The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-05-20
BY this Evenings Southern Mall.


| From ths New Orleans Picayune, May Is.
| Amertoan Prisoncrp in Mexico.
Letter from MAJ. Games The Encnrnacon prisoners.
Ae1,can gratitude. Route from Saifilo 10 Ncrieo, &C.
When Gen La Vega left New Orleans, where he had
been treated rather as the guest OF the city than the cap
tive of our arms he expressed the hope that at some u
tnre time he migh be able TO requite the hospitality SO
Literally layished upon him. lie brought with him from
the field OF battle letter of credit from Gen Taylor,
whose sympaihes for fallen foe mpelled hun to arm
hun against the additional calamity OF want IN strange
land, Whilst here he Toasted with prodigality
that has not been shown to any of own officers re-
turning from these He scarce allowed to feel
the durance OF military parole; but free to go where
Mexico, he gave public thanks for the consideration thai
was shown him. and all Of believed that he would re-
member their kind Offices for the good OF such Americans
as might TALL into the hands OF the enemy.
These expectations have not been fulfilled He has for
gotten what i behooved soldier to remember and has
been unmlndfu of his obligation when occasion offered
for ITS redemption. We have before letter from
Major Gaines dated the sd of April, in the donionkeep
Of the castle OF Santiago where he and his comrades had
allowed to breathe the free air of Heaven. During
portion OF this time Gen La Vega military command
ant of the city OF Mexico; and he not only did not ex
tend them the privileges OF parole which seldom de-
MED prisoner OF war, but he took heed OF their dis
tresses nor gave thought to their comfort This is
Mexican gratitude. Our generals have permitted armies.
officers and to 80 their ways upon parole, whilst
such Of soldiers have fallen into their hands
kept in iron cages. Midshpmen Rodgers has been hur-
from prison 10 prison advance OF aTny-tnS Is
what reported OF him. but we shall be glad to know
that he has not been hurried TO prison house from
which there is release whilst time lasts. When Gen.
La Vega last heard from, though again prisoner,
he was disportng himself in Vera Cruz like any other
man. Gen Taylor arranged for the exchange OF Gaines,
Borland, Clay, and others Why they not given up
We have been betrayed into these remarks from refec
tons which the date Of the letter of Major Gaines s,g
gesed is addressed to his brother in this place, and
is much occupied with private matters We make such
extracts as may be of public interest
| CASTLE or SANTIAGO
4 City of Mexico, April 3, 1917.
DEAN MOTHER have written you frequently since be-
esme prisoner Of war MY former eer related 70 bas
II liuIe of Mexico and Mexicans.
From Salilo to Aqua Nueya eight leagues and here
there is fine -yater Thence San Juan de venago
hundred and fifty niles there is water except in tanks
and wells The tanks are built of earth and cement, and
filled IN the wet season; but may be easily enptied by
opening The bottoms The wells can be readily ruined by
throwing IN dead animals Hence the almost impossible
iy OF ian invading army narehng through the country
This Of the countryis also very unproducve
count OF the scarcity of water being impossible TO r
gate any extent from tanks and wells, and agriculture
cannot be prosecuted without copou irrigation in conse
From san Juan de Venagas Maehuala is iweniy-fonr
tans sixteen thousand Inhabitants From this place San
Luis lotos there is tocnby good supply of water The
barren mountains The people are poor, miserable stupid
The country going TO decay evidences OF which are seen
revontionsome, indeed from as far back as the in
j. vasion of Cortez.
thousand people: We arrived there on the 9th of Februa
ry and left the 18TH We passed number of small towns
at Quaretaro on the 2ist. This city had heard Of
before. 1t is handsomest have seen, and its reported
The buildings truly superb, and The aqneduct, which
supplies the city with water, i indeed magnificent
9th, when conductors learning that the civil had
broken out detained at point three leagues oft for
but found out themselves, as, not knowing
which party was mppermos they did not know to which
were struggled into it with great privacy. few moment,
after we entered an alarm was aised by the discharge Of
four were killed and ten had escaped We
eea,aed that we were Lodged IN prison containing Two
70 change their cells and they Were brought on. and passed
and 5 aoed f s safer Dungeons Tho fight was YET raging IN
the city, and shall never forget entree into tire city Of
The civil war lasted till about the goth ult when the
rival OF Santa Anna put an end 70 it, Whether there We're
but is said that great many old cats, and dogs
were siam The nsnrrecion was god-send to Santa An
feat Buena Vista. He left here Yesterday with the shat
tered fragments othis army, pretending that he would inn
should General attempt march upon the capital
This nation 50 far as government Is concerned may be
or capable of ruling. Santa Anna himself is said 10
be superior to his counymen only in knowledge Of the
Mexican character and his ability in humbugging them
Whether peace would follow the capture OF this city is
extremely uncertain amongst our friends here the opinion
General Scott having taken many prisoners Vera Cruz,
daily expectation oil being exchanged, which
will ieoin the army aud probably the
United States would had never been cap
tured [Santa Anna appears be iorgeul his friend
Lin Vega have escaped his memory that he
had engaged with Gen. Taylor Tor the release OF these
Iprisoners.-Edsl
have written you several letters since my captivity.
IL Although IN the city of Mexico, ! have
little ofitand that little through the iron grangs
of the castle Of Santiago Whether shall be INDUCED
with view oft after release, know not trust we
shall.
Your aiiectionate brother,
JNo. +. GAINES
From the N. o. Bulletin, May 49,
Day Later from the Brazos
The United States steamship Telegraph arrived last
evening, from the Bazos having left on the 9th, but
brings nothing new either from the Brazos General
Tayors army.
/ The following is from friend:
| if BRAzos, 9th MAY, 1877.
Brigadier General Catwaatcr has arrived here, and
sumed the command of the lower Rio rnnde and has
tablished camp Palo Alto for the instruction oftlle
regiments hey.arrive. About 800 already there,
and will be greatly augmented in fcw weeks. They APP
pear be rood class of We informed the gen
eral will make his headquarters mt the camp, he
can complete his arrangements for forwarding supplies
We have no OF importance from Cen Taylor, who