Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-03-27

ed the attack.
SIN regard the temporary cessation of hosttes, III
fact that not at this moment within eleven days Of tn
termination Of the period fixed by the convention prepared
move forward in force, sufficient explanation OF the mill
taIy which dictated this suspension OF pa
rayzed the enemy during period when from the want
necessary means, could not possibly move desire dis
ncy state and to call the attention Of the authorities
the fact that with all diligence in breaking mules and setting
up wagons the first wagons in addition to original train
from Corpus Christi, and but one hundred and twenty-five
IN number reached my headquarters the day witt
tho Secretays communication OF October ID, viz the p
instant AT the date of the surrender OF Monterey orcs
had not than days raons, and with al
our endeavors have not than twenty ve The task
OF lighting and beating the enemy among the least difficult
that encounterhe great question Of supplies necessarily
controls all the operations in country like this At the date
Of the convention could of have foreseen that
the Department would direct important detachment from
my command without consulting me, or without waiting the
reselt OF the main operation under my orders
81 have touched the prominent military points involved in
the convention of Monterey There were other consdera-
tons which weighed with the commissioners IN framing and
with myself in approving the articles of the convention In
the conference with General Ampuda was distinctly told by
him that he had invited it TO spare the further eusion OF
blood aud because Gen. Santa Anna had declared himself
favorable to peace knew that Government had made
propositions TO that OF Mexico negotiate, and deemed
that the change Of Government in that country since my last
instructions fully warranted me in entertaining considerations
of policy My grand motive in moving forward with very
limited supplies had been to increase the inducements OF the
be the actual disposition of the Mexican rulers Of
Gen. Santa Anna, it mol unknown to the Government that
had the best for believing the statement of Gen.
Ampudia be It my opinion the time of the
convention, and it has not been changed that the liberal
treatment of the Mexican army and the suspension of
would exert none but favorable influence in our behalf.
Ihe result OF the entire operation has been to throw the
Mexican army back than three hundred miles to the
city OF San LUIS Potos and to open the country to US as far
as we choose to penetrate it up to the same point.
" has been my purpose in this communication not so
much to defend the convention from the which
deeply regret find implied in the Secretays letter, to
show that it not adopted without cogen reasons, most of
which of themselves to the minds of all who
luainted with the condition of things here To that end
beg that may be laid before the Generan Chief and Sc
cretary of War :
81 am sir very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Major General u s. Army, commanding"
In reference to the concluding sentence of the foregoing let
it is proper to remark that the correspondence OF General
Taylor addressed the Adutant General Of the Army
1t headquarters, in this city
On the day after the date of the above letter Chat is
he 9th of November) Gen. Taylor again to the De-
,artment saying ....
II have formally notified the Mexican generan-chief that
he temporary suspension of agreed upon in the
OF Monterey will the 18th instant the date at
which the notice will probably reach San Luis de Poosi
This notification sent by Major Graham typographical
ngneer, who left on the 9th instant
on Will perceive from my orders NO. l39, what ar
angemen have been made for the occupation of Sao at
he earliest moment by troops Whether operations
pushed forward towards San Luis not the occupation
Sallo is mportant-polcally, the capital Of Coahua
nd in military view, covering important region from
which may draw supplies.
"Bgader General Wool with portion of his force, ar
ved Monclova the 29th of October and joined
the division He reports practicable route to Chi
uahua except the by Parras which will bring him with
few leagues of salo He inquiries what to be gain
by going to chihuahua And am free to answer, no.
hing all with the excessive length his line
operations chihuahua, moreover, is virtually conquered
md can be occupied at any moment while we hold Salo
md Santa Fe shall instruct General Wool to remain at
Nonclova, where there supplies, until determine
what disposition to make Of his column which cannot be done
until visit Saltilo.
" have taken the first steps towards organizing the expe
lon Tampco, and propose to accompany it, for the pu
pose least OF commanding covering force There will be
some delay for the want OF means of land transport.
The information received since my communication of Oc-
ober 18TH relative to the route hence to San Luis renders
more than probable that from the of permanent
will be impossible to march large force from Salo that
'y hope TO acquire certain information on this point in
few days"
On the 22d Of October the Secretary of War addressed
ong communication General Taylor the material part Of
which copy. The Secretary says:
II is appehended here that the recent change in the po-
ltca affairs of Mexico will have important bearing upon
Dur military movements, and may render necessary
lily, in some respects, the plans of operation
Is at head OF party, and appears
have entered with zeal upon his duties generan chief
of the Mexican army 1t is not improbable that he may
iced in collecting and keeping together considerable force
put the promise OF change in the form Of Government pro-
oaby important consideration in regard to the presecu
ion of the The northern departments Of Mexico
opposed to the central and favor Of the federal system The
ormer forced upon them and maintained by military
power. This undoubtedly Produced throughout these pro-
gInces considerable disaecon 10 the Central Government
1.-The existence OF this dsatfection not overlooked
either Ivy yourself or the Government here in the plan OF the
campaign designed TO be principally confined to these pro-
'lnces, and 1t was presumed that it would materially affect
he extent to which operations in them could be safely
carried.
1.-The views presented in your communications Of the ID
Of July and LIST Of August appeared be sound and
ny concurred in by the Government According to these
views the extent TO which you could penetrate the enemy
country the direction Of Monterey would depend mainly
upon the facility Of obtaining supplies and Of keeping open
your line of communication with the Rio Grande. In both
these respects it oeseen that would depend upon
the disposition and feelings Of tie Mexican people Though
here was, when you your letter Of the s Of August
the Rio Gande and the Sierra Madre disposed
throw off the yoke of the Central Government and there
then hope that would do when there should be a strong
American force between and the city Of Mexico the aspect
Of things in this particular appears have since changed
The rulers Of Mexico have declared in favor Of the fede
raj system and thus gaed the wishes Of the northern pro-
vinces is, apprehend, longer reasonable expect
from them neutrality, and be taken
the assumption that they will cooperate with the enemy
carrying the war; and do all they impede our
81 your communication Of the LIST Of August you state
that whether large force be subsisted beyond Monte