A. HEAD QUARTERS OF THE ARMY, GENERAL: I understood you to say, in the conversation I had the honor to hold with you, on the evening of my arrival at this place, that although you had no escort then at your command, with which to forward me to the city of Mexico, in the execution of my mission, I might continue with the army in its progress, and that when you should reach some convenient point near the city, you would either put me in personal communication with the government or send forward my despatches. I have this morning been waited upon by Lieutenant Williams, your aid de-camp, who informs me in your behalf, that you have changed your resolution on this point, and that you will not permit me to hold any intercourse with the Mexican government. Commodore Perry has been charged by the President of the United States to make a communication to the government of Mexico, with the nature of which you have been made acquainted. He has selected me as his agent to carry out the views of the President, and has directed me to apply to you for the means of executing his orders. With regard to the question as to who is the proper channel through which this communication is to be made, I can, of course, have nothing to say; that must be settled by higher authority; but the President has thought proper to judge of this for himself, and I am here by authority (immediately) of one of the departments of the government, as his humble agent. I have specific orders, from my commander-in-chief, to place personally (with your assistance) my despatch in the hands of the minister of foreign relations, or, if the Mexican government will not permit me to proceed to the capital in person, to forward it by some safe conveyance, and await an answer. My object in addressing you this note, is to inquire whether I understand you as deciding that you will not (at your convenience) afford me the facilities requested of you by Commodore Perry, to enable me to proceed on my mission, and that you will not permit me to hold any intercourse, personal or otherwise, with the Mexican government. If this be your decision, as a military man you must see the propriety of giving it to me in writing, in order that I may exhibit it to my commander-in-chief, as a sufficient reason for failing to execute his orders; as soon as I receive this, I shall hold myself in readiness to return to the squadron by the first conveyance. I enclose, for your inspection, my order in the premises from Commodore Perry, together with a copy of the despatch of that officer to the Mexican government, from which you will be able to see that my mission cannot have, in the remotest degree, any bear ing upon your military operations. I will be obliged to you if you will return me these papers after perusal. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Major General WINFIELD SCOTT, R. SEMMES, Lieutenant U. S. Navy. Commanding the Armies of the U. S. B. HEAD QUARTERS OF THE ARMY, SIR: I have read your note of yesterday, accompanied by Commodore Perry's instructions to you (original) and the copy of his communication to the Mexican minister of foreign affairs, of which you have been made the bearer, in relation to Passed Midshipman Rogers, supposed by Commodore Perry still to be held by the Mexican government, not as a prisoner of war, but as a spy; and I had some days before received by your hands the letter Commodore Perry did me the honor to address to me on the same subject, requesting that I would afford to you the proper means of placing you in communication with the advanced posts of the enemy, in order that you might, if permitted to pass to the seat of the Mexican government, and there to present in person, his demand for the release of Mr. Rogers. Commodore Perry adds in his communication to me the suggestion, whether, in the event of a failure of your special mission, Mr. Rogers may not be released by capitulation, or exchanged, &c., &c. Premising that I have not as yet addressed a line to any political functionary in Mexico, if, in fact, there be any government in the country, and that I have all along intended, at the proper time, to propose for the exchange of Passed Midshipman Rogers, with other Americans taken prisoners of war, in the northeastern part of this republic; I think myself, on information, though not official, authorized to say, that the whole of the papers you have brought to my notice have had their origin in misapprehension. Mr. Rogers for many weeks past has not been held a prisoner for any ignominious act, but as an honorable prisoner of war, at large on parole within the city of Mexico. On taking leave of many of the higher Mexican prisoners of war, at Vera Cruz, I called their attention to the then reported confinement of Passed Midshipman Rogers, on the false allegation that he had been captured in the violation of the laws of war; and I added, in the most emphatic terms, if any hardship, injury, or punishment, should be sustained by Mr. Rogers on that false allegation, that I would inflict signal retaliation on the next Mexican officers whom the fortune of war should place in my power. Before the 15th ultimo, I had already heard, from whom I considered creditable persons, that Mr. Rogers had been released from the castle of Perote, and sent up with a single Mexican officer, both on horseback, to the capital as a prisoner of war. This information was confirmed by several of the principal Mexican officers captured at Cerro Gordo, and again and again since, by respectable travellers passing through this place from the capital. I regret that Commodore Perry has thought it necessary to send you as his special messenger, to treat with the Mexican government, on the subject of Mr. Rogers. Even if I had been ignorant of the capture and position of the passed midshipman, a note from the commodore would have been sufficient to have interested me officially and personally in his fate, and I doubt the expediency of more than one channel of communication with the Mexican government on such subjects. But here is at hand another functionary, who, under very recent instructions from the President of the United States, may perhaps claim to supersede me in the business of exchanging prisoners of war, as on other military arrangements. Mr. Trist, chief clerk of the Department of State, appointed minister or commissioner to Mexico, has arrived at Vera Cruz, and may be at this place with the train expected up in a few days. Perhaps you had better refer the business of your mission to him. I only make the suggestion. The difficulty of sending forward a flag of truce at this time with communications to the Mexican government, if there be a competent government anywhere, consists in the necessity of protecting the flag, by a large escort, against rancheros or banditti, who infest the road all the way to the capital, and who rob and murder even wounded Mexican officers returning on parole to their friends. When nearer to the capital, sometime hence, I may nevertheless have occasion to communicate officially, under the cover of a flag and a heavy escort, with any body then that may be in authority, on the subject of prisoners of war generally. Your communica tion, and any that Mr. Trist may desire to submit, may go by the same opportunity. In the meantime, you can remain here, return to Commodore Perry's squadron, or advance with the army, as may seem to you best. I have no advice to offer on the subject. With high personal respect, I remain yours, truly, Lieutenant R. SEMMES, United States Navy, &c., &c., &c. WINFIELD SCOTT. UNITED STATES FLAG-SHIP MISSISSIPPI, SIR: I have received your several letters of the 5th, 10th, and 16th instants, with copies of your communication to General Scott, and his reply thereto, and I take pleasure in expressing my approbation of the course pursued by you. Continue to urge every practicable measure of effecting the object of your mission, con sistently with the most perfect respect and consideration for the high station of the distinguished officer at the head of the army. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, M. C. PERRY, Commanding home squadron. Lieutenant R. SEMMES, United States navy, Jalapa. UNITED STATES FLAG SHIP MISSISSIPPI, SIR: I have received from Lieutenant Semmes, of the navy, a copy of a letter addressed by you to that officer, in reply to one from him. In your communication I regret to notice the words quoted as follows: "I regret that Commodore Perry has thought it necessary to send you as his special messenger, to treat with the Mexican government on the subject of Mr. Rogers. Even if I had been ignorant of the capture and position of the passed midshipman, a note from the commodore would have been sufficient to have interested me officially and personally in his fate, and I doubt the expediency of more than one channel of communication with the Mexican government." It is to be presumed that in penning the above paragraph you must have forgotten that Captain Aulick called upon you, on the eve of your departure from Vera Cruz, with a request from me that you would bear in special remembrance the situation of Mr. Rogers. See enclosed extract of an official memorandum of Captain Aulick, marked A. Since then, I have received positive instructions to urge, with becoming energy, upon the Mexican government, the necessity of the immediate release of Mr. Rogers; and I was careful to ascertain before the departure of Mr. Semmes, from an authentic source, the true situation of the prisoner. From General La Vega, to whom I directed Lieutenant Semmes to apply, I received information which is contained in the enclosed extract, marked B. As to the expediency of having but one channel of communication with the Mexican government, I have little to say. It was enough that the order came to me, through the Secretary of the Navy, from our common superior, the constitutional commanderin-chief of the army and navy of the United States, and it would seem most proper that, as Mr. Rogers belonged to the navy, that I, as commander-in-chief of the naval forces operating in the gulf, acting entirely distinct and independent of your command, should be the chosen channel of communication with the Mexican government in his case, as in all matters connected with my exclusive command. The sending of Mr. Semmes by the way of your camp was purely a measure of expediency, that he might be facilitated on his journey. I am, sir, with great respect, your most obedient servant, M. C. PERRY, I also handed him (General Scott) the commodore's letter, desiring him to endeavor to obtain the release of Midshipman Rogers, confined in the castle of Perote, to which he replied that he would make it a point to do so at the earliest moment practicable. J. H. AULICK. B. APRIL 27, 1847. From General La Vega, I learned that Passed Midshipman Rogers was, at last accounts, at Puebla; he having been recently removed hither from Perote. His case is in the hands of the federal government, and has been referred to a military commission, which as yet has made no decision. R. SEMMES, Lieutenant. NAVY DEPARTMENT, June 21, 1847. SIR: Your despatch of the 27th of May, enclosing copies of a correspondence growing out of the mission of Lieutenant Semmes, to obtain the release of Passed Midshipman Rogers, has been received, and the course pursued by you in the matter is approved. It is not more gratifying to the department to witness the anxiety manifested by you and by Lieutenant Semmes to execute the orders in regard to Passed Midshipman Rogers, than to observe the courtesy and respect exhibited to the distinguished officer in command of the army. As no disrespect to that officer could be inferred, or was intended, by my orders to you, or by your mode of executing them, I have to hope, as I confidently expect, that nothing will occur to justify his erroneous interpretation of the proceeding. I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, Commodore M. C. PERRY, Commanding home squadron. J. Y. MASON. |