Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-09-14
SECRET HISTORY OF THE MEXICAN
WAR. ..-
Letter from Gen. Gideon j. Pillow.
To the People of Tennessee.

To the People of Tennessee.
In placing myself before the country as a
candidate for United States Senator [ feel that
II is not improper for me briefly to refer to the
motives which have prompted my course, and
10 state the principles by which shall be gov
erned if honored with your confidence
1t ID known to you that have not heretofore
sought political honOrs. That / have actively
participated in all the great political struggles
throus which the country has passed for many
years Is not unknown to the Democracy of nv
immediate neighbOrhOOd; but nv participation
has been that of a soldier in the ranks-peither
asking nor receiving any share in the fruits of
victory.
Incidental to the humble part l have per
formed was an active participation in the NOM
nation of Mr. Polk, and the struggle which re-
suited in placing him in the Presidential chair.
nat event was followed by the war with Mex
leo The part L bore in that war is known to
the country. All that | have to say of those
services is, that L tried to perform my duty in
the dlthcult and trying positions in which L was
Placed To the brave sons of Tennessee of nv
command | appeal as witnesses of my kindness
and attention to their wants amidst the dis
eases OF pestiential climate and the hard
ships OF camp life To the reports of General
scott, my immediate and only superior in the
army with which L fought, refer for the man
ner IN which l bore myself in command, and
sustained the honor of Tennessee upon tho
was under no suspicion of partiality for me ;
ana L may therefore, without indelicacy. refer
10 ms reports for my bearing upon those fields
which have reflected so much honor upon our
common country. By them am willing to be
judged.
While was thus engaged in foreign war,
endesVorlng to maintain the right and defend
Ing the honor of the country. a malignant party
press at home was perpetually pouring its vol
umes OF abuse and calumny upon me. All that
rldicule, faisehoOd, and calumny could do to
destroy my reputation was done Nv only an
sWer TO these assaults was tho blows | gave the
enemy In front L felt that in vindcatins nv
reputation as soldier with my sword best
answered the q fire Of the enemy in the rear. >"
The close of the brilliant campaign which re-
suited IN the capture of the encny's capital
found me - cHt dOnu.'
In few days afterwards and while prostrate
upon ped from which did not rise for many
months, was arrested. A sword which had
not dlshonOred was wrested from my 5ide-my
persOnal staff dismembered, and my GAL
lant division, which had cut its way into the
city at loss of nearly Wo-thirds of its men,
sers, was taken from my command AMI or
dered to remote and interior positions in Mex
leo. was confined . prisoner in the city of
AexlcO Tor ninety days, and until released by
order Of the President Of the United States
A long investigation of the charges preferred
against me resulted in the triumphant yindica-
ton OF my reputation, and in overwhelming
my enemies and Prosecutors with shame and
falschoOd.
But there is mystery, a secret history in
the motives Of those vino thus thought to DESTROY
my character, and to strip me Of the humble
honor of services which cost me so much suffer-
ing, which has never yet been understood bv
the country. That mystery 1 now propose to
remove.
IL Is due TO my own reputation, to the mem
DRY OF the great and patriotic statesman who
was then chief magistrate of the nation and to
the truth Of history, that the veil which has
now. Tor ten years, concealed the truth from
the public, should be lifted. ....
In appointing mission to travel with the
army aud treat for peace, (if an opportunity
should Ofer,J the grade of diplomatic duty 10
DC performed, and the emOluments thereto at
tached, made II impossible for the President to
lind statesman VINO would accept the place
The man selected for that position was MIR. \.
r ITlst. But either distrusting his ability
or Judgment, Or prudence, or all these, Pres-
dent Polk Was not satisfied to place the honor
OF the country and his administration in his
hands alone
By his confidential letters. now in nv Dos
Session, he so far associated myself with Mr.
1rlst as To place me in semi-Oficial relations
with him as commissioner. The duty was en-
joined upon Mr.. Trist Of taking me into all his
conferences aud TO consult me in all his nego-
uauons 1he duty was imposed upon me as a
patriot and the devoted friend of the President.
10 guard and protect the honor Of the country
ana OF ms administration against any and
everything which l thought would tarnish the
one Or the other. 1t will hence be seen that
while Mr.. Trist was the Ostensible commission
or, was, In fact, the confidential officer of the
Government upon whom the President relied
to guard aud protect the honor of the country
IN the important negotiations involving the
peace of the country.
When reached the headuuarteIs of the arny
"A fs..l
MI inst On my arrival at his quarters L
found General Scott there Mr.. Trist informed
Inc that ne had opened negotiations with Santa
Anna, and had pretty well agreed upon the
prelimInarIes OF negotiations for peace By
these terms, Santa Anna was to be paid, cash
In nand, as earnest money, Sl0,0 900, and our
army was To march to the valley of Mexico and
fight battle before the city. If we tco1 an ar
mIstice was to be granted, and commissioners
appointed 70 treat for peace. When peace should
DO concluded, Santa Anna was to receive one
million Of dollars more.
Mr.. TTist further informed me that these
terms had been agreed to, but it was an open
question whether santa Anna or General Scott
tMeer the battle was fuught) should take the
initiative, and send the dag Of truce, prepara-
tory to the armistice-Sants Anna insisting that
General Scott should send the flag but General
Scott insisting, if he won the battle Santa Anna
shoald do So tie further said General Scott
had furnished HIM the money, and that he had
paid the sl0 900 required To BE- paid in advance,
and that General Scott had the means in the
disbursinS department OF the army, or could
raise the means, Of paying the million to be
pald at the conclusion Of the negotiations. lie
also said he had invited me to the conference in
pursuance Of the order OF the President, and de-
sired my approval Of the terms
/ asked Mr.. Trist if there was any law au-
thorizing such use Of the public money! He
replied there was not. i then asked him if the
baH IToIg e
replied he had not, but he thought it WAS the
best be could do.
Regarding this "a an improper use Of the pub
lie money, and as a bribe to the commander Of
the enemy's forces, and rs diskOnOTing the Gov
ernment and disgrscefnl 10 our army, | at once
protested against the whole matter.
Gen. Scott justified and defended the Measure,
b't1 upon the score Of morals and as to the usage
OF governments. He said we were not corrupt
ing Santa Anna; for tho fact that he was found