The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-12-05


threatening signs of the times. All these tend to
draw the attention of the United States to Eng.
land, France and Germany; indeed, to the whole
of Europe. All tend to convince us that this
public is yet 10 become the oil to the troubled
waters of the world.
The telegraph, the spectators expresses, or
some other n cans, will convey the next intell-
gence to this city. We shall keep bright look
out for it. Will -four be up or down?
Our Military Opor ations-The Next Point
of Attack-The Waterloo Of Mexico.
The assembling at San LIis de Potos, Of an
army Of twenty thousand men, commanded by
the ablest general the Mexcans have, is an event
which invests that city with a peculiar interest
Therefore, we think that short description of it,
well as of the surrounding country, will not be
unacceptable to our readers.
We are indebted to a gentleman of this city for
the following compilation of facts =
San Luis is the capital of the department Of
tina. name; indeed, it is the only large town in the
department. This department, in the time of
the Spaniards, was Of immense extent it COM
prsed Tamaulpas, New Leon, Cohahua and
Texas, tract of country containing $4,000
square leagues.
Luis is fertile but it is chiefly as grazing coun-
try that its resources are great With cattle of
all kinds, particularly horses and mules, the de-
partment is overrun. With these animals the
South of Mexico is supplied Most of the fine
horses you see curvetting in the Aiemada or park
of Mexico, are from the farms in the department
of San Luis. The ranchros hereabout are fine,
athletic race, and unsurpassed as horsemen.
There are several silver mines in the depart
ment OF San Luis, the principle of which are
Catoree, La Purissirna, Cerre de Charco, and
Real de Charco. or these, the mine of Catoree,
is the most productive nay, if we may believe
Humboldt, it yields more silver than any mine
in Mexico, with the exception of Guanajuato.-
Catoree is just half way between Saltio and San
Luis, and is right in the track of General Taylor,
should he march in the direction of San Luis
Of the city of San Luis ITSELF we may observe
that it is very fine one, and contains 30, 900
inhabitants. II is $50 miles from Monte
rey; $40 from the city of Mexico and 400
from rampico. As in most Mexican towns, the
streets of San Luis intersect each other at right
angles, and meet in what IS called the PIAZZA, or
great square. The houses, like those in Monte
rey, are castles in miniature. To take this town,
it will be necessary to do what was done ut Mon
terey-work through the party walls OF the houses.
A writer in the United Service Journal of 1895,
says, 60 that the strongest door may be thrown
open by dischargIng nusket through the lock {"
This mode OF gaining an entrance might succeed
in Europe, or the United States, but we doubt if
it be applicable to Mexican houses. For their
doors defended, not only by locks, but by pom.
derous bolts and bars. Their doors are also very
high and thick, and plated inside with ron II,
as is sometimes the case, part Of the house
is occupied as store, the defenders, by piling
against the doors a few bales of goods,
will materially str, ngthen it. Generals in
attacking large Mexican towns, should bear in
mind that the largest, and consequently the
strongest houses those located in the centre
Ii lis comparatively easy thing to make lodge
ment in the suburbs of Mexican town, but to
penetrate as far as the great square is an under
taking OF difficult accomplishment.
San Luis, like the city OF Mexico is supplied
with water by an aqueduct. Our generals will
please bear that in mind. Nine.tenths of the in
hsbitants of San Luis are Indians and Aesti-os.
Ii is said that there more wine shops in San
Luis than in any other Mexican town, and that.
in consequence, brawls and homicides are offre-
quent occurrence. If this be true, what fine
heid the temperance people will have, should
san Luis fall into our possession! But any spe-
culatons now on the introduction of "teetotal-
ism }" into San Luis would be premature The
tents OF General Taylor's army must precede
those Of the Rechsbites and Washingtoniaps,
There are few manufactures at San Luis.
There is not much intercourse between this Mace
and the city of Mexico, San Luis getting the
greater part oft supplies of foreign merchandise
from Tampice, that port standing in the ,ame re-
laton to San Luis whichvera Cruz does to Mexico
Most OF the goods consumed in the department, NJ
Zaca,ecas are brought from 1ampico. via san
Luis; so that the last named place is one of verv
great importance. The reasons which have in.
duced Santa Anna to make San Luis his head
quarters are very obvious,
l. AT San Luis he is in the heart of great cattle
district, whence he can obtain any quantity OF
food for his army. With twenty thousand men.
Gone third Of whom are cavary,) how could he
maintain himselfin the sterile environs of Salto1
e. At San Luis he is only two hundred miles from
Iampico-so that should small American army
say three or four thousand mcn-Iand there.
ana venture into the heart of the country, Santa
Anna, by making a few rapid marches. might
s"oceeo IN surprising and crushing IT,
Al san Luis, he is in a position 10 cone with
m. Taylor, should he advance upon that CITY
ior in five days Santa Anna could march f,,,,,
San Luis to Latoree, aud crown. with =, 80
whelming force, the mountain range in ia =;
cinty.
But perhaps, after all, II is useless to small =.
TO what Santa Anna is doing, or is likely 70 do
LEI US bndle our curiosity, while sold Rough and