Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-10-22
ssaHrsrosDrscr or rar NATIONAL IsrEtIi
New ORLEAss. Oct. 5. 1876

NEW ORLkANss ASt. ~ A111.
Messrs. CALLS s. SEAToS: The papers wi
give YOU long details Of the capture Of Monte
rev. II has been a gallant and brilliant afiail
\ | have had a conversation with an officer {
the regular army who came up in the do
4 from Camargo, who speaks in the higheS
terms OF the movements and operations oil Gen
WORTH on the occasion, and to whom Ger
TAYLOR says so large portion Of the success
is due. ! am really delighted that WORT
has had the opportunity 10 distinguish himself
and of which he has most nobly aud gallantll
awaited. He was dispatched by Gen. f.YLol
with two thousand OF the best troop. TO turi
the enemy by crossing the mountain and at
lacking them on the opposite side OF tn
city, and was separated eight miles from th'
main body under Gen. TAYLOR, who retained
\ four thousand men with him. Gen. WoRTt
not only got possession OF the Saltlllo road
but captured the two forts defending it, after
wards the fort comma4dlng the Bishops Pal
ace, and then the palss Itself. He threw for
ward his rangers and skirinlshers to draw on
the enemy. who came out in great force, wher
he attacked them with his main body and
drove them IN at the point OF the bayonet.--
All his manGuyers are represented to have
been made with most consummate skill and et-
ficiency. and at the same time with but triillng
comparative loss, which fell most heavily on the
main body under Gen. TAYLOR, then penetra-
ting into the city. Our loss, | fear, will even
exceed the reports, as my informant told me
that the third infantry, which had four hnn-
bred men, could only muster eightyetwo rank
and file after the lighting. and that other corps
had suffered very severely. Volunteers as
well as regulars all appear TO have behaved
with the greatest gallantry and emulation
Gen. TAYLOR had ordered two regiments OF
volunteers from Canargo to join him imme-
dately.
Some persons here seemed disposed to COM
plain at the liberal terms granted 10 the Mexi-
cans and to the armstice for eight weeks; but
consider the whole as the result of sound and
correct policy on the part of Gen. TAYLOR
The principal defence of the city had not been
captured the houses, with flat stone roofs and
a high parapet wall, afforded admirable means
for defence, and the streets generally were bar
ric&ded. some OF them even with regular ma
sonry, and artillery behind them, and the
whole defended, by AMPuDIA's own admission,
with seven thousand troops, but supposed to
be nearer ten thousand. The city, therefore,
could not have been taken except at heavy
sacrifice Of valuable lives and the mere taking
Of some thousand prisoners. so far from being
an advantage, would only have incumbered
the army. As TO the suspension of hostilities
for eight weeks, if Gen. TAYLOR is to advance
beyond Monterey he will require nearly or all
that time to get up his reinforcements, re or
ganze his force, collect his supplies, and make
all the neediul and necessary arrangements for
forward movement. He can now do all this
rat his leisure, and quietly. without having his
escorts and attachments attacked, harassed,
and cut off coming up from Matamoras and
Camargo, or protecting them on the march
with large and imposing forces. But IS 1t pos
Sible that our Government intend to persist in
this most stupid plan OF operations against
Mexico, by attempting 10 penetrate to the cap
ital by this route? have sonyersea with ma
ny officers OF the army, and there is not one
OF them that does not unite IN saying II is per-
fectly absurd. The army is still seven or eight
hundred miles from the city, and they thus far
have encountered none OF the difficulties OF the
march, from bad roads, mountain passes and
gorges, and want ossupples and water when,
# landed at Vera Cruz, they would be less
than four huadred miles from the city. and
marching over the table land. The capture OF
Monterey will have 40 more effect on the re-
suit of the war than the capture Of Maiamoras.
Our army enrlches the country wherever they
move by their immense expenditure, and
whilst we are carrying on the war at an i'm
mense outlay, Mexico is at her ease, spending
little or nothing.
Gen. LA VEGA, who is sti!l here. learn has
letters from Matamoras, stating that ALMoNrr
has been appointed President ad interim, and
that SANTA ANNA is to head the armies. am
much disposed 10 believe thisTeport, as all the
recent letters, both from Vera Cruz and the CT
ty oil Mexico, have expressed great doubts as
to SANTA Anna being abba to attain supreme
power, sad the last adyices we had Of hun
show there was something wrSng in his ar
rangomesis, and tsat things Were not going
so smsothly az he could have wished His
best chance will therefore be TO try his fortune
at the head Of the army, where any success
would be Of infinite service TO his views, and
where, at any rate, he could have an opportu-
nifty to ingratiate himself with the soldiers.
The letters from Mexico, also, all unite in
saving that there is no wish or intention of OBJ
tanning peace by any cessation, and that
Mexico will make no sacrifices for that object.
The feeling OF bitter luminosity is general against
US, and pervades oil classes. and they look for
ward 10 a long continuance OF the war. Eve
cry thing can hear or learn fully coavinces
me that such is the fact. and that we snail pro-
badly have protracted war, and certainly a
NEST extraordinarily expensive one, in the man
ner in which ii is conducted. IfCongress will
order an investigation into the manner in
which expenditures have been made, and the
whole system, or rather the total want OF Sys-
tenn, organization, and responsibility that has
marked il from the very commencement, il
would make the nation stare. doubt if the
stupidity Of the arrangements and the lavish
expenditure has any parallel in this or any 9th
sr country.
The weather is delightful, and is bringing
forward the cane very finely, and il it contin-
ues viii greatly tend TO make up for previous
injury. The cotton crop was beyond being
benefited to any great extent, and our receipts
here win fall short at least two hundred and
fifty thousand bales of last season. The re-
ceipts, thus far, are not one fourth TO the same
period last year, owing TO the alenes. of the
crop and the planters not being able to spare
time TO gin and bale il, as their bolls are all out
and must be saved before bad weather comes
on.
We had few reported cases Of fever in the
hospital, but they have disappeared.
Business generally is very dull.
-sThis letter has been delayed on account OF the
repes,ed failures Of tho New Orleans mail since
last sunday.
SIcKSEss.--lt seems to be the general opn-
- l,.te al H. l.. -