The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-09-17

stgaton OF Santa Anna OF course and the result mas
peen treaty OF armistce in which, according
Dearly everything the MexcaDs asked for was conceded
know nothing of the proceedings Of this commission
except from hearsay. There many who believe that
Gen Scott has been compelled to adopt this policy at
the threshold OF the Mexican capital by MIR Tris and
his ns tructons; but there are few and must aoknow
ledge myself among the number who think that peace
honorable and satisfactory TO the United States Is to
grow out Of this matter.
know which Ia responsible for the msasuren eectng
any armistice, and consequently opportunity
to the pride OF those who fought the sangunary
of Contreras and Churubusco may still have tendency
to soften that Of the Mexcaus and lead kind Of
peace. So perfect ths panic among the sons Of
Iturbide the Goth, tina. OF regiments
could have entered tho Grand Plaza with but little OPP
posionn fact could have driven every soldier either
out Of the city or to some hiding place within its walls
TAcuBAyA, Aug %, 1871
The ofcisl report Of Gen. salas, who second in
command at Contreras and who is prisoner, has
been published in Mexico. He admits that his defeat
was total but as usual lays the blame some Of his
brother officers. He says that the afternoon Of the
l9th-(this was while returning their fre)
the Msxcans fought with uncommon valor and enthu-
sasm but that early the morning OF the goth August
they suddenly surrounded and at once thrown in
to confusion aud in the end utterly routed Saaseays
that ut the outset OF tue disorder he shouted victory
for M.xico ordered the trumpets 10 sound and direct
ed Gen Torreon to charge with his aucers bue Gccor
ding to the account that officer tied in the most
cowary manner, thes infantry got mixed up with the
cavalry and also fed and the ront OF all was complete
and most disastrous.
Saas says that General Valencia Off ut the COM
OF the fight that he does not know what has
become Of him, and for this has felt himself
called upon TO make q report Such is the account
given by his Excelsncy Cen sr Don Mariana de sslss
of the defeat ut Coutrsrasone Of the most brilliant vic
tories achieved by our arms since the Of
tho war brilliant and most important for tho great re-
suits Produced with no little loss side and for
which General smith ~ well a. Colonel Riley and the
other officers engaged In it, resolving the unqua-
fed appreciation OF the ontre army.
Gen saas himself acknowledges that in this battle
Gen. Fontera killed; that besides hirlself Generals
Mendoza, Blanca and Garcia wounded and taken
prisoners In addition to list Of over 100 other officers
coones, captains &c-who were either killed wounded,
are now In our hands And here let me mention
fact In relation to the after battle Of Chsrubuco which
will show how near Gen Scott capturing tho entire
Mexican army. At tho time Gen. Worth pressing
upon the tste de p0nt Con Twiggs upon the church,
and Gems Shields and Pierce upon the hacienda farther
on the chief ordered Major Sumner to
take command Of the Rifles and by circuitous march
to reach the road between the enemy and the city.
front prevented this plan from succeeding-had the
Mexicans held out, or our soldiers held off ten
minutes longer the enemy would have been in bag
it were and killed or captured to q man Santa Anna
might perhaps have escaped he has peculiar way Of
his but he would not have taken the remnant
OF an army with him.
Mexican mail was captured by party of our dra-
goons on the 21d inst on its from the city to Mo-
rella IL contained multitude OF letters dated on the
2ls the day after the great battles and they give vivid
and at the time most doleul accounts Of their ter
rblc and utter defeat Some of the writer's lay the
blame on Santa Anna alone, some on Valencia,
Santa Anna and Valencia, some on Santa Anna, Vaen-
ca and all the officers Wills others say that Santa Anna
Valencia and all the officers and soldiers are utterly
worthless. The latter writer's comprehs nsive
and probably the mark Many Of the letters
exceedingly rich One loving husband writes to his
wife, whom he calls angel" and idol" and his ado
red Chua, and tells her not to occasion herself anS
about his safety as he does not intend to
pose himself Another officer comes out palmer
he tells his beloved Rosa that he thought Of her when
tho balls were flying aud ram The capture of these let
ters is valuable in ways than onethey give much
information regards the strength aud plans Of the
envy and freely and frankly acknowledge that they have
Of Santa Annals grand army put down at from 10000
to 35 600 and nearly all of them took part in the bat
ties Of the goth.
may be mistaken, but my humble opinion is that
there are three influences now ut work the city Of
Mexico to bring about peace. The first and foremost
is Santa Anna himself sick and tired Of the war and
seeing nothing in Its continuance but his and
irretrevahls ruin The second il Mackintosh Thorn
ton Co.. the latter gentleman secretary Of legation or
aache to the English minister and both representing
English interests. The third and all powerful inter-
est it s American gold Of which Santa Anna and
Of his friends known to be exceedingly fsnd and to
handle which they will stop at nothing. Thornton,
during the illness Of Mr. Bankbesd does the talking
the English side-Mackntosh acts banker and gene
raj agent Not one OF these men care any more for the
honor credit of the government of Mexico than they
do for that OF the Tong. Is at the bottom Of
all and Santa Anna Is the most selfish Of ths lot
On our own side We have two influences at work-t
first is Gen SCOTT, hampereS and hand bound by mis-
government and anxious to bring about peace be-
cause he believes majority OF bis countrymsn
warmly in favor of it, and the second is Mr. 1r.,
tous. any man In his situation would be- Of the dis
tinetion important deed the making peace
give him. Opposed to these influences isa proud but
cowxrdly of Mexican military demngocues-a band
of leoches who have lost but retain species
of hold upon the people and then there 10 the great
body of the people who know rot th,
what they want but who Hoodwinked and led by
the demsgogues Santa Anna has friends; hut no has
power, and that suits him just we-perhaps better.
Now oil the influences enumerated above to be used
TO bring about peace, but how they will succeed 10
matter OF conjecture suppose that the should
not be rejected 80 that the oud Is gained
The trial of tho dessrters celebrated battalion Of
st Patriok-is still going but how the ar will
mi~ate no one but those on the court martial say.
strong influence is at work in favor of tn prisoners
In the rst place, all the Mexican ades in THIS La
Sonora Cayetano Rubo among the number, havs signed
petition In their favor which has bsen sect to
General scott The lady whose name have given Is
the wife Of the rich Rubo, WHO has a country house
here in Tscubaya. Tho English, and perhaps Of
the other foreiga minister's have also interested them
salves in behalf Of the tres might here state
that the celebrated Gag of the foreign battalion cap
tured by the l4th infantry attached to General Pillows
division.
Too O'clock, afternoon News has Just come in
from the capital which has caused great excitement At
early hour train Vf wagons under charge Of Capt
Wayne dresssd in citizens clothes started for the city
Scarcely had they reached tho Plaza before the
were surrounded by Immense number OF fPsros who
at first commsaced cursing and jeering the wagon
and wxgoners Soon, however, thew beg pslt
the poor fellows with stones and other missiles
wtstsnding the pretended exerons OF sqaad Of Mex
lean soldiers, who acted guard the entirs train Was
driven out Of the city Several OF the va
bruises and Commissions from se showers Of stones
thrown at them, and foremost in tbs mob said to
be the nVf the town One Mexican shot by
one Of the wagon masters, and another by Mexicsn
officer but not until they had half ki Anericsn.
In che crowd OF loafers or leperss seen many
OF Detter CLASS the
excited the mob to acts of violence while thero
dies lookingon and evidently enjoying the sport Even
the Mexican cavalry guard, many Of them sat upon
their horses not Indifferent for thcy fairly
laughed to the unfortunate and unarmsd
beset IN manner so eowartly. / suppose that santa
Anna will apologize for the outrage and thus
be settled but this does not prevent many from thinking
that the tyrapt iostgated the whole affair. He up
all sorts OF trickery There others who think and
probably with good show Of that the mob set
on by the enemies of Santa Anna and peace with the
intention of involving the whole party and breaking of
all negotiations. Be this it may, the Msxcans have
great battle in driving wagons from the city,
and will not fail TO exult It, know not what
Gen Scott will resort to In order to obtain his
money and supplies from the city.
The Mexican Government has added two additional
members to the Board Of Commission to listen the
question Of peace-Senores Atristain and Bernardo
Couto Both iceneiados, lawyers and the latter
enjoys high reputation not only regards talents,
but for the probity of his character Tho commissioners
held their first meeting this afternoon at place called
lzcapusalco, about two leagues from here and learn
that MIR Inst natfests himself highly pleased with
the proceedings thus far and of the continued fsterng