The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-04-20


adopt as nv own the authorship of those euogies which
the generals OF brigade and division have bestowed
their subordinates would, moreover, place in view OF
the government the merit manifested by the Director Gen
eral of Engineers, Don gnacio Mora Villamil, who
fulfilled, to my entire satisfaction, all the duties as
signed to him. for which consider him worthy OF the
highest praise, and OF such remuneration as the suprme
services. Gen. Ampudla TO whom from the favorable
opinion which had of him. ntrusted the command 10
the four light baalions acquitted himself with gallan
try Gen Lombardni, who commanded the first dvis
! ion of infantry conducted himself with vaior and was
wounded Gen Pacheco, commanding the second dvis;
ion of infantry came up orders and his duties, and
] fought to my satisfaction General Juvera compoled
himself honoaby, and had his horse killed under him
Brevet General Torrelon received confusion, and Gen
Guzman displayed the gallanry Tor which he was al,
! ready distinguished, and was wounded Breyet General
4 Mcheltorena as head of the staff, duly performed all
that belonged TO his staton and also conhded to his
specia charge the battery of spounders which washat
most in advance Gen Perez acted as might be expected
from his accustomed gallantry, and for this inrrsted
with which he contributed TO disorder the line OF the
envy at in the evening. | would also commend Gen
Ortega, who commanded the third division Of fool and
performed duties my satisfaction, also Breve Gen
Uraga and Gems Parrod, Portilla Vasquez, JalTegu,
Terres and Sanchez 1t entirely due to the command;
ing general of artillery, Don Antonio Corona that
should commend him for carrying out my dispositions,
as might be expected from him, and for laborng ass-
ousy San Luis, in The heaviest duties OF his branch OF
service and il pleasing duty for me to aud the merit
acquired by Colonel Banencli, and Colonel Bnto who
was wounded Colonel Andrede, OF the hussars, who, TO
my satisfaction evnced his usual bravery; Colonel ,.
Blanco who commanded column OF attack on me zen,
and acted well, and Colonel MI Banco-hoth OF the last
being of the engineers-as also Colonel Obano OF the
! flying artillery and Colonel Garay
Here follows long list of colonies, Lieutenant col
onels, captains, and subordnates who are all commended
and the particular service OF some mentioned One Is
named Antonio Lopez de Santana, late cusom-house
officer at Tamplco, who acted as volunteer aud to his
namesake, the general-ln- Chief
The report of the killed and wounded, which also
4 send will show what has been loss. should be
Lack in
not most earnestly to request that attention be pad as
is by law provided to the cases OF the widows orphans
and such of the wounded may be permanently disabled
The formidable position which the enemy occupied,
was all that saved him; the victory would otherwise
have been decisive twithsanding his obstinate resist
ance. Still this triumph will have favorable results 10
the national cause, it will show to every one what
can be accomplished when all hearts unte and with
one aim
The army has done more than could be expected under
the laws OF nature thad just been formed ant yet had
not acquired discipline military habits; ye in march
ing to the combat it difficulties which might
have subdued the stoutest heart. Afer march OF
twenty leagues, sixteen of them without waite and with
other food than single ration, which was dealt out
at Encarnacon 1t endured the fatigue OF combat Tor two
days, and finally triumphed With all this physical
powers exhausted My knowledge OF ms, and the
duty felt OF attending to such number Of wounded,
constrained me, after remaining few hours on the held
of battle, to fall back upon Aqua Nueva for the relief
and rereshment of the troops
| From the impressions we had made on the enemy, he
did appear before for three days. The bearer of
FLAG of truce, however, arrived with proposition from
Gen Taylor for exchange of prisoners, and Tor our
sending for the wounded who had remained the field.
He also expressed TO the desire which the Americans
felt for the reestablishment OF peace. REPLIED IN or
der that he might say the TO his general that we
territory and the preservation OF nationality and
rights; that not the aggressors, and that our
government had offended that OF the United States.
observed that could say nothing OF peace while the
Americans on this side OF the Bravo, occupied
any part OF the Mexican territory, or bockaded our
ports and that were resolved to perish vindicate
O1r rvhts I'M he
to the enemy and their experience of the 22d and 23d
should convince them that it could change. added that
| the Americans waged against war OF vandalism
whose outraged those sentiments Of humanity
which civilized nation ought to evince towards
another and that if he would go outside Of the apart
ment he would see still smoking, (Which was the tactD
the dwellings OF Aqua Nueva, recently flourlshlng
though small settlement; that the vestiges OF
desolaon marked the route of his retreat; and that if
he would go little further on Caana, he would hear
the of the widows and orphans of innocent vic
tins who had been sacrificed without necessity. With
respect to the wounded whom invited to send for,
replied that there could be those who had
been too much hurt to arise from the field, those most
in the advance who had remained the lavines and
that had not means Tor their conveyance the enemy
might take them to Salllo under the protection Of the
laws of nations. AS for the prisoners which he offered
| to exchange | told him knew not who they could be,
unless it some of our dispersed troops, or some
who, from the fatigue of the two previous days had
manned asleep when we moved In answer to the cour-
tesy the enemys general had shown with respect
wounded consented in the name OF the nation, to re-
lease all the prisoners we hadthose taken both IN the
battle and at Encarnacon. AT the same time allowed
the bearer OF the flag who was superior officer OF pre-
possessing appearance and take the bandage
from his eyes and informed him that it was for him per-
sonay that the honor of this concession was meant
did 1t also that he might see our camp and our troops
AS have said in the preceding paragraph, we remain
ed in the hacienda three days. but the only supply we
could obtain was ninety beeves and these consum-
ed on the 25th The horses were also without forage,
and notwithstanding all the efforts provisions that
could make, many of the wounded had been but once
attended to, and some not at all From the rgor OF the
climate, the badness and scantiness of the susenance
the entire want OF Bread and the bad quality of the water
used in former bvouacs, bowel complaint had
one hall of it. knew that retrogade movement to
former positions had become inevitabe but though
everything around me proclaimed this necessity, my feel
ings revoed against it, solely because | foresaw that
from ignorance, malice or presumption the counermarch
would be condemned and that those who did witness
continuing its operations. Six days before, when the
troops had not suffered much, fought for two
cessve days. nor been embarrassed with sick and wound
ed but still sound in morals and in health had not
deemed prudent to augment the labors and difficulties
of the army by moving to the right the left how then
that subsequently occurred But let detracors say what
they will, the army, well as myself will always
swer by an appeal to conduct, wishes, and the
notorious impossibity of carrying them out Notwith
standing my conviction wished to hear the opinion Of
the generals and some of the commanders of corps, and
to ascertain they could point out any resource which
had not occurred to me without disclosing my own ideas
on the subject listened to theirs, and they all
mousy, and each one, by his opinion, separately ex
pressed, showed and demonstrated in ways, that
however good their will to remain the counterrnach Of
the army had become Indispensable but that this
~ was not forced upon by the enemy 1t was not till
| had heard their opinions that announced my
cordant resolution and the proceedings OF the council