Washington telegraph., 1849-11-14
From the N. 0. Picaya1aae.
of the Mexican War.

The period of time embracing the few
weeks preceding the battle of Buena Wis
ia was one of the most critical eras in
the whole history of the Mexican war
The American line of operations having
been denuded of its most effective troops,
was peculiarly liable to a sudden attack
| by Santa Anna, the celebrity of whose
movements. whatever may be his demer-
Its as military commander, has been sell
dom equalled in modern warfare. From
! Monterey to Matamoras the whole from.
tier was in state of exciting suspense.
Engineers were busy excavating bitches,
and constructing ramparts; forts were
strengthened, and provisions and stores
| placed in security. In Camargo and
| Matamoras the pIGsaS were strongly for
| tifed and artillery was placed at the an
giles of the streets, while the little huts or
10calee which abound in the outskirts OF
all Mexican towns, and which might af-
ford shelter to the aUant-garae of an en-
emy, were made to contribute to the
amusements of the soldiers by furnishing
At Saltillo the proximity of the comman-
der-in-chief infused more confidence into
the minds of our troops; but at Monterey,
which from its isolated position, and the
smallness of the garrison left to protect it,
was considered especially insecure, the
| anxiety of the Americans was very great,
and their watchfulness proportionately in
creased. The commissary's and quarter
master stores were removed into the cit
adel, and all the troops were withdrawn
| from their quarters in town and placed
within the same fortifcation. That work
| was strengthened as much as the short
| time would permit, and the building in
its centre, which had been the commence
meDt of an old cathedral, was converted
into a magazine. At this time there
were in Monterey about eleven hundred
men, comprising the 1st Ohio Regiment,
the Louisville Legion, Premises S battery,
and squadron Of Kentucky cavalry
On Saturday, the Goth of February, Gen.
Marshall then in command, received an
order to start Immediately to Gen. lay
lor's assistance. Of course this circum-
stance created great excitement. It had
for some time been rumored that Santa
Anna was about making forward move
ment from San Luis Potosi, but so rapid
| was his manGuvres, that this was the
first certain or even reliable information
we had received of his approach. On the
afternoon of the day above mentioned,
Gen. Marshall commenced his march,
taking with him Premises artillery and
the squadron of Kentucky cavalry. This
left at Monterey only the Ohio Regiment
and the Louisville Legion, which, being
stationed in the citadel, the city was left
almost entirely deserted. Nor is this a
mere rhetorical figure, for the Mexicans
had abandoned the place, as if it were
plague-stricken, and the thirty or forty
Americans who remained enjoyed the
largest liberty, in roaming through the
silent and desolate streets, and peering
with curious eye into empty houses. The
anxiety and painful suspense of this small
party may be imagined: but it cannot be
described They could occasionally see
bodies of Mexican lancers, probably be-
longing to Urrea's predatory bands, prowl-
ing about on the surrounding hills, and ap-
parently cycling the city as if they deemed
it already in their power. Fearful every
moment of surprise, a constant watc h
was kept, and the slamming of door,
which would resound from one end of the
desolate city to the other, wonld frequent
ly assemble all the population in the plaza
| to await the attack of their unseen and
| imaginary foe.
AS a last resort in case of extremity,
they had converted the house of one MIR.
Morel, Louisianlan, into kind of for
tress, in which were placed number OF
muskets and other warlike implements.
As we said before General Marshall set
out on the Goth. He marched as far
as the pass of Los Muerto, or the
Rinconada, on Sunday, the 21st, where.
| in obedience to an order from General
Taylor, he halted during Monday, and on
| Tuesday recommended his march, arrlv-
ing at Saltillo, on Wednesday morning,
the day after the glorious battle OF the
23d. In the mean time the people in
Monterey were totally ignorant of every
thing which was going on above. Occa-
sionally, indeed, the rolling OF distant
thunder would be mistaken for the roar
of the far-off battle; but, in fact uncertain
ty pervaded every mind. Thus the time
passed away heavily enough; Monday,
Tuesday, Wednesday. Thursday, came
and went, and still no tidings from the
army. At last on the afternoon OF Friday,
when expectation had been strained to
it's utmost, from the hill on which the ia
nous Bishops Palace is situated single
horseman was descrisd III the distance,
hurrying towards the city along the Sal
tillo road. His appearance instantly call
ed to mind the Athen;an messenger, who
bore the tidings of victory to his country
men from the blood-stained field OF MA
rathon. Immediately all the horses which
could be procured were put in requisltlon