Sketches of the campaign in northern Mexico : in eighteen hundred forty-six and seven / by an officer of the First Regiment of Ohio volunteers.

210 TAYLORIS VINDICATION.
and completely exposed to our shells from two directions.
The explosion of this mass of powder, which must have
ultimately resulted from a continuance of the bombardment,
would have been infinitely disastrous, involving the destruction not only of the AMexican troops, but of non-combatants,
and even our own people, had we pressed the attack.
In regard to the temporary cessation of hostilities, the fact
that we are not at this moment, within eleven days of the termination of the period fixed by the convention, prepared to
move forward in force, is a sufficient explanation of the military reasons which dictated this suspension of arms. It paralyzed the enemy during a period when, from the want of
necessary means, we could nlot possibly move. I desire distinctly to state, and to call the attention of the authorities to
the fact, that with all diligence in breaking mules and setting up wagons, the first wagons in addition to our original
trains from Corpus Christi, (and but 125 in number,) reached
my head-quarters on the same day with the Secretary's communication of October 13th, viz: the 2cd inst. At the date
of the surrender of lonterey our force had not more than
ten days' rations, and even now, with all our endeavors, we
have not more than twenty-five. The task of fighting and
beating the enemy is among the least difficult that we encounter; the great question of supplies necessarily controls all
the operations in a country like this. At the date of the
convention I could not, of course, have forseen that the
department would direct an important detachment from my
command without consulting me, or without waiting the
result of the main operation under my orders.