Filisola and Alcorta agreed substantially in recommending an elastic, evasive plan of campaign: bodies of, say, 2000 men to be stationed at strategic positions; the one attacked to fall back upon the next; these to fight or join the third, as might seem best; those not otherwise engaged, to strike for the American rear; and thus a campaign of movements, in which the Mexicans would have the advantages of mobility, of knowing the country, and of having the coöperation of the people, would be pursued in order to wear out the Americans. But the means of carrying out this system were lacking. In October the government planned to have three sizable armies; but by the end of December it limited its ambition to having two small brigades of infantry and one of cavalry, each headed by a colonel.
23. Chief documents. Sen. 1; 30, 1, pp. 60-2. 108Bancroft to Polk, Dec. 3, 1846. 256Barnard to Totten, Oct. 11, 1847. 66Id. to Id., Dec. 15, 1847 (Taylor) 169Peyton to Crittenden, Jan. 25, 1848; 169Taylor to Crittenden, Nov. 15, 1847. 354Welles papers. Davis, Autobiog., 257-8. Wash. Union, Jan. 7, 1848: N. Y. Sun, May 17, 1847. Niles, Oct. 23, 1847, p. 114. Schouler, Hist. Briefs, 155. Sen. 1; 30, 1, pp. 60-2 (Marcy, report). Calhoun Corres., 718 (to Clemson). Public Ledger, Jan. 4, 1848. 169Rives to Crittenden, Feb. 8, 1847. Richardson, Messages, iv, 542-4. 13Crampton to Palmerston, nos. 71, 1847; 3, 1848. Claiborne, Quitman, ul, 7. Polk, Diary, Oct. 30, 1847. 61Scott, Sept. 18. Sen. 52; 30, 1, pp. 188-40, 211. 256Totten to Marcy, Nov. 23, 24. 256Trist to Buchanan, Sept. 28. Picayune, Dec. 15. See chap. xxxii, p. 235.
Sept. 17, at a gathering of generals, one of the best proposed retiring at once to Vera Cruz. For the defensive plan see chap. xviii, p. 348. General Butler (Calhoun, Corres., 1146) and apparently Daniel Webster (Boston Courier, Feb. 20, 23, 1847) favored this plan. Had it been adopted we should in all probability have been forced sooner or later to resume active operations after having given up the results of much fighting. It seemed hardly possible that a majority in Congress would soon be able to agree upon a policy, and it looked as if injurious debates on the subject might occur. Marcy particularly advised Scott to prevent the formation of a new Mexican army, but authorized him to use his own judgment as to military operations. They were not, however, to be modified in consequence of Mexican peace proposals (Sen. 52; 30, 1, p. 140). For the difficult situation of the United States see the first paragraphs of chap. xxx
24. Ho. 60; 30, 1, pp. 1031, 1033, 1036, 1039, 1047-50, 1067 (Scott); 1006-9 (Marcy); 1060, 1260 (Jesup). Sen. 65; 30, 1, p. 98 (H. L. Scott). 364Worth to S., Dec. 27, 1847. Sen. 52; 30, 1, pp. 140-4. 76Comte. gen. Mexico, Jan. 10, 1848. 61Scott to Twiggs, Dec. 26, 1847. 65Id., gen. orders 376, 389 of 1847; 7 of 1848. 356Whitcomb, diary. 12Pell of sloop Daring to Lambert, Nov. 30, 1847. 66Lee to Totten, Jan. 1; Feb. 1, 1848. Hitchcock, Fifty Years, 310-1. 178Davis, diary. Picayune, Feb. 27.
In June and August, 1847, the First and Second Illinois regiments (12months men) were replaced with "for the war" regiments bearing the same names. As we have seen (note 8) Illinois and Georgia were called — upon about the first of July for mounted companies. June 23 Louisiana was asked to furnish two mounted, acclimated companies to clear guerillas from near Vera Cruz. July 16 a Pennsylvania foot regiment, or-
