Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-02-25

.N1tetd Leon, .HeTlco.
BY invitation Of Gen. AMPupu, command
| ing the Mexican army, Gen. TAYLOR, accom-
panied by number Of his officers, proceeded
on the 9th September, 1916, to a house desig-
mated as the place al whish General AM
PUpIA requested an interview. The parties
I being convened, General AmPuDA announ-
ccd, Us official information, that Commits
sioners from the United STATES had been
received by the Government Of Mexico and
/ that the orders under which he had prepared
to defend the city Of Monterey, had lost their
/ force by the subsequent change Of his own
Government, therefore he asked the conference.
/ A brief conversation between the commanding
! Generals, showed their views to be so opposite,
as to leave little reason 10 expect an amicable
/ arrangement between them
/ Gen. TAYLOR said he would not delay 10 re-
ceiye such propositions as Gen. AMPUDIA in
| dicated One of Gen. AMYuDns party,
/ think. the Governor Of the city, suggested the
appointment OF mixed commission this was
aceeded to, and Cen w. G. WORM, Of the
United States army, Gen ]. PISeKSEY HEN
DERsoH. al the Texan volunteers. and Col. JET
PERSON DAVIS, Of the Mississippi riilemen, on
! the part Of Gen. TAILOR; and Gen. ]. MA.
ORTEGA. Sen F. REqUEEA. and Senior the
| Governor NJ. Ma. Ld.ANo on the part of Gen.
AMPuDA, were appointed.
| Gen. TAYLOR gave instructions TO his com
missioners which. as understood, for they
were brief and verbal, will be best shown by
the copy of the demand which the United
States commissioners prepared in the confer
ence room here incorporated:
Copy Of demand By u. Sites Commissioners
Il. As the legitimate result ofihe operations
before this place, and the present position of
the contending armies, we demand the sur
render of the town, the arms and munitions of
war, and all other public property within the
place.
al That the Mexican armed force retire
beyond the Rlnconada, Linares, and San Fer
nando, on the coast.
Ill. The commanding General of the army
of the United States agrees that the Mexican
officers reserve their side arms and private bag
gage; and the troops be allowed TO retire IN
der their officers without parole, a reasonable
time being allowed 10 withdraw the forces
''Iy. The immediate delivery of the main
work, now occupied, 10 the army OF the Uni
ted States
~ To avoid collisions, and for mutual
convenience, that the troops of the United
States shall not occupy the town until the
Mexican forces have been Withdrawn, except
lOi HuSpitdi uipOStS, SlOFelOuStSs &C.
''VI. The commanding General of the Uni
ted States agrees not TO advance beyond the
line specified in the second section before the
expiration Of eight weeks, or until the respec-
tive Governments can be heard from.o
The terms Of the demand Were refused by
the Mexican commissioners, who drew up a
counter proposition, of which only recollect
that il contained permission TO the Mexican
bntc
urged as matter of sodierly pride, and as an
ordinary courtesy. We had reached the limit
of our Instructions, and the commission rose
10 report the disagreement.
Upon returning 10 the reception room, after
the fact had been announced that the commits
sioners could not agree upon terms, Gen. AM
PuDIA entered at length upon the question.
treating the point Of disagreement as one which
involved the honor Of his country, spoke Of his
desire Tor a settlement without further blood
shed, and said he did not care about the pieces
of artillery which he had at the place. Gen.
TAYLOR responded 10 the wish 10 avoid unnc
cessary bioodshed. twas agreed the commits
sion should rcassembe. and we Were instructed
10 concede the small arms; and ! supposed
there would be no question about the artillery.
The Mexican commissioners now urged that,
as all other arms had been recognised, it would
be discreditable to the artillery if required to
march out without anything 10 represent their
arm. and stated, IN answer to an inquiry, that
they had a battery Of light artillery, manpuy-
red and equipped rs such. The commission
again rose, and reported the disagreement on
the point of artillery,
Gen. TlyLoR hearing ;hat more was De
manded than the middle ground, upon which,
in a spirit Of generosity, he had agreed TO place
the population, announced the conference at
an end; and rose in a manner which showed
his determination TO talk no more. AS he
crossed the room 10 leave il, enc Of the NlcXl-
can commissioners addressed him, and some
conversation. which did not hear, ensued.-
Gen. WORM asked PERMISSION OF Gen. LAY
LoR and addressed some remarks 10 Gen. AM
PuDIA. the spirit of which was that which he
manifested throughout the negotiation, VIZ :;
generosity and lenlency, and desire to spare
the further ellusion Of blood. The commission
re-aSSembied, and the points OF capltuIaton
were agreed upon. After short recess we
again repaired to the room In which we had
parted from the Mexican commissioners they
Were tardy in joining us, and slow in execu-
ting the instrument Of capuulatlon. The 9TH,
Sth, and 9Th articles Were added during this ses-
sion. AT late hour the English original was
handed 10 Gen. TAYLOR for his examination !;
the Spanish original having been sent to Gen.
AmPUnIA. Gen, TAfLoR signed and deliver
ed TO me the instrument as ii was submitted 10
hun, and returned 10 receive the Spanish CO
py with the signature Of Gen. AMPUDIA, and
send that having Gen. TAYLoR's signature,
that each General might countersiqn the origi
nal to be retained by the other. Gen. AMPu-
Ola did not sign the instrument as was expec-
ted, but came himself to meet the commission
ers. He raised many points which had been
settled, and evinced a disposition TO make the
Spanish differ in essential points from the En-
glsh instrument Gen. Worm was absent
Finally he was required 10 sign the instrument
prepared for his own commissioners. and the
English original was left with him that he
might have it translated, (Which he promised
10 do that night,) and be ready the next morn
ing with a Spanish duplicate Of the English
instrument left with him. BY this means the
two instruments would be made 10 correspond,
and he be compelled to admit his knowledge
Of the contents Of the English original before
he signed ii.
The next morning the commission again
met, again the attempt was made, as had been
often done before by solicitation, to gain some
grant in addition 10 the compact Thus we
had at their request adopted the word capiiU-
tafion IN lieu Of surrender; they now wished
10 substitute stipulation for capitulation 1t f.
III.