Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-10-02
there was q large barranca between US,

wv opeh W'tlout CUin themselves
n the same manner as the others had done;
It was only by battery which arrived late
nP'n the field, that any thing could be
accomplished. The fire having ceased, or
br 6 'de took up its quarters in the adjoin-
ing village OF San Angel, for The rain fell in
such torrents, that 10 have kept troops out
n the field would have been as much as 10
insure their defeat.
Before this, however, directed my aid.
de.camp, Col. Ramiro, TO 60 round the head
Of The terrible barranca that lay in our front,
and by way Of the skirt Of distant hill,
guided by the deputy, D. Jose Maria del
Rio, who was well acquainted with the
ground, to hasten at the top OF his speed 10
he camp Of the said General, and give him
the most positive orders to spike his artille.
ry, which 1t was no longer possible to save,
md 10 tall back that very night upon San
Angel with his infantry and csvall y, by the
only road that was left to him. This my
aid de- camp did, communicating my orders
between 10 and IL o'clock at night but
instead Of yielding implicit obedience, The
said General would hardly allow my Aid to
speak, interrupting him with his wants,
which were G,0OO men and munitions 4; and
finally he sent him away with two official
reports, signed and sealed, in one OF which
he states. that on the previous evening he
had beaten the enemy-puttiDg him to a
shameful flight, and that, in consequence,
he had granted promotion 10 generals,
chiefs and officers.
On the following morning again appear.
ed in the same field, iced by a brigade
which hid ordered from the capitol, with
the design OF forcing the Pass al every haz-
ard but when | was commencing my op-
eratlons the enemy made their attack. 1t
lasted ten minutes and witnessed, in the
midst Of despair, the defeat OF those soldiers
deserving Of a better fate, who were unfor-
,unately commanded by general who had
cut himself OF from assistance.
The consequences OF this defea, were to
me terrible the enemy, by rapid move
ment, could now arrive at the capitol lie.
fore it could be possibly succored he could
by flank movement, cut off my detach.
ments he could, from the result OF his VIC
tory, bring the whole mass OF his forces to
bear upon par, OF mine and, in fine, from
the characterization and want Of skill OF q
single general, he turned 10 his own &C.
count all the advantages Of my position.
The strong advance work of San An,o
Mo could moi be defended because our line
had been cut and directed that the gar
rison should withdraw while was cover
ing the fort and tete de pont OF Chl:a5Isco.
The enemy advanced, and, cutting o.. part
Of The troops that were IN retreat, present.
ed himself in front Of our most advanced
intrenchmenis. Here again put myself
at The head OF our soldiers, and my efforts
cost the enemy the loss OF no little blood
Our losses, although lamentable, We're the
natural consequences o! sudden retreat,
occosioned by surprise, and embarrassed by
the trains which were passing along the
narrow causeway, tllnke! throughout its
whole extent. The defence was from line
to line, Until arriving a, the third line, where
|. in person, checked the enemy and thus
saved the capitol, (which had been so unex-
pectedIy exposed 70 danger. While | was
occupying my self on The 22d, with the re.
organization of the forces and The manning
OF the batteries, again personally at the
head oil column which could defend the
capitol to the last extreme, received
communication from the generain-chief Of
the enemy, proposing to me an armis,ice
that nigh, give time TO take into consldera.
ton the propositions which the Commits
SIOneT on TIE pdIl vi tUS government VI
The United States of America may mako
with the view OF terminating the contest
between the two nations. ! consented;
and after sonsul,ion with my cabinet, re.
solved that the said proposition shall be ia.
ken into consideration.
The suspension Of hosti,ies mus, always
! be regarded as a good, because war is al.
ways an evil, and especially SO when great
combinations have been frustrated. TO
| lree the capitol from its horrors, or at least
to delay them, was an ex gency which II
was not lawful for me 10 evade, and still
more SO when it presented itself as means
| for the arriving at an honorable peace.
When two nations are a, war they en-
JOY the reciprocal right OF making PROPOSE.
lions, and this supposes the obligation 10
entertain these propositions. A perpetual
war is an absurdi,y, for i, is calamity; and
| the instinct OF self. preservation, still stron.
ger and moro powerful in nations than in
| individuals, counsels that no means should
! 0e left unified that may conduce 10 an ad-
vantageous agreement. For the adoption
Of this course, the Constitution has given
me the competen, authority,
COnsecrated to these noble and privleg.
ed interests, i. is incumbent upon me 10
maintain, al every peril, tho prestige and
respect OF the supreme authority which
exercise, and at this time especially, when,
# nersecuted by factions and assaed in the