Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-11-05
News Politics. &c.
FROM THE BALTIMORE AMERICAN.
THE MONTERREY CAPITULATION.

FROM THE BALTIMORE AMERICAN.
THE MONTERREY CAPIrULATION.
The extracts which we publish in this
mornings american from Il letter Of an Artl-
lery Officer Of our Army in Mexico TO a gen
tleman in this city, state distinctly that when
Gen. TAYLOR entered into the eight weeks ar
mistce with AMPUDiA he mad the positive as
surance of the latter, not only that Santa Re
was captured and California possessed by the
Americans, butalso that Commissioners of
the United States were then in Mexico to ar
range the terms of treaty. Mexican insncer-
ity and craft will be better understood by and
by Reliance hereafter on SANTA ANNA's pro-
testations will hardly dupe even Mr.. POLK
again; nor will the representations OF Mex
can commanders be henceforth taken by our
Generals without many grains Of allowance.
Nevertheless the justification Of the Monter-
ey capitulation does not rest upon the belief
which Gen. TAYLOR may have entertained Of
AMPUpIA's declaration II is complete with
out supposing such belief. With six thou
sand men ct the commencement Of the attack
on Monterey, Gen. TAYLOR found himself at
the end Of the third day weakened by a loss of
one tenth of his number-possibly more. If
he had determined 10 continue the battle no
doubt he would have taken the town, OF which
one half was already in his possession. But
il would have been by a succession OF street
fights obstinate and bloody, the Mexicans de-
Tending house after house, street alter street.
Gen. TAYLOR could not afford 10 lose any more
men. With his force diminished by such loss
as the renewal ofthe fight at Monterey would
involve; with the necessity Of leaving behind
him strong garrison in that place II would
have been impossible for him TO advance upon
Saltillo. Hescould not advance in any event
without reinforcements. The captulauon gave
him time 10 wait for reiniorcements from the
Rio Grande and by the junction of Gen.
WooI.'s division. negotiations were really
going on for peace between our Government
and that Of Mexico, consequent upon the res
toration of SANTA ANNA,-a thing which he
might reasonably infer not only from AMPU-
piA's declaration but more especially from in
tmations given by his own Government
the armstice concluded with the Mexicans
would be favourable to such negotiations.
Some of the details Of the letter in our col
umns, already referred 10, present another
point worthy of attention. RIDGELY's pieces
of FLYING Artillery were too light to make auy
impression upon the fortified works at Mon
terey. The way in which thai officer is in the
habit of serving his pieces gives certain as
surance that if they could have been made eff
fectiye against the Mexican works he would
have made them SO. But every body knows
that light artillery of that sort is not intended
for attacks upon Notifications. The attempt
was made at Monterey mainly to, see whether
the enemy's works were really as strong as
they appeared to be. The fact that the attempt
was made at all, proves the more serious fact
that Gen. TAYLOR has not been furnished with
artillery adapted TO the attack ofsuch fortified
places as Monterey.
Extracts from letter from an officer of the
United States army in Mexico, dated
MONTEREY, September %, 1876.
"Yesterday morning flag OF truce came
into our camp offering TO surrender The town,
provided the troops marched cut with Their
arms, colors, artillery and private property,
which Gen. TAYLOR refused. They entered
however into an armistice from 10 until II
O'Clock. Gen. TAYLOR transferred the nego-
Citations from our camp to Worths Head
Quarters at the Bishops palace, a large work
situated on an eminence in rear OF and COM
mandinr the city. After much discussion
Cen. TAYLOR agreed that the Cavalry and In
fantrv should march out with their side arms,
and that the Artillery should carry field bat
tery of six 6 Founders and thirty rounds of
ammunition and personal effects Al the
forts. Notifications, with their armaments, am
munition supplies and Government property
of every description to be delivered over to us
al ten o'clock this morning, They are allow
ed one week to vacate the city, and are then
to withdraw beyond this province, the whole
of which is given up to us except Tampleo-
and this | presume they claim because the
Navy has not succeeded in taking it. This,
YOU will perceive. makes the Sierra Madre
mountains the boundary. =,
"Gen. AMPupIA, during the conference, said
he had positive information that Gen. kEARNEY
had taken Santa Fe and that our citizens had
captured California. What slice has been
taken from theml
"They have further entered into an arms
tice for eight weeks. Gen. TAYLOR agreed to
This on AMpuDn's positive assurance that our
commissioners were in Mexico arranging the
basis Of Treaty, ,
"Cen. WORM has just completed series
or the most brilliant operations IN modern war
fare and with but little loss. He carried four
,,,orls and then came into the town with eve
-, house fertilization. He acted thus ~ |
y;ded his forces into two columns, moving |
nnraIlel. and opening their way with pick axes
ihroueh the houses and walls. Thus when
they Knocked hole in house they OF course
had posession. and in this way avoided the |
streets and the enemies fire from roofs OF hou-