Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-04-24
RgADaUAarERs AT AeuA NUEvA,

/ OccHDdltOH,
My Dean GENERAL Your very acceptable and interesting
letter OF the 18th November last reached the 24h Of
December while the march from Monterey to Tamplco;
but the nature of my duties them (being OF the
time in the saddle in addition TO other matters has prevent
ed me from replying to it until the present moment BE
sured, my dear have not since then lost sight OF or
yourself and feel highly gratied for the aerng manner
III which you have noticed the conduct OF the officers and sol
ders who marched from the Rio Grande Monterey,
and compelled that place surrender after much hard fghtng
they fully meded the handsome encomiums you have
thought proper to bestow them For this you have my
| sincere thanks.
The General then aludes the Misrepresentation which
had been made in regard Major Gen Butler at Monterey
Those misrepresentation had been the subject Of conversation
between hem and left feeling like dstrust unkndness
towards each other in their breasts The letter then goes
was OF the report well statements in few OF
the public journals that it intended by certain individuals
to bring Ten. Butler forward the 10 Mr. Folk
which gave concern, and would had been
the which did not credit and which had been forgotten
doubt if the subject would have again crossed my mind had
not been brought TO my notice by you else
have never heard him OF his friends aude to this mat
ter He Qhe General, in consequence of his wound not
healing, which gave him much pain render him unfit
for duty left short time since by advice OF his medical alten
dant for New Orleans where hope he has arrived in safety
and where truly hope he will very to be
| able to take the field
may observe that have been also named candidate
for that high office by few newspaper editors and Others
which has been done without my knowledge wishes,
consent
This have assured all who have the subject
assuring them had aspirations for that any other civil
oce that whole mental and physical, were and
had been absorbed in such thought best calculated
to bring this speedy and honorable Close believing
for the interest of both countries the done
the beea rate, far concerned and that
nt-naking should be lost sight of until this
pshed.
Here follows brief of from the time of
Gen. SCOTS arrival at the Basos till Gen Tayl returned
from Victoria to Monterey The letter then proceeds
etraced my steps to Monterey, where arrived towards
the latter part OF the month"; anua and where expected
to remain time to recruit myself and horses but few
days after arrival received Information from the command
in my front at Salo, 65 miles in the direction OF San Luis
Poros from Monterey, that the command-between 900
and 900 srong-under Gen. Wool had become very much
alarmed in of about 100 picked and horses
belonging the Kentucky and Arkansas regiments of mount
ed men, who towards San Luis to gain ntel
gence respecting the enemy and to watch their movements
having been aken alter being surrounded in the night and all
made prisoners by large force of cavalry about 80 miles In
advance of Sao So said of the party who succeeded
in making his escape the next night and getting back to Sal
to also that the Mexican army advancing great
numbers towards Satio These reports induced me 10 join
my advance Immediately. Leaving Monterey the 3lst
January, reached Sao the morning of the ID Februa
ry with small reinforcement, which increased my force to
5000 when lost time in moving forward and establish
ing this place, about twenty miles in advance OF
Salio the San Luis road for the purpose of carrying
system of instruction, well watch the of
the enemy, and where expected to fight him should he at
| tempt TO move Saltlo. Here remained until the 2st
examining the several passes through the mounansat which
time ascertaned that Cen Santa Anna advancing and
al hand with an overwhelming force Not exactly liking
my position having asceraned that he could gain my
by roads my right and left, and not deem
prudent 10 divide iorces and having apprehenslons
about supplies which in Saiio determined at once
fall hack towards that place about twelve miles, and occupy
a strong position between spurs Of mountain with
valley between them, where point the road
TO permit the passage of only wagon at time,
with deep gues the mountains washed by the
rains TO prevent horses carriages from passing them
without great difficulty Said position had been closely
amned by the Typographical engineers under the eye OF Gen
Wool before my arrival who deemed admirably adapted 10
resist large with small iOrce well adapted to the de-
scpion Of force which composed army. We therefore
fell back and occupied it the evening Of the 2st and at
once made the necessary preparations for giving battle
The next day the enemy made his appearance carly In the
day, and after recommending position for time, at
o'clock 7. NJ received, by staff officer with flag com
municaon from Gen Santa Anna requiring to surrender
discretion, stating that the Of my doing
should be well treated that he had surrounded with
than 20, 900 that resistance Of the question
and, attempted my command would be put TO rou and
must be destroyed In reply stated could not comply with
his demlnd and he at liberty 10 operations
whenever he inclined do Soon after this the action
commenced with his skrmishers our left, which
promptly met by ous and continued without intermisslon
on the side Of the mountain until dark.
In the morning at he renewed the contest with
overwhelming force-with artillery infantry, and dragons
which lasted with very slight incrmissions until dark.
portion Of the time the contest much the have
Witnessed particularly towards the latter part Of the day.
when he (Sana Anna brought his and, in spite
Of every effort part after the greatest exerons have
witnessed both immense
rority Of numbers for distance lie had at least five
to at that point against Fortunately, the most
critical moment pieces Of artillery, which had ordered
up 10 support that part Of our ne exhausted
treating, when they brought into battery and opened
the enemy, then within fifty yards in hot pursuit. with cans
ter and grape which brought him TO halt, and compel
led him 10 fall back In this tremendous contest lost three
pieces Of artillery, nearly all the and having been
killed crippled which put out Of power to bring them
OFF, did deem it advisable to attempt regain them
The enemy made his principal efforts against TANKS
He handsomely repused in every attempt right,
but succeeded early in the day in gaining left in
quence Of the giving way Of Of the volunteer regiments
portion retiring about mile a large rancho farm house
after attacked by the enemy cavalry, who
pulsed with some loss.
For several hours the fate Of the day extremely doubt
full much that urged by the expert
enced officers fall back and take up position. This
knew it would do attempt with volunteers and at
once declined il. The had become Of the
deepest interest Between the several deep avnes there
portions Of level land from four hundred yards
tent which became alternately points attack and Defence a
ter left turned by both sides These extended along
and the base Of the mountain for about miles, and
the struggle for them may be very appropriately compared to
game of chess Night put stop the contest and strange
say both armies occupied the positions they did in the
morning before the battle commenced Oar artillery did
than wonders. We lay all night, had done
the previous ones, without fires there being wood to
be had and the mercury below the freezing point ready and
expecting to the contest the morning but
found daylight the enemy had etreaed during the night
his killed his