Newspaper Page Text
* t
ed forward about half a mile, and was pack
ed in rear of the new position.
Our loss this dry, was nine killed, forty-
four wounded, and two missing. Among
the wounded were Major Ringgold, who
has sinco died, and Csptain Page, danger
ously wounded; Lieut. Luther slightly so.
I annex a tabular statement of the casual
ties of the day.
Our own force engaged, is shown by the
field report, herewith, to have been 177 of
ficers and 2,111 men—aggregate, 2,288.
The Mexican force, according to the state
ments of their own officers taken prisoners
in the affair of the 9th, was not less than
6,000 regular troops, with 10 pieces of ar
tillery, and probably exceeded that number:
the irregular force not known. 1 heir loss
was not less than 200 killed and 400 wound
ed—probabiy greater. This estimate ;s ve
ry moderate, and formed upon the number
actually counted upon the field and upon
the reports of their own officers.
As already reported in my first brief de
spatch, the conduct of our officers and men
was e/r ry thing that could be desired. Ex
posed for hours to the severest trial — a can
nonade of artillery—our troops displayed a
coolness and constancy which gave me,
throughout, the assurance of victory.
I purposely defer the mention of individ
uals until my report of the action of the 9th,
when I will endeavor to do justice to the
many instances of distinguished conduct on
both days. In the mean time I refer, for
minute details, to the reports of individual
commanders.
I am. sir, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
Z. TAYLOR,
Brevet Brigadier General U. States army,
Commanding.
The Adjutant General of the army,
Washington, D. C.
Headquarters Army of Occupation,
No. 39. Camp near Port Browne, Texas,
May 17,1S46.
Sir:—In submitting a more minute re
port of the affair of “Resaca de la Palma,”
I have the honor to state that early in the
morning of the 9th inst., the enemy who
had encamped near the field of battle of the
day previous, was discovered moving by his
left flank, evidently in retreat, and perhaps
at the same time to gain a new position on
the road to Matamoras and there again re
sist our advance.
I ordered the supply train to be strongly
packed at it3 position, and left with it four
pieces of artillery—the two 13-pounders
which had done such good service on the
previous day—and two 12-pounders which
had not been in the action. The wounded
officers and men were at the same time sent
back to Point Isabel. I then moved forward
with the columns to the edge of the cliappa-
ral or forest which extends to the Rio
Grande, a distance of seven miles. The
light companies of the 1st brigade, under
Capt. C. F. Smith, 2d artillery, and a select
detachment of light troops; the whole un
der the command of Capt. McCall, 4th in
fantry, were thrown forward into the chap-
paral to feel the enemy and ascertain his
position. About three o’clock I received a
report from the advance that the enemy was
in position on the road with at least two
pieces of artillery. The command was im
mediately putin motion, and about! o’clock
I came up with Capt. McCall, who report
ed the enemy in force in our front, occupy
ing a ravine which intersects the road and
is skirted by thickets of deuse chapparal.
Ridgeley’s battery and the advance under
Capt. McCall were at once thrown forward
on the road, and into the chapparal on either
side, while the 5th infantry and the one
wing of the 4th, was thrown into the forest
on the left, and the 3d and the other wing
of the 4th, on the right of the road. These
corps were employed a* skirmishers to cov
er the battery and engage the Mexican in
fantry. Capt. McCall’s command became
at once engaged with the enemy, while the
light artillery, though in a very exposed po
sition, did great execution. The enemy
had at least S pieces of artillery, and main
tained an incessant fire upon our advance.
The action now became general, and al
though the enemy’s infantry gave way be
fore the steady fire and resistless progress
of our own, yet his artillery was still in po
sition to check our advance—several pieces
occupying the pass across the ravine which
he had chosen for his position. Perceiving
that no decisive advantage could be gained
until this artillery was silenced, I ordered
Capt. May to charge the batteries with his
squadron of dragoons. This was gallantly
and effectually executed, the enemy was
driven from his guns, and general La Vega,
who remained alone at one of the batteries, j
was taken prisoner. The squadron, which i
suffered much in this charge, not being im- :
mediately supported by infantry, could not
retain possession of the artillery taken, but
it was completely silenced. In the mean j
time the 8th infantry had been ordered up j
and had become warmly engaged on the
right of the road. This regiment and a part
of the 5th were now ordered to charge the J
batteries; which was handsomely done, and
the enemy entirely driven from his artillery
and his position on the left of the road.
The light companies of the 1st brigade
and the 3d and 4th regiments of infantry
had been deployed on the right of the road,
where, at various points, they became brisk
ly engaged with the enemy. A small par
ty under Captian Buchanan and Lieuten
ants Wood aud Hays, 4th infantry, compo
sed chielSy of men of that regiment, drove
the enemy from a breast-work which he oc
cupied, and captured a piece of artillery.
An attempt to recover this piece was re
pelled by Captain Barbour, 3d infantry.
The enemy was at last completely driven
from his position on the right of the road,
and retieated precipitately, leaving bag
gage of every description. The 4th infant
ry took possession of a camp where the
headquarters of the Mexican general-in
chief were established. All his official cor
respondence was captured at this place.
The artillery battalion (excepting the
flank companies) had been ordered to guard
the baggage train, wYiich was packed some
distance in rear. That battalion was now'
ordered up to pursue the enemy, and with
the 3d infantry, Captain Ker’s dragoons,
and Captain Duncan’s battery, followed
him rapidly to the river, making a number
of prisoners. Great numbers of the enemy
were drowned in attempting to cross the
river near the town. The corps last men
tioned encamped near the river—the re
mainder of tho army on the field of battle.
The strength of our marching force on
this day, a3 exhibited in the annexed field
report, was 173 officers, and 2,049 men—
aggregate 2,222. The actual number en-
S iged with the enemy did not exceed 1,700.
ur loss was three officers killed and twelve
wounded; thirty-siz men killed, and seven
ty-one wounded. Among the officers kill
ed, I have to regret the loss of Lieut. Inge,
2d dragoons, who fell at the head of his pla
toon, while gallantly charging the enemy’s
battery; of Lieut. Chadbourne, of the 8th
infantry, who likewise met his death in
the thickest of the fight. The officers
wounded were Lieut. Col. Payne, Inspec
tor General; Lieut. Dobbins, 3d infantry,
serving with the light infantry advance,
slightly; Lieut. Col. McIntosh, 5th infantry,
severely, (right arm since amputated.)
Lieut. Fowler, 5th infantry, slightly; Cap-
lain Montgomery, 8th infantry slightly;
Lieutenants Gates and Jordan, 8th infant-
fantry, severely, (each twice;) Lieutenants
Selden, Maclay, Burbank, and Morris, 8th
infantry, slightly. A tabular statement o
the killed and wounded is annexed here-*
with.
I have no accurate data from which to es
timate the enemy’s force on this day. He
is known to have been reinforced after the
action of the Stb, both by cavalry and in
fantry, and no doubt to an extent at least
equal to his loss on that day. It is probable
that 6,000 men were opposed to us, and in
a position chosen by themselves, and strong
ly defended with artillery. The enemy’s
loss was very great. Nearly 200 of his dead
were buried by us on the day succeeding
the battle. His loss in killed, wounded,
and missing, in the two affairs of the 8th
and 9th is, I third., moderately estimated at
1,000 men.
Our victory has been decisive. A small
force has overcome immense odds of the
best troops that Mexico can furnish—vete
ran regiments, perfectly equipped and ap
pointed. Eight pieces of artillery, several
colors and standards, a great number of pri
soners, including fourteen officers, aud a
large amount of baggage, and public prop
erty have fallen into our hands.
The causes of victory are doubtless to be
found in the superior quality of our officers
and men. I have already, in former reports,
paid a general tribute to the admirable con
duct of the troops on both days. It novv
becomes my duty—and I fee! it to be one
of great delicacy—to notice individuals. In
so extensive a field as that of the 8th, and in
the deuse cover where most of the action of
the 9th was fought, I could not possibly be
witness to more than a small portion of the
operations of the various corps; and I must,
therefore, depend upon the reports of sub
ordinate commanders, which I respectfully
enclose herewith.
Colonel Twiggs, the second in command,
was particularly active on both days in ex
ecuting my orders, and directing the opera
tions of the right wing. Lieut. Col. McIn
tosh, commanding the 5th infantry, Lieut.
Col. Garland, commanding the 3d brigade,
Lieut. Col. Belknap, commanding the 1st
brigade, Lieut. Col. Childs, commanding
the artillery battalion, Major Allen, Cap
tains L. N. Morris and Montgomery, com
manding respectively the 4th, 3d, and 8th
regiments of infantry, were zealous in the
performance of their duties, and gave ex
amples to their commands of cool and fear
less conduct. Lieut. Col. McIntosh repuls
ed with his regiment a charge of lancers in
the action of Palo Alto, and shared with it
in the honors and dangers of the following
day, being twice severely wounded. Lieu
tenant Col. Belknap headed a charge of the
8th infantry, which resulted in driving the
enemy from his guns, and leaving us in
possession of that part of the field.
Captain Duncan and Lieut. Ridgeley de- I
serve especial notice for the gallant and ef
ficient manner in which they manoeuvred
and served their batteries. The impression
made by Capt. Duncan’s battery upon the
extreme right of the enemy’s line, at the af
fair of Palo Alto, contributed largely to the
result of the day; while the terrible fire
kept up by Lieut. Ridgeley, in the affair of
the 9th, inflicted heavy losses upon the en
emy. The 18-pounder battery, which play
ed a conspicuous part in the action of the
Sth, was admirably served by Lieutenant
Churchill, 3d artillery, assisted by Lieu
tenant Wood, topographical engineers. The
charge of cavalry on the enemy’s batteries
on the 9th, was gallantly led by Capt. May,
and with complete success.
Capt. McCall, 4th infantry, rendered dis
tinguished service with the advanced corps
under his orders. Its loss, in killed and
wounded, will show howclosely it was en
gaged. I may take this occasion to say
that, in two former instances, Capt. McCall
has rendered valuable service as a partisan
officer. In this connexion 1 would men
tion the services of Oaptain Walker, of the
Texas Rangers, who was in both affairs
with liis company, and who has performed
meritorious services as a spy and partisan.
I must beg leave to refer to the reports
of subordinate commanders for the names
of many officers, non-commissioned officers
and privates, who were distinguished by
good conduct of both days. Instances of
individual gallantry and personal conflict
with the enemy were not wanting in the af
fair of the 9th, but cannot find place in a
general report. The officers serving on the
staffs of the different commanders, are par
ticularly mentioned by them.
I derived efficient aid on both days from
all the officers of my staff. Capt. Bliss, as
sistant adjutant general, Lieut. Col. Payne,
Inspector General, Lieut. Eaton, A. D. C.,
Capt. Waggamau, commissary of subsist
ence, Lieut. Scarret, engineers, and Lieu
tenants Blake and Meade, lopographicalen-
gineers, promptly conveyed my orders to
every part of the field. Lieut. Col. Payne
was wounded in the affair of the 9th, and I
have already had occasion to report the
melancholy death of Lieut. Blake, by acci
dent, in the interval between the two en
gagements. Major Craig and Lieutenant
Brereton, of the ordnance department,
were actively engaged in their appropriate
duties, and Surgeon Craig, medical direc
tor, superintended in person the arduous
service of the field hospitals. I take this
occasion to mention generally the devotion
to duty of the medical staff of the army, who
have been untiring in their exertions, both
in the field and in the hospitals, to allevi
ate the sufferings of the wounded of both
armies, Captains Crosman and Myers of
the quartermaster’s department, who had
charge of the heavy supply train at both en
gagements, conducted it in a most satisfac
tory manner and finally brought it up with
out the smallest loss, to its destination.
I enclose an inventory of the Mexican
property captured on the field, and also a
sketch of the field of “Resaca de la Palma,”
and of the route from Point Isabel, made
by my aid-de-camp, Lieut. Eaton. One
regimental color, (battalion of Tampico,)
and many standards and guidons of cavalry
were taken at the affair of the 9th. I would
be pleased to receive your instructions as
to the disposition to be made of these tro
phies—whether they shall be sent to Wash
ington, &c.
I am, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
Z. TAYLOR,
Brevet Brig. Gen. U. S. A. Commanding.
The Adjutant General of the army,
Washington, D. C.
The Philadelphia U. S. Gazette states
that a Board to consist of Commodore T.
Ap. C. Jones, President, and Commodore
M. C. Perry, Captains. Charles S. McCau
ley, Isaac Mayo and Samuel L. Breese
members, will convene at Annapolis ou the
20th inst. for examination of such Midship
men as are entitled to be examined for pro
motion.
THE MEXICANS—THE AMERICANS.
The Mexicans, in all that constitutes civ
ilization, are two or three centuries behind
the age, and they are doggedly attached to
their ridiculous customs, their plough is
nothing but a wooden wedge; their hoe a.
straight stick with a nail driven into the
end of it. They have no carriages, and but
one road—the road from Vera Cruz to-
Mexico. They never use horses, of which,
they possess large numl ers, in the cultiva
tion of the soil. With the best agricultural
country in the world they scarcely raise
enough to keep them from starving. In.
short, every thing about them shows astate
of ignorance that we can scaicely conceive
of in this enlightened period. Their army
is said to number 40,000 men, but in fact
does not contain half that number. The
nominal pay of the troops is about the sime
as we pay ours, but in fact just enougn to-
keep life in their bodies. They are paid at
the end of every day. The army is recruit
ed from the prisoners, and by pressing inte
the service Indians who are too c >warily to
resist the lecruiting officer—the same kind
of men of whom the Camanche Indians-
make slaves. Mr. Thompson, our la.'e Min
ister to Mexico, states that five thousand of
our forces could defeat fifty thousand of the
Mexican troops. He says, not one ir ten ev
er saw a gun, and not one in a hundred ever
fired one. The few muskets in their pos
session are old condemned English piecesu
Every Mexican who can raise one regiment
is entitled to be called “General.” There
are in that country two hundred of these of
ficers without commands. Their best troops
are the cavalry, but their horses are as- small
in proportion as their riders, and both
would hardly make stumbling-blocks f»r
our heavy dragoons. A Mexican officer
declared he would break our squares with
his cavalry by using the lasso. He v/ouil
cast them over the necks of our men anl
draw them from the ranks.
These are the people we are called upon
to war with. In every conflict with Amer
icans since 1SI0, they have been massacred
—for we will not call our contests with
them battles. At Baton Rouge 40 Ameri
cans took a garrison with 120 Mexicans.
About that time, 1S10, Mexico had com
menced a revolution against Spain, and Col.
Ross, with 500 men, proceeded into Texas
to aid the patriots. He took the strong
town of Goliad, and soon alter defeated and
captured 1500 Mexicans. He determined
upon the conquest of Mexico, and touted
and cut to pieces 3000 men near San Anto
nio. 4000 Mexicans assembled at Bexar
in the absence of the American Generals,
but were defeated with great loss bv the
men acting without officers. In 1812, Gen.
Toledo with Ross’ force of 400 men and a
few Indians, routed 4000 Mexicans. These
events separated Mexico from Spain. The
Texans defeated them in fourteen battles,
with terrible slaughter.
At the battle of Conception, 92 Texans
under the command of Bowie and Fannin,
450 Mexicans; at San Antonio, 150 Texans
kept 5000 Mexicans at bay until the former
perished to a man. Santa Ana says they
were called upon seven times to surrender,
but would not. In this battle perished the
celebrated David Crockett; 30 Mexicans
were found slain around his body. At San
Jacinto 1300 men under Santa Ana were
defeated by 753 Texans, under Gen. Hous
ton, The battle of Mier was fought by 270
f exatis against 2600 Mexicans. It contin
ued eighteen hours, the former losing 30
men, the latter 600. The Texans losing
their ammunition, were forced to surren
der, which it is said the Mexicans were a-
bout to do.—Boston Whiz.
From the Evening News.
GEN. SCOTT’S CORRESPONDENCE
WITH DEPARTMENT OF WAR.
Gen. Scott has placed himself in the
wrong with the people of the United States
by this correspondence, and the conduct
which preceded it. We look in vain for
that prompt obedience, we will not say gal
lant bearing, of the soldier, which General
Scott’s established fame had led his friends
and country to expect. His explanations
look like disingenuous excuses or week pal
liatives—his reasonings appear like illu
sions of the imagination. What can be
more self-deceptive, defying the sound con
elusions of judgment if not tho dictates of
duty, than the presumption that in facing
the foe where his duty called him, he would
leave enemies in his rear—that in seeking
to conquer a peace in Mexico, he might be
assailed by political foes in Washington.
If the presumption has amounted to proof
—if what was surmise had proved the fact
—such motives should not weigh a feather
in the scale when the country, through its
highest Executive head, calls him into the
field.
Equally unfortunate is it for Gen. Scott
that lie did not discover that his instruc
tions, instead of being written were verbal,
until a week had elapsed after his inter
views with the President and Secretary of
War. This has the appearance of disin-
genousness—of an after thought in pallia
tion or excuse for delay. The whole de
fence of Gen. Scott for the want of promp
titude, after being informed that the Presi
dent intended to prosecute the campaign
with vigor and celerity, presents a tissue of
weak excuses in support of a foregone con
clusion—that conclusion being that he
would not take the command of the Wes
tern Army. Of the character of his mo
tives it is not for us to judge; but it is un
fortunate for his military reputation that he
did not promptly carry out the purposes of
the Executive, without regard to conse
quences, which might have affected him
personally or politically, from the intrigues
and machinations of his enemies in Wash
ington. It is the duty of public men
to encounter such hazards in the public
service, or they should leave it. General
Scott could have safely trusted to the pro
tection of the country, while engaged in
high and arduous duties against the male
volence of his enemies.
From the Weekly Union.
CALIFORNIA—CAPT. FREMONT.
Letters have been received at the Navy
Department from Monterey, bearing as
late a date as April 18th.
The unwarranted attempt to drive Capt.
Fremont from the country has already been
alluded to in the newspapers. After hav
ing been ordered away by Don Jose Castro,
commandant general, Capt. F. expecting
an attack fortified himself about twelve
leagues distant from Monterey. Castro
assembled about 100 men in front of the
entrenchment. After remaining there three
days, he concluded to treat, when it was
discovered that the party had quietly gone
off, leaving some old saddles and trash which
the Californians magnified into munitions
of war.
Three hundred riflemen offered their
services to Capt. F. but they were declined.
The movement against Capt. Fremont
seems to have been directed by the central
government of Mexico; but it is not believed
that the people of California entertained
any ill towards him or would willingly have
done him harm. His own conduct in the
whole matter seemB to have been marked
alike by courage and discretion. We sub:
join a copy of a letter written by him to the
American consul at Monterey, when in ex
pectation of an attack, and received by the
consul in the evening of March 10. The
captain remained in excellent health, and
had gone north.
“Mr dear sir: I this moment received
your letters, and without waiting to read
them, acknowledge the receipt which the
courier requires instantly. 1 am making
myself as strong as possible in the intention
that if we are unjustly attacked, we will
fight to extremity and refuse quarter, trust
ing our country to avenge our death.—
No one has reached my camp; and from
the heights we are able to see troops (with
the glass) mustering at St. John’s, and pre
paring cannon. I thank you for your kind
ness and good wishes,and would write more
at length as to my intentions, did I not fear
that my letter will be intercepted. We
have in nowise done wrong to the people or
the authorities of the country; and if we
are hemmed in, and assaulted, we will die,
every man of us, under the flag of our coun
try.
“Very truly yours.
“J. C. FREMONT.
“P. S.—I am encamped on the top of the
Sierra, at the head waters of a stream which
strikes the road to Monterey, at the house
of D. Joaquin Gomez. “J. C. F.”
MR. CALHOUN.
The Washington correspondent of the
Baltimore Patriot, under date of May 31st,
writes as follows :
“ Mr. Calhoun is preparing himself to
make a demonstration in the course of a
few days, which will be apt to astonish some
people. He is hard at work writing a re
port on the subject of the great doctrines
laid down by the Memphis Convention—
the right, power and duty of the General
Government to improve the channels and
harbours of our majestic inland seas, such
as the rivers Ohio and Mississippi. He
will lay down the doctrine that the States
cannot confederate to make these improve
ments—that when a river passes through
two States, those States may apply to the
General Government for power to make
improvements in the same—but when the
river passes through three or more States
this cannot be done—the power then be
longs exclusively to the General Govern
meat, which can improve the channel of the
livers, although it cannot touch the shores
on either side, as they belong to the States,
The States cannot confederate in anyone
section of the Union, to carry on any pub
lie work in which they have an interest.—
He defines the powers of the General Gov
ernment and of the States, in a manner to
meet the doctrines of the Memphis Conven
tion, with great force and ability. He will
j make a perfect shaking among the old dry
bones of the ancient sticklers for “ strict
con3trutcion,” the old harpers upon ’9S and
1 ’99, and carry off from the ranks of Polk
i Locofocoism, a patty that will be formida
ble, both in talent and numbers, in the next
Presidential race. Mark the prediction.”
[ Richmond Whig Sf Advertiser,
Yucatan.—The New York Sun has re
ceived late and important advices from Yu
catan. The old legislative assembly has
been dissolved, and the new Congress was
in session. Miguel Barbachano has been
elected Governor of Yucatan, and the ques
tion of independence settled, and all mat
ters properly arranged for the establish
ment of a new government. Among other
items of intelligence we see that three per
sons have been appointed on a secret for
eign mission, via the United States! Al
though the Government did not openly de
clare that these officers were to visit Wash
ington for the purpose of inquiring into the
steps necessary to procure annexation, yet
this was well known to be the object.—
This step lias found great favor with the
people, aud although the mission was via
the United States to some other country,
yet it was well understood.
f Char. Eve. News.
A very Extraordinary Phenomenon was
observed on the line of the Electric Tele
graph between New York and Baltimore,
on Thursday afternoon, the like of which
was never before known to man. Three
thunder storms, each some thirty or sixty
miles from the other, were all coming east
on the Telegraph route about the same
time, and every discharge of electricity
from either was duly recorded by the light
ning itself, in the Telegraph office at Jersey
city, Philadelphia, Wilmington or Balti
more. The wires became altogether un
manageable, and the operators being oblig
ed to withdraw the batteiies used for wri
ting, the visiter from the clouds had the
field to itself. The letters of Morse’s Tele
graphic alphabet which this natural light
ning seemed to be most partial to, were L
and T. but occasionally it went at the nu-
muerals and dashed off’ l’s, 50'3, 55’s 500’s,
and 50G0’s, in its own rapid style. We
learn that when two or more thunder clouds
get in the same vicinity, and discharge their
electricity at each other, or receive the fluid
from the earth and return it again, or when
ground lightning prevails, tho effect on the
Telegraph wires is to produce a strange
and original language which may yet be
made intelligible. In fact, each kind of
lightning speaks for itself and writes what it
says.—iV. Y. Sun, June 6.
PAY OF THE VOLUNTEERS.
A correspondent of the Norfolk Beacon
makes an estimate of the probable expen
ses of the war, from which we glean the
following statement of the pay received by
each officer and man in service: Major
General 8376 per month; Aid to do. 838
ad. pay; Brigadier General 8246; Aid to
do. 82S ad. pay; a Colonel of Infantiy $166
per month; Lieutenant do. 8145; Major
8129; Captain 880, 1st Lieutenant 870; 2d
do, 865; Adjutant 883; Sergeant 813;—
Corporal 810; Private 88.
A Colonel of Cavalry 81S3 per month;—
Lieutenant do. 8162; Major 8141; Captain
8106; 1st Lieutenant 890; 2d do. 890; Ad
jutant 8100; Privates (self and horse,) 820.
Thecost of 50,000 Volunteers of due pro
portion of Infantry and Cavalry for twelve
months, would be 813,230,450.
France and Germany
Immigration.—The arrivals in N. York
of emigrants from foreign countries for six
days, commencing with Friday, 29th May,
were aa follows :
England and Ireland.
Friday,
Saturday,
Sunday,
Monday,
T uesday,
Wednesday,
In all 8289, an increase of 4344 during
the same period of the preceding year.
During the past month of May, 16,-
434 emigrants arrived at the port of New
York, of whom 11,550 were from Great
Britain.
1325
985
628
33
833
236
1191
642
1045
642
475
475
5507
2732
JH9 N A i^
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr. Haralson rose and asked leave to
make a personal explanation.
Leave being granted,
Mr. Haralson said he felt himself most
reluctantly called upon to make an explana
tion personal to himself and to the Commit
tee on Military Affairs, in consequence of
an article which appeared in the “Union” of
yesterday morning under its editorial head.
In commenting on the letter of Gen. Tay
lor, of the 18th May, in which an account
is given of the loss of Lieut. Stephens while
attempting to swim the Rio Grande with
his squadron, and on the great advantages
which were lost to Gen. Taylor in improv
ing the results of his victory-, for the want
of a ponton train, the editor makes use of
the language which I will request the clerk
to read.
The clerk read the following:
“It will be seen from the letter of Gen. Taylor of
the 1 Sth of May, published above; that it xvus very
unfortunate that he was not supplied with a ponton
train, which would have enabled him to pursue the
enemy ncioss the Rio Grande, and greatly improve
the results of his victory. Having made inquiry upon
the subject, we have ascertained that it was a source
of no less regret to the War Department than to Gen.
Taylor, that it possessed neither the power nor the
means of providing him With such a train, its great
usefulness and importance in military operations has,
we understand, been long known to the department,
and various efforts have been made to induce Con
gress to make provision for it. The Secretary of
war, in his last annual report, strongly recommended
the measure, as will he seen from the followingextract:
“The propriety of organizing a corps,‘moderate
in point ofnumbers, of miners, sappers, and poutoti-
iers, has heretofore been often presented to the con
sideration of Congress. The reasons for such a corp9
are becoming more evident and urgent, in conse
quence of the military occupation of Texas. The
commanding general there ha3 requested to be fur
nished with a ponton train, deeming it very essential
to the movement of the army in that country. In ma
ny parts of it, the materials for constructing bridges
are not to be obtained. When that is the case, the
movements of an army would be impeded or arrest
ed by the considerable streams traversing its line ot
operations, unless it wassupplied with trio necessary
equipage for crossing them, and attended by a corps
instructed in the use of this equipage. The name by
which this corps is usually designated—that of sap
pers and miners—is apt to mislead thejudgment as to
the nature of its duties, and consequntly as to its use
fulness aud adaptation to our service. The services
required of it in attacks upon fortified places consti
tute but a small portion of its appropriate duties —
This subject is fully and ably discussed in the report
of the chief engineer, herewith submitted. The re
commendation iu its favor is sustained by strong ar
guments and the highest military authority, and 1 trust
will procure for it the favorable action of Congress.
This corps need not be numerous—one hundred en
listed men being deemed sufficient; and, if placed un
der the command of the present engineer officers, it
would not be expensive.’ ”
“This recommendation was followed up by ear
nest and repeated efforts by the department to induce
its sanction by Congress, and the Secretary of War
uo less than three times, in the early part of the ses
sion, addressed the appropriate committee on the sub
ject, urging the importance of this measure, and re
minding them that the general commanding the ar
my in Texas had called for this essential equipment to
his military operations.’’
Now, Mr. Speaker, (said Mr. H.) it is not
known certainly that by the term “appro
priate committee” the Committee on Mili
tary Affairs of this House was meant, or
that any censure was intended against that
committee; but the implication is so strong,
since the subject had been before that com
mittee, as to leave them no alternative but
to. make a public correction of it. While
they do not object that a just compliment
should be paid to the Secretary of War,
aud would willingly concede, themselves,
to that officer that he has discharged his du
ties faithfully and promptly on this subject,
they are unwilling that it should be done at
their expense; and it is due to them that
the whole facts in relation to their action on
the subject should be known, and they have
directed me to state that which 1 shall now
detail to the House, that within less than
two weeks after the report of the Secretary
of War was printed and laid on our tables,
the bill on this subject was promptly report
ed to the House. On the 19th of Decem
ber, the subject was referred to the gentle
man from South Carolina, (Mr. Burt,) which
was before the printed message of the Pre
sident and the accompanying documents had
reached this House. On the Sth Jan. (the
bill having been reported to this House
ftw.m lltP nrwi rpftAi'roil tr* tlio Oom-
miitee on Military Affairs,) was promptly
acted on by that committee, and by the gen
tleman from South Carolina reported to the
House for its action, and repeated efforts
were made by the gentleman from Ohio,
[Mr. Brinkerhoff,]the gentleman from South
Carolina, [Mr. Burt,] as well as myself, (as
will he recollected by the House) to have
the action of the House upon that measure.
Its importance was felt no more by the Sec
retary of War than by the committee them
selves; and perhaps it is due to the com
mittee to state that it is not within their re
collection that they “were addressed no less
than three times in the early part of the ses
sion on the subject, urging the importance
of this measure, and reminding them that
the general commanding the army in Tex
as had called for this essential equipment of
his operations,” as specified in the article
read by the clerk. They have in that mat
ter—as I trust will be awarded to them in
every other matter—promptly discharged
theii duties to the country, sometimes anti
cipating the probable reference of subjects,
and acting upon them before they were
moved in the House—meeting sometimes
every morning for a week together.
It was not the object of the committee to
reflect upon the Secretary of War or Col.
Totten; on the contrary, they took pleasure
in bearing witness that they had faithfully
discharged their duty on the subject; but
while this had been done, under this edito
rial it was implied at least that there was a
lack of promptness on the part of the Com
mittee on Military Affairs; and it was due
to them to correct any such impression, and
that it should be known thu . they had dis
charged their duties faithfully to the coun
try. A like bill had also been reported
from the Committee on Military Affairs of
the last Congress.
In the House, the naval appropriation
bill was finally acted upon.
The tariff bill was then, by the decided
vote, of 115 to 71, taken up. Having been
read, it was laid aside, on motion of Mr.
McKay, for the purpose of acting upon
sundry amendments ofthe Senate to the In
dian appropriation bill. A discussion hav
ing no reference to the bill, was commenc
ed by Mr. Culver. It is still open, but the
House have adopted a resolution to close it
to-morrow.
The Washington correspondent of the
Charleston Courier, under date of 16th inst.
writes—“the treaty was sent to the Senate
to-day, and at three o’clock, they went into
Executive session upon it, but merely re
ferred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
There is to be some discussion upon it.—
Mr. Allen and Mr. Hannegan intend to ex
press their views in opposition to it. Oth
ers of the fifty-four forties will appeal, and
it may be deemed necessary that they be
answered.”
The Washington Union of the 16th inst.
says—After the transaction of the morning
business, the Senate proceeded to ballot for
a chairman of the Committee on Foreign
Relations. After five ineffectual attempts
to choose any one by a legal vote the bal
loting was postponed till to-morrow. Mr.
Sevier and Mr. Archer received the largest j Reinoso, about 60 miles from Matamoras
number of votes on each balloting. j Gen. Canales, with his 1800 cavalry, |, ’
A message was received from the Presi- | fallen back, and is-entrenched at Rei’noso
dent in response to the resolution ofjhejA brush may therefore be looked foi l
infnrmoim., .-..i,,.:™ it,« tween him and the command of Lt. C(°,j
Senate seeking information relative to the
finances. For want of room we are com
pelled to postpone the publication of this
day’s Senate proceedings until our next.
In the House, an unsuccessful effort was
made by Mr. McTowell of Ohio, jo intro
duce certain resolutions on the subject of other regiment—the Jackson prefe,.-Y
the Oregon treaty. ■ they were told that all such applicat^Y*
The supplemental bill was finally dispos- mu - st be made through their officers. aY
ed of. lease is therefore improbable.
Sickness prevails to some extent throng
Wilson.
Some of the companies in Col. W a lt 0n -
Washington Regiment having become
gusted with a petty sort of tyranny, Pet T
tioned Gen. Smith (as rumored) to join
out the volunteers, confined, howeverY
bowel complaints chiefly; but no sign i.ff
ver. The water and green corn are tit
principal causes.
Letteis sent from the States for v„i ur
teers, should be addressed to the regiment
to which they belong, adding the Colonel''
name. If this were done, much disappoiV
ment would be prevented. The Post
department is now attended to bv thetY
The House spent nearly the whole day
on the Indian appropriation bill, which is
yet pending.
Mr. McDowell’s resolutions, above allud
ed to, seek to postpone further action upon
the Oregon question and to submit it to the
people for their decision, and affirm that the
annexation of foreign territory or selling the
territory of the people and transferring A-
merican citizens with it to any foreign pow
er, cannot be constitutionally acted on by
less than the whole legislative power ofthe : Quartermasters, who have of other tiling
government. The House refused—35 to j muc ^ more than they can well attend to
116 to suspend the rules to allow the intro- and Gen. iaylor has expressed his deters
duction of the rescultions. j Nation to ask the Postmaster at New 0.
The Union sa\s—Gen. Robert Arm- | l eans to send proper persons into this cnim.
strong, the Consul of the United States at . tr y attend to that business. SomethiM
Liverpool, is now in this city. Ho came in j ritould certainly be done immediately
the Great Western, and will return in a some quarter—so that responsibility for^
few days to Liverpool, He describes the p os *ago, as well as delivery of letters, sliou.i
deep impression which the unparalleled en- ; rest *b e proper quarter,
thufliosm of our vnluteers is calculated to ! With Lest wishes for all of you, and the
produce in Europe. 1 friends we left behind us.
Important Documents.—The Washing
ton Union of 16th inst. says—-In another
column will be found the interesting docu
ments this day delivered to the Senate of
the United Stales by Mr. Walker, the pri
vate secretary of the President. The Pre
sident again recommends the reduction of
the tariff to the revenue standard. He pro
poses, also, to impose war duties upon cer- !
Yours truly, in haste,
TOM.
foreign
^ ^ NEWS.
Highly Important from Enropt,
ARRIVAL OF THE
a KE.l T
WESTER#'
tain articles on the free list, &c., &c., to ex- i ^ telegraphic despatch from Baltimore f, r
- - - 1 the “Union,”
Arrival of the Great Western—Decline it
cotton—Passiige of the corn-law bill. j r .
condiment of the Queen—Escape of L m ,.
Bonaparte; his arrival in London—
citemcnt on the subject rf the warm;'
Mexico Parliamentary—Money-math
cVc., !fc.
New York, June 15—12 m
The steamer Great Western has arrivej.
pire after the war; and also, if necessary, to
authorize the issuing of treasury notes, or
making a loan.
lie encloses, also an able report for the
Secretary ofthe Treasury, with estimates of
the annual expenses of war by the Secreta
ries of War and the Navy. There are es
timates from the several bureaus of the
War Department, but we are compelled to
confine ourselves to those relative to sup
plies and to transportation
The same paper says—“It is presumed, J V1 eleven days later news from Europe,
by some observers, that there is a screw or | °*elhgence relative to the war between C
- ~ - - - United States and Mexico arrived in Enj.
land by the Cambria on the 28th ult, which
produced a great sensation, and considera
ble public sympathy was manifested ir. he.
half of Mexico, as the weaker party. The
corn bill passed the House of Lords by a
majority of 47. The accouchment ofthe
Queen had taken place, and she became
the mother of a daughter, and both were
doing well.
The cotton market was quiet, and but lit-
tie doing, with no inclination to sell at low-
er rates. The prevailing opinion was that
the news received in England would be fa
vorable to holders. 3,000 bales have been
taken on speculation. The sales of the
week amounted to 26,656 bales. The com
market was rather depressed, with slow
! sales to retail buyers. Sales of orain lira-
two loosein theSenateof the United States.
Otherwise, it is asked, how comes it to pass
that with a decided democratic majority,
five ballots were taken to-day for the pur
pose of electing a chairmain of the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations, and no elec
tion was made after all, and the question
was postponed till to-morrow 1 o’clock?—
Messrs. Sevier and Archer were the promi
nent candidates on the ballots—but there
were always scattering votes enough to de
feat an election. Would any democrat de
sire to see a whig elected as the chairmaff
of a committee who would have to confer
in the most confidential manner on our for
eign relations with the President?
FROM THE SEAT OF WAR.
Latest from Point Isabel.—We are in- j ded .
debted to Mr. Bisby, engineer ofthe steam- ! r . p
c 17 1 J 5 ,, . i latest quotation tor consols for moner
ship Galveston, tor the following memoran-i c. ,
, ’ p T) • . T u 1 mi 10 -> no saies on account. Jixehequer b:.s
da, the latest news from Point Isabel. The 15 to 19 prem i ums -a fall of 26 perce“
Galveston left here on the 3d inst., taking j Escape of Lovjs Bonaparte from Hul
down the Missouri troops When within Q n Monday last the Prince succeeded but
about a hundred miles of Point Isabel, she footing his escape from the fortress of Ha-’
lost one of her wheels in a quail. She ar- j afler a close j rapr isonment of some vea^’
rived there on the 5th, and left on the Sth. j Having assumed the disguise of a work-
On the night of the 9th, she arrived off the maT1( he contrived to elude the vfoilaDce of
bar of Galveston, and put in over it next t | le sen t r ies to regain his freedom, without
morning. She remained there twelve hours, j an y molestation from the battalion ofinfas-
and left at 6 o clock, P. M., on the 10th. \ tr y t h at formed the garrison ofthe caste
At 12 o’clock Thursday night, she crossed j anc i he arr i ve d safely"in London wherem
the bar at the Bnlize, and at 8 o’clock yes- | believe he is at present,
terday morning, when opposite Poverty The Morning Herald says that the price*
Point, her other wheel was carried away, escaped at 7 o’clock on the moraine of t»
Mr. Bisby could not ascertain that there 2 5th; and as the event was not discovers!
was any thing new from Matamoras, or ! fo r j 0 hours afterwards, he could eay
that the troops had proceeded on to take i i iave reac h e <l ttie Belgian frontiers o r
possession of any of the other towns up the > tvvcnty Gagnes distance, lon<r before la
river though ,t was known to be Gen. Tay- J telegraph itself could have been set to wort
for s intention. He heaid that the JIextcan -pbe papers say be embarked at St Vafor.
General had sent Gen. I a} lor a message, j Parliamentary summary.-Id the Ho®
telling him to withdraw his troops from ; of Commons, Mr. O’Cormel! moved that tie
Matamoras, or he would annihilate them. | ort]er of the 27lh April fo r the committal of
Gen Taylor sent him his compliments say-| Mr . W . S. O’Brien, be discharged on::*
ing he should be delighted to see hio. ground that the committee of seta
There are on board the Galveston 180 souls, , wllich had directed his aUen uo„ on a pri
or there about, most ot them sick or wound- l:ti „ . 1 .
, . ’, n , e ; iv ate diu committee, was not itself prone y
ed. Among them are Uapt. Saunders, of constituted r ‘
i tl,e U :, S -. p T a ^ OC ’ Wh ° has , lo n St an ! In the House of Lords, on Monday, the
arm, Maj. Bell, U. S. Paymaster, and Com. | Duke c f Wellington moved an addr'eU
Moore, on his way to Washington. Capt. , the QueeD( con o ra tulating her on the ir-
Page will be up in the Ne w Y ork. j crease of her domestic happiness in thebirth
ihe Jas. L Day and the Cincinnati were of another princess, which was unanimous-
engaged to take the troops from Point Isa- j ly agreed to. The discussion on the com
bel to the Rio Grande. 1 he New York will ; bi u was t i, en commenced, and was soin-
be in to-day.—Mr. Bisby came up to the i portant that we have reported it more fully
city to engage a towboat to bring the Gal- i than we are accustomed to do under this
veston up.—Daily Delta.
head.
London, May 20th, 10 o’clock.
The English securities have been affect
ed in a considerable degree by the news
from America of a declaration of war by
that country against Mexico. It is feared
[correspondence of tiie “daily delta.”]
Point Isabel, June 7, 1846.
Dear Della.—Being, as we call it, at the
Point for a few hours, having come through
express from Matamoras last night, I was j f bat it will have the effect of involving us in
fortunate to find the Galveston on the eve ] fresh difficulties with the United States*
of her departure. The business I was sent j and that the Oregon dispute will now be-
on from Headquarters has prevented me I come a question of secondary interest com-
wriiing until the last moment—consequent- ‘ pared with others that will, in all probu-
ly, I have to be brief. Imprimis—every bilirv. ar;se from the hostilities of nnr nan-'
newspaper establishment in New Orleans
is represented here—by papers to the 2d—-
except the Tropic and Delta. Full files of j
all others are received to that date—the I l b e House of Lords on the second rpadicj
Tropic to the 27th; but the Delta, after ofthe corn-law bill, was quite stultified bf
bility, arise from the hostilities of our t , ani ‘
Atlantic neighbors.
The favorable effect which it was antici
pated would follow the large majority in
which every enquiry is made, cannot be
found later than the 25th ult. This is most
unfortunate, and should be remedied. 300
mounted Texans arrived last night.
The delegation from the Legislature of
Louisiana arrived on the Galveston, and
the ten gentlemen will accompany fce to
Gen. Taylor’s camp this afternoon—a long
prairie-ride of 27 Mexican miles. The news
of the brevet-rank of Major-General being
conferred on Gen. Taylor, meets with uni
versal satisfaction from the officers of the
whole Army.
It is rumored here that Generals Scott
and Wool are ordered to Mexico: this in
telligence does not meet with the same fa
vor.
On Thursday, the Ricardo Rangers were
sent out on a scout, after some armed Mex
icans, who w re discovered prowling about
in the vicimty of the Andrew Jacks" 0
camp. They returned without finding' Aer ”’
but on their march they discovered trough
information furnished by a Mp* ,can j a A ot
of arms, swords, pistols, ete, concealed in
a Ranehero’s house, about five miles from
camp. These, as well as the possessor,
were captured by them, and roug t into
camp. The proceeds of the booty will be
distributed a«i™g the captors. R.c. is per
fectly at home, and a better fellow in camp
never went on a volunteering expedition.
Yesterday afternoon, Lieut. Col. Wilson,
with five companies of the 1st infantry, Cap
tain Desha’s Mobile Volunteers, aud Capt.
Price’s Texas Rangers, accompanied by
Capts. Ogden and Flint, volunteer aids to
Gen. Smith, took up their line of march for
this intelligence; and notwithstanding l
good position of the account, prices are 3-
bout one-half percent, lower than they do*;
sed last night.
Consols were as follows: Money 961 fell i
to 92, and closed at 93^; for the account
to 96£; 3 per cent’s reduced from 95] to
95$; 3^ per cent’s 97J to 97 1-6.
Exchequer bills 15s. to 19 premium: anJ j
bank stocks 205£ and 206* Foreign mar
ket is also dull; a fall of 2J t jr cen t.
ALFRED V AIL,
Asst. Supt- *>f U- S. T.,
Washington terminus.
A questioner Gen - Mejia.—A. correspon
dent ofthe Charleston News, who sign 5
himsetf’ “Scissors,” makes the following
pupation from Gen. Mejia’s despatch to
Gen. Paredes:
“Taylor alone remains in command, ana
as for him, it would be no compliment to
our countrymen in comparing him with tho
most wretched Mexican Bailor."
Said correspondent then asks this ques
tion: If* it takes nine Mexican Tailors to
make a man, how many Mexican Genet<&
will it take to make one American Taf or
The N. O. Delta, says:—Perhaps Get-
Vega, who was cut out and basted by oD
Taylor in the last battle, can answer t -
question.
Quick Travelling.-^Tho evening passe*,
ger train from Boston, on the 2d inst., tra' j
el led between Worcester and Springfie* 1
a distance of 54 miles, including all t>
stops, in one houre and filty-one minutf