The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-08-07

as Tor troops, the General, writing IRON Matamoras
says ~ relation 10 the volunteers from Texas:
HEADosARraRs Maiumoras, May 20. 1886.
In my communication 20 the governor, the organization
was very exactly psescsieed- ,ha, Indicated from
that Organization has been exceeded and, moreoye,
that General Gaines has called for more volunteers than
sdes Iouana L vii oi course be for hs
decide whether the future operstons In this quarter vii
ss ss Ss
exhausted the supply Of deposited n New Orleans fol
must request that Immediate measures taken send
direct bsasos say oo tents io the use q me
up 70 make sand bags during the recent bombardment
Sir, the senator from Texas, an old soldier should
have looked still further into this question The depots
Of tents in the United States had ali been exhausted
had suddenly upon the country, and the ordi
nary supplies were quite insufficient and soon were en-
sary camp eqaipsge. The Quartermaster General. with
that energy and fertility OF resource which 30 eminenty
distinguish him, resorted to every expedient-among
others, the OF material for tents, the material
ordinarily used for their manufacture being exhausted
OF this material substituted tents were manufactured and
transported 70 the army as rapidly as the transportation
this charge which would nsnuate II does not specify
inhumanily upon .e part OF the Genera-hat ne kept
troops IN the most unhealthy exposure, wholly unpro-
ylded with tents. while he had depot OF tents at short
distance from their encampmenti Vanished, sr-van-
shed under the application oil the ouobsone OF fact
have right 10 appeal to the justice OF the senator to
~
But again that senator, in the temper OF self
gorcaton, refers 10 the battles of Palo Alto and Re-
SAGA de la Palma, and says Why, sir, $50 Texan ran
gers, if he had applied for them would have repnsed
any attempt that might have been made to cross the
Rio Grande by the Mexican troops. and the song Of
peace would have been heard uninterrupted up to the
present day." Yes, sir $50 Texan rangers, at most
50O he says, would have been sufficient for that pur-
pose Yet s squadron Of dragons, before hosilties
had commenced was sent out to observe the river and
reconnotre above the headquarters OF army 1t
commanded by soldier whose gallantry ques-
toned or suspected, and whose daring finally cost him
his life upon the plains of Mexico while his junior cap
tain, OF the most accomplished soldiers in our
army, whose education had been perfected abroad.
These officers, at the head o their companies-Capains
Thornton and HaIdae-were captured IN the neighbor,
hood of the American encampment by detachment Of
that very army which he supposes $50 Texan rangers
could have held in check, and tanned into peaceful de-
sres
But, Mr. President. It to be presumed or asserted
that this whole country was thrown into one general
burst of joys i probable that our towns were illum
mated when ns % Army on s mo Ss GaaGe
been held in check by $50 Texan rangers Is it true.
sir that those soldiers who had spent their lives in
quirng their profession with an army OF 1000 menhan
perate service old soldiers and young eades-perormed
only what 25o Texan rangers could have done so much
edecualyl Shades Of Ringgod and Mcintosh. Bar
bour, Rdgely, and Duncan, and thou the hero of the
Mexican war; let not your ashes be disturbed The star
OF your glory will be obscured by such fogs and
empty clouds that 1t will continue to shine brighter
and brighter long professional skill is appreciated
or bravery is admired, and patriotism has shrine in the
American heart
military and achievements the Rio Grande
We're we, viewed with admiration The greatest captain of
saw the positions taken and the combinations made upon
the Rio Grande-the moment he saw the communication
opened between the depot Point Isabel and the gar
at Fort Brown by that mastery movement OF which
the battles OF Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma were
part-excaimed that General Taylor is general in
deed And yet sir all history is 10 be rewritten, all the
nf
those bloody fields to disappear, and the light OF
scienceto pale before the criticism of that senator by
whom told that little band OF mounted rifemen
could have done that which cost many American lives
and hecaombs OF Mexicans. The senator from Texas
spoke in language well calculated TO feed the vanity OF
his State but not historian, nor, as 1t seems to me-
less becoming old soldier. The senator goes
express the feocous impotence OF the Texans 10 pursue
the Mexicans, but says hey were restrained and lieu
tenant colonies from the interior were permitted 10 lead
troops through the dense chapparals and unges o
Mexico. whilst the brave Texans were restrained
taken TO the southern plains there TO meet beneath burn
ing suns lingering death by disease"
Mr.. President. who restrained them' They came not
till the enemy had gone. They not until he had
concentrated his forces at Monterey: They came not I'LL
the troops OF Mexico far beyond the Sierra Madre and
from San Luis Potosi were reported to have made
a junction with the rereatng army at Monterey Who,
theni restrained them : Who sent them TO southern
plains What lieutenant colonel led the troops through
the jungle and the chappaa Sir the fact s that these
troops were led BY the highway the only way by which
infantry could nave been marched. Ihe column oil
march followed plain wide road. There was no jun.
gle and no chapparal The only dcour made from the
great route pursued by the army made BY Texans
themselves They took the route through China, which
probably the referred TO by the SENATOR and they
lost some two or three OF their men. But he says they
could have got 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 at any time alone The ouposts OF
the enemy retired before the advance guard d our army
They no doubt would have fought smaller force.
But II they had finally got there then the senator has
put very good alternative, cor they could have been
killed" They were brave men. have no doubt they
ordered and il he had been unwse enough to have
dered them TO Monterey, have no doubt they would
have attempted IT, and that they could have aud would
have been killed in the attempt.
Then the senator from Texas, in his second speech at
tenp TO account for the refusal OF the Texan infantry TO
proceed to Monterey, they having been discharged at
Camago, about month before the battle at Monterey
He says that The reason why the Texans declined was the
unpopulary OF the officers, and that there was no pros
pect OF further action.
Now, sir, to take up the reasons one at time The
leader OF that infantry regiment had served with dstinc.
hon in the army oil the United States. and was well
known as one of the best officers In t. tie was the adj
juant general OF General Atkinson in the Black Hawk
campaign OF 1892 II was General Johnson, than whom
there is nowhere TO be found baver and rarely
skilful soldier How, SIR did he get into the command
Of the Texan regiment Of inaniryi He was elected TO
the Office, suppose. They elected their officers as un-
dersaod IT, Then il was by their own choice that he
got the command
In the next place, was there any apprehension that
be would keep them out OF dangerous service, or any
fear that they would not get into light il there was
one No one who knows anything OF that officer will
ever believe IT, When his regiment discharged, and
lett him al Camargo, General Johnson remained, and Of
La -. III. l..4. .t.I