The New York Herald Newspaper, December 7, 1847, Page 1

NEW YORK, TUESDAY MORN ING, DECEMBER 7, 1847. ARK THEATRE— performed ‘THE RK 88; en Leet , Mrs. Vervon; esday Fvening, Dee 7, will be ‘ALSSic Authouy Absolute, Mr. tt; Mrs. Ma- 1. farce 0! pt_Fuzrey, Dougherty man; Norah, Mre. Frery; Kathleen, Mrs. Ki $i Pitt 50 cents; Gallery 25 ceut ARK THE Ae «EMR. D. OTT resp cifilly, any announces to his that his Bene: id to pike oer es 06 pec Sth Fe 1 u behadot Mr Dyott, 49 Whitest dt Sa re OW ERY KATRE—A.W. ., Manager ie Viennger, Ma Steven —Tassday Evesia Dee 7 will be po: formed the grand ballet of GISELLE, ‘Willies— Giselle,.Miss Turnbull; Prince Albert,Mr iG Smith — Previous to whieh, thei new_43 atvied THE BOTTLE; or the Cause ¥ ie! Clarke; Gorge, de Bush irhorat 0 urke; Ru jornley, Mus Hi ; Esther Clare, Mrs. Jordan. oors open at OG o'clock and the curtain will reat? Boxes 25 Cents; Puc and Gatlery, 1236 Cents. C ARD—BO WRAY THE VFRE—MiSS JULIA TURN- BULL respectfully inform: her frends avd the public ‘enerally, that her Benefit will take place ou Wedn vouing Ath inst. upon which oernsion will be presented rand ballet of GISELLE, OR THE WILLI*8 ; the rama of ‘THE BOL TLE, and for the first time LA POLK A ATIONALE will be danced ty Miss Turnbull and GQ W. : mith. Ope entertrinments will be expressed in = bills of Manager Mr Hiside-Op ‘Tucaley anager, On preeased, the play of LOVE, ‘AND ac f Hield{ Sadi, Addis; Viroler, the Hata D panty. nts Pyllowea by the Eo : Moone ARTIS Ae sontlide with the new Grand ere me of th DEN KEY—Characters by the Hol fend Famity, fe, ‘open at half prat 6; performance to eommence at 7 o'clock, Bore 25 cents—Pit, 1234 cents DM {FCSELDN OLYMPIC THEATRE—Qa ‘Tieeday ty HERTS cu ee ch Tark' Am: lor. ¢ whicl EA ane Capes ey Oke onovel ~ Mr. rau; I, Cama a Lon rca Ming Clementine Mia. ‘Timm. After which, BOARDING SCHOOL—Cap- tain Hare urt, Mr. |; James, Mr. Conover; Caroline lythe, Mary Taylor. ‘Te conclude with, BEULAH SPA— lecior Templeton, Bi Higtian 3, Caroline Grantly, Mary " a Brew Citolee : P STOR PLACE OPERA.—Wednerday “veniog, Dee 6, Will be presented Belliny's Opera of LA SONNAMBU- LA— was fret ance, in Ameries) Bigvorn B forra;, Teresa, Bignora Avorad 0 Signor Vietti;, Count Rodolpno, Menor Avigaones Alessio, Signor Morra:, Notary, Signor “Albertaasi.” Boxes: and balcony, $1; amphitheatre, 50 cents. Doors open o’clock. To commence athalf past 7.4 1: F Hitcncoce, Mn ; i FORMANCE THIS AFTERNOON at o'clock, and This Eveni halt T oN Ken CATUPRELUS Bir Pig oeREN ADRS ApIBE the curtain will rise 12}¢e ERA CO it Vy 4 FIAN BURLESQUE: OPEMA, tad: alae ie aheis Ponaioy PEL Mince GRBETNSRL 3 D segrcy Oe BRED ais HOSED. ie JULIEN: MODEL E an r St with his history’ LIVING ORANG OU PANG eee (mittance to the whole, 35 cents; children under ten years of enough to wall ame, 1% cents. Reenee ve front vents, one shilling exch -and Broome ee Crowded te oreflowinn with ine BEAUTY and WABHION of New York, NEV ERY Our GM ry AYNOK, OPE: Ae eae are YC. ser onginal ‘mae ded i ded and highly respectable ‘1 years, tall pe bee at 8 o'clock. Doors open at 7; con- ee $2 the publ any of the friends of the In- ill be Lo sagt pe ey Tabernacle, at half past 7 P. M. goor ihe oveniog. of the parionnaace.” George Winiiock, Secretary, 88 Canal street. dl “7 aterre” CIETY LIBGARY LEOT ROOM. Way~Mr LYNNE renyectfally smsascas anette will first series of Musi i 7, and , December Musieal [iu rations Will consist of the. eeleb Shaki aud Liyrice, selected from tne warke of Perenlle arn ww, Locke, Stevens, Ja * tho T. fe tea nike oad “ll be the Tempest~As You Likte ft—Macbeth-cHamietee dad Mice mer Nights Dream. ‘The followii ogee. are engag- i foe Loder, Miss can rs. Josse, sai rica; Mr, Johnson, snd. Mr-8. -L. Leach, The Chorus selec ted from Members of the ic Institute. an Mi ductors Me der, ill presi Hore Adm aso ch it one pe ol 4 Fo 5 ic] at Mata eogese, of 2: 5 ; 7 vae, 39 Me to” thors goes aes ir. at halfpast7. ‘Yo commence at 8 o’clor k. det4 YROLGAN CONCERT—The Hauser Family, A of the icniners, will have the honor of ivi Fourth Concert in America, on Wednesday evening. at the Society Library, on which occasion they will present an entire change of programme. Tickets admitti g a gentle- jingle tickets, 50 cents. Doors open at half-past 70’clock. No post- er. d54t*m sday eveni bec. 7, with Gre Exercises. Vocal aod Instrumen‘al Music, Dancing &c. ‘The encertainments will conclude with the Tableaux V' . given by celebrated artistes who have made exhibition t oir, particntar study. Performauce to comm mes at, half 15 6t# mm PeLBis ChLEBKATED COLLECTION OF Scriptural Statuary, con: of the fits id beets at ‘The Strat Sees of the inte open at 411 Broadway, late Wall e the Apolio, ary day, from 11 A. M. to |. Ad- mittange 25 ceuts On the Sabbath after divine service, from GP.M t»10P.M. ldren half price, 07 3t®m IGIVAL SPL*NDID ALTAR PIECE of the Adore- jon ofthe Virgiu and Infant Jesus, and other Saints,by Sr. red ix the 16th century, by Rubens; pe; exhibiting at 413 Broadway, corner street, Admission, 25 cents; season tickets, 50 cents, om 9 A.M. titt 10 P.M. dé 6¢*m PUKE ON ASTRONOMY.— Prof oO. M. LiarCNEE Od CASERON OMY Profesor tures on Astronomy, at the aberasele, commenciag i tinued on Frida course ri cou - fs sion of the great problem e the dolar System, and the cOnstitutiou.of the Ftatry Heavenes ‘With an account of the great modern ies, and the in: flusuce of previous theories Family tickets, for four per for, for Indy and gentleman, for the for the course, 62; single tickets for be obtained of U, 8. FRANCIS, No. other privei: book at a Tabernacle, on the evening of the lecture. TPS LEC LURES ON ROOK-KEK ELS, com 20 mence at 7 FOL. Each learner keepea sett of b jualification penard Be it and Monday e ist of six leerw dol ars {-rthe course. Private q) $25. Ge } please to call at 107 Fulton street and enter their the fi xt course will commence on next Monday nd imited ia number, 47 1t®rre 7 HE FIRST ANNUAL EXHIBITION OF THE N ¥. CANARY BID FANCIERS’ ASSOCIATION, ut the Lyeram Brilding, 563 Broadway, commences on Tues day, December 7th and will continue the 8th, 9th and 10ch— ‘This exhition beng the first of the kend in the United States, wil embrace, im addition to a beautiful display of the long breed Canaries, showa by memvers for premiums, a collection of rare i casion by private ly decorated G + Open from hets 25 cents admitung a gentleman and 9 i. to10 P.M. morgan ¥ 86 4t*re rise SECOND ANNUAL BALL, of the Seoond Troop of New York HUZZARS, will the hela at the Apoiio DAY t-veuing, December 10th, ing ait. G. sichore or B degiuner aud containing mu 04 nutty Price 25, 37 and 50 cents v nt pode 1 nember, Valor tine Head Quarters, Feb. 4 Chatl fs Wh. av ShALEo AdSENAL—Fayettey. larch 2 1817—Dr, Fowle: Dear Sir—H e" ly advise my of thet kind. lo not ask the public upon recommendations produced from Stal where the persons cancot be from overy Sure in the Union, we doubts about the efficacy of this hight: medeciue to their owa neighbors who Beware of counterfeits aud imitatioos— preparations of Wild Cherry, emer ya naine without possessing Kenuive and ongianl Dr, Wistai’s 4 erry = For sale. wholesale ¢ Di Taal 8, th a sh 4 ai hy Mletsts: A, Bk 'D. SANDS. 100 Fulton, commer of droge rally dr ivem SHOW's NEWLY INVEN tr D SHOWER BATH oo hs jighty important and asefe F; js dese 0 in al upon the pump the body i. f isc, whieh renders the Phower Bath deiig objection bei: the fact that ful Ga New York. by i vyery Patt rare Ue baie lek MURRAY'S Bab a7 em iW _YOKK HORSE BAZAAR, No ai, © N LF. Hough, Anctioneer—The ‘nest resales wae 5 will fave plrce at th bhiat ment on Tucoday, Dee 8, commencieg at 11 o'el h Ca arness. &e., aud ental ntlemen ha’ p se 30 or JOUN H GATELELD, a7e're fo. SALE—An Oyster saloon ard Restaurant, w a good partot the city. For farther informat t No. 91 Bowery, (down stairs) between 11 A.M. and 4 P.M, o7 tet CURIOUS HISTORY OF THE WAR IN THE MEXICAN VALLEY, THE INTDRCHFTHED LETTERS CAPTURED BY THE AMERICAN GUARD, AT TACUBAYA., AUG: 22, 1847; INTRODUCTOIN. Major General Scott entered the village of Tacubava,and established his headquarters there onthe 2lst of August, 1847. Tacubaya is one mile from Chapultepec, & fortified hill,) which is itself about a mile and a half from one of the gates of the city of Mexico. On the morning of the 22d of August, a Mexican mail was inter- cepted by the American parte, containing two parcels of Jetters, one addressed to Toluca, the capital of the State of Mexico, and the other to Morelia. These letters are now in the possea- sion of the Inspector General of the army— translations of them, carefully prepared by a capable hatid, are hére offered to the public, for reasons Which will be manifest to the conside- rate reader. To make thett intelligible, some few facts must be stated, which occurred before the letters were written, and a few, also; which transpired after the capt re of the letters; but we wish it understood that itis not our purpose to give a history of the operations of the Ameri- can army before and at the Mexican capital: we speak ofily of what the army has done as an army. No attempt is made to do justice to in- dividuals, and we select this course for two rea- sons—we wish only to make the letters intelli- gible, and with our information and means, we cannot hope to award what is due toall. We, therefore, omit names, and deal only with events. Impartial history will in due time do justice to all. The distinguished judgment, ability and zeal of our engineer officers, of both corps, will then stand out in brond relief, and the providence and skill of our ordnance officers will also be conspicuous, and justly so, as they are not con- tent with service under cover in the arsenals, Ecerarinaging and ammunition, but they follow to the field their heavy ordnance, and under the the fire of the enemy, give practical proof of its excellence and power. In like manner justice will be done to the judicious arrangements and abundant supplies of the quirtermaster and commissary departments, without which the army could neither move nor remain in position. Justice will also be done to the talents, skill and humanity of our admirable corps of medical offi- cers. So, also, a just view of the army will ex- hibit to the world its great excellence of per- sonel, in officers and men, in all the different regimeots and corps.. Then, too, will be made manifest the extraordinary ability of the com- mander of this army, in all respects worthy of it, ashe has given the most abundant proofs, by the directness and greatness of his objects, and the certainty and comparative ease with which he has accomplished them. Such splendid re- sults could only be achieved by a commander gifted with the highest powers of combination, ¢c-pable of the clearest views, and endowed with the most unwavering [firmness and steadiness of purpose. Excepting some very few of the letters, they were written on the 2st of August, and refer principally to the events of the few preceding days, especially to those of the 20th of August. The letters were written by Mexicans to Mexi- cans—they exhibit the unrestrained outpourings of frieads to friends, when all motives for con- cealment and misrepresentation seem to have been entirely out of the question. These letters, therefore, furnish valuable testimony on the points within .the knowledge of the writers, though they contain some unintentional errors when statements are made respecting facts not personally known. Thus, when these state, as they do, that the a the army concentrated by Gen. Santa Anna for the defence of Mexico, exceeded thirty thousand men, there is every reuson for relying upon this statement; and thus, in the same manner, we have unquestionable evidence that not fewer than twenty-six thousand men were engaged in battle on the Mexican side on the 20th of Au- guct. But the evidence is not equally good when, the letters refer to the strength of the American army : for the fact could not be equally wellknown. Thus, itis not true, though stated in some of these letters, thut the American army was twelve thousand strong; but it happens to be true, as stated in others, that the American force was about ten thousand—though not all of this force was atany one time engaged in bat- tle. Valencia’s entrenched camp at Contreras was taken in seventeen minutes, by the watch, by about fitteen hundred men, without artillery. and without cavalry—he having five thousand men, with twenty-ihree pieces otf fine artillery, covered with about two thousand cavalry. The fruits of this brilliant surprise, ia the immediate vicinity of Contreras, in prisoners, &c., were se- cured by other troops, besides the assaultin columns, posted for the purpose ; but the actua! defeat and elmost annihilation of Valencia’s di- vision, so often referred to in the following let- ters, wasaccomplished, as stated, in seventeen minutes, instead of two hours, as stated in several of the letters, These letters also furnish ample evidence that the M:xican army was most abundantly sup- plied with munitions of war. of all kinds, expe- cially with amunition, in all its forms of prepa- tion; most ot whichis now in the hands ot the Americans. One ot the chief points of value in the evi- dence furnished by these letters, has been super- seded by the events of the 12th, 18th and 14th of September : we refer to, the fact that the Ameri- can army, by the victories of the 20th of August, had entirely defeated the Mexican army, and could have entered the capital, had it been the pleasure of the general, on the evening of that day; a fact which no one can now dis; pute, since the Mexicans were unable to prevent the occupa- tion of the capital by the Americana, after having had trom the 20th of August to the 12h of Sep- tember to recuperate and recover from the blow inflicted on the first of these dates—over twenty days—during which time the fragments of the Mexican army wete brought together and reor- gunized intoa force of about twenty thousand men, having been reduced to about eight thou- sund, as the letters testify, The for.ifications had aiso been immensely increased between the 20th of August und 12tn of September, on the side ot the ety threatened by the Americans; and the same time enabled the Mexicans to withdraw all their artillery fromthe Penon and other points. not in danger, and dispose it on the southern an southwestern side of the city, where they knew the attack was to be made. All this did not avail. The American army effected a lodgment in the city at two points on the evening of the 13th of September ; and on the 14th, entered the giand plaza, the headquarters of the army bein; ex ablished in the National Palace, over which waved the, star-spangled banner—what remained of the Mexican army on the evening of the 13th, having been withdrawn during the night. At that time the effective American force Was less than eight thoueand men. A few words on the subject of the armistice may not be amiss. Jtis very generally believed that before the army left Pastis, intercourse of some kind, looking towards a peace, had been partially established between the Americans and Iexicans, but it was said that the Mexican au- thorities were restrained by public opinion, which was unable o conceive it possible that the immense preparations in Mexico could fail in se- curing the city ; but as the object of General Scott, inthe whole ot his operations i this country, has beea to bring about an honorabie peace, he gave out, in advance, before he left Puebla, piecisely what he would do before he would, by force of arms, enter the capital. The Mexican army being so large, and its ap- pointments so complete, while the fortifications, which astonish all who see them, were con- structed with scientific skill~all these facts mode it necessary for Gen. Scott to move from Puebla and strike a severe blow near the capital as the only means of convincing the Mexica that, notwithstanding wll their preparations, they could not resiet the Americsn army, small as it was. There was some hope that by thus open- ing the eyes of the Mexican people in the capi- tal, negotiations might be entered upon, and a peace secured; to accomplith which important object Gen. Scott was willing to forego all the eciat of a forcible entrance into the capital. We know that all this was distineily within the con- templation of Gen. Scott before he put feot in the stirrup to leave the city of Puebla. His foresight and deliberate plan, in this respeet, is one of the most remarkable incidents, all things 18, ‘egate strength ot considered, that has ever occurred in the history of wars. Let his position be considered—his distance from home—the extent of his march to Puebla—the distance yet to be overcome—the of his force—the character of the city tobe assailed—the great capital ofa great coun- try, defended by an army full three times his numbers, and known to be so—that capital sur- rounded by lukes or swamps, and only to be ap- proached by narrow causeways, with deep ditches on either side, and swept if artillery in front and in flank. In view of all this, Gen. Scott said, before he left Puebla, in so many words, that he would march to the neighborhood of the capital, and either defeat the Mexican army in the open field, if they would give him battle; or he would take-a strong position from the enemy, and then, if he could restrain the enthusiasm of his army, he would pause without the city, and sammon it to surrender, inorder to give the authorities within the city an opportunity and a motive (the safety of the capitel) for making a peace. He did precisely what he designed. He marched from Puebla in ‘four columns, with the interval of a day’s march between each two columns,and arrived himself, being with the leading column, at Ayotla, before the Penon, on the 11th of Au- gust. While the rear was coming up, he reconnoi- tred the Penon and country around, and satisfi« himself of the practicability of a march by the way of Chalco toSan Angustin. As the rear co- lumne came up they were directed towards Chal- co, and taking up that route himself, the Genera} went to San Augustin, 15 or 17 miles—the roa as the lettere will show, being d-emed impracti. cable by the Mexicans—arriving there on the 17th of August, being then 12 miles from ti cxpital, and in front of the fortifications of San Antonio, which are about two and a halfor three miles from San Augustin. These fortifications were threatened by a division, while the Gene- ral,on the 19th, ordered a force to open a road, in order to turn them to the left. This force had to pass what, in the letters, is called a Pedregal, i. e. a surface of volcanic scoria, broken into every possible form, presenting sharp stones and deep fissures, exceedingly difficult Jor the passage of infantry, and rmpossible for that of cavalry, ex- cept by a single toad; in front of which, and per- feetly commanding 1t; Gen. Valencia had estab- lished un entrenched camp on elevated ground, which camp he occupied with his division of 5000 men from San Luis Potosi. everywhere in the letters spoken of as the ‘flower’ of tie Mexican army. He had twenty-three pieces of superb artillery, and was covered by a_ large body of cavalry. There was firing from and upon this entrenched camp during the afternoon of the 19th of August, but no serious demonstration was made upon it that day, the time being employed by the engineers in looking at the position and studying the grounds around it; so that the Mexicane, both in the eawmp and in the city, ima- gined they had gained a victory, merely because our army had not yet defeatedthem. The bells in the city were rung for joy, and Gen. Valencia distributed honors Ong the leading officers of his camp, as the shades‘of evening left him in se- curity within his lines. During the night of the 19th, a body of our troops passed along a ravine under cover of a night made doubly dark by a heavy rain, and in the morning they had gained the rear of the en- trenched camp, into which they plunged head- lor g before the astonished Mexicans had time to put themselves in pusition for defence. The assault was commenced and completed in the short period of seventeen minutes, though our troops were engeged during an hour or two in picking up the scattered fragments of the proud ‘division of the North’’—Vualencia himeelf dis- appearing altogether. Several names are. ap- pict to this entrenched camp, (San Geronimo, adiernas, Magdalena, &c.,) but it is generally called Contreras, and it is about five or eix miles from San Augustin, to the left of the San Antonio road. Passing by Contreras our troops, before mid-day, were in full march by San An- el and Coyoacan towards Chutubusco, where the Mexicans were in force in a church or con+ vent, strongly fortified. About five or six hun- dred'yards beyond this convent the road by San Angel, &c., comes into that of San Antonio, at a point where, by a bridge, the San Antonio road or causeway crosses a small stream, or canal, called the Churubusco river. This bridge was defended by a@ perfectly constructed, scientific téte de pont, the defences here and at the convent forming a system mutually supporting each other. No time was to be lost; and at a few minutes before 1 P. M. our troops were pushed forward to the attack of the fortified convent, where the firing became very severe with both artillery and small arms. There had been some firing at San Antonio on the 18th and again on the 19th; but on the 20th, after the defeat of the enemy at Contreras, Gen. Santa Aggha saw that our troops, by the way of San Angel, would soon be in the rear of his fortified position at San Antonio, and he therefore ordered that place to be abandoned, directing some few of the guns, which there was no time to remove, to be spiked; but the Ameri- can division in front, by passing a colurrn to the left, had already turned the position and suc- ceeded in cutting the line of the retreating troops, which were also attacked along the causeway itself, by another portion of the di- vision, and thus the Mexican force at San An- tonio was broken and in great part dispersed or taken prisoners, only a few reaching the téte de pont—the American division now passing down to the attack of that place, while the attack upon the convent of Churubusco was going on. At about half past1 P.M. the Mexicans were in force at the church or convent, und at the téfe de pont, and had, besides, an immense body of in- fantry to their left, (our right) along and behind the Churubusco river, nearly at right angles to the San Antonio causeway; they had also an- other body of infantry and an immense body of cavalry extending along the cuuseway itself from the téte de pont towards thecity. The Ame- rican general being on the San Angel road, in front of Churubusco, directed the whole of the operations, which soon atter 1 P. M. became general, extending throughout the entire Mex- ican ermy. He directed columns to support the main attack in front, aud other columns to the right to support the San Antonio division in the attack upon the tétede pont and the extensive line of infantry along the Churubusco river; other columns again, to the left, in order to turn both the convent and the téte de pont in which operation the enemy’s force along the causeway beyond the téte de pont was engaged. The bat- tle now raged at all points and in all directions, wherever the enemy was found in position, and coutinued without intercession during a period of nearly three hours, when the convent end téte de pont were both’ carried, and the enemy was driven from the river and the causeway, and compelled to fly in consternation towards the city, entering it by the gate of San Antonio, in confusion and dismay, followed bya conai- derable body of our troops, at least a mile and a half beyond the téte de pont, while a body of ca- valry pushed the pursuit into the very gate it- velf, about a mile anda half still further, not hearing or heeding the recall which had been sounded from the rear. This cavalry charge is frequently referred to in the following letters, and no doubt amazed the Mexicans to an extra- ordiaary degree, both by its boldness and by the little loss attending its ‘successful retirement to the main army, which had halted near a place called im the letters Portalis. The American force, at about 4 P. M., was in the entire posses- sion of ail the outer defences of the city, on the San Antonio causeway, and could have entered the city that Daye without serious difficulty. But the general had accomplished exactly what he had designed before he left Poebla. He therefore halted the troops, and after giving ne- cessary instruetions,returned by she San Antonio road to San Augustin, arriving tnere about dusk in the evening, having been the whole day in the saddle, directing the important operations briefly recited above. In the evening he was visited by some Eng: lishmen from the city, for what purposs is not precisely known—but the next morning the ge- neral, starting on the San Antonio boa: turned to the left, and was met at Coyoacan, near Chu- rubusco, by # deputation from the Mexican go- vernment, under a flig, proposing some terms which, whatever they were, were instantly re- jeeted; and the general sent by the deputation a paper he had himeelf prepared, offering to grant an armistice on certain conditions, the first being that the Mexican Government should ap- point commissioners to receive and consider the propositions of the American Government, to be presented by an American commissioner, then at the ,headquarters of the American army.— This communication being sent, the generul, with one division of his army, continued on to Tacubaya, about six miles trom Coyoacan, and entered ihat village, as stated at the eommence+ ment of this preface The proposal ef the American General wae ~ Pape to by Gen. Santa Anna, and on the 24th of August, the ratifications of an armistice were say exchanged. _ Commissioners met to treat of peace, and this is an important point in the history of the events before the Mexican capital. The army, one is disposed to think, had accomplished its mission. It had brought commissioners together to treat of peace,after the governments of both countries had declared that a peace was desired that should be honorable to both mations. But peace was not made. It is proper to say that the Genefal-in-Chief liad no power confided to him by his government authorising him to act asa commissioner in con- cluding a treaty of peace—he was sent to this country ag a military man, exclusively. He, therefore, is in no manner responsible for the failure of the negotiations, which, nevertheless, he has all the merit of having brought about, after the events of the 20th of August. Tt is equally proper to say, in justice to the ta- lented and experienced gentleman selected b: the goverament of the U. 8. and sent to the head- quarters of Maj. Gen. Scott as the commissioner to treatfor peace, that le was trammelled by the instructions of the government,in so much, that it willremaina problem as to whether more en- larged powers would not have enabled him to have made a treaty “honorable to both nations.” The ultimatum of our commissioner was hand- ed to the Mexican commissioners early in Sep- down and wrote a brief order, announcing his occupation of the Capital of Mexico. THE LETTERS. San Antonio, 19th August. (extaact.) Yesterday we commenced firing upon the enemy with our cannon, andkilled soma men and horses. To-day, up to 19 M, we have fired but few shots, and the enemy gre rettesting, with the object, 1 suppose, of going tv Taoul by the way of Pedregal (Contreras) They have a long distance to march, and | do not know what will become of them in their unfortunate situation.— Every day is a lors to them anda gain to us The s'rug- le will be severe,but favorable to us, as the measures we five taken are very good, and they will not this time latt,b im their b |, asthey have on former cocasions. Ds.P. J. The fetter is from #, member of the Mexican Congress, and is marked, ptivate. ‘ ” Peireeiico, Aug. 21st, 1847. My Dear Friend :—I have before nie your welcome letter of the 10th inst., in which, among otber things, 04 ate pleased to point out to me the reasons why you ad suspended ovr correspondence. The idea you p sent to me, that | otight mot to leave this place befor having arranged every thing relative to that ———, is good one, but cannot berealised afflicting circu: aces which overwhelm uA,¢ Ter: the greatest disorder, aud the: a ptersnt, owing to the thing wing, In tact, nd government occupying itself only with no Congrers, matters of the war, ard, absolutely, no other business can be attended to. In truth, this war is going to cet as | suppose, because, on the \9th and 20th, at the gates of Mexico, our nation hes covered itself with mourning and dishonor, and our generals atid chiefs in particular, with opprobrium. There is not even left to us the glory to tember, about the 2d of the month, and very soon afterwards, reports began to reach the General, and accumulated very rapidly, that the Mexicans were engaged, in violation of the articles of the armistice, in fortifying the city, especially at night. On the 6th, the Mexicau commissioners, it was expected, would give their answer to the ‘propositions of our commissioners, and they did so, refusing to accept them. Simultaneously with this, the Genera] sent a paper.to General Santa Anna declaring that, as the articles of the armi had been violated by the Mexican au- thorities, he felt at ena to terminate the ar- mistice at his pleasure, but would allow until the nextday st noon for explanations. Upto 12 o’clock of the 7th of September, the General had not only made no reconnoissance, but had order- ed the engineers to make none, in strict com- pliance with the armistice. Soon after 12 M. the 7th September, the gene- ral rode to the heights of Tacubaya, over against Chapultepec, where a building was pointed out to him a few hundred yards from the base of the Chapultepec hill, which was said to be a foundry in full operation, casting cannon trom bells te- moved from the churches in the city. Ashe rode away from the place of observation, he re- marked that he,would, the next morning,destroy the foundry, so as to preven? the enemy from making any more cannon, and would then at his eal lay down his plan for a final attack upon the eity. The battle of the 8th of September, called the battle of the Molino del Rey, was the result of this determination, this being the name of the building pointed out as the gf The enemy anticipating an attack in that direction, had moved out,on the 7th, a very large force, said by some prisoners taken off the 8th, to be men, esides a thousand within the works at Chapul- pec. This force was covered by buildings and entrenchments extending full a mile in length, its left being at the Molino del Rey, near some woods at the base of the Chapultepec hill, while its right was within a strongly built hacienda,of @ aay, with that French personagé well,known in history, that “all is lost but our honor ;’’ as our army has long since lost both honor and shame, which 18 not necessary to prov: en this capital groans with sorrow and anger aguinst thos who call themselves its defenders. enemy, as yet. has tot soiled with his tread the palaces of the Montezumas, but that is because a suspersion of hostilities has caused him to patias in his t phant march. This suspension, which has uo other object than to collect the wounded and to bury the dead, es some say, has also another purpose, and that is. to see t! propositions of peace from the government of Washing: ton, of which Mr. Nicholas Tristis the bearer. ‘The ac- tual government, that is to ray, the President, who finds himself compromised before the nation, has sent a mes- ange to Congress, which | take to be a matter of mere form, that upon hearing the above mentioned propusi- tions he would use only the powers belonging to him by the constitution. The Congress, besides the fact that it does not exist, there being assembled to-day but twentyefive deputies, as yet has nothing to do with the matter, so that the messoge of the [resident seems to me to be untimely; nevertheless, being #0 or not. Con- gress, as | said before, as it does not exist, can do no- thing. From this [| deduce, with other friends of the same opinion, the following reeults—that the case being an urgent one, the enemy waiting au ansier at the rates of the city,a meeting of Congress being imposstble fo order to review treaties which must be concluded, at the latest, next week, the Executive is necessarily obliged to assume powers not conceded to it by the constitution, to wit, that of approving treattes§after having made them. Ina normal state of the country this would be ‘an assumption, and egainst law, so that the Executive, in order to exercise this pewer, finds it necessary to use revolutionary means. Hence the necessity of a Dicta- torship, which is already announced to us; and I think but a few days will els) before this will be realized Be on the look out. If | learn any thing more will in- form youofit. It is true, that if our army had been equipped and furnished with 24 pieces of cannon This was & precaution taken by government, as no one that the Americans would take the road from San Au- fustin to Contreras, as it is over pidregal. I do not now whether you are acquainted with the road, but even those who go over it on foot encounter # thousand obstacles ([Pedreza! means volcanic grounds, exceed- ingly broken, full of sbarp stones, rising almost into cipices, and broken into immensszchasme.) Part of the Americans went down to the Hacienda of Coapa; and Santa Anna thought fit to piace troops at San Antonio in order to impede their progress that way Things re- mained in this position until Thursday, the 19th, when the Americans having overcome ‘he obstacles of the Pe- dregal, presented themselves in front of Valencia, who gave them a hard at having confidence, owing to the past, in the valor of his ; but on the morning of the 20th, about ten minutes tacked by the enemy, who destroyed all his division, took all his artillery, nts wenty thousand dollars he had for the payment ‘This great disaster was inc the afternoon at about 3, when the Yankees took the well fortified point at Churubusco, causing a great many deaths, and taking a great number of prisoners. You can imagine ourstate in the oapital,under such repeated mi themore 80 a all our trooy dispersed and we are momentari- ly expecting an atta :k upon the capital. fe are lost, Mr. J, and in my opinion there is no, fe ‘ Some people are spreading the report, that Anna is implio ted in an intrigue; but this | know is felee, and no one has any right to euspect anything of the kind. Who knows’ what is to become of us when these men come into the capital ? +** Very bly these to intercept this letter, (indeed!) but, as | said to you before, | will see by what stratagem | can send you my letters in future, BR. Mexico, Aug. 21, 1847. Dear —_—Yesterday was the date of a most bloody battle at the edge of the mone ground of San Angel; and though until yesterday morning victory bad it- self in favor af our arm, yet the e1 the darkness of the night, by rain and some cornfields in that vicinity, found meaus to fi vor their troops in all directions, taking possession of & height, and Coaeanie | morning they opened the action upon our forces on sides, from which resulted a dreadful slaughter, and on dispersion, which it wan impossible to restrain — jen, Valencia lost his entire battery, which is now in the hands of the enemy, consisting of twenty-two can- non of large calibre. In consequence of this affair, there is ® want of confi- in all parte, many saying that it was a deliberate der: but, according to my opinion, the feult lesin nt of foresight and preesation in our principal of- who rely too much for sucoces upon numbers, he enemy neither sleep nor know fear in war. have lost Churubusco and more than five thousand between killed and wounded, without having been able to think how to make th _ aged advance—onthe contrary, all has been lost. To- the lines (referring to the garitas) have been reinforced, amd the next ac- tion will be decis! ree this capital in the hands of the Yankees, oF it will cease to exist. DA. (Exrascr ] Mexico. Aug. 21, 1847, To R. C. C.—On Thursday the firing commenced against Valenoia’s division, and continued until 5P. M., when the victory appeared to be on our side, &e. (Then follows the rever ¥ ‘This can only be a cufse of Heaven; otherwise it would mn possible for the enemy to have given us 6 blow. bf My Dear Papita:—After the immense misfortunes which bave befallen us, and the thousand fatigues and successful, we should havo fallen under a Dictatorship, ut which our military chiefs have so much occupied themselves, and perhaps they were dreaming of that when they were all beaten; but being beaten, the same hopes remain, with this difference, that, as they must have something to Jean upon, thet support, I suppose, will now by the Yankees. Be this as it may, [ will econ ascertain and tell you. I will not occupy myself in giv- ing you # minute description of how the action was brought on, and how lost, nor will I give you a for- mal opinion of the motives of the parties; however, | stone, as usual. ° Early in the morning of the 8:h,the attack was made by a division of our troops, and the fight was continued rather more than an hour and half, when the enemy was driven from his entire line with the loss, besides killed, of many priso- ners and of several pieces of field artillery, all he ventured to bring into that engagement. As the enemy supposed this attack was inten- ded to lead the way to Chapultepec, and as Cha- pultepec was not assailed, the opinion in the city Was quite decided that we had sustained a defeat although we had infact most compl aay accom- lished the only object in view. Our loss in the fi ht was very great and although something ike the nreans’o! ‘img Cafinon had been foun: and destroyed—although we had taken ma- ny prisoners (several hundreds) and several pieces of artillery—sull, we believe the army would much rather have dispensed with the glo- ties of that day, as it was accompanied with un- usual sorrow and mourning for many of its no- blest spirits. : 7 The general then began his preparations for a final attack. He ordered a depot of sick and wounded, of captured artillery, &c., including prisoners, to be established at a small village called Miscoac, to the right of Tucubaya,through which he had passed in coming from Coyoacan ; and in front of this village, at a place called Pie- dad, h® posted a division to threaten the city in that direction. Immediately there was seen an immense number of laborers busily engaged night aod day in fortitying the causeways, by which the city was acceesible from the Piedad. It was i bann to see the activity with which they worked. At the end of three or four days the fortifica- tions in that direction seemed very complete,and lined with artillery and men. It was evident that the enemy looked upon that as the contemplated place ot attack, and for tais very reason, perhaps, the general made his arrangements to attack, not there on the right, but at Chapultepec on_ his left; but still he kept up a show of attack from the Piedad. On the morning of the 12th of Sept. the firing commenc- ed from three or four batteries upon Chapultepec; but no show of force was made, and the enemy thought it a feint, keeping bs och oa force in the direction of the Piedad. The firing conti- nued all day on both sides, with very little effect. It was resumed the next morning, and conti- nued about two hours, when it ceased by order o} the general, the cessation being the signal or time determined for the advance of two assault- ing parties of 250 men each, supported by strong columns, the arullery resuming its fire’ as soon asthe movement was in tull operation, and in about an hour the heights were ascended by our troops, and the scaling ladders being placed against the walls, our intrepld officers and sol- diers passed over into the main work, driving the enemy either out of the work altogether, or into buildings where they surrendered at discre- tion. The enemy, during the night of the 12th, had sent additional force to defend Chapultepec, though evidently ata loss to know where the real attack was to be made. The defence, how- ever, was desperate, the fight being maintained ata mulutade of points in the woods near the hili—at batteries and breastworks at the base of the bill, and from various points and different positions on the sides of the hill. This fight was, oa the whole, one of the most remarkable that has occurred during thewar. _ iki BatI design merely an outline. As the mili- tary school was at that place, the superintendent, professors and students,beoame prisoners of war, with a larg- body of other officers and men, in- cluding the celebrated veteran, Gen. Bravo. Chapultepec having fallen, our troops were di- rected in two coluans along two causeways, one leading directly to the city, and the other to the left, to intersect the San Cosme causewa aud now the fight was resumed inch by inch, upon each route, but the infantry of the enemy was driven, and his batteries taken in rapid suc- cession along a distance upon each causeway, of more than a mile and a@ half, and at night Both columns had made a lodgmens within the gates of the capital. Our force at Piedad was not unoccupied on either of the two days. A field battery opened its fire upon the enemy, and movements were miude agit to attack in that direction, thus eccu- pying the enemy, already strongly in the belief that the real attack was to be there—but efter Chapultepec was taken, and our torces had near- ly penetrated the city, the force was withdrawn from Piedad, and seat to the support of ond of the attacking columns inthe city. The deeds of valor by our troops on this day, as on previous occasions, deserve to be recorded by a Tacitus ora Livy or a Thucydides, and therefore we do not attempt it. _ The general, atter directing in person the en- tire operations of the day, giving the most mi- nute and exact instructions tor every movement, finally returned after dark to Tacubaya, where he was called upen in the night, tewards morn- ing, by a deputation from the city council, with information that General Santa Aana had left the city and had withdrawn the army, and they desired the general 10 give them some assur- ances or conditions before entering the city, — Thishe declined doing, telling them in sub- stance, that he would agree to no conditions un- til he should first go into the city, and then only to such as should be self-imposed; but that his course would be such asthe dignity and honor of the United States required. — At nine o’clock on the morning of the lath of September, the general dismounted within the court of the National Palace, and ascending the broad flight of stairs to the saloons above, sat will tell you what I hear from rational and weil inform- ed people. Gen. Vale , the ral of Santa Anna, wished the glory of defeating th: omy. but he needed astistance, which should have beea sent him. Well— the battle, once commenced, whether right or mg. Santa Anns looked upon the route of Valencia as a cold tator, sending him no assistance, after which every mg was disorder and rout on our part. You can make such commentaries as you please, but bear in mind, in order to make no mistakes, that our army was composed of twenty-four or twenty-five thousand men, and that of the enemy of only twelve thousand men, and that after the actions of the 19th and 20th, our forces do not amount to over eleven thousand men, all of whom are frightened to Among misfortunes which befallen us, we in the de of the enemy many hundreds of +, including the battations of Independence and Bravo, the loss of Perdrigan, Blanco, and Frothers, and other generals, and # great many naya, and many others, are tillery lost, and our regular troops Sopereed or cut to pieoes. My friend—in all our misfortunes I do not particular- ly note, as some people will hi , that there has been wading, but | must say horance, and vei ag ¢ We must only look to God for the tion of our country. 1 am pleased that you intend to enter into relationship with the ministers and with His Excellency the President, but | must recommend that you be very respectful in your letters— that you touch their pride without adulation. The minister of T. says he will an wer your note. No one knew of the inten- tions V: cla had; but after his rout it was said that had he gained the victery, he would have overnowered Santa Anna, and made himself Dictator, for which pur- pose he hadalready named his ministers. and had pro- mised rank of general to several of his friends. Others say that Valencia was in league with the enemy; but this, to speak the truth, | cannot and shall never believe. However, the man (Valencia) who has been ordered to bs shot by Santa Anna, has escaped through the State of Mexico, which government has received him well, which [ do not understand Should there be a Dictatorship or not, you must be very vigilant, and take care of our intereste—tha: is to say, should our territory not be benefited, that wo shail not lose, I have heard it announced that the States of Jalisco, Guanajuato and Zacatecas, kc , wish to maie a separate republic; but Ido not know what to think, Colina, on which account it would be necessary for them to think ss instruments (tools) to be cheated; others ipy will annex themselves, together with other States of the North, to the United States of America. [Here follows much miscellaneous and private matter. } (Note:—The first sheet of the original of the follow- fog letter was lo * * * Seott, aman of superior talents in the art of war, as it appears, considering the position of Valencia yery advantageous, established ssmall portion of his troops in a ravine very near our batteries, from whence he could use his muskets to advantage, without injury from us. he, Scott, haviug no ertillery. Atterwards he sent a column, with three light pieces of urtillery, to take a position on the heights on the right of Valencia’s camp, and another body of troops on the left of Va- lenefa, in order to flank this general. At about 6 o’clook in the morning (ot the 20th of August) he obtained his object, having troops concealed on both flanks of Vu- lencia, anda yery few in front, with a number of wa- to call the attention ot Valencia that way. The column which, on the previous sfternvon had position on the right of Valencia, Scott ordered should get into the rear during the night, and the body of troops that were in front of Valencia the same after- noon, were divided, one part of which took right of nd in the meantime he had sent reinforce- body stationed on the left, obliging hin rol- diers to cross a river half. body (up to ths waist) deep. In this manner Valencia, during the nighs, was entirely t 6 o'clock the next morning he wen at- the same time in the front, {a the rear, and on both flanks, The engagement lasted about two hours, the result of which that all our artillery was lost, with the entire trai say that those States which are egainst the ar ly disp previous, Valencia, seeing that be was in danger of bilog flanked, asked assistance of Santa Anos, who ordered him to retire immediately; but he, Valencia, did not re- tire, probably beoause he cunsidered victory possible Valencia did not send for reinforcements once, but several times, on all which occasions he was refaned by Santa Anna, end the order to retire was repeated —on acoount of which, after the unfortunate result of the engagement, Santa Anna ordered this general to be shot for disobedieace Some assure us there is foundation for'this order, for Valencia was very obstinate, and thereby caused the loss of the whole army—still, others do not think ¢0, as, having behaved with valor, saves him from all discredi'able imputations My opinion bat Santa Anna should have sent Va- Jencia reinforcements, and should have procured a vic- tory by any means, and after that, chastised him for his disdbedlense of orders, In this manner he would bave 4 an important service to the nation, and it o been a salutary example for generals-in- chief in future. Scott having destroyed our best troops, the flower of the army, then proceeded with his forces and attacked the main army immediately afcorwards— is to aay, there atationedat San Antonio and Chu- sod Mexicalcingo, thereby effec\ing in one sin- ale day the destruction of an army of more than thirty thousand men. This North American general, in « strange country, has fought us in detail, and destroyed our large army, thing which our generai should have done with respect to his ariny. It is now 6 o'clock in the afternoon, and the enemy has soot in an intimation allowing 48 hours for the eva- cuation of the city, so that their(his)troops may occupy it, Our troops, which, with great difficulty, have been brought togetaer, do not exceed eight or nine thousand men, with which we can do nothing, as they have lost their morale The companies of Bravo and Independence, with the exception of a few killed, are prisoners. Generals pales aud Gorostisa, are prisoners, as also others whore names 1 do not recollect. As yet [ hear of the death of only Gen. Mehia and of Frontera, Col. of Cavalry. It is also sald, but not certainly, that Perdigan was killed. | bate just been told that Bravo is a prisoner, aud also Anaya. Mexico, Aug 21, 0847 J. C.—My much loved and respeoted friend «—The enemy made his appearance on thy 12th near the Penon, whioh place they did not appear diepored to attack, it b ing too Well fortified, and they went around by the w otChaleo, On the 16th they made their appearance San A ‘in Tislpam, Vale immediately too! pesition on the hills of Contreras, near the town of San Angel, with hie brilliant division, brought by him from San Louis lotos!, in number 6000 men, perfectly well rendei would riske | have gone turough, the hend of Providenee hes faved me,and Leeched the capital lastevenitg. Pedro ‘and | have the pleasure of commending him to you. A.J. is well, and saved himeeif. 1 cannot now write you any more. And it appears there is en armis- tice of 48 hours, at the end of which | do not know what will occur. 1 will notify you. < aM. Metico, Aug. 20, 1647. My Dear Chulela:—Wishing to relieve you of the fear and anguish so natural on account of the misfortunes that have beg bl wrote to zon 3 a eo Seed ; but now that jer is all over, speak and sey that we Haye eed Coen letely routed, losing all of our fortifications in less than sixhours. We have only « small portion of our troops left, which will leave the city to-morrow. All personal denger is now at an end, and disturbs us but the sense of our culamitios. The spectacie to-day has been distressing, as you can well imagine; to-morrow it will be worse, and | shut my- self up between four walls, to avoid personal danger. J will go to you if the diligence leaves to-morrow, but this is not certsin. As we no more combatants in the city, the entrance of the enemy will be pacific; we shall only have the mortification of seeing around us imperi- ous visiters. We bave had enough of misfortune. Mexico, Aug. 21, 1847, G.M & T.—Mr. Trist has been recogaized as the commissioner of the United States. To-morrow our go- vernment will listen to him. If there is prudence ob- served something may be arranged, and the fature—God only knows what it willbe. fhatthe enemy should have reached the very gates of the city is not at all siradme. it was unavoidable, and conquerors cannot be restrained. ‘Che enemy are at Tacubaya, and! will at enother time give you a detalied account of Valencia’s discomfiture. {A young Lawyer to his Father.) Mexico, A baer) Dear Father :—The end has proved, in most une- quivocal manner, t! prophecies. The brigade, under Valencia, was completely routed be- tween seven and eight yesterday morning, andin oon- tinuation, the same fate befell the brigade of Peres, sta- tion ed at Coyoacan d the troops Who {a to be punished for these lio voice accures Santa Anna of having beena cold end impasasive speetatorof the rou: of Valencia, whilst his arsistan battle in our favor. ‘a, and some of them pl themselves between him and Saute Anna, without any interruption from the latter. Some say that Valencia disobeyed the orders of Ssnta Anne, and Santa Anna was piqued by the disobedience; but this does not lessen the culpability of the rasosl who grati- fies a private feeling, and thereby jeopardises the most sacred interests of his country. The fact is, that everything is lost, and the Yankees will bo here to-morrow. Iw ate ) xx1co, Aug. 2i, 1847. My Dear Brothers —Antoni id myself are both well, thanks to God. We have re We are in a bad - hilis of Contreras end that of Churubusco, aud to-morrow or next day, the Yankees will be in the oapital. The Yankees have lost 4000 men out of the ten thousand they had, and with 6000 men they undertake to occupy the capital, which is almost incredible. We atill have about 12,000 men, Wnd entertain hopes of final success. Farewell—do not be anxious if we do not write. Re- member me to the girls. M. Mexico, Amg. 21, 1847. taxcy, M. O. 4 Friend —I bave before me your esteemed fa- vor of the 16thiiost. ja an to which, ! give you my sin- cere thanks for your offer of going to Pateo:; and with re- gard to what you say in reference to the busi accept your first offer, not even were the events less com- nd with regard to the second, in order that it may not burden you, you will endeavor, notwithstand- ing the want of communication, to draw on me for one hundred dollars, and do not lose auy opportunity of writing to me, in order that | may keep you in funds. It is exocedingly painful to me to communicate the distrensiog news of the lons of our capital, and I will en- deavor.eo far asi have time, to give yous ciroumsten- tial account of all that has happened. Io order that we may understand eurselves, it is ne- cessary to give you an idea of the general of de- fence adopted by our generis, or properly by ita Anna alone. The principal line, ranming from north to south , wan determined by the fortified points of Penon, (old) Mexicalcingo, and hacienda of San Antonio, and the ex- tremes (flanks) covered by Valencia’s division, which was moveable from Texcuco on th whilst Alvarez’s division of cavalry was ordered | the rear of the enumy,ia order to complete their de- struction in case of # rout. With regard to the fortii- cations, in order th n of them, | will nay this—that on tho road of Tiapam, (San Augus- tin) there were fortificasions at San Autonio, stroug | fort at Churabusoo and at the bridge. There were some fortiNcations in the plain of Natividades, about a league from the city, a7 also at the garite (entrance of the city,) called San Antonio Abad. Oar assembled forces ty-six thousand men, of all arms, pieces of cannon, while those o enemy hardly reached ten thousand, with forty pieces of artillery, as has been reported. The situation of the eaemy ways very difficult one, as they had no money. At Puebla they paid one per cent for money, and on the road they made purchases by drafts payable in Mexico, after cecupation by th When the ni reached here on tho 10th, that the enemy were at Rio Frio, some troops, together with the national guards, left the capital to occupy and strengthen enon, where it is estimated we had about seven dd twenty-five pieces of cannon; Texcuco with five tl p ces of cannon. The eurmy came in sight on the llth, aud on the 12th they came within a league of the fortifications of Peaon, without interruption, and having made @ Chaleo, and we t ould be cermary for Valencia to mo the larger part of the troops with some cannon, to San A) At these two points over = See ae aes ery bres, from four to twenty-five pounders, together large b zers. Although Velencia had ex) orders to avoid a fight with the enemy; atili, the thunder of his cannon on the 19th, at about 12 o'clock, gave notice that a fight was going on at the Pedgral, (rough volcaaio ground) near San Angel. The fight became very sharp ut 4o’clook in the afternoon, aad Sante Anna Antonio and proceded to- \d joined to his troops on the road, brigades of reserve, composed of the brilient 11th, and the light brttalions. With theee forces, which, if they did not exceed, were certainly not lees than three thousand men, Santa Anna remained » cold spectator of @ battle, although he sent a body of troops to di a portion ot the enemy's force in the edge of the w near the tower of Padioraa, (nvar Contreras) which were cutting off ¥ alencia’s commu le maroh- Jog, with bayoneta Axed Anna ordered them to retir pieces of cannon to be brought up, which errived at