Washington telegraph., 1847-06-02
IRON OUR PRISONERS IN MExIeo


addressed to Santa Anna, by the officers
of the Arkansas and Kentucky Regiments,
now prisoners of war in the Castle oil 81,
Jago, city OF Mexico. The letter, ii ap.
pears, was presented 10 Santa Anna on
the 2slh of March, but up to the I'd OF
April, al which time he left the city, he
had taken no notice Of il. Immediately
alier the battle OF Buena Vista, General
Taylor made an arrangement with this
one legged tyrant and traitor for an ex.
change Of these prisoners, which, SO far
as our information extends, has been totally
disregarded BY him. Would ii he more
Than even handed Justice 10 place in close
confinement the Mexican prisoners now in
our possession, until our brave eouatrymen
are released
cls1Lr ST. JAeo, (crr OF MrSieol |
March 2lh ISL.
To his Ercelisaey General SaHia iaaai
sif.-'fhe undersigned officers in the
Army of the United States of America, res.
peelIully state 10 your EIeelleney, that they.
with their respective commands, consist.
ing of seyenly.onc persons in all, became
prisoners of war 10 the Mexican Republic.
al the Hacienda Eneamacioni on the 23l
of January last. Ga the morning before
day light we found ourselves entirely sur.
rounded by large lorce,-saY about three
thousand men, and about sun rise, white
tiag approached US On one side, and con.
siderable force on another we required
that the troops should retire, precedent 10
our receiving the flag, which being com
piled with, the flag approached, and sur.
render was demanded. We took one
hour 10 determine whether va would en-.
leflain proposition ol tho kind Of not at
the expiration Of the hour, the Tag fe.
turned, and was answered that we would
hear proposition, and were told that Gen.
Minon would send q MAJOR 10 our camp,
while ono Of our number of equal rank,
should repair to his Headquarters, anl hear
his oller. This being done, Major Bar.
land entertained the officer sent IN; whilst
MAJOR Gaines rode out 10 the General,
had conference Of about one hour with
him, returned to the Hacienda, and in
presence Of an interpreter, on each side,
stated the terms offered, which were &C.
eepted. aud between eleven ami twelve
o'clock We surrendered as prisoners olWaE
The terms were, that the General him.
sell should receive the sword Of cur cum
mandef; that the public property should be
surrendered; aud private property should
be respected; and that the besi Treatment,
in every particular known amongst civil.
zed nations To prisoners ol var sa#u.d b.
ours.
The General, when astedlo reduce these
terms 10 wiring, gave Us tue mosi psi.
Tive assurance that his word oi hunor was
worth more than three or four signatures.
aud thai. unless his agreement was fully
carried out. he would abandon tho service
Of his country. On our journey 10 this city
we had the qualification 10 meet your EA.
cellcncy, aud, after stating 10 you the Terms
VI our capilulaiion, received the pleasing
assurance that they should be complied
with.
The object Of Ibis note is To complain h
the Head of the Mexican Republic, that,
So Ear from the terms Of our capi'ulalinn
having been complied with. We have lrr.
ggeniy bccn subjected 10 the m 81 grieyous
depriya,ions, aud that We have feirained
from making our protest hitherto. in con.
sequence Of the unhappy dissensions said to
exit In TIC capial-which, being now
fortunately adjusted, as We are informed,
we mosl respectfully call your attention 10
our condition.
We lolbear, at this time, from entering
inlo the particulars Of our complaints, and
beg leave io refer your Eicrllency 10 Gen.
Vegr. who has lately been prisoner OF
war IA the United States, bll who has not
honored ns with any notice whnleyer) for
the manner in which prisoners OF war are
treated in our country.
There is, however, one complaint, which
we owe 10 ourselves TO call your immediate
attention 10. We are informed that Gen.
Minon, in reporting Out capture to his
Government, alleges that We surrendered
At discretion, anl that we owe our lives to
The maguanimily Of the Mexican Republic.
Against such a statement We enter our
solemn protest. and declare that, the terms
OF our surrender being accurately stated in
the iorgong part Of this note, anything in
consistent thereto is uniounded in tact.
Hoping that a peace between the two
Republics shall speedily be made, upon
terms equally honorable to both, we sub.
scribe ourselves.
Your mos; obclicnl servants,
(Signed.)
J. z. GAlNrs, Maj. ny. Rrgi. oi Cavalry,
$. RoRLANp, 4" Ak.
c. u. Clay, Capt. Ky.
c. G. DANLEy, Ark.
G.R.DAyIpsoN, % 1t. KY"