Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1852-08-12
From tile PtHsbwg ConamerciM Journal.
The Kneeling CaIumny--Let ter
from Captain NayIOP.

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The Kmeeling CaIummy--Lett ter
from Captain NaylOP.
EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL My at
tention has been called to an editorial ar
ticle in the Pittsburgh Dispatch of Friday
under the caption of the "kneeling story
in which it is stated that the editor has
been requested to ask, by one who was
through the war, eff the Cameron Guards
of Harrisburg and Captain MAYORS COM
pany of Philadelphia, were not (while on
main guard duty at Jalapa,) obliged to
kneel to the Host" carried in Catho-
lie procession and this, under a general
order issued prerious to general order
No. 297"
AS the Capt Naylor, named in this en-
quiry, I am asked what [ have to say
upon the subject, and whether General
Scott ever issued an order such as above
indicated.
My reply is, there aleeer acas Suct a gen
eraI 0rcler. No such order was ever made
known to the army. My company never
was called upon to obey such order, or
any command purporting to be founded
on such order. My company never did
kneel to the procession of the "Host,"
either by obligation or otherwise. Gen.
Scott never issued an order imposing any
such obligation, nor one that would afford
any pretext or excuse to any officer un-
der him, for issuing such an order, or
imposing such an obligation. The whole
thing is fabrication, and is at war with
that large, intelligent spirit of charity, SO
broadly considerate of the rights and SEN
sibilities of all, so eminently distinguish
ing Gen Scott.
The foundation, upon which a spirit OF
misunderstanding what it dare not,
for many reasons, declare openly-has at
tempted to rear this fabrication is to be
found, presume. in the following occur
renee, which [ briefly relate, as it came
to my knowledge, promising few partic-
ulars in order to be Ineligible, and that
justice may be done to all the officers con-
nected with the transaction.
Immediately after the victory of Cerro
Gorde (on the 10Th of April '47) our ar
my advanced and took possession Of the
city of Jalapa, and established there a
depot and hospitals.
Soon after that, Gen. Worth with his
division advancing towards the City of
Mexico, occupied and garrisoned Perote,
and, on the 10Th of May, took possession
of the City of Puebla.
On the 3lst of May, Gen. Scott left ia
lapa, taking up the same line, halted at
Perote to establish matters there, and
thence pushed on to the City of Puebla,
which he entered on the morning of the
28th of May; and there fixed his Head
Quarters, and remained until he moved
on with his conquering column to the City
Of Mexico.
The posts then occupied by SCOTS ar
my, were Vera Cruz on the coast; Jalapa
sixty miles in the interior Perote nearly
forty miles farther in the interior; and
Puebla still farther in the interiar, are
nearly hundred miles from Jalapa.-
Thus was our little army posted.
After the defeat of Santa Anna, at Ger
70 Gordo, and his Intellectual effort tc
make stand at Puebla to prevent its
occupation by Worth, he set himself a.
bout organizing in the Terra C@iient
and the country between Jalapa and Pue.
bla, his forces of guerrillas work il
which he was familiar, in which he had
begun life, and at which he had earned
for himself position that had led to his
after elevation.
The result was, that in a very brief
time, the whole population of an immense
extent of country, with desperadoes from
the whole Republic, was converted into
organized armies Of guerrillas predetery
cruel and murderous force peculiarly
fitted to the weakness of the Mexican
character, and one which could operate
destructively in such country.
Our own small force, then greatly re-
duced, by the discharge Of all the twelve
months volunteers, by casualties and
sickness, in the heart of an enemy's coun-
try, was, under the circumstances, wholly
insufficient to preserve the connexions Of
a line SO extensive as that from Vera Cruz
to Peubla. Jalapa, at which the princi'
pie Hospital was established, then crow,
ded with the sick, the wounded, and the
dying, was to be abandoned, and its gar.
rison advanced to General Head Quarters
at Puebla, where all the invading troops
destined againstthe Mexican Capital, were
to be concentrated before the final move
1t was feared, as the period for abandon
ing Jalapa approached, that there might
! be among the sick and the dying, some