Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1847-02-12
The Difficulties OF the Mexican War
and Prospects of It's End.

For rHK wHrs
The Difficulties OF the Mexican War
and Prospects Of It's End.
The MeKicsn War has been attended with diHicul,e
for'seen by few the was expected TO be
San Jacinto 6gh and that Mexico would humby 70
peace. After the battles of Pso Alto and Resaca de L
Palma the supposed by many be near its end
30 io was known OF the topography OF Mexico that w
were promised early and easy march its capital
and to revol in the Halls OF Montezuma" and to
quera peace, were the watch cords of the officials /,
proper that the People, who have had will in its incep
ton, should know something of its difficulties that they ma,
DO Juthee 20 those who have involved them. and
appreciate srgh' the arduous Of Army and Navy
upon whom the disposition has manifested itself the Hall
oiCongress TO cast the blame of Its procsstnaon II will
Tehaps, be seem that Il the injunction, with
good sdyce make war; had observed, should not
now Ne asking why was this war began How is 1t
inmate Z
II proposed briefly the difficulties Of war
with Mexeo-some Of which have already been encounter
ed Others be The chief obstacle in the
prosecution of such arises from the mmensy of the
Mexican territory, and its conformation Nature furnishes
ihe most formidable bulwarks for its defence Its coast
upon the Gulf OF Mexico has harbos. From the Nueces
% Tubusco river, near 900 miles, vessel drawing over
feet water, find safe anchorage. The rivers which
admit small vessels, have shifting bars all times danger
ous, which be crossed in good weather only 1t
hevcd that from Tobasco river Cape Ca,oche about 600
Mules there are only roads, unless except the
Like OF iermnns, which admits vessels Of shallow draugh
The formidable winds. known by tho OF Los NokrEs
Che Nofhcrs) prevail on this from October March
ne no net sOop-Oi lost of
these gales oil the Bar Of Tampco she was yiug
anchor. Tue Somcrs is later victim. The shores near
the Rio Grindc are siewed with wrecks vessels and
steamers stranded during the last months The Mem
persisted the Bar OF Tampico IN her effort 10 regain
the ha'bOr she had Just left. Numerous reefs beguie other
victims TO destruction The bones OF the TuNou lie
one Of them These the perils besetung Navy
Thence have resulted the losses sustained and the
aboruye attempts 10 the bar OF AyaraGo river Our
gallant and sk'ul seamen cannot conquer Nature. They
have been censured unusuy the little which they
nave done Tins would be, If the public well
formed OF the obstacles encountered by From Apr
October pesena que pervndes greater part OF
this The port OF Vera Crus Is re garded
the principal o; the yellow uorao prfo or
Rsgyo) Thousands Of Europeans residing the coasts
ct Mexico duiing the season, fall victims to tins
"cruel epidemic Vessels prefer arriving Vera Cruz
during winter, whilst the iempesuous Northers los
nortes rage rather than be exposed, during the summer
10 the loss 81 the larger part o their The effects
" OF the pomito," &c. The unheallhnes OF the coasts
which restraints the trade facilitates moreover. the mill
tay defence the Country against invasion from an Eu-
roPean enemy" This Is the testimony OF HUMBOLDT who
furnishes much valuable information concerning this dis
ease. Ii has prevailed Tau.pco. Alvarado and other
ports, with like mortality Vera Cruz; but like New
odelns ihey escape ITS inhcion some years with the
eepon OF Vera Cruz, where annual scourge as con
st8nt and as regular as it, rainy season.
Ne wil, advert the difficulties encountered ~
oar Any-patuculatly that DIVISION OF Il commanded bv
General Taylor. The war began with the invasion OF
Mexico on MS Northern frontier. Our preparation
tnrHC doubtless, from belief that The internal dissenticns
" Tho county, or IL want OF courage the fear waeing
with is powerful antagonist sasirous war would
Tssdhu Mexican hOstilty.l prevented gallant
from reEpGg tbs advantages the hard fought fields
81 Patio Alto and Rssacs de Ia Palma. Tho enemy absn-
d'ned Maamora their leisure retiring est,d be-
General h4d suficsncy Of t-oops muni-
lions, provisions, means Of transportation pursue the
rerea1g enemy who retired Monterey, three hundroi
miles distant tom Matamoras. il would an easy
matter 10 march army from Fredericksburg Virginia
10 the city OF New York, Ihro' thsky settled country
with good roads aod wagon transportation But Genera
h,d harder task Than III 8 lie be reinforced with
troops aud suppled with munitions Of and provisions
from New Oheans-a distance Of thousand miles
STEAMBOATS, Of shiow draughr suitable for navigating the
lao Grande, raast be procured he rainy had
fen ST and The shores # tat river nundaed-
even Inc encampmenH were UyerAowei-lnd the roads Nf
they mc5ied tins name) impossible Three or four
months occupied overcoming these obstacles Gen
Tsyior length enabled with poren Of
hs 'rce TO Monterey, and September tina, mpor.
liant city from the enemy, after Struggle, in which our
arms Teapcd fresh glory. For victory sgcl this the
Romans would have granted triumph 10 the General
voted mural crowns to oil engaged such gallant .ht
ihs ;aey Ee MeK'cansl should have surrendered p.sce
nearly as strong Quebec well fortified under direc-
uon o. skhul eg neers-iner works garnshed with for
rwo pieces # afulery, s5gndan,y supplied with ammu-
Ito1, gar.,lcI by 700 regusss aud 1000 irregular
N''l7, 10 RGiu0u 70 some thousand ciuzsns capable
land no DOUBT actually bearing arms, and aidnzlu is de-
icncc-io opposing force OF NAT her number scaniIy
suppl ed with provisions, aud with light train Of arr e.
Tyts among tue anaccOuntebe occurrences the times
the SSH aud courage OF officers and oycrcsmc
these OBSTACLES. The public will award gallant
nsrni aud his troops The they deserve Tor thus
eountsbe occurrence" notwithstanding tue direct
iulc I'd by tue President upon General Taylor granting
hosTa terms Of clpiiuation % Mexican Jogs-fl.
loved b. order
have been terminated IN few days by Limitation.
snd the more OF the House Of Representative
Silio, about ~ miles from Monterey IN our pos
te'-i'u Beyond this point Gen. Taylor regards next
10 mpacleaho 10 ndvauce IL y $40 miles from thence
10 San Luis P3tosi-near 600 10 the city OF Wsxc-ratbs
long march by tns route TO attain the promised reward
." reveiinz 10 the Halls Of Montezuma. " lt would be
needless o cnumerats other difficulties prosecution
oi the war through the Northern States Of Mexico.
let rs now view them from Tsmpico The d stance
- Huf is luttla
even desTste % reach the enemy that point 10 s wholly
inpracucaoe, o. this route admits the transportation
nothing but Whist be carried the bscks Of mules
II artillery could bo dispensed with, how many oil
these would bo required convey the munitions
provisions, &c Of 10000 men, wno says Gen. Taylor
would bc necessary insure success. II move on tina
p'sce'' Where they be procured7 From TampicC
e. tho city ui Mexico nearly 800 miles, which can be
travelled by mules only. and s possible, more mprac-
''Olc than the route 60 san Lls. IL de.oue
tiny s'ued county and presents obstacles numerou
shat me diRen traveller, with ordinary luggage cln
rago only three miles an hour. There abundance
"''f m'et ne hrst days journey from Tampcy NcID
where Tor % miles 60 be procured and scarce
~ p'a"c' but an army would be compelled 90 carry it
provisions, Tor nothing could be obtained except pIsut,n
nI1 su ar cane, which mes met with IL Re hau
to convey Iust idea OF the difficulties OF this route Ol
portion I'd cads, for p or 80 miles, along rugged
"i trrnm' with high mountains ON either hand amid
most i1ruuant tropical growth the path crossing th
sc1W, ssad, one hundred and tNonty times At nnotbg
pon' thc traveller sleeps in town tho elevation 81 whc
kF'F temperature 90 cold o. ca require fire he the
dcseonds To the ferra eGiieEfs .tbe o, country
mouni1iu stcam---asccnds bgain Co considerable
hFrh'--lud second time dcscards the warm country
and nk's HE dinner surrounded by tropical fruits lie the
sctnds 90 be Rbt exceeding 1900 feet by steep aud rue
gch p1ul, and sleeps enyslopod iu be b.snko. Here
emil body Of troops might prevent the advance Of th0u
andl ln view ~ hoFo irsurm0untabo obstacles. Tamp
o. sas nliiay station. be Of no value whatever. 10 &.
Nav. BE- aborda harbof fof small steamers and vessels
Iirut ttaughL
bc u' now fuppusc Vera Cruz 10 bc in poss,
The iowa may readily be- earned by storm. Alter % b. a
qufed, u what valuc Do % go us7 The Csstle might
course ct ume, be starved ou md forced o surrender
~ he well supplied with provision. the sickiy aeas,
nsy before the stock be- exhausted and our tro,t
woIld ia' victims Co an enemy fatal fhln the Nov
The town docs not tas hos been stated some neg
plpers) command tho Castle. aud the be-
che siuiunE sandhils. destitute of vceciato
WHEN mo Castle wrs iu possession Of ths Spaniad,,
Coz h.Y had .st 0pthud the Main. held by ma
s0N.sl ffaf aud was not surrendered until September
tt2s, the c1ac o the lra year Of Guadaoupo Wet
fa's Prtsiicney Up 90 that time, Alyarado was tho .,
Lr.Ln of Nara l,rII tTnmlI % q