Newspaper Page Text
VOL. XVII.]
CAMPBELL A ARMSTRONG,
Editors and Proprietors.
TERMS.
Is published weekly, in the Darien Bank Building,
Three Dollars per annum, payable in advance, or j
Pocr Dollars if not paid before the end of the year.
No subscription will be received for less than a year, ;
nor will any paper be discontinued until all arrear-
<jires are paid.
= The paper wi'i uot be sent to any person out of the
State, t: ".’.lithe subscription money is paid in advance,
or satisfactory reference given.
Advertisements conspicuously inserted at the
usual rates. Those sent without a specification of the
number of insertions, will be published until ordered
out. and charged accordingly. j
Sales of land and negroes, by Administrators, Ex- 1
ecutors, or Guardians, are required by taw to beheld
on the first Tuesday iu the month, between the hours
often in the forenoon and three in the afternoon, at
the Court-House in the county iu which the property
is siil ated.
Notice of these sales must be given in a public ga
zette si.rlv iluijs previous to the day of sale.
Notices for the sale of personal property must he
given in like manner, for tv days previous to the day
of sale.
Notices to the debtors and creditors of an estate
must also lie published foktv days.
Notice that application will be made to the Court
of Ordinary, for leave to sell Land or Negroes, must
be published for four months.
Citations for letters of Administration, must be
published thirty days—for dismission from Admin
istration, monthly six months—for dismission from
(; nardinnsliip, forty days.
Holes for foreclosure of mortgage must be pub-j the Union, could once boast of seventy-five
k»W.of '"•'»»corn ,0 lhe
pelling titles from Executors or Administrators, j acre -
wherea bond has been given by the deceased, the full j The question might be gravely asked,
spaceof three months.' _ . i why have fhese changes occurred? A bad
man
.Wir.LEDGE friLLE, GEOIS.GI.3, JTUjYJE 30, 1846.
[NO- 3.
AGRICULTURAL.
IMPROVEMENT OF THE SOIL.
BY T. FANNING.
Time vv^, when most of the cultivated
soil iu the United States was rich; but that
day has past. Iu many of the States, the
occupants of farms have worked their lands,
out of heart, and abandoned them for more
advantageous positions in the “far West.”
Many others still cleave to the homes of
their ancestors, with little other prospect
than that of making a bare subsistence, and
the great majority of American farmers ex
perience sad reverses from the annual de
terioration of their lands. Tennessee, which
is still the greatest corn-growing State in
Publications will always be continued according
to these, the legal requirements, unless otherwise or
dered.
All business of this kind will receive prompt atten
tion at the Federal Union Office.
Letters on business must be post paid to entitle
them to attention.
GEO. W. FISH
W
•lttornci/ at i.fitr,
MACON GA.
ILL attend the Superior Courts of the coun
system was at first adopted, and has been
persisted in. Farmers have had too much
confidence in the soil, and paid too little at
tention to its wants.
The great Buel’s motto “was to improve
the soil and the mind;” his idea might have
been correct, but the order of the subjects
should be changed. The improvement tf
the mind and the soil,'}?, the true desideratum.
The means to enrich the soil are numer
ous. Evety cultivator is obliged to have at
ties ol Bibb, Baldwin, Wilkinson, Washing- | ] eas [ a horse, a cow, a trig or two. and a
ofe«sional business entrusted to his care, i * p "’ sheep; and there ts no pt-.iblem in anth-
W
ties of the Flint circuit.
W. T. Colquitt, La Grange, (
A. II. Colquitt, Macon. )
(Otlice in Macon.)
I lee. 3, 1845.
ton, Tw
Any profe 1 - .. — ,
shall he attended to with all promptness and fidelity, metic more clear tliau that from any animal
Jan. 22, 1846. tf—34 | properly managed, more manure can be
l I .. i made than will be requited to make produce
»» . a - cv A. U. 1 IS |
ILL PRACTISE LAW in the several conn-. to support it.
Suppose we try the pig first. We will
j give it the poorest food of the place. We
| will be at the expense of constructing hint
tf—20 | a good house, and preparing him a yard
i with litter. Feed him on refuse cabbage
NO HUMBUG! leaves, roots, scraps from the kitchen, &c.,
But one of the Best Remedies for Bowel and in one year lie will pay for his mansion
Derangement ever yet Discovered ! ! food, and the labor of giving it to him, and
j furnish enough manure to produce ample
, food for two such pigs another year. If
any one will try it, and plead disappoint
ment, he may draw on me for thiee pigs.
The cow in addition to paying expenses
by her milk, when housed and well littered,
will furnish an amount of manure that will,
by its scientific application, give food for
one, if not two cows. The same may be
DR. WOODRUFF’S
DYSENTERY CORDIAL,
For Diarrhoea, Dysentery, Cholera Mor
bus, Cholera Infantum and Summer
Complaints of Children.
HIS invaluable Remedy has now been iu use
some six or seven years in the South. Its ef-
T
fects frequently are so speedy and beneficial, that predicated of all domestic animals. Lut, un-
verv many are led to exclaim, “It actslike a charm.” fortunately, many farmets loose the most
It is specially suited to a warm climate, prepared valuable particles of manure by exposing
particularly for it, and for a long time tested in it u tQ th weat h er . After fermentation, the
with the best ol success.. It is ottered as one ot the ... ,1-,
be-t remedies for bowel complaints, and is superior ; ?cstduum is little belter than the like amount
to Opium, from the fact, that while it checks exces- / of chaff.
sive and watery discharges, it corrects and regulates, : The secret of improving the soil consists
at'he same time, the secretions ol the system, restor- . , • • ‘ ,? . , , .
ing a healthy action, to agreater or less extent, to the j ln - wing its wants and being able to sup-
liver and Secretory Organs generally. Iunearly eve- ply them. l he correct combination of the
rycase.it relieves pains immediately on being ta- different properties of a soil must be Stud-
ken, allays Nausea at the stomach, and Irritability of j ip( ] Q n somn ] aru ], r ]
the bowels, relieves burning sensation ol the stom-
achand bowels, thirst, tenesmus, or bearing down sen
sation of the bowels, cramps, restlesness, &c., &c.
It can be administered to young or old, in any quaii-
liiy, with perfect safety, and may be truly'regarded as
a Restorative to Nature when the human frame has
been prostrated by disease.
TESTIMONIALS OF ITS VALUE.
Columbus, Geo., 1845.
We, the undersigned, having made use of Ur.
WoodrutFs Dysentery Cordial on ourselves, or in
Soap-suds, wood ashes, and charcoal have
all a tendency to improve soil.. Another
means of improvement is deep ploughing—
and the last, but perhaps not the least val
uable, consists in completely pulverizing
the land.—Naturalist.
ied. On some lands, clay will be useful; —
on others, swamp mud will be found valua
ble, and on others sand will answer the pur
pose. Draining is often advantageous and
many plots may be irrigated to the great
profit ofthe farmer. Few have studied the
value of green crops, oats and rye in par
ticular. One crop of oats consumed on the
field, will enable the cultivator to reap
r families, and some of us for years, are prepared j double the amount the second year. 1 he
lo testify to its value and excellence. In all bowel | same may be said of rye.
derangements, we find it to be speedy iu its effect, I - -
giving relief generally as soon as taken, and curing
entirely, ilia very short time. It has a high reputa
tion in this city and vicinity, and is iu very general
use. We believe it to be a safe and efficient reme-i
dy; and all that the proprietor says of it, which can
not be said in regard to Patent Medicines generally!
We are satisfied that it is no humbug, but a valuable,
safe, and efficient remedy for the diseases above j
named.
A. N. Worthy, M. D., Macon city, Ala. '
John M. Belhune, Esq., Judge of the InFr. Court, !
Columbus I
I). P. F.llis, Merchant, “ )
W. L. Jeter, late Pub’r. of the Col’s.Times, “ l
Josephus Echols, Esq . Judge InFr. Court, “
Wiley Williams, Attorney at Law, “ j
Colonel A. IF Ragan, “
John J. McKendree, J. P. and Alderman, “
L. F. W. Andrews, AI. D., Edi'or of the
.Muscogee Democrat, “
H. T. Greenwood, Merchant, “
James N. Bethuue, Attorney at Law, “
G. W. Bedell, Postmaster, “
G. W. Turrentine, Treasurer of the City, “
J. M. Tarbox, Bookseller. “
G If. Phoie, Jeweller, “
R. N. R. Bardwell, Alderman, “
James F. Green, “ “
Thomas J. Abbott, “
(' A. Bradford, “
W. II. Griswold,
8. R. Andrews, Fsq., “
Daniel J Rees, City Constable, “
Rev. F.li 8. W. Spivey, “
Rev. W. J. Rylander, “
Win. I’. Yonge. Factor, “
N. M. C. Robertson, Esq., “
James Kellogg, “
Rev. Caleb W.Key, Savannah, Ga. Conferatice.
Rev. G. J. Pierce, “ *• “
lion. John II. Howard, Columbus, Georgia.
Utility of Geese to Farmers.—It lias been
remarked that cattle of all kinds are never
; unhealthy where geese are kept in any
j cjnant'ayi uu«l ul»o iou»uu aosiguoU »o
!y this, that geese consume with complete
impunity, certain noxious weeds and grass-
| es, tiiat taint more or less, according to their
abundance, the finest padducks pastured
i by horse, bullocks and sheep. Most far-
j titers are aware of this and in many places
were the beeves appear sickly geese are
let into the pastures, and the soil where
they tread convened for the time being iu-
[ to a sort of infirmary.—New Farmer's Jour-
| nal.
Waslifor Fruit Trees.—A new subscri
ber in Northampton wishes to know what
is the best wash for young fruit Dees and
the best time for putting it on.
Lye that will bear an egg will kill all the
vermin and the moss that gathers on young
trees. Apply in May or J une, when the
vermin are to be seen. It will do more
service than in cold weather.
One pound of potash, dissolved in one
of water, will form a lye that will
all ,
State of Georgia, ? I, Buckner Beasley, Clerk of P , c ,, • i
Muscogee Co. \ the Superior Court 'in and for , be slro,, S enough for the Vermin and not tn-
the said county, do certify that I am personally ac- jurions to the bark.—Floughman.
qnaiuted with the Gentlemen in the foregoing list, !
(with some two exceptions,) and that their certificate I To cure galls in Hor ses W. B. Hamil-
is worthy of all confidence; and I can also state that | ton, of Philadelphia, says—“Some twenty-
I have used Dr. 'V oodrnfif’s Dysentery Cordial in c • 1 i i . i ■ . , ■ J
...v family, and found it efficacious.-Given under ! fi , ve y ea,s 811 I ,ce > an , old Stage driver told me
sny hand, this28th day of July, 1845. i the secret why, to the astonishment and en-
B. BEASLEY, Clerk, j vy of every other Jehu, his horses were
. ~7 , r _ never galled. My friends and myself have
Important Testimony/—An literate Case j teste j it again and again . Here it is—
with One and a Half Bottles of the j (j at i, er a quantity of smart weed (aqua pi-
„ Oordial.. I per) which grows in almost every wet spot
Dear Sir.—Fbr the benefit of Die ufflictid,I make j about the stable, muise it well and put it
the following statement relative to your Dysentery in an iron v-.ssel, in a corner of lbe stable;
Cordial: In the spring of 1644, my wife was attack-: cover it up with chatnberlev, arid wash the
ed with Dysentery, which proved to be of a very in- j galled places whenever the' horse enters or
veterate character, and w hich, notwithstanding we p * . r , . -
applied every Remedy in {common use, it continued leaves the Stable, or oltener, it occasion 01-
with increasing violence till the latter part of the fob fers, and then the cure is almost immediate,
low ing August; it seemed now that she could not i [f [ )ad | y walled under the harness or collar
lire viw h luii<rcr, and I had despaired of her rtcoreni. . r.i 1 1 1 • 1 .1
About this time, my eye caught the advertise ment of j b,ulse 8 ° me of lhe leaves andblnd 011 the
l o prevent galling, let the shoulders
my eye caugl;
your Dysentery Cordial, I immediately obtained a
bottle tr ‘ " " "
spot.
ti< m your Agent, w hich, to my surprise and arid parts exposed, be washed daily with
gratification, checked the progress of the disease;
and by using one bottle, and part of another, a per- \
feel cure teas performed.
JONES BROWN.
Marion county, Ga., Aug. 5, 1845.
A Hopeless Case Cured.
Dr. Woodruff:
Dear Sir,—A remarkable cure having been effect
ed in the case of one of my children by the use of
your valuable Dysentery Cordial, I f ee | It but justice
to you, that I should give you a statement of tile case
for publication. Aly child was attacked early in the
year with disordered bowels, which continued gradu
the infusion, and the animal will not gal!,
work him as hatd as you will, provided the
harness be good.— Cultivator.
Flax and Bauley sown together.—F. L. E.
writes—“In a conversation with a gentle
man from Montgomery county, he informed
me that a number of farmers in the town
of Florida, bad made the experiment in
sowing llax-seed and barley together, and
iti every instance succeeded admirably—
ally to get worse, until it was reduced to a perfect’ that lie sowed ltimself (on a certain piece
skeleton, and by the family was given up wa hope-j of land, not specifying the amount) ten
less case. Every remedy in common use had been , co i i • l. i u i
resorted to. but without any benefit. This was i s ha shels of flax-seed and eiorht bushel
indition when we commenced using your Cordial.
Its benefit was immediate and permanent—it improv
ed rapidly, and now enjoys good health. Your Cor
dial, without doubt, has saved its life. Let all try it
that need such a Remedy, and they will not repent it.
Respectfully, J. C. BALDWIN.
Russell Co., Ala., Dec. 8, 1845.
For sale by MARTIN E. EDWARDS,
Milledgeville, Ga.
Also by the following persons—J. R. Simpson
Co., Sparta; H. S. Beeman, Mt. Zion, Hancock
county; Moses Daniel. Irwinton, Wilkinson county;
krancis S. Johnson, Clinton: A. R. Jackson & Co.,
Latontou; Hurd & Hungerford, Monticelto; and in
the most of the counties of the State.
April 13.184G, 44
bushels of flax-seed and eight bushels of
barley, which produced one hundred and
thirteen bushels of seed and eighty bushels
of barley. He also informed me that his
cattle eat the flax and barley with a good
relish.—Albany Cultivator.
TO DRIVE~DUgs~f^u VINES.
Mr. J os. Frost, of Elliot, Me., says that
lie has tried the following mode, and suc
ceeded well in driving bugs from squash
and cucumber vines. Equal parts of sulphur
and soot applied above and below the
the leaves, in the morning while the plants
are wet.
POETRY.
From the Otice Branch.
Love.
We do not know how much we love,
Until we come to part;
Cut when we’re called away to rove,
’ Tis then we feel the dart.
Oh, when the world’s forms restrain,
’ Tis bitterness to part,
We formal se-un but yet retain,
Keen anguish at the heart.
’ Tis then the choking heart forbids
The words our lips would speak,
And then from ’ ueath the downcast lids,
The tears though chidden, break.
When thinking of the gifts of love,
This one has brightest shone;
That when we reach our home above,
Parting will be unknown.
Time.
There is a silent river,
The rolling river Time :
In summer’s rosy blushes,
Iu hoary winter’s rime
It fioweth, flowed), floweth,
In whatsoever clime.
And well trimra’d barks are sailing
Upon its silent tide :
With golden riches laden
The little vessels glide;
And Faith, and Love and Action
And Hope are side by side.
And oh, a host of others
Compose this little fleet.
Now soon the waves are heaving,
Now wide the waters beat:
Gray mists steal o’er the waters,
l he mournful mists of Fate.
The polar-star grows dimmer;
The scatter’d vessel’s driven ;
All wide in disappointment
Unto the waves are given,
And Faith alone remainelh
To bear lhe soul to Heaven.
MISCELLANEOUS.
MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH.
The following extraordinary dramatic
scene, we will venture to say has never had
its parallel on this earth, and is the legiti
mate offspring of that strange invention, the
magnetic telegraph, an invention to which
the public attention at this moment is so
much and so universally attracted.
On Saturday evening last, June 6, Pro
fessor Morse, the inventor and superintend
ent of the magnetic telegraph and his
assistant, Mr. Vail in their office at
Washington, wished to test the inlegiity
of the telegraph line the whole distance
through from Washington to New York a
distance of no leas than 2G0 miles. The
better to understand the singularity of the
scene, we are about to record, the reader
must imagine four individuals, one at the
office in Washington, one at Baltimore, 40
miles distant, oneat Philadelphia, 10S miles
farther, and one at New York, (or rather
Jersey city opposite New York,) 112 miles
farther. The telegraphic line passes through
the instruments at the offices at each of
these places, and a communication despatch
ed from any one is written and understood
instantly at all the others. We shall desig
nate the operators by the names of the pla
ces at. which they are stationed.
Washington.—Baltimore, are you in con
nexion with Philadelphia'?
Baltimore.—Yes.
Wash.—Put me in connexion with Phil
adelphia.
Balt.—Ay, ay sir; wait a minute. (After
a pause.) Go ahead. You can now talk
to Philadelphia.
Wash.— How do you do Philadelphia'?
Phil.—Pretty well. Is that you Wash
ington?
- Ay, .y, “'-o o.on.ot.J ...tit,
New Y'oik?
Phila.—Yes.
Wash.—Put mein connexion with New
York.
Phila.—Ay, ay; wait a minute. (After
a pause.) Go ahead. Now for it.
Wash.—New York, how are you?
(New Y ork does not answer.)
Phila.—Hallo, New YUrk, Washington
is talking to you. Don’t you hear him.—
Why don't you answer?.
N. York.—I don’t get anything from him.
Wash.—I get that from New Y~ork.
Phila.—New Y'ork, Washington says he
gets that from you.
Balt.—How is it that Washington hears
from New Y r ork, and New YYnk does not
hear from Washington?
Phi'a.—There’s where 1 am floored.
Balt.— What is the reason Washington?
Wash.—Because New YY.uk has not
properly adjusted his magnet.
Phila.—1 have been hard at work all
day. I feel like bricks. Had no supper.
I have had a stiffevenings work; there have
been so many messages to-night—one alone
that gave us seventeen dollars. I want to
g°-
Wash.—Wait a little.
Balt.—Go it ye cripples.
Phila.—Who is writing?
Wash.—Don’t talk all at once.
Balt.—Mary Rogers are a case, so are
Sally Thompson;
Gen. J ackson are a hoss, so are
Colonel Johnson.
Phila.—Who is that? I will discuss that
pint.
Wash.—Baltimore keep quiet. Phila
delphia, tell New York to ask me to write
dots, (that is, lo adjust his magnet.)
Phila.—Ay, ay, sir; wait a little. Now
York ask Washington to write dots.
A. York.—Ay, ay. Washington, write
dots. (Washington begins to write dots.)
Thai’s it: O. K. Now I have got you; go
ahead.
Wuslt.— Do you now get what I send
you?
N. York.—Ay, ay.
Wash.—Did you get Prof. Morse’s mes
sage for his daughter?
N. York.—Y"es, from Philadelphia; but
it is too late to send it ovet the river to
night. I am all alone; the two boy9 are
gone.
Wash.—Very well; no matter,
Balt.—Good night; I'm going.
Wash.—Good night all.
Phila.—Good night.
N. York.—Good night.
And so ends this curious scene; not an
imaginary one, but one of actual occur
rence. Let any one reflect upon the fact
that all these questions and answers occur
red in a space of time but a very little lon
ger than that in which this unique drama
has been related.
Tbfere is a new pattern shirt just cotre
out, in which it is said thfere are 63,000
stitches.
THE WIFE.
It is not unfrequent that a wife mourns
over the alienated affection of her husband,
when she has made no effort herself to
strengthen and increase his attachment.—
She thinks because he once loved her he
ought always to love her, and she neglects
those attentions which first engaged Iter
heart. Many a wife is thus the cause of her
own neglect tnd sorrow. Tiiat woman de
serves not a husband’s love who will not
greet him, who does not gleet him with
smiles as he returns from the labors of the
day: who will not try to chain him to his
home by the sweet enchantment of a cheer
ful heart. There is not one in a thousand
so unfeeling as to withstand such an influ
ence and break away from sich a home.
Gen. Persifor F. Siniih.—A biographical
sketch of Gen. Smith in the Phi!-delphia
Pennsylvanian says:—
“ He is the son of the late Jonathan
Smith, Esq., of Philadelphia, who was for
several years cashier of the Bank of Penn
sylvania, at one time cashier of the United
States Bank, and for many of the last years
of his life the efficient and able manager of
the business of the Pennsylvania Fire Insu
rance Company. Gen. P. F. Smith gradu
ated at Princeton College at an early age,
and afterwards studied law and was admit
ted to practice iu the Courts of Philadel
phia. He was a great favorite among his
associates, and was remarkable for intelli
gence and sprightliness of character. He
remained in Philadelphia only two or three
years after his admission to the bar, but it is
not remembered that he displayed any par
ticular taste for military pursuits at that pe
riod, though it is recollected that his intr e
pidity and seif-possession as a member of
one of our fire-companies attracted on more
than one occasion the notice of his com
rades. He established himself in New Or
leans in the profession of the law.
The Best Medicine.—Frequent bathing
—not once or twice a month, but every day
if you please, in warm or cold water—is
one of the grandest medicines in the world.
It will make one more hearty and more
free from disease than a cart load of med
icine could. The Boston Reformer says,
with reference to the subject, that from one
to five pounds of decayed animal matter
passes off daily by insensible perspiration
from the human body. The white dust
which collects on the skin, sometimes called
goose flesh, is refuse matter of the system.
Viewed with a microscope, it looks like a
butcher’s cart of putrid meat. If the
poores of the skin are closed, and imper
ceptible perspiration is stopped, this cor
rupt matter is thrown upon the lungs, liv
er, or intestines, causing cold, consumption,
fever, See. The remedy is found in the
specific that will restore the system to its
proper balance, open the natural avenues
for the discharge of poisonous secretion,
and relieve the internal organs from bur
densome clogs that are thrown upon them.
Cold water has been proven to be this
remedy. And nothing but its simplicity,
its commonness, and the almost universal
hydrophobia which prevails, coultl have
kept its virtues so long concealed.
PERCUSSION LOCKS IN THE AC
TIONS OF THE EIGHTH AND
NINTH OF MAY.
Without disparagement to the othercorps
of our gallant little army who were enga
ged and achieved the glorious victories of
the 8th and 9th of May, over a superior
force of the Mexicans, it must be admitted
that great credit is due to the artillery for
their daring intrepidity, the great skill, dex
terity, and coolness with which they ma-
ncevred the guns, and the celerity and pre
cision with which they fired. General La
Y r ega, in speaking of the battle, expressed
his admiration and great astonishment at
the skill of this branch of our service. It
seems that the important inventions of the
percussion lock and wafer primer for can
non have not been introduced into the Mex
ican service, but that the old plan is still ad-
heredto. These inventions have been used
in our army and navy for a number of years
and in the recent victories of the 8th and
9th of May gave our artillery a great and
decided advantage over the enemy.
It appears from the report of Lieutenant
Colonei Taloot, of the ordance bureau,
made in answer to a call of the Military
Committee of the Senate of the United
States, at the first session of the 28th Con
gress, that Joshua Shaw is the inventor, and
that, having been adopted and used in the
army and navy for many years—notwith
standing his patents—the faith of the go
vernment has been pledged to remunerate
Mr. Shaw for the same.
While conducting experiments to testify
the utility of these inventions, under officers
selected by the War Department, a cap ex
ploded in Mr. Shaw’s hand and injured it
very seriously. A bill passed the Senate
at the last session for the relief of Mr. Shaw
but was not reached in the House. Two
committees of the House of Representatives
have reported in favor of the claim. • It
does seem to us from an examination of the
reports, that no impartial mau can read
them without coming to the conclusion that
the claim is just and meritorious, and one
that ought to be allowed by Congress. We,
therefore, hope that Congress will take up
the case of Mr. Shaw, who is now old and
poor, and meet out to him that justice which
has been so long delayed to an honest and
meritorious citizen.— Weekly Union.
From the N. Y. Journal of Commerce.
Messrs. Editors.—Although a constant
reader of your paper, I did riot perceive
until to-day an article headed “How their
names are pronounced,” published in your
paper of the 2Sth inst. In that paragraph
il is stated that the name Carauabal is pro
nounced Cara-rahal. This is a mistake;
the name being pronounced CaravabaL
There is but one rule for the pronunciation
of Spanish words and but one exception to
that rule. The rule is this :
“All words ending with a consonant have
the accent on the last syllable. All words
ending with a vowel, have the'accent on the
antepenultimate syllable.”
Exception : “Those words which end in
a consonant, but which have the accent on
any other than the last syllable, have the ac
cented syllable marked thus "
YGttrs, very truly, H. D.
May 30. _________
An Irishman, received a challenge to fight a duel,
declined. On being asked the reason, “Arrah,’ said
Paddy, ‘would ye have me poor mother bo an or
phan.’
GENERAL SCOTT’S CORRESPON
DENCE WITH THE WAR DE
PARTMENT.
War Department, June S, 1S4G.
Sir: In compliance with your direction, I
have the honor to transmit herewith such
letters and documents as are in this depart
ment, to enable you to answer the resolu
tion of the Seriate of the 6th inst., request
ing information. First, in relation to unau
thorized calls of volunteers and militia into
the service of the United States by any of
ficers of the army, &c. Second, the cor
respondence between the Secretary of War
and Major General Scott, on the subject of
liis taking the command of the army of oc
cupation on the frontiers of Texas, &c.—
And third, the correspondence between
Gen. Gaines and the government, from the
1st of June, 1S45, to the present time, up
on the subject of volunteers or militia or
dered to the frontiers of Texas.
The information requested in the first and
last branches of the resolution, is mainly
furnished by the .correspondence herewith
submitted betweeu this department and
General Gaines, who is the only officer of
the army known to have called for volun
teers or militia without legal authority with
in the periods specified. The first unau
thorized call by that officer was made on
the Governor of Louisiana on the 15th of
August, 1845, for two companies of volun
teer artillery, (about 200 men,) which were
mustered into service on the 21st of that
month, and immediately sent to Texas to
report to General Taylor at Corpus Christi.
As soon as informationof this call was made
known to the department, General Gaines
was reminded, in a communication addres
sed to him, that authority to make such calls
was vested only in the President; and that
“the emergency which would tolerate or ex
cuse the assumption of this authority by a
military officer in command at a distance
from the seat of government, in anticipa
tion of the President’s action, must be one
indicating great and imminent peril to the
country—a peril so great and so imminent
as to leave no reasonable doubt that the
President, with a full knowledge of all the
circumstances of the case, would have felt
it to be his duty to resort to such aid.” As
the call had been promptly responded to,
and the troops sent to their destination be
fore the action of Gen. Gaines could be stay
ed, Gen. Taylor was directed to receive and
retain them in service, as long as, in his
judgment, the public exigency might re
quire, although, by your direction, General
Gaines was informed that his proceeding
was not approved of by you. These vol
unteers were discharged and sent home on
the expiration of their three months’ term
of service.
No further calls appear to have been
made by Gen. Gaines for volunteers or mi
litia, until early in May of the present year,
when unauthorized requests, or requisitions
in various forms and of different import,
were made by him for volunteer forces,
some to be in readiness, and others for im
mediate entrance into service, the amount
of which is not yet knovvu at this depart
ment, but, as far as ascertained, is embrac
ed in a statement which is among the doc
uments herewith furnished.
It is also understood that he has taken
measures to organize troops independent of
his calls upon States through the respective
governors; and the accompanying docu
ments show that lie had appointed \ at ions
staff’ officers, without instructions or legal
authority. As soon as information was re
ceived of these proceedings, prompt meas
ure were taken to counteract them, and to
arrest this course of independent action.—
A portion of those thus called into service
l.jr re^ui.ai.>tM upon tho Ooveniors of Ala
bama, Mississippi, aud Missouri, having
promptly responded to the same, the gov
ernors of those States were informed that
these calls upon them had been recognised
“to the extent of the numbers furnished and
sent-to Texas." To this extent, and no fur
ther, has the conduct of Gen. Gaines, in ma
king requisitions calling into service and or
ganizing troops, been recoguised, and all
beyond has been distinctly disapproved.
By your direction orders have been issu
ed relieving him from the command of the
western division and requiring him to re
pair to this city.
The correspondence called for by the 2d
branch of the resolution accompanies this
communication. In relation to that part of
it which asks for information “whether any
other was at any time given by the Presi
dent or Secretary of War to Gen. Scott to
proceed to the Rio Grand, or to take com
mand of the army,” &c., I have to state
that, about the time the law recognizing the
existence of a war between the United
States and Mexico, and authorizing the
raising a volunteer force of 50,000 men was
passed, I had a conversation with Major
General Scott, and, by your direction, in
formed him tiiat you intended to put the ar
my, designed to operate against Mexico,
under his immediate command, and inform
ed him, as you requested tne to do, to call
on you for the purpose of receiving your
views and instructions. An interview be
tween vourself and him, at which I was pre
sent, shortly after took place, when you an
nounced to him your determination to as
sign him to the command of the army in
he war against Mexico. The order and
instructions to him were verbal, and I am
not aware that they have been reiterated in
writing. He immediately entered upon
the necessary arrangements to carry into ef
fect your views and instructions, and, down
to the present time, has been assiduously
engaged in the duties of his office. Inter
views and consultations between him and
myself, often at my particular instance,
have very frequently taken place in regard
to arrangements and preparations for carry
ing on the war.
When I first communicated to him your
intention to place him in command of the
army, he replied, that he should neither de
cline nor solicit that service, but at once on
receiving your verbal order, entered readi
ly into the preparatory measures to carry
■them into effect. Iam not aware that he
claimed “that command as due to him from,
his rank in the army" or expressed any
wish to bo assigned to it, until his prefer
ence was intimated in his letter of the 25th
ultimo, in reply to mine of the same date,
and his claim set forth in that of the 27th,
both which are among the papers herewith
submitted. His wishes in this respect have
not been made known to me, further than
they are expressed in those two letters. I
had no intimation whatever that you intend*
ed to change or thought of reconsidering
the orders to General Scott, committing to
him the command of the army to operate
against Mexico, until I had submitted to
you his letter to me of the 21st ult. After
your examination of tiiat letter I received
your directiun, changing your previous or
ders, and communicated it to him in my let
ter of the 25th of May.
I have the honor to be, with great res
pect, your obedient servant,
W. L. MARC Y.
To the President.
Head Quarters of tiie Army, 1
Washington, May 21, 1846. )
Sir.:—I have received no orders, as yet,
assigning me to the immediate command of
the army about to be raised to conquer a
peace within Mexico; but 1 have been told
myself in readiness for that service. From
that moment I have occupied myself, inces
santly, with the vast preliminary arrange-
menis which can only be made, advantage
ously, at this place, through the respective
chiefs of the general staff—the Adjutant
General, Quartermaster Geueral, Commis
sary General of Subsistance, Chief of Ord
nance, and Surgeon General. I have been
much occupied also in the distribution of the
quotas of volunteers, needed, among the
several States; in apportioning the horse to
the fx>t; in the study of the routes of march
and water conveyances for the several bodies
of troops to the best points on the frontiers
of Mexico; in the study of the northern in
terior and the southern routes of that repub
lic; in looking to the means of transporta
tion on the Rio Grande, to and beyond that
river; in determining the depots of supplies
of all sorts on this side, &c., &c. As these
matters are respectively settled, orders and
instructions have been, or will he given to
the Chiefs of the general staff’at this place,
and the routes of match and water convey
ances, together with lhe depots for supplies
of every description, are finally to be com
municated to the waknown commanders of
volunteers whose services are to be accept
ed.
In the midst of tliese multitudinous and
indispensable occupations, I have learned
from you, much impatience is already felt,
perhaps in high quarters, that l have not
already put myself eti route for the Rio
Grande; and now, with fourteen hours a
day of preliminary work remaining on my
hands, for many days, I find myself compel
led to stop that necessary work to guard
myself against, perhaps, •utter condemna
tion, in the quarters alluded to.
I am too old a soldier, and have had too
much special experience not to feel the infi
nite importance of securing myself against
danger, (ill-will, or pre-condemnation) in my
rear, before advancing up#n the public en
emy. Not an advantageous step can be ta
ken, in a forward march, without the confi
dence that all is well behind. If insecure j
in that quarter, no General can put his j
whole heart and mind into the work to be |
done in front. I am, therefore, not a little j
alarmed—nay crippled in my ener gies—by j
the knowledge of the impatience in ques
tion, and I begto say, I fear no other danger.
My intPntiona navo tocn, after tuakiug
all pieliminary arrangements here, to pass
down the Ohio and Mississippi, to see, or
to assure myself by correspondence, that the
volunteers, on whom we are mostly to rely,
in the prosecution of the existing war, are
rapidly assembling for the service; to learn
the probable time of their readiness to ad
vance upon Mexico; to ascertain if their
supplies, of every kind, are in place, or are
likely to bo in place, in sufficient time; to
hasten one and the other: to harmonize the
movements of volunteers, and to modify
their routes (if necessary) so that all, or at
least a sufficient number, shall arrive at the
indicated points, in the Mexican frontier, at
the best periods, and, as far as practicable,
about the same time.
All that I have but sketched, I deem to be
notoniy useful tosuccess, but indispensable.
As a soldier, I make this assertion without
the fear of contradiction from any honest
and candid soldier. Against the ad captan-
dum condemnation of all other persons—
whoever may be designated for the high
commands in question—there cau be no re
liance (in his absence) other than the active,
candid and steady support of his govern
ment. If I cannot have that sure basis, to
rest upon, it will be infinitely better for the
country (not to speak of my personal secu
rity) that some other commander of the new
army, against Mexico, should be selected.
No matter who he may be, he shall at least
be judged and supported by me, in this of
fice and every where else, as I would de
sire, if personally in that command, to be
myself judged and supported. My explicit
meaning is—that I do not desire to place
myself in the most perilous of all positions;
a fire upon my rear, from Washington, and
the fire in front, from the Mexicans.
It was distinctly admitted and laid down,
as a basis, iu the interviews I had the honor
to hold with the President and yourself, on
the subject, that a special army of some
39,009 troops, regulars and twelve-month
volunteers, would be necessary for the
march against, and the conquest of a peace
iu Mexico. I adhere to that opinion. It is
forseen, with tolerable certainty, that we
shall not have, in many months, more than
7,000 [if quite so many] regulars, applica
ble to thal service. The remaining numbers
are to be made up in volunteer horse and
foot. I suppose, of these, taken together,
about 17,090 have been actually called for.
There is yet good time, I think, to make
the additions suggested in one of the tables
I had the honor to submit last night. The
proposed additions alluded lo, were 2 regi
ments of horse—1510 men, and 4 regi
ments of foot, 2075$ total additional horse
and foot, 4,476, which added to the volun
teers already called for [17,000] would
make a volunteers force of 21,476. Add
regulars—say 6,000—aud the whole army,
to invade Mexico, at three points, would
amount to about 27,476 men.
The question follows—by what time can
an array of about 30,000, as above, be
brought to act, Irom the different points a-
greed upon in the interviews alluded to, up
on Mexico?
More than half of the 7,000 regulars re
main to be requited. I hope they may be
obtained and taken to the Rio Grande, tho’
raw or uninstructed, by the first of Septem
ber next.
Can two-thirds, or even a half, of the vol
unteer horse be got to that river much be
fore that time? I greatly doubt the possi
bility—without the shadow of a doubt about
the patriotism or zeal of the citizens who
have been specially called upon. The foot
volunteers, aided by water transportation
[believed to be impossible with the horse]
may, probably, reach all the points, for
commencing operations, a week or two ear
lier. But, if horse be a necessary element
to success [and two-thirds, if not three-
fourths of the Mexican army are understood
to be in the saddle,] what utility would there
be in forcing the foot march ahead of the
horse? Thisouglit to be a matterof arrange
ment—left to the commander of the special
army—as information may open upon him
in his progress to the Mexican frontier, he
keeping near the heads of columns, or with
in easy corresponding distance with most of
them. «-
The particular quostionhere then recurs,
can the horse regiment from Kentucky [the
most distant from Mexico] or that from Ten
nessee, [say 19 days nearer] reach the Rio
Grande [by land be it remembered!] much
before the day [1st of September.] before
rn .rationed? I have learned, personally, from
the zealous and intelligent Adjutant Gener
al [Dudley,] of Kentucky, that the most dis
tant horse regiment cannot be assembled
[say] at Frankfort or the Bowling Green,
earlier than the latter part ot June. Thence
it will, probably, be obliged to march via
Memphis, Fulton, or the Red River, San
Antonio de Bexar, ore—aline of some 1,-
200 miles. The routes of the Tennessee,
Arkansas and Mississippi horse, will be,
respectively, say 400, 600 and 700 miles
shorter; but even the middle, or Tennessee,
horse regiments, cannot—allowing not a
day for instruction., at its rendezvous or on
route—reach the Rio Grande—before [ac
cording to all computations we can make
here] the middle of August.
I think, considering that we cannot hope
to have more than 800 regular Cavalry, on
the Lower Rio Grande, no commander
would be willing to enter Mexico without
both the Kentucky and Tennessee regi
ments of horse, and all that have been cal
led from points nearer to the field of expect
ed operations.
I may now state a fact which seems to be
conclusive as to the period best for taking
up lines of operations fiora, and beyond,
the lower Rio Grande.
All the information that can be obtained
here, represents that the rainy season on,
and south of the Rio Grande, begins about
June, and terminates about the 1st of Sep
tember; that, during the season, the hoofof
the horse and the mule becomes softened
(though shod) and diseased, so as to disable
the animal for travel and work. Again, it
is at the end of the rainy reason, and for
some weeks later, that iu the northern pro
vinces of Mexico, men and horses, would
have the best chance to obtain drinking wa
ter; the horses the best grazing, and the
commissaries the best beef and mutton for
men.
But another reason has been mentioned
why I should leave the preliminary work
to be done here, and abandon the twelve
month volunteers to find their way as they
may to the Mexican frontier, viz—the num
ber of patriotic Louisianians who- have pour
ed, and are pouring in, upon Brevet Briga
dier General Taylor, at Point Isabel, or op
posite Metamoros. Those meritorious vo
lunteers can under the circumstances, have
legally engaged for three months only.—
They could have had no knowledge of
the volunteer act of May 13, 1846—without
which no enrollment, for more than three
months would be binding upon them. After
that time, without a formal re-enrollraent,
under the recent act, for the longer period,
not an officer or a man could be legally held
to service or tried for any offence whatever.
They evidently hastened to the scene of
danger to succour our little airny there—to
o»to it from vrljoi. il«ojr uu ilutiDi deemed
probable surrender or destruction. Many
of these Louisianians may be ready to be
come twelve-month volunteers, and to be
organized legally as such. As three-months
men, they could hardly, even in the absence
of hostile forces, march to Monterey before
becoming entitled to (no doubt,) an honora
ble discharge. Before the time of that dis
charge, it may certainly be well, if num
bers of them do not volunteer under the re
cent act, to send the quotas of foot from the
lower Mississippi, to aid Gen. Taylor in de
fending his positions and perhaps taking
new ones on the other side of the Rio
Grande. But for the conquest of a peace,
by regular, incessant, and forward move
ments, the basis of our calculations here, (as
to numbers,) must be altogether extrava
gant, if a much larger army, including that
in position, and one very differently compo
sed (in horse and foot) be not necessary.
It was to command such larger army that
I enderstood myself as likely to be sent to
the Mexican frontier, as it is always unjust
to a junior General, who has done well, & is
supposed to be doing well, tosupercede him
by a General of higher rank, without send
ing with the latter corresponding reinforce
ments. I should esteem myself the unhappy
instrument oj wounding the honorable pride
of the gallant and judicious Taylor, if order
ed to supercede him under different circum-
ces.
However the foregoing suggestions (has
tily thrown together) may be received, I
have deemed it due, more to the country
and the service, than to my humble self,
that I should present them, and await the
wishes and orders of the President.
With great raspect, I have the honor to
remain sir your most obedient servant.
(Sigued) WINFIELD SCOTT.
Hon. Wm. L. Maecy, Secretary of Y/ar.
War Dupak.tme.nt, May 25, 1S46.
Sir:—I have received your letter of the
21st inst. and considering its extraordinary
character, and the grave matters set forth
therein, reflecting upon the motives and ob
jects of the President in tendering to you,
as lie has, in an explicit manner, the com
mand of the forces destined for the war a-
gainst Mexico, I deemed it my duty to lay
it before him, and to take his direction in
regard to its contents.
The passages in your letter which have
excited his surprise and deep regret, are
those in which you impute to the President,
iu terms not inexplicit, ill will towards
yourself, or precondemnation, and a course
of conduct on his part which has already,
as you allege, impeded your labors of pre
paration and cripple your energies.
A reference to two or three paragraphs
in your letter will show that he is not at lib
erty to give a different construction to your
language. You were, through me, and al
so at a personal interview with the Presi
dent, made acquainted with his settled de
termination to put you iu immediate com
mand of the forces to be employed in carry-
ing on the war with Mexico, and you had,
as you state, been devoting your time and
attention to preliminary and preparatory ar
rangements. “In the midst of these multi
tudinous aud indispensable occupations,”
(you say,) “I have learned from you that
much impatience is already felt, perhaps in
high quarters, that I have not already put
myself en rdute for the Rio Grande; and
now, with fourteen hours a day of prelimin
ary work remaining on my hands for many
days, 1 find myself compelled to 3top that
necessary work to guard myself against,
perhaps utter condemnation, in the quarters
alluded to. I am too old a soldier, and