Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-03-13
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
THE W A r.
VIEWS OF THE PRESENT CAMPAIGN


with the tenor of information on the same subject
furnished by the New Orleans correspondent Of this
paper
ORLEANS BuLLETIS MARCH 4.
We have recently had opportunity Of conversing fully
and freely with several officers of the army lately arrived from
Mexico on the subject of the present position and future pros
poets Of affairs in that quarter, connected with the
These gentlemen have been for time with the army have
borne share in all the recent operations and present move
ments, including the capture of Monterey. Their position
and opportunities have enabled them form very
opinions the subject and such entitled 10 the highest
weight The previous information that had obtained, and
the opinions that had formed the future prosecution
Of this have been than confirmed by what have
thus recently learned.
regards the actual position Of affairs there is believed
Santa Anna has idea of advancing from San Luis with
view attack Gen. Taylor Sa,io or rather twenty miles
in advance of that place. where be is posted with
main body OF his army The force under the actual
mand OF Gen Taylor about 900 all volunteers
cpt four batteries Of artillery and squadrons Of dragoons
the former about 300 men, and the latter in all The
Monterey is about goo men, also volunteers Gen
Taylor has regular infantry soldier with him, the whole
having been Withdrawn for the operations the seacoast
rnder Gen. Scott He is, however be reinforced by
regiments the volunteers actually arrived or shortly
expected and, when joined by Them his Intention and
deed his orders are forward, and he making all his
arrangements TO do by the LIST OF April Among other
Preparations he is constructing small waertanks to be
RED pack mules with supply of that necessary to enable
the army TO the desert where FOR distance OF ninety
miles there only watering place. and that only for
limited number a time mule will carry Of these mina-
tanks, each containing eighteen twenty gallons The
difficulties between Salo and San Luis may be
Judged from the that the orders of Paredrs which fell
hands, that sending forward the troops that
queny defended Monterey they particularly instructed
not to allow them the desert larger bodies than 500
OF the small supply of water al
the watering place alluded and this itself
would oppose great, if nsupeabe any ad-
vance OF Santa Anna in sufficient force attack
ten Taylor Us he would not attempt to small de-
tachments in face of army.
AT the present moment General Taylor has a most ample
supply OF provisions and also full heans of transportation all
OF which latter actively employed in bringing up full sup
pies OF every nG from Camargo preparatory the intended
forward movement, for which the and active
Preparations being made. We learn the transportation
means at present at least thousand wagons all with
good mule teams which procured from fifteen
twenty-five dollars each and besides which, there will be
large body OF pack mues-ndeed the latter will be the main
dependence after leaving Saallo, Of the of
the road The position at Sailo is well prepared resist
any attempt OF the enemy and the least fear is entertain
Cd a. to the result, should such improbable
tack from Santa Anna As Monterey is prepared
10 resist successfully the entire Mexican army could il be
brought together for the purpose
Ten Taylor represented being in the unamahe
state Of mind al the withdrawal Of the whole Of the regular
from command, leaving him nothing
Tor his contemplated advance which, when joined by the
mi cemenis, will make his force about thousand men,
but was only thousand, he is determined go
ward.
Some of these volunteer regiments have greatly mproveI
and are improving d and discipline have actually
retrograded both since they took the field This owing
10 the officers that respectively command them and pacu
Larry 70 the colonies all however agree that the system OF
eiecng officers must I've abandoned, totally destructive
% all discipline and suborinaon, parties frequently
selected aud chosen, for field officers without any re-
car IN l,,,, ~,
iarty willingness TO treat and be generally ndulgcn.
The force concentrating under Gen Scott and intended for
the attack on Vera Craz will be from thirteen fourteen
thousand men at least onehaf OF which will be regulars
thought they cannot be before Vera Cruz until the last Of
the month the city, believed will be abandoned but the
castle defended The opinions various the final
result but 10 the time that will be required reduce it,
II the resistance any way serious it is thought weeks
ii not months, will be required
As regards the subsequent operations, all agree the
difficulties and absence Of any decisive in penetrating
unto the INTERIOR could be done the most success
fG manner.
Supplies, least certain extent can be obtained On
the route, b they must be paid far, and on literal terms
o they cannot be hal every thing the kind would lie
removed The limited quantity, sparseness Of the popua
uon and the nature ana Of the country would enable
them T. DO so An attempt TO levy contributions take
supplies without compensation would be known all
along the line of march, many days. weeks in advance
Of the army, and afford ample opportunity u remove their
small stocks a. these people themselves families Stocks
and supplies with the facility and pomptness the Arabs Of
the desert Of Indians and as one Of our inform
ants Observed might well attempt to support an army
ged IN with tribes of Indians by levyinr
contributions upon their villages and wigwams, do
with the Mexcans
Another avorte mode that has recently been urged has
been 10 make the population Of Mexico pressure and
burden OF the and thus produce feeling avora-
bic for peace In the first place. such an extended country
we cannot by possibility, bring but a fractional portion
OF the population into with army, or make them
eel the horrors war, if willing tarnish our
national character by prosecuting il with fire and sword
some have urged should be done The state OF civilization
~ which Mexico s does admit Of bringing home the pres
sore OF war 10 the great body Of the people Their
ore small they have but few Of what call the
sares OF life, still fewer Of the comforts land none Of the uxu
acs Such thing stoehouscs barns or granaries are
almost unknown m The country and, already observed
might a. well adopt system OF contributions upon
the Indian tribes OF Western forests There are few Of
The PRINCIPAL towns cities where something might obtain
Cd but only little, there when the knowledge had been
spread ahead Of the army that such system had been
adopted.
The policy Of StST, ASxa win be 10 let a. advance into
the INTERIOR should such be the Intention without sking
genera Matte hut 10 harass march, Of supplies and
'uagGtf and where opportunity occurs crush dctach
ei ad destroy our oragng parties. His great superiority Of
,a"y WIN e"abFc lnn 70 do this and that portion Of the
~ 'N army are represented being fully equal our own
ny are generally armed with ances which, though inferior
weapon % the SABRE the difference compensated by
- "n'aAe' which they possess our mounted yolun-
well trained horses 'i' ~ "
an tno'e rom whom have obtained The information an
n'n o'i PcH' remarks founded, unite in the opinion
mat he capture o. hr cy II Mexico w,n have ma more
lNp