tions until the end of the twelve months, regarding the time required for the returning home from the place of service not to be included in the term for which they engaged. Such is understood to have been established by former practice. If, however, those under your command should insist upon being taken to the place of discharge within the year for which they engaged to serve, it may not be advisable to resist their claim, especially if there should be no pressing emergency for retaining them. I regret to learn, as I do from several of your communications, that in some instances there has been an extraordinary delay in the receipt of communications addressed to you from this department. With the more important of these, particularly that of the 25th of November, advising you that Major General Scott had been ordered to the seat of war, unusual care was taken to insure its speedy and safe transmission. On inquiry at the office of the adjutant general, it does not appear that you have acknowledged the receipt of it, and I am, therefore, apprehensive that it never reached you. I herewith send a copy, with an endorsement on it of the means taken to have it reach you expeditiously. Your communication of the 3d of March,* addressed directly to me, has been received. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Major General Z. TAYLOR, W. L. MARCY, Commanding U. S. army at Monterey, Mexico. No. 23. HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF OCCUPATION, SIR: I deem it my duty to report, somewhat more in detail, the occurrences attending the interruption of our line of communication with Camargo, and the service recently rendered by troops on that line. Pursuant to previous orders, issued before the advance of the enemy upon Saltillo became known, the 2d Ohio regiment had occupied three posts on the line: Colonel Morgan, with - companies taking post at Seralvo, Lieutenant Colonel Irwin, with three at Marin, and Major Wall, with at Punta Aguda. On the 21st of February, Colonel Morgan was ordered to concentrate his regiment, and move forward to Monterey. The enemy had already begun to infest the road, but Colonel Morgan, who had received the order on the night of the 23d, was able to bring up Major Wall's command, and march the next morning. On the road he was advised that a train on its way to Monterey, had been attacked that day, (24th,) near Ramas, and the escort and Tublished, Doe. 37, 1st session, 30th Congress. drivers, with a few exceptions, killed or made prisoners. On the morning of the 25th, Colonel Morgan was joined by twenty-five drivers and wagon masters, who had fled into the hills and escaped the fate of their companions. At two o'clock he reached the scene of the disaster, and found the bodies of forty or more drivers horribly mutilated, the wagons burning, and several bodies thrown into the flames. Finding no wounded, the march was continued to Marin, which was found to be almost deserted. The enemy's cavalry, under General Urrea, had been before Marin for two days, and several skirmishes had taken place between them and Lieutenant Colonel Irwin's command. The arrival from Monterey of a reinforcement of infantry and two field pieces, under Major Shepherd, 1st Kentucky regiment, had caused the Mexicans to retire, and relieved Lieutenant Colonel Irwin, who knew nothing of Colonel Morgan's approach. At Marin, it was ascertained that the escort of the train (30 men under Lieutenant Barbour, 1st Kentucky regiment) had been surrounded and captured. At 12 o'clock at night, Colonel Morgan resumed his march, and first met the enemy near Agua Fria. Forming his command in square, and marching in that order, he continued to San Francisco, having on the road several encounters with the enemy, who attempted, without success, to break his formation. From San Francisco, a messenger was despatched to Lieutenant Colonel Irwin, then encamped at this place, who promptly took up the march, and with two pieces of artillery joined Colonel Morgan, at 11 o'clock, The enemy, who had in the mean time continued his attacks, now made a final effort, but after a sharp action of a few minutes, was driven back, and retreated from the field. The loss of Colonel Morgan's command in these affairs was three Americans and one friendly Mexican killed, one wagoner mortally, and one soldier slightly wounded. The enemy is supposed to have sustained a considerable loss, but from the nature of the engagement, its amount could not be ascertained. We have to lament the fall of Captain B. F. Graham, assistant quartermaster in the volunteer service, who was killed in the action after behaving in the most gallant manner. I would recommend to particular notice the gallant conduct and energy of Colonel Morgan throughout these operations. Lieutenant Colonel Irwin, Major Wall, and Adjutant Joline, 2d Ohio regiment, and Major Shepherd, are also entitled to notice for good. conduct and valuable services. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. TAYLOR, Major General U. S. army, commanding. The ADJUTANT GENERAL Of the Army, Washington, D. C. No. 25. HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF OCCUPATION, SIR: I have the honor to report that our communications with the rear are now measurably secure, no interruption having taking place since that reported on the 20th instant. A train arrived on the 24th, under escort of the 1st Indiana regiment, and another is daily expected. It is understood that the regular cavalry of Urrea has retired from this quarter across the mountains, a natural result of the retreat of the main army towards San Luis, and of our precautions to secure the trains. All is quiet at Saltillo, the troops are in good health, and the wounded rapidly recovering. The inhabitants, both there and here, are generally returning to their homes, and in the country are engaged planting their crops. It is certain that a revolution has broken out in Mexico, directed against the existing government, and that it was yet in progress on the 8th instant, Mexican papers of which date have reached Monterey. I respectfully enclose a copy of a proclamation issued by General Santa Anna, on the 14th instant, at San Luis Potosi, from which it appears that he was about leaving for the capital, to arrest the civil war, detaching, at the same time, a force in the direction of Vera Cruz. His army is understood to have fallen back on San Luis. I receive information that General Kearny, with 1,300 men, has entered Chihuahua, after some resistance, being opposed by 2,000. I know not what faith to place in this intelligence. Two companies of the North Carolina regiment had reached Brazos, at the last advices; nothing yet heard of the Massachusetts regiment, or the rear companies of the Virginia. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. TAYLOR, Major Gen. U. S. A., commanding. The ADJUTANT GENERAL, Of the Army, Washington, D. C. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, general de division, benemento de la patria, presidente interino de la republica, y general-en-gefe del ejercito del norte, á sus subordinados: Compañeros! didecade enteramente al servicio de la patria, marchs a tomar las riendas del gobierno, haciendo con esto el mas costoso sacrificio; pues obro contra mi amor proprio y mis propositos; pero este paso hara cesar la guerra civil que destroza nuestra hermosa capital! dara unidad a nuestra defensa, impulso a la lucha justisima que sustenenros contra los perfidos invasores y por la que habeis combatido con tanta bravura y decision en los campos de la Angostura. Mis Amigos! nunca olvideraré vuestros hechos gloriosos en es campo de batalla, las penalidades del desierto que habeis arrostrado con heroica sufrimiento, a sobre todo que tuve el honor de mandaros. La nacion osdebe una recompensa y la recibireis muy pronto por mi conducto, aun que no es esto que os estemula, a comportaros como degrios de la gran Mejico. Soldados! Lois la esperanza de la patria y sus mejoras defensores; debeis pues atender a todas partes e por eso dispongo que dos brigadas de infantaria y una del caballeria con sus baterias correspondientes, marchen a la defensia del estado de Vera Cruz, guardando esta frontera el resto del ejercito. Conducidos en todo como hasta aqui, y jamas demerezcais el nombre ilustre que habeis adquirido. Voya procuraros cuanto oshace falta para que podeis consumar la grande obra que os está encomendada, y estad seguros que en el peligro volvereis a ver a vuestro general. ANT. LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA. CUARTEL GENERAL DE SAN LUIS POTOSI, Marzo 14, de 1847. No. 26. HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF OCCUPATION, SIR: I have duly received a copy of your communication dated January 23d, to L. B. Kinton, late captain in the 2d Ohio regiment, and your unofficial note of January 23d on the same subject. Captain Kinton has reported to his colonel; but, as the vacancy caused by his discharge had been duly filled by an election, the case was referred to me, and I have felt bound, under all the circumstances, to decline issuing any order to restore him to his command. Upon reference to the files, it appears that Captain Kinton's application for leave of absence reached my head-quarters on the 13th of December, as I was on the point of marching for Victoria, and by some inadvertence, incident to the press of business, is supposed to have been mistaken for a resignation, and orders given accordingly. Had Captain Kinton, before leaving the country,. notified his colonel and my staff officer of this mistake, it would have been corrected at once, and no election held to supply his place; but, in the absence of such correction, the usual course was taken, and his vacancy filled. As I had authority at any rate to order discharges in such cases, and as the new incumbent was legally, and in due form, elected, I do not consider that I have any right to displace him. I have advised Colonel Morgan, however, that if any arrangement can be made within the regiment to meet the wishes of Captain Kinton, without detriment to the service or the rights of others, it will receive my sanction. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. TAYLOR, The ADJUTANT GENERAL No. 27. HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF OCCUPATION, SIR: I have the gratification to enclose several documents this day received by express from Chihuahua. Although the original of Colonel Doniphan's report, detailing the decisive victory achieved by the gallantry of our troops at the Sacramento, and the subsequent occupation of Chihuahua, may reach your office before this despatch, I deem it best to enclose it, to meet the case of failure. on the other route. The copy of Colonel Doniphan's letter to Brigadier General Wool, of March 20, with inform you of the state of his command and the embarrassment he feels in his position. As Chihuahua can, at any rate, be occupied but a very short time by Colonel Doniphan's force, which is moreover suffering for want of pay and many supplies, I shall order it at once to join General Wool at Saltillo, where its wants can be supplied, and from which point, at the proper time, it can readily march to Brazos and embark for New Orleans for discharge. It will thus be saved many hundred miles of marching. I am induced to believe that his column is already on its march from Chihuahua. The traders will have their election to remain in Chihuahua, or come under protection of the column to Saltillo. The term of service of the 1st Kentucky regiment will expire on the 17th of May, a month earlier than that of most of the volunteer regiments. I have commenced moving it towards the Brazos, that it may embark in time to be mustered out in New Orleans at the end of its service. Of the new volunteer regiments, the North Carolina, or a portion of it, has arrived at Matamoras. But three companies have reported from Texas. We have nothing of an authentic character from the interior of Mexico since General Santa Anna's proclamation of March 14, forwarded on the 28th ultimo. It is rumored that General Urrea, whose head-quarters are about Linares, has been reinforced, but it wants confirmation. By means of the new companies from Texas, I hope soon to be better advised of his position and movements. Our reconnoissances are pushed as far as Encarnacion, on the San Luis route. Everything is quiet in that quarter. The last two arrivals have brought nothing official from the United States. Our last date from your office is February 16, though we have news from Washington down to the adjournment of Con gress. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. TAYLOR, Major General U. S. A., commanding. The ADJUTANT GENERAL |