Page:A series of intercepted letters in Mexico.djvu/22

 Should there be a Dictatorship or not, you must be very vigilant and take care of our interests, that is to say, should our territory not be benefited, that we shall not lose. I have heard it announced that the States of Jalisco, Guanajuato and Zacatecas, &c., wish to make a separate republic, but I do not know what to think Colino, on which account it would be necessary for them to think us instruments (tools) to be cheated, others say that those States who are against the army will annex themselves, together with other States of the North to the United States of America.

[Here follows much miscellaneous and private matter.]

[—The first sheet of the original of this letter was lost.]

* * * Scott, a man of superior talents in the art of war, as it appears, considering the position of VelenciaValencia [sic] very advantageous, established a small portion of his troops in a ravine very near our batteries, from whence he could use his muskets to advantage, without injury from us, he, Scott, having no artillery. Afterwards he sent a column with three light pieces of Artillery to take a position on the heights on the right of Valencia's camp, and another body of troops on the left of Valencia in order to flank this general. At about 6 o'clock in the morning [of the 20th of August] he obtained his object, having troops concealed on both flanks of Valencia, and a very few in front with a number of wagons, to call the attention of Valencia that way.

The column which, on the previous afternoon had taken position on the right of Valencia, Scott ordered should get into the rear during the night, and the body of troops that were in front of Valencia the same afternoon were divided, one part of which took the right of Valencia, and in the meantime he had sent reinforcements to the body stationed on the left, obliging his soldiers to cross a river half body (up to the waist) deep. In this manner Valencia, during the night, was entirely cut off, and at 6 o'clock the next morning he was attacked at the same time in the front, in the rear and on both flanks. The engagement lasted about two hours, the result of which was, that all our artillery was lost, with the entire train, ammunition and all; a great many killed and wounded, and those who were not made prisoners were entirely dispersed. On the afternoon of the day previous, Valencia, seeing that he was in danger of being flanked, asked assistance of Santa Anna, who ordered him to retire immediately, but he, Valencia, did not retire, probably because he considered victory possible. Valencia did not send for reinforcements once, but