The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-09-25
Santa Annals Story.

We copy from the Washington Union of
Tuesday the following abstract orSunta An
mas account of the late battles, and decIura-
tons ofhis future intentions:
Gen. Santa Anna commences his manifes-
TO, announcing to the Mexican people the
nrmisticc which he had concluded with Gen.
Scott, by saying that the events Of the 10Th
and Goth are already too notorious, because
they were unfortunate. lie then adycrts to
the extraordinary eXcrtions which he had
used TO raise and equip an army of more
than 10000 men, and provide supplies for
them, and TO construct lines of Notifications.
Ills plan of defence, he says. was evident
from glance AZ the works, constructed, and
at the disposition of his troops: but in war, an
accident apparently insignificant may trus-
trate the most skilul combinations. On the
18th, ut | | o'clock in the morning, he order
ed general who commanded division of
5000 men and 81 pieces OF artillery, to fall
back on the village ofCoyocan, for the pun
pose ofetiGcting a concentration of forces, in
consequence of n movement ofthe enemy.
But this general forgetting that there could
not be two commanders in field of battle,
undertook to object TO the order; and, instead
of falling back, advanced; and the first news
that he Santa Anna had of this unfortunate
movement was the report of cannon, show
ing that an engagement had commenced.
With n fatal presentment ofthe consequent
ces, he immediately placed himself ut the
head Of brilliant brigade Of four thousand
men and five pieces ofartilery, and proceed
ed to the support ofthe general, but arrived
too late. The enemy had iuterposcd his for
ccs between them; and the night coming on,
and the rain falling in torrents, he was conf
PEELED to retire. lie, however, sent an order
by an aid decamp to the refractory general,
directing him to retire to San Angel by the
only road which was then left him; but, i'll
stead ofobeying this order, the general sent
him word that what he wanted was more
troops; that he had beaten the enemy and
put him to flight, and had granted promo
tons in consequence ofthe victory!
The next day at dawn, Santa Anna says he
made an other effort 10 proceed to the sup
port Of the crring general, Whose name he
does not mention but had hardly put him
self i'll motion when the enemy made his at
lack, and in ten minutes the general was
routed. The consequences of this, he says,
were terrible. The enemy could, by rapid
movement, reach the Capital before it was
possible for him to succor it, or might fall
with the whole body of lis troops upon a
part of the Mexican army. AZ engagement
did take place between their respective adj
yuncod corps, and Santa Anna says that h!S
eXertonS cost the enemy not little blood
and that he succeeded in placing himself in
a position 10 save the Capital: but, upon re-
Cciving n communication from Gen. Scott
proposing an arrnistce he concluded to &C.
cede to it. He then touches upon tho pro-
priety of on armistice in the abstract, aud
concludes by saying that if the present arm
istice does not result in peace, the war car
he renewed. lie is still, he says, at the head
of Il respectable body oftroops and the ma.
ton will support him in maintaining It's hon.
or. At the same time, he threatens to pun
ish fictitious and soditious opposition to the
supreme authority.