The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-24 00:00:00

Rockets were also thrown, and the sky at times was com-
pletely lit up by them, yet a large portion of them fell
short. In the mean time our own men, are compelled to re-
main quiet and take this fire—the hardest duty a soldier has
to perform. All are anxious to strike back, and they will be
gratified in the course of a few days.
During the advance upon the rear of the city, passed Mid-
shipman Rodgers, who had not yet been sent from Vera
Cruz, was bound en a cart and ordered to be conveyed,
under a guard, to the prison at l'erote, but fortunately they
were encountered by our forces, and Mr. Rodgers was rescued
and is now on board his ship.

GENERAL TAYLOR AND SANTA ANNA.
The Matamoras Flag of the 13th contains the follow-
ing concerning Santa Anna's movements:—
"We understand from reliable authority that there arc
letters in town from Mexicans stating that. Santa Anne is in
full retreat to San Luis Potosi. The letters also state that
he held a consultation with his principal officers after the
first day's engagement, and that a retreat was then strenu-
ously advocated.
" Before the battle commenced, the Mexicans firmly be-
lieved that General Taylor would retire before their vastly
superior numbers, and that in his retreat they could
supply themselves with provisions, of which they were
much in need, almost starving. Finding the Americans
obstinate and determined to fight for their eatables with the
ferociousness of bull-dogs, they despaired of getting a dinner
from them, and deemed it prudent to retire."
It seems hardly possible that Santa Anna should have un-
dertaken the march to San Luis across the desert, in the ex-
isting condition of his army. The former news was that he
had withdrawn towards Perces.
The Matamoras Flag of the 13th states that the Mexican
force engaged in the late battle consisted of—lnfantry,
13,000; cavalry, 6,000; artillery and sappers, 2,000; total,
21,000.
The Washington Intelligencer of the 3d inst. had the
following :
" Lieutenant Crittenden, a volunteer Aide-de-Camp of
General Taylor, arrived in Washington, last evening, with
dispatches from that officer, whose head-quarters, at Buena
Vista, he left on the 2d of March. We learn from Lieutenant
Crittenden that on the 24th of February, the day after the
last battle, it appeared that Santa Anna and whatever
forces had remained with him had disappeared and re-
treated in the direction of San Luis Potosi. General Taylor
dispatched a body of 500 men as far as Encarnacion, to
harass and disperse this retreating remnant of the Mexican
army. The unofficial accounts which we have published of
the battles of the 22d and 23d of February are, we under-
stand, substantially correct. Captain Prentis's Artillery
from Monterey reached General Taylor on the morning
of the 24th, and would have been in time had the battle been
renewed."

THE BATTLE OF BUENA VISTA.
OFFICIAL DISPATCHES.
" Head. quarters Army of Occupation,
"Camp on the field of battle, Buena Vista,
a Mexico, Feb. 24.
" Sir,—l have the honour to report that, having become
assured on the 20th inst., that the enemy had assembled
in very heavy force at Encarnacion, thirty miles in front
of Agua Nueva, with the evident design of attacking my
position, I broke up my camp at the latter place on the
21st, and took up a strong line in front of Buena Vista,
seven miles south of Saltillo. A cavalry force left at Agua
Nueva for the purpose of covering the removal of supplies
was driven in during the night, and on the morning of the
22d the Mexican army appeared immediately in front of our
position. At eleven o'clock A.M. a flag was sent, bearing from
General Santa Anna a summons of unconditional surrender.
To which I immediately returned a negative reply. The
summons and my reply are herewith inclosed. The action
was commenced late in the afternoon between the light
troops on the left flank, but was not seriously engaged until
the morning of the 23d, when the enemy made an effort to
force the left flank of our position. An obstinate and san-
guinary conflict was maintained, with short intervals,
throughout the day, the result being that the enemy was
completely repulsed from our lines. An attack of cavalry
upon the rancho of Bueno Vista and a demonstration upon
the city of Saltillo itself, were likewise handsomely repelled.
Early in the night the enemy withdrew from his camp, and
fell back upon Agua Nueva, a distance of twelve miles.
" Our own force engaged' at all points in this action fell
somewhat short of 5,400 men, while that of the enemy, from
the statement of General Santa Anna, may be estimated
at 20,000. Our success against such odds is a sufficient
encomium on the good conduct of our troops. In a more
detailed official report I shall have the satisfaction of bring-
ing to the notice of the Government the conspicuous gal-
lantry of particular officers and corps. I may be permitted
here, however, to acknowledge my great obligations to Bri-
gadier-General Wool, the second in command, to whom I
feel particularly indebted for his valuable services on this
occasion.
" Our loss has been very severe, and will not probably fall
short of 700 men. The Mexican loss has been immense. I
shall take the earliest opportunity of forwarding a correct list
of the casualties of the day.
" I am, Sir, very respectfully, your obedient Fern it
" Z. TAYLOR,

" Major-General U. S. A. commanding.
" The Adj.-Gen. of the army, Washington, D.C."
(Translation. )
" Summons of Santa Anna to General Taylor.
" You are surrounded by twenty thousand men, and can-
not, in any human probability, avoid suffering a rout, and
being; cut to pieces with your troops ; but as you deserve
consideration and particular esteem, I wish to save you from
a catastrophe, and for that purpose give you this notice,
in order that you may surrender at discretion, under the
assurance that you will be treated with the consideration
belonging to the Mexican character, to which end you will
be granted an hour's time to make up your mind, to com-
mence from the moment when my flag of truce arrives in
your camp.
" With this view, I assure you of my particular con-
sideration.
" God and Liberty. Camp at Encantada, February 22d,
1847. ANT. LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA.
" To Gen. Z. Taylor, commanding the forces of the United
States."

" Ilead-quarters, Army of Occupation, near Buena
Vista, Feb. 22, 1847.
" Sir,--In reply to your note of this date, summoning me
to surrender my forces at discretion, I beg leave to say that
I decline acceding to your request.
" With high respect, I am your obedient servant,
" L. TAYLOR.
" Maj -General U. S. A. commanding.
" Senor Gen. D. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna,
Commander-in-Chief, La Encantada."

" Head-quarters, Army of Occupation,
Stil"
Sir,—l have respectfullyatiorie°p' Feb.r'
report that 1847. the
main Mexi-
can force is yet at Agua Nueva. Our troops hold the positions
which they have so well defended, and are prepared to re-
ceive the enemy, should he venture another attack.
"An arrangement has been made with General Santa
Anna for an exchange of prisoners, by which we shall re-
ceive all, or nearly all, of those captured from us at different
times, besides the few taken in the action of the 23d. Our
wounded, as well as those of the Mexicans which have fallen
into our hands, have been removed to this place, and are
rendered comfortable. .
" Our loss in the recent action, so far as ascertained,
amounts to 264 killed, 450 wounded, and 26 missing. One
company of the Kentucky cavalry is not included in this
statement, its casualitics not being yet reported. I respect-
fully enclose a list of the commissioned officers killed and
wounded, embracing many names of the highest merit.
" I am, Sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
" Z. TAYLOR,
" Major-General U. S. A. commanding.
".The Adj.• Gen. of the Army, Washington, D.C."

" Head-quarters Army of Occupation,
Agua Nueva, March 1, 1847.
"Sir,—l have the honour to report, that the troops of my
command occupied their original camp at this place on the
27th of February, the last of the Mexican army leaving the
morning of that day in the direction of San Luis. It is as-
certained that the enemy is in full retreat, and in a very dis-
organised condition ; the men deserting and dying of starva-
tion in great numbers. I dispatch a command this day as far
as Encarnation to harass his rear, and secure whatever mili-
tary supplies may be found there.
" From the statement of Mexican officers, particularly of
the medical staff left to succour the wounded, there seems no
doubt that their loss in the recent action is moderately esti-
mated at 1,500, and may reach 2,000 men, killed and
wounded, besides 2,000 or 3,000 deserters. Many officers of
rank were lost. I enclose a list of the names of our own
killed and wounded, made as complete as practicable at this
time. One Regiment (Kentucky cavalry) is not included,
its return not being rendered.
" The enemy had fully reckoned upon our total rout, and
had made arrangements to intercept our retreat, and cut off
the army, stationing for that purpose corps of cavalry not
only immediately in our rear, but even below Monterey. I
regret to report that they succeeded near the village of
Marin in destroying a train of supplies, and killing a con-
siderable number of the escort and teamsters. Colonel
Morgan, 2d Ohio regiment, on his march from Cerralvo to
Monterey, was infested with the Mexican cavalry, with
which he had several rencontres, but finally dispersed them
with small loss on his own part. Capt. Graham, A.Q.M., vo-
lunteer service, was mortally wounded in one of these af-
fairs. I have no doubt that the defeat of the main army at
Buena Vista will secure our line of communication from
further interruption, but I still propose in a few days to change
my bead-quarters to Monterey, with a view to make such
furthar arrangements as may be necessary in that quarter.
" The dispositions made to harass our rear, vindicate the
policy and necessity of defending a position in front of Sal-
tillo, where a defeat has thrown the enemy far back into
the interior. No result so decisive could have been obtained
by holding Monterey, and our communications would have
been constantly in jeopardy.
"I am, Sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
" Z. TAYLOR.
" Major-Gen. United States Army commanding.
"The Adjutant-General of the Army, Washington, D.C.

" Colonel Warren is Governor and Commandant of Sal•
tillo.

Extract of a letter dated
"Saltillo, March 1, 1847.
" Our scouts' bring in word that Santa Anna has gone for
good, and that his whole infantry have dispersed. There is
no doubt of it. We shall not see him again on this line.
"To-day Colonel Warrent received a dispatch from the
governor:, informing him that American commissioners
were now in the city of Mexico, and had written to the
Mexican Congress, saying that they were there to make an
honourable peace.
"The governor requested permission to return to Saltillo,
to assist in keeping order, and promising to comply with any
requisition made on him."
"DISPATCH OF COMMANDER CONNER.
"United States Ship Raritan, oft Sacrificios,
March 10, 1847.
" Sir,—ln my last dispatch, dated on the 7th instant, I
informed the department of the arrival of Major• General
Scott at Anton Lizardo. Most of the transports, with troops
and the materiel of the army, having arrived about the
same time a speedy disembarkation was resolved upon, it
being quite important that we should effect a landing
before a norther should come on, as this would delay
us two or three days. After a joint reconnoissance, made
by the General and myself in the steamer Petrita, the beach
due west from Sacrificios, one of the points spoken of in my
previous letters, was selected as the most suitable for the
purpose. The anchorage near this place being extremely
contracted, it became necessary, in order to avid crowding
it with an undue number of vessels, to transfer most of the
troops to the vessels of war for transportation to Sacrificios.
Accordingly, on the mornirg of the 9th, at daylight, all
necessary preparations, such as hunching and numbering
the boats, detailing officers, &c., having been previously

• " We are informed that thEi Scouts followed Santa Anna
forty miles.

" The governor alluded to is the Mexican appointed by
the Mexican Government to administer the laws within a
prescribed territory, in which Saltigo is situated. The re-
quest was granted, and he is now acting in concert with
Colonel Warren to keep order and myeat