The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-20
PUBLIC DOCUMENTS.
Correspondence between the War Department and
Gen. Taylor.
Continued from yesterdays "Union'D
WAR DEPARTMENT, October 90, 1916.

! NooHthued from yesterdays "Union.')
WAR DEPARTMENT, October 90, 1896
SIR; Il is appehended here that the recent change in
,he political affairs OF Mexico will have important
bearing upon our military movements, and may render it
ration. T
Santa Anna is at the head of the war party, and ap-
pears TO have entered with zeal upon his duties gener
al -n-chef of the Mexican army Ii is not improbable
that ne may succeed in collecting and keeping together
considerable s force but the promise OF change the
sheraton IN regard TO the prosecution Of the The
northern departments of Mexico opposed to the
central and in favor of the federal system The former
was forced upon them and maintained by military power
This undoubtedly produced throughout these provinces
considerable dsaiection TO the central government
The existence OF tins disafection not overlooked
either by yourself the government here in the plan of
the campaign designed 10 be principally confined to these
provinces and was presumed that it would materially
be safely carried.
The views presented in your communications of the cd
OF July, and 1st of August. appeared to be sound and
fully concurred in by the government According
to these views the extent to which you could penetrate
the enemy country in the direction of Monterey would
depend mainly upon the facility of obtaining supplies and
OF keeping open your line of communication with the Rio
Grande. In both these respects If was foreseen that
much would depend upon the disposition and feelings OF
the Mexican people Though there was, when you
reason to believe that the country lying between the Rio
Grande and the Sierra Madre, disposed to throw off
the yoke OF the central government and there then
hope that il would do SO when there should be strong
American force between it and the city of Mexico the
aspect OF things, in this particular appears to have since
changed. The new rulers OF Mexico have declared in
favor of the federal SYSTEM and thus grated the wishes
of the northern provinces 1t is, appehend, longer
reasonable to expect from them neutrality and our
measures be taken the assumption that they will
cooperate with the enemy in carrying the war, and
do all they to impede movements In your
muncaton of the LIST of August you state that "wheher
large force be subssed beyond Monterey, must be
determined by actual experience, and will depend much
upon the disposition OF the inhabitants towards us"
We are led to believe from all the information have
received that the inhabitants are not only hostile but
will be active in obstructng march into the interior
and that it will not be safe to proceed beyond Monterey
with view of taking and holding permanent position.
The risk OF extending your line beyond that point,
such positions you may occupy for its defence and
curty would probably countebaance the advantages of
proceeding further into the interior, unless you have
adequate oce and could command ample means to reach
San Luis Potosi with view to its occupation. lb
is believed you are not in condition to do this if the
disposition OF the Mexican people such as has been in
Dictated. Indeed, serious doubts entertained here
whether you ought to extend your line beyond the place
you have reached and its necessary dependencies Should
You concur in this view as it presumed you will from
the tenor OF your dispatches you will then turn your at
tenton to securing your position at Monterrey keeping
open your line of communication with the Rio Grande
refer you what said on this subject in my letter
of the 9th inst Ii is not intended by what is here said
that you should be restrained from making excursions
beyond Monterey and the department of New Leon, if
you should occasion to do The enemy should be
impressed with the belief that you intend to for
ward to the end that they may withdraw their forces
and employ them on other points Should the force
sembled resist YOU be withdrawn, or ascerained
not to be in sufficient number to oppose serious OBJ
stacles to your further advance, you will exercise
your discretion under all the circumstances, in
regard to any forward movements but il is not thought
here that this be done with view to take perma
nent position much beyond that you occupy, unless
you should deem proper for your own security at Mon
erey to advance far as to occupy the difficult passes
between that city and Salto. This, however, is left
altogether to your own judgment. Monterey may be
considered position in advance of Monclova and Chi
hu and If is Iyhp in a milita
point OF view, the occupation of them with the
tanned change n the circumstances and feelings OF the
inhabitants, will produce compromising advantages,
considerable force, which might be usefuy employed
in other quarters, will be required to take and hold
them.
tits not doubted that General Wool will be able to
capture Chihuahna but il the population should be dis
posed is apprehended they will be- obstruc his
movements and withhold supplies, i is doubtful whether
position. Should the contemplated military and naval
operations the gulf coast be put in execution troops
TO reinforce him. in case his condition required it, cannot
well be spared Under full view of all the circum-
Stances ii is suggested whether would not be best to
have his forces united with yours at Monterey on the
his march to chihuahua before you communicate
with him. may be advisable that he should at form
junction with you With these suggestions, which are
necessarily vague Tor want of full and particular
formation the subject this matter is left entirely to
your discretion.
In communication received from General Kearny,
written soon after he had taken Santa Fe, he informed
the department that he might have troops than
necessary for his purposes and in that event should
detach few hundred men and send them to General
Wool Should General Wool be ordered to join you it
will be important that information should be sent to
tfy this detachment OF the change in his position and
give instructions for its conduct Should proceed
to Chihuahua and Gen. Wool not be there, it will be ex
posed to be cut off | not prepared to say what dis
position should be made of this detachment, if has in
fact been forward to Join the Chihuahua expedition
II is important that it should receive such orders will
lead to It's safety General Wool will be instructed by
you to look to this The intmation from General
kearny that he might send off such detachment renders
necessary that proper steps should be taken to prevent
ii from falling into the hands of the enemy.
informed you my last despatch, that, in connection
with invasion of Tamaulipas and attack on Tampco
ment Upon full consideration of the subject, it
is believed that Vera Cruz may be taken, and having
possession of that city, the Castle OF San Juan de Uoa
might probably be reduced compelled to surrender
II the expedition could 60 forth without the object being
known to the enemy, is supposed that four thousand
receiving as they would the cooperation of naval
force in the gulf; but at least fifteen hundred or
two thousand OF them should be of the regular army, and
under the command of officers best calculated for such an
undertaking. In looking at the present disposition OF the
troops it appears TO be scarcely possible to get the requ
with you at Monterey or the way to that place
Should you decide against holding military possession OF
any place in Coahua Chihuahua, and order the troops
under General Wool to join you 1t is presumed that the
requisite force for the expedition to Vera Cruz could be
detached without interfering with your plans OF opera
should prevent the expedition to Vera Cruz
gardng il OF great importance, yet #, by Withdrawing
from your immediate command the force necessary for
this purpose the army with you may be placed in danger
this expedition must for the present, be either deferred
abandoned--a result deeply TO be regretted On the
Al IF abv