Memorandum of correspondence between the Secretary of War and Major General Scott, including that between General Scott and Mr. Trist, so far as has been communicated by the former. Letter of General Scott, November 19, 1846. Secretary of War, November 23, 1846. (Not sent.) Secretary of War, December 7, 1846. No No. 1, in General Scott's series of letters. Secretary of War, March 22, 1847. Secretary of War, April 3, 1847, introducing J. B. (Not sent.) Secretary of War, April 3, 1847. (Before published, Doc. General Scott, No. 13, March 12, 1847.) Reports relative to the siege of Vera Cruz. Pub. Doc. No. 1, 1st session, 30th Cong. Published, Doc. 1, (( General Scott, No. 16, March 18, 1847.) แ Reports of the bat tle of Cerro Gordo, Doc. No. 1, 1st s., 30th Con. (2d.) Published, Doc. No. Letter of Secretary of War, April 14, 1847. Secretary of War, May 31, 1847. General Scott, No. 28, May 20, 1847. Secretary of War, June 14, 1847. Secretary of War, June 15, 1847. Published, Doc. No. 1, present session. Secretary of War, June 15, 1847. General Scott, No. 29, June 4, 1847. (6 Secretary of War, November 8, 1847. General Scott, No. 30, July 25, 1847. (Received December 30, published, Doc. No. 1, present session.) แ General Scott, No. 32, Aug. 19, 1847.) 66 General Scott, No. 32, Aug. 28, 1847. General Scott, No. 33, Sep. 11, 1847. General Scott, No. 34, Sep. 18, 1847. Correspondence between General Scott and General Pillow, Octo ber, 1847. Letter of Secretary of War, November 19, 1847. General Scott, No. 35, October 27, 1847. Papers transmitted by Major General Scott, October 27, 1847. General Scott, No. 37, December 4, 1847. Secretary of War, January 5, 1848, introduces Mr. H. 66 General Scott, No. 38, December 13, 1847. (6 General Scott, No. 39, December 14, 1847. Letter of General Scott, No. 41, December 25, 1847. 66 Secretary of War to General Scott, enclosing a letter of General Scott, No. 42, January 6, 1848. Papers transmitted, January 14, 1848. Letter of General Scott, No. 44, February 2, 1848. General Scott, No. 45, February. 9, 1848. Papers, omitted in the despatches heretofore sent, communicated to Congress. A. J. P. De Mora to General Santa Anna, April 13, 1847. B. Lieut, Col. E. A. Hitchcock to Major General Scott, April 24, 1847. HEAD QUARTERS OF THE ARMY, SIR: I have the honor to request that a treasury draft for fifty, forty, or thirty thousand dollars may be passed in my favor, on account of army contingencies, in the prosecution of the war against Mexico. "Army contingencies" may not be the proper head under which this sum should be charged to me. The money is wanted for purchasing intelligence respecting the enemy's numbers, positions, movements, and designs, or as secret service money. Quartermasters, from whom to draw money for such purposes, may, frequently, not be at hand, and it often happens that they, and other disbursing officers about head-quarters, may be momentarily out of cash, even for ordinary payments. A small sum, therefore, in the hands of the commander of the army, to be turned over, on the proper receipts, to disbursing officers of the different departments, is of frequent necessity in the field. To meet all the purposes indicated, I should ask for a larger amount, but that I am reluctant to take the trouble and responsibility of a sum of more than fifty thousand dollars at once. Thirty thousand is the minimum sum-the amount deemed absolutely necessary. I make the requisition now, as it may take several days to pass the draught through the forms of the treasury, and I hope to leave Washington Saturday evening, or, at the latest, Monday morning next. It would be better to make the draught payable at New York, as I can ship the specie, with myself, from that place, say on the 25th instant. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, WINFIELD SCOTT. Hon. W. L. MARCY, WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, November 23, 1846. SIR: The President, several days since, communicated, in person, to you his orders to repair to Mexico, to take command of the forces there assembled; and particularly to organize and set on foot, an expedition to operate on the gulf coast, if, on arriving at the theatre of action, you shall deem it to be practicable. It is not proposed to control your operations by definite and positive instructions, but you are left to prosecute them as your judgment, under a full view of all the circumstances, shall dictate. The work is before you, and the means provided, or to be provided, for accomplishing it are committed to you, in the full confidence that you will use them to the best advantage. The objects which it is desirable to obtain have been indicated, and it is hoped that you will have the requisite force to accomplish them. Of this you must be the judge, when preparations are made and the time for action has arrived. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Major Gen. WINFIELD SCOTT. W. L. MARCY, Secretary of War. WAR DEPARTMENT, November 25, 1847, SIR: A letter, of which the enclosed is a copy, was sent to Commodore Connor, commander of the United States squadron off Vera Cruz, and by him has been transmitted to the, Secretary of the Navy, with the remark that it is from a reliable source, and is corroborated by similar information obtained through other channels. It is deemed important that you should be in possession of the statements contained in that paper, to the end that means may be taken to ascertain whether they are well founded; and if there be any reason to believe them true, that you may act with reference to the movements of the enemy therein indicated. A copy of the enclosed paper has been sent to Major General Taylor, and to General Patterson. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. L. MARCY, Major Gen. WINFIELD SCOTT. Secretary of War.. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, December 7, 1846. SIR: I sent you, directed to New York, a copy of a letter without the name of the writer to it, furnished by Commodore Connor, indicating what was supposed to be the plan of operations of Santa Anna. I now send you the copy of a letter from Commodore Connor, written as long ago as the 30th of September, but just received by the Secretary of the Navy, accompanied by an extract from a letter of Mr. Black, our consul at the city of Mexico, to the commodore. I have no doubt that the Mexican policy is to carry on a guerrilla war, and avoid a regular battle whenever it can be done. Should they get some trifling successes in this way, they will be mightily magnified and the Mexican people encouraged. I do not doubt that a proper degree of caution will be observed, to disappoint their expectations. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Major General SCOTT, W. L. MARCY, New Orleans. |