Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-04-27
MISCELLANEOUS.
From he !Ner Orleans Picaunnel.
LETTER FROM GENERAL TAYLOR

FROM L1S sSec CTkeR5tS 4 t6uHNfScJ
LETTER FROM GENERAL TAYLOR.
We have been placed in possession OF pri-
va,e letter, addressed 10 Gen. +. 6. w. Butler,
Of the parish OF ibeEvile, by Gen. Taylor which
will be read with The greatest avidiiv. What.
ever relates TO The battle oi Buena VISTA Of an
authentic character, must possess an absorbing
interest. II vii; be al once seen that the letter
was not intended for the press; but we make no
apology for publishing such portions OF i, as are
oil public concern. The distinguished gentleman
10 whom 1t was addressed has been moved by a
desire TO contribute 10 The knowledge OF The pub.
tic upon an eHgross;ng subject, to submit this let
te. Tor our use. We do NOT admit that there
would be any improperly in this under any cir
cums,ances; but at the present moment, and al a
time when very unauthorized use is sought 10
o. made of Gen. Taylor's name, we think the
publication appropriate, and, indeed, necessary
10 The right understanding Of his great character.
A paragraph in relation to the Presidency will
would appropriate General Taylor for party pur-
poses 10 ponder on what is there written. Iflhey
put him forward as party nominee, they must
run him on party issues. Will they calecaise
him upon the various topics which form the
creed Of any party. VIII they subject him 10
the surveillance OF party clubs, or offer him mp
Tor the sus,enance OF stump oraloIs2 A little re-
aection will teach them better. Let him be the
nominee Of the Republic, or no nominee!
We have laid before our readers several OF
Santa Annals letters in regard 10 the battles OF
the 22d and 23d Of February-one OF them elabo-
rate in detail and complete in description. The
;euer of Gen. Taylor, which now tor the first
lime sees the light, does not profess 10 be mi
mute description OF the events OF those days; but
/, presents in clearer and more authentic shape
the grandeur OF the resistance made 10 The over.
wheming forces OF the enemy, and the vastness
of The responsibility assumed in giving and
maintaining the battle. Stripped oi his mos Ell
fectiye men, surrounded by armies greater than
his own, aud in the heart of the eGemys country,
the gallant old soldier maintained hs ground
and obtained victory, when even his own OIL
GERS counselled retreat.
II will be observed also that Gen. Taglor be-
gins 10 espy The spires Of The city ol Meyicv
from the Businesses of the Sierra aladre. bnt
enough OF introduction. Whel he good people
of The country" read this letter, We Tain belie9c
that The hope OF the author will not be deemed
unreasonable, when he trusts "ihey will be salts.
ned with what he did on mat occasion"
HEADQUARTERS AT AGu4 NUEvA,
Army Of Occupation, Mexico, March4, lo47
Mn deay Gcpyal-Your very acceptable aud
Interesting letter Of the 18th November last reach
ed me on the oath ot December, while on The
march from Monterey 10 Tampico; bu! the ma
ture of my duties since then (oeing most OF The
lime in The sadde,) in addition 10 other matters
has prevented me from replying TO it until The
present moment. Be assured, my dear sir, have
not since then lost sight OF il or yourself; ant
feel highly gratifed for the aatteIing manner in
which you have noticed the conduct oil the Off
GERS and soldiers who marched with me from tie
Rio Grande TO Monterey aud compelled that place
10 surrender after much hard fighting, as they full
ly meri,ed The handsome encomiums you have
thought proper 10 besow on them. For this you
have my sincere thanks.
TThe general then aludes 10 the misrepresenta
iions which had been made in regard 10 MaJo
Gen. Butler at Monterey. Those misEepresen
tations had been The subject OF conversation be
tween them, and LEFT 70 feeling like distrnst O
Inkindness towards each other IN their breasts
The leller then goes on:
was aware OF The report as we'll as state
men.s in few OF the public journals, that it wa
intended by certain individuals to bring Genera
Butler forward as the successor OF MT. Polk
which gave me 40 concern, and would not ever
had il been the case, which did not credit ant
which had been forgotten. doubt il the suoj-a
you'd have again crossed my mind, had 1t no
been brought TO my notice by you or some ont
else. / have never heard him or any oi his lrlend
ailude 10 this matter. He lthe general, in con
seonence of his wound not healing, which gave
him 30 much pain as TO render him unfit Tor duty
lett short time since by advice of his ms!ica
attendant, for New Orleans, where hope n
has arrived in safely, aud where truly hope 81
will very soon recover, SO as 10 be able 10 TAX
the field once more.
NAV observe that have been also named
a candidate for tina, high Office by few news
paper editors aud ohsrs, which has been don
without my knowledge, wishes or consent.
This have assured all who have written m
On the subiect-assuring them / had no aspira
lions for that " any Other civil Office that m
whole enersies, mental and physical, were an
had been absorbed in such a way as though
hes. calculated II bring this war 10 speedy an
honorable close, believing it was for the inere,
of both countries the sooner it was done The bel
ter-at any rate so far as ours was concerned
and that Presidentmaking should be lost sigh
OF until this was accomplished.
fHere follows bliei statement OF events iron
The time OF General SCOTS arrival at The. Brazo
tjll General Taylor returned from Victoria |
Monterey. The letter then proceeds:
re,raced my steps to Monterey, where al
rived towards the latter part OF the month, (Ja
mary \ and where ! expected 10 remain som
time TO recruit myself and horses; ei.i few day
alter my arrival received Information from IN
command in my front at Saltilio, (65 miles IN IN
direction of San Luis Poiosi from Monterey
that the commaud-between 1000 and 500
strong--under General Wool had becomoe yer
much alarmed in consequence OF about on
hundred picked men and horses belonging 10 III
Kentucky and Arkansas regiments Of moun,e
men. who were sent out towards San Luis TO Sai
intelligence respecting The enemy, and 10 waic
their movements having been taken, alter bein
surrounded in the night and all made prisoners
alarge force Of cavalry, about fifty miles in &C
vance of Saltillo. So said one OF the party, VIII
succeeded in making his escape the next nigh
and getting back TO Sallio; also, that The Mex
can army was advancing in great numbers L
wards Saltillo. These reports induced me TO joi
INV advance Immediately Leaving Monere
on the 3ist January, reached Sallilo on N
morning Of the ID February with small reir
forcsment, which increased my force 10 nv
Thousand. when lost no time In moving forwar
and establishing camp at this place, about
miles in advance of Sallilio on Inc San Lui
road. for the purpose of carrying on system {
instruction, as well as to watch the movement
Of the enemy and where expected to hight hir
should he attempt 10 move on Salti!lo. Here
remained until the Dist, examining The severa
passes through the mounlains-at which time
ascertained that General Santa Anna was ad
yancing, and near al hand with an overwhelm
ing force. Not exactly liking my position, hav
ing ascertained that he could gain my rear b
two roads on my right, and one or nv lef, AM
not deeming j, prudent to divide my forces, an
having apprehensions about my supplies whicl
were in Sal.lIo, determined al once 10 fall bacl
towards that place abou, twelve miles and occu
IVA strong position between two spurs OF I
,nountaia, with narrow valley between them
while at one point the road is SO narrow as L
permit the passage of only one wagon at time
with deep eullies running up to the mountains
washed nv the rains so as 10 prevent horses o
carriage. from passing them w;thou, grea, dim
Guilty. Said position had been closely examined
by the typographical engineers under the eye Q
General Wool before my arrival, who deemed !
admirably adapted % Ie sist large with SINAI