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■ Augusta, (6a.:
MONDAY MORNING, SEPT. 13, 1847.
Victories near the City of Mexico.
The triumphs of the American arms, as de
tailed in our columns to-day, adds additional
lustre to the national power, and confers honor
and renown upon those who achieved them.
These britliant victories, while affording causes
for pride and admiration, bring with them
sources of extended private affliction and
mourning. Some in our community and im
mediate neighborhood, are made to feel the
heavy pressure of the latter.
The entire community deeply sympathise with
the afflicted parents and relatives of Lieutenant
David Adams in his early fall. Bold, brave,
and generous, possessed of every manly vir
tue, he was idolized by his family, beloved by
his friends, honored and respected by his ac
quaintances. Their consolation consists in the
fact that he died fighting bravely beneath the
flag of his country. His name is indissolubly
connected with that country’s fame, as one of
its chivalric sons, and will be remembered and
cherished in the hearts of his countrymen.
We perceive among the names of the woun
ded that of Lieutenant Gardner, whose pa
rents reside in this city. He is said to have
been wounded severely, but we trust not dan
gerously, and hope that the deep solicitude oi
his relatives and friends will soon be removed
by his speedy recovery.
It is ardently to be desired that the negotia
tions for peace will be successful, and that the
next news which reaches us will proclaim an
end to this sad and destructive war.
Yellow Fever. —There were 533 Inter
ments in the different cemeteries of the city du
ring the week ending Saturday morning, nine
o’clock, of which 427 were of Yellow Fever,
and in Lafayette 43—total, 576, or 82 a day.—
The preceding week, for New Orleans, the
numbers were 442. and 311.—AT. O. Times, oj
6th instant.
Handsome Compliment. —A few of the per
sonal friends of Col. Jas. S. Calhoun, desirous
of paying him some special mark of their re
gard, as a man and as a patriot, have purchased
a fine charger and a complete set of military
trappings, which they have presented to the
Colonel, on the eve of his setting out for the
seat of war. A more appropriate gift or touch
ing compliment could not well have been of
fered. The horse is a large and strongly built
chesnut sorrel, but sufficiently showy even for
military display.— Columbus Democrat.
Another Company. —Captain Wimberly of
Stewart Co., as we learn from the Fort Gaines
‘Volunteer’ of the 4th inst., is endeavoring to
raise the fifth company for the Infantry Battal
ion.
The Insurrection in Yucatan. —News
from Merida has reached Havana, to the 11 th
ultimo announcing that the war of races, In
dian and Spanish, iscarried on in all its wonted
ferocity. It seems that this new danger from
the aboriginal population has quieted, for a
while, the dissensions among the different po
litical parlies that are continually trying to gel
the ascendency over the country. They are
united in earnest in quelling the rebellion of the
Indians. Every effort is made to prevent the lat
ter from getting arms and ammunition.— New
Orleans Times, 6th inst.
Trial and Execution of a Slave for Mur
der. —On the 28th ult., slave Jim was tried at
Covington before a jury of ten slaveholders, for
the murder of his master, Alexander George, on
the 9th of August. He was found guilty and
sentenced to be hung. He was executed with
in the prison wails at Covington, on Sunday
last.— N. O. Times, of 6th inst.
From the Columbus Enquirer.
The Artful Dodger.--The Correction,
Our cotemporaries, of the Savannah Geor
gian, request us to correct an error into which
we have been led, as to the actual amount ot
dodging done and performed by Col. Towns,
during the last session of Congress. We have
no hesitancy in making the correction, and
now distinctly state that, according to the Journ
als of the house, he only dodged tiro hundred
and sirty-five times; and that these didapper
movements were frequently made in reference
to very unimportant subjects. A few samples
will suflice:
When the vote was taken, on the 18th of
April,on the joint resolution of notice to (treat
Britain that the joint occupancy of Oregon
should cense, the Colonel came up missing.
On t! • 28th of May, when the General Ap
propria n Bill, involving over four millions
of dollars, was before the House, the Colonel
was non cst inventus.
Rons of dottars to pnylhe VfinThtoers nnffdtnor
troops employed in the Mexican war.
\V hen the Oregon Bill was under dis
cussion, on the 6th ot August, he sloped from
the vote taken on the ll'ilmot Proviso contained
in that bill.
The above are fair specimens of such unim
portant subjects as seemed to require no atten
tion from the representative of Georgia.
We have corrected the error pointed out
by the Georgian, according to request, and re
mark again, that Col. Towns only dodged tiro
hundred and sirty-five rotes, which were taken
during one session. ‘My conscience’’says one
of his former constituents, he must have dodg
ed every time. Not exactly. We find him
dodging in occasionally to vote against meeting
too early and remaining in session too late;
once to give Patsy Gray a piece of land; and
occasionally to prevent the daily pay of absent
members from being stopped. On such vast
ly important affairs ns these the Colonel was at
all limes a regular voter.
The election is rapidly approaching, and it
is the duty, as w ell as the interest of the people
to look well to the pretensions of those who
seek their voles for the highest oflice under
the Slate government. Is a man afraid of re
sponsibility ; he is unfit to fill the oflice of Go
vernor. Is he wauling in that moral firmness
which prompts the statesman to do his duty
and meet the consequences ; he ought not to
be trusted as the defender of the sovereignty. the
laws, and the constitution, of the Stale. Is he
proved by the record to have dodged hundreds
of votes during a short term of sen ice ; let him
pass, for there is nothing in the character of
the oflice of Governor calculated to gn e moral
or political firmness to a man naturally afraid'
of responsibility.
Wear© warned, in Col. Towns’s epis le ot
acceptance, ot dangers that threaten the peace
ot the South; of fearful combinations against
our peculiar institutions. Admit this to be so.
I* he the man to meet the crisis ? Is he the
man likely to plant himself on the ramparts ol
our glorious Constitution and triumph or per
ish in the attempt to save the South Kelv
upon it, if dangers are abroad, if u is true, as
he says, that the storm of religious and politi
cal fanaticism u about to sweep over the fair
face of the lovely South, it will require a less
dodging and more reliable ruler than he to ride
in the whirlwindand direct that storm. The
man for such a crisis is oue who. in common with
his fellow-citizens, has a deep interest in the
fate of the South, who has fearlessly stood by
his post in every peril of peace or war ; who
never dodged the bullets of the enemy, ami
never failed to help his friends and resist his
opponents, in Congress or elsewhere, for
fear of future consequences. If the danger
comes and the crisis must be met. give us the
man with moral nerve to lead the way and
flinch not; give us the mettle of the soldier,
he virtue ol the patriot, the stern unbending
integrity ot the honest, intelligent, upright
citizen. At such a time a speech-maker w ould
be of little service. Hr might talk from early
dawn until late in the evening, without arrest
ing for a moment the torrent of fanaticism.—
The argument of stern resolve, of determined
resistance, steadfast ami undinchingenergy. arc
the only ones that the enemies of the South
will e» er listen to. (.hie dodge might ruin us;
one moment of hesitancy, long enough for a
fearful politician to calculate on consequences,
might seal our fate.
AVom the Correspondence qf the N. O. Delia.
The Crop*. &<*.
Cluctom, La., Aug. 23, 1847 —Eds. Delta —As
oae of your subscribers, and a planter who feels a
deep interest tn everything that rotates to the produc
tions ot our State. I beg leave to submit tor Use in*. i -
maUon of my fellow producers the following obeerxa
tions.
The season has been neither verv nor verv
bad tor Cotton—the crop of the parish will. 1 think,
average about fair— but if the weather should be vert
favorable henceforward. we o.v vet hoc avers
Urge yield. Generally all bhx-iis that open by the
15th September, will be sufliciemlv matured bv frwt
lobe secure against injury. For fourteen or 'filtren
days past we have had frequent, and in >w* places
heavy showers—which of course have been of in ad
vantage. Too much rain is injurious mtu . wavs
first by causing the stalk to grow ux> rap Ails. when
tbo joints wit! be l«mg. accompanied by inure >.r Jess
shedding—and sreen i bj fid _
My own obeerralKNl proves tome ’.hat oery u;
bloo<n to a shower is destroyed, b :hrs s .
you may an idea of the immense daraage caused
. repeated rams at this seawvi ot the year, when
our cotton fields each morning are slants: white with
bloom*. *
The w boring worm is doing much mischtci
S -
v ‘ *s,?° fasuahties that it seems to me
an estun*» e of the result until
frost; and e»en tfu n. the « • > . • >
■w.'th. » n -
> ■ :, A v
The New 1 ork 1- .... ..
The riupmenu ol Specie U,. E nionsl ; were '
only >OO 090 m 5-Franc pieces to Haxre and
S6AKX) to a South American port. There are
some lots stiver coin being now packed for
Havre, adv«r being now abetter remittance dun
bills.
From the N. O. Picayune, 6th inst.
LATER FROM THE ARMY OF GEN.
TAYLOR.
The steamship Telegraph, Captain Wilson,
arrived here Sunday forenoon from Brazos san
tiago, whence she sailed on the Ist inst.
The intelligence by this arrival is interest n„
and important. We have at last the e ’ il ' el ‘
of the design of the Government to will dr; iw
from the column of General lay lor al It he
troops which can be spared by the genersi «i ■ _
due consideration for the safety ol le
die Rio Grande and thence to Buena V sta.
The genetai was also directed to detach two
Brigadier-Generals; by -he following general
orders it will be seen how he has directed the
views of the Government to be carried out.
Order No. 96.
Headquarters, Army of Occupation, ?
Camp near .Monterey, August 16, 1847. $
1. Five companies of the 10th Infantry, under the
Colonel will proceed to Matamoros and relieve the
Ohio regiment of volunteers now in garrison there.
The Ohio regiment will then proceed to Brazos Island
and be held ready to embark for Vera Cruz. The
remainingjeompaniesofthe 10th, underthe Lieutenant -
Colonel, with Capt. Hunt’s company of artillery and
Capt. Reed’s company of Texas cavalry, will form
the garrison of Camargo and its dejiendencies, re
lieving other troops now on that duty.
2. The Indiana regiment of volunteers will pr<>ceed
to Brazos Island and will then, with the Ohio regiment,
embark for Vera Cruz. Brigadier-Gener.il Lane
will take command of these regiments at the Brazos
and conduct them to their destination.
3. Six companies of the 16th Regiment, underthe
Colonel will take up the line of march for Monterey,
when they will relieve the present garrison, composed
of six companies of the Massachusetts regiment. The
remaining four companies, underthe Lieutenant-Col
onel will in like manner relieve the battalion of the
Massachusetts regiment at Cerralvo. The troops thus
relieved will proceed to the Brazos and be there con
centrated under the command of Col. Wright.
4. The 13th regiment will proceed to the Brazos as
soon as practicable after the companies of Massachu
setts regiment, now at Cerralvo, shall have passed
luwn the river.
5. Brig. Gen. Cushing will take up the line of
march, not later than the 23d inst., with Capt. Deas’
lijjht battery, (company B. 4di Artillery). He will
to the Brazos, where he will bring under his
orders the 13th Regiment and Massachusetts regi
ment, and thence conduct his entire command (one
battery and two regiments) to Vera Cruz.
6. Brig. Gen. Hopping will remain in command of
the district of the Upper Rio Grande, and will estab
lish his headquarters where he may select. Should it
found necessary to retain the general hospital at
Mier, a sufficient guard will be furnished for its pro
tection. and also a fiirce of medical officers
and attendants must be detailed from the regiments
which leave their sick. Great care will be taken to
furnish descriptive rolisof all attendants and patient'
thus detached. Col. Belknap is specially charged
with the rigid enforcement of this order.
7. Col. Hays, with his command of Texas horse,
will march for the Brazos, and there embark for Vera
Cruz, in conformity with the instruc.ions issued to him
by the War Depaitment.
8. The above movements will be executed with the
least possible delay. The quartermasters anil other
staff departments will furnish the necessaiy transpor
tation and other facilities fir this purpose.
By order of Maj.-Gen. Taylor:
W. W. S. BLISS, Ass’t Adj’t Gen.
The Ohio and Indiana regiments tinder Gen
Lane, and the 13th infantry and Massachusetts
regiment, with Deas's (late Washington’s) bat
tery, under Gen. Cushing, being ordered to
Vera Cruz, and Hay’s regiment being sent to
the same point, let us see what troops are left
on the Rio Grande line.
Gen. Wool’s command at Buena Vista and
Saltillo will consist of the Virginia, North Car
olina and 2<l Mississippi regiments of volun
teers and Maj. Chevalie’s three companies of
Texas Rangers.
General Taylor at Walnut springs will have
only Lieut. Col. Fauntleroy’s .squadron of dra
goons and Major Bragg’s battery.
The 16th Infantry, Col. Tibbalts, and the 10th
Infantry, Col. Temple, will garrison Monterey,
Cerralvo, Camargo. Reynosa and Matamoros.
The squadron oi the 3d Dragoons, Colonel
Buller, and two companies of volunteer caval
ry from Alabama and Illinois remain unas
signed. A portion of the dragoons are at M ier,
and it is conjectured that they will remain on
the line for escort of trains and like du ies.
A few weeks since it was supposed that Capt.
Baylor and his command had been cut oil’. The
Flag gives the following letter from its corres
pondent, which assures us of Capt. B.'s safety:
< ’er alvo, August 15.
Editors Hag— My letter to you of a recent date
gave information of an attack by a large body of M< \-
icans u|m>h a detachment of twenty-seven Texan ran
gers, commanded by Capt. Baylor, and the probable
destruction of the whole party eave three, who had
elfected their escape and got back to this place. So
positive were they in their statements that no more
could have escaped, that I did not hesitate to express
to you my lielief that all the rest had been killed.
Such was the opinion of every one here until this
morning. Greatly to our relief and much to our as
tonishment, rompising part of an escort to a train
which arrived this morning from Menterev, ilht* l
came Capt. Baylor and all but four of his reported
dead companions. Their escape was truly miracu
lous, and knowing th it you would like to have a his
tory of it I have obtained from Capt. B. and Lieut.
Lee the full particulars.
After visiting and searching several ranchos with
out finding anything in them which would convict the
inhabitants of being concerned in the late robberies of
trains, Capt. B. left them unmolested and proceeded
on to a ranche, called lais Fabios, situated on the
river Salimas. Here a largequantity of goods av ere
found, and 8300 m American money. The g‘> , >d?-
mnehn bnmt. ©nd several Mexirenv made pri
soners.
With the booty ami prisoners, <’apt. B. started for
the Monterey nmd, ami had proceeded about a milt
and a half from th** burnt rancho, when lie found
himself in the presence of upwards ot 300 Mexicans,
who were ambiishetl in the chaparral skirting a plain
over which the road ran. Between the rani and the
liver was another chapparral thicket extending to th»
river. 'Die lancers charged before (’apt. B. could
gain the thicket next the river, and in this charge lour
of his men were killed. The thicket gained, the
rangers dismounted, and protected by the bushes
twice repulsed the lan-'ers, killing lifteeen, and forced
them to retire beyond the reach of their rifles. Tak
ing advantage of this, the rangers left their horses,
booty and prisoners, and descending an almost per
pendicular bluff, fifty feet high, they crossed the
river. Marching by circuitous routes and avoiding
ihe ranchos, the party nt length reached Monter* v,
where they were again remounted lor service, and ar
rived hen* this morning as I have mentioned above
I’he three who made there way to this place an I gavt
the account which I sent you, were separated from
the main party by the first charge, and judged that
they were all killed, by the tiring having ceased, and
seeing the enemy in po«sessionof their horses.
<’apt. Baylor leaves to-ilav with the train lor <.’a
in.irgo, ami on his return, if I am not misinformed, tht
Mexicans will hear from him again. Maj. Graham
commands the escort going down with the train, ami
has with him upwards of one hundred lira goons ami
rangers. With this force lie will return and jo in
search of the robbers who have been so bold of l.ate.
The following is from the Flag of the 25th
ult:
Retaken.— The rv|«ort which was noticed in last
Wednesday’s jiaper ol the taking of some thirty or for
ty pack mules beyond Cerralvo, by a party of Mexi
cans, is confirmed. But they were subsequently re
taken by a party of Americans, who delivered th*
pro|»erty safely in Monterey.
From the Flag of the '2Bth ult.
The attack on the mule train near P.ipigallas, on
the JUt of July, of which inentnn was made in th*
Flag of the 11th inst. was incorrectly reported to us.
as we are informed bv one of the partv presentai
the time, and we make the following correction from
his statement:
The train consisted of thirty-eight mules, ami one
wagon loaded with merchandise belonging io individ
uals; two of them were proceeding with the tram
I’li* escort consistedof only four persons, K Gh;>
son, John Brenman, Danu-l Dowty and J.lines Bart
let, the three last named late members of Capt. Gr iv ’>
disbanded company, in company nt the time of the
attack were Dr. Dickenson ami two French gentle
• \ v O • ■
take the bust of General Taylor —the Frenchmen
travelling in an ambulance.
About I o’cl'x k on the 31st ult., the day being ex
cessively h >t and the escort wearied, n halt wax call
ed at a shady spot mar the road, and the partv dis
mounted to refresh themselves. They had remained
in this situation a halt hour or more when thev were
alarmed by the Mexican bugle charge sounding from
different directions.
As s*>on as the charge was minded, Mr. Gleason
ordered all to mount, ami they did so, with the excep
tion of Dr. Dickerson, whose horse took fright and
ran off. Mr Gl soon, who :< an i I - ' xm . •mm
ot the Mier prisoners, immediately ascertained that
the attacking party numbered several hundred, ami
remarking that the only hope was in flight, dashed '
off into the chaparral, followed bv the remainder oi
the escort. The Frenchmen sprang into the ambu
lance, and the driver put his horses to their speed on
the Monterey road.
Mr. Dickenson w is unable t * follow, and before he
could secrete himself in the chapirrel the Mexicans
were in sight. As soon as he was discovered thev
commencetl tiring and advancing upon him. Having
a six-shooter, the doctor determined to sell his lift as
dearly as possible. Allowing four of them to come
close up. he was enabled: o kill two. mortaHv w >nd
a third, and after a hand-to-hand encounter wuh the
fourth, finally effected his esc;qx*.
A tew pursued the ambulance, but the main force
was draw n towards the train, and as soon as p*ss-'ss’
ot* it was obtained, the bugle sounded a recall and
the pursuers all returned without having overtaken
the ambulance, w hich had not proceeded far be re a
tram was met coming down from Momerev escorted
by a detachment ot' dragoons.
The two teamsters were killed, one receiving six
Kills m h s body, ami the other hail his sk. ’ smash-d
wuh the butt ot a musket and a sabre cut acrr*s> the
abdomen m ar’\ severing him • two. AU th« .es
and packs were captuied, also the baggage w aggon
Containing nv -h va’.a.ible clothing and about 1.3v0
m money.
The Worm. —The Providence (Ln ' Watch
man ol the 24th ultimo, m relation to this des
trurtive insect, has the following :
We gri I
h's appearar.es m this r.eigh’x'r’ -x’. bev -'-n !
s
sure ns ih.it the worm is at work at it. r
■ , - s. W
rv will result time alone will detenuine.
The Siii’.i** paper sav s :
One of our plan'ers suggests that the i”-ury from
the cotton worm may K- av.-.ded tea giva’ extent. Uv
every planter destrev - g ihe c.v«xxis 'e're :• ■ fl'v
s batched, as far as possible; and after the fly mikes
its apj'earance m great numbers thev 1 iv e *v
ed, partially, by building fires at intervals through the
field. Is it not » .-:h trx rj '
fnewio. - States
ofLouisiaM, Alabama an ; M ss.s< rp.. sr.r, - rce a
greater or less alarm w -1 egun -
xges among the cotton plants.- \ (>. Ti nt' ' b.'v
N
-nd Conner, have resolved upon publish pg
only three times a w eek during the prevalence
ol the epideunc p
Augusta, Qfra.:
TUESDAY MORNING, SEPT. 14, 1847.
Opinions of Jefferson anti Jaclxson.
Our neighbor of the Constitutionalist will
find it one of the hardest tasks he ever under
took, to prove that either Mr. Jefferson or
General Jackson believed or taught that a pro
tective Tariff was unconstitutional. We have
shown that they recommended and sustained
such Tariiis. The Constitutionalist, a few days
since, made another desperate effort to show
that these Democratic apostles were opposed
to them.
Byway of justification of Mr. Jefferson
and General Jackson, for sustaining protective
Tariffs, he says:
“ However different in some degree Democrats may
find the opinionsof either of their two great men from
their own, inasmuch as they may have leaned too
generously to the doctrine of incidental protection,”
&c.
Here, then, we understand the Constitution
alist to admit that both of them went for inci
dental protection. That is all the Whigs go for
now. But we proved that they went for pro
tection for itself, and that Mr. Jefferson even
recommended duties so high as to prohibit some
foreign articles. That, we think, was some
thing a little more than incidental!
Again, our neighbor says, alluding to Mr.
J ’s opinions:
“In another, he discloses the real motive, which al
admit will jusfi/y a temporary departure from it, as a
retaliatory measure.”
That is, departure from free-trade.’ Now,
we ask seriously, do all admit that? Is it the
Democratic doctrine that when the constitution
forbids high duties for protection, they may
nevertheless be imposed when other nations
place high duties upon our exportations?
This is a new aspect in the Democratic creed,
and looks rather significant if true. The Dem
ocratic doctrine, then, would come to this.
High duties would be constitutional or uncon
stitutional, according to circumstances. The
power to exercise them belongs to Congress,
but depends upon contingencies. Os course Con
gress would have to judge of those contingen
cies, and it might be a very easy matter for a
majority to satisfy themselves that a justificato
ry contingency had arisen, if disposed to impose
high duties! Mr. Jefferson said:
“To cultivate peace and maintain commerce and
navigation in all their lawful enterprises; to foster
our fisheries and nurseries of navigation and for the
nurture of man, and proteetthe manufactures adapted
toour circumstances; to preserve the faith of the na
tion by’ an exact discharge of its debts and contracts,
expend the public money with the same care and
economy we would practice with our own, and im
pose on our citizens no unnecessary burden ; to keep
in all things within the pale of our constitutional pow
ers. and cherish the federal Union as the only rock of
safety—these, fellow-citizens, are the land-marks by
which we are to guide ourselves in all our proceed
ings.”
Here, then, he expressly declares, that pro
tection is expedient and constitutional. He re
commends protection, and at the same time
says we should “ keep in all things within the
pale of our constitutional powers. 11 He even,
in conclusion, says, that protection is one of
the “ land-marks by which we are to guide our
selves,” &c.
“The restrictive jwhey so much and so absurdly
in vogue in the days of Jefferson by foreign nations,
caused him to countenance retaliatory measures in
self-defence. It is in reference to these that he has
been led to admit that temporary causes might justify
government interference.”
In what way does the Constitutionalist ima
gine that our high duties would afford us any
self-defence? We have always read and un
derstood. that high duties (in the opinion of
Democrats,) made high prices. Because for
<‘ign nations placed high duties upon our pro
ductions, Mr. Jefferson was justified (was he?)
tn placing high duties upon theirs in self-de
fence ! These high duties (according to Demo
cracy) made the articles hiqh which were
brought here and subjected to them! Os
course, then, our people for self-defence, had to
pay high prices for the goods and wares they
needed. This was a curious kind of self-de
fence indeed ! A self-defence neither very pro
fitable nor agreeable ! But it may be said, that
the high duties on foreign goods excluded them
from the country, and gave the market to our
own manufacturers. Very well. That very
thing the Democrats say, made the home man
ufacturers monopolists and made them rich at
Tlteti. the self-defence was a defence~oTffle in
terests of manufacturers at the sacrifice of the
interests of all other classes! Will "all ad
mit" this to be Democratic, constitutional, and
right? It did not matter whether foreign na
tions burthened onr productions or not. Ac
cording to Democratic doctrine, by opening
our ports to them at the lowest duties, we would
get goods at the cAcajicsf prices, and realize the
most revenue. The restrictions of foreign na
nons cannot justify our Congress in violating
the constitution, nor imposing duties that will
advance one interest at the expense of others’
That is a self-defence that the majority would be
glad to dispense with. It isstrange, too, that a
free-trade paper is found advocating and de
fending it. in its efforts to justify Mr. Jeffer
son ! It would be best tn give up Mr. Jeffer
son upon this, and throw itself upon the new
light of Democratic progress. Mr. Jefferson
is against the Democrats upon this question,
and in order to prove that he is not. we find a
Democratic editor not only justifying high du
ties. but even prohibitions for self-defence.
This ought to be rather a “chokin’’ case, but
sometimes a Democratic editor can prove, in a
tew minutes, that the North Pole is the needle
that points to it, and a good many can be found
to back the assertion. We must see. however,
how our neighbor will get over the difficulty.
Sometimes pretty serious difficulties are knock
ed into just nothing at all, by silence ! But we
'hall see.
Health of Mobii e —The Advertiser of the
*th inst. says : The weather during the week
has been exceedingly changeable—one day as
cool autumn, the next as hot as mid-summer —
with daily copious showers. The health of the
city is not, we regret to say. so good as last week*
There have been several new cases of yellow
fever within the last three days, and the dis
ease is evidently becoming more malignant,
though it is yet easily managed and very seldom
prox mg fatal.
Mr. Webster. —The Boston Atlas of Tues
day, says of Mr. Webs er :—“That Daniel
Webster is the choice of the Whigs of Massa
chusetts, for the Presidential oflice, is a fact
which, we presume, no one will deny. That
he is fitted by his age. experience, services, and
transcendental talents, to adorn that high sta
tion. there can be as little doubt.”
Latest from Montevideo*
(.’apt. Coflin. of the barque Creole, at Balti
more. from Montevideo, which place he left on
the Duh of Julv. corroborates the report receiv
ed by an arn\al at New York respecting the
failure of the English and French Ministers to
effect with Gen Rosas a settlement of the diffi
culties in the Riser Platte.
It seems that they had an interview after
svardswith General Oribe. and tried to arrange
an armistice for six months, during which time
i certain number of cattle should be allowed to
come into Montevideo at a price to be fixed by
i commissioner to be appointed by both parties.
Oribe informed them that he would complv
with their request if they would open the port
f Bueces ; but this the M misters ss ould not as
'ent to; and here ended all further effort at
egotiation. both w ith Rosas and Oribe When
Capt. C. left, the English and Erench Ministers
ssere about to depart for Rio de Janeiro, and
here asvait further instructionsfroin their Gov
ernments.
The blockade at Montevideo was a rigorous
one on the 16th July. Upwards of forts small
su'seis had been seized by the French Squad
ron. — Balti more . I merica m.
Sh ting in Dooli CoBNTI —We are in
formed that Mr. \V ilhaul Dawson, ol Doolv
County, svas shot one dav this week, by a Mr.
Pt Uet Ihe difficulty, we understand, orig
u.Ut d from ' uie charges made against Petree
s Dawson, m relation to the burning of the
Conn House. The Physician in attendance
pronounced the wound fatal, but we have uot
vet r.eard ot Mr. D's death. Alabama Journal
I‘kA in.'L
Ir o SPORT'. — The steamer Jas. L. Dav has
-• ■ been charter* ■ by the Gosernmentto
convey troops to Mexico. The proper depart
ment is taking every <tep to transport the force
now al the Brazosto Vera Cruz.— Picayune.
Mr. Kenush. of Nesv York, has published a
Card tsv ice as big as a man s hand, which gives
the das of the week upon which anvdavofauv
tnonth happens, for die Centura from to
19U0.2 _
[FROM OUR EXTRA OF SUNDAY MORNING.]
LATE AND VERY IMPORTANI
FROM MEXICO!
BY J. C. RIDDLE’S PRIVATE EXPRESS!
FORTY-EIGHT HOURS IN ADVANCE OF THE MAIL*
BRILLIANT VICTOR IES!
Important from Scott’s Army.
BATTLES OF CONTRERAS AND CHU-
RUBUSCO.
AMERICAN LOSS ELEVEN HUNDRED
KILLED AND WOUNDED.
MEXICAN LOSS NOT KNOWN—3OOO
PRISONERS.
TOTAL DEFEAT OF THE MEXICAN
FORCES.
ARMISTICE BETWEEN THE TWO
ARMIES.
NEGOTIATIONS H’ITH MR. TRIST FOR
A PEACE COMMENCED.
Gen. Scott Encamped Within Two and a
Half Miles of the Capital.
From the N. O* Picayune. Extra, Bth inst.
The U. 8. steamship Mary Kingsland, Capt.
John Davis, arrived at an early hour this morn
ing. By her we have received our letters from
Mr. Kendall from the 22d to the 28th of Aug.,
all dated from Tacubaya. A courier despatch
ed by him on the 20th with the first account of
the battle fought on that day was cut off.
From a map and plan of the battle-fields be
fore us, we note that they are called the battles
of Contreras and Churubusco—so called from
field works of the enemy of those names. The
victories were decisive, but so far as we can
judge from a hasty perusal of a portion of our
letters, the proposition for an armistice was
made by Gen. Scott—probably at the sugges
tion of the British embassy. The report we
have hitherto given that the city of Mexico was
at our mercy appears to have been unfounded.
Should peace not follow from the negotiations
now pending, another battle must ensue, the
enemy having a force of from fifteen to twen
ty thousand men yet left. But the road appears
to be completely open to us, and the city is on
ly two and a half miles from our encampment.
Our victories have been purchased at a vast
loss of valuable life, as will be seen by the fol
lowing list—we will give a fuller one to-mor
row. We see names of men at the loss of
whom we weep ; but all have their friends and
we make no distinctions.
Our entire loss in killed and wounded is short
of eleven hundred; that of the enemy is not
well known. His loss in killed alone is be
lieved to be fully equal to our entire loss, and
it is estimated that at least 3000 prisoners were
taken. The number of his wounded was not
ascertained, but is supposed to be very large.
Gen. Scott himself received a wound in the
leg below the knee, but from the manner in
which Mr Kendall speaks of it, we are led to
hope the injury a slight one.
Editorial Correspondence of the Picayune.
Tacubaya. (Near Mexico,) Aug. 22,1847.
The celebrated Archbishop’s Palace of Ta
cubaya is now occupied by Gen. Scott; and a
portion of the army, alter twice defeating the
enemy in two of the hardest fought battles of
the war, are quartered immediately around
him. I have already sent you off a hurried
sketch of the glorious events of the 20th. and
even the present letter must be but a hurried
synopsis of the battles, which have shed such
additional glory upon the .American arms.
On the 14th inst. a reconnoissance made by
Col. Duncan having proved that a road for ar
tillery and wagons could be cut from Chalco to
San Augustin Gen. Worth’s division moved
on the afternoon of the 15th in that direction.
Gen. Pillow followed the next morning; at the
same hour Gen. Quitman broke up his encamp
ment at Buena Vista, a small hacienda between
Venta de Cordova and Ayotla, and immedi
ately Gen. Twiggs was in motion from the lat
ter place. By this move a new line of opera
tions was taken up on the southern and north
western side of the city of Mexico, and the
strong works of the Peuon and Mexicakingo,
upon which Santa Anna had bestowed such
immense care and labor, were completely
turned.
On the Kith of August Gen. Worth marched
as far as the hacienda of San Gregorio, beyond
which it was found that the enemy had cut up
and ditched the miserable trail along which the
artillery and wagons were obliged to pass. He
would have gone to Santa Cruz, another haci
enda a league farther on. had not an order came
up from Gen. Scott for a halt. It seemed that
Gen Twiggs had met a large force of the ene
my drawn up in front of him near Chaleo, as
if with the intention of disputing his advance,
cutting him off from the main body of the army,
and perhaps bringing on a general action.
Gen. Twiggs promptly ordered some of his
heavier guns to be unlimbered, and after a few
discharges the enemy was dispersed, with the
loss of live or six killed, but the demonstration
made by the Mexicans, as { have before said,
caused a halt of Gen. Worth’s division before
half a day’s march was made.
At 6 o’clock on the morning of the 17th Gen.
Worth resumed his march, his route running
through cornfields and narrow ami rocky lanes,
delay, but by 8 <> clock the advance was in sight
of Santa Cruz, and the spires and domes of the
noted capital of Mexico could be discerned in
the distance. The obstructions in the road,
of which I have spoken, were obviously of re
cent construction —evidence that the enemy
had but just got wind of our approach, ami that
Gen. Scott had completely stolen a march upon
Santa Anna.
Other than the ditches and rocks which had
been rolled down from the precipitous hillside
no opposition was made io the advance of Gen.
Wortti until he had reached a point in the road
not fir from Santa Cruz—but now a scattering
tire was opened upon the head of his column
by a force stationed at advantageous positions
above the road to the left. The enemy was
quickly dispersed, however, bv Col (.’. F.
Smith's light battalion and the 2d Artillery. un
der Maj. < ialt. As the division neared the ha
cienda of La Nona the advance was again fired
upon, but again the enemy’s pickets were dri
ven in. without loss A turn of the road be
yond La Noria brought the pleasant village
of San Augustin in sight, and after two or three
light skirmishes, in winch the Mexicans had
two or three lancers killed and wounded, our
troops had quiet possession of San Augustin.
Our only loss during the day was one man. a
soldier of Smith’s light battalion, who was
wounded from a corn field near Xochimilc.
At 7 o’clock on the morning of the 18th. Gen.
Scott arrived at San Augustin, ami at 10 o’-
clock Gen. Worth was in full march for the city
of Mexico by the main road. Majors Smith
and Turnbull, Capt. Mason ami other engineer
officers, were sent in advance, supported by
Capt Blake s squadron of dragoons, to recon
noitre. as it was known the enemy was in force
at or near San Antonio. The party, when
w ithin a thousand yards, was fired upon from a
battery, which was masked by trees, and the
first ball from a 12-pounder instantly killed
Capt. Thornton, of the 2d Dragoons, besides
severely wounding a guide. Jonathan Fitz
waiters. Col. Garland's brigade was now or
dered to occupy the hacienda of Carrera, with
in plam sight and range of the enemy's flatte
ries at San Antonio, while Col. Clarke’s brig
ade and the battery under Col. Duncan took a
siation in the rear close by. The engineer of
ficers were at once sent out to reconnoitre bv
Gen. Worth, to ascertain the practicability of
turning the strong works of the enemy, and in
the mean time Gen Scott had despatched Capt
Lee with a supporting party.composed ofCapt.
Kearney’s squadron and a body of the 1 lifi In
fantry under Col. Graham, to ascertain the
practicability of’finding a road by which the vil
lage of San Angel could be reached, and thus
turn the strong hold at San Antonio This
latter party had a sh irp encounter with the ad
vance of the enemy, the main body being found
posted ata strong point not far from the factory
of Contreras. In the skirmish some six or
eight Mexicans w ere killed and as many more
taken prisoners—on our side not a man was
touched. ’Fhe result of the reconnoissance
proved favorable. It was ascertained that a
road could be made which would enable the
army to reach S.in Angel, ami thus turn the
strong butenes at San Antonio, and perhaps
others the enemy might have upon the road be
tween that and the city of Mexico. The Mex
icans were plainly seen in force at a command
ing position near Contreras, and it was evident
that they had a numbet of cannon in position:
but at a council held at night it w as determined
upon to attack them the following day.
In the mean time while this reconnoi<ance
was in progress. Gen. Worth had established
his headquarters at the hacienda of Curera.
while from the windows countless numbers of
the enemy could be seen at work upon the bat
teries of San Antonio. About noon they o
pened upon the hacienda with both round shot
and .-heli. nearly every one of which took ef
fect, but without doing other injury than to
the building Late in the evening the batteries
again opened, but with no other result than
show ingthe position of the different guns. Fora
marvel the batteries were silent during the night.
Had the fire been kept up. the hacienda might
have been torn in piecesand the entire com
mand compelled to retire. Before going far
ther. it may be well to state that the city of
Mexico lies about nine miles north of San Au
gustin, that San Antonin is about three miles
in the same direction, while the point occupied
by Gen. \ alencia, near Contreras, for he had
command at that place, is at lea<t three miles
in a straight line and in a direction nearly we<
L was ten miles the wav manv of our troops
had to march, for you cannot imagine a more
rough, uneven and jagged surface.
At ? o’clock on the morning of the 19th the
batteries again opened on Gen Worth’s posi
tion at the hacienda near San Antonio, the bail*
crushing through the walls and filling the
rooms with fragments of p! u-ur and broken
furniture. Shells also burst in the air over the
building and the pieces dropped among the
men stationed in the rear. So hot was the fire
mat the troops were obliged to gain shelter be
hind the building, but still did not give up the
position About 9 o’clock the divisions of
Gens. Pillow and Twiggs were ordered to ad-
vance in the direction of Contreras, and by 1
n the afternoon were in plain sight of the
‘neiny’s batteries, and within range of his
heavier guns. The brigade of Gen. P. F.
Smith was ordered to advance directly towards
die enemy’s works, while that ol Col. Riley
moved towards a small village to the right, with
orders to gain the main road and thus be en
abled to cut off any reinforcements which
might be sent to Valencia from the city. An
incessant firing of cannon was opened upon the
advance of Ge» Smith, and soon the Rifles
were engaged in skirmishes with the pickets of
the enemy and driving them * n - The 12-poun
ier battery of Capt. Magruder was pressed
forward with all speed, as was also the rocket
and mountain howitzer battery, now command
ed by Lieut. Callender, of the Ordnance De
partment. As Soon as they could gain a posi
tion they opened upon the enemy, but were so
exposed to a fire from heavier guns that they
were soon silenced. Lt. Johnson, of the Ist
Artillery, but attached to Magruder’s battery,
was mortally wounded, while Lieut. Callender
was severely wounded in both legs. At 3
o'clock the'brigade of Gen. Cadwalader tvas
ordered out to support Col. Riley, heavy’ rein
forcements being seen on their way out from
the city, while Gen. Pierce’s brigade was sent
to sustain Gen. Smith. The firing from the
batteries of the enemy continued incessant,
while from a hili just outside the range of their
guns, the spectacle was most grand and impos
ing. At about 4 o’clock Gen. Scott arrived,
and seeing the immense strength of the Mexi
cans, at once ordered Gen. Shield’s brigade
from San Augustin—a part of Gen. Quitman’s
command—to the right, to support Riley and
Cadwalader, and prevent, if possible, a junc
ture of the forces coming out from the city
with those of Valencia. But few of the move
ments of our own troops could be seen from
the hill where we were posted, owing to the
dense chappanral, sharp rocks and ravines, but
not a motion of the enemy but was plainly
visible. The order of battle of Valencia was
certainly most imposing—infantry were seen
drawn up to support the batteries, while long
lines of the enemy’s cavalry were stationed in
the rear, as if awaiting the shock of battle.
Two separate charges of the latter were dis
tinctly seen repulsed by Col. Riley, who had
moved his brigade at onetime to a position par
tially in the enemy’s works. Col.
Harney fittingly anxious to march his
cavalry to the scene of action, but it was deem
ed utterly impracticable. The nature of the
ground was such that the infantry even had
great difficulty in finding the way across the
pedregal, as the Mexicans term it—ground
covered with sharp, jagged rocks.
Until night had fairly closed m the fire from
the enemy’s batteries did not slacken—it had
been a continuous roar for nearly six hours.
Gen. Scott retired to San Augustin about eight
o’clock, and in the mid>t of a hard rain which
had just commenced falling. Gens. Twiggs
and Pillow came in about 11 o’clock, wet and
completely exhausted. It was impossible to
use horses on the rough and exceedingly bro
ken ground on which they had been operating
for nearly twelve hours. Not anticipating the
immense strength of the works of the enemy,
or the almost insurmountable difficulties of
reaching them, it had been at first thought that
the batteries would be taken at a dash, and that
(he troops would be all comfortably quartered
in San Angel for the night; instead of this, a
large portion of them were compelled to bi
vouac without blankets in the midst of a pitiless
rain, and on ground where they could not even
stretch themselves out. Add to this, the pros
pects of the morrow were tar from flattering—
were enough to dismay any but the stoutest
hearts —that the enemy would doubtless rein
force and strengthen his works du ring the night,
having every superiority in knowledge of the
ground—add again to this, that the men were
weakened by long exertions, want of food, and
chilled by the continuous night rain, and it is
not saying too much to assert that the bivouac
of the 19th of August was gloomy in the ex
treme.
Early on the morning of the 20th General
Worth was ordered to move with a part of his
division—Garland’s brigade —towards the scene
of action at Contreras, to aid in the attack upon
Valencia, for to force this position was deemed
indispensable. A few discharges of cannon
were heard about 7 o'clock, and a heavy rat
tling of musketry, and some even said that in
the distance they had seen large masses of Mex
icans in full flight towards the city; yet lew
dreamed that the batteries at Contreras had
been stormed and carried. Vet so it was. Gen.
Scott himself, accompanied by Gen. Worth,
started for the scene of action, when they were
met bv Capt Ma<on with the joyful intelligence
that Valenci i had been completely routed alter
a short but terrible struggle. The attack upon
his works was planned by Gen. Smith, and re
sulted in the capture of 15 pieces ofartillery, and
some 1,500 prisoners—among them Generals
Blanco. Garcia. Mendoza, and the notorious
Salas ; all the ammunition and camp equipage,
while the road along which those who escaped
fled was strewed with muskets. No less than
700 of the enemy, among them many officers,
were left dead on the field—the number of
wounded was undoubtedly far greater. 1 h ive
n<» lime now lo enlarge or comment upon this
well-planned and brilliant achievement, but re
serving a more full description for some other
time, iniistjuiss on to other exeiihifr
power of tfie Aifieriean army, General Scott at
once ordered Gen. Worth to fall back upon
San Antonio, to turn and capture that wo k
and then to push on towards the capital by the
mam road, while the main body ol* the army
under Gens. Twiggs. Pillow, Smith. Pierce and
Cadwalader, moved on towards San Angel and
('ohoycan.
Scarcely had the advance of Gen. Twiggs
got half a mile beyond the latter village, be
fore a rattling fire of musketry announced that
it was actively engaged with the outposts of the
enemy, and the heavy booming of cannon now
gave token that the noted 2d division had fal
len upon another strong work. But a few
minutes more and a tremendous firing from the
right, and immediately in the main road from
San Augu-tin to the capital, made it evidenttbat
Gen. Worth’sdiv ision vvasaclively engaged. He
had completely turned the strong works of
San Antonio, but while doing so the enemy
had abandoned the place with the loss of their
heavy guns, and had fallen back upon his
stronger line of works. It was now at the com
mencement of the battle, about 1 o'clock in
the afternoon, ind sure such a rattling of fire
arms has seldom or never been heard on the
continent of America, accompanied with such
booming of artillery ; and this was continued
over two hours and until the enemy was fully
routed from every point, and until those who
w ere not killed or taken prisoners were in full
flight for the city. Let me endeavor in words
to give the reader an idea of the position and
works of the enemy. As you come along the
road leading from San Augustin to the capital,
and immediately this side the Puente del Rosa
rio. the Mexicans had thrown up a strong and
exceedingly well built battery, commanding
the mad completely. On the right as you
faced the city, stretching for along distance,
was a continuous ditch, behind the bank of
which an immense number of Mexican infantry
were posted. On the left of the tetr de. pout or
work at the bridge, and about three hundred
yards distant, was the church of Churubusco,
or San Pablo, strongly fortified with works
for infantry. and also having a well constructed
battery containing a number of guns ofheavy
calibre. This work wasa little advanced from
the h/e rfeponr, and nearly ina line between it
and the village of Cohoycan. Further on. on
the other side of the work at the bridge, and
about three hundred yards from the road, was
a large building, well adapted for the protec
tion of infantry, and in w hich the enemy had
also posted an immense bodv. The ground
in the vicinity of all these points was complete
ly covered with corn, and other fields, cut up
in every direction by wide and deep ditches,
presenting obstacles innumerable to the ad
vance of our troops. No reconnoissance of
the position of the enemy had been made, and
consequently its strength could only be ascer
tained by hard blows and knocks.
The divisions of Gens Twiggs ami Worth
were at once engaged, the former with the
church and stronghold of Churubusco, and the
latter with the batteries a! the bridge : and in
the meantime Gen. Shield’s brigades—the New
\ -rk and South Carolina volunteer—together
with the 9th, ]2th and 15th Regiments of In
fantry under Gen. Pierce, were hurrying on
ward from Cohoycan to attack the hacienda.
Soon they too were engaged, and no»v the bat
tle became general. The enemy had over
| twenty pieces of cannon, all in admirable posi
; ticn. and served with more than ordinary skill.
! while but few of our guns could be brought to
i bear. The battery of Capt. Frank Taylor, it is
: true, opened a well-directed fire upon Chtiru
! biisco. but so exposed was its situation that it
! suffered most terribly, both in officers and men.
To describe the fierce conflict, even now that
| two days have elapsed, or to give an account
i of the part taken bv the different regiments,
i were impossible. From the opening of the
I stnte up to the time the Mexicans were entirely
. routed and in full flight for the city, was one
I continuous rO ar of cannon and musketry, ac- ;
companied bv the loud shouts of the victors as '
some new vantage ground was gained: and
. high above the din rose a dense column of ;
smoke, at times completely shrouding the com
batants. The strength of the enemy at this bat
tle is known to have been Io hOO at lea.«t. ma- |
ny say 20.000. all fresh troops, and in a position ;
of uncommon strength. Opposed to them
were about 6000 Americans, jaded and broken
down by marches and countermarches, and bv
incessant toil before the strongli 'id of Centre- :
ras and San Antonio. At Churubusco, the
Mex cain themselves say. Santa Anna com
manded in person, but 'hat he left early. The .
noted batrahons of Hidalgo and Victoria, and ,
oflndependencia the Polkas, or young men of i
the capital.from whom so much was expected
—nearly all fled without firing a gun.
In the different work 6 but mostly in the
church.) taken bv Gen. Twiggs, nearly 2<X)O
troops were captured. Among them were
Gun. Rincon, who commanded in person. Gen.
Anaya, lately President Substitute, and Gen.
Arevallau. as a-o C«*L Gorostiza. formerly
Munster at Washington- Gen Garav was cap
tured near San Antonio by lien. VV orth. and
several induenual officer*, among them Col
Mitainon. by Gen. Shields at the hacienda;
but the most important capture of all was the
entire Foreign Battalion, mostly made up of
deserters from our own army, with their com
mander, the notorious Riley himself. They
are all now under close guard, and I trust will
be strictly dealt with.
The loss on our side has fallen most heavily
upon the South Carolina and New York vol
unteers, the (ith Infantry, and Smith’s light bat
talion. attached to Worth’s division, and the
batteries of Capts. Magruder and Taylor. The
South Carolina Regiment was nearly cut to
pieces, losing 137 out of 272 men, with which
it went into action. The Ist Artillery has suf
fered severely in officers.
The Mexican accounts acknowledge the loss,
in killed, wounded and prisoners, of no less
than thirteen generals, (among them three ex
Presidents.) and forty-five pieces of cannon.
One of our officers says that we have captured
more ammunition than Gen. Scott has used
since he has been in the country.
Yours, &c. g. xv. k.
Tacubaya, August 24, 1847.
I have spent not a little time in endeavoring to col
lect a list of the killed and wounded officers in the
great battles of the 20(h, a difficult matter, inas
much as the different divisions are quartered in vil
lages several miles apart. The following will be
found in the main correct:
United. States Regulars.
Killed— Maj. Mills, 15th Inf’y ; Capt. Burke, Ist
Artillery; Capt. Hanson, 7th Infantry ; Capt. Thorn
ton, 2d Dragoons; Capt. Capron, Ist z\r illery ; Capt.
Quarles, 15th Infantry; Capt. Anderson, 2d infant
ry; Lieut. Irons, Ist Artillery, but attached to Gen.
Cadwalader’s staff; Lieut. Preston Johnson, Ist Ar
tillery, but attached to Magruder’s battery ; Lieut.
Easly, 2d Infantry; Lieut. Goodman, 15th Infantry ;
Lieut. Hollman, Ist Artillery.
SVounded. — Col. Clark, 6th Inf’y, slightly; Col.
Morgan, 15th Infantry, severely; Maj. Wade. 3d Art.,
severely; Maj. Bonneville, 6th infantry, slightly;
Capt. Wessells, 2d infantry, severely; Capt. Phil.
Kearnv, Ist Dragoons, left arm shot off; Capt. Mc-
Reynolds, 3d Dragoons, severely; Capt. Craig, 3d
infantry, severely; Capt. Ross, 7th infantry, severe
ly; Capt. J. R. Smith, 2d infantry, severely; Capt.
Chapman, sth infantry, slightly ; Capt Johnson, 9th
infantry, slightly ; Capt. Holden, 12th infantry, slight
ly; CqH. Hathaway, Ist Artillery, slightly; Capt.
Hodman, 6th infantry, slightly; Lieut. Schuyler
Hamilton, Ist Infantry, but attached to Gen. Scott’s
staff, severely; Lieut. Halloway. Bth infantry, but
attached to Smith’s Light Battalion, severely ; Lieut.
Bacon, 6th Infantry, severely ; Lieut. Callender, of
the Ordnance, but commanding howitzer battery,
severely ; Lieut. Arnold, 2d Artillery, severely ; Lt.
Herman Thorn, 3d Dragoons, attached to Col. Gar
land's staff', slightly; Lt. Hendrickson, 6th infantry,
severely; Lt. Humber, 7th infantry, severely; Lt.
Boynton, Ist Artillery, but attached to Taylor’s bat
tery, slightly; Li. Lorimer Graham, acting with Ist
Dragoons, severely; Lt. Van Buren, of the Rifles,
slightly ; Lieut. Martin, Ist Artillery, right arm shot
oil’; Lt. Goodloe, 15th Infantry, mortally; Lt. Far
relly, sth Infantry, but attached to Smith’s Light Bat
talion, severely ; Lt. Lugenbell, adjutant sth infan
try, slightly ; Lt. Bee. 3d infantry, slightly ; Lt. Lo
vell, 2d infantry, slightly ; Lieut. Chandler, 3d In
fantry slightly ; Lt. Collins, 4th Artillery, slightly:
Lt. Tilden, 2d Infantry, severely ; Lt. Newman, 9th
infantry, severely ; Lt. Gardner, 2d infantry, severe
ly ; Lt. Hayden, 2d infantry, slightly ; Lt. Sprague,
adjutant 9th infantry, slightly ; Lt. Palmer, 9th in
fantry, severely ; Lt. Buckner, 6'h infantry, slight
ly; Lt. Cram, 9th infantry, slightly; Lieut. Simp
kins, 12th infantry, slightly; Lt. Peternell, 15th in
fantry, slightly; Lt. Bennet, 15th infantry.
The above may be considered as nearly a correct
list of the killed ami wounded officers in the regular
divisions of Gens. Worth, Twiggs and Pillow; some
few names may have been left out but their wounds
are unimportant. The entire loss (killed and wound
in the di v ision of Gen. Twiggs was 266, in that ol
Gen. Worth 339, in that of Gen. Quitman (Shields’
brigade) 240, in that of Gen. Pillow 212.
Volunteers*
The regiment of New York Volunteers lost 103 in
killed and wounded. The following is a list of the
casualties among the officers;
Killed.— Lieut. Chandler.
ll'ounded. — Colonel Burnet, severely ; Capt. Fair
child, slightly ; Capt. Dyckman, severely ; Lieut.
Sweeney, severely ; Lt. Jenniss, slightly; Lt. Coop
er, severely ; Lt. McCabe, slightly ; Lt. Potter, se
verely ; Lieut. Griffin, slighfly ; Lieut. Malhowsky,
slightly.
flie 15th Infantry under Col. Morgan, (belonging
to Gen. Pierce’s brigade,) lost one-third of its dispo
sable force ; the 9th Infantry under Col. Ransom, be
longing as well to the brigade of Gen. P.) suffered
severely. Col. Morgan was wounded in the le«j and
badly. The limb will be saved, but it is feared it
will be some time before he recovers entirely.
List of the Killed and Wounded of the Palmetto
Hegimeni, South Carolina Volunteers, during
the Battles of the 20th August, near Mexico.
Field and Staff. Killed — Colonel Pierce M.
Butler. Hmznt/ecZ —Lieut. Col. Dickinson, severe
ly ; Capt. James D. Blanding, slightly ; Adj. James
Cautey, severely.
Company A.— Killed — Corp. Wilder, Private
Thos. Black. Wounded — Lieut. Sumter, slightly;
Corp. W. 1. Norton, and Privates B. Caughmun and
J. M. Smith, severely; Privates C. 11. Moody, E.
Hunt and Jas. Putin, sligh ly.
Company’ B.— Killed. — Private W. R. Davis.
Wounded — Sergeant G. W. Curtis, slightly ; Corp.
Postell, severely; Corp. A. J. H<xxl, slightly; Priv.
Thos. Charles, D. McHenry and James Yeung, dan
gerously ; Priv. Jas. Faucett, severely; Priv. T.
Cahill, J. <'onnor, T. C. Dallas, T. O. Estes. J. M.
I>. Hoo<l, T. Robbins and S. Terrell, slightly.
Company' C.— Kdied— Private Hilton. Hozzn
d< d t.'apt. K. S. Moliatt, slightly ; Lieut. K S. Bil
lings, severely ; Sergeants Gay and Geo. Wafers;
< 'orporals Caston and Horton; Privates Bradley,
Hunter, Meggs, Stratton, Tidwell and Vilhsaigue,
—Ml UlllHHiirUFlt
Company D. Killed — Lieut. David Adams, Pri
vate Thos. F. Tillman. Wounded— Lieut. Joseph
Abney, severely; Corp. W. B. Brooks, dangerous
ly ; Privates James Gid, J. Whittaker, J. Addison.
F. Posey, R. J. Key and W. F. Unthank, severely;
Privates J. Lark, E. Simpkins and IL Sloman,
slightly.
Company V.—hilled — None. JFou/irZecZ—Ser
geants J. I). Walker and J. .X. Hicks, severely;
Corp -hi I J. F. Quinn, slightly; (_.’<»rporai J. McCol
lum, Privates <'ampron, (iilbtut, Hartman, Mackey,
Murken, Pratt, Valentine and Weatherby, severely;
Privates Miott, Vannoy, Wright and Wagner, slight-
Company <». hilled—Xone. Hounded— lst.
Li-*ut. J. IL Clark, dangerously ; 2d Lieut. J. W.
Steen and 3d Lieut. J. R. Davis, slightly; Sergeant
Rowe and < 'orp. McCreight. seriously ; Corp. Myeis,
>li_h'ly; Privates XI. Harper, T. H. Reynolds, J.
McN-ill and J. Cain, dangerously; Privates Wm.
Nelson ami Wm. B. McCreight, sev.-rely ; Privates
S. F. B me, M. B. I’ravi -, S. Camak, M. B. Stanley,
>. Newman. R. J. Barber, W. J. Sanders. R. J.
Gladney, W. XI. Goodlet, S. Alexander and J.
Remedy.
Company' 11. Killed— Privates Timothy Kelly
and Shiorack Wounded— Capt. W. D.
DeSaussuro, and Sergts. H. Beard, S. L. Percival,
J. M. .Miller and I’. Beggs, slightly ; Privates.!. Ken
nedy, Wm. M'i mey, K. H. t 'orb-v, W. S. Johnson,
W. F. Purse, W. Devlin, T. Price. J. P. Cantwell,
R. Waddell, J. F. Watts and W. Barkel >w ; M.
Brown H. J. Caughman, J. Campbell, J. T. Lupo,
E. C. Randolph, J. I). Standford and D. Polock,
slightly.
Company K. — Killed — Lieut. W. R. Williams
and Priv ites John Slattery ami Bernard < 'reagan.
Wounded— Corporal W. B, Eaves, slightly ; Priv.
J. Biughman, mortally.
Company L. — Sergeant James Denson.
Wounded -Cor|>oral J. A. Speers, Privates W.
Shephard, C Wood, M. B. O'Neale, G. H. Abney
and M. Clopton, severely; V. R. Garey, B. H. Mat
tis and J. Warner, slightly.
Total, killed 13; wounded, 124.
The field strength of this regiment, before the ac
tion commence I, consisted of 1 Colonel, 1 Lieutenant
Colonel, 1 Major, 1 Adjutant, 1 Commissary, 7 Cap
tains, 21 Subalterns, 22 Sergeants—273 rank and
file, including 21 corporals.
The New > ork Volunteers also suffered severely,
but not iu prop >nion to the Regiment from South Ca
rolina. <' I. Butler, who commanded the latter, be
haved in the most gallant manner. In advancing
upon the hacienda attacked by Gen. Shields, at the
head of his regiment, his horse was shot dead. H.-
then advanced on to->t until he received a severe
wound in the leg, which caused him to fall. In a
fainting condition he was carried to the rear, but soon
rallying lie again advanced to the head of his regi
ment, when a musket ball struck him in the head
and he died almost instantly. South Carolina one
of her bravest and most generous spirits when Col.
Butler fell.
I have not had time to obtain a full list of all the
killed and wounded in the different divisions of the
army, but shall endeavor t > do it at the earliest op
jr.riuaity. A great proportion of our loss--|«rhaps
nine-tenths—was in th* attack upon th* 1 strong works
at Churubusco—Santa -Anna’s second line, as he cull
ed it. As I have previously stated, no reconnoisance
whatever of this strong position had been made. The
brilliant success* of the morning had inspired both offi
cer- and men with thF highest enthusiasm, and they
rushed pell-mell into the positions the most expired,
and they were mowed down by hundreds.
It will be seen :hat onr own lo>s falls a little short
of eleven hundred— about 6000 men were actively
engaged. When the works of the enemy are ex
aui.u' d, one naturally wonders that Gen. Scott’s en
tire force was n-»t swept away. Put hi- army m the
same position and since the days of the viceroys
tltere have not been Mexicans enough born to drive
them out.
White flags are now constantly passing and ru
passing between the Palace here and the Palace in
Mexico. At this game the Mexicans can beat us.
Yours, dec. g. w. k.
Tacubaya. August 25. 1547.
The armistice has finally been settled and signed,
and I do n->t tell half :he story when I say that it has
pr.-iduced universal dissatisfaction in the armv—in
th- entire army. In the first place, let me give vou.
from tec jllection, its mam provisions, and then I will
give V'u a.i idea as to the mode by which it was
brought about.
The articles of the armistice first go on to say, that
hortili'.ies between the two armies are at once to cease,
in order that the peace proportions of the United
States may -e listened to, and that they, the hv-'i!.-
ties, are not to be renewed until either commander
shall give the other forty-eight boors n Rice; that in
th? meantime ail work on fortifications on both >ides
>h til cease, and that no further reinforcements for
either party shall be allowed to approach nearer than
t veaty-eight leagues of the capital; that no persons
other than citizens shall be allowed to enter the city,
ih -r.f-*'-; that certain persons of the American army
L-e allowed to enter the city borrow money
• • ■, tn ■ r- r red t
pass in except upon special business and under a flag.
8 i ire ab t the am
trm < . ■. - _ne<! n oar part : v G?n s . Quitman,
land Pierce, and nn the part of the Mexicans
lv <iens. M und Quiju-.-j.
Let me now give mv speculations as to the tnodeby
which this armistice was brought about. On the night
after the great Mex rmy was
th r ;ughiy beaten, broken to pieces a.u-i routed, Mr.
Thornton, of the English legation, accompanied by the
Briti?!i f ■ n- _*. Air. Mackint <sh—a man who regards
S \ sun-
less his own ends are to be gained —came out of die
Gen. S F
m nrng Gen. Mora, accompanied by Mr. Arrangoiz
J H W
r APPROACHES TO THE CITY OF MEXICO.
’’/rtSA. Jd 7 M
TACUB'^C_2L-</? fej
r- w,
f
who was formerly .Mexican consul in New Orleans, j
came out, also on a visit to General Scott, and on the
same day the latter wrote a letter to the Mexican an- •
thorities, hinting at an armistice between the two ar
mies with a view of opening negotiations for a peace.
This proposition was eagerly jumped at by the Mexi
can Minister of War, at the instigation of Santa Anna
)f course, and the result has been a treaty of armistice,
in which, according to rumor, nearly every thing the
Mexicans asked for was conceded. I know nothing
of the proceedings of this commission except from hear
say. There are many who believe that Gen. Scott
has been compelled to adopt this policy, at the thresh
hold of the Mexican capital, by Mr. Tristand his in
structions, but there are few, and I must acknowledge
myself among the number, who think that a peace
honorable and satisfactory to the United States is to
grow out of this matter. The whole affair, on the face
of it, looks like one of Santa Anna’s old tricks to gam
time and plan some new scheme of trickery and dis
simulation, and as he has British influence to back
him he will be likely to carryout what he undertakes.
I have always said and always believed that Santa
Anna was favorable to peace —to peace from policy
only —and still believe he may endeavor to bring it
about; but great as is his power, like a sail vessel he
can only go with the wind and current, and has too
many and too powerful enemies to carry out his pre
sent schemes, at least without strong assistance from
the United States.
Santa Anna accuses Valencia of having lost the capi
tal by not obeying his orders to abandon Contreras on
the 19th, and has ordered him to be shot wherever
found; on the other hand, Valencia accuses Santa An
na of having lost every thing by not coming to his as
sistance, and it is now said that he has pronounced
against him and peace with the Yankees at Toluca. —
Thus matters stand between these great Mexican lead
ers. Again, it is reported that Paredes is advancing
from Orizaba, which place he successfully reached
from Vera Cruz, breathing nothing but death ami ut
ter annihilation to the infamous North Americans,
while it is further stated that Bustamente is at or near
the capital with 6000 men, breathing the same amiable
sentiments. The papers of the capital are almost si
lent about every thing—they do not even give an ac
count of their recent terrible defeat.
The numberofdeserters and other foreigners found
fighting against us the other day, and who arc now
prisoners, is 72. A court martial, with Col. Garland
as president, is now in session here, for the trial of a
portion of this precious set of scoundrels, and it is to be
Imped they may have full justice done them, Riley,
the Irishman who commanded the battalion ofSan Pa
tricio, as it. is called, openly makes his brags of what
he has done, and says he expects no mercy.
Gen. Scott was himself wounded on the 20th inst.
by a grape shot. Il struck him on the outside of the
leg below the knee, and gave so litt’e pain at the time
that he said nothing about it; but it has since caused
him more uneasiness.
Our own loss, in killed, wounded and missing, is put
down in round numbers at 1000, it may possibly range
a little under. The Mexican loss in killed alone
amounted nearly to that number, their prisoners to
about 3000, while I heir wounded we have no means
of computing. Among the officers taken prisoners
were three members of Congress, and 1 believe they
are to be liberated to take part in the proceedings of
that body in relation to peace.
Yours, &c., g. w. k.
Tacubaya, August 26, 1847.
We now have certain intelligence that Valencia ar
rived at Toluca with only two men, his aid-decamps.
and they were thankful fir their good horses, or else
they could not have kept up. It is asserted positively
that he was drunk on the night of the 19th instanlt, and
promoted all his officers for their extraordinary gal
lantry in standing firmly to their guns during the af
ternoon when no one was returning their lire. The
account that he has pronounced against Santa Anna is
not fully confirmed, but there is no doubt, that Santa
Anna has denounced him in a public decree, and accu
ses him of all bl une in bringing about the recent dis
asters to the country. He must accuse some body, and
Valencia, by his disobedience of a cowardly order, has
made himself amenable —offers a fair target for his
master’s wrath.
The prospects for a peace look brighter although
tin* treaty is far from being signed. Our accounts from
the city would certainly indicate that a strong peace
feeling pervades the better class of citizens, as well ns
those of the middle order—they have evidently lost all
confidence in their own vaunting soldiers, and are anx
ious to get rid of future taxes for their support. Fora
wonder, such places as Sanguntum, Mumantia and
rn b ?gams> n ßi n "£
the last, have not been mentioned nor alluded to for a
week past. The Mexicans are certainly becoming
rational. No more do the Polkas, the “upper ten thou
sand” ot Mexico, parade tin* streets petitioning, like so
many Claude Mtlnottes, to be placed where their
country most needed soldiers: their shameless conduct
before Churubusco, in running without even firing a
gun, has taken all the conceit out of them. No more
doeven the noisy military demagogues talk of a fu
ture; no more do they fume, and brag, and vaunt of
what they are going to do, and of how the rapacious
North American* are to find a common grave under
the walls of their beleaguered city ; the blow has been
too great forthem. Thecapital was their jumping-off
place—there, by an extraordinary prowess they sup
posed themselves to possess, even against the evidence
ofa dozen disgraceful defeats, the infamous Yankees
were to be taught their utter inferiority when com
pared with the valiant descendants of the illustrious
Hidalgo—there they have been routed by a force not
one-third as large as their own; driven from strong
vantage grounds without what would be deemed a
struggle by the real nations of the earth : so shame
fully defeated that even all th'- Mexican ingenuity of
lies and excuses can find no {Nilliation Ibrlfioir discom
fiture. Divide ail the self-sufficiency overween
ing pride in the world at the commencement of this
war into two parts, and the Mexicans possessed one
half; and if they had only clung to their batteries
with the same tenacity they did to their paper valor,
they might have retained their credit even although
they lost their guns. Now, all is gone —means, mate
rial, name, and standing in the world—and there cer
tainly is a portion of the proud people of the Mexican
capital disposed to listen to peace hnd sheath their use
less swords.
The policy of Gen. Scott or of Mr. Trist—l do not
know which is responsible for the measure —in effect
ing an armistice and consequently an opportunity to ne
gotiate—this policy, I say, although not very flattering
to the pride oft hose who fought the sanguinary battles
of Contreras and Churubusco, may still have a ten
dency to soften that of the Mexi ans, and lead to some
kui'l of a peace. So perfect was the panic among the
sons of Iturbide on the 20lh that one of our weakest
regiments could have entered the Grand Plaza with
but little opposition—in fact could have driven every
soldier either out of the city or to some hiding-place
within its walls. Santa Arma ami the miserable sem
blance of a Government would also have fled, and
there would have been no power with which to open
negotiations, with which to treat. Perhaps it is bet
ter, then, that the army did not a» once enter and oc
cupy the capital, at least in a view of a peace—this is
a question yet to be solved. I must acknowledge,
however, even as matters now look, that I am one of
a large majority who fee! any thing b it rejoiced that
the army did not enter the city at first, and that peace
negotiations are not to be entertained at the National
Palace. Yours, &r., G. W’. K.
P. S. Since the above was written, we have received I
a thousand and one rumors from the city. The re- :
port that Bustamente is approaching with some 6000 ,
troops is renewed, as well as the account of the ad
vance of Paredes upon the capital. All the shops in ;
the city are closed, and consternation still reigns.—
Many will have it, the evidence being their own pro- •
per eyes, that the Mexicans are throwing up breast ’
work- and constructing batteries ar different p<>iij: ■,
and they siy too, that Santa Anna either is desirous of (
gaining time, or else to make one of the main condi- j
lions of peace that h‘- is to be supported by American >
arms against any faction that may rise against him. I
In this they are probably more than half right. A '
train of wagons, which was going in this morning .
headed by Cap’. Wayne and an escort of dragoons,
were turned bark by th» Mexicans on pretence that
there were regular soldiers with the convoy. I dont ■
know how th»* matter will be settled, but Santa Anna
will probably have his own way. Our own officers '
are many of them outrageous at the occurence.
Tacubaya, August 27, 1847.
The official report of Gen. Salas, who was second .
in command at Contreras and wh■-> is now a prisoner,
has been published in Mexico. He admits that his ,
dcf«Bt was total, but as usual lays the blame on some
of h.s brother officers. says that on the afternoon .
of the 19th— (this uras while no one was re ur ing !
their fire) — the Mexicans fought with uncommon va
lor and enthusiasm, but that early on the morning of ,
thr- 20*h August they r- suddenly surrounded an !
at once thrown into confusion, and in the end utterly
routed. Salas says that at the outset of the disorder
he shouted “ Victory for Mexico,” ordered the- trum
pets to sound, and directed Gen. Torre jon to charge
with his lancers; but according to the same account '
that officer fled in the most cowardly manner, the in
fantry got mixed up with the cavalry and also fled,
and the rout of all was c impu-te and most disastrous. I
Salas says that Gen. Valeri-: i ran oil at the com
mencement of the tight, that he does not know what
has become of hun. and tor this reason has felt him- I
self called upon to make a report. Such is the ac
count given by hi- Excellency'Gen. Sr. Don. I. Ma
i too ieSal - fthe d eat at Contreras—one of the
most brilliant victories achieved by our arms since the
commencement of the war—brilliant and most impor
tant for the great result- produced with so little loss
on our side, and for which Gen. Smith, as well as
U< I. Riley and the otht r iffi ters engaged in it, arc re
ceiving the unqualified approbation o! the entire armv.
Gen. Salas himself acknowledges that in this battle
Gen. Frutitera was killed, that besides himself Gens.
Mendoza. Blmcho and Garcia were wonnded and
taken prisoners, in addi ion to a list of over 100 other
officers—colonels, captains, &c.—who were either
killed, wounded or are now in our hands. And here
let me mention one fact in relation to the after battle
of Churubusco, which will show bow near Gen. Scott
wasto capturing the entire Mexican armv. At the time
Gen. Worth was pressing upon the tete de pont. Gen.
Fwiggs upon the church, and Gens. Shields and
Pierce upon the hacienda fartheron, the c nnrnander
in-ch:ef ordered Maj. Sumner totak-- command of the
Rifles, and by
between the enemy and the city. Nothing but the
daring 'mpetuosity of our own men in front prevented
this plan from succeeding—had the Mexicans held out
or our own soldiers held off ten minutes longer, the
enemy would have been in a bag as it were, and kill
ed or captured to a man. Santa Anna might perhaps
have escaped, as he has a peculiar way of his own;
but he would not have taken even the remnant of an
army with him.
A Mexican mail was captured by a party of our
dragoons on the 22d inst. on its way from the city to
Morelia. It contained a multitude of letters dated on
the 21st, the day after the great battles, and they give
vivid and at the same time most doleful accounts of
their terrible and utter defeat. Some of the writers
lay the blame on Santa Anna alone, some on Valencia,
some on Santa Anna and Valencia, some on Santa
Anna, Valencia, and all the officers, while others say
that Santa Anna, Valencia, and all the officers and
soldiers are utterly worthless. The latter writers
are more comprehensive and probably nearerthe mark.
Many of the letters are exceedingly rich. One lov
ing husband writes to his wife, whom he calls “an
gel,” and “ idol,” and his “ adored ChulitaJ' and
tells her not to occasion herself' any uneasiness about
his safety, as he does not intend to expose himself!
Another officer comes out even plainer: he tells his
beloved Rosa that he thought of her when the balls
were flying, and ran ! The capture of these letters
is valuable in more ways than one —they give much
information as regards the strength and plans of the
enemy, and freely and frankly acknowledge that they
have been defeated and utterly disorganized. The
number of Santa Anna’s grand army is put down at
from 30 to 35,000. and nearly all of them took a part
in the battles of the 20th.
Santa Anna has come out in a long manifesto to the
Mexican nation. He begins by saying that he shall
speak openly and candidly to his fellow-citizens, as
frankness has always been a characteristic of his ad
ministration ! He next speaks of what he has lately
done in the way of collecting an army and munitions
far the defence of the capital, and then goes on to lay
all the blame of his reverse upon Valencia, who would
not obey his orders on the 19th, evacuate Contreras,
and fall back upon the second line of defence at Chu
rubusco. He intimates that he continued with his
soldiers until the last moment, and after they were
routed and driven from Churubusco he says that he
was enabled to rally his troops at the Garita—the
third line — and thus sate the capital! On the fol
lowing day, he says, while occupied in reorganizing
his forces, strengthening his batteries, and placing
himself once more at the head of a column to defend
the capital until the last extreme, he received a letter
from Gen. Scott proposing an armistice, &c. (Santa
Anna says nothing about his talking this matter over
the previous evening with Macintosh and Thornton,
and their immediate departure for the American lines,
but absolutely harangues his countrymen as though
the first proposition came from Gen. Scott.) In the
concluding paragraphs ot his manifesto Santa Anna
says that he has granted an armistice to the Americans
tollisten to what their peace commissioner has to say.
He gives it as his opinion that a suspension of hostili
ties is always beneficial, that war is always an evil —
in fact that a perpetual war is an absurdity ! He in
timates that he has competent authority to listen to
overtures of peace, .and then goes on to tell his people
that he has a sufficient number of troops to sustain the
rights and vindicate the honor of the nation. He con
siders himself as free as though he had obtained a sig
nal victory, and that his fellow-citizens need have no
fear of his being deceived or imposed upon by the ne
gotiatiors of the enemy, inasmuch as he does not dread
their men or camion ! if peace can be brought about
without losing the honor of the nation, well and good;
if not, Santa Anna intimates that he will return to the
sword as an arbitrator. Such is a mere outline of a
document which makes nearly three columns in the
Diario del Gobierno.
The commissioners upon the part of the Mexican
Government to listen to our overtures of peace are
Gens. Mora y Villamil and Jose Joarchin de Herrera,
the latter formerly President and now military com
mandant of Mexico. His character, as all our read
ers know, is that of an honest but weak man. Don
Antonio Garay, a well known capitalist and formerly
Minister of Finance, was also appointed on the com
mission, but refused to serve. He is known to be
warmly in favor of peace, probably from interest.
The commissioners on the part of Mexico, with Mr.
i’rist, it is said are to hold their first meeting this af
ternoon, at some place near this.
I may be mistaken, but my humble opinion is that
there are three injlutnces now at work in the city of
Mexico to bring about a peace. The first and fore
most is Santa Anna himself, sick and tired of the war,
and seeing nothingJti > ts continuance but hfoown_qyU‘r
rhornton &, Co., the latetr gentleman secretary of
legation or attache to the English minister and both
representing English interests. The third, and an
all-powerful interest it is, is American gold, of which
Santa Anna and some of his friends are known to be
exceedingly fond, »nd to handle which they will stop
at nothing. Thornton, during th<* illness of Mr. Bank
head, does the talking on the Engli-h side Mackin
tosh acts as banker and general agent. Not one of
these men care any more fir the honor or credit of the
Government of Mexico than they do for that of the
longo Islands —self is at the bottom of all, and Santa
Anna is the most selfish man of the lot. On our own
side we have twoinfluences at work : the first is Gen.
Scott, hampered and hand-bound by in's own Govern
ment, and anxious to bring about a peace, because he
believes a majority of his country men are warmly in
favor of it; and the second is Mr. Trist, covetous, as
any man in his position would be, of the distinction
so important a deed as the making a peace must give
him. Opposed to these influences is a proud but cow
ardly set of Mexican military demagogues — a band
of leeches who have lost all cast but still retain a spe
cies of hold upon the people—and then there is the
great laxly of the people thcmsel.es, who know not
themselves what they want, but who are hoodwinked
and led by the demagogues. Santa Anna has no
friends; but he has power, and that suits him just as
well —perhaps better. Now all the influences enu
merated above are to be used to bring about a peace,
but how they will succeed is a matter of conjecture.
I suppose that the means should not be rejected so that
the ends are gained.
The trial of the deserters—the celebrated battalion
of St. Patrick—is still going on, but how the affair
will terminate no one but those on the court martial
can say. A strong influence is at work it. favor of the
prisoners. In the first place, all the Mexican ladies
in this town, La Senora Cayetano Rubio among the
number, have signed a warm petition in their favor,
which has been sent to Gen. Scott. The lady whose
name I have given is the wife of the rich Rubio, who
has a country house here in Tacubaya. The English,
and perhaps some of the other foreign ministers, have
also interested themselves in behalf of the scoundrels.
I might here state that the celebrated flag of the fo
reign battalion was captured by the 14th Infantry,
attached to Gen. Pillow’s division.
The banner is of green silk, and on one side is a
harp, surmounted by the Mexican coat of arms, with
a scroll on which is painted “ Libertad por la He
publica Mcxieana." Underneath the harp is the
motto of “ Krin go Bragh. /” On the other side is a
painting of a badly executed figure, made to repre
sent St. Patrick, in his left hand a key and in his
right a crook or staff resting ti[»on a serpent. Under
neath is painted “San Patricio.” To their credit be
it spoken, the Irish in our own army are loudest in
denouncing the miserable wretches who fought ami
killed so many under this flag. 1 know not what dis
|»osition will be made of litem, but as hardly a person
has been punished for an offence committed against
our own army since it first crossed the Rio Grande,
the rascals may get off easily.
'Piro d'clo '!:, afternoon. — News has just come in
from the capital which has caused great excitement.
Alan early hour a train of wagons, under charge of
Capt. Wayne, dressed in citizens’clothes, started for
the city. Scarcely had they reached the Plaza be
fore the wagons were surrounded by an immense con
course of leperos, who at first commenced cursing
and j'-ering the wagon-mas.ers and wagoners. Soon,
however, they began to pelt the jioor fellows with
stones and other missiles, and notwithstanding the
pretended'-xertions of a squad of Mexican soldiers,
who acted as a guard, the entire train was driven out
of the city. Several of‘he wagoners received severe
bruises and contusions from the showers of stones
thrown at them, and foremost in the mob were said to
be the women of the town. One Mexican was shot
by one of the wagon-masters, and another by a Mex
i -an officer, but not until they had half killed an Ame
rican. In the crowd of loafers or leperos were seen
many men, apparently of the better class from their
dress, who excited the mob to acts of violence, while
in the balconies were ladies looking on and evidently
enjoying the sport. Even the Mexican cavalry guard,
or many of them, sat upon their horses —not indiffer
ent spectators, for they fairly laughed to see the un
fortunate and unarmed teamsters beset in a manner
s*> cowardly. I suppose that Santa Anna will atxJo
gize foi the outrage, and that thus the matter will be
'• tiled ; but this does not prevent many from think
ing that the tyrant .’nstigated the whole affair. He is
up to al I sorts of trickery. There are others who think,
and probably with grxxl show of reason, that the mob
was seton by the enemies of Santa Anna and peace,
wuh the intention of involving the whole party and
breaking off all negotiations. Be this as it may. the
Mexicans have won a great batile in driving our wa
gons from the city, and will not fail to exult over it.
I know not what measures Gen. Scott will now resort
to in order to obtain his money and supplies from the
The Mexican Government has added two addi
tional members to the Board of Commissioners to listen
to the question of peace—Senores A tristian an I Ber
nardo Couto. Both are licenciados or lawyers, and
the latter enjoys a high reputation, not only as regards
talents, but for the probity of his character. The
commissioners held their first meeting this afternoon,
ata place called Izcapusalco, about two leagues from
here, and 1 learn that Mr. Trist manifests himself as
highly pleased with the proceedings thus far, and of
the continued flattering prospects of peace. They
may not look quite so flattering when he comes to
talk of slices of territory, but of (his we shall know
all in good time. Yours, &c., g. w. k.
Tacvbaya. August 28, 1847.
Capt. Beauregard, of the engineers, has been kind
enough to furnish me with a sketch of the battle
grounds of the 20th in*t. Os course it was executed
in great haste, but still gives one a complete idea of
the sceneof operations, and of ti»e strong positions held
by the Mexican army at the outset. Capt. B. con
ducted Gen. Smith’s brigade to the attack upon Con
treras, and thus knows th ground full well. Lieut 4
THwer, also of the engineer corps, conducted Col. Ri
ley to the attack of Valencia in the rear, while Capt.
Lee, with portions of the 9th and 12th Regiments,
made a diversion in front. Why some of our engineer
officers were not ki'ledin the different reconnoisances
and actions is a miracle, for they were always fore
most.
The accounts this morning from the city would go
to show that the Mexicansare chuckling over thecZe
fcat of the wagon train yesterday, and its expulsion
without the walls—they absolutely term it a victory !
The authorities pretend they did everything in lheir
power to suppress the row, but no ono who under
stands Mexican character believes them. If any
thing in this world can be driven easier than Mexicans
irith arms in their hands, (ride Churubusco and
Contreras,) it is Mexicans without arms. A Mexican
mob can be likened to nothing save a flock of sheep
as easily routed and dispersed —and now the authori
ties pretend that they did everything in their power
to suppress the one which was raised yesterday. A
single squadron of our dragoons could have ridden
over the rioters as easily as they could over a lawn.
I suppose now that the wagons will not be allowed to
enter the city—another point gained by the enemy.
They certainly have not been in to-day.
The Diario del Gobierno of yesterday is almost en
tirely filled with documents and letters, all underta
king to prove that Valencia was the sole cause of the
defeat of the great Mexican army. Santa Anna’s
friends are at the bottom of all this of course. Seve
ral of ' alencia’s letters are lugged into the document,
in one of which, dated al 8 o’clock on the evening of
the 10th, at Contreras, he speaks of having routed the
entire American army at all points, and that the liber
ty and honor of his country had been saved by the
glorious victory. He further discloses the fact that
Gen. Frontera was killed while heading a charge of
cavalry, and that Gen. Parrodi was wounded. This
is news : we shall get all the truth out of them after a
while. The last we hear of Valencia he was at To
luca, whither he had gone, according to his own pub
lished proclamation, to collect forces to vindicate the
honor of his country !
The same number of the Diario contains an account
of the attack upon the wagon train. It makes light
of the whole affair, says that a few persons were
slightly injured, that Gens. Tomei, Herrera and
Quijano soon dispersed the rioters, and that the fact
of the wagons going as far as the Plaza Principal was
an error or oversight. Among those who received a
shower of stones on the occasion was Mr. Hargous,
the gentleman who has mainly fed and clothed the
army since it marched from Jalapa. He was in the
city after supplies at the time.
I believe that up to this time I have neglected to
mention that Maj. Gaines, who recently escaped from
Mexico, was on the staff of Gen Scott during the re
cent battles, and that Midshipman Rogers was on that
of Gen. Pillow. After the rout at Contreras, and
while our troops were on the way to Churubusco, a
house where Capt. Danley and Major Borland were
secreted was passed. The former was quite unwell
at the time, but the latter came out, shouldered a
musket, and was in at the defeat of Churubusco. I
hear that Clay and all the o’her prisoners will now
soon be released. Yours, (fcc. c. w. k.
Tacubaya, Aug. 29, 1847.
The peace commissioners met again yesterd y, and
at a point nearer this place. Nothing positive in re
lation to the proceedings of this second meeting has
transpired —some say that everything went on smooth
ly, others say not, which is tolerably strong proof that,
but little is known one way or the other in relation to
ihe deliberations. The new commissioner, Bernardo
Couto, was present, as was also Atristain. The lat
ter is represented as a tool of Mackintosh’s; but if he
can do anything towards bringing about a peace this
makes no difference. They say that in the city they
indulge the hope that the commissioners will agree
upon the Nueces as a boundary. This is carrying the
stakes and stones a little too far. “Give them an
inch and they’ll take an ell” is applied to many peo
ple in the world—give a Mexican an inch and he'll
take at least seven miles and a half.
I must close this letter in haste, as a messenger
has just come in to say that the express in-in is about
to start. You shall be kept informed of everything.
Yours. &c. g. w. k.
Santa Anna's Manifesto--His Explana
tion of liis Recent Reverses*
At some inconvenience to ourselves we lay
before our readers a translation of Santa An
na’s Manifesto to the nation, giving its version
of the causes of his recent defeat, which he does
not affect to deny and scarcely extenuates. It
is an interesting document and will amply re
ward perusal.
.Manifesto of the Provisional President and Com
mander-in- ( hiefof the Army:
In moments to critical and solemn, it becomes the
duty of him who presides over the destiny of the Re
public to give publicity to the recent events, and I com
ply with pleasure, as candor has at all times been the
character of my administration. The incidents of the
19th and 20lh are too notorious, having been disas
trous; but 1 am bound to present a review of them,
lest they should be misrepresented as much by the
spirit of detraction and malevolence, ashy the errors
which may result from a false analysis of such grave
and transcendent affairs.
The nation has witnessed the great and extraordina
ry efforts with which, in the spare of three months, I
prepared for the defence of the capital, which was on
the point of being surrendered to the enemy without
resistance. I h ive formed, armed and equipped an
army of more than 20,000 men; I have provided a
vast material for this army ; I have fortified various
lines in order to remove from Mexico the ravages of
rhe war; 1 have created resources in spite of the iso
lated position to which the Government was reduced ;
and I have spared no toil and no labor in order to make
my country appear with dignity and firmness in the
. outest to which it was so unjustly provoked.
In war, an accident, a thing tlial appears trilling,
overthrows the best formed combinations A glance
at the defences which I established round the city is
sufficient to discover the plan which I had pro;>osed to
myselL The forces which I advanced on one of the
flanks, supjxjrled by others stationed al convenient
distances, had a point to fall back iq>on, well known
to them, and of which I gave notice nt the proper mo
lory, and whose headquarters were at the village of
Angel, 1 sent orders at 11 o’clock on the morning
•>f the 18th to fall back upon the town ofCoyoacan, in
order to form a concentration of forces, following the
movements of the enemy, which were already evi
dent, and particularly to unfold my plan ofoperations.
But this general, forgetting that no two men can com
mand in a field of battle, and that for the execution of
a plan, no observation which may annul or retard it
ran be admitted, took upon himself to object to the or
ders which he had received; and as we hud banished
from among us obediance and discipline, so indispen
sable in military matters, I had to he lolerent inorder
io avoid greater evils, and let him, to my great re
gret, act, throwing upon him the responsibility of
whatever might happen. The result was as latni as
I bud foreseen. He advanced, ofhis own accord, more
than a league, and selected a position to meet theen
••iny without giving me notice of his movement or of
his intentions. The refund which he gave to my ad
vice was the first new. ’ ’rid ofhis temerily, and soon
after the roar of cannon ,:owed me his position, and
gave me notice that an action had commenced. Al
though overwhelmed with a presentiment of what was
to happen, I put myself immediately at the head of a
brilliant division ol 4000 men and five pieces of artil
lery, I arrived at the moment when the enemy had
cut ofl'by the rear the position of the ill fated general
with a respectable force, and I was hardly able to
•heck his operations, as the night was already setting
in.
But I perceived with sorjow, that the position was
isolated; a Jeep ravine, and a w<x>d <x*.ciipied by the
enemy, being interposed between us, it was impossi
ble for the troops under my immediate command to ad
vance by the only road there was, without exposing
themselves as were already the others, and only one
battery, which arrived late, could do any injury. The
firing having ceased, our brigade took up its quarters
in the neighboring village ofSan Angel, because, ns it
rained in torrents, it would have been equal to a defeat
to have kept the troops in the open field.
Previous to this, however, I had ordered my aide
de-camp, Colom l R-imiro, to pass the terrible ravine
which was in our front, and, guided by Don Jose Ma
ria del Rio, well actpiaintcd with the country, to reach
the ramp of the general, and to advise him to withdraw
that very night to Sun Angel with his Infantry and
Cavalry, by the only road wlaich was left to him, spi
king, previously, the artillery which it was not pos
sible to save. My aide-de-catnpsucceeded, and com
municated my orders between ten and eleven o’clock
(hat night, but instead of hoi ng obeyed with punctuali
ty, the above named general hardly allowed my aid
toxspeak, interrupting him by stating that he want'd
6000 men and ammunition, and sent him off with two
dispatches, already signed and sealed, in one of which
he gives a report of the action of the evening, stating
that he had beaten and put the enemy to a shameful
flight, and that in consequence he had conferred pro
motions on the generals, chiefs and officers.
Early the next morning I presented myself again
in the same camp, reinforced by a brigade which I
had drawn from the capital, and with the intention of
forcing the pass at any cost; but when I was about to
commence the Cherny made his attack, which lasted
ten minutes, and I witnessed, overwhelmed with de
spair, the defeat of those soldiers worthy of a better
fate, because the general who unfortunately comman
ded them hid cut lii rose If off. The consequences of
this success appeared terrible to my sight. The ene
my could arrive by a rapid move at the capital before
it would be in my jiower to render assistance; the
enemy could by a flank movement cut off my detached
forces ; the enemy had obtained as a fjuitof his victo
ry the power of bringing the whole of his forces
against a part only of mine; and, finally, the enemy,
owing to th»* insubordination and wan* of skill of one
general, could turn to his profit the advantages of my
position.
The advanced flirt ofSan Antonio could not be main
tained, because our line had been cut, and I gave
orders for its garrison to withdraw whilst I protected
the fort and Zele de pool of Churubusco. The enemy
anvanced and cut off part of the troops that were re
treating, and appeared in front of our nearest defen
ces. There again I placed myself at the head of our
troops, and my efforts cost the enemy a good deal of
blood. The losses, although much to be lamented,
naturally proceeded from the retreat, which was has
ty, unexpected an 1 confused, owing to the trains, that
had to pass through a narrow lane, flanked in its whole
extent. The defence was made from line to line until
we came to the third, where I personally restrained
the enemy and saved the capital, which has been so
unexpectedly placed in danger. When I was occu
pied on the 22d in reorganizing the forces ami man
ning their batteries, having placed myself again at the
head of a column which should offer resistance to the
last extremity, I received a communication from the
general-iu-chiefof the enemy, proposing an armistice
that might give time to listen to the propositions which
may be made by the commissioner of the Government
of the United States, to put an end to the contest be
tween the two nations. I accepted the armistice, and
after having had a meeting of the ministers, I resolved
to listen Io the above propositions.
The suspension of hostilities is always a blessing,
because war is always an evil, particularly after the
failure of grand combinations. To free thecapital of
its horrors, or at least to retard them, was an emer
gency whkdi I could not resist, and the more so when
it presented the means of arriving at an honorable
peace.
When two nations are in a state of war they e joy
the right of reciprocally making propositions, which
presupposes the obligation to listen. A perpetual war
is an absurdity, because it is a calamity, and the in
stinct of self-preservation, which is stronger in nations
than in private individuals, counsels ns not to refuse
any means which may lead to an advantageous set
tlement. To adopt this step the constitution ponlers
ample powers on me.
Devoted to interests so noble and exalted, I must at
all hazards maintain the prestige and res(>ect oftlie
supreme authority ; particularly at present, when, if
the factions should molest the Government, they would
deprive it of the liberty of deliberating, and it won!