been communicated to the general in chief, that he might have
exercised his discretion on the means to be adopted for correcting the
evil. With these views of the 'circular' alluded to the court is of
the opinion that it called for the 'emphatic admonition' and rebuke of
the general in chief."

About two months after the occupation of the City of Mexico by the
United States forces a mail arrived from the States. It was found that
two letters written from the valley a few days after the battles of
Contreras and Churubusco had been published in the newspapers. One of
them, published in the New Orleans Delta, was known as the "Leonidas
letter," and gave to General Pillow nearly all the credit for winning
these important battles, and placed him on a plane of military genius
far above the facts, as was understood by parties present. Among other
things the letter said: "He [Pillow] evinced on this, as he had on
other occasions, that masterly military genius and profound knowledge
of the science of war which has astonished _the mere martinets of the
profession_. His plan was very similar to that by which Napoleon
effected the reduction of the fortress of Ulm, and General Scott was
so perfectly well satisfied with it that he could not interfere with
any part of it, but left it to the gallant projector to carry into
glorious and successful execution."

The "Tampico letter," as the other letter was called, is given in
full:

"TACUBAYA, MEXICO, _August 27, 1847_.

"The whole force which moved from Puebla, amounting to ten thousand,
more or less, marched in four columns on successive days, in the
following order, viz.: Twiggs, Quitman, Worth, and Pillow. In
approaching the City of Mexico by the main highway you go directly
on to Penon, which is a strong position, exceedingly well fortified.
Before leaving Puebla, it had been considered whether the main road
can not be avoided and El Penon turned by passing around to the
south and left of Lakes Chalco and Xochimilco. The engineer officers
serving immediately at general headquarters had questioned a number
of persons, including spies and agents sent expressly to examine the
route, and the mass of testimony was entire to the boggy, mucky, and
perfectly impracticable character for wagons and artillery of the
road leading in that direction. It was therefore in contemplation to
turn Penon by forcing Mexicalcinzo, although t