The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-04-18

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ed by difficulties Of all kinds interested in what is the
most important and essential for the whole nation
foreign power in which nothing less involved than the
existence Of the nation 1t would the best evils
in repelling the enemy These discords ought
to disappear at the imperous voice Of patriotism which
cans upon the sons OF the country to have but will
and aim The moments have been urgent-I have seen
the forward steps Of the enemyI have rushed to the
have been forced to leave brave and victorious army
ana TO come hither to assume power which have re-
peatedly said was repugnant to my feelings aud which
bad decided never to undertake.
That which has been, and ought to be, object Of
aspiration and desire, Is for me sacrifice.
But am all for my country, and shall it,
without thinking what it may me to do that which
the nation desires should do. have entered upon the
supreme magistracy because have that 1t was |
the sole legal means of terminating the
this capital and because believe shall thus be able
to facilitate the prosecution Of the and to the
independence aud honor of Mexico which wish to pre-
sent unsuied and brilliant to the world which is behold
ing U.s. have before me the committee of the sove- |
reign Congress, of that august body whose decisions
have respected and shall constantly continue respect
Its decisions will be my nvariablo guide and have |
firmly resolved to preserve pure union with the legs
ative body which union will give hnal victory and
the ACCOMPLISHMENTS Of internal and external peace-on
which the happiness Of country depends, and to
which we all aspire The nation has proclaimed the po
ministration which wish to establish
Thus understand that its strength will be secured
for defending itself and Its rights for which
have those guarantees which belong to all men, and
which civilization claims and which has been my aim
since my return to the country This will not be de-
wishc: without my having any other rule of conduct
than Its decisions As Mexican and soldier, shall
always take the same road the nation and aspire
other title than that OF good citizen and in speak
Ing of me that it should be said that always loved my
oountry-that served It with ZEAL and that sacrificed
myself for its good.
NARRATIVE OF THE BATTLE OF BIENA VISTA BY
SANTA ANNA
LIBERArISG ARMr or THE REPUBLIC,
General In Chief: Campaign Secretarys ONCE.
Most Excellent sr--n my despatch from the battle.
field Of Angostura dated the 23d promised to give you
details Of the action Of the 22d, and the battle the
23d az should effect the movement which
cntire lack Of water and Of all supplies mado indspen-
have restored the lust Of their arms by overcoming OBJ
stacles uncomfortable to all those who witnessed
them These arose not only from the difficulties Of this
contest and Of situation but also from the
gor Of the and the exhaustion OF tho country
along an almost desert route OF over ay leagues that
was destitute OF good water and OF all tho NEST H.
mted supplies.
nioatons made before my leaving San Luis that tho
army under my command would not commence its ope-
rations till the ond Of winter, - knew by experience
the severe climate OF tho region, which also scant
Of habtatons, provisions, shelter, and Of fuel
therefore resolved to organizing drilling arming,
tary shape the forces which had just been assembled
My intentions however, could not be maturely realized
The of pecuniary resources embarrassed all my
dispositions The soldiers though well disposed to
| bat with the enemy, had been badly supplied for
but that the exertions the corps pro-
vented that restitution from driving them from their
ranks While those mertorious mon were suffering oil
kinds OF privaton certain writer's from ignorance want
OF reflection party spirit perhaps from mistaken
triotsm, zeaousy engaged in thwarng the plans
which might otherwise have proved successful This
they did by unjust charges against the army and part
cuar individuals whom they abused for not marching
to the conflict accusing them OF want OF decision and
asserting that the position Of the army Luis was
more threatening to liberties than to the enemy In
the clubs Of that capital they abored with assduiy to
make tho army the instrument Of revolt but frustra
ted their inrigues by timely steps There wri
ter who had the audacity to intimate that was in col
fusion with the enemy Yes, to whom they may atri-
butte errors but whose whole previous
the most elevated patriotism Traitors they who
the army to unnerve its vigor for tho service Of the
country as II fatality directs the dssnies
this nation and interdicts unanimty Of the public
will its defonce and from this fatal blindness the
moment when every heart and every aspiration should
vision and dstrust disseminated. Behold mo- then,
compelled by every circumstance to change my plans
Desertion had already commenced to shameful extent
| continue, the army would be dshonorably fritterod
away therefore resolved that annihilaed it should
compromised my private fortune and the credit of my
self and friends. All this procured me the Of
able furnish the ncedful to the army twelve days
knew well the country had to cross and the
sty there would be for carrying provisions; and SYM
pathzed in anticipation with the soldier for what he
would endure from the rgor Of the but to render
good sorviee to the country and its honor had
The army moved from San Luis by brigader 80 as to
render available the scanty resources AFFORDED by tho
country to The force consisted OF il 43a
infantry, divided into battons 1888 cavalry in 80
squadrons and train Of artillery Of three 24pouncrs
and 7-inch howitser all served by 4ls srtllervmen
the total being H. 1873 men or thisorce there remained
behind the garrison Of the works at San Luis and other,
which allotted to towns the route also squad
rons to escort small and only Of ammunon
brigade OF infantry, Of two battaons under Gen Don
Craco Vasqucz, which remained a corps Of
in Mstehuala, and Of observation upon Tula also
brigade Of cavalry under Gen. Don Jose Urea. The
latter intended to pass Tua, and through Ia
maupas to the neghborhood Of Monterey 30 IA to call
the cnemys attention to that quarter. The point Of
concentration for tho brgndes ought necessarily to DO
this place. that in the region through which they
had to move, many troops might not be at thrown
together therefore fixed on tho hacienda Of Encarna
cion for that point it being the last stage
but ono Of my march | there held review Of tho
army, which had already lost thousand men by sick
ness and desertion. Tho former caused by the
scantiness and bad quality Of food, and still more Of
water, which was brackish well scarce, also by
snowstorns and the exposure OF the troops who had
always to BIO in bvouac and without fuel These snow
storms obliged mo to suspend the march two days till
the weather became more settled for tho cold had al
ready caused the death Of several and horses
felt bound by every means to diminish the losses
number Of dcsorons which occurred up arrival
at Encarnacion and which afterwards increased
1t must also DO remembered that almost the whole army
had been recently formed and il well known Of
taken by violence from their homes.
We had advicss that the enemy fortified in the
hacienda Of Aqua Nucva with 5000 men and 30 pieces
resolved to defend the denes known by tho the
passes Of Carnero and Aqua Nueva Tho Americans did
not know the precise point which march d.
rooted for though they exchanged some shots with our
advance In Encarnacion, and had frequent small skirm
nhe with US in the above they supposed troops
be scouting parties Of tho first brigade Of cavalry un
der Don Jose " Minon, whom had advanced fur as
tho hacienda Of Potos. Those were the Impressions
when made my dispositions.
1t my intention to place my forces between the
enemy and Sstio, to obgs him to fight under the
disadvantage of having his communicate of or II
he would not leave his works to enable to bcsiege
him In Aqua Nucva This plan might be carried out In
three different ways. One was by marching 30 leagues
by direct road by moving to the right by Ia
Hsdionda to occupy Buena Vista and tho third,
by moving to the left by Ia Pupta de Santa Elena
hari ofl and fhorno No.
the road TO ssltillo. The two last ut
this time mpracticabe for they would either Of them
require three four days march, while we're without
provisions, forage water therefore resolved opc-
rate by the direct road force the positions and after
passing the last dele make diversion by the left and
occupy the rancho OF with the view Of obtain
ing water of which be had for than IL
leagues All this was favored by the enemys ignorance
Of our march but misfortune still followed us de-
from the regiment Of Coraeeroa NATIVE OF Snt