American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-11-11
amGrt1on Republic an,
AND
BALTIMORE CLIPPER,
WEDNESDAY MORNING, Nov. IL, la4s.


NAV he thought very harmless, il not ridlcu-
Ious employment; and yet it may, in some
cases, prove destructive TO tho lives OF thou
sands. We have a case in point-we allude
TO the official despatch of General Ampudia, in
which he gives an account of the battle of Moi
terey 1t is extravagant and false in the high
est degree, and yet it may have the effect OF
encouraging the Mexican government anu
people to persevere in a war which cannot but
prove most disastrous to themselves, ana cause
the sacrifice Of probably thousands oil Mexican
lives. From what General AmPudla says, II
would seem that Monterey was surrender
ed from policy, and not from neccsslty-thaI
his troops behaved not only valorously, but
dealt their blows with such effect as to have
killed no less than fifteen hundred of our men.
lVe ara not DISPOSED to Gotract one iota from
the bravery or skill of the onemy--they fought
the battle well; and they did not stand in need
If the misTcpresentations of their General to
entitlo them TO the appreciation of their govern
mont. But they had to yield to the superior
skill and bravery Of the American army. This
fact should have restrained General Ampndia
within reasonable limits, in giving his Off
cial account Of the battle His monstrous ex-
aggerations impose upon his own countrymen
alone, and may have the effect of prolonging
the war, when their interest is to conclude
peace. 1t is time for the rulers Of Mexico to
Law aside their style of van-boastng, and to
cenfne themselves TO matters of fact. If they
will look sedately and seriously at the real con-
dition of their country, they will find no cause
for the indulgence of gasconadng hourshes
and selElaudations. Our armies have overrun
large tracts Of their country, every inch Of
which we can retain if we think proper. And
what is the future prospect for Mexico, should
the war be continued: The loss of her capitol,
and possibly the subjugaton of the whole coun-
try. How preposterous, then, is the conduct
of General Ampudia and other officers of the
Mexican government, in holding out the idea
to their countrymen, that the American army
can be driven without difficulty from their sol.
Greater candor would DO more appropriate and
answer better purpose
We annex the official despatch of General
Ampudia, that our readers may see that our
censure of it is not unmerited. We subjoin
also the proclamation of General Salas. They
are copied from the Washington Union.
The following is a translation of the official |
despatch Of General Ampudia to the Mexican
Secretary of War, announcing the surrender of
Monterey:
Alosr EXCELLENT Sir: After brilliant de-
fence, in the course of which the enemy was
Iepulsed, with the loss Of fifteen hundred men,
from various posts he succeeded in possessing
himself ofthe heights commanding the Bishops
Palace, and another to the south oft, and like |
wise Of a detached breastwork, called the Te-
neira, and continuing his attacks through the .
houses, which he pierced in a direction towards |
the centre Of the city, he succeeded in posting
himself within aalf gun-shot Of the principal
square, where the troops were posted, who suf
fered much from the hollow shot
Under these circumstances, was requested
by various principal officers to endeavor TO
como 10 such terms az would diminish our los
ses: for to open our way with the bayonet, sur
rounded as we were, by entrenched enemies,
would HAYES resulted in the dispersal Of the
troops, and nothing Of the mater!et would have
been saved. These considerations having been
weighed by me, also took into view what the
city suffered, and would suffer, from the at
tacks, by the piercing of the houses as well rs
the destruction by the bombs; TIE scarcity of
ammunition, which was beginning to be felt;
the provisions which we were losing, as the
enemy's lines approached the centre; tho dis
co. our pnline and finally that 10
protract this state of things for two or three
days, even if were possible to do so, could
not end in triumph, and consented to open
propositions, which resulted in the annexed
terms of capituatlon.
Yeur excellency will perceive that they pre-
serve the honor Of the nation and that of the
army; and it is to be observed that, if they do
not grant us as much as was perhaps expected,
that of itself proves the superiority of the enc
my, not in valor, which he displayed in most
OF the combats, but in his position within the
squares of pierced masonry, which surrounded
the square and cut off any supplies of provis-
ions, wood or other articles necessary to sub
Sstence.
With the greatest regret, the army with
draws from their capital, abundantly watered
with its blood, leaving under the guarantee of
the promises of the American generals the Sc
verely wounded and the neighboring population
of the State, whose civil authorities will con-
tinue in the exercise of their functions. To-
morrow shall continue my march to Saltilo,
where will await the orders of the supreme
government And in communicating this to
YOU, for the information of his excellency the
president, have the honor to reiterate the as
surances ofm highest respect.
PEDRO De AMpUDIA.
God and liberty! Headquarters in Monterey,
Sept rs, 1916.
The following is the proclamation of Gen
saas, the acting president, to the people Of
Mexico, announcing the loss Of Monterey:
Mexcans! A government established against