Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-09-30

poth agreed was right and that they would aban-
don the negotiations
This meeting of general officers had no duty to
perform in civil capacity. My position, as con-
fdential officer of the Government, was not known
to them. Mr.. Trist was not even present. 1t was
called by Gen. Scott, and as I had agreed to sus-
pend, temporarily, my opposition, did so. If at
this meeting committed error, in not expressing
the opinions 1 entertained, it proceeded from my
respect for Gen. Scott and my anxiety not to thwart
his wishes. But l did not fail to right myself at
the earliest moment afterwards, with Mr. Trist
with whom my duties associated mel and with
Gen. Scott, at whose request had agreed to sus-
pend my opposition, for reflection.
These are the facts as they are stated, substan-
tally, in my address, and as Hitchcock knew them
to be from that address, and yet he comes forward,
protesting to have PERSONAL knowledge Of all the
facts, and with his notes evidently written for the
place they occupy in his letter. makes me the warm
advocate of the whole corrupt negotiatiou-armis
tice and alI-when my opposition to the whole pro-
ceeding is as well known and was as fully proven,
as any proposition could be that depended upon hu-
man testimony.
He says Congress had made liberal appropria-
ton TO procure peace, and thinks it would not be
so great wrong to use little of 1t, even in the
way of bride. He feels that if he could implcate
me in this business, he would thereby effectually
himself and his chief and associate in terpi-
tude, Trist from the condemnation of just public
opinion.
This gross perversiOn of my position, and his
effort to raise faIseissue between myself and Gen.
n.
to my refusal to modify my off oia report, is but
another shameless attempt at falsehOOd-at which
he has shown himself quite as adrot as he was
reckless in swearing before the court.
To understand the Importance of his question,
and how greatly the American army was endangered
by the terms of this negotiation, as agreed upon, it
is necessary to look at the relative strength and
position of the two armies at the time. The Next
can army was $4,000 strong and was in a city with
population of 100000 inhabitants, defended by
double lines of defensive works, with over 100
pieces of artillery and with this army The Ameri-
army consisted of II 500 men, all told; was in
the midst of the enemies country; without support
ing force and without the possibility of early re-
endorsements.
From this statement of the relative strength and
position of the two armies, how fearfully were the
chances against our success! Yet, by the terms as
agreed upon, if Santa Anna won the battle the SER
vivers of the American army would be within his
power and at his mercy. If we won, he had pro.
vided, by the aTmistice for the safety of himself
his army and the city. If peace ensued he got the
million and ten thousand dollars If peace did not
ensue, he got time to make every necessary prepa-
ration for renewing the bloody struggle, with great
ly increased chances of success from our reduced
force.
1t will thus be seen that Gen. Scott and Santa
Anna had agreed to play the game of "open and
shuttle stake being the lives and blood of our
army, and Santa Anna having "the hold" That
the army in such a conflict did not perish, was
owing to its iadomitaJe UaIor As it was it cut
its way into the city, at the cost of nearly half its
numbers. 1t was against these terms that pro-
tested.
In my address 1 stated that Mr. Trist made an
agreement with Santa Anna land that Gen. Scott
approved and sanctioned it, by which Santa Anna
was to receive, cash in hand, $4,000; that our
army was to march to the Valley of Mexico, fight a
battle before the city-if wOn Scott was to grant
an armistice-Santa Anna was to appoint commits
sioners to treat for peace and when peace was con-
cluded he was to receive one million more. That
Scott Trist paid the ten thousand dollars before
leaving Puebla- that we marched to the Valley.
fought the battle, had the city in his power hauted
the army at the gate of the city, ordered it to fall
back without a flag Of truce from the enemy, and
granted an armistice; that Santa Anna was allowed
time TO recruit his army, strengthen the defences of
the city, and thus to make it necessary to ght over
his battles, which cost the army the blood of 1872
men; that 1t was thus manifest that Gen. Scott
1cted upon and carried out the terms of the Puebla
negotiations; that opposed the whole proceeding
not as spy upon Gen. Scott, but as an associate
commissioner with Mr.. Trist that my position was
Known both to Gen. Scott and Mr. Trist; that find
ng could not arrest these proceedings, alike dis
graceful to the Government and dangerous to the
rmy reported all the facts to the President, who
hereupon recalled Mr.. Trist; that shortly after
Yards was arrested and held prisoner in the CITY
Mexico, until was relieved from arrest by order
+ the President of the United States
This was the substance of that address Does
len, Hitchcock deny that there was such an argu-
lent or that the ten thousand dollars was paid p
'oes he deny that after marching to the valley and
Cutting the battle, Gen Scott halted the army when
le city was in his power and granted an armistice.
ithout the enemy having sent flag of truce, or
sked for the armistice until next day? Does he
eny that l opposed the armistice avarmly and ear
sstly, both by verbal and rritten remonstrance?-
oes be deny that Santa Anna availed himself of
e armistice to recruit his army and strengthen the
'fences Of the city, and that in the after opera
ons, made necessary by the armistice, cost the
my the blood of 1872 of its men? Does he ex
ain why Mr.. Trist was recalled and ordered to be |
Mt out Of the country, if not upon my report and
by he was promptly recalled upon that if l was
It an associate commissioner? Does he pretend to
plain how it happened that both Gen. Worth and
yself-the two officers who opposed the armistice
were arrested shortly after Trist was recalled?
Hess he denies these well known facts of the his
~ OF that campaign, he makes no issue with any
ltement in my address.
Yet he would have the public believe that Gen.
OFT broke off friendly relations with me because
'Ould not alter nay official repor. and falsify my
lUctlons of truth. He says that Gen. Scott soon r
ce7ded" to address me in kind and complimentary
guage' in 'prUate note" to induce me to do so. :,
that basely attempted to use this private note
my own glorifcation, &c.
n the first place Gen. Scotts letter, from which L
extract was taken, is not pirate note; but on =
contrary, was official letter, addressed by Mai.
/. Scott to Maj. Gen. Pillow, and related exclu-
'ly to the movements of the army and to official y
orts, and was by Gen. Scott so regarded, and by G.
forwarded to the War Department of the Gov hi
ment at Washington. d.
the second place, if it had been private note in
Gen. Scott had paid me unmeried compliments NJ
induce me to fasify my own convictions, as 10
'hcOck says was the fact, he puts Gen Scott in Sc
ton in which all his friends would see that he tn
promised his honor. Either therefore, Hitchcock tn
or else Gen. Scott guilty of wiring me re
y euOgisic letter, talsyyiag The truth for a most =
bic purpose.
is not material to me which horn of the dilem- T
lie assumes. If he speaks the truth, Gen. Scott FRI
e falsely If Gen. Scott, in his official letter a.,
e the TRUTH Hitchcock has but added another to VIII
many acts which consigu his name to infamv -
iishonor