The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-07-25

y
that reason, distressing to me. But rely
upon your patriotism to submit to the
temporary sacrifice with cheerfulness.
No man can better afford to do so. Re-
cent victories place you on ,hat high en-
inence; and | even aatter myself that any
benefit that may result to me, personally,
from the unequal division of troops allu-
ded to, will lessen the pain of your con.
.sequent inactivity.
In haste, | remain, my dear general,
Yours, faithfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT.
Thus the veterans of Palo Alto, Resaca
de la Palma, and Monterey were all with
drawn from the Chief under whose COM
mand they had marched on from victory
to victory. Taylor's army was thus re-
duced to six hundred men and these raw
troops.
This little band was augmented by fresh
volunteers, and Taylor found himself on
the 22d day of February A. ID. lS47, the
birth day of the lllustrious Washington, in
command of four thousand men, posted at
| Aqua Nueva, not far distant from the COM
mand of Santa Anna. General Taylor
never entertained the idea of retreating
from his insolent foe; and indeed retreat
would have certain destruction. Whatev-
er OF danger there was in maintaining his
position, there was much more III leaving
| it. He received from Santa Anna the fol-
lowing summons, requiring an uncondi-
tional surrender:
"You are surrounded by 10000 men,
and cannot, in any human probability. a.
void suffering rout, and being cut to pie
ces whith your troops; but as you de-
serve consideration and particular esteem,
wish to save you from a catastrophe
and for that purpose give you this notice
in order that you may surrender at dis
ere ton, under the assurance that you
will be treated with the consideration be-
Iongingsto 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
nae.t !!ftfu rrr0efry. Uamp at Encan.ada,
February %, I247,
| ANTONIO LOPEZ DE SAINT ANNA.
Fl To Gen. Il. Taylor.
/ Head Quarters A rmy of Occupation, ,
Near Buend Tista, Feb. %, IS47.
SIR: In reply to your note Of this date
) Isummoning me to surrender my forces a
discretion. beg leave to say that | de-
cline acceding toyour request
With high respect, | am, sir,
I Your obedient servant,
D Il. TAYLOR,
Major- Gen y. S. .4rmy, Commanding
Gen. ID. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna,
; Commander in-ChIef, La Encantada,
Here let us again pause and contemplate
the antagonist armiesl Look upon this
picture and then on this!"
There Marshaled in battle array, are
the myrmidons of Santa Anna, the pride OF
the Mexican army, the hope of the Mexi-
can nation! full twenty thousand strong!
lea on by their old and favorite chieftain;
clad in glittering armour; high in hopes,
confident of success.
! Here, in solid phalanx, rested the
spartan band of Americans, four thousand
in all, conscious of their own superiority,
confding in the prudence and heroism of
their leader, and resolved to sustain the
name of their revolutionary fathers. Ev-
cry lip is compressed, every brow frowns
defiance, every eye flashes with the bright
fire of patriotism. Calmly they await the
onset of the overwhelming force by which
| they are surrounded.
/ Again, borne on the wings OF the wind,
the heavy tidings of the desperate situa-
ton of our army, reached the United
States. The magnetic wires, always too
willing to hasten bad news sent the with
ering Intelligence into the bosom of every
family. The most sanguine dared scarce
Ily hope for deliverance from the impend-
I ing calamity. The former successes OF
Gen. Taylor had almost passed the bounds
of credlbiIty, but nothing but a miricle
could save him in this extremity. The
heart of the nation sickened in contempla.
ton of the inevitable result.
Once more is all expectation baffied.-
Once more a general shout of triumph
rings thro' the length and breadth of oul
country. Taylor is victorious Santa
Anna is vanquished! The American ar
my has defeated five times Its number;-
the last hope of Mexican resistance is
gone.
True 1t was Ia fearful victory. The defles
of Buena Vista were cnsangu ined with A.
merican blood; the elite of Taylor's gallant
army had bitten the dust; the Clays, and
Hardens, and Tells, and Mixes of oul
army butchred in cold blood by theil
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