The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1847-02-04
LETTER FROM GEN. TAYLOR.

LETTER FROM GEN. TAYLOR
The New York Express, of the 23d, pub
fishes portions of a long letter from General
Taylor 10 a friend in that city. 1t contains
nothing new, but parts of il have interest as
showing the Generals motives he has pursu
ed. He complains very much OF an entire
: want of means of transportation, by which he
has been exceedingly crippled. The Elk
press says that the friend TO whom il was ad-
dressed would not have taken the liberty of
making ii public, had not the recent mani Ges-
tations of malignity Of the Administration
towards General Taylor demanded this step
We have, adds the Express, more of this
sort 10 communicate, and shall soon be able
to show that, in his defence against his own
personal enemies and selfish detractors, as
well as against the armed enemies of his
country, the old hero of the Rio Grande is
ever trough and Ready.'' 30 1ess
MONTEREY, MEXICO, Nov. 0, 1916.
do not believe The authorities at Wash
ton are at all satisfied with my conduct in
regard to the terms of the capiiulation cutter
ed into with the Mexican commander, which
you 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 10 my dis
patch announcing the surrender of Monterey,
and the circumstances attending the same)
from the Secretary of War, stating that "it
was regretted by the President that it was
not deemed advisable TO insist on The terms
had proposed in my first communication 10 the
Mexlcans commander, in regard TO giving
up the city;" adding that ''he circumstances
which dictated, no doubt justified the change ;
Although the terms of capitulaton may be
considered too liberal on our part by the
President and his advisers, as we'll by many
others at a distance, particularly by those
who do not understand the position which
we occupied, Otherwise they might come
TO different Conclusion in regard TO the
malter,1 yet, on due reflection, | see nothing
10 enduce me 10 regret the course / pur-
sued
The proposition on the part of General
Ampuda, which had much 10 do in determ-
lining my course in the matter, was based OF
the ground that our government had propo-
sed 10 his 10 settle the existing difficulties
by negotiation, (Which knew was the case
without knowing the RESULT which was then
under consideration by the proper authorities
and which he (Gen Ampuda) had no doub
would result favorable, as the whole of his
people were in favor of peace. If so con
sidered the further eflusion of blood not only
unnecessary! but improper. Their force wa
also considerably larger than ours; and from
thessize and position of the place, we coult
not completely invest it; so that the create
portion OF their troops, if not the whole, hat
they been disposed TO do SO, could, an,
night, abadoned the city, at once entered the
mountain passes, an effected their retreat
do what we could!
Had we been put TO the alternative of takin!
the place by storm, (Which there is II,
doubt we should have succeed in doing,) We
should in all probability have lost fifty o
one hundred men in killed, besides thu
wounded-which wished to avoid, as there
appeared 10 be a prospect of peace, ever
if distant one. also wished TO avoid th,
destruction of women and children, which
must have been very great, had the stormin!
process been resorted to. Besides, the
had very large and strong iortifcation,
short distance from The city, which i
carried with the bayonet, must have beel
with great sacrifice of life; and with GU
limited train of heavy or batiering-artiller
it would have required twenty or tweaty
five days 10 take ii by regular aPproa
ches
That they should have surrendered plac
nearly as strong as Quebec, we'll fortifie
under the direction of skislful engineers
their works garnished with forty two piece
artillery, abundantly supplied with ammun
ton, garrisoned by 1000 regular and 200
irregular troops, in addition to some throu
sand citizens capable of, and no doubt actu
ly bearing arms, and aiding in its defence
to an opposing force of halt their number
scantily supplied with provision, and with