Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-03-13
From the Washington Union.
CAPlTULATION OF MONTEREY.

Dear Sir:-Afer much speculation and no
little misrepresentation about the capuaon Of
Monterey, | perceive by our recent newspapers,
that discussion has arisen as to who is response
BILE for that transaction. As one Of the commits.
sioners who were entrusted by General Taylor
with the arrangement Of the terms upon which
the city Of Monterey and its Qualifications should
be delivered TO our forces, have had frequent
occasion to recur TO the course then adopted and
the considerations which led 10 it. My judg.
ment after the fact has fully sustained my decis.
ions at the date OF the occurrences and feeling
myself responsible for the instrument as we pre-.
pared it and presented il TO our commanding
general, | have the satisfaction, after all subse
quent events, to believe that the terms we offered
were expedient, and honorable, and wise. A
distinguished gentleman with whom acted on
that commission, Governor Henderson, says, in a
recently published letter, I'll did not at the time,
nor do | still like the terms, but acted as one
Of the commissioners, together with Gen Worth
and Col. Davis, to carry out Gen. Taylor's in.
sructons. We ought and could have made
them surrender at discretion" &c, &c.
From each position taken in the above para
graph | dissent. The instructions given by
General Taylor only presented his object, and
fixed limit TO the powers Of his commissioners
hence, when points were raised which exceeded
but o'cIitNOH, tiCy WtlC lcItllCu W liC yum
mander; but minor points were acted on, and
finally submitted as part of our negotiation
We fixed the time within which the Mexican
forces would retire from Monterey. We agreed
upon the time we would wait for the decision Of
the respective governments, which recollect was
less by thirty four days than the Mexican COM
missoners asked-the period adopted being that
which, according 10 our estimate, was required TO
bring up the rear oil our army with the ordnance
| and supplies necessary for further operations
did not then, nor do now, believe we could
have made the enemy surrender at discretion.
Had entertained the opinion it would have been
given to the commission, and to the commanding
general, and would have precluded me from
signing an agreement which permitted the garri.
son TO retire with the honors of war. 1t is de-
monstrabIe, from the position and known PROV.
ess OF the two armies, that we could drive the
enemy from the town. but the town was untena.
BILE whilst the main fort (caled the new oitadel)
remained in the hands of the enemy. Being
without siege artillery or entrenching TOOLS we
could only hope to carry this fort by storm. after
a heavy loss from our army; which, isolated in
| a hostile country, now numbered less than half
the forces Of the enemy. When all this had
| been achieved, what more would we have gained
than by the capitulation?
| Gen. Teylor's force was loo small to invest
the town. 1t was, therefore, always in the
power OF the enemy to retreat, bearing his light
arms. Our afmy-poorly provided, and with
very insufficient sportation-could not have
ovcrlaken. il they had pursued the flying enemy.
Hence the conclusion that, as il was not in our
power to capture the main body Of the Mexican
army, it is unreasonable 10 suppose their general
would have surrendered at discretion. The
moral effect OF retiring under the capitulat on
was certainly greater, than if The enemy had
retreated without our consent. By this course
we secured The large supply Of ammunition he
lad collected in Monterey-which, had the
assault been continued, must have been exploded
by our shells. as it was principally stored in
che Cathedral which. being supposed 10 be
filled with troops, was the especial aim OF our
pieces. The destruction which this explosion
would have produced must have involved the
advance Of both divisions OF our troops; and
commend this to the contemplation Of those
whose arguments have been drawn from facts
learned since the commissioners closed their me-
gouations. With these Introductory remarks,
send copy OF manuscript in my possession,
which was prepared to meet such necessity as
now exists, for an explanation OF the views
which governed the commissioners in arranging
the terms OF capitulation, 10 justify the com.
handing general, should misrepresentation and
calumny attempt TO tarnsh his wel.earned rep
utaon, and, Tor all time TO come, to fix the
truth of the transaction. Please publish this in
your paper, and believe me TO be your friend
&c. JEFFERSON DAVIS
Memoranda Of tie trdnSGCtioaS in connection Nth
the capitulation Of Monterey, capitol of Nuera
Leon, Merico.
by invitation of General Ampudia, command.
ing the Mexican army, General Taylor. accom-.
panied by a number Of his officers. proceeded
on the 24h September 1876 to house desig
mated as the place at which General Ampuda
requested an interview. The parties being con.
vened, General Ampudia announced, as official
Information, that commissioners from the United
States had been received by the government Of
Mexico, and that the orders under which he had
prepared to defend the city of Monterey, had
lost their force by the subsequent change OF his
own government, therefore he asked the confer
.enae. brief conversation between the com.
mandng generals, showed their views to be so
opposite as to leave little reason TO expect an
amica6le arrangement between them.
General Taylor said he would not deloy to
receive such propositions as General Ampudia
indicated. One OF General Ampudas party
think, the Governor OF the ciry-sugges,ed
the appointment OF mixed commission: this
was acceded to, and General w. G.. Worth. of
the United States army; General J. Pinckney
Henderson, Of the Texan volunteers, and Col.
onel Jefferson Davis, of the Mississippi riAemen
on the part Of General Taylor, and General J
Ma. Ortega, General P. Requena, and Senior
the Governor NJ Ma. Lano, on the part Of
General Amanda Upra annotated