The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-11-15
OFFICIAL DISPATCHES.
BATTLE OF sOLINO DEL REY.
Report OF MAJ. Gen. Scott.


SIR: have heretofore reported that had August p,
concluded amistce with President Santa Anna, which
was promptly followed by meetings between MIR inst
and Mexican commissioners appointed TO treat OF peace
Negotiations were actively continued with, as was
understood, prospect of successful result up 10
the I'd instant when commissioner handed in his ILL.,
mdm ION boundaries and the negoiators adjourned to
meet again on the 9th.
Some infractions of the truce in respect to our sup
plies from the city, earlier committed, followed by
apologies, the part of the enemy Those vexations
was willing to put down to the mbecity OF the govern
ment, and waived pointed demands of repaation while
any hope renamed of a satisfactory termination of the
But the 5h and more fully the 9th, learned
that as the ulttmatum had been considered In
grand council of ministers and Others President Santa
Anna, the 18th 9Th, without giving me the slightest
notice, actively RECOMMENDED Strengthening the military
defences OF the city, In gross violation OF the Sd article OF
the armistice
On that information which has since received the full
est verfcation addressed to him my note of the 9Th
His reply, dated the day, received the next morn
ing, absolutely and VIGOROUSLY false both IN recm
nation and explanation enclose copies OF both papers,
and have had subsequent correspondence with the
enemy
two weeks we had now late the 18th, to begin to
connoitre the different approaches TO the city, within
reach before could lay down any dehnitve plan of at
tack.
The same afternoon large body of the enemy
discovered towering about the Monos del Key within
mile and third OF tins village where am quar'ered with
1t might have been supposed that an attack upon us
intended; but knowing the great value to the enemy
foundry with large depose of powder in Casa Nata
them and having heard, two days before, that many
church bells had been sent out to be cast into gunshe
enemys easily understood, and resolved
at once, to drive him early the next morning, to seize
the powder, and TO destroy the foundry.
Another motive for this declslon--leaving the general
plan of attack upon the city for full reconnaissance
that knew recent captures had left the enc
my not fourth Of the guns necessary to arm all at the
tme the strong works at each OF the eight city
gates and could not the communication between
the foundry and the capital without first taking the for
mdable castle the heights of Chapuepec which over
looked both and stood between.
For this difficult operation not entirely ready,
and might altogether neglect the castle, if,
then hoped reconnossances should prove that the
distant southern approaches to the city were more elgl
BILE than this southwestern approach.
Hence the decision promptly taken the execution of
which assigned TO Brevet Major General Worth,
whose division reinforced with Cadwaladers brig
AIDE of Pillows division, three squadrons OF dragons
under Major Sumner and some heavy guns OF the siege
Drum OF the 4th artillery-two officers OF the highest
merit.
For the decisive and brilliant results beg TO refer to
the report Of the immediate commander-Major General
Worth-in whose commentators of the gallant officers
and men-dead and liying-I heartily concur; having
witnessed, but with little interference, their noble devo-
ton to fame and to country
The enemy having several times reinforced his line,
and the action soon becoming much more general than
had expected called up, from the distance Of three miles,
first Major General Pillow, with his remaining brigade
(Perces) and next Rleys brigade of Twsgs' division
leaving his other brigade (Smh's) in observation, at
San Angel Those corps approached with zeal and
pdity; but the battle Just Brgadier General
Pierce reached the ground and had inerposed his corps
between Garlands brigade (Worths dvision and the
treating enemy.
The accompanying report mentions, with just commen
dation two OF my volunteer ads-Maior Kirby paymas-
ter and Major Gaines, Of the Kentucky volunteers also
had the valuable services, the field, of several
other officers of my staff general and personal Lieut.
Col Hitchcock, acting inspector general Captain r. E.
Lee, engineer; Captain IRWIN chief quarermaser Cap
tain Grayson, chief commissary; Captain L Scott act
ing assistant dutan general Lieutenant Williams, aid
| do Iiputa Iav m
| have the honor to be- sir with high respect, your
most obedient servant,
The Hon. VIM L. MARCY,
! Secretary of War
Enclosed in the above)
HEADQUARrERs OF THE ARMY.
I Tacubaya, August oath, lSl7
GENERAL ORDERs-No 262
The following military convention is published for the
information and strict government Of the American army,
its retaners and followers. Any n1racion OF one
of the articles OF the said convention shall be followed by
The undersigned appointed respectively. the three first
by Major General Winfield Scott, commandments -chief Of
excelency D. Antonio Lopez Santa Anna President of
the Mexican republic and commander-inchief Of its
the village Of Tacnbaya, the 22i day of August 1917
enter INTO an arlnistice for the purpose of giving the
tons for from the commissioner appointed by the
President of the United States and with the American
army, when the following articles were agreed npon:
Art L. Iostilities shall instantly and absolutely cease
between the the United States America and
the United Mexican States, within thirty leagues of the
capital of the latter States, allow time the commits
soner appointed by the United States, and the commission
TO be appointed by the Mexican republic negotiate.
2 This arlnstce shall continue long as the commits
oners oil the two governments may be engaged IN nego
,aons until commander either said armies
shall give formal notice the other of the cessation Of the
armstce and Tor fortyei light hours after such notice.
3. In the meantime, neither army SHALL within thirty
leagues OF the city OF Mexico commence any ortl
cation military work of offence defence, do any
thing enlarge or strengthen any existing work forti-
cation OF that character within the said limits.
l. Neither army shall be reinforced within the
Any relnorcemens troops munitions OF other
stopped the distance of least twenty eight leagues
from the city of Mexico.
8. Neither army, any detachment from it, shall adj
vance beyond the line it at present occupies.
q. Neither army, any detachment individual oil
either, shall the neutral limits established by the la
article except under flags OF bearing the correspond
between the armies authorized
by the article and individuals of either who
may chance to 5trage within the neutral limits shall, by
the opposite party, be kindly warned off, back to
their own army under flags of truce.
The American army shall not by violence obsruc the
passage from the into the city OF Mexico, OF
ordinary supplies Of food the
of its inhabitants the Mexican within the city;
shall the Mexican authorities civil or military do TO
the passage supplies from the the country
needed by the American army.
8. Ali Amcrican prisoners OF remaining in the hands
of the Mexican army and heretofore exchanged, shall
American army against like number (havug regard to
rank) of Mexican prisoners captured by the American
army.
o. (Omtted] (See Mexican ratification. }
10 The better 10 enable the begeen armies
these articles, and FAVOR the great object of peace
further agreed between the parties, thai any with
despaches that either army shall desire along the
line from the city OF Mexico or It's vicinity and from Vera