Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1847-09-28
From the 81 Louis R.v.i,,.
OUR VICTORIES
Interesting Particulars.
Near the Mexican Capital.

/
IN the plaza was fired to announce the
approach of the American army from
Puebla Commerce was Immediately
closed, and all ran to take up arms and to
prepare to meet the enemy, and all pro.
phesied victory.
On the 10Th, about o'clock, the firing
commenced in the pedregal between San
Angel and Contreras, in the direction of
Flalpam, whence Gen. Valencia took I'D
his position with, they say, about 5000
men and twehtytonr pieces of artillery.
The firing ofartillery continued until dark
On the morning of the Goth the action
commenced in real earnest, and in a very
short time the whole of Valencia's army
were running in full route in all directions
leaving their whole artillery on the grouud
in possession of the enemy.
Santa Anna puts the whole blame on
Valencia, in not obeying his orders, and
the friends of Valencia say that Santa
Anna did not support him on the morning
of the 2Olh.
There are about 5000 Mexican troops
in the city, and unless an honorable peace
is entered into they will have another
brush. But my opinion is. all will be
settled. if it was not previously understood.
The opinion of the better classes is,
that peace will De concluded.
A wagon train belonging to the Amer.
lean army, and escorted by Mexican
troops, having by mistake been conduct.
ed through the palaza, was attacked by
the Mexican rabble, and several of. tho
teamsters wounded. Gen. Scott, being
satisfied that the Mexican authorities did
their best to quell the mob, 1t the affair
pass without further notice.
MIR. Kendall says of the armrstice:
Great dissatisfaction prevails in the
army in regard to this armistice. The
whole affair, on the face OF it, says Ken.
dali. looks like one of Santa Annals old
tricks to gain time, and plan some new
scheme of trickery and DISSEMINATION. and
as he has British influence to back him,
he will be likely to carry out what be
undertakes. II is one of his schemes
to gain time for another brush.
Santa Anna accuses Valencia of hav.
ing !ost the capital by not obeying his
orders to abandon Contreras on the 18th,
and has ordered him to be shot wherever
found; on the other hand, Valencia accus-
es Santa Anna of having lost everything
by not coming to his assistance. and it is
now said that he has pronounced against
him and peace with theYankees atToluca.
Thus matters stand between these great
Mexican leaders. Again, it is reported
that Paroles is advancing from Orizaba,
which place he successfully reached from
Vera Cruz. breathing nothing but death
and utter anhilation to the Infamous North
Americans; while it is further stated that
Bustamente is at or near the capital with
5000 men, breathing the Same amiable
sentiments.
The number of deserters and other
foreigners found lighting against us the
other day, and who are now prisoners, is
u. a court martial, with Col. Garland
as President, is now in session here, for
the trial offs portion ofthis precious set Of
scoundrels, and it is to be hoped they
may have full Iustise done them.
We now have certain intelligence that
Valencia arrived at oluca with only two
men. his aid de-camps. and they were
thankful for their good horses, or else they
could not have kept up It is asserted
positively that he was drunk on the night
of the 10Th inst, and promoted all his Of
ficers for their extraordinary gallantry in
standing firmly to their guns during the
afternoon when no one was returning
their fire.
The prospects for peace look bright.
er, although the treaty lie far from being
signed. Our accounts from the city would
certainly indicate that a strong peace
feeling prevades the better class of cIti.
zens, as well as those of the middling or.
der = they have evidently lost all conf.
dence in their own Wanting soldiers, and
are anxious to get rid of future taxes for
their support.
The panic after the battle was so great
that single regiment could have driven
the whole Mexican soldiery from the ciry.
1t is better probably that they did not en-.
ter, for they would have found no Govern.
ment to treat With--Santa Anna and HE
cabiaet would have fled.
The official report of Gen. Salas. who
was second in command at Contreras, and
who is now prisoner. has been punish
ed in Mexico. He admits that his defeat
was total. Salas says that at the outset
of the disorder he shouted 'sVictory for
Mexico." ordered the trumpets to sound,
and directed Gen. Torrejon to charge
with his lancers: but according to the
same account that officer fed in the most
cowardly manner, the Infantry got mixed
up with the cavalry and also fed, and the
rout of all was complete and most disas.
trous. Salas says that Gen. Valencia
Iran off at the commencement Of the fight