Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-03-27

tanned change n the circumstances and feelings OF the nha
bans will produce compromising advantages consider
able force, which might be useuly employed IN other quar-
tiers, will be required TO take and hold ihem
sit not doubted that General Wool Will be able to cap
tue Chihuahua but if the population should be disposed
il is apprehended they will be, TO obsuc his movements
withhold supplies il doubtful whether he has suicien
force sustain himself long in that position Should tn
contemplated military and naval operations on the Gulf coas
be put in execution troops reinforce him. In case his condi
ton required it, cannot well be spared Under full view
all the circumstances, is suggested whether 1t wouldnot
best have his forces united with yours at Monterey
the Rio Grande If he should not have advanced too far
his march to chihuahua before you can communicate will
him. may be advisable that he should at form juno
ton with YOU With these suggestions which are necessarily
vague for want of more full and particular information on thu
subject, this left entirely to your discretion.
Sin communication received from General Kearny, writ
ten after he had taken Santa Fee he informed the De-
parmn that he might have troops than We're necessary
for his purposes and in that should deach few hun
dred and send them to General Wool Should General
Wool be ordered to join you, will be important that intor
nation should be notify this detachment OF the change
in his position and to give instructions for its conduct Should
proceed to Chihuahua and Gen. Wool not be there will
be exposed be Off not prepared to say what dis
position should be made of this detachment II 1t has In fact
been sent forward TO join the chihuahua expedition is
important that should receive such orders will lead to ts
safety. General WOOL will be instructed by you look to
this. The intmation from General kearny that he
might send of such detachment renders it necessary that
proper steps should be taken prevent it from falling into the
hands Of the enemy.
" informed you my last despatch that, in connexion
with an invasion Of Tamaupas and attack on Tampco,
expedition against Vera Cruz then under advisement
Upon full consideration of tho subject is believed
that Vera Cruz may be ken and having OF that
city, the Castle of San Juan de Uua might probably be
dnced compelled surrender If the expedition could go
forth without the object being known to the enemy it is sup
posed that four thousand troops would be sufficient force Tor
the enterprise receiving they would the cooperation OF
naval force in the Gulf; but least fifteen hundred two
thousand of them should be of the regular army and under
the command of officers best calculated for such undertake
ing. In looking at the present disposition OF the troops,
appears to he scarcely possible to get the requisite number Of
regulars without drawing of those with you Mon
terey, the way place. Should you decide against
holding military possession of any place in Coahuila Chi
huahua, and order the troops under General Wool to join
you is presumed that the requisite force for the expedition
Vera Cruz could be detached without interfering with your
plans Of operation Whilst the Government is anxious that
nothing should prevent the expedition to Vera Cruz
regarding of great Importance, yet b by Withdrawing from
your immediate command the force necessary for this purpose
the army with you may be placed in DANGER this expedition
must for the present. be either deferred abandoneda
suit deeply to be regretted On the spot you will know the
strength of the force advancing against YOU and the number
of troops necessary resist it. You will by weaken
yourself expose the army under your command TO the
probable hazard Of disaster 1t is desirable to avoid delay
You will therefore, unless it materially nterferes with your
own plan of operations weakens too much in your
position make the necessary arrangements for having
four thousand menof whom fifteen hundred or two thousand
should be regular roopsready embark for Vera Cruz
such other destination may be given hem at the earliest
practicable period The place of embacaton will probably be
The Brasos Santiago, or in that vicinity
The Secretary then enns the caution and secrecy
the organization of the expedition against Vera Cruz and
advises the encouragement of the belief that time pre-
saent that il be directed against Tampco This de-
;patch concludes as follows
tsAs il suggested in former communications that Ma
General Patterson should be placed in command of the
petition against TamauPas deemed proper that he should
still occupy that position in the expedition fitted against
Vera Cruz have no further suggestions to make to
Bgader General 10 command of volunteers In regard to
the commanding officer of the regular force, would meet the
Of the Goverent you should select Brevet Bgaer
General Worth In that event you directed by the Pres
dent to assign him 10 that command by virtue Of his bevet
rank
M proposed that Col Totem the chief engineer Major
Baker, OF the ordnance corps and officer of rank and
experience of the typographical corps shall accompany the
expedition, with others of inferior rank these respective
branches of the public service Such of these officers are
not with the army will be ordered proceed to the Rio
Grande, and report to the commander Of the expedition
Gen Taylor replied from his camp Monterey on the
18th Of November, as follows
he communication of the Secretary Of War of October
3D. with its enclosures by the hands Of Major McLane was
received this morning You will have by my orders and
my despatch Of the 9th what have been taken
conclude the amistce and occupy Sao Being advised
by special express from Matamoros Of Major Mcanes ap
proach, had postponed intended departure this for
cupy that position for to be explained below shall
march hither to morrow, according my first intention On
my retu-say by the Goth nsan-I shall probably be able
to inform the Department fully certain important
points connected with operations but avail myself
Of the return of Major McLane Washington briefly
my views of the topics embraced in the Secreays
"Wthout active operations towards San Luis Poosi from
this quarter still deem the occupation Of Sao important
for three FIRST necessary outpost Of the main
force Monterey, covering does the important dee
which leads from the low country to the table land and also
the route Monclova secondly controlling region from
which may expect considerable supplies Of breasus and
cattle, viz the fertile county around Pauas and, thirdly
the capital of Coahua which renders very important in
a political point Of view.
al have already represented to the Department the diff
cultes be encountered in forward movement upon San
Luis and the amount of force which would be necessary
Those only apply to the country be-
yond Sallo. consider the occupation Of that point
necessary complement TO operations and to the policy Of
holding defensive line, the Sierra Made and trust the
Department will with me in this view
GAS already reported, Brgadier General Wool is at
Monclova, having found practicable route TO Chhuahua
save the well known but very circuous by Panas.
fully agree with the Department that commensurate benefit
likely to result from the march Chihuahua Of General
Woods column, and shall accordingly direct him suspend
his movement in that direction The occupation of Salo
in force renders still less necessary that chihuahua should
be occupied cannot yet determine specifically what dspo
sition to make of Gen Wools column. Meanwhile have
directed him to remain in his present position until further
ORDERS
/" In regard the expedition against Vera Cruz after
good deal Of reflection upon the subject feel bound
press my conviction that 900 will be force quite too
small for the DESPATCH of