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THE CONSTITUTIONALIST.
JAMES GARDNER, JR.
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FROM MONTEREY.
Official Despatches from Gen. Taylor.
Head-Quarters Army of Occupation,?
Camp near Monterey, Oct. 9, i 546. )
Sir:— -I have now the honor to submit
A detailed report of the recent operations
before Monterey, resulting in me capi
tulation of that city.
The information' received on the route
from Cerrplvo, and particularly the con
tinual appearance in our front of the
Mexican cavalry, which had a slight
skirmish with our advance at the vi.lage
of Rama*, induced the belief as we ap
proached Monterey, that the enemy would
defend that place. Upon reaching the
neighborhood of the ehy on the morning
of the 19ih of September, ibis belief was
fully confirmed. It was ascertained that
he occupied the town in force; that a
large work had been constructed com
manding all the northern approaches;
nnd that the Bishop’s Palace and some
heights in its vicinity near the Saltillo
road, had also been fortified and occupied
with troops and artillery. It was known
from information previously received,
that the eastern approaches were com
manded by several small works in the
lower edge of the city.
The configuration of the blights and
gorges in tile direction of the Saltillo road,
as visible from the point attained by out
advance of the morning of the 19th, led
me to-suspect that it was practicable to
turn all the works in that direction, and
thus cut the enemy’s line of communi
cation. After establishing my camp at
the “Walnut springs,” three in le.s ftom
Monterey, the nearest suitable position,
it was, accordingly, my first care to order
a close reconnolssanee of the ground in
question, which was executed on the
evening of the 19th by tlie engineer of
ficers under the direction of Major Mans
field. A reconnoi-sance of the eastern
approaches was at the same time made by
Captain Williams, topographical engi
neers. The examination made by Major
Mansfield proved the entire practicability
of throwing forward a column to the
Saltillo road, and thus turning the posi
tion of the enemy. Deeming this to be
an operation of essential importance,
orders were given to Brevet Brig. Gen.
Worth, commanding the second division,
to march with his command on the 20th;
to turn the hill of the Bishop’s Palace; to
occupy a position on the Saltillo road, and
so carry the enemy’s detached works in
that quarter, where practicable. The
first regiment of Texas mounted volun
teers, under command ofCoj. Hays, was
associated with the second division on
this service. Capt. Sanders, engineers,
and Lieut. Meade, topographical en
gineers, were also ordered to re; ort to
Gen. Worth for duty with his column.
At 2 o’clock, p. m., on the 20ffi the
second division took up its march. It
was soon discovered, by officers who
were reconnoitering the town, and con)
mnnicated to Gen. Worth, that its move
ment had been perceived, and that the
enemy was throwing reinforcements to
wards the Bishop’s Palace and the height
which commands if. To divert his alien
tion as far as practicable, the first divi
sion, under Brigadier General Twiggs,
and field division of volunteers, under
Major General Butler, were displayed
in front of the town until dark. Arrange
ments were made at the same time to
place in battery during the night, at a
suitable distance from the enemy’s main
work, the citadel, two 24-pounder howit
zers, and a 10 inch mortar, with a view
to open a fire on the following day, when
I proposed to make a diversion it) favor
of General Worth’s movement. The 4th
infantry covered this battery during the
night. Gen. Worth had in the mean
time reached and occupied for the night,
a defensive position just without range of
a battery above the Bishop’s Palace, hav
fng made a recon noissa nee as far as the
Saltillo road.
Before proceeding to report the opera
tions of the 21st, and following days, I
beg leave to state that I shall mention in
detail only those which were conducted
against the eastern extremity of the city,
or elsewhere, under my immediate direc
tion, referring you for the particulars of
Gen. Worth’s operations, which were en
tirely detached, to his own full report
transmitted herewith.
Early on the morning ofthe 21st, I re
ceived a note from General Worth, writ
ten at half past 9 o’clock the night before,
•suggesting what I had already intended,
a strong diversion against the centre and
left of the town to favor his enterpiso
against the heights in rear. The infan
try and artillery of the Ist division, and
the field division of volunteers, w ere or
dered under arms and look the direction
of the city, leaving one company of each
regiment as a camp guard. The 2d dra
goons, under Lieut. Col. May, and Col.
Woods’s regiment ol Texas mounted vol
unteers, under the immediate direction of
General Henderson, W'ere directed to the
. right to support Geu. Worth, if necessary,
and to make an impression, if practicable
upon the upper quarter of the city. Upon
approaching the mortar battery, the Ist
and.3d regiments of infantry and battal.
ion of Baltimore and Washington volun.
leers, with Captain Bragg’s field battery
—the wliole under the command of
Lieut. Col. Garland —were directed to
wards the lower part of the town, with 1
orders to make a strong demonstration, j
a id carry one of the enemy’s advanced
works, if it could be done without too j
heavy loss. Major Mansfield, engineers, |
and Capt. Walliams and Lieut. Pope, To- I
pographtcal engineer*, accompanied this j
column, Major Mansfield being charged i
with ins direction, and the designation of |
points of attack. In the meantime the |
mortar, served by Capt. Ram-ey, of the |
ordnance, and the howitzer battery under |
Cap’. Webster, Ist artillery, had opened ■
their fire upon the citadel,which was de- i
liherately sustained* and answered from
the work. Gen. B iller’s division had i
now taken up a position in rr ar of this
battery, when the discharges of artillery, I
mingled finally with a rapid fire of small j
arms, showed that Lieutenant Garland’s |
command had become warmly engaged, j
I now deemed it necessary to support this ;
attack, and accordingly ordered the 4th ;
infantry and three regiments of General I
Butler’s division to march at once by the ;
left flank in tlie ditrciion of the advanced 1
work at the lower extremity ofthe town,
leaving one regiment (Ist Kentucky) to i
cover the morta' and {howitzer battery.—
By some mistake, two companies of the :
4ih infantry did not receive this order,
and consequently did not join the advance
companies until some lime afterwards.
Lient. Col. Garland’s command had
appioached the town in a direction to the ;
right of the advanced work (No. 1 ) at j
the northeastern angle of the city, and ,
the engineer officer, covered by skirmish- ;
ers, had succeeded it) entering the sub- ;
urbs and gaining cover. The remain- \
der of tiiis command now advanced and
entered the town under a heavy fire of
artillery from the citadel and the works
on the left, and of musketry from the
houses and small works in front. A
movement to the right was attempted with
a view to gain the rear of No. 1, and car
ry itiat work, but the troops were so much
exposed to a fire which they could not ef
fectually return, and had already sus
tained such severe loss, particularly in
officers, that it was deemed best to with
; draw them to a more secure position.—
| Capt. Backus, Ist infantry, however,with
a portion of Ins own and other companies,
bad gained the roof a tannery, which
looked directly into the gorge of No, 1,
and from which he poured a most des-
I tructive fire into that w’ork and upon the
strong building in its rear. This fire
happily coincided in point of time with
the advance of a portion of the volunteer
i division upon No. 1, and contributed
largely to the fall of that .strong and im
portanl work.
The three regiments of the volunteer
division under the immediate command
| of Major General Butler, had in the
I meantime advanced in the direction of
j No. 1. The leading brigade, Under Bri
| gadier General Quitman, continued its
| advance upon that w-ork, preceded by
! three companies ofthe 4ih infantry, while
General Butler, with Ist Ohio regiment,
| entered the tow nto the right. The com
; panies ol the 4th Infantry had advanced
within short range of the work, when they
were received by a fire that almost in one
; moment struck down one third ofthe offi
cers and men.and rendered it necessary to
retire and effect a conjunction wi h lie tw o
o:her companies then advancing. Getu
Quitman’s brigade, though suffering most
severely, particularly in the Tennessee
regiment, continued its advance, and
finally ctrried the w-ot k in handsome
style, as well as the stiong building in its
rear. Five pieces of artillery, a consi
derable supply of ammunition, and thirty
prisoners, including three officers, fell
into our hands. Major General Butler,
with the Ist Ohio regiment, after enter
ing the edge ofthe town, discovered that
nothing was to he accomplished in his
front, and at this point, yielding to the
suggestions of several officers, I ordered
a retrograde movement; but learning al
most immediately from one of my staff
that the battery No. 1 was in our posses
sion, the order was countermanded, and I
determined to hold the battery and de
fences already gained. General Butler,
with the Ist Ohio regiment, then entered
the town at a point father to the left, and
marched in the direction of the battery
No. 2. While making an examination
with a veiw to ascertain the possibility of
carrying this second work by storm, the
general was wounded and soon after corn
pelled to quit the field. As the strength
of No. 1, and the heavy musketry fire
flanking the approach, rendered it impos
sible to carry it w ithout great loss, the Ist
Ohio regiment was withdraw from the
town.
Fragments of the various regiments
engaged wete now under cover of the
captured battery and some buildings in
its front, and on the right. The field
batteries of Captains Bragg and Ridgely ;
werealso partially covered by the battery, j
An incessant fire w ? as kept np on this |
position from battery No. 2, and other I
works on its right, and from the citadel |
on all our approaches. General Twiggs, 1
though quite unwell, joined me at this ■
point, and was instrumental in causing
the artillery captured from the enemy to
be placed in battery, and served by Capt.
Ridgely against No. 2, until the arrival
of Capt. Webster’s howitzer battery,
which look its place. In the mean time,
I directed such men as could be collected
of the Ist, 3d, and 4th regiments, and
Baltimore battalion, to enter Ihe town,
penetrating to the right, and carry the 2J
battery if possible. This command, under
Lieut. Col. Garland, advanced beyond
the bridge “Purisima,” when, finding it
impracticable to gain the rear of the 2d
battery, a portion of it sustained them- j
selves for some time in that advanced j
position; but as no permanent impression j
could be made at that point, and the main )
object ofthe general operation had been j
effected, ihe command, including a sec
tion of Capl, Ridgely’s battery, which had
joined it, was withdrawn to battery No. 1.
During the absence of tins column, a de
monstration of cavalry was reported in
the direction of the citadel. Capt. Bragg,
who was at hand, immediately gallopped
with his battery to a suitable position,
from which a tew disharges effectually
dispersed the enemy. Capt. Miller, Ist
infantry, was despatched with a mixed
command, to support the battery on this
service. The enemy’s lancers had pre
viou-lv charged upon the Ohio and a part
of the Mississippi regimen*, near some
fields at a distance from the edge of
the town, and had been repulsed with con
siderable loss. A demonstration of cav
alry on the opposite side of the river was
also dispersed in the course of the after
noon by Captain Ridgely’s battery, and
the squadrons returned to the city. At
the approach of evening, all the troops
that had been engaged were ordered back
to camp, except Capt. Ridgely’s battery,
and the regular infantry of the Ist divi
sion, who were detailed as a guard for the
works during the night under command
of Lt. Co>. Garland. One battalion of
the Ist Kentucky regiment was order,
ed to reinforce this command. Intrench
ing tools were procured, and additional
strength was given to the works, and pro
tection to the men, by working parties
during the night, under the direction of
Lieut. Searriit, engineers.
The main object proposed in the
had beeneffeted. A powerful diversion had
been made to favor the operations of the 2d
division, one of the enemy’s advanced works
had been carried, and we now had a strong
foot-hold in the town. But this had not been
accomplished without a very heavy loss,
embracing some ot our most gallant *nd
promising officers, Capt. Williams, topo
graphical engineers, Lts. j errett and Dil
worlh, Ist infantry. Lt. Woods, 2d infantry.
Capts. Morris and Field, Bvt. Major Barbour,
Lts. Irwin and Hazlitt. 3d infantry, Lt.
Hoskins, 4th infantry, Lt. Col. Watson,
Baltimore battalion, Capl. Allen and L*. Put
man, Tennessee regiment, and Lt. Heif, Ohio
regiment, were killed, or have since died of
wounds received in this engagement, while
the number and rank of the officers wounded
gives additional proof of the obstinacy of the
contest, and the good conduct of our troops.
The number of killed and wounded incident
to the operations in the lower part of the city
on the *2lst is 394.
Early in the morning of this dav, (21st.)
the advance of the 2d division had enronnted
the enemy in force, and after a brief but
sharp conflict, repulsed him with heavy loss.
Gen. Worth then succeeded in gaining a
position on the Saltillo road, thus cutting the
enemy’s line of communication. From this
position the two heights south of the Saltillo
road were carried in succession,and the gut*
taken in one of them turned upon the Bishop’s
Palace. These important successes were
fortunately obtained with comparatively small
loss; Cy.pt. McKavelt, Bth infantry, being
the only officer killed.
The 22d dav of September passed without
any active operations in the lower part of the
city. The citadel and other works continued
to fire at parties exposed to their range, and
at the work now occupied by our troops.
The guard left in it the preceding night, ex
cept, Capt. Ridgley’s company, was relieved
at mid-day by Gert. Quitman’s brigade. Capt.
Bragg’s battery was thrown under cover in
front of the town to repel any demonstration
of cavalry in that quarter. At dawn of day,
the height above the Bishop’s Palace was
carried, and soon after meridian, the Palace
itself was taken and its guns turned upon
the fugitive garrisoh. The object for which
the 2d division was detached had thus b"en
completely accomplished, and I felt con
fident that with a strong force occupying the
road ami heights in his rear, and a good
position below the city in our possession, the
enemy could not possibly maintain the town.
During the night of the 22d, the enemy
evacuated nearly all his defences in the lower
part of the city. This was reported to me
early in the morning of the 23d by Gen.
Quitman, who had already meditated an as
sault upon those works. I immediately sent
instructions to that officer, leaving it to his
discretion to enter the city, covering his men
by the houses and walls, and advance care
fully as far as he might deem prudent. After
ordering the remainder of the troops as a re
serve, under the orders of Brigadier GeneraJ
Twiggs, I repaired to the abandoned works,
and discovered that a portion of Gen. Quit
man’s brigade had entered the town, and
were successfully forcing their way towards
the principal plaza. I then ordered up the
2d regiment of Texas mounted volunteers,
who entered the city, dismounted, and, under
the immediate orders of Gen. Henderson, co
operated with General Quitman’s brigade.
Capt. Bragg’s battery was also ordered up,
supported by the 3d infantry; and after firing
for some lime at the cathedral, a portion of
it was likewise thrown into the city. Our
troops advanced from house to house, and
from square to square, until they reached a
street hut one square in roar of the principal
plaza, in and near which the enemy’s force
was mainly concentrated. This advance
was conducted vigorously but with due cau
tion, and although destructive to the enemy,
was attended with hut small lesson our part.
Captain Ridgely, in the meantime, had served
a captured piece in battery No. 1 against the
city, until the advance of our men rendered
it imprudent to fire in the direction of lue
cathedral. I was now satisfied that we could
operate successfully in the city, and that the
enemy had retired from the lower portion of
it to make a stand be hind his barricades.
As Gen. Quitman’s brigade had been on duty
the previous night, I determined to w ithdraw
the troops to the evacuated works, and con
cert with General Worth a combined attack
upon the town. The troops accordingly fell
back deliberately, in good order, and resumed
their original positions. General Quitman’s
brigade being relieved after nigl it fall by that
of General Hamer. On my return to camp,
I met an officer with the intelligence that
General Worth, induced by the firing in the
lower part of the city, was about making an
attack at the tipper extremity, w hich had also
been evacuated by the enemy to a considera
ble distance. I regretted that this informa
tion had not reached me before leaving the
city, but still deemed it inexpedient to
change my orders, and accordingly returned
to the camp. A note from General Worth,
written at eleven o’clock, I*. M., informed
me that lie had advanced to within a short
distance of the principal plaza, and that the
mortar (which had been sent to his division
in the morning) was doing good execution
within effective range of the enemy’s position.
Desiring to make no further atiempt upon 1
the city without complete concert as to the
lines and mode-of approach, I instructed that
officer to suspend his advance until I could ■
have an interview with him on the following
morning at his headquarters.
Early on the morning of the 24th, I re
ceived through Colonel Moreno, a communi
cation from General Ampiidia, proposing to
evacuate the town; which, with the answer,
were forwarded with my fir.-r. despatc h. 1
arranged with Colonel Moreno a cassation of
fire until 12 o’clock, at winch hour 1 would
receive the answer of the Mexican general
at General Worth’s headquarters, to which I
soon repaired. In the meantime. General
Ampudia had signified to General Worth his
desire for a personal interview with me, to
which I acceded, and which finally resulted
in a capitulation, placing the town and the
material of war, with certain exceptions, in
our possession. A copy of that capitulation
was transmitted with my first despatch.
Upon occupying the city, it was discovered
to be of great strength in itself, and to have
its approaches carefully and strongly fortified.
The town and works were armed with forty
two pieces of cannon, well supplied with
ammunition, and manned with a force of at
least 7.OUU troops of the line, and from 2.00 U
to 3,000 irregulars. The force under my or
ders before Monterey,as exhibited by the ac
companying return, was 425 officer-, en I
fi,220 men. Our ar;iliery consisted of one
10-inch mortar, two 24-pounder how tzers,
and four light field batteries of four guns
each—the mortar being the only piece suita
ble to the operations of a siege.
Our loss is twelve officers and one hundred i
and eight men killed; thirty-one officers and i
three hundred and thirty-seven men wounded.
That °f the enemy is not known, but is be
lieved considerably to exceed our own,
I take pleasure in bringing to the notice
of the government the good conduct of the
troops, both regulars and volunteers, which ;
lias been conspicuous throughout the opera
tions. lam proud to bear u stm ony to .heir
coolness and constancy in bailie, and the
cheerfulness with which they have submitted I
to exposure and privation. To the general j
officers commanding divisions—Major Gene
rals Butler and Henderson, and Brigadier
Generals Twiggs and Worth—l must ex
press my obligations for the efficient aid
which they have rendered in their respec- ;
live commands. 1 wa§ unfortunately de
prived, early on the 21st, of the valuable ser
vices of Major General Butler, who was dis
abled by a won ml received in the attack on
the city. Major General Henderson, com- i
mandiiig the Texas volunteers, lias given i
me important aid in the organization of his j
command, and its subsequent operations.—
Brigadier General Twiggs rendered impor
tant services with liis division, and, as lire !
second in command after Major General But
ler was disabled. Brigadier General Worth
was intrusted with an important detachment,
which rendered his operations independent
of mv own. Those operations were con
ducted with ability, and crowned with com
plete success. I desire also to notice Briga
dier Generals Hamer and Quitman, com
manding brigades in General Butler’s divi
sion. Lieutenant Colonels Garland and
Wilson, commanding brigades in General
Twiggs’s division. Colonels Mitchell,Camp
bell, Davis and Wood, commanding the Ohio,
Tennessee, Mississippi, and 2d Texas regi
ments, respectively, and Majors Lear. Allen, j
and Abercrombie, commanding the 3d, 4th, j
and Ist regiments of infantry; all of whom
served under my eye, and conducted their i
command with coolness and gallantry against
the enemy. Colonel MitcTe I, Lieut. Col. •
McClnng, Mississippi regiment. Major Leir,
3d infantry, and Major Alexander, Tenues- ;
see regiment, were ail severely wounded, as |
were Captain Larnotte, Ist infantry, Lieut. !
Graham, 4th infantry, Adjutant Armstrong, j
Ohio regiment, Lieutenants Scudder and Al- !
len, Tennessee regiment,and Lieut. Howard, 1
Mississippi regiment, while leading their j
men against the enemy’s position on ihe 21st 1
and 23d. Alter tiie fall of (Jol. Mitchell, the I
command of the Ist Ohio regiment devolved j
upon Lieut. Col. Weller; that of the 3d in- ;
fanty, alter the fall of Major Lear, devolved |
in succession upon Captain Bainbridge and .
Captain Henry, the former being also wound- j
ed. The following named officers have been !
favorably noticed by their commanders: I
jyeut. Col. Anderson, and Adjutant Heiman, j
Tennessee regiment; Lieut. Col. McClung, |
Captains Cooper and Downing, L'eulenants j
Patterson, Calhoun, .Moore, Russel, and ;
Cook, Mississippi regiment; also Sergeant
Major Hearlan, Mi-sisMppi regiment, and l
Major Price and Capt. J. R Smi h, unat- ;
taclied but serving with if. I leg leave also i
to call attention to the good conduct of Cap- |
tain Johnson, Ohio regiment, and Lieut.
H ooker, Ist art illery, serving on the staff* of ;
General Hamer, and of Lieutenant Nichols, |
2d artillery, on that of General Quitman. — I
Captains Bragg and Ridgely served with ;
their batteries during the operations under j
rny own observation, and in part under my ;
immediate orders, and exhibited dislingui.-h
--ed skill and gallantry. Captain Webster, i
Ist artillery,assisted by Lieutenants Donald- |
son and Bowen, rendered good service witli ;
the howitzer battery, which was much ex- j
po ed to tfie enemy’s lire on the 21st.
From the nature of the operations, the 2d
dragoons were not brought into action, but
were usefully employed under the direction < f
Lieut. Col. iMay as escorts, and in keeping !
open our communications. The Ist Ken- !
lucky regiment was also prevented from par- j
ticipating in the action of the 21st, but ren- j
dered highly important services under Col. ;
Ormshv, in covering the mortar battery, and :
holding in check the enemy’s cavalry during j
the day.
I have noticed above the officers whose |
conduct either fell under rny own immediate :
eye, or is noticed only in minor reports which |
are not forwarded. For further mention of ;
individuals, I beg leave to refer to the reports I
of division commanders herewith respectful- j
ly transmitted. I fully concur in their re- |
commendations, and desire that they may be
considered as a part of my own report.
From the officers of my personal staffand
of the engineers, topographical engineers, ‘
and ordnance associated with me, I have de- 1
rived valuable and efficient assistance during
the operations. Col. Whiling, assistant quar
termaster general, Cols. Croghan and Belk- 1
nap, inspectors general, Major Bliss, assis
tant adjutant general, Captain Sibley, assis
tant quartermaster, (’apt. Waggaman, com
missary of subsistence. Captain Eaton and
Lieut. Garnett, aids de-camp, and Majors :
Kirby and Van Buren, pay department, served j
near my person, and were ever prompt, in all |
situations, in the communication of my orders I
and instructions. 1 must express my par
ticular obligations to Brevet Major Mansfield
and Lieut. Scarritt, corps of engineers.—
They both rendered mp.jt important'scrvices J
in reconnoitring the enemy’«* positions, eon* j
j ducting troops in attack, and strengthening j
j the works captured from ihe enemy. Major j
Mansfield, though wounded on the 21>l, re
; mained on duly dnringfhat and the following \
day, until confined by his wound to camp.— ;
; Capt. Williams, topographical engineers, to i
i my great regret and the lo>s ot the service, |
j was mortally wounded while fear'e-sly ex- ;
; posing himself in the attack of the 21st.—
Lieut. Pope, of the same corps, whs active j
and zealous throughout the operations— !
1 Major Munroe, chief of the artillery. Major |
Craig ami Captain Ramsay of the ordnance, j
were assiduous in the performance of their ,
proper duties. The former superintended |
the mortar-service on the 22d. as particular
-1 ly mentioned in the report of Gen. Worth, to 1
i which I also refer for the services of the eii
j gineer and topographical officers detached
j with the second division.
Surgeon Craig, medical director, was ac- j
< 7 |
! lively employed in the important duties of
his department, and the medical staff general- :
ly were unremitting in their at entions to the j
numerous wounded—iheir duties with the i
regular regiments being rendered niicom- I
rnonly arduous by the small number serving
in the field.
I respectfully enclose herewith, in addition
to the reports of division commanders, a field
return of the force before Monterey on the
1 21st ofSeptember—a return of killed, womid-
I ed, and miss ng during the operations—and
i two topographical sketches—one exhibiting
; all the in >vein°nls around Monterey—the
1 other on a larger scale illustrating more par
| (iculariy the operations in the lower quarter
of the city —pre pH red respectively by L:euls.
| Meade and Pope, topographical engineers,
1 am, sir. very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
Z. TAYLOR.
Major General U. S. A. Com.
j 'The Adjutant General of the army,
Washington. I>. C.
■l—■■ lll ll in ■■ I 111 -- IMIBWHWWI II ■ll Till Cl FI Tl I ~~
AUGUSTA. GEO..
TIIUKJSDAV .MORNING, ISOV. 2(3, J6K3.
fr'T" No .Mail last evening north of Charleston.
j
FROGRESS OF THE WAR.
The last mail from the west brings the im
pnr ant intelligence of the capture of Tam
i pico. 'This is truly a most important point
gained,and must essentially contribute to an
j early termination of the war with Mexico.—
i Our arms have already conquered and taken
i possession of more territory than we will care
j to retain, greatly more than will compensate
i us amply fur the expenses of the war,
I and we are. therefore, in a most desirable po
! sition to dictate terms of peace. So signal
lies boon our success, and so rapid the viefo
| rious progress of our fleets and armies, that
already we are in a position to extend great
magnanimity to onr enemy. We can afford
j te grant very favorable terms by a voluntary
relinquishment of portions of territory alrea
dy conquered, and still retain sufficient to
satisfy the retributive spirit of justice, which
demands atonement from Mexico, for many
: 3 ears of unavenged outrage upon our nation
al honor and the individual rights of our cili
| zens.
It will be a proud dav, and one we believe
I not far distant, when this administration, un
; der which onr arms-have made such brilliant
progress, will have the pleasing duty to per
! lonn of announcing the terms of an auspici
o r
j 0115 and pennaninl peace with our insolent
1 foe. It will have been secured in the only ■
! ...
1 practicable way, hy conquering if, after fedi-
I ous years of useless and provoking negotia
j tion,in which frank, fair and honorable pro
i positions were uniformly met with alternate
arrogance and duplicity, for which Mexican
i diplomacy is so famous.
'J'liis result will have been achieved in dc
i fiance of the covert opposition and open sneers
! of a large party in this country, who*e con
: duct will go down to posterity linked in infa
my will) the bine-light federalists of 1812.
i I
When the energy of the administration
was displayed in pressing on columns of
1 troops into distant territories of Ihe enemy,
i and beleaguering her coasts with our fleets
" * j
a loud clamor has been raired by factious op- |
pouents, on the frivolous pretext that the j
1 President has exercised unconstitutional pow- i
j er in conquering the invaded territory, and I
i asserting the rights of conquest over it.—
i Such people would, perhaps, have prescribed !
j an inglorious inactivity for our armies on the !
T * *
; left bank of the Nueces, there to wait with |
, meek patience till the Mexicans should please !
ito send commissioners to treat for peace.— !
This, too, in the face of the unbridled inso- I
! lence with which peace was scouted by that j
nation, while we, too forbearingly, proffered ;
! and urged it. No administration could have j
; escaped the deep execration of the American
people, if it had attempted to pursue so pusil
j lanimous a policy.
1 The anticipated embarrassments of our
treasury gave an ill disguised satisfaction to j
this same parly. The supposed difficulties |
i of obtaining the desired loan by the govern- !
j menl were ostentatiously paraded by the op- ;
1 position prints. They seemed to gloat over ;
the prospect of a failure. Ludicrous pictures j
were drawn in advance, of the perplexities
: of the Secretary of the Treasury. The
j threatened depreciation ot our national credit
: was contemplated with satisfaction. Such
1 a result was hailed as the harbinger to the
restoration of the tariff of 1842. But the
I creditof the country has stood proof against
open assault, and covert insinuation. The
• government has negotiated the loan it need
-1
I ed, and demonstrated its ability to obtain ;
I more money in the same way if the exigen
l cies of the war should render it necessary.
The protectionists would willingly see the j
government credit prostrated, if this could i
prove the means of restoring their monopoly. |
Ditto the capitalists and the speculators, if it
could resuscitate a national Bank. But they
arc doomed to disappointment.
If success be the touchstone of ability.the :
present administration has proved its entire !
competency to the duties devolving on it. 1
Like all llmt is human, it is not infallible—it
may have made some mistakes—committed
; some blunders. This is very probable. Bui
; these have been magnified and undue im
portance assigned them. Some acta 100, the
objects of which lime will explain, may have
i been prompted by the truest sagacity, which
are now the theme of unmeasured ridicule
and censure by those who know nothing of
| the objects in view, and are incapable from
i their prejudices, ot doing justice either to
the acts or the motives. Such unhappy
' fault-finders share the usual fate of those
| whose tempers dictate their cavillings, i hey
suffer more chagrin than they inflict on llru?e
| they seek to annoy.
VAN N!>:S vs. NAN NESs 5 .
This case, in which one Mrs. Conner claim*
! to be the widow of the late (ion. Van Ness,
j to whom she asserts that she was lawfully
married, is in progress in the Circuit Court
! at Wash! ngton City. The Baltimore papers
| are full of details of the evidence. A num
; her of letters are in proof, purporting to be
written bv Cjpo. N. to the indy, in some ot
which she is addressed as his wife, and other
terms of endearment used, which, if the let
ters are genuine, will make out a strong case.
The genuineness of the letters is disputed,
but the evidence goes very far to sustain
their genuineness much other evidence in
adduced indicating that the relation of the
parties was something more than friendship ,
which, under such circumstances, would ho
: described in a French motto, as “Love wilh
; nut wiring.” There will doubtless be much
j *•
i eontraripiy of opinion whether, from the evi
dence, Mrs. C. was the wife of Gen. Van
; Ness, but most persons will come to the con
| elusion, that if she actually was not, she
ought to have been.
i ■ j
O'Tlie South Carol iia Legislature con
vened on Monday, i 3d in-t.
In the Senate, Hon. Angus Patterson wn
re-elected President Win. E. Martin,Clerk.
In thk House, Hon. Win F. Colcock wa«
| re-elected Speaker; T. W. Glover, Clerk.
: r>
From a long Report oi Hie Chief En inecr
i of the Western and Atlan'ic Rail Road, wo
gather the following items:
COST OF IIOAO.
The entire cost of this great Slate
work to Sept. 3Uth, 1846. is $3,192,691 09
INCOME OF ROAD.
Total receipts to same d tlo 34,197 3i.
Disbursements, ami debts
unpaid 32.281 74
j Profit* 5,842 58 34,127 32
This shows a small return for a large out
| lav, and \* the beginning, it is to be hoped,
i of better things.
The Report states that should the iron or
dered from England in August last arrive in
i time, the road will he completed to Cross
Plains in all the month of January next.—
When it reaches that point there will be hut
thirty five miles of stage travel between
Washington City and Sr. Isuiis It is, there
j fore, confidently anticipated that this route
i will be used to reach the Atlantic by a large
| portion of the travelers from the Mississi, pi
: V 1 1 ley.
Sundry other R il Road e I’erpnV** a*-*
i al mled to, some in progress, and others only
in contemplation, which when completed
mu t greatly add to the value of the Western
aid Atlan’ic Road. We hope to see the
j day when they will all be completed and in
! successful operation.
[From thr N. (J. Picayune LCxtrn, Aw. 20.’
T AM PICO TA KE.V.
The U. S. steamer Mississippi touched at
the S. W. Pass yesterday, direct from Tam
pico. The squadron took possession of tied
I town on Saturday last, the 14ili insi, (Nun.
i Perry came up to iown this morning. The
! city surrendered al discretion—-not a gun was
j fired!
[ Correspondence of the .Baltimore Sun. ]
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20, 1848.
Many members of Congress are already
| flocking in from various parts of the country;
I but no plan of action has as yet been devised
by any of them,
j The question is asked whether the Ohio is
i destined for (he Pacific, f imagine that her
| commander will sail with sealed order-; but it
| is not improbable his destination will ulli
j mutely be the Gnif. Our squadron in the
Pacific requires scarcely any reinforcement
I from the peaceable attitude of England and
France, while, without one or two ships of
| the line, nothing serious can be undertaken
j against Vera Cruz. 1 still believe that
I Tampico is not the ultimate point where our
i navy will strike a blow in the Gulf.
Air. Walker in busy in making out his rr
; ports. From his acknowledged ability we
may prepare for reading a valuable Slate do
cument. If the Secretary of the Treasury
manages the financier through this war, he
will deserve the acknowledgments of the
country. No government has, as yet, man
aged so ably to defray the expenses ofcostly
! armaments without a great central instill •
j tion or the aid of the great capitalists, as ours,
j We have the financiers of the country op
, posed almost to a man to the financier of the
government, and yet the latter preserves its
i credit in the midst of the most savage opposi
j lion—while even the impeachment of the
I President is spoken of—.and the prospects of
prolonged war.
The rumors about Mr. Buchanan leaving
the State -Department are revived; but Air.
Buchanan, if he dose retire, will not quit be
fore the meeting of Congress. It is believed
that the department has been offered to Col.
King, of Alabama; but if so, the latter has
not vet made up his mind to accept it. Ido
not think that Mr. Buchanan will go to
France, His friends are understood to or
ganise in Pennsylvania. It Air. Buchanan
leaves at all, he will part with the President ou
the best of terms though he may differ from
him in regard to the extent as to the princi
: pie of the tarift'of 1846.
Il is understood that the Vice Presidents
family are coming dawn from Philadelphia
I to spend the winter in Washington. Perhaps
Gov, Cass will do the same with his familv,
so that the two prominent democratic candi
dates lor the presidency of 1848 will hr pro
perly matched.
English Potato Crop. —The Journal of
Commerce publishes I lie following extract
from a letter dated Liverpool, 3 Ist Oct, 1818,
English Potato Crop. — The Journal of
Commerce publishes Hie following extract
from a letter dated Liverpool, Oot.