Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1847-02-16
GEN. TAYL0R.s LETTRR.

1 :
authenticity of which, on its first appear
ance, was doubted. Il was published in
the "Newl York Express" and rumor
points TO Major General Gaines as the
friend TO whom it was addressed. 1t is but
justice TO Gen. T. to suppose that this
letter was never intended for publication,
because it will have the effect of placing
in possession of Santa Anna, information
which may seriously endanger the success
of our arms, while it viii prove adyan:a-
geous to the enemy providing the letter
truly presents the plan of the campaign
and as It has been already published we
see no harm in giving il 10 our readers
We, however, have no doubt but that the
administration will be able to show, salts
factofily, that in its, course towards Gen.
Taylor, there is no Just foundation for the
complaints made against them in this
publication.
1t is but justice to Gen. Gaines TO state
on the authority of a Washington letter,
that he loaned the letter to the EDITOR of
the Express in confidence, to read and not
to publish. AS soon as it appeared in the
Express the General repaired to Wash
ington and explained the circumstances to
the President and Secretary of War, to
their satisfaction.
HEADoUARTERs ARMY OF occupArrox OR INVASION.
MONTEREY. Mexico, Nov. 9, 1916.
My DEAR *****+S: Your very kind and
acceptable letter of the 3lst of August,
******** reached me only a short time
since, for which l beg leave to tender you
my sincere thanks /: A few confidential
remarks on certain public transactions are
here omitted.
After considerable apparent delay on the
part OF the Quartermaster's Department,
in getting steamboats, into the Rio Grande
adapted TO its navigation, succeeded, to
wards he latter part of August, in throw
ing forward to Camargo, "a town situated
on the San Juan river, three miles from
its junction with the Rio Grande, on the
west side, nearly 500 miles from Brazos
island by water, and 200 by land, and 14O
from this place. considerable depot of
provisions, ordnance, ammunition, and
forage, and then, having brought together
an important portion ofmy comma nd, ! de-
termined on moving on this place. Ac-
cordingiy, after collecting 100 pack
mules. with their attendants and conduct
ors, IN the enemy's country, (the principal
means of transportation for our provisions,
baggage, &c.,) | left on the 9Th of Sep
TENDER, to join my advance, which had
preceded me few days to Cerralvo, a
small village 75milcs on the route, WHICH
[ did on the 9th. and, after waiting there
a few days for some of the corps to get up
moved on and reached here on the 10Th,
with 6, $50 men--2, 700 regulars, the bal
ance volunteers. For what took place
afterwards, must refer you to my several
reports-particularly to my detailed one
of the 9th ult. / do not believe the au-
thorities at Washington are at all satisfied
with my conduct in regard to the terms of
the capitulation entered into with the Mex
icau commander, which you no doubt have
seen, as they have been made public thro'
the official organ, and copied into various
other newspapers. have this moment
received an answer Ito my despatch an.
nouncing the surrender of Monterey, and
the circumstances attending the same)
from the Secretary of War, stating that
sit was regretted by the President that it
was not deemed advisable to insist on the
terms had proposed in my first commu-
nicatioH to the Mexican commander, in
regard to giving Up the cit" adding that
''the circumstances which dictated, no
doubt justified the change" Although
the terms of capitulatioh may he consider
cd too liberal on our part by the President
and his advisers, az well as by many 9TH
ers 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 mat
ter, yet, on due reflection, see nothing
to induce me to regret the course | pr
sued. The proposition on the part Of Gen.
eral Ampudia which had much to do in
determining my course in the matter
was based on the ground that our govern
ment had proposed TO his to settle the ex-
listing diffk ulties by negotiation. (Which |
knew was the case, without knowing the
result, which was then underaconsidera.
ton by the proper authorities, and WHICH
he General Ampudia) had no doubt would
result favorably, as the whole of his peo-
pie we're in favor of peace. Efso. | con-
sidered the further efFaSion of blood not
only unnecessary, but improper. Their
force was also considerably larger than
ours and from the size and position of
the place, we could not completely invest
it; so that the greater portion Of their
troops--if not the wholeA-had they been
disposed to do so, could any night have
| ahandonal the civ at 1,roa n.Iarod tho