cessation of the armistice stipulated in the convention of Monterey; and, impressed with the remarks you make in opposition to the opinion which perhaps might be entertained against the good faith of the government of the United States, for having commenced hostilities before the termination of the eight weeks, I have the honor to say to you that I submit to the judgment you have formed upon this matter. I thank you for the honorable notice you take of my proceedings in relation to the American prisoners who were at these head-quarters, and I expect from you in like cases similar conduct. In this understanding, I have to state that the commissioned officers and crew of the brig Truxton, wrecked on the bar of Tuspan, were made prisoners of war by Mexican troops, and, at the request of Commodore Connor, were placed at absolute liberty, with the condition of being exchanged for General Dias de la Vega and the three Mexican officers who accompany him, which was accepted by the government of the United States, as made known by the commodore himself to the commanding general at Vera Cruz, under date of the 7th of October last. But as up to the 24th of the same month General Dias de la Vega was still at New Orleans, in the same condition in which he was placed by the result of the battle of the 9th of May, I find myself under the necessity of claiming from you a compliance with the agreement between the Mexican government and that of the United States, in respect to the exchange of all the prisoners of the Truxton for General Vega and the three officers mentioned, in the hope that you will make to your government the necessary communication, that said agreement may be carried into effect, as required by honor and the faith pledged. I will conclude this note by assuring you that I also entertain a hope that the sovereign national congress about to assemble will determine upon what may be best for the interests of the republic; but I believe that I am not mistaken when I assure you that neither congress nor any Mexican can ever listen to any proposition for peace until the national territory shall have been evacuated by the forces of the United States, and the hostile attitude of their ships of war shall have ceased. This, without doubt, must be preliminary to any negotiation that may be opened; and allow me further to say to you that this nation, moved by sentiments of patriotism, and determined to defend her territory at every hazard, inch by inch, will never cease to qualify as it deserves, and as the civilized world has already done, the conduct of the United States, and will do all it can and ought to do to deserve worthily the title it holds to independence and freedom. I have the honor to assure you of my high consideration. God and liberty! Head-quarters, San Luis Potosi, November 24, 1846. ANTONIO LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA. Major General Z. TAYLOR, General-in-chief of the United States Army.. No. 2. HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF OCCUPATION, Camp near Monterey, December 4, 1846. SENOR GENERAL: I have had the honor to receive your communication of November 24, in which you allude to the case of General Dias de la Vega, and request that the United States government may be reminded of the agreement to exchange him, and the officers who shared his fate, for the commander, officers and crew of the brig Truxton. I regret that I am not officially advised of the action of my government in relation to General Vega, and that therefore I am not able to assure you with certainty in regard to the exchange in question. But I cannot doubt that whatever may have been promised has been strictly performed; indeed, it is stated in the New Orleans journals of the 10th of November that General Vega had been exchanged, and would soon leave for Mexico. I shail, nevertheless, address the United States government on this subject, as you request. I beg leave to assure you that I shall not fail on all proper occasions to reciprocate your kindness in releasing the American prisoners lately at San Luis Potosi, and that orders will accordingly be given for liberating a small number of Mexican prisoners who were captured in May last, and are yet in depôt near Matamoras. They will be transported to Vera Cruz and delivered to the commandant general of that place. I have the honor to be, with high respect, sir, your obedient ser vant, Z. TAYLOR, Major General U. S. A., commanding. Señor General D. ANTONIO LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA, [No. 126.] HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF OCCUPATION, SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt, on the 24th instant, while in route, of the instructions from your office, dated November 18, relative to the muster of the regiment of volunteer horse called out from the State of Texas; also of the copy of instructions of the mustering officer. In compliance with those instructions, Colonel Croghan, inspector general United States army, has this day been ordered to proceed to Austin, or the rendezvous of the new regiment, and report to the governor of Texas for the duty of mustering it. I have associated Surgeon Finley with Colonel Croghan on this duty, and, in view of the state of his health, have permitted him, after its completion, to repair to the city of Washington. 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. WAR DEPARTMENT, Adjt. General's Office, Washington, February 6, 1847. SIR: In compliance with your instructions, and the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 1st instant, calling for "all correspondence with General Taylor since the commencement of hostilities with Mexico," &c., I respectfully lay before you the accompanying papers, arranged in separate series from A to G, inclusive, which contain all the information relative to the subject of inquiry, afforded by the records of the offices of the general-in-chief and adjutant general of the army, viz: Series A.-Containing copies of all the letters addressed by Major General Scott, commanding the army, to Major General Taylor, since April 24, 1846, when hostilities com menced. Series B.-Containing copies of all letters, except those of mere detail, addressed to Major General Taylor from the office of the Adjutant General of the army. Series C.-Containing a synopsis of every letter from the Adjutant General's office to Major General Taylor, not copied at length in series B. Series D.-Containing copies of all the "orders" of any particular interest issued by Major General Taylor. Series E.-Containing a synopsis of every order issued by Major General Taylor, not copied, at length in series D. Series F.-Containing copies of all the important "special orders" issued by Major General Taylor. Series G.-Containing a synopsis of every special order issued by Major General Taylor, not copied at length in series F. The above embraces all the correspondence with General Taylor during the time specified in the resolution of the House, except the general's own letters to the Adjutant General, all of which are now in possession of the War Department, whence it is understood copies will be furnished. The 24th of April, 1846, is fixed upon as the commencement of hostilities, it being the day on which General Arista, commanding the Mexican army at Matamoras, announced to General Taylor that he considered hostilities as having commenced. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, R. JONES, Adjutant General. Hon. W. L. MARCY, Secretary of War. A. HEAD-QUARTERS, OF THE ARMY, SIR: We have no report from you later than the 26th ult., and but little through unofficial sources so late as the morning of the 29th. Of course, notwithstanding our high confidence in you and your little army, we are anxious to hear further from you. All the success that may be expected, under the circumstances, is confidently relied upon. Congress having recognised the existence of war between the United States and the republic of Mexico, and having authorized the acceptance of 50,000 volunteers, the War Department has already called upon several States for quotas of twelve-month volunteers-making a total of about 20,000, say, one-fourth horse, to march upon Mexico from different points upon the Rio Grande. Of course, at this early moment, and at this distance from the scene of intended operations, no definite plan of campaign has been laid down. Being destined to the chief command of the augmented forces, I shall delay as much as possible of that plan until I can profit by your better knowledge of the enemy's country, when it is my hope to have the benefit of your valuable services, according to your brevet rank, and with the column that may the most agreeable to you. be We have multiplied our force on the general recruiting service, and hope in two or three months to bring up the privates of companies to 70 or 80-at least in the regiments with you. I fear that we shall not be able to put on the Rio Grande, with our utmost efforts, more than 10 or 15,000 volunteers by the 1st of September-the best period, we learn here, for the commencement of operations beyond, with the view to a conquest of a peace. What you may have done since the 26th ult., or what you may be able to accomplish before September, with your limited means, . towards that general end, (an honorable peace,) cannot now be assumed. We may hope that with the small reinforcements you have by this time received, you have forced back the Mexicans to the right bank of the Rio Grande, and perhaps may have taken Matamoras; or possibly, by the greatly superior army of the enemy, you may now be placed strictly on the defensive. By this note it is not intended to embarrass you with new instructions, but to give you information as to expectations or intentions entertained hereleaving you under the instructions you have already received, and to your own good judgment, zeal, and intelligence. I do not now expect to reach the Rio Grande much ahead of the heavy reinforcements alluded to above, or to assume the immediate command in that quarter before my arrival. With great respect, I remain, sir, your most obedient servant, WINFIELD SCOTT. To Brevet Brigadier General TAYLOR, Commanding, &c., &c. HEAD-QUARTERS OF THE ARMY, SIR: Your letter of the 24th ultimo, addressed to the Adjutant General, has been laid, by the Secretary of War, before the President. We are all gratified at the disposition you have made of the Mexican general's effects, captured in the battles of the 8th and 9th, which you considered to be strictly his private property. Perhaps the pavilion (though not probable) and the pieces of plate you mention may also be considered as parts of his personal effects. If so, they may be disposed of in like manner. In no case will it be necessary to send the pavilion here. If public property, and suitable to your purposes, no better use of it can be made than at your head-quarters in the field. On the same supposition, the President directs that the plate be deposited in some safe place, subject to further orders. The captured colors and standards may be sent here, to be preserved as national trophies. All other public property captured by the gallant army under your command, which may be adapted to its current use, will be turned over for that purpose to the appropriate officers of the general staff, under your orders. Any pieces of artillery or ordnance, not so adapted, may also be shipped to this place, to be deposited in the Washington arsenal as national trophies. I remain, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant, Brevet Major General Z. TAYLOR, WINFIELD SCOTT. U. S. Army, commanding, &c. HEAD-QUARTERS OF THE ARMY, SIR: I have the honor, by direction of the general-in-chief, to transmit herewith a copy of Notes on Mexico, furnished him by Colonel A. Butler, an officer of the war of 1812-'14, and for some years minister of the United States in that republic. In furnishing these notes, I am desired by the general-in-chief to say that they are communicated simply as aids, perhaps, to further inquiry, and without any intention of changing his general instructions to you of the 12th inst. I have the honor to be, with great respect, your obedient servant, Brevet Major General Z. TAYLOR, U. S. Army, commanding, &c. |