Page:A series of intercepted letters in Mexico.djvu/21

 to lean upon, that support, I suppose, will now be the Yankees. Be this as it may, I will soon ascertain and tell you. I will not occupy myself in giving you a minute description of how the action was brought on, and how lost, nor will I give you a formal opinion of the motives of the parties; however, I will tell you what I hear from rational and well informed people. Gen. Valencia, the rival of Santa Anna, wished the glory of defeating the enemy, but he needed assistance, which should have been sent him. Well, the battle once commenced, whether right or wrong, Santa Anna looked upon the rout of Valencia as a cold spectator, sending him no assistance, after which every thing was disorder and rout on our part. You can make such commentaries as you please, but bear in mind, in order to make no mistake, that our army was composed of twenty-four or twenty-five thousand men, and that of the enemy of only twelve thousand men, and that after the actions of the 19th and 20th, our forces do not amount to over eleven thousand men, all of whom are frightened to death. Among the misfortunes which have befallen us. we have in the hands of the enemy many hundreds of prisoners, including the battalions of Independence and Bravo, the loss of Perdrigan, Blanco and Frotnera and other generals, and a great many killed. The ex-President Anaya and many others are prisoners, all of our artillery lost, and our regular troops dispersed or cut to pieces.

My friend, in all our misfortunes I do not particularly note, as some people will have it, that there has been any treason or any secret understanding, but I must say that there is great weakness and ignorance, and very little honor shown on the part of our generals-in-chief. We must only look to God for the salvation of our country. I am pleased that you intend to enter into relationship with the ministers and with his Excellency the President, but I must recommend that you be very respectful in your letters, that you touch their pride without adulation. The minister of T. says he will answer your note. No one knew of the intentions Valencia had, but after his rout it was said that had he gained the victory, he would have overpowered Santa Anna and made himself Dictator, for which purpose he had already named his ministers, and had promised the rank of general to several of his friends. Others say that Valencia was in league with the enemy, but this, to speak the truth, I cannot and shall never believe. However, the man, (Valencia,) who has been ordered to be shot by Santa Anna, has escaped through the State of Mexico, which government has received him well, which I do not understand.