The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-05-04

! oil me parish OF lberviIle. bv Gen. TaxIor
which will be read with the greatest ovidi,v
Whatever relates 10 the battle of Buena Viz
la, oil an authentic character. must nosrcs.
an absorbing interest IL will be A. o,,cc
seen that the letter was not intended for ,Ls
press but we make no apology Tor publish
ing such portions OF it as are Of public CON
Germ Ihe distinguished gentleman 10 whom
IL was addressed has been moved nv desire
10 contribute TO the knowledge Of Tie PUBLIC
upon an engrossing subject, 10 submit this
letter for our use.
A paragraph in relation 10 the pres;de,.,,
wTl at once create attention.
| HEAoouARrERs AT AGUA NUEvA.
Army Of Occupation. Mexico March 4. ~. {
My Dear General-Your very acce prabIe
anu Interesting letter Of the 18th November
last, reached me on the 24th Of Dece n,Ber.
while on The march from Monterey TO Tam
plco; but the nature OF my duties Stree tkrry
lbeing most of the time in the saddle Y in nd-
dlton to other matters, has prevented me
from replying to il until the present moment,
be assured my dear sir, have not since
then lost sight Of it or yourself; and ! ieeb
highly gratlied Cor the hatIermg manner in
which you have noticed the conduct of the
officers and soldiers who marched with me
from the Rio Grande to Monterey and COM
PEELED that place TO surrender after mucb
hard fighting, as they fully merit the hand
some encomiuIns you have thought proper In
bestow on them. For this you have nv
sincere thanks
The general then alludes 10 the nnisrep.
reservations which had been made in regard
TO Major Gen. Butler al Monterey. Those
misrepresentation had been the subject os
conversation between them, and left no kef
ing like distrust or unkindness towards each
other in their breasts. The letter then zoe,
on !
Twas aware Of the report as welt as s,are-
ments in lew Of the public journals, thar IL
was intended by cerrain individuals 10 bring
Gen. Butler forward as the successor 10 Mr..
Polk, which gave me no concern and wonld
not even had been the case, which drd
not credit and which had been forgotten. I
doubt if the subject would have again crossed
my mind, had ii not been brGIghrt0 my no.
tice by you or some one else. 4 have never
heard him or any OF his lrieQds aule 10 This
matter. He (the generaI,) in consequence
OF his wound not healing. which gave him so
much pain as 10 render him unfit for duty
left short time since by advice of his Hedt-
cal attendant for New Orleans, where hope
he has arrived in safety and where truly
hope he will very soon recover 20 as 10 be
able TO take the field once more.
! may observe that have been also nam,
ed US candidate for that high office fihe
Presidency by few newspaper editors and
and others, which has been done without nv
knowledge. wishes or consent.
Thus have answered all who have writ
/ h.
no aspirations for that or any other civil Of.
fee; that my whole energies, mental, and
PHYSICAL, were and had been absorbed in
such a way as | thought best calculated 10
bring this war TO n speedy and honorable
close. believing ii was for the interest Of both
countries the sooner il was done The better
at any rate so far as ours was concerned;
and that President making should he lost
sight Of until This was accomplished.
Here follows brief statement Of event,
from the Time Of Gen SCOTS arrival AT The
Brazos TIL Gen Taylor returned from Viz
loria 10 Monterey. The lcticr then proceeds
rcfraccd my steps 10 Monterey. where
arrived towards The latter part Of the month
! January, and where ! expected TO remain
some Time 10 recruit myseliUHd horses; but
Il few days after my arrival received intnr-
u
| Saltillo (65 miles ia the direction of San
Luis Potosi from Monterrey that the com
mand-between 1000 and 5000 stron.-nn-
der Gen. Wool had become very much alarm
ed in consequence Of about 100 picked men
and horses, belonging 10 the Kentucky and
Arkansas regiments OF mounted men. wbo
were sent out towards San Luis 10 rain in
ieIIigcnce respecting the enemy and 10 watch
their movements. having been tnken. aiicr
beng surrounded in the night and all made
prisoners by Il large force Of cavalry, about
| 50 miles in advance Of SaIriIlo. So said one
Of the patty who succeeded in making his
escape the next night and getting back In
Saliilo; also that the Mexican urmy WAS
advancing in great numbers towards Sal
io.
These reports induced me 10 Join nv adj
vance Immediately. Leaving Monterey on
the Dist January reached SalliIlo on the
morning Of the ID February with small re-
enforcement which increased my force 10
I 5000, when lost no time in moving ioI ward
and establishing camp al this place, ahout
/ 20 miles in advance OF SalIiIIo Oh The San
Luis road. for the purpose Of CARRYING on a
system Of instruction, as well as 10 watch
the movements Of the enemy. and where
expected 10 fight him should he move cI.
/
examining the several passes through the
mountains-at which time | ascertaIned that
| Gen. Santa Anna was advancing and near
to hand with an overwhelming force
Not exactly liking my position. having as-
certained That he could gain my rear by two
roads on my right and one on my left, and
not deeniing it prudent 10 divide my force,
and having apprehensions about my supplies
which were in Saltillo | determined al once
to fall back towards thai place about twelve
miles, and occupy strong position between
Two spurs Of a mountain with narrow val
ley between them, where al one point the
road is so narrow as TO permit ile passage OF
only one wagon at time. with deep gtllies
running up 10 the mountains. washcdsby The
rains so as TO prevent horses or carriages
from passing them without great difficulty.
Said position had been closely examined by
the Typographical engineers under The eye
of Gen. Wool before my arrival, who DEEM