E 412 .G14 Copy 1 "'''^SS^ 011897 176 tt Conservation Resources LIg-Fiei® Type 1 CIRCULAR OF MAJOR JOHN P. GAINES, OF KENTUCKY, n TO HIS COIVSTITtJEI^^TS OF THE TENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. Friends and Fellow-Citizens : Having been elected (o the honor- able station of Representaiive to Congress, by yom" vohiiitfuv Uijd uo'^oli- cited suffiages, whilst a prisoner in Mexico — for which evidence of confi- dence and friendship I avail myself of this opporninity to puiiliclv thank you — I take the liberty of trespassing on your patience in a miiier person- al to myself, but in which I desiie to be placed in the right position before you, lest inferences, prejudicial to my honor, might be drawn in relaii )n lo my escape from thence. In a letter of Capt. C. M. Clay's, pnhlished in the Louisville Courier, of Jidy Sth, in vindication of himself from certain charges of S'>me nf the Encarnacion prisoners, my name has incidentally been brought JMto the discussion, which has induced me lo appear jjefore you now, inin'ous crimination and recrimination, I shall scrupulously absfaiu from any impu- tation whatever in relation to others. Neither do I intend to be drawn into the discussion between these gentleujen, directly or indirectly, but simply submit a succinct account of my own actions and mo;ives, tiusting- they will meet your cordial approval. Some time after our arrival as prisoners of war in the city of Mevico, we received the official reports of Generals 'I'aylorand Sania Anna, in re- lation to the battle of Buena Vista, in which our release or exchange was proposed and acceded to by Santa Amia, in these words: " In answer lo the courtesy the enemy's General had shown with respect lo our woirn*!- ed, I consented^ ill the name of the nation^ to release all the prisoners we had — those taken both in the bnlile, and at Encarnacion.^'' We, therefore, anxiously expected the order for our releassj; but after waiting- Towers, printer, opposite National lntelUgenc«r. Sdrricieiidy long in the vain hope thai Gen. Sanfa Anna would do that which lie never before l:ud done, keep his ])lighited faith, I demanded an audience, and coniiniied to do so for weeks and months, but coukl not o!)iai!i one, being denied an introduction, but was told "I might go wiih- ou!,'' which 1 declined, as the honor of my country, as well as my own^ f()il)id my going as a mendicant, to beg that which was perfidiously with- lield, even the precious boon of liberty. I therefore resigned myself to the disappointment, trusting that the day of our deliverance was not very dis- tant, for already the anxious countenances and active preparations for de- fence but tco plainly indicated t!)at the echo of the thunder and liie flash of the artillery of that band of heroes under General Scott, would soon reach the capital ; and, determined to await the result of circumstances, relying on my own resources to eflect my release, provided the opportuni- ty should occur in the meantime — for between perpetual imprisonment and death there was no choice, and unless released, either by the vicloiious arms of General Scott, or my mvti, perpetual imprisonment appeared inevi- table. Whilst in this state of suspense and imceitainty, as to the future, and from the ignominious perfidy, dishonor, and utter disregard of all civ- ilized courtesy, not knowing but the next inoment might consign mo to the mines^ or, \vhn{ was worse, one of their beastly prisons, if the fiend who commanded should, with his characteristic infamy, conceive it, I was tmexpecily called upon to report myself before Gen. Lombardini, on the Jst August, 1847. Accordingly, I obeyed the order, accompanied by an English gentleman, of high character, and conversant with the Spanish language, as interpreter and witness, through whom I communicated, al- though Col. Almonte, the Mexican interpreter, was present on the part of ihe Government, and was himself a perfect English scholar. When there, I vv^as told to be ready to start for Toluca the next morning, against which order 1 remonstrated, and demanded our release, and denied their tight to retain us, having been exchanged, as I proved by producing the reports of Gbuerals Taylor and Sania Anna to their respective Governments; to which demand Gen. Lombardini, with the accustomed Mexican duplicity and bad faith, replied, that ^^ ihe exchange was informal.'''' I then imme- diately resolved to resign or withdraw my parole, and rely on myself lor liberation, which I did, stating that " I withdrew my parole," as will be seen by the unanimous testimony of all present. And I furthermore stated that " 1 would not go to Toluca, unless forcibly taken there," firmly re- solved to risk my life rather than submit myself any longer to their faith- less promises. Not being able to obtain any satisfaction from Lombardini, I again demanded to see Santa Anna, and was referred to the Secretary of War, on whom we called, and of whom I again demanded our release, perfidiously withheld, and to whom 1 repeated what I had previously sta- ted to Gen. Lombardini, that "I withdrew my parole, and would not go to Toluca unless forcibly taken there." We were then paid off, I, with others, receiving mine, which I was en- titled and had a right to, and which was necessaiy for my daily wants, be- ing without other funds, except such as we procured from friends, and not knowing at the time but that I might be forcibly sent to Toluca, or impris- oned bc^fore I coidd effect my escape, or get futids elsewhere. After the withdrawal of my parole and the receipt of the order " to pre- pare to stait for Toluca the following morning," I repaired to the residence of my friend, Mr. Smith, (whose hospitable man?inn T hnd been invited to consider as my hotne,) and, whilst at dinner, was snipiised by ihe ap- pearance of a Colonel in the Mexican army, who brono;bi a letier to Mrs. Smiifi, from her husband, in Puehla, who, with all otlier Air)ericaiis, had been ordered out of thecapitol, and also one for me fiom General Worth. This Colonel I fonnd to be a daring, bold, and conrageons highwayman by profession, and quite wealthy, which gave him considerable considera- tion and infli.ieuce, who, besides owning large possessions in oiher parts of Mexico, had an extensive establishment in the city, where he employed gre it numbers of men and women, and where the fruits of his robberies were deposited and disposed of. Afier delivering his letters, he remarked that " he had been told by Mr. Smith that he had h lends in Mexico who might detire to come to Pueblo; if so, he cunid conduct them." J imme- diately seized the opportunity and entered in'o a treaty with him. It be- ing Sunday, no passport could be obtained tliat da_v, and notwiihstanding I used every inducement, by laige offers of money, to leave immediately, without, as I was in constant dread of insiatit arrest, he resisted all my importunities, declaring that the aliempt would cost u? buth our lives. I therefoie paited with him, with the nndersi.uiding that he was to meet ma at 10 o'clock that evening, at the rocm of , near the stage office, cu place of retreat provided for me. Pic appeared, according to agreement, and Major Borland and Capt. DiUiley were present — a meeting which will probably never be forgotten or erased from our tnemories, as it was to settle questions of high moment, involving urn- lives or our liberties. At length, he contracted, for the sum of S2U0 eacli, to conduct us to Puebla, but only one at a lime. It was agreed that he should start with me the following evening, (Monday, August 2d,) at 7 o'clock. We then paried, and what a separation ? I to ratlke the experiment of passitig through the Mexican army, from the city of Mexico to the advanced posts near Puebla, a dis- tance of upward of eighty miles, and through thirty odd thousand soldiers, scattered along the whole distance. Yet, hazardous and hopeless as it al- most appeared, it but nerved me the more, for before me was liberty, and the path to honor and glory, whilst behind me was inglorious captivity. I retired to bed that night, but so anxiously solicitous for my departure that sleep fled, and with early dawn I reinoved to the house of Mr. , whose kit)d and hospitable lady furnished lue food and concealment until my dep.irture. I had two intimate and confidential friends near Almonte, who attended at the stage office to witness the departure for Toluca of our officers who had given their parole, and who reported to me all the facts coimected therewith, and the remarks of Col. Almonte, in conse- quence of my non-attendance at the stage office, "that he v.'ould do me the justice to say, I was not on parole, but that he knev,' my whereabouts, and he would send me on the following morning," which threat lie at- tempted to enforce by repaiiing to tlic house of Mrs. Smith, (where I had been living,) with a strong guard, and commenced a search through the building in a most ungentlemanly and imofncerlike manner, highly insult- ing to the lady, whom he accused of prevaricating, notwithstanding her posi- tive assurances of ignorance as to the place of my concealment. And here allow me to digress a moment, and pay a passing tribute to (he wo'th and excellence of these two most estimable ladies, who have since been gciihered to the harvest by death's releniless scythe, hut whose kindness and ntteniion to me whilst umJer their hot^pitable roofs, will ever remiuii as a fresii and verdant, spring in thai oasis of niy captivity, the lerolieciion of which calls np in nty memory feelino^s of the deepest giaiitiule, wfiich nouffhi lout death can efface, ajid fo. which and their many other ac s of goodness and charity, we are hound to believe tliey have received the lewaid promised by Him who spoke as never man spoke, when he declar- ed, " Blessed are the merciful, for tiiey shall obtain mercy. Biessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Colonel Aln.onte haviiig failed in discovering my retreat, gave up the search, and I passed the day, through the kindness of friends, in preparing for my escape, fivery tiling being prepared, horses and equipments, and disguised as a Guerilla, I repaired to the place of rendezvous, and found mv^seJf in associatioi] widi a lazy band of robbers, both men and women, in ihe emp'oyment of n)y grnide — in whose countenances were depicted every vile and treai-herous thouglu ilie himian Aice was capable of express- ing — u band cemented by no tie of hmnaniiy, but for robbery and murder if {hereby it br(»uglit any gain, and whose accoutrements were in perfect kee])ing with their professinn. To my very great regret, the Ooicnel con- sidered it too haz irdons to pass out on the main road, although he had Santa Anna's passport ft)r iiimself and three others, of whom I was one, and he insisted on remaining another day, in order to ascertain if we might DOi he able to avoid the l*eiion, a.nd other sirongly guarded places, occupi- ed Ity the Mexican tioops, by passir)^: over dykes and thiough swan)ps — lo this t most rehictanily yielded, and widi a heavy heart returned to my place of concealment. The following evening, i'uesday, Angnsl od, I again repaired to the place of meeting, and found all things ready, the main road havuig been dolermined at last to be the best, and at 9 o'clock in the eveiting 1 took my leave of ilie renowned city of the Aziec's, that city famed in historvj wheie I had sojourtred, as a prisoner of war for more than five raonMis, a part of that tiu)e in utter disregard otail comity, humanity, and righi^ aid usitgcs of war, as well as plighted faith, confined in the fiUhv prison of ih;:; tJasiIe Scmiaijo, and the residue of the time on my pa- role kn the cily. 1 shall not attempt, to describe my feelings when at the gate tl)e sririll hail of the sentinel drew from my conductor the equally shrill response '^ M-^xica no RepubUco.^'' After a brief inspection of our company, in which my foot was taken hold of, and an inspection of the pf»i4spon which corresponded witii our company, all was declared to be right, and we passed the gate. A! the celebrated Penon, wb.ere several lbo«s9.nd Mexican soldiers were stationed, the same ceremonies were ob- served, with the s.nne results, and thus after seven challenges, we foimd ourselves, about 3 o'cl:)ck in the morning, the moon having risen, iti the immediate vicinity of the villaofe of Coi^ova, the last settlement in the valley of Mexico, before reaching the mountains. Here we diverged from ike tnain road to pass into the mountains, btit tlje Colonel's horse was, Eao:?l unfortunately, taken sick and died. Finding a secure position, I was left in charge of one of the men, whilst the Coloisel and the other went (o Cwrdova, about a mile dis'ant, to procure another horse — instructing the ro&ft left in chaige of me, (as I afterwaids learned,) (oretnain till fie return- ed,. At daylight, the most beautiful scene imaginable, and beyond descrip- tion, presenied ilsolf (o my view, and \v!>ic!i I Imd ampin lime to enjoy whilst w-tiiing for my guide. Wc were on the lop of the liioiint.iiii which overlooivs ihe valley of Mexico, below, as ilioiigh under oin- very feet, were the henn'il-.il viiliigcs of Cliaico, iVIaiie, Plores. and numerons otiieis wlijch c!.;-;ied iIjl^ scene, and Popociitapeil re.uing his Inmry peidc? into the hlne ciiieiiai vanli of heaven, seemed to near you ronid almost loneh it, ahhougfi not less distant than thiriy miles. After waiting some liioe, !<)y guide seemed dieconceried at the Colonel nor returning, and in ul'.ev ignormce of the instrnciions given, I could noi accotmtfor his evident uneasinto^ ; after wailing, however, until toward nine o'clock, we circled nnrnd the mountain and leachfd the main road on (iiis side of Coidova, and parsed on quieily uiui! we reached Rio Frio, a vijlugc al^out half way heiween iMexico nnd Pei.ibia, I objected to passing throrgh (he village, whicli, from the eleva- tion we v/ere on, I di"scovt;red was filled with people, and insisted on climb- ing she mountains aiul passing round, which we rlid ; bm jnsi as we entered tlie road again we were met by a comprmy of Lmcers, abuut fifty strong, whioat once arrested and searched me, but found nothi-ig suspicious about my person. The man who was with me, all the time pio^cstrng that 1 w;is under the protection of Cclonel , who was well known by the otS- cers, bui who appeared to discredit every thing he said, Tiie iiotrois of continued captiviiy or insiatii neaih n<)W stated n'e la th.e face, and whilst reflecting \\o\\' to act, who should present himself but ihe Colonel, at whose anpruacfi the whole cmnpany look off their hats, and saluted him. Words are inadequate lo expiess my delight and joy at the arri\al of this personage, who after a very few words with ihs Captain, directed me to mount my horse, which, with great aliiciity, i obeyed. We again sat out, buL after ridinof half a mile halted, when the Colonel gave his man a \ery severe castig.ition for disobeying his instruc- tions given in the mountains — he havitig l)een told to lemain with me at that place until his return. At this I was not a liitle plea.scd, for my lifo was near paying tile forfeit, although I ilmughl him a little too severe. I was then thrected to dismount and get upon a le.! horse he had with him, ao he had (for want of money) given my .horse (which was a very fine one) to the Captain to get me released. To this I of couise assented, the horse was iheretbre sent back by the man. 'I he Colonel and myself then pro- ceeded on alone, and whi'ti we stopped m r. bcuutitVl pine grove lo rest. I asked what would have been my fate if 1 had been discovered, lie replied, " ihev v.ould have tied your hands lound a tree and shot v>U in tlie back.'* Truly 1 felt grateful for having ebcaped such a death. We then pi.rsued our way and ariived safely a» the picket guard at Puebia, about 7 oVI'x-k P. M., Auiiusi 4ih. Never did my mother lon.mie crreet the ear so harmo- niously as'^did the honest hai! of our gmird when lie cried, " Who comes there?" I>eing ad.'iiitied I immediately repaired to heiicl-quarrers, and re- ].ortcd myself to Gen. Scott for duly, who received me -.x i'h great kindness, and after liearing my story, appoiu'ed me to the honoriihle position of aid- de-ciunp to liiinseif for the march on M xicc;, ihen nix m to take place. Aficr my interview with Gen. Scoo, I waited on my old friend Gen. W-.-.th, rnnler whom I h;id .se!ved at S:utdlo, who also received me wiih greai kindness, and with whou) I was domiciled durimr itiv short suiy in Puebla. Alter the events of the expedition, np to ihe 24(h of August, and the fifjhting had ceased, and it wns oelieved thnt peace would soon be con- cluded. I uddresstid a note lo Gen. Soti, (herevviiii subjoined,) askina: a Court of Inqu ry on my conduct, in order that the facis connected with my niiliiaiy acts slioidvi be placed in their proper liiill coinjty, I iia'l no allusion fo youiself. In my published speech at Richmond, yon will see that 1 expressltj cotnpli- moiled you. In my speech in caucus at Frankfort, when I spoke of yoiiy I reiterated ihe same sentiments. In my defence of niyseh', I had no iu- tentioii of censuring you. I confess that, having occupied similar posi- tions, and a divergent course of uciion having ensued, as you say, ihe pra;?e of one, is, of necessity, the blanie of the oilier, and this is what I was try- ing to av('id. Garrett Davis liad termed the imprisonn5ent '■ dishonorable'^ and seemed to cure its eflbcts so far as you were concerned, by the faci of escape, I said I had ample opportunities of escape b)'- breaking my parclo of honor — that the expedition to Tolucahad been regarded by all as emi- nently threatening to the lives of the prisoners, that having once laid down •my arms, I intended to abide the viU of my conquerors., even pieferrin'j: u> risk ahnost certain death to breach of parole, destruction of ib.e guard, oi secret escape. You know shai I, at ail times, during our imprisotiment, advocaied similju" sentiments in opposition to some others of ihe prisoners, who talked of breaking guard, Porhaps my views of this su'ujectare ulira, beyond wliat the laws of nations require. i3ut regarding the spaiing ot" life in war, as not demanded by the law of nature, i think t'no generositi/ of the ccnqueror should never be abuszd. I trust that this couree of rea- soning and defence, and it is such as I used at Frankfort, wil! not be c«in- strued into an attack on any one. You are, no doubt, able, at least iii your own view, and ilmt of a great majority of mankind, to defend yourself, certainly I shall not stand in the altitude of accuser. Before your escape you no doubt in good i^xih.^ surrendered your parole^ d.\\\\ believed that you were acting hoiiorably in all respects, I appreciate your sentiments oi patriotism, at the same time justice compels me to say that I could not have availed myself of your means of escape ; because the Mexicans, by ■not placing a guard over you, confided in your remaining. They after- wards complained that you all had violated your word of honor. But, if 1 could not avail myself of escape of any kind, much less could i avail rnyseli' of a doubtful surrender of parole. RclC assured that I have no disposition to bring tliese useless discussions before the public. I have, as fur as possible, studiously avoided the "taiement of any posiiion v.-hicfi woidd v/ound the feelings of any of my fellow prisoners, and sludl oon- tiniic to pursue the same policy, I'rustirg that you will rest saiisfieci that all that I shall write or say of yon siiall be, as it has been, co'tipliiiiei.t;uy, •except so far as a defence of myself shall be implied censure of others, 1 do not see any necessity of a publication of this letter. If you, however, deem it otherwise, 3'ou are at liberty to use it in any manner you choose. I remain, as ever, respectfully, your obedient servant, Cm. clay. Hon. J, P, Gaines. Newport Barracks, /1/art'A 27, 1818. Dear Major: I have just received your letter and hasten to ivjiiy Capt. Clay, Lieut. Churchill, and myself, went to the Pidace in com vmy iho IsL day of August, 1S47, having received orders to auend Gen. Loin liartlini, for the purpose of receiving money lo pay our expenses to Toluca^ ai)'l lo ^ive our parole of honor to repair lo that place. AOer turiving- at. Lhe Palace, Capt. Clay, Ijieui. Churchill, and myself expTLseec! oiu- willingness lo give our parole. Just as we were leaving iJio room, M;ij()r Boiland, Capt. Danley, and yourself anived. 1 distinct!}'- heard you lell Gen. Lornbardini, (through his interpreter, Col. Almonte,) upon two occasions, that you would not go to Toluca on parole. Major Bor- land and Capt. Danley saying at the same time, that they would not go. ("apt. Clay was present durins' the whole interview. You afterwards, in the apaiimenis of (he Minister of War, told Col. Almonte to tell Gen. Lombardini that your parole wris at cm end. I know that Capt. Clay was preeen', from the tact that he interpreted for you some unintelligible ex- piessiofKs of the Colonel, in Spanish, as he left the apariment, saying you were very hard-headed, orsomeiliing to that amount. I never heard from that time until my arrival in Kentucky, that the slightest doubt existed as to your having acied in the n)Ov^t honorable manner. I am certain that Capt. Clay never mentioned, or intimated, a doubt of your having so acteu^ ei her while a prisoner, or after we were released, and remained in Mexico. Whatever may be the opinion of Capt. Clay, you may restassurred that yoiu' whole conduct while a prisoner, is approved of most heartily by the balance of yoin- fellow prisor.eis. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, GEORGE DAVIDSON. To the Hon. J. P. Gaines, Washington cUij. Westport, Oldham County, Ky., J2pril l.y/, 184S. Dear Major: Your favor of the I8di ultiivjo I liave given a careful perusal and hasten to reply. And althoiigh it will always afford me plea- siire 10 seive you, still I regret the necessity for this. I know that it is very difhuilt to remember correctly the particulars of events which have taken place several months previous to the narrative of them. As to what occurred on the first day of August, 1847, Vv'hen the American prisoners of war, then in the city of Mexico on th.eir parole, were sunmoned to the National Palace by order of (he Mexican Goveru- nient, I presume few of us will ever forget. I will now state my recollec- lion of (he facts, about which I hope there may be no discrepancy amongst us. In doing so, [ will confine mytelf to what actually occurred in my pj-esenoe, of which 1 have a personal knowledge. Early (sn that day Col. Almonte called at my lodgings, before I was up,, and delivered me the order of his Government, to present myself at tlie N-itir>nal Palace by the hour of II A. M. He rftn)arked that he had seen jd! \]\'^ cfiHceis, except Mr. R. C. Rogers, of the Navy, and enquired where he was to be found. I replied that I had not seen him for several days, (Mr. Rnyers hnd then made liis escape to Pnebln.) At (he hour appointed I pro«-e!-ded to tijn Palace in company with a Mr. Benfield, an English re- sident inert-, who kindly off^rc^d to attend me as l:^ interpreter. Up to thai: Ihtui I lia.l U'-t met with any of nsy fellow ))nsoners. Not fiiiding any of you at die Palace, 1 returned again without presenting myself. By the- direction of one of their Government officers, an hour or two after, I met willi you, IvLijo! liorlniul, and (yupinin Dan'i'y. You had a iVlr. wi.h you, for inierpreter. We pioceeJe'l to the Pahice toirethcr, and when in the Grand Pinza, near the eiitrau -i^ to the Pahice, we met (.'apiain C. M. Clay, Lieutenanis Dtivitlson and CMiurchil!, who hail been lo ihe Pahice and were reinrning. 'I'he / reiuinod iviih us, s.iid they had received or- ders to start for 'J\>hica the next morning. Several thousand troops were then stationed in and about the Paiace, and hundreds of Mexican ofiicers in full dress were in atlendiuice. On pas-^ing the piincipd entrance we were met by Coi. Ahnonie, wlic conducted us to the Department of the Getieral-in-chief, Lombardini, who received us standing. Perutission hav- ing previously been given to admit an interpreter with ns. Geu. Ij )inl)ar- dini then informed us that it was ihe order of his Governiueni thai we should be removed from ilie city of Mexico to Toluoa, and that we wonlJ hold ourselves in leadiness to obey tiie order, at o o'chick the next nioni- ing, and that the diligence would Cidl for ns at that lioin-. You men said, through tiio infcrpreiur. that you wish-;d to call the attention of the Mexi- can Governtnent to the con-^iJeration of the fict ihfit all oi the prisoners had been agreed, bo'li by Gen. Taylor and Santa Anna, to be exchanged for at the battle of Buei^.a Yista, and that you jiad proof of the fact, as evidenced by the official reports of both Gen. Taylor and Santa Atnia, wiiich you produced. one in l-Jnglishand (heodier in Spanish. In geiiitig out the two papers you will reintniber that farcical scene, wherein y<)ij ware guilty of a breach of eti(i'ielte in the presence of the General ir) clnef, by placing your isat on yom- head, which he resemed by uoing ihe same in no gentle tnanner. Gen riOmbardini told you that ihe arrangenieui to exchange was in/onnal, and moreover that Gen. Taylor had, in bad faiih, failed and refused (o cxecir.e his part of the compact. Yon then told ilie interpreter to say that yon did not intend lo go to Toluci, that you had given your parole to remain in the capital, and that it was then surrender- ed. I ihink the words were, '-at an end." This closed our interview widi the General-in cliief, except (hat yon. tneniioned, when speaking of giving- up your parole, that you spoke oirly in behalf of yourself, '^riiai ihuugh you were the senior officer, 3'oit did tiot attempt, or wish loconnol the con- duct of tlia rest of die prisoners. You theii asked an audience wiih the President, Santa Anna, and we were directed to the Minister of War. Af- ter we had been in ihe latter Department someiime, ihat ftlioisier, v.idi se- veral other functionaries, came in, and the stibject of our p:»roies aga.n re- sumed. 1 recollect distinctiy th;it you again, iti the most explicit inauner, gave forniul notice liiat you did no', consider y^uiself any lunger a pri.-oner on ptuole, that you wiihdiew it, and that if you were taken to Tulnca it would re(]uire a force to eflVci. if. At this, Col. Almome lost his t<.Miipei and said ratlier shtuply, sir, you are now in tlie power of the Mexicans, and ihey will send a^ou vvlitne tlipy please without consuhing your wisiits. To this you made some an, these letters coincide, accurately, with my recollection of the occurrences they describe. After this lapse of iiire, (within a few days of twelve months,) it is almost im- possible to recollect every circumstance of a somewhat conjplicated irans- aciioti, or the precise hmguag'^ used in any conversation. Fiom one state- nicm,only, in Lieut. Baibour's letter, do I dir,serit. It is wherein he says you |ui. your name to the paper, and wiote opposite " not oa parole." 1 11 iiave no recollection of your doing so. Indeed, I am sure, as well from the circumstances as from a knowledge of our purpo=e at the time, that neither you, Capt. Danley, nor myself, could have done so. I hope you will not deem it necessary to make any reply to the state- ments of C. M. Clay, If, however, your better judgment yiduces you to differ with me in this respect^ you can make any use you please of this couj5rmaiioa of the statements of Lieuts. Davidson and Barbour, already alluded to. 1 am, very respectfully and truh'', vours, SOLON BORLAND. Hon. J, P. Gaines. PuEBLA, Mexico, Avgust 6, 1847. My dear Major : You come to us — thank God — in safety, happily and honorably escaped from prolonged thraldom, imposed in violation of national faith and the laws and usages of war, and just in time to share in the hazards, and I hope the honors, of the campaign. You are unarmded — accept a sword which has been in battle, and a pair of pistols — each of which you well know how to use — from yrur friend, W. J. WORTH. Major Gaines, Kentucky Volunteers^ i^'c. c^'c. Puebla, Mexico, August 7, IS47. My dear General: Your note, accompanied with the gift of a sword and pair of pistols, was received this morning. I cannot sutiicienily ex- press to you how much I value this evidence of your regard, and your kind allusion to my captivity is no less appreciated. Ti»e fact that these weapons have already been used in battle, imparts to them additional interest, and will incite to such a performance of my duly, as will prove how sincerely I estimate the donor, and the associaiions at- tached to them. Accept then, my dear General, my thanks for this addi- tional proof of your friendship, and the kindest wishes of Your devoted friend, JNO. P. GAINES. To Major Gen. Worth. Tacubaya, Mexico, August 24, 1S47. Dear General : Every thing indicates that this war is closed by your last glorious victory, that there is no probability of lluiher contest of arms. Such being the case, circumstances demand my presence at home as early 12 as practicable ; but, before leaving, it is clue to my character, and to those I commanJed, that I shoidd have the benefit of a Court of Inquiry, which I most earnestly and respaclfully soUcit at yourliands. 1 have the honor, to be, with high respect, your obedient servant, ^ JNO. P. GAINES, Major Kentucky Cavalry^ To Major Gen. Scott, Commanding -in- chief. Tacubaya, August 29, 184?. My Dear Major : As you iuive been advised, the General-in-Chief has declined givin,