Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1847-09-22

they are probably more than halfrigh. A
train Of wagons, which was going in this
morning headed by Capt. Wayne and an
escort of dragoons,, were turned back by
the Mexicaus on the pretence that they
were regular soldiers with, the convoy. 1
don't know how the matter will be settled,
but Santa will probably have his>own way.
Our own officers are many Of them outr :
geous al the occurrence.
TAcUBAYA, August 81. lS47.
The official report of Cen. Salas, who
was second in command at Coureras and
who is now prisoner, has been published
in Mexico. He admits that his defeat was
total, buI as usual lays the blame on some
of his brother officers. He says that on The
afternoon of the I9'h-(this rOas a0hile no
one ,cas returning their .fre)-the Mexicans
fought with uncommon valor and enthusi-
asm, hut that early on The morning Of The
Doth August, they were suddenly surroun-
ded and at once thrown Inlo confusion, and
in The end utterly routed. Salas says hat
at the outset of the disorder he shouted
"Victory for Mexico )" ordered The trum-
pets 10 sound, and directed Gen. Tor.ejon
to charge with his lauces; but according
TO the same account that officer fed in the
most cowsrdy manner, the infantry COL
mixed up with The cavalry aud also fled,
and the route of all was complete and
most disastrous. Sslas says that General
Valencia ran Dff at the commencement Of
The fight. that he does not know what has
become Of him, and for this reason has felt
himself called upon 10 make report. Such
is the account given by his excellency Gen.
Sr. Don |. Mariana de Salas Of the defeal
at Coutreras-one Of the most brilliant
victories achieved by our arms since the
commencement Of The war-brilliant and
most nportan, for lhe great results produ
ced with so little luss on our side, and for
which Gen. Smith. as well as Col. Riley
and the her officers engaged il, are re-
ceiving the unqualified appreciation Of the
entire army.
Santa Anna has come out in long man .
ifesto to the Mexican nation. He begins
by saying that he shall speak openly and
candidIy 10 his fellow citizens, as lrankness
has always been characteristic Of his ad-
minisration. He next speaks Of what he
has lately done in the way Of collecting an
army and munitions for the defence ofthe
capital and then goes on TO lay all the
blame Of his reverse upon Valencia, who
would mol obey his orders on the 18th, to
eyacuate Contreras, aud fall back upon The
second line Of defence at ,Churubusco. He
Eliminates that he continued with this sol
dIers 10 Tho last moment, aud that alter
they were routed aud driven from Churu.
busco he says that was enabled 10 rally his
troops at Garila-the third line-and thus
SAGE the capital! On The following day, he
says, while occupied or reorsanizing his
forces. strengthening his batteries, and
placing himself once more at the head OF
column TO defend the capital until the
last extreme, he received a letter from Gen.
Scott, proposing an arnistice, Sc. lSan,a
Anna says nothing about his talking this
matter over the previous evening with
Macintosh and Thornton, and their imme.
diale departure for the American lines, but
absolutely haransues his countrymen as
though The first propositions came from
Gen. Scoll.) lnshe concluding paragraphs
Of his manifesto Santa Anna says that he
has granted an armistice to the Americans
to listen to whal their peace commissioners
has to say. lie gives it as his opinion that
suspension of hostililics is always benef.
ciaI, that war is always an evil-in fact
that a perpetual war is an absurdty He
intimates that he has competent authority
to listen to overturcs Of peace, and then
soes on TO tell his people that he has sui
ficient number Of troops 10 sustain the
rights and vindica,e the honor Of the nation.
He considers himself as free as though he
had obtained signal victory, and that his
fellow citizens need have no fear of his be.
ing deceived or imposed upon by the ne
goliators Of the enemy, inasmuch as he
does not dread their men or caunon Ii
peace can be brought about without losing
the honor of The nation, well anG good; if
not, Santa Auna inrimales that he will re-
turn TO The sword as an arbitrator. Such
is a mere outline Of document which
makes nearly three columns in the Diario
del Gobiefno.
The commissioners upon the part of The
Mexican Government to listen 10 our over
lures OF pence are Gems. Mora y Villamil
and Jose Joachim de Herrera, the latter
formerly President and now military COM
mandant of Mexico. His character, as all
our readers know, is thai of an honest but
weak man. Don Antonio Garay, we'll
known capitalist and formerly Minister Of
Finance, was also appointed on The COM
mission. but refused 10 serve. He is known
TO be warmly in favor,o peace, probably
from interest. The commissioners on the
part Of Mexico, with Mr.. Trist. il is said
are To hold their first meeting this afternoon,
at some place near this.
may be mistaken, but my humble OPT
nion is that there are three influences now
at work in the city Of Mexico to bring about
peace. The first and foremost is Santa
Auna Ilimself,sick and tired ofthe war, and
seeing nothing in its continuance but his
own utter and rretrievable ruin. The Sc
cond is Macintosh, Thornton & Co., the
latter gentleman secretary Of legation or
attache to the Euslieh Minister, and both