Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-09-23
Manifesto of Santa Anna.
Translated for The "UniOn" from the second and correct
edi.inn nnhI he'd In the aIiarin ~

Manifesto of Santa Anna.
Translated for The "Union from the second and corrected
edition published in the "Diaro."
Manifesto of the President Gd interim OF the republic
and SensrGt-in-chief Of ats army, to the nation:
On critical and solemn occasions it rs a duty, on
the part of him who presides the republic, to
give publicity to events; and discharge this duty
with pleasure, because rankness has at all times been
the characteristic of my administration. The occur
rences of the 18th and 10Th well known, for
they were unfortunate; but it is proper for me to re-
view them in order that they may not be misrepre-
sented, as well from spirit Of deracton and malev-
olence from errors resulting from want of anal
yss In subjects Of grave and transcendent Importance
The nation has witnessed the great, the extraord-
nary efforts with which, during the space of three
months, have abored for the defence of the capital
which about to be surrendered deenceless to the
enemy. | have organized, armed, and equipped an
army of more than 1000 men; | have collected an
immense materiei for this army have fortified vari-
Gus lines In order to keep at distance from Mexico
the ravages of war; have created resources in the
midst OF the state of abandonment in which the gov
eminent was left; and no fatigue, labor have
omlted In order that my country might present her
sf with dignity and frmness in the struggle 10 which
she has hecn unlustly provoked
In war, an accldent-a circumstance apparently the
most gniicant-may Illustrate the most skllfully
devised combinations. glance the defences which
caused to be constructed around the city is sufficient
TO discover the plan which had proposed to myself
The troops which had advanced, by of the TANKS,
supported by others posted echeOn at convenient
dlsiances. to have made concerted retrograde
moveanent, which commanded at the proper moment.
general who commanded a strong division of
5000 men and "a pieces Of artillery whose headquar
tiers was at the town of San Angel, was ordered by
me on the 18th, at ii o'clock in the morning. to fall
back on the village of Coyoacan: in order to effect
the concentration of forces, In consequence of dem
onsratlon already made by the enemy, and for the
purpose of exactly carrying my plan Of operations
but THIS general, forgetting that there be two
commanders on the held of battle, and that the execu-
ton OF plan will not admit of comments which an
null or rcard IT, suffered himself object to the or
ders VII 4 he had received; and obedience and disci-
pine, so Indispensable in military movements, ha, ING
been banshed from among Us, thus rendering it nee
essary, IN order to avoid greater and imminent evils,
to tolerate what ii would be absurd to approve Of
suffered him, in spite of myself perseyere n his
purpose and charge himself with the whole response
bIy of the consequences. They were no less dis
astrous than they had been obvious. He advanced,
nnota ProPiO, [of his own accord, more than league
TO choose position from which TO meet the enemy,
without acquainting me either with his movement or
his Intentions His refusal to obey the order sent him
was the first notice which had of his temcrity and
afterwards the report of enabled me TO
certain the position he had taken, and apprized me
llldl al aClIOu Ddu commenced. Although weighed
down with presentiment of what was to follow
instantly placed myself at the head of splendid brig
ade OF four thousand men and four pieces Of artillery
arrived at the moment when the enemy had cut off
the rear of the position of The Inflated general by
considerable force, whose operations was then hard
ly able to check, for it nearly night
But observed, with the greatest grief that the po-
stlon In question lsolated-ihat large ravne
interviewed, and neighborng wood was occupied by
the enemy; the troops under my immediate command
could not advance by the only road which existed,
without being exposed to the fate as the others
and single battery which arrived late, my only
means of attack The firing having ceased. our brig
ade took up their quarters In the of San Angel;
for the rain fell in torrents, and to keep the troops
the field would have been equivalent to their being
routed.
Previous to this, / ordered that my aid-de-camp
Col. Ramiro, should, taking as guide the deputy Don
Jose Maria del Rio, who acquainted with the
ground, proceed the head of the terrible rayine in
front of US and along the skirt Of distant hill, and
making all haste to the camp of the general referred
to- order him 10 retire that night, without fall with
his Infantry and cavalry. TO San Angel, by the only
road which was left him, first spiking his canon If
1t was already impossible 10 them. This my aid
accomplished, and communicated my order between
III and at night but instead of punciually obeying
the ORDER the general hardly suffered my aid to speak
lnerruptng him by saying that what he wanted was
oOOO men and munitions, and sent him off after CIV
ing him two official letters, which he had signed and
sealed; one Of them containing report of the action
of the evening, which he stated that he had beaten
the enemy, and put him TO shameful fight, and that
he had, IN consequence, granted promotions to the
generals, field officers, and others.
The following day, at dawn, repaired again to
the same field, reinforced by brigade which had
ordered to be brought from the capital and determ-
ned to effect the passage any cost but as soon as
began to move, the enemy made his attack, which
lasted about ten minutes. and witnessed in the midst
OF despair, the rout OF those troops, worthy of bet
ter fate, and unfortunately commanded by general
who was himself the cause of their being cut off.
The consequences of this affair were, In my view,
terrible. The enemy could, by a rapid movement,
reach the capital before ii would be possible for 10
succor it; he could, by flank movement cut off my
detached forces he had obtained, the result of his
victory, the power of falling with the body IF
his troops upon part of mine; the enemy, in fine,
through the unskllfulness and lnsubordInation Of
general converted to bis own benefit all the advanta-
yes of my situation.
The advanced fort of San Antonio could not sustain
itself; for our line had been intersected and order
ed its garrison to retire, while covered the fort and
tete de Pont of Churubusco. The enemy advanced.
cutting off portion of the troops they were reti
ring and presented himself in front of our nearest
offences there placed myself again in front oil our
soldiers, and my efforts caused the enemy little
bloodshed. The losses which ensued although lament
able, the natural result Of the retreat which was
sudden, unexpected, and embarrassed BY the trains,
marching along narrow cause-way fianked through
its whole extent. The defence was from line to
line, until the third was reached, where personally
opposed The enemy, and saved the capital. which was
suddenly placed ia danger. While | was engaged,
the z, in organizing the forces aud covering the
batteries and 0aIn in person at the head of n column