The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-12-13
REPORT
OF THE
Secretary Of the Treasury.

OF THE
Secretary Of the Treasury.
wAn DEPARTMENT., Dec. o, 1916
Sra lin conformity to established usage, have the
honor to submit you the annual report upon the sew
ers branches of tho public service conhded to this de-
The accompanying statements of the Adutsnt General
troops which have been in service during the past
For the OF full and recent returns the
il not sccurate could be desired.
Previous my last annual report the largest mart of
our regular force had been concentrated at Corpus
prOscton Of Terms and in March last paUsnt to ins.
rucona from this department he moved forward te be
in situation more eGectusy to execute that purpose to
the left bank Of the Rio Gande where he arrived about
the end Of that month, selected position for the army
opposite to Matamoro and proceeded strengthen II BY
establishing depot for supplies Point Isabel sbout
thirty miles distant in his rear and near the coast
troops made known and all intention Of doing more
than peaceaby to occupy the territory Of Tcxcs was
Grande hostile feeling began 10 be manifested by the
Mexican forces stationed on the opposite bank of that
river end on the path Of April The Mexican general,
day detachment of dragons sent up the left
can forces became engaged with large body Of these
troops and after short affair." In which some sixteen
After this occurrence, there could be no longer a
donbt that the Mexican had desgnedly chang.
state Of actual war Gen Taylor avalng himself Of
the authority vested in him by your direction called on
Of volunteers from each State be sent forward with
the least practicable delay In the meantime owing to
the scarcity Of provisions for the army encamped oPpo
site to Maamorss and being apprehensve that the enemy
would endeavor to cut of the communication with the
depot whence supplies were drawn the General leaving
9fs Of his force to defend his enrenched camp (Fort
Btown moved with the rest of his army to Point Isabel
Ansr securing his supply train, he commenced his
countered the enemy in considerable force st Pao Alto
where an action ensued, which obsnately contested
BY the enemy from o'clock in the afternoon until near.
ly dark, when the Mexican army was finally driven.
with immense loss from the field The American force
as admitted by h,r own officers taken prisoners
ed to six thousand regulars together with considerable
on the day the enemy was again met seven miles
in advance at Resaca de- Ia Palma where he was drawn
up in equal force with the advantage of positions judi
in which the enemy was signsly defeated and driven
the Rio Grande with still greater loss leaving
on which fell into our His i o IN s.
wounded and missing in the two has been
estimated at one thousand men.
During the sbsence of General Taylor With part of
his force from Fort Brown that post bombarded by
the enemys batteries from the 4th to the OH Of May
OF these gallant achievements it is necessary to
speak in detail, tho Official accounts were laid
before Congress at the last They are considered
be examples Of courage and skill carcely exceled IN the
history Of military the highest
in these memorable actions.
For several succcssve years this department had asked
having Use be- so that rroxson
therefor had been then made, and for of means Of
pursuing the enemy across the river the commanding
OF the advantages Of these decisive victores and
not till the 18th that he succeeded crossing the river
and taking military possession Of the city Of Matsmoros
which was, his approach, hastily abandoned by the
Mexican troops. leaving behind them considerable sup
ply OF ordnance and public stores.
As became known at this place that Mexico
had commenced hosufies, Congress recognised the
lie and on the 18th of MAY authoraed he 70
accept the services Of volunteers exceed 90
uader this sct regulations were fmmedatsIy made upon
tho governors Of the States Of Arkansas Mississippi
Alsbama Georgia, Tennessee Kentucky, Missouri ILL
nois. Indiana, Ohio, and Texas, for volunteer force
from ibis District and Maryland 70 about % 900 effective
for the period Of twelve months or to the
and and the dsg e 10 a5d
sent forward 10 the points of destination with the least
praeticabls delay Much the largest portion Of ii
designed to operate with the regular army under
Taylor, then the Rio Grande After ESTABLISHING his
bsse of operations that river for several hundred
of Monterey, in the department Of New Leon Another
portion concentrated, under Gen. Wool at San An
s the Of Missouri
Fort Leavenworth, TO compose, with few hundred
gular troops an expedition to Santa Fe under General
Owing the greet difficulty in providing the means Of
transporting supplies for SO large force that
trated the Rio Crande to the necessity OF drawing all
those supplies from the United ststesthe snemys coun
Try being destitute Of them to the unusual freshets
the impactcabty ofihe land route for wagons that
time, arrangements for the movement upon Monterey
iected BY the commanding general were no. completed
until the latter par; OF August when column consist
ing Of about COCO regular and volunteer troops, com
menced forward movement by brigade upon seralvo,
and thence upon Monterey, before which place ar
rived on the 10Th Of September.
city srsng in natural defences' and made much more
soby works q art with citadsi protecting 1t on one
guarded by ioftrssses wen armed, and fully manned
and every house stronghold Thus strong in position
for % ws might Is desodsr
Here. the yslOr, skill and heroi,% which had recently
fields ofPal Alta and Ressca de la Palma were 70 be
put to another and scverer trial.
The attack was commenced the 2ist and continued
through the two successive days. The enemy
sailed in his fortified positions; his captured his
fortresses after snother carried and length dis
possessed OF Of his defensive works and moro than
half of the city, he solicited terms Of capustion, and
No better justice can be- done to the merits Of the
officers and soldiers who participated in the achievements
Of the three glo1ious days before Monterey than is
Taylor and in the reports Of the ocers 10 suberdnste
command on that occasion, which herewith
mted plain narrative Of their deeds b their best
It's gratifying learn that in tho scenes at Monterey,
scssd to The sevsrest he volunteer who were
with the advancing column, bore prominent part and
entitled themselves 10 equal share In the honor and
glory Of the achievement
Neither At Monterey the banks Of the Rio
Grande were our brilliant successes gained without
price The nation has lament severe in officers
and men Many gallant spirits there sealed their dsvo
ton to their country with their blood they fell
honorable discharge Of their duty leaving which,
whenever and wherever mentioned will the theme Of
prsse by their grateful countrymen
In iuAlment Of the terms Of captulson the city, for
ti6caiions cannon munitions of war and all other pub
lie property, with certain exceptions surrendered
to our arms. n.
On receiving General Tsy lor's dispatches Announcing
the terms Of cspulston he instructed 70 give the
requisite notice that tho armistice which made sub
iect TO the ratification Of the respective governments Of
the begcrent forces would once and that each
party would be At liberty and prosecute host
tiles without restriction
The advance column, under Brigadier General Wool
about 400 strong, destined for Chihushus commenced
ia march from San Antonio de Bexar the goth OF Sep
TENDER, and was followed in lew days thereafter by
the rear division Of equal number BY the last advices