New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-01-23
Letrer from sOId Rough and Ready


dividuals in the confidence OF the Executive.
Head Quarters Army Of Occupation. or Invasion,
MONTEREY, Mexico Nov. 9, 1876
nv Ds0r ...... Your very kind and acceptable
letter Of the 3lst Of August $3.50. reached me only
short time since for which beg leave 10 tender you
my sincere thanks. few confidential remarks on
certain public transactions are here omitted
After considerable apparent delay On the part Of the
Quarter Masters Department in getting steamboats, into
the Rio Grande adapted its CATION succeeded to-
ward the latter part Of August in throwing forward to
Csmargo "a town situated the san Juan River three
miles from its junction with the Rio Grande, on the
West side searly 800 miles from Brazos Island BY water
and 800 by land and 40 from this place. considerable
depot O. provisions ordnance. ammunition and forage
and then having brought together en- important portion
Of my command determined on moving on this place
Accordingly. after collecting 200 pack mules with
their attendants and conductors in the enemys country
he principal means Of transportation for provisions
baggage 6c) left the 9Th OF September 10 join my
advance which had preceded me few days 10 CerralvO
small village - miles the route, which did on the
9th and after waiting there few days for some Of the
corps get up moved and reached here the 18th
with G2jO men, 700 Regulars the balance Volunteers
For what took place atcrward, must refer you to
nv several repOrts-pariiculary 10 my detailed OF
the 9th ult do not believe the authorities at Wash
ngton at all satisfied with my conduct IN regard to
the Of the capituaton entered into with the Mex
lean commander which you no doubt have seen
they have been made public through the official organ
and copied into various other newspapers have this
ing the surrender OF Monterey aud the circumstances
attending the same from the Secretary of War stating
that il regretted by the President that ii not
deemed advisable 10 nsst the terms had proposed
| in my first communication 70 the Mexican commander
in regard TO giving up the cityadding that the cir
cumstances which dictated doubt justified the
change" Although the terms of capitulatiOn may be
considered too liberal part 10y the President and
his advisers well As by many others at distance
particularly by those who do not understand the posi-
lion which occupied Otherwise they might come to
a different conclusion in regard to the mater) yet
due reflection see nothing 10 induce me to regret the
course pursued.
which had much TO do in determining my course In the
matter, based on the ground that Government
had proposed TO his 10 settle the existing difficulties by
negotiation. (Which knew was the case without know
ing the result) which then under consideration 10y
the proper authorities, and which he (6en. Ampuds)
had no doubt would result fsyorsby as the whole OF
his people were in favor Of peace If co. considered
the farther eusion OF blood not only unnecessary but
improper Their force was also considerably larger
than ours and from The SIZE and position Of the place,
we could not completely invest IL so that the greater
portion of their troops If not the whole had they been
disposed TO do could any night have abandoned the
city at entered the mountain passes and effected
| their retrest,-do what we could Had we been put
to the alternative of taking the place by Storm (Which
there is no doubt should have succeeded in doing)
should in all probability have lost hiiy or one hun
! bred men In killed, besides the wounded,-whlch
wished TO avoid there appeared TO be prospect OF
peace, even If distant one also wished to avoid the
destruction of women and children, which must have
i
to- Besides they had very large and strong lOrtihca
ton short distance from the city which IL carried
with the bayonet must have been taken at great sacr
nee OF life; and with our limited train oil heavy or bat
tering artillery, 1t would have required twenty TWEEN
ty.hye days to take ii by regular approaches
That they should have surrendered place nearly as
strong as Quebec well fortified under the direction OF
skillfu engneers-ther works garnshed with forty two
pieces of artillery, abundanty supplied with smmun
ZION, garrsoned by 1000 regular and 1000 irregular
troops in addition to some thousand citizens capable OF
MOI Oul
defence-to opposing force OF half their number,
scantiy supplied with provisions and with light train
of artillery Is among the unsccountabe occurrences oil
the times
am decidedly opposed to carrying the war beyond
oi,io IL, ,h- direcion which place has been entirely
abandoned by the Mexican forces all Of whom have
been concentrated at San Luis Potos and shall lose
Time IN taking possession Of the former soon
the cessation of hostlities referred 10 eXpires-which
have notified the Mexican authorities will be the
the 18th inst by direction OF the President OF the United
States
ScotD under the necessity OF conquering peace,
and that by taking the capital OF the country-we must
To Vera Cruz take that place and then march on the
city of Mexico. To do SO in any other direction con
slider out OF the question. But admitting that
quer peace by doing so-say at the end of the next
twelve months-will the amount OF blood and treasure,
which must be expended in doing So be compensated
by the same think not-especially If the country
subdue is 10 be given up and ! imagine there are
but few individuals in our country who think OF annex
ing Mexico to the United States.
do not intend 10 carry my operations (as preyi-
ously stated beyond saho-dceming il next to i'm
practicable to do II then becomes question as to
what is best TO be done. IL 10 the most judi
cOus 10 be pursued part, would be 70 take
possession at of the line would accept 10y ne
gotstion. extending from the Calf OF Mexico TO the
Pacific and occupy the keep what We already
have possession of, and that with Iampico, (Which
hope take in the of the next month or rs soon
get the Transportation will give us all
on this side of the Serrc Madre and as occu
by Sslto will include six States or Provin-
ces, thus holding Iampico, Victoria Monterey Sanho
Moncova, Chihuahua (Which presume General Wool
has possession OF by this time) Santa re and the Cali
fornas-and say to Mexico, Drive ne rom TIE eoun'
try Throwing her tho responsibility and expense
of carving on offensive war-st the time closely
blocksdng all her ports on the Pacific and the Gut
course of this kind II persevered in Tor short time.
would bring her to her proper and compel
her to for peace-provded there government IN
the country sufficiently stable for us to treat with
which fear will hardly be the for many years TO
| come Without large reiniorcements OF volunteers
from the United Sates-ssy ten fifteen thousand
chose previously sent out having already been greatly
reduced by sickness and other cssusltes) do not be
eye IL would be advisable 90 march beyond Saullo,
which is more than zoo miles beyond depots on the
Rio Grsnde--a very long line on whicht keep up sup
plies lover "A land route in country Ike ths) for
large force and certain be attended with expense
which will be irighul 10 contemplate. when closely
looked into
From Salto TO san Luis Potosi the next place Of i'm
portance the road to the city OF Mexico is three hun
bred milestone hundred and forty badly watered where
no supplies of any kind could be procured for men
horses have informed the War Department that $1,000
efficient would be necessary to insure success II we
move on that place-(s city containing population OF
10000 where the enemy could bring together and sus
tain besides the citizens, army OF JOOOQ) force
which. apprehend will hardly be collected by with
the train necessary 10 feed IT, well 10 transport
various other supplies particularly ordnance and muni
tons of
In regard to the srmisce. which would have expired
by limitation, in few days We lost nothing by it,
could not move even now, had the enemy continued 10
occupy Sslo for strange 20 say the first wagon which
has reached me since the declaration of war the
I'd inst the same day on which received from Wash
ngton an acknowledges of my dispatch announcing
the taking of Montery and then received only l25
that have been. since May last completely crippled
and still for want of transportation. After rsk
ing and scrspng the country for miles around Csmargo
collecting every pack mule and other means of trans
portaton could bring here only 900 rstions hltsey
days supply) with moderate supply of ordnance I'm
munion & TO DO which all the corps had TO lesv be
hind portion Of their camp equpage Necessary Tor
their comfort snd in instances among fe vouu
teers, their personal baggage moved ID such way
and with such limited means that had not succoeded
should doubt have been severely reprimanded II
nothing worse did 50 to sustain the Administration.
OF the two regiments Of mounted men from Tepnes
and kentucky. who left their respective States u