able letters, I think it proper to address you, to inform you of occurrences here. Our friends continue to meet together almost every day. We have agreed that the press shall attack the party who wish to place General A. at the head of the government, and attack him also; set forth the services which you have rendered and are rendering to the nation, and that no one but yourself should be elected by the States to the presidency of the republic. I enclose an article which appeared in the Republicano of yesterday. We are also laboring to induce congress to confer supreme power upon the executive, and to cease any further exercise of its own functions. Yesterday the fortifications of this city were begun. Intelligence has been received from New Mexico of certain Sicilian vespers which the inhabitants have enacted upon the Yankees there. Being no longer disposed to submit to the extortions exacted, they fell upon them simultaneously, and had killed even to the general who was there with the Yankees. Intelligence has also been received from Chihuahua, that the Americans there, dreading the people of that State, who were desperate, had made propositions to the legislature and government that they would evacuate the territory; would engage that no force of their nation should return to occupy it, and that they would pay the duties of internation on the effects which they had introduced, provided the State would engage to be neutral in the present war. To-day at nine in the morning the courier arrived, by which you make known that our advanced troops were exchanging shots with those of the invading forces. You ought to consider how anxious we are to receive information from you as to the present position held by our troops, wishing, as we your friends do, a fortunate result to you. Señor Anaya, as well as the minister of the treasury, are redoubling their efforts to send you money, so necessary under these present circumstances. God grant us a triumph in this struggle with our invaders. We, your friends, can have no repose or peace in these disastrous times. We confide in that divine Providence which will not abandon us. May you, sir, enjoy perfect health, and be careful to preserve your precious existence. Command the services, in whatever may be useful to yourself, of your grateful, faithful, loyal friend and assured servant, who kisses your hand. J. P. DE MORA. To Señor DON ANTONIO LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA. B. [Forwarded with despatch of 23d of April, 1847, heretofore published.] INSPECTOR GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT, Jalapa, April 24, 1847. GENERAL: On the 5th instant I had the honor to lay before you the paroles of honor, by which the Mexican troops, captured by the army under your immediate command at Vera Cruz and the castle St. Juan d'Ulloa, were enlarged. I have now the satisfaction of enclosing the paroles of those captured at the pass of Cerro Gordo on the 11th instant, to wit: 1. The original paroles of honor of three general officers, two others being accounted for below, together with similar paroles from one hundred and eighty-five other officers of all grades. 2. Original paroles of honor, given by officers of the Mexican army on behalf of the troops of the several corps, prisoners of war, respectively under their command, binding them not to serve during the war, unless duly exchanged. These rolls embrace two thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven (2,837) names, the rank and file of the army. 3. A copy of the parole of General Pinson, a translation of the same, and a list of all others on parole, numbering in all two hundred and eighty-eight officers. 4. Copies of the several papers referred to above in No. 2, to wit: the paroles for the rank and file. Besides the above, I enclose an original paper, signed by two general officers, (including General La Vega,) and by fourteen other officers of various grades, who declined giving their paroles not to serve during the war, unless exchanged, but pledged themselves, as the paper shows, to report as prisoners of war to the American commander at Vera Cruz, who was instructed under your orders to secure them in the castle of St. Juan d'Ulloa, or send them, if they preferred it, to the United States. A separate list of these sixteen officers is also furnished. I think proper to remark, with regard to the operations at Cerro Gordo, that by turning the left flank of the enemy, and storming the principal hill occupied by him, which was executed under your personal observation, on the morning of the 18th instant, his force was divided, all of the batteries, east of the hill, being separated from the main body of the army encamped on the Jalapa road, west of the hill. All the positions of the enemy were commanded by the hill itself, which was believed by the Mexicans to be inaccessible to our troops. The hill being stormed and taken, the main body of the enemy fled in the utmost confusion, and but a very few were taken prisoners. Many of the troops in the batteries, at the same time, made their escape in the hills, throwing away their arms. A Mexican officer assured me that no less than 1,500 thus escaped from one single battery. Of those in the batteries, who laid down their arms, more than a thousand contrived to escape on their march from the field of battle to Plan del Rio, some five miles or more, along a circuitous road, bounded by woods and ravines; and hence the number of prisoners on parole is diminished to about 3,000 men, exclusive of officers. And, although this may not be the place for the expression of an opinion, I feel warranted in saying that the defeat was as complete as it was unexpected by the enemy, that he was utterly destroyed, captured, or routed, spreading terror and consternation throughout the country. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Major General WINFIELD SCOTT, General-in-chief, Jalapa, Mexico. Memorandum of correspondence between the Secretary of War and Major General Taylor. General Taylor to the Secretary of War: No. 1. January 7, 1847. (Published, Doc. 119, 2d session 29th Congress.) No. 3. January 14, 1847; partial list of killed and wounded, (omitted.) No. 4. January 14, 1847; enclosing returns, &c., (omitted.) No. 5. January 26, 1847. No. 6. January 26, 1847. No. 7. January 26, 1847. No. 8. January 26, 1847. No. 9. January 27, 1847. No. 10. January 29, 1847. No. 11. January 30, 1817, No. 12. February 4, 1847. No. 13. February 7, 1847. No. 14. February 14, 1847. No. 15. February 24, 1847; battle of Buena Vista, (published, present session, No. 16. February 25, 1847. No. 17. March 1, 1847. (Published, Doc. No. 1, present session, page 99.) Secretary of War to General Taylor, April 3, 1847. General Taylor to Secretary of War: No. 19. March 6, 1847. No. 20. March 15, 1847. No. 21. March 20, 1847. No. 22. March 20, 1847. Secretary of War to General Taylor, April 13, 1847; relative to contribution, (published, Doc. No. 1, present session, page 565.) Secretary of War to General Taylor, May 6, 1847. General Taylor to Secretary of War: No. 23. March 22, 1847. No. 24. March 27, 1847; enclosing returns and acknowledging communications. (omitted.) No. 25. March 28, 1847. No. 26. April 3, 1847. No. 27. April 4, 1847. No. 28. April 10, 1847; minor reports of battle of Monterey, (published pres ent session.) No. 29. April 11, 1847. No. 30. April 17, 1847; minor reports, battle of Buena Vista, (published, Doe. No. 1, page 144, present session.) No. 31. April 19, 1847; return of troops and acknowledgments of orders and letters, (omitted.) |