The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-08-17

Ia Vega for the courteses shown to him In the United
states by his total neglect Of officers in Mexico
That his good offices in their behalf repeatedly In
Voked, We have no doubt whatever Major Gainess
conclusions on this point we adopt implicitly. The de-
ence interposed for Gen La Vega by Lieut.. Mejia,
prisoner here Major Gaines rudely disposes Of Col
Nlatas defence, 1t will be borne in mind almost in
SANITY set aside by the letter of Col Wilson We re-
sret that the very slight confidence have felt willing
70 place In Mexican representations almost wholly de-
stroyed by Major Ganes's letter and by recent
nexpcable and aacous representations made here in
regard to events in Mexico. Others deceived by
these representations were fortunate but
struggled to reconcile them with perfect good faith
the part Of those by whom the National lately
led After reading the letter of Major Gaines we shall
leave to others the task Of indicating Mexican vsrait
paragraph from letter addressed by Lieut. Mejia
ION the a7th Of February Gen La Vega was third in
command not military commandant in the city The
palace at the city Of Mexico besisged by the
lutionary party of the church and Its adherents was
with him and know that not one left the paace for many
days who not shot down by the populace Three
days before the arrival Of Gen Santa Anna left Mex
leo in great haste to oppose the Americans ut the Ma
tiona Bridge and the revolution still active that
could hold intercourse with the castle Of Santiago
where Major Gaines was confined, it being within the
enemys Ines
Now read the comments of Major Gaines upon this
His letter is addressed to his brother in this city
Mrxico, July 90, ls47.
have been lately favored with the porussl letter
in the Pcayune, dated New Orleans, May l4th ls47,
aud signed Enreque Mejia representing himself as
aid of Gen. La Vega and undertaking to vndicate that
officer against the charge of ingratude towards the
American prisoners confined in this city.
In this letter is stated that the Palace during the
revolution besieged by the party OF the church
and its adherents and that not left 1t for many
days whe was not shot down by the populace. That
three days before the arrival of Santa Anna (he
luton being still active) they left in haste to meet the
Americans and the castle Of Santiago, where the
prisoners were confined was within the lines Of the
rarely read so short n paragraph containing many
falsehoods The Palace was never beseged by the
revolutionary party-their position being near the
church called he Professor some four or five hun
bred yards Distant not than two three persons
shot near it, had ceased before La Vega
left in haste the castle of Santiago within
the enemys lines than any other part of the city, and
the intercourse with 1t was uninterrupted being visited
believe, every day during the fight by friends
sent several to La Vega which feel he
ceved but whether he did not the damning crime Of
ngrattude must forever adhere to his rotton
with the tenaciy of Nessuss shirt of old dismiss him
to the tormenting sngs OF abused conscience III he
has any and the merted contempt Of his race
Our army Is still rcposng ut Pueka, and why 1t does
not advance the city exctes the sstonishment of
all That there Is good for this Ito mel
learned win demonstrate but with the lights have the
delay is inexpcable Had our army marched forward
directly battle Gordo they would not
have encountered an enemy; rs 1t Is army Of 10000
men have been concentrated here.
That shall gain another glorious victory should
the Msxcans show fight there Is not the slightest doubt
and perhaps, after all, peace will be more certainly
conquered and more speedily than if there had been
no delay.
have heard nothing from home since AIS letter Of
the l2h March enclosed in yours the Oath Of the
tation Is now pending between Gen. Scott and Santa
Anna for our exchange and see no reason doubt its
hope you will write to often to Vera Cruz
which will follow the army and II never receive them
you will only lose your time. have written you SC
fully concerning my business that need say nothing
IL you have ever heard anything of Harry, my
horse Black Hawk, let me know: Harry was faithful
servant and Black Hawk favOrte horse of the Ma
jor's; They were not with him at Encarnacon
Yours, aifectionately, JOHN p. GAINES.
Mr.. A. l.. GAINES, New Orleans.
The negotiation alluded to by Major Gaines we pre-
sumo the subject Of the despat ches forwarded by
the hands Of Capt Kearny of the Dragons whose
cursion far Rio Frio is mentioned in Mr. Kendas
letters in another column We now append the letter
Of Capt Clay conclusive defence Of the surrender Of
La Encarnacion II 1t needed q defence
CRY OF MEXICO July Is, 1917.
have till now refrained from making anything pub
lie touching capture The probability that 1t might
become the subject Of legal investigation, seemed TO
TO be a sufficient reason among others for silence.
But the merits OF surrender have become the
topic OF discussion, any farther Difference to personal
decscy becomes criminal injustice to those who have
right claim of me, their Immediate commander what
protection my humble ability can Afford them.
therefore merge the OF egotsm and self eaton
in the higher necessity OF diBchargng duty to the
living who do not, and the dead who cannot speak for
themselves.
II the failure of superior officers to exchange US
after three successful battles and the capture Of many
prisoners Of Is necessary To the public service
quirng the soldier to surrender but in all
lay down his life without regard To the inequality
numbers the resulting good OF the sacrifice, then
without murmur submit to the sentence But If this
policy becomes not general and is deemed usual and
necessary In war, then the part of myself and my
brave companions in arms, some of whom gone
from the loathsome prisons OF Mexico where praise
blame ever reach them, protest against it,
condemnation without trial, and penalty without a
crimr.
cspitulation" 1t $50 The mass Of mankind judge of
things by their apparent success or failure. With
victory glory ana defeat disgrace nut with enlght-
ened minds IL is better deserve than
Yet paradoxical II may seem, say that the exped-
ton to Encarnacon not only deserved but achieved
success.
Lieut.. Col Field Surgeon Roberts and Major Gaines
will remember that the night preceding the adven
ture was urged that the accommodating party should
consist OF large body, with artillery sufficient hold
the enemy cneck TILL the OF rsinfor
strong enough to retreat with its face to the foe Or else
II should be small body whose loss would not be
teriay felt by the army part OF whom we might cal
cuate from the superior speed Of the horses better
address OF the men, would return with the dugs OF the
enemys position aud force The last alternative were
compelled adopt and the result foretold We
found the enemy and sent back word of his approach
Whether this reasoning be In accordance with military
SCIENCE no. and how far the Of the glorious
battle OF Buena Vista owing to this timely warning
leave ADLER strategists than to determine
But why anticipate capture The country through
which had to pass was grass covered plain, shut
in by mountains, where there was growth OF wood
to conceal We were compelled TO go to fixed and
well known places for water surrounded by ranchero
who we're ever ready and not slow in giving timely
notice Of our approach The night before reaching
Encarnacion, we had resolved, according to the
Spartan maxim continually to change camp avoid
SURPRISE and to move, II necessary, twice night &c
prevent the peasantry's knowing our whereabouts
That camped two "ights successfully In Encarna
cion the In part OF our capture was rather thu
result Of fortune than design part For had
the 22d advanced ten miles in the direction Of Sal
tillo intending to attack two hundred men whom W.
learned stationed there, but night storm and dark
ness coming on we were compelled, having guide, Il
return, against the protest Of and preyou
rule Of action, to Encarnacion The idea of putin
out picket guards In plain Of twenty miles diane
intersected by in all directions IL absurd Ano
had picket guard given alarm in the night the re-
suit woold have been the same for would not have
left cattle till morning, till the enemy and
knew their force.
Seventy-one, men and officers all told held Gen Mi
non and three thousand regular and veteran troops
numbered by himself at bay from dawn till Of the
23d day Of January. Without half many rounds Of
shot there opposing foes without water without
provisions, hundred and ten miles from camp with
out the remotest probability Of reinforcement we una
nmously determined to exact "tbe most honorable
terms of capitulaton known 70 nations" or sell
lives like men who held the faith that honor Is the only
necessity
Holding Mexican chief Of equal rank with our COM
mandant as a hostage, Maj. Gaines and Gen Minon
concluded the following terms of captuation -
bla Tina pf 81