it. He was the adjutant general Of General
Atkinson in the Black Hawk campaign of 1892
1t was General Johnson, than whom there is
nowhere to be found a Drawer and rarely more
skiful soldier. How, sir, did he get into the
command of the Texan regiment of infantry p
He was elected to the office, suppose. They
elected their officers, as / understand it. Then
it was by their own choice that he got the COM
mand.
In the next place, was there any apprehension
that he would keep them out of dangerous SER
vice, or any fear that they would not get into a
fight if there was one! No one who knows
anything of that officer will ever believe it
When his regiment was discharged, and left him
at Camargo, General Johnson remained, and of
fered his services as an idividual; they were
cepted, and he was distinguished in the battle Of
Monterey, and complimented in the general or