Many other vessels have been chartered for the transportation of guns, ordnance, and ordnance stores, from the north to Lobos; of which, however, no account has been received at this place.

A. R. HETZEL, Capt. and A. Q. M.

BRAZOS SANTIAGO, February 21, 1847.

B.

Vessels chartered by Captain Babbitt, at Tampico, for General Scott's army.

LIST OF VESSELS CHARTERED BY CAPTAIN E. B. BABBITT, ACTING QUARTERMASTER AT TAMPICO.

QUARTERMASTER GENERAL'S OFFICE,
Washington city, April 18, 1848.

SIR: Since my letter of yesterday, I have received a report from the principal quartermaster at the city of Mexico, dated the 20th of March, from which I make, and submit for your consideration, the following extract:

"I am happy to inform you that this army (the army under General Butler) is well supplied with clothing, camp, and garrison equippage; at Vera Cruz, there still remains for issue or transportation to the interior, a good supply of the above articles."

This is a fine commentary on the complaints recently made to you of the delinquencies of the said department. I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,

The Hon. W. L. MARCY,

TH. S. JESUP, Quartermaster General.

Secretary of War, Washington city.

HEAD-QUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
Washington, June 19, 1846.

Understanding that one of the provisions of the bill that has just passed Congress, adds four assistant adjutants general to that department of the general staff, I beg to submit, in connexion therewith, these remarks:

We have now six officers (all taken from, and still holding commissions in the line) bearing that precise designation-two of them, Cooper and Thomas, with the brevet rank of major, and four, Shriver, Prentiss, Bliss, and Freeman, with the brevet rank of captain. Of the whole six, Shriver is the only one whose regimental rank has come up (since his appointment to the department) to his regimental [staff] rank; that is, he is now a captain, by brevet, in the staff, and also a captain in the 2d artillery. If I understand the precise terms of another provision of the new bill, Captain Shriver will be obliged to give up one of his captaincies.

Both classes of assistant adjutant's general (majors and captains) bear, precisely, under the act July 5, 1838, section 7 (Cross, p. 262) the same designation. But that act prescribes that two of the assistants shall have the brevet rank of major, and the other four, that of captain.

The new act, I learn (it is not before me) makes no such discrimination as to rank; but simply adds to the department four assistants.

As this is the branch of the general staff (department of orders) the most immediately connected with the general head-quarters of the whole army, I suppose it to be particularly my duty to add:

That, in my view of military propriety, or the interest of the service, two of the new assistants ought to be of the class of Major, and the other two of the class of captain, which would give the

department (besides the adjutant general) four majors and six captains, all by brevet.

That Captain William C. De Hart, 2d artillery, would, from long and varied experience, as well as from general talents and acquirements, not to speak of the valuable services he has rendered, make a most excellent assistant of the first class.

That Captain W. W. S. Bliss, first lieutenant 4th infantry, long the chief of General Taylor's staff, as assistant adjutant general-an officer of singular accomplishments, and who has, in that capacity, highly distinguished himself in the great events which have recently occurred on the Rio Grande-seems pre-eminently entitled to the other majority.

1. First Lieutenant S. C. Ridgely, 4th artillery, an officer of great and varied talents and experience, now attached to the general head quarters of the army, as acting judge advocate, recommended as one [of] the new assistants.

2. First Lieutenant H. S. Turner, 1st dragoons, long adjutant of that regiment, and now with Colonel Kearny, and wanted with him. He is highly qualified to be the other of the two original places.

3. First Lieutenant H. L. Scott, 4th infantry, long aid-de-camp, &c., with excellent talents and experience, recommended as assistant with the rank of captain, vice Bliss, promoted.

4. First Lieutenant J. H. Eaton, 3d infantry, aid-de-camp to General Taylor, and much distinguished in the present campaign, recommended vice Shriver, who it is supposed will, by the new act, be obliged to return to his regiment. But, as Lieutenant Eaton may become a regimental captain, in a few weeks, by ordinary promotion, I offer vice Shriver.

5. First Lieutenant Irwin, Mc Dowell, 1st artillery, aid-de-camp to General Wool, and who will be needed with the latter, who is charged, immediately, with the Chihuahua expedition.

All which is respectfully submitted to the Secretary of War. WINFIELD SCOTT.

JUNE 23, 1846.

Major General Scott asks the attention of the Secretary of War to a bundle of papers which General Scott has somewhat accidentally obtained, relative to prisoners of war, &c.

It would seem that the files and records of the War Department are without such documents.

The paper in print (the longer one) contains matters which seem, at this time, to demand attention on the part of the United States and Mexico, as belligerents. Perhaps the Secretary may extract certain parts of the long paper, and send them to Brevet Major General Taylor, as a basis of arrangement between him and the competent authority on the part of Mexico. An authentie copy of the same paper may probably be obtained at the State Department. Respectfully submitted.

WINFIELD SCOTT.

Projet.-Military chest.

JULY 2, 1846.

Respectfully submitted to the Secretary of War.

It is understood that the paymaster general prefers and has made a separate arrangement.

WINFIELD SCOTT.

GENERAL ORDERS:

The quartermaster general will cause to be provided and sent to the general head quarters of the army against Mexico, a suitable military chest, capable of containing $ in gold for disbursement on account of that army while in the enemy's country, or while operating in the field.

This chest will be kept under the guard of general head-quarters, for the reception and safe-keeping of such large sums of public money as disbursing staff officers may not find it necessary to keep about them for current use.

The general-in chief of that army will designate one or more of the principal staff officers about head-quarters to keep the key or keys of the chest, to pass receipts for deposites made in the same, and to reissue upon the proper receipts, such convenient sums as may, from time to time, be needed by the depositors or other officers of the same branches of the staff, respectively, for the public service. Accordingly, moneys deposited in the chest by officers of the quartermaster's department, subsistence department, or pay department, will only be reissued, except in extreme cases, and by the special order of the general-in-chief of that army, to the officers of the same disbursing department.

Remarks on Governor Edwards's letter (July 6) to the Secretary of

War.

JULY 17, 1846.

I do not wish to put my opinion in opposition to that of the Missouri authorities (aided by recent intelligence) on the force necessary to conquer Santa Fé or New Mexico; but I do not believe Brigadier General Kearny will meet, at any one point in the entire route to the Pacific, 2,500 men tolerably armed, which is less than the force of his own command, including Sterling's [Price's] regiment. (Note.-Governor Edwards does not, by his letter, appear to be aware of Summers's and Cooke's companies, of the 1st dragoons, which have followed Kearny.)

Nevertheless, as a compromise, I suggest that Governor Edwards be authorized to raise, and to despatch after Kearny, a battalion of foot volunteers, say of five companies of 100 men each, or of six,