The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-03-14
tn r D MON

Of Colonel Bowles scapegoat. but TO bring back
many lnto The held OF battle could possibly be made
out accordingly that court expressed the opinion that
one hundfea ana nifty two hundred returned. THIS
~ The Only evidence | have been enabled 10 obtain,
General Taylor reports that handful" returned And
IT, out Of Inc regiment which Indiana sent into The field
numbering about eight hundred men, only twenty, or
thirty or Tory returned, he mig well say handful"
| Colonel DAVIS says fragment" General Wool says
slew, and no report says more until this court made II
Mr.. DAVIS, OF Mississippi Will the senator allow
TO explain Tor one moment | have been ANXIOUS Mr.
Tresiden TO AVOID any participation in this controversy
not only now, but at all former times. l have refused
two occasions when called upon. TO enter into thus
controversy, which has grown up since the return OF
these troops, or TO write say anything the subject
In doing this acted in accordance with that temper
which the senator has properly said manifested by
General Taylor From the day OF that unfortunate oc-
curence he srove always 10 suppress remark IN feaon
TO 1t IL Is within my knowledge that, so far as he had
convelsed with subordinate officers he indicated to them
the policy oil saying little OF that unfortunate ansac
ton as was necessary to make full report OF what had
occurred Ht
When | used the word fragment" meant very
small fragment saw assembled under an officer, whom
took from his uniform to be lieutenant about twenty
men ! understood some others were scattered ~ the
files OF the mississippi regiment. think Colonel Bowes
came TO me and pointed out the number | have men.
TONED as The aggregate under the lieuenant-about
twenyand with very deep feeling almost bursting INTO
tears said. My regiment has away; there is all
have left, and wi. permission to fight with your regi
ment" The others who spoken OF as having re-
turned il they joined me at al-and OF that | have no
personal acknowledgements have returned with the thTd
Indiana regiment
And here will say that il was not until that court OF
inquiry assembled that heard any claim was set up for
so large number hundred and fifty or two hun
dred having returned II they returned and joined me at
all, have no knowledge OF any occasion when that
could have occurred except when the third Indiana reg
men up, and that was after the severe combat be-
tween the Mississippi regiment and the troops plIsu-
ing the second Indiana regiment had terminated: That
combat was fought with no other aid than the small
g fragment alluded to in my repor-not more than
thirty hve the colonel said but about twenty
| Mr.. MANGUM. 1t will be perceived, Mr.. President
sources is almost in exact accordance with the statement
now made by the honorable senator, who was an eye
witness of these ransactions for my purposes to DO IN
justice nobody The allegation am making out ls the
dsrespectu mputaon upon the personal character and
honor of the late President a4 Hl IA. e f. II.
| Before read from another point, will remark, in
passing that General Lane, at the time he was returning
to the United States from Mexico. made short stop at
the Walnut Springs camp then occupied by Cen Taylor
| think the honorable senator from Mississippi Mr.
| same time. He speaks of a conversation he had with
General Taylor. and gives the substance OF II; and he
brings the affidavit OF an individual who was present
to show that General Taylor apprized OF the find.
ings OF these courts martial, and makes one ground
OF his allegation against General Taylor that he had
been unfair and illiberal TO the State because he did
not make this conversation which had taken place in
his tent the basis of official communication TO the
War Department. Was ever such thing known Z
Was SO unreasonable complaint ever made among
military men presume not General Taylor was
always ready to receive supplementary reports and
though unable TO correct the report in which intended
was 10 be substituted for ordered" in accordance with
the wish OF General Lane the day after General Taylor
had declined ordering court-martia he transmitted 1t
to the War Department. SO that the historian lar who
writes OF that glorious battle will have all the facts
from which 10 make his account
Here, sir, are two extracts from portion OF General
Taylors writings tina, will read. desire the attention
of the Senate to these extracts, they very
ShO /. W General
bases the charge that General Taylor persisted in his ef
fort disparage, and calumniae, and to Ievie ndi
anians and speak of their cowadice The first extract
from letter dated Baton Rouge, March "a, ls4s and
addressed to Mr.. Dunn, and is in these words;
my confidence in the second regiment officers and men,
membercd in all armies bes, and experienced
troops have been unaccounaby subject and
he reputation for bravery rad resolved and expressed
the dsefminaton place thar regiment IN action the fol
lowing day. had the enemy resumed his attack, in the full
that the officers and unedy and individ
ua, would have acquitted themselves with s'eadness and
galantry. TINS belief have always maintained"
| | see no charge of cowardice in that
The second extract is from letter dated at Baton
Rouge March g. ls4s to John D. Defees, editor OF the
State Journal Indianapolis, Indiana: .. +.
.In all armies the best and experienced troops
been times subject panios under mu rderous
fire OF enemy, which are incxpicable Such Il is most
probable may have been The case at The time 10 question
not lost but it my Intention TO have
the day following and have always ie assured and con
dent that had he battle the second
reg men would acquitted itself with gaantry and in
uepidty on all future occasions before the enemy"
Now sir, in reference TO this, mark the words OF Gen
Lane: The charge OF cowadlce, thus repeated again
and again. know TO be false" Sir, what be
insulting what direct what conclusive in ref.
erence my second proposition Here with less than
the usual candor OF the special peader he Iumps up
that is not found in the papers OF Gen Taylor and
makes him allege that the second Indiana regiment was
cowardy to enable him TO perpetrate this wanon, and
as think, wholly graul,ous insult, when he knew II to
be false And had Gen. Taylor when he was borne into
the highest and proudes office in the world, kept such
man in an Office high, honorable, responsible
that filled by Gen. Lane- Gen Taylor had suffered
him TO have kept his position, when there were hundreds
and thousands OF other equally qualified to discharge
its duties. should have felt that he wanted that sens
| by which belongs to a of honor, and should have
withdrawn my confidence from him. No would
have done it. There is not senator in the hearing Of
my voice who would have done il call upon each and
every OF the friends OF Gen Lane TO rise and say IT.
under this OF things, they would retain any
Office | venture TO predict that there is no gentleman
present who will expose hnse to The animadversions
which would be made upon his obtuseness and want Of
sensiblity and honor as 10 assert that he would.
| "The charge of cowardce, thus repeated again and
again" do not see it. On the contrary, Gen Taylor
spoke OF that regiment at all times in terms OF kindness,
respect and iorbearance that remarkable; and il
shows his practical good Any other course would
tended TO dsoganize the regment-to produce dis
trust and want of mutual confidence.
"The charge OF cowardice repeated again. and again.
know to be false" says General Lane and does
every who has carefully. and without prejudice ex
| amined the case" N.5ttN ee-@
Now, what proof is sirongeri appeal to the Senate
whether have not supported to the fullest extent by his
own documents, and under his hand the impression
threw the other day, and which had received from
thot( Ippe had