The primitive Republican. (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-1852, 1852-08-26

in requisition they might be constructed by 1
the first of January. To show what reli-
ance was to be placed on your calculation,
l refer to the fact that, though due regard
to economy was had in procuring these boats,
each cost an average of $3.50, nearly FIVE
fold your estimate Conceding that you
erred much less as to the time within which 4
they could be cohstructed-nay more, ad-
hitting they could have been ready by the
LIST of January-and sooner you did not ex-
pect they could be tnade-by no reasonable
calculation could they have reached the coast
of Mexico before the first of February
The expedition could not go forth without
them, In your letter to me dated the 28th
of February, off Lobos, you state that but
small part of the transports engaged at
New New Orleans, under your orders of the
28th December, &c, had arrived, and "not
one Of the ten ordered by your (my) memo
randum Of the 18th of that month, and the
whole were due at the Brazos on the 18th of
january" Having thus shown, by your
own opinion, that under my order 4" the
ten vessels" ought to have been at the
Brazos at least fifteen days before the expedi-
ton could have been ready to sail, have
indicated myself from your charge of hav-
ing neglected my duty by not issuing that
order at an earlier date If issued earlier,
it would have involved largely increased
expenditure for demurrage, and resulted in
no pnblic benefit.
But the graver part of this charge is that
: none of these "ten vessels" ever arrived
"Relying (you say in the letter now under
consideration upon them (ten yessels) con-
fdently, the embarcation was delayed in
2 whole or in part at the Brazos aid Tampico,
from the 18th of January to the 9th of
March, leaving, it was feared, not half the
! time needed for the reduction of Vera Cruz
/ and its castle before the return of the yellow
s fever" To whomsoever the calaraitous con-
sequences of the non-arrival of these "ten
n vessels" and your "cruel disappointment"
n in relation to them, are imputable, he has
d certainly involved himself in a serious re-
l. sponsibility. l hope to remove the whole of
it from the "head Of the War Department"
u and entertain some apprehensions that it
Il will fall in part upon the commanding Gen
d eral of the expedition.
% The execution of the whole of the most
10 difficult branch of the duties appertaing to &
$, military xpedition-providing for transpor
e. tation-is, by the distribution of the bust
G. ness in the War Department, allotted to the
n Quartermaster General. As an expedition
m against Vera Cruz had been resolved on som'
or time before you were assigned to take com
ra mand of it, General Jessup had gone to NeT
w Orleans to be in the best position to max
in the necessary preparations for such an en-
lie terprise. From his great knowledge an
he long experience in military affairs, not onl
ne in his appropriate department, bat as a CON
he mander in the field, the government though
mt it fortunate that you could have the advic
ed and assistance of so able counsellor.
ne Your suggestion that it might be necess;
To- ry to send ships in ballast from the Mort
nj for transports was not neglected or unheeC
FL ed by me. Whether it would be neccssar
he or not, depended, according to your stat
,es ment to me, upon the means of transport
lat ton which could be procured at New Orlean
an &c. My first step was to write to the Qua
lat termaster General, then at that place, for il
to formation on that subject In my letter
nat him of the 18th of December, said:
les cit is expected that most of the vesse
est in the service of the Quartcrmaster's D
ain partment can be used as transports for Il
San expedition. 1t will be necessary that Il
ily department here should know what porto
in of the transportation can be furnished
ion the ordinary means which the Quarterms
z to tiers Department has now under its contI
pom for the purposes of its expedition. 1 ha
run to request that information on this poi
the should be furnished without delay.
of "Another point on which the departing
of desires information is, what amount
means of transportation for such an expe
lev ton can be furnished at New Orleans, N
ear, bile, and in that quarter.
Oc- "The expense of procuring transpo
lor. from the Atlantic cities will be exorbita
far Freight is very high, and most of the 90
and vessels are engaged for the ordinary purj
This ses of commerce"
min tits important to bear in mind that J
part saw this letter on your first arrival at n
Orleans. In writing to me from that pla
rike December 81, you observe: 81 have 81
pied your letter Tin the hands of Lieuten
ex- Hunt to the Quartermaster General, da
was the 11th." You could not mistake its
d no iect, because it was clearly expressed.
tai asked distinctly what means of transported
lcity for the expedition can be furnished at
It, to Orleans, &C., and referred to the e2pe
king and difficulty of procuring transports Fl
ions. the Atlantic cities. You could not, th
rams fore, but know that my course as to send
Vera ships in ballast from the North would
sent regulated by the Quartermaster' reply
stain While waiting for this information, and
ment order to prevent delay, and be sure no
deserve the imputation you now cast u
Dron. nc, issued the order Of the 18th of
lorta. cember, to which you refer, knowing tn
hut could be modified and conformed to the
late igencies of the service, according to the
Il al swer should receive from General Jes
New HIS reply Is oateo the Zlth OF Deccm
If and in it he says:
e cal Transportation can be provided here
to in all the troops that may be drawn from
ION to army under the command of General
col lor, and for all the ordnance, ordnance ST
tered and other supplies, which may be draw
bring ther from this depot (the Brazos) or
their New Orleans. The public transport
ships mean those owned by the United Stat
It'll of that can be spared for the contemplated
n the erations, it is estimated, will carry I
Is nm Thousand men, with all their supplies.
I'D be sells can be chartered on favorable terms
a re- any additional transportation that ma
rcd to required" This letter was submitte
rath- and read BY yOu, as appears from you
81 the dorsement thereon.
After referrina To snnao other ma