The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-05-16
ga 30AgNEGWiMws
SATURDAY, MAY l6, 1s46
War with Mexico /!

War with Mexico
The ripcning fruits of the "Tcxas Iniquity'
gradually appear, and at last, we are plunged
into war-all to secure more slave territory
to add to our free Republic! a war, too, car
ried on by the Executive without even con-
sulting Congress except for supplies Well,
he was elected for Just this business.
The reader is referred to the pnrtc ulars Civ
on at length in another column What will
como next cannot be told with ccrtainty-most
likely an account ola terrible conflict Opinion
seems to be divided rs to the result of gcncr-
al battle with Gen, Taylor in the position he
occupied at latest dates. The n. Y. Tribune
thinks he would beat the Mcxicans severely:
others think he must be beaten.
TIe following account ofthc position ui az
fairs touching the military and naval opera
tons of the two countries at this impor-
tant iuncture, will be read with interest
"The intelligence left Gen Taylors Head
Quarters on the night of the 90; it reached
Galveston on the Goth, and New Orleans on
the I'd May. All reinforcemcnts 10 be in
time to relieve Gen Taylor, must 20 to Point
Isabel by water; aud assuming that two or
three thousand men got off from New Orleans
by the 4th, they would reach Point Isabel by
The Sth, and very shortly thereafter, form n
junction with Gen Taylor by attacking the
enemy in the rear. This would be in time
and we feel confident therefore, that the aid
the General so much needs, will reach him
in good season
Port Isabel has doubtless fallen into the
hands ofthe enemy; but most probably the
great bulk of provisions and stores for the ar
my, were placed on shipboard in anticipation
of such n disaster.
The reader, to understand Gen. Taylors po-
sition, must bear in mind that Point Isabel is
on the Gulf of Mexico, and about thirty miles
north of the mouth ofthe Rio Grande. From
Point Isabel to Matamoras, is some sixty or
hundred miles by way ofthe river, while by
land it is but twenty miles. Gen Taylor could
no: send his provision up the Rio Grande,
because the vessels could, lat any moment, have
been Destroyed by the Mcxicans on the right
bank of that river. His only sufety, there
fore, was in establishing a depot at Point Isa-
bel, and keeping his communication open with
that place This he did, until the Mcxicans
crossed in such force as to place him in his
present very embarrassing position which is
attributable solely to the folly and imbcclity of
the government by whose orders he was thus
cntrapped.
1t will be said by some, why did not Gen.
Taylor prevent the enemy S crossing the Rio
Grandeo The answer to this is, that he was
in the presence of an enemy of more than
three times his force, in n strange country and
that TO divide his command under such cir
cumstances, would have been to hazard its de-
struction. But of this we shall hear more here
after.
The United States and Mexico being at war,
it follows of course, the war will not be con-
fined to the frontier. Our fleet in the Gulf
and on the Pacific side, will undoubtedly
at once commence operations At Magellan,
on the Pacific coast, the squadron, at the la
tie st dates, consisted ofthe frigate Savannah
of 80 guns; the frgatc Constitution of 90 guns,
sloops of war, Portsmouth and Levant, of "a
each, and the sooner Shark of12 guns On
the 22d ult. the frigate R0rtan arrived at Vera
Cruz, but toent TO sea the same day in company
with the frigates Cumberland and Potomac,
modore Conner. According to the same ac-
count the IT, S. frigute John Adams, aoas tic
only 9merican 0ossot Of toar off Vera Cruz, al
though the remainder of the squadron were
doubtless in the vicinity. She can of course
do nothing, there alone. The fortress of st.
Juan de Ulloa would resist very heavy at
tack--one certainly much more serious than
that of the French, to which it yielded few
years since. The French squadron then con-
sisted of three large frigates and four bomb
vessels; the former anchored but little over
point blank distance from the eastern face of
the castle, and the bomb vessels but little
farther. There were mortars in the castle but
none in use, and not more than II guns could
be brought to bear on a single ship,and on the
whole squadron only &c, some of which were
carronades.
OF the French vessel, the Cyclops had two
mortars, and in two hours she threw $50 shells
The others did their share. One of the bombs
lodged in the magazine, which was blown up
and about two hundred men destroyed After
six hours fighting the Mcxicans yielded
Since that time the fortress has been thorough
ly repaired. new water battery has been
added; 30 and az Founders have been mount
ed in place of l2's and 1875; from l2 to 90
heavy mortars have been introduced, with sew
eral Paixhan eight inch guns, and everything
is in the very best condition to resist an attack