(1639] [SANTA ANNA to FILISOLA]
Army of Operations Most Excellent Senor:
I am advised by your Excellency's official letter of the 21st of this month of all the small incidents which, in it, you relate; and answering the first one, I wish to advise you that I have already ordered General Martin Perfecto de Cos to march with all the men whom he can muster under his command, to the city of Monclova, where he will replace the things which he needs, to which end your Excellency will give him all things in your power. I am ordering General Joaquin Ramirez y Sesma to march immediately with his division, as I had arranged beforehand, to the villa of Guerrero, formerly known as Presidio de Rio Grande. Your Excellency must see that both movements are executed without fail or delay. You need not have any worry about Port l\fatamoros, since General Francisco Vidal Fernandez has already marched there with a sizeable division. The scarcity of supplies at those places make the march of both divisions to the city of Monclova and the villa of Guerrero more necessary, for it is impossible for all that force to remain together in Laredo as it would perish. I shall see to it that those troops both in .Monclova and in the villa of Guerrero, have what is necessary; in the meantime your Excellency can make use of 30,000 pesos which are being brought to you by Colonel Ricardo Dromundo for your disposition. No force whatsoever shall detach itself from the two divisions to go to any point, without an express order from me, and the entire force will maintain itself on the defensive in the designated places assigned. The army's line of operation must be considered by your Excellency, from the villa of Guerrero through Monclova, up to Leona Vicario, where general headquarters will be reestablished on the 5th of next month when I shall arrive at that place. Until I arrive, your Excellency can fix your residence in the city of Monclova, as a point opposite the line of operations, and from there give the necessary orders in any extraordinary occurrence. I
353
Powered by FlippingBook