HEAD-QUARTERS, 2d DIVISION, ARMY OF OCCUPATION, Matamoras, Mexico, December 8, 1846. SIR: On the 22d of November I had the honor to inform you that I had been apprized of the capture of Tampico, and of the measures adopted by me for occupying and holding that place, and that I intended to go there by sea and assume the command. * I regret to say that the general commanding the army in Mexico has disapproved of my proceedings. Herewith I send copies of the letter of disapproval, and of my answer. I am ordered to move by land from this point, and am using every exertion to obtain means of transportation, and will leave here as soon as those means can be obtained. I hope to march in eight or ten days, but as transportation has not been provided for me, or officers of the quartermaster's department assigned to me in time to procure a sufficient amount, I do not consider myself responsible in any degree for delay caused by want of it. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. W. L. MARCY, R. PATTERSON, Major General U. S. A., commanding. Secretary of War, Washington, D. C. HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF OCCUPATION, Camp near Monterey, November 28, 1846. SIR: Your communication of the 24th inst. has just been received and laid before the commanding general, who directs me to express his entire disapproval of your orders respecting the Illinois regiments of foot and the Tennessee horse. He now directs that the movement of these corps towards Tampico, in the manner suggested, be at once suspended, and then carried out only in the mode prescribed by him in previous instructions. It is considered by the general that 1,000 men, of which say one-half regular troops, are more than sufficient to defend Tampico; and it is not his purpose to divert a larger force to that object. The battalion under Colonel Gates, or Lieutenant Colonel Belton, together with one regiment of volunteer infantry, as directed in the instructions by Major McCall, are intended to compose the garrison of that place, and may even be reduced if circumstances require. The Alabama regiment having already started, will not be recalled, although a different arrangement was proposed. The Tennessee horse and the Illinois brigade will now march from Matamoras, the former regiment being immediately recalled to that point until it can march supported by a column of infantry. This march will be under your own orders, and the general desires to be informed when it will commence, that he may regulate his own march accordingly. I am directed further to say that the general disapproves of your order directing Captain Hunter to proceed to New Orleans. No officer in the field, except the general himself, has any right to or der an officer out of the country; and the general sees nothing in the case to justify a departure from regulations and usage. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Major General R. PATTERSON, W. W. S. BLISS, Assistant Adjutant General. Commanding 2d division, Camargo, Mexico. A true copy: SETH WILLIAMS, 2d Lieut. 1st Artillery, A. D. C. HEAD-QUARTERS, 2D DIVISION, ARMY OF OCCUPATION, U. S. steamer Corvette, December 3, 1846. MAJOR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 28th of November. In accordance with the orders of the commanding general, I have suspended the embarkation of the Illinois foot until I have received the instructions which you say were sent by Major McCall, who I hope will soon join me, I desire to say that I have given no orders to the Tennessee regiment of horse, except for its improvement in police and discipline. In my letter of the 24th of November I informed you that I should order the regiment of Tennessee horse to proceed as directed in your letter of the 5th of the same month. I am therefore somewhat at a loss to understand why the commanding general should in this case direct you to express to me "his entire disapproval" of my proposing to do precisely what I had been ordered by him to do. Although I think I had a clear right to order "Captain Hunter, 2d dragoons, to proceed to New Orleans and bring out the horses and equipments for companies H and K of that regiment, so that the men may be at once mounted, and prepared for the field," and that there has been no departure from the regulations of the army, yet as the commanding general disapproves of this step, and as Captain Hunter is now on the boat with me, I will order him back to Camargo. As I have been very anxious that all my proceedings in Mexico should merit and receive the approbation of the general commanding, I cannot but regret that any act of mine should meet with his disapprobation. I have also to acknowledge the receipt of extract from special orders No. 179, the original of which was sent direct to Colonel Baker, although he was under my immediate command, and stationed at the same place. I have to remark that I neither sent up nor approved any application of Colonel Baker to go to Washington; that his correspondence with head-quarters was direct, and did not pass through the usual channel. Colonel Baker's regiment will now march with only one field officer, the major. I venture to request that hereafter all correspondence with officers under my command be passed through the usual channel. This is a courtesy due me, and I shall expect it. On my arrival at Matamoras I will ascertain the means of trans portation, and inform you when the column under my command will move. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Major W. W. S. BLISS, R. PATTERSON, Major General U. S. A., commanding. Ass't Adj. Gen., Head-quarters A. O., Monterey, Mexico. [No. 123.] HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF OCCUPATION, Camp near Monterey, December 22, 1846. SIR: Agreeably to the plan announced in my despatch, No. 122, I left this place on the 15th instant for Victoria, having previously put in motion the troops destined for that point. At Montemorelos a junction was effected, on the 17th, with the 2d infantry and 2d regiment of Tennessee foot from Camargo, and it was intended with the whole force, say 3,500 men, to march on the 19th for Victoria. But the very evening of my arrival at Montemorelos a despatch arrived from General Worth, commanding at Saltillo, with the intelligence that Santa Anna designed to take advantage of the diversion of force towards Victoria, and by a rapid movement to strike a heavy blow at Saltillo; and, if successful, then at General Wool's force at Parras. Under these circumstances, and with no means of judging how far this information might be well founded, I deemed it proper to return to this point with the regular force, and thus be in position to reinforce Saltillo, if necessary. The volunteers under Brigadier General Quitman, reinforced by a field battery, were ordered to continue their march, and effect a junction with General Patterson, at Victoria, while I returned hither with General Twiggs's division, now increased by the 2d infantry. In the mean time Major General Butler and Brigadier General Wool, being advised by General Worth of a probable attack upon his position, moved rapidly to join him with all the available force at Parras and Monterey, while orders were despatched by Major General Butler to hasten up troops from the rear. The latter general proceeded in person to Saltillo and assumed the command, agreeably to instructions which I had given before my departure to meet a case like the present. I had proceeded beyond this point, on my way to Saltillo, when I was met on the 20th by a despatch from the front, announcing the early arrival of General Wool's column, and also that the expected concentration and movement of the Mexican troops upon that position had not taken place; indeed, that their advanced posts. had rather been withdrawn. Deeming the force now and soon to be at Saltillo quite sufficient to repel any demonstration at this season from San Luis Potosi, I have not thought it worth while to throw forward General Twiggs's division to that place; and, after resting it to-day, I shall to-morrow put it again in march for Vic-. toria, moving forward myself to that point. Major General Patterson is supposed to be now well on his march from Matamoras to Victoria, where his division, except the Alabama regiment, (in garrison at Tampico,) will be brought together. With a force holding in observation the passes from Tula, the garrison at Tampico may be much reduced, with advantage to the service. I shall withdraw from that place, at once, the mounted riflemen and recruits that have been sent there. I respectfully enclose a letter received yesterday from General Santa Anna, in reply to my communication of December 4, a copy of which has been forwarded. My last official date from Washington is November 10. Z. TAYLOR, Major General U. S. A., commanding. The ADJUTANT GENERAL SOR GENERAL: La communicacion de V. S. de 4 del corriente é impreso que á ella accompaña, me ha impuesto que el gobierno de los Estados Unidos ha mandado poner en libertad al General Diaz de la Vega y a los oficiales Mexicanos que lo accompañaban, que dando asi verificado el tange de los prisioneros del bergantin Truxton, pactado entre el commandante general de Vera Cruz y el Comodoro Connor. De este acontecimiento dare cuenta a mi gobierno para su debido conocimiento. Asi mismo le participaré le dispuesto por V. S. para la libertad de los Mexicanos que se hallan detenidos cerca de Matamoras; y en nombred e la republica le doy las mas espresivas gracias, por ese zay go de humanidad y cortesia que hasta cierte punto atemia las desgracias conseguientes al estado de guerra. El honor de ofrecer a V. S. mi aprecio y atenta consideracion. Cuartel general de San Luis Potosi, Diciembre 17 de 1846. ANT. LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA. Señor General Z. TAYLOR, Mayor General commandante del Ejercito de los Estados Unidos, Monterey. [Translation.] GENERAL: The communication of your excellency, of the 4th instant, and the enclosed printed sheet, inform me that the government of the United States have ordered the release of General Dias de la Vega, and of the Mexican officers who accompanied him, thus carrying into effect an exchange for the prisoners of the brig Truxton, as agreed upon between the commanding general of Vera Cruz and Commodore Connor. I shall give notice of this event to my government. I shall also make known to it the measures your excellency has taken for the liberation of the Mexicans who were detained near Matamoras; and in the name of the republic I give you most sincere thanks for this trait of humanity and generosity, which, to a certain extent, alleviates the distresses consequent on a state of war. I have the honor to offer to your excellency my esteem and high consideration. Head-quarters, San Luis Potosi, December 17, 1846. General Z. TAYLOR, ANTO. LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA. Major General, commanding the army of the United States. [No. 124.] HEAD QUARTERS, ARMY OF OCCUPATION, SIR: I have the honor to report that I reached this place yesterday, and shall to-morrow resume my march towards Victoria. I have despatched a topographical officer, with a squadron of cavalry, to reconnoitre a pass through the mountains from this point to Labradores, and thence to Linares. General Twiggs's division came up this morning, and encamps three miles in advance. It will also march to-morrow. It is understood that Major General Patterson was to march on the 21st from Matamoras, having been delayed at that point by unavoidable causes. He will probably join me near Victoria. I learned yesterday that the Mexican Congress had elected Santa Anna president, and Gomez Farias vice president, of the republic, and have heard from several quarters that that body is favorably disposed towards negotiation. I hope, at Victoria, to obtain more precise intelligence as to the state of things in the interior. I have to acknowledge your letter to Captain Turpin, (v. s.,) of November 25; copy of your letters to Major Johnson and Lieutenant Bell, (v. s.,) of November 11; "general orders" No. 50, and "special orders" Nos. 108 and 111. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Major General U. S. A., commanding. The ADJUTANT GENERAL [No. 125.] HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF OCCUPATION, SIR: Your communication of November 30, with enclosures, relative to the occupation of Tampico, has been received. |