Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-06-04

Sahla Anna, we copy from the new orleans
Commercial Timrs, of the 18th ultimo:
CASTLE OF ST. JAeo, City Of Mexico,l
March Gath, l847.
To his Ercellency, General Santa Anna:
SIR: The undersigned, officers in the army OF
the United States Of America, respectfully state
10 your Excelency that they, together with their
respective commands, consisting Of sevenly-one
persons in all, became prisoners of war 10 the
Mexican Republic at the Hacienda Encanacion,
on the 23d Of January last. On that morning,
before daylight, we found ourselves entirely sur
rounded by large iorce-say three thousand
men-and, about sunrise, white flag approach
ed us on one side, and considerable force on
another; we required that the troops should re-
tire, precedent TO our receiving the flag, which
being complied with, the flag approached and a
surrender demanded. We took one hour to de-
termine whether we would entertain proposition
of the kind or not; at the expiration of the hour
the flag returned and was answered that we would
hear proposition, and were told that General
Minon would send Major 10 our camp, while
one of our number of equal rank should repair
10 his headquarters and hear his offer. This be-
ing done, Major Borland entertained the officer
era, had u conference Of about one hour with
him, returned to the hacienda, and. in the pre-.
sence Of an Interpreter on each side, stated the
terms offered, which were accepted; and, be-
tween eleven and twelve 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 properly should be respected and that the
best treatment in every particular, known a.
mongst civilized nations TO prisoners Of war,
should be ours.
The General, when asked 10 reduce these terms
TO writing, gave us the most positive assurances
that his word of honor was worth more than
three or four signatures and that, unless his agree.
ment was fully carried out, he would abandon
the service Of his country. On our Journey 10
This city, we had the qualification to meet your
Exccllency; and, after stating 10 you the terms
Of our rapilulaton, received the pleasing assu.
rance that they should be complied with.
The object Of this note is TO complain 10 the
Head of The Mexican Republic, that, so far from
the terms of our capituation having been COM
piled with, we have been frequently subjected 10
The most grievous deprivations, and that we have
relrained from making our protest hitherto, in
consequence of the unhappy discussions said TO
exist in the capita-which, being now Fortunate
y adjusted, as we are informed, we most respect
fully call your attention 10 our condition.
We Corbear, at this time, from entering into the
particulars of our complaints, and beg leave 10
refer your Exceency 10 General La Vega, who
has lately been prisoner Of war in the Uned
States, (but who has not honored US with any no.
tice whatever,) for the manner in which prison
ers of war are treated in our country.
There is, however, one complaint which we
owe to ourselves 10 call your immediate attcn-
ton to. We are informed that General Minon,
in reporting our capture TO his Government, ale
ges that we surrendered at discretion, and that
we owe our lives to the magnanimity of the Mex
lean Republic. Against such a statement we en-
ter our solemn protest; and declare that the
terms Of our surrender being accurately stated in
the foregoing part Of this note, any thing incon-
sistent thereto is unlounded in fact.
Hoping that peace between the two Republics
shall speedily be made, upon terms equally hon
orable to both, we subscribe ourselves, your most
obedient servants, lSigned,]
John P. Gaines, Maj. Ky. Regt. OF Cav, U. S. A.