Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-11-18
The News from Mexico.

The News from Mexico.
Dispatches have been received from our
squadron off Vera Cruz. Along with these
letters, journals have been transmitted, from
which the following extracts have been
made. What besotted people are these!
Before the battle, Ampudia boasted that we
should be defeated; and not one of our
troops would be left to taste Of the waters of
the Rio Grande. And since the Mexicans
were driven from Monterey, they are mis-
representing everything, making our loss
to be 1900; and say near 3,000-and stat
ing that sthey left behind them only about
six pieces of artillery not fit for use. Pri-
vate letters from Vera Cruz, however, ap-
preciating the depth Of the blow they have
sustained Monterey being considered one
Of the strongest places in the world, &c.
A few numbers of the Locomotor Of Vs'
ra Cruz to the 9th Of October, inclusive;
have been received at the Navy Depart.
ment. The intelligence Of the capture Of
Monterey is copied from other papers, with
few Washington Union.
The following is translation of the Of
fetal despatch Of General Ampudia to the
Mexican Secretary of War, announcing
the surrender of Monterey:
MosT EXCELLENT SRA After q brilliant
defence in the course of which the enemy
was repulsed, with the loss of fifteen hum
dred men, from various posts, he succeeded
in possessing himself Of the heights com.
manding the Bishops Palace, and another
to the south of it, and likewise Of detach.
ed breastwork, called the feneria, and con-
tinuing his attacks through the houses,
which he pierced in direction towards the
centre of the city, he succeeded in posting
himself within half gun-shot of the princi.
pal square, where the troops were posted,
who suffered much from the hollow-shot.
Under these circumstances,I was request
ed by various principal officers to endeavo,
TO come to such terms as would diminish
our losses, for to open our way with the
bayonet, surrounded as we were by en-
trenched enemies, would have resulted in
the dispersal Of the troops, and nothing o
the material would have been saved. These
considerations having been weighed by me-
also took into view what the city suffered
and would suffer, from the attacks, by the
piercing Of the houses. as well as the de-
struction by the bombs; the scarcity Of am
munition, which was beginning to be felt;
the provisions which we were losing, as the
enemy's lines approached the centre; the
distance from our supplies, and finally that
to protract this state Of things for two OF
three days, even if it were possible to do So
could not end in triumph, and l consented
to open propositions, which resulted in the
annexed terms Of capitulation.
Your excellency will perceive that they
preserve the honor Of the nation and tina,
Of the army; and it is to be observed that
if they do not grant us as much as was per.
haps expected, that Of itself proves the su.
periority of the enemy, 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 provisions, wood, or
other articles necessary to subsistence.
With the greatest regret, the army with.
draws from their capital, abundantly wa.
tered with its blood, leaving under the
guarantee of the promises of the American
general the severely wounded and the
neighboring population Of the State, whose
civil authorities will continue in the exer.
else of their functions. Tomorrow shall
continue my march to Saltillo, where will
await the orders Of the supreme govern.
ment. And in communicating this to you,
for the information Of his excellency the
president, l have the honor to reiterate the
assurance ofmy higher respects.
PEDRO DE AMPUDIA.
God and liberty! Headquarters Monte
rey, September, rs, lS46.