The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-01-14


is no charge of cowardce much less repetition Of
charge OF cowadice. in the letters copied hat are we
think OF who will thus eli satey mise
paper that is before him while he writes, and which he
knows will be before his readers while they reading
his comments II his physical be all equal his moral
courase--if he could face down enemy with much
GOODNESS and resolution he face down the truth he
be bold indeed But he adds in this extract:
Gen Taylor asserts tha, nothing has ransped since he
made his report nor has any statement been made to him
official shape, which affects lis accuracy The first
Il ruth" ~ - - 49, ~
comment no further on these charges; they fall
OF Naked gross accusations Of deliberate and wiful
falsehood have only 10 show that General Lane,
in making these accusations, did not tell the truth, or.
in other words. that his charge against General Taylor
not true Having done II is admitted In advance
that the removal OF General Lane right nay more,
in the words OF the senator from Indiana, he ought TO
will proceed the inquiry whether these charges
be true or fslss,hough perLaps ]. may be well here
o ssy iew woris u reply g .hs .snatOr from iad.ss.
been magnaninous in General Taylor TO have retained
General Lane in ofceorgeting President the injury
done to him man. This is aiterthoughi II Gen.
Taylor ought TO have removed him. the senator admit
ted if the statement of General Lane proved false,
then OF course he ought NOT to have retained him in Of
% ad o Kna wo"
public wrong keep Office false man, the author of
an insoen and arocious libel. when there were true
the Office. II would have been none the proper
because the libel directed against the President him
self The officer who possesses the pardonng power is
entitled 10 pardon the criminal who has forged
has name than who has taken the of indif-
feren person. He might call it magnanmi,y to do SO,
but il would be breach OF official duty and abuse OF
power. The senator right when he said that il the
publication OF General Lane was false he ought to have
been removed hold him to the admission, and viii
now proceed to prove it false
In order to meet this question fairly and in all the
poets in which it presents itself, call attention here TO
that part OF Gen Lanes publication in which be processes
to giue an extract from Gen TayIos report OF the battle
OF Buena VISTA and OF so much OF his report
ates the conduct of the second Indiana regiment the
same battle. II is as follows
Extract from General Tayors report The battle of Buena
Visa, dated Agna Nuepa, March 6, 1917
The 2d Indiana and I'd Illinois regiments formed this
part ne Che e) the former covering three pieces
adler General Lane being in the immediate command In
order 10 bring his men within effective range Genera
ward The artillery advanced within musket range OF
heavy body Of Mexican infantry snd served against with
great effect, but without being able to check It's advance
The infantry ordered its support having fallen back ia
severe fire Of .ns arms from the front but also to ur
de crossre Of grape and canister from Mexican bat
his position wirhou, support but was only able
TO Withdraw TWO OF his pieces all the horses and cannon,
Indiana ,nen which had fallen back as stated could
be rallied and took no further pan j. the action except
the Mississippi regiment and did good service,
ugves who late period of the day assisted in defend
'My official report of this Of the bale and of
the conduct Of The I'd regiment, is as ioows.
Extract from official report Of The battle of B"ena
Y,sin, dated Bmend V,sta, february %, l847.
immediaely pu, my column IN notion consisting Of
of hree field pieces, numbering in all about onr hun,
ded men, TO meet them The enemy when they depoyed
force Of about four infantry, supported by large
body of lancers The nsnuy immediately opened most
infantry artillery, in most gallant for
some tue. soon perceived that was too far from The
desired and Immediately sent aid-de camp 10 Lieut.
o. Bren. directing him TO place his battery in adj
vanced position with the determination OF advancing my
whole line. BY this movement should not only be
the enemy, but should also bring the company my
left completely into action, The brow OF bl
mpeded taeir fire. BY this time the enenys fire OF mus
key and the rakng he OF ball and shot OF the bat
ery posted my left flank had become terrible, aud my
niantry instead OF advancing as was INTENDED regret
10 say, retired IN some disorder tom Their position not.
preven About the same time the ritismen and
cavalry on the mountain retired to the plain below The
Arkansas cavalry (who had been posted by your orders in
my the foot OF the mountain to ac circumstances
might equ-) also left their position, the whole making
eirog along the plain towards the al
The OF the Illinois regiments, not under my
mand but stationed some distance In The rear on he
r.b OF my position, also retired to the rear.
These troops, toe mos, OF them, immediately rallied and
fought during the whole day like veterans few item
regret say, dd return 10 tue field at all.
. Tue under my command actually discharged
enemy d"Ins thS day The ID regneat. under my com
moud which opened sie batle IN such gallant stye, de-
serves a passing remark shall nttenpt make spo
OF, tie retreat, Tor helr 6uy stand and ate
un they received orders to retre. Bot desire to col
your attention fact connected WIN this affair. They
remained their position In line, receving the lire OF three
thousand infantry, exposed to most destructive,
rakng from the euenyS bttefy posted within point
bak shot until they had deliberately discha ged twenty
rounds OF cartridges at the enemy,
some may be found those who retired for a
ie and then rslrd anu fought during the day
but unless they hasten their Htton, dis
grace hang around the ol tiloe who
refused TO return aud regret u 5ay Thee were few
IRON neatly every volunteer corps ensag-d"
Here Is all that Is sad IN relation ~ the conduct oil the
2d Indiana regin in that battle, either by Gen Taylor
myself"
The extract from Gen Tayors report is set forth truly
by Gen Lane in his publication In speaking OF this part
OF the battle, Gen Taylor says 10 order TO bring his
men within effective range, Gen Lane ORDERED the az
ery and second Indiana regiment forward In the actual
report made by Gen Lane 10 Gen Taylor on the 23h OF
February, lsi7, he says my infantry instead OF ad
vancing, ORDERED tegret to say, retired IN some
disorder" But IN the copy given by Gen. Lane IN his
publication in which he attacks the veracity OF Gen |
Taylor, he changes the word, and instead OF ordered
the word in bis report he inserts intended making The
passage read My infantry instead OF advancing as was
INTENDED, regret to say, retired" &c Here Gen Lane
addpces against Gen Taylor record evidence-he copy
OF public document he certihes to the truth OF II, and
be copies falsely This Justification OF the passage
in an important particular. II Gen. Lane did not report
that his men were ordered TO advance and Gen Taylor
had reported that they were would indeed have been
departure from the truth II before him, unless
some other officer having command Of those troops 40 re-
ported 10 him Now why this alteration OF the record
The answer is easy. IL would convict Gen Taylor on
mere inspection OF false statement to the prejudice o.
the second Indiana regiment This was not wofu wncn
Gen Lane could have inserted by mistake hs mho naa
been and upon the very word lie enangeu W'ereo
for intend. d. in supplemental report made long aiief
the report Of February 25 which ne pre'ends 70 cory,