Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-04-20
VOLUME XLlIl.-NUMBER IO2.

ges Of desolaion marked lhe-rcute of his retreat;
and that, If ne would go little further on &c Ca
tana, ne would hear The means Of the widows and
orphans OF innocent victims who had been sacIi.
feed without necessity With respect 10 The
wounded whom was invited 10 send for, re-
piled, that there could be none, save those who
had been loo much hurt to arise from the field, or
those most in The advance who had remained in
The ravines and that, as had not means for heir
conveyance, The enemy might take them 10 Sal
t!iio, under The protection OF the laws OF nations.
As Tor The prisoners which he offered TO exchange
| told him knew moi who they could BIZ. unless
II were some OF our dispersed troops, or some
VINO, from the fatigue Of the TWO prev..us days,
had remained asleep when we moved In az.
swer TO The courtesy The enemy's General had
shown with respect 10 our wounded, | consented,
in The name Of he nation, 10 release all the pri-
soners We had-ihose taken both in the battle and
al EncafnacioE. At the same time allowed the
bearer Of The flag, who was superior officer, OF
progressing appearance and manners, 10 lake
the bandage from his eyes, and informed him that
il was ior him personally that The honor of this
concession was meant. did it, Also that he
might see our camp and our troops.
As have said in the preceding paragraph, We
remained in the hacienda three days; bu. the only
supply We could Get ninety beeves aud these
we're consumed cnthe 18th. The horses were AZ
So without forage, and, Notwithstanding all the
efforts or provisions that could make, many OF
The wounded had been bu, once ate ndcd TO- and
some not a, all. From the r;sor Of the climate,
the badness and scantiness Of the sustenance, the
entire want OF bread, and the bad quality Of the
water used 10 our former bivouacs, bowel COM
plant had broken out in the army, and rendered
ineffective AT least one-half vi il. knew that a
retrogade movement 10 our former positions had
become inevitable; but though everything around
me proclaimed this necessity my feelings revolt
ed against it, solely because ioresaw that from.
ignorance, malice or presumption, the counter
march would lie condemned, and that those who
did not wress our situation would imagine The
possibility OF the army's continuing its operations
Six DAYS before, when The troops had not suffered
so much, nor fought Tor Two successive days nor
been embarrassed with sick and wounded, b..
were still sound in moral and in health, had not
deemed il prudent II augment the lsbors and ci.-
6cullies Of The army hy moving 10 he right Or
10 the le; how, then, would IL nave been pos IDLE
10 90 on operating alter ali that subsequently
occurred? But Il, dcl!ac,oIs say what they
will, the army, as we'll myself, will always
answer by an appeal to cur conduct or wishes,
andthe nooriou, impossibilily Of carrying them
out. notwithstanding my conviction, wished
10 hear The opinion Of the Generals and some o!
The Commanders Of corps, and 10 ascertain iflhey
could point out any resource which had not &C.
Cured 10 me. Without disclosing my own IDEAS
on tie subject listened 10 theirs, and Ihey all
unanimously, and each one, by his opinion, sep
arately expressed showed aud demonstrated in
various ways, that however good their will 10 re-
main, The counermarch OF the army had become
indispensable, but that this necessity was Dot
forced upon us b. The enemy. II was NOT I'LL
had heard their opinions that | announced Inv
acrn,da resolution. The nrnrpPulro- Of
the council being drawn UP, had The honor of
retniling them 10 your Excellency On the 26'a.
On the 26n, after had ordered Gen. Mnon
10 follow the movement, The army commence
lis retreat with the view ii occupying the first
peopled localities, wheie resources might be ob-
tanned, such as Vanegas, Ca'oree FL Cairal and
Mafahuala, as also 1'ul;; but doubt if in those
places proper attention can be given 10 the sick
and wnunded-or ire losses We have sustained
in hose laborions movements be remedied.
The nation, for which 4 triumph has been
gained al tho cost OF 50 many suficrin.s, VII!
learn, that il We were able 20 conquer III ire
midst 81 so many em5ana>smenis, there vii u
no cunb. as 10 our fna success in The struggle
we sustain il every spirit but ral':; 10 The one
sacred obcc, .! common defence. Il ineIc de-
lerminrd number o. men will nnt, as many i'm
asine, suffice Tor the prosecution o war; II is m
dispcnsable hat they be armed equipped, disci-
plineG ana naDluateli III. mat sJsteHduIeu
support iur such an organized force be provided.
We must bear il in mind ,ha; we have 10 com
bat in region deficient OF all resonrces, and thai
everything for subsistence has 10 DC carried a!cag
with The suldiery; The good will Of lew will not
suffice, but the cooperation ot all IS needed aud
il we do not cast aside selfish interests and petty
passions, we can expec! nothing but disaster
The army and myself who have led il, have The
satisfaction OF knowing that we have demoEs'rat-
cd his truth.
Your Excellency will I've pleased 10 report 10
His ExceeDcy The Vice President Of The Re.
public and 10 pfesen! INN my assurances OF re-
spect
God and Liberty Rancho de San Salvador.
February 9Th, 1877. (Signed)
ANTONIO LOPEZ LIZ SANTA Anna.
To Ills Exce!lency, the Minister OF War ana
Marine.