Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-06-18

The greater these reverscs, the more imperons IS
the necessity Of proonging The contest. Ii is an
encouraging circumstance that paper has al ias
becn established 10 combat these advocates ioi
war, and which does j, with an ability that coni-
mands their respect.
IFLcm The Ne,r Or.ccns Pteaynnc, June 3
AMERICAN PRISONERS.
MAJORS GAINES AND BoRLAND : CapIa ~
JaV-I.IEIiTENANT EARRuUH'S COMMAND
-TREATMENT OF PRISONERS ia fE@A-
LETTER FROM CAPT HEaDf.
We have had lie pleasure CT al interview
with Mr.. Trenwi,, merchant who was taken
prisoner on Tie cath If February, in company
with Lieut.. Barbour and some thirty men, com,
posing The escort oil the main which was attacked
that day between Monterey and Camarso. Mr.
Trenwir, Informs US that Urea had with him at
the time OF the attack about 2.G00 men. The
train was nearly two miles in length When
the cncmy approached, Lieut.. Barbour formed
his men in chapaTral impracicahle for caval-
~. Tie lancers dashed by, made an Onslaught;
upon the train, massacred The wagoneIs, and al
forwards completely surrounded the small escort
Lieut.. e. then surrendered upon terms, and was
taken prisoner. The party was marched of 'o
Mexico aud on the route encountered hard usage,
but was much better treated than the EncarGa-
cion prisoners.
They arrived at Mexico On the 10th Of Apri
and found aiajnr Gaines and his companions yc'
closely conf led in prison. MIR. Trenwii was IL
bcralcd through the Interference 0! the British Nj
mister. He reports 10 US. that, shortly alter the
arrival OF Lieut.. Barbong's command, The Anne
rican officers, nine in number, were e; out Of
Jail upon parole-lhe men were yet closely Gagged
on the 18th Of May-lhe day he LEI, the city.
Whilst Mr.. Trenwiti was at Jalara, La vega
was in that city. lie Q.a Vega) gave SINH
lar excuse Tor his neglect oil the American prison
ers to that given b. his friends here. Mir. Trcn-
viii informs us that there was no foundation IN
truth for these excuses He sales lhat tie rcvo-
luton lasted only THREE weeks, and that General
La Vega was in The city Of Mexico during five
weeks Of the Incarceration Of The EncaInacion
prisoners in the penilenliary Of Santiago Du-
ring this Time Captain Clay addressed hin lei
ter in regard 10 the crueties and priyalions they
were suffering, contrary 10 The usases oil war ana
the rights Of population, and That La Vega
treated the letter with si.en, contempt. The pri-
soneYs did no. even know that their enlargement
was arranged tor. They we're subjected 10 need
less humiliation and cruelty on their march 10
Mexico. and, when there, subjected 10 cruel PIT
vations.
P. S. Since writing the above, the following
letter from Captain Heaty was received by The
New Orleans. Captain Ii is a personal friend
of one al he editors OF this paper, and his void
is worth more Than The oatis Of all the lieScan
apologisi$ OF La Vega this side ol Hades. When
he wrote il, he was under The impression, which
was general at The time, that La Vega would
asain come 10 the United States:
MEXICO, May ID 1917.
Dea, Sir-I have learned, from late number
oi he American Eagle, The result Of the battle Of
Cerfo Code and that The five generals and thirty
III fine orhi n
our arms hare been sent 10 New Orleans 10 await
,hel exchange Amcng The former is Gen. La
VEGA, who will receive second lime The kindes
trea,mcn. orr people and government can hesiow
upon stranger and prisoner Tha. you may IN.
dersland i9m Justly fts general cfprceotes The socd
The following facts are communicated: An our
horses we've taken from u, lc men walked ard
The officers role pori seven hundred miles, often
travelling forty miles day, 10 This ciiy. The
men suffered iA!enScfg from sore feet, and when
man became 50 disabled lha' he could walk no
longer, The officer having charge Of Us would i'm
press donkey for him 10 ride. ToSan Luis, L.
Churchill, seventeen men, and myself. %e:e in
charge cr Major Romarory Amelia, OF Vera Cruz.
who treated Us mes, respectfully AID kindly.
Major Gaines, Capt. Clay, Lieut.. Davidson
ard !i;r:y men, with Maj. borand, Capt. Dan
lev and ihiriy-iive men, were taken TO San Luis
by Lienl. COL Sambraninol aid TO Gen. Minon.
When Capt. Hcrsie, vino had cnloyed fore
TASTE OF what was coming, whilst Mier prisoner,
broke The guard and run toward our camp, This
redoublablc Colonel gave The order 10 lance The
remaining seventy pnollending officers and men,
and the lives OF the whole party were saved BY
the timely order Of Capt. Clay TO drop en- The
ground, which was instantly obeycd, and sata-
fed the officer an escape was no. contemplated.
Al San Luis they gave the officers thirty, seven
and hal. ard The men eighteen and ,hlce-tourihs
cents each per day for subsistence. Thence to
Ouerciaro. one hundred and fifty miles, We were
ia charge ci Gel Moieno, Of Camrcachy, who
treated us very coufeously and well. From
there here we were guarded BY one may
grdnds captain, OF no place particularly,
who daily disbarscd the magnan'mous thirty
seven and hal.cens 10 each oiilccr, ana Tue ne
saving ,hree picayunes 10 each man, except when
he saia his treasury was exhausted, |hicn was
thee DAYS before VIC got here. during which time,
OF course. VIC supported ourselves and men,
When The men were unable 10 walk. re would
lake the first mules or donkeys on lhe road, and
make as pay them at night, and by way oil debcn-
lure or drawhac OF The three bis, nc charged us
tour bits each day for The ponies we rode, which
speculation yielded him clear proiii OF seven
bis day, 10 say nothing Of the mule and dom
key profits. We learned, on approaching ms
CITY. that Gen. La Vega was in command OF the
Vera Cruz line, and had his quarters in Mexico,
where we were 10 be confined until exchanged,
and this intelligence elated our hearts with high
hopes Of good treatment from masaanImous
solder and gentleman, whose sense oil gratitude
would reflect upon Us all The courtesy and nearl
and soul Of our own countrymen. Vain hopes
We were brought into The city a, 2 o'clock al
night in The midst Of revolution, and put into
Santiago prison for chained ealPr,'s 0nd fe,e's,
,lamGc,ingtirec taadred; our pay increased TO tour
al-powerlul bis q day, and nothing to pui on The
rock floor 10 sleep On bu, OF! blankets; beds were
called fer, bat could not be obtained. News Of
The battle OF Buena Vista reached here two days
afterwards, and they put the officers up stairs
leaving the men where they now are, among rob-
bers and murdcrers. La Vega was in Tie city
three or four weeks, without coming 10 see US or
sending us any word OF comfort, or sending rs
his aid TO see if we wanted another blanket, or 10
sec if we would give our parole and have the Ii
berry Of The city. We received no more ailen'
lion from him. or any ether officer in The city, ex-
cent the colonel who has command OF The prison,
than so many condemned assassEs, sent from The
interior 10 the capital 10 receive The hangman's
knot. TIE news CT Cerro Gorlo came and they
gave US the liberty Of The city, after We protested
against an order 10 send MS on parole 10 Lermu
len leagues cfi, bsyond the mountains, towards The
Pacific, ard containing rea! cu!-hEoai popula.
lion of Two thousand, on an island OF The lakes
We have received the greatest attention and
kindness from foreigners of all nations, Ame
ricans English French, Irish, Scotch, Germans
and South Americans, among whom there is a
strong sympathy. II is the sympathy OF common
color, common language common sentiment, are
often common injury from the Mexicans. From
several Mexican officers and families have re-
ceived the kindesi treatment. Wherever We meet
with an officer or other person, gentleman or LADY
who has been in The United States, We ale sreeet
with hearty cordial reception, exceptn The case
OF Gen. La Vega. We will be exchanged ir &
few days, according 10 the assurances OF the Mex
leans and word received from Gen. Scott, whe
says he will give the earliest attention 10 our stu
alton. Most respectfully, your friend,
WIN. J. HEADY.
p. S.-The people here state his vegas onl,
importance was given 10 him by the treatment 0
The Americans whilst he was in New Orleans
Whilst Maj Gaines was sick in prison, he ask
ed for horse 10 ride for exercise in The open air