Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-12-14
PUBLIC DOCUMENTS.
Report of the Secretary of War.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON December 2, lS41.

The returns and statements from the ADJ tant
General, herewith submitted, exhibit, as nearly as
can be ascerained at his office, the number, de-
scription, and distribution OF troops composing
lunteers in service al the date Of my last annual
renor, were engaged Tor twelve months, and have
since been discharged. Owing 10 the dispersed
situation of the troops aud the want OF recent re-
,urns accurate statements of their numbers in
the aggregate, and at some particular points, can
moi be presented; but from the best means IN The
department OF arriving at correct lesuits, ine
whole aggregate land force employed 10 prose
cuipe the war is estimated al forty -lhfee lnou-
sand five hundred and lhirty-six, oil which lwen-
" one thousand five hundred and nine are regular
troops, and the remainder volunteers
The distribution OF this force is as follows "
With Mai. Gen. Scott, aud belonging TO his CO.
lumn including the troops en- roits, at TamPico,
Al and about Vera Cruz, and on the line thence
10 hi, headquarters, the aggregate force is esti,
mated at thrty-two thousand one hundred and
6Ny.s six. With Maj. Gen. Taylor, al The seve.
raj posts under his immediate command, it is
about six thousand seven hundred and twentysc-
ven In Santa Fe, and on the Oregon and Santa
Fe routes, and in the Indian country, there are
about three thousand six hundred and thirty-iour
The force in the CALIFORNIA; is about one thou
sand and nineteen, including Two hundred now
on the way TO that country.
cuiaiug the deductions which ought 10 be made for
sickness, disability and other casualties; but the
effective fore is considerably below The foregoing
estimates.
The volunteers first received inio service enter
ed for period Of only twelve months, and were
entitled to their discharge, some late in May, but
mostly 10 June aud few in July and August
They were senttrom the operative columns OF The
army some lime before lhe end Of their engage
ment Only small portion of the volunteers
called out in November for the war joined the ar
nv before the twelve months men had left it,
The act Of Congress auihorising The ten regiments
was not passed until the llth OF February, and
several months necessarily elapsed tetore they
could be raised and sent TO The field An anxious
desire was lelt that both columns OF the army
should be speedily reinforced, and considerable
Impotence was expressed al The delay by those
who did no! fully appreciate the difficulties from
which il necessarily resulted The best energies
of the department, in all its branches, were devot-
ed TO this objec;; and it is believed al; things con-
sidered, iha, the new egimens, as well as the vo-
lunieers called Out were raised, organized, and
sent 10 the army az expediliovsly as could have
been reasonably expected.
The climate of Mexico presents no obstacles IN
the interior OF The country 10 campaign in any
season Of the year. That OF the present year IS
consi Tered as having opened with The Mill airy OPP
era'ions subsequent TO The capture of Monterey.
Tne temporary suspension Of hcS,iies within
certain limits, which was agreed on al the con-
venlion Of Monterey, in September, 1916 ter
minated on the 18th of November following, by
notice to that effect, which Major General Tay-
lor was instructed 10 give 10 the enemy. Among
the reasons for aoriagins The period OF the arms.
tice, was The apprehension that its continuance
nigh, interfere with military operations which
had been previously directed to be carried on 10
TamaulinaS and al0no The Csplf coast
Immediately after the armistice terminated, the
commanding general proceeded 10 occupy Sal,il-
To- the ca pital Of Coahuia, by part of his forces
Previous TO the capture OF Monterey, suggestions
had been forwarded 10 hiir, but not then received,
relative 10 movement in Tamaulipas, more pa
tcuiarly with view to taking and holding Tam
pico, the principal seaport in that State. Orders
from the Navy Department were given 10 The
squadron in The Cult 10 cooperate with the land
forces in this latter enterprise or, If found prac.
iicabe, to take that place without waiting fof
their assistance. In the month Of December The
column intended for this movement commenced
lis March from Maamoras, and reached its des-
lination, taking Victoria III its way, on the go
day OF January; but, before its arrival, naval
force under Commodore Perry had taken posses
sion OF Tampico. Shortly thereafter the city and
lis defeuces were turned over 10 the land forces,
and the place has been since occupied by a gar
Iison of our troops.
A DOS, al Sallillo, as il would cover the direct
route 10 San Luis de Potosi, where The main army
oflhe enemy was posted, and conlrol productive
region whence supplies could be drawn, was
deemed of much importance by The Commandng
General. A considerable force was, by his orders,
stationed al this point. The column under Bfga-
der General Wool, which had moved, IRON San
Antonio de Bexar, for the purpose OF capturing
and holding Chihuahua, had proceeded as far as
Monclova. The advanced positions, then uccu
pied by General Taylor's column, had rendered
the military possession OF chihuahua less impor-
tant and the troops designed for this purpose were
ordered TO move upon and occupy Parras, and, in
that position, came under the more immediate COM
mani OF General TAYLOR, who proceeded 10 estab-
lish and hold defensive line, extending from Par
ras 10 Tampico. Leaving ganisons at Monterey,
ami al points on the route 10 Camargo, and the
mouth oil the Rio Grande, as reserve, and to
hold in check any hostile movements in his rear,
he advanced to Victoria, The Capital OF Tamauli-
pas and entered the city, without resistance, early
in January, with force OF over Ave thousand
men. Such was The position OF our military at
fairs, in Mexico, when Major General Scott, under
instructions from this department. dated the 23d oil
November 1916, reached The Rio Grande.
II was quite evident, that il the conquest OF The
CALIFORNIA; and New Mexico, and our military
occupation of the important departments Of Ia
maulipas, New Leon and Coahuia, would notdis-
pose the enemy 10 accept reasonable terms OF ac-
commoda,iop, il would be necessary TO cirect our
future operations against more vital parts OF the
Mexican Republic. In view OF The ca pture and
possession OF The City oil Mexico, ii was not sup.
posed that movement, for that purpose could be
so advantagcously made from the Rio Grande,
hitherto the base OF our operations as from an
other base which might be selected presenting
much shorter line. The attention Of The Govern
ment was, therefore, directed, as early as Sepem-
ber 1916, 10 measures for the occupation OF the
principal places along The Gulf, and particularly
Vera Cruz, as the nearest point which opened
practicable route 10 the CAPITAL of The Mexican
Republic
While the line OF the Sierra Madre was 10 be
held, and the further advance of our troops in that
quarter lett 10 the control OF circumstances, the
principal aggressive movements were 10 be push
ed forward into The hear; OF the enemy's country
on The new line from Vera Cruz as socn as it
could he established Measures were taken 10
organize an expedition for that purpose, and Ma
jor General Scott was assigned 10 conduct it, and,
upon him, as the senior officer of highest rank,
the general supervision and direction OF our mill.
tary operations in the enemy's country were de.
volved In preparing for this expedition, which
had tor its immediate object the capture of the
city of Vera Cruz and The reduction Of the castle
San Juan d'Ul.oa-a fortress deemed almost
implegnable-it became necessary 10 draw large
ly from the forces on The previous line OF opera
tons, and TO reduce that line, for time, TO de-
fensive condition. The number and description
oil troops thus 10 he Withdrawn, were necessarily
left 10 The determination Of the general in chief
command, and particularly charged with the con-
duct OF the expedition against Vera Cruz.
The preparations for this expedition, uecessa-
riIy corresponding with the magnitude of The OBJ.
]eet were on so large scale, and required SO
much time Tor completing Them, that it was moi
reasonable 10 expect our deSion copId he tent
from the enemy, or that the resistance 10 its &C.
eompishment would Be any Thing less than the
utmost which it was in his power 10 make.
The troops destined for this service were as
sembled al the island of Lobos, amounting TO about
twelve thousand, and finally embarked for their
destination early in the month of March,
While these measures were in progress, the
forces under Major General Taylor being great.
ly reduced in number, and composed mostly Of