། T 2 ties, perhaps two or three other companies of regulars (rifles and infantry) may be disposable for the two attacking columns. To meet the double invasion, Mexico must either divide her forces and increase our chance of success on both lines, or double 7 her forces on one, and leave the other comparatively open to our advance. To divide our forces on the lower Rio Grande, and in the direction of Monterey and Saltillo, equitably and wisely between the two lines of operations upon the enemy's capital, the positive instructions of the government will be needed, besides the presence on the theatre of war of the highest in army rank. The latter, I beg to say, is the proper officer to carry out, on the spot, the instructions of government in respect to that division, and to direct the principal attacking column on and from Vera Cruz. I need scarcely add that all preliminary arrangements should be commenced at once, such as taking up transport vessels for troops and supplies, with, say 1,000 horses for officers, cavalry, and artillery; the purchase and construction of boats for debarkation in the surf, &c., &c. Those arrangements may be made here, in great part, and within a few days, when I shall be ready to proceed to the Rio Grande, to complete those arrangements before the arrival of the transports. All which is respectfully submitted to the Secretary of War. HEAD-QUARTERS OF THE ARMY, Washington, November 12, 1846. Memoranda for the Secretary of War. The forces with General Taylor, including those under General Wool, and under orders to join the former, may be re-stated thus: Regulars..... 7,000 Volunteers. 13,500 20,500 Nine additional regiments of volunteers, now to be called for, at 750 effective men each..... 6,750 27,250 For the Vera Cruz expedition, say: Regulars....... 4,000 Volunteers. 10,000 For transporting 14,000 men to Vera Cruz, with horses, artillery, stores, and boats, 50 ships, of from 500 to 750 tons each. The boats of the blockading squadron are not, I learn, capable of putting ashore, at once, more than (say) 500 men-only one half the number to be drawn from the fleet. We should therefore require (say) 140 flat boats, to put ashore at once, say 5,000 men, with 8 pieces of light artillery. Horses might follow in the second or third trip of the boats. The form of these boats, &c., shall be determined by to-morrow, when orders may be given for their purchase, (probably,) construction. Colonel Stanton, chief quartermaster, is expected back tonight. The ships need not (to avoid demurrage) be chartered until the troops are known to be nearly in position to embark. But for a ponton train, to pass rivers, orders should be given to-day. Respectfully submitted. WINFIELD SCOTT. P. S.-Orders should be given at once, to have in readiness to be shipped, ordnance and ordnance stores for the water expedition. This shall be attended to to-day. HEAD-QUARTERS OF THE ARMY, Washington, November 16, 1846. For the Secretary of War. W. S. I have hastily read Major General Taylor's despatches which arrived last night. I suppose that the war must go forward, and not be allowed to degenerate into a war like a peace, which would be as bad, or worse, than a peace like a war, involving an indefinite period of time and waste of money. I have the honor to propose: 1. That for the expedition against Vera Cruz, 5,000 regulars and four small brigades of volunteers, making (say) 6,000 men, with two volunteer major generals, and four volunteer brigadier generals, be taken from the forces now under Major General Taylor, or under orders to join him, although he may thereby be, for a time, reduced to a strictly defensive condition at Monterey. 2. That to the 11,000 men (regulars and volunteers, as above,) there be added (say) 4,000 of the new volunteers, the first that may arrive off the Rio Grande. These 4,000 volunteers to be divided among the four old brigades, taken as above, or be placed under new volunteer brigadiers, to be appointed by the President, according to his pleasure. 3. That the new volunteers (nine régiments) be organized and despatched as rapidly as possible, and also the construction of the boats for embarkation and debarkation, in order that the whole expedition may be afloat and beyond the Rio Grande by the 15th of January, or, at the very latest, the 1st of February, so as to leave good time for operations on the gulf coast before the return of the yellow fever, to be apprehended in April, but always certain in May. 4. That, to enable Major General Taylor to resume offensive, or at least threatening, movements from Monterey upon Saltillo, San Luis de Potosi, &c., pending the expedition against Vera Cruz, if possible, to send him recruits to fill up the regular corps left with him, and also the remainder (say) 3,500 new volunteers of the nine regiments. 5. That, to give the certainty of greater activity and success to the two attacking columns, it is respectfully suggested that the President call for additional regiments of volunteers. 6. That besides the brevets, understood to be designated for Brigadier General Worth, &c., that one be given to Colonel P. F. Smith, of the rifles, in order that he may be assigned accordingly, and placed in command of a brigade of the regulars in the expedition against Vera Cruz, whether his regiment make part of that expedition or not; and, for the command of another brigade of regulars in the same expedition, a brevet be also given to Colonel Totten, who has long since earned it, and has once been nominated for the rank of brigadier general by brevet. 7. That, further to aid the filling up the ranks of the regular regiments, the President authorize at once that enlistments be made for five years, or the war, provided it be terminated in less than five years. This provision would of itself (and its legality is undoubted) greatly aid the object in view, and on the meeting of Congress, it is hoped that, as a yet more powerful stimulus, land or pecuniary bounties may be granted by Congress. All which is respectfully submitted. NOVEMBER 21, 1846. WINFIELD SCOTT. [Confidential.] Notes suggesting topics to be embraced in the Secretary's instructions to General Scott, drawn up (in haste) at the request of the former. NOVEMBER 23, 1846. WINFIELD SCOTT. Projét. SIR: The President of the United States desires you to repair to the lower Rio Grande, in order to take upon yourself the general direction of the war against Mexico from this side of the continent, and more particularly to organize and conduct an expedition (with the co-operation of the navy) against the harbor of Vera Cruz. I am pleased to learn from you that you have, in a very few days, already, through the general staff of the army here, laid a sufficient basis for the purposes with which you are charged, and that you now think it best to proceed at once to the southwest, in order to organize the largest number of troops that can be obtained in time for that most important expedition. Of the nine new regiments of volunteers, recently called for by the President, the eight of foot may, it is hoped, begin to arrive, by water, off Point Isabel, say about the middle of January next, and the other regiment (Texan horse) be a little earlier on the Rio Grande. Such are your own calculations, and every effort shall be made by this department to push forward those volunteers, and the army recruits that may be enlisted in the meantime, as well as the transports, boats for embarkation and debarkation, arms, ordnance and ordnance stores, and, in general, all other supplies which you have designated or may call for. From those regiments and detachments, or so many of them as may be up in season, and from the troops now under the command of Major General Taylor, or under orders to join him, the new expedition will be organized by you, taking care to leave with him a sufficient force to defend Monterey and to keep his line of communication open (say) to Camargo, and thence down the Rio Grande to its mouth. You have estimated that the land force necessary to take Vera Cruz, and, through that city, the castle of San Juan d'Ulloa; with the efficient co-operation of our blockading squadron off that coast, at 10,000 men, as the minimum number; but with a strong recommendation in favor of 15,000, if so many can be obtained in time. The department (or President) concurs in those estimates, and it is hoped that you may, off Point Isabel, have the larger number organized and afloat in time to reach the point of descent by, if practicable, the 1st of February, or, at the latest, early in March, (adopting your own limits,) so as to allow a sufficient interval for capturing the city and castle before the usual season for the return of the yellow fever on that coast. The President, respecting your judgment, is pleased with the assurance you have given that, although you think 15,000 land troops not an unreasonable force for the expedition in question, and that 10,000 ought to be considered the minimum number, if it can be obtained in time, you are yet of opinion that the expedition ought to go forward, even with the first 8,000 men, that may be embarked off Point Isabel, sooner than incur the danger of losing your men and object by the yellow fever, in consequence of waiting too long for either of the larger numbers that have been mentioned. It is then expected that you will proceed accordingly, leaving orders for such reinforcements to follow you as you may deem necessary. A cordial and effective co operation between the land and naval forces, according to the well established principles and usages in such cases, will be indispensable to success in the joint attack upon Vera Cruz and its castle. You are expected to do your utmost to conciliate such co-operation, and the President will, through the Navy Department, give the reciprocal instruction to the commander of our blockading squadron off that coast. It may be important to that joint service that you should early open a communication with the latter, and he will be duly prepared, as above, to respond to your inquiries or requests for assistance. Your attention need scarcely to be called to the necessity of adopting early and frequent measures to obtain, if practicable, correct information of the enemy's positions, numbers, movements, and designs, near any theatre of military operations, and within the range of reinforcements and supplies. For necessary expenditures, under this head, your accounts will be allowed. Frequent communications, embracing everything of interest to the service, will be expected from your head-quarters for the information of the government. |