Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-03-27
General Iayior to the President.


MATAMoRos, AUGUsr !, lS46.
Sin have the honor acknowledge the receipt of the
confidential communication OF the Secretary OF War; dated
July 9th, and present the following remarks IN relation to
The several points embraced in it. Ageeaby to the njunc
ton of Secretary this addressed directly
to the President of the United States.
st As the intercourse with the enemy and means of
obtaining information with regard to his movements, &C.,
fear that no very satisfactory results will be obtained in the
proposed The Mexican generals and other officers have
exhibited the OF hosllites, determ
hold with little intercourse possible most
rigid has been observed throughout and since
The 18th of June communication whatever has passed be-
the headquarters of the two armies shall not fail TO
improve such when they present themselves the
pointed by the Secretary. Since crossing the
Rio Grande, has been my constant aim to conciae the
people country, and have the satisfaction OF believing
that much has been done towards THAT object not only here
but Reynosa Camargo and other towns higher up the
The only obstacle encounter out this de-
rable policy from the employment OF volunteer troops
have been committed by them upon the people
and their property, and more fear, to be apprehended
With every exertion is impossible eectuay control
these troops, unaccustomed they oste dscrlne Of
camps aud losing, in bodies the restraining Of indl
lua responsibility With increased length Of service these
evils it is hoped will diminish.
ID In regard awaiting ourselves Of internal divisions and
dscords among the Mexcans is hardly time yet say how
far this may be relied upon element OF have
good believe that the country lying between the Rio
ande and Sierra Made is disposed throw off the yoke of
the central Government and will perhaps do
finds strong American force between and the capital
received indications from many quarters, and shall comply
fully with the instructions of the Secretary that point
81. As the military operations best calculated
early and honorable peace my report Of July will have
put the Department possession of my touching ope
aons this quarter and have little to add TO that
port. Whether large force be subsed beyond Monte
ey, be determined by actual experiment. and will de-
pend much upon the disposition of the inhabitants towards
If column say 10, 900 men be sustained in provisions
Salo it may advance thence upon San Luis Potosi
and doubt not would speedily bring proposals for peace IL
the other hand column be sustained beyond Mon
teey, will he for the Government to determine, from consid
eaons Of siae whether simple occupation OF the frontier
departments, (ncludng chihuahua and New Mexico or in
addition such occupation expedition against the capital
by of Vera Cruz be most expedient. cannot give
positive opinion the practcabiy of expedition against
Vera Cruz tho of force that would probably be
CURED foit The Department Of War must be much better
informed than | that point From the mpracticabe
character of the from Tampco, particularly that leading
to Mexico should judge expedition against the capital
from that point be of the question The simultaneous
embacation Of large body u troops Brasos Santiago,
proposed the would be attended
with great difficulty, if may judge from the delay and dan
which accompany the unloading OF single transports,
the almost perpetual roughnes of the bar and bolster
character Of the anchorage II may also well be ques
toned whether force of volunteers without much insuc
ton than those here receive IN season for such
expedition, prudenty be allowed TO form the bulk OF
army destined for delicate operation as descent upon
foreign coast where have proper base OF operations
or supplies.
have already had occasion represent the Department
that the volunteer ordered here much
greater than possibly employ any rate in the rs in
influx of twelve months volunteers has even i'm
peded forward by engrossng all the OF
the Quarermaster's Department to land them and transport
them TO healthy positions This circumstance, in connexon
with the possibility expedition against leads
regret division of the volunteers had not been
campcd-say Pass Chsian-where it could have been in
struced until its services required in the field.
These embarrassments however, mostly overcome
the regular force nearly all at Camargo and all the
Engagements made throw forward the volunteers to the
point The President may be assured that no one la
than do the inevitable difficulties and delays that
have attended operations here and that no exeron OF
has will be wanting TO press forward the cam
pasn with all possible vigor But deem indispensable 10
take such of force and observe such precautions
not to leave success a matter of doubt
In answer to the inquiry relative the from Chhua
hua to uaymas have the honor TO submit memorandum
derived from -, American gentleman residing in this
place. Ao has lived in Chihuahua, and travelled the
routes The distances the mule probably
aeJ It's direct route the mountains The wagon
road by the city Of Arspe, the only practicable Tor
artillery.
hve the honor be, very respectfully sir, your obcdcn
servant, H. TAYLOR,
MAJ Gen. y. S. Army, commanding.
To his Excellency the Hon JAMES K Polk,
President of the United States, Washington.
THE memorandum" referred to gives the distances from
point point by the wagon and the mule routehe
by the former being 795 miles, and by the latter
slO.l [coNrISuED rae FOURTH PAeE
-
4 ID. r I....