Page:A series of intercepted letters in Mexico.djvu/55

 [—The same writer writes the next day, the 21st, and corrects the report in regard to De Castro, and adds:]

The battalions of HidagloHidalgo [sic] and Victoria would have fought had they not been ordered to retire by Santa Anna, and in spite of the order many of them did fight in the defences (works.) * * * *

By this mail you are called to Congress, ordered to convene by Santa Anna, who has listened to the commissioners from the United States, on the subject of peace, in virtue of the constitutional powers which he has. When Santa Anna returned to the capital this afternoon at 4 o'clock, he said that it was in virtue of an armistice of 30 hours, to gather his wounded; but the truth is, he has already made a peace with Scott, for so the interpreter said to a friend of mine, and your friend N. infers from the despatch of Santa Anna to Congress. I nevertheless send you the letter I wrote yesterday.

Scott has very much praised the valor of the Mexicans, and he told A. that he had the best intentions towards us. Come, then, and assist in celebrating the funeral of our country. A revolution may yet take place in favor of Valencia, caused by the peace. The public mind is exceedingly excited, and for this reason it, perhaps would not be prudent for you to bring your family.

Aug. 21, 1847.

* * As soon as the Americans had united the other side of the Penon, they took the road by Chalco to San Augustin Tlalpam, but the most difficult to pass was the stony ground, there being no wagon road through it, and it was declared to be impassible. But each man of eight or ten thousand Americans, who had to pass that way, took a bag of dirt on his shoulders, so that on the way, with eight or ten thousand bags of dirt, they went on making the road, so that they all passed, without detention, to Tlalpam to take Tacubaya, by the way of the hills of San Angel. The Mexican forces that were in the Penon came and fortified themselves in San Antonio and Churubusco, below San Angel, while about seven or eight thousand veterans of cavalry and infantry, with thirty pieces of cannon, under Valencia, took post beyond San Angel. General Santa Anna was on the point below with the National Guard, so that, by this plan, we had the Americans in San Augustin, the Mexicans forming their line between them and the city. But now for the fight. On Thursday the 19th, the Americans marched with the intention to pass above San Angel, general Valencia marched to encounter them, and sustained the action from 4 till night closed in. The firing was severe; it could be clearly seen from the roof of the house. At night the Americans marched up a