The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-02-09
GEN. TAYLOR'S LETTER.

aud will probably be made the foundation OF
systematic attack upon him By the admin
istration, we now give it entire to the public.
HID. Qrs. Army Of Occupation, Or Inrdsion
MONTEREY, Mexico, Nov. 9. 1916.
Nv dear q
Your very kind and acceptable letter Of the
3lst Of August. . reached me
short time since, 70: which beg leave to
tender you my sincere thanks. A few con-
iidential remarks on certain public transac-
lions are here omitted.
After considerable apparent delay on the
part Of the O.. Masters Department, in get
ting steamboats, into the Rio Grande adapted
to its navigation, succeeded, towards the lat
ter part Of August, in throwing lorw ard to Ca
margo, a town situated on the San Juan riv-
er. three miles from its junction with the
Rio Grande, on the west side, nearly 500
miles from Brazos Island by wafer and 200
by land, and 40 from this place. consd
cradle depot Of provisions, oIdinaIt c. anu
nitsu and forage. aud then, having brought
together an important portion OF my c0m-
mand, determined on moving on this place.
Accordingly, after collecting 100 pack-mules
with their attendants and conductors, in the
enemy scUuntry, the principal means Oflrans-
portaIiOn for our provision, baggage, &c }
| left. on the 9Th Of September, to join my adj
vance which had preceded me few days To
| SeralvO, small village IS miles on the route,
which did or the OH, and, after waiting there
Il few dgys for some Of the corps 10 get up.
| moved on and reached here on the l9th, with
| $3.50 men, 200 regulars. the balance volun-
teers. For what took pla:e afterwards,
| must refer you 10 my several reports-par-
t;cularly TO my detailed one Of the 9th ulr.
| do not believe that the authorities at Wash
nston are at all satisfied with my conduct in
| regard TO the terms Of the capitulaiiOD entered
into with the Mexican commander. which y III
no doubt have seen, as they have been made
public through the official organ, and copied
into various other newspapers. have this
moment received an answer Ito my despatch
announcing the surrender Of Monterey, and
| the circumstances attending the same4 from
the Secretary Of War, stating that 1t vi as re-
GREETED by the President thatiI was not deem
ed advisable TO insist or the terms had pro-
posed in my FIRST communication TO the Mex
lea n commander in regard to giving up the
city, adding that The circumstances which
dictated no doubt justified the change
Although the terms of capitulaion may be
considered too liberal OH our part by the Pres
ident and his advisers, as well as by many
Others at distance, particularly by those who
do not understand the position " hich we
cupied, otherwise thev might como TO diff
fercnt conclusion in regard to the nratter.J vel
IN due reflection, see nothing to induce me
to regret the course pursued. The propo-
siiion on the part of Gen. Ampudia, which
had much TO do in determining my course in
he matter, was based on The ground that our
government had proposed to his TO settle the
existing difficulties by negnIiatiOn, (which
knew was the case. without knowing the re-
suit J which was :hcn under consideration by
the proper authorities, and which lie, teen.
Ampudia J had no doubt would result favor
ably, as the whole Of his p ;ople were in favor
of peace. Ifso considered the effusion Of
bod not only unnecess ~. but improper.
Their force was considerably larger Than ours ::
and rom the size and position Of The place,
we could not completely invest it 50 that the
greater portion Of their troops il not the " hole
had they been disposed to do so, could. any
night have abandoned The city ut once, enter
ed the mountain passes. aud effected their re
treat,-do " hat we would Had we been
put 10 the alternative Of taking the place by
Storm (which there is no doubt we should
have succeeded in doine.) we should. in all
probability, have lost fifty or one hundred
men in killed, besides the wounded. which
wished 10 avoid. as there appeared pres
pect of peacc. even If a distant one. also
wished 10 avoid the destruction OF women and
children, which must have been very great,
had the storming process been resorted TO.
Besides, they had very large and strong
ratification, a short distance from the city,
which il carried by the bayonet must have
been taken at a great sacrifice Of life; and.
with our limited train Of heavy or battery ar
tillery, il would have required twenty Driven
Iy-fve days to lake it by regular approaches.
That they surrendered a place nearly as
strong as Quebec. well fortified under the di
rection of skillfdi ensinGers,-.heir works
garnisheG With forty-fwo pieces Of artillery,
abundaniIy supplied with ammunition, gar
risuned by 1000 regular and 1000 irregular
troops, in addition TO some thousand citizens
capable OF. land no doubt actually,) bearing
arms, and aiding in its defence,-to an oppo
sing force hall their number, scanIily supplied
with provisions, and with light train OF ar
tiIlery.-is among the unaccountablc occur
reocss Of the times.
| am decidedly opposed to carrying the !
war beyond Saltillo in this direction. which |
place has been entirely abandoned by the |
Mexican forces, all Of whom have been con-
ceutrated at San Luis Potosi; and shall lose
no time in taking possession Of the former as
soon as the cessation oil hos ilities referred to
expires.-which have notified the Mexican
authorities will be the case Oh the I3th inst,
by direction Of the President Of the C0Ited
States.
five are lin the language Of Mr.. Folk and
General Scnitl under the DeGessiry "I 'c"n
querns peace aud that by taking the cap
,tal Of the country. we must 90 to Vera Cruz.
take that place. and then march on the city
of Mexico.-To do so 10 any other direction,
consider out Of the question. But. admit
ting that we conquer peace by doing So
say al the end Of the xttwelVe mOnths-wlli
the amount Of blood and treasure WHICH mus
be expended in doing so, be compensated BY
the same1 Think not. especially 1.-THE oun- \