The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1847-03-23
LATEST FROM THE SOUTH.
New ORLEANS, March /, Is47.
Messrs. GALES & sEAros:

DEAR SIRs:-Gen. Butler arrived here
yesterday. Among the leading items of
news is the reported evacuation Of Vera
Cruz by order of Santa Anna. As re-
CARDS the city, should think this very
probable, as the garrison could not defend
it against Gen. Scott, and the troops of
which that garrison is composed will be
of more service with Santa Anna, particu-
larly if he coutemplates an attack on Gen.
Scott, as it is probable he does.
Gentlemen who have conversed with
Gen. Butler say that he freely expresses
his opinion as to the proper, indeed only
mode of conducting the war, and which
comedies with The views Of Mr.. Calhoun
Ito take and fortify by posts a line Of
territory, and either capture or blockade
their ports, without any attempt to pene-
trate into the interior. The line TO be
taken, he thinks, should be the one what
ever 1t may be- which the Government
intends TO insist on as the permanent
boundary between the WI countries, and
he says $4,000 men would be suficientto
hold and drotect it from the Gulf to the
Pacific.
Cen Butler justly says that, admitting
we advanced into the country with eve
cry success that could be expected, and
even captured the city Of Mexico. it would
not have any material effect on the enc
my, nor place us any nearer to peace
than we now are, and we should never
command any more territory than what
we actually covered with our bayonets.
and would be constantly surrounded by a
hostile population, and the Mexicans
would have nothing TO do but to avoid
fighting, and let our army waste away, as
II rapidly would do, by fatigue, sickness,
and a constant guerrilla war.
He seems to think it probable that San
ia Anna has moved with his whole force
to Vera Cruz, and with a view of giving
Gen Scott a grand fight; though, he saws.
It would be impolitic for him to 10 so un-
der any circumstances, but that his plan
should be to let our arIny advance into the
interior without risking a general battle,
but merely to harrass them, and cut off
~stragglers or detachments. Any serious
impulse to an advancing army would be
fatal to them under the circumstances.
The Administration had got themselves
and the country into a most awkward
predlcament as to this war, so blindly and
rashly undertaken; for, as recently obser-
we'd in the Senate, we have the wolf by
the ears, and it is equally dangerous to
hold on or to let him go. There is no
doubt of the fact that, sooner or later, we
will have to come to the plan Of holding
on to what we have, and the prevailing
opinion with the army is, that we should
give up the idea of pene.ratieg into the
country. The views and intentions, how
ever, Of the Administration are different.
and they are actually at this moment call
culating on an advance Of General Tay-
Tor from Saltillo, and their measures Will
finally result in some serious misfortune.
that viii rouse the indignation of our
whole country.
All the officers from Mexico speak in
the highest terms Of the Mexican cavalry.
anu dNulA uiSs dlG iuHy equal 70 cur
mounted volunteers, man for man, and
greatly out-number our forces of that des-
scription.
do not believe we shall have any de-
cisive intelligence from Vera Cruz till to-
wards the close Of this month; as the res
idue Of Gen. Worlh's troops will not
leave the Brazos before the 9Th or 9Th in
slant, and the whole force cannot be col
lected TT Lobos and Tampico before the
18th, and if they were to sail on that day.
it would be at least the 2Oth before they
would probably reach Vera Cruz.
Those who pretend to know best. say
that the castle can only be taken by bonn
bardment; and that, if the garrison is pro-
perry supplied, il will be very difficult to
take at all, and at any aate viii require a
long time 10 do so.
1t is difficult, from the conflicting O.
p%inions, to form any correct idea on the
subject, but I shall not be surprised If it
should be an easy conquest.