Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-05-25
meniarian regicdes, commanded BY one Anthony
Townsey, murdered NJ. Dromgole, OF Drom-
COLES Town, al his own gale"
AMERICAN PRISONERS IN MEXICO.


A friend has kindly furnished US correct list
(says The n. o. Times) Of our counlrymen now
detained as prisoners in the Castle of 81. Jago-
amounting in all 10 l02, as follows: First Regi-
ment Of Kentucky Cavalry SIS; frsl Regiment Of
Arkansas Cavalry 50, including ell sick at
San Luis Potosi; Second Regiment of u. S. ORA
eoons IL, including sick al San Luis.
We are indebted 10 the same gentleman Tor The
appended copy oil letter OF remonslrance, which
our gallant officers addressed 10 Santa Anna, and
which was presented 10 him on the 28h March;
OF which however, no notice had been taken up
10 The ID April, when Santa Anna lett the Capt.
CASTLE ST. JAGo CITY Of Mexico)l
March 24h l847.
To his Excellency General SANTA Anna:
Sir: The undersigned officers in The Army OF
The United States Of America, respectfully slate
10 yonr Excellency, that lhey together with their
respective commands consisting of seveny-one
persons in all, became prisoners Of war 10 The
Mexican Republic, al The Hacienda Encarnacion,
on the Odd Of January last. On that morning be-
fore day light we found ourselves entirely sur
rounded by large turce-say three thousand
men; and about sun rise, white flag approach
ed us on one side and a considerable force on an
other; we required that The troops should retire,
precedent 10 our receiving The flag, which being
complied with, the flag approached and surren
der deman ded We look one hour 10 determine
whether We would entertain proposition Of The
Of The kind or mol; al The expiration OF The hour
the flag returned and was answered that We
would hear a proposition, and were told thai Ge-
neral Minon would send a Major 10 our camp,
while one OF our number Of equal rank should
repair 10 his Headquarters, and hear his oier.-
This being done, Major Borland entertained The
officer sent in, whilst Major Gaines rode oul 10
The General, had conference of about one hour
with him, returned 10 the Hacienda, and in the
presence ol an interpreter, on each side, stalled
the terms offered, which were accepted, and be-
tween eleven and twelve o'clock we surrendered
as prisoners OF war.
The terms were, that the General himself should
receive The sword OF our commander that public
properly should be surrendered; and private pro-
perry should be respected; and that The best treat.
ment, in every particular, known amongst civil
lied nations IL prisoners OF war should be ours.
The General, when asked to reduce these terms
TO writing, gave us the most positive assurances
that his word OF honor was worth more than three
or tour signatures, and thai, unless his agreement
was fully carried out, he would abandon the ser
vice Of his county. On our journey 10 this city,
we had The qualification 10 NEE; your Exceency.
and after stating 10 you The terms Of our capiu-
lauon, received The pleasing assurance that they
should be complied with.
The object OF this nol,, is 10 complain 10 The
Head OF the Mexican Republic thal so far from
the terms OF our equalization having been com.
piled with, We have been frequently subjected 10
the most srievous deprvaiors, and that we have
reirained from making our protest hitherto in
consequence Of The unhappy discussions said 10
exist in The capilal-which being now fortunate
~ adjusted, as we are informed, We most re-
specially call your attention 10 our condition.
We lorbear, al this time, from entering into
The particulars OF our complaints, and beg leave
10 refer your Excellency TO General Vega, who
has lately been prisoner OF war in The United
States, (bu, who has not honored US with any no
lice whateyer) Tor The manner in which prisoners
Of war are treated in our country.
There is, however, one complaint, which we
owe 10 ourselves 10 call your immediate attention
10. Weare informed that General Minon, in re-
porting our capture 10 his Government alleges
lha, We surrendered al discretion and that we owe
our lives 10 The masnanmiiy Of the Mexican Re-
public. Against such a statement we enter our
solemn protest and declare that The terms OF our
surrender being accurately stated in The foregoing
part OF This note, anything inconsisl enl thereto is
unlounded in TACT.
Hoping that peace between The TWO Repub
Your most obedient servants,
[Sgned.)
I0INP Gaines Major Ky Reqt Of Cavalry u. s A.