Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-11-26
The Plan and Prosecution Of the Mexi.
can War.


The following yndicaton Of our government in its
plan and prosecution Of the war with Mexico, accom-
panied it is. by digniied but pointed rebuke o
certain dUugh-faccs Of the press who would not dare
look Mexican cat in the face, and who know as
much of the subject they prate about as mouse may
be supposed 10 know Of steam engine, is furnished
to the Montreal Gazette by an experienced military
commander in the British service, who evidently under
stands his subject, and who, unlike our domestic
malconients Of republcanism has the candor and the
honesty to award to power with which he docs not
sympathize, the need Of praise it has so nobly won
To the editor of the Montreal Gazette.
If the American press which exulis IN the prisi
sge rather American than dgned Of making. if possible
lie government appear contemplate, has succeeded IN
beildrng the Mexeans. by lis crude aud ridiculous
lectures the designs Of the authorities completely
il has bewi1ered It's counirymen the done
the q state " has been most patriotic.
Instead however, of being involved in daily changing
vortex Of puee pepexites has pleased these papers
TO represent the government having feeble foe 10 deal
with, commenced hostItles upon well dgested plan Of
operations and has pursued them with underwriting egu
ariy there but possibility that could
deviation. Ia the catalogue OF contingencies there
possibility that some party in Mexico might receive Cen
Taylor with open instrument for evaiDg II
supreme power The enthusiastic Mr.. Bancroft Of the
Navy Department may have given it consideration,
while his sagacIoOs colleague, Mr.. Marcy of the War
Department. would give IL very little, and the result has
proved that il worthy Of at ALL
The original des gn has therefore, gone steadily forward,
which simply succession Of Invas attacks
the flank of Mexico, eah CT which cuts off her terri
tory certain parallel ard paralysis her authority To the
north Of it, For the hnk" coast the feet
toned in the Pacific quite sufficient; and Colonel
Seyens0ns regiment which has gone round TO garrison
the posts to be maintained is stronger force than the
Mexirsns ever had at their place of destination. -
Il is singular that any thing should appear in print so
supremey silly the idea of General Wool and General
Kearney marching the city of Mexico the journey
nd fhair he
brought that distance in wagons, through enemys
country; and insuersLy silly the continued reports
Of large bodies of Mexican troops either California
the northern departments. shortly expected for Is
well known that Capt. Fremont, of the United States to-
biographical engineers has explored and continues TO
pOre the country through the Pacific in every direction,
with detachment Of fifty dragons, which have thus far
been sufficient resist all the armies be found there.
The first (not in the order of time, hot geo.
graphically Is that Of Gen. Kearney, who with 2,7OO
men, has proceeded from Missouri Santa Fe, 600
miles south of the American boundary Of 42o His COM
mand will maintain possession of this very liberal slice Of
California; part may be pushed forward TO the Pacific,
q 200 mies.l and he may open the south a commun
cation with Gen. Wool but the march Mexico must he
lard aside of those Munchsusen fantasies for which
" leter-wrers are becoming celebrated.
Gen Wool with 5000 men, is proceeding from San
Antonio de Bexar, due 500 miles, TO chihuahua,
which 800 miles south Of Santa Fe aud 500 north Of
Monterey and spreading his forces westerly through the
departments Of chihuahua and Sonora he will occupy all
the commanding positions the Cuff of California. (50O
mes) aud thus off another slice from which The
thorIcs Of Mexico must withdraw.
Gen. Taylor has, know reached Monterey, with
orders to take Sao which appears TO he on the table
land. the head Of the pass, Canada leading down
10 Monterey IN the lOwisnd Salto and the pass when
taken and garrIsOned by volunteers, will protect the
Iowands TO Malamoras and the gulf from invasons of
the Mexicans, and thus enable the General proceed
south, with the regular troops to San Luis POosi. 400
miles. The long talked of march from Salto to Mexico
will out another campaign of the letter writers
for where portion Of the population favorable to the
invaders and all supplies be brought from the
that is 900 miles from Csmsgo-it would require 10000
to keep communications open, and conduct wagon
trains. say nothing of the fighting part. People who
buy their beef in the market, don't calculate how many
wagons it would take to draw the provisions of 600
men, and prosender for their horses l 900 miles.
General Patterson is ordered upon Tampco place Of
strength; but If remember rightly, there is but ten
feet water the bar and consequently, vessels ofwa
except schooners, can get in This city is 400 miles
s0r of Matsmoras and being accessible small craft
and steamboats, supplies for American army operating
the could be placed there with great economy des-
patch AMI facility San Luis Potosi lies about 200 miles
Of Tampico 400 miles south of Monterey, and $50
miles north of the city Of Mexico The with which
and supplies be thrown this point will proba-
bly, make il the pivot Of American operations in Mexico
proper. during the winter, should hossiltes continue
The last movement in the plan will be the capture Of
San Juan de U!loa and Vera Cruz for the naval he
Of neither Tampico Vera Cruz desirable in sum-
mer FIR the climate Of the low hot country of Mexico
IN this REGION (tierras caHenes has the reputation Of
being at that deadly strangers. The castle is
spoken OF amazingly strong, which is good policy for
Otherwise there would be but little glory in its reductiOn
but as the Americans bring immense weight of
metal to bear against it, do think the exploit will
really amount 10 much, after oil. San Juan de Uoa
built long time ago. when engineers not quite SO
scientific as at present. and when attacks from artillery
Of modern cabre little dreamed of in that quarter.
If there be not masonry not exceeding feet thick
exposed shot, and parapes Of four feet and haf-and
if there he not bomb proofs that have trouble enough
support their weight, slight il is without having
bomb shells falling them am mistaken. During the
latter days Of Span dominion in America all the public
works tending TO decay and ruin and as all the
fighting of the Mexicans has been among themselves they
have had cause for keeping up a castle The
French certainly made short work Of it nor have much
faith in the reported repairs" new water battery "
mentioned, which, II exists at ALL probrby
ror work-a mere PLATFORM from which the gunEers would
be driven at The opening Of a csnnonade.
have thus described five distinct attacks on the flank"
of the Mexican domnions, which, il successful.
fine Mexico the table land a3d give the Americans all
the rest, with open free communication their coun
try along the whole line for supplies
Vera Cruz is about 800 miles from the city of Mexico
and apparently through the Of Sah Luis Potosi has
peculiar Advantage those who would in the halls
Of the Montazumss had better march, the shortest
cut by the main direct road, passing Jalapa.
have down distances miles, rough calculation
merely guide toyour readers though they longer
10 those have march them, but they sufficiently
show that the whole eastern side of the Mex
possessions from AID degree latitude and santa
Fe to Vera Cruz line say Of $500 miles covered
by American troops ships Of war; and though so i'm.
menseIy long, all perfectly safe its resting
upon supplies. II the American government has not 10
crafty their newspapers brought the war to maturity with
the hssy expedition Of ninety day a shipment of
four has. 10 short lime established grander base of
operations lin exen than has been seen in modern