Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1847-02-10
@@@@R1@ADe S. Ca W3YRVA@Y 9Qe 48A0s

wagons and artillery from this quarter
In fact, here San Luis Potosi is moi
talked Of at all, and every person is .o
the opinion that tile contemplated expe-
dition to that place has been entirely
abandoned. We have been advised
here that the ,Mexicans, in for,ifying
Vera Cruz, have dug a large number OF
bitches in the town, and The one at the
outer edge is represented as being Is
feet deep, with the same width. It. |
understand Gen. Taylor's idea Of attack
ing the town, and have heard a number
of officers speak of it, it is TO be done
entirely by storm, taking with him the
means Of crossing the bitches. As he
is willing to stake the laurels he won in
May and September last on the result,
l have confidence enough iO the man to
wish him to undertake it. alone or as
the right or left bower with Gen. Scott.
Gen. Scouts arrival in this city does
not give, by any manner of means the
general satisfaction, not, lha: the man is
unpopular with the army,. butthat a de-
sire prevails to see the man who COM
menced the war and VI ho so fortunately
carried it on thus far, make finish of
it. ] should have been pleasedto have
seen him at the head Of affairs, at the
start, for believe he would have had
the army better appointed than it was,
but since it has succeeded so admirably
with all the inconvenierces attendant, |
am willing now to trust it to the end
under the same guidance. In the srsl
place, Gen. Scott would have demanded
and received more men before leaving
the Rio Glande, we'll proyisioned and
equipped in every particular. He would
lave made The government furnish such
things as were necessary, nor would he
have moved until he had received them.
Gen. Taylor, on the other hand, know
ing that his troops could not be whipped
and not wishing to get at loggerheads
with the powers at Washington, pre-
lerred the use Of leaden to the paper
bullets, moved on when the time arrived,
to do the best he. could. Gen. Scott
would have beer; less obedent to the
.d;ctu:cs of-the soothing or ronciilatory
system pointed out by President Polk,
and would have taken the responsibility
of discriminating. Having the means
he would have, followed up his victories,
and following them up, would have
caused the enemy to cry quarter hong
ere this. ! would not for the world be
understood as saying or limiting anything
prejudicial to Gel. Taylor by the com.
parison, for he has not only whipped the
onemy wherever he found them, bat has
attempted to do far more difficult task
that Of carrying out the views Of 1.-The
Administration, and only think Gen.
Scott would have done better because /
believe he would have acted as his own
ideas of policy dictated.
January, 9th, ls47.
AS I failed to obtain from Capt. May
the acco1nt of his adventure he had
signifed his Intention of furnishing me,
1 am forced to the necessity Of giving it
as heard it from the officers and his
men. After lie had retraced his steps
through the pass with the main body and
proceeded several hundred yards, he
heard rumbling sound behind him as
if large stones were being rolled down
the mountain. He Immediately went
back in the direction, and shortly met
the Lieut.. and Sergeant Of the rear guard
Of whom he demanded "where'is your
rear guard 2" the Lieutenant answered
that they were near, but on tarning to
look for them none but the Sergeant was
to be found. The whole command then
proceeded towards the pass again, and
came up to it without finding anything
of the men, bu; they found large num.
ber of loose stones, that they say had
been hurled down from the perpcDdicu,
lar side Of the: mountains, and traces Of
blood in several places. They then
went through the pass, and travelled
several miles, but could not discover
any traces Of the, men, although they
heard that a, party Of Americans had
gone through a little village, but it wa,
not said whether as prisoners or not. a
few shots were fired from their carbines
at persons on the mountains, but they
did not reach. Capt. May seems ,un-
decided whether these men have been
carried off or not.
Two mails will leave here morrow,
and Heaven knows when another will
start. One will 60 by the way Of Mon
terey, and the other to TamPico. The
latter will be only an express mail, il l
can get my letters in ] will.