The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-06

enemy in the face. But General TAYLOR hay
ing been charged by General HousroN with
entertaining prejudice against the Texas vol
unteers, and, in consequence Of that prejudice,
cruelty and wantonly holding them Off from the
enemy, when like chafed lions" they were
anxious to pursue him. we have deemed II
proper, both in defence of General TAYLOR and
of the truth Of history, To state the facts of the
case simply as they occurred.
No one can appreciate more highly the gal
lantry displayed, and the important services
rendered by the Texan volunteers at the cap
ture of Monterey than we do, but we submit it
to General HoUsToN himself, if he does not
''pile up the agony" rather high when he rep
resents them as having taken the plaza"
which was never taken at all--with having
taken the Bishops palace and heights, when
there were other troops engaged IN the under
taking-and with having had ''entre command
of the city?" These, we should hope, are err
rors of the reporter.
To proceed with our review of the evidence
cited by General HoUsroN in support of his
charge against General TAYLOR. He says:
al will now read extract from letter dated
camp near Montcrcy, OctODcr D, 1890.
Sir: have respectfully to report that the
tire force of Isras mounted volunteers has been
tered out Of service, and is returning home by
companies. WiM their departure zoe may look for
greet to report that shameful atrocities have
been pepetrdted BY THEN since the capituiation Of
the toton.'
"What high encomiums these in acknow-
edgment of valorous and chivalric deeds What
encouragement to cheer veterans heart What
Il
patriot!
"One company Of Texas foot voluntecrs, hch
has rendered excellent service in the campaign, is
now on the march to Camargo, there to be mus
tered out Of service
'One company, you would suppose from this,
had done all that was commendablc on the part OF
the Texan military. One solitary company, in
deed, had rendered excellent serviccn -
A brief extract from Order No l24. which
may be found in House Document, No ll9, I'd
session, Goth Congress, will furnish sufficient
answer to the implied charge in the foregoing
extract that General TAYLOR had failed to
award to the Texan volunteers due credit for
their services. The extract is as follows:
''The commanding general takes this occasion 10
express his satisfaction with the efficient service
rendered by the Texas volunteers during the
campaign, and particularly in the operations
around Monterey
He wishes all the Texas volunteers a happy re
turn to their families and homes
The "atrocities" referred to were notorious
in the army One of them is reported at page
l46, of Document No. 10, before referred to.
Others might be enumerated were it necessary.
Truth is no defamation, much less can truth
stated in reference to acts done by Texas vol
AZ l. 4
ably assailing, traducing and deiaming the
people of that State.
Again says General HousToN:
/" But, sir, this ID not all. There another
most extraordinary letter written from Monterey
on the 10th June, lo47, from which will read
extract:
Sir have ordered the muster of the company
of mounted Texas volunteers alluded to in my let.
ter OF June Sth. IL is enrolled for the tcdr, nd
manded by ii. w. Baylor. Major McCullogh's
company has been discharged, and we have
five companies Of Texas horse, the exact number
laid down in your memorandum Of April 10th.
al regret to report that many of the twelve
months volunteers, on their route hence, on the
lower Rio Grande, have committed extensive de-
prcdatons and outrages upon the peaceful inhab-
itants. There is scarcely form of crime that has
not been reported to Inc as committed by them; but
they have passed beyond my reach, and EVEN IL
they were here it would be found next to imposs-
bic to detect the individuals who thus disgrace their
colors and their country Were il possible to
the Mexican people to resistance, no eflectuai
plan could be devised than the very one pursued
by some Of our volunteer regiments now about to
be discharged
1.-The volunteers for the war, 30 far give an ear
nest OF better conduct, in,h the exception Of the
pdntes of IsIas horse. OF the infantry, have had
little or no complaint; but The mounted from
ItIds haze scarcely made an expedition Diusolt un
tcarranta6y killing Merican
''What an atrocity, sir -killing Mexican
upon an expedition Kill Mexican! Monstrous
in the face of day Kill a Mexican Why, cir,
we hear OF no such complaints when battslions fell
at Montercy-I will not say how disposed Of We
hear no such sympathetic complaints then. But
killing one Mexican Oh, what a deed Well, /
grant you that, wherever there are instances of
criminal injustice and outrage being inflicted by
the military, its authors deserve severe punish
mcnt; but n spirit Of justice would suggest
Of propnety in this respect which would punish the
real offender, and have moral influence on all
around him. This is not done where whole corps
thus stigmatircj and denounced"
The extracts here quoted from General T,Y-
LoR's letter of the 10th of June show that he
did not limit his condemnation Of these atroc-
ties TO a class of perpetrators, but that be con
demned them in the same strong language by
whomsoever committed. The outrages there re-
ferred to by him as having been committed on
the peaceful inhabitants of the lower Rio Grande
were perpetrated as he expressly states by
f,cclre-monihs' volunteers, not by T'eras vol
unteers; and he uses perhaps stronger language
in reference to them, than he used on any SINH
lar occasion where Texas volunteers were con
cerned. Did he thereby unwarrantably assail,
traduce, and defame the people of the several
States which had furnished twelve months vol
unteers! According TO General HoUsToS's
logic, he did But, that he did not, every "csu-
did man who is disposed to canvass or discuss
truth when it is presented to him" will most
positively assert.
In the concluding paragraph of the extract
General TAYLOR speaks Of the mounted men
from Texas as having scarcely made an expe-
dition without m,oarrantabiy killing Mexican.