Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-12-10
General Scott and the War.

General W. Scort, his aids, Lieutenant Scott
and Lieutenant Williams, and Major Smith Of tho
engineers, took their departure yesterday from this
port for New Orleans, on board the packet ship
Union; and the Courier says that the General only
takes New Orleans on his way to Mexico, where he
viii "assume the command Of the army and It's
Interior operations" We take il for granted that
If General Scott goes to Mexico he will assume the
chief command; IL he did not there would be no
apparent purpose in his going at all.
Various runors are aloai, as usual, in eonaexion
with this matter the most notable Of which is that
General Scott has pledged himself to the Govern.
ment that, if they will give him 900 men and
$4,000, 900 Of dollars, he will get peace out ofthe
Mexcans, somehow, before next summer. The
conditions are somewhat burdcnsonle; hut we sup.
pose that il the men aud money are Indispensable
General SCOTS name is the likeesi thing to make
them forthcoming Not hhat there is any ds,rust
ofGeneral Taylor as commandments a leader Of
armies but that confidence is felt 10 General Scott
as a military statesman safe and prudent man TO
be entrusted with the conduct Of an affair which
may involve negotiation, and in which, moreover,
the presence Of negotiation is ardenlly desired.
il is obvious enough, we suppose. TO every body,
that negoiator would he able to effect little or
nothing with the Mexicans Just nov. unless he had
a powerful force TO back his propositions. aud un-
less also he had that force in position where il
could strike prompt and powerful blow. 1t seems
probable that Santa Anna mediiaes, if he has noi
finally resolved on trusting his fortunes aud those
Of his country TO the chances Of single great bat.
tie, to be fought at San Luis Poiosi it's immediate
neighborhood. To this end. apparently he has
ordered the abandonment OFT anpico, aud the juno.
ton of its garrison with his forces. II he can get
fight out OF General Taylor speedily, with great
disparity Of force in his favor il he can beat Gen.
eral Taylor and annhlate his little army then the
will he clear hefore him With his vtrforious
troops. continually augmeniing by the addition al
the raneheros aud peasantry, now held IN check
along the route from Monterey TO the Rio Grande
TO repossess himself Of all the points that riyei
will not be difficult, and the recapture Of Tampicc
must follow almost matter Of course. II is
great stake boldly played for but the movement o.
General Scott may turn the chances fearIuY agains
the Mexican commander.
His success depends ON two thngs--a victor,
over General Taylor aud the mere occupation o
Tampico by a garrison. But il General rayio
holds fast within the strong delences Of Monterey
aud Gen. Scott or any other commander with a suf
hcient force is landed at Tampico, whence he cal
march with no great difficulty to San Luis Poiosi
Santa Anna will find himself caught between two
fires The only requisite condition is tina, The fore,
marching from Tampico be strong enough 10 cop,
with that Of the MeHicans. In that case Santa An
ma must run the risk Of being beaten or retreat OF
disperse his army. IL he does the latter il is no
probable that he get il together again il b,
retreats upon Mexico (,he city, he incurs the risI
OF pursuit aud battle with the united corps frou
Tampeo aud Monterey and if in any other dree
ton, he leaves the way to the capital open for hi
enemies
The situation is interesting, decidedly, and f tn
men and money can be obtained, there seems to b.
a chance Of ending the war by the time Genera
Scott is said to have named.-Nec York Can
Adr