The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-11
PUBLIC DOCUMENTS.
Report OF the Secretary OF War.
WAR DEPARTMENT, L

WAR DEPARTMENT, Dec. s, 1915.
SIR In conformity 10 established usage, | have the
honor to submit to you the annual report upon the
era branches Of the public service conhded to this de-
parnent.
will show the number description, and distribution Of
the troops which have been in service during the past
year For the want of full and recent returns the emu
meraton is not accurate as could be desired.
Previous to my last annual report, the largest part Of
our regular force had been concentrated at Corpus Christi
under the command OF General Taylor Tor the protection
Of Texas and in March last, pursuant to instructions
from this department, he moved forward, to be IN STU
anon more eeeualy execute that purpose, 10 the left
bank of the Rio GTande where he arrived about the end
OF that month"; selected position for the army opposite
Matamoros, and proceeded to strengthen by The cree
ton Of necessary field works, al the same time establish
ing depot Of supplies at Point Isabel about thirty miles
distant in his rear, and near the coast
Notwithstanding the object OF this movement oil our
troops was made known and all intention OF doing more
than peaceaby TO occupy the territory OF Texas was dls
ayowed soon after the arrival Of the army on the Rio
Grande hostile feeling began to be manifested by the
Mexican forces stationed on the opposite bank OF that
ryer and on the 2ith of April the Mexican general,
Arista informed General Taylor that he considered hos
hities commenced, and should prosecute them" On the
day detachment OF Dragons, sent up the left
bank Of the river TO observe the movements OF the MeX
can forces, became engaged with large body Of these
troops, and after short affair, in which some sixteen
were killed and wounded, was compelled 10 surrender.
After this occurrence there could no longer be doubt
that the Mexican authorities had designedy changed the
relat Of peace between the two countries INTO state
actual war. General Taylor, nnnSel OF the
authority vested in him BY your direction called the
governors Of Texas and Louisiana for four regiments OF
volunteers from each State IN be send forward with the
least practicable delay In the meantime, owing to the
scarcity OF provisions Tor the army encamped opposite TO
Matamoros, and being apprehensve that the enemy
would endeavor to cut off the communication with the
depot whence supplies were drawn the general eaylng
part Of his force to defend his entrenched camp Fort
BTown moved with the rest OF his army 10 Point Isabel
After securing his supply train, he commenced his return
march on the It'll of May and on the next day encoun
he hla
action ensued which obsnaely contested BY the
enemy from two o'clock in the afternoon until nearly
dark, when the Mexican army was finally driven, with
immense loss, from the field. The American force en-
gagged in this action 22Ss. That OF the enemy a.
admitted by their officers taken prisoners amounted
to six thousand regulars, together with considerable
regular force.
On the next day the enemy was again met seven miles
advance at Resaca de la Palma, where he drawn
up in equal force, with the advantage Of positions judi
Cously selected by himself Here another action ensued,
which the enemy signally defeated, and driven
the Rio Grande with still greater loss, leaving
large amount of munitions and baggage of every descp-
nOn which fell into possession His loss IN killed,
wounded and missing in the two engagements, has been
estimated at one thousand men
During the absence OF General Taylor with part OF
his force from FOr Brown, that post was bOmbarded by
the enemy batteries from the It'll to the 9TH of May.
OF these gallant achievements it is not necessary to
speak more in detail, the official accounts were laid
before Congress at the last session They consider
ed everywhere in country and admitted abroad
TO be examples OF courage and skill scarcely excee in
the history OF military operatons-refecng the highest
credit alike upon the officers and soldiers who pacpa
ted IN these memorable actions.
For several successive years this department had ask
ed authority to prepare ponton train, but the prospect
OF having use for it seemed to be remote that pro-
vision therefor had then been made, and for want Of
of pursuing the enemy the river, the
handing general unable to avail himself TO the ut
most extent of the advantages of these decisive victories
and not till the 18th that he succeeded in crossing
the nver and taking military possession of the city of
Matamoros; which was, on his approach, hastily aban-
doned by the Mexican troops leaving behind them a
considerable supply Of ordnance and public stores.
As il became known at this place that Mexico
had commenced hoslites, Congress recognised the eX
stence of war between the United States and that repub
lie, and the 18th of May authorized the President to
accept the services of volunteers, not to exceed So 900
nder this act acquisitions Immediately made upon
the governors of the States of Arkansas, Mississippi
Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri fiji
nos, Indiana, Ohio, and Texas, for volunteer force
equal TO % regiments, amounting in all, with battalion
from this District and Maryland to about % 900 effective
men, TO for the period of twelve months, TO the
end OF the war. This call was responded TO in prompt
and patriotic manner, and the force duly organized and
sent forward to the points Of destination with the least
practicable delay Much the largest portion OF it was
designed to Cooperate with the regular army under Gen
Taylor, then the Rio Grande After establishing his
base OF operations that river for several hundred
miles, he moved into the enemys country in the direction
OF Monterey, in the department Of New Leon Another
portion was concentrated, under Gen. Wool at San An
homo 6a de- BeSsr for a. S HPon Chihuahua and
Fort Leavenworth, to compose, with few hundred reg
Mar troops, an expedition to Santa Fe under General
keanv
Owing to the great difficulty in providing the means of
transporting supplies for so large force that
ated the Rio Grande; to the necessity of drawing all
those supplies from the United Statcs-he enemys
Try beng destitute of them; to the unusual freshGts
which retarded the progress of boats the river and
the mpractcaby of the land route for wagons at that
time, arrangements for the movement upon Monterey
from Matamoros, by the way OF Camargo the route
ected by the commanding general, were not completed
until the latter part OF August, when column, consist
Ing OF about 5000 regular and volunteer troops,
menced forward movement by brigade upon Seralyo
and thence upon Monterey, before which place arrived
on the 10th of September.
On approach hing Monterey, army before them
acity strong IN natural defences and made much
80 by works Of art with citadel protecting it on
SIDE, and fortified heights another; the avenues to il
guarded by orresses well armed and fully Manned and
every house stronghold. Thus strong in position with
more than forty pieces of artillery skilfuly placed for
destructive resistance, well might its defenders exu in
their fanced security and defy their assaiiants Here
The valor, SKILL and herosm which had recently shone
so conspicuous the well fought and victorious fields
OF Pao Alto and Resaca de la Palma were to be put to
another and severer trial
The attack was commenced on the 2st, and continued
mrough the two successive days. The enemy was as
sailed IN his fortified positions; his batteries capured his
orresses after another carried and at length dis
possessed OF most Of his defensive works and more than
nan OF the city, he solicited terms of capituation and
liberal terms were granted.
No better Justice can be done to the merits of the
ocers and soldiers who participated in the achievements
OIL The three glorious days before Monterey than is pre-
Sened IN the perspcuous despatch of Major General Tay-
or and in the reports of the officers in subordinate com
hand on that occasion, which herewith transmitted
PLAIN narrative Of their deeds is their best eulogy
II Is gratifying to learn that in the scenes at Monterey
where the bravery and conduct of army were sub
In hA taas. ,rl,,a sn,p