battle had been won more than one hour before General Pierce's brigade, or any other supports, reached the ground; that I had been nearly that length of time engaged in collecting the wounded and dead; that Pierce's brigade did not approach El Molino to replace Garland and to occupy that captured work, until two hours after its arrival; that it was not, in the sense used, "interposed between Garland's brigade and the retreating enemy," that enemy having retreated three hours before. It was only placed there, when the time arrived, under the oft repeated orders of the general-in-chief, to return my command to Tacubaya. On a future day, and under more auspicious circumstances, I shall deem it due to my late command and to myself, to bring to notice other matters in the several reports, from that of Cerro Gordo to the occupation of this city. Meantime, I have the honor to solicit that this communication be forwarded to the department of War. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, To Captain H. L. SCOTT, W. J. WORTH, Brevet Major General. A. A. A. General, Head-quarters, Mexico. Respectfully forwarded. [Endorsement.] I might animadvert justly and severely upon the tone of the within, and upon several of its assertions; but will, under the circumstances, say that I committed an error in saying, in my report, that the gate of San Cosme was not passed by Worth's division in the evening of the 13th of September. That gate was the second battery carried by the division, and I gave the division credit for having passed two. JANUARY, 1848. WINFIELD SCOTT. [Forwarded by Major General Scott, January 14, 1848.] HEAD-QUARTERS, SECOND REGIMENT OHIO INFANTRY, January 8, 1848. SIR: I have the honor to report that, on the 4th of this month, a merchant train, under the charge of Captain Chase, was robbed of some twenty-six mules and a number of horses, within a few miles of this post, and between here and the city. I was at the time absent, and did not arrive here until the evening of the 5th. I was then told that the mules had been seen taking the road to Mira Floris, distant some six leagues from here. I despatched Major Link that night with a command, consisting of cavalry and infantry, for that place. The command, upon arriving at the first hacienda from here, lying at the foot of the mountain, and called, I believe, Cordova, were induced to search a large house there upon seeing the lights blown out on their arrival. Upon knocking at the doors, admittance was refused them, and they were obliged to force their way in. Some time was necessarily occupied in this, and, by the time they had forced the door and entered, they found no one in the house but the owners thereof and a French gentleman and lady. In one room, however, they found a number of saddles, bridles, blankets, spread upon the floor, and decks of cards, all indicating that the room had been occupied and hastily abandoned. They learned from the French gentleman referred to, that the guerrillas, some fifteen or sixteen in number, had made their escape by the back way whilst they were forcing their way in front. Their horses all fell into the hands of the command; two of them were horses that had been stolen from officers at this post. From thence the major proceeded on to Mira Floris, and learned that the mules had passed there, but could not ascertain to what point they had been taken. Upon the advice of a Scotchman, whom he found there, the major, from Mira Floris, proceeded to a town named Arnica, distant about three leagues. In this place he found some eighty or a hundred guerrillas. He immediately charged into the town with his horse, and soon put them to flight. Some four or five of the guerrillas were killed, and the commander of them, José de la Yera, was wounded and taken prisoner. Three of his men were also taken, all of whom I now have as prisoners. At Halmanalco the major learned that the mules had been taken to a place called Tenango. His horses and men were, however, too much worn down to proceed any farther, and he was obliged to return. The command of Major Link numbered in all sixty men. He was accompanied by the following officers: Captain J. E. Smith, and Lieutenants Mitchell, Van Metre, Ross, Thrift, and O'Sullivan, of the infantry, and Captain Littell and Lieutenant Buck, of cavalry. I would represent that, at this point, I am too far distant from the towns the guerrillas occupy to be of as much service as I could wish, in breaking up their bands. There are no towns in the immediate vicinity of this post, and the people are of a miserable class, too poor to own either a horse or a gun. All the robberies are committed near here by bands coming from towns, either on one side or the other of the mountains, and not by persons living near here. The following towns in the neighborhood of Mira Floris are all filled with bands that infest the road: Halmanalco, Arnica, Tenango, Ozumba, Chalca, and Laralista. With my force in the vicinity of these towns, I think they would be afraid to commit a robbery, or if they did commit one, they might easily be pursued and overtaken. On the other side of the mountain, towards Puebla, and near San Martien, lie the small villages of Santa Maria, San Raphael, San Salvador, and Verdad, from whence small parties sometimes issue for the purpose of robbery. A small force at San Martein would overawe these, and the road would then, in my opinion, be perfectly open between Mexico and Puebla. I have four companies at Puebla, if the general thinks it advisable, that might be stationed at San Martien. I make these suggestions, upon such information as I have been able to procure, and, if the general thinks it advisable to carry them out, I will be responsible for every robbery between these points. There is another consideration why I would urge upon the general the abandonment of this as a post, and that is its unhealthiness. Since I have been here, in one month I have lost thirteen men. The men are but poorly clad, have but one blanket, and in consequence of the great and sudden changes of temperature, are constantly suffering from bad catarrhs. This last consideration makes me anxious to have the post changed, but at the same time, I would not urge it, did I not feel that I would be of equal if not greater service elsewhere. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. L. SCOTT, A. A. A. General. WM. IRWIN, Colonel 2d Reg., Ohio infantry. Endorsed "Forwarded respectfully. Perhaps extracts may be advantageously published to the credit of Major Link and his officers. JANUARY 14, 1848. No. 44. WINFIELD SCOTT, HEAD-QUARTERS OF THE ARMY, SIR Since my last report, (January 13,) I have received from the War Office letters dated November 8 and 17, and December 14. My orders No. 362, 376, and 395, of the last year, and 15 of the present, (heretofore forwarded,) will exhibit the system of finance have established for the parts occupied by this army. It will be seen that the export duties on coins, and the prohibition of the export of bars, varies materially from your instructions of November 17, acknowledged above. I hope, for the reasons suggested in my report, No. 40, (December 17,) the President may be induced to adopt my views in respect to the precious metals. I am without reports from commanders of departments below, on the progress made in collecting the direct assessments under my orders and circulars. The ayuntamiento, (city council,) of the capital has charged itself with the payment, on account of the federal district of $400,000, of the $668,332 per year, imposed on the State of Mexico, and arrangements are in progress to meet that engagement. Two months are now due. Brigadier General Cadwalader, at Toluca, hopes soon to begin to collect, through the ayuntamiento of that city, a large part of the remainder of the monthly assessments, and I have sent Colonel Clarke, with a small brigade, to Cueruavaca, (some 43 miles south, on the Acapulco road,) to complete the same collection. The war of masses having ended with the capture of this city, the war of detail, including the occupation of the country, and the collection of revenue, requires a large additional force, as I suggested in my despatch, No. 34. I see that I am, at Washington, supposed to have at my command more than 30,000 men. Including the forces at Tampico, Vera Cruz, on the line thence and in this neighborhood, our total does not exceed 24,816. Deducting the indispensable garrisons and the sick, I have not left a disposable force, for distant expeditions, of more than 4,500, and I do not hear of the approach of any considerable re-inforcement. Seven thousand men I deem the mimimum number necessary to open the important line from Durango, through Zacatecas and San Luis, to Tampico. Premising that I find it impossible to obtain from the volunteers, at a distance, regular returns, I send an approximate estimate of all the forces under my immediate orders. The numbers, among the volunteers, afflicted with the measles and mumps, in this vicinity, continue to be very great, and the erysipelas is common among all the corps. I write in haste, by the express who carries the projcet of a treaty that Mr. Trist has, at the moment, signed with Mexican commissioners. If accepted, I hope to receive as early as practicable, instructions respecting the evacuation of this country; the disposition to be made of waggons, teams, cavalry, and artillery horses; the points, in the United States to which I shall direct the troops respectively, &c., &c. (I have not yet read the treaty, except in small part.) In the same contingency, if not earlier recalled, (and I understand my recall has been demanded by two of my juniors!) I hope to receive instructions to allow me to return to the United States, as soon as I may deem the public service will permit, charging some other general officer with completing the evacuation, which ought, if practicable, to be finished before the return of the vomito, say early in May. In about forty days I may receive an acknowledgment of this report. By that time, if the treaty be not accepted, I hope to be sufficiently reinforced to open the commercial line between Zacatecas and Tampico. The occupation of Queretaro, Guanajuato, and Guadalajura, would be the next in importance, and some of the ports of the Pacific, the third. Meanwhile the collection of internal dues, on the precious metals, and the direct assessments, shall be continued. I inclose a letter from Commodore Shubrick, and have the honor to remain, sir, with high respect, your most obedient servant, WINFIELD SCOTT. Hon. SECRETARY OF WAR. {No. 74.] UNITED STATES SHIP INDEPENDENCE, SIR: A gentleman crossing the country to the United States, affords me an opportunity to give you, in brief, the situation of the squadron, and the substance of late despatches sent round to Panama. The state of affairs still keeps me here with this ship and the Congress. We have quiet and undisputed possession of the town of Mazatlan, though General Télles is in the neighborhood with a force of regulars and rancheros amounting to some six or eight hundred, and General Yañez is at Tepic with a thousand regulars. I have a garrison on shore well posted and intrenched, and feel able to beat off any force that can probably be brought against The custom house is in operation, with a prospect of collecting a fair revenue. I have been obliged to assume the responsibility of making some modifications in the tariff established by the President, to accommodate it better to the trade on this coast. They have been made cautiously; the nature of, and reasons for them, are detailed in a despatch sent by the "Portsmouth," and will, I hope, be approved: us. Since mine of the 4th instant, No. 69, I have received reports from Commander Montgomery, at San José, and Commander Du Pont, at La Paz; at the former place measures were in progress to make the post secure, and Lieutenant Heywood is relieved from the immediate pressure upon him. Commander Du Pont says, under date of 10th instant: "I have not been here long enough to form a correct opinion of affairs in Lower California, but comparing what I hear from San José, with Colonel Burton's best information, the country is in a state of complete insurrection; and but for the death of Mejares, killed at San José, things here would have been much more serious." Colonel Burton writes, same date: "On the 27th ultimo, we were attacked again by Pineda, with a force of about 400 men, many of them Indians. The attack was commenced at 3 p. m., and ended at 8 p. m.; the enemy suffered very much. I cannot learn the loss. The firing was much more severe than in the first attack; the enemy had a 4-pounder; the next day we took a flag from them. The enemy's loss in this last affair, was five killed and several badly wounded. This affair in Lower California is not to be ended in a day; more than 600 people are in arns against us, and they are not to be so much despised as has been thought. Although the Cyane' and Southampton are in the harbor, the enemy are hovering near, and I should not be surprised if we were attacked at any moment; indeed I expect it." 6 The squadron here will be tasked to the utmost to hold the Guaymas, and this place, and keep our flag flying in Lower California. I have written repeatedly to General Scott and to Governor Mason, requesting that troops may be sent to both places, but have not yet heard from either. By the last of May the ships must leave this harbor; as the squadron is at present, it cannot spare men enough to leave a sufficient garrison; if not reinforced, we must |