Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-05-14
PEACE, OR FARTHER WAR?

The intelligence from Mexico which we pub
Iished yesterday, represented Santa Anna as for
tilted at Cerro Gordo, strong point naturally
which he had made still stronger by regular
succession Olmilitary works, with force ofabout
1900 men under two Of his ablest Generals
La Vega and Camalizo. 1t also represented
Gen. Twggs as in sight Of the Mexican works,
with the advance of the American Army, and
Generals Scott and Worth as under rapid march
with the rest of our force 10 Join him. This was
on the 11th of April, and Scott was expected TO
reach the Headquarters of Twiggs by the night
of the 14th, which he most probably did. On
The / 9Th or 10Th, therefore, it is likely either that
a flag oftruce passed from the Mexican 10 the
American lines, or that Gen. Scott assailed San
ia Annals delences.
Either Of these occurrences is probable, and
neither could excite surprise. Santa Anna has
two brave officers with him, and, whatever may
be said Of him in other respects, he is himself no
coward. After remaining so long inactive at
San Luis Potosi, and then receiving so disastrous
defeat as he did at the hands of General
Taylor at Buena Vista, he must find the mill tary
prestige Of his name lessening rapidly, and see
the necessity Of gallant stand now 10 retrieve
his laurels. In addition 10 this, if he has sim
cere love for his country and his patriotism die
tate continuance of the war as the best means
of obtaining an honorable and favorable peace:
the present is the time, and Cero Gordo the place
for him TO strike his hardest blow. If the Amer
ican forces under Scott carry his works here,
and drive him before them, the flush of victory,
and the feeling of vengeance which will be en-
gendercd by the loss of the friends and comrades
who must fall in the assault, will make them per-
lectly irresistible at any other point. If he in
tends to fight at all, he ,oiI fight al Cero GordO:
and if he does so this battle will be bloodier than
any which has yet been fought.
But is it the intention of Santa Anna TO fight
any morel Doubtful, at the least. From what
has taken place, he and his intelligent officers,
and with them the really enlightened statesmen
Of the country, must see the utter hopelessness
to Mexico of a long struggle beweenthcir armies
and ours. Wherever the two have met, their
troops have been swept before ours almost as
chair before the wind. And wherever they may
meet, this will continue TO be the case. The
Mexican troops may fight bravely, as they did at
Palo Alto and Reseca de la Palma; or desperate
ly, as they did at Buena Vista. But no where
have they conquered the American troops-and
no where can they. Our superiority physically
and in discipline was manifest at iirst-and 10
this is now superadded aterror Of our arms, which
makes towards oftheir ranks.
Besides this, several Of the Mexican States are
represented as having openly declared for peace
among them the very one in which the two ar
mics have now met. And Santa Anna was said
to have with him, at his hacienda near Cero Cor.
do, four prominent members of the National
Congress, with the aid of whom he hoped to ne
gotiate peace. We note, also, that some o
the writers from the city of Mexico, and from
Vera Cruz, who are apparently the best informed
express the belief that there will bo little or nc
more fighting
If, as seems probable Santa Anna now intends
to ask for peace and propose a settlement diff
culties, the concentration Of so large force a
Cerro Gordo, and the throwing up Of strong de-
fences at that place, was the best stroke ofpoicy
of which his situation admitted. With 12,OOC
troops, and a strong position, so fortified too a,
to admit of shelter behind a regular succession o
works, so that when one is carried the most de.
structive fire can be opened from the next upon
our advancing columns, ,and this capable Of rep
etition four or five times before the two arme:
} can be brought face to face for a fair fight, he
might very reasonably believe that he could Sc
cure better terms than would be granted at the
city OF Mexico, or were his position one which die
not admit ofsuch bloody operations upon oul
brave soldiers.
No news which we have yet had from Mex
CO, except that which Immediately preceded tho