Page:A series of intercepted letters in Mexico.djvu/25

. Gen. Valencia lost his entire battery, which, is now of the hand.5 of the enemy, consisting of twenty-two cannon in large calibre.

In consequence of this affair, there is a want of confidence in all parts, many saying that it was a deliberate surrender; but, according to my opinion, the fault lies in the want of foresight and precaution in our principal officers, who rely too much for success upon numbers, while the enemy neither sleep nor know fear in war.

We have lost Churubusco and more than five thousand men between killed and wounded, without having been able to think how to make the slightest advance—on the contrary all has been lost. To-day the lines (referring to the garitas) have been reinforced, and the next action will be decisive, placing this capital in the hands of the Yankees, or it will cease to exist.

Aug. 21, 1847.

To R. C. C.—On Thursday the firing commenced against Valencia's division, and continued until 5 when the victory appeared to be on our side, &c., (then follows the reverse.)

This can only be a curse of Heaven, otherwise it would not have been possible for the enemy to have given us such a severe blow.

My Dear Pepita:—After the immense misfortunes which have befallen us, and the thousand fatigues and risks I have gone through, the hand of providence has saved me, and I reached the capital last evening. Pedro is well, and I have the pleasure of commending him to you. A. J. is well, and saved himself. I cannot now write you any more. And it appears there is an armistice of 48 hours, at the end of which I do not know what will occur. I will notify you.

20th Aug., 1847.

My Dear Chulela:—Wishing to relieve you of the fear and anguish so natural on account of the misfortunes that have beset us, I wrote to you and concealed the truth, but now that the danger is all over, I will speak the truth, and say that we have been completely routed, losing all of our fortifications in less than six hours. We have only a small portion of our troops left, which will leave the city to-morrow. All personal danger is now at an end, and nothing disturbs us but the sense of our calamities. The spectacle to-day has been