The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1847-02-09

Rio Grande-a very long line on which
TO keep up supplies lover a land route, in
a country like this for a large force, and
certain to be attended with an expense
which will be frightful to contemplate
when closely looked into.
From Saltillo to San Luis Potosi, the
mex place of importance on the road to
the city of Mexico is three hundred miles;
one hundred and forty badly watered,
where no supplies of any kind could be
procured for men or horses. | have In-
formed the War Department that 10000
efficient men would be necessary TO en-
sure success if we move on that place, Ia
city containing a population of 10000,
where the enemy could bring together and
sustain, besides the citizens, an army of
5O,OOO,) a force which, | apprehend, will
hardly be collected by Us with the train
necessary to feed it, as well as to trans
port various other supplies, particularly
ordnance and munitions of war.
In regard to the armistice, which would
have expired by limitation in a few days,
we lost nothing by il, as we could not
move even now, had the enemy continued
to occupy Saltillo; for, strange TO say, the
first wagon which has reached me since
the declaration of wal was OH the I'd IN
slant, the same day on which | received
from Washington an acknowledgment Of
my despatch announcing the taking OF
Monterey; and then | received only n
hundred and thirty-6ve; so that have
been, since May last, completely Grip
pied, and am still so, for want of trans
portatiom. After raking and scraping the
country for miles around Camargo, col
lecting every pack-mule and other means
of transportation, | could bring here only
$4,000 %rations, Fifteen days supply,)
with a moderate supply of ordnance, am
munition, &C., to do which all the corps
had to leave behind a portion of their
camp equippage necessary for their COM
fort; and, in some instances among the
volunteers, their personal baggage. |
moved in such a way, and with such Inn
tied means that, had | not succeeded, |
should no doubt have been severely repri-
manded, if nothing worse. | did SO to
sustain the Administration. &
OF the two regiments of mounted men
from Tennessee and Kentucky, who left
their respective States to join me in June,
the latter has justreached Camargo; the
former had not got to Matamoras at the
latest dates from there. Admitting that
they will be as long in returning as in
getting here, Ito say nothing of the time
necessary to recruit their horses,) and
were to be discharged in time to reach
their homes, they could serve in Mexico
but a very short time.
The foregoing remarks are not made
with the view of finding fault with any
one, but to point out the difficulties with
which | have had to contend.
Monterey, the capital of New Leon, IS
situated on the San Juan river, where 1t
comes out Of the mountains-the city
(which contains a population of abont
twelve thousand) being in part surround
ed by them-at the head of a large and
beautiful valley, The houses are OF stone
in the Moorish style, with flat roofs,
which, with their strongly enclosed yards
gardens in high stone walls, all looped for
musketry, make them each a fortress
within itself. 1t is the most important
place in Northern Mexico, {or on the
east side of Sierra Madre,) commanding
the only pass or road for carriages from
this side, between it and the Gulf Of
Mexico, TO the table-Iands of the Sierra,
by or through which the city of Mexico
can be reached.
| much fear | shall have exhausted
your patience before you get halt through
this long and undressing letter. If so,
you can only commit it to the flames, and
think no more about it, as | write in great
haste, besides being interrupted every five
minutes; so hat you must make great al
Iowances for blots, interlineations, and
blunders, as well as want Of connexiOn in
many parts of the same.
Be so good as to present me most kind
ly to your excellent lady, and accept my
sincere wishes for your continued health,
prosperity, and fame.
| remain, truly and sincerely,
your friend,