Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-04-01
THE WAR.

The accounts from the seat of war, contained
in to-day's paper, are of painful interest All
recolect the critical position in when uen' ray
lor was placed in the very outset OF the war,
when he was ordered, blythe President, to advance
to the Rio Grande with force altogether made
quate for the purpose of holding the territory &C.
cuped. On that OCCASION it was necessary for
Gen. Taylor not only to husband his own resour-
ces with consummate skill, but to make large and
instant acquisitions upon the nearest states for re-
Inducements. He is now again in even more
desperate circumstances the immediate pres
ence of an army five times as large as his own
his own consisting of volunteers only, who
however brave and willing they may be, are with
out experience, and here he u.s. surrounded by
the enemy and cut Off from supplies Of every de-
scription. How came he there, and in such de-
plorable circumstances? Tom, Dick and Harry
say this thing that thing, and the other; one says
Gen, Taylor had no business TO be at Saltillo,
and another that Gen. Scott is to be blamed for
drawing off Taylor's men (regulars) to Vera
Cruz: but this is all wrong Gen. Taylor is &C
tinp under orders from the Government: it was
the Secretary of Hidr who called for four thou
sand of Taylor's regulars, and after thus weak
eninr his force ordered him to advance on San
I,uis--an order which Taylor obeyed in the true
spirit of gallant soldier. He has now been for
ced to fall back upon Monterey and is there I'M
der circumstances calculated to inspire the deep
est anxiety. He will unquestionably do his best,
OF that there need be no fear though it is to be
feared that with the best management on his
part the result will be disastrous. In every quar-
ter, the war is very unpromlsing. The army is
scattered at distant ports from the Atlantic TO the
Pacific, covering ground enough to require prob
ably twice the number of men to maintain it,
with the single exception of one point. That is
Vera Cruz, which remains TO be taken; and II
taken, it is questionable whether the diseases oil
the climate will not prevent all the advantages
Of the conquest Gen. Taylor apprzed the Gov.
eminent sometime ago that in his opinion an ad-
vance upon the capital of Mexico, either from
Vera Cruz. or from the Rio Grande by Saltillc
and San Luis, would require an army Of 25,O0C
men; 10000 of whom at least should be regu'
lars. Scott has about half Of that number, ant
TAYLOR is hundreds of miles off with 6000 voun
teers, and $4,000 Mexicans upon him."
The New Orleans Bulletin of the 10th severe
ly censures the administration for weakening the
force OF Gen. Taylor, when he is surrounded by
hostile population, and also for the evacuation
of Victoria, by which the Mexicans have beef
allowed 10 pass in the rear of Monterey. 81
will be in vain for Mr.. Polk and his cabinet t
attempt to avoid the responsibility that must an
does rest upon them in this business-the natio
will not allow them TO shift it upon either Ger
Scott or General Taylor. Mr.. Polk of cours
knows the whole plan Of the campaign, and ha
consequently approved it. They may well tren
BILE at the prospects before them; if Gen. Tal
lor's army be destroyed, the curses both loud an
deep, that will be raned upon them by the Amer
can people, will sink them-as Mr. flanagan sal
on former occasion, of Mr.. Polk-so deep, thu
the hand of surrection cannot find them"
+en Taylor has all about IL 900 but scattered at dere
distant parts that not than half available
his present position.