The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-04-16
BY THE MAILS.
WASHINGTON, April Il, 1877.

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WASHINGTON, April IL, Is47
Tie IPar-1hs Army andfhe Navy-Vera CRUZ
Buena Vista, &c. &c.
The plan OF the campaign Of Gen. Scott was
an admirable thing; and but for the expose of tho
Spanish aid, editing La Patria at New Orleans,
would have cost much less expenditure of shot
and shells to the reduction of Vera Cruz and the
Castle, than were necessary as the result of that
untlmely information to the enemy. Otherwise,
so cautiously were the designs of the cooperate
action of the War and Navy Departments IN fitting
out the enterprise kept a secret that the Secretary
OF the Navy in his instructions to Com Conner
did not specify the great object of the occupation
of Tampco; but said to him that the advantages of
the occupation OF that port, directly and indi-
recty, It was scarcely possible to over estimate
The object was in point d'appui tor the enter
prise against Vera Cruz; and it was desirable to
detaln Santa Anna in San Luis Potosi by feint
OF movement In that direction upon the capital
OF the enemy's country. This ruse was success
full Santa Anna was detained in San Luis.
partly from necessity, we admit, but more
tor the purpose Of arrestng the progress of
the American army, via Tampico, into the
heart OF the country; because the COM
bined positions of Scott and Taylor, according TO
arrangement, appeared very plainly to be with
view to the concentration of both divisions upon
San LUIS by simultaneous movement. The
success OF the stratagem was, therefore, COM
plete, and as the result has proved the very act
OF the withdrawal of the regulars from General
Taylor facilitated the defeat Of Santa Anna by
attracting him across the desert thus saving to
the American army of the North the alternative
of awaiting reinforcements, and provisions and
water tanks for the very long march over the
arid country, between Aqua Nueva and San Luis
Potos.
The defeat OF Santa Anna, so complete and
conclusive, of course was the result of the deter
mined intrepldity of Taylor. He was not to be
converted into mere passive spectator while
there was prospect of meeting the enemy
or OF driving him out, however great the odds in
the enemy's favor. He had tried them several
times before, and knew exactly how to estimate
the comparative value of American and Mexi-
can soldiers. 1t cannot be controverted that the
march OF Santa Anna across the desert especially
the last ffty-slx miles in thirty hours is one Of
the most brilliant marches In the history of mo-
dern times while at the same time having
failed IN the design of taking Taylor by surprise
the exhaustion of the enemy's troops only served
to contribute the more speedily TO their over
throw.
But the services of the navy, 40 effective in Sc
curing the successes of the army, ought not TO be
overlooked. The navy in the blockade of n
stormy and pesilentlal coast, Astounding in dan
gers, yet barren of the glory Of brilliant achieve
mcnts had but a thankless task TO perform Yet,
they did 1t with cheerfulness. only murmuring
that they had not more TO do. Save one or
two things, the conduct and spirit of the
navy through all this Mexican war, have been
equal to all the emergencies of the most danger
Gus and sic KY coast on the face Of the earth.
lhey have lost n number of ships, and manv
valuable men from the northers, the reefs and
shoals, and the climate; but the sacrifice is won
derfuily small IN comparison TO the wrecks which
havebeen avoided, and the casualties and nfec-
uons which have been averted or arrested by good
management and good discipline. The landing
by the navy at Vera Cruz of the army and arma.
ment OF General Scott, without the loss of
a man, and with almost the CELEBRITY of n
march through our open plain. stands with
out parallel for the excellence of It's arrange
ment and the beauty of its execution and. taken
IN connection with the formidable and bristlinp
castle IN the bay, and the frownng walls OF
Vera Cruz, and the distant mountains; and.
looming high like a monarch over them all, the
snow shining summit of Orizaba, and the bright
sky, and the sparkling ocean, and the gallant
ships, thanking the seventy surf-boats laden with
the army, moving with the regularity of so MANY
dctachments IN the field to the shore, and the
foreign ships OF war standing by like spectators,
why, SIR, II was pageant never to be forgotten
Yet, alter all, 1t had not that brilliant terror
about II, that magnificent ferocity, the keen,
sharp, effective clatcr and rattle of the hot work
at Bucna VISTA