Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-02-05


accept by negotiation, extending from the Gulf
OF Mexico to the Pacific, and occupy the same,
or keep what we already have possession of Il
and that, with Tampico (Which ! hope to take
in the course Of the next month, or AZ soon as
can get the means of transportatlor0 will
give US all on this side of the Sierra Madte,
and, as soon as occupy Saltillo. will include |
six or seven States or Provinces, thus holding |
Tampico, Victoria, Monterey, Saltillo, Monclo. |
va, Chihuahua. (whi' presume Gen. Wool |
has possession of by this time,) Santa Fe and
the Californias--and say TO Mexico, Drive
us from the country !"--throwing on her the |
responsibility and expense of carrying on an |
offensive war-at the same time closely block
aiding all her ports on the Pacific and the Gulf |
A course OF this kind, if Persevered in for al
short time, would soon bring her to her prop
er senses, and compel her to sue for peace
provided there Is government in the country
sufficiently stable for US to treat with, which,
fear, will hardly be the case for many years
to come. Without large reinforcements OF vol
unteers from the United States, say ten or if
teen thousand, Chose previously sent out hav.
ing already been greatly reduced by sickness
and other casualtes,) do not believe it would
be advisable to march beyond Saltillo. which
IS more than 200 miles beyond our depots on
the Rio Grande--a very long line on which to
keep up supplies lover land route, in coun-
try like this) for large force. and certain to
be attended with an expense which will be
frightful to contemplate, when closely looked
into
From Saltillo to San Luis Potosi, the next
place OF importance on the road to the city of
Mexico, is three hundred milestone hundred
and forty badly watered, where no supplies of
any kind could be procured for men or horses.
have informed the War Department that
10000 efficient men would be necessary to
insure success if we moved on that place,--(a
city containing population of $4,000, where
the enemy could bring together and sustain,
besides the citizens, an army of 5O,0oo,) a
force which, Iapprehend, will hardly be COL
lected by us with the train necessary to feed
it, as we'll as to transport various other sup
plies, particularly ordnance and munitions Of
war.
In regard to the armistice, which would
have expired by limitation, in few days, we
lost nothing by it, as we could not move even
now, had the enemy continued to occupy Sal
tillo; Tor, strange to say, the first wagon which
has reached me since the declaration of war
was on the I'd inst, the same day on which
received from Washington an acknowledge
of Monterey; and then received only 1875, 80
that have been, since May last, completely
crippled, and am still so, for want of Transport
tation. After raking and scraping the country
for miles around Camargo, collecting every
| paCk-mule and other means of transportation,
| could bring here only $4,000 ratons. (fifteen
days supply, with moderate supply of ord
nance, ammunition, &c, to do which, all the
corps had to leave behind portion of their
camp equipage necessary for their comfort,
and in some instances among the volunteers,
their personal baggage. moved in such way,
and with such limited means, that, had not
succeeded, l should no doubt have been Sc
verey reprimanded, if nothing worse. did
SO to sustain the Administration.
Of the two regiments of mounted men from
Tennessee and Kentucky, who left thei: re-
spective States 70 join me, in June, the latter
has jast reached Camargo; the former had not
got 10 Matamoros at the latest dates from
there. Admitting that they will be as long in
returning as in getting here, Ito say nothing OF
the time necessary to recruit their horses,) and
r were to be discharged in time to reach their
homes, they could serve in Mexico but very
short time. The foregoing remarks are not
t made with the view of finding fault with any
one, Uul ~ pOIIlt Oul IlIl
I have had to contend.
Monterey, the capital of New Leon. is sit
D uate on the San Juan river, where it comes
S out of the mountains--the city (Which con-
tains a population of about twelve thousand
being in part surrounded by them, at the head
: ola large and beautiful valley. The houses
Y are of stone, in the Moorish style, with fla
. roofs, which, with their strongly incloseG
: yards and gardens in high stone walls al
: looped for musketry, make them each a for
n tress within itself. 1t is the most importan
O place in Northern Mexico, Tor on the East side
n of the Sierra MaGre,) commanding the only
b pass or road for carriages from this side, be
tween it and the Gulf of Mexico, to the table
t lands of the Sierra, by or through which the
: city of Mexico can be reached.
much fear l shall have exhausted YOU
s patience, before you get half through this long
: and uninteresting letter. Ii SO, you can only
t commit it to the flames and think no more a
8 bout it, as write in great haste, besides be
: ing interrupted every five minutes; so tina
: you must make great allowances for blots, in
o terlineations and blunders, as we'll as want o
e connection in so many parts of the same.
It Be so good as to present me most kindly K
: your excellent lady, and accept my sncer
Y wishes for your continued health, prosperit.
e and fame.
= remain, truly and sincerely, your friend.
O T. TAYLOR.