The southern press., 1852-03-09

EvidentIy-~not 10 waste time In woTd-spHluhe
this language charges that on some one oe-
cssion, at least the ives Of brave soldiers were
sacrificed to moilr,yul, and OF course an unne-
cessary, extent thro' want Of Judgment, refiec-
tiop or forecast on the part of Gen. BUTLER ~
proceed to show that there is but one occasion
to which YOU can alude, without absolute non
sense as well as error, and that, as distilled from
the circumstances Of that occasion, the charge
may be resolved into its original elements OF
blaekness by the application Of very simple
test. Let me remark that do not mean to at
tribute TO Won its connection. You doubtless
found il ready made in the hands OF some pois-
oner by trade, and used il, without nice inquiry,
as n philtre to steal the affections of the Democ
racy from a troublesome rival. When. you have
tested. trust YOU will throw it TO the dogs, and
use manlier weapons for the future.
Waving for The moment the inquiry, to which
I shal return, Is TO what affair in General Bur-
IERs Mexican campaigns you refer to, assume
Il TO be. as YOU will doubtless admit, the battle
| of Monterey. As he was wounded early in the
action of the first day. and concerned only in the
Eastern attack, the field of discussion il narrow
ed to his participation in the plan, and his con-
duct in the execution! of that attack. offer no
criticism on the plan Of battle. General TAYLOR
was alone responsible for II, except so lar as
modified by controlling circumstances The ma
ture of the ground, and, perhaps, in some de-
gree the order ofthe troops (who could not be
we'll held in hand in such localities) having, ac-
lcordng to many, precipitated a. combat not IN
tended by General Taylor. This is matter
/ of opinion, or of history, aside from our pur.
! nose. The troops that brought on the action
were not Buffers, for his division was at the
moment being held in reserve by Gen. TAYLOR.
Neither is he responsible for the general plan.
| It is well known, to those at all informed upon
the subject, that BUTLER did not coincide with
General TAYLOR, but urged detour and pro-
! posed to undertake another attack from the
rear. similar TO and in combination with, that of
1 WORTH, which latter was far less fatal to our
troops. Whatever rashness then critics may
find in the Eastern attack, General BUTLER is at
least guitless of its conception and its incep-
ton. Nor, so far as responible, was the less so
IN its prosecution.
/ At the opening of the battle, BUFFERS divi.
sion was, by General TAYLoR's orders, drawn
up in reserve, outside the town, while the regu-
lars of Tw1GGs' moved forward and opened the
ball. When the latter became en- aged, Gen.
BUTEER was ordered to leave one of his four
regiments to guard the battery, and with the
other three moved forward General TAYLOR ae-
companying the movement in person. Pre-
sently, the latter General ordered BUTLER to
detach two regiments under QUITMAS, to unite
in attack of fort on the left, and himself with
the Ohio regiment, to enter the town further to
the right-there to support the troops already
engaged, and to take advantage of any oppor-
tunity that might offer for inflicting blow, in
that quarter, upon the enemy. For the conduct,
and of course for the loss of this portion only
of his division, can General BUTLER be ac-
countable.
On entering the outskirts of the town, as
ordered, without the advantage of any previous
reconnaissance, (or the troops were already
engaged,) or of any information upon localities,
obstacles, or positions to guide him, he found
himself precluded from all view of the enemy,
and all possibility of comprehending the ground
of operations by the dense foliage of hedges,
gardens and fields. At this juncture, he again
met General TAYLOR, to whom disastrous ac-
counts had meantime cone of the heavy loss of
the troops engaged in that part of the town, and
their failure to find any position from which a
corresponding impression could be made upon
the enemy. II became question whether the
attack 10 this quarter should be further pro-
longed. General TAYLOR appeared DESTROYS of
leaving General BUTLER with discretionary
orders The latter had Hforecasf' enough
not TO undertake the responsibility Of dis
cretionary operation, without some data on which
to base discretion, nor TO jeofard I" the lives OF
brave soldiers" in a labyrinth Of unknown dan.
! gers, without orders from the responsible source
| Accordingly, he demanded the definite orders of
General TAYLOR. Under those orders he led
his troops into the streets. Placing them in the
most sheltered position attainsbe-some walls
and houses intervening between them and the
enemies fort hard by, although there could be
no avoiding the fire Of the battery in the street
he went, in adTanee Of the foremost com
pany, into open ground, and while there re-
connotering in person the defences Of the
enemy, was struck down severely wounded
He did not, however, retire until he had or.
dered the withdrawal Of bis command from Q
position where they were suffering severe loss
without prospect Of inhicting proportionate in.
Jury upon the enemy. He lefl the field without
escort at the imminent risk OF being captured
or slain by the enemys lancers on the plain, re.
fusing the attendance Of his staff, and enioinipp
upon them 10 employ themselves in preserving
order, and in careful examination Of the scene
Of action, lest any regiment, separated by the
accidents Of the ground and the hour, should be
left {, itself, and unknowingly abandoned by the
main body.
This exact narrative comprises absolutely
/
issue, and It is inconceiyable that candid minds
can elilainate from il any thing tending 10 show,
on the part Of General BUTLER, want Of con.
sideration or forecast in watching over the lives
Of brave SOLDIER"
Regard for brevity prompts me 10 omit the
discussion by which ! had proposed 10 show
that the battle Of Monterey Is the only point in
Buffers career 10 which your accusations tend.
| Before that battle he was not detached, nor was
there any loss Of life in combat in any portion
Of bis division During his command at Monte.
rey, his forced march 10 Saltillo and bis occu.
patton Of that place, no bloodshed occurred.
GAISEs command was captured, il is true but
that expedition set out from a detached post,
without The authority or knowledge Of the Gen
ersl A distant commander can only be respon.
sible for giving proper orders, not for the msn.
per Of their execution or non-erecution. The
effects Of bis wound drove General BUTLER
home before The battle Of Buena Vista. Return
ing subsequently TO Mexico, he conducted a
/ division from Vera Cruz 90 The capital without