The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1848-02-18

sorted TO. Besides, they had very iarge
and strong forifcation short distance
from the city, which if carried with the
bayonet must have been taken at great
sacrifice of human life; and with our linn
tied train of heavy or battering artillery,
it would have required twenty-five days
to take it by regular approaches.
That they should have surrendered a |
place nearly as strong as Quebec. we'll
fortified under the direction of skilful en-
work garnished with forty
two pieces of artillery,supPlied with am,
unition. garris oned by 1000 regular ana
2000 irregular troops, in addition to some
citizens capable of and no
doubt actually, bearing arms and AIDING
in its defence-to an opposing force OF
half their number, scantIy supplied with
light train of artllery.-iS among the
unaccountabIe occurrences of the times.
am decidedly opposed to carry the
war beyond SallilIo in this direction,
which place has been entirely abandon
ed by the Mexican forces, all of whom
have been concentrated at San Luis Po-
tosi; and shall lose no time in taking
possession of the former, as soon as the
cessation of hostililies referred to ex-
pires, which | have notified the Mexican
authorities will be the case on the 18th
inst, by the direction of the President OF
the United States.
If we are lin the language OF Mr.. Polk
and General Sc otl) under the necessity
of "conquering peace, and that by
taking the capitol of the country,-we
must go to Vera Cruz, take that place,
and then march to city Of Mexico. TO
do so in any other direction | consider
out of the question. But admitting that
we conquer peace by doing so,-say at
the end of the next twelve months-will
the amount of blood and treasure, which
must be expended in doing so, be com
pensated by the same? Think not, --es-
pecialIy if the country we subdue IS to
be given up; and imagine there are few
individuals in our country who think OF
annsxing Mexico 10 the United States.
do not intend TO carry on my opera
tons (as previously stately beyond Sal
tillo,--deeming tit next to impractlcablo
to do so, 1t then becomes question as
to what is best to be done. 1t seems to
me, the most judicious course to be pur-
sued on our part, would be to take pos
session, at once, of the line we would ac-
cept by negotiation, extending from the
Gulf Of Mexico to the Pacific, and oc-
cupy the same, or keep what we already
have possession of and that with Tampi-
co, (Which hope to take in the course OF
the next month, or as soon as can get
the means of transportation,) will give us
all on this side of the Sierra Madre, and,
as soon as | occupy Saltillo, will include
six or seven States or Provinces, thus
holding Tampico, Victoria, Monterey,
Saltillo, Monclova, Chihuahua, (Which !
presume Gen. Wool has possession of by
This time, SantaFe and the CALIFORNIA;
aud say to Mexico, Drive us from the
country" "-throwing on her the respon
sibilily and expenses of carrying on OF
fensiye war,--at the same time close J.
blockading all her ports on the Pacili
: and the Gulf. A course of this kind,
persevered in for a short time, woul'
soon bring her to her senses and compe
her to sue for eace,--provided there is
government in the country sufficient
! stable for us to treat with, which, fea
= will hardly be the case for many years t.
= come. Without large reniorccments {
, volunteers from the United States,--sa,
D ten or fifteen thousand, Chose previousl
| sent out having already been greatly re
3 duced by sickness and other casualties
r do not believe il would be advisable
march beyond SatiIo, which is NOR
, than 200 miles beyond our depots on tn
Rio Grande,--a very long line on whc
to keep up supplies lover land route i
country like lhis) for large force, an
certain to be attended with an expens
which will be fIighlfIl to contemplate
when closely looked into.
4 From Saltilo to San Luis PotoSi, tn
next place of Importance, on the road t
7 tho city of Mexico, is three hundre
t miles, hundred and forty badly wa
, tered, where no supplies of any kin
could be procured for men or horses.
; have informed the War Department tha
} 20 900 efficient men would be necessar
) to insure success if we move on tha
place, Il "a city contuing a population q
= 60,0O0,) a force which, | apprehend, vii
r hardly be collected by us with the trai
j. necessary to feed it, as we'll as to trans
8 port various other supplies, particular
It ordinance and munitions of war.
8 In regard to the armistlce, whic
+ would have expired by limitation, in
l few days we lost nothing by it, as W
i could not move even now, had the ent
p my continued to occupy Saltllo; tt
$ strange to say, he first 'OagOn 0hich hc
O reached me sincC tie declaration IF wa
was on tho 2d instant, the same day q
y which received from Washington an a
y Acknowledgement of my despatch amour
IL cling the taking of Monterey; and the
y | received only 1926, so | have besn, sin'
> May last, completely crippled, and am st
10 so, for, .for waat Of transportation. A
m ter raking and scrapiug the country E
o. miles around Camargo, collecting eve
to pack mule and other means of transpo
p tation, could bring here only $4,000 =
a. tions. (htlccn days surply,) with mo
~ erute supply ofordinance ammunition, 4
10 TO do which all the corps had to lea
s. behind a portion or their camp equipai