Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/309

 

Headquarters, Puebla. $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$ September 25, 1847

Having taken possession of this city, with the forces under my command to operate against the points occupied by you, and for the purpose of restoring to full liberty the citizens who have suffered so much from the troops of the United States, I deem it proper before making any movement, and for the sake of humanity, to intimate to your Excellency, that you should have leave, within a limited time, to abandon the places you now occupy in this city, and march out with the honors of war, either to join Gen. Scott, or to proceed to Perote, as may be most convenient for you; but if this moderate proposition be not accepted by your Excellency, I shall, in that case, with the deepest feeling, proceed to act in a military manner, and assault all your positions, the consequences of which your troops must suffer; inasmuch as there is in the vicinity of your Excellency, an army of eight thousand men determined to cause the rights of this nation to be respected. God and Liberty.

Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna,

General-in-Chief of the Mexican Army.

Senor Col. Childs,

Commander of the United States forces in this city.

Col. Child's Reply to Gen. Santa Anna.

Headquarters $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$ City of Puebla, Mexico September 25, 1847

 

I had the honor of receiving (now 2 o'clock, p.m.,) your Excellency's note of this date, notifying me that you had taken possession of this city, for the purpose of restoring to full liberty the citizens who have suffered so much from the troops of the United States. And also offering the garrison certain terms in case they would, in a limited time, abandon the points occupied by us.