Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-02-04
LETTER FROM GEN. TAYLOR.


whose courage and judgmen, are equalled only by
his honesty and modesty, to state that it was writ
ten to near friend and relative, now resident in
this city, endcared to him by very many years of
personal intimacy, to whom he unbosoms all his
purposes opinions and feelings, without the least
reserve. This friend would not have taken the H.
berty of making public communication of this ma
ture, did not the recent manifestations of the env-
malgnity Of the Administration and its servants
and friends towards the man who alone has saved
them and the country from the consequences Of
their rashness, ignorance and incapacity, make il
necessary and just that the object of their base de-
traction should at this critical moment be heard in
his own defence, by the whole people, in his own
simple and honest language.
We have more Of this sort to communicate and
shall soon be able to show that, in his defence a
gainst his own secret persossl enemies and selfish
detractors as well against the armed enemies of
his country the old hero of the Rio Grande is ever
"RoUGH AND REApY."-.N Y. Cypress
HID. QRs. Army OF OccuPArIoN, OR INvAsIoN,}
Monterey, Mexico, Nov. 8, 1916.
NV dear = #**x.
Your very kind and acceptable letter of the 3lst
of August, - "s**ss reached me only short
time since, for which beg leave to tender to you
my sincere thanks. A few confidential remarks
Oh certain public transactions here omitted.
After considerable apparent delay the part
oil the Or. Masters Department, in getting steam
boats into the Rio Grande adapted TO its ION,
succeeded, towards the latter part of Angus, in
throwing forward to Camargo, Ga town situated on
the San Juan river, three miles from its junction
with the Rio Grande, on the west side, nearly 500
miles from Brazos Island by water and 200 by land,
and lao from this place. considerable depot OF
Yrpxyicin Crlp mn finn and Erann nd
then, having brought together important portion
Of my command determined moving on this
place. Accordingly, after collecting 100 pack
mules, with their attendants and conductors, in the
enemy's country, Ohe principal means OF transpor-
taton for our provisions, baggage, &c. left on
the 18th of September, to join my advance, which
had preceded me a few days to Serralvo, small
village IS miles on the route, which did on the
9Th, and, after waiting there few days for some of
the corps TO get up, moved on and reached here
the 18th, with $3.50 men,-2700 regulars, the bal
ance volunteers. For what took place afterwards
must refer you to my several reports particular
ly to my detailed one of the 9th ult do not be-
lievc the authorities Washington are at all salts
fled with my conduct in regard TO the terms OF the
captulation entered into with the Mexican COM
mander, which you doubt have seen, rs they
have been made public through the official organ
and copied into various other newspapers. have
this moment received an answer (to my despatch
announcing the surrender of Monterey, and the
circumstances attending the same, from the Secre
tary of War, stating that sit regretted by the
President that it was not deemed advisable to in
sst on the terms had proposed in my first commu-
nicatlon to the Mexican commander, i'm regard to
giving up the city,-adding that 'sthe circumstan-
ces which dictated, no doubt justified the change"
Although the terms Of capitulation may be consd-
cred too liberal on part by the President and
his advisers, as well as by many others at dis
lance, particularly by those who do not understand
the position which we occupied, otherwise they
might come to different conclusion in regard to
the mater,) yet, on due reflection, see nothing to
induce me to regret the course 1 pursued.
The proposition the part of General Ampudia,
which had much to do in determining my course
in the matter, was based the ground that our 90
vernment had proposed to his to settle the existing
difficulties by negotiation, (Which knew was the
case, without knowing the result, y which was then
under consideration by the proper authorities, and
which he (Gen. Ampudia,) had doubt would re-
suit fayorably, the whole of his people were in
favor Of peace. II so, considered the further eff
fusion of blood not only unnecessary, but improper
Their force was also considerably larger than ours
and from the size and position of the place, we
could not completely invest il; so that the greater
portion of their troops, if not the whole, had they
been disposed to do So could, any night, have a
bandoned the city, at entered the mountain
passes, and effected their retreat,--do what we
could! Had we been put to the alternative of tax
ing the place by storm, (Which there is no doubt
we should have succeeding in doing,) we should
in all probability, have lost fifty or one hundred
men in killed, besides the wounded which |
wished to avoid, as there appeared TO be prospect
of peace, even IT distant one. | also wished to
avoid the destruction of women and children
which must have been very great, had the storm
ing process been resorted to. Besides they had
very large and strong ratification. short distance
from the city, which, II carried with the bayonet,
must have been taken at great sacrifice of life and,
with our limited train of heavy battering artille-
~ wou,d uire1 five
days to take it by regular approaches.
That they should have surrendered place near
ly as strong Quebec, well fortified under the di-
recon of skilfu engineers,-their works garnsh-
ed with forty-two pieces OF artillery, abundantly
supplied with ammunition, garrlsoned by 1000 re-
gular and 2OOO irregular troops In addition to some
thousand citizens capable of, (and no doubt actual
ly) bearing arms, and aiding i'm its defence,-to an
opposing force of half their number scantily SUD-
piled with provisions, and with light train OF ar
tillery,-is among the unaccountabe occurrences of
the times
i am decidedly opposed to carrying the war be-
You'd Satillo III this direction, which place has been
entirely abandoned by the Mexican forces. all of
whom have been concentrated at San Luis Potos;
and shall lose no time in taking possession Of the
former, as the cessation of hosities refer
red to expires which have notified the NJeyi-
can authorities will be the case on the 9Th inst
by direction of the President of the United States
IL we are Gin the language Of Mr. Polk and Ge-
neral ScotD under the necessity Of ''conuuerinr
peace" and that by taking the capitol of the cou
try,--we must 90 to Vera Cruz take that place.
and then march on the city Of Mexico To do so
in any other direction, ] consider on; of the uues
ton. But admitting that we conquera peace by do
ing so,-say, at the end Of the next twelve months