49
self and compromised me"—which remark having come to the ears of Pacheco, he resigned. Some say it was a pre-concerted affair. I will now give you my old man, my opinion of all this: Valencia wished to be the hero, but he had not the elements to make himself so; Santa Anna wished to destroy him, and, by not sending him reinforcements day before yesterday, he has lost the nation. Keep this to yourself. Valencia received positive orders not to engage in fight, but, notwithstanding those orders, and the order to spike his artillery and retire if necessary, he remained, and replied that he considered himself strong enough to beat the enemy; and that his army from the north (it was from San Luis Potosi) could not be overcome, much less would it retreat before the enemy. From all I have said you will judge the future destiny of our unhappy country.JUAN.
Mexico, Aug. 21, 1847.
My Dear * * *: It is now four o'clock in the afternoon, and an armistice has been concluded between the government and the enemy for forty-eight hours, and I will avail myself of the dilligence in that time to join you. Twenty-five others have applied for seats, but the diligence is full. I was very anxious to get a seat as * * *.
It is not true that Bravo is either dead or a prisoner, as I have, to-day, seen him in the city. * * *.
Our dead have been but few, but we have been most shamefully routed. I suppose you have heard many alarming stories, but calm yourself, as there is no further danger; but we have been lost by means of a handful of adventurers of the worst kind. * * *
The battalion of Victoria has not fought. They say they will fight, but will only obey the orders of their Colonel, as their general ran away.
Mexico, Aug. 20th, 1847.
All is lost, all. My presentiments never have deceived me—and when I have been deceived it is when I have reasoned with those who reason, and last night it was reasonable to confide, and I endeavored to confide, to belive and to persuade myself, although the instinct of presentiment would arise and say just what has occurred. You will already have heard of it when you receive this, but perhaps you would wish me to repeat it, although at this moment a sort of delirium has taken posession of my faculties, and, in truth, I do not know what to say to you; but what I can, I will say, be it
