Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-04-09
OFFICIAL DISPATCHES OF GEN ~.
LOR TO THE WAR DEPARTMENT. L
HEApoUARTERs ARMY OF Occup.r,o,

uPoSe u covering the removal OF sunnl
was driven in during the night and on S
morning OF the 22d the Mexican army appe ,us
ed Immediately in front of our position F'Nt
IL o'clock. a. m, flag was sent BEARING f,. AZ
General Santa Anna summons of unconS
ton surrender. To which immediately :.
turned negative reply. The summons ,'i
my reply are herwith inclosed The act;n ~
was commenced late in the afternoon betwaOn
the light troops on the left flank, but was w.
seriously engaged until the morning of the 9aS S'
when the enemy made and effort to fore. ~
left flank OF our position. An obstinate .nS
sanguinary conflict was maintaine, d with sbo'.
intervals, throughout the day, theresult beiO"
that the enemy was completely repulsed inoFs
our lines. An attacked of cavalry upon n.
rancho of Buena Vista and demonstratns
upon the city of Saltillo itself were lkew.a.
handsomely repealed. Early in the nigh Ns
enemy withdrew from his camp and fell bari
upon Aqua Nueva, distance oftwelve mills
Our own force enganged at all point, n
this action fell somewhat sort of $500 men
while that of the enemy, from the statemen,
of Gen Santa Anna, may be estimated at On
900. Our success against such great odds !,
a sufficient encomium on the good conduct n
our troops. In more detailed official report
| shall have the satisfaction of bringing to N.
notice of the government the CONSPICUOUS val.
lantry of particular officers and corps. Imax
be permitted here, however, to acknowlede.
my great obligations to Brig Gen. Wool. II.
second in command, to whom feel particu.
larly indebted for his valuable services on this
occasion.
Our loss has been very severe, and will not
probably fall short of 700 men, The Mex.
can loss has been immense | shall take III.
earliest opportunity of forwarding a correct
list of the casualties of the day.
l am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient
servant, Z. TAYLOR,
Maj. Gen. U. S. A. commanding.
The ADJurANr GENERAL of the army, Wash.
ington, D. c.
ITranslation.1
LSummons Of Santa Anna to Gen. Taulor1
You are surrounded by twenty thousand
men, and cannot, in any human probability,
avoid suffering rout, and being cut to pieces
with your troops; but as you deserve consid.
Grafton and particular esteem, wish to save
you from catastrophe, and for that purpose
give you this notice, In order that you nav
surrender at discretion, under the assurance
that you will be treated with the consideration
belonging to the Mexican character, to which
end you will be granted an hours time to
make up your mind, to commence from the
moment when my flag of truce arrives in your
camp.
With this view, assure you Of my partic.
ular consideration.
God and Liberty. Camp at Encantada,
February 22d, 1s47.
Ant. LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA.
To Gen. z. TAYLOR, commanding the forces
of the U. S.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF OCCUPATION,
Near Buena Vista, Feb. %, 1S47
SIR In reply to yonr note of this date, sum.
moning me to surrender my forces at discre.
ton, beg leave to say that decline acceding
| to your request
With high respect, am, sir, your obedient,
servant z. TAYLOR,
Maj. Gen. U. S. army, commanding
Senior Gen. D. ANTONIO LOPEZ DE SANTA An.
MA, Commander-in-chief,L La Encantada
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF OCCUPATION,
Saltillo, Feb. rs, 1S47.
SIR: have respectfully 10 report that the
main Mexican force is yet at Aqua Nueya-
Our troops hold the position which they have
so well defended, and are prepared to receive
the enemy, should he venture another attack
An arrangement has been made with Gen.
Santa Anna for an exchange of prisoners, by
which we shall receive all, or nearly all, Of
those captured from us at different times, be.
sides the few taken in the action of the 23d
Our wounded, as well as those of the Mex.
cans which have fallen into our hands. have
been removed to this place, and are rendered
comfortable.
Our loss in the recent actions, so far as as.
certained, amounts to 264 killed, $50 woun.
ded and 26 missing. One company of the
Kentucky cavalry is notincluded in this state
ment, its casualties not being yet reported
respectfully enclose a list of the commission.
ed officers killed and wounded, embracing
many names of the highest merit
am, Sir, very respectfully, your obedient
servant. z. TAYLOR,
Major Gen. u. S. A. comdg.
The ADJUrAET GENERAL of the Army, Wash.
ington, D. C.
| HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF OCCUPATION,
| Aqua Nueva, March /, 1847.
SIR: have the honor to report that the
troops of my command occupied their original
camp at this place on the 9th of February,
the last of the Mexican army leaving the
morning of that day in the direction of San Lu-
is. 1t is ascertained that the enemy is in full
retreat, and in very disorganized condition;
the men deserving and dying of starvation in
great numbers. despatch command this
day as far as Eucarnacion to harass his rear,
and secure whatever military supplies may be
found there.
! From the statements of Mexican officers,
particularly of the Medical staff left to succor
the wounded, there seems no doubt that their
loss in the recent action is moderately estin,a.
ted at 1 500, and may reach 1000 men, killed
and wounded; besides 1000 or 5000 deser'
ters Many officers of rank were lost. | en-.
close a list of the names of our own killed and
wounded, made as complete as practicable at
this time. One regiment (Kentucky cavalry
is not included, its return not being rendered
The enemy had fully reckoned upon our TO-
tai rout, and had made arrangements to inter
cept our retreat, and cut off the army, station
ing for that purpose, corps of cavalry, not on
ly Immediately in our rear, but even below
Monterey. Iregret to report that they sue
ceeded near the village of Marin in destroying
train of supplies, and killing considerable
number of the escort and teamsters. Colonel
Morgan, I'd Ohio regiment, on his march from
Cerralvo to Monterey, was infested by the
Mexican cavalry, with which he had several
rencontres, but finally dispersed them with
small loss on his own part. Captain Graham
A. q. NJ, volunteers service, was MORALLY
wounded in one of these affairs. l have no
doubt that the defeat of the main army at Bu'
ena Vista will secure our line of communica'