Chapter V: Letter 4: Victory of Monterey.—The prospects of peace

SEPTEMBER, 1846.

SIR: Another glorious victory has been achieved by our gallant
army! I begin to think that there is scarcely any thing
impossible for such men, with such leaders as Taylor and Worth.
The incidents of the taking of Monterey would afford materials
not merely for a chapter, but a volume.

Surely Mexico will now embrace our offer of peace. The inability
of the Mexicans to cope with us is now placed beyond a doubt. We
have beaten them in the field two to one, they attacking us; and
we have taken one of their strongest cities in spite of
fortifications and barricades, and superior numbers. The
magnanimity and generosity of the conquerors surely must have
some effect on them, unless they are absolutely mad.

The distance of our army from Saltillo is about eighty miles,
the way lying through mountain gorges and narrow defiles capable
of complete defence in the hands of a brave and determined
people. It seems there is something wanting in these people,
which puzzles me. It must be, either want of skill and courage
in the officers, or a want of patriotism and bravery in the
soldiery and inhabitants.

Saltillo may be regarded as the pass of the Sierra Madre, rather
than Monterey; because, from Saltillo there is a road to
Presidio on the Rio Grande, and thence to San Antonio of Texas.
There should be another division, or rather army, to take this
road, and form a junction with General Taylor at Saltillo.
Perhaps, that under General Wool, instead of proceeding to
Chewawa, may take that course.[2] The range of mountains called
the Sierra Madre, forms an impenetrable barrier between the
States west of the Rio Grande and the other Mexican States.
There are said to be but three passes: the first, from Tampico,
by following the Panuco river from the head of its navigation,
but affording only a mule track; the second, that of Saltillo;
and the third, by the Rio Conchas to Chewawa. The distance from
Saltillo to Tampico, is not less than six hundred miles; and
after ascending the mountains to the table land, there is
nothing but a dreary desert for at least three hundred miles.
This, at once suggests the difficulty of the march to Mexico;
and, also, the difficulty on the part of Mexico of sending
armies to recover the country between the mountains and the Rio
Grande. If the war should continue, which I hope may not be the
case, these, and other passes (for I have no doubt there are
others) should be seized and fortified, instead of making the
Rio Grande the line of defence; establishing fifty assailable
points, instead of three, for an enemy’s concentrated force to
strike wherever that enemy may choose. If conquest be intended,
or result from the war, this line of defence along the Sierra
Madre would be absolutely necessary to the planting States, as
slavery could not be maintained with the Rio Grande as the
boundary. In my opinion, the only real advantage which will be
gained by this extension of our territory, will be the
navigation of the Rio Grande, which will open a trade with the
Internal Provinces capable of vast extension. Few southern
planters would run the risk of taking their slaves west of the
Rio Grande, even with the Sierra Madre as the boundary. They
would, of course, migrate in single families, and their negroes
could escape, if they thought proper, as fast as they came. I
have no doubt, many of them would remain of choice, with their
owners; but they would be insecure as property, and that would
discourage the importation. The navigation of the Rio Grande is
capable of great improvement, and it is ascertained that there
is an abundance of coal on its banks. These banks will, some
day, be crowded with towns and cities, and their fertile soil
will support as large a population as the Nile.

Footnote 2:

General Wool marched from Paras to Saltillo.

There are but two roads by which the city of Mexico can be
approached by our invading armies. The first is, from Saltillo,
through the populous States of Zacatecas, Guadalajara,
Guanahwato, San Louis, and Queretaro, containing near four
millions. Now, is it probable, that these States will offer no
resistance to the long march of General Taylor at the head of a
handful of men? I do not doubt, but that in the open field, at
the head of ten thousand men, he would beat three times that
number; but the heavy loss sustained at Monterey must satisfy us
that such victories will be dearly bought. It cannot be said
that the Mexican soldiers have not fought, and on some
occasions, have not fought well, and they may learn to fight
better. But let us consider again, what an immense commissariat
must accompany an army on such a march, to afford the necessary
supplies. Those who are urging the march of General Taylor on
Mexico, are, perhaps, not as well acquainted as he is with what
is necessary for such an undertaking. The second road is from
Vera Cruz, the distance of three hundred miles, through a
thickly settled country, but with numerous defiles, and where
there must be fighting at every step. Vera Cruz may be taken,
and will be taken, and then the Castle will fall. Here will be a
depot to supply the invading army as it shall advance, step by
step; and is it likely we can land an invading army of
sufficient strength to crush the forces of the Republic under
Santa Anna? If the Mexicans make but an indifferent use of the
means in their power, it would seem to me impossible for us to
reach their capital! The province of Mexico alone, not as large
as one of our counties, contains a million and a half of people.
If they are like our countrymen, I should say it would be
impossible for an invading army of thirty thousand men to
penetrate three hundred miles through a country so well
fortified by nature. We must expect to fight our way through
fifty thousand men at least, which Santa Anna could bring into
the field. The country is now united against us, under his sway,
by every consideration of hatred and religious feeling, if not
of patriotism. I consider it madness to undertake such a march
with twenty thousand men, regulars and volunteers, however
chivalrous they may be, if Santa Anna should throw himself
between Vera Cruz and Mexico, with the army he has been
collecting and training, with so much industry at San Louis
Potosi.

We may hold the other side of the Rio Grande; and as soon as our
people crowd into it, and bear some proportion to the population
already there, it may be regarded as conquered. As to
California, it is already ours, and we must soon be complete
masters of it, for it will be occupied by our people. The Texan
side of the Rio Grande will be ours in consequence of the towns,
garrisons, and settlements which will be rapidly established
there. We may take Tampico, and hold it; and we may also take
Vera Cruz, and retain it until Mexico comes to terms; and it
seems to me impossible that she will not do this in order to
regain her only seaport, while we, at the same time, cut off all
her foreign trade! Nothing but the most stupid, blind, and
ignorant obstinacy would prevent her from treating with us under
such circumstances. I approve the taking California, and New
Mexico, for the purpose of holding them under sequestration,
until Mexico shall be willing to make peace on just and
reasonable terms. Since the armistice, on the surrender of
Monterey, two months must elapse before any further steps can be
taken by General Taylor. He was in no condition to advance
further than Saltillo; at any rate; and, perhaps, without
completing his conquests of the country east of him, towards the
gulf, it would have been unwise to have moved beyond Monterey.
He had important preparations to make, of a very different
character from those of his forced march on that city. And,
besides, he entertained hopes, as we all did, that during the
breathing spell, some means might be found to put an end to the
war. In the capitulation of Monterey, he has shown himself as
humane as he is brave.

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