ANOTHER ATTACK UPON THE WAR DE


PARTMENT
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ANOTHER ATTACK UPON THE WAX DE-


PARTMENT.


The Secretary of War has survived the repeated at
tacks, which were lately made upon him in regard to
the Louisiana volunteers. II is now admitted that
his defence was complete, and that his conduct was
fully justified by the circumstances of the case
But new war is now waged upon him
from another direction. The whig papers Of
the city OF ST. Louis have come TO US for
several days full Of complaints against the
department for having dispensed with the services
Of the regiment of Missouri infantry that has been
dsbanded at Fort Leavenworth. The following is
the last datrbe which has been issued against the
Secretary and it reached us by the last evenings
western mail from the ST. Louis Republican of the
18th inst Il complains that, "From first to last the
movements attending the calling into service of the
regiment Of infantry, by this time disbanded at
Fort Leayenworh, have been incomprehensible
No thought Of such an order until il was known
in our streets that the messenger was here and on
his way to Jefferson with it," II complains, that no
provision had been made by the War Office for
arms, for the quartermasters Office for paying the
regiment. 1t complains OF their being disbanded.
The facts are soon told; and this bolt will likewise
fall harmless at the secretsry's feet.


In consequence of information, which was prinei-
pay received from the governor of Missouri that the
Mexican force at Santa Fe might prove greatly su-
perior in numbers to Gen. Kearney's command; and
in consequence OF Governor Edwards's request,
requisition was made on the governor for
the organization Of another battalion or regi-
ment of infantry to join the troops already
designed for the expedition TO Santa Fe. 1t
turned out, however, that the information on
which the governor relied with considerable conf
dence, was not confirmed. On the contrary, that
letter from General Kearney dated on the lst Of Au-
gust, when he had advanced as far as Bent's Fort,
gives assurance that he will be in possession Of San
ia Fe by the 20th Of that month"; and that the force
then with him Considerably less than his aggregate
force) is sufficient to any that may oppose
him. Ii was therefore, sufficiently evident, that the
troops called for by the requiston would not be re-
qured. Other reasons conspired to induce the de-
psrtment to disband them. One of these was, that
Lieutenant Colonel Mackay, of the Quartermas,er's
Department charged with procuring transportation
Of supplies, &c, for that expedition has expressed
serious apprehensions that such body of troops
that now organizing under the requsiton, with the
necessary tran leaving Independence after the 1st
Of this month, would be beset with very great diff
culties, in getting through the route. The amount
of transportation required for the troops already
sent on, is very great. It was deemed prudent, il
not necessary, to take along with them supplies for
year. 1t is the opinion of the Quartermasters De-
partment that the additional transportation required
for the last regiment cannot be rioarded al this late
of the year for want of grass for the teams
which must attend them.-Under this two-fold view
Of the subecthe strong probability that this addi-
tiona force will not be needed and the great uncer
tanty of being able to pass them over the country
with the requisite supplies and munitions of war,
owing to the ateness Of the season, when they will
be ready to depart-it became advisable to suspend
farther proceedings in organizing and sending for
ward the troops called for in the Presidents requ-
sition of the 18th Of July last.


1t was of course with great reluctance that this
course has been adopted but it seems to be almost
unavoidable The difficulties and dangers appear to
be too imminent to be hazarded without a more
overruing necessity than exists in the present case





of service, and honorably discharge the volunteers
called for by the last requsiton. If any company
accompanies ofthem, however, have left Fort Leaven-
worth before these orders could reach that place. hey
will not be discharged but permitted to proceed on to
General Kearney's headquarters. As some Of the
companies may not have assembled at Indepep-
dence, the place Of rendezvous named in the reaui-
sition it was not necessary for them to repair there
to be mustered out of service; but it will be proper
that the United States officers, ordered to perform
this duty, should be informed where the companies
are. The governor Of Missouri was therefore, re-
quested to give this information to Lieutenant CO.
lionel Wharton, at Fort Leavenworth, and also to
Colonel Davenport at Jefferson Barracks, who
would be ordered to hold himself in readiness to
attend to mastering them out of service at such pa-
ces where companies may have enrolled themselves
under the call, lift be more convenient for him to
do So than for Lieutenant Colonel Wharton, who is
stationed at Fort Leavenworth


1t was with sincere regret that the President and
the Secretary yielded to what they conceived to be
the force ofhe imperious circumstances Of the case
and we understand assurances have been given, that
if it shall be proper to send troops in this direction
during the next season, the claims of this regiment
to preference, should they desire the service, will
not be overlooked.


The last St. Louis papers inform us that Major
Stewart has arrived at Fort Leavenworth with am
pie means to pay off all arrearages which are due to
these gallant volunteers, and to muster them out
of the service of the United States


We know not what less the Secretary could have
done in the first instance, or what more in the last.
In everything he has done, whether in calling for
the regiment, or in disbanding them, he has con-
suited nothing but the good Of the service.


A Pensacola letter says that flag of truce was
sent down to Commodore Conner, offering to ex.
change Commander Carpenter, his officers and men.
for General Vega and the three officers taken with