Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1847-06-08
AmerieanS-Prisoners in Mexico.

remonstrance addressed to Santa Anna,
by the officers of our countrymen, who
were prisoners of war in the castle of ST.
Jago, in the suburbs ofthe city Of Mexico,
at the time it was written. 1t was pre-.
sented to him on the 26th of March, but
be had taken no notice of it whatever, up
to the I'd of April, at which time he lefs
the capital:
CASTLE ST.. JAGo, (City of Mexico.)
March oath, l647.
To has ercellency General Santa Anna:
SIR: The Undersigned, officers in the
army of the United States of America,
respectfully states TO your excellency that
they, together with their respective com
mands, consisting ofseventy- one persons
in all, became prisoners of war to the
Mexican republic at the hacienda En-.
carnaciOn on the Odd of January last. On
that morning before daylight we found
ourselves entirely surrounded by large
force-say three thousand men--and
about sunrise white flag approached US
on one side, and a considerable force Oh
another. We required that the troops
should retire, precedent to our receiving
the flag, which being complied with, the
flag approached, and surrender demand
ed. We took one hour to determine
whether we would entertain propositions,
of the kind OF not. At the expiration of
the hour the flag returned, and was ans
wered that we should hear proposition,
and were told that General Minon would
send Major to our camp, while one of
our number ct equal rank should repair
to his headquarters and hear his offer.
This being done, Major Borland enter.
tanned the officer sent in; whilst Major
Gaines road out to the general, had con-
ference of about an hour with him, re.
turned to the hacienda, and in the pres.
ence ofan Interpreters on each side, stated
the terms offered, which were accepted,
and between eleven and twelve o'clock
we surrendered as prisoners of war.
The terms were, that the general him
self should receive the sword of our CON-
mander; that public property should be
surrendered, and private property should
be respected; and that the best treatment,
in every particular, known amongst civil.
lied nations to prisoners of war, should
be ours.
The general, when asked to reduce
these terms to writing, gave US the most
positive assurances that his word of honor
was worth more than three or four sigma
lures, and that, unless his agreement was
fully carried out, he would abandon the
service ofhis country. On our journey
to this city we had the qualification to
meet your excellency, and, after stating
TO you the terms of our capitulation, re.
ceived the pleasing assurance that they
should be complied with.
The object ofthis note is, TO complain
to the head ofthe Mexican republic, that.
so far from the terms of our capitulation
having been complied with, we have been
frequently subjected to the most grievous
deprivations, and that we have RETAINED
from making our protest hitherto, in con.
sequence of the unhappy dissensions said
to exist in the capital, which being now
fortunately adjusted, as we are informed.
we most respectfully call your atte ntion
10 eur condition.
We forbear, at this time, from entering
into the particulars of our complaints. and
beg leave to refer your excellency to
General Vega, who has lately been q
prisoner Of war in the United States. (bu,
who has not honored us with any notice
whatever for the manner in which pris.
oners of war are treated in our country
! There is, however, one complaint
which we owe to ourselves to call youl
immediate attention to. We are informed
that General Miuon, in reporting ou,
capture TO his government. alleges thai
we surrendered at discretion, and that we
owe our lives to the magranimity of the
Mexican republic. Against such state.
ment We enter our solemn protest; and
declare that the terms of our surrender
being accurately stated in the foregoing
part OF this note, anything inconsistent
] thereto is unfcunded in fact.
Hoping that q peace between the two
republics shall speedily be mades upo,
terms equally honorable TO both. we
subscribe ourselves Jour most obedienl
servents.
JOHNP GAMES, Ma. : Ky. Res. Cav..U.S.A
SoLoN BoRLAND, f" Ark. !"
C M. CLAY, Capt. KY"
CIR. DAWSON, ID 1t. KY"
i ILLINOIS FIRsT IN THE FIELD.-Gov
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