Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1847-02-15
To IA. KA,,., Of ,Ae ws.A.4s..u 0...a.


- January q, lsI7. (
DtAE STA; Ailer much speculation cad no little ais
representation about the equalization OF Montet,V et-
eevo by that la. at,.,p
as to who is responsible Tor that Transaction As one al
inc commissioners who were entrusted BY General Ta,or
n inc arrangement OF the terms upon which the city OF
Monterey aud Its Notifications should be delivered A., n,
o'oes nave mad frequent occasion ecut to tho course
hen adopted and tho considerations which led to A Nj
Judgment after the fact has fully sustained INV .cr n,
me uaie OF the occurrence; aud feeling y,e
Wv a. We prepared and presented to our
commanding general have the satisfaction after all sub
seiuent events To believe that the term. we on,.J yc
ehpeden' aud honorable, and wise. distinguished ,en
ue"sn win "hom acted ON that commission Goy,tnof
Henderson, says, IN recently published I,t,c, i ,
nj the time, nor do l st like tho terms Inn ...J ~ ,
me commissioners 'ogeiher with Gen. Worth and Col
Jaws, I" carry out Cen Taylors Instructions W, ouebt
and could have made them surrender at diact,,ion
&c. &c. " S''"V"'
From each position taken in tho above po,,,t,rh Ala,
sent The Instructions gwen by Gen Taylor only
his object, and fixed limit powers OF his INN, so,
eis hence, when points raised which exceeded u,
discretion they were referred the commander; bu, MI
nor points were acted and 6ualy submitted ts patt
OF our negotiation. We fixed tho time within which an,
Mexican forces should from Monterey w, ny,coJ
upon The time We would wait for the cson of the rc
pecuvc governments. which rccocet WINS less n, "A dan.
than the Mexican commissioners asked-tho pct,oJ adm,
"e oeihS mat which, according To estimate was re-
CURED To- bring up the OF with the ordnance
ana supplies necessary for further operations
did not then, nor do | now, believe we coulJ haye
made the enemy surrender discretion. Hold entertain
CD the opinion It would have been given the
aud to the commanding general and would have eudri
me from signing agreement which permitted The carr
son to retire with the honOTs war IL IL
from the position and known ptowcss Of the uyn n,,lr,
that We could drive the enemy the town but the ,nvn
was un'1naOe whilst the main fort called the eiladrD
remained VA the hands OF the enemy Being whout si 90
artillery or cnuonchng tools could only hone TO caIy
s tort by storm, after heavy loss from our army uo,
numbered less than halt the forces OF the enemy When
oil this had been achieved what more woud we have n
ned than by the eapulatonl
Gen. Taylors force was too small to invest the town
II was, therefore. always the power Of the enemy
IN D. IL
and with insufficient MOI nave
over'aken they had pursued the flying enemy Hence
the conclusion that, m our power TO carure
the main body OF the Mexican army unreasonable to
suppose their General would hayo sure ndered at discretion
iho moral elect oi retiring under capiulaun was GER
ahy greater than ii the enemy had roIreatod without our
consent BY this secured the large tuppIv of
ammunition he had collected ut Monterey-whch had tho
assault been continued, have been exploded by onr
shells, as II was principally stored in the Cathedal
which, being supposed to be filed with troops was the es
pecal aim OF our pieces The destruction which This cx
posion would have produced have involved the add
vance OF both divisions OF our troops; anu commend
this TO the consideration OF those whose arguments NJ,
been drawn from facts learned the commissioners
closed iheI negotiations With these Introductory remarks
send copy oi manuscript possession which was
prepared 10 meet such necessity now exists for an x
pSnaion a the views which governed the commissioners
IN arranging the terms of capituaon Justify the COM
handing general should misrepresentation and calufnuv
attempt To arni5h his weleaIncd reputation and for all
Tune TO come TO fix the Truth Of the Transaction Pcsse
i' '"'S va 1VuT paper ana believe me your tCaj &c.,
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
MsmO'asda Of the transactions in connection NTH the
eaPfhIaiioH Of Monterey capita! Of NueU1 Leon lfer-
ieo.
BY invitation Of Gen. Ampudia, commanding the Mex.
ican army, Gen. Taylor accompanied BY number o, his
oheers proceeded ON the 2ith September 1916 10 house
designated as the place which Gen Ampuda requested
an interview. The parties being convened, Con. Am
pudia announced, official information that the commits
sions from the United States had been received m tho o.
yernmen OF Mexico aud that orders under VIII eh bs
had prepared 10 defend the city Monterey had lost their
hk fla NIB
therefore he uNed the conference brief conversation
between the commanding generals showed their views TO
be opposite leave ltIe rca. on 10 cxpee an ,r Ia
Arrangement between them.
Cen Taylor said he would delay to receive such pro
positions as Gen. Ampudia Indicated. Onc at Cen Am
pudias party think, the OF the city, suggested
the appointment ct mixed commission; the as acee q,
and Gen W q Worth Of the u. States amy Gen Prick
ney Henderson, Of tle Texan Volunteers aud Col j. FIR
son DAVIS, OF the Miss sspp nilrmcn on the p1rr Con
Taylor and Gen Ms Ortcga, Gen Rcqucna and Stnor
the Governor VI. Ma LlaHO the pr, OF Gen ttppu.
dia, Were appointed.
General Taylor gave instructions to his commissioner,
which, as undorstOnd, tor tucy bret and vch ,y
be best shown by the copy u tie demand winch the United
states commissioner prepared the conference room hero
Incorporated:
Coryoi drnaadJy United States Corqniss.or,,s
al - the legitimate result ot the opclatiou, li,, i
place. and the present position the cuncning afi,s
We demand the surrender o: the town. the arms AID mum
lions oi war; and all pth,' public property within the % zee
I'll That the Mexican AIMED force retire beyond tho
Rineonada, Llnarcs, aud San Fernando, on the cost
I'll The commanding general o the army VI the uniied
States that the Mexican officers reserve their sio
arms aud private baggage; and the troops be a,,d t. re-
nrc under Their officers without parole, reasonable time
being allowed To Withdraw their forces.
Nv The immediate delivery the main work now oc
cuPed, TO the army OF the United States
'V. To avoid collisions aud tor mutual convenience
that the troops Ut the United States shall occupy the
town until the Mexican forces have been Withdrawn x
cept for hospital purposes, stofchcuscs, &c
''Vl The commanding general of the United States
agrees not to advance beyond tho line specified ~ the C.
ond section before the expiration OF eight weeks OF uuu
the respective governments can be heard romu
The terms OF tue demand refused by the Mexican
commissioners, who drew up counter proposition which
ony Tecoect that contained permission 10 tho Nirx
can forces 10 retire with their arms This was i-od m
matter OF soldiety PRIDE and Ordinary courtc.y Wo
had reached tue limit OF our insrpcti,ns and ,I,, -
sion rose TO report the engagement
Upon returning the reception room, after Tho f,c bsJ
been announced that the commissioners could NOT ageo
upon terms, Gen. Ampuda entered at length upon tho
question: treating the point Of disagreement a. one which
involved the honor o his country, spoke Of Ia d,sf Tor
settlement without further blo1dshcd and saI t, t ,
care about the pieces oi artillery which hc had At
Gen. Taylor responded tho wish to avoid unr.r,.,
bloodshcd. IL agreed the commission should res-sr
blc and we wofc Instructed cOncodc tho small tp.
ana supposed there would be question about the az
uI'Tl' Inc Mexican commissioners urged that ns
an other arms had been recognised would be discr,d
table TO the artillery required to march out ,ybo, .,r
thing to represent their arm and stated m an,vr- In nm
inquiry, that they had battery OF light artillery nlrnv
red and equipped such. The commission ap,in ,osc
and reported the dsag gree on the point Of nt,ir
Gen. Taylor herring hai moro was dcmande "a tiou tho
mlo''e ground upon which, IN gprt of generosity no
had agfeed to place the cnpulaton announced e core
renee at an end; and in manner which showed his
determination TO ta.k no more As hc crossed tho room 10
leave It, one Of the Mexican comm ssoncrs adlrcsed him
aud some conversation which did not hear chi ucd Cen
worm asked perm ssion Of Cen Taylor, and Addressed
some remarks u Con. Ampuda the apift OF which was
hat winch lac manifested throughout tho negotiation VIZ
generosity and lcncncy. and desire to spare the further
eiuson OF blood. The ssion rcassomblod md the
points Of cnpulauon were agreed upon. Aiitr a short
IN NH l.. a
parted from the Mexican commissioners; they were fatty
~ joining us, nnd slow in executing the instrument al ca
pi'uaton The Uh st', and 9Th articles were added du
ring this session a. late hour tho English or gina. was
handed 10 Cen. Taylor fut his examination; 5 su.pfh
original having been sent To General Ampudi, Con.
Taylor signed aud delivered 10 me tho instrument as
II was submitted u him. and returned to receive tho
spanish copy with tho signature OF General Ampudi,
and send That having Goa. Taylors signature tbat
,aeh genera might councsfign tho original 10 be re-
lninod ~ the oihct Gen Ampudil did not si,n lilo
Im.lInm- M : nL.nn..L L--