Page:A series of intercepted letters in Mexico.djvu/11

 for the purpose; but the actual defeat and almost annihilation of Valencia's division, so often referred to in the following letters, was accomplished, as stated, in seventeen minutes instead of two hours, as stated in several of the letters.

These letters also furnish ample evidence that the Mexican army was most abundantly supplied with munitions of war of all kinds, especially with ammunition in all its forms of prepationpreparation [sic]; most of which is now in the hands of the Americans.

One of the chief points of value in the evidence furnished by these letters, has been superceded by the events of the 12th, 13th and 14th of September: we refer to the fact that the American Army, by the victories of the 20th of August. . had entirely defeated the Mexican army, and could have entered the capital, had it been the pleasure of the general, on the evening of that day: a fact which no one can now dispute, since the Mexicans were unable to prevent the occupation of the capital by the Americans, after having bad from the 20tl: of August to the 12th of September, to recuperate and recover from the blow inflicted on the first of these dates—over twenty days—during which time the fragments of the Mexican army were brought together and reorganized into a force of about twenty thousand men, having been reduced to about eight thousand, as the letters testify. The fortifications had also been immensely increased between the 20th of August and 12th of September, on the side of the city threatened by the Americans; and at the same time enabled the Mexicans to withdraw all their artillery from the Penon and other points not in danger, and dispose it on the southern and south-western side of the city, where they knew the attack was to be made. All this did not avail. The American army effected a lodgment in the city, at two points, on the evening oi the 13th of September; and on the 14th, entered the grand plaza, the headquarters of the army being established in the National Palace,—over which waved the star-spangled banner—what remained of the Mexican army on the evening of the 13th, having been withdrawn during the night. At that time the effective American force was less than eight thousand men.

A few words on the subject of the armistice may not be amiss. It is very generally believed that before the army left Puebla. intercourse of some kind, looking towards a peace, had been partially established between the Americans and Mexicans, but it was said that the Mexican authorities were restrained by public opinion, which was unable to conceive it was possible that the immense preparations in Mexico could fail in securing the city; but as the object of General Scott,