The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1847-05-01
Letter from General Taylor.

.Army of Occupation, .Mer,co, March a, l847}
My dear Gene,al--Y our very acceptable ant
interesting letter of the 18th November last
reached me on the Gath Of December, while OF
the march from Montereyto Tampico; but thu
nature Of my duties since then (being most o
the time in the saddle) in addition to othe
matters, has prevented1me from replying TO j
until the present moment Be assured, my
dear sir, have not since then lost sight Of i
OF yourself; and feel highly gratified for the
aattering manner in which you have noticed
the conductsof the officers and soldiers who
marched with me from the Rio Grande to Mon.
terey and compelled that place TO- surrender
after muchhard fighting, as they fully merlted
the handsome encomiums you have thought
proper to bestow upon them. For this you
have my sincere thanks. "a
1.-THE general then alludes to the mlsrepre-
sentatons which had been made in regard 10
Major General Butler, at Monterey. Those
misrepresentation had been the subject Of
conversation between them, and left no feeling
like distrusi or unkindness towards each other
in their breasts. Thelete then goes on
was aware Of the report as well as state
ments ina few Of the public journals, thati
was intended by certain individuals 70 bring
General Butler forward as the successor 10 Mr..
Polk, which gave me no concern, and would
not even had it been the case, which I did not
credit, and which had been forgotten. Idoubt
if the subject would again have crossed my
q. L.n H., ~ bxy
you or some one else. have never heard him
or any of his friends allude to this matter. He
(the generaD in consequence of his wound not
healing, which gave him SO much pain, as to
render him unfit for duty, left short time
since by advice Of his medical attendant for
New Orleans, where ! hope he has arrived in
safety, and where truly hope he will very
soon recover SO as to be able to take the field
once more. st
Insay observe that haze been also named as
candidate for that high office BY a fen newspaper
editors and others, which has been done Without
my knowledge, soishes or eonsent This have
assured all ,Oho hare agritten me upon bhe subject;
assuring them that Ihad no ASPIRATIONS for that
or any other cirl Q6ce that all my energies, mem
tai and physical, were, and had been absorbed IN
such pay as thought best calculated to bring
this war to speedy and honorable close, beiesing
IL ,cas for the interest Of both countries the sooner
IL scas done The betterat any rate so far as ours
ioas concerned; and that Pfeiident-making should
be lost sight Of until his was accomplished.
Here follows brief statement of events
r Il 1F ~
Brazos till Gen. Taylor returned from Victoria
to Monterey. The letter then proceeds:l
Iretraced my steps to Monterey, where ar
rived towards the latter part of the month
(January,) and where expected to remain
some time to recruit myself and horses; but
few days after my arrival received informa-
ton from the command in my front at Sal,illo
(65 miles in the direction of San Luis Potosi
from Monterrey that the command-between
1000 and 5000 strong-under Gen. Wool had
become-ve much alarmed in consequence of
about 100 picked men and horses, belonging to
the Kentucky and Arkansas regiments of
mounted men, who were sent out towards San
Luis to gain intelligence respecting the enemy,
and to watch their movements, having been
taken, after being surrounded in the night and
all made prisoners by large force Of cavalry,
about so miles in advance of SsltiIlo. These
reports induced me to Join my advance imme-
diately. Leaving Monterey on the 3lsi Jsnus-
~, reached Saltillo on the morning of the
I'd February with small reinforcement, which
increased my force to 5000, when I lost no time
in moving forward and establishing camp at
this place, about 20 miles in advance Of Saliil-
% on the San Luis road, for the purpose Of
ssrying on . system Of Instruction, ss well as
% watch the movements Of the enemy, where
expected to deht him shouId he attempt to
move on Saltillo. Here remained until the
list, examining the several passes through the
which time ascertained that
Den. Santa Anna wss advancing and near at
rand with an overwhelming force. Not exact
y liking my position, having sseertsinsd that
ie could gain my rear BY two roads on my
sit, and not dsemiug /, .Pruden, to divide my