Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/502

496 under him. So in the campaign of 1814, I myself sent away, against their wishes, three senior field officers of as many regiments, who were infirm, uninstructed and inefficient, in favor of three juniors, and with the subsequent approbation of Major-Gen. Brown on his joining me, and the head of the War Department. Both were well acquainted with the customs of war in like cases at home and abroad, and without that energy on my part, it is highly probable that no American citizen would ever have cited the battle of Niagara without a sigh for his country. I am happy, however, that, before a word had been received from the Department, and indeed before it could have had any knowledge of the question, I had decided to take with me the frank and gallant colonel; and hope soon to learn that he and very many other officers have been rewarded with brevets for highly distinguished services in the campaign that followed. It was in reference to the same rebuke that, in acknowledging your communication, I said, from Vera Cruz, April 5th, I might very well controvert the military principles so confidently laid down by the Department (in the letter of the 22d February), but believing that the practice of the United States army, in the two wars with Great Britain, would have no weight in particular case, I waive further reply, having at the moment no leisure and no inclination for controversy.

Alluding to the heavy disappointments in respect to transports, siege-train and ordnance stones, then already experienced, I wrote to the Department from Lobos, February 28. Perhaps no expedition was ever so unaccountably delayed, by no want of foresight, arrangement or energy on my part, as I dare affirm, and under circumstances the most critical to this entire army; for everybody relied upon, and knew from the first as well as I knew, it would be fatal to us to attempt military operations on this coast after probably the first week in April; and here we are at the end of February. Nevertheless, this army is in heart; and, crippled as I am in the means required and promised, I shall go forward, and expect to take