Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1847-06-01
Major Gaines and Party.

Major Gaines and Party.
The following dignifed letter of re-
monstrance from Major Gaines and fellow
officers. prisoners in the castle Of San
lingo. Mexico. to Gen. Santa Anna, We
copy from tie New Orleans Commercial
Times, Of 18th inst:
CASTLE or ST.. JAGo, CITY of Mexico,)
March 2ith, 1917.
To Exceliencv, Gen. Santa Anna:
SIR: The undersigned officers in the
army Of the United States Of America.
respectfully state to your ESccl'ency that
they, together with their respective com
nand-, consisting of seyenty-ono persons
IN nil, became prisoners of war Ia The
Mexican Republic AT Hacienda Encar
uacon. the 2,}d of January list. On
.nai morning. before day light, we found
ourselves entirely surrounded by large
forcc-say three thousand men-and,
about sunrise, a white flag approached us
on one side, and consI!era bic force on
another, we required that the troops should
retire. prccelcu: 10 our receiving the flag,
which being compiled with, the flag APP
proachoi aud a surrender demandcd.-
We took ono hour 10 determine whether
We would entertain proposition of the
kind or not; at tho expiration OF tho hour,
the fig returned and WAS answered thai.
We woad hear proposition, and were
told that Gen. Minon would 81 nd tnaIar
10 our camp, while one OF our number OF
equal rank should repair TO his hcadquar-
tiers and hear his efinr. This being done.
Mi B0rand entertained the officer sent
IN wh}ls, Major Gaines rode out 10 the
General. had n conference of bou, ore
hour with hun. returned TO The haclcnia.
and. in the presence of on interpreter Oh
each side, stated the terms offered, which
/ we're accepted; and, between | l and II
O'Clock, We surrcEdercd as prisoners of
war.
The terms were. TINT the General him.
self should receive the sword of our com
ma nder: that public property should be
surrendered aud private property should
/ be respected; and that the best treatment
/ IN every particular, known amongst civil
/ lzad nations to prisoners of war, should
/ be ours.
The General, when asked to reduce
! these terms to writing. gave us the most
positive assurances thu, his word Of honor
lures. and that. unless his . agreement was
| fully carried out. he would abandon The
| service Of his country. Ga our Journey
to this CITY. wo had tho qualification to
NEE, your Excclcncy, and, after stating
10 YOU the terms Of our cnpitu'ation. re-
ccivod the pleasing assurance tha: they
should be complied with.
Tho object of this note IS t, complain to
Il pr,nhli,. hat
far from The forms Of our capi,u'aiion
having been complied with. We have been
| frequently subjected to the mos. Griovous
| deprivations, and tina, we have refralned
| from making our protest hitherto, IN con-
sequence Of oil tho unhappy dissensjons
said TO exist in the cnpitai-w which, being
now fortunately adjusted. as we are IN
formed. we most respectfully call your at
tention to our condition.
We forbear, Mt this time. from enterng :
into the particulars Of our complaints. md
beg leave 10 refer YOUR Exce'lency to Gen
| eral La Vega, who hns lately been n
prisoner of war in tho United States. but
who has not honored rs with any notice
wha,ever.) for the manner in which prison
ers of war arc treated in our country
There IS. however. one complaint which
We owe to ourselves TO call your immedi-
atn attention to. We are informed thai
General Nnon. in reporting our capture
10 his government. alleges that we surren'
! dercd ut discretion. and that we owe our
lives 10 tho ma gna nimiiv of the Mexican
Republic. Agains: such statement We
enter our solemn protest: and declare that
. the terms of our surrender being accurate
II stated in the foregoing part Of this note
ANYTHING inconsistent thereto is unfoun
ied in fact.
, Hoping tina, pence between the twc
, Republics shall speedily be mode. uPoF
terms equally honorable 10 both. We sub
, scribe ourselves.
, Your most obedien. servants.
[Signed.
John P. Gaines. Mi. Ky. Rest. Of Cava'
nv. United States Army.
: Scion Borland. do Ark. do do do;-
Cassius VI. Clay. Capt. Ky. do do do; 1
] c. c. nanlev. do Ark. DO do do; T
: G. R. Davidson. ID l.. XIV. do do do;f