Mexican-American War and the Media

MG47v48n24 August 12, 1847, The Tariff and The Prices
As the venerable editor of the official organ displayed so much ingenuity in the effort to cast upon the Whigs the whole blame of the prolongation of the Mexican War.

MG47v48n24 August 12, 1847, Important Rumor
General Scott's entrance into Mexico City.

MG47v48n25 August 19, 1847, Good Pun
Pun told at a dinner in Vera Cruz,
Mexico

MG47v48n25 August 19, 1847, From the Army
General Urrea in the field with four thousand men.

MG47v48n25 August 19, 1847, Still Later
Account from General Scott.

MG47v48n25 August 19, 1847, Manifest Destiny
Editorial on Manifest Destiny.

MG47v48n25 August 19, 1847, Col. McPherson of Page
Accounts of the Oregon situation and the Mexican War.

MG47v48n25 August 19, 1847, Letter from Mexico
A soldier's account from Mexico.

MG47v48n26 August 26, 1847, Later from Vera Cruz and Tampico
The steamship New Orleans arrived yesterday afternoon having sailed from Vera Cruz.

MG26 August 26, 1847, Later From Mexico
The Mississippi at this port from Vera Cruz, Mexico.

MG47v48n26 August 26, 1847, Landing of Paredes
Union's explanation of the landing of Paredes at Vera Cruz.

MG47v48n26 August 26, 1847, Patriotic Devotion
Polk's brother going to Mexico

MG47v48n26 August 26, 1847, From the Indian Country
Mexicans paying off Indians to attack Americans passing through.

SEPTEMBER 1847

MG47v48n27p2c1, September 2, 1847, IMPORTANT NEWS
Information about Vera Cruz

MG47v48n27p2c1, September 2, 1847, IMPORTANT FROM THE YUCATAN
Insurrection of the Indians on the Yucatan peninsula

MG47v48n27p2c2, September 2, 1847, MORE NEWS FROM VERA CRUZ
Information about Vera Cruz from Patria

MG47v48n27p2c2, September 2, 1847, FROM THE RIO GRANDE
Information from the Rio Grande also including a poem

MG47v48n27p2c3, September 2, 1847, GEN SAM HOUSTON
About the annexation of Texas

MG47v48n27p2c3, September 2, 1847, ANOTHER CALL FOR TROOPS
Information that the War Department has called for the addition of five new regiments

MG47v48n27p2c3, September 2, 1847, MR. BENTON IN A NEW POSITION
Col Benton calling to get his son in-law court-martialed in California

MG47v48n28p1c7, September 9, 1847, A LETTER FROM MEXICO
A letter from Saltillo, Mexico with knowledge of troop movements

MG47v48n28p2c4, September 9, 1847, COL. BENTON
More information about Col. Benton and the court-martial

MG47v48n28p2c5, September 9, 1847, LANDING OF PAREDES
The passage of Paredes through Vera Cruz

MG47v48n28p2c5, September 9, 1847, DIVERSION OF TROOPS
Some troops will move from Gen. Taylor to Vera Cruz

MG47v48n28p2c6, September 9, 1847, GEN. TAYLOR AND THE PRESIDENCY
About Gen. Taylor and his push for presidency of the United States

MG47v48n28p2c7, September 9, 1847, WHO IS SANTA ANNA
A brief biography of Santa Anna

MG47v48n29p2c1, September 16, 1847, GLORIOUS VICTORY: TWO MORE BATTLES
About the battles of Churubusco and Contreras from the New Orleans Picayune

MG47v48n29p2c2, September 16, 1847, LATER FROM BRAZOS
From the New Orleans Times, information that Gen Taylor's forces are moving

MG47v48n29p2c2, September 16, 1847, Untitled
About a letter from Mr. James Evans, a VA Volunteer

MG47v48n29p2c3, September 16, 1847, PROSPECT OF PEACE
About peace in Mexico after capture of Mexico City

MG47v48n29p2c5, September 16, 1847, TWO MORE LETTERS FROM CAPT. HARPER
Two letters from Capt. Harper stationed in Saltillo, Mexico

MG47v48n29p2c5, September 16, 1847, BRILLIANT VICTORIES- FROM GENERAL SCOTT'S ARMY
Information regarding Churubusco and Contreras as well as General Scott being wounded

MG47v48n30p2c1, September 23, 1847, THE ARMISTICE
Terms of the Armistice between the United States and Mexico

MG47v48n31p2c3, September 30, 1847, GENERAL PILLOW
About General Pillow and events in Mexico

MG47v48n31p2c4, September 30, 1847, FROM THE BRAZOS
Information about Gen. Taylor's troops movements

MG47v48n31p2c4, September 30, 1847, Untitled
About Whigs and gaining Mexican territory

October 7, 1847, MG47v48n32p1c7, Old Zach a “Double F” words: 44
Refers to Taylor is from a "fighting family"

October 7, 1847, MG47v48n32p2c2, War News, words: 303
References the broken armistice, war deaths, and the blood and tears shed in war

October 7, 1847, MG47v48n32p2c2, Untitled, words 303
Plan of Union between Great Britain and the U.S. by Alliance of Perpetual Friendship in England, supporting a confederaton for peace, freedom, commerce and Christianity

October 7, 1847, MG47v48n32p2c2, Gen. Scott's speech to the Army, words: 247
Scott's reception in Mexico City

October 7, 1847, MG47v48n32p2c3, Important from Mexico, words: 3,306
Armistice terminated, battle of Molino del Rey, correspondence between Scott and Santa Anna, initial probes at Chapultepec, fighting at La Piedad and San Antonio Abad, Americans in possession of Mexico City, rumors of dead and wounded

October 7, 1847, MG47v48n32p2c7, Latest News, words: 437
Scott in full possession of Mexico City

October 7, 1847, MG47v48n32p2c7, Call for Volunteers, words: 261
Fifteen companies responded to call for five companies

October 7, 1847 MG47v48n32p2c7, Untitled, words: 96
Santa Anna blames others for defeats

October 7, 1847, MG47v48n32p3c1, Letter From Gen. Taylor, words: 471
Taylor responding to Raleigh's call to nominate him for president

October 7, 1847 MG47v48n32p3c2, Gen. Pillow, Again, words: 426
Questions about the "Leonidis" letter hoax, debate between the New Orleans newspapers, Picayune and Delta, over legitimacy of letter

October 7, 1847 MG47v48n32p3c2, Gen. Taylor’s Position, words: 179
Need for a speedy peace

October 7, 1847 MG47v48n32p3c2, General Paredes, words: 202
Rumors about Paredes actions

October 14, 1847, MG47v48n33p1c6, Letters of John P. Kennedy, words: 4,971
Letters, written several years earlier, from Maryland politician nos. 2, 3, and 4 addressing issues about the war, the boundary, and the annexation of Texas

October 14, 1847, MG47v48n33p2c3, Our Armies in Mexico

October 14, 1847, MG47v48n33p2c3, Gen. Taylor’s Opinion, words: 88
Maryland press stated that Taylor recommended hostile demonstrations on Rio Grande to start the war

October 14, 1847, MG47v48n33p2c5, Interesting from the Army, words: 693
Americans lost 27 officers killed and 45 wounded on 8 and 13 September; Santa Anna evacuated Mexico City to avoid its bombardment; Pena y Pena president; yellow fever in Lane's command, guerrilla attacks, Lally wounded in guerrilla attack

October 14, 1847, MG47v48n33p2c6, Letter from Gen. Taylor, words: 669
Taylor letter to Dr. F. S. Bronson about political policies and candidacy.

October 14, 1847, MG47v48n33p2c6, From Gen. Taylor’s Army, words: 190
Troop movements and withdrawals

October 14, 1847, MG47v48n33p2c6, Capital Hit, words: 131
Comment on Richmond Republican criticism of Polk's party's political stance on the boundary issue

October 14, 1847, MG47v48n33p2c7, The Virginia Regiment, words: 328
Letter from an officer under Taylor, comments that the Virginia Regiment is considered the best in Mexico

October 21, 1847, MG47v48n34p2c1, Letter from John P. Kennedy, words: 3,228
Letter no. 5, on the joint resolutions for annexation, occupation of disputed territory, Slidell's mission, unjustness of war, politics of Polk declaring a state of war existed, etc.

October 21, 1847, MG47v48n34p2c3, Untitled, words: 518
Extract from private letter on slavery in the new territories and the Wilmot Proviso

October 21, 1847, MG47v48n34p2c4, Mr. Faulkner and the War, words: 634
Request to republish 1846 speech on the war refused

October 21, 1847 MG47v48n34p2c5, The Annexation of Mexico, words: 593
Editorial opinions about the notion of annexing the whole of Mexico, reaction to Baltimore Sun article, concludes "Manifest Destiny is the God that rules the hour, and we have no means of divining what new schemes of folly and madness are yet to be revealed."

October 21, 1847, MG47v48n34p2c6, Untitled, Poem, words: 191
Poem by Mrs. Lydia Jane Preston, who lost sons in the war, and editorial comment

October 21, 1847, MG47v48n34p2c6, Mutilation of Document, words: 330
Publication of a previously suppressed paragraph from an official letter from Lally to Col. Wilson about repeated drunkenness, robberies, and vandalism by American troops

October 21, 1847, MG47v48n34p2c6, Arrest of Colonel Gilpin, words: 177
Dispute over Gilpin's mission, stationary protection of wagon trains or pursuing Indians

October 21, 1847 MG47v48n34p2c2, Mexican Whigism, words: 218
Locofoco name calling, Whigs in Virginia regiments

October 21, 1847, MG47v48n34p3c2, Untitled, words: 194
Comments on Tibbatt's law and order proclamation for Monterey, from Frankfort (KY) Commonwealth

October 21, 1847 MG47v48n34p3c3, Fighting Parson, words: 134
Pre-battle prayer by Methodist minister who commanded Missouri company at Buena Vista

October 28, 1847, MG47v48n35p2c1, From the Seat of the War, words: 611
Reports on weather, Kendall's correspondence, battles, Scott's General Order 286 urging vigilance and discipline

October 28, 1847, MG47v48n35p2c4, Affairs in Vera Cruz and on the Road, words: 692
Rea and Santa Anna in Puebla, Lane and Lally coming to aid of Childs, guerrillas no longer at National Bridge, trains getting through, Alvarez organizing against U.S. forces

October 28, 1847, MG47v48n35p2c5, Untitled, Patterson Moving, words: 90
Patterson headed for interior with 2000 men, Scott courier killed

October 28, 1847, MG47v48n35p2c5, What we asked and what Mexico was willing to give words: 236
Comment on Mexican offer of territory and U.S. insistence on more

October 28, 1847 MG47v48n35p2c5, Let Justice be Done, words: 141
Concludes that 64 American, 34 Irish, and 16 Germans among those executed for desertion; critical of anti-immigrant rhetoric

October 28, 1847, MG47v48n35p2c7, The Administration and the “Democracy”, words: 171
Extract of comments in NY newspaper against dragooning the member of the President's to support annexation of all of Mexico

October 28, 1847, MG47v48n35p3c1 Mr. Polk’s friend Santa Anna, words: 343
Critical of Polk's permmitting Santa Anna to return to Mexico; extract of Santa Anna's encouragement to Mexicans to fight the invaders; pessimistic about prospects for peace

04 Nov 1847 MG36p1 Praise for Gen. Taylor

04 Nov 1847 MG36p1 Old account of Gen. Taylor, written in 1820 about War of 1812, then Major Taylor

04 Nov 1847 MG36p2 Army news from Vera Cruz, New Orleans Picayune

04 Nov 1847 MG36p2 The Tenth Legion…or lack thereof

04 Nov 1847 MG36p2 Critical of Polk and war prosecution, Baltimore Patriot and Journal of Commerce

04 Nov 1847 MG36p2 Correspondence from Buena Vista, Staunton Spectator

04 Nov 1847 MG36p2 Critical of Polk, vignettes,

11 Nov 1847 MG37p2 Supportive of Mr. Olaquibel, Governor of Mexico, National Intelligencer

11 Nov 1847 MG37p2 Correspondence from Puebla and Mexico: disease, guerrillas, etc., New Orleans Picayune

18 Nov 1847 MG38p2 Clay’s speech at Lexington, KY

18 Nov 1847 MG38p2 Army news, death of Capt. Walker, peace negotiations, New Orleans Delta and Picayune

18 Nov 1847 MG3p82 Mexican army mutiny at Tehuacan, Santa Anna’s movements, New Orleans Times

25 Nov 1847 MG39p2 A speech, political opinion on conclusion of the War, Baltimore Patriot

25 Nov 1847 MG39p2 Commodore Stockton demands inquiries in California, St. Louis Republican

25 Nov 1847 MG39p2 General Scott’s dispatches from Mexico City, Free Press, Patriot

25 Nov 1847 MG39p2 Colonel Fremont’s trial, Richmond Whig

25 Nov 1847 MG39p2 War Expenses

02 Dec 1847 MG40p1 The cost of the War, human cost, not money, Win. Rep.

02 Dec 1847 MG40p2 Critical of the proposed conquest of Mexico, Missouri Republican

02 Dec 1847 MG40p2 Correspondence from Vera Cruz, New Orleans Sun

02 Dec 1847 MG40p2 General Taylor leaving Monterey, fever at Matamoras

02 Dec 1847 MG40p2 Colonel. Gaines coming home?, Wilmot Proviso, Great Britain will not interfere in Mexico

02 Dec 1847 MG40p2 Vera Cruz updates, location of Santa Anna, Baltimore American

09 Dec 1847 MG41p1 Supportive of Clay’s speech at Lexington, Louisville Journal

09 Dec 1847 MG41p2 Cost of the War, Money, Alexandria Gazette

09 Dec 1847 MG41p2 Latest from Mexico, miscellaneous, Baltimore American, from New Orleans papers,

16 Dec 1847 MG41p2 Governor William Smith's annual address

16 Dec 1847 MG42p2 Critical of Polk’s annual “manifesto,” editorial,

16 Dec 1847 MG42p2 Capt. Erskine’s death, Monterey Gazette

23 Dec 1847 MG43p1 Reception for Gen. Taylor at New Orleans, Mercury

23 Dec 1847 MG43p2 Reports from Mexico, arrest of Generals Worth, Pillow, and LT. Duncan by Scott, politics in Mexico, Trist leaving Mexico, assassinations in Mexico City, New Orleans Picayune

23 Dec 1847 MG43p2 Critical of Polk, General Taylor in Alabama, General Valencia’s actions at Contreras

[30 Dec 1847 not on microfilm.]

July

MG19p1c6, July 8, 1847

THE GUERRILLA CHIEF JARAUTA

[ . . . ]

MG47v48n19p2c2, July 8, 1847

Rupture Between Gen. Scott and the State Department.

The Washington correspondent of the Journal of Commerce, prepares us, in the following letter, for a rupture between Gen Scott and the State Department:

WASHINGTON, July 1^st, 1847

I have learned today, from a high and entirely authentic source, which I am not at liberty to mention, that Gen Scott, as the commanding officer of the army, and charged of peace, has determined not to allow any interference with his authority, from Mr. Trist or any other person, whatever may be their instructions from the State Department. Acting as commander-in-chief, he has responsibilities which he could not sustain under any divided authority. In time of actual war and invasion, and in the presence of a foe, a commander must necessarily use his own discretion in all intercourse with the enemy, for all regular diplomatic intercourse is necessarily at an end. The commander becomes, ex necessitate, the only diplomatist and negotiator. It is for him to hold such intercourse with the enemy’s government as the usages of war, in civilized countries allow. To control his action by any civil agent, would be to deprive him of the authority belonging exclusively to his station, and to retard and embarrass all his operations.

It may be considered as certain that Gen. Scott will sustain all the right belonging to his station and peculiar situation.

From another source, particularly partial to Mr. Trist, I have information also direct and authentic, corroborative of the above statement.

While I state these as undeniable and authentic facts, I must add that I do not see in them any thing detrimental to much talked of negotiations for peace with Mexico. On the contrary, it is evident that Gen. Scott, if left alone, can exert in Mexico an influence potent for peace, while his prudence, capacity, and fortune render him irresistible in war.
[MUL]

MG47v48n19p2c2, July 8, 1847

A National Sham Battle.

A correspondent of the New Orleans Picayune, writing from Vera Cruz, communicates the following amusing and warlike intelligence:

“A singular piece of amusement was started out side one of the city gates yesterday morning by a party of about one hundred and twenty Mexican boys, from twelve to eighteen years old. They divided themselves into two equal parties –one to represent the American and other the Mexican army, and at it they went, with their captains in advance, one with the American and the other with the Mexican flag. Stones, bricks, dirt and sticks flew for about fifteen minutes in every direction, when both parties drew off, sent in commissioners, and arranged the matter, all making friends with the exception of the American captain, who had received a severe wound with a brickbat, and begged to be permitted to try adversary single-handed, saying be could lick the d-----d Mexicans in two minutes!”
[MUL]

MG47v48n19p2c3, July 8, 1847

FOR THE GAZZETTE

WHO IS JAMES K. POLK:

This was the question propounded by the Whigs to the Loco Focos in 1844, after the nomination as a Candidate for the Presidency of the individual, whose name stands at the head of this article, and which was as exultingly answered by the latter after the election as being the “President of the United States!”

Now this reply of the Loco Focos had some truth in it, and was very well made at the time; but the writer of this still entertained doubts whether or not they really had found out who James K. Polk was. He was still impressed with the belief that James K. Polk was something else than merely “President of the United states”, but hoped that he might be disappointed in his anticipations. –But, alas! The day has arrived when he really (not to his surprise, but as he feared,) witnesses even more that he expected from the elevation to the Presidency of James K. Polk. And he does not suppose, but feels confident in the assertion, that the majority of the Loco Foco party have now found out what they thought they had along since!

They thought that they had found out who James K. Polk was, when he was elected “President of the United States;” but they now see he is even more than that. They have found out that he is the weakest-minded and most incompetent man who was ever attained the Presidency or this enlightened nation. And they have furthermore found out, among a thousand other things, that he has involved his Country in a most disgraceful, unholy and unjust war, which will not only result in burdening it with an immense debt, but will cost us the loss of many valuable lives.

The aged father and mother have found out who James K. Polk is, by being bowed down with grief through his instrumentality, for the loss of a dear son, whose life has been sacrificed on the battles-fields of Mexico. The son and daughter, and brother and sister, have found out who James K. Polk is, by being bathed in tears and caused to mourn, trough his official acts, for the loss of a kind and affectionate father, or loving brother, whose life has been uselessly sacrificed fighting for his Country on the battle-fields of Mexico.

Yea, the WHOLE PEOPLE have found out who James K Polk is, by being made to witness through his mal administration, an immense sacrifice of blood and treasure in an uncalled-for war, in a foreign land, waged against a weak and distracted people!

And who knows what is yet to be the end of the elevation to the Presidency of the United States of a man who was almost wholly unknown to the People? Who can divine the best or the worst? Before James K. Polk was elected President, it would have been considered madness and folly, by many of those very persons who have suffers the loss of many near and dear friends and relations, for any one to have predicted this result.

I said it would have been considered madness and folly, for any one to have predicted this result before the election of James K. Polk to the Presidency. –I should have said it was considered madness and folly, &c., as this result was predicted in the event of James K. Polk’s election, if he carried out the principles and rules laid down for him in the Baltimore Nominating Convention.

What did HENRY CLAY tell us before the election of James K. Polk? In reference to the Texas question –the rallying cry of the immaculate Democracy he said “war will be the consequence of the annexation of Texas at this time in the manner proposed.” And how does this prophecy agree with what Thomas H. Benton said “this war is the consequence of the annexation of Texas, at the time and in the manner in which it was done.”

It is melancholy, indeed, to contemplate the eventual finding out of such a man as James K. Polk, if thus far is only to be considered an introduction; but it is greatly to be feared, that before his “race is run”, he will be found out to the sorrow of many of those who have “ears to hear and would not hear”, and “eyes to see and would not see”.

BERKELEY.

[MUL]

MG47v48n19p2c6, July 8, 1847

TRIBUTES OF RESPECT

We have been polite favored with copies of the proceeding of the officers of the 2^nd Battalion of Virginia Volunteers, and of the men of Capt. Carrington’s Company, in reference to the untimely death of their gallant fellow soldier, Lieut. Murford. The sympathy so generally felt by his companions in arms, has been most feelingly and appropriately expressed –and the communication of it in such kind terms, must touch deeply the hearts of relatives and friends. –Rich. Rep.

At a meeting of the officers of the 2^nd Battalion of the Virginia Regiment, stationed at China, in the Province of New Leon, Mexico, convened on the 23d May, 1847, for the purpose of expressing their deep regret for the death of their brother officer and companion in arms, Lieut. CARLTON R. MUNFORD, -

T. B. RANDOLPH, Lt. Col. Va.
Va. Reg’t, Sect’y.

At a meeting of the members of Company G, second Battalion and first Regiment of Virginia Volunteers, held at their quarters in China, Mexico, on the 23d May, 1847:

Sergeant Lewellen having, in a few felling and pertinent remarks, explained the object of the meeting, on his motion, private Samuel S. Pleasants was called to the Chari, and Andrew J. Didlake appointed Secretary. The Chairmen then, on motion, appointed a Comitee of three, composed of Sergeant Lewellen, and privates Ward and Hudnall, to prepare suitable resolutions, expressive of the sense of the Company, who having retired in a short time returned and submitted the following preamble and resolutions on which, motion, were unanimously adopted:

Whereas, in an unfortunate affair of honor, which took place at China, on the 20^th inst., and which resulted in the death of Lieut CARLTON R. MUNFORD, we, the members of Company G, have assembled this morning to give some expression to our deep and heartfelt sorrow: Therefore,

Resolved, That in the death of Lieutenant MUNFORD we have each lost a sincere friend, and whose bravely, chivalry and firmness, we had the most implicit confidence, and to have followed whom to the field of battle and glory, would have been our greatest pride.

Resolved, That to have known Lieutenant was to love him, for in him is personified all that was generous, liberal, honorable and high-toned, which ennobles human character.

Resolved, That his memory will ever live fresh in our hearts, and while we believe that the grief, distress, anguish and loss to his family and numerous friends at home, will be inexpressibly and inconceivably great, we beg to mingle our feelings with theirs, and to offer our most sincere sympathies and condolence.

Resolved, That a copy of these proceedings be forwarded to the family to the deceased.

Resolved, also, That the proceedings of this meeting be forwarded to the Editors ot the Richmond Whig, Republican and Enquirer, with the request that they publish the same, and that they be copied by the papers trough out the State.

On motion, the meeting adjourned.

SAM’L PLEASEANTS, Ch’n.
AND J. DIDLAKE, Sec’y.

[MUL]

MG47v48n19p2c7, July 8, 1847

Bathing in Mexico.

The following is an extract from a letter from the camp of the Massachusetts volunteers, published in the Boston Transcript:

“You would be charmed with our encampment on account of the bathing, if nothing else. All the Matamoras females, high and low, bathe at least one each day –generally in the evening, soon after sunset, and as the current is too strong for their delicate limbs to contend against in the river, they resort to the lakes in the vicinity of the city –our lake being specially favored by them. Some of them are splendid swimmers, and I have seen one of them out swim at least eight of our officers.

“The Mexican men and women bathe promiscuously and it is laughable to see women take a lovesick swain and duck him till he is nearly to dead. I should consider that a perfect cure for the most obstinate case imaginable.”

One scarcely wonders that the writer of the letter was “charmed with their encampment.” It must have been a rare thing to see eight officers of the Massachusetts volunteers swimming after one Mexican woman. We wonder if it was in one of these swimming matches that Col. Cushing broke his leg? –N. O. Picayune.
[MUL]

MG47v48n20p1c6, July 15, 1847

FROM THE STAUNTON SPECTATOR.

A LETTER FROM CAPT. K. HARPER.

BUENA VISTA, (Mexico,) June 2, 1847

Dear: I have already apprised you that the Augusta Volunteers left China on the 23d, in advance of the Battalion stationed at that place, to carry through dispatches to Gen. Taylor, and that we arrived at Monterey the 20^th. On the same day, I received orders to proceed to this place with three other companies –Capt. Fairfax’s (Va.,) and two North Carolina companies, Capt. Henry’s and Capt. Blalock’s. We took up the line of march about an hour before sun-set, and arrived here at 1 o’clock yesterday. As you may well suppose, we are all pretty well jaded, particularly the Augusta boys, who have a continuous march of ten days. The distance from China to this place is but about 145 miles, though the marches each day are of necessity very regular, on account of water. One day we had to go twenty-four miles, twenty of which were very great, but I do not see that any of them have sustained material injury. Most of the miserable catch-penny tin canteens which were issued to us have given out –may of them indeed leaked from the first, and I tried at Monterey to get others, but none were to be had, nor could I even get kegs to haul water.

The five other companies of the 2^nd Battalion which we left at China, I presume are by this time on their way to join us. The 1^st Battalion, now garrisoning Monterey, will also be up in a few days, being about to be relieved by the Massachusetts regiment. There are not many troops here at present, and there is considered to be a necessity for them.

The scenery about this place is quite picturesque, though I do not exactly recognize its claims on the name it bears, unless it be on account of the more extended view which it affords of the mountains. More sublime and elevated peaks are met with at many points along the road. The mountains in this part of Mexico are of a singular character. They seem to be of solid rock, rising hundreds of feet in sharp cones, without a particle of vegetation, unless it may be a scraggy bush, or patch of moss. There is nothing like timber on any of them that I have seen, and at this place, although there is a considerable stretch of plain intersected with a deep ravines, between the mountains, we have to send some fifteen miles for fuel for cooking purposes. The water though is excellent, the best I have met in Mexico, and the temperature moderate. There is generally a fine breeze in the day, and at night, it is cool enough sometimes for overcoats and blankets. The probability is that we shall remain here for some time, and the Mexicans have opened quite a market at our camp. We had green peas, salad, onions, apricots, and other things mornings. I ate green corn the day I was in Monterey.

I have not yet gone over the battle field. It lies just before our camp, and looking over it, it seems pretty much like a plain, though it is cut up with deep hollows, and somewhat undulated by spurs of the mountain running into it. Whether the Mexicans will try the fortune of war on the same theatre again, remains to be seen. It is said that communications have been made from Saltillo to them of the great reduction which has taken place in our force, but I hope by the time they are ready we shall be so also.

The country which we traversed on the march from China to this place is pretty much of the same character of that I have heretofore described –dry, sterile, and uninviting, with here and there a bottom of a few thousand acres that are rendered fertile by irrigation. –Sereno’s hacienda, 15 miles east of Cadareita, is a splendid place. I dined with that gentleman, and he had in store the best of wines and liquors. The most inviting sport, however, that I have met in Mexico, is the town of Cadareita. It is truly a beautiful place, and every thing about it is indicative of place, and every thing about it is indicative of cleanliness and taste. The houses are neat and comfortable, and the gardens filled with the fruits of the country –oranges, lemons, limes, figs, pomgranates, &c. I could but wonder, however, at the spirit of a people who could suffer a single company to march through their great plazas as enemies, in all the pomp and circumstance of war. We encamped just outside the town, on the bank of the river, and made a requisition on the Alcade for wood, which he promptly complied with. I afterwards called upon him, and found him to be very affable and gentlemanly in his manners. I enquired of him the population of the town, and he told me, that with in the district over which he presided, there were ten thousand inhabitants.

In the march from Monterey to this place there were few objects worthy of special note. Our first encampment was at the Mills, six miles this side. I was not in them, having arrived in the night, and leaving at day-light. I saw enough externally, however, to impress me very favorably with the works. The race or aqueduct is a splendid piece of masonry faced inside with a clear hard cement, as hard seemingly as the rock itself. There is also a beautiful basin or reservoir just beside the mill, about 120 feet square and three or four feet deep, constructed of stone, and plastered with the some cement at the sides and bottom. –what special use it was intended to serve, I did not learn. There was no water it at the time.

The Rinconada Pass was our nest encampment. Here, or rather just below the pass, there are several houses, mostly unoccupied, and the remains of a splendid garden filled with fruits, and flowers. There I saw apples, peaches, some of the largest fit trees I had met with loaded with fruit, and pomegranates, &c. Unfortunately none of the fruits were ripe, however. The flowers were the bunch and velvet roses, white lilies, and several other kinds that I was not acquainted with, though, none of them very handsome. The garden was irrigated throughout. As I walked along its broad avenues, I could not but think of the gay and happy scenes no doubt often enjoyed by the youthful within its pleasant, bowers, and perhaps even now anxiously longed for, but to which war had put at least a temporary stop. It is probably the summer retreat of some wealthy family, I grieved to see here and there, the smooth trunk f some beautiful fig tree made the mark of some heedless riflemen.

The Rinconada Pass is one of the strongest and most easily defended against approach from the East that could well be conceived, and Gen. Taylor showed his wisdom in securing it to himself in the capitulation of Monterey. Against approach from this side, it would be of little value. Buena Vista is much better in that respect. This, I presume, is the reason why Gen. Taylor made his stand here, instead of falling back upon the pass, as many, who did not know the nature of the ground, thought he ought to have done.

The health of the company has suffered very little since I last wrote. We lest one in a bad way at China, (Preston Brown) though he was somewhat on the mend. We had to leave four at Monterey, two, (Merritt and Taylor,) with some legs, and two others with injuries (Clarke and Noon). We have three or four sick with us, but in this healthy location they must soon get well.

We are now at the very out post (we may say) of operations in this quarter, and the chance of communicating with us, I fear, will become more rare than they have been. –Whether we are to push farther or not, we are wholly unadvised. I shall try, however, always to have a letter ready, so that I may avail myself of any opportunity to forward it.
[MUL]

MG47v48n 20p 2c 2, July 15, 1847

Correspondence of the Baltimore Patriot

WASHINGTON, July 8, 1847.

After the mail from the South had arrived here this evening, a rumor spread through the city that Gen. Scott had entered the capital of Mexico, after a dreadful battle, in which he lost eleven hundred men.

I took some pains to trace the rumor out but could find nothing connected with it bearing the impress of authenticity. In a few hours it was generally believed to be without foundation.

A member of the Administration informed me that the Government Express, which is run now at the same time and over the same ground that the Pony Express is, (so he informed me,) came trough, but of course he did not give me the purport of the dispatches received.

That Gen. Scott has had or will have a severe battle, almost everyone now believes. This battle would have been avoided, no doubt, if the imbecile Administration had properly and suitable reinforces Generals Taylor and Scott.

Among other things they have aided in exasperation SANTA ANNA, no doubt the merited abuse of him by Gen. Scott, in his Proclamation, has contributed not a little. He has Scott now in the densest of the Mexican population. He knows, from the intercepted dispatches, that there will be no immediate junction of Taylor’s forces with those of Scott. He knows that Scott has less than 10,000 troops, and that he can raise 50,000 to oppose them. And he further knows that now or never is the time to strike, if he would redeem himself in the estimation of his countrymen, who seen just on the eve of comprehending the critical condition they and their nation are in.

Knowing these things, Santa Anna no doubt has struck or will strike a heavy blow at Gen. Scott. It is his last chance, and desperation is upon him! He may kill a long list of our brave men –but ultimately the treacherous tyrant must go down!

With greater anxiety than ever, everybody will now look for the nest news from the seat of war.

Mr. Polk and Mr. Buchanan, who started on their popularity hunting tour, in the belief, as I learn, that in a few days the treaty of peace they sent by Mr. Trist to Mexico would come back here properly signed and sealed, have got back to their stations and find no peace!

Tired, to surfeiting, of the war and its horrors and tremendous expenses, they would now, for a peace, most willingly take the back track, to a greater extent than they did on the Oregon question –but their pet and friend, Santa Anna, whom Mr. Polk, who might have honorably avoided the war, no doubt, but obstinately would not, can foresee!

The vacancy created in the Indian Agency by the death of Major William Armstrong, will likely enough be filled by the appointment of their a son of the late Major Armstrong, who is a young lawyer at St. Louis, of fine talents and character and of estimable worth, thought he is but twenty-thee years of age, and therefore may be deemed to be too young –or of Major Arnold Harris, the son-in-law of General Robert Armstrong, who has been in the Indian country a great deal with the late Major Armstrong, and who, perhaps, is better acquainted and more familiar with his system of Indian management than any man living.

Major Harris is now in his city, but I understand is willing and anxious to waive any claims he may posses, in favor of young Mr. Armstrong, to whom he thinks the station ought to be given, out of respect to his father, William, and his uncle Francis W. Armstrong, both of whom died Indian Agents, devoting their best energies to the welfare of our brethren, the aborigines!

If the appointment should no: be given to young Armstrong, on account of his youth, then Major Harris will probably receive it. He is eminently worthy of the high station, and would fill it with honor to the Government, satisfaction to the Indians who know him and like him, and credit to himself.

POTOMAC.

[MUL]

MG47v48n20p2c3, July 15, 1847.

GENERAL SCOTT.

A change, sudden as it is amusing, has come over the spirit of the dreams of our locofoco contemporaries, in regard to this illustrious individual. He, who but a few short months ago, was the devoted subject of the unmitigated censure and ridicule of these consistent gentlemen, (many of whom even went so far to laud the military sagacity evinced by the President in withholding from him the command of the army,) is now in their estimation “the great captain of the age;” his proclamation, though manifestly put forth in pursuance of the instructions of the administration is quoted as good democratic authority; and to one wholly ignorant of the practices of “the party”, the chances in favor of “Soup Scott” for a nomination for the Presidency at the hands of a Baltimore Convention would seem to be any thing but inconsiderable. Could we, for a single moment, be induced to believe that there was an iota of sincerity in their loud professions of repentance, or that the recent displays of admiration and gratitude we have witnessed were prompted by aught else than a desire to use the “hero of Cerro Gordo” as a foil to the increasing popularity of the hero of Buena Vista, we could forgive the past, and have more faith in promises of good behavior for the future. Fortunately for the country however, the real friends of Gen. Scott are not such gudgeons as to be caught by these professions, even were it within the bounds of probability, that he could for a moment so far forget the principles to which he has ever exhibited the most devoted attachment, as to allow himself to be made the catspaw of Locofocoisin. “Surely the net is spread in vain in the sight of any bird,” and it would be hard to convince Gen. Scott or his immediate friends, that his victories in Mexico have wrongly any decided change in the sentiments and feelings towards him, of the men who were so very oblivious of the gallantry and the patriotism which bared his breast to the murderous fire of the British columns at Niagara, as to make him the subject of their disgusting ribaldry and vituperation.
[MUL]

MG47v48n 20p 2c 5, July 15, 1847

LATER FROM MEXICO

FROM VERA CRUZ.

The National of the 5th says:

The barque Patheon, Capt. Williston, arrived here yesterday from Vera Cruz, whence she sailed on the morning of the 26^th ult.

Capt. W. reports the steamship Galveston, Capt. Windle, as going into port as the Patheon was coming out. On the 27^th ult. 150 miles to the N.E. of Vera Cruz, say the steamship Galveston, hence for that port.

The same paper has the following paragraph:

IMPORTANT, IF TRUE. –Just as our paper was going to press, we were informed by a gentleman in whom we have every confidence that a report from the city of Mexico, last night, that a dysentery of a malignant character had broken out among our troops at Puebla, and that it is believed the Mexican venders of milk, pulque, liquors, etc., poisoned those articles with a certain poisonous vegetable, which grows in the neighborhood.

We believed the rumor entitle to credit, and hope Gen. Scott will hear of it in time to prevent an extension of the diabolical plot.
[MUL]

MG47v48n 21p2c1, July 22, 1847.

LATER NEWS FROM SANTA FE.

An extra from the office of the St. Louis Republican of the 6^th inst. Contains the following intelligence from Santa Fe:

Another Battle with Mexicans and Indians –Two American’s killed and three wounded. – Loss of Government Cattle Arrival of Col. Russell from California.

We conversed this morning with Mr. Murphy, as intelligent gentleman, just from Santa Fe. He left on the 29^th of May, and furnishes us with details of very interesting occurrences in New Mexico.

On the 27^th of May an engagement took place at the Red River canon, 150 miles south east of Santa Fe, between a detachment of about 175 men, under Major Edmondson, and a band of Mexicans and Apache Indians, supposed to number 400 men. These men were combined together for the purpose of committing depredations on American property, and a few days previous bad succeeded in stealing 150 horses from traders and others.

Major Edmondson had been ordered out for the purpose of routing them. At the place indicated he came upon the enemy rather suddenly, and not very advantageously. He has crossing a slough at the mouth of the canon, was very miry, and many of his horses being in a weak condition, he was forced to abandon them. The engagement commenced on foot and lasted some two hours.

It is not known how many of the enemy were killed; two Americans were killed, and a third was wounded and reluctantly left on the ground when the retreat was ordered. –Lit. Elliott, in command of 27 men, principally Laclede Rangers, rendered very efficient service at this juncture. He occupied a point of rocks, and kept the enemy from advancing upon the retreating forces, until they had got out of a difficult position. He had two men wounded, M. Wash and J. Eldridge but not dangerously. All the horses were shot down or captured.

On the 2d of June, Lt. Col. Willock, with 115 men, was met on his march from Taos, in pursuit of the Mexican and Indian forces. He had got upon their trail, and was resolved upon an engagement with them.

We are sorry to heat that a garrison of only fifteen soldiers were left at Taos, all of whom were on the sick list. Col. Price was at Santa Fe, with portions of several companies of volunteers. Of this movements and plan we know nothing.

Mr. Murphy met Mr. Wethered, some other traders and two Government trains of wagons at the crossing of the Pawnee Fork. They had been detained there fort three or four days by a freshet in the river, which prevented them from fording it. At this point the Indians annoyed them very much, and succeeded in killing a hundred and fifty head of cattle belonging to the Government train ( under charge of Capt. Belt, wagon master) and Mr. Goodrich, of this city, also lost 27 animals in the same way.

The cattle were all speared and their tails cut off close, to be used as trophies of victory. A Mr. Smith of Platte County, who was on guard at the time received seven spear wounds, one of which struck him in the throat, but it was the opinion of the physician who was along, that he would recover.

About this time, or shortly after, this party, who were traveling the River road, heard the discharge of cannon on the Ridge road, and as a train of Government wagons, having a piece of artillery with them, were on that route, it is supposed that an attack had been made upon them by the Indians.

Lieut. Love’s command of dragoons, with the money for the pay of the troops at Santa Fe, was met a few hours travel from the Pawnee Fork, going on well.

Col. Wm. H. Russell, Secretary of the Territory of California, came in with Mr. Murphy, and is the bearer of dispatches from Col. Fremont for the Government at Washington.

Col. R., we learn, stopped at his residence in Calloway county, to see his family. He may be looked for in this city in a day or two, and we then expect a full account of the operations in California.

Mr. Murphy heard nothing of the news brought to Westport by the “Delaware Indian,” some days ago, of the attack upon a train of Government wagons, and the killing of some fifty teamsters and others, near Walnut Creek. It is, therefore, presumed to be totally unfounded.

INDEPENDENCE, July 2, 1847

This morning Col. Russell, Secretary of the Territory of California, arrived at this place with a party of eighteen men. He states that the Indians are growing worse upon the plains, and he had three lights with them during his march.

It is expected that the companies and wagon trains, now going out will be attacked, as the Indians are said to be collecting together for the purpose of committing depredations on the trains.
[MUL]

MG47v48n21p2c1, July 22, 1847.

FROM VERA CRUZ AND MEXICO.

Attack on Tabasco – The Guerrillas –Santa Anna raising Forced Loans—Preparations for Defending the City of Mexico, &c., &c.

The U. S. steamship Alabama, Capt. Windle, arrived at New Orleans on the morning of the 7^th inst. From Vera Cruz, having sail on the 4^th. The New Orleans Times (extra) of the 7^th inst, has received full files of Vera Cruz papers to the 1^st ints., together with several letters from their correspondent, Indicator, which are subjoined.

Our latest dates from the city of Mexico, by this arrival, are the 19^th ult. Which reached Vera Cruz on the 30^th, by a Merchant’s express. The news, however, is very meager, Santa Anna, it is said, has demanded a forced loan of one million of dollars, and is raising the money at the point of the bayonet. A letter states that the work of fortifying the approaches to the capital is proceeding vigorously, but the writer adds that a great lack of judgment is displayed in the selection of positions for defense.

We learn verbally that the British Courier reached Vera Cruz on the night of the 1^st inst. but as the Alabama sailed at daylight, on the following morning; no news; if any, was received through that medium, had inspired. The Courier probably left the city of Mexico, on the 26^th or 27th ultimo.

Singular as it may seem, it appears that no later intelligence has been received at Vera Cruz from the army. At all events, our correspondent makes no allusion to the advance of Gen. Scott, who, it is presumed, is still at Puebla, waiting for the reinforcements.

We make the following extracts from the correspondence of the Times:

VERA CRUZ, June 28, 1847. –I hear nothing of the project of changing the government depot from this city to Tuspan, and hope the notion, if it were entertained has fallen through.

Jalapa I believe, has been entirely abandoned by our troops; and, indeed we this evening have intelligence that the guerrillas have taken possession of that city. Whether this is true or not, the virtual abandonment which has taken place, evinces a strange indifference in General Scott as to the safety of his communications. I thought a general always secured his rear when advancing into a country even at great sacrifices of force in his main division –but I here find a very different policy to govern. Vera Cruz has iess than three hundred men in her garrison. The National Badge, Encerro and Cerro Gordo certainly, and Jalapa probably, are not at all guarded, and the country is flooded with the native enemy.

Lieut. ---- Merrifield, of Capt. Ford’s company of Indiana Dragoons, this morning blow his brains out with a pistol, at the camp near the [ . . . ]. No one can tell what impelled him to the foolish dead.

The health of the city has suffered little change for the past week or two, and all circumstances considered, may be pronounced good. The mortality has averaged lee than ten daily within the time mentioned.

The work of fortifying the approaches to the city is proceeding vigorously, but one of the letters state, thus great want of judgments is shown in the selections of propositions for defense. The writer says, that the strongest fortifications are placed exactly where the Yankees are sure not to pass, whilst the most important points are left nearly open. The letters are very cautiously written, except the one which gives us this intelligence; and these are about all the remarks which it contains on the subject of general interest. The dates are up to the 18^th only. The British Courier will bring news as late as the 26^th, and I hope will be in this evening. His letters will probably be unsealed, and I am afraid destitute of political interest, and it is possible to learn anything from him personally.

Commodore Perry and his squadron arrived at Anton Lizardo last evening, from his expedition against Tabasco. Upon his arrival at the entrance of the river, he found that a short distance up, chevenaux de frisse had been sunk so as to render the passage of his vessels impracticable. He consequently landed his men and his lighter guns, and commenced his march to the town. This was a most tedious business, but the managed to get ahead at the rate of one knot per hour until he reached the neighborhood of the town, where he found the enemy of tars into a very respectable column ready to receive him. Drawing up his army of tars into a very respectable column, he advanced within musket range, when he received the enemy’s fire, and instantly opened upon them his artillery, charged with grape and canister. The Mexicans did not fire again –Perry’s single volley scattered them to the winds. Horses with the stampede could not get over the ground as they did. –Some three or four of our men were wounded, but I believe none were killed. Lieut. May lost an arm, and I believe one other officer only was badly wounded.

None of the officers of the squadron have yet been in town, and I have these particulars at second-band, although from good and intelligent authority. If I receive further details before the steamer leaves I will send them.

We learn that Padre Jarauta an the authorities of the State are at war, they having quarreled about a division of the spoils taken in the attack upon Col. Melntosh’s train. –Jarauta sent the money seized (some $6000) to Soto, the Governor of Huatusco, who declined to return more than some $600 for distribution among the guerrillas. This lead to a grand row in which I believe Santa Anna has interfered, and will perhaps settle the matter by taking the whole amount for himself.

July 1^st. –I am favored by a gentleman here with the perusal of a letter which he had received from a very intelligent American resident of Puebla, and from which I take the liberty to make some extracts, which I conceive to possess much interes.

The writer says: -“I do not know whose plan or direction our Generals are following, and as it is not my business, and beyond my means of remedy, I do not enquire, but limit myself to the remark that those who direct the war know nothing of the state of the country or of the people upon whom they are making war, nor do I believe they wish to know, or they could look upon the subject from the only true point of view.

It is well known all over the world that this country has been growing more insignificant ever since its independence, and that when the war commenced, it could not properly be called a nation, nor could not properly be called a nation, nor could that shadow in the city of Mexico be called a government. Yer foreing nations, and the United States in particular, talk of the Mexican nation, an the Mexican government, as if such a thing existed.

They then talk of destroying the commerce and industry of the country, as if these people ever possessed the one of the other . The Spaniards are the only people who ever rendered the wealth of the country at all available, and when they were driven out of it with their money, the original natives and Creoles never thought for supporting themselves by labor and industry of any kind, except the industry or robbing, &c.

There! My letter is gone. The Alabama is getting up steam and, the owner send it to headquarters. Well, perhaps the Union will have a proper effect. The writer says he has no hopes of peace, and refers to the war of the Mexican independence for an example of the bull-dog tenacity with which the people hold on to the war while they have it. He thinks the only course left for the Americans is, to occupy the country with a large army, and use it; that the people generally are not against the Americans, but it will no answer to express their felling on the subject.

An express is just in from the interior, with the most interesting and rather unexpected intelligence, that Gen. Scott with the army under his command, is in the city of Mexico. I am sorry to say, however, that the courier who brings the news left Puebla on the 12^th inst… while we have letters from the city of Mexico up to the 19^th. There is, of curse, no truth in the report, that is, no news has arrived from the army or capitol later than we had before.

Yours, very respectfully
INDICATOR.

[MUL]

MG47v48n21p2c2, July 22, 1847.

Correspondence of the North Amer. and Gaz.

HUNTINGDON, July 5, 1847.

To Scott they offered the gratitude of a grateful people, while to Polk and his party they signified they would grant a “pass”.

You may rest assured that Irvin and Patton will secure a hearty support in this portion of the State. Locofocoism is a at a low ebb. The war brought on by them –its gallant officers traduced by them –the vile partisan warfare kept up against Scott and Taylor, added to their hypocrisy, has all aroused the people, and they will speak in tones not to be misunderstand, in next October.

Yours &c.
THAT SAME OLD COON

A paper, favorable to the election of General Taylor, is to make its appearance in New York.
[MUL]

MG47v48n21p2c3, July 22, 1847.

Persons favoring us with their advertisement, will please hand them in, on or before Tuesday morning at 10 o’clock.

“Why don’t they take him down? Rockingham Register.

This is the passionate exclamation of more than one despairing votary of the spoils party, in relation to the editors who persist in retaining the name of General Taylor at the head of their columns, as the Whig candidate for the Presidency. The frantic earnestness with which this question is reiterated on all sides by the Locofoco press, affords the most cheering evidence of the popularity of the hero of Buena Vista with the people. The zeal with which the Enquirer and other Democratic Journals set about the task of convincing the Whigs that Gen. Taylor is not the man to suit us, -that “the election of Old Zach will prove another Tyler victory,” and that the Signal letter was intended by its author to repel the advances of the Whig party.

MARYLAND BATTALION

The Washington Union says – We learn that the battalion of volunteers under the command of Lieut. Co. Hughes, raised mainly from the District of Columbia and State of Maryland, are under orders for immediate transportation so the active seat of war. It is intended that Col. H. Skall open the road from Vera Cruz to Jalapa, and to occupy that important town for the purpose of securing Gen. Scott’s line of operation. With this view, the battalion will be greatly increased. At least one company will be taken from Carlisle, Pennsylvania; and other (if its organization should be speedily completed) from Wilmington, Delaware; besides a battery of field artillery from Baltimore. Other independent companies may, perhaps, be added to it as fast as they are ready. The addition of a squadron of mounted men would be very desirable –thus forming, in fact, a copse of what is called in European armies, “eclaireurs” admirably adapted to a guerrilla warfare; but we understand that there is some practical difficulty apprehended in the transportation of horses at this season of the year, for so long a voyage, which may prevent such an organization. At it is, it will form a beautiful and we doubt not, a most efficient command, well calculated to do good service. In the organization of this force, the President has, from the beginning, taken a deep and almost paternal interest, and has evinced a disposition to render it as useful as possible; and now shows his continued interest and confidence in the battalion, by assigning to it a most distinguished and honored duty.

We understand that, of the six companies now at Fort McHenry, four will be shipped for Vera Cruz on the 22d instant, and the others as soon thereafter as possible.
[MUL]

MG47v48n 21p2c1, July 22, 1847.

Anecdote of Gen. Taylor.

The Mississippi volunteers rate an anecdote illustrating Gen. Taylor’s characteristic goodness of heart. Soon after the battle of Monterey, and during the excessively of hot weather, from which officers and men suffered severely, some gentleman sent Gen. Taylor for his private use, a barrel of ice, and a quantity of delicious claret. The precious burthen was deposited at the General’s tent, with a note from the donor, after politely acknowledging which, to old hero caused the head of the barrel to be knocked out, and, tasking for his own use a lump as large as his fist, sent the whole of remainder, and the claret, to the hospital, for the use of the sick soldiers. This is but one instance, out of many, of the considerate and self-sacrificing generosity and humanity of Gen. Taylor’s character.

We state this fact upon the authority of a gentleman who had it from the Mississippi volunteers. Such conduct adds a new luster to the old hero’s radiant fame, brighter than any which the most brilliant deeds of arms could impart.

The remains of Col. Hardin and Lieut. B. R. Houghton reached St. Louis on the 7^th instant,; in charge of the returning Illinois volunteers. These brave men were feelingly addressed by John M. Eager, Esq., who was replied to in an appropriate manner by Major Richardson, of the volunteers. The coffins containing the ashes of the gallant dead were borne in procession to the Court House, and placed in the Rotunda on a catafalque, covered with black, relieved at the borders and edges by white black relieved at the borders and edges by white lace, and surmounted at the summit with a row of cannon. The Rotunda was darkened and lamps lighted, producing a very solemn effect and giving a highly impressive character to the ceremonies. The assembly were addressed here by the Rev. Mr. Van Court and Mr. Benton, in a brief but very appropriate manner. The procession was then re-formed, and moved to the river bank, where the remains were committed to the steamboat Defiance, to be carried to Meredosia, and thence to their last resting place, in Jacksonville, Illinois.
[MUL]

MG47v48n 21p2c1, July 22, 1847.

The American Marines at Havana.

"A most sad and painful spectacle," says the Memphis Eagle of 27^th ult.) was the public funeral in this city, on Saturday evening, of Lieut. Gill and his father, at one and the same time. Young Gill was a lieutenant in the first company of volunteers from Memphis, and fell with many others while gallantly advancing to the charge at Cerro Gordo. His father, Mr. Lyman Gall, grieved at his son’s death, repaired to Mexico to bring hither his remains, and bury them among his kindred, in his own country. In returning home he sickened and died.

The following toast was drank at Sumterville, S.C. on the 4^th of July:

General Taylor, “Old Rough and Ready.” “Well done thou good and faithful servant! We one put thee over few things –we will now make thee Ruler over many.”
[MUL]

MG47v48n22p2c3, July 29, 1847.

The Gazette

GEN’L. TAYLOR AND THE WHIGS.

An absurd story has been going the rounds of the locofoco press, - in fact some of the have derived so much consolation from it that they have published it more that once, -the substance or which is, that Gen. Taylor on being shown a Whig paper containing his nomination for the Presidency, flew into a violent passion, and swore that such persons were no friends of his, and that the editor who expressed the opinion that the war might have been avoided with honor to the country, “was worse than a Mexican,” &c. No responsible name was ever connected with the statements, and the only answer vouchsafed to the earnest demand for the author, was, that the story first appeared in the columns of “a highly respectable Democratic paper in Pennsylvania.” The miserable shifts to which locofocoism is driven was exemplified by the fact that this bald humbug was actually twice paraded in the columns of the Richmond Enquirer; to be sure, the editors would not say in express terms that they believe it if he could. We won have it in our power to present our readers with a refutation of th e calumny upon no less authority that that of Gen. Taylor himself. We commend to the serious attention of the reader the italics in the first resolution, and the reply of the General.

At a Whig meeting held at Trenton, the following resolution was passed:

“Resolved, That the character of Gen. Taylor for plain spoken honesty, assures us that he will never disappoint the expectations nor betray the confidence of his countrymen; that soundness of his principles; and that it authorizes us to confide in his fidelity to the protective system, and his opposition to the acquisition of new territories, wherewith to destroy the balance of the Union.”

And the nest and last resolution declared that therefore, the meeting nominated him for President:

In reply to these resolutions Gen. Taylor thus writes:

“I have the honor to acknowledge, with sentiments of high gratification, the receipt of a copy of the resolutions recently adopted at a meeting of the Democratic Whigs of the county of Mercer nJ.

“My thanks are specially due to my friens of the State of New Jersey for their flattering expression of approval and esteem, and which I can assure them is as truly reciprocated.

“I embrace this occasion to remark that if the people of the country desire to place me in the high office of the Chief Magistry, I do not fell myself at liberty to refuse; but on the contrary, in that position, as wall as one more humble, it will ever be my pride as constant endeavor to serve the country with a ll the ability I posses.”

Upon a previous occasion General Taylor gave a favorable response to resolutions at a meeting held in the same city.

The acceptance (says the Richmond Times) of a nomination, avowedly based upon assurances derived from Gen. Taylor’s past political course, which consisted only in belonging to the Whig party, and (more specially still) upon confidence “in his fidelity to the protective system, and his opposition to the acquisition of the new territories,” seem to be a step too unequivocal to have been inconsiderately or unintelligibly taken. Until some respectable contradiction of the inference is made, the public must believe from a comparison of this letter with the New Jersey resolution, that Gen. Taylor is willing to be a Whig candidate, committed to the protective policy, and against the appropriation of Mexican territory.
[MUL]

MG47v48n22p2c4, July 29, 1847

FOR THE GAZETTE.

$ 2,000,000 vs. $3,000,000.

As there has been considerable enquiry as to what purpose James K. Polk intended applying the $2,000,000. asked for and obtained at the last session of Congress, I think that if particular attention be paid to the following facts, perhaps a little of the “why and where fore” may be “found out.”

It was thought somewhat singular that Mr. Polk should ask Congress for $2,000,000. for the immediate use of Mexico, specially when contrasted with the loud denunciatory language which had so lately declares our purpose of war, invasion and conquest against that same Republic. He informed Congress that he has proposed negotiations to Mexico, and as it would be nothing but right to pay any connections of territory which the Mexican Government might make, he desired to have $2,000,000 in hand –suggesting that “it might not be convenient for the Government to wait for the whole sum until the treaty could be ratified by the Senate and the appropriations made by Congress.”

Now it has been very strongly hinted that these $2,000,000 have been safely transmitted to SANTA ANNA for his own use –and if SANTA ANNA’S past life is to be taken as a criterion and Mr. Polks weakness as evidence, I do not think it at all improbable but that SANTA ANNA has the $2,000,000 snug enough.

As Mr. Polk perhaps would be considered the only person in the United States who could ever have originated such an idea as that of attempting to bride such a man as SANTA ANNA –a man who has always been hostile towards the United States –the following incident may probably bring to light something that many persons were not aware of: In speaking of the Texas war, in 1836, in which Genls. HOUSTON AND SANTA ANNA were opposing commanders, the Louisville City Gazette (of that year-’36) says that “these opposing commanders are OLD FRIENDS” and that when SANTA ANNA was in exile, they were engaged in attempting to negotiate a loan of three millions, for the purpose of conquering Texas and Mexico.”

So we see that Genls. HOUSTON and SANTA ANNA are friends –but we do not know exactly where to place SANTA ANNA. Would it be “folly” to suppose that perhaps HOUSTON and SANTA ANNA are friends again? If so, why should not POLK and SANTA ANNA be good friends, when HOUSTON and POLK are friends? Probably HOUSTON has been the mediator, and that at his suggestion POLK has been induced to attempt to bride SANTA ANNA with the $2,000,000. When we look at the principal actors in the premises, things wear a suspicious aspect.

We first see Houston and SANTA ANNA endeavoring to obtain a loan from this Government for the purpose of conquering Texas and Mexico. We than see SANTA ANNA recalled at the head of the Mexican Government. We then see Texas declare herself independent of Mexico. We then see the “old friends”, HOUSTON and SANTA ANNA the opposing commanders in the war originating from this declaration of independence by Texas. We see HOUSTON triumphant and SANTA ANNA a prisoner of war. We afterwards find SANTA ANNA back in Mexico in private life –then in power and finally see Mr. POLK give SANTA ANNA a free pass to Mexico, where he now is at the heath of the Mexican army fighting our Country.
[MUL]

MG47v48n22p2c6, July 29, 1847 Late from Vera Cruz

From the N.O. Picayune of July 15.
LATE FROM VERACRUZ

Council of war in Gen. Scott’s camp –order to march upon Mexico –march countermanded –Santa Anna’s preparations –the column of honor –letter from Gen. Taylor.

By the way of Tampico, the New Orleans Picayune on the 14^th received a copy of El Republicano, from the city of Mexico, of the 30^th June: also the number of the 26^th, which was missing from its previous file. Both papers contain matter of great interest. We copy from the Picayune the following abstract of their news:

A postscript in the paper of the 26^th contains a report of the proceeding of a council of war said to have been held in Gen. Scott’s camp on Thursday, the 24^th, the business of which was to determine either or not to advance upon the capital. One general, whose name is not given, is said to have argued that it would be imprudent, nay, an act of madness, to advance upon the city with less than twenty thousand men; that upon the supposition that everything should work favorably for them, it was evident that the could not enter the capital without resistance; and they should lose half of their force or more, they would be left with some four thousand men, with which number it was extremely hazardous to attempt to hold so populous a city.

Gen Worth was of a different opinion He maintained that every invader who hesitated was lost; that in their situation a single retrograde movement involved the most disastrous consequences, and that this has already been proved. He added proudly that six or eight thousand Americans were sufficient to conquer twenty thousand Mexicans; that their triumph was certain in there was no reason for not pressing on. Gen. Scott an others are said to have approved these sentiments, so that it was at last determined that they should commence the forward movement on the 28^th, but upon the suggestion of some one that might not be proper to act so promptly after having just dispatches the communication from the Government of the United States with renew offers of peace, Gen. Scott replied that he would wait some days at Rio Frio to received the answer of the Mexican Government.

The Republicano remarks upon this information: “We believe that Americans have compromised their situate on beyond measure; and even in the event, certainly very difficult, that they win triumphs upon triumphs, their very victories will cause their ruin.

The council above spoken of was held on the 24^th. It is not alluded to in the Star of Puebla of the 26^th, nor in Mr. Kendall’s letters which come down to the 80^th. Yet the facts are said to be derived from a responsible source and they look plausible –General Worth’s opinions particularly so. The Republicano of the 29^th says nothing about the subject, but in that paper of the 30^th is another postscript to which is prefixed in large letters “Very Important”. This postscript mentions the receipt of letters announcing the debarkation of 1800 men at Vera Cruz from Tampico, who had marched immediately for Puebla. (This is probably Gen. Cadwallader’s detachment.) The letters further said that Gen. Scott had already ordered the march of the first brigade, consisting of fifteen hundred troops with ten guns and a mortar, towards the city of Mexico, when he learned that the train was detained at Nopalucan (forty-two miles this side of Puebla, and fifty-one beyond Perote;) that he therefore countermanded the march upon Mexico, and dispatched a force to the assistance of the train up. The letters then speak of the review of the troops which took place on the 26^th. The number of troops is again set down at 9500 men without including those who occupy the fortifications of San Juan, Loreto, &c. But the most important paragraph is that Gen. Scott would probably postpone his march on the city until the 10^th July, to allow these reinforcements to come up. We five these various pieces of news as we find them, but the reader will constantly bear in mind that our advices from Puebla are later than these by the city of Mexico.

The Republicano, in this same postscript, thinks it very probable that Gen. Taylor will abandon Saltillo, Matamoros and other towns in the North of Mexico, and shortly proceed to Vera Cruz to assist in the taking on the capital, which is now, it adds, the object of the aspirations of the Americans. It is very anxious that the Government should direct Gena. Valencia and Salas, now at San Luis, that they harass the retreat of Gen. Taylor.

Our readers may recollect that some time since our correspondent at Saltillo informed us of a great excitement occasioned there by the arrival of two Mexican officers from San Luis with dispatches from Gen. Taylor –They were supposed to be propositions of peace, but turned out to be solemn inquiries whether it was the General’s intention “to conduct the war according to the manner adopted by the Comanches.” The wrath of Gen. Taylor at this preposterous insolence of the Mexicans was descried as ludicrous, but we have never seen his reply till now. In the Mexican papers lately received the whole correspondence is given in Spanish. The letter to Gen. Taylor was from Gen. Mora y Villamil, and dated the 10^th May. The letter is long and we have no idea of translating it, and the impudence of it was not a whit exaggerated by our correspondent.

The New Orleans Times of the 15^th inst., has the following intelligence. We do not see it mentioned in any other paper.
[MUL]

MG47v48n22p2c7, July 29, 1847.

MOST IMPORTANT.

Again a Rejection of the Olive Branch.

MEXICO DECLINES TREATING

At the moment when the Galveston was leaving Vera Cruz, a courier, with the mail from the capital, entered the city, bringing dates to the 5^th instant. The principal item of intelligence brought from the city of Mexico, is of a momentous character, viz: The Mexican Congress, with some difficulty, had been brought together, and Mr. Buchanan’s communication, containing the President’s overtures for peace, was laid before them.

Their decision was immediate, and to the effect that Mexico would listen to no terms to peace. Gen Scott left Puebla, at the head of his army, for the capital, on the 30^th ult. –We received this news to believe that it is authentic.
[MUL]

MG47v48n22p2c7, July 29, 1847.

STILL LATER NEWS FROM MEXICO.

The New Orleans Times of the 19^th instant, received last night, has the following paragraph:

As some of our contemporaries affect to doubt the correctness of the news from Mexico, in reference to the rejection of propositions for peace, which we laid before our readers exclusively on Thursday last, we have merely to reiterate that the account is reliably authentic and that we have in our possession later dates from the capital than those of the 30^th. June, alluded to on the arrival of the Galveston. A morning paper will discover by and by that the news is not “all in my eye.”

The editors of the New Orleans Times have been favored with the following extract of a letter dated.

TABASCO, June 30, 1847

We have been far from tranquil ever since the departure of Commodore Perry; small parties of men having entered to town at night and fired upon the sentries.

This has led to the burning, the day before yesterday, of about two hundred houses, at the back and south end of the city, by order of our government and military commander. Yesterday reinforcements of about 110 marines and sailors were sent up by Com. Perry from the bar, and this morning about 250 men have gone out to try and meet some of the Mexican forces that are in this neighborhood, and drive them away.

The city remains deserted, and no business at all doing, and all our single shop in the place being opened, and all our usual supplies from the neighborhood suspended. We understand Com. Perry has declared his intention to retain possession of this city, unless we received orders to the contrary from the Government in Washington.

July 1. –The results of the expedition yesterday appears to have been in favor of the Americans, but with a loss of two men killed in ambush, and four wounded. The Mexican force waited for them in ambush at Tamulte, but after about twenty minutes’ firing retired it is not yet known with what loss.
[MUL]

MG47v48n22p2c3, July 29, 1847. FROM THE N. Orleans Delta, July 16.

LATE FROM BUENA VISTA, SALTILLO, MONTEREY, &c.

We had the pleasure of a conversation with Dr. Johnson, of Gen. Wool’s staff, who arrived in the Palmetto evening before last, direct from Gens. Wool and Taylor’s camp, having left Saltillo on the 27^th June. Dr. Johnson acted as an Aid of Gen. Lane at Buena Vista, and was severely wounded –having been lanced and sacred, and otherwise so injured as to make his recovery almost a miracle.

Dr. Johnson reports that Gen. Wool was encamped on the classic field of Buena Vista, with a force of 2700 men, consisting of the Virginia, Mississippi and North Carolina volunteers, and Sherman’s Washington’s and Prentiss’s batteries.

Gen Taylor is still at his favorite old camping ground, the Walnut Springs, quietly waiting until the Government furnishes him with men and means to advance on San Luis. Gen. Taylor has with him the 19^th regiment, Bragg’s battery, and two squadrons of dragoons.

At Camargo, Gen Hopkins has about 2000 troops of the new levies. About the 13^th June, Gen. Wool received notice that a force of about 1000 cavalry, under Gens. Alvarez and Minon, had left Matehuala, and advanced within sixty miles of Buena Vista. This party constituted the advance of a strong division which, it is reported by the Mexicans, was about to advance from San Luis Potosi under Gens. Valencia and Salas. By the last accounts from San Luis, there were but four or five thousand troops there, but Valencia expected to be joined by a strong force from Zacatecas.

The citizens are generally returning to the towns occupied by our troops. In Saltillo and Monterey nearly all the respectable families have returned, and everything goes on very smoothly and quietly. The people generally are warmly desirous of a peace, and begin to prefer the American Government to their own. Especially in the town of Zacatecas does the anti-war feeling prevail to a great extent. At a public dinner in that town some time ago, Gen. Taylor and the American army were toasted with great applause.
[MUL]

MG47v48n22p2c7, July 29, 1847, A SKIRMISH WITH THE INDIANS.

Correspondence of the Cour. and Enquirer.

Camp on the Banks of the Arkansas River.

320 miles from Fort Leavenworth, June 27, 1847.

I have only time to inform you now, by express, that our party was attacked by the Comanche Indians at daylight yesterday morning, and that in a charge made by twenty-five of the company of Dragoons ten were killed and wounded, viz, five killed, three severely and two slightly wounded, the Indians numbering about three hundred: and it required a greater part of the company to protect the camp, else the whole would have made the charge. One hundred and thirty five yoke of cattle belonging to a Government train, which joined our party a fey days since, were driven off and killed by the Indians. What loss was sustained but the Indians it was impossible to ascertain, as they carried off the killed and wounded. It is said that there are some Northern Mexicans with these Comanches. –Be this as it may, it is evident that their whole object is to cut off trains and destroy United States property. This is no doubt a part of the guerrillas warfare. The amount of public property which we have heard of destroyed on this road, in the last eight days, will amount to very nearly $10,000.

J.K.D.

[MUL]

MG47v48n22p2c7, July 29, 1847.

Gen. Taylor and the Whigs.

The “Democratic Advocate,” a Locofoco paper published at Baton Rouge, the residence of Gen. Taylor, states unequivocally that Gen. Taylor was “opposed to the annexation of Texas on constitutional grounds”, and that “he thinks the war with Mexico could and ought to have been avoided.” In this opinion he concurs with the Whig party. –Raleigh Register. [MUL]

MG47v48n22p3c1, July 29, 1847, VOLUNTEER FARE

Every patriotic young man, who has been to Mexico in search of glory, and “to see the elephant,” complains of the miserable fare which the commissaries gave them. These inhospitable caterers are so anxious to make the profits as large as possible, that their treatment of the volunteers reminds me of the old anecdote: ”John, don’t give Cousin Simmon’s horses too many oats you know they have hay,” “Yeth thur,” said John moving towards the barn. “And, hark ye, John, don’t give them too much hay –you know they have oats.”
[MUL]

Thursday, August 5, 1847 MG47v48n23c1 14 words

Important from Mexico

General Scott still at Fuestal. Rumored appointment of Peace Commissioners by the Mexican government.
[JM]

Thursday, August 5, 1847 MG47v48n23 249 words

Important from Vera Cruz

{From the N.O. Picayune}

Arrival of the Steamship New Orleans.

Gen. Pierce’s March resisted- Col. De Russy’s Engagement with Gen.Garay- Murder of Lieut. Whipple.

The steamship New Orleans, Capt. Auld, arrived at an early hour on the 22d ult., from Vera Cruz via Tampico and the Brazos. Her latest dates from Vera Cruz are on the 17^th inst. Her news is very important. First of all we give Capt.Auld’s report, by which it will be seen that he left Vera Cruz for this port as early as the 14^th and the returned thither, going no further than Tampico:

Report of the U.S. Steamship New Orleans, Edward Auld, commander, from Vera Cruz, via Tampico and the Brazos:

On her departure from Vera Cruz on the morning of the 14^th inst, General Pierce, with his command of detachments from the 3^dDragoons, 4^th Artillery, 3d Infantry and the 7^th, 8^th, 9^th, and 14^th infantry, a detachment of voltiguers and a large detachment of marines, amounting to 2500 men and 150 wagons, had taken up their lines of march towards Puebla.

We arrived in Tampico on the morning of the 15^th inst. At 8 o’clock. Col. Gates informed us the two hundred American prisoners who had been released from the city of Mexico had been ordered down to Tampico and recaptured by Gen. Garay at or near Huejile, about ninety or one hundred miles up the river, and Col. DeRussy with detachments of Louisianna volunteers, parts of Capt. Wyne’s company . . . [rest of article illegible).
[JM]

Thursday, August 5, 1847 MG47v48n23c4 397 words

Printers in Mexico

The Lynchburg Virginian gives the following extracts of a letter who was lately an apprentice in the Virginian Office, and who is now a Volunteer in Capt. Carrington’s Company:

Buena Vista, June 17^th, ‘47

We are now in Saltillo, at least beyond there, encamped on the ground of Buena Vista, and I can assure you it is one of the greatest fields on which was ever battle fought.-It is a beautiful plain, bounded on the east by Cordilleras, on the west by the same, on the north by Saltillo, and the south, about six miles from the ground, by the Dead Man’s Pass, which could be defended with 500 men against 50,000. In the center of the encampment is a large live oak tree, from the foot of which flows a limpid brook large enough to turn a mill which the Americans have erected upon its waters, and which is the only one I have seen in Mexico. In fact, the Mexicans have no use for a mill; they mash, or pound, all of their corn, which labor devolves upon the Senorittas, the men being of very lazy disposition. We have a fine market here now, at which you may purchase nearly all the delicacies and necessaries of life. We have here all the tropical fruits, and some of the largest water melons in the world. I have no hardships to undergo now as I had a month or two ago, as I have been appointed Company Commissary Sergeant, and am excused from drill and standing . . . [illegible] . . . and all I have to do now is to make off requisitions, draw and issue provisions, which occupies only about half my time. There was quite a remarkable circumstance connected with a permit I had a few days ago, which I enclose to you, and which shows the strength of the craft in our battalion. The permit was written for myself, a printer, by D.A. Stofer, Sergeant Major, who is a printer; signed by Lt. J. Richard Lewellwn, who is a printer; countersigned by Capt. Harper, who is a printer; and the two men who accompanied me for the meat were printers; the whole being undersigned, and not noticed till the day after. I am very tired of playing soldier, for it seems that the Virginia regiment is doomed to go home without a brush, and I am heartily tired of it.
[JM]

Thursday, August 12, 1847, MG47v48n24ip1c4 words1,116

The Fourth in the army

The correspondent of the New Orleans Picayune, writing from Monterey, says the natal day of American Independence was celebrated at that place, without accident, and every thing went off pleasantly and agreeably to all concerned. The morning of the 5^th was cloudy and portended rain, but the bright sun soon dispelled the heavy mist that clung to the mountain’s side, and ere noon the heavens were as clear and bright as a lovely women’s smile. Early in the forenoon the American ensign was displayed from the Governor’s quarters and the Spanish flag from the residence of the Spanish consul nearly opposite. The five companies of Massachusetts volunteers were assembled all but the guard, with the colors of the regiment presented them by the Governor of their State, and a little after 9 o’clock they formed and marched out towards Camp Taylor. An American flag borne by a citizen was carried near the regimental colors. Col. Wright and the members of the regimental staff, and others preceded the regiment, and on the road received the marching salute.- At Camp Taylor all was ready; under the wide-spread awning in front of Gen. Taylor’s tent were the brave old hero and the members of his staff and the officers attached to the forces stationed at camp. On the right of the awning the soldiers of Major Bragg’s Light Artillery were drawn up in line, on the left the 2d Dragoons, and in front the Massachusetts regiment. As soon as the latter had formed into line, Gen. Cushing made his appearance and Gen. Taylor and his officers all rose.

We omit the bulk of the speech of Gen. Cushing which is not remarkable for anything but its fulsome laudation of the present administration, copying only his closing remarks which called forth Gen. Taylor’s reply:

Once more, General, in the name and as the humble instrument of your fellow soldiers and fellow citizens, whom you see before you, I tender to you their felicitations on the occasion of this auspicious anniversary, with sentiments of admiration for the high achievements which have marked your life, of deep respect, for you personally, and of the sincerest aspirations for your future happiness and honor in whatever else of danger or duty you may hereafter be called to by the providence of an all-wise God.

Gen. Tayor, who had listened with great attention to the remarks of Gen. C., and evidently powerfully affected by the mention of his name, briefly, but feelingly, responded as follows:

General- In reply to your eloquent and complimentary allusions to the services of the army under my command, I can only briefly express my thanks and those of the brave men of my command, to whose exertions and gallantry alone our successes are due. For myself I can claim no merit beyond that of sharing and encountering danger with them. You have traced up and depicted in most faithful colors the rapid progress of our country from the commencement to its present condition of greatness and prosperity—occupying the front rank in the nations of the world. The existing war may show the world that in great national enterprises and interests we are firm and united-and that the flower of our country, without distinction of party, is ready to . . . [illegible].

. . . … to the exertions of Capt. Glover, a merchant residing here for some years, one of the committee of arrangements, whose peculiar province was to see that nothing should be wanting. He performed his duty to perfections.

When the substantials had been discussed and removed, Gen. Cushing, who presided at the hear of the table, with Gen. Taylor on his right, arose, and after some remarks complimentary to the committee of arrangements, proceeded to announce the following regular toast:

The Memory of Washington- Brightening with time, all nations will at least behold and admire its lustre.

The Army and the Volunteers of the United States- They have conquered all but peace.

The Navy of the United Sates- With amphibious facility, finding no enemy on the waters, it has constantly sought and successfully encountered him on the land.

The Constitution- May it ever be administered in the spirit which controlled its first formation.

The surviving Heroes of the Revolution- Length of days has been vouchsafed to them that they might behold the marvelous results of their youthful toil- all honor to their venerable names.

Our Brethren in Arms at the South- They have lighted their paths with a blaze of victories.

Mexico- Blessed with a genial clime and the physical elements of greatness and power, she is a prey to civil strife and bad government, may the influence of wise rulers and free institutions restore her to her proper rank among the nations of the earth.

The Spirit of ’76- It burns as brightly among the mountains of Mexico as of old at Trenton: “Skies, not souls, they change who cross the sea.”

The Mexican War- Waged to secure an honorable and a lasting peace, may such be its early consummation.

The Illustrious Dead- From Palo Alto to Cerro Gordo every field is consecrated by the sacrifice of gallant spirits; a sympathizing country yields spontaneous and grateful homage to their memory.

The American Fair- Worty descendants of the women of the Revolution, their hearts and prayers are with those who uphold their country’s cause in a foreign land.

Volunteer toasts being called for, Lieut. Crowningshield of the Massachusetts Regiment gave:

Andrew Jackson- Sacred be his memory.- (Drank standing in silence.)

Lieut. Fuller, of the Massachusetts Volunteers, gave:

Gen. Taylor- We hail him as the next President; may his civil be as brilliant as his military career. (This sentiment was drunk with three times three.)

Mr. President and Gentleman: I have never had the vanity to aspire to or look for that elevated situation, which has just bee n alluded to, but if my fellow countrymen think proper to elevate me to so distinguished and honorable a position, I certainly shall do my best to discharge the duties to that responsible position faithfully. But if any other candidate is preferred and offered who may be more competent than myself, I need not say that I shall acquiesce most cheerfully in their decision, and shall rejoice that there is one more worthy to represent them in the highest office in their gift.

He then gave as a toast:

The State of Massachusetts and the City of Boston- The place where our liberties were cradled: whose sons have borne so conspicuous a part in the establishment and maintenance of the principles of our independence and the constitution, and have gallantly maintained the same by sea and land.

Col. Wright responded to the compliment, and concluded by offering the following:

The past and Present- Palo Alto, Resaca, Montery and Buena Vista, the Bunker Hill, Princeton and Yorktown of the present century.

By Capt. Montgomery, U.S.A.- The orator of the day, scholar, statesman and soldier . . . [illegible] . . .
[JM]

Thursday, August 12, 1847, MG47v48n24pc words456

Capt. Kenton Harper

We have the pleasure of laying before our readers three more letters from this gallant officer, to the Staunton Spectator. A part from the intrinsic merit of the admirable letters of Capt. Harper, there is much in the history of his connexion with the war in Mexico, calculated to render everything from his pen a subject of deep interest to his numerous friends in Virginia. The editor of one of the most popular and influential journals in the State- enjoying in no ordinary degree the confidence and esteem of his acquaintances of all parties- surrounded by the comforts and endearments of a happy home- exhibiting in his daily walk and conversation, those peculiar traits of character which fited him to adorn the social circle, and rendered him an especial favorite with the society in which he lived, - He has exchanged the blessings of such a position for the hardships and dangers of a camp in a foreign land; to add, it may be, another to the number of the noble victims of a policy, of which he was ever the uncompromising and consistent opponent.

Capt. Harper had been for many years the popular commandant of the Staunton Light Infantry, a command he resigned some three or four years ago. A number of those who served under him while acting in this capacity, having volunteered for the war in Mexico, the command of the New Company, was, by the unanimous voice of its members tendered to him, with the assurance that the company would not be filled if he declined it. Conceiving that the Honor of “Old Augusta: was concerned in the effort to raise the company- a firm believer in the sentiment of Decatur “Our Country right or wrong,” and convinced that his presence amongst them was important to the welfare of the brave fellows who had so often honored him with evidence of their preference and attachment, he hesitated not a moment, but surrendered himself at once to their appeal. Nothing but a sense of duty to his old companions induced him to accept the commission he now holds, and fortunate it is for them that he consented to share their dangers and their privations. “Old Augusta” is the mother of many a gallant son, but of the many who have contributed to render illustrious her venerable name, she numbers no more gallant spirit than Kenton Harper; and in all the chivalric host that has gone forth to sustain the flag of our country upon the plains of Mexico, there is not one from whom a more honorable and conscientious discharge of all and every duty committed to his trust, whether in battle or in bivouac, may be more confidently expected.
[JM]

Thursday, August 12, 1847, MG47v48n24 words1, 411

Saltillo, Mexico, June 30, 1847.

Dear ______ : I have written so frequently of late that I have but little news to communicate. Since the deaths of the lamented Grove, Brown and Simes, the health of the company has been rather improving. The sick are for the most part getting better; and we have had two new cases, both of which yielded readily to treatment. I was ths Physician, as indeed I have sometimes been compelled to be for the whole company, for days together, in the sickness or absence of our regular Surgeon. You may judge then, of the value of the box of medicines you sent me.- In fact the public supply at China was very meager, and the slender stock of Lieut. Harman and myself was subject to frequent drafts for the use of the Hospital. But to return to the company, I am now in hopes that with proper care and attention to diet the health of the men may be preserved. The climate here is certainly a delightful one- atmosphere pure and dry and moderately warm- and I do not see why it should not be healthy.

I have no news at present. Every thing remains quiet in the city.- The Mexican inhabitants, I think, are becoming more reconciled to our domination. The most perfect order prevails. Not the slightest disturbance of the public peace, by drunkenness or otherwise, is allowed in the streets by our guard; and the city, in this respect, is as orderly as the best regulated in our own country. The police duty has been devolved for some days past upon the two volunteer companies, alone- Capt. Hennings and my own- but another company has now been sent in from camp to our relief- the 3d Richmond, under the command of Lieut. Shoemaker.

I suppose you have heard that a number of our Virginia Officers have gone home on sick furloughs, namely- Capt. Archer of the 3d Richmond, Lieut. Allen, do.- Lieut. Pegram of 1^st Petersburg, and Lieut. Washington of the Jefferson company.- I regret to hear that the probability is that scarcely one of them will return.

Since we arrived here I have had my company uniformed anew. – I have got the sky blue of the U.S. Infantry, and it looks very well. The other companies of the Regiment will no doubt follow the example. Several of them, indeed, have done so already. Our State uniform, being of the light cloth, has been pretty well used up … [illegible].

In looking over the face of the country around Saltillo, one who does not know something of Mexican habits would be at a loss to conceive whence it is the population derive their subsistence. Although the valley stretches out beautifully for miles, there are scarcely any signs of cultivation, and all looks waste and desolate. Here and there over the extensive plain the eye may be relieved by the sight of a small homestead, and a scanty clump of trees, but nothing more. Even the mountain sides are almost naked, yielding nothing but a short moss or grass, interspersed with scattering patches of dwarfish brushwood, and the fuel which is necessary for cooking purposes is brought from a great distance- somewhere beyond the mountains- packed on mules.- It is strange that a city as large as Saltillo should have grown up under such circumstances; but the Mexicans do not generally live in towns so much for the conveniences and advantages of trade as for safety, and the farms which they cultivate, and upon which they rely for subsistence are often located at great distances, and are worked by peones. Our troops here are subsisted chiefly on Mexican Flour and Mexican Beef. The former is but little better than our Rye Flour, being dark and heavy, and the Beef is only tolerable, though it is improving with the pasture.

There has been considerable mortality among the natives of Saltillo since we have been here, particulary among the children and funerals have taken place daily. The explosion of rockets may be heard at almost any hour, which as I stated in a former letter, is part of the funeral rites. I saw the funeral of two adults. The corpses were carried on flat boards, dressed up in the most fantastic manner imaginable. The decorations about the head were particularly singular and gaudy, rising to the height of about two feet in the form of a fan or sun-shade, and set off with tinsel and gold. The Mexicans use no coffins.

We know nothing certainly in regard to the time of our proposed onward movement.- We learn, however, that there are three or four Regiments below, and a heavy Siege Train coming up. If we do start, the hope is that we shall not be stopped short of the city of Mexico. The distance to San Luis is 300 miles- not quite half way. Col. Harutratnck, I am glad to learn, is about getting up a brass band for our Regiment.

I have heretofore mentioned; I trust with a just pride, the humane conduct of our Regiment towards the non-combatant Mexicans.- Not an outrage, and hardly an offence of any kind, has been committed against them, so far as I have heard, by the humblest private in the ranks. – As a proof of this, I need only state that at China, where our battalion was stationed for nearly two months, many of the inhabitants expressed their regret when they heard of our intended departure from amongst them. They felt themselves to be safer with us than they would be with their own troops; under Canales and Urrea- this, too, while the population has the credit of being among the most rascally in Mexico! The fact is that Mexico, with all its boast of Republicanism and free Government, is yet a stranger to their most essential principles. In the first place, an established Religion is incompatible with them- so also the undue authority which is given to or exercised by the Military over the Civil Power, and her system of converting freemen into slaves for debt. I have heard of numerous instances, in our marches, of Mexican troops most cruelly plundering their own people. Some of the sufferers indeed, told us, by way of apology for the little they had to sell us, that hey had been robbed but recently by their own soldiers. And it has not been many months ago that an Alcade (who is the civil magistrate or governor of a town) was taken out, yoked with an ox, and driven through the streets, by command of a Mexican General, because he could not or did not fill a requisition which the General had made upon him for beef, on a notice of two or three hours! Where such contempt can be shown with impunity for the civil law and its officers, and for private rights, surely there can be no liberty that is worthy of the name.

Yet more, while on this subject,- I see that Santa Anna and all the leading Mexicans in their leading proclamations and addresses, speak of the war which we are waging as against their Nationality and their Holy Religion. And this too, while they have been trying to wrest from the Churches their property by all means in their power- by forced loans, by taxes, and even by actual violence. The magnificent Church in this place, which I have heretofore spoken of, bears the marks of two cannon balls, fired against it by order of Gen. Ampedia on his retreat to Monterev, to enforce a demand upon it for money! Nevertheless, in the face of facts like these, the unprincipled men who … [illegible] The truth is that no country on the face of the earth scarcely, is worse governed than Mexico.-Large districts through which we have passed have been allowed by the Government to be preyed upon by the Capanche Indians at their mercy, and robber bands have prowled through the country almost unheeded by that civil poser. There is not a public road that I have been upon that is not lined, some of them every few steps, with wooden crosses, to mark the graves of murdered travelers! No wonder, then, if the clouds should withhold their rain, and every shrub and every tree be clothed with thorns, and the land become desolate- for the curse of God is surely upon it. Yours, truly.
[JM]

Thursday, August 12, 1847, MG47v48n24 words275

Satillo, Mexico, July 2, 1847.

Dear _______ : Nothing of interest has transpired since I last wrote you.- There is still some doubt as to our future movements. It seems that General Taylor is not to get as many of the new troops as was expected; and I … [illegible]

… American, brings to recollection a song I heard sung at China by men of our Regiment, upon our own loved Virginia. Who the author is, I know not; but I thought it so very beautiful, that I procured a copy of it to sen you, which strangely enough, I have omitted to do. But here it is. No doubt some of our sweet voiced maidens can find a suitable tune for it.

Virginia! Virginia! My home o’er the sea,
My heart, as I wander, turns fondly to thee:
For bright rests the sun o’er thy clear winding streams,
And soft o’er thy meadows the moon pours her beams,
Virginia! Virginia! My home o’er the sea,
The wander’s heart turns in fondness to thee!
Thy breezes are healthful, and pure are thy rills,
Thy harvest waves proudly, and rich are thy hills,
Thy maidens are fair, and thy yeomen are strong,
And blithe run thy rivers the valleys among.

Virginia! Virginia! My home o’er the sea,
My heart, as I wander, turns fondly to thee.
There’s a house in Virginia where loved ones of mine
‘Are thinking of me, and the days of lang syne!
And blest be the hour when, our pilgrimage o’er,
I shall sit by its hearth stone and leave it no more,
Virginia! Virginia! I love none like thee.

Yours, truly.

[JM]

Thursday, August 12, 1847, MG47v48n24 words541

Saltillo, Mexico, July 5, 1845.

Dear ____ : I write to inform you that another report has reached us that the Mexicans are certainly advancing upon us, and I learn from a gentleman who has just come in from camp that the report is believed by Gen. Wool.- We have now a pretty respectable force, however- some 2,700 and about 30 pieces of artillery- and it is hardly probably that the enemy can muster sufficient strength to drive us from our position, unless they should concentrate their whole energies in this quarter. But I must confess I have little faith in these reports.- We have been so often stampeded, (as we call it,) that such reports do not much affect us. Still there may be some truth in this one.

The health of the company has not been so good for the last two days. I am now the only commissioned officer reported for duty, with two Sergeants, three Corporals, and thirty-seven privates. None of the new cases, however, I hope are serious. There are several of those who have been ailing for some time in the company that I would like to have discharged, because they are really a burden to me, but such have been the flagrant impositions practiced by some of the volunteers already discharged, that the Surgeons have become chary about granting certificates, and there is a growing repugnance to discharging by the commanding officer, whose approval is necessary.- This is to be regretted, because I know that in may cases it operates, hardly, if not unjustly, upon the really afflicted and disabled soldier.

A report has reached us within a few days, whether true or not I suppose you are better informed, that the Administration at … [illegible]

The war, I understand, is operating with peculiar benefit, in favor of the peones. Most of the marketing in our camps and garrisons is carried on through them, and they are reaping quite a harvest from it. Many of them, by their sly gains, have been enabled to pay off the debts held by their masters against them, and thus release themselves from servitude.- I have already, in a former letter, described this system of Mexican slavery. It has some features, however, I find, which I was not then apprised of.- A debtor may not merely be compelled to render personal service to his creditor, but he may be set up and sold for the debt at the creditor’s whim or convenience. I learn also that it is not unfrequently the case that very young persons (minors) are thus auctioned off, whether for their own debts or the debts of their parents, I am not informed. It was but a few weeks since that a girl of about fourteen or fifteen years of age, and a boy of about the same age, were publicly sold in the streets of Monterey. The girl brought fourty-five dollars, and the boy seventy dollars.- They were bought by American officers, and set at liberty- the girl unconditionally, and the boy upon a promise to refund the purchase money, which I am told he has since done, by the profits of some small traffic which they assisted him to engage in. … [illegible]
[JM]

Thursday, August 12, 1847, MG47v48n24 words217

The Tariff and the Prices

The ecstacies into which the administration prints were thrown by the sudden advance of breadstuffs, consequent upon the late scarcity in Europe, has been effectually checked by the as sudden depression in the markets, which followed the announcement of the prospect of a plentiful harvest in that quarter.

Those of our cotemporaries, who were most active in the endeavor to gull the faithful into the belief that the sole credit of the advance was due to the Tariff of ’46, are now sorely puzzled to account satisfactorily and consistently for the decline. As the venerable editor of the official organ displayed so much ingenuity in the effort to cast upon the Whigs the whole blame of the tedious prolongation of the Mexican war, could he not do something to relieve himself and friends from the horns of this new dilemma, by attributing the fall in the markets to the contumacy and disloyalty of that party, in opposing the financial policy of Sir Robert Walker?

We trust that the American people are now more than ever convinced of the folly of trusting the chances of a failure of the crops in the old world, and of the imperious necessity of providing for a home market, by the encouragement and protection of home manufactures.
[JM]

Thursday, August 12, 1847, MG47v48n24 words871

Important Rumor

A good deal of excitement was created in the city yesternoon, between 2 and 3 o’clock, by the issue from the office of that National, of an extra announcing Gen. Scott’s entrance into the city of Mexico. We will not forestall the opinions of our readers, but give the National’s extra in full.

There is news in the city from the city of Mexico as late as July 17^th. It came through by a Mexican courier, who came by the way of Orizaba and Alvarado to Vera Cruz. Gen. Scott entered Mexico on the 17^th of July.- He met with no opposition on his way from Puebla until he arrived at Penon, about eight miles from the city. Here a slight skirmish ensued between his advance and the Mexicans, when the latter fell back. The civil… [illegible] Stipulations were entered into by which the persons and property of the citizens of Mexico were to be respected; this accomplished, our army marched quietly into the city of the Montezumas.

This important news reached here in the Massachusetts, but has been withheld for purposes that we do not understand. The authority upon which we publish it seems to us undoubted. The courier that brought this news could come from the city of Mexico via Orizaba to Vera Cruz in five days, if the… [illegible] It will be perceived that this allows seven days for the news to reach Vera Cruz by the route we have stated.

We know, upon the highest authority, that there is a letter in this city of the 17 July, from the city of Mexico. The gentleman who gave… [illegible] about leaving form the approach of the Yankees.

Santa Anna and Canalizo had quarreled about the defence of this city. Canalizo did… [illegible] of successful resistance. He preferred to meet our toops on the plain and there decide the contest. Santa Anna would not agree to this, so no opposition was made.

The entrance of Gen. Scott into Mexico is a rumor. From the letter of the 15^th, we know positively of the preparations of families in the city to move on the approach of Gen. Scott, and of the quarrel between Santa Anna and Canalizo as to the defence of the city, and we know that there is a letter in the city of the 17^th from Mexico.

The courier that brought through the letter of the 17^th brought news of Gen. Scott’s entering the city. We have no doubt of the truth of the report.

The New Orleans Delta of the 1^st instant says-

It seems strange that this news should come by the steamer Massachusetts, which arrived here on Thursday last, and that up to this time those in official correspondence with Gen. Scott should not be apprised of it. Extraordinary, however, as it may appear, we have every reason to believe, from information confidentially communicated to ourselves, that it is substantially true- that the main fact of Gen. Scott’s entrance into the city of Mexico is a fixed fact. A few days, and the statement will be either confirmed or authoritatively contradicted, till which time our readers must bide with what patience they best may.

Later, the New Orleans National of the second instant has the following:

Arrival of the Washington, Confirmation of Gen. Scott’s entrance into the City of Mexico! Express from San Fernando is Matemoros.

The steamship Washington, Capt. Pratt, arrived yesterday, (since the above was in type) from Vera Cruz, via Tampico and Brazos. By her we have received the Sun of Anahuac of the 22d ult, the Tampico Sentinel of the 25^th, and the Matamoros Flag of the 24^th. These papers contain nothing of particular interest. But the following letter, received by a gentleman of this city, furnished as for publication, is of exciting interest, and fully confirms the news we gave in our extra on Saturday, that Gen Scott had entered the city of Mexico.

Sir: I hasten to inform you that Mr. Fischer has just arrived here from matamoros and was informed that the Colonel Commanding had read on parade last evening, that Gen. Scott had entered the city of Mexico, with a loss of 300 men. The news was brought by express to Matamoros, from San Fernando, by a Mexican to the Alcade, and was generally believed to be true.

There is no doubt as to the information having been imparted to the troops at Matamoros. I would have given you more particulars, but Mr. Fischer has gone back two miles, in hopes to get his baggage here in time for the Washington. I cannot give you more, as the boat goes, and eh has not returned in time to go to New Orleans in her.

The New Orleans Bee, speaking of the rumor and the subsequent receipt of the same report by the Washington, says-

The news was publicly read to the troops at Matamoros, and although it savors somewhat of improbability, may, nevertheless, be wholly true; for our readers will bear in mind that of all the battles fought and victories won on the fields of Mexico, our first news of them was received from the Mexican authority, and afterwards confirmed through American . . . [illegible].
[JM]

Thursday, August 19, 1847, MG47v48n25p2c2 52 words

Good Pun

At the Fourth of July dinner in Vera Cruz, the following witty toast was given;

“The war debt, How will the American people be enabled to pay their Scott and their Taylor’s bill?”

Another toast at the same dinner was-

“General Taylor: It don’t take nine such tailors to make a man.”
[JM]

Thursday, August 19, 1847 MG47v48n25p3c1 15 words

From the Army

Important from Mexico, General Urrea in the field with Four thousand men, calls for re-inforcements.
[JM]

Thursday, August 19, 1847, MG47v48n25p3c1 415 words

Still Later.

Accounts from General Scott-report of the occupation of the City unfounded-meeting of the Mexican Congress-No Commissioners appointed to Negotiate for Peace-Another Great Battle likely to be fought.

Richmond, August 14, 1847.

The Southern mail brings papers from New Orleans of the 7^th.

The Steamer Fashion, whose arrival was expected at our previous accounts, reached New Orleans on the 6^th, having left Vera Cruz on the 2d, and bringing accounts from that city to that date, and from General Scott to the 30^th of July.

The report that Gen. Scott had left Puebla on the 15^th ult., and the he had entered the city of Mexico, turns out to be entirely erroneous. He was still at Puebla on the 30^th ult., but it was said he intended immediately to take up his line of march for the city of Mexico.

Gen. Pierce, whose departure from Vera Cruz with reinforcements, has been noted, had arrived at Perote. He had had an encounter with a band of guerrillas, whom he succeeded in driving off. The action is said to have been quite a severe one, and to have been sustained with great gallantry by the American troops. The encounter took place at National Bridge, where the guerrillas had taken up a wonderfully strong natural position. Gen. Pierce and his force made their way through charging them with calvary as they retreated, and killing, it is believed, about one hundred.

A brigade under Gen. Smith, had been dispatched from Puebla to meet Gen. Pierce at Perote.

Lieut. Whipple, of whose capture by a band of guerrillas we have had an account, is not dead, as we feared. He was retained as a prisoner, was well, and will be exchanged. Lieut. Sturgeon, of the Pennsylvania, and Lieut. Upton, of the Indiana regiment are dead. The intelligence from the city of Mexico is up to a late day in July.

A letter in the Picayune, from Mr. Kendall, dated at Puebla, July 30, holds out unfavorable hopes of peace. Gen. Scott considered the attempts to open negotiations as having failed, and would move immediately towards the capital.

Gen. Valencia, with a force of 4000 troops, had arrived at the city of Mexico, and these, with the force already collected, would give, as was estimated, Santa Anna 29,000 troops.

The Army under Gen. Scott was in numbers larger than any we have had yet concentrated under one command in Mexico and must be invisible against any power that Mexico may oppose to it.
[JM]

Thursday, August 19, 1847, MG47v48n25p3c2 590 words

Manifest Destiny

To the Editors of the National Intelligence

Gentlemen: Every one has heard of the thief who, on trail for crimes begged the judge to remit his punishment because it was his “manifest destiny” to be a thief. “It may be so,” said the Judge, “but doest thou not see that it is also the manifest destiny to be hanged for stealing?”

In my opinion, gentlemen, honor, justice, humanity, morality, and the prudence are much safer guidelines than “manifest destiny”. And if we neglect the former to pursue the latter, we may find ourselves involved in the most serious difficulties.

It was the “manifest destiny” of Bonaparte to conquer half of Europe; but it was also his “manifest destiny” to die in miserable exile on the rock of St.Helens.

It was the “manifest destiny” of the Romans to conquer and plunder half the world; but it was also their “manifest destiny” to be harassed by the incessant civil wars, oppressed by ferocious despots and finally, conquered and plundered by innumberal bordes of pitiless savages.

…unreadable… most assuredly not. In a country so prodigiously extensive as this would then be impossible to frame laws equally acceptable to all parts of our population; sad, unless they were acceptable, they could not be enforced.

Let us remember that the most ancient Republic in the world is the smallest. The Republic of San Marino, in the mountains of Italy, with a territory of only thirty square miles, has existed for nearly fourteen cneteries. A deputation of her citizens waited upon Bonaparte, when he commanded the French armies in Italy, and were received with marked respect. He offered them some cannon and an increase in territory. The cannon they accepted, the territory they wisely declined, not wishing probably to be engaged in the miserable folly of attempting to govern people without their consent.

But we are told that this war is doing much good to both countries. Those who give us this information are bound to…what this good consists. Is it doing good to Mexico to murder her people, destroy their property, batter down their cities, break up their civil institutions, sad and expose the peaceable portion of her population to the insults of unprincipled men, from this country, and murderous guerrillas at home? Or is it doing good to the United States to entice a way our valuable citizens to die or be killed in a foreign land, to create an enormous national debt, to exasperate the feelings of all Mexico against us, and to neglect all improvement at home in order that we may have money to spend in murdering our neighbors abroad?

If wars do good, then Tamerlane, who laid waste half Asia with his horde of barbarians, murdered five millions of people, and raised a pyramid of seventy thousand human skulls on the plains of Samarcand, was a philanthropist, a benefactor of his race; and William Penn, the friend of peace and humanity, who founded the noble state of Pennsylvania on the strictest principles of justice and benevolence, was a fool and a visionary.

But peace is emphatically the mission of those United States, and if we elect men to office who, instead of encouraging the pursuits of peace, shall, in their insane folly, make it their business to excite wars between us and foreign nations, we shall show but little more wisdom than the fabled trees of Jotham, which, in choosing their king, neglected all the useful trees of the forest, and “put their trust in the shadow of the bramble.”

Old Farmer

[JM]

Thursday, August 19, 1847, MG47v48n25p3c2 237 words

Col. M’Pherson of Page

Whatever may be said of the vacillation displayed by his Excellency, the President, upon the Oregon question, or however just may be the charges of insincerity and double dealing in regard to the distribution of the spoils, which are occasionally preferred against him by such distinguished members of the party as Capt. Ryndes and Parson McCalla,- there is one class of his followers who are never called upon to mourn over a diminution of his right royal favor.

Although one distinguished Senator may be forced to confess that he has been “deceived” and his constituents “betrayed” whilst another is thwarted in his cherished ambition to be a Lieut. General, and huffed by Secretary Marcy to boot, no boon is too great, no exhibition of favor too striking, to express in adequate terms the gratitude of the President to those who have had the wit to discover, and the boldness to uphold the military genius displayed by James K. Polk in the manage of the war with Mexico.

We take for granted, that no one of our readers has forgotten the famous resolution introduced by Col.McPherson in the House of Delegates of Virginia last winter, by which the military reputation of the President was violated by the endorsement of that body and the attempts of the Whigs to transfer the...so dearly won by Mr.Polk, to the browns of Gen.Taylor,” successfully… (unreadable) …
[JM]

Thursday, August 19, 1847, MG47v48n25p3c2 193 words

Letter From Mexico

We were on yesterday, shewn a letter from an old friend who is now in Mexico, with the Augusta Volunteers. We take the liberty of making the subjoined extracts:

“Saltillo, July 15, 1847.

Well, we are now in for it, and I suppose we will have to ‘grim and bear it.’ Clarke is now at home, and nine others-five are dead of corps, Alex Grove, James Brown, John Bowles, Jacob Long, and Miles Sims, and in all probability more will soon follow them. More than a third of what are left of us are unfit for duty. I am now as I always have been, in fine health, weighing about 155 pounds.

Give my respects to Maj. Lewis and tell him if he has any idea of contending for the territory of Mexico, that he had better come and look at it before he enters the meanest he ever saw. I would not live upon it, if I could get another place for the whole of it.”

Thank you friend, we have no desire to speculate upon anything just now even the probability of a speedy termination of the war.”
[JM]

Thursday, August 26, 1847 MG47v48n26p3c2 110 words

Landing of Paredes

The Washington Union’s explanation of the landing of Paredes at Vera Cruz, remarks—

If any one, after reading this article from the Union, doubts that the administration at Washington connived at the passage of Paredes through Vera Cruz, as it did Santa Anna, by Commodore Conner’s squadron, he must be stupid in the extreme.

The Alexandria Gazette puts the following questions:

The enquiry is made-and with great show of reason-if it was so heinous an offence to permit Paredes to come back to Mexico, why was it not equally as wrong to connive at and even authorize the return of Santa Anna, come read us this riddle.
[JM]

Thursday, August 26, 1847 MG47v4n26p4c3 68 words

Patriotic Devotion

Some of the Polk papers are making a great hurrah about a brother of Polk going to Mexico. One of his friends heads it “Patriotic Devotion.” Polk’s brother is doing no more than the sons and brothers of many of the Whigs have done. Instead of honoring them with the compliment of “Patriotic Devotion” the only thanks they receive is the charge of “Moral Treason.”-Rich Rep.
[JM]

Thursday, August 26, 1847 MG47v48n26p4c3 107 words

From Indian Country

A correspondent of the St.Louis Reveille, writing from the Osage nation, says that the Camanche Indians now in council with Osages told the latter that the Spaniards, (meaning Mexicans, we presume ) had advanced them large sum of money, and made many presents of mules, as payment for murdering the Americans who traveled along the road, and destroying their property. In order to stimulate them to this work, large rewards were literally paid for every scalp and oxtail which the Camanches brought in. It was therefore their intention to take their old stands on both sides of the Arkansas river early in the spring.
[JM]

Thursday, August 26, 1847, MG47v48n26 words784

Later from Vera Cruz and Tampico

The steamship New Orleans, Capt. Auld, arrived yesterday afternoon, having sailed from Vera Cruz the evening of the 7^th inst., and from Tampico the evening of the 10^th.

Dr. Hawkins, of Baltimore, died of yellow fever at Tampico on the 7^th inst. [His corpse was brought to New Orleans on board the New Orleans.]

The New Orleans brings mails from Vera Cruz and Tampico. We regret to learn that the Tampico mail was stolen at an early hour yesterday morning and rifled of a portion of its contents. Some of the letters were subsequently recovered, though the rogue supposed he had disposed of them by casting them into a water closet. In the mail was a letter addressed to William Swift, Esq., from the contents of which it would appear that three U.S. treasury notes, numbered 321, 322 and 323 for $500 each, have been abstracted.- They were dated Oct. 31, 1846. It is supposed that the other valuable letters have been stolen.

Capt. White’s company of the 3d Louisiana battalion received orders at Vera Cruz to embark on board the New Orleans and proceed to Tampico. They did so at once, and reached their destination on the 4^th isn’t. The Tampico Sentinel says they mustered one hundred men rank and file.

A train left the evening of the 6^th inst., for the army above under the command of Col. Wilson, of the 12^th Infantry. The train was escorted by about 1000 men. Some accounts set down the number of troops in this train at from 1500 to 2000; our own correspondent says one thousand. Verbal reports say that Col. Wilson was taken suddenly ill and could not proceed, and that the command devolved upon another officer whose name is not recollected. Our letters say nothing of this.

Nothing later has been received by this arrival from the army at Puebla. Various rumors had reached Vera Cruz, purporting to be from Mexico. One of these is to the effect that Commissioners had actually been appointed by Santa Anna to meet Mr. Trist.- Our correspondent at Vera Cruz, writing on the 7^th inst., attaches importance to this rumor. We may recur to it.

A courier from Jalapa arrived at Vera Cruz on the 7^th instant, and by this we have received the Bullet in (a Mexican paper published at Jalapa) of the 1^st and 3d of August. The letters received by this mail give no later news from Mexico or Puebla, but some further details.

We have received by this arrival a copy of the Tampico Sentinel of the 8^th inst. That paper sums up the state of affairs in that city thus:

We have not been attacked, we are not all … [illegible] nor is the yellow fever carrying death and destruction into the dwelling place of our inhabitants; but on the contrary, we are in the enjoyment of a reasonable share of . . . [illegible]

We have received no letters from Tampico by this arrival.

The New Orleans Bulletin of the 14^th inst., says:

A postscript to a letter received from an officer of the army at Vera Cruz, says: “We have indirect news from Gen. Scorr- the aspect is pacific.” No further details or explanation as to the channel by which it was received, or the exact tenor of the news.

Various reports were in circulation in Vera Cruz, but little credence attached to any of them.

One of the reports, to which some faith was given, was that the enemy had blown up the West end of the National Bridge.

A Vera Cruz letter in the New Orleans Times, written on the evening of the 7^th instant, says-

The steamer Mississippi will sail for Pensacola in a few days, and probably from that place for the North. There is much sickness on board, and many cases of Yellow Fever.

The vomito in this city seems to have taken a lull, very few cases having occurred for the past seven days. During the fifteen days previous to the 1^st instant 81 Americans died, about half with the vomito. I think the first half of this month will give a smaller number, but the first rain will probably make up the amount to an average.

An officer has just come in from the train Maj. Leley, and reports the greater part of the wagons broke down, the end of the train only one mile from camp.

The receipts at the Custom House at Tampico, for the months of May and June, were $70,000, the cost of collection being only a few hundred dollars.

We find the following letter in the New Orleans Delta, dated- Tampico, Aug. 9, 1847.
[JM]

September 1847

MG47v48n27p2c1, September 2, 1847, IMPORTANT NEWS

Gen. Scott’s Advance on the Capital of Mexico –– Skirmish with the Guerillas-Severe loss of Life –– Escape of Major Gaines and Midshipman Rogers –– Sickness in the Squadron, and at Tampico and Vera Cruz.

––––

ARRIVAL OF THE GALVESTON.

––––

SEVEN DAYS LATER FROM PUEBLA!

––––

By the arrival of the steamship Galveston, Capt. Haviland, from Vera Cruz, via Tampico, Brazos and Galveston, the New Orleans Picayune has dates from Vera Cruz to the 12^th inst,. And from Puebla to the 6^th inst.—just one week later than we had before received.

Gen. Scott was still at Puebla on the 6^th inst., but the array was to take up the line of march the next day for the city of Mexico–– Gen. Twigg’s division leaving on the 7^th, Gen. Quitman’s on the 8^th, Gen. Worth’s on the 9^th, and gen. Pillow’s on the 1oth. Col Childs remains in command at Puebla, with an efficient garrison. Gen. Scott himself would probably accompany Gen. Quitman’s division

Gen. Pierce arrived at Puebla on the 6^th inst. He lost not a single man on his march, not withstanding “another severe battle with guerillas.”

The train which left Vera Cruz on the evening of the 6^th inst., was attacked on the 10^th inst., at Paso Oneja, about 33 miles from Vera Cruz. Attacks were made simultaneously in front, in rear, and upon the centre of the train; but the guerillas were repulsed at all points, and the train advanced and encamped about a mile beyond. In this encampment Capt. Jas. H. Caldwell, of the Voltiguers, and Capt. Authurc Cummings, of the 11^th Infantry, were severely wounded, but hopes were entertained of their recovery. The commanding officer had sent to Vera Cruz for a detachment of horse, to escort ambulances to take back the wounded, the numbers of which it was thought might be augmented by the time the train reached the National Bridge. Ten non-commissioned officers and privates were wounded in the engagement just referred to; one of them has since died. The escort of the train was 1060 strong, and was under the command of Maj. Lally, of the 9^th infantry, Col. Wilson being down with the yellow fever. Governor Wilson had ordered up reinforcements. The National Bridge is the point where a decisive action was expected. There was a report in Vera Cruz that the guerillas had destroyed a part of the bridge and erected defensives works there. They were said to be 4000 strong.

Mr. Kendall recognizes the death of Lieut. Hill, of the Second Dragoons, and Dr. Hammer of the South Carolina Regiment. Lieut. Guiot, Adjutant of the Louisiana battalion, died in Vera Cruz on the 9^th inst., after three days illness.

The reports as to the health of Vera Cruz are more favorable. Col. Wilson was convalescent and considered out of danger.

The Spanish Minister resident in Mexico, was expected in Vera Cruz about the 25^th inst., on his way to Spain. He would be escorted by a body of Mexican lancers.

Midshipman Rogers escaped from the city of Mexico, and reached Puebla on the 3d inst., in safety. He was not on parole at the time, but at large in the capital under a bond with a money penalty, not to break his bounds, and he came off with the knowledge and by permission of his surety. He reports that Santa Anna, has not more than 15,000 men, who are well armed and organized. Perhaps he was not aware that Valencia had arrived with reinforcements from San Luis.

Major Gaines also made his escape, and arrived safely at Puebla on the 4^th, late at night. It seems that all the American officers who were prisoners in the city had been ordered to the headquarters of Gen. Lombardini, and were there told that they must prepare, in twelve hours, to go to Toluca. All of them, save Major Gaines and Borland and Capt. Danley, gave their paroles that they would proceed to that place, and started in the stage the next day. Major Gaines made his escape the same night, and after being once in the hands of the guerillas, and running many other narrow risks, succeeded in getting through. Major Gaines thinks Santa Anna has about 15,000 tolerably well uniformed and drilled men, to which must be added rabble of undisciplined recruits, caught and picked up every way, and giving little strength to the army.

The main defense of the Mexicans––that upon which they most rely––is at the Penon and at this point they have planted some of their best cannon. Santa Anna himself is described as being in a greater dilemma than ever. The jealousy and obstinacy of his enemies prevent his openly avowing himself in favor of peace, and he is shrewd enough to know that the next battle will result against him. Thus his own downfall is staring him in the face, turn which way he will, and he is now awaiting some revolution of Fortune’s wheel to extricate himself. He is so fruitful in expedients that he may yet rise triumphantly from the whirlpool of difficulties by which he is surrounded.

Mr. Kendall complains bitterly of the conduct of the government in not providing funds for the army, and the Quartermasters and Commissaries had been obliged to pay as high as fifteen per cent. For money to defray the expenses of the march from Pueble to Mexico. Gen. Pierce’s train, contrary to expectation, did not take army money. Neither did it take any clothing, nor any of the necessaries for the well being of the army, to say nothing of the comfort, and hence all have to purchase at rates which amount to ruinous extortion.

Lieut. C. W. Chauncey. Commanding the U.S. Steamer Spitfire, died on the 9^th inst., at Anton Lizardo The Decatur left on the 7^th. on a cruise, the fever having broken out aboard. A few cases of fever have made their appearance at Tampico, but the Sentinel says there is no epidemic.
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MG47v48n27p2c1, September 2, 1847, IMPORTANT FROM THE YUCATAN

From the New Orleans Bee, Aug. 22, 1847.

IMPORTANT FROM THE YUCATAN

Insurrection of Indians in the Yucantan––Horrible slaughter of the White Inhabitants.––Appeal to the Inhabitants of Guatemala to arrest the Mexicans.

––––––

Through the politeness of the editors of La Patria. [Spanish paper published in New Orleans,] we have been favored with a proof sheet of the interesting items which they have received by the schoonrer Primera Campechana, arrived yesterday afternoon from Campeachy.

It appear that an insurrection had broken out among the Indians at Yucatan, the object of which was to slaughter all the white inhabitants of that country. But the plot was fortunately discovered in time, although a number of inhabitants have been massacred in several villages.

All the white and mulatto men, together with the women and children of Tepich, were murdered by the Indians. On of their Chiefs, Antonio Ay, was taken prisoner and executed. They declared that the plot had been organized for about 17 years.

The part question which had existed between the Yucatecos was set aside, and they all united in order to resist insurgents.

El Siglio XIX, a paper published in Yucatan, publishes two proclamations––one from the President of the State of Honduras––the other two generals, in which they call the attention of the centro Americans to the fate of the Mexican republic, and solicit their assistance in favor of their unfortunate neighbors. The editors of La Patria intend to publish in their next paper those documents.
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MG47v48n27p2c2, September 2, 1847, MORE NEWS FROM VERA CRUZ

From the New Orleans Times, Aug 29

MORE NEWS FROM VERA CRUZ

Particulars of the attack on Maj. Lally’s Train

––Reported Defeat of our Troops by Guerillas.

We are also indebted to the Patria for some particulars regarding Maj. Lally’s train, published in the extra of that paper yesterday. A correspondent from Vera Cruz, who signs himself El Jarecho, under date 15^th inst., says Padre Jarauta had returned to that vicinity at the head of 400 guerrillas, and, having effected a junction with two other bands, commanded by Munez and Alberto, attacked Maj. Lally’s train a Tolome.

After killing and wounding a few of our troops, and capturing some wagons, they had taken post at a spot called Puente Chica, near the Puente Nacional. Maj. Lally, having divided his command in siz columns, attacked the position occupied by the guerrillas, with his whole force, but after a sanguinary fight, he was driven back, leaving the ground covered with his killed and wounded.

The guerrillas, through want of ammunition, were obliged to abandon their position, wchich was then occupied by the Americans on the morning of the 13^th. This is the key to the truth in this strange story, which is, we believe, nothing but Mexican gasconade; for if our troops still advanced, the account of their defeat cannot be true.

The Patria’s correspondent adds that, on the same day, negotiations were opened with the chiefs of the guerrillas for a capitulation of the whole concoy. The number of wagons lost is said to be ver great, and the killed and wounded of our men exceeds 250 men, reducing the whole command to 400 and off effective troops. The guerrillas were in great force on this occasion; and it is said that, as they are persuaded that there is a large amount of specie with the train, it will be attacked throughout the whole of its long route, as long as the enemy can bring an effective man into the field.

El Jarocho, at the close of his letter, says information has just arrived that “the Yankees have capitulated.” The whole tale is grossly exaggerated, we have no doubt, though we believe that Maj. Lally’s train has had to fight its way onward, against disadvantages with which other preceeding trains have not had to contend––such as vastly increased numbers on the party of the assailants, &c. The necessity of forwarding reinforcements from Vera Cruz, sufficiently proves the fact of the commands having been vigorously attacked.
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MMG47v48n27p2c2, September 2, 1847, FROM THE RIO GRANDE

An arrival at New Orleans brings advices from Brazos to the 17^th instant.

It appears that the roads between Monterey and Camargo are becoming more and more infested with irregular cavalry and guerrilla bands, and several trails have been attacked.

La Patria published at New Orleans, contains a letter from Havana, which states that four British officers accompanied Paredes, but it does not appear whether they had landed at Vera Cruz.
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MG47v48n27p2c3, September 2, 1847, GEN SAM HOUSTON

This personage is out in one of the Nashville papers in reply to Mr. Tyler’s late letter upon the subject of the annexation of Texas. The object of this communication, seems to be, to prove that in the annexation intrigues, the general was, as the Yankee’s say, a “little too cute,” for his accidency, who proved himself upon this as on most other occasions of his public career, to be “very small potatoes.”
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MG47v48n27p2c3, September 2, 1847, ANOTHER CALL FOR TROOPS

We learn from the union that the War Department has just called for five new regiments, exclusive of the regiment from Ohio, which is already reported to be raised, and is now in progress of being mustered into the public service, and will in a few days be en route for Vera Cruz.

The five regiment now called for are to be drawn as follows: Two regiment from Kentucky, two from Tennessee, and one from Indiana.

These five regiments, says the Union, are expected to be rapidly raised, and promptly placed in the public service. Offers have already been made which induced the Executive to designate these States, and to make the necessary arrangements from embodying these troops without delay.––– Free Press
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MG47v48n27p2c3, September 2, 1847, MR. BENTON IN A NEW POSITION

The Louisville Journal of the 17^th, alluding to a report that Col. Benton had written to Washington demanding a Court Martial for the vindication of his son-in-law, Col. Fremont, and the punishment of his adversaries in the late troubles in California, adds:

“It is certain that Col. Benton is preparing himself for a terrific attack upon the Administration next winter in the Senate chamber.–––At town in the interior of Kentucky, a few days ago, he got into a conversation upon the subject of the Mexican war and became immensely excited, perfectly infuriated. He said that an opportunity had been passed by of making an advantageous and honorable peace, and that he could show the fact and would show it. As for the whole management of the war, he averred that it had been utterly disgraceful. He stated that he should go to Washington and make one speech upon subject, only one, and that it would be the greatest speech of his life, and he was willing that it should be the last. In speaking of the Administration, his language barely, if at all, fell short of downright cursing. His wrathful declaration lasted a full hour.”
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MG47v48n28p1c7, September 9, 1847, A LETTER FROM MEXICO

We copy from the Lewisburg Chronicle the following excellent letter, from one of the Augusta Volunteers to that paper. It is one of the most interesting letters we have seen among many which have been written from the Seat of War.

SALTILLO, Mexico, July 20^th, 1847.

Messrs Editors––As a favorable opportunity presents itself, to forward a letter, I embrace it with a view of saying something to you of my present whereabouts, the city itself, the inhabitants, and some of their many peculiarities, as a people, and nation.

Saltillo, as I have before stated, is a town numbering (as I am informed) 40,000 inhabitants––situated about midway, on a hill side between two mountains (the names of which I do not know, nor can I find them upon the map.) the city is nearly square, running North and South; the houses are all white, mostly one story, though these are as high as two story buildings in the States. The squares are one soled building and the tops being flat, form a good fort in time of an engagement. The streets are all paved, in the most systematic style, with small round stone.––– The labor having been preformed by the Meir Prisoners, a few of whom are now in the army, and wishing an opportunity to avenge themselves. The churches, five in number, are most magnificent buildings, the architectural portion showing, even to the most minute observer, that master workmen were employed upon them. On the East of the city is the nunnery the only building I have seen in Mexico, with glass windows which Uncle Sam, has at this time, in his use as a barracks for the Artillery. On the West, is a public garden, containing about five acres. This is a beautiful place filled with fruit and ornamental trees, in the centre of which is a circle, with seats all around, affording a pleasant retreat these warm and tiresome evenings. The city is well watered, and on either side, at the South end, has a natural fort, both of which are well manned and guarded by Uncle Sam. The streets and marker places are filled with “lame halt, and blind,” victims of Buena Vista, with some thing or other for sale, all willing to acknowledge, “Americans, mucha benna per Fandango.” The weather here at this time is quite pleasant––the nights, being much colder than the nights at this season of the year, in Virginia, and I am told we are 7,000 feet above the level of the sea.

The mode of burial here, is novel indeed.––Though there have been a great many deaths here among the children and others, I have witnessed but three of their burials, to-wit: one umbra and two muchachas–––(one man and two children.) The coffin after being decorated with flowers, and crossed in about one hundred places, was preceded by about twenty-five of men, each with a lighted candle, to the church, where his body remained for a short time during which time all the bells of the different churches, (about fifty in number) were claimed; and then taken to the graveyard and intered.––No mourners follow the corpse.

The other two- the mochacha’s, were buried as follows: these were carried upon a bier, which was splendidly decorated with flowers, and silk, with a wreath extending about two feet and a half abouve the head, the body lying uncoffined, upon the beir; as soons as the corpse, was ready for removal from the house of its parents, some of the subaltern of the churches, whose duty it was, commenced sending up, sky rockets, and preceded the corpse, about 30 feet to the church, all the time sending up rockets. Immediately behind these two, were two lads, about 15 years of age, dressed in red flannel, and white aprons, bare-headed, one with a shield upon his arm, the other with a bludgeon in his hand. Behind these were six musicians, two with claronetts, and four with violins, playing ––the followed the corpse, the priest, and now a man with the coffin upon his shoulder. A few paces in the rear followed a crowd of men and children, without any respect to order––all went to the church, and here the body, I resume, was put into the coffin, for I could not enter to see, such a crowd of volunteers had assembled around the door; the the priest upon his knees, made some kind of noise, which lie called singing, no doubt, and was responded to by one of the musicians, after which about twenty rockets were put off at one time, and the corpse shouldered and removed towards the burial ground; what took place then, I do no know, for I went no farther.

The cause of all this ceremony, I understand is, that they believe that all infants are saints, and that it would be sacrilege, if this parade was not made of them. The same ceremony takes place, whenever, an idiot or insane person dies, from the same belief.

The people here, are the most indolent creatures I ever saw, all the labor being preformed by the females.

Though there are here, many, very many, excellent houses, none have furniture. The natives in the main cook on the ground, eat, and sit on the ground and sleep on the ground. The females, while sitting, assume the position of a tailor, on the board.

In this city, there are a number of wealth and intelligent citizens. These are all friendly to our form of government and institutions, whole on the other hand, the other class are most disaffected people towards us in the whole of Mexico. Scarcely a night passes here that some injury is not inflicted by the Mexicans, upon the American citizens. In the last week two have been badly wounded and two killed. We never think of leaving our rendezvous, alone, and when we do go out, we are generally armed from head to foot.

How long we are to remain here with nothing to do, time will determine. One day we hear news that peace is near at hand, the next that a large army is advancing, and close upon us. To remain here, suffering under the monotony of the times, is misery. The opportunity to go home, or get in an engagement, would either be cheerfully embraced.

For the last three days, we have been anticipating an attack, and there is no doubt I presume, but there is a body of armed Mexicans, between 7 and 8,000 within sixty miles of us; but really I don’t know whether to say, that I believe that they will advance upon the city, or that they will not. I have not seen Capt. Erskine for several days; when I seen him last, however he was well, though he has been quite unfortunate since he has been in Mexico––having lost his servant, fine horse and golf watch. Crist. Cole and myself are enjoying unusual good health. Respectfully yours,

D. A. STOFER

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MG47v48n28p2c4, September 9, 1847, COL. BENTON

The St. Louis Republican says:

“Col. Benton wished to obtain from us the name of the author of a communication which appeared in our paper, written by an eye witness of the transaction in California. After trying several means to induce a disclosure of the writer’s name, he resolved on preferring charges, demanding a court-martial, and thus bring the writer out as a witness. Col. Benton bases his charges against Col. Fremont on the communication in the Republican, and also on articles which appeared in the Louisville Journal and the New Orleans Picayune––and for the authorship of the two latter, refers to Lieut. Emory of the U. States Army. We cannot believe that “the chief of the War Department will refuse this imperious request.”

Whether this Court martial has been demanded by the direction of Col. Fremont, and in his name, or whether Old Bullion, “solitary and alone has set this ball in motion,” the Republican does not say. He seems, however, to have taken his son-in-law under his especial guardianship, and is especially loth to allow him to slip his leading strings. The position in which he places Fremont by the system of dry nursing, appears to us a little ludicrous, and we should doubt whether it is likely to prove altogether grateful to the vanity of that gentleman.

By the way, we see it announce that Col. B. has ready for the press certain notes observations upon public men and public affairs for the last thirty years! We feel much curiosity to see them, and cannot conjecture what manner of book they will make. We are disposed to think, however, that the author will likewise be the principal hero, and that it will be made abundantly evident that, but for him, the world would have censed to roll upon its axis many a long year ago. The monomania of the Colonel seems to consist in desire to monopolize all the glory of the day, and he will be more generous than we suspect him of being, if he leaves a ray for the use of any contemporary. This trait will only render the book the more amusing, as it throws an infinitely ludicrous air over all he says or does, even in the most serious manner, and upon the most solemn occasions.––Rich. Whig
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MG47v48n28p2c5, September 9, 1847, LANDING OF PAREDES

The Boston Courier publishing the Washington Union’s explanation of the lading of Paredes at Vera Cruz, remarks––

If any one, after reading this article from the Union, doubts that the administration at Washington connived at the passage of Paredes through Vera Cruz, as it did Santa Anna, by Commodore Conner’s squadron, he must be stupid in the extreme.

The Alexandria Gazette puts the following questions:

The enquiry is made–– and with great show of reason––If it was so heinous an offence to permit Paredes to come back to Mexico, why was it not equally as wrong to connive at and even authorize the return of Santa Anna?–– “Come, read us the riddle.
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MG47v48n28p2c5, September 9, 1847, DIVERSION OF TROOPS

The Union copies from the Picayune without contradiction, a paragraph which states that Gen. Hopping’s command is to be taken from Gen. Taylor; as well as several general officers, and sent to Vera Cruz. The same paper states that the advance upon San Luis Potosi is definitely abandoned. Such being the fact, and their being no long any work for the General Tailor to do, he ought to be permitted to come home. The people will probably find some employment before long.––Rich. Rep.
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MG47v48n28p2c6, September 9, 1847, GEN. TAYLOR AND THE PRESIDENCY

The “Democrats” have been again boring Gen. Taylor; but as great as in their skill in the boring art, they can’t make nothing out of the Old Hero. The anxious inquirer after the General’s opinions in the present case; are certain patent Democrats who met in the little town of Clarksville, Tennessee: They held a meeting, passed sundry resolutions, and ordered them to be sent to ken. Taylor, accompanied by a letter for a committee of the said Democrats, in convention assembled, requesting him to be so kind, so very obliging, as to say what were his opinions on those resolutions, which so frankly expressed their own, and which the with so much consideration had sent to him. But the General, though acknowledging the compliment, declines returning it. He sends off these Democratic gentlemen, who have so much solicitude for him and his opinions, just as he did Deloney––Dr. Deloney––with precious little satisfaction.

The interesting resolutions communicated by these kind Democrats, were against a National Bank––in favor of the Independent Treasury––approved of Annexation––approved of the present Administration––declared that the Democratic party cannot support any man whose principles are not well defined.

This last letter of Gen. Taylor settles a question between the Enquirer and ourselves.––The Enquirer inferred from the letter to Deloney that the General had no opinions on the Bank and Tariff questions, because he said he could not answer the interrogatories relating to them without more time than he could spare to consider those subjects. We contended that the fair interpretation was the General Taylor meant that he had not time to give that consideration to those subjects necessary to a clear and proper expressions of his opinions.––The letter from Gen. Taylor, we not publish, takes this very ground. If he were disposed to answer, he says, “I cannot spare the time from my official duties to devote to the investigation of those subjects, which their importance seems to require, to enable me to reply to them in a way, that would be satisfactory to myself.”––Richmond Compiler.
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MG47v48n28p2c7, September 9, 1847, WHO IS SANTA ANNA

History tells us that he first distinguished himself in public life, in 1821, as the supporter of Iturbide; then in arms against him, and chiefly instrumental in his fall and in procuring the adoption of the Federal Constitution; about a year afterwards, attempting and failing to obtain the title and power of Protector of the Republic; then four or five years living in retirement, out of public employ; re-appearing, in 1828, on the news of Pedraza's election to the Presidency, raising the standard in favor of his opponent, Guerrero; then defeated, driven to the mountains, and outlawed; re-called almost immediately, and placed at the head of the Army sent out to oppose him then in 1829, made Secretary of War and Commander-in-Chief of the Army, in that capacity repelling and conquering the ill-digested Spanish invasion under Barradas; soon after, driven from office with the President, Guerrero; again in arms, driving Bustamente from power; then succeeding to the Presidency of the Republic and, whilst President, in the midst of a successful military career, beaten, captured, and held prisoner by the Texans; released by them, repaired to Washington, and sent home in a public vessel of the United States; there coldly and repulsively received; retiring to his farm for two years; called from it to head an army to resist the invasion of the Mexican Territory by the forces of France; in a gallant sally, losing his leg and almost his life by another sudden revolution of things, again President, and in effect Dictator of the Mexican Republic; in 1842, retires from the Presidency to regain his health, having become very much enfeebled; in 1844-45, by another revolution, he was defeated, taken prisoner, and banished; and is now, in 1847, again the President of the Republic of Mexico.

Such is the nut shell history of the man whom James K. Polk, in his wisdom attempted to bribe! Would Henry Clay have far forgotten his station, were he President of the United States, as to let himself down to traffick with such a man as this? Oh my country––my country! DAN.
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MG47v48n29p2c1, September 16, 1847, GLORIOUS VICTORY: TWO MORE BATTLES

FROM THE ARMY

GLORIOUS VICTORY!!

TWO MORE BATTLES.

–––––

DEFEAT OF SANTA ANNA.

–––––

AN ARMISTICE ASKED.

–––––

PROSPECT OF PEACE

–––––

THE CITY OF MEXICO AT OUR MERCY,

–––––

From the New Orleans Picayune, September 3.

The steamship Fashion, Capt. O’Brady, arrived yesterday Evening from Vera Cruz, by way of Tampico. She left Vera Cruz on the 27^th of August, and Tampico on the 29^th.

The news arrival is the most important we have received in many months from Mexico. Our army has not only advanced to the city of Mexico, but has had two engagements with the enemy, close under the walls of the city, and defeated them. The Mexicans have been brought to supplicate a suspension of arms, and Gen. Scott has granted it. The Mexican Congress has been convoked to take into consideration Mr. Trist’s propostitions.

The news was received in Vera Cruz on the evening of the 26^th ult., by an express courier from Orizaba, who brought down the following letter to Mr. Dimond, the collector at Vera Cruz, to whose courtesy we are indebted for the use of the letter, which we proceed to give:

––––––

ORIZIBA, Aug. 25^th, 1847

My dear Friend––– The Mexican mail, which has just come in, brings the following intelligence, which I copy from the Diario Official Gobierno. Being of so great importance, I send you this express courier, who will be with you to-morrow about 12 o’clock.

On the 20^th two brigades commanded by Gen. Valencia and Santa Anna, went out to attack the Americans near San Angel*. Valencia’s division has been completely defeated and Santa Anna, after the first rencontre, fell back also in disorder of the city.

The immediately after this asked for a suspension of hostilities, and offered to hear the propositions of peace from Mr. Trist.

The next day the Minister of Foreign Relations invited the Congress, through the news papers, to meet for that purpose.

These are the great facts, which no doubt will bring after them peace.

Yours Truly,
F.M. Dimond, Esq.

–––-

*Another letter says Los Llanos de San Angel.

Another express arrived in Vera Cruz on the 20^th, with letters containing the same news in substance, and the following translation of the announcement of it in the Diario Official dell Gobierno:

Translated from the Diario Official del Gobierno.

On the 20^th of August, Scott’s troops, who intended on marching on Penon, turned it and arrived near Tacubaya. As soon as the news was known at Mexico, Valencia’s division went out to attack the Amricans and Lost Llanos de San Angel, and was completely routed. Next came Santa Anna, with another division, which shared the same fate after some fighting. The Mexicans retreated to the capital in great disorder, and such was the panic created by their defeat that the Minister of Foreign Relations immediately convoked the Congress to take into consideration Mr. Trist’s proposition. A suspension of amrs was demanded by the Mexicans and granted. The Americans are around Mexico, but had not entered the city on the 21^st.

Such are the meager details which we have of the important events. No couriers from Gen. Scott’s army direct have been able to get through, so far as we can learn. But from the foregoing statements it is manifest that Gen. Scott holds the city of Mexico at his command. That Gen. Scoot did not choose to enter the city is manifest. He was doubtless deterred from entering it by a desire to save the pride of the Mexicans when upon the eve of important negotiations. It is now supposed that the extraordinary courier which left Vera Cruz from Mexico on the 12^th ult., a day in advance of the regular English courier was the bearer of instructions to the British Minister to offer again his mediation and we think we think it safely to say that he was instructed to do so if possibl before Gen. Scott entered the capital. We believe the instructions were positive, and no doubt they were obeyed. Having absolute confidence in this representation of the acts of the English Government, we think it reasonable to suppose that Gen. Scott was influenced by a knowledge of this mediation to trust once again to the efforts of Mr. Trist to negotiate a peace, and so spared the Mexicans the humiliation of the armed occupation of their capital. His characteristic humanity may also be presumed to have strongly influenced him to save Mexico from the violence of a hostile occupation. We may recur to this point and to the prospects of peace which some may not entertain.

We have given none of the rumors current in Vera Cruz as to the fall of Mexico. They are evidently founded on imperfect rumors of the real state of facts. The rumors circulated here that Santa Anna and Valencia were take prisoners we believe are totally unfounded.

In regard to the train under Major Lally the intelligence is favorable. We are informed from a ver responsible source that he is known to have passed Perote and bees on his was safely to Puébla. He made some delay in Jalapa. Our readers may be interested in what is said of the movements of the train prior to its leaving Jalapa in the Sun of Anabuac:

The Boletin of Jalapa says that the train, after having been attacked at Cerro Gordo, retired to the Plan, at the same time the guerrillas also retired. On the following day the train commence marching for Jalapa, and on Thursday evening had not yet entered that place. On the 19^th it was reported at Jalapa that the guerrillas would attack our troops, and the citizens succeeded in reaching their homes without receiving any injury.

The guerillas are said to have numbered 350. The fire commenced at half past 5 O’clock and lasted but a short time. At night tranquility prevailed in the city, and a party of mounted men from the train, entered the city and passed through the principal street; at the same time the guerillas were seen near by. The Boletin says that the loss on the side of the guerrillas was small.

At 11 o’clock on the 19^th, Major Lally enquired of the alcalde whether the citizens of Jalapa would commit hostilities against the Americans or not. To which the alcalde answered that the population was unarmed; but that a number of guerillas being in the neighborhood he could not take the responsibility of their actions. On the morning of the 20^th, the train of wagons and the troops entered the city. The Boletin says that the wagons are filled with sick and wounded.

Yesterday [the 24^th ult.] it was rumored in Vera Cruz that Father Jaruata had attacked the train a short distance the other side of Jalapa, but that he had been driven back by our troops, with loss on both sides.

In addition to the foregoing, we have been favored with two notes following, the first of which is a translation from the Spanish:

_____

JALAPA, Aug. 20^th, 1847:

The American army, after much suffering on the road, have been again attacked at Don Rios by 700 guerrillas, and badly enough treated. Even before entrance into Jalapa there was some firing. Last night at 9 o’clock the Americans entered the city firing, and retreated on minus. He was lassoed by one of the guerrillas. This morning was sent a flag of truce to the Ayunta Miento, (city council) to ascertain whether they should enter as foes or friends, but without awaiting an answer they began to enter, and continued to 1pM., when all got in. There were 76 wagons and 895 men, among 317 were wounded and sick–––Major Lally is sick–––the horses are worn out–––for which reason it is supposed they will remain here for some time. It is said that Father Jarauta will attack them nightley but nothing positive.

––––

The other note is as follows:

JARUTA, Aug 23, 1847.

Major Lally with his command is still here, and will probably emain her some time.––––The guerrillas have all disappeared from this neighborhood, but where they have gone I am unable to say. Abourto, the guerrillas chief, died at Jalapa a few days since, some say of the wound in received in one of his attacks on Maj. Lally’s command, and other by fever.

We do not entertain any doubt that the train, as mentioned, above had passed Perote and gone in safety to Puebla.

Intelligence reached Col. Wilson on the morning of the 27^th ult. That Lieut. David Henderson, of Capt. Fairchild’s company of Dragoons, and his party who were sent by Capt. Wells on the 15^th of August to apprize Major Lally of the approach of reinforcements, were all shot by the guerrillas. There is little or no doubt of the correctness of this sad intelligence. Lieut. Henderson was a resident of New Orleans, and but recently embarked as a volunteer in his country’s service. He was a printer by profession, a man of courage and enterprise, and his fate will be sincerely lamented by his numerous friends.

[CORRESPONDENCE OF THE PICAYUNE]

VERA CRUZ, Aug 27, 1847.

An express arrived here on Tuesday from Alvardo to Commodore Perry, with information that the guerrillas had attacked that place the night before and killed a surgeon and two marines in the town. The steamers Petrita and Scorpion were immediately dispatched to reinforce those in possession of the place.
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MG47v48n29p2c2, September 16, 1847, LATER FROM BRAZOS

From the New Orleans Times

LATER FROM BRAZOS

New Destination of Gen Taylor’s Force–––Advance on San Luis Potosi Countermanded––Gen. Lane and Gen Cushing’s Brigades with Colonel Hays’ Rangers, ordered to proceed forthwith to Vera Cruz, &.c., &.c.

By the arrival here yesterday of the steamship Telegraph, Capt. Wilson, from Brazos, the 1^st inst., we have received important news from Gen. Taylor’s head quarters, and the several military post on the line of the Rio Grande.

Change of the Plan of the Campaign.–––It appears that the plan of the campaign has been entirely changed from what was understood to be the arrangement here, some weeks ago, viz: the simultaneous advance of Generals Scott and Taylor’s divisions on the cities of Mexico and San Luis, respectively. No advance is to be made by Gen. Taylor, and not greater force will be kept in the valley of the Rio Grande, and thence to Saltillo, that is necessary to keep open communication.

We take the following summary of military news from the Flag of the 28^th ult

Since our surmise in Wednesday’s paper in regard to the movements of troops, we have obtained additional information, and have full confidence that we can now state correctly what troops from this line are to proceed to Gen. Scott, and what distribution Is to be made of those remaining with Gen. Taylor.

The In Diana regiment, Col. Gorman, and the Ohio, Col. Brough, under Brig. Gen. Lane––the Massachusetts regiment, Col. Wright and the 13^th infantry, Col. Echols, together with Capt. Deas’s battery, under Brig. Gen. Cushing–––will proceed immediately to Vera Cruz.

Col. Hay’s Texas regiment is also ordered to Vera Cruz. It has not yet made it appearance on the Rio Grande, but it is looked for daily, and will probably arrive at the Brazos before the other troops have embarked.

Gen. Wool’s command, to remain at Saltillo, will consist of the Virginia, North Carolina, and 2d Mississippi regiments of Volunteers, and Major Chevallie’s three companies of Texas rangers.

To remain at Gen. Taylor’s camp (Walnut Springs) only Lieut. Col. Fontleroy’s squadron of Maj. Bragg’s battery.

The 16^th regiment, Col. Tibbats, will garrison Monterey and Cervalvo––Colonel Tibbat at Monterey, and Lieut. Col. Webb at Ceralvo.

The 10^th regiment, Col. Temple will garrison Matamoras, Reynosa and Camargo––Col. Temple at this place, Capt. Waldrodt at Reynosa, and Lieut. Col. Fay at Camargo.

Capt. Hunt’s artillery and Capt. Reed’s Texas cavalry are to be stationed at Camargo.

There yet remain, destination unassigned in this list, Col Butler’s squadron of 3d Dragoons, and two companies of Volunteer Cavalry, on from Alabama and the other from Illinois. Rumor says that the Dragoons are to proceed to Vera Cruz also, but we are informed that Col. Bulter has received no orders to that affect.

General Lane and Staff came down from Mier yesterday, and proceeded to the Brazos. His troops are on the way down and a portion will probably be her to-day.––Flag 28^th ult.

Capt. Baylor and his party, who were supposed to have been cut off by the enemy, had safely arrived at Cerralvo.

Gen. Taylor will probable leave Monterey on a visit to his family in Louisiana, before the 1^st October next, unless the War Department should send despatches, in the meantime, rendering it impossible for him to absent himself from the army.
[BRM]

MG47v48n29p2c2, September 16, 1847, Untitled

We have been shown a letter from Mr. James Evans, one of the Virginia Volunteers, to his father, Washington Evans, Esq., of this place, dated at Buena Vista on the 1^st day of August. The writer expresses an opinion that if there is a forward movement of the brigade under Gen. Wool, it will not be to San Luis but to Zacatecas, as that point is the most desirable to occupy from the fact, that the Mexicans receive from it their principal supplies of provisions, &c. He says it is understood that the field officers of the Virginia regiment are of the opinion, that no further advance will be made into the enemy’s country. The health of the Virginia regiment was fin, two men only having died during the past two months. The North Carolina regiment was suffering severely from disease, the mortality in their ranks averaging one, and sometimes two a day. So great has been the ravage of disease in their ranks that they could not have been thinned much more had they been in battle. Mr. Evans states that his health is as good as it ever was in his life, and that young Maunsell and Smith, also from Cumberland are perfectly well. He remarks that the Locofocos in the brigade are coming out every day and declaring themselves in favor of Gen. Taylor for the Presidency.––Cumberland Civilian
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MG47v48n29p2c3, September 16, 1847, PROSPECT OF PEACE

The cheering news from the Seat of War, warrants the hope, that Mexico has at length abandoned all idea of prolonging a hopeless controversy with this country, and that for the present, no more of the brave and chivalric spirits of our land are to be offered up as bleeding sacrifices to the lust of democracy for “extending the area of freedom.”

At first, the charge that this war was undertaken for conquest, was indignantly denied by a large majority of the supporters of the administration; now that question how much of conquered Mexico is to be embraced in the extended limits of our Union, and with it comes the agitation of that fearful subject which erst came “like the sound of a fire bell at night” to appal the hearts of the then surviving patriots of the revolution, and which had like to have kindled a conflagration which would have laid in ashes the “beautiful Temple which our fathers builded.” The Principles of the “Missouri Compromise” would have kept this fearful subject at rest forever, had our rulers been content to keep that which was our own, without coveting the domain of our neighbors, and thus calling down upon our heads the wrath of the Almighty had denounced upon those “who covet and desire other men’s goods.” That the North will insist upon restrictions in the admission of this new Territory into the Union, to which the South cannot agree without great and manifest danger to her existing institutions, is but too plainly evidenced by the tone of the public press of both parties in the non-slaveholding States. It is, therefore useless to attempt to close our eyes to the fact, that we are converging upon a contest which would prove the severest trial our institutions have ever experienced. May God in his mercy turn aside the dark cloud that hangs upon our political horizon, is the fervent prayer that rises from the depths of every patriot heart, whilst we are not without strong hopes that there is wisdom and patriotism enough in our legislative councils to avert the impending danger.

Of on thing we are well assured, that whilst the conservatives of the Slaveholding States are willing to unite with their Northern brethren in opposing the enlargement of the boundaries of the Union, they are united as one man in opposition to any interference with the principle of the Missouri Compromise, whether in reference to States formed from old or new territory.
[BRM]

MG47v48n29p2c5, September 16, 1847, TWO MORE LETTERS FROM CAPT. HARPER

From the Stauton Spectator

––

TWO MORE LETTERS FROM CAPT. HARPER.

SALLTILLO, Mexico, July 27, 1847

Dear–––––; As I cannot entertain you with any moving incidents of military enterprise and adventure, I shall try to gather something from the still life and customs o the strange people I am among, that may serve to amuse you.

In my last, I mentioned ‘the singular spectacle exhibited in the streets on Sunday evening, of a Chicken Cock, decorated like one of our own military heroes, carried in procession, and followed by a band of music. That bird, I have since learned from a gentleman who attended the sports of the evening, belonged to one of the Priests of the city, and was fought by him in person upon a wager of fifty dollars, which he lost––the chicken being killed. He had others, however, with which he proved more fortunate, and came off winner, in the end, some two hundred and fifty dollars. I am told he heels all his chickens himself, and has the reputation of being the most skilful cock fighter in Saltillo. The gentleman who gives me this information attended Church in the morning, and saw the same Priest administer the Sacrament of the Lord’s Super to his deluded and misguided people.

About the same time that these sports of pit were going on, I witnessed one of the most pompous funerals I have yet seen. It was the funeral, I am informed, of an infant. The corpse was carried on a bier, and was completely hid under the mass of artificial flowers with which it was decorated. At the head of the corpse something like and arch was formed, rising to the height of about three feet, weathed with flowers, and enclosing in the centre a small image, I suppose of the Virgin Mary.–––Immediately in advance of the corpse where the Priest and two attendants, the latter accoutred in red flannel frocks and pointed brimless caps, and near by at their side two miserably ragged and filthy looking beings, the one with a burning brand and the other a bundle of rockets, which were set off by the former almost as fast as the latter could hand them to him. The crowd that followed was very motly, consisting of mean looking men and women and ragged boys, and had more the appearance of a mod than a procession. Here and there, however, I could see some few of the genteel exterior, and among them several women carrying vases of flowers. The funerals, I presume, are quite expensive, and I have no doubt are made a source of handsome profit to the priesthood. I did no follow the procession into the Church, and consequently can give no account of the ceremonies there. A marriage in high life was to have taken place in the principal Church of the city a few mornings since two o’clock, and I had determined to attend it, but for some reason it did not come off as expected. The Priests here, I understand, as a fee of a hundred dollars to marry a couple properly, so as to “secure a prosperous and happy marriage.” The price is certainly moderate enough, if the security to be obtained by it is worth anything. But there, I should say, is the rub. Still there is a little question that many put full confidence in it; so that where faith may not operate, fashion, or a desire, as we say in Virginia, to be married ‘like white folks,” will be sure in the general to make such items of service fat jobs to the priesthood.

There are a number of schools, I find, in Saltillo, and considerable attention is paid to education by the wealthier portion of the population. I have seen a few Mexican young men who were well educated, and some of the ladies of the same class are said to be highly accomplished. The harp, the guitar and the piano may sometimes be heard in passing along the streets. Still the masses are miserably degraded and ignorant––but little, if any better, I should say, in appearance, color, conduct, morals, or intelligence, than our free negroes. It is a mistake, however to call them effeminate. They are generally of good size, and have the best developed chests I ever saw. They partake, too, rather more of the character of the Indian than the negro.

The chief amusements of the population here are cock-fighting and dancing, in both which the women participate. The costume of the women is pretty much like that of our own, the bustle not excepted, though they wear shawls over their heads drawn close under their chin, instead of bonnets.–– they have a slovenly mode too of wearing their dresses stripped down upon their haunches or waist, leaving their bosoms bare, when the shawl is thrown aside or only slightly protected by their under garment.

In their houses they have but little furniture, even among the better classes. A table, a few chairs, and probably a mirror, for the most part, make up the whole stock. Many, indeed, have neither tables, chairs, nor beds.––The family eat their meals seated round the dishes on the floor, and take their repose upon dried hides.

The municipal affairs are manage by the Alcade, who seems to have complete and absolute jurisdiction in all cases, whether civil or criminal. The only check upon him, indeed, seems to be that the office is elective, and the length of term, which, I believe, is but one or two years. The police are certainly very vigilant and quite efficient in their own way, so far as they undertake the correct public disorders. I witnessed a scene the other day in market which amused me very much. Tow stout boys were engaged in a furious fight, but unluckily for them a police-man happened to be near, who, instead of proceeding in the quiet, methodical way of one of our officers, immediately fell upon them, with his long rod, caring not which of them, or where he struck, and the infuriated combatants at once broker their holds and ran off. Thus the whole matter was settled in a second, which might have take up a day in our Corporation Court, consuming the valuable time of three or four Justices, and twelve honest jurors, to say nothing of the half dozen gentlemen of the green-bag that are usually involved in such petty annoyances.

There is a light increase on our sick list to-day. We report 16 sick.

Your, &c.

–––––

SALTILLO, Mexico, Aug. 2, 1847.

Dear––––––: We are still without any definite news here as to the prospects of peace or war. The reports which reach us are of the most contradictory character, and it is impossibly to make any thing out of them. One day we hear that the terms of a treaty have been nearly arranged, and the next, that the Mexicans are in active preparation for a more vigorous prosecution of the way, and are actually investing Gen. Scott, cutting off his communication with Vera Cruz. In this state of things, I must ask you, therefore, to look elsewhere for information as regards the true condition of affairs. Here, all is in activity and deep repose, and likely to remain so, from every thing I can learn or the amount of force which is to be thrown upon the line; although a general order, I understand, was read on parade Camp, a few evenings ago, announcing the probability of an early forward movement. It may be, however, and I think it more than probable that it was only intended by the Commanding Officer to stimulate the troops, and keep them up more strictly to their duty, which the very listlessness of our lives is rather unfitting for. No one, who has not experienced it, can form any just idea of the irksomeness of mere camp or garrison duty. It is to the soldier what the dead calm at sea is to the sailor––and any change, even the storm of battle, as in the case of the latter convulsion of the elements, is considered preferable.

I believe I have not mentioned heretofore that we have our revenue system of internal duties in full operation here; and it is producing a handsome income. Often two hundred and sometimes as much as five hundred dollars, are taken in, I am told, in a day. In a former letter, I think I intimated my difficulty in accounting for the rise of such a city as Saltillo in locality which presents to the observation apparently so few advantages. It seemed to me, indeed, like a city in a desert––for, comparatively speaking, it is such, when we contrast the size and population of the place with the poverty or neglected condition of the lands for many miles in all directions around it. That mystery, however, is now solved. I understand that Saltillo has been from its earliest foundation, the seat of an extensive contraband or smuggling trade, and that to this it is indebted for all its importance.

The Mexicans are now celebrating High Mass in their Churches, and it is said that the services are to continue for nine days. In the principal Church here, they have a number of banners displayed, and a fine band of Martial Music. What all this means, if any thing, I d no pretend even to conjecture. It may be that these warlike exhibitions are merely in accordance with their common custom, for there is co-operation and mutual dependence, no doubt, between the Priesthood and the Military, in the management of the poor oppressed people of the country, for their own advantage.

There has been no material change in the health of the Company within the last few days. We now report twelve on the sick list. On more has been discharged, (Preston Brown,) and another would be, (Lewis Terrill,) if he were able to travel. A Board of Surgeons has been appointed to examine all cases for discharge, so that the probability is that prompt relief will be afforded in the future to those who deserve it, while the service will be more effectually guarded against impositions/

Our Regiment at Camp, I am glad to hear has become much more healthy. Some sanitary regulations have been adopted to keep out the trashy fruits from the Camp, and no doubt the improvement is principally owing to this measure. The North Carolina troops, however, still suffer greatly. They have had as many as four funerals in a day. It must be owing to the way the cook their food.

It may be gratifying to our friends at home to know that our Colonel (Hamtramck) still maintains his former reputation as a drill officer. He is regarded as among the very best (regular or volunteer,) in the service. His health has greatly improved.

Yours truly,

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MG47v48n29p2c5, September 16, 1847, BRILLIANT VICTORIES- FROM GENERAL SCOTTS ARMY

POSTSCRIPT

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BRILLIANT VICTORIES!

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FROM GENERAL SCOTT’S ARMY.

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BATTLES OF COUTRERAS AND CHURUBUSCO

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Two American Victories.

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Thirteen Mexican Generals and three Ex-Presidents Killed.

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Eleven Hundred Americans Killed and Wounded

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Three thousand Mexicans captured

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GEN. SCOTT WOUNDED

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Mexican Loss nearly Three Thousand

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MAJ. MILLS and FIFTEEN AMERICAN OFFICERS KILLED

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LIST OF ALL KILLED AND WOUNDED

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Total Defeat of the Mexicans–– Gen. Scott encamped within two and a half miles of the City of Mexico––Armistice between the two armies––Negotiation with Mr. Trist for a peace commenced.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

We stop the Press to lay before our readers the following interesting news, which we find in the Baltimore Sun of yesterday:

Our unprecedented stud of ponies, comprising sixty blooded horses so admirably arranged between Baltimore and New Orleans, came through last night, in advance of everything on the route, bringing us the highly important news from Gen. Scott’s Army, which we haste to lay before our readers without comment, being most interesting yet received from Mexico. Our courier brought us the Picayune of the 8^th instant, from which we copy.

The U. States steamship Mary Kingland, Capt. John Davis, arrived at an early hour this morning.-By her we have received our letters from Mr. Kendall from the 22nd to the 28 th of August, all dated from Tacubaya. A courier dispatched by him on the 29th with the first account of the battle fought on that day, was cut off.

From a map and plan of the battle fields before us, we note that they are called the battles of Contreras and Churubusco-so called from field works of the enemy of those names. The victories were decisive, but as far as we can judge from a hasty perusal of a portion of our letters, the proposition for an armistice was made by Gen. Scott-probably at the suggestion of the British Embassy. The report we have hitherto given that the city of Mexico was at our mercy, appears to have been unfounded.

“Should peace not follow form the negotiations now pending, another battle must ensue, the enemy having a force of from fifteen to twenty thousand men yet left. But the road appears to be completely open to us, and the city is only two and a miles form our encampment.”

“Our victories have been purchased at a vast loss of valuable life, as will be seen by the following list. We see names of men at the loss of whom we weep; but all have their friends, and we make no distinctions.”

“ OFFICERS KILLED–––Regulars–––Maj. Mills, 15^th Infantry, Capt. Hanson, 7^th Infantry, Capt. Thorton, 2d Dragoons, Capt. Burke, 1^st Artillery, Capt. Capron, 1^st Artillery, Capt Quaries, 15^th Infantry, Capt. Anderson, 2^nd Infantry; Lieuts. Irons, 1^st Artillery, but attached to Gen. Calwalader’s staff, Preston Johnson, 1^st Artillery, but attached to Magruder’s battery, Easly, 2d Infantry, Goodman, 15^th Infantry, Hoffman, 1^st Artillery.”

Volunteers.–––Lieut. Chandler, New York Regiment, Col. M. Butler, and Lieuts. David Adams and W.R. Williams, of the South Carolina Regiment.

OFFICERS WOUNDED.––––Regulars–––Colonel Clark;6^th Infantry.. slightly, Col. Morgan, 15^th Inft. severely, Maj. Wade, 3d Art. Severely, Maj. Bonneville, 6^th Inft. slightly, Capts. Wessells, 2d Inft. severely, Phil. Kearney, 1^st Dragoons, left arm shot off, McReynolds, 3d Dragoons, severely, Craig, 2d Inft. severely, Ross, 7^th Inft. severely, J.R. Smith, 2d ifnt. Severely, Chapan, 5^th Inft. slightly, Johnson, 9^th Inft. slightly, Lieuts. Schuyler Hamilton, 1^st Inft. But attached to Gen Scott’s staff, severely, Halloway, 8^th Infantry but attached to Smith’s Light Battalion, severely, Bacon, 6^th Inft. severely, Callender, of the Ordinance, but commanding howitzer batter, severely, Arnold, 2d Artillery, severely, Herman Thorn, 3d Dragoons, attached to Col. Garland’s staff, slightly, Hendrickson, 6^th Inft. severely, Humber, 7^th Inft. severely, Boynton, 1^st Artillery, but attaced to Taylor’s battery, slightly, Lorimer Graham, acting with 1^st Dragoons, severely, Van Buren, of the Rifles, slightly, Martin, 1^st Artillery, right arm shot off. Goodloe, 15^th Inft. Mortally, Farrelly, 5^th Inft. But attached to Smith’s Light Batallion, severely. Lugenbell, adjutant 5^th Inft. slightly, Bee, 3d Inft. slightly, Collings 4^th Artillery, slightly, Tilden. 2d Inft. severely, Newman, 6^th Inft. severely, Gardner, 2d Inft. severely, Hayden 2d Inft. slightly, Sprague, adjutant 9^th inft. Slightly, Palmer, 9^th Inft. severely, Buckner, 6^th Inft. slightly, Cram, 9^th Inft. slightly, Simpkins, 12^th Inft slightly, Peternell, 15^th Inft. slightly, Bennet, 15^th Inft.

VOLUNTEERS–––New York Regiment.–––Col. Burnet, severely, Capt. Fairchild, slightly, Capt Dyckman, severely, Lieut. Sweeny, severely, Lieut. Jennis, slightly, Lieut. Cooper, severely, Lieut. McCabe, slightly, Lieut. Potter, severely, Lieut. Griffin, slightly, Lieut. Malhowsky, slightly.

South Carolina Regiment.–––Lt. Col. Dickenson, severely; Capt. James D. Blandig, slightly; Adj. Cantev, severely; Lt. Sumter, slightly, Capt. K.S. Moffat, slightly, Lt. K.S. Billings, severely, Lt. J.R. Clark, dangerously, Lt. J.W. Steen, slightly, Lt. J.R. Davis, slightly, Capt. W.D. DeSaussure, slightly. Lt. Jos. Abney, severely.

Our entire loss in killed and wounded is short of eleven hundred; that of the enemy is not well known. His loss in killed alone is believed to be fully equal to our entire loss, and it is estimated that at least 3,000 prisoners were taken. The number of his wounded was not ascertained, but is supposed to be very large. Gen. Scott himself received a wound n the leg below the knee, but from the manner in which Mr. Kendall speaks of it, we are led to hope the injury a slight one.

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From the National Intelligencer from yesterday.

The government received last night letters from Mr. Trist and from officers of the army at Mexico to the 28^th ult. These letters were brought by the English courier to Vera Cruz, and from New Orleans were forwarded by express to Montgomery, Alabama, and thence came by the regular mail. They confirm the previous advices of events up to Gen. Scott’s arrival before the walls of Mexico, the suspension of hostilities, &c.; but ate full of interest from the accounts which they give of the battles which we have fought.

We learn, generally, that the last battle (indeed the only one of consequence after Gen. Scott left Puebla) was the hardest fought and the bloodiest which has taken place in all this sanguinary war. It commenced on the 19^th; continued till night; and was resumed in the morning. Valencia’s division was finally vanquished in the morning, with the loss of all his artillery, seven hundred killed and wounded, and three thousand prisoners. The division under Santa Anna, consisting of between twenty and thirty thousand men, of his own troops and levy on masse of the City of Mexico, was engaged by five thousand men under the brave Gen. Worth, who, after an obstinate battle of long duration, a large part of it bayonet to bayonet, finally achieved a complete victory over the immense Mexican host, which broke and fled, some into the city, and large bodies elsewhere. The Mexican loss in this desperate afternoon battle was five thousand killed and wounded; and our loss was, we grieve to say, nearly a thousand men.

There is no dispatch from Gen. Scott, and, strange to say, neither the letters of Mr. Trist nor of the officers who wrote mention a single name of those who fell on our side.

The Mexican army was well supplied with artillery and strongly posted, but it was all captured. Neither their artillery, their numbers, nor their desperate resistance could withstand the valor of our troops, directed by the able and skillful dispositions of the brave and veteran Scott, whose name is associated with so many well-fought fields in the annals of our country.

After the Mexican commanders had taken refuge in the city, the aued for a suspension of hostilities, as heretofore stated, and proposed negotiation. Gen. Scott acceded to the proposition, and appointed Genls. Quitman, Persifer Smith and Pierce Commissioners to conduct the negotiations on our part. The Mexican Generals also appointed a Commission, with Ex-President Herrera at its head, and the Commissioners were to meet on the 30^th to open the important business confided to them.

Gen. Scott remained encamped outside of the city.
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MG47v48n30p2c1, September 23, 1847 THE ARMISTICE

“THE ARMISTICE. The undersigned appointed respectively-the three first by Maj. General Winfield Scott, commander-in-chief of the armies of the United States; and the two last by his excellency D. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, president of the Mexican republic and commander-in-chief of its armies, met with full powers, which were duly verified in the village of Tacubaya, on the 22^nd day of August, 1847, to enter into an armistice, for the purpose of giving the Mexican government an opportunity to receiving propositions for peace from the commissioners appointed by the president of the United States, and now with the American army; when the following articles were agreed upon:

ART. 1. Hostilities shall instantly and absolutely cease between the armies of the United States of America and the United Mexican States, within 30 leagues of the capital of the latter states, to allow time to the commissioners appointed by the Mexican republic, to negotiate.

2. This armistice shall continue as long as the commissioners of the two governments may be engaged on negotiations, or until the commander of either of the said armies shall give formal notice to the other of the cessation of the armistice, and for 48 hours after such notice.

3. In the mean time, neither army shall, within thirty leagues of the city of Mexico, commence any new fortification, or military work of offence or defence, or do anything to enlarge or strengthen any existing work or fortification of that character, within the said limits.

4. Neither army shall be reinforced within the same. Any reinforcements in troops or munitions of war, other than subsistence now approaching either army, shall be stopped at the distance of twenty-eight leagues from the city of Mexico.

5. Neither army, nor any detachment from it, shall advance beyond the line it at present occupies.

6. Neither army, nor any detachment or individual of either, shall pass the neutral limits established by the last article, except under flags of truce bearing the correspondence between the two armies, or on the business authorized by the next article; and individuals of either army who may chance to straggle within the neutral limits, shall by the opposite party be kindly warned off or sent back to their own armies under flags of truce.

7. The American army shall not by violence obstruct the passage form the open country into the city of Mexico, of the ordinary supplies of food necessary to the consumption of its inhabitants, or the Mexican army within the city; nor shall the Mexican authorities, civil or military, do any act to obstruct the passage of supplies from the city, or the country needed by the American army.

8. All American prisoners of war remaining in the hands of the Mexican army, and not to heretofore exchanged, shall immediately, or as soon as practicable, be restored to the American army against a like number, having regard to rank, of Mexican prisoners captured by the American army.

9. All American citizens who were established in the city of Mexico prior to the existing war, and who have since been expelled from that city, shall be allowed to return to their respective business or families therein, without delay or molestation.

10. The better to enable the belligerent armies to execute these articles, and to favor the great object of peace, it is further agreed between the parties that any courier with dispatches that either army shall desire to send along the line from the city of Mexico or its vicinity, to and from Vera Cruz, shall receive a safe conduct from the commander of the opposing army.

11. The administration of justice between Mexicans, according to the general and state constitutions and laws, by the local authorities of the towns and places occupied by the American forces, shall not be obstructed in any manner.

12. Persons and property shall be respected in the towns and places occupied by the American forces. No person shall be molested in the exercise of his profession; nor the services of any one be required without his consent. In all cases where services are voluntarily rendered, a just price shall be paid, and trade remain unmolested.

13. Those wounded prisoners who may desire to remove to some more convenient place for the purpose of being cured of their wounds shall be allowed to do so without molestation, they still remaining prisoners.

14. Those Mexican medical officers who may wish to attend the wounded shall have the privilege of doing so, if their services be required.

15. For the more perfect execution of this agreement two commissioners shall be appointed, one by each party; who in case of disagreement shall appoint a third.

16. This is convention shall have no force or effect unless approved by their excellencies the commanders respectively of the two armies within 24 hours, reckoning from the sixth hour of the 23 rd day of August, 1847.

A. Quitman,
   Major Gen. U.S.A.

Persifer E. Smith,
   Bvt. Brig. Gen. U.S.A.

Franklin Pearce,
   Brigadier Gen. U.S.A.

IGNACIO DE MORA Y VILLAMIL,

BENITO QUJANO

A true copy of the original.

G.W. Lay, U.S.A.
Mil. Sec. to the General in chief
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MG47v48n31p2c3, September 30, 1847, GENERAL PILLOW

“Immortal hero! All thy foes o’ercome. Forever reigns the rival of Tom Thumb!”

The New Orleans Bulletin, by some means, has become possessed of the suppressed position of the communication of Leonidas. We give a specimen:

“He evinced on this, as he has done on other occasions, that masterly military genius and profound knowledge of the science of war, which has astonished so much 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 Gen. Scott was so perfectly well pleased with it that he could not interfere with any part of it, but left it to the gallant projector to carry it into glorious and successful execution.”

Napoleon, whose most splendid achievement, consisting in shutting an Austrian army of 80,000 men, and forcing it to surrender, by a succession of petty actions, without having fought a single pitched battle, was, before he performed it, the most experienced general in Europe. He had already commanded in five campaigns, and gained thirty pitched battles, among them Mentenotte, Lodi, Castiglione, Arcola, La Favorita, Rivoli, and Merango. He had destroyed seven armies, and made two hundred thousand prisoners. He had twice conquered Italy, overrun Egypt, shook the Sultan on his throne, and made England tremble for her East India possessions. How incomparably superior must be the genius of Pillow, which can set at naught all that experience alone can gain for inferior minds, and at once rival the most profound combinations of might Coriscan! But this is an age of progress Pillow has gotten out of Blackstone, what Bonaparte found in Vauhan. Illustrious name! With what ease does he leap over such “mere martinets,” as Scott and Worth!

But it seems that he is not merely the rival of Napoleon. He puts in also a claim to share the laurel with Achilles. Only listen!

“I must relate an interesting and exciting incident that occurred during the rage of battle.––A Mexican officer being seen by one of the General Pillow’s aids to leave the enemy’s lines, and to advance several yards nearer our position, the general, as soon as he head of the impudent rashness of the Mexican, put spurs to his charger and galloped at full speed towards him. As soon as he got near to the Mexican, the general called out in Spanish, Saque su sable pura defenderes–––let to the honor and process of our respective countries be determined by the issue of combat. Straightway the Mexican drew his sword with on hand and balanced his lance in the other, and rushed towards our General, who, with a revolver in one hand and his sabre in the other, waited the onset of the Mexican.–––The Mexican was a large, mascular man, and handled his arms with great vigor and skill; but our general with his lance, which the latter evaded with great promptitude and avidity, using his sword, tossed the weapon of the Mexican high into the air, and then quietly blew his brains out with his revolver. Both the American and the Mexican armies witnessed this splendid effort.”

Oh, rare Gideon! On unrivalled Pillow!––– worthy to be recorded by the sublime bard, who sang

“Oh rumpsey dumpsey,
Col. Johnson killed Tecumseh!”

When shall the world ever behold thy like again, The immortal Pop Emmons, being no longer among the living, where shall we find a bard who genius is equal to the lustre of thy most illustrious achievement?––Achilles was most fortunate in finding a Homer; but who shall be the Homer of this greater than Achilles? The old Greek (so runs the fable) prayed at the tomb of his hero, that he would arise clad in all his panoply, and thus give him an opportunity to describe him as he deserved! The hero appeared, but the effulgence of his glory was greater than mortal eyesight could sustain, and the bard was from that moment blind. Warned by this great example, what mortal having least consideration for his peepers, will venture to contemplate Pillow in all his glory?–––Who could tune his harp to so lofty a strain? Who hope to give posterity even a faint idea of his own overwhelming subject? There has been nothing like him since the days of the immortal Tom Thumb; unless, perhaps, history and song could press into their service the exploits of that renowned hero, known to ever nursery maid in Christendom as “Jack the Giant Killer.” Well might the Delta suppress such a prosaic description of such a sublime scene! Well might it refuse its columns to every attempt to describe it, not made in the legitimate language of Heroes, the genuine Hexameter verse! The English language, it has been said “sunk beneath Milton” when he composed his immortal Epic! So must it sink beneath any man who attempts to sing of Pillow. Yet we should see the attempt. Oh! That Pop had lived to see this day!–––Richmond Whig.
[BRM]

MG47v48n31p2c4, September 30, 1847, FROM THE BRAZOS

The New Orleans National publishes a letter dated Brazos Santiago, Sept. 3, in which it is stated that there is not a vessel at that place adopted to the transportation of the troops ordered from Gen. Taylor’s army to Vera Cruz. The writer adds–––

Of course nobody is to blame for sending troops into camp on a barren desert of burning sand, where there is neither wood nor water; the stormy season at hand, and no even adhesiveness enough in the drifting and parching sands to hold a tent pin or give permanency to a tent pole. The consequence will be alternate parchings and drenchings whilst awaiting transports, which will admirably prepare the troops for the graveyards of Vera Cruz.
[BRM]

MG47v48n31p2c4, September 30, 1847, Untitled

We commend to the particular attention of those friends of the Administration whose longing for Mexican territory is most ravenous the following evidence of public sentiment in the West on the subject:

From the Louisville Journal Sept. 17.

The Government Editor may as well permit the Western Whigs, and indeed the Whigs of all sections, to speak for themselves, as he will hardly receive many thanks form them for putting sentiments into their mouths which they spit out with scorn. His insinuation in the “Union” of last Saturday night, that the Western Whigs are in favor of stealing and annexing Mexican territory, is a calumny on their honesty, their love of country, and their reverence for the Constitution. The Western Whigs were firm and united in opposing the annexation of Texas, and now present a solid front against further appropriations of Mexican territory. They devotedly love our national Union, and sincerely believe that the disposition that now prevails to an alarming extent to wrest territory from weak neighbors is hostile to its perpetuity. They therefore oppose with all their might the further carrying of our national boundary stones into Mexican territory. They are satisfied with the Union as it is, and do not wish to see it place in peril to gratify an unhallowed lust for what does not and ought not belong to us.
[BRM]

October 1847

Thursday, October 7, 1847, MG47v48n32p1c7, Old Zach a “Double F” words: 44

As Gen. Taylor is from Virginia I suppose he belongs to the double F’s, remarked a gentleman the other day half sneeringly. “Yes sir ee,” replied a volunteer standing by, “he belongs to the ‘double F’s’ sure, for he is of a fighting family.”
[JKM]

Thursday, October 7, 1847, MG47v48n32p2c1, The War News words:

We lay before our readers today such news from the Seat of War, as we have received during the past week, consisting as it does of vague, and in some instances contradictory accounts, which must be as unsatisfactory to the reader as they have been perplexing to us.

All that is clearly ascertained is, that the armistice has been broken- that a bloody conflict has taken place in the streets of Mexico- that another awful sacrifice of human life has been made- and that the prospect of Peace is no brighter that it was on the day when hostile cannon “placed so as to command the principle streets” of Mexico City, first provoked that wretched people to war. We are free to say, that we do not share the fears, expressed by many, that the veteran Scott and his gallant little army, are in danger of either annihilation or capture. Their ranks may be fearfully thinned by the murderous fire of the infuriated Mexicans, but we have an abiding confidence in the military skill of their leader, who has never yet been placed in a situation from which he was not able to extricate himself with honor.

But, whilst the patriot’s heart swells proudly at the recital of the brilliant triumphs of our country’s arms, the oppressive though will obtrude itself upon the mind- where is all this to end? What real and substantial benefits are to be secured to our country by this war, to compensate us for the vast expenditure of blood and treasure? Surely this new Territory which Mr. Polk and his adherents seem determined to annex to our Union, no matter at what cost of human anguish, should be called Aceldama- the field of blood! There is a legend of one of the mighty conquerors of old, which runs somewhat in this wise. The King proposed to erect a monument which should transmit to succeeding generations, a faithful record of his greatness and his glory. With this view he committed a sage who had been one of the cherished counselors of his father, as to the form and material of his proposed structure. “Shall it be,” said the majesty, “a stately pyramid or a magnificent Temple?” “Let it be a pyramid sire,” replied the philosopher. “But not of brass or marble. Make it of the skulls of your victims, and let the triumphs of your reign be inscribed upon it in characters of blood!”

Could a monstrous pyramid be made of the blackened corpses of the victims of this war, are surrounded by a moat which would be a vast receptacle of the blood and tears which it has shed, Surely the wildest votary of “manifest destiny would turn from the appalling spectacle and exclaim, “We have paid too dearly for our glory!” We are confident that if the voice of the nation could be heard, it would say to the President, “what thou doest do quickly!” If nothing less than the subjugation of Mexico is necessary to conquer a Peace,” in mercy’s name send an army into that country which will be sufficient to conclude the drama at once. We are at war, no matter who is to blame, and the desire of every patriot should be, to see it brought to a successful and speedy termination.
[JKM]

Thursday, October 7, 1847, MG47v48n32p2c2, Untitled words: 303

Plan of Union between Great Britain and the United States- We observe in a recent number of one of the London Monthly Journals, a lengthy letter from Robert Sears, Esq., of New York, headed – “Alliance of Perpetual Friendship between England and America.” We take the following extracts from the letter. The sentiments will meet with the approval and concurrence of the good men of both countries.

“Never, in my humble opinion, were there two nations so prepared for a perfect truce, and combined action; never was the opportunity for arranging it so bright and promising: and never was the call, both within and without, at home and abroad, so urgent and so plain.”

“It has often occurred to me, as one of the noble enterprises that could be effected in this world, if your country and ours could be indeed to enter into a solemn agreement: First, that all disputes which may arise between us shall be settled by arbitration, and never by an appeal to arms; Secondly, that we shall combine in every way which shall commend itself to the united judgments of both nations to engage in a mission of benevolence towards the entire human race.”

“It is said, ‘England and America AGAINST the World!’ Let us say, ‘England and America for the World!” How mighty would such a confederation be for the interests of peace, of freedom, of commerce, and Christianity!”

The subject is truly of great importance, and one in which Mr. Sears has been, and is now deeply engaged in bringing before the people of England and America, through the influence of that mighty instrument- the Press. A leading article on the subject, from the pen of the same gentleman, appeared but a few weeks since in one of the leading and most influential papers in the Union.
[JKM]

Thursday, October 7, 1847, MG47v48n32p2c2, Gen. Scott's speech to the Army words: 247

The military correspondent of the Journal of Commerce, from whose letter we made some extracts yesterday, after describing the battle of Churubusco, thus alludes to the thrilling scene of the reception of Gen. Scott by the troops, which has been before described in our paper: Richmond Times.

When it was over, the General in Chief (Scott) rode in among the troops. It would have done your heart good to hear the shout with which they made the welkin ring. Several old soldiers seized the General’s hand with expressions of enthusiastic delight. Suddenly at a motion of his hand, silence ensued, when in the fullness of his heart he poured forth a few most eloquent and patriotic words, in commendation of their gallant conduct. When he ceased, there arose another should that might have been heard in the grand plaza of Mexico.

During the thrilling scene, I looked up to a balcony of the church that had been so bravely defended. It was filled with Mexican prisoners. Among them Gen. Rincon, a venerable old soldier, was leaning forward, his countenance glowing, and his eyes sparkling with every manifestation of delight. I verily believe that the old veteran, with the spirit of a true soldier, upon beholding a victorious General so greeted by the brave men he had just led to victory, forgot, for the moment, his own position,- that he was defeated and a prisoner,- and saw and thought only of the enthusiasm by which he was surrounded.
[JKM]

Thursday, October 7, 1847, MG47v48n32p2c3, Important from Mexico words: 3,306

Another Great Victory

The Armistice Terminated- Battle of Mill Del Rey- Reported Repulse of our Army with heavy loss- Rumors of the Deaths of Generals Smith, Worth, and Pillow- Battle of Chapultepec- Great American Victory- Our troops taken Possession of the Capital- Generals Bravo and Leon killed and Santa Anna wounded

The New Orleans Picayune of the 26^th of September, received last night, contains the following very important intelligence from General Scott’s army:

The steamship James L. Day, Capt. O’Grady, arrived yesterday from Vera Cruz, which place she left on the evening of the 21rst inst., bringing intelligence of the greatest importance.

As we anticipated in our paper of yesterday the negotiations resulted in nothing. The last letter from Mr. Kendall is dated the 5^th inst. and our file of the Diario del Gobierno does not come down later than the 4^th, but the Arco Iris of Vera Cruz has a letter from the city of Mexico dated the 10^th inst., together with extracts from the Diario del Gobierno and Boletin of Allisco, to the 12^th, which, together with the letter we publish. The manner in which the armistice was terminated will be learned from the extract we copy. Mr. Kendall’s letters show that a feeling of hostility was growing with the people of the capital as early as the 30^th of last month, and the Congress of the State of Mexico in session at Toluca had declared against peace. Notwithstanding repeated belligerent demonstrations by the enemy, and a positive violation of the armistice in our wagons not being permitted by the mob to enter the city for provisions, negotiations were still pending to as late a date as the 6^th. The Arco Iris received letters from Mexico under date of the 9^th, stating that on the 7^th of Mexican commissioners declared that the propositions made by Mr. Triste was inadmissible, in consequence of which Gen. Santa Anna convoked a council of Generals, who decided that notice should be given immediately to Gen. Scott that the armistice was at an end, and appointed the 9^th for the recommencement of hostilities.

On the 6^th Gen. Scott addressed from Tacubaya the following note to Santa Anna:

HEADQUARTERS ARMY U. STATES,
September 6, 1817

To his Excellency the President of General in Chief of the Republic of Mexico:

The 7^th and 12^th articles of the armistice or military convention which I had the honor of ratifying exchanging with your Excellency on the 24^th ultimo, stipulate that the army under my command shall have the privilege of obtaining supplies from the city of Mexico. There were repeated violations of these articles soon after the armistice was signed, and I have now good reasons for believing that within the last twenty-four hours, if not before, the 3^rd article of the same convention was also violated by the same parties. These direct breaches of good faith give to this army the full right to commence hostilities against Mexico without giving any notice. However, I will give the necessary time for any explanation, satisfaction, or reparation. If these are not given, I hereby formally notify you that if I do not receive the most complete satisfaction on all these points before 12 o’clock tomorrow, I shall consider the armistice as terminated from that hour.

I have the honor to be your Excellency’s obedient servant,
WINFIELD SCOTT

To this Santa Anna made the following reply:

HEADQ’S ARMY OF MEXICAN REPUBLIC
September 6, 1847

To his Excellency Gen. Winfield Scott, Commander-in-Chief of the Army of the United States.

Sir,- By the note of your Excellency under this date I learn, with surprise, that you consider that the civil and military authorities of Mexico have violated articles 7, 12, and 13, of the armistice which I concluded with your Excellency on the 24^th of last month.

The civil and military authorities of Mexico have not obstructed the passage of provisions for the American Army; and if at times their transmission has been retarded, it has been owing to the impudence of the American agents, who, without having a previous understanding with the proper authorities, gave occasion for popular outbreaks, which it has cost the Mexican Government much trouble to repress. Last night and the night before the escorts for the provision train were ready to start, and were only detained because Mr. Hargous, the agent, desired it.

The orders given to suspend the intercourse between the two armies were addressed to private individuals, and not to the agents of the army of the United States, and were intended purposely to expedite the transmission of provisions to the army, and to confine the intercourse to that object exclusively. In return for this conduct your Excellency has prevented the owners or managers the grain mills in the vicinity of the city from furnishing flour to the city, which is a true breach of the good faith your Excellency had pledged me.

It is false that any new work or fortification has been undertaken, because one or two repairs have only served to place them in the same condition they were in on the day the armistice was entered into, accident or the convenience of the moment having caused the destruction of the then existing works. You have had early notice of the establishment of the battens covered with mud walls of the house of Garry in the city, and did not remonstrate, because the peace of the two great Republics could not be made to depend upon things grave in themselves, but of little value compared to the result in which all the friends of humanity and of the prosperity of the American continent take so great an interest. [There is some obscurity in this sentence, which, it is probably, is owning to typographical errors.- Eds. Pic.]

It is not without grief and even indignation that I have received communications from the cities and villages occupied by the army of your Excellency, in relation to the violation of the temples consecrated to the worship of God: to the plunder of the sacred vases, and to the profanation of the images venerated by the Mexican people. Profoundly have I been afflicted by the complaints of fathers and husbands, of the violence offered to their daughters and wives; and these same cities and villages have been sacked not only in violation of the armistice, but of the sacred principles proclaimed and respected by civilized nations. I have observed silence to the present moment, in order not to obstruct the progress of negotiations which held out the hope of termination a scandalous war, and one which your Excellency has characterized so justly as unnatural.

But I shall desist offering apologies, because I cannot be blind to the truth that the true cause of the threats of renewing hostilities, contained in the note of your Excellency, is that I have not been willing to sign a treaty which would lesson considerably the territory of the Republic, and not only the Republic, but the dignity and integrity which all nations defend to the last extremity. And if these considerations have not the same weight in the mind of your Excellency, all responsibility before the world, who can easily distinguish on whose side are moderation and justice, will fall upon you.

I flatter myself that your Excellency will be convinced on calm reflection of the weight of my reasons. But, if by misfortune, your should seek only a pretext to deprive the first city of the American continent of an opportunity to free the unarmed population of the horrors of war, there will be left me no other means of salvation, but to repel force by force with the decision and energy which my high obligations impose upon me.

I have the honor to be your Excellency’s humble servant.

ANTONIO LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA

On the 7^th, General Herrera, as commandant of the city of Mexico, addressed the clergy, exhorting them to exert their influence to incite the people to arm themselves and prepare to resist the American army.

Following up events as closely as the somewhat disconnected accounts will permit, in the order in which they occurred, we find that on the 8^th, Gen. Scott attacked the Mill del Rey, or King’s Mill, in the immediate vicinity of Chapultepec, and according to the Diario del Gobierno and Boletin, published at Atlisco, our army was repulsed after a severe conflict in which we lost about 400 in killed, and from 600 to 700 in wounded, and fell back upon Tacubaya. We give below a translation of the Boletin’s description of the engagement; premising, that the reader will bear in mind it is, in all probability, a great exaggeration, if not an entire misrepresentation. It is from an extra of the Boletin, issued on the 9^th inst.:

At half past 5 in the morning, (the 8^th) the first commenced on the two flanks of Chapultepec. The left was resting on the mill of El Rey, close to the forest of Chapultepec. This point was commanded by Gen. Leon, and under his command was the battalion of Mina, whose colonel was the patriotic Balderas, and the battalions Union and La Patria, of Oaxaca, in one of which were included the companies of Puebla, also a body from Queretaro and some others- all composing the National Guard. The right flank rested on the house of Mata, at a distance of a quarter of a league from Chapultepec, and occupied by 1500 of the regular army, commanded by Gen. Perez. The enemy, in two columns, with his usual daring, attacked these points- first with artillery, and at a quarter to 6 with a rapid fire of musketry.

Gen. Perez sustained the fire very well for about half an hour, when for causes at present unknown, he retired with his forces, although he had not lost ten men. The retreat must have been fatal to Mexico, if fortunately, Gen. Leon and his brigade had not shown prodigies of valor. Twice he repulsed the column that attacked him, and in the second he sallied from his position to recover the artillery Gen. Perez had lost; but then he received a mortal wound, and a few moments afterwards the valiant Balderas was also wounded, and died on the field. The enemy with additional forces again charged and took possession of the mill. Twice he was dislodged, but on his retaking it the third time, it was found impossible to bring our troops to the charge.

In spite of these two advantages which they had gained in their endeavors to attack Chapultepec, they could not affect a farther advance, which may be owing to their being intimidated by the resistance of our forces and the considerable loss they had suffered. The result was, that at 9 o’clock in the morning the fire of small arms had nearly ceased, and they were seen employed collecting their killed and wounded. At 11 o’clock, the enemy announced a retrograde movement, and by 2 in the afternoon he withdrew all his forces to Tacabaya, abandoning the two points he had occupied, and blowing up the house of Malta, although some say it was set on fire by a bomb fired from Chapultepec. It is believed that Generals Twiggs and Pierce directed the attack, and they put in motion about 8,000 men.

It is certain that the fire was more intense and brisk than at Churubusco. It is impossible to ascertain the loss on either side. Ours does not amount to 100 killed and 250 wounded. There are few missing- nearly all not killed or wounded retiring to Chapultepec. The enemy, according to the confession of an Irishman who came over to us in the evening, carried off 400 dead and 600 to 700 wounded.

We have to lament the loss of Gen. Leon, since dead; that of Col. Balderas, of the valiant Cols. Huerta and Gelati, and of the determined Capt. Mateos, of Puebla, who conducted himself like a hero, telling his soldiers, on the point of death, that they must never forget they were Pueblanos, and to fight valiantly to the death.

If the cavalry had taken the position assigned to them at 4 o’clock in the morning, by order of Gen. Santa Anna, and if, above all, they had made the charge which was ordered at the moment that the enemy attacked the mill del Rey, instead of flying precipitately, the action would have terminated early and the triumph would have been complete. But they did not take the position to which they were ordered, much less make the charge, as commanded, Gen. Alvarez being obliged to state officially or through his adjutant that he did not make the charge, because his subordinate officers refused on account of the ground being too uneven and broken for cavalry, as if it were not the same for the cavalry of the enemy.

It is believed that the enemy will renew the attack tomorrow by another route- either by that of La Pieded, or by that of San Antonio. May God protect our cause on this occasion.

One of the enemy’s guerillas who came with Scott, was made a prisoner and shot on the spot.

The next accounts we have from the capital come in a letter to the Arco Iris, dated the 10^th instant. We subjoin a translation of it:

Mexico, Sept. 10, 1846

My Esteemed fried: The whole day has passed without an attack. At 2 in the afternoon an alarm was created by the appearance of two columns and two guerilla parties which were seen on the causeway of Pleded. A few shots were exchanged and the enemy withdrew. According to all appearance we shall be attacked tomorrow at three points, as the enemy, during the night has been reconnoitering the country, by means of Camp lanterns (farot de Campana.) The government has taken $300,000 which were being sent by a commercial house to the camp of the enemy.

Gen. Smith has expired, and by the enclosed slip you will see that the Americans mutilated, and cruelly assassinated the unfortunate Irish, who were taken at the battle of Churubusco.

Sept 11- It is 7 o’clock in the morning and thus far nothing has transpired.

In addition, we find the subjoined extract from the Boletin de Atlisco, containing intelligence from the capital, under the date of the 11^th and 12^th instant, which give a continued narrative of the operations of the two armies:

Mexico, Sept. 12, 1847

My Esteemed Friend, under cover of what I sent you last night I stated nothing new, at which we were surprised, as it did not rain, and we expected to be attacked. Thus we passed the morning until 3 o’clock in the evening, when the alarm bell was rung, and it was ascertained that there was firing of artillery at Chapultepec and San Antonio Abad. In the first point it was caused by the approach of a force of the enemy’s cavalry, which took position on the hills of Tacubaya; moving from that village towards Morales, and there a skirmish with a party of our cavalry took place, in which a captain and several of our soldiers were killed and some twenty of the enemy wounded with the lance.

In San Antonio Abad the fire upon the battery, of the enemy, which is in a little hermitage half in ruins and situated at the end of the Causeway del Nino Perdido or La Piedad, which leads to San Angel, the enemy fired from six to eight bombs, of which but one fell without exploding. The others we saw burst in the air. We then gave them several shots, well directed, one of which fell within the very hermitage, raising a great dust; in consequence of which the enemy did not fire more that three of four shots up to 6 o’clock. A strong norther, which was blowing, prevented us from hearing them, and we only saw the smoke.

It is said that tomorrow they will open with forty pieces on the batteries of “garitas.” [At the moment we cannot hit upon an English word which will convey the meaning of this. Garitas are the places in the immediate vicinity of cities, at which the revenue is collected- Eds Pic.] Or, perhaps, bombard the city from these points situated in the neighborhood of the village of Piedad, which I have no doubt they will do after taking any one of the garitas, particularly the one of San Antonio Abad, which is the most advanced, being in a straight line with Palacio, which is nearly on a parallel with the batteries of the enemy and takes them in flank.

It appears that the enemy is convinced of the impossibility of reducing the capital by any other means because there is no doubt that he has lost 900 to 1000 men who were placed hors de combat by the action of the 8^th, and among them 37 officers and 3 colonels killed and 1 colonel wounded. It appears that the death of Gen. Pillow is uncertain.

In compensation for his loss, or whatever you like, they hung yesterday at San Angel all the prisoners of the Legion of St. Patrick they took at Churubusco, when all the world thought they would have been spared capital punishment. They have expelled from their houses all the inhabitants of the village of Mizcoac, in order to establish there their hospitals and head quarters.

Last night a parcel of men started to work at the fortification at the call of the justices of the peace, animated by the most lively feeling. Besides the Penon and Chapultepec, where the natural advantages, there were strong defenses, and where they are first, second, and third lines of defense, all the “garitas” are strongly fortified, having besides between La Piedad and San Antonio Abad three batteries and one trench which transverses diagonally the grazing grounds and united the two “garitas.”

Sept. 12- At 5 o’clock in the morning the bells awoke us by the announcement of an alarm. The batteries of San Antonio Abad and the corresponding battery of the enemy opened a fire upon each other. We have seen discharged by the enemy a multitude of bombs the greater number of which burst in the air, and long before they reach our trenches. At the same hour a firing commenced at Chapultepec, on the right side of which and in the mountains, whence came the attack, at a short distance from the enemy are stationed our forces of cavalry and infantry, who are watching the enemy.

We opened, at half after 6, from the battery of the “garita” of Behen, or it may be from that starting from the end of Pasco Noeva, which is situated in the angle formed by the gateway leading to the villages of La Piedad and Tacubaya. But where the enemy directed all his efforts appears to be the “garita” of San Antonio Abad. The servant is at the door; I must close- the alarm bell still continues to ring.

This brings us to the 12^th, but at what hour of the day the letter was closed we are not informed. Of the denouement we have only a brief account, but sufficient: to assure us that our arms have achieved a brilliant triumph, and that our army is “reveling in the Halls of Montezumas.” The only reliable account we have of the last struggle before the Capital is in a letter addressed to Mr. Dimond, our collector at Vera Cruz, from Orizaba, which will be found below. Our correspondent of Vera Cruz vouches for its accuracy, and we have reason to believe it is from the same source as was the letter giving the first and a correct account of the battles of Contreras and Churubusco.
[JKM]

Thursday, October 7, 1847, MG47v48n32p2c7, Latest News words: 437

Gen. Scott in Full Possession of the City of Mexico

Since the above was in type, we have received the Baltimore Sun, which copies from the N.Y. Sun, a letter from a Spanish Mexican to a mercantile firm in New York, which gives intelligence up to the 19^th- three days later than the accounts by the James L. Day.

The letter states that on the 13^th the Americans made a demonstration on the Mill of El Rey and Chapultepec, a hill between Tacubaya and the city, “overlooking a vast range of country, and commanding the road between Tacubaya and the city.” The letter goes on to state, that the American troops were twice repulsed, but on the third onset succeeded in taking the fortress on the hill, “he (General Scott) then turned his batteries on the Mill, which the Mexicans were forced to abandon.” “The enemy,” says the Mexican, “fought like devils, whom it was impossible to defeat without annihilating.” The Mexican loss was, as the writer states, not over 300, whilst that of the assailants was over 400, (Mexican authority, remember.) Santa Anna caused a number of ditches to be cut, which retarded the progress of Gen. Scott so, that he did not reach the gates till late in the evening, “here he halted and attempted to bombard the city, which he did during the balance of the evening, and the next day, doing immense damage. In some instances, whole blocks were destroyed and a great number of men, women and children killed. The picture was awful.”

Gen. Scott then changed his plan and determined to take the city by storm. “Before he passed the gates, a storm of balls and stones rained from the houses of his troops,” he nevertheless made his way towards the plaza, and took the convent San Isador, and at once set his Sappers to work to cut a way through the houses. “In some instances, whole houses were blown up, and this he made his way to the plaza, which he entered with great loss. Here he opened a heavy fire on the Cathedral and Palace. Seeing further resistance useless our troops retired, and on the 15^th of September, the enemy was in possession of the Mexican capital.” The writer confesses a loss on their side of over 4000, and sets down our loss at 1000. Santa Anna has retired, severely wounded, to Guadalupe. “Thousands,” says the writer, “are gathered on the hills, determined to cut off all supplies from the enemy! We shall yet have vengeance.

Many of the killed and wounded of the Mexicans were women and children.
[JKM]

Thursday, October 7, 1847, MG47v48n32p2c7, Tennessee Volunteers words: 261

Upon the call of the War Department for five companies of Volunteers, fifteen have responded, and lost cast for a selection. The five successful companies are about to be mustered into service. They are by this time in Memphis.

The ten unsuccessful companies in the ballot have offered their services to the President, if another requisition should be needed.

Here is an example for Virginia! Will it be lost upon the valiant supporters of the war, who are so prompt to resent Whig opposition? By why need we ask this? Have we not ready sufficient proof, that no matter how loud the professions from the mouth, the hearts of the Democracy of Virginia are not in the contest. They feel, that while something of the soldier’s fame may be won in it, there is nothing in a War of Invasion upon which the soldier’s conscience can repose in the hours of calm reflection.

Who can doubt that some such influence is operating in Virginia, when it is found that even two companies cannot be raised in five months? We will not believe that the courage and chivalry of the Old Dominion have departed- and therefore we are bound to give the most reasonable construction to the lethargy which now prevails. But we may venture to ask, has the “pride of other days” faded, or has “glory’s thrill” lost its heart-warming potency in the bosoms of our young men? We think it not improbable that some of the greyheads will yet have to rally to the standard of the State – Rich. Republican.
[JKM]

Thursday, October 7, 1847 MG47v48n32p2c7, Untitled words: 96

Gen. Santa Anna attributes his ill success in the battles of Contreras and Churubusco to the disobedience of one of his Generals- VALENCIA- whom his had ordered on the morning of the 18^th to quit San Angel and fall back on the village Coyocan. Valencia disregarding this order, thereby destroyed the whole plan of his operations, and made himself responsible for the defeat of the Mexican arms. This is the best excuse Santa Anna has yet given the Mexican people for the loss of a battle, and he has been obliged to give a good many.
[JKM]

Thursday, October 7, 1847, MG47v48n32p3c1, Letter From Gen. Taylor words: 471

From the Raleigh Register

We have the pleasure of laying before our readers today a letter from Gen. Taylor, responding to the meeting held in his favor, in this city, on the 3^rd of July last. Like everything proceeding from his pen, it is characterized by a modesty and simplicity, always indicative of true greatness. It is very evident, however, on its face, that the General while he does no seek will not decline the nominations of the people all over the Union:

Correspondence
Raleigh, July 5, 1847

To Maj. Gen. Z. Taylor

Sir- In obedience to a Resolution passed at a very large and respectable meeting held in this City on the 3^rd. inst., respecting the next occupancy of the Executive Chair of our Republic, I have the pleasure of enclosing a copy of the proceedings of that assemblage of the people, and sincerely hope their perusal will afford you as much pleasure, as their passage, without a dissenting voice, did your numerous friends on that occasion. We will cordially esteem your many virtues, and great abilities, and well-tried patriotism, and desire, with your approbation, to manifest our sincerity, by voting for you to fill the highest office in the gift of a FREE PEOPLE. We hold in grateful remembrance your services to our common country, and are enthusiastic in your cause; because we believe the true interest of our country will be promoted by your election to the Presidency.

With sentiments of high esteem and respect, I am your obedient servant.

GEO. W. HAYWOOD

Headquarters Army of Occupation
Camp near Monterey, Aug. 2, 1847

Sir- The copy of the Resolutions recently passed in the City of Raleigh, N.C., on the 3^rd of July, and which you were charged with communicating to me, has been with your letter duly received.

Be pleased to convey to the voters of that District of North Carolina, my deep appreciation of the high honor they have conferred upon me in their nomination. While I am willing to yield to the popular will, and serve the country in any capacity to which I may be freely and unanimously called, I may be permitted to say, that I have not the assurance to believe that my abilities are suited to the discharge of such responsible duties as rest upon the office of Chief Magistracy. My best efforts, however, will always be exercised in the cause of the country, in whatever position it may be my fortune to be placed.

Accept for yourself, sir, my best acknowledgements for the very courteous and flattering manner in which you were pleased to communicate these resolutions, and my wishes for your continued prosperity and health.

I am sir, with high respect
Your most obedient servant
Z. TAYLOR
Maj. Gen. U.S.A.

Geo. W. Haywood, Esp., Chairman late public meeting,Raleigh, N.C.
[JKM]

Thursday, October 7, 1847 MG47v48n32p3c2, Gen. Pillow Again words: 426

The New Orleans Delta has at length states unequivocally that the paragraphs inserted in the famous letter of “Leonidas” (the camp Bosweil in Gen. Pillow,) are not genuine, and that they have no sort of similarity to those portions of the letter of “Leonidas,” which, for very good reasons doubtless, the Delta thought it advisable to suppress. Let it be admitted, then, that the Bulletin and the Picayune were hoaxed, and that we were caught in the same trap. What must be the public estimate of an individual in regard to whom such a hoax could be successful attempted? The extracts were believed to be genuine, because they were characteristic. If such stories had been told of Gen. Taylor or Gen. P.F. Smith, or indeed of any one but Gen. Pillow, there is not a man so dull as not to have pronounced them silly fables at once. And again: The Delta has not told us why it suppressed those portions of the letter of “Leonidas,” which, by the admission of its editors, are so “exceedingly rich,” nor can it be prevailed upon to let its readers see them. Why so chary? After claiming for Gen. Pillow all the credit of planning the battles and achieving the victories of the 19^th and 20^th of August, what must have been the character of that part of the narrative which even the “organ of Gen. Pillow” would not print? It may be, we repeat that the paragraphs published by the Bulletin and the Picayune are not the “suppressed” portions of Leonidas’s letter- but it yet remains to be seen that the latter are not quite as “rich” that is to say, as ridiculous- as the former.

P.S. Since the foregoing was in type, we have received the Picayune of the 21rst, in which it is admitted, on the authority of a gentleman what has seen the original letter of Leonidas, that the passages heretofore published are spurious- but it adds, on the same authority, that those actually in the letter, are suppressed by the Delta, were scarcely inferior to the imaginative ones in “richness.” – in their fulsome laudation of Gen. Pillow’s military prowess “So far as we are at present informed (adds the Picayune,) the infamy of the transaction rests either with Mr. Joseph Grant of Camp street, or Judge Alexander Walker of the Delta, or with both of them.” Mr. Grant furnished the passages to the Bulletin and Picayune, and told the Editors that he had those passages in the handwriting of Judge Walker himself!- Rich. Whig.
[JKM]

Thursday, October 7, 1847 MG47v48n32p3c2, Gen. Taylor’s Position words: 179

It must be confessed that, if peace do not follow Mr. Trist’s negotiations at the capital, the position of Gen. Taylor will be one of imminent peril. Santa Anna may succeed in removing a part of his force from the capital, or whether he do or not, there are Paredes, Valencia, who is said to have escaped from the city, and a dozen more Generals who can raise a large force at any time, and make a decent upon Saltillo, where there are not more than three thousand troops at this time. Gen. Taylor is himself three miles from Monterey, with three hundred dragoons at the outside and Bragg’s Battery. In Monterey itself there are but about five hundred men. The guerillas are increasing in numbers, and if our enemy were any other than Mexicans, we should expect daily to hear of their pouncing down upon the Old Chief at his present encampment. We see no provision made for reinforcing Gen. Taylor, should the war be protracted, and we have no proof that hostilities will soon close.- Rich. Rep.
[JKM]

Thursday, October 7, 1847 MG47v48n32p3c2, General Paredes words: 202

A New Orleans paper of the 21rst mentions that one of the Mexican prisoners in that place had received a letter from Mexico, dated in the afternoon of the 28^th of August, in which it is stated that Gen. Paredes had entrusted the city of Mexico with a large force, arrested Santa Anna, and imprisoned him. The Picayune of the next day says:

“We do not believe a word in the Mexican letter report. After the experience of the past few months, it is enough for that the intelligence comes through a Mexican prisoner. We have not been badly bitten by these gentry, but we have “heard tell “of those who have. But furthermore, we have published letter from Mexico and Tacubaya of the 28^th of August, and we have seen many more of the same date. They are from all sources- American, Mexican, Spanish, and English- and none of them have made any mention of this movement of Paredes. We all expect much from him, but that he had so far succeeded as to have his great rival in prison on the 28^th ult., we do no credit at all. There is quite too much of the Mexican about this story.”
[JKM]

Thursday, October 14, 1847, MG47v48n33p1c6, Letters of John P. Kennedy words: 4,971

No.2

To the citizens of the 4^th Congressional District, and particularly to the Mechanics and Workingmen of the District of both Political Parties.

My subject is now the Mexican war. I mean to devote this and one or two other letters to that subject, for two reasons: First, that, intrinsically, it is a very important topic to the people of the United States just now; and Second, because there has been a great deal of studied and perverse misrepresentation spread abroad in regard to it, with a view to bring the Whigs into disesteem, and to cover up and conceal a very awkward political blunder made by Mr. Polk. The outcry, however, has not yet hurt the Whigs in the opinion of any judicious men, nor has it been very successful in hiding Mr. Polk’s delinquencies from the public. Some men seem to think that to slander the Whigs is the best way to screen the President. Mr. Polk himself has set the example in his last annual message, in which he intimates that any man who will not adopt his opinion about the origin of the war, is a traitor. A traitor for not believing what he, the President, announces to be a fact! Some of “the organs” repeat this miserable slang. One of them says, for instance, “the treason of Benedict Arnold is nothing” compared to this refusal of the Whigs to believe Mr. Polk- for this is the amount of it. When men write and publish such driveling nonsense as this, it only shows what a contemptuous opinion they have for those whom they expect to believe them.

I intend to give a history of the origin of the present war, which I shall take, as much as possible, from the official records of the country, and from the recorded opinions and proceedings of the most distinguished leaders of the Democratic Party. These I shall endeavor to lay before you in the simplest and clearest narrative I can give. You will then be able to judge for yourselves, whether the Whigs are right or wrong in what they have said and done about this war.

It is proper, therefore, before I begin the narrative, that I should explain to you what have been and are the opinions the resolves of the Whigs in regard to the war. I will do this in a few words:

1. First: The Whig party believe that whatever wrongs or injuries Mexico may have done to this country- and we do not deny they were many- still the President had no right to make war upon Mexico, without the consent of Congress, to whom the war making power exclusively belongs.

2. Second: That the present war did not begin by the act of Mexico, as Mr. Polk declared, but by the act of Mr. Polk himself, in ordering an army to march into territory under the jurisdiction of Mexico, for the acquisition of which our government had proposed to open negotiations with Mexico, in the hope of being able to purchase it from the nation.

3. Third: The Whigs have held, and still hold, the opinion- notwithstanding the manner this war was commenced,- that, being commenced, their duty was to give the administration all the supplies of men and money which it might ask for, to prosecute the war to a successful termination; and accordance with this opinion they have voted for everything asked for that purpose by the government- and will continue so to vote, if the war is to be continued.

The Whigs, in common with the whole country, feel a grateful pride in the gallantry of our soldiers, and in the glorious success of their arms. In proof of their willingness to encounter the perils and sacrifices of the war, they have furnished their share,- and more than their share- of the bravest officers and men, to the army. Without, therefore, boasting to be more patriotic that their opponents, they treat with a becoming scorn all attempts to represent them as wanting in love of country, or in any just appreciation of its true glory.

These are the views and sentiments of the Whigs, everywhere announced and acted upon.

I now proceed to show upon what foundation their opinions have been formed in regard to Mr. Polk’s conduct in the origin of the war.

This will require that I should recall a few facts connected with the annexation of Texas. The treaty for the annexation was made at Washington on the 12^th of April, 1844. This treaty was rejected by the Senate on the 8^th of June following, by the vote of 35 to 16- Messrs. Benton and Wright both voting against it.

I have given these two names because they may be considered undisputed leaders of the Democratic Party.

What were their objections to this treaty? I shall presently quote their own words to show what their objections were; but before I do so it was necessary to say a word as to the geographical division of Mexico.

It has never been denied by any one that the river Nueces was the boundary which divided the province of Texas from the province of Tamaulipas, through which latter province the Rio Grande runs, into the Gulf- Matamoras being its capital. This was the old boundary. And when Mexico, in 1824, formed her confederation of nineteen States, Tamaulipas became one State and Texas another, with the same boundary, to wit, the Nueces, separating one from the other, as the Potomac separates Virginia from Maryland. In 1835 the confederation was broken up by Santa Anna. Tamaulipas and the other States joined the new Government, but Texas refused; revolted against the Government, and declared her independence as a separate State. That independence she secured by the battle of San Jacinto, in 1836.

A few months after the battle of San Jacinto, the Congress of Texas determined the enlarge the boundaries, and accordingly passed a law by which they declared their boundary, on the west, to be the Rio Grande from the mouth to its source; thence due north to the 42^nd degree of latitude; and from that point along the boundary of the United States to the Gulf of Mexico. This boundary, as you will see by looking at the map, - which I hope you will do.- extends far beyond the limits of the State of Texas as it was known to the Mexican Confederation, and takes in a large part of four Mexican provinces which have never revolted against the Government, nor ever been conquered by Texas. These four provinces are Tamaulipas, Coahuila, Chihuahua and New Mexico.

What right Texas had to extend her boundary over her neighbors has never been explained. I find that she even had it in contemplation to take the whole of California into her empire: - She only did not do this because it was not convenient. My authority for this fact is a matter of public record. In August, 1836, Gen. Jackson sent Mr. Henry M. Morfit to Texas, as an agent on the part of this Government, to inquire what was doing, and particularly to look after the subject of annexation. This gentleman wrote several dispatches to the Government, which have been published by Congress. In one of these he writes- “The political limits of Texas proper, previous to the last revolution, were the Nueces river on the West; along the Red river on the North; the Sabine on the East, and the Gulf of Mexico on the South.”

Then on the 27^th of August, in the same year, he writes further – “It was the intention of this Government, immediately after the battle of San Jacinto, to have claimed from the Rio Grande along the river to the 30^th degree of latitude, and thence due West to the Pacific. It was found, however, that this would not strike a convenient point in California; that it would be difficult to control a wondering population so distant, and that the territory now determined upon would be sufficient for a young Republic.”

These letters may be found in the documents of the House of Representatives No. 35, 2^nd session of the 24^th Congress.

So, it appears, from the gentleman’s researches, that the only reason why Texas was not made to embrace California was a mere matter of convenience, and that she had determined what she was about to take from the four provinces I have mentioned above, was quite sufficient for a young Republic!

I shall continue this narrative in the next letter.

J.P. Kennedy

No.3

In my last number, I showed you what Mr. Morfit, the agent of our Government in Texas, reported to the department at Washington, in regard to the question of the boundary of the new Republic. Texas was at the moment, in the flush of extravagant exultation for the victory of San Jacinto, which was won only a short time before Mr. Morfit arrived, and she manifestly thought she could assume what boundary she pleased. In point of right, her dominion could only extend over the territory belonging to the old State of Texas. Tamaulias had not revolted, neither had Cahuila, nor Chihuahua nor New Mexico- nor had any portion of these states been conquered by Texas in the war. The extension of her boundary, therefore, over any part of the territory belonging to these States, was a mere nullity,- just as much so, as if Maryland were to pass an act in her Legislature extending the limits of this State to the James River. And if Texas had chosen to include California, as Mr. Morfit tells us she thought of doing, her right to that region would have not been a whit less substantial than it was to the Rio Grande.

We may now come back to the treaty of annexation, and we shall be able to understand why Mr. Benton and Mr. Wright voted against it. The language of the 1rst article of that treaty, so far as relates to the session, is as follows: The Republic of Texas, action in conformity with the wishes of the people and every department of its government, cedes to the United States all its territories to be held by them in full property and sovereignty.

Now, when this treaty came into discussion in the Senate, Mr. Benton took a leasing part and made a speech, which was very carefully studied, and which may be justly said to be distinguished for its ability. In that speech he uses the following language:

"In a poor letter which I lately published on the subject of Texas, and in answer to a letter from the members of the Texas Congress, a copy of which was published without my knowledge, while the original has not yet come to hand: in this poor letter, I took occasion to discriminate between the old province of Texas, and the new Republic of Texas, and to show that the latter includes what was never any part of Texas, but a part of the present and former province of New Mexico, and parts of other departments of the Mexican Republic. To discriminate between these Texasas, and to show to my fellow citizens that I took the trouble to look at the Texas question before I decided it, and subjected my mind to the process of considering what I was about before I spoke. I wrote as follows:

“With respect to Texas, her destiny is fixed. Of course, I, who consider what I am about, always speak of Texas as constituted at the time of the treaty of 1819, and not as constituted by the Republic of Texas comprehending the capital and forty towns and villages of New Mexico! Now and always as fully under the dominion of the Republic of Mexico, as Quebec and all the towns and villages of Canada are under the dominion of Great Britain! It is of the Texas- the old Spanish Texas- of which I always speak; and of her, I say, her destiny is fixed! Whatever may be the fate of the present movement, her destination is to return to her natural position- that of a part of the American Union.”

“I adhere to this discrimination between the two Texases, and not propose to see which of the two we are asked by the President of the United States to incorporate into the American Union.”

He then read the first article of the treaty, which I have quoted above; and after some further remarks, to show that the Texas proposed to be annexed was the described in the act of the Texan Congress, he proceeded to say;

“From all this it results that the treaty before us, besides the incorporation of Texas proper, also incorporates into our Union the left bank of the Rio Grande, in its whole extent from its head spring, near the South Pass in the Rocky Mountains, to its mouth in the Gulf of Mexico, four degrees south of New Orleans, in latitude 26. It is a ‘grand and solitary river,’ almost without affluent or tributaries. Its source is in the region of eternal snow; its outlet in the clime of eternal flowers. Its direct course is 1,200 miles; its actual run about 2,000. This immense river, second on our continent to the Mississippi only, and but little inferior to its length, is proposed to be added in the whole extent of its left bank to the American Union! And that by virtue of a treaty for the re-annexation of Texas! Now, the real Texas which we acquired by the treaty of 1803, and flung away by the treaty of 1819, never approached the Rio Grande except near its mouth! While the whole upper part was settled by the Spaniards, and great part of it in the year 1684- just one hundred years before La Salle first saw Texas!- all this upper part was then formed into provinces, on both sides of the river, and has remained under Spanish, or Mexican authority ever since. These former provinces of the Mexican viceroyalty, now departments of the Mexican republic, lying on both sides of the Rio Grande from its head to its mouth, we now propose to incorporate, so far as they lie on the left bank of the river, into our Union, by virtue of a treaty of re-annexation with Texas.”

Mr. Benton then went on to show what provinces this line includes, their population, their towns, cities, etc.

“These- he says- “in addition to the old Texas- these parts of four States- these towns and villages- these people and territory- these flocks and herds- this slice of the Republic of Mexico, two thousand miles long and some hundred broad- all this our President has cut off from its mother empire, and presents to us and declares it is our’s until the Senate rejects it! He calls it Texas! And the cutting off he calls re-annexation! Humbolt call it New Mexico, Chihuahua, Coahuila and Nuevo Santander, (now Tamaulipas,) and the civilized world may quality this re-annexation by the application of some odious and terrible epithet.”

In the course of his speech, he goes further and says:

“The treaty in all that relates to the boundary of the Rio Grande, is an act of unparallel outrage on Mexico.”

These extracts are made from a copy of Mr. Benton’s speech delivered in the Senate of the United States on the 16^th, 18^th and 20^th of May, 1844, as revised by himself and published in the Congressional Globe.

Mr. Calhoun, the Secretary of State attempted to repel these charges brought against his treaty, by referring to his dispatches both to Mr. Shannon and to Mr. Green, who were the agents of our government, at that time, in Mexico- to show that we never meant to claim the territory embraced in the act of the Congress of Texas, but that, on the contrary, we were very desirous to open a friendly negotiation with Mexico for the purchase of such a boundary as would be most convenient. To express this purpose to the Mexican Government, Mr. Calhoun wrote to Mr. Green on the 10^th of April, 1844-

“You are enjoined by the President, to assure the Mexican Government, that it is his desire to settle all questions between the two countries which may grow out of this treaty, or any other cause, on the most liberal and satisfactory terms, INCLUDING THAT OF BOUNDARY.”

This declaration, however, did not satisfy the Senate. They were not willing to give any sanction to such a claim as the words of the treaty covered. Mr. Walker endeavored to persuade them, and so did Mr. Woodbury, that the treaty could only convey what actually belonged to Texas, and, therefore, that it would be void as regarded the territory to which Texas had no right. But both of these gentlemen made arguments in favor of the claim to the Rio Grande, this foreshadowing what Mexico might expect if the treaty should be ratified: and so the Senate rejected the treaty by the decisive vote I have mentioned.

In the course of these proceedings upon the question of annexation, Mr. Benton still more explicitly expressed his views of the character of the act by offering the following resolution:-

“That the incorporation of the left bank of the Rio del Norte into the American Union, virtue of a treaty with Texas, comprehending as the said incorporation would do, a part of the Mexican department of New Mexico, Chihuahua ,Coahuila and Tamaulipas, would be an act of direct aggression upon Mexico, for all the consequences of which the United States would stand responsible.”

Mr. Wright took no part in the debate upon this question in the Senate. He voted with Mr. Benton against the treaty, and upon his return to New York after the close of the session, he made a speech at Watertown, in which he states his reasons for his vote: -

“I felt it my duty”- he remarked in that speech- “to vote against the ratification of the treaty for the annexation. I believe that the treaty, from the boundaries that must be implied from it, - embraced a country to which Texas had no claim, over which she had never asserted jurisdiction, and which she had no right to cede.” “It appeared to me then” – he continued- “if Mexico should tell us, ‘We don’t know you, we have no treaty to make with you,’ – and we were left to take possession by force, we must take the country as Texas had ceded it to us, and in doing that, we must do injustice to Mexico, and take a large portion of New Mexico, the people of which have never been under the jurisdiction of Texas. This to me was an insurmountable barrier- I could not place the country in that position.”

This is the language of eminent democrats upon the question of the Texan boundary. I purposefully abstain from collating the opinions of eminent Whigs to the same point, because I desire to confront Mr. Polk, not with his adversaries, but with his political friends.

I think you will no be satisfied, from the speeches and documents I have quoted, that Messrs. Benton, Wright and Calhoun, all three, have distinctively avowed their conviction that Texas had no right to cede to us the territory which borders upon the Rio Grande, and that consequently by no cession from Texas could we obtain any just claim to that territory.

In the next letter I will show you upon what grounds Texas was finally admitted into the Union.

J.P. Kennedy

No.4

In the last two letters I have shown you the objections taken by certain prominent leaders of the Democratic Party, against the treaty of annexation, and that these objections referred exclusively to the extent of territory claimed by Texas.

You will see, from what I am now about to lay before you, that before Texas could be annexed, the administration and its friends were compelled virtually to disavow any purpose of taking more territory than was included in the old boundaries of Texas- unless by the consent of Mexico herself- in other words that Congress would not agree to annex Texas with her boundary on the Rio Grande.

The treaty was rejected, as I have said, on the 8^th of June, 1844. On the 11^th of June the President sent a message to the House of Representatives, informing them of the fact of the rejection by the Senate, and, in effect, asking them to take up the subject in the way of ordinary legislation. This message was referred to the Committee of Foreign Affairs, and nothing was done during the remainder of that session. In this message the President refers to the boundary question, and says of it, that it was- “purposely left open for negotiation with Mexico, as affording the best opportunity for the most friendly and pacific arrangements.”

At the next session of Congress in December 1844, the question of annexation was immediately resumed . . .

[Note: Microfilm too light to read several later- JKM]

In accordance with these views of the respective rights of Mexico and the United States in this matter of boundary, Mr. Benton’s bill proposed, as you have seen, that we should negotiate for a boundary in the desert which lies immediately west of the Nueces. Of course he was satisfied, before he made this proposition, that Texas had no actual rights beyond the Nueces. A vast desert lies between that river and the Rio del Norte, which Mr. Benton thought a good national boundary, and worth negotiating for with Mexico.

At the same time, or the next day after Mr. Benton offered this proposition in the Senate, the Committee of Foreign Relations in the House, by Mr. Charles J. Ingersoll, their Chairman, reported Joint Resolutions for the annexation. These were followed by the number of propositions for the same purpose, which were offered almost daily for several days, by different members. A long debate took place, in the course of which Mr. Charles J. Ingersoll, speaking on this subject of the boundary,- which I have shown your produced so much objection to this treaty,- took occasion to explain the views of the Committee of Foreign Relations of the Executive on that point. He said “the territorial limits are marked in the configuration of this continent by an Almighty hand. The Platte, the Arkansas, the Red, and the Mississippi rivers- are naturally our waters with their estuaries in the Bay of Mexico. The stupendous deserts between the Nueces and the Rio Bravo, (the Rio Grande) are the natural boundaries between the Anglo Saxon and the Mauritanian races. There ends the valley of the West. There Mexico begins.” In the same speech, he apprises the House that he has authority for saying that there will be no difficulty with Mexico- that we should be able to buy her consent to the cession we desired.

“I am happy”- is his language- “to be authorized to assure this House that those beat acquainted with the true state of things apprehend little of no danger of war. The main sinew of war, Money, will head the break and end the controversy amicably.”

This quotation from the speech of the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations, will enable you to understand precisely what Mr. Calhoun meant when on the 10^th of September previous, he wrote this language to Mr. Shannon, our Minister in Mexico- “You are instructed to renew the declaration made to the Mexican Secretary by our Charge d’Affaires, in announcing the conclusion of the treaty, that the measure was adopted in no spirit of hostility to Mexico, and that, if annexation should be consummated, the united States will be prepared to adjust all questions growing out of it, including that of boundary, on the most liberal terms.”

Can anyone doubt, after reviewing these facts that our Government had pledged itself to abstain from claiming any boundary that would be offensive to Mexico- and particular to make no claim bounded on the limits set forth in the Texan act of Congress? Can anyone doubt that Congress was unwilling to insist upon the Rio Grande (or Del Norte) as the rightful boundary?

We shall see the determination of Congress in reference to this question, more fully developed in what eventually took place.

Of the several propositions for annexation which were offered in the House of Representatives, that of Mr. Brown of Tennessee, was finally adopted on the 13^th of January, 1845. Mr. Brown offered his resolutions as a substitute for those of the Committee. They began this way-

Resolved. “That Congress doth consent that the territory properly included within and rightfully belonging to the Republic of Texas may be created into a new State,” etc; and “that the foregoing consent is given on the following condition” to wit:

“Said State shall be formed subject to the adjustment by this Government of all questions of boundary that may arise with other Governments,”

On the 25^th of January these resolutions were passed in the House of Representatives, by a vote of 119 to 96, and on the next day passed the Senate without alteration in any material point.

Now I pause here in my narrative to ask you to remark the very guarded phraseology of these joint resolutions by which it was agreed to annex Texas. They say, “the territory included within, and rightfully belonging to, the Republic of Texas.” Why was this language inserted? Several of the resolutions proposed by others in the House do not contain it. Congress would not agree to those other resolutions, but adopted those only which contained this language. Why did Congress insist upon a condition that the State of Texas should be formed “subject to the adjustment by this Government of all questions of boundary that might arise with other Governments?” What other Government was there? None but Mexico with whom we could have any difficulty. What was that difficulty?- The pretension set up by Texas to extend her boundary to the Rio Grande. If Texas had a right to that boundary, what had we to adjust with Mexico? Nothing. If Texas had this right, what do those resolutions mean by laying such stress upon the words “territory properly included within and rightfully belonged to, the Republic of Texas. Manifestly they mean that the Republic of Texas had made pretensions to territory not “properly included within,” nor “rightfully belonging to” it.

But, as if the Congress of the United States was determined to express the most unequivocal dissent from the pretensions of Texas- as made known in her act of Congress of 1836- and to repudiate the notion that Texas, by that act, had any claim to the boundary of the Rio Grande, they passed a law, at the very same session, in which they agreed to annex Texas, of which the title was, “An act allowing a drawback upon foreign merchandize exported in the original packages to Chihuahua and Santa Fe in Mexico.” This bill was passed in the House of Representatives on the 21rst of February nearly a month after the passage of the resolutions for annexation; and was amended with a view to include another foreign country by adding the words, “and the British North American provinces, adjoining to the United States.”

Now, the object of this bill was to entitle any merchant who should import goods into the United States, to have refunded to him if he exported them in the original packages to Santa Fe in Mexico- thereby recognizing Santa Fe to be a foreign country, as it undoubtedly was. Yet Congress had, just a month before they passed this bill, agreed to annex Texas to this Union, and Texas had, by her act of Congress of 1836, extended her limits to the Rio Grande, by which she included Santa Fe. It is clear, therefore, from this fact alone- if it were not still more clear from the whole history of the case which I have given you- that Congress had no idea of recognizing the claim of Texas to the Rio Grande, but, on the contrary, directly and unequivocally repelled that claim and refused in any way to allow it.

This is all that I have to bring before you touching the history of the annexation. What I have submitted to you shows clearly, and beyond all dispute-

1rst. That Texas proper- and by that I mean the Texas which revolted against Mexico and secured her independence- did not extend to the Rio Grande.

2^nd. That the treaty for annexation was rejected because it was supposed to give color to a claim to extend Texas to the Rio Grande.

3^rd. That the Government disavowed any purpose to assent to a claim to the Rio Grande, but, on the contrary, desired to open a negotiation with Mexico for the purchase of that boundary.

4^th. That the Joint Resolution upon which finally Texas was annexed, carefully provided against taking any territory that did not rightfully belong to Texas.

5^th and lastly. That Congress, by the most explicit act of legislation, in relation to the drawback, announced that the country included within the new limits of Texas, and beyond the old limits, was a foreign country belonging to Mexico, and that consequently the territory on the Rio Grande did not “rightfully belong” to the Republic of Texas.

I am now prepared to speak of the manner in which this Mexican war began, and to examine the question how far Mr. Polk acted in accordance with his powers and duties under the Constitution in reference to that manner.

This will be the subject of my next.

J.P. Kennedy

[JKM]

Thursday, October 14, 1847, MG47v48n33p2c3, Our Armies in Mexico words: 198

The New Orleans Picayune make the following judicious and seasonable suggestion:

“The positions of our two commanding generals- Taylor reduced to the feeblest defensive strength, and Scott sat down we know not to what extent, in an enemy’s city of two hundred thousand population- are such as to demand the immediate attention of the Government. Santa Anna is doubtless still strong enough to menace the valley of the Rio Grande, and there should be no delay in reinforcing Gen. Taylor. With Gen. Scott the demand for more troops must be equally pressing. He is not only in a city containing a hostile population of two hundred thousand, but has Santa Anna in his immediate vicinity, and we have had too many proofs of the celerity with which he can raise armies to trust to his inactivity. Prompt and energetic action is required of our Government, or much of the work that has been done may have to be done over again. The Mexicans are learning to fight from us, as did the Russians under Peter the Great from Charles the Twelfth, and we cannot be too well or too soon prepared for some new demonstration on their part.”
[JKM]

Thursday October 14, 1847 MG47v48n33p2c3 Gen. Taylor’s Opinion words: 88

In order to weaken as much as possible the effect of Mr. Kennedy’s letters to the people of Baltimore, some of the Democratic presses of Maryland furnished their readers with the gratuitous information, that the hostile demonstrations on the banks of the Rio Grande were advised by Gen. Taylor. The fact is, that Gen. Taylor never advised any such thing. What he did advise will be found in the extract from his communication to the War Department, quoted by Mr. Kennedy. The intelligent reader will judge for himself.
[JKM]

Thursday October 14, 1847 MG47v48n33p2c5 Interesting from the Army words: 693

The Southern mail did not reach this city last night. The following interesting information; transmitted by Magnetic Telegraph from Washington, furnishes the substance of the news brought by it:

The steamship Alabama arrived at New Orleans on the 4^th inst., having left Vera Cruz on the 26^th and Tampico on the 30^th ult. The Picayune published an extra on the arrival of the Alabama, from which it appears that the following information was received by the editors of that paper from a source entitled to great respect.

The battles of the 8^th and 13^th September, the Americans lost twenty-seven officers killed and forty-five wounded. No confirmation has been received from any quarter of the death of the American general officers. There was no later news direct from Gen. Scott’s army. Letters received by commercial houses in Tampico from their correspondents in the city of Mexico confirm entirely the Picayune’s former reports of the battles of Mill del Rey and Chapultepec heights of the 8^th and 13^th, which places were carried by Gen. Scott at the point of the bayonet.

A circular was published on the 14^th dated from Guadaloupe and addressed to the Commandants of the general departments. In it is set forth that “Santa Anna evacuated the capital, that other means might be pursued for the purpose of harassing the enemy. That a heroic resistance had been made for the space of six days, but that the enemy at length established himself in positions and places from which his missiles could reach the peaceful thousands of the city. The Supreme government perceiving that State affairs warranted the departure of the officers of government, determined to change their abode, the location of which would be announced as soon as the site should be agreed upon. It further states that the American army charged at daybreak on the 13^th, with all its force on Chapultepec, which yielded after a spirited defense of six hours. The Americans immediately marched upon another strong fortification, but the first advance was checked by troops led by Santa Anna, who disputed the ground inch by inch, till finally the Mexicans were routed from the citadel, after nine hours hard fighting.”

The capital being in this situation, Santa Anna, anxious to avoid bombardment, determined to evacuate it.

Verbal reports are that he reties to Guadaloupe with ten thousand troops and twenty-five pieces of Artillery. No mention is made of the reported bombardment of the 14^th and 15^th.

A letter from Vera Cruz states that after the Americans had carried the citadel, they tuned the guns of that fortification upon the city, whereupon the Mexican army retreated to Guadaloupe. The minister of Foreign Affairs addressed the Governor direction him to arrange matters as well as he could until he received official information where the government was established. There is no confirmation of the report that Santa Anna had been wounded.

It was reported that Gen. Quitman was on his way down with dispatches and 4000 men. Col. Wilson, Governor of Vera Cruz, was seriously ill. Gen. Patterson was to take command of the forces in the City and State of Vera Cruz, or proceed to join General Scott, as should be thought proper on his arrival.

Gen. Lane had been compelled to send back to Vera Cruz for a further supply of ammunition. He had arrived at the National Bridge without serious opposition- though the guerillas made their appearance on several occasions. A requisition for ten thousand rounds was complied with.

Letters from Vera Cruz, dated on the 25^th states that a proclamation had been issued by Santa Anna announcing his resignation as President of the Republic, and that Senor Pena y Pena had been initiated in his place. The Picayune doubts the truth of the rumor, however.

It was reported that the yellow fever had made its appearance in Gen. Lane’s command; that there was some scarcity of provisions, and that the Guerillas had fortified Cerro Gordo.

A letter from Maj. Lally, dated Jalapa, 23^rd, Sept. says that all was quiet there. The wound that he received in the neck came near killing him, but he was then doing well.
[JKM]

Thursday, October 14, 1847, MG47v48n33p2c6, Letter from Gen. Taylor words: 669

The National Intelligencer of Tuesday last publishes the following very interesting letter recently received by Dr. Bronson from Gen. Taylor. It is more explicit in reference to the political predictions of the General, that anything which has yet appeared from his pen, and will be read with pleasure by the Whigs throughout the Union- by those who, like ourselves, have deemed it “premature” to commit themselves to his support for the next presidency, as well as by those, more ardent and more sagacious, who have long since hoisted his flag:

Headquarters Army of Occupation
Camp near Monterey, Aug. 10, 1847

Sir: Your letter of the 17^th ult., requesting of me an exposition of my views on the question of national policy now at issue between the political parties of the United States, has duly reached me.

I must take occasion to say that many of my letters, addressed to gentlemen in the United States in answer to similar inquiries, have already been made public, and I had greatly hoped that all persons interested had, by this time, obtained from them a sufficiently accurate knowledge of my views and desires in relation to this subject. As it appears, however, that such is not the case, I deem it proper, in reply to your letter, distinctly to repeat that I am not before the People of the United States as a candidate for the next Presidency. It is my great desire to return at the close of this war to the discharge of those professional duties and to the enjoyment of those domestic pursuits from which I was called at its commencement, and for which my tastes and education best fit me.

I deem it but due to candor to state, at the same time, that, if I were called to the Presidential Chair by the general voice of the people, without regard to their political differences I should deem it to be my duty, to accept the office. But while I freely avow my attachment to the administrative policy of the early Presidents, I desire it to be understood that I cannot submit, even in thus accepting it, to the exaction of any other pledge as to the course I should pursue that that of discharging its functions to the best of my ability, and strictly in accordance with the requirements of the constitution.

I have thus given you the circumstances under which only I can be induced to accept the high and responsible office of President of the United States. I need hardly add that I cannot in any case permit myself to be brought before the people exclusively by any of the political parties that now so unfortunately divide our country, as the candidate for this office.

It affords my great pleasure, in conclusion, fully to concur with you in your high and just estimate of the virtues, both of head and heart of the distinguished citizens [Messrs. Clay, Webster, Adams, McDuffie and Calhoun] mentioned in your letter. I have never yet exercised the privilege of voting; but had I been called upon as the last Presidential election to do so, I should most certainly have cast my vote for Mr. Clay.

I am, sir, very respectfully

Your obedient servant
Z. Taylor
Maj. General U.S. Army

F.S. Bronson, M.D., Charleston, S.C.

The emphatic approbation expressed by General Taylor of “the administrative policy of our early Presidents,” in which the Whigs find ample authority for all their leading principles and measures, taken in connection with his frank declaration that he should have certainly voted for Mr. Clay in 1844, had he voted at all, can leave no doubt of his entire concurrence with the Whig party in sentiment. While on this point we have never been ourselves in doubt, we are nevertheless gratified that the General has been sufficiently explicit to satisfy others, who, not content with the positive declarations of third parties, have insisted upon waiting for the “ best evidence”- that of General Taylor himself.- Rich. Whig
[JKM]

Thursday, October 14, 1847, MG47v48n33p2c6, From Gen. Taylor’s Army words: 190

The following extract from a letter to the editor contains the latest intelligence form Gen. Taylor’s division. We are also informed by the same letter, that Col. Hamtramck has been appointed to command the Brigade of which the Virginia Regiment form a part, in the place of Gen. Cushing. Capt. Harper acts as Assistant Inspector General, to Col. Hamtramck, and Lieut. Porterfield, late of this place, Adjutant of the Virginia Regiment, and is Asst. Adjt. General.

“You will have heard before this reaches you, that the advance of this portion of the army has been checked by the withdrawal of troops from Gen. Taylor’s column. General Lane’s and Gen. Cushing’s Brigades have been ordered to Vera Cruz.

Col. Hamtramck now fills the place vacated by Gen. Cushing, as commandant of the Brigade to which the Virginia Regiment is attached. The idea of remaining here inactive during the approaching fall and winter is disheartening; but those more competent than I to express an opinion, predict that the battle of Buena Vista will be fought again.

But this I think doubtful. We are daily expecting to hear Scott’s entrance into the city.”
[JKM]

Thursday, October 14, 1847, MG47v48n33p2c6, Capital Hit words: 131

The following from the Richmond Republican is a “telling shot.”

Mexico would never have offered terms so preposterous, if she had not been encouraged by the “no territory party,” by the Nueces party and the Mexican party at home, by the party which has denounced this war as aggressive, unholy, and unjust on our part.- Union.

This is a very unkind his at Mr. Polk. He was of the “no territory party,” at the commencement of the war- else his message of December, 1846, did not speak truly. In that document, he expressly declared that “the war had not bee waged with a view to conquest.” It was only for “indemnity” and the payment of “pecuniary demands.” But hit him again, good organ. Mr. Polk has been too modest by half.
[JKM]

Thursday October 14, 1847, MG47v48n33p2c7, The Virginia Regiment words: 328

We have a letter from an officer of this Regiment, dated at Buena Vista on the 6^th of September, from which we gather some items of information which it may be agreeable to our readers to be acquainted with.

The writer says: “Again has the cup been dashed from our lips- again has joy been banished from our camp. Four of Taylor’s regiments have been taken from him to join Gen. Scott, just as we were on the eve of our march upon San Luis Potosi. The Massachusetts, Ohio, Indiana, and the 10^th Regiments, have been taken from us, and now again we are compelled to be idle, while upon each monthly report we find that deaths and discharges reduce our numbers.

“We were to have advanced in the early part of this month, and the Virginia Regiment was to have been the advance guard of the Army. Ours is considered the best Regiment in Mexico, and it is the last Gen. Taylor would part with. This Regiment and the Mississippi have been formed into a Brigade, and Col. Hamtramck has been assigned to its command. Col. H. accordingly appointed Lieut. Porterfield of the Virginia Regiment his Asst. Adjt. General, Lieut. Henry of the Mississippi Regiment his Aid, and Capt. Kenton Harper his Assistant Inspector General. Col. Randolph is therefore in command of the Virginia Regiment.

“Gen. Cushing was in command of the Brigade, but having been ordered to report to Gen. Scott, Col. Hamtramck has succeeded him in the command.” [And we may be permitted to add, by way of parenthesis, that Mr. Polk would do good service by making the appointment a permanent one.]

We understand from the same source, that diarrhea and dysentery have been the prevailing complaints among our men. Col. Hamtramck is in robust health since his recovery from his sever attack, and we are happy to hear he is in fine plight for service honorable to Virginia and the Country.- Rich. Rep.
[JKM]

Thursday, October 21, 1847, MG47v48n34p2c1, Letter from John P. Kennedy words: 3,228

No.5

I have laid before you the evidence, derived entirely from the public records and from the declarations of leaders of the Democratic party, which demonstrates the fact that in the annexation of Texas, our Government restricted the annexation to the old Texas of the Mexican Confederation, with the Nueces for its boundary, and pledged itself to Mexico and the world, not to assert the claim to the Rio Grande or to occupy to that limit without the consent of Mexico. I think all this is clearly inferred in the history which I have laid before you.

I come now to consider what followed the passage of the joint resolutions for annexation.

The Government changed hands immediately upon the adjournment of Congress. Mr. Polk was inaugurated on the 4^th of March, 1845. You will now perceive that the moment this affair of the annexation came into his hands, he gave it an essentially new direction. He determined to pay no regard to the consideration upon which Texas was admitted to the Union, and to recognize no pledge which the proceedings of the last administration and of Congress had given to Mexico upon the subject of the boundary.

Before the annexation was agreed upon, it is true, Mexico has said she would consider it as an act of war upon her; and Mr. Polk I freely admit, was bound to be prepared for such an event. I think it was, in the highest sense, his duty to be well prepared for a war, if Mexico should act upon her threat.

A Convention was to meet in Texas on the 4^th of July, 1845, to consider our propositions for annexation. The Convention did meet and ratified the proceeding. Previous, however, to the meeting of this Convention, that is to say, on the 28^th of May, the President ordered Gen. Taylor to move with his little army towards Texas.

There seems now to have been some private understanding between Mr. Polk and the Government of Texas, that, without regarding what had passed in our Government in reference to the boundary, and its refusal to assert a claim to the Rio Grande- Mr. Polk and his Cabinet should, nevertheless, assert that claim and thenceforth act upon it as a matter of established right. This will be seen in what follows.

On the 15^th of June, Mr. Bancroft, acting as Secretary of War, informs Gen. Taylor: “the point of your ultimate destination is the western frontier of Texas, here you will select and occupy in or near the Rio Grande del Norte, such a site as will be best adapted to repel invasion, and to protect what, in the event of annexation, will be our Western border!”

Here is the first bold and open avowal of a purpose on the part of the new administration, to disregard what may be considered as the plighted faith of the nation on the question of the boundary.

The private understanding to which I have alluded, I think will be seen in the correspondence between Mr. Allen, the Secretary of the State of Texas, and Mr. Donelson, our agent there. Mr. Allen, in a letter of the 26^th of June, eleven days later than Mr. Bancroft’s order, suggests to Mr. Donelson “the propriety and necessity of an immediate march of the troops, and that they proceed at once to occupy positions on the Rio Grande.”

Mr. Donelson gives no countenance to this proposition, and apprises Mr. Allen what instructions he had been hitherto directed to communicate to Gen. Taylor. Amongst these instructions are the following.

“The occupation of the country between the Nueces and the Rio Grande, you are aware, is a disputed question. Texas holds Corpus Christi, Mexico hold the Brazos de St. Jago, near the mouth of the Rio Grande.” “You can safely hold possession of Corpus Christi, and all other points up the Nueces, and if Mexico attempts to dislodge you, drive her beyond the Rio Grande.”

Notwithstanding this, that Mr. Donelson was directed to say to Gen. Taylor in an early stage of this movement,- that the boundary to the Rio Grande was “a disputed question”- Mr. Bancrofts’s instructions to the General, you perceive, are to take possession to the Rio Grande, as that, “in the event of annexation will be our Western border.”

This is clearly a very summary prejudgment of the “disputed question!” At this point the violation of the terms of the annexation seems to have become the settled purpose of the Cabinet. We were henceforth to effect our claim to the border of the Rio Grande, and maintain it by force.

The subsequent orders which Gen. Taylor received, establish that determination. Let us look to a few of them, and the events with which they were connected.

“The Government was conscious that the only ground upon which there could be made the slightest justification of this attempt to seize the disputed territory- as they chose to call it, although it had not the benefit even of a plausible dispute- was that the territory beyond the Nueces was in the actual occupation of the people of Texas. So far as regarded as few settlements on the west bank of the Nueces this was true, and those settlers might be said to be under the protection of Texas. This was the case of Corpus Christi, immediately at the mouth of the Nueces and on the Western margin. But beyond the actual border of the river, there were no settlers. Whilst over towards the Rio Grande and on its banks, there dwelt a considerable number of Mexican citizens, who had long resided in this section of Tamaulipas. The country between the two rivers, embracing a width of about one hundred and thirty miles, was chiefly as desert. Brazos Santiago and Point Isabel were Mexican settlements, and no Americans dwelt in that region.

With these facts before him Mr. Marcy written to General Taylor, on the 30^th of July. “ You are expected to occupy, protect, and defend the territory of Texas to the extent it has been occupied by the people of Texas”- which, in point of fact, as Mr. Donelson had written to the Department, was no where further west that Corpus Chrisit, and the west bank of the Nueces. But Mr. Marcy’s letter goes on to say: “The Rio Grande is claimed to be the boundary between the two countries, and up to this boundary you are to extend your protection, only excepting any posts on the eastern side thereof which are in the actual occupancy of Mexican forces, or Mexican settlement over which the Republic of Texas did not exercise jurisdiction at the period of annexation, or shortly before that event.”

[Note: Microfilm copy too light to read- JKM]

The letter of Mr. Marcy- 30^th July, 1845- above referred to, in important in this narrative as establishing one fact- namely, that the Government knew, at the time they were issuing these orders, that the country on the Rio Grande, and between that and the Nueces was- as far as it was capable of occupation- in the actual occupancy of Mexican forces, and Mexican inhabitants or settlers, and that it was not pretended that these settlers were under the jurisdiction of Texas, or ever had been under it. They were inhabitants who belonged to the State of Tamaulipas, and exclusively under the jurisdiction of Mexico. This was known to our government.

Gen. Taylor remained at Corpus Christi all through the autumn of 1845, and the winter of 1846. There was no invasion attempted by Mexico, and a general prevailed that we should soon have a settlement of all difficulties between the two countries. Our government had made application to Mexico to know if she would open negotiations for the settlement of the disputed questions. She answered favorably to the proposition.

Mr. Slidell was appointed minister plenipotentiary to go to Mexico. Mexico objected to receiving a minister, on the ground that the question of Texas and the boundary must be settled before she could acknowledge the existence of full relations of amity with us; she offered therefore to receive a commissioner, to treat specially on those questions and no others. Our government would not consent to indulge her in this demand, although it has since that time, sent a commissioner for pretty much that same purpose, in the person of Mr. Trist. I do not excuse Mexico for this refusal to receive our Minister. It was very frivolous piece of false pride, but very much in character with all her other follies connected with this quarrel. But certainly this refusal to receive a minister was not war.

On the 13^th of January, 1846, whilst this question of the reception of the minister was yet pending, and before it was known whether Mexico would receive him or not, and at a time where there was no expectation of an invasion from Mexico- and, more to be noted that anything else- at a time when the Congress of the United States was in session, the President, privately, without communicating one syllable to Congress, or giving any hint of the event to either branch of the national legislature, to whom alone the Constitution has confined the great and momentous power of making war- in these circumstances, and on this day, Mr. Polk authorized Mr. Marcy to write to Gen. Taylor- “I am directed by the President to instruct you to advance and occupy, with the troops under your command, positions on or near the east bank of the Rio del Norte, as soon as it can conveniently be done, with reference to the season and routes by which your movements must be made. From the views heretofore presented to this department, it is presumed Point Isabel will be considered by you an eligible position; this point, or some one near it, and points opposite Matamoras, and Mier, and in the vicinity of Loredo, are suggested to your consideration.”

Can any friend of Mr. Polk’s answer the question, why Congress was not consulted when the decisive step was taken? Here was a clear, unequivocal repudiation of all our previous pledges in regard to the question of the boundary to the Rio del Norte. Here was an order to occupy a country which it was admitted was under the jurisdiction of Mexico, and in which a Mexican town, on the left or eastern bank of the Rio del Norte- the town of Loredo, containing fifteen hundred inhabitants- was specially designated as one of the positions for the army; here was, in short, and invaion of Mexico- just such an invasion as every civilized nation would regard as an act of war. Suppose the case revered, and Mexico had directed her troops to advance to the Nueces, and to occupy a position which should command one of the villages of Texas- what would this country have thought of it? Need I ask? The declaration would have been universal, that Mexico had began the war, by an act of flagrant aggression. And yet certainly Mexico had quite as much right to seize upon the disputed territory as we had- if Mr. Benton’s opinion is worth anything- a much better right.

On the 10^th of March, 1846, Gen. Taylor in obedience to these orders, commenced his march from Corpus Christi to the Rio Grande. He arrived at that river on the 28^th, and encamped opposite Matamoras. What he did when he arrived there, you will read in his official dispatches. On the 6^th of April the General writes- “On our side a battery for four eighteen pounders will be completed; and the guns places in the battery today. These guns bear directly upon the public square of Matamoras, and within good range for demolishing the town. Their object cannot be mistaken by the enemy!” Remember that when that letter was written there had been no collision- not a shot had been fired, not a man made prisoner.

And yet we are told that this act was not an act of war! – that this marching of an army into what we are pleased to call “disputed territory,” but which confessedly was, and always had been, in the actual occupation of the people of Mexico and under the jurisdiction of that country; - this marching of an army there; - this pointing of cannon into the very homesteads of the inhabitants of Matamoras, the capital of Tamaulipas; - was not an act of war!! Collisions ensued. How could it be otherwise, with these guns pointing into the windows of Matamoras? Armies were in motion; and it was not long until blood was spilt. What a pitiful and unmanly equivocation was it, for the President to say, after this aggression on his part, that was exists by the act of Mexico! He had failed in his duty when he failed to submit the question of invasion, which was a question of war, to Congress. And when he found that he had brought our little army into peril by it, it was a mere trick to rid himself of the responsibility he had so rashly assumed, to throw the blame of the war upon Mexico.

These letters have grown too long to allow me much space for comment on these transactions, and as I prefer democratic authority in this matter to any other, I shall close this narrative of the events which belong to the origin of the war, by a few extracts from a distinguished writer on the democratic side, who was once the editor of a democratic magazine, and who, as these extracts will show, was a friend and supporter of Mr. Polk’s election.

“For ourselves- he says- “we have regarded the Mexican war as uncalled for, impolitic and unjust. We have examined the document published by order of the Government. We have read the official defense of the war in the last annual message of the President to Congress, and with every disposition to find out Government in the right: but we are bound to say that our original impressions have been strengthened, rather than weakened.”

“ The act of Mexico in crossing the Rio Grande, and engaging our troops on territory which she, had possessed and still claimed as hers, but which we asserted had, by a recent act against which she had protested, become ours – the act which the President chose to inform Congress and the world was war – may or may not have been a just cause for declaring war against her, but it assuredly was not war itself.”

And again:

“No sophistry can make her act war – certainly not without conceding that our act in taking military possession of that territory was also war; and if that was war, if it existed at all, existed by our act and not hers, for her act was consequent upon ours. The most that the President was a liberty to say, without condemning his own Government, was, that there had been a collision of the forces of the two republics on a territory claimed by each; but this collision he had not right to term war, for everybody knows that it takes something more that a collision of their respective forces on a disputed territory to constitute a war between two civilized nation. In no possible point of view was the announcement of the President, that was existed between the two republics, and exited by the act of Mexico, correct. It did not exist at all or if it did, it existed not by the act of Mexico but by our act. It either case the official announcement was false, and cannot be defended.

“The course the President should have pursued is plain and obvious. On learning the state of things on the frontier, the critical condition of our army of occupation, he should have demanded of Congress the reinforcements and supplies necessary to relieve it and secure the purpose for which it was avowedly sent to the Rio Grande; and, if he believed it proper or necessary, to have in addition laid before Congress a full and truthful statement of our relations with Mexico, including all the unadjusted complaints, past and present, we had against her, accompanied by the recommendation of a declaration of war. He would then have kept within the limits of his duty, proved himself a plain constitutional President, and left the responsibility of war or no war to Congress, the only war making power known to the laws. Congress, after mature deliberations, might or might not, have declared war- most likely would not; but whether so or not, the responsibility would have resulted with it, and no blame would have attached to the President.”

“Unhappily, this course did not occur to the President, or was too plain and simple to meet his approbation. As if fearful, if Congress deliberated, it might refuse to declare war, and as if determined to have war at any rate, he presented to Congress, not the true issue, whether war should or should not be declared- but the false issue, whether Congress would grant him the means of prosecuting a war waged against us by a foreign power. In the true issue, Congress might have hesitated- in the one actually presented there was no room to hesitate, if the official announcement f the President was to be credited, and hesitation would have been criminal.”

“By declaring that the war already existed, and by the act of Mexico herself, the President relieved Congress of the responsibility of the war, by throwing it on Mexico. But since he cannot faston it on Mexico,- for war did not already exist, or if so, by our act, and not hers, - it necessarily recoils upon himself, and he must bear the responsibility of doing what the constitution forbids him to do,- of making war without the intervention of Congress. In effect, therefore, he has trampled the constitution under his feet, set a dangerous precedent and by the official publication of a palpable falsehood, sullied the national honor.

“It is with no pleasure that we speak thus of the chief magistrate of the Union, for whose elevation to his high and responsible office we ourselves voted. But whatever may be our attachment to party, or the respect we hold to be due from all good citizens to the civil magistrate, we cannot see the Constitution violated, and the national honor sacrificed, whether by friend or for, from good motives or bad, without entering, feeble, though it be, our stern and indigent protest.”

This writer goes on further to say: - “We are far from regarding Congress in echoing the false statement of the President, as free from blame. It ought to have seen and corrected the Executive- mistake. Yet it is not surprising that it took the President at his word. The late Congress had some able members, and it adopted some judicious measures; but we express only the common sentiment of all parties when we say it was far from covering itself with glory, and that it is to be hoped another Congress like it will not meet a gain very soon.”

Here I drop the subject of the origin of the war. I shall have a few words to say upon the resolutions of the House of Delegates in me next.

J.P. Kennedy

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Thursday, October 21, 1847, MG47v48n34p2c3, Untitled words: 518

The New York Tribune publishes an extract from a private letter, “written,” it says, “by an eminent Southerner statesman to friend at the North on the subject of the slavery extension.” We quote the following passages:

“If California or any other Mexican Department were ceded to us, the people (having already municipal laws) would there by change their allegiance; their relation to their ancient sovereign would be dissolved; but their relations to each other and their Rights of Property would remain undisturbed; and, as their laws do not now recognize slaves as property, but forbid the relation of Master and Slave, how could it be introduced without a law of Congress creating it? Would not mere silence exclude it as effectually as any other mode? If so, “the South” will have to demand of Congress a law to propagate Slavery by creating it de novo? If they do this, what becomes of our old doctrine of non-interference? If Congress has not power to abolish, how do we find a power to create it?

Congress never yet created Slavery in any State or Territory. No State of the Union ever created Slavery. In all former acquisitions, the Territory was ceded with Slavery- the relation of Master and Slave already existed therein; and all that has been done at any time was to abstain from abolishing those rights of property as the existed at the period of our purchase.

The Wilmot Proviso principle, therefore, is not an old question. So far as it is identical with former contests in this respect, the argument is against Slave Extension; for if Congress adhere to the old rule, of taking Territory as we find it, the new purchase must be accepted as it is, with Slavery forbidden by the existing law,

The Wilmot Proviso is nothing more than a friendly notice that this policy will be adhered to. So it strikes me. And it here occurs to me that Mr. Calhoun’s abstract resolutions are exactly what will leave the newly acquired territory free of Slavery if they are fairly carried into practice.

If the argument here presented is sound the enactment of the Wilmot Proviso would be merely declaratory of a principle already existing, as embodied in the laws of Mexico, in the territories to which the Proviso, had reference. The rejection of such a declaratory enactment might be put upon the ground that it is unnecessary; for, if it should not be adopted, the municipal laws of Mexico in the territories in question, unless changed by act of Congress, would constitute in themselves a proviso substantially the same as that proposed by Mr. Wilmot, of Pennsylvania, in the House of Representatives.

The subject is full of difficulties. The attempts which have been made, and which the Administration party in New York and Pennsylvania are now making, to evade the issue which the question presents, will scarcely succeed. In one shape or another it seems inevitable that the responsibility of the issue, grave and momentous as it is, must be met, whenever the annexation of any portion of new territory shall take place.
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Thursday, October 21, 1847, MG47v48n34p2c4, Mr. Faulkner and the War words: 634

We, yesterday morning, received a communication from a “Democratic Subscriber,” asking us to publish a speech of Mr. Faulkner on the subject of the Mexican War, made at the Regimental parade of 1846 in this place. The communication was received too late to enable us to comply with the request this week. Mr. Faulkner is from home too, and we deem it advisable to afford him an opportunity, should he deem the matter worthy of his attention, to report his own views upon that subject. The remarks as reported, were made under the excitement of the moment, and as the speaker did not present to go into any argument of the question, the republication of his speech could have no other effect that to convey the impression made upon the mind of the reported, of the views of Mr. Faulkner at that time. It will be remembered too, that the ground assumed by Mr. Polk was then a very different one from that occupied by the party now. Besides, Mr. Faulkner, like every other man in the country, has had time to review his first impressions upon the subject, while it must be confessed, that light has been shed upon this question since that time which was not then within his reach. We know that Mr. Faulkner felt and expressed a most anxious desire to see the Hon. John P. Kennedy returned as a member of the next Congress- a desire he would hardly have manifested had he considered the views of Mr. Kennedy traitorous or dangerous to the country. We hazard nothing in the absence of Mr. F., in denying that he entertains the views now avowed by the Administration party in relation to the acquisition of Mexican Territory, and that there will be no necessity for us, even did we assume the right to do so, to “read Mr. Faulkner out of the Whig Church.” But we can assure our worthy friend and correspondent that we do not arrogate to ourselves the prerogative of ostracizing the members of the Whig party. Every member of that party has a right to his views upon any subject, and the columns of the Gazette are open to him for the discussion of all questions affecting the interests of the country. We cordially extend this invitation to our correspondent, and all members of his party, and shall cheerfully lay before our readers any arguments he or they may think pertinent not only to this, but any other question which divides political opinion, provided they are respectfully urged. Our earnest desire is that the people may have a fair opportunity of deciding upon these subjects, and if we shall be proved to have been in the wrong, we pledge ourselves to retract opinions with all the candor in which we have avowed them. We therefore not only express our willingness to publish Mr. Faulkner’s remarks, but here pledge ourselves to renounce our political connection with that gentleman, so soon as the same office is performed by the leading Locofocos for Messrs. Benton, Bronson, Calhoun, and Van Buren, all of whom dissent from the opinions of the body of their party in relation to annexation and the war, far more strongly than did ever Mr. Faulkner from any views of his Whig brethren.

We repeat our conviction that the opinions of Mr. Faulkner on this subject do not materially differ from those entertained by the mass of the Whig party. In conclusion we assure our correspondent that we are not quite soft enough to be caught in the trap of his allies. We cannot be brought to denounce a political and personal friend for an honest difference of opinion, should that difference exist, which in this instance, as he will in due time discover, is not the case
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Thursday, October 21, 1847 MG47v48n34p2c5, The Annexation of Mexico words: 593

The Baltimore Sun, a paper which, although professedly independent, has been so successful of late in foreshadowing the measures of the administration, that it has come to be generally regarded as a sort of semi-official organ, expresses that opinion that the Government will, in order to effect an honorable termination of the war, be forced to subjugate the whole Mexican Republic, and annex it to this country. Under ordinary circumstances, and coming from a different source, a suggestion of this sort might be regarded as the mere idle speculation of a reckless paragraphist; but the Sun has established a reputation as an exponent of the views of the administration and its adherents, which it would be loath to hazard lightly. We may, therefore, safely assume that whether openly avowed by the Cabinet or not, the opinion of the Sun has not inconsiderable number of “backers” in the ranks of the Progressives.

At the commencement of this bloody drama, the annunciation of the most remote probability of such a termination of the war as the annexation of a whole Republic, double the size of Great Britain, and containing many millions of people ignorant of our language, and imbued with the most implacable hatred against our country, would only have been suggested in ridicule of our annexing propensities; or if seriously proposed would have been regarded as an emanation from the brain of a madman. But alas! Like the king of Pontus who partook of poison, increasing the potion at every succeeding dose until it became his daily food, so the votaries of modern democracy have been gradually drugged with the corrupt and disorganizing doctrines of the times, until today, they drain with eagerness, the cup from which a few months ago, they would have turned with loathing and horror. We are confident that this state of things proceeds from now want of patriotism on the part of the great majority of those who lend their support to the Administration; it is sheerly the result of an indisposition to undergo the labor of examining minutely the subjects of complaint against their rulers, especially when the candid prosecution of such an investigation might have the effect of sundering party ties to which they have been long wedded, and withdrawing their confidence from leader it has become a sort of second nature to trust.

We only hope that they may be brought seriously to reflect upon the subject before it be too late to repair the effects of past errors and follies, and to avoid those which are looming upon our future prospects. For now, nothing seems too daring for the Administration to propose, or too monstrous to be applauded and recommended by the bloated recipients of the spoils.

With regard to the proposal to subjugate and annex to our Republic the whole of Mexico, it may or may not be a cherished design of the Administration. The idea of erecting subjugated territory into free and independent States, would have been strange to the ears of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Mr. Jefferson would have certainly regarded a prophecy of such an event, as Mr. Ritchie did the first nomination of Gen. Jackson for the Presidency- a rich joke. But modern democrats have read that Rome annexed foreign territory and they are unwilling that the progressive democracy of Republican America should be behind that of Republican Rome. Manifest Destiny is the God that rules the hour, and we have no means of divining what new schemes of folly and madness are yet to be revealed.
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Thursday, October 21, 1847, MG47v48n34p2c6, Untitled words: 191

[Poetry of Mrs. Lydia Jane Preston]

“It may not be! Forbid it God!
Forbid it, all that patriots prize:
That land has tasted freeman’s blood;
Their dust within its bosom lies.
‘Twere madness to resign the soil
On which our conquering feet have trod;
Battling our way with glorious toil;
It may not be- forbid it, God!
No, never! This is holy ground,
Bought and baptized with patriot blood;
See? With her fetters half unbound,
She lifts her hands to Freedom’s God!
By Freedom’s God, she shall be free!
Huzza! Brave hearts press boldly on
Strike home, nor pause till victory
Shall put her olive garland on
‘Till o’er that land to utmost parts
Our Eagle’s sheltering wings are spread;
And Taylor throned on Freedmen’s hearts
Enjoys his laurels in their shade.

We are constrained to omit a great deal of hard swearing, utterly unworthy of a lady of distinguished Christian piety, and to dismiss the subject with the remark, that if the fact of having lost brave and patriotic sons upon its soil, confers an unquestionable right to any country, then England is entitled to at least two-thirds of the habitable globe, including these United States.
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Thursday, October 21, 1847, MG47v48n34p2c6, Mutilation of Document words: 330

We copied from the Union, several days since, an “official” letter addressed by Major Lally, then in command at Jalapa, to his superior, Col. Wilson, at Vera Cruz, giving an account of his march from the latter to the former place. A correspondent of the Alexandria Gazette states, on the authority of a gentleman, who had seen the original, that the following paragraph of Major Lally’s letter was suppressed in the publication. We are not surprised at the solicitude of the Government to conceal from the eyes of the world facts so discreditable to the national character, but we doubt the sobriety of so doing. There is a certain sort of fascination in the “pomp and circumstance of glorious war,” not only for the vulgar, but even for minds of a higher stamp. It is well occasionally to throw aside the tinsel drapery of Mars, that we may catch a glimpse of his mutilated limbs and his ensanguined visage. There is always a reverse side to the brightest pictures- and the suppressed extract furnishes it in this instance. Robbery and sacrilege, and oft times blacker crimes, are unfortunately too often the immediate fruits of victory: - Whig.

Jalalpa, Sept. 11, 1847

“You speak of rumors in relation to -, I have no doubt that are true. It appears Col. Wynkoop heard I was in great danger, and three days after my arrival at this place he came down with three hundred me, ___’s company included. The men were drunk when they came to town, and remained so until they went out. Several robberies were committed here, but the most reprehensible act was in going to Cautepec, where they met with no resistance, but robbed almost every house, and, to cap the climax, robbed the Church, and destroyed, what to them was useless, but to the church valuable. The same thing was done at San Miguel. I have promised to pay the Church for its losses, under General Scott’s proclamation.”
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Thursday, October 21, 1847 MG47v48n34p2c6 Arrest of Colonel Gilpin words: 177

The Weston (Missouri) Herald, of the 2^nd instant says: “ A difficulty has arisen between Cols. Wharton and Gilpin which resulted in placing the latter under arrest. Col. G., on his arrival at the Fort, waited on Col. W. for the purpose of ascertaining his orders, and of making arrangements preliminary to assuming the command of his battalion. A difference of opinion occurred regarding the objects of the expedition. Both became excited.

Col. W. states that the battalion was to be stationed on the Santa Fe route for the purpose of protection the trains, and was not to depart therefrom. Col. G. replied: “By God, sir, I will pursue the Indians even to the mountains but that I will overtake them.” Col. W., after informing him that he was the commanding officer of that post, and could not allow such language to be used, told him that he must retract or he would put him under arrest. This Gilpin refused to do, and, accordingly, he is now under arrest. Col. W. has forwarded his charges to Washington.
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Thursday, October 21, 1847 MG47v48n34p2c2 Mexican Whigism words: 218

The Locofoco organs seem of late not to know any name for the Whigs but “Mexican Whigs.” Let us mention a few facts for the benefit of these callers of hard names. Two Kentucky regiments destined for Mexico are now encamped near this city, and we are assured by a gentleman of the highest respectability, who professes to know the fact, that a large majority of the rank and file of both regiments are Whigs. Leander Coxe, Esq., who was the late Whig candidate for Congress against Judge French, and who was lampooned as a Mexican Whig by all the Locofoco papers of the State, is Captain of one of the very finest companies at the encampment, and by far the larger portion of his company are Whigs. There is a company upon the ground from the strong Locofoco counties of Henry, Oldham, and Trimble, and seventy men of this company, or more that seven-tenths of it, are Whigs. The regiments are made up of men from nine of the ten Congressional districts of Kentucky, but Lynn Boyd’s district, the only Locofoco district in the State, is not represented by a solitary volunteer in either regiment! Let the Locofoco scamps, whose tongues are so familiar with the phrase “Mexican Whigs,” digest these facts as they may.- Louisville Journal.
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Thursday, October 21, 1847 MG47v48n34p3c2 Untitled words: 194

We are indebted to our friend, John W. Tibbatts, Col. 16^th Infantry, who is now Civil and Military Governor of Monterey, for a copy of the proclamation issued by him upon his assuming the duties of that office, on the 1rst September, 1847. The proclamation declares that the Governor found the city “virtually without law or order, and infested with robbers, murderers, gamblers, vagrants, and other evil disposed persons- the worst of criminals going free, unscathed of justice; even rapine and murder stalking abroad in open day without fear of punishment, insomuch that the peaceable inhabitants thereof have no protection, either of person or property.” The Colonel gives a very dark picture of the morals of his “province,” but if there is any virtue in stringent laws and avowals of a determination to enforce them, he will soon have a respectable city of it. He makes a clean sweep of the gamblers, hells, drinking shops, and rowdies, and invites the Mexican citizens who have been compelled to flee from their homes through fear or other cause to return, with the assurance that they will be protected in all their honest avocations._ Frankfort (Ky.) Commonwealth
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Thursday, October 21, 1847 MG47v48n34p3c3 Fighting Parson words: 134

We have seen it stated that one of the companies from Mississippi, at Buena Vista, was commanded by a Methodist minister. Just before the battle commences, and whilst the troops were forming, it is said he delivered the following pithy prayer, at the head of his company:

“Be with us this day in the conflict, O Lord! We are few, and the enemy are many. Be with us as thou wast with Joshua when he went down from Gilgal to Bethhoron and Ajalo, to smite the Amorites. We do not ask thee for the sun and moon to stand still, but grant us plenty of powder, plenty of daylight, and no cowards. Take old Rough and Ready under thy special charge. Amen!- M-A-R-C-H.”

His company performed prodigies on the field that day.- N.O. Nat.
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Thursday, October 28, 1847 MG47v48n35p2c1 From the Seat of the War words: 611

The steamer Fashion, Capt. Ivy, arrived last evening from Vera Cruz via Tampico, having left the former city on the 7^th and the latter and the 9^th. From the 3^rd to the 7^th outward bound vessels were detained at Vera Cruz by a heavy norther, and little communication was had with the shore. The Fashion has experienced very rough weather.

By this arrival we have our correspondence from Mr. Kendall and others up to the 28^th of September from the city of Mexico. The news in glorious, ever glorious from the American arms; at the same time our losses are severe, and the details of the killed and wounded heart sickening. Thank God! None of our generals have been killed, but Maj. Gen. Pillow and Brig. Gen. Sheilds were both wounded severely, but were doing well at last accounts. We are not about to repeat the list of killed here; it will be found in Mr. Kendall’s letters. We may mention, however, that Col. McIntosh and Col. Ranson, Lieut. Col. Martin Scott, Lieut. Col. Graham, of the 11^th Infantry, Lieut. Col. Baxter, of the New York regiment, and Lieut. Col. Dickinson of the South Carolina regiment, are dead. For the rest of the deplorable list we refer to Mr. Kendall’s letters.

In the battle of the King’s Mill on the 8^th, Gen. Worth’s division lost about 600 men in killed and wounded. In the battles of the 13^th- the storming of Chapultepec, and the attack on the citadel- Quitman’s division lost 300, Twigg’s 268, Pillow’s 142, and Worth’s 188- 848 in all. Worth had scarcely a thousand men in this action. Our entire loss since leaving Puebla in killed, wounded and missing Mr. Kendall sets down at 3000; another authority given below makes it 4000. And yet Gen. Scott entered the valley of Mexico with an army only a little exceeding 10,000 men. What wonders have not the “ten thousand” achieved! The Mexican loss is not definitely ascertained, but was enormous.

Gen. Bravo was not killed, but was taken a prisoner. We do not see that Santa Anna was wounded. It is true that he has resigned the Presidency. We have the act before us, but have not room for it today. Since his resignation he has made and address to his countrymen, which we will give tomorrow.

We annex her Gen. Scott’s order after his victorious occupation of the city.

General Orders – No. 286

National Palace of Mexico, Sept. 16, 1847

The general in chief calls upon his brethren in arms to return both in public and private worship, thanks and gratitude to God for the signal triumphs which they have recently achieved for their country.

Beginning with the 19^th of August and ending the 14^th instants, this army has gallantly fought its way through the fields and forts of Contreras, San Antonio, Churubusco, Molino del Rey, Chapultepec and the gates of San Cosmo and Tacubaya, into the capital of Mexico.

When the very limited numbers who have performed these brilliant deeds shall have become known, the world will be astonished and our own countrymen filled with joy and admiration.

But all is not yet done. The enemy, through scattered and dismayed, has still many fragments of his late army hovering about us, and, aided by an exasperated population, he may again reunite in treble our numbers and fall upon us to advantage if we rest inactive on the security of past victories.

Compactness, vigilance and discipline are, therefore, our only securities. Let every good officer and man look to those cautions and enjoin them upon all others.

By command of Maj. Gen. Scott
H.L. Scott, A A A G.

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Thursday, October 28, 1847 MG47v48n35p2c4 Affairs in Vera Cruz and on the Road words: 692

Our papers and letters by the Fashion contain much interesting and important information in relation to the state of the road from Vera Cruz to the capital. We proceed to give such items as are of immediate interest.

The report that Gen. Rea was at Puebla is fully confirmed, and that Genius of Liberty, of the 27^th ult., says our troops under Col. Childs were bombarding the city from the surrounding heights. The same paper, of the 2^nd inst., has the following.

“Gen. Santa Anna never so badly discomfited, was by the very latest accounts at Publa. His force, after its junction with that of Gen. Rea, amounted in infantry and cavalry to 3000 men, and it was quartered in the convent of St. Carmen. The Americans under the command of Col. Childs, were strongly fortified in a massive built and very capacious convent of the same city, conscious of the strength of their position, and its impregnability, were awaiting the arrival of reinforcements, in the utmost security and tranquility. At intervals bombs were thrown into the city, which, however, we are happy to say did not receive much injury from their explosion previous to the date of our accounts.”

From the tenor of our Vera Cruz correspondent’s letters, we have no doubt that Col. Childs would soon be reinforced by the arrival of Gen. Lane with his brigade at Puebla. He reached Jalapa on the 30^th ult., and was to leave the next day for Puebla. Maj. Lally’s command accompanied him. Our correspondent says, writing on the 29^th ult:

“Capt. Biscoe’s command returned yesterday from the National Bridge, whence it had been to escort ammunition for Gen. Lane’s command, which had already started, the General having left orders for the ammunition train to move on and join him. From pretty good information received at the Bridge Capt. Biscoe was confident there was not a guerrilla at Cerro Gordo, and that the whole command would arrive safe at Jalapa, where it would obtain a supply of provisions.

“Another small train of provisions left the city last night, a part of which was for Col. Collin’s and a part for Col. Hugee’s command. The fact that Capt. Biscoe’s company was not attacked either in going to or returning from the National Bridge, is evidence that the guerrillas have abandoned that road for the present, but I have no doubt they will return when least expected.”

Our correspondent, writing from Vera Cruz on the 4^th inst., says that a gentleman who arrived from Mexico a few days previous, and who went to from Puebla to Mexico on the 15^th September, says that he met fully 2000 Mexican soldiers (deserters) on their way to Puebla and other southern places south of Mexico.

Capt. Fairchild’s command returned to Vera Cruz on the 8^th inst. from the Bridge, having escorted provisions to Col. Hughes’s and Col. Collins’s command. On the way back they were fired into, and Lieut. Moralles, of Capt. F’s company, was severely wounded in the left hand, which will no doubt have to be amputated.

Gen. Alvarez has been appointed commandant of the State of Puebla, and is represented to be unceasing in his efforts to organize and equip another force for the purpose of cutting off Gen. Scott’s communication with Vera Cruz, and of preventing any new accession of men and supplies.

The following is from the Genius of Liberty of the 30^th ult:

“Our city looks quite brisk and lively this morning, owing to the arrival of the steamers New Orleans, Telegraph, and Ohio; our harbor, notwithstanding the violence of the wind, is literally covered with boats running backwards and forwards, landing horses, mules, and government stores; and the load peal of the cannon is occasionally heard from Fort Conception, giving a healthy welcome to our gallant officers and brave soldiers.

“Gen. Patterson and staff, Major Polk, brother of the President; Capt. Stapp, Lieuts. Lampire, Palmer and Mitchell, Vols.; Capt. Livingston, Lieuts. Stewart, Scott and Holmes, Florida Vols.; Lieut. Jenkins, regular army, arrived by the steamer New Orleans, from N. Orleans, and Gen. Cushing and staff, by the steamer Ohio, from Brazos.”
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Thursday, October 28, 1847 MG47v48n35p2c5 Untitled words: 90

Our correspondent, writing on the 4^th inst. says Gen. Patterson expected to be able to start for the interior in about a week with 2000 or more men.

The U.S. Schooner Flirt had been out eleven days on a cruise in search of a suspicious vessel, supposed to be a privateer, but returned without getting a glimpse of her.

The Genius of the 29^th ult. says a report was circulating in Vera Cruz that a bearer of dispatches from Gen. Scott was killed at the city of Cordova- N.O. Picayune [JKM]

Thursday, October 28, 1847 MG47v48n35p2c5 What we asked and what Mexico was willing to give words: 236

The demands of Mr. Polk, made through Mr. Trist, would have given to the United States, had they been acceded to by the Mexican Government, an additional territory of 696,000 square miles, or nearly one half of all the territory which Mexico possesses or claims, short of Texas proper – a territory larger in extent than all France, Great Britain, Austria and Prussia taken together. It is true that Mr. Trist afterwards withdrew the claim for the Peninsula of California. This would reduce the President’s demand to about 636,000 square miles, leaving an expanse of territory sufficient to make nine States as large as Virginia, and eighty as large as Massachusetts.

Such being the moderate demands of President Polk, let us state what the Mexicans were willing to yield.

The Mexicans proposed to surrender to us a strip of continent extending, in its greatest length, over 25 degrees of longitude, and, in it greatest breadth, 5 degrees of latitude. It would have given us east of the Rio Grande in round numbers, 32,000 square miles, sliced from New Mexico, and west of the Rio Grande, 291,000 square miles of California, containing the bays of Monterey and San Francisco- in all, 323,000 square miles, embracing upwards of one-fifth the entire Mexican territory.

But this was not sufficient. The first declaration in relation to Oregon seems to be the order of the day: “The whole or none!”- Cumberland Civilian
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Thursday, October 28, 1847 MG47v48n35p2c5 Let Justice be Done words: 141

The desertion of a number of men from the American Army, and their capture and execution near the city of Mexico, have given rise to many remarks calculated to reflect on the patriotism of certain adopted civilians of this country. It has been thought, and we confess that this was the impression left on our mind, that the Battalion alluded to were mostly from the Emerald Isle. The N.Y. Police register contains the names and places of nativity of that infamous set of scamps, from which we are sorry to learn that a large portion were Americans. They are classed as follows- Americans 64; Irishmen 34; Germans 16; Nova Scotia, France and Poland. We publish this account that unjust reproach may be taken from the shoulders of those who do not merit the censure. Let all bear their part. – Rich. Whig.
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Thursday, October 28, 1847 MG47v48n35p2c7 The Administration and the “Democracy” Words: 171

We find in so leading a paper as the New York Evening Post an article from a central paper of the same politics (the Albany Atlas) denouncing, with calmness but with a fixed determination, the attempts of the Administration in this city to dragoon the party into its projects for overrunning and subjugating all Mexico, if its demands for the surrender of Mexican territory be not complied with. As a sample of this article, we copy a few lines from the concluding paragraph, as follows.

Mark its grave import!

“We say to Mr. Ritchie, and those who concur with him, Go your Ways! You were warned in time against the agitation and the distracting issues that your course in relation to the annexation of Texas would produce. You were implored to take Texas without war; you chose to take it with war; and if now, at this day, you expect the Democracy of the North to bear the responsibility of your measure, they must at least by permitted to protest,” &c.
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Thursday, October 28, 1847 MG47v48n35p3c1 Mr. Polk’s friend Santa Anna words: 343

The American Public have cause to admire the foresight and sagacity which induced Mr. Polk to permit Santa Anna to return to Mexico. To be sure, it would have occurred to ordinary minds, that a man who would bargain for a return to his own country, in order that he might be able to betray it was not much to be trusted. But Mr. Polk’s is not an “ordinary mind,” and the result of his negotiation with Santa Anna, proves beyond a peradventure that it was the most extraordinary piece of diplomatic tact, that the world has ever been called on to admire. Look at Santa Anna’s last proclamation. Defeated in a series of bloody engagements, and driven from the capital, observe what mild and peaceful sentiments he breathes- admire how exactly all Mr. Polk’s anticipations have been realized, and see the policy of permitting Santa Anna’s return amply vindicated.

Take the following sentence as evidence of Santa Anna’s friendship for this country and desire for peace:

“Mexicans! You will find me, as ever, leading in your defense, striving to free you from a heavy yoke, and to preserve your altars, from infamous violation, and your daughters and your wives from the extremity of insult. The enemy raises the sword to would your noble fronts; do you draw it likewise to chastise the rancorous pride of the invader.”

How Mr. Polk’s eyes must be riveted on these, peaceful sentiments thus gently expressed, and how he must chuckle in his inmost soul when he reflects that Santa owes his power, to hold this language, to his prudence, to his sagacity and his foresight.

Our readers will observe in reading the extract published in our last paper, from the Diario del Gobierno, that there is considerable change in the tone of the Mexicans. But does that change bode us any better prospect for peace than we had eighteen months since? We think not. Dropping their arrogance and gasconade, they talk like me who have sternly and solemnly resolved to perish rather than yield .- Pet. Int.
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November 1847

December 1847

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The Mexican-American War and the Media, 1845-1848

The information on this site is intended for personal, non-profit, and/or educational purposes only.

©2005 Linda Arnold