New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-03-25

tried aud most victorious Of our Generals.
p g. Since writing the above, have received the
latest Dispatches through the Washington Union from
Gen Taylor which we copy. They are not however,
of o sufficiently recent date to relieve anxiety. They
will be found under our Southern Mail head
Correspondence between the War Department
and Gen. Taylor.
Wa find another instalment Of this important
Correspondence in the Washington Union OF Mon
day night
The first letter is from Gen Taylor, dated Nov
Q, 1896 from the camp near Monterey and directed
10 the Adjutsnt General ct Washington It is an
acknowledgment OF the reception OF Mr. Secretary
Marcys censure Of the Convention for the surrender
Of Monterey. The spirit of brave man noton
ously wronged the chastened indignation OF the
soldier Jealous in honor" yet reverenelng Gle
yated office, breatbes through it all. 1t would be
injustice to Gen. Taylor TO give his defence ia other
words than his own 1t follows here
The Convention presents two distinct points. First
the termination granted the Mexican army 10 retire with
their arms &c Secondly, the temporary cessation OF
hostites for the term OF eight weeks shall remark
on these In order
The force with which | marched Monterey was
limited by beyond control to about 5000 men
With this force. as every military man mus, admit VINO
has seen the ground II entirely impossible to invest
Monterey 90 closely to prevent the escape OF gar
rison. Although the main communication win inc IN
tsror was In our possession YET one route was open 70
tie Mexicans throughout the operations and could mol
ba closed as also other minor tracks and passes
through the mountains Had we, therefore, Insisted on
more rigorous terms than those granted the result
youd have been the escape of the body of the Mexican
force with the destruction Of s artillery and magazines
our only advantage being the capture OF few prisoners
of war al the expense of valuable lives and much damage
,o Inc city The consideration of humanity present
20 my mind during the conference when LED 10 Tue con
yention and outweighed In my judgment the douou1i
advantages 10 be gained by resumption Of the attack
uncp the town This has been fully confirmed
bv AN inspection OF the enemys position and means
since the surrender II discovered that his principal
magazine containing an immense amount OIL powasml.
from two directions. The explosion OF TINS mass or
powder which must have ultimately resulted from
Continuance of the bombsrdment would have been IN
hnitey dsatrous involving the destruction not only OF
Mexican troops but OF noncombatants and even our
own people had we pressed the attack -
In regard TO the temporary cessation OF hostes the
fact thai we are not al this moment within eleven days
Of the termination Of the period fixed by the conven
tion prepared 10 move forward In iorce sucieht
explanation of the military reasons which dictated this
suspension of arms. II parsyked the enemy during
period when from the want OF necessary means we
could not possibly move. desire distinctly 70 state
and 20 call the attention OF the authorities 10 the Tact
that with all diligence In breaking mules and setting up
wagons the first wagons in addition TO our original train
from Corpus Christi (and but l25 In numoer) reached
NV Headquarters on the day with the Secretary
Communication of October b. viz the I'd instant Al
the date of the surrender OF Monterey our force had
not moro than days rstlons, and even now with all
our endeayors we have than twenty i've. The
task OF fighting and beating the enemy among inc
least difficult tina, encounter the great question oil
supplies necessarily controls all the operations In coun
try ike this Al the date of the convention could not
oil course have forsseen that the Department would d
rect an important detachment from my command with
consulting me, OF without waiting the result OF the
main operation under my orders
Ihaye touched the prominent military points involved
In the Convention of Monterey There were other con
alterations which weighed with the Commissioners IN
framing and with myself In approving the articles OF
the Convention. Ia the conference with Gen Ampudla
was distinctly told by him that be had invited II to
spare farther easion of blood, and because Gen
Santa Anna had declared himself favorable to peace
knew that our Government had made propositions TO
that Of Mexico TO negotiate and deemed that the
change Of Government in that country since my last IN
strucnons fully warranted me in entertaining consider
stons Of policy. Ny grand motive In moving forward
with very limited supplies had been to increase the in
dueemeus of tho Mexican Government TO negotiate for
peace Whatever may be the actual views or dispos
fon OF tho Mexican rulers OF OF Gen Ssnta Anna is
not unknown 20 the Government that had the very best
reason for believing the statement OF Cen Ampuds to
be true II was my opinion At the time OF the Conven
ton and Ii has not been changed that the liberal treat
meu, of the Mexican army and the suspension OF arms
would exact none but favorable influence In eur be
half
The resut of the entire operation has been 10 throw
the Mexican army back more than three hundred mile
to the City OF San Luis Poosi and TO open the country
ous@ tar we choose to penetrate IT. up to The 'am
point
IL has been my purpose In this communication not 80
much 10 defend the Convention from the eensure which
deeply regret TO and implied in the Seeretsrys letter
az TO show that Il was not adopted without eogent req
cons most Of which OF themselves TO the ind
OF all who are acquainted with ths condition Of thing
here To that end beg that may be laid before the
Gcneralin Chief and Secretary OF War.
There is not a sentence, word, in this whole
communication, but should be deeply engraved into
the mind. Its complete refutstion OF the NAH
eious attack upon the gallant Tsyors mihtar!
character which ii no, instituted, has been en-
encouraged by the Administration. Its pander'
found no reader way to its favor the last session
ct Congress than by misrepresen,ing and ira
dacing the Generals conduct in relation TO the
terms of this cspitalstion. This strooioas attempt
to destroy his reputation was most indignantly re
baked by Mr. Holmes OF s c. who distinctly anC
unequiyoeslly charged the peculiar friends OF The
Administration the waters upon its providence
with desire and conspiracy 10 break down Tsy
lor in the good opinion OF the country because he
was a Wing and had become too popular a com
pesitor Of James X Polk Mr.. Holmes is OF the
dominant party. but an honest and honorable man,
Let the eyes and understanding Of the country
be directed TO this letter for we are destined 10
bear more of il, and Of the circumstances upon
which il has been predicated Particularly would
we invite the candid and serious stteniiOn Of all
men to the following shameful fact :" Al ne datt
Of the surrender Of Monterey. orr force had Hot
more than ten days ratioHs, and epsH Row 9th al
our sndnarors, Ts hare aot more ihaR frcHtyhrr.--
The task Of fighting aud beating me enemy IS Gmong
tho least difficult that zee encounter nc great CUES