Valencia's plan of combined operations appears to have been an elaboration of a suggestion of Filisola. By June 22 Filisola, then at Durango, was ready to advance. July 31 he feared his men would disband from lack of means. About Aug. 1 he moved. Many deserted or fell sick. August 11 he had 634 available privates. Avalos was in a similar condition, and his brigade shrank rapidly. Most of the troops placed under Filisola's orders were diverted or simply failed to appear, and finally on Aug. 23, 1847, he was ordered to Querétaro. (This paragraph is based upon numerous 76reports from the officers concerned.)
Price's campaign. In Oct., 1847, it was feared at Santa Fe that the Mexicans intended to attack New Mexico (Santa Fe Republican, Oct. 9), and a considerable American force appears to have gone to the southern part of the province (76prefect El Paso, Oct. 26). In November El Paso was the scene of preparations to march south. The people of Chihuahua state had mostly been cowed at Sacramento, but Trias and a few others were determined to fight. He obtained 500 muskets that were landed at Guaymas, and his arsenal turned out eight small field pieces. At Santa Cruz de Rosales he took post with 804 men, besides officers. Price had 665 men, but his artillery was much superior to that of the Mexicans. His object was to get the munitions and other public property that Trias had brought from Chihuahua City. Trias said he knew officially that a treaty had been signed; but, as the Mexicans were more noted for astuteness than for veracity, Price would not believe him. He did, however, wait about a week. After some fighting Trias and his entire force surrendered. He lost 238 killed. The American loss was 4 killed and 19 wounded (62adj. gen. to Price, Oct. 4; Nov. 20, 1847. 256Marcy to Price, May 22, 1848; to Wool, May 23. 76Trias, Nov. 30; Feb. 15; Mar. 21. Ho. 1; 30, 2, pp. 76-7, 113-36. 61Corresp. between Price and Trias, Mar. 10, etc. Ho. 24; 31, 1. Eco del Comercio, June 22, 1848. 76Chávez to Armijo, Oct. 21, 1847. Roa Bárcena, Recuerdos, 535-7. México á través, iv, 710. 61Justiniani and Trias, report, Mar. 22, 1848. Apuntes, 397-401). Price exhibited energy and courage in this campaign but poor judgment. A force occupying El Paso would have protected New Mexico, and to go even beyond the city of Chihuahua and fight so serious an aggressive battle long after the capture of Mexico City and in the face of positive assurances that a treaty had been signed was hardly reasonable. One suspects that commercial interests were behind this campaign. Gen. Butler ordered restitution made (60to Marcy, Apr. 7).
2. The chief documents relating to hostilities at Mexico. 221Hill, diary. National, Nov. 14, etc., 1847. 65Scott, gen. orders 289, 296. Apuntes, 325, 330-9, 362. London Chronicle, Nov. 12. Negrete, Invasión, iii, app., 451, etc.; iv, app., 310-2. S. Anna, Apelación, 59, 60, 63. Gamboa, Impug., 59, 60. Ramírez, México, 317-8. Semmes, Service, 466-7. 92Ayunt. proclams. 92Corresp. between Veramendi and S. Anna. 92Ayunt. to Quitman, Sept. 15-6. 92Mexican officials to Veramendi, Sept.. 92Quitman, proclam., Sept. 26. 92Veramendi, proclam., Sept. 27. Arco Iris, Dec. 1. Picayune, Oct. 14; Nov. 20. N. Y. Sun, Oct. 14. Diario Esactísimo. Niles, Oct. 30, p. 1288. 364 Worth to daughter, Sept. 28. Prieto, Memorias, ii, 248-58. 357Wilcox, diary. Sen. 34; 34, 3, p. 25. 366Poster. S. Anna, Detall, 33-4. London Times, Nov. 13. Sen. 1; 30, 1, pp. 383-4 (Scott), 393 (Worth); 399 (Riley); 417 (Quitman); 424 (Huger); app., 169 (Smith), 185 (Smith), 188 (Morris), 190 (Plympton). Hitchcock, Fifty Years, 304-5. Monitor
