"You will cause this communication to be published to the troops under your command. "I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, By order of Major General Taylor. W. L. MARCY, Secretary of War." W. W. S. BLISS, Assistant Adjutant General. ORDERS,. HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF OCCUPATION, The commanding general has the satisfaction of announcing to the troops of his command, another decisive victory, achieved by the American forces under Major General Scott, on the 18th of April, at Cerro Gordo, in the State of Vera Cruz. The Mexican army, under the immediate orders of General Santa Anna, President of the republic, is known to have been entirely routed, with the loss of all its artillery and munitions of war. The army of occupation will hail with joy this brilliant success of the American army. By order of Major General Taylor. W. W. S. BLISS, Assistant Adjutant General. No. 37. HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF OCCUPATION, Camp near Monterey, May 9, 1847. SIR: The time for the discharge of the twelve months' volunteers is now drawing so near that I am under the necessity, without waiting for further instructions from the department, of taking measures for their muster and discharge. Orders have already been given for the three Kentucky regiments, and the 1st Mississippi regiment, to proceed to the mouth of the river for embarcation to New Orleans. I have chosen New Orleans as the place of discharge and payment, for three reasons; first, it is more economical to the government to discharge the volunteers at that point than in the field; secondly, it is much more convenient to pay them there, and thirdly, it is very doubtful whether a sufficient amount of funds wil be this side of New Orleans, for their final payment in this country. These reasons seem conclusive to me, and unless otherwise instructed, I shall despatch the remaining twelve months' volunteers in like man, ner to New Orleans for discharge and payment. Colonel Churchill will be ordered to New Orleans to muster out the volunteers, and as his duties will be extremely arduous, I have to request that one or more competent officers will be detailed to assist him. I am this day advised, for the first time, that by a decision of the Secretary of War, the original enrolments and musters, made by State officers, are to govern in settling the accounts, and consequently in fixing the term of service of the twelve months' volunteers. This renders it still more urgent to take immediate measures for their final muster and discharge. A very small number, if any, of the twelve months' volunteers serving on this line, will be willing to accept service for the war. It is just probable that a few detached companies may be found, but even that I think quite doubtful. 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. 38. HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF OCCUPATION, Camp near Monterey, May 9, 1847. SIR In anticipation of the discharge of the 12 months' volunteers, orders have already been given to put several of the regiments in motion for the mouth of the Rio Grande. Others must soon follow, and all the foot regiments here and in front of Saltillo, will, in a very short time, be on their way to the United States. To replace the infantry volunteer force at Saltillo and Buena Vista, now seven regiments, I shall employ three of the volunteer regiments for the war, viz: Virginia, North Carolina, and 2nd Mississippi. In the present aspect of affairs, I consider that force sufficient to hold Saltillo, at any rate, until it shall be determined whether a forward movement will be made from that point. I shall divide the Massachusetts regiment between Monterey and Cerralvo, placing the head-quarters and six companies in the former city. Major Chevallie's battalion of mounted men, as yet but three companies, will be employed where most needed, and will, perhaps, ultimately be sent forward to relieve the Arkansas horse. To enable me to make the above arrangement, and thus continue to hold Saltillo, I am obliged to draw from Brigadier General Cadwalader two of the regiments of his command, posting one at Matamoras and one at Camargo. I am unwilling to bring forward any of those regiments from the Rio Grande, until I shall learn the wishes of the department in regard to operations here, and the amount of that force, if any, that will be placed under my orders. The condition of the country between Saltillo and San Luis Potosi, in regard to water and grass, forbids any forward movement at this time, even had we the proper force. Authentic information of the battle of Cerro Gordo reached my head-quarters yesterday, in the official report of General Canalizo. There is nothing else of interest from the interior. I have to acknowledge the communication of the Secretary of War of April 3rd, which has been duly published in orders; your letter of the same date; copies of your letters to Brigadier General Cadwalader, of March 27th; to Colonel Davenport, of March 24th; to Lieutenant Colonel Talcott, of March 26th; and Assistant Surgeon Dorris, of March 25th; recruiting circular, of March 24th; "general orders," Nos. 12 to 15 inclusive, and "special orders," Nos. 3 and 10. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Z. TAYLOR, Major General U. S. Army, commanding. The ADJUTANT GENERAL, No. 39. HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF OCCUPATION, Camp near Monterey, May 15, 1847. SIR: "Orders," No. 51, sent by this mail, will advise you of the final arrangements for discharging the 12 months' volunteers, serving on this line. It embraces all the force under my orders for that term of service, except a company of Texas foot volunteers at Buena Vista, a company of Texas mounted volunteers, stationed at Larredo, and Colonel Doniphan's command, now at hand. Colonel Churchill is now here, and will leave to-morrow for New Orleans, to enter upon the duty of discharging the regiments, now under orders, from this line. The staff officers appointed by the President, and now attached to those regiments, have been directed to report from New Orleans to the chiefs of their departments in Washington, and at the suggestion of Colonel Churchill, I have to request that such instructions may be forwarded under cover to him in that city. The advance of Colonel Doniphan's column was at Parras, on the 11th instant, and the entire command will soon be at Saltillo. Orders will, in due time, be given for its muster and discharge in New Orleans. I have no advices from General Scott later than the 24th of April, nor do I learn anything worthy of report from the interior. 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. 40. HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF OCCUPATION, Camp near Monterey, May 16, 1847. SIR: I have respectfully to acknowledge your communications of April 8th, 9th, and 17th; copies of your letters to Major General Scott, of April 15th; to Brigadier General Cadwalader, of April 18th; and to Colonel Stanton, of April 15th; and "general orders," Nos. 16 and 17. In reply to your communication of April 9th, relative to Major Caldwell, of the voltigeurs, I have to report that the major left this place, the 14th of March, under instructions from Colonel Whiting, chief of the quartermaster's department, to purchase horses in the United States. His address is not known. 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. [Confidential.] WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, April 17, 1847. SIR: I herewith transmit to you for your information the copy of a confidential letter to Major General Scott. Should there be a suspension of hostilities under the circumstances contemplated, it will doubtless be general and embrace your command. In relation to holding your position, &c., you will regard the instructions to him as alike applicable to yourself. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. L. MARCY. Major General TAYLOR. HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF OCCUPATION, Camp near Monterey, May 16, 1847.. SIR: I respectfully acknowledge the receipt, on the 14th instant, of your confidential communication of April 17th, covering a copy of the instructions to Major General Scott, dated April 14th. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. W. L. MARCY, Z. TAYLOR, Major General U. S. A., com'g. Secretary of War, Washington, D. C. No. 41. HEAD QUARTERS, ARMY OF OCCUPATION, SIR: I respectfully transmit, herewith, a translation of a letter, received on the 18th instant, from General Mora y Villamil, commanding at San Luis Potosi, and a copy of my reply. Anxious, as I have always been, to avoid unpleasant relations with the Mexican authorities, yet the extraordinary character of the communication in question has seemed to demand at my hands a summary treatment, which will, I trust, receive the approval of the department. I have on former occasions alluded to depredations and outrages committed by the troops of this column. With every disposition to prevent their occurrence, and the employment of every means in my power to that end, the undisciplined character of a large portion of the force has led to the commission of many petty depredations and occasional acts of violence towards the Mexicans. With scarcely an exception, and with none in the latter class of offences, these have been confined to the volunteer troops. The irregularities, however, were only occasional, and very limited in extent, until the 10th of February, when a party from the regiment of Arkansas cavalry, exasperated by the murder of one of their regiment, left their camp at Agua Nueva, and attacked a number of unarmed Mexicans at Catana, two or three miles distant, killing and wounding several persons, without regard to age or sex. The most diligent means were employed, without effect, to discover the authors of this outrage. I will forward, by another mail, the proceedings of a military commission and other papers relating to this subject. On the 24th of February, one of our trains, as already reported, was attacked between Ramos and Marin, and a great number of the drivers inhumanly murdered. On the 28th of March, a party composed, as I have reason to believe, of Texas rangers, teamsters and other persons, not soldiers, left a train near the above place, and in a village, some eight miles distant, put to death twenty-four men. Yet I could not, by possibility, ascertain what individuals were concerned in this atrocious massacre. The Mexicans, who were present, were invited to come forward and identify the delinquents, but failed to make their appearance, being, doubtless, afraid that they might incur a similar fate. It has been my intention to report the above affairs to the department, but the hope still of detecting the actors in the latter has hitherto prevented me. I deem this a proper occasion to refer to them as the most prominent instances which have occurred, and which are therefore mentioned in the letter of General Villamil. While no one can regret their occurrence more than I do, yet I have not to reproach myself with the omission of any precaution to prevent them. Without a sufficient regular force even to guard our magazines and depots, I have found it entirely impossible to |