The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-05-25
From the National lntelligencer.
PROSPECTS OF THE WAR.

PROSPECTS OF THE WAR.
The Washington correspondent of the
Journal of Commerce writes to that paper IN
terms which, considering how and through
what channel we receive them, could not fail,
in the absence Of any other information on
The subject, to excite in our mind great IN
e~asiness, if not alarm, at the present prospects
of the war. From that correspondents letter
Of May 9Th we extract the following
There is now n rare chance fol our chival-
nv 10 rise in mass to meet, in a war I'D iRLeT-
necionem,' the masses of the Aztecs. The
Administration has no hope but in carrying
on a prolonged war, and q War ofTaces. 1t is
already advertised in tie Administration pa
per that such must be aud will be the charac-
ter of the war hereafter-if Mexico now re:
fuse peace OK our terms.
'.All the volunteefs-wiIhout the eKcep-
ton Of a company or a platoon-will leave
the army at the end of their term OF service.
1t would noi be surprising even if some Of the
commanders should become disguised with
the service, and refuse TO carry out any in
siructions which may be at war with huniani-
ty and common sense"
What is the particular fact or facts. ifrhere
be any, upon which the very grave hypo'he-
sis in the last sentence of This extract IS found
ed, VIC are not apprized. But we are enabled,
from information in our possession, IN addi-
ton TO that contained in the subjoineG Letters
from a Clergyman now with the Army, TO
confirm the fact Of the probably certain return
home of all the Volunteers Immediately upon
the successive expiratiOns Of their terms Of
service. Great apprehension is expressed by
private letters from New-Orleans and else
where near the army mot fIom officers or
privatcs of The army or persons connected with
if) that II will be difficult to supply the place
of the regiments 10 be thus disbanded. Says
one Letter The army proper cannot be re-
cruited TO its full complement; and the
day of volunteering is rapidly coming to an
end: it is no longer considered a fine sum-
mer's frolic through a garden Of Eden, with
gold and silver images all along the road, anG
the golden Halls Of Montezuma' in the dis
lance it has come down to sober realities
to rough roads and narrow de1les; the knife
and the lasso bacon and corn bread pebble
stones or drifting sands for a bed, and the sky
for 4 roof, with hand knocks. and a plenty Of
them"
Another Letter speaks Of the movement Of
the Army towards the city of Mexico thus:
4 AAS AGohih u " aAIhJ " ao III
vance on the capital. even notwithstanding
the recent victory. do not mean as TO any
actual open resistance; for in all fighting we
shall drive them before US: but the certain
effect of the constant wear and tear, from dis
ease. battle, guerrillas, hardship, aud expos
ure, which the army has TO encounter: so
that, if Santa Anna knew the best policy, it
would he TO let us advance without opposi-
,.-, .-l - H. ---.sl - IL a. ----.
waste there, as The best informed men say it
would do, like a ball of snow in July, whilst
the Mexicans cOninc their operations to cut
ting off or harrassing conveys, curtailiuS our
supplies, picking up straglers, and obliging us
TO keep compact and in large bodies, without
the ability TO send out even a foraging party.
When in the city Of Mexico, we could not
keep open the communications with Vera
Cruz. or receive supplies or reinforcements.
except by large detachments hich could
fight their way; and il posts are garrisoned at
intervals on The route they must all be with a
force that can resist a heavy attack, or they
would be carried in detail. In the march
that Gen. Scott has now undertaken. he must
90 in close and compact columns, as the Mex
ican cavalry will hover round them like Cos
sack, driving in their foraging parties and
small deiachments. and wasting their strength
and resources nv this petty warfare. Al pres
eni, however. it is, | believe, understood that
he will not go beyond Jalapa."
Another letter that we have seen from New
Orleans gives the following information OF
the proposed movement by Gen. Taylor's
command across the desert TO San Luis Po-
tosi:
General Taylor is determined (thoushOp
posed to the plan) to advance from his pres
cnt position. Two thousand ifon-bound Is
gallon kegs are now making for him here,
and many of them have gone forward, intend
ed for carrying water across the desert be-
tween San Luis and Saltillo a mule, with a
pack-saddle, will carry two Of them, one
slung on each side. A thousand horses are
also being bought for him, with other large
supplies. But, the expense Whewt !"
1t is impossible, we should think. to per-
sue, unmoved, the following speculations
upon the late succession Of our arms, from
the pen of one Though not a military man
whose opinions are entitled 10 high respect
and confidence:
1.-THE affair of Cero Gordo appears to have
been a brilliant one but our loss is severe
more than the whole country Of Mexico, in
my opinion is worth. RecOllcct what kind
of lives they are which we lose in this con-