The Arkansas banner., 1847-06-14
AMERICAN PRISONERS IN MEXICO.

A friend has kindly furnished us a correct list l (says the N. 0. Times1 of our countrymen now detaIned as prisoners in the Castle Of St. Jago-
 amounting in all to l02 as follows: First Regiment 1 of Kentucky Cavalry 55; first Regiment of Arkan-
 sas Cavalry s5. including left sick at San Luis Potosi; Second Regiment of U. S. Dragons 12,
 including sick at San Luis.
 l We are indebted to the same gentleman for the appended copy of letter of remonsirance, which our gallant officers addressed to Santa Anna and which was presented to him on the 2Sth March, of which, however, no notice had been taken up 10 l the 2d April, when Santa Anna left the Capital:
 CASTLE ST. JAGo, (City of Mexico,) } | March 24th, ls4T. 1 To his Excellency Gen. SANTA ANNA: Sir; The undersigned officers in the Army of the
 United States of America respectfully state to your
 Excelency, that they, together with their Iespec- I tive commands, consisting of seyehty-one persons
 in all, became prisoners of war to the Mexican Re- public, at the Hacienda Encarnacion, the 29d of January last. On that morning before daylight we
 found ourselves entirely surrounded by large force l -say three thousand men; and about sun rise, a l white flag approached us one side and a consid
 erable force another; required that the troops
 should retire. precedent 10 our receiving the flag,
 which being complied with, the flag approached and l a surrender demanded. We took one hour to de- termine whether we would entertain proposition
 of the kind not at the expiration of the hour the flag returned and was answered tbat we would hear
 proposition. and were told that Gen. Minon would send Major to our camp, while one of our number of equal rank should repair to his HeaAQuarters and hear his offer. This being done, Major Bor-
 land entertained the officer sent in, whilst Major
 Gaines rode out to the General, had aconference of
 about one honr with him. returned to the Hacienda
 and in the presence of interpreter, on each side
 stated the terms offered, winch were accepted, and
 between eleven and twelve o'clock surrendered 1 as prisoners of war.
 The terms were, that the General himself should
 receive the sword of our commander; that public property sfould be surrendered and private proper ty should be respected, and that the best treatment
 in every particular known amongst civilized nations to prisoners of war should be ours.
 The General, when asked 10 reduce these terms
 to writing gave the most positive assurances that
 his word ofhonor worth more than thf,-Sor four signatures. and that unless his agreement was fully carried out. he would abandon the service of his country. On our journey to this city, we had the gratiiie aton 10 meet your Excellency, and after stating to you the terms of capitulaon received
 the pleasing that they should be complied with.
 The object oftbs note, is to complain 10 the Head of the Mexican Republic that far from the terms of our exploitation having been complied with, we
 have been frequently subjected to the most grievous deprita.iots, and that we have refraned from mak ing protest hitherto, in consequence of the un
 happy dissensions said to exist in the capitalwhich being now fortunately adjusted as we are informed
 we most respectfully cali your attention 10 oarcon- ditlon.
 We forbear al this time, from entering into the particulars of complaints, and beg leave to refer your Excelleucy to Gen. Vega, who has lately been prisoner of in the United States, (but who has not honored ns with any notice whateyer) for the
 manner in which prisoners of war treated in our ! country.
 There is, however, one complaint, which we owe to ourselves to call your immediate attention to- We informed that Gen. Minon, in reporting
 our capture 10 his Government alleges that we sur
 rendered at discretion, and that lives to the magnsnimity of the Mexican Republic. Against such statement we enter solemn protest; and declare that, the terms of surrender being ae
 curatey stated in the foregoing part of this note,
 anything inconsistent thereto is uniounded in fact Hoping that peace between the two Republics shall speedily be made, upon terms equally honor able to both. We subscribe ourselves, Your most obedient servants, ISigned.l ta
 JNo P: GAINES. Maj. Ky. Regt. of Cav'y U $. A SOLON B0RLAND, |" Ark.
 CASSiuS M. CLAY, Capt, Ky. c. C. DANLEY. .s Ark.
 c. K. DAVIDSON. 2d Li. Ky.