Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1847-04-23
HKApsulSrErs AT Asrl Nurva,

| Army OF Occupation Mexico, March 4, lsI7.
My Dear Genera-EO our very acceptable aud oresting
letter the l5h November last reached me on the 9lh
OF December, while the march from Monterey TO Tam
Pec bst the nature OF my duties since then being
the time IN the sadde) IN addition other matters has
prevented me from replying to 1t until the present
BE assured, dear SIR. since then lost sght of
youTseii and feel highly grau6ed for the haerng
manner which you have noticed the conduct o the off
and soldiers who marched with from the Rio Grande
10 Monterey aud compelled mat place surrender after
much hard 6ghung, they fully merited the handsome
enc lmun yOu have thought proper bestow on them-
| For this you have my sincere thanks.
THE general len audes TO the Interpretations which
had been made regard TO MAJOR Geu. Butler at Monterey
Those misrepresentation had been the ubec of
saon between Them. and lett feeling ike dsrus or un.
kindness towards each other IN their breasts Toe letter
was OF the report a. well as statements in a few
OF the public Journals that ided BY certain ndi
viduas bring Gen. er forward the TO Mr.
Polk, which gave concern and would even had
II been the case, Wach did credit and hch had been
forgotten doubt 1t the subject would have again cross
ed mind mad not been brought to by you
o. some cls5. have heard him any of his
friends alludc this He the geneaD in conse-
qlence OF wound healing which gave him 50 much
pain render unfit Tor duty lei; short time since
by advice OF his medical attendant tor New Orleans where
hope ne mas arrived IN safety, and where truly hope he
wall very TO be able take the field
more.
may observe that have been also named 4, cand-
date for that hgh ,fice by few newspaper editors and
Others. which has been done without my knowledge
| IS or consent.
This have assured all who have written me on the SUBJ
jee' assuring them had aspirations for that or any
other civil oi,e taat my whole energies, mental and
physical, and had been absorbed such way as
thought best calculated to bring Ibis speedy and
honorable close believing for the OF both
countries the II done the beter-atany rate
Tar as ours was concerned and that Presidents making
should De lost sight OF until this accomplished.
Here follows buef statement Of from the time
Of Gen. SCOTS arrival at the Brazos I'LL Gen. Taylor
turned from Victoria TO Monterey. The letter then pro.
ceeds j
re,sesd my steps Monterey where arrived towards
the latter part Of The nth January and where eXpec
ted 10 emain some time time 10 recruit myself aud horses
but few days after arrival received information from
the command front al Salo 65 miles IN the dircc-
OF san Luis Po,,si from Monercy the comm and
between 1000 and 5000 suong-undor Gen Wool had
become very much alarmed consequence OF about loo
picked and horses belonging the Kentucky and
Kansas regiments Of mounted men, who cut
wards san LUIS 10 gam intelligence respecting the enemy
and to watch tler movements having been aken
ing surrounded the night and all made prisoners by large
force Of cavalry, about so miles advance Of Saluo So
said OF the party who succeeded making his escape
the night and getting back S1luo also that the
Mexican army was advancing in great numbers towards
Saullo. These reports induced Join my advance i'm
media;e.y. Leaving Monterey the 3l.t January,
reached Salulo on the morning of the ID February
with sms reinforcement, which increased my force to
5000 when lost time IN moving forward and establish
ing camp place about 30 miles in advance OF Sa-
10 The san LUIS road, Tor the purpose OF carrying
system Of Instruction. re well as watch the
Of the enemy and where expected TO fight him should he
| attempt 10 Salullo Here | remained until the
2lst examining the several pisces through the mountains
at which time ascertainng that Gen Santa Anna we
advancing and near at hand with an overwhelming force
Not exactly liking my position. having ascerained that
! he could gar my by roads my rght and one
my e and not deeming prudent,o divide my forces
and having approheusons about supplies which were in
Saiulo determined at once 10 fall back towards that
place about twelve miles and occupy song position be-
tween two spurs OF mountain with valley be-
tween them where point the road a. TO
permit the passage Of only wagon time, with
deep g1.ss running up the mountains, washed BY the
rains 5, u prevent horses or carriages from passing Them
yrrf- sd rfco
examined by the geographical engineers under the eye
Gen. Wool before my arrival, who deemed II admirably
adapted 10 resist a large with small force, we'll
adapted 20 the description OF force which composed
army. We therefore fell back and occaped the eve
ming Of the DIST and made the necessary prepara
| tons for giving battle.
The next day the enemy made his Appearance early in
the day, and, after rcconnocrng position for some
time 81 o'clock r. VI received. By s.ofT Ger with
Gag communication from Cen Santa Anna requiring
to surrender at discretion, stating that IN the OF my
d0i1cO should be well treated; that he had surrounded
me with more more han 10000 mem that resistance
out Of the Gucsu0n--und, attempted b.. my command
would be putto rout and must be destroyed Ia reply,
stated could comply with his demand. and he OF
Liberty 10 commence operations whenever he inclined
20 do Soon after this, the action commenced with
he skfmishcs our left, which promptly by ours
| aud continued without intern tho side Of tho
| moun'an until dark.
In The morning sunrise he renewed the contest with
overwhelming forco-with afulcfy, infantry and dra-
goonswhcn lasted with very slight inernissIons uuti
darS. portion Of the time the contest was much the Sc
yefestI wnt sed. particularly towards inc latter
part o the d1y, when he santa Anna brought up HE re-
serve, aud spite OF every effort part, after the
greatest exerons have witnessed both sdo. drove
us by az Immense supenouy u numbers Tor some distance
io had az least 6,o 10 that point against Fortu-
naicy, az the moot critical moment pieces Of artillery
which mad ordered up % support 1at Of line
exhausted rofeatng when they were brought into
battery and opsnsd the enemy, then within fly Yards
10 hot pusut with canister snd grape Which brought him
10 halt and comp led hm o. fol back. IN tha ire
mcHdOus contest iusf three pieces Of artillery, nearly I'll
the and h0rses having been killed crippled which
pot b. out Of our power o. bring them oTi did deem
u adyIsabic 10 attempt To regain them.
The enemy made ms principal 81 Irt' against n,nks
lie handsJm.y repussd every attempt right,
but succeeded eay In the day in gl1ng our f in con-
sequence Of the giving Way OF Of the volunteer reg
eni' winch could be- rscd with bat lew exceptions,
the greater portion retiring about mile largo rancho
of farm house, where wagons aud portion n our stores
we're iei These were soon aer attacked BY the cnemys
cavalry, who were fopuised with some ios1.
Fofseyora hours tho sto Of the daY extremely doubt
fI, much sD that urged by Of tho
p-ricuced officers fs back and sks up new position.
This knew % would never do atemp with volunteers,
and Of once declined h. Tho scene now had become one
Of the deepest Between tho several deep
there were portions ri level and from 10 four hundred
yards in cHcnf, which became alternately points n attack
und defence after left turned, BY both sides
These extended along md ncnf the base o tho mountain
for about two miles, and The struggle Tor them may be- very
appropriately compared o. game Of chCss. Night put a
stop the contest end, strange cay, both armies
pied the polons They did In the morning before the
bsle commenced. oar artillery DID more than wonders
We lay al night had done the two pre-
the mercury below the feez ng point foady and expecting
renew tho contest mornings but found % d1y hgh
the enemy had fouoacd during the night leaving his killed
and many Of hs wounded ior 10 bury and take Of
carrying on every hing csc, and akng position az t
place We DID not think u advisable pursue, not know
nR whether he would the staek, continue his
treat or wished 70 drew from strong position bu
contented ourselves with watching his movements closely
Finding on the 26h, he bed renewed his reeat early IN
the morning Of the 27 the army was put motion Tor ih
plsce where arrived about 3o'cock, ?. their rca
guard consisting Of cavalry, leaving advance got
sight once determined O. hafrissng bis r,ar; bot *
aiming tho state Of The men and horses, found that nv,
dsys and nights marching neessn watching, and sKeer