Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-03-03
Gen. Scott and Gen. Raglan.

The New York Courier makes the following
comparison between Gen. Scott and Lord Raglan
"The Senate yesterday unanimously confirmed
the nomination Of Winfield Scott to the Office Of
Lieutenant General-the commission to date from
the capture of Vera Cruz 1t is late work. but safe
Gen. Scott receives his Lieut. Genership six years
and eleven months and half after the capture o.
his fortress Lord Raglan received his Field Mar
shalship -- months before the capture of his
The one is rear pay, the other advance pay. The
one rewards for duty performed; the other fol
duty promised. We like the former best.
The WORK Is BEFORE YoU-thus said the or
der Read 1t, for it is not thing to be forgotten
"WAR DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, Nov. 23, 1S48.
"SIR: The President several days since com.
municated in person to you his orders to repair to
Mexico, to take command of the forces there as
sembled, and particularly to organize and put
aon foot an expedition to operate on the Gulf coast
if arriving at the theatre of action you should
deem it to be practicable. 1t is not proposed to
control your operations by definite and positive in
structons but you are left to prosecute them as
your judgment, under review of all the circum-
stances, shall dictate. The work is before you,
and the means provided or to be provided, for
accomplishing it, are committed to you, in the full
confidence that you will use them to the best ad-
vantage.
"The objects which It is desirable to obtain have
been indicated, and it Is hoped that you win have
the required force to accomplish them. OF this
you must be the judge when preparations are made
and the time for action has arrived.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
"W. L. MARCY, Secretary of War;
Major General Winfield Scott, Commanding the
Army, Washington"
The preparations" were made; and 1888 trans
ports conveyed the men and'means provided. The
time for action" arrived. The army was de6arked
stores landed, and batteries were planted within
nine days after reaching Vera Cruz, in spite of a
succession Of violent northersn and In eight days
afterwards General Scott despatched word to his
government that the flag of the United States
floats In triumph over the walls of this city and the
castle of San Juan de Ulloan-the same wave
washed and battle-scarred fortress, which in Eu-
rope had been deemed impregnabe. ITO operate
on the Gulf coast" in this style was not sufficient
for General Scott He scaled the Cordilleras, bore
the eagles Of his country in quick succession
through the streets Of Jalapa, Perote, and Puebla
with 500 men, swept resistless through the pass
of Cerro Gordo, defended by $4,000 Mexicans-
with the same number Of men defeated $4,000 Al
Contreras and Cherubusco; with Z, 90 men stormec
Chapultepec, defended by 20, 900; with 5000 tool
the city Of Mexico occupied by an army of 35 600
and thus accomplished the "objects desirable tc
obtain
He did what Lord Raglan has not done he did
his "work." He did what Lord Raglan has moi
done, he saved his soldiers. He threw not life
away that could be saved, and applied every posi-
BILE means that could secure the health and comfor
Of his men. Performing his campaign at the sick
ly season of the year, penetrating into the very
heart Of the enemy's country through crowded
cities and over mountain activities, he yet sub
jected his men to not one-tenth of the suffering
and lost not one-tenth so many of them by disease
as Lord Raglan has done while encamped within
six miles Of the sea. He poured out no blood for
a fruitless victory like that Of Alma he annihi.
lated no regiments of his own by fatal order
like that Of Balaklava he invited no deadly at
tack by neglect in certifying his position like
that at Inkcrmann. He did not leave his soldiers
tobecome tattered like savages, or famished lik,
dogs In fact there Is no doubt this side Of tn,
water that the American commander deserves hi
guerdon quite as we'll to say the least az the Brit
ish and Congress but reflects the sentiment o
the people in recognising this truth. There is
difference between a trained administrator at tn,
desk and an able general in the field and that Il
Just the difference between Lord Raglan and Win
field Scott.