The primitive Republican. (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-1852, 1852-09-09
MARCYs REPLY TO SCOTT.
(coNcLUDED.)
WAR DEPARTMENT,

UO"ttftytOH <1pIN - AOHO' r
AS just ground of complaint, and mat
ter of accusation, you refer to your deficiency
of means to make the descent, and to cap
ture the city of Vera Cruz and the castle of
San Juan d'Ulloa, and assume that the ex-
tent of that deficiency was the difference be-
tween what you received and what you re-
quired. 1t would be quite as correct rea-
sOning to say, that what you had having
proved sufficient for the purpose, that diff
ference showed the extent of the errors in
your estimate The truth lies, perhaps, be-
tween the two extremes You had less,
probably, than you should have had, and
you required much more than was necessary.
That you did not have more, and, indeed,
all you asked for, l have already shown was
not the fault of the War Department.
Gen. Jessup was with you at Vera Cruz,
saw your means, and is capable of forming
an estimate of their suficiency. He is, as
his letter herewith shows, disposed to be just,
and even generous to your fame. To his
opinion on the subject, no well-founded ex-
ceptlon can be taken He. says, in refer
ence to your complaints on account of de-
ficient supply of surf-boats, siege train, and
ordnance stores: "The result shows that he
(Gen. Scott) had surf-boats and stores en-
Ough p And of the delay of which you
complain, he fully exonerates the War De-
partment, and ascribes the whole to yourself,
and to unavoidable accidents The i1nputa-
ton that you were designedly crippled in
your means, is charge as preposterous as it
is unfounded.
l am aware that the execution of some of
the many arrangements for the Vera Cruz
expedition was Obstructed and delayed by
accidents; but they were such as human
sagaclty could not foresee, or human agency
control. They were not, however, more
than considerate mind, bringing into view
all the vast difficulties of the case, would
have expected. When your complaints on
this subject were first received here, evinc-
ing, as they did, that you intended to hold
the department responsible for every unto
ward event, the heads of the several bureaus
were called on by me to show how they had
executed the duties which had been confded
70 them, particularly in regard to matters
referred to by you. The evidence they pre-
{. >cntcd Of having done all that was required,
or could have been expected, convinced me
and | venture to say that, on a full ex-
-, animation, it will satisfy any mind open to
convlctlon-that all your complaints, so far
as they imputed blame to the War Depart
mcnt or any of its branches, are unfounded
1t will Go much more-it will show that
; great industry, promptness, uncommon ca
pacity, and extraordinary cxertions, in rela-
ton to everything connected with the war,
have characterized the action of each of these
L., b,-,lt,,,t, i A. l.,
ton justly meritcd by these several branches
y Of the department, assailed as they are indi
rcctly by you, | see no good reason for with
holding my opinion, that an instance canno
be found where so much has been done, anC
: we'll done, in so short time, by any similar
e body Of officers under similar circumstan
o ces.
AS you have, by implication, laid a heavy
hand upon the bureau which is charged will
the Onerous duties of executing the laws anC
orders for raising and sending forward tn,
recruits and levies, | feel bound toe affirm
that you have done to that branch of thu
public service the greatest injustice. n
industry has been spared, no possible effor
omitted, to raise the forces which were au
, thorized, and to send them to their destina
- tion within the briefest period. The NJ
- merous orders issued from the Adiutan
of Generals office, and its voluminous CORES
ur pondence on that subject, will sustain thi
IS, assertion.
re- You have pressed with unwonted zeal tn
, charge in relation to diverting the detach
ne ments of the new regiments under Genera
s. Cadwalader's command to the Brazos, an
T. have INDUCED in the widest speculations a
to the sad consequences which attended thi
: imputed error. Assuming that my order
> diverted these troops, or any others, Can a!
sertion which l shall controvert hereafter
!. the circumstances justified the measure
~ The critical condition of Gen. Taylor, al
cording to all accounts received here at thu
time, is stated in my letter to you of tn
al, 22d of March. To show that the depar
bs ment acted properly, though it incurre
on your reproof, it is necessary to recall tt
facts as they then appeared here. The
are presented in the following extract fro
ys that letter:
az "The information which has just reache
X us in the shape of rumors, as to the situate
of Gen. Taylor, and the forces under b
command, has excited the most painful a
prehensiOns for their safety 1t is almo
certain that Santa Anna precipitated IL
large army he had collected at San Luis {
Potosi upon Gen. Taylor; and it may
that the general has not been able to mai
4 tain the advanced position he had seen fit
take at Aqua Nueva, but has been Obligt
to fall back on Monterey. 1t is equally &c
tain that Mexican force has been interpo
,s ed between Monterey and the Rio Grand
and that it has interrupted the line of COZ
munication between the two places, al
seized large supplies which were on the VIZ
to Gen Taylor's army.
ne eff the hostile force between the r
Grande and Gen. Taylor's army is as larl
OF as report represents it, our troops now
that river may not be able to re-establish Il
line, nor will it, perhaps, be possible to pla
force there sufficient for the purpose,
it'll time to prevent disastrous consequences
al ouT army, unless aid ON be afforded from Il
nd troops under your immediate command,
nv. "FrOm one to two thousand of the nc
recruits for the ten regiments, from Il
lquarter, will be on the way to the Brazos
: the couse Of three or four days All t
other forces will be directed to that poil
., and every effort made to relieve Gen. Tia
jiie lor from his critical situation. You "
7 have been fully apprized before this can rea
you Of the condition Of things in the vail
As' Of the Rio Grande, and at the headquartt
o. Of Gen. Taylor, and have taken, | tru