cans, from
want of sufficient circulating medium, be less able to pay the
contributions which we propose to levy upon them through their civil
authorities."

General Scott, knowing the President's great desire to have the war
terminated, embraced every opportunity to keep him advised as to the
prospects, more or less remote, of peace, and wrote, December 14th,
that he "had received no communication from the Mexican Government,
and did not expect any before the Congress and President had been
installed, about March 10th. It is believed that both will be inclined
to peace." Congress, however, did not meet until May.

General William O. Butler arrived at the capital December 18th with
thirty-six hundred men, and the train dispatched November 1st, under
Colonel Harney, returned, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph
E. Johnston, of the voltigeurs, with thirteen hundred men in addition
to the escort that accompanied it on the trip down. These
re-enforcements, with those that recently arrived, made a total of
eight or nine thousand for duty.

General Scott was anxious to occupy the mining districts of San Luis
and Zacatecas, maintain communication with the capital, and open one
with Tampico, and for that purpose needed two columns of five thousand
men each, and to garrison the State capitals within reach of the two
columns. It was represented that great embarrassment would result
from the movement on Zacatecas, as that column would have to march
through Queretaro to reach its destination. It was represented that it
would cause the dispersion of the Mexican Government and make its
assembling at any other point doubtful. The Department, however,
directed the double movement to be made when the re-enforcements known
to have left Vera Cruz would arrive, unless in the meantime otherwise
instructed.

The commanding general was greatly disappointed when the first train
returned from Vera Cruz without bringing a jacket, blanket, or a pair
of shoes for the army. That small depot had been exhausted by the
troops of Patterson, Butler, and Marshall, who were fresh from home,
or the Brazos, and others that arrived without clothing since June;
and on December 25th he wrote of his great disappointments, and stated
that this want might delay distant expeditions for many weeks, as some
of the new volunteers were in want of essential articles of wear. He
called attention to the fact that requisitions for clothing made by
the regular