Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-01-09
FROM THE SEAT OF WAR.

now accidentally near the Headquarters OF our Ar
my in Mexico, we publish as entitled, in regard to
its facts, to the very highest consideration. AS 10
the writer's views in relation to the best manner Of
terminating the war, we submit them, without offer
ing any opinion of our own on them, to the judg-
ment of our readers:
"CAMARGo, DECEMBER 6, 1896
"MY DEAR SIR: \ From the best infor-
nation we can obtain, we are certainly at the end
Of our rope as to further advance towards San
Luis Potosi in our present position We have a
column of troops at Salnllo, some seventy-fve miles
/ in advance of Monterey, and General WooL's COM
i mand has or will be ordered to take position at
Parras, about one hundred miles west of Saltllo,
and think ii is the intention of the Commanding
General to cover the country with his troops from
this to Tampico, which will efectually keep the
| Mexicans on the other side of the Sierra Madre
Mountains. General SANTA ANNA, it is reported
is at San Luis Potosi at the head Of a. very large
force, and, if the difficulties were not as we have
conclusive evidence, almost insurmounable in the
way OF obtaining water, &C. on the road,
have no doubt but General TAYLOR would seek and
fight him at that place, though the odds be greatly
against him. From Saltlo to San Luis Potosi,
for great distance, we would have to depend on
tanks for water and the supply of that very limit
the tanks, if necessary, at moments warning,
should we advance.
snow, 1t does appear to me thatthe Administra-
ton should pursue one of two courses in this vile
| and Improbable war, viz. either appropriate largely
in the way of men and troops, and take Vera Cruz
| and the castle of San juan and then threaten the
city Of Mexico by an advance, or be satisfied with
the acquisition of California and hold it, and say to
Mexico, Now we have paid ourselves : and, if
they do not like it, let them drive us from the coun-
try if they can.
"lndeed, as to the country from this to the Sierra
Madre, il would be worthless to us, and it would
be worth war of some years to make the Mex-
cans take it back with the present population. From
appearances we can see no end to this war; we
may fight battles, win victories, and take towns,
and 1t all amounts to nothing, as get nothing ex-
cept bloody noses, broken limbs and loss of life
Every thing valuable is claimed or owned by for
eigners, and of course beyond our reach. The
Mexican people export nothing, barely raising suff-
cient for their subsistence, and have but little
TO spare, as they obliged to irrgae their lands
in order to grow any thing, but little rain falls in
this country. The people live in ranches or villa
ges, in order to protect themselves from the Indians
and the numerous hordes of robbers that nest the
country.
! " l sincerely hope Congress may take the war
into their own hands, and compel the President to
say what he wants, whether it be acquisition OF
territory or not. If not, why not fall back to the
Rio Grande, and let the Mexicans, if they think
proper, come and attack us Hold on to Califor-
MIA and take the Rio Grande for our line and, my
word for it, we will receive no trouble from the
Mexican nation. Ii may be advisable to hold this
place and some other towns the river, merely to
keep foothold, and for convenience in the way of
depots &c.
"The proclamation Of General KEARNY, after
taking Santa Fe, we consider here OF most extra
ordinary character; and if Congress submits to it,
then say there is no limit to the constitution, and
every military commander may act as he sees fit,
without regard to the Government"
The New Orleans papers have accounts from the
mouth Of the Rio Grande TO the oath ultimo,
brought by the steamer Fashion. We make the
following extracts from the Mercury:
TO Captain Yrrm,s Of the Sd regiment Of Tennessee
volunteers volunteer aid-de-csmp Of General WooL who
e Panas the headquarters of General Wool on the 10th
instant, and passed through sallo Monterey and Caar-
60 indebted for the subjoincd information.
General Wool has received orders from General Taylor
take up his winter quarters Parras and had seized
thousand barrels Of four and several thousand bushels of
wheat and other Government Parras hundred
and fifteen miles directly Of saIIo, and the position
being ahcs in advance the LIST and % regiments Of Indiana
volunteers had been ordered from Camargo reinforce Gen.
Wool This would swell his command to about four thou
sand five hundred General Worth, Sallo alro
be reinforced by four companies Of Kentucky cavalry
dercd Monterey, which would bring his command up
about seventeen hundred men.
General Patterson had received private letter informing
him Of rumor that Santa Anna advancing upon Sal
lo from San Luis Potos but Captain Yeatman attaches
credit the rumor he travelled from Parras and Salo
Maamoros rapidly possible, and when he left those
places he heard nothing whatever Of it. The Generals in
command both points have cavalry parties scouting in the
direction Of San Luis Potos and the Of General
Wool least seventy five miles from his camp that he
would be likely 70 be apprzcd Of any movement Of Santa
Anna early aspossibIe.
General Taylor len Monterey the 9Th, with Of
cavalry for Victoria. General Twiggs and Colonel r. f.
Smith, with their respective commands, Victoria
and previous the departure Of General Taylor from Mon
erey, General Qumsn, with his brigade, had left for that
point General Taylor in conversation with Captain Yeat-
man, expressed the opinion that il would be impossible
march upon San Luis Potos from the northern extremity Of
his lines until the rainy in in June next The
report that Santa Anna bad eft the water tanks between
him and The American posts not rue but the country
almost destitute Of unless during the rainy season. and
part Of the road there in that distance
Of ninety miles be marched without the possibility Of find
ing any
Gen Butler in command at Monterey with about
thousand COL Mckee, with six companies Of the Ken
tuckv Of cavalry Ceralyo Capain Willis