Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-03-12
40 iAe EGlfeT q iae liashiEgipa LEieR.
NscToEiA, TANAuIIPas, MExlco.
January 6, Is47.
January 6, Is47.

January 6, Is47.
DEAs Sra: Ahsr much speculation and no III,
tie misrepresentation about the oapiiula,ion o.
fiOa,ensv, peieeivc BY our recent newspapers
thal discussion has arisen as 70 who is respon-
sihls for that lransaction. AZ one Of tho com
missioners who Wete entrusted by Gcuersl TGy.
lor via Tho aftang, mcnt Of the tOFus upon which
,he eiiy OF MonteTey and is orfihcaiiOns Should
b delivered 20 our forces, have had frequent
occasions 70 rocuf 70 the course then adopted,
and shs considerations which led TO it. My
judgment after the fact has fully sustained my
decisions at the dAie OF she occurrence; end feel.
iog myself responsible for the instrument as we
prepared and presented Il 10 our commanding
general, have tbs satisfaction, after an subse.
Quenl events, TO believe thatthe terms we offered
wsrs expedieul aRd honorable, and wise. A
distinguished gentleman with whom acted on
that eommission. Governor Henderson. says, in
reesntly published letter. II did not at the time,
nor DO ssih Ike the terms, bur acted as one OF
she commissioners, together with General Worth
and Colonel Davis, 10 carry out Gen. Thylor's
inHrscsions. We ought aud could have made
Ihem surrender Of discretion" &c. &c.
From each POSITION tnken in the above pnra.
graph dissent. The instructions given by Gen.
Taylor only presented bis object, and fixed o
Limit 10 the powers Of his commissioners; hence
when points were raised which exceeded our
discretion, they were referred TO the commander;
bui MINOR points were acted on, and finally sub.
mllted as part Of our negotiation. We fixed
the time within which the Mexican forces should
retire from Monterey. We agreed upon the
lime we would wait for the decision of the rcspec.
tive governments, which recoIlect was less by
r, 4
asked-Ihe period adopted being that which, &c.
cording to our estimate, was required TO bring up
the rear ofour army with the oIdnaEce aud sup.
P iol uecossary for farther operations.
| did not then, nor do now, believe we could
have made the enemy surrender at discretion.
Had entertained The opinion il would have been
given TO the commission, and to the commanding
general, and would have precluded me from sign
ing IN agreement which permitted the garrison
30 retire with the honors Of war. Il is demon.
sirabe, from the position aud known prowess oI
tho Two armies, that we could drive the enemy
from ths town; but the town was unlenabe whilst
the main for (called the new ctida) remained
IA the hands of the enemy. Being without siege
artillery or enlrenchIng tools, we could only
hope TO carry this forl by storm, after heavy
loss from our army; which isolated in hostile
eolairy, now numbered less than half tho f,r es
OF tn, enemy. VIII all his hal been aci v.
ed, what more would we have gained than by
the capiuaoal
: General TayIor's force was TOO small IN invest
the town. Ii was therefore, always in the pow.
er OF the enemy 10 re,reut, bearing his light arms,
Or arhy-poorly provided and with very in.
sliii, lransporalion-couId not have oyorla-
ken, if they had pursued the flying enemy
lie c. the conc uilon that, as it was not in our
over 10 capture the main body Of The Mexican
army; il ig unreasonable 10 suppose their general
wou have surrendered u, discretion, The mo.
Ill ELECT Of rerirg under the capitulation was
c,ra,nIy grolisr than If the enemy had retreat.
ell without our consent. By This course we Sc.
cured tho largo supply OF ammunition hc had
collected in Monlerey-whith, had the assault
hlen continued, must have been exploded by our
shells, rs il was principally stored in 9Th, Cmh.
eArsl," which, being supposed TO bo filled with
troops, Was the especial aim ofour pieces. The
destruction which this explosion would have
TrldIcld nu5t have involved the advance orboil
divisions of our troops and commend this to
the contemplation Of those who's. arguments
have bCen drawn from facts learned since the
commissioners closed thtir neEo iations. With
ihese Introductory remarks, send copy Of q
manuscripts in my pos3 asson, which wa1 prcpRr.
cd 10 meet such necessity aS now exists for an
explanation Of the views which governed the
commissioners in arranging The terms Of capilu.
laion, 10 Justify the commanding general, should
misrepresentation ard cHlumny attempt to tarn.
ish bio well.earncd reputation, and for all time
10 come 10 fix Ih9 truth Of the transaction. Please
publish this in your paper, and believe me youI
friend, &C.,
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Memovdnda oCAe Transactions in connerion ,ciA
the eaPiiaiGion Of Monterey, capitol Of NuerC
Leon MSrieo.
~ BY invitation OF General Ampudin, command
ing ihs Mexican army, General Taylor, accom-
panied by a number of his officers, proceeded OF
she a4Ih September, 1876, TO a house designated
as tho place ai which General Ampudia request
cd an interview. Tho parties being convened
General Ampudia announced, as official iDformn
iion, that commissioners from the United Smte,
had been received by the government of Mexico
and than the orders under which he had prepar
ed 10 defend the city Of Monterey, had lost lheil
force by the subsequent change of his own gov
eVnmeEt, therefore he asked tho conference.
lr3f conversation between III commanding gen,
erals, showed their views 10 be 40 opposite, as lc
leave lule reason 10 expect an amicable arrange.
menl between them.
General Taylor said he would not delay to re-
ceive such propositions as General Ampuda in
ticuled. One Of General Ampudia's parry,
think, the governor Of The city, suggested the ap
Ionincnt OF mixed commissions this was nc
ceded 10, and Gen. w. G.. Worth of the Unite,
Slaies army, Gen. J. Pnckney Henderson, o
the Texan volunteers, and Col. Jefferson Davis
Of the Mississippi rinemen, on the part of Gener
al Taylor; and General J. Ma Orlcga, Genera
=. RcQuenn, ard Sror the Governor N. Ma
Llnno. ON the part Of GeLarn Amnnhin wnrI