Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-02-04

clovs, chihuahua. (which presume Gen
WOOL has possession Of by this time Santa Fs
and the CALIFORNIA;, and say to Mexico,
Drive US from the country i''--,hrowing on
her the responsibility and expense Of carrying
on offensive war--at the sasne time closely
biockading all her ports on the Pacific ANA The
Gull course OF this kind. If perseyered il
for short time, would soon bring her 10 her
proper senses. and compel her 10 sue for peace
provided there IS a Government in The conn.
t;y sufficiently stable for us 10 trsat ,v;,h
which fear viii hardly be the case tnr rnany
years TO come. Without large reiutorcernents
Of volunteers from the United Sta,es--s,,v ,a,,
or fifteen thousand. Chose previousl, sent on,
having already been greatly reduced by s,ck.
ness and other casualIIes) do not believe il
would be advisable to march beyond Saltillo
which is more than 200 miles beyond our de-
! pots on the Rio Grande--a very long line on
which TO keep up supplies Cover land .ou,e
in country ike this) for large force, and
certain 10 be attended with an expense which
it viii be frigh,ful 10 contemplate, when close
ly looked INTO.
From Sallo to San Louis potosi, the next
place Of importance on the road 10 the city Of
Mexico, is three hundred milestone hundred
and loriv badly watered. where no supplies Of
any kind could be procured FOR men or horses.
4 have informed the War Department that 90
000 efficient men would be necessary 10 insure
success II we move on that pace--(a city con-
tanning a population Of $4,000, where the en-
envy could bring together and sustain. besides
the citizens, an amy Of 50.000) a force which
apprehend win hardly be collected by US
~.
to transport various other supplies. particularly
ordnance and munitions OF war.
In regard TO The armIstice, which would
have expired by limitation in few days. we
lost nothing by it, as we could not move even
now. had the enemy continued to occupy Sal.
lilo; for. strange TO say. the first wagon
which has reached me since the declaration OF
war was on the 81 inst. the same day on
which | received from Washington an ac-
acknowledgement Of my despatch announcing
the taking Of Monterey; and then received
only i25, 50 that have been. since May last,
completely crippled, and am still so, for want
of transportation. After rakng and scraping
the country for miles around Camaigo, col
leciing every pack-mule and other means OF
transportation, | could bring here only $4,000
ratlons, lhfteen days SUPPLY with moder-
ate supply OF ordnance, ammunition, &c, 10 do
which, all the corps had to leave behind por-
ton Of their camp equpage necessary for their
comfort, and, IN some instances, among the
volunteers, their personal baggage. moved
in such a way. aud with such limited means,
that, had not succeeded. | should no doubt
have been severely reprinianeed, if nothing
worse. ! did SO to sustain the Administration.
OF the two regiments OF mounted men from
Tennessee and Kentucky, who left their res
pectve States to join me, in June, the latter
has jus, reached Camargo; the former had
not got TO Matamoras at the latest dates from
there. Admitting tina, they will be as long in
returning as in getting here, Ito say nothing of
the time necessary 10 recruit their horses) and
were 10 be discharged in time to reach their
homes. they could serve in Mexico but very
short time. The foregoing remarks are not
made with the view o. finding fault with any
one, but 10 point out the difficulties with which
have had to contend.
Monterey, the capital Of New Leon. is stu
ated on the San Juan River, where il comes
out OF the mountains. the city (Which con-
tains population of about twelve thousand)
being 10 part surrounded by them, at the head
OF large and beautiful valley. The houses
are of stone. in the Moorish style, with flat
TOOLS, WHICH, Win tneiT stIOuyiy iuCtoSeu ydTuS
and gardens, in high stone walls all looped for
musketry, make them each fortress within
itself. tits the most important place in Nor
thern Mexico, Cor on the east side Of the Ser
ra Madre,) commanding the only pass or road
for carriages from this side, between ii and the
Gulf Of Mexico. to the table lands of the Sierra,
by or through which, the city Of Mexico can
be reached.
much fear shall have exhausted your pa
tence. before you get half through this long
and uninteresting letter. Ifso. you can only
commit il to the flames and think no more
about it, as write in great haste, besides being
interrupted every FIVE minutes; so that you
must make great allowances for blois, inter-
lineaions and blunders, as well as wan, Of
connection in many parts of the same.
Be 50 good as to present me most kindly 10
your excellent lady. and accept my sincere
wishes for your continued health, prosperity
and fame.
Ireu,ain. truly and sincerely.
Your friend.
r. TAYLOR