The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-12-05

We will suppose that in ten days afler COM
mencing operations for landing, II has every
thing Ia readiness at Allaiuira aud vicinity
Tor forward move, that in It's progress Il has
a fight which occasions Il delay of three days.
The distance from AlIalnira to San Luis be-
iug about $50 miles, IL will then require 10
reach that city where the great battle has to
be fought, not less than 43 days. IL these
battles are not successful, ofcourse the invas-
ion from Tampico is over, and the troops thai
survive the contest must get back as well As
thew can. We have allowed very short
time for the progress of this army Of undisc-
pinned MEM we doubt ifthey will get TO San
Luis in sky days, aud indeed il may with
sound reason be doubted if they will ever get
There. But we will suppose them 10 have
succeeded in reasonable time. Let us not
forget however that the difficulties of getting
from Altamira to San Luis are not less than
from Camargo TO Monterey, and that the
troops ofthis expedition are much moro Inie-
rior than those of the Monterey expedition
But we will suppose against all probability,
that il has succeeded, and that San Luis Us
captured, before Taylors army from Saltillo
has arrived. There will no doubt lie great
effort to accomplish this capture before the
arrival Of Taylor, or the glery of the capture
will be lost to TampicO expedition.
Should this expedition capture San Luis
before The arrival orTaylor's army, il would
have to wait for him before going farther.
Let us now turn our eye TO the army at
Monterey, about 37S miles from San Luis
The whole hRe is by land. There are no wa
ter facilities oftranspOrt-no use for the pom
ioon train about which so much has been said.
All is land rout through occasional towns
.und defiles, and through a country where
vgheel carriages are seldom used, and where
ofcourse there are no good roads, ifindeed
there he any roads passable with wheels
From Monterey Saltilo is about 60 miles, hy
the map 65. On the road is n long aud ex-
tremely difficult defe, which will no doubt
I've defended mud will have TO be forced. II
defended with moderate skill and courage,
the forcing of this pass will probably cost not
less than 500 men,. SsliilIo is said To contain
$4,000 inhabitants. Surprising this town
20 be surrendered without a struggle, and
what people will not struggle TO defend their
liomes' Its conquest may bs put down at
500 more men.
We are now at Saltillo, the army reduced
about one thousand. Saltillo is l65 miles
from Camargo, the nearest water depot, and
from which supplies will have to be obtained,
distant about AIS miles from San Luis. We
doubt If the history Of military operations
since the use of fire arms, can adduce an eX-
pedition depending upon so long line OF
land communication, every foot of il infested
Ivy people opposed TO their conquerors, and
willing to resist them. 1t is possible the ex-
petition may succeed; whatever is possible
eau be done by that army under Gen. Taylor,
hut lift should succeed, the world will say
tat the age Of miracles has not yet passed.
The distance from SaltllO TO San Luis is u.
bout $40 miles. A strong garrison must he
lcn to oycrawe Saltillo, lest il should rise up
on the conveys and cat offall communication
with the army and its depot in the rear.
We have already supposed that to get TO
Sal,illo and conquer it, wOnld require for all
purposes, including protection TO the rear, u
bout 1900 men. How many more will it re-
qure 10 move from thence TO San Luis. De-
Sies in the rear must he fortified, conveys Of
supplies mus, he escorted, towns must bc gar
risoned-and all this with adequate forces,
for the communications with the rear must
I've preserved, the people in the rear must he
kept in subjeciion, or the army is destroyed.
Now how many men are requisite TO preserve
shis $40 miles OF communication, over and n
hove what will be required for the embodied
army. We will say nothing about horses and
Wagons for Transporting provisions, anmu-
milton and other supplies. We leave this and
the probable cost to the imagination Of 9TH
crE. The embodied army should he about
$4,000, and we doubt less than 10000 more
w9uld be adequate 10 preserve the commit
nications with the rear, and TO protect and in
sure supplies.
This will make the whole force on this line,
from Maiamoras 10 San Luis, $4,000 men,
which added TO the $4,000 meu ofthe Tam
pico expedition, will Make $4,000 men for
this San Luis affair.
II would be remarkable, II the army from
Saltillo should progress at an average OF five
miles day. We will suppose Ito move at
that rate, then in sixty two days after leaving
Saltillo, this army will possibly be at San Lu-
&s.
IfSan Luis be already taken, then the work
thus far will he done, if not the battle for its
conquest will have to he fought.
We viii suppose Taylor 10 get to San Luis,
and that his losses from Satillo have not ex-
reeded 1000 men. That the losses of the
Tampico expedition up to San Luis, have
heen, from all causes. about 800, aud that this
great battle by which Satillo, is taken, will
cost 1000 men. Now we have got Saltillo,
and all our losses up 10 and including the
capture ofthat place, and the capture ofMon-
terey, make about 900 men. We say moth
ing ofcost. The money part Of such plan,
will prove to be more millions than we dare
name. But SaltiIIo being taken, the line of
operations must be now changed, aud sup
plies must come from Tampico.
How the garrisons, escorts, supplies, wag-
oDs, horses, mules, &c &c, are to be with
drawn with safety, from the now useless line
hetween San Luis and Canargo, we do not
say. Withdrawn they must be, or be main
tanned at an enormous expense. Ifthe per-
manent conquest Of the country embraced be
contemplated, the line will have to be rein