of our officers and soldiers, will excite the admiration, and call forth the gratitude, of the nation. The single fact that five thousand of our troops, nearly all volunteers, who, yielding to the impulse of patriotism, had rallied to their country's standard for a temporary service, were brought into conflict with an army of twenty thousand, mostly veteran soldiers. and not only withstood and repulsed the assaults of this numerous host-led by their most experienced general-but, in a protracte. battle of two days, won a glorious victory, is the most indubitabl evidence of the consummate skill and gallant conduct of our officers and the devoted heroism of the troops under their command. I will ever be a proud distinction to have been in the memorabl battle of Buena Vista. The general joy which the intelligence of this success of our arm has spread through the land, is mingled with regret that it has bee: obtained at so great a price-that so many heroic men have falle in that sanguinary conflict. They died in the intrepid discharg of a patriotic duty, and will be honored and lamented by a gratefu nation. You will cause this communication to be published to the troop under your command. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient ser vant, W. L. MARCY, • Major General ZACHARY TAYLOR, U. S. Army, Commanding, &c., Agua Nueva, Mexico. No. 19. HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF OCCUPATION, Camp near Monterey, March 6, [14] 1847. SIR: I have the honor to report that I changed my head-quarter to this place on the 9th instant, leaving Brigadier General Wool command of the troops in front. I brought with me Lieutenan Colonel May's squadron of dragoons, Captain Bragg's battery, ( which the guns and carriages require renewal,) the Kentucky horse and the Mississippi regiment. In the meantime, the 2d Ohio ha moved forward and joined General Wool, leaving four companies under the major, at the Rinconadar The last advices from the from represent everything quiet. The Mexican army had halted Matahaula, reduced some 7,000 men below the strength in which it marched from that point against Saltillo. Matahaula is the firs point on its line of retreat where supplies can be obtained. In a communication from the head-quarters of Major Gener Scott, received since the action of Buena Vista, it is suggested under the supposition that the Mexican army had been directe towards Vera Cruz, that I should manoeuvre offensively against Sal 1 Luis Potosi; and, as the department might now expect the same thing, I wish to state, distinctly, that, even were my present force in a condition, in regard to supplies, materiel of artillery, cavalry and artillery horses, &c., to undertake such an operation, it would, in my judgment, be the height of imprudence to attempt it, without at least two or three thousand regular troops, and those of the veteran regiments which have seen service. I regret to say that the communication between this point and Camargo has been interrupted since the destruction of the train, on the 24th ultimo. A strong detachment of infantry marched down some days since, and to-morrow I shall despatch the Kentucky cavalry and a piece of artillery in the same direction. We are in hourly expectation of some arrival from Camargo. We have no intelligence of the arrival of any of the new volunteer regiments, and no dates from Washington later than the 1st of February. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. TAYLOR, Major General U. S. A., commanding. The ADJUTANT GENERAL of the Army, Washington, D. C. No. 20. HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF OCCUPATION, Camp near Monterey, March 15, 1847. SIR: I respectfully enclose, herewith, a plan of the battle of Buena Vista, prepared by Captain Linnard, topographical engineers, from surveys made under his directions by the officers of that corps. It could not be sent with the report, but will, it is hoped, reach your office as soon. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. TAYLOR, Major General U. S. A., commanding. The ADJUTANT GENERAL of the Army, Washington, D. C. No. 21. HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF OCCUPATION, Camp near Monterey, March 20, 1847. SIR: I have the honor to report that, after the departure of Colonel Marshall's command on the 15th instant, I was advised that the enemy's cavalry was in considerable force near Marin, on the Camargo road. I immediately marched, on the evening of the 15th, with a mixed command, and reached Marin early the next morning, where I joined Colonel Marshall. The enemy had been in his front, watching a train on its way from Camargo, which encamped at Ramas, 8 miles from Marin, the night previous, but retired on our approach in the direction of Cadereita. After communicating" with Colonel Curtis, commander of the escort, I despatched the train towards Monterey with a portion of the escort, and took up the march, with the remainder, in the direction taken by the enemy. We reached Cadereita the following morning, the Mexican force retiring in the direction of Montemorelos. Not having a sufcient mounted force to pursue with any prospect of success, I returned to this place on the 18th instant. I regret to report that a train despatched hence on the 5th was attacked near Seralvo, some 40 or 50 wagons destroyed, and several persons, volunteers and teamsters, were killed. I have, as yet, no official report of this unfortunate occurrence. The command was relieved at Seralvo by Colonel Curtis, and, no doubt, reached Ca. margo safely with the remainder of the train. To secure properly our communication with the rear, will require large detachments, employing constantly two regiments, at least, so long as a force of cavalry infests this part of the country. I shall do all in my power to protect the convoys and keep open the communications. Of the new regiments of volunteers, only a part of the Virginia regiment have reported. The remainder is, doubtless, by this time, at Camargo. I learn, but not officially, that the 2d Mississippi regiment, by some misapprehension, has gone to Tampico. Whether it will be sent back or retained by Gen. Scott, as was done under similar circumstances with the South Carolina regiment, remains to be seen. The Massachusetts and North Carolina regiments had not arrived at the last advices. Of the Texas regiment, I am advised that not more than four companies can be raised. They are probably by this time at Camargo. We have nothing very authentic from the interior. The Mexi can army, when last heard of, was yet at Matehaula, and Santa Anna was said to be making every exertion to recruit it. He does not, at any rate, seem to be detaching in the direction of Vera Cruz, relying, perhaps, upon the defences, or upon the troops already collected in that quarter. A report has reached us of the arrival of Brigadier General Kearny, with a considerable force, at Chihuahua. If such be the fact, and if General Kearny have orders to join me, it will be a most seasonable reinforcement; but I do not attach much credit to the rumor. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. TAYLOR, Major General U. S. Army, commanding. The ADJUTANT GENERAL of the Army, Washington, D. C. No. 22. HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF OCCUPATION, SIR: I beg leave to invite the attention of the department to some grave considerations connected with the state of things in that quarter. In so doing, I can hardly doubt that they have already occurred to the mind of the secretary; but I yet consider it my duty to bring them specifically to his notice. Thirteen regiments of volunteers, now serving on this line, will be entitled to their discharge in two or three months. A very small portion, if any, of these volunteers, will consent to serve for the war. To replace this force, we have, so far, at most, four regiments of foot, and part of a regiment of horse. To what extent this force may be increased by enlistment in the new regular regiments, or by new volunteers yet to be called out, I have not the means of judging; but, looking to the past, it is not probable that it will be materially increased before the discharge of the old regiments. With this limited force, it will be physically impossible to hold the line we now occupy; and I respectfully submit to the department the advantage and necessity of issuing instructions to meet this case; for, if a new line is to be taken up while the enemy is in our front, it should be done before the discharge of so large a portion of our force. The 12 months' volunteers are looking impatiently forward to the period of their discharge, and this fact causes me additional anxiety, in regard to their replacement. Although my communications to the department for nearly six months have received no response, and I am discouraged from presenting my views, I yet feel bound, in the present instance, to do so, that a serious embarrassment may be provided against in due time. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. TAYLOR, Major Gen. U. S. A., commanding. The ADJUTANT GENERAL WAR DEPARTMENT, May 6, 1847. SIR: Some time previous to the receipt of your letter of the 20th March, measures had been taken here to send forth to the seat of war troops to take the place of the volunteers whose term of service is limited to twelve months. Steps have also been taken, under authority of a recent act of Congress, to re-engage as many of these volunteers as could be induced to serve to the end of the war. Though very desirable to have them remain in service, it has at no time becn supposed that the number which might be willing to do so would be large. The department has, therefore, looked to other sources for obtaining the requisite force to answer the exigencies of the public service. The adjutant general has been directed to send you a statement, carefully prepared by him, which will inform you of the number of troops, as nearly as can be ascertained here, now in Mexico and on the way there, and. the destination given to them by orders from this department. It is expected that those under your immediate command, will be full ten thousand; and that though, for a season, at least, you may lose by the change, yet the arrival of these new levies and volunteers for the war will fully supply the place of those who will soon be entitled to a discharge. In what particular manner this force, as well as the still larger one which will be under the immediate command of Major General Scott, shall be employed; how far the movements of the one column shall be with or without particular reference to the other, cannot 'now be determined here, and must, in a great measure, be left to the discretion and judgment of the general-in-chief commanding in Mexico. Having indicated to you the force which has been assigned to your command, the government desires your opinion as to the employment of it, under any probable contingencies, in the way most effective for the successful prosecution of the war. Herewith, I send you a copy of a letter of the 30th ultimo, addressed to Major General Scott, relating to the subject above referred to. In that communication, it will be observed that he is instructed to confer with you in regard to your operations, and to give such directions thereto as the exigencies of the public service may require. The official report of Colonel Doniphan, frem Chihuahua, of the 4th March, detailing his operations in that quarter, has just come to hand. By this report, the gratifying intelligence is received that, with less than one thousand men under his command, he achieved a signal victory over a Mexican force quadruple in numbers, with a loss of only one man killed and ten wounded, while that of the enemy is stated to be about three hundred killed, and the same number wounded. The effect of this.action has been to disperse the enemy, and to place in our immediate possession the city and department of Chihuahua. But as the military occupation of that place is not now deemed important, in reference to the objects of the war, (the position held by you being in advance of it,) and could not be kept up without increased means and expense, and as the troops which now hold it in possession will soon be entitled to their discharge, the course you have pursued, in ordering them to join the column under your command, meets with the approbation of the department. The adjutant general will communicate to you the views of the government in regard to the course to be pursued in discharging the volunteers. It is certainly advisable that they should be kept together in their company or regimental organization, and sent to New Orleans, except such as may choose to re-engage for the war, and there be paid, and finally discharged. General Scott has intimated his intention to retain those with him on the line of his opera |