\

THE NEW YORK

PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR. LENOX
TTLDEN FOUNDATION^
 Tns

MEXICAN WAR
AND

ITS WARRIORS
COMPRISINO

A COMPLETE HISTORY OF ALL THE OPERATIONS OF THE

AMERICAN ARMIES IN MEXICO:

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES AND ANECDOTES OF THE MOST

DISTINGUISHED OFFICERS IN THE REGULAR
ARMY AND VOLUNTEER FORCE.

BY J? FROST, L.L.D.
Author of " The Pictorial History of the World," " Americaa
Naval Biography," " Pictorial History of the United States,"
" Wonders of History," and late Professor of Belles

Lettres in the Philadelphia High School.

)aiustrate^ toftt) numerous Hucvabfnjn;.

NEW HAVEN AND PHILADELPHIA:

PUBLISHED BY H. MANSFIELD.
( 1849. /
 Ektebei), according to Act of Congress,

BY H. MANSFIELD,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the District of
Connecticut.
 PEEFACE.
The recent contest between the United States
and Mexico has called forth the military enert^ies

of this country, and has led to displays of valour

and military science which have astonished the
whole civilized world. In a succession of bat-
tles, sieges, marches, and skirmishes, lasting

through a period of nineteen months, the arms

of the United States have been uniformly tri-

umphant. Wherever our armies have met the

enemy they have conquered.
Of such a contest the history cannot but prove
interesting to the whole body of the American
people. The scattered details which have been
furnished by the public journals, although they
have served to allay anxiety for the moment, are
quite insufficient to satisfy the lively curiosity
which such events are well calculated to awaken.
" A round unvarnished tale" of the whole progress
of the war is necessary to form a portion of the
historical library of every family; and it is due to

the heroic officers and men who have served in

this war, that their claims to the gratitude of their
 PREFACE.

country should be distinctly recorded and pie-

served in a permanent form.
It is with these views that the following his-
tory, and the biographical sketches which accom-
pany it, have been written. The author's aim
has been to do justice to all, and he hopes that
this intention will atone for any imperfections to

v/hich this, in common v;ith every work of its

class, is necessarily liable.

 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Bombardment
Ornamental Headpiece, ---•••.
of Vera Cruz,

--.....
Point Isabel,
Fort Brown, -------.--32
- 28

Battle of Palo Alto,

----.-
.......
American army entering Marin,
41
69
Bishop's Palace,
Cavalry Charge, ------.--87 . 73

Paredes,
Santa Anna,
----.--.-.
Storming of the Bishop's Palace,

--..
- - - . . 93
gg
loi
Battle of Buena Vista, 107
Death of Colonel Clay,
Commencement of the Guerilla Warfare, ----- - - 117
125
American
Battle of Cerro Gordo,
Jalapa,
..-.--.
fleet saluting the castle at
-
Vera Cruz - - - 141
147
152
Northern extremity of Puebla de los Angelos, - - - - 163
General Butler,
Battle of Churubusco,
The City of Mexico,
.------- 166
175
183
(]!hapultepcc, -191
- - - • - - - -

Capture of Tuspan,
Capture of Panuco,
Loss of the Somers,
-.--•---
--,••---
208
212
215
General Taylor,
Headpiece,
General Worth,
-----.--
-

- -
224
225
238
Worth at
----.--
Monterey,

-.------
Storming of Federation Hill,
239
242
View from Tacubaya,
Headpiece, ^- ----••---
.---..--.
247
255
Headpiece,-
Tailpiece,
Headpiece,
----------
.---. ...
25g
264
265

(7)
Vlll LIST OF ILLUSTRATiO.XS.

Headpiece, .-----• -- 271

General Kearny, ------ --

Street fight at Monterey,

-------
- 273
280
Headpiece,
Headpiece, - .«•-•- -- • 281
285

Headpiece, ---------
Colonel McCulloch,

-••.----
- 292
293
Captain Walker,
Headpiece, .--•----- 298
299
Colonel Hays,
Headpiece,
Headpiece,
.----••--•
.-,•---•-
304
305
311
General Scott,
Headpiece,
General Shields,
-•----« •
314
315
32Q
 THE WAR,

Though several sub-

jects of dispute existed
between this country and
Mexico, previous to the
annexation of Texas, yet
the latter event was the
immediate cause of the
war between the two
countries. As soon as

Mexico understood thai

a project of union was

entertained between the
United States and Texas,
she endeavoured to de-
feat it ; and when the
act Vv'as consummated,
her minister protested
against it as " an act of
10 THE W A R.
Annexation of Texas.

aggression the most unjust which can be found re-

corded in the annals of modern history ; namely, that

of despoiling a friendly nation, like Mexico, of a consi-
derable portion of her territory." Immediately after,

the n.inister demanded his passports, and from that time

all efforts at amicable negotiation entirely failed.

On the 21st of March, 1845, orders were issued for
General Zachary Taylor, commandant at Fort Jessup,
Louisiana, to prepare his forces for marching into Texas,
whenever orders to that purpose should be issued. The
reasons for this were given by President Polk in his mes-
sage of December, 1845. " Both the congress and the
convention of the people of Texas, invited this govern-
ment to send an army into their territory to protect and
defend them against a menaced attack. The moment
the terms^ of annexation offered by the United States
were accepted by Texas, the latter became so far a part
of our country as to make it our duty to afford such pro-
tection and defence. I therefore deemed it proper, as a
precautionary measure, to order a strong squadron to
the coasts of Mexico, and to concentrate an efficient
on the w^estern frontier of Texas."
military force
Agreeably to instructions received from government,
General Taylor concentrated his forces at Corpus Christi,
in the eastern part of Texas. Here he remained until

March, 1846, when he received from the president

orders to the following effect
" Instructions have been issued to the general in com-
mand to occupy the lefl bank of the Del Norte. This
river which is the south-west boundary of the state of

Texas, is an exposed frontier. From this quarter inva-

•ion was threatened ; upon it, and in its immediate

 THE WAR. 11
Taylor leaves Corpus CliristL

vicinity, in the judgment of high military experience,

are the proper stations for the protecting forces of the
government. In addition to this important considera-
tion, several others have occurred to induce this move-
ment. Among these are the facilities afforded by the
ports at Brazos Santiago, and the mouth of the Del
Norte, for the reception of supplies by sea ; the stronger
and more healthful military positions the convenience ;

for obtaining a ready and a more abundant supply of

provisions, water, fuel, and forage and the advantages ;

which are afforded by the Del Norte, in forwarding sup-

plies to such ports as may be established in the interior,
and upon the Indian frontier." General Taylor left
Corpus Christi on the 11th of March, and marched to-
ward the Rio Grande.* The troops marched through a
sandy desert, infested by venomous reptiles, until they

• In this march, says a late writer, the army encountered the most
appalling hardships, both from the heat of the sandy deserts over which
they passed, and the wemt of food and water. The discipline acquired

in camp, where large portions of the troops had for the first time an op-
portunity of seeing and learning the evolutions of the line, was here
amply tested ; and it should be recorded to the honour of the soldiers,
that throughout their whole march they bore their hardships with pa-
tience and cheerfulness.
The sufferings on this march were rendered the more painful by con-
trast with the agreeable sojourn of the army at Corpus Christi, which is

described by Captain Henry in his entertaining Campaign Sketches, as

one of the most delightful regions in the world. " From the top of the

bluff," he says, " the view is magnificent in the extreme. Far off to the

east the scene was bounded by the white caps of the beautiful bay ; to the

south-east, the Flower Bluffs stood out in bold relief; in the north-east,

the distant highlands of Maylone's Bluff were dimly \-isible ; to the north»

west, the land near the mouth of the Nueces ; in the west, one unlimited
plain presented itself, extending to the mountains, the home of the mua«
tangr and buffalo."
12 THE WAR.
Crosses the Colorado.

reached the Arroya Colorado, thirty miles eastward of

the Rio Grande. On the opposite bank of this river a

body of soldiers and rancheros w^as stationed, apparently

for the purpose of disputing the passage. This place

was favourable for opposing the passage of the army,
and General Taylor expected that war was now about to
begin. He made his preparations for crossing, however,
but soon after received a message from the governor of
Matamoras, stating that an attempt to cross the Colorado
woul i be considered a signal for war.
Notwithstanding these warlike demonstrations, Gene-
ral Taylor crossed the river in face of the foe. He
experienced no opposition, although an excellent oppor-
tunity was afforded from the position in which the Mexi-
cans were stationed.
Being thus unexpectedly delivered from a disagreeable
collision,General Taylor spent a day in refreshing his
troops,and then [March 22d] resumed his march for
the Rio Grande. On the 24th, news was received that
the Mexicans had taken possession of Point Isabel, on
the Brazos Santiago, which place the general had pre-
viously selected as a military depot. Knowing the ad-
vantages to be derived from this station. General Taylor
determined to occupy it and accordingly, leaving his
;

main army with General Worth on the Matamoras road,

he pushed toward the Brazos with the dragoons and
artillery train. WTi n near the place, he was met by the
prefect of Tamaulipas, and other citizens, who pro-
tested against the occupation of their territory, and inti-
mated that their government considered it a declara-
tion of war.. While General Taylor was considering
this protestation, he observed a column of smoke in the
 THE WAR. 13
Esciteraent in l^tamoxas.

direction of Point Isabel- and conjecturing that the

Mexicans had fired it, he dismissed the prefect, with
the promise of an answer when the Americans would
arrive near Matamoras. Colonel Twiggs was sent for-

ward with the dragoons to stop the conflagration, and

arrest those who had caused it. He found the station
deserted by the soldiery and many of the citizens, find
succeeded in saving a few of the burning houses. Gene-
ralTaylor arrived soon after, and commenced the con-
struction of a fortification subsequently known as Fort
Polk. Major John Munroe was intrusted with the com-
mand. Six brass six-pounders, t\vo long eighteens,
large quantities of powder and ball with about four
hundred and fifty men, were left for its defence.
Having completed such other arrangements as were
thought necessary, in order to guard against attack, Ge-
neral Taylor continued his march with the main army,
and reached the Rio Grande opposite ^latamoras on the
28th.
At the first appearance of the American army the
city of Matamoras was thrown into the greatest excite-
ment. Exaggerated reports both of strength and its

intentions had preceded coming;

and our troops
its

were regarded as lawless banditti, whose sole intention

was spoil and plunder. In a few days, however, this
feeling seems to have subsided the good behaviour of
;

the American troops dissipated pre\aous fears and the ;

citizens at least became willing to wait for the result

of the natural course of events, rather than immediately
rush upon the American arnw, as was at first their
intention.
The Americans were now situated in a beautiful coun-
14 THE WAR.
Description of the Country.

try—the more grateful after their fatiguing march. "Fai

as the eye can reach," says a volunteer, " one level sur-
face presents itself to view, dotted with cotton and sugar-
cane fields, interspersed with lovely gardens after the
Spanish fashion, the whole cut up and divided in all

sorts of ways, by groves of the finest trees, among which

th? lignum vitse figures largely and the entire picture
;

is cut in twain by the muddiest, crookedest, and swiftest

river in North America. Neither mountain, hill, nor
elevation of any sort, varies the everlasting level of the
country around. The scene is rich and peaceful, with
nought to mar its appropriate character save the armies
of the two nations. Our nights here, for the most part,

are remarkable for their serenity. The stars stand forth

in numerous crowds, with rare brilliancy ; not a leaf is

moved, not a cloud is seen ; while ever and anon a me-

teor of surpassing brightness shoots across the azure
vault."
When army reached the Rio Grande, and had
the
planted the American flag upon its banks, General
Worth crossed to the Mexican side, in order to have an
interview with the city authorities, and deliver to them
despatches from General Taylor. He was met by Gene-
ral la Vega, the Licenciado Casares, Juan Garza, an

interpreter, and two officers, who had been appointed

by the authorities to confer with him. After consider-

able altercation, the reception of the despatches was
refused, and a like result attended a request for an in-
terview with the American consul. Worth then returned
to the camp.
After this event, the Mexicans, withheld all supplies
from General Taylor, and commenced the erection of
 THE W A A. 16
Mexicaxi Proclamation Inviting Deserters.

batteries and fortifications opposite his position. He

had previously begun the construction of a fort, intended
to defend his camp and afford a depot for such stores as
would be drawn from time to time from Point Isabel.
A gloom now settled over both armies, and speculations
upon a dark and uncertain future filled the mind of both
friend and foe.
The following proclamation of " The commander-in-
chief of the Mexican army, to the English and Irish
under the orders of the American General Taylor," was
distributed in the American camp, in the early part of
April. It was the first display of that unmanly craft,

for which the Mexicans seem to be characteristically

adapted
" Know ye :
— That the government of the United
States is committing repeated acts of barbarous aggres-
sion against the magnanimous Mexican nation ; that the
government which exists under the flag of the stars, is
unworthy of the designation of Christian. Recollect
thatyou w^ere born in Great Britain that the American ;

government looks with coldness upon the powerful flag

of St. George, and is provoking to a rupture the war-
like people to whom it belongs. President Polk boldly
manifesting a desire to take possession of Oregon, as he
already has done of Texas. Now, then, come with all

confidence to the Mexican ranks ; and I guarantee to

you upon my honour, good treatment, and that all your
expenses shall be defrayed until your arrival in the
beautiful capital of Mexico.
"Germans, French, Poles, and individuals of all na-
tians! Separate yourselves from the Yankees, and do
not contribute to defend a robbery and usurpation, which,
16 THE W A R.
State of Taylor's Forces.

be assured, the civilized nations of Europe look upon

with the utmost indignation. Come, therefore, and ar-

ray yourselves under the tricoloured flag, in the confi-

dence that the God of armies protects, and that it will

protect you equally with the English."

This inglorious appeal was not unattended with suc-
cess. Several desertions took place, until it became
necessary to issue orders to shoot every soldier, who
should attempt this crime. Two or three being thus
dealt with, the evil was stopped.
The situation of the two armies became every day more
critical. By order of General Taylor, strong guards of
foot and mounted men were established on the margin
of the river, for the purpose of preventing all inter-
course. The Mexican pickets extended above and
below his camp for several miles, but were watched by
strong and vigilant guard, so as to prevent the possibility
of surprise under disadvantageous circumstances. A
field-work was also erected, together with a strong bat-
tery, a number of buildings for the security of supplies,
and several respectable works for their protection.
Fronting each other, for an extent of more than two
miles,were batteries shotted, within range of each other,
and watched by officers and men who were impatiently
waiting for orders to apply their matches.
But both armies still seemed unwilling to interrupt

the peace which had ever existed between the two re-
publics. Neither army was very well prepared for
active hostilities. Taylor's entire force was small, sepa-
rated into two portions, and ill provided with artillery
and ammunition the Mexicans were waiting for rein-
;
 THE WAR. 17
MvLxder of Colonel Cross.

forcements, both of men and supplies, and were uncer-

tain as to a proper point of attack.
On the 10th of April, an event occurred, which, on
account of its being the first of the kind, created great
sensation in the American camp. This was the death
of Colonel Truman Cross. Early in the morning he
had ridden into the country, to his usual exercise, but
did not return at his customary time. As the country
was known to be infested with plunderers and ranche-
ros, his non-appearance caused much uneasiness in
camp, and several parties were despatched in quest of

him. General Taylor then wrote to the commandant of

Matamoras upon the subject, but that officer disclaimed
all knowledge of his fate, and the army was left to the
most painful conjectures. This continued until the 21st,
when a Mexican strolled into camp, and stated that the
body of an American soldier was lying in the chaparral
at some distance. A party was immediately sent with
him, and, among some thick bushes, they found a body,
w^hich, by fragments of the dress and several other
marks, was recognized as the remains of Colonel Cross.
The spot was a short distance from a road leading to the
river. He had been deprived of his watch, pistols, and
clothing, and the flesh w^as picked off his body by the
vultures. The account given of his death by a Mexi-
can appears worthy of credit. He stated that he was
taken by a band of lawless Mexican soldiers, commanded
hj Romano Falcon, who murdered him with his own
hands, after he had been robbed, although his band were

in favour of taking him a prisoner to Matamoras. Ge-

neral Taylor caused the body to be interred with fuP
military honours.
18 THE WAR.
Correspondence between Taylor and Ampudia.

On the 11th, the arrival of General Ampudia in Mata-

moras, caused many demonstrations of joy on the part
of the citizens and soldiers in that city, and the
Americans expected an early attack. On the following
day, however. General Ampudia sent a messenger to
General Taylor with a despatch, requiring him, "in all

form and at the latest in the peremptory term of twenty-

four hours, to break up his camp and retire beyond the
Neuces," assuring him, that in the event of a refusal,
arms, and arms alone, must decide the question," and
advising him that, in that case, the Mexicans accepted
the war to which he provoked them.
General Taylor in reply to this letter, informed him
that he had been ordered by his government to take a
position on the left bank of the Rio Grande, which he
had done, and from which he could not recede, except
under directions from the same quarter with those which
brought him there. He farther stated that the move-
ment was expected by his government to be
in question
a peaceful one, and that he (Ampudia) was fully at li-
berty to make it otherwise, at any moment he might see
fit to do so in which case he would be responsible for
;

all the consequences resulting from the same. The

allotted time expired without being followed by any oc-
currence of interest, notwithstanding the definite form
of General Ampudia's notice.
On the 17th, Lieutenant T. H. Porter, and Lieutenant
Dobbins, started from camp for the purpose of discover-
ing if possible, the murderers of Colonel Cross, a step
induced by the rumour that Romano Falcon was prowl-
ing in the vicinity with his command. Each com-
manded a detachment of two non-commissioned officers
 THE War. 19
Deatli of Lieutenant Porter.

and ten privates. They took opposite directions. During

the night it rained hard. On the second day, Lieute-
nant Porter met a party of Mexicans, one of whom
snapped his piece at him. Lieutenant Porter an-
swered by firing a double barrel. The Mexican took to
flight, whilst Lieutenant Porter took possession of the
camp of the marauders, containing ten horses, blankets,
&c. He then immediately mounted his men, and
started for head-quarters. It shortly after commenced
raining with the violence known only in tropical climates.
While passing through a clump of chaparral. Lieutenant
Porter was fired upon. He instantly ordered his men
to dismount, but their arms were useless from the rain,
while the enemy continued to pour in a galling fire.

One of Lieutenant Porter's men was shot down, and he

himself received a ball in the thigh and fell, exclaiming,
"Fight on, boys! Take care of yourselves." The men
then separated into three parties as they retreated into the
chaparral, but they all finally reached the camp. As
Ihey retired, the Mexicans, yelling like Indians, rushed
upon Lieutenant Porter and the wounded soldier, and
plunged their knives into taeii breasts. The gallant
young officer whose life was thus early lost to his coun-
try, was a son of Commodore David Porter. It has
been said of some families that chivalry runs in the
blood, and of none can it be more true than of the Por-
ters. The brother of Lieutenant Porter, who held a
similar rank in the navy, is reported to have said, when
he heard of had given
his brother's death, that his father
him a sword as his only bequest, and with that sword
he would avenge his brother's fall or share his fate.
His American mother had written to him, "come not to
30 T ME W A R.
Blockade of the Rio Grande.

me —but go the other way, to avenge your brother and

defend your country."
On the 19th of April, General Taylor learned that two
vessels from New Orleans, laden with supplies for the
Mexicans in Matamoras, were off the mouth of the Rio
Grande, he ordered the United States brig Lawrence,
with the revenue cutter St. Anna, to cut off the commu-
nication by water with that place. A letter from Am-
pudia followed the establishment of this blockade, in
which that step is complained of, and a demand made
for the release of two Mexicans, falsely alleged to be
held as prisoners by the American general. The letter
of General Taylor in reply is of great interest, and is
worthy of preservation as an evidence of the dignified
yet firm bearing of that officer at this critical period.

" Head-Quarters, Army of Occupation, )

Camp near Matamoras, Texas, April 22, 1846. )

" Sir ; — I have had the honour to receive your commu-

nication of this date, in which you complain of certain
measures adopted by my orders to close the mouth of
the Rio Bravo against vessels bound to Matamoras, and
in which you two Mexicans
also advert to the case of
supposed to camp.
be detained as prisoners in this

"After all that has passed since the American army

first approached the Rio Bravo, I am certainly surprised

that you should complain of a measure which is no other

than a natural result of the state of war so much insisted
upon by the Mexican authorities as actually existing at
this time. You will excuse me
few cir- for recalling a

cumstances to show that this war has not been

state of

sought by the American army, but has been forced upon

 THE WAR. 21
Taylor's Letter to Ampudia.

it, and that the exercise of the rights incident to such a

state cannot be made a subject of complaint.
" On breaking up my camp
at Corpus Christi, and
moving forward with the army under my orders to oc-
cupy the left bank of the Rio Bravo, it was my earnest
desire to execute my instructions in a pacific manner
to observe the utmost regard for the personal rights of
all citizens residing on the left bank of the river, and to
take care that the religion and customs of the people
should suffer no violation. With this view, and to quiet
the minds of the inhabitants, I issued orders to the
army, enjoining a strict observance of the rights and
interests of all Mexicans residing on the river, and
caused said orders to be translated into Spanish, and
circulated in the several towns on the Bravo. These
orders announced the spirit in which we proposed to
occupy the country, and I am proud to say that up to
this moment the same spirit has controlled the opera-
tions of the army. On reaching the Arroyo Colorado I

was informed by a Mexican officer that the order in

question had been received in Matamoras but was told ;

at the same time that if I attempted to cross the river it

would be regarded as a declaration of war. Again, on

my march to Frontone I was met by a deputation of the
civil authorities of Matamoras, protesting against my
occupation of a portion of the department of Tamauli-
pas, and declaring that if the army was not at once
withdrawn, war would result. While this communica-
tion was in my was discovered that the village
hands, it

of Frontone had been set on fire and abandoned. I

viewed this as a direct act of war, and informed the

deputation that their communication would be answered
22 THE WAR.
Taylor's Letter to Ampudia.

by me Avhen opposite Matamoras, which was done in

respectful terms. On reaching the river I despatched
an officer, high in rank, to convey to the commanding
general in Matamoras the expression of my desire for
amicable relations, and my willingness to leave open to
tlie use of the citizens of Matamoras the port of Brazos
Santiago until the question of boundary should be defi-
nitively settled. This officer received for reply, from
the officer selected to confer with him, that my advance
to the Rio Bravo was considered as a veritable act of
W£ft', and he was absolutely refused an interview with
the American consul, in itself an act incompatible with
a state of peace.
" Notwithstanding these repeated assura ices on the

part of the Mexican authorities, and notwith standing the

most obviously hostile preparations on the right bank of
the river, accompanied by a rigid non-intercourse, I

carefully abstained from any act of hostility— determined

that the onus of producing an actual state of hostilities
should not rest with me. Our relations remained in this
state until I had the honour to receive your note of the
12th instant, in which you denounce war as the alterna-
tive ofmy remaining in this position. As I could not,
under my instructions, recede from my position, I ac-
cepted the alternative you offered me, and made all my
dispositions to meet it suitably. But, still willing to
adopt milder measures before proceeding to others, I

contented myself in the first instance with ordering a

blockade of the mouth of the Rio Bravo by the naval
forces under my orders — a proceeding perfectly conso-
nant with the state of war so often declared to exist,
and which you acknowledge in your note of the 16th
 THE WAR. 23
Taylor's Letter to Ampudia.

instant, relative to the late Colonel Cross. If this mea-

sure seems oppressive, I wish it borne in mind that it

has been forced upon me by the course you have seen

fit to adopt. I have reported this blockade to my go-
vernment, and shall not remove it until I receive instruc-

tions to that effect, unless indeed you desire an armistice

pending the final settlement of the question between the
governments, or until war shall be formally declared by
either, in which case I shall cheerfully open the river.
In regard to the consequences you mention as resulting
from a refusal to remove the blockade, I beg- vqu to
understand that I am prepared for them, be they what
they may.
"In regard to the particular vesselr referred to in your
communication, I have the honour to advise you that,
in pursuance of my orders, two American schooners,
bound for Matamoras, were warned off on the 17th in-

stant, when near the mouth of the river, and put to sea,
returning probably to New Orleans. They were not
seized, or their cargoes disturbed in any way, nor have
they been in the harbour of Brazos Santiago tomy know-
ledge. AMexican schooner, understood to be the/ Ju-
niata,' was in or off that harbour when my instructions

to block the river were issued, but was driven to sea in

a gale, since which time I have had no report concern-
ing her. Since the receipt of your communication, I

have learned that two persons, sent to the mouth of the

river to procure information respecting this vessel, pro-
ceeded thence to Brazos Santiago, when they were
taken up and detained by the officer in command, until

my orders could be received. I shall order their imme-

diate release. A letter from one of them to the Spanish
vice-consul is respectfully transmitted herewith.
24 THE WAR
Taylor's Letter to Ampudia.

" In relation to the Mexicans said to have drifted

down and to be prisoners at this time
the river in a boat,
in my have the pleasure to inform you that no
camp, I

such persons have been taken prisoners or are now de-

tained by my authority. The boat in question was car-
ried down empty by the current of the river, and drifted
ashore near one of our pickets and was secured by the
guard. Some time afterwards an attempt was made to

recover the boat under the cover of darkness ; the indi-

viduals concerned were hailed by the guard, and, failing
to answer, wereupon as a matter of course. What
fired

became of them is not known, as no trace of them could

be discovered on the following morning. The officer of
the Mexican guard directly opposite was informed next
day that the boat would be returned on proper applica-
tion to me, and I have now only to repeat that assur-
ance.
" In conclusion, I take leave to state that I consider the

tone of your communication highly exceptionable, where

you stigmatize the movement of the army under my
orders as marked with the seal of universal reproba-
^

tion.' You must be aware that such language is not

respectful in itself, either to me or my government ; and
while I observe in my own correspondence the courtesy
due to your high position, and to the magnitude of the
mtere^ts with which we are respectively charged, I shall
expect the same in return.
" I have the honour to be, very respectfully, your obe-
dient servant,
"Z. TAYLOR,
^^ Brevet Brig. Gen. U. S. Jl., Commanding,
" St. Gen. D. Pedro de Ampudia, Commanding in Afaiamoras"
 THE WAR. 25
Taylor's account of his projarations fcr defense.

On the 20th of April, an artfully- worded address was

issued by General Arista, offering lands to all who should
^
desert from the American army and become citizens of
Mexico, three hundred and twenty acres being fixed as
the price of a private, and others in proportion. Any
services to Mexico were to be properly rewarded. The
state of things at this time is well described by General
Taylor in a letter written on the 25th of April. He
says, " strong guards of foot and mounted men are
established on the margin of the river, and thus efficient
means have been adopted on our part to prevent all
intercourse. While opposite to us, their pickets extend
above and below for several miles, we are equally active
in keeping up a strong and vigilant guard to prevent
surprise or attacks, under disadvantageous circumstances.
This is the more necessary while we are to act on the
defensive, and they are at liberty to take the opposite
course whenever they think proper to do so. Nor have
we been idle in other respects ; we have a field-work
under way, besides having erected a strong battery, and
a number of buildings for the security of our supplies,
in addition to some respectable works for their protec-

tion. We have mounted a respectable battery, four

pieces of which are long eighteen-pounders, with which
we could batter or burn down the city of Matamoras,
should it become necessary to do so. When our field-
work is completed —which will soon be the case — and
mounted with its proper armament, five hundred men
could hold it against as many thousand Mexicans. Dur-
ing the twenty-seven days since our arrival here, a most
singular state of things has prevailed all through the out-
lines of the two armies, which, to a certain extent, havfe
2
26 T HE W A R.
Capture of Captain Thornton.

all the feelings as if there were actual war. Fronting

each otlier for an extent of more than two miles, ana
within musket range, are batteries shotted, and the
officers and men, in many instances, waiting impatiently

for orders to apply the matches, yet nothing has been

done to provoke the firing of a gun or any act of vio-

lence." In the postscript to this letter. General Taylor

adds, " since writing the above, an engagement has
taken place between a detachment of our cavalry and
the Mexicans, in which w^e are worsted. So the war
has actually commenced and the hardest must fend off."
This significant language has reference to the defeat
of Captain Thornton. General Taylor's scouts had
brought in intelligence on the 23d, that twenty-five hun-
dred Mexicans had crossed the river to the Texas side,
above the American fort, and fifteen hundred below. A
squadron of dragoons was despatched to each place of
crossing to reconnoiter them and learn ttPeir position.

The squadron ordered below was commanded by Cap-

tain Ker; that above, commanded by Captain Thorn-
ton, consisted of Captain Hardee, Lieutenants Kane and
Mason, and sixty-one privates and non-commissioned
officers. Captain Ker found that the report of the cross-
ing below was false. Captain Thornton, how^ever, pro-
ceeded up the country some twenty-six miles, where he
fellinto an ambuscade, and found himself surrounded
by about two thousand hundred of the enemy con-
five

cealed in the chaparral. The command behaved with

great gallantry, but the number of the enemy was so
overwhelming that they surrendered as prisoners of war.
Lieutenant George Mason, who was killed in the rencoun-
ter, is said to have maimed Romano Falcon for life, in
1, ,,illl11illii,!lllilD;i;«
 THE WAR. 29
Captain Walker's defeat.

a close personal contest. He was a gallant young officer-

and his death is much regretted. Though the force
which obtained this success was about fifteen to one, it
filled the Mexican army with ecstacy, and General Arista

addressed to General Torrejon an eloquent letter of con-

gratulation on his great and glorious victory. The re-

serve they had hitherto manifested w^as now cast wholj

aside. They canie across the river in great numbers;
all intercourse between General Taylor's camp and Point
Isabel was cut off, and there was imminent danger of
the fall of that place with all the military stores it con-
tained. Nothing of had occurred at Point Isa-
interest

bel up to this time. Major Munroe, who commanded,

had completed his arrangements for defense, and armed
some five or six hundred men, among whom were fifty
or sixty sailors, collected from the vessels in port. Cap-
tain Walker of the Rangers, and some small parties of
Texans had arrived there, and was speedily engaged
upon important duties. Some teams having returned
to Point Isabel, on account of the obstructions of
the roads by the Mexicans, Captain Walker went out on
the 28th with a number of men to reconnoiter. He was
driven back to Point Isabel with ^reat loss, having been
attacked when midway between that place and the camp,
by an overwhelming force of the enemy. His raw" troops
fled in confusion, and he was obliged to retreat. He
returned with only two men seven afterwards came in.
;

He estimated the force of the enemy at fifteen hundred,

and thought that many of them must have fallen in the
skirmish. Notwithstanding this repulse. Captain Walker
volunteered to carry a message to General Taylor. Ma-
jor Munroe having accepted the oflfer, he started on the
30 THE W A R.
Taylor's roarch to Point Isabel

evening of the 29th and, after encountering many immi-

nent dangers, reached the camp in safety. As soon as
General Taylor had received Major Munroe's statement,
he determined upon a movement that would release
him from the embarrassment of having the communica-
ti( n cut off Accordingly, on the morning of the 1st of
May, 1846, he took up the line of march for Point Isa-
bel, with the main body of his army, leaving the seventh

regiment of infantry and two companies of artillery

under Captain Lowd and Lieutenant Bragg, to complete
the works in the fort, and defend it if it was attacked.
The whole was put under command of Major Brown.
As the army passed out, the banks of the river on the
Matamoras side were crowded with spectators of the
departure of what they thought our discomfited army,
whilst General Arista employed himself in announcing
the " retreat" of General Taylor and his army to his
government, taking care to pay to himself and his brave
men the tribute so signal a triumph deserved.
The Mexicans, however, evinced great judgment by
refraining from attacking him on the way to Point Isabel,

as it them an opportunity of attacking and try-

afforded
ing to capture his fortified camp with a weakened gar-
rison, by which, if successful, they would have a vast
advantage over him when he returned, and also they
would have more advantage and probability of success
in annoying and harassing his forces, or in fighting a
pitched battle on his return route, encumbered as he
would be by two or three hundred loaded wagons.
The Mexicans were too sagacious to delay improving
these advantages. On the morning of the 3d, a bat-
tery of seven guns placed in the town, opened a
 THE WAR. 31
Exploit of May and Walker.

brisk upon the fort. It was returned, and shortly

fire

silenced. They then fired shells and shot from the

lower fort and a mortar battery, which was continued
with a short intermission till midnight. During all this

time a part of the troops laboured to complete the fortifi-

cations, although exposed to the full range of the enemy's

guns. By the fifteen hundred shot fired during this
first day, but one man was killed. The Americans
stopped firing about ten o'clock in the forenoon, as they
were wasting ammunition and doing no injury, except
to the town. This silence was mistaken by the enemy
as a symptom of fear or despair, they momentarily ex-
pected a surrender.
The noise of this cannonading having reached Point
Isabel, General Taylor despatched Captain May with
Captain Walker and a hundred men, to learn something
of the garrison, and reconnoiter the countr}-. They
avoided the enemy, and penetrated to within a few miles
of the fort. Captain May there concealed his party in
Walker with six rangers pro-
the chaparral, and Captain
ceeded Walker not having returned to the
to the fort.
detachment. May feared that he had fallen a victim to
the enemy, and as the Mexican scouts had discovered
his own position, he decided to return. He reached the
camp in safety, having on the way put to flight and pur-
sued for three miles, a very superior body of the enemy's
cavalry. The supposed loss of Captain Walker, who
was a general favourite, cast a gloom over the whole
army, which, however, was speedily dispelled by the
appearance of that gallant officer, bearing the gratifying
intelligence that Major Brown was able to maintain his
position. Captain Walker had returned to the place
32 THE WAR.
Prepai-ations fcr assault on Fcrt Brown.

^-c-^s^-s^--.

Fort Brown.

where he had left Captain May, and finding him gone,

returned to the fort, stating that the Mexicans ..had

blocked the game on him this time, but that he would

give them another turn when it was dark. Starting from
the fort at night with his party, his superior knowledge
of the country only enabling him to avoid the numerous
parties of the enemy who were aware of his mission,
and on the alert to capture him.
At the fort, during the 4th, the fire of the enemy was
not renewed, and the soldiers laboured with energy to
complete the works. On the following day, large parties
of the enemy, both horse and foot, were discovered in
th^ rear of the These thousands were supported by
fort.

a battery that had been erected in the night, and which

the garrison named for the sake of distinction, " the Bai-
tery in the country." This battery, with those in Mata-
 THE W A R. 33
Signal guns tred. at Fort Ero-wn.

moras, opened with shot and shell in the afternoon, and

kept up a galling cross fire. At nine o'clock, Lieutenant
Hanson, after a gallant reconnoisance, reported the erec-
tion of a new battery at the cross roads. On Wednes-
day morning, the 6th, a spirited fire was kept up
against tke fort, the shot and shells being well directed.
The balls falling into the fortress afforded considerable

merriment to the soldiers, who were sitting idly about,

reserving their ammunition in case of need under an

assault. An old soldier, who prided himself on his culi-
nary skill, had made some coffee, and was stooping to
pour it into the cups of his mess, when a ball flying over
the parapet, struck in the ashes near him and overturned
the beverage into the fire. The disciple of Careme and
votary of Mars, shocked at the disrespect, gave the ball
a kick, while in a dolorous voice he cursed the rascally
Mexicans for knocking over his coffee.
In compliance with the directions given by General
Taylor to be pursued in case the fort was surrounded,
the eighteen-pounders were fired at stated intervals.

The enemy, as if conscious that this was a call for relief,

reopened their fire upon the fort. The officers of the

garrison, however, reserved their ammunition for the ex-
pected assault. The bomb proofs were built at points
convenient for the soldiers to retreat into, and the sen-
tinel on the look out could name the battery from which

a ball or shell was soon as he saw the smoke

fired, as

of the discharge, and the soldiers would have time to

get under cover before the balls reached them. Shells

were frequently allowed explode harmlessly in the

to

air, by the soldiers falling flat on their faces, when one

was fired, a measure which a Mexican, elevated to a

 34 THE WAR.
Fall of Major Brown,

considerable height in a tall tree, with a glass in his

hand, reported to his comrades as being what it seemed
to him. a mark of the destruction produced by their fire.

The lamented death of Major Brown occurred at this

time, May 6th.* We give the following graphic account

of it, "Our Army on the Rio Grajide," by
taken from
T. B. Thorpe, Esq. He says, "After the cross firing,
called forth with so much energy by our signal eighteen
pounders, had continued for three hours and a half, the

noble-minded Major Brown, commander of the fort,

with his adjutant-lieutenant by his side, took his usual
round to see that officers and men were at their posts.

He stopped for a moment some of to give directions to

the soldiers who were

employed at one of the
busily
bomb proofs. Every instant the men were engaged in
dodging to avoid the ball and bursting shell. One of
the latter, from "the battery in the country," struck in

the parapet, burying itself in the sand without explod-

ing ; a cloud of dust rose into the air, amid which the
gallant commander was seen to fall, mortally wounded.
He was immediately taken to the hospital tent, and,

* The death of Major J. Brown was a severe loss to the army. He

was a native of "Vermont, and at the age of twenty-four years entered
the army as a common soldier, in the 7th infantry, at the commence-
ment of the war of 1812. His merit soon raised him to the rank of
ensign, Ueutenant, and finally major. He did good service in the
Florida war ; and was selected by General Taylor to command at the

fort where he fell, in consequence of the general's high opinion of his

courage and abiUty. General Taylor says cf him : " The pleasure (of
victory) is alloyed with profound regret at the loss of the heroic and
indomitable Major Brown. His loss would be a severe one to the service

at any time, but to the army under my orders, it is indeed irreparable."

In the case of Major Brown we see the importance of occasional pro-
motions of common soldiers to the rank of officers.
 THE WAR. 35
Summons to S\irrender.

while being borne in the arms of two of his men, he

exhorted those about him never to give up the fort. His
right leg had been shot off, exhibiting the torn muscles,
and jagged crushed bones to the pained sight of his
command. Although suffering the most excruciatmg
tortures, he remained perfectly calm, and said to those
who were sympathizingly standing about hirti, " Men,

go to your duties, stand by your posts; I am but one

among you." While suffering under the operation of
having his leg amputated above the knee, which was
most skilfully done, he congratulated his country that the
misfortune had befallen him, and not been meted out to
a younger man.
Attempts were next made by the enemy to bring
musketry into play upon the garrison, but those who ap-
proached for the purpose were scattered with some loss
by a few rounds of canister. The bombardment then
grew still more severe, and continued till noon. In the
afternoon, a few shells were thrown. At four p.m., two
Mexican officers approached with a white flag, bearing
a communication from General Arista, which proved to
be a summons to surrender, the humanity of the Mexi-
cans being given as a reason for the demand, although
he is asserted to have had a band of men organized and
instructed to slaughter the garrison as soon as the sur-
render was made. Captain Hawkins, who had suc-
ceeded Major Brown in the command, summoned a
council of the commissioned officers, and stated the pur-
port of the message, (the want of a good Spanish inter-
preter making it difficult to be adding
fully understood,)

that though he knew there was but one sentiment upon

the point, he thought it proper that all the officers should
36 THE WAR.

be represented in the reply. It was then unanimously

voted to defend the fort to the death. The following
reply was and despatched to General
therefore prepared
Arista, within the hour that had been allowed for a reply.
—
"Sir: Your humane communication has just been
received," and, after the consideration due to its import-
ance, I must respectfully decline to surrender my forces
to you.
The exact purport of your despatch I cannot feel

confident that I understand, as my interpreter is not

skilled in your language ; but if I have understood you
correctly, you have my reply above," &c., &c.
The reception of this answer was the signal of a gene-
ral burst of hea\y shot upon the fort ; but the Americans
saved their ammunition and doubled their sentinels dur-
ing the night, in expectation of an attack. During the
7th, much was manifested, a heavy ca'nnonade
activity

being maintained all day, and various parties firing with

muskets into the fort from every position. The garrison,
however, were directed not to return the fire unless they
advanced within eighty yards, and they therefore pre-
served silence. In the evening, the gallant Major Mans-
fitld advanced with a small party into the plain, and

leveled the traverse formerly occupied by the Americans,

and which now served to shelter the enemy while firing
on the fort. A large quantity of chaparral, used in a
similar manner, was also cut down. At midnight the
garrison were roused by a terrible discharge of musketry,
and the sound of bugles, but the anticipated assault did
not follow. On the 8th, the cannonade was recommenced
at daybreak, and continued till the afternoon. The
bombardment had hardly ceased when a severe cannon*
 THE WAR. 37
Death of Major Erown.

ading was heard in the direction of Point Isabel, so sud-

den and so rapidly that it seemed to be one continuous

volley of field-pieces. The soldiers in the fort answered
it by hearty cheering ; the men of Matamoras, by a re-
newal of the firing from four mortar, batteries at once.

Yet the gallant defenders knew that General Taylor was

on his way to succour them, and they stood upon the
parapet to listen to the far distant firing, while the ter-

rific rain from the enemy's batteries poured unheeded

around them. Towards night, they learned from a Mexi-
can the events of the field of Palo Alto, and the know-
ledge that the victory rested with their friends made the
quiet night, their nearer enemies permitted them to enjoy,

the more refreshing. On the morning of the 9th, an

officer of the 7th regiment went outside of the fort to
the flagstaff, for the purpose of arranging the halyards,
which bad become unrigged on the previous day. He
succeeded in lowering the topmast of the and rig- staff

ging the halyards, the enemy playing upon him with

round shot and shell from all their batteries. He was
not strong enough to raise the flagstaff to its proper
place, he therefore coolly lashed it in its position, and
gave the flag to the breeze.
On this day Major Brown expired. At the time of
his death every thing in the fort was perfectlystill, and

the silence was unbroken until the report of Ridgely's

batteries on the field of the Palma were
Resaca de la

heard. "No language," says Mr. Thorpe, "can de-

scribe the intense interest with which the raging battle
was listened to: each man was at his post, and every
booming gun called forth an almost agonizing interest to
learn its nationality and effects. Meanwhile the bom-
4
38 THE W A R.
Flight of th.e enemy seen from, the Fort.

bardment opened simultaneously with the firing on the

field, and continued to increase with unprecedented

severity ;but it was not to the batteries of the Mexicans

tha.t attention was directed. Our eighteen-pounders
w^ere occasionally fired, to let General Taylor know that
all was still well in the fort. The firing on the battle-
field was now growing less and less powerful, and the

discharges w'ere becoming irregular. They have charged *

on the guns !' shouted one of the officers Another and !

another was silenced. They have carried them!'

^

shouted another, in uncontrollable ecstacy; all cannonad-

ing ceased ; volleys of musketry w^ere next heard, then all

was still. How eloquently the silence spoke of the

hand-to-hand conflict, and how the blood in the hearts

of these brave men went and came from excitement to

be engaged in it! The victorious result of our arms
was now almost certain. General Taylor and his brave
men w^ould either conquer or die. No bells were now
ringing in Matamoras, and the noisy music that was
wont to belabour the air had been silenced since the
evening of the 8th. This, to the heroes of the fort,

was full of meaning, and the tale was soon told. At a little
before six a confused rush of cavalry and straggling in-
fantry towards the Rio Grande, announced the victory
of the Americans, at sight of which, an officer of the
7th regiment jumped upon the parapet, beside the regi-
mental and gave three cheers, which w^ere re-
flagstaff,

sponded and heartily by all in the fort, that

to so loudly

they silenced the enemy's batteries, for from that moment

they ceased firing. The news had reached Matamoras,
that to Mexico the day w^as lost." Besides Major
Brown, one non-commissioned officer killed, and ten
 THE WAR. 39
Maxell from Point Isabel.

men wounded was the amount of loss that the garrison

sustained during one hundred and sixty hours severe
bombardment.
General Taylor had left Point Isabel on the evening
of the 7th of May, and moved with the main body of
the army towards the Rio Grande. After marching
seven miles, they bivouacked on their arms, and resumed
the march on the following morning. At noon they dis-
covered the enemy, prepared to oppose their progress,
stretched out on the fiat prairie more than a mile.
We give here the clear and concise account of this
battle, given by General Taylor in his official despatches,
reserving for another portion of the work more minute
details and personal anecdotes.
"About noon, when our advance of cavalry had
reached the water hole of ^ Palo Alto,' the Mexican
troops were reported in our front, and were soon dis-
covered occupying the road in force. I ordered a halt
upon reaching the water, with the view to rest and re-
fresh the men, and to form deliberately our line of bat-
tle. The Mexican line was now plainly visible across
the prairie, and about three-quarters of a mile distant.
Their left, which was composed of a heavy force of
cavalry, occupied the road, resting upon a thicket of
chaparral, while masses of infantry were discovered in
succession on the right, greatly outnumbering our o%vn
force.
Our line of battle was now formed in the following
order,commencing on the extreme right: 5th infantry, —
commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Mcintosh Major ;

Ringgold's artillery 3d infantry, commanded by Cap-

;

tain L. N. Morris ; tw^o eighteen-pounders, commanded

40 THE WAR.
Battle of Palo Alto.

by Lieutenant Churchill, 3d artillery 4th infantry, com-

;

manded by Major G. W. Allen the 3d and 4th regi-;

ments composed the third brigade, under command of

Lieutenant-Colonel Garland ; and all the above corps,
together with two squadrons of dragoons under Captains
Ker and May, composed the right wing under the orders
of Colonel Twiggs. The left was formed by the bat-
talion of artillery commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel
Childs. Captain Duncan's light artillery, and the 8th
infantry, under Captain Montgomery — all forming the
first brigade, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Belk-
nap. The train was packed near the water, under direc-
tion of Captains Grossman and Myers, and protected by
Captain Ker's squadron.
At two oclock we took up the march by heads of
columns, in the direction of the enemy —the eighteen-
pounder battery following the road. While the columns
were advancing, Lieutenant Blake, topographical engi-
neer, volunteered a reconnoisance of the enemy's line,
which was handsomely performed, and resulted in the
discovery of at least two batteries of artillery in the
intervals of their cavalry and infantry. These batteries
were soon opened upon us, when I ordered the columns
halted and deployed into line, and the fire to be returned
by all our artillery. The 8th infantry on our extreme
left, was thrown back to secure that flank. The first
fires of the enemy did little execution, v/hile our eighteen-
pounders and Major Ringgold's artillery soon dispersed
the cavalry which formed his left. —Captain Duncan's
battery, thrown forward in advance of the line, was
doing good execution at this time. Captain May's
squadron was now detached to support that battery, and
 THE WAR. 43
Battle of Falo Alto.

the left of our position. The Mexican cavalry, with

two pieces of artillery, were now reported to be moving
through the chaparral to our right, to threaten that flank,
or make a demonstration against the train. The 5th
infantry was immediately detached to check this move-
ment, and supported by Lieutenant Ridgely, with a sec-
tion of Major Ringgold's battery and Captain Walker's
company of volunteers, effectually repulsed the enemy
the 5th infantry repelling a charge of lancers, and the
artillery doing great execution in their ranks. The 3d
infantry was now detached to the right as a still farther
by the enemy. Ma-
security to that flank yet threatened
jor Ringgold, with the remaining section, kept up his
fire from an advanced position, and was supported by

the 4th infantry.

The grass of the prairie had been accidentally fired
by our artillery, and the volumes of smoke now partially
concealed the armies from each other. As the enemy's
left had evidently been driven back and left the road
free, as the cannonade had been suspended, I ordered

forward the eighteen-pounders on the road nearly to the

position first occupied by the Mexican cavalry, and
caused the first brigade to take up a new position still

on the left of the eighteen-pounder battery. The 5th

was advanced from its former position and occupied a
point on the extreme right of the new line. The enemy
made a change of position corresponding to our own,
and after the suspension of nearly an hour the action
v.'as resumed.
The fire of artillery was now most destructive —open-
ings were constantly made through the enemy's ranks
by our fire, and the constancy with which the Mexican
44 THE \V A R.

Death of l}£i^oT Ringgold,

infantry sustained the severe cannonade was a theme of

universal remark and admiration. Captain May's squad-
ron was detached to make a demonstration on the left

of the enemy's position, and suffered severely from the

fire of artillery to which it was for some time exposed.
The 4th infantry, which had been ordered to support
the eighteen-pounder battery, was exposed to a most
galling fire by which several men were
of artillery,
killed, and Captain Page dangerously wounded. The
enemy's fire w^as directed against our eighteen-pounder
battery, and the guns under Major Ringgold, in its vici-
nity. The major himself, while coolly directing the fire

of his pieces, was struck by a cannon ball and mortally

wounded.*
In the mean time the battalion of artillery under Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Childs, had been brought up to support
the artillery on our right. A strong demonstration of
cavalry was now made by the enemy against this part
of our line, and the column continued to advance under
a severe fire from the eighteen-pounders. The battalion
w^as instantly formed in square, and held ready to receive

* The death of Major Ringgold was universally lamented. He was

a native of Washington county, Maryland, born in 1800. He was
educated at the Military Academy, West Point; graduated in 1818;
entered the army as lieutenant ;
promoted to the rank of first lieutenant
in 1822, and to that of captain in 1834. His brevet rank of major
was the reward of severe service in the Florida war. To his exertions
in perfecting the discipline of the hght artillery, the country is chiefly
indebted for the eflSciency of that important arm of the national defense.
Major Ringgold's connections were of the first respectabihty. His
was General Samuel Ringgold, and his mother was a daughter
father

of General John Cadwalader, who was greatly distinguished in the war

of the Revolution. His conduct and character as an officer and a gentle-
man were in every respect worthy of so highly honourable a descent.
 THE WAR. 45
Less, &c., at Falo Alto.

the charge of cavahy ; but when the advancing squad-

rons were within close range a deadly fire of canister
from the eighteen-pounders dispersed them. A brisk
fire of small arms was now opened upon the square, by
which one officer, Lieutenant Luther, 2d artillery, was
slightly wounded ; but a well-directed volley from the
front of the square silenced all farther firing from the
enemy in this quarter. It was now nearly dark, and the

actionwas closed on the right of our line, the enemy

having been completely driven back from his position,
and foiled in every attempt against our line.
While the above was going forward on our right, and
under my own eye, the enemy had made a serious
attempt against the left of our line. Captain Duncan
instantly perceived the movement, and by the bold and
brilliant manceuvering of this battery, completely repulsed
several successive efforts of the enemy to advance in
force upon our left flank. Supported in succession by
the 8th infantry and Captain Ker's squadron of dragoons,
he gallantly held the enemy at bay, and finally drove
him, with immense loss, from the field. The action
here and along the whole Hne, continued until dark,
when the enemy retired into the chaparral in rear of his
position.
Our loss this day was nine killed, forty-four wounded,
and two missing. Among the wounded were Major Ring-
gold, who has since died, and Captain Page dangerously
wounded, and Lieutenant Luther slightly so. I annex
a tabular statement of the casualties of the day.
Our own force engaged is shown by the field report,
herewith transmitted, to have been one hundred and
seventy-seven officers and two thousand one hundred
46 THE WAR.
Arista's Despatch..

and eleven men aggregate, two thousand two hundred

;

and eighty-eight. The Mexican force, according to the

statement of their own officers, taken prisoners in the
affair of the 9th, was not less than six thousand regular
and probably exceed-
troops, with ten pieces of artillery,
ed that number —the known. Their
irregular force not
loss was not less than two hundred killed, and four

—
hundred wounded probably greater. This estimate is
very moderate, and founded upon the number actually
counted on the field, and upon the reports of their own
officers.

As already reported in my first brief despatch, the

conduct of our officers and men was every thing that

could be desired. Exposed for hours to the severest

trials — a cannonade of artillery — our troops displayed a
coolness and constancy which gave me throughout the
assurance of victory. I purposely defer the mention of
individuals until my report of the action of the 9th, when
I will endeavour to do justice to the many instances of
distinguished conduct on both days."
The Mexicans evinced great determination in this first

and remained almost within sight of the

day's battle,
American army during the night. General Arista em-
ployed the night in writing a despatch to the minister of
war and marine, giving an eloquent account of what he
claimed as his victory, and at daybreak on the 9th,
slowly moved into the chaparral, leaving General Taylor
in possession of the battle-field. Fearing that the enemy
might dispute his progress towards Fort Brown, as the
fortification opposite Matamoras was now named, he

ordered the train to be strongly parked. An intrench-

ment was thrown up, and the artillery battalion, with two
 THE WAE. 47
Death, of Lieutenant Blake.

eighteen-pounders and two twelve-pounders were as-

signed to its defence.
The army then moved over the plain in line of battle
with lively music, marking every where around them
the evidences of the terrible destruction produced by
the American on the previous day. Wounded
artillery

soldiers, dying of thirst and hunger, received relief from

their generous enemies. The ground was covered with
torn clothing, military caps, gun-stocks, and large quan-
tities of cartridges for muskets and artillery. On the edge
of the chaparral, the army halted at a place convenient
to water. A detachment under Captain McCall was
sent forward into the chaparral to ascertain the position
of the enemy. General Taylor then rode back to the
train, accompanied by Lieutenant J. E. Blake of the
topographical corps, who had displayed the utmost gal-
lantry on the previous day. At the train, Lieutenant
Blake dismounted from his horse to procure some refresh-
ment, and expressed gratification at the prospect of a
little rest, his labours during the previous twenty-four
hours having been very arduous. He unbuckled his
holsters and threw them on the ground, when one of the
pistols unaccountably exploded, throwing the ball up-
wards into his body. He was mortally wounded, and
expired shortly after, expressing his regret that he had
not died on the battle-field on the preceding day.
Captain McCall with the advance guard found the
enemy intrenched at La Resaca de la Palma, the Dry
River of Palms, a strong position entirely commanding
the approach to Fort Brown. At this place the road
crosses a ravine sixty yardswide and nearly breast high,
the bottom being wet, forming long and serpentine ponds
48 THE WAR.
Gallantry of Kidgely.

through tlie prairie. Along the banks of this dry river,

and more particularly on the side then occupied by the
Mexicans, the chaparral grows most densely, and at this
time, save where it was broken in by the passage of the
road, formed almost a solid wall. The enemy occupied
this ravine in double line ; one behind and under the
front bank, and the other intrenched behind the wall of
the chaparral on the top of the rear ridge. A battery
was placed in the centre of each line on the right and
left of the road, and a third battery was on the right of

the first line. Six or seven thousand troops were thus

strongly fortified in a form resembling a crescent, be-
tween the horns of which the army had to pass, while
the Mexican batteries were enfilading and cross firing,
the narrow road which formed the only unobstructed
approach to their position. Lieutenant Ridgely, the
successor of Ringgold, was ordered forward on the road,
while the 3d, 4th, and 5th regiments of infantry were
ordered forward as skirmishers to cover the battery and
engage the infantry of the enemy. General Taylor and
his staff came up with Captain McCall and his party at
four o'clock. He immediately deployed Captain McCall
to the left of the road, and Captain C. F. Smith to the
right, with orders to bring on the action.
Having received orders to advance. Lieutenant Ridge-
ly moved cautiously forward with Captain Walker, w^ho
was charged with assisting him to find the enemy's
batteiies. At the instant they discovered them, they
received a fire from them, which Ridgely, moving about

a hundred yards to the front, returned with spirit. This

contest was maintained for some time, their balls filling the
air, and passing through Ridgely's battery in every direc*.
 T HE W A R. 49
Action Commences.

tion. His men worked at their guns with invincible de-

termination, and he himself sighted them with all the
coolness and certainty of ordinary target practice. These
well-directed charges were necessary to keep off the
enemy who were constantly charging upon him, and
whom he had sometimes to beat back with his own
sword. The rapid firing of the artillery on both sides pro-
duced an unintermitted roar. Colonel Duncan's bat-
terywas at the edge of the ravine, but he could not
use it; Lieutenant Ridgely holding the only position
from which the enemy could be assailed without galling
our troops. These had come into the action in the most
extraordinary manner, the firing of their musketry being
heard at almost the same instant that Ridgely opened his
fire in the centre.* The 6th regiment under Lieutenant-
Colonel Mcintosh supported Ridgely's battery. The 3d

• It is to be observed that the artillery, during the whole course of the

present war, has proved the most efficient arm of the service in deter-
mining the fate of battles, with, perhaps, the exception of the rifle corps

in the recent battles near the city of Mexico. Nothing can exceed the
efficiency and bravery of the rifle corps. General Scott's pointed eulogy
of their conduct was richly deserved.
The efficiency of this arm of the national defense, as we have had
occasion to remark in another place, is greatly owing to the indefatigable

exertions of Major Ringgold. In this important service the major was

aided by Captain Duncan, whose battery rendered most efficient service
in the battles of the 8th and 9th of May, as well as in the other most

important engagements of the war. The batteries of Sherman, Bragg,

and Washington have also become famous, especially by their efficient

service at Buena Vista.

The services of the artillery in the battle of Buena Vista were so es-

sential, that it is considered by all military men, that the absence of a

small portion of it would undoubtedly have occasioned the loss of the

battle.

3
60 THE WAR.
May's charge.

regiment with a part of the 4th came up on the enemy's

right, and the other portion of the 4th joined with the
5th on the left. The 3d and 4th were separated by the
cliuparral, through which the soldiers literally pushed
each other into squads of five or six, and they were
obliged to form in the ravine. The 8th, under Captain
Montgomery, w^ith Smith's light and other corps, faced
to the right. The best troops of Mexico were now con-
tending with the greatest bravery for victory. The con-
test with and musketry, the sword and the bay-
artillery

onet, at the end of two hours, resulted in the Americans

gaining possession of the ravine in which the enemy
were posted at the beginning of the action. Yet the
batteries in the centre still stood firm, pouring a perfect
shower of grape and shells into the American front, and
prevented General Taylor from reaping the advantages
which the bravery of his troops would otherwise have
secured. Captain May rode back to the general, and
asked if he should charge the battery on the other side
of the ravine. " Charge, captain, nolens volens," was
the reply, and away dashed the gallant fellow.* He
rode to the head of his command ; every rein and sabre
was tightly grasped. Raising himself in the saddle, he
shouted to his command, " We are ordered to take that
battery —follow !" In columns of fours, they dashed
along the narrow road, until they came to where Lieu-
tenant Ridgely obstructed their advance. ''
I am ordered
to charge those batteries," said May, coming to a halt.
Ridgely knowing the perilous nature of the duty, said,
"Wait, Charley, till I draw their fire!" All begrimed

Henry's Campaign Sketches.

 THE WAR. 51
Capture of La Vega.

with powder and labouring with his own hands, he fired

his pieces slowly and with the usual deadly effect. A
storm of copper balls came whizzing and crushing among
the artillerists iii reply, while Ridgely and his men lim-
bered up, jumped on their pieces, and cheered as May
dashed forward. An overwhelming discharge of grape
and bullets from the other battery dest;oyed his first and
second platoons, but he was unhurt, and with those who
lived swept to the left of the road leaped over the bat-
tery and drove the Mexicans from their guns. But they
seemed determined they
to retain their pieces or die :

rushed back to them with the bayonet, and commenced

to load them again with grape. May then charged back
upon our own lines, and the enemy shrunk in terror
from the stroke of his sword. One man, General La
Vega, alone maintained his ground, and tried to rally
his men but was made a prisoner by Captain May, and
;

carried under a galling fire from his own countrymen to

our lines. The infantry now gathered round the batte-
ries in masses, crossing bayonets for their possession,
over the very muzzles of the guns. In a short time,
Captain Belknap, with the 8th infantr}^, and Captain Mar-
tin Scott, with the 5th, were engaged in a hand-to-hand
conflict with the far-famed Tampico veterans, who had
been in twenty battles and were never defeated. The
battery was and the 8th and the 5th charged
carried,
up the ravine amidst a terrible fire from the enemy's
right and front. The battery of Colonel Duncan now
came into the front, and the retreat of the enemy was
hastened by his deadly fire. While the centre battery
of the enemy was being carried, Lieutenants Ruggles
and Crittenden, with a small command of the 5th and
52 THE WAR.
Captixre of Arista's Despatches.

the 8th infantry, all under Captain Montgomery, routed

the right wing and carried the right battery. Between
this and the centre battery, the Tampico regiment had
been posted, all of whom, except seventeen, are said to
have fallen at their posts. Their tri-colour was the last

Mexican flag waving on the field, and the gallant fellow

who bore it, when all hope was lost, tore it from the
staff, and concealed it about his person while he at-

tempted to fly. He w^as ndden dow^n by the dragoons,

however, and made a prisoner, and his flag was a trophy
of the victory.
The hurry of the Mexicans to escape was so great,
that many of them were drowned in the river. Immense
quantities of baggage, military stores, and camp equipage
fell into the hands of the Americans ; the personal, pub-
lic, and private property of Arista, and all his despatches
being among the spoils. The American army passed
the night on the battle-field, in the enjoyment of the fes-
which had been prepared by the followers of the
tival

Mexican camp to regale their friends after the anticipated

victory. In his despatch after this brilliant victory Ge-
neral Taylor says :

" The loss enemy in killed has been most

of the
severe. Our own has been very heavy, and I deeply
regret to report that Lieutenant Inge, 2d dragoons, Lieu-
tenant Cochrane, 4th infantry, e.nd Lieutenant Chad-
bourne, 8th infantry, were killed on the field. Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Payne, 4th artillery, Lieutenant-Colonel
Mcintosh, Lieutenant Dobbins, 3d infantry. Captain Hooe
and Lieutenant Fowler, 5th infantry and Captain Mont-;

gomery, Lieutenants Gates, Selden, McClay, Burbank,

and Jordan, 8th infantry were wounded. The extent of
 THE WAR. 53
General Taylor's Despatcli.

our loss in killed and wounded is not yet ascertained,

and is reserved for a more detailed report.
The affair of to-day may be regarded as a proper sup-
plement to the cannonade of yesterday ; and the two
taken together, exliibit the coolness and gallantry of our
officers and men in the most favourable light. All have
done their duty and done it nobly. It will be my pride,
in amore circumstantial report of both actions, to dwell
upon particular instances of individual distinction.
It affords me peculiar pleasure to report that the field-
work opposite to Matamoras has sustained itself hand-
somely during a cannonade and bombardment of one
hundred and sixty hours. But the pleasure is alloyed
with profound regret at the loss of its heroic and indo-
mitable commander. Major Brown, who died to-day from
the effect of a shell. His loss would be a severe one to
the service at any time, but to the army under my orders,
it is indeed irreparable. One and one non-com-
officer

missioned officer killed, and ten men wounded, comprise

all the casualties incident to this severe bombardment.
I inadvertently omitted to mention the capture of
a large number lefl in the Mexican
of pack-mules
camp."
" So confident," says Captain Henry, in his interesting
work, Campaign Sketches of the War with Mexico,'
*

**were the Mexicans of victory, that Ampudia, speaking

to Captain Thornton, who was then their prisoner,
said, it was utterly impossible it could be otherwise ;
^

that their numbers alone were sufficient, independent of

those veteran regiments.' General La Vega said, that if ^

he had any sum of money in camp he should have consi-

dered it as safe as if at the city of Mexico and he ;
54 THE W A R.
Taylor's maTch. to Point Isabel.

would have bet any amount' that no ten thousand men

could have driven them off.'"
Our loss in this action was three officers and thirty-six
men killed, and twelve officers and fifty-nine men
wounded. The loss of the enemy in killed, wounded,
and missing, was not less than two thousand, taking the
two days fighting together.
On the morning after the battle. General Taylor, with
Matamoras for Mexican
characteristic humanity, sent to
surgeons to attend to their wounded, and for men to
bury their dead. The American army was occupied at
the same time upon the same mournful duty.
On the 11th General Taylor again left Fort Brown for

Point Isabel, in order to arrange with Commodore Conner

the plan of acombined land and naval attack upon the
Mexican posts on the Rio Grande. While at the Point, he
despatched a hasty letter to Washington, from which we
make the following extracts: "I avail myself of this
brief time at my command to report that the main body
of the army is now occupying its former position oppo-
site Matamoras. The Mexican forces are almost disor-
ganized, and I shall lose no time in investing Matamoras,
and opening the navigation of the river." * * * c<i

have exchanged a sufficient number of prisoners to

recover the command The wound-
of Captain Thornton.
ed prisoners have been sent to Matamoras the wounded ;

officers on their parole. General Vega and a few others

have been sent to New Orleans, having declined a parole,
and will be reported to Major-General Gaines. I am
not conversant with the usages of war in such cases,
and beg that such provision may be made for these pri-
soners as may be authorized by law. Our own prisoners
 THE WAR. 55
CaptvLxe of Barita.

have been treated with great kindness by the Mexican

officers."
On the morning of the 13th he started for camp with
an escort of dragoons, but having been met by an express
with the information that large bodies of fresh troops
had arrived at Matamoras, and that the enemy was con-
centrating troops at Barita, he returned to the Point.
Here he found a newly arrived detachment of troops
from New Orleans, including regulars and volunteers
from Louisiana and Alabama, an accession which ena-
bled him to withdraw from the Point a force of six
hundred men with a train of artillery, two hundred and
fifty wagons, and a large quantity of military and other

stores. With this force he set out on the morning of

the 14th for Fort Brown. He had previously arranged
a plan for an attack upon Barita, a small town near
the mouth of the Rio Grande, on the Mexican side of
the river. This was executed by Lieutenant-Colonel
Wilson, who captured the place without opposition. It

speedily became a place of importance as the depot of

the new base of operations, being the first high land
reached in ascending the river above hurricane tides,
and in a military point of view, commanding every thing
around and commanded by nothing.
it,

Want of the necessary means of transportation pre-

vented General Taylor from crossing the Rio Grande to
attack Matamoras until the 17th. On that day Colonel
Twiggs was ordered to cross above the city, whilst Colo-
nel Wilson was to make a demonstration from Barita.
The Mexicans then attempted to induce General Taylor
to agree to an armistice, that they might be able to carry
off the public stores and munitions of war with which
56 THE WAR.
Capture of Matamoms.

Matamoras was filled, but General Taylor was too well

versed in Mexican cunning to be cajoled. He stated
that he had offered an armistice a month before, which
Ampudia had declined that he had neither invited nor
;

provoked hostilities, but that he would not now suspend

them while he was receiving large reinforcements ; that

the possession of INIatamoras was now necessary to his

troops, but that the Mexican army might retire, leaving
behind them public property of every description. The
Mexican General Reguena promised to return w^ith an
answ^er at three o'clock but failed to keep his w^ord the ;

time of his mission and the interval allowed for his an-
swer, being employed by Arista in throwing the public
stores into the river, burying artillery in wells, and con-
cealing other portions of the public property in and
about the city. In the evening, General Taylor, finding
that no answer had been returned, finished his prepara-
tions for crossing early in the morning, while Arista re-
treated from the city, taking with him two pieces of
artillery and four thousand men, and leaving behind his

sick and wounded.

On the morning of the 18th Captain Bliss had an inter-
view with the prefect of the town, and demanded its
surrender, and all the public stores therein. The
prefect replied to the demand ^'
that General Taylor
could march Lis troops into the towm at any time that
might suit his While this conversation
convenience."
was going Twiggs was crossing w^ith his
on. Colonel
troops above the town, his band playing " Yankee Doo-
dle." The other troops crossed at Matamoras, and the
star-spangled banner speedily waved over the walls of
Fort Parades.
 THE WAR. 57
Description of Matamoras.

The best description of the taking of Matamoras that

has yet appeared is given in the following sketch, by an
officer of the army, who like many of the gallant war-
riors now in Mexico, wields a pen with no less ability
than he wears his sword. He says, ^'We reached this
point on the 25lh of May. The country through which
we passed was lovely in the extreme —being as level as
a ball-room floor, and full of little chaparrals and mus-
keet groves. Our road, though not exactly following
the meanderings of the river, touched its banks often

enough to obtain water every mile or two. The citizens

were friendly to us, and showed little displeasure at the
invasion. In fact, some of them expressed their wish
that the country should be governed by Americans or
some other people, that would guaranty them a liberal
or stable government, so much had they been annoyed
by the internal convulsions of their own. At every house
we found three or four men, which induced me to be-
lieve that the press-gang had met with very poor success
among them. They say that it is not their disposition
to play the soldier at any time, particularly the present,
and when the call is made for troops they leave their
homes in possession of the women, and find business in
the chaparral. They are a happy, simple people, whose
aim seems to be to make provision for to-day, leaving
to-morrow to look out for itseLf. All along the road
they were found waiting with milk, a sort of bread,
which they call tortillias, cheese, poloncas, or maple sugar,
and a sort of liquor resembling, in looks and taste, San
Croix rum. We paid them liberally for all we obtained,
which to them must have presented a strong contrast to
the Mexican soldiery, who spread dismay and devasta-
58 THE WAR.
Description of Matamoxas.

tionamong their own people wherever they go. It seems

to man in our ranks to
have been the desire of every
make the line of disparity between the American and
Mexican soldier as palpable as possible ; and the good
effect of such conduct, if not immediately developed,
will in the course of timebe more apparent. Our march
was very heavy, particularly during the day we left the
Baritas, and some of our young men were very much
used up. Two from company A were so much affected
by the scorching sun as to be unable to proceed farther,
and stopped at the house of a Mexican, where they re-
ceived the utmost kindness and attention during the
night, and were furnished with horses in the morning to
catch up with us.
was about ten o'clock in the morning when we
It

reached the town of Matamoras, though its white build-

ings, so different from those we had passed on the route,
had attracted the eyes long before that time. There was
something far more attractive to the eye than the white
buildings of the town —
something to awaken a thrill of
pleasure in the breasts of the whole regiment —the stripes
and were majestically floating in the breeze from
stars
the highest point in Matamoras, and between the river
and the town hundreds and hundreds of white tents
were pitched in such admirable order as to induce the
beholder to think it a great town.
As we entered the town at the east end, thousands of
people sallied out of their houses to look upon us, whose
looks more bespoke a welcome to their own army than
to that of the invaders. At many a half-opened door
or window was to be seen the head of a senora, whose
timidity or modesty (albeit they allow so little to the
 THE WAR. 59
Eescxiption of Matamoras.

Mexicans) forbade their emerging into the streets. Some

of these women are indeed beautiful, though a great
majority are indolent, slovenly, and destitute of that fe-
male delicacy which characterizes our own women.
Their common dress is a white muslin skirt, tied quite
loosely around the body, without any bodice ; their
chemise being the only covering for their breasts, in
which they wear their jewelry and cross. I did not see
one pair of stockings in all the town. From this style

of dressing you will infer that pride of dress gives way

to comfort and ease, and that, too, in a greater degree
than I think the largest liberty would warrant them in-
dulging in. I w^ent into a house yesterday evening,
occupied by an old man and two daughters, both speak-
ing a sufficiency of English to be understood. After
being seated for a few moments, the eldest of the daughters
went to the bed and brought to me a lovely and interest-
ing child, as white almost as any of our own people.
She informed me that she was married about two years
ago to a Texan prisoner, and that he had been killed
whilst fighting under General Taylor. She spoke in the
highest terms of her deceased lord, and seemed to wor-
ship his image in the child. She is a lovely creature,
and, I think, deeply devoted to our cause.
Matamoras is a much handsomer place than I expected
to find it. It covers two miles square, though by no
means as compact as an American city — every house ex-
cept those around the public square, has a large garden
attached.- The houses in the business part of the town
are built after the American fashion, though seldom ex-
ceeding two stories in height. All the windows to these

buildings are grated from top to bottom with iron bars,

60 THE WAR.
Description of Matamoraa.

and half of the door only opens for admittance, which

gives them the appearance of prisons more than business
houses. The public square is in the centre of the town,
and must have been laid off by an American or Euro-
pean, for the Mexicans never could have laid it out with
such beauty and precision. On the four sides of the
square, the houses are built close together, as in block,
and are of the same size and height, with the exception
of the cathedral, which, though unfinished, still towers
above the others. In these houses are sold dry goods,
gi'oceries, and every kind of wares, Avith now and then
an exchange or coffee-house. They are principally oc-
cupied by Europeans, and you can hear French, English,
Spanish, and German spoken at the same time. After
leaving the public square on either side, the houses de-
crease in size and beauty for two or three squares, when
the small reed and thatched huts commence, and con-
tinue to the extreme limits of the place.
In walking through the streets, my attention was at-

tracted to a house, in the door of which stood, or leaned,

two half-naked Mexicans, so wobegone as to cause me
to halt. On my nearing the door, a most disagreeable
stench almost induced me to recede. I mustered courage
to enter the door. On the floor, lying upon mats, with-
out covering, were near fiLfty Mexicans, wounded in the
late engagements, attended by some ten or twelve women.
The smell of the place was insufferable, and I had to
leave it. The next door was the same, and so on for
about twenty houses. A friena of mine called my atten-
tion to a room in which there were at least forty of these
miserable objects, and this room w^as scarcely twelve
feet square. There was not positively room for the nurses
 THE WAR. 61
Colonel T-wiggs governor of Matamoras.

to attend them. Some had lost a leg, others an arm,

and some both legs and arms. I noticed one who will
certainly get well, whose legs were shot off within two
or three inches above the knees, and he seemed to me
to have a greater flow of spirits who had only
than some
flesh wounds. I said to him
had his wounds been
that
made by a Mexican shot, he would have been dead, to
which he replied, The American shot was very good
*

no poisonous copper in them!' One had died just be-

fore I had entered the room, and they were making pre-
parations to carry him out. He had been shot in the
mouth by a rifle ball, which passed under the left ear, and
he had lived from the 9th up to this time. There are
between three hundred and fifty and four hundred of
these horrid objects in this place, and the sight of them
would induce many a stout heart to lament the horrors
of war. These men give the number of killed and
wounded on the 9th much greater than the Americans
ever claimed, —
some say twelve hundred, and some,
fifteen hundred, —but enough of them."
Colonel Twiggs was appointed governor of Matamo-
ras, and immediately afterwards the prefect or former

governor retired in disgust. Don Jesus Cardenus, for

that was his name, appears to have been distinguished
for his tyranny and his hatred to foreigners. The only
care he expressed in surrendering the city was whether
he could retain his office ; the privileges or interests of
the citizens being matters of no consequence to him.
General Taylor issued orders to his men to respect
strictly the private property of the citizens, and per-
mitted the latter to go on with their business as usual,
prohibiting only the sale of intoxicating liquors. "The
62 THE WAR.
BeliaviouT of our army after victory.

people had been told," says Captain Henry, in his Cam-

paign Sketches, " they would be persecuted *for con-
science' sake ;' that we would tolerate no religion but
the protestant; and their priests have added all the fuel
to the flame they could to produce the impression among
these poor, ignorant creatures that we were a set of
savage barbarians. Our acts, both civil and military,
and now religious, will prove the contrary, and will
open their eyes to the magnitude of the attempted de-
ception.
The behaviour of our army after the victory is as
highly honourable as the victories themselves. In taking
possession of Matamoras we have not interfered with
either the civil or religious rights of the inhabitants.
Their courts of justice are still held, the most perfect
respect is paid to law and order, and every infraction
of either is severely punished. The army instead of
entering the city as conquerors, encamped quietly in the
suburbs. Instead of taking possession of their houses
for our men, w^e remain under iniserable canvass, which
affords no protection from the storm, and scarcely shade
to protect the soldier from the noonday sun. Many
have no tents, and yet, under these circumstances no
building is occupied : those taken for storehouses and
public offices are regularly rented. By such conduct w^e
have restored confidence to the people ; the citizens
mingle freely among us, walk through our camp, and
feel sure of protection.Such condu<;t should make our
countrymen proud of their army."
On the day following the taking of Matamoras, Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Garland, with all the cavalry of the army,
about two hundred and fifty dragoons and Rangers,
 THE wah. 63
Pursuit of Arista.

started in pursuit of the retreating Mexicans, with orders

to harass their march, and to capture prisoners and bag-
gage. He succeeded in capturing a small rear party, after
a skirmish, in which two Mexicans were killed and
twenty-two taken prisoners, and one wagon with ammu-
nition and clothing of an artillery company. The army of
Arista was twenty-four hours in advance of this pursuing
party, retreating in good order. The Americans having
stopped at a ranclie, the proprietor asked Captain Gra-
ham, with some appearance of astonishment, whither
they were going. He was told that they were pursuing
the retreating Mexican army. His astonishment was
now still more increased, as he asserted that General
Arista had stopped at his house on the night before, and
had informed him that he had conquered the Americans,
and was then on his way to Mexico to bear the news.
The scarcity of water, with the barrenness of the coun-
try, and the jaded condition of the horses, compelled
Colonel Garland to return on the 22d, and his pursuit
of Arista closes the history of the opening of the war on
the banks of the Rio Grande.
Large numbers of volunteers, called out by the go-
vernment to reinforce the gallant commander, having
arrived on the Rio Grande, General Taylor determined
to move forward into Mexico, that they might not be-
come dispirited by inaction. He despatched Colonel
Wilson to scour the country in advance, and if possible

to capture some of the Mexican towns near the river.

This party soon got possession of Mier, RejTiosa, and

Camargo. The last named town, it had been directed,
should be entered by a party of Texan Rangers from
the rear, while a small party of regulars should approach
64 THE W A R.
Taking of Cajnarso.

it in front. The steamer containing the regulars was

groping along at night a little south of the town, the
pilot being altogether ignorant of the river, and the com-
mander equally doubtful as to his reception by the towns-
men. A light was seen glimmering on shore. The
pilot neared it, and demanded to know in Spanish, '^De
quien es ese rancho?"
" 'Tis my
rancho," answered a good Yankee voice
from out the chaparral. " 'Tis my rancho, and who has
any claims against it?"
"If you are an American, come on board."
" I will at once, soldier," said a stalwart man, stepping
on the deck of the steamer. " I hail you in these parts,
for I have been sleeping out some dozen nigbts, afraid
of the treachery of the Mexicans not that I fear them
;

in 2ifair fight, of a dozen or more at me at once, but I

could not stand five hundred."

Here was an enterprising American, full of patriotism,

on "the search for town sites on the Rio Grande;" he
knew the people well, and ere the day had fairly dawned,
he had completed all the preliminaries of the surrender
of Camargo, and at the head or the heel of our troops,
as suited his humour best, he entered the city.*
Captain Duncan was sent forward on the 14th of
August, with a small command, to Seralvo, sixty miles
above Mier, for the purpose of making a reconnois-
sance. On way to Seralvo, he entered
the road, half
Punta Aguada, a town of four hundred inhabitants, said
to be the head-quarters of Canales, and in which Captain
Duncan expected to find some of his robber band. His

• Our Army at Monterey.

 THE WAR. 65
Captain Duncan's adventure, and Capture of Seralvo.

was divided, marched into the town from all sides,

force
and met in the centre, without alarming the people, who
were now found to be engaged in an absorbing fandango.
The consternation caused by the entrance of the Rangers
into the ball-room, can be better imagined than de-
scribed. The however, ordered the
gallant captain,
music to proceed, led off the dance with the belle of the
room, and then, bidding them adieu, gained quiet pos-
session of Seralvo before daybreak.
On the 18th of August, General Taylor having learned
the nature of the route from Captain Duncan, organized
the regular -army, and ordered General Worth to take up
the line of march for Seralvo on the next day.

The first division of the army, commanded by Gene-

ral Twiggs, consisted of the second dragoons, first,

second, third, and fourth regiments of infantry, and

Bragg's and Ridgely's artillery. The second division,
under General Worth, consisted of the artillery battalion
serving as infantry, the fifth, seventh, and eighth infantry,
Duncan's battery, and Captain Blanchard's Louisiana
volunteers.
On the 6th of August, General Taylor moved to join
the advance under General Worth at Seralvo, leaving

General Patterson in command at Camargo. At Seralvo

it was first learned definitely that Ampudia had arrived
at Monterey with a large force, and that the city was
perfectly fortified, and would make a stout defense.
The march to Monterey was now arranged in every par-
ticular. Major-General Butler arrived, and the volun-
teer division was concentrated in the vicinity of Seralvo.
It was composed of the first Mississippi regiment, under

Colonel Jefferson Davis, the first Tennessee, under

66 THE WAR.
Arrangements of Forces.

Colonel Campbell, the first Ohio, under Colonel A. M.

Mitchell, the Baltimore battalion, under Lieutenant-Colo-
nel W. H. Watson. On the 11th September, the fol-
lowing order was issued
^*
1. As the army may expect to meet resistance in the

further advance towards Monterey, it is necessary that

itsmarch should be conducted with all proper precau-
tion to meet attack and secin- the ba^o^age and supplies.
From this point, the following will De the order of
march, until otherwise directed
2. All the pioneers of the army consolidated into one
party, will march early to-morrow on the route to Marin,
for the purpose of repairing the roads, and rendering it

practicable for artilleryand wagons. The pioneers of

each division will be under a subaltern, to be especially
detailed for the duty, and the whole be under command
of Captain Craig, third infantry, who will report to
head-quarters for instructions. This pioneer party will
be covered by a squadron of dragoons, and Captain
McCulloch's company of Rangers. Two officers of
topographical engineers, to be detailed by Captain
Williams, will accompany the party for the purpose of
examining the route. Two wagons will be provided by
the quartermaster's department for the transportation of
the tools, provisions, and knapsacks of the pioneer party.
The first division will march on the 13th instant,
3.

to be followed on successive days by the second divi-

sion and field division of volunteers. The head-quarters
will march with the first division. Captain Gillespie,
with half of his company, will report to Major-General
Butler; the other half, under the first lieutenant, to
Brigadier-General Worth. These detachments will be
 THE WAR. 67
Arrangements of Forces.

employed for outposts and videttes, and as expresses

between the columns and head-quarters.
4. The subsistence supplies will be divided between
the three columns, the senior commissary of each di-
vision receipting for the stores and being charged \vith
their care and management. The senior commissaries
of divisions will report to Captain Waggaman for this
duty.
5. Each division will be followed immediately by its
baggage train and supply train, with a strong rear-guard.
The ordnance train under Captain Ramsay will march
with the second division, between its baggage and sup-
ply train, and will come under the protection of the
guard of that division. The medical supplies will, in
like manner, march with the first division.
6. The troops will take eight days' rations and forty
rounds of ammunition. All surplus arms and accoutre-
ments, resulting from casualties on the road, will be de-
posited with Lieutenant Stewart, left in charge of the
depot at this place, who will give certificates of deposit
to the company commanders.
7. The wagons appropriated for transportation of
water, will not be required, and will be turned over to
the quartermaster's department for general purposes.
8. Two companies of the Mississippi regiment will be
designated for the garrison of this place. All sick and
disabled men, unfit for the march, will be left behind,
under charge of a medical officer to be selected for this
duty by the medical director."
The first division accordingly took up the line of
march on the 13th, the army finding the Mexican gene-
ral, Torrejon, with a large cavalry force constantly in
68 THE WAR.
Ai-rival of General Henderson with Tezas troops.

their vicinity. On tlie 14th General Ampudia issued

from Monterey an address to his soldiers in which —
he promised them certain victory, and volunteered for
them the assurance to the government^ that they were
worthy sons of the immortal Hidalgo, Morelo, Iturbide,
and others who knew how to die combating for the in-
dependence of their cherished country." On the fol-
lowing day he issued another address, holding out
inducements to General Taylor's troops to desert. On
the 16th and 17th the army was concentrated at Marin,
and rested there from the fatiguing march. The Spanish
consul at Monterey sent a messenger to General Taylor
to know if the property of foreigners would be resj)ected.
General Taylor informed him that he would be responsi-
ble for nothing in case the town was taken by an assault.
On the 18th the army resumed its march, and reached
the town of San Francisco. On this day General Hen-
derson joined General Taylor wdth Wood's and Hays'
regiment of mounted Texans, which numbered eleven
hundred men. The old padre of the village of San
Francisco informed General Taylor that the most deter-
mined opposition would be made at Monterey, General
Ampudia having determined only to surrender the city
with his life.

On the 19th of September the army reached the vici-

nity of Monterey. The troops marched in order of bat-
tle; first General Taylor and staff, with a number of
officers ; then followed the advanced guard, McCulloch's
and Gillespie's rangers. The brigade of General Hen-
derson came next ; then the first division under General
Twiggs, and the second under General Worth, and
lastly the volunteer division under General Butler. We
 THE WAR. 71
Account of arrival at Monterey.

give an extract respecting the arrival at Monterey, from

Mr. Thorpe's valuable work, " Our Army at Monterey."
*'The beautiful grove of St. Domingo was passed,
when the city burst upon the sight in all its splendour.
The mists still clung around the turrets of its churches,
and enveloped its commanding heights but the ascend- ;

ing sun constantly dissipated the veil, until palace and

hill, barricade and fort, with long lines of tents and
pendent flags presented themselves, as if floating in the

pure ether with which they were surrounded. All was

silent ; not a breath of air stirred ; dewy softness rested
upon every thing. Suddenly a hot sulphurous smoke
rose quickly from one of the bastions of the citadel, a
heavy cannon-shot cleared the air with its hissing sound,
and long before its booming sound was heard, two more
in quick succession followed ; one of the deadly missiles
ricochetted directly over General Taylor's head, and,
just beyond him, ploughed deeply in the earth.
A cry of exultation followed from those who witnessed
it, which was taken up by the long lines of advancing
troops, until it was carried miles in the rear, the shouts

mingling strangely with the ten thousand echoes that

were awakened among the mountains, by the firing of
the heavy artillery that announced that the battle of
Monterey had begun.
The first division accelerated its speed, and quickly
arrived where General Taylor had halted, when it formed
into order of battle ; while this was being done, the
gallant chieftain, surroundedby his staff, coolly, through
his glass,examined the defenses of the city, when orders
were issued for the army to encamp at the beautiful grove
of St. Domingo, so recently passed.
72 THE WAR.
General Taylor's despatch.

The attack upon Monterey was arranged to be made

by two divisions of the army, acting separately and in-

dependently. General Taylor, assisted by General But-

ler, commanded that directed against the city itself
while General Worth was detached to storm the Bishop's
Palace, and the other forts outside of Monterey.
For the account of the conduct and achievements of
the division under General Taylor, we have his own
despatch, clear, succinct, and satisfactory, as are all the
papers he has written concerning his operations.
" Sir : — I have now the honour to submit a detailed
report of the recent operations before Monterey, result-
ing in the capitulation of that city.

The information received on the route from Seralvo,

and particularly the continual appearance in our front
of the Mexican cavalry, which had a slight skirmish
with our advance at the village of Ramas, induced the
belief, we approached Monterey, that
as the enemy
would defend that place. Upon reaching the neigh-
bourhood of the city on the morning of the 19th of
September, this belief was fully confirmed. It was
ascertained that he occupied the town in force ; that a
large work had been constructed commanding all the
northern approaches ; and that the Bishop's Palace, and
some heights in its vicinity near the Saltillo road, had
also been and occupied with troops and artil-
fortified,

lery. was known, from information previously re-

It

ceived, that the eastern approaches were commanded

by several small works in the lower edge of the city.
The configuration of the heights and gorges in the
direction of the Saltillo road, as visible from the point
attained by our advance on the morning of the 19th, led
 THE WAR. 75
General Taylor's despatch..

me to suspect that was practicable to turn all the

it

works and thus cut off the enemy's

in that direction,
line of communication. After establishing my camp at
the ^
Walnut Springs,' three miles from Monterey, the
nearest suitable position, it was, accordingly, my first

care to order a close reconnoissance of the ground in

question, which was executed on the evening of the
19th, by the engineer officers under the direction of
Major Mansfield. A reconnoissance of the eastern ap-
proaches was at the same time made by Captain Wil-
liams, topographical engineer. The examination made
by Major Mansfield proved the entire practicability of
throwing forward a column to the Saltillo road, and thus
turning the position of the enemy. Deeming this to be
an operation of essential importance, orders were given
to Brevet Brigadier-General Worth, commanding the
second division, to march with his command on the
20th ; to turn the hill of the Bishop's Palace : to occupy
a position on the Saltillo road, and to carry the enemy's
detached works in that quarter, where practicable. The
first regiment ef Texas mounted volunteers, under com-

mand of Colonel Hays, was associated with the second

division on this service. Captain Sanders, engineers,
and Lieutenant Meade, topographical engineers, were
also ordered to report to General Worth for duty with
his column.
At two o'clock p. M. on the 20th, the 2d division took
up its march. It was soon discovered, by officers who
were reconnoitering the town, and communicated to
General Worth, that its movement had been perceived,
and that the enemy was throwing reinforcements towards
the Bishop's Palace, and the height which commands it.
76 T HE W A R.
Gteneral Taylor's despatch.

To divert his attention as far as practicable, the 1st

division, under Brigadier-General Twiggs, and field

division of volunteers, under Major-General Butler, were

displayed in front of the town until dark. Arrange-
ments were made at the same time to place in battery,

during the night, at a suitable distance from the enemy's

main work, the citadel, two tw^enty-four-pound howit-
zers, and a ten-inch mortar, with a view to open a fire
on the following day, when I proposed to make a diver-
sion in favour of General Worth's movement. The 4th
infantry covered this battery during the night. General
Worth had in the mean time reached and occupied, for

the night, a defensive position just without range of a

battery above the Bishop's Palace, having made a re-
connoissance as far as the Saltillo road.

Before proceeding to report the operations of the 21st

and the following days, I beg leave to state that I shall
mention in detail only those which were conducted
against the eastern extremity of the city, or elsew^here,
under my immediate direction, referring you for the
particulars of General Worth's operations, which were
entirely detached, to his own full report transmitted
herewith.
Early on the morning of the 21st, I received a note
from General Worth, written at half past nine o'clock
the night before, suggesting what I had already intended,
a strong diversion against the centre and left of the town,
to favour his enterprise against the heights in rear.
The infantry and artillery of the and the
1st division,
field division of volunteers, were ordered under arms,
and took the direction of the city, leaving one company
of each regiment as a camp guard. The second dra-
 THE WAR. 77
General Taylor's despatcli.

goons, under Lieutenant-Colonel May, and Colonel

Woods' regiment of Texas mounted volunteers, under
the immediate direction of General Henderson, were
directed to the right to support General Worth, if ne-
cessary, and to make an impression, if practicable, upon
the upper quarter of the city. Upon approaching the
mortar battery, the 1st and 3d regiinents of infantry, and
battalion of Baltimore and Washington volunteers, with
—
Captain Bragg's field batter)^- the whole under the com-
mand of Lieutenant-Colonel Garland were directed —
towards the lower part of the town, with orders to make
a strong demonstration, and carry one of the enemy's
advanced works, if it could be done without too heavy
loss. Major Mansfield, engineers, and Captain Wil-
liams and Lieutenant Pope, topographical engineers,
accompanied this column. Major Mansfield being charged
with its direction, and the designation of points of attack.
In the mean time, the mortar, served by Captain Ram-
say, of the ordnance, and the howitzer battery under
Captain Webster, 1st artiller}', had opened their fire

upon the citadel, which was deliberately sustained, and

answered from the work. General Butler's division
had now taken up a position in rear of this battery, when
the discharges of artillery, mingled finally with a rapid
fire of small arms, showed that Lieutenant Garland's
command had become warmly engaged. I now deemed
it necessary to support this and accordingly
attack,

ordered the 4th infantry, and three regiments of Gene-

ral Butler's division, to march at once, by the left flank,

in the direction of the advanced work at the lower ex-

tremity of the town, leaving one regiment (1st Ken-
tucky) to cover the mortar and howitzer battery. By
78 THE WAR.
General Taylor's despatch.

some mistake, two companies of the 4th infantry did

not receive this order, and, consequently, did not join
the advance companies until some time afterwards.
Lieutenant-Colonel Garland's command had ap-
proached the town in a direction to the right of the ad-
vanced work (No. 1,) at the north-eastern angle of the
city, and the engineer officer, covered by skirmishers,

had succeeded in entering the suburbs and gaining

cover. The remainder of this command now advanced
and entered the town under a heavy fire of artillery from
the citadel and the works on the left, and of musketry
from the houses and small works in A movement
front.

to the right was attempted, with a view to gain the rear

of No. 1, and carry that work, but the troops were so
much exposed to afire which they could not effectually
return, and had already sustained such severe loss, par-
ticularly in officers, that it was deemed best to withdraw
them to a more secure position. Captain Backus, 1st
infantry, however, with a portion of his own and other
companies, had gained the roof of a tannery, which
looked directly into the gorge of No. 1, and from w^hich
he poured a most destructive fire into that work and
upon the strong building in its rear. This fire happily co-
incided in point of time with the advance of a portion
of the volunteer division upon No. 1, and contributed
largely to the fall of that strong and important work.
The three regiments of the volunteer division, under
the immediate command of Major-General Butler, had
in the mean time advanced in the direction of No. 1.
The leading brigade, under Brigadier-General Quitman,
continued its advance upon that work, preceded by
three companies of the 4th infantry, w^hile General But-
 THE WAR. 79
General Taylor's despatch.

ler, with the 1st Ohio regiment, entered the town to the
right. The companies of the 4th infantry had advanced
within short range of the work, when they were received
by a fire that almost in one moment struck down one-
and men, and rendered it necessary
third of the officers
to and effect a conjunction with the two other
retire

companies then advancing. General Quitman's brigade,

though suffering most severely, particularly in the Ten-
nessee regiment, continued its advance, and finally car-

ried the work in handsome style, as well as the strong

building in its rear. Five pieces of artillery, a consi-
derable supply of ammunition, and thirty prisoners, in-
cluding three officers, fell into our hands.
Major-General Butler, with the 1st Ohio regiment,
after entering the edge of the town, discovered that no-
thing was to be accomplished in his front, and at this
point, yielding to the suggestions of several officers, I
ordered a retrograde movement ; but learning almost
immediately from one of my staff, that the battery No.
1 was in our possession, the order was countermanded,
and I determined to hold the battery and defenses al-
ready gained. General Butler, with the 1st Ohio regi-
ment, then entered the town at a point farther to the
lefl, and marched in the direction of the battery No. 2.

While making an examination with a view to ascertain

the possibility of carrying this second work by storm,
the general was wounded and soon after compelled to
quit the field. As the strength of No. 2, and the heav}
musketry fire flanking the approach, rendered it im-
possible to carry it without great loss, the 1st Ohio regi-
ment was withdrawn from the town.
Fragments of the various regiments engaged were
80 THE WAR.
General Taylor's desptatch.

now under cover of the captured battery and some

buildings in itsand on the right. The field bat-
front
tery of Captains Bragg and Ridgely w^as also partially
covered by the battery. An incessant fire was kept on
this position from battery No. 2, and other w^orks on its

right, and from the citadel on all our approaches. Gene-

ralTwiggs, though quite unwell, joined me at this point,

and was instrumental in causing the artillery captured
from the enemy to be placed in battery, and served by
Captain Ridgely, against No. 2, until the arrival of
Captain Webster's howitzer battery, which took its place.
In the mean time, I directed such men as could be col-
lected of the 1st, 3d, and 4th regiments and Baltimore
battalion, to enter the town, penetrating to the right,
and carry the second battery if possible. This com-
mand, under Lieutenant-Colonel Garland, advanced
beyond the bridge Purisima,' when, finding it im-
*

practicable to gain the rear of the second battery, a

portion of it sustained themselves for some time in that

advanced position; but as no permanent impression

could be made at that point, and the main object of the
general operation had been effected, the command, in-

cluding a section of Captain Ridgely's battery, which

had joined it, was withdrawn to battery No. 1. During
the absence of this column, a demonstration of cavalry
was reported in the direction of the citadel. Captain
Bragg, who was at hand, immediately galloped vith his
battery to a suitable position, from which a few dis-
charges effectually dispersed the enemy. Captain Mil-
ler, Ist infantry, mixed command
was despatched with a
to support the battery on this service. The enemy's
lancers had previously charged upon the Ohio and a part
 THE WAR. 81
General Taylor's despatch.

of the Mississippi regiments, near some fields at a dis-

tance from the edge of the town, and had been repulsed
with considerable loss. A demonstration of cavalry on
the opposite side of the river was also dispersed in the
course of the afternoon by Captain Ridgely's battery,
and the squadrons returned to the city. At the ap-
proach of evening all the troops that had been engaged
were ordered back to the camp, except Captain Ridgely's
battery and the regular infantry of the first division, who
were detailed as a guard for the works during the night,
under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Garland. One
Kentucky regiment was ordered to
battalion of the 1st
reinforce this command. Intrenching tools were pro-
cured, and additional strengthwas given to the works,
and protection to the men, by working-parties during
the night, under the direction of Lieutenant Scarritt,
engineers.
The main object proposed in the morning had been
effected. A powerful diversion had been made to favour

the operations of the 2d division, one of the enemy's

advanced works had been and we now had a
carried,
strong foot-hold in the town.But this had not been
accomplished without a. very heavy loss, embracing
some of our most gallant and accomplished officers.
Captain Williams, topographical engineers; Lieute-
nants Terrett and Dilworth, 1st infantry; Lieutenant
Woods, 2d infantry ; Captains Morris and Field, Brevet-
Major Barbour, Lieutenants Irwin and Hazlitt, 3d in-
iantry; Lieutenant Hoskins, 4th infantry; Lieutenant-
Colonel Watson, Baltimore battalion; Captain Allen
and Lieutenant Putnam, Tennessee regiment, and Lieu-
tenant Hett, Ohio regiment, were killed, or have since
4*
82 THE WAR.
General Taylor's despatch.

died of wounds received in this engagement, while the

number and rank of the officers wounded gives addi-
tional proof of the obstinacy of the contest, and the good
conduct of our troops. The number of killed and
wounded incident to the operations in the lower part of
the city on the 21st is 394.
Early in the morning of this day (21st) the advance
of the 2d division had encountered the enemy in force,

and after a brief but sharp conflict, repulsed him with

heavy loss. General Worth then succeeded in gaining
a position on the Saltillo road, thus cutting the enemy's
line of communication. From this position the two
heights south of the Saltillo road were carried in succes-
sion, and the guns taken in one of them turned upon
the Bishop's Palace. These important successes were
fortunately obtained w-ith comparatively small loss

Captain McKavett, 8th infantry, being the only officer

killed.
The 22d day of September passed without any active
operations in the lower part of the city. The citadel

and other works continued to fire at parties exposed to

their range, and at the work now occupied by our troops.
The guard left in it the preceding night, except Captain
Ridgely's company, w^as relieved at midday by General
Quitman's brigade. Captain Bragg's battery was thrown
under cover in front of the town, to repel any demon-
stration of cavalry in that quarter. At dawn of day the
height above the Bishop's Palace was carried, and soon
after meridian the palace itself w^as taken, and its guns

turned upon the fugitive garrison. The object for which

the 2d division was detached had thus been completely
accomplished; and I felt confident that w^ith a strong
 THE WAR. 83
General Taylor's despatch.

force occupying the road and heights in his rear, and a

good position below the city in our possession, the enemy
could not possibly maintain the town.
During the night of the 22d the enemy evacuated
nearly all his defenses in the lower part of the city.

This was reported to me early in the morning of the

23d, by General Quitman, who had already meditated
an assault upon those w^orks. I immediately sent in-
structions to that officer, leaving it to his discretion to
enter the city, covering his men by the houses and walls,
and advance carefully so far as he might deem prudent.

After ordering the remainder of the troops as a re-

serve, under the orders of Brigadier-General Twiggs, I
repaired to the abandoned works, and discovered that
a portion of General Quitman's brigade had entered the
town, and were successfully forcing their w^ay towards
the principal plaza. I then ordered up the 2d regiment

of Texas mounted volunteers, who entered the city, dis-

mounted, and, under the immediate orders of General
Henderson, co-operated with General Quitman's brigade.
Captain Bragg's battery was also ordered up, supported
by the 3d infantry, and some time at the
after firing for

cathedral, a portion of was likewise thrown into the

it

city. Our troops advanced from house to house, and

from square to square, until they reached a street but one
square in rear of the principal plaza, in and near w^hich
the enemy's force was mainly concentrated. This ad-
vance was conducted vigorously, but with due caution,
and although destructive to the enemy, was attended
with but small loss on our part. Captain Ridgely, in
the mean had served a captured piece in battery
time,
No. 1 against the city, until the advance of our men
84 THE WAR.
General Taylor's despatcli.

rendered it imprudent to fire in the direction of the

cathedral. I was now satisfied that we could operate

successfully in the city, and that the enemy had retired

from the lower portion of it to make a stand behind his

barricades. As General Quitman's brigade had been on
duty the previous night, I determined to withdraw the
troops to the evacuated works, and concert with General
Worth a combined attack upon the town. The troops
accordingly fell back deliberately in good order, and
resumed their original positions, General Quitman's
brigade being relieved after nightfall by that of General
Hamer. On my return to camp I met an officer with
the intelligence that General Worth, induced by the
firing in the was
lower part of the city,about making
an attack at the upper extremity, which had also been
evacuated by the .enemy to a considerable distance. I
regreted that this information had not reached me before
leaving the city, but still deemed it inexpedient to change
my orders, and accordingly returned to camp. A note
from General Worth, written at eleven o'clock p. m., in-
formed me that he had advanced to within a short distance
of the principal plaza, and that the mortar (which had
been sent to his division in the morning) was doing good
execution within effective range of the enemy's position.
Desiring to make no farther attempt upon the city
without complete concert as to the lines and mode of
approach, I instructed that officer to suspend his advance
until I could have an interview with him on the fol-

low.ng morning, at his head-quarters.

Early in the morning of the 24th I received through

Colonel Moreno, a communication from General Am-
pudia, proposing to evacuate the town ; which, with the
 THE WAR. 85
Operations of General Worth..

answer, were forwarded with my first despatch. I ar-

ranged with -Colonel Moreno a cessation of fire until
twelve o'clock, at which hour I would receive the an-
swer of the Mexican general at General Worth's head-
quarters, to which I soon repaired. In the mean time,
General Ampudia had signified to General Worth his
desire for a pe^j^onal interview with me, to which I
acceded, and which finally resulted in a capitulation,
placing the town and materiel of war, with certain ex-
ceptions, in our possession.
For the operations of General Worth, we have the
following account by an intelligent eye witness.
" At two p. M. of the 20th, General Worth marched
from the camp, east of the town, in the direction of the
heights west, McCulloch's and Gillespie's companies of
rangers forming the reconnoitering party. At night, the
division bivouacked almost within range of the guns
stationed upon the highest point of the hill on which the
Bishop's Palace is situated. At daylight of the 21st,
the column w^as again in motion, and in a few moments,
was turning the point of a ridge, which protruded out
toward the enemy's guns, bringing us as near to them
as their gunners could desire. They immediately opened
upon the column with a howitzer and twelve-pounder,
firing shell and round-shot as fast as they could discharge

their pieces.
The road now wound toward a gorge, but not
in
far enough to be out of range of their guns, which still
played upon us. Another ridge lay about three-fourths
of a mile beyond the first, around the termination of
which the road wound, bringing it under the lofty sum-
mit of a height which rises between Palace Hill and the
86 THE WAR.
Operations of General Worth.

mountains, ^vhich arise over us on the west, When the

head of the column approached this ridge, a body of
Mexican cavalry came dashing around that point to
charge upon our advance. Captain Gillespie immedi-
ately ordered his men to dismount and place themselves
in ambush. The enemy evidently did not perceive this
manoeuver but the moment they came up, the Texans
;

opened upon them a most destructive fire, unsaddling a

number of them. McCulloch's company now dashed
into them. Captain C. F. Smith's camp, and Captain
Scott's camp of artillery, (acting as infantry,) and Lieu
tenant Longstreet's company of the eighth infantry, with
another company of the same regiment, likewise charged
upon the enemy. The Texan horsemen were soon
engaged with them in a sort of hand-to-hand skirmish,
in which a number of them fell, and one Texan was
killed and two wounded.
Colonel Duncan now opened upon them wdth his
battery of light artillery, pouring a few discharges of
grape upon them, and scattering them like chaff. Seve-
ral men and horses fell under this destructive fire. I
saw one horse and rider bound some feet into the air,
and both fell dead and tumbled down the steep. The
footcompanies above named then rushed up the steep,
and fired over the ridge at the retreating enemy, a con-
siderable body of whom were concealed from our view,
around the point of the hill. About thirty of the enemy
were killed in this skirmish, and among them a captain,
who, with two or three others, fell in the road. The
captain was wounded in three places, the last shot hitting
him in the forehead. He fought gallantly to the last,
and I am sorry that I cannot learn his name.
 THE WAR. 89
Opei-ations of General Worth.

The light batteries, one of which is commanded by-

Lieutenant Mackall, were now driven upon the slope of
the ridge, and the howitzers opened upon the height of
Palace Hill. A few shots only were thrown, before the
enemy commenced firing with a nine-pounder from the

height immediately over the right of the column, aiming

at Duncan's batteries. The several regiments took posi-
tions, and a few more shells were thrown towards Palace
Hill, but did no execution. The nine-pounder continued
to throw its shot with great precision at our batteries, one
ball falling directly in the midst of the pieces, but, for-
tunately, hitting neither men nor guns. Finding his bat-
teries thus exposed, and unable to effect any thing.
Colonel Duncan removed his command to a rancho about
half a mile farther up the Saltillo road, where General
Worth took up his position, after ordering the foot regi-

ments to form along the fence near the point of the ridge.
The artillery battalion, 5th, 7th, and 8th infantry, and
the Louisiana volunteers, remained in this position about
two hours, directly under fire of the enemy's guns. The
balls fell directly in their midst all this time without
wounding a man ! To begin with, the Mexicans manage
their artillery in battery as well as the Americans do
this, I believe, is now conceded by every oflScer.

At half- past column moved towards the

ten, the
general's position. At this time. Captain McKavatt of
the 8th infantry, was shot through the heart by a nine-
pound ball, and a private of the 5th infantry was severely
wounil(?d in the thigh, and he died the next morning.
About fifty Mexicans now appeared upon the side hill
over the moving column, and fired at our troops some
hundred musket-shot, without doing any harm. The
90 THE WAR.
Operations of General Worth.

division deployed into the position pointed out, and

remained an hour or two, when Captain C F. Smith of
the artillery battalion, with his own company, and Cap-
tain Scott's, together with four companies of Texan
Rangeis on foot, were ordered to storm the second
height. This the gallant officer cheerfully undertook,
and was followed with enthusiasm by the and officers

men of his command.was considered on ail sides to

It

be a dangerous undertaking, and his party was regarded

most emphatically as a forlorn hope. That the height
would be taken no one doubted, but that many brave
fellows would fall in the attempt seemed inevitable.
The distance to be climbed, after reaching the foot of
the hill, was about a quarter of a mile ; a part of the
way almost perpendicular, through thorn-bushes and over
sharp-pointed rocks and loose sliding stones.
The 7th infantry commanded by Captain Miles, was
ordered to support Captain Smith's party, and by march-
ing directly to the foot of the height, arrived before Cap-
tain Smith, who had been ordered to take a circuitous
route. Captain Miles sent up Lieutenant Gantt, with a
detachment of men upon the hill-side, to divert the
attention of the enemy from Captain Smith's command,
w^hich could not yet be seen. The 7th had already
sustained a heavy fire of grape and round-shot, as they
forded the San Juan, which winds round the foot of the
height, and which fell like a shower of hail in their
ranks w^ithout killing a man. Lieutenant Gantt's party
were greeted with grape and round-shot, which cut the
shrubs, and tore up the loose stones about the ranks,
without killing any one ; but the gallant young officer

came within an inch of being killed by a cannon-shot,

 THE WAR. 91
Operations of General Woxth.

which ran down the steep and filled his face -with frag-
ments of rock, dust, and gravel. The fire was accom-
panied by a constant discharge of musketry, the enemy
covering the upper part of the hill-side ; but the detach-
ment continued to move up, driving the Mexicans back,
until they were recalled.
Captain Smith's party now
arrived and moved up the
hill, the rangers in advance, and did not halt for an in-
stant until the Mexicans were driven from the summit.
Whilst this was going on, Colonel Persifer F. Smith, who
commanded the 5th and 7th infantry the 5th with —
Blanchard's Louisiana boys, under Major Martin Scott,
had been ordered to support the whole gave orders —
for these commands to pass around on each side and
storm the fort, which was situated about half a mile back
of the summit on the same ridge and commanded the
Bishop's Palace. Such a foot-race as now ensued has
seldom if ever been seen the Louisiana boys making tre-
;

mendous strides to be in with the foremost. Captain Smith

had the gun which he took upon the height, run towards
the breast- works, and fired into it. Then came Colonel P.
F. Smith's men, with a perfect rush, firing and cheering
tlie 5th and 7th, and Louisianians, reaching the ridge

above nearly at the same time. The Mexicans fired at us

with grape, but it did not cause an instant's hesitation in
our ranks. Our men ran and fired, and cheered until they
reached the work, the foremost entering at one end
while the Mexicans, about a thousand in number, left

the other in retreat. The colours of the 5th infantry

were instantly raised, and scarcely were they up before
those of the 7th were alongside. The three commands
CLiered the fort together — so close was the race —the 5th
92 THE WAR.
Opera cicns of General Wortli.

a little in advance. J. W. Miller, of Blanchard's com-

pany, was among the first four or five who entered. The
three commands may be said to have come out even in
the race, for the 7th was not five seconds behind. In
less than five minutes the gun found in the fort w^as

thundering away at the Bishop's Palace.

On the morning of the 21st, Colonel Childs of the
artillery battalion, with three of his companies — one
commanded by Captain Vinton, another by Captain J.
B. Scott, and the third by Lieutenant Ayres — and three
—
companies of the 8th infantry company A, commanded
by Lieutenant Longstreet and Wainright company B, ;

by Lieutenant Halloway and Merchant company D, by ;

Captain Schrivner and Lieutenant Montgomery was —

ordered to take the summit of Palace Hill.
The colonel left the camp at three o'clock a.m., and
climbed the mountain through the chaparral, and up the
steep rocks, with such secrecy, that at daybreak he was
within one hundred yards of the breastwork of sandbags
before he was discovered. Three of the artillerymen
having rushed ahead too fast, found themselves in the
hands of the Mexicans. They surrendered, and w^ere
shot down with the very pieces they had given up. I

saw the poor fellows lying there.

Colonel Staniford went up at daylight with the balance
of the 8th, and Major Scott led up the 5th. The Louis-
iana troops were on the hill, w^ith One
the 5th, at 8 a.m.
of Duncan's howitzers, in charge of Lieutenant Row-
land, was dragged up, or rather lifted up, and opened
on the palace, which was filled with troops. The Mexi-
cans charged on the howitzer, but were driven back.
A constant firing was kept up for several hours, particu-
 THE WAR. 95
Operations of General Worth.

larlyby Blanchard's men, who left a dozen Mexicans

dead upon the hill-side. At length a charge was ordered,
and our men rushed down upon the palace, entered a
hole in a door that had been blocked up, but opened
by the howitzer, and soon cleared the work of the few
Mexicans who remained. Lieutenant Ayres was the
lucky one who first reached the halyards and lowered
the flag. One eighteen-pound brass piece, a beautiful
article,manufactured in Liverpool in 1842, and a short
brass twelve-pound howitzer, were captured, with a large
quantity of ammunition, and some muskets and lances.
The fort adjoining the palace walls is not complete,
but is very neatly constructed as far as it is built. The
killed on our side, in taking the palace, were seven
wounded, twelve. Lieutenant Wainright was wounded
in the side and arm by a musket-ball. Colonel Childs,
Captain Vinton, Captain Blanchard, Lieutenant Long-
street, Lieutenant Clark, (adjutant of the 8th,) Lieute-
nant Ayres, Lieutenant McCown, and the two Nicholls,
seem to have been the heroes of the day. The two lat-
ter performed prodigies, and not only Judge Nicholls,
but old Louisiana may well be proud of such sons. The
Mexicans lost at least thirty killed.

Yesterday morning the whole division under Gene-

ral Worth entered the town on this side, and have been
fighting there ever since. The heart of the city is

nothing but one fortification, the thick walls being

pierced for muskets and cannon, and placed so as to
rake the principal streets. The roofs being flat, and
the fi-ont walls rising three or four feet above the roof,
of course every street has a line of breastworks on each
side. A ten-inch mortar came around from General
96 THE WAR.
Proposals for the surrender of Monterey.

Taylor evening, and it is now placed in the largest

last

which our troops have fought step by step and

I^laza, to

from house to house. Duncan's batteries are in town,

and the present impression is that the place will soon
be taken. General Worth has gained all the strong-
holds that command and has pushed the enemy
the city,
as far as they can go without falling into General Tay-
lor's hands on the other side of the city. All this has
been done with the loss of only about seventy killed
and wounded."
At noon on the 22d, while the American troops were
closely engaged in the lower part of the city, General
Taylor received by a flag a communication from the
governor of the state of New Leon, asking him to grant
a sufficient time for the inhabitants to leave the city;
which General Taylor declined. Early on the morning
of the 24th, a flag was received from the town, bear-
ing a communication from General Ampudia, proposing
an evacuation of the city and fort, vv'ith all the personel
and materied of war. General Taylor, in reply, declined
the proposition, and dem.anded a complete surrender
of the tov.'n and garrison, offering in consideration of
the gallant defense that had been made, to allow the

garrison to retire to the interior after laying down its

arms, on condition of not serving again during the war*.

A cessation of hostilities, until twelve o'clock, was ar-

ranged.
Before that hour, however. General Ampudia had
signified to General Worth his desire for a personal
interview with General Taylor, for the purpose of making
some definitive arrangement. An interview was accord-
ingly appointed for one o'clock, and resulted in the
 THE WAR. 97
Terms of capitiilation.

naming of a commission to draw up articles of agree-

ment regulating the withdrawal of the Mexican forces
nnd a temporary cessation of hostilities. The commis-
sioners named by the Mexican general-in-chief were
Generals Ortega and Requena, and Don Emanuel M.
Llano, governor of New Leon. Those named oi^the
American side were General Worth, General Henderson,
governor of Texas, and Colonel Davis, Mississippi
volunteers.
This commission finally settled upon the articles of
capitulation. The details of the negotiations are reserved
as part of the personal history of the commissioners,
and will be found in another place.
By the terms of capitulation, it was agreed that the
Mexican officers should retain their side arms, and the
infantry and cavalry- their arms and accoutrements, the
artillery one field battery of six pieces ; that, surrender-

ing the cannon, munitions of war, and

city, fortifications,

public stores, to General Taylor, they should evacuate

and retire, within seven days, beyond the line
the city
formed by the pass of Rinconada, the city of Linares,
and San Fernando de Presas and that this line should
;

not be crossed by the Americans before the expiration

of eight weeks, unless the respective governments should
refuse to ratify the terms of this truce.
Monterey and its fortifications were armed with forty-
two pieces of cannon, well supplied with ammunition,
and manned with a force of at- least seven thousand
troops of the line, and from two to three thousand irre-
gulars. The force under General Taylor w^as four hun-
dred and twenty- five officers, and six thousand two
hundred and twenty men. Our artillery consisted of
5
98 THE WAR.
Braverv of the American troops.

one ten-inch mortar, two twenty-four-pound howitzers,

and four light field batteries of four guns each the —
mortar being the only piece suited to the operations of
a siege. The American loss was twelve officers and
one hundred eight men killed, thirty-one officers and
thr^ hundred and thirty-seven men wounded. The
loss of the enemy was much greater.

The storming of Monterey requires no comment. A

city surrounded by high massive walls which supported
strong redoubts, with every street swept by cross fires
of artillery, and every house a fortification in itself, was
attacked and carried by an array numbering scarcely
more than half of the defenders, inferior in artillery and
small arms, and obliged to divide its small force to resist
the cannonade of another fortification, the Bishop's
Palace, nearly as strong as the city itself.

Such an event can only be attributed to the national

coolness and intrepidity of the assailants, aided by their
good discipline, the example of their officers and the
unsurpassed ability of their commanding general. The
glory of the victors at Cuidad Rodrigo pales before
that of the Americans at Monterey.
The troops of General Taylor proved themselves to
be possessed of a still higher attribute of the soldier than
the most fearless bravery : the finer feelings of men calm
in the moment of victory, and possessed of minds prin-
cipled of humanity, which the most desperate resistance
could not excite to a single deed of cruelty. In their
retreat from Monterey, the enemy destroyed every thing
in their route that might be of service to the invading
army. The water streams were stopped or filled up,
the wells destroyed, provisions carefully removed, and
 THE WAR. 99
Paredes.

Paredes.
even private property ruthlessly consumed by the torch.
Meanwhile, they made every effort to organize a new army
in the interior, and declared that the loss of Monterey was
owing only to the incapacity of Ampudia, who was ordered
to be tried by court-martial. General Herrera had been
president of Mexico when the war was first threatened,
but his inclination to avoid hostilities had caused him to
be deprived of power, and Paredes assumed the reins of
government, and the responsibility- of the war. Being
unsuccessful, however, he lost caste with his countrymen,
who now began to look for another ruler. Several lead-
ers presented themselves, each at the head of a small

R'A-rasia
100 THE WA
Santa Anna lands at "Vera Cruz.

array, and each breathing implacable hostility to the

United States. In the mean time a party had arisen

favourable to the recall of Santa Anna, who had been
exiled in 1844, and was living at Havana. A pro-
clamation was issued at Mexico, inviting the return of
all Mexicans faithful to their country, Santa Anna being
named as one, and appointed general-in-chief ; and call-

ing for a meeting of a congress of reprefentatives to be

chosen according to the repudiated constitution of 1824,
under which Mexico was a federal republic, similar to
that of the United States. This was the production of
General Salas, w^ho was the avowed supporter of Santa
Anna, and who had been elevated to the presidency.
On the 16th of August, Santa Anna landed at Vera
Cruz, having been allowed to pass the American block-
ading squadron, in the British mail steamer Arab. On
the 14th of September, when he had reached Ayotla,
he received and accepted a commission appointing him
supreme dictator. On the next day he entered the capital
and was received with every demonstration of joy and
confidence. He issued a proclamation calling upon the
people to support him in defending the country. The
American government had refused to sanction the con-

ditional armistice of eight weeks, provided for by one

of the articles of capitulation at Monterey, and directed
General Taylor to resume hostilities. That officer there-

fore addressed a letter to Santa Anna notifying him of

the renewal of hostilities, and making a request for the
release of certain prisoners at San Luis Potosi. Santa
Anna acknowledged the receipt of the letter in a cour-
teous and dignified manner, acquiesced in the conclusion
of the armistice, and complied in a liberal manner with
 THE WAR. 101
Taylor maxches to Victoria.

Sanla Anna.

the request concerning the prisoners. He soon found

himself at the head of an army of twenty thousand men,
who regarded him as invincible.
Meanwhile, the Americans were not idle. General
Worth had moved with fifteen hundred men upon Sal-
tillo and taken it, and Parras had fallen into the hands

of General Wool. In December, General Santa Anna

threatened to attack the American forces in Saltillo, and
General Urrea was reported to be in the vicinity of Vic-

toria. General Taylar marched to the which

latter place,

he reached on the 30th of December. Here he received

102 THE WAR.
Taylor's address to his soldiers.

a letter from General Scott, requesting a large detach-

ment of his troops, which was to increase the army
destined to capture Vera Cruz. No soldier could feel
more keenly than General Taylor the disappointment to
which he was thus subjected to lose the veterans who
:

had won for him so great glory, and be at the same time
reduced from a victorious positionto one of comparative

inaction. Yet he cheerfully obeyed the command. At

parting with his troops he issued the following address
to them
"It is with deep sensibility that the commanding
general finds himself separated from the troops he so long
commanded. To those corps, regular and volunteer,
who have shared with him the active services of the
field, he feels the attachment due to such associations,
while to those who
are making their first campaign, he
must express his regret that he cannot participate with
them in its eventful scenes. To all, both officers and
men, he extends his heartfelt wishes for their continued
success and happiness, confident that their achievements
on another theatre will redound to the credit of their
country and to them."
After they had left him, he again established his head-
quarters at Monterey, where he remained until February.
In that month, his force was raised to nearly five thou-
sand, by the arrival of a considerable number of volun-
teers. He then marched from Monterey to Agua Nueva,
a place eighteen miles below Saltillo.
He retired, however, on the approach of Santa Anna,
to Buena few miles south of
Vista, a strong position a
Saltillo. Here he was attacked by Santa Anna, on the
21st of February. That general seems to have been for
 THE WAR. 103
Santa Anna's afidress.

a considerable time wavering as to the course he should

pursue ; at one time threatening to march to Vera Cruz,
then turning to quell an insurrection at the capital, and
again manoeuvering in the vicinity of Saltillo. At length
he issued an address to his companions in arms, which
contained his real intentions. We quote a specimen
of it.

" Soldiers' the entire world observes us, and will ex-
pect our acts to be heroic as they are necessary. Pri-
vations of all kinds surround us, in consequence of the
neglect shown towards us for more than a month, by
those who should provide your pay and provisions.
But when has misery debilitated your spirits, or weak-
your enthusiasm ? The Mexican soldier is well known
by his frugality and patience under suffering, never want-
ing magazines in marches across deserts, and always
counting upon the resources of the enemy to provide
for his wants. To-day we shall undertake to march
over a desert country, without succour or provisions.
But be assured, that we shall be immediately provided
from those of the enemy, and with them you will be
sufficiently reimbursed. My friends, we go to open the
campaign. What days of glory await us ! What a flat-

tering future for our country ! How satisfactory, when

we contemplate that we have saved its independence
How the world will admire us ! How the nation will
bless us ' And when in the bosoms of our families we
and fatigues which we have endured,
shall relate the risks

the combats with and triumphs over a daring and pre-

sumptuous enemy and hereafter, when telling our
;

children that we have saved our country a second time,

the jubilee will be complete, and the sacrifices will then
104 THE WAR.
OiQcial report of General Taylor.

appear to us as nothing. Soldiers ! Hurry forth in the

defense of your country. The cause we sustain is a

holy one ; never have we struggled with more justice,
because we fight for the honour and religion of our
wives and children! What sacrifice, then, can be too

great for objects so dear? Let our motto be — ^ Conquer

OR die!' Let us swear before the great Eternal, that
we will not wait an instant in purging our soil of the
stranger, who has dared to profane it with his presence.
No treaty, nothing which may not be heroic and proud."
We give the distinct and explicit account of the op-
perations which followed, from the official report of
General Taylor, reserving, as before, our notices of in-

dividual gallantry for another portion of the work.

** The information which reached me of the advance
and concentration of a heavy Mexican force in my front,
had assumed such a probable form, as to induce a spe-
cial examination far beyond the reach of our pickets, to
ascertain its correctness. A small party of Texan spies,
under Major McCulloch, despatched to the hacienda of
Encarnacion, thirty miles from this, on the route to San
Luis Potosi, had reported a cavalry force of unknown
strength at that place. On the 20th of February, a
strong reconnoissance under Lieutenant-Colonel May was
despatched to the hacienda of Heclionda, while Major
McCulloch made another examination of Encarnacion.
The result of these expeditions left no doubt that the
enemy was in large force at Encarnacion, under the
orders of General Santa Anna, and that he meditated a
forward movement and attack upon our position
As the camp of Agua Nueva could be turned on either
flank, and as the enemy ^s force was greatly superior to
 THE WAR. 105
Official report cf General Taylor.

our own, particularly in the arm of cavalry, I determined,

after much consideration, to take up a position about
eleven miles in rear, and there await the attack. The
army broke up its camp and marched at noon on the
21st, encamping at the new position a little in front of
the hacienda of Buena Vista. With a small force I pro-
ceeded to Saltillo, to make some necessary arrangements
for the defense of the town, leaving Brigadier-General
Wool immediate command of the troops.
in the
Before those arrangements were completed, on the
morning of the 22d, I was advised that the enemy w^as
in sight, advancing. Upon reaching the ground it was
found that his cavalry advance was in our front, having
marched from Encarnacion, as we have since learned,
at eleven o'clock on the day previous, and driving in a
mounted force left at Agua Nueva to cover the removal
of public stores. Our troops were in position, occupy-
ing a line of remarkable strength. The road at this
point becomes a narrow defile, the valley on its right
being rendered quite impracticable for artillery by a sys-

tem of deep and impassable gullies, while on the left a

succession of rugged ridges and precipitous ravines ex-
tends far back toward the mountain which bounds the
valley. The features pf the ground were such as nearly
to paralyze the artillery and cavalry of the enemy, while
his infantry could not derive all the advantage of its

numerical superiority. In this position we prepared to

receive him. Captain Washington's battery (4th artil-

lery) was posted to command the road, while the 1st
and 2d Illinois regiments, under Colonels Hardin and
Bissell, each eight companies, (to the latter of which was
attached Captain Conner's company of Texas volun*
5*
106 THE WAR.
Eattle of Buena Vista.,

teers,)and the 2d Kentucky, under Colonel McKee,

left and in rear.
occupied the crests of the ridges on the
The Arkansas and Kentucky regiments of cavalry, com-
manded by Colonels Yell and H. Marshall, occupied the
extreme left near the base of the mountain, while the
Indiana brigade, under Brigadier-General Lane, (com-
posed of the 2d and 3d regiments, under Colonels Bowles
and Lane,) the Mississippi riflemen, under Colonel Da-
vis, the squadrons of the 1st and 2d dragoons, under
Captain Steen and Lieutenant-Colonel May, and the
light batteries of Captains Sherman and Bragg, 3d artil-

lery, w^ere held in reserve.

At eleven o'clock, a summons to surrender at dis-
cretion was received from General Santa Anna, which
was declined. The enemy still forebore his attack, evi-
dently waiting for the arrival of his rear columns, which
could be distinctly seen by our look-outs as they ap-
proached the field. A demonstration made on his left
caused me to detach the 2d Kentucky regiment and a
section of our artillery to our right, in w^hich position
they bivouacked for the night. In the mean time the
Mexican light troops had engaged ours on the extreme
left, (composed of parts of the Kentucky and Arkansas

cavalry dismounted, and a rifle battalion from the Indi-

ana brigade, under Major Gorman, the whole commanded
by Colonel Marshall,) and kept up a sharp fire, climbing
the mountain side, and apparently endeavouring to gain
our flank. Three pieces of Captain Washington's battery
had been detached to the left, and were supported by the
2d Indiana regiment. An occasional shell was thrown
by the enemy into this part of our line, but without
effect. The skirmishing of the light troops was kept up
 THE WAR. 109
Official report of General Taylor.

with trifling loss on our part until dark, when I became

convinced that no serious attack would be made before
morning, and returned, with the Mississippi regiment
and squadron of 2d dragoons, to Saltillo. The troops
bivouacked without fires, and lay upon their arms. A
body of cavalry, some fifteen hundred strong, had been
visible all day in rear of the town, having entered the
valley through a narrow pass east of the city. This
cavalry, commanded by General Minon, had evidently
been thrown in our rear to break up and harass our re-
treat, and perhaps make some attempt against the town
if practicable. The city was occupied by four excel-
lent companies of Illinois volunteers, under Major War-
ren, of the 1st regiment. A field-work, which com-
manded most of the approaches, was garrisoned 1^
Captain Webster's company, 1st artillery, and armed

with two twenty-four-pound howitzers, while the train

and head-quarter camp was guarded by two companies
of Mississippi riflemen, under Captain Rogers, and a
field-piece commanded by Captain Shover, 3d artillery.

Having made these dispositions for the protection of

the rear, I proceeded on the morning of the 23d to
Buena Vista, ordering forward all the other available
troops. The action had commenced before my arrival
on the field.

During the evening and night of the 22d, the enemy

had thrown a body of light troops on the mountain side,
with the purpose of outflanking our left and it was ;

here that the action of the 23d commenced at an early

hour. Our riflemen, under Colonel Marshall, who had
been reinforced by three companies under Major Trail,
2d Illinois volunteers, maintained their ground hand-
110 THE WAR.
Battle of Buena Vista.

somely against a greatly superior force, holding them-

selves under cover, and using their weapons with deadly
effect. About eight o'clock, a strong demonstration
was made against the centre of our position, a heavy
column moving along the road. This force was soon
dispersed by a few rapid and w^ell-directed shots from
Captain Washington's battery. In the mean time the
enemy w^as concentrating a large force of infantry and
cavalry under cover of the ridges, with the obvious inten-
tion of forcing our left, w^hich was posted on an exten-

sive plateau. The 2d Indiana and 2d Illinois regiments

formed this part of our line, the former covering three
pieces of light artillery, under the orders of Captain
O'Brien —Brigadier-General Lane being in the imme-
(fiate command. In order to bring his men within
effective range. General Lane ordered the artillery and
2d Indiana regiment forward. The artillery advanced
within musket range of a heavy body of Mexican infan-
try, and was served against it with great effect, but
without being able to check its advance. The infantry
ordered to its support had fallen back in disorder, being
exposed, as well as the battery, not only to a severe
fire of small- arms from the front, but also to a murderous
cross-fire of grape and canister from a Mexican battery
on the lefl. Captain O'Brien found it impossible to
retain his position without support, but was only able
to withdraw two of his pieces, all the horses and can-
noneers of the third piece being killed or disabled.
The 2d Indiana regiment, which had fallen back as
stated, could not be and took no farther part in
rallied,

the action, except a handful of men, who, under its

gallant colonel, Bowles, joined the Mississippi regiment,
 THE WAR. Ill
Official report of General Taylor.

and did good service, and those fugitives who, at a later

period in the day, assisted in defending the train and

depot at Buena Vista. This portion of our line having
given way, and the enemy appearing in overwhelming
force against our left flank, the light troops which had
rendered such good service on the mountain were com-
pelled to withdraw, which they did, for the most part,
in good order. Many, however, were not rallied until
they reached the depot at Buena Vista, to the defense
of which they afterward contributed.
Colonel Bissel's regiment, (2d Illinois,) which had
been joined by a section of Captain Sherman's battery,
had become completely outflanked, and was compelled
to fall back, being entirely unsupported. The enemy
was now pouring masses of and cavalry along
infantry
the base of the mountain on our left, and was gaining
our rear in great force. At this moment I arrived upon
the field. The Mississippi regiment had been directed
to the left before reaching the position, and immediately
came into action against the Mexican infantry which
had turned our flank. The 2d Kentucky regiment and
a section of artillery under Captain Bragg, had previ-
ously been ordered from the right to reinforce our left,

and arrived at a most opportune moment. That regi-

ment, and a portion of the 1st Illinois, under Colonel
Hardin, gallantly drove the enemy, and recovered a
portion of the ground we had lost. The batteries of
Captains Sherman and Bragg were in position on the
plateau,and did much execution, not only in front, but
upon the masses which had gained our rear.
particularly
Discovering that the enemy was heavily pressing upon
the Mississippi regiment, the 3d Indiana regiment, under
112 THE WAR.
Battle of Ijuena Vista

Colonel Lane, was despatched to strengthen that part

of our line, which formed a crotchet perpendicular to
the first line of battle. At the same time Lieutenant
Kilburn, with a piece of Captain Bragg's battery, was
directed to support the infantry there engaged. The
action was for a long time warmly sustained at that

point —the enemy making several efforts both with in-

fantry and cavalry against our line, and being always
repulsed with heavy loss. I had placed all the regular

cavalry and Captain Pike's squadron of Arkansas horse

under the orders of Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel May,
with directions to hold in check the enemy's column,
still advancing to the rear along the base of the moun-

tain, which w^as done in conjunction wdth the Kentucky

and Arkansas cavalry under Colonels Marshall and Yell.

In the mean time our left, which was still strongly
threatened by a superior force, was farther strengthened
by the detachment of Captain Bragg's and a portion of
Captain Sherman's batteries to that quarter. The con-
centration of artillery fire upon the masses of the enemy
along the base of the mountain, and the determined
resistance offered by the two regiments opposed to them,
had created confusion in their ranks, and some of the
corps attempted to effect a retreat upon their main line
of battle. The squadron of the 1st dragoons, under
Lieutenant Rucker, was now ordered up the deep ravine
which these retreating corps were endeavouring to cross,
in order to charge and disperse them. The squadron
proceeded to the point indicated, but could not accom-
plish the object, being exposed to a heavy fire from a
oattery established to cover the retreat of those corps.
While the squadron was detached on this service, a
 THE WAR. 113
OflEicial report of General Taylor.

large body of the enemy was observed to concentrate

on our extreme left, apparently with the view of making
a descent upon the hacienda of Buena Vista, where oui
trainand baggage were deposited. Lieutenant-Colonel
May was ordered to the support of that point, with two
pieces of Captain Sherman's battery under Lieutenant
Reynolds. In the mean time, the scattered forces near
the hacienda, composed in part of Majors Trail and
Gorman's commands, had been to some extent organ-
ized under the advice of Major Munroe, chief of artil-
lery, with the assistance of Major Morrison, volunteer

staff, and were posted to defend the position. Before

our cavalry had reached the hacienda, that of the enemy
had made its attack having been handsomely met by
;

the Kentucky and Arkansas cavalry under Colonels

Marshall and Yell. The Mexican column immediately
divided, one portion sweeping by the depot, where it
received a destructive fire from the force which had
collected there, and then gaining the mountain opposite,
under a fire from Lieutenant Reynolds' section, the
remaining portion regaining the base of the mountain
on our left. In the charge at Buena Vista, Colonel Yell
fell gallantly at the head of his regiment ; we also lost
Adjutant Vaughan, of the Kentucky cavalry —a young
officer of much promise. Lieutenant-Colonel May, who
had been rejoined by the squadron of the 1st dragoons
and by portions of the Arkansas and Indiana troops,
under Lieutenant-Colonel Roane and Major Gorman,
now approached the base of the mountain, holding in
check the right flank of the enemy, upon whose masses,
crowded in the narrow gorges and ravines, our artillery
was doing fearful execution.
114 THE WAR.
Battle of Buena Vista.

The position of that portion of the Mexican array

which had gained our rear was now very critical, and it
seemed doubtful whether it could regain the main body.
At this moment I received from General Santa Anna a
message by a staff officer, desiring to know what I
wanted. I immediately despatched Brigadier-General
Wool to the Mexican general-in-chief, and sent orders
to cease firing. Upon reaching the Mexican lines,
General Wool could not cause the enemy to cease their
fire, and accordingly returned without having an inter-

view. The extreme right of the enemy continued its

retreat along the base of the mountain, and finally, in

spite of all our efforts, effected a junction with the

remainder of the army.
During the day, the cavalry of General Minon had
ascended the elevated plain above Saltillo, and occupied

the road from the city to the field of battle, where they
intercepted several of our men. Approaching the town,
they were fired upon by Captain Webster from the
redoubt occupied by his company, and then moved off
towards the eastern side of the valley, and obliquely
towards Buena Vista. At this time, Captain Sho"Ver
moved rapidly forward with his piece, supported by a
miscellaneous command of mounted volunteers, and
fired several shots at the cavalry with great effect. They
were driven into the ravines which lead to the lower
valley, closely pursued by Captain Shover, who was
farther supported by a piece of Captain Webster's bat-
tery, under Lieutenant Donaldson, which had advanced
from the redoubt, supported by Captain Wheeler's com-
pany of Illinois volunteers. The enemy made one or
two efforts to charge the artillery, but was finally driven
 THE WAR. 115
Official report of General Taylor.

back in a confused mass, and did not again appear upon

the plain.
In the mean time, the firing had partially ceased upon
the principal field. The enemy seemed to confine his
efforts to the protection of his artillery, and I had left

the plateau for a moment, when I was recalled thither

by a very heavy musketry fire. On regaining that posi-
tion, I (Illinois and 2d
discovered that our infantry
Kentucky) had engaged a greatly superior force of the
— —
enemy evidently his reserve and that they had been
overwhelmed by numbers. The moment was most
critical. Captain O'Brien, with two pieces, had sus-
tained this heavy charge to the last, and was finally

obliged to leave his guns on the field — his infantry sup-

port being entirely routed. Captain Bragg, who had

just arrived from the left, was ordered at once into bat-
tery. Without any infantry to support him, and at the

imminent risk of losing his guns, this officer came rapidly

into action, the Mexican line being but a few yards
from the muzzle of his pieces. The first discharge of
enemy to hesitate, and the second
canister caused the
and third drove him back in disorder, and saved the
day. The 2d Kentucky regiment, which had advanced
beyond supporting distance in this affair, was driven
back and closely pressed by the enemy's cavalry.
Taking a ravine which led in the direction of Captain
Washington's battery, their pursuers became exposed to
his fire, which soon checked and drove them back with
loss. In the mean time the rest of our artillery had
taken position on the plateau, covered by the Missis-
sippi and 3d Indiana regiments, the former of which
had reached the ground in time to pour a fire into the
116 THE WAR.
Battle of Buena Vista.

right flank of the enemy, and thus contribute to his

repulse. In this last conflict we had the misfortune to
sustain a very heavy loss. Colonel Hardin, 1st Illinois,

and Colonel McKee and Lieutenant-Colonel Clay, 2d

Kentucky regiment, fell at this time while gallantly
leading their commands.
No farther attempt was made by the enemy to force
our position, and the approach of night gave an oppor-
tunity to pay proper attention to the wounded, and also
to refresh the soldiers, who had been exhausted by in-
cessant watchfulness and combat. Though the night
was severely cold, the troops were compelled for the
most to bivouac without fires, expecting that morning
would renew the conflict. During the night the wounded
were removed to Saltillo, and every preparation made
to receive the enemy, should he again attack our posi-
tion. Seven fresh companies were drawn from the
town, and Brigadier-General Marshall, with a reinforce-
ment of Kentucky cavalry and four heavy guns, under
Captain Prentiss, 1st artillery, was near at hand, when
it was discovered that the enemy had abandoned his

position during the night. Our scouts soon ascertained

that he had fallen back upon Agua Nueva. The great
disparity of numbers, and the exhaustion of our troops,
rendered it inexpedient and hazardous to attempt pur-
suit. A staff officer was despatched to General Santa
Anna to negotiate an exchange of prisoners, which was
satisfactorily completed on the following day. Our own

dead were collected and buried, and the Mexican

wounded, of which a large number had been left upon
the field, were removed to Saltillo, and rendered as
comfortable as circumstances would permit.
 THE WAR. 119
Official report of General Taylor.

On the evening of the 26th, a close reconnoissance

was made of the enemy's position, which w^as found to
be occupied only by a small body of cavalry, the infan-
try and artillery having retreated in the direction of San
Luis Potosi. On the 27th, our troops resumed their
former camp at Agua Nueva, the enemy's rear-guard
evacuating the place as we approached, leaving a
considerable number of wounded. It w^as my pur-
pose to beat up his quarters at Encarnacion early the
next morning, but upon examination, the weak con-
dition of the cavalry horses rendered it unadvisable to
attempt so long a march without water. A command was
finally despatched to Encarnacion, on the 1st of March,
under Colonel Belknap. Some two hundred wounded,
and about sixty Mexican soldiers were found there, the
army having passed on in the direction of Matehuala,
with greatly reduced numbers, and suffering much from
hunger. The dead and dying w^ere strew^ed upon the
road and crowded the buildings of the hacienda.
The American force engaged in the action of Buena
Vista is shown, by the field report, to have been three
hundred and thirtj^-four officers, and four thousand four
hundred and twenty-five men, exclusive of the small
command left in and near Saltillo. Of this number, two
squadrons of cavalry and three batteries of light artillery,
making not more than four hundred and fift^'-three men,
composed the only force of regular troops. The strength
of the Mexican army is stated by General Santa Anna,
in his summons, to be twenty thousand and that estimate
;

is confirmed by all the information since obtained. Our

loss is two hundred and sixty-seven killed, four hundred
and fifty-six wounded, and twenty-three missing. Of the
120 THE WAR.
Battle of Buena Vista.

numerous wounded, many did not require removal to the

hospital, and it is hoped that a comparatively small num-
ber will L)c permanently disabled. The Mexican loss in
killed and wounded may be fairly estimated at one thou-
sand five hundred, and will probably reach two thousand.
At least five hundred of their killed were left upon the
field of battle. We have no means of ascertaining the
number of deserters and dispersed men from their ranks,
but it is known to be very great."
The nature of the ground at Buena Vista, made the
battle a series of detached encounters, in which each
side had at times the superiority of force. It was the
work of the able commander to give unity to the whole

by the proper direction of the several partial efforts.

These divided operations gave splendid opportunities
for the display of individual gallantry and state pride,

which were cheerfully improved, especially by the volun-

teers, many of whom had never faced an enemy before,

and were determined to reap laurels on the first field.

It is a fact never before known in the annals of war,

that almost every American soldier in the present war,

considers himself in some degree its historian. Nearly
every one is able to write, many have made engage-
ments with editors at home to furnish accounts of their
engagements, and each one is interested in the success
of his own company that the account he must give may
not be disgraceful. Thus a direct personal pride is

brought to aid the military pride necessary to the forma-

tion of a good soldier, an element which must be of
great account in explaining the success of our arms.
The future historian of the war, possessed of the im-
mense mass of materials thus furnished, mil catch the
 THE WAR. 121
Kentucky regiment.

enthusiasm with which the brave soldiers write in the

moment of victory, and build up for himself a reputation
unsurpassed by that of any of the warrior historians,
Xenophon, Csesar, or Napier.
We give an extract from one of these letters, which
illustrates at once the force of the above remark, and
the bravery of a particular regiment.
"At a very critical point of the battle when it became
necessary to sustain one of our columns, which was
staggering under a charge made by the Mexicans, in
overwhelming numbers, General Taylor despatched Mr,
Crittenden to order Colonel McKee, of the 2d Kentucky
regiment, to bring his men into immediate action. Mr.
Crittenden found the regiment, men and officers, eager
for the fray, delivered the order and rode back to the
general, by whose side it was his duty to keep. The
Kentuckians moved forward in gallant style, led by
McKee and Clay, both of whom, alas! fell in a subse-

quent part of the day. It so happened that before

reaching a position from which they could deliver an
effective fire, the regiment had to cross a valley which
was broken up by ravines and masses of stone. Whilst
crossing this valley the heads only of the men could be
seen from the point which General Taylor and Mr.
Crittenden occupied — and these were bobbing up and
down and crosswise in such confusion as to impress both
with the idea that the regiment had fallen into disorder.
The Mexicans were annoying them at the same moment
by a fire, which helped to confirm the opinion of the
general that the Kentuckians were thrown into dismay.
It was one of these decisive crises, which occur in
every contested field, when the issue of the day de-
6
122 THE WAR.
Kentucky regiment.

pended, for the time being, upon the gallantry of a par-

ticular corps.
General Taylor, who, as before said, could only see
the heads of the troops, and misled by their motions in

getting across gullies and going around rocks and other

obstructions, into the belief that they were about to falter,

turned to Mr. Crittenden, who is a Kentuckian, and with

a countenance, indicating deep mortification — for the ge-

neral is a resident in —
Kentucky too and an eye fierce with
emotion, exclaimed, Mr. Crittenden, this will not do
*

— this is not the way for Kentuckians to behave them-

selves when called upon to make a good battle it will —

not answer, sir:' and with this he clenched his hands,
and knit his brow, and set his teeth hard together. Mr.
Crittenden, who was mistaken by the same indications
that deceived the general, could scarcely make a reply
fi-om very chagrin and shame. In a few
moments,
however, the Kentuckians had crossed the uneven places,
and were seen ascending the slope of the valley, shoulder
to shoulder, and with the firm and regular step of vete-
rans of a hundred fields. On they moved until they
reached the crest of the where they met the enemy
hill,

before the flush of a temporary advantage had subsided.

Here they delivered their fires with such regularity and
deadly aim that the decimated phalanx of Mexico gave
way and retreated precipitately. As the Kentuckians
emerged from the valley the countenance of the old
general, who was regarding them with the intensest
interest, gradually relaxed the bitterness of its expres-
sion. Aglow of pride supplanted the deep mortification
which fixed its muscles, and enthusiasm qualified the
fierce glance of his eye. Forward they moved under his
 THE WAR. 123
Taylor pursues Urrea.

riveted gaze, whose feelings became more and more

wrought up as they approached the scene of carnage.
When they opened their fire the old general could no
longer restrain his admiration, but broke forth with a
loud huzza, — ^Hurrah for old Kentucky!' he exclaimed,
talking to himself, and rising in his saddle ;
^
that's the
way to do it ;
give it to them,' and the tears of exulta-
tion rolled down his cheeks as he said it.

Having got rid of this ebullition of state pride, he went

about looking after other parts of the field.

The Kentuckians did their duty that day as others did.

They paid toll in travelling the high road to glory as the
list of killed and wounded shows."

On the 2d of March Mr. Crittenden set out for Wash-

ington with the officinl documents of the battle, escorted

by Major Giddings, with two hundred and sixty infantry

and two pieces of artillery, and having in charge one
hundred and fifty wagons. At a mile distant from
Seralvo the escort was attacked by General Urrea with
a force of sixteen hundred Mexican cavalry and infantry.
The enemy was repulsed with a loss of forty-five killed
and wounded. Major Giddings lost seventeen men,
fifteen of whom were teamsters. Subsequently General
Taylor marched in pursuit of Urrea, who fled over the
mountain?. General Taylor then returned and fixed his
camp at the Walnut Springs, three miles from Monterey,
where it remained under the charge of General Wool, to
whose care General Taylor committed the army while
he himself returned for a little while to ^^sit his family

in the United States.

Along the Grande the only warfare m-ged
Rio
after the capture of Matamoras was that of the
124 THE WAR.
Order of Canales.

guerillas. The butcheries perpetrated by these bands are

appalling, war without pity being their cardinal princi-
ple. The following manifesto taken from a captive of
the band of Canales, by Lieutenant Bee of Captain
Lamar's Rangers. Canales is a graduate of a sanguinary
school, a robber chief by profession, and a cut-throat by
nature ; he is man to gloat over the barbarities
just the
of such a war. The pretended necessity for retaliation
with which his proclamation commences refers to an
excess of vengeance perpetrated by a few disorderly
soldiers in a moment of excitement, occasioned by the
most dastardly murder of one of their comrades by two
of the band of Canales, who were found among the party
of Mexicans that w^ere slain. Without this outrage,
however, the guerilla system would have been adopted,
as it has been in the Central States. The Mexicans
themselves are not more free from outrage and plunder
at the hands of these bands than the Americans; and
many instances can be cited where the unfortunate in-

habitants welcome the approach of their foes that they

may have protection from these their pretended friends.
"I this day send to the adjutant inspector of the
National Guards the follow^ing instructions
I learn, with the greatest indignation, that the Ameri-
cans have committed a most horrible massacre at the
rancho of the Guadalupe. They made prisoners, in their
own houses and by the side of their families, twenty-five
peaceable men, and immediately shot them. To repel
this class of warfare, which is not war but atrocity in all

its fury, there is no other course left us than retaliation

and in order to pursue this method, rendered imperative
by the fatal circumstances above mentioned, you will
Commencement of the Guerilla Warfare.
 THE WAR. 127
Order of Caxiales.

immediately declare martial law, with the understanding

that eight days after the publication of the same every
individual who has not taken up arms (being capable of
so doing) shall be considered a traitor and instantly shot.
Martial law being in force, you are bound to give no
quarters to any American whom you may meet, or who
may present himself to you, even though he be without
arms. You are also directed to publish this to all the
towns in this state, forcibly impressing them with the
severe punishment that shall be inflicted for the least
omission of this order.
We have arrived at that state in which our country
requires the greatest sacrifices ; her sons should glory in
nothing but to become soldiers, and as brave Mexicans
to meet the crisis. Therefore, if the army of invasion
continues, and our people remain in the towns which
they have molested, they deserve not one ray of sympa-
thy ; nor should any one ever cease to make war upon
them. You will send a copy of this to each of your
subordinates, and they are authorized to proceed against
the chiefs of their squadrons, or against their colonels or
any other, even against me, for any infraction of this
order —the only mode of salvation left. The enemy
wages war against us, and even against those peaceable
citizens who, actuated by improper impulses, desire to
remain quiet in their houses. Even these they kill,

without quarter; and this is the greatest favour they

may expect from them. The only alternative left us,
under these circumstances, is retaliation, which is the
strong right of the offended against the offending. To
carry this into effect, attach yourself to the authorities.
Your failing to do this will be considered a crime of the
128 THE WAR.
Operations of General Scott.

greatest magnitude. All the officers of the troops are

directed to assist you in carrying out this order, and it

is distinctly understood there shall be no exceptions.

Neither the clergy, military, citizens, nor other persons,
shall enjoy the privilege of remaining peaceably at their

homes. The whole of the corporation shall turn out

with the citizens, leaving solely as authority of the town
one of the members who is over the age of sixty years;
at the same time, if all of the members are capable of
bearing arms, then none shall be excepted; leaving to
act some one who is incapable of military service. You
yourself must be an example to others, by conforming
to this requisition. And I send this to you for publica-
tion, and charge you to see it executed in every par-
ticular, and communicate it also to the commanders of

the squadrons in your city, who will aid you in carrying

into effect these instructions and in fact you are directed
;

to do all and every thing which your patriotism may

prompt. God and liberty!"
We turn next to the sphere of operations of General
Winfield Scott, the commander-in-chief of the armies
of the United States. That officer sailed from New
York on the 30th of November, and reached the Rio
Grande on the 1st of January. His object was to cap-
ture the city of Vera Cruz and the castle of San Juan
d'Ulloa, the naval forces under Commodore Conner
oeing intended to co-operate in the attack. As we have
seen, all the regular force was detached from General
Taylor's command, and ordered to the general rendez-
vous at the island of Lobos, not very distant from Vera
Cruz, and the anchorage of the Gulf Squadron at Anton
Lizardo. The transports slowly gathered together at
 THE WAR. 129
Landing at Vera Cruz.

that place the troops from the Brazos, from New Orleans,
and the north, cavalry, infantry, artillery, mortars, bomb-
ketches, shells and shot — in short, all the materiel ne-
cessary for the successful execution of the brilliant de-
signs of General Scott. At length the army, amounting
to about twelve thousand men, thoroughly equipped, re-
embarked on board of the transports numbering nearly
a hundred sail, and proceeded to effect a landing at
Vera Cruz. It became the duty of the navy to co-ope-
rate in the landing, and the particulars of the disem-
barkation are given in the despatch of Commodore
Conner, which we subjoin.
" After a joint reconnoissance, made by the general
and myself in the steamer Petrita, ^he beach due west
from Sacrificios, one of the points spoken of in my pre-
vious was selected as the most suitable for the
letters,

purpose. The anchorage near this place being ex-

tremely contracted, it became necessary, in order to
avoid crowding it with an undue number of vessels, to
transfer most of the troops to the vessels of war for trans-
portation to Sacrificios. Accordingly, on the morning of
the 9th, at daylight, all necessary preparations — such as
launching and numbering the boats, detailing officers,

&c. —having been previously made, this transfer was

commenced. The frigates received on board between
twenty-five and twenty-eight hundred men each, with
their arms and accoutrements, and the sloops and smaller
vessels number in proportion.
This part of the movement was completed very suc-
cessfully about eleven o'clock, a. m., and a few minutes
thereafter the squadron under my command, accom-
panied by the commanding general, in the steamship
130 THE WAR.
Landing at Vera Cruz.

Massachusetts, and such of the transports as had been

selected for the purpose, got under way. The w^eather
was very fine — indeed we could not have been more
favoured in this particular than we w^ere. We had a
fresh, and yet gentle breeze from the south-east, and a
perfectly smooth sea. The passage to Sacrificios occu-
pied us between two and three hours. Each ship came
in and anchored without the slightest disorder or con-
fusion, in the small space allotted to her —the harbour
being still much crowded, notwithstanding the
very
number of transports we had left behind. The disem-
barkation commenced on the instant. Whilst we were
transferring the troops from the ships to the serf-boats,
(sixty-five in number,) I directed the steamers Spitfire
and Vixen, and the five gun-boats, to form in a line
parallel with and close in to the beach, to cover the
landing. This order was promptly executed, and these
small vessels, from the lightness of their draught, were
enabled to take positions within good grape-range of the
shore. As the boats severally received their comple-
ments of troops, they assembled, in a line abreast, be-
tween the and the gun-boats and when all were
fleet ;

ready, they pulled in, together, under the guidance of a

number of the officers of the squadron, who had been
detailed for this purpose. General Worth commanded
this, the first line of the army, and had the satisfaction
of forming his command on the beach and neighbouring
heights just before sunset. Four thousand five hundred
men were thus thrown on shore, almost simultaneouslv-
No enemy appeared to offer us the slightest opposi-
tion. The first line being landed, the boats, in succes-
sive trips, relieved the men of war and transports of
 THE WAR. 131
Landing at Vera Cruz.

their remaining troops, by ten o'clock, p. m. The whole

army, (save a few straggling companies,) consisting of
upwards of ten thousand men, w^ere thus safely deposited
on shore, without the slightest accident of any kind. The
officers and seamen under my command, vied with each

other on this occasion, in a zealous and energetic per-

formance of their duty. I cannot but express to the
department the great satisfaction I have derived from
witnessing their power to
efforts to contribute all in their

more fortunate brethren of the army.

the success of their
The weather still continuing fine, to-day we were en-
gaged in landing the artillery, horses, provisions, and
other materiel. The steamer New Orleans, wdth the
Louisiana regiment of volunteers, eight hundred strong,
arrived most opportunely at Anton Lizardo, just as we
had put ourselves in motion. She joined us, and her
troops were landed with the rest."
"The scene," says the Rev. F. M. Taylor,
brilliant

in his new work, " The Broad Pennant," '' the brilliant
scene presented by the disembarkation of our army of
twelve thousand men from the ships, so successfully and
beautifully conducted, might well excite the admiration
and claim the interested gaze of the beholders. The scene
has never been equalled on the continent of America,
and no disembarkation on record can have surpassed it
for its successful accomplishment. It has been com-

pared with the landing of the French expedition against

Algiers, in 1830, which is said to have been one of the
most complete armaments, in every respect, that ever
left Europe. That expedition had been prepared w^ith
labour, attention, and experience and nothing had been
;

omitted to insure success, particularly in the means an(i

 132 THE WAR.
Description of Vera Cruz.

facilities for landing the troops. Its disembarkation

took place in a wide bay, which was more favourable
thein an open beach directly on the ocean ; and, as in
the present instance, it was made without any resistance
on the part of the enemy. Yet only nine thousand men
were landed the first day, and thirty to forty lives were
lost by accidents or upsetting of boats; whereas on
the present occasion, twelve thousand were landed in
one day without the slightest accident or loss of a single
life. The great credit of this, of course belongs to the
navy, under whose orders and arrangements, and by
whose exertions it was effected, and reflects the highest
credit on Commodore Conner, and the gallant officers
and seamen belonging to the squadron."
It may not be amiss, before proceeding to give an
account of the siege, to subjoin a short extract from an
article descriptive of Vera Cruz, from the New York
Herald, the more especially as they serve to justify in
some degree the opinion entertained by the Mexicans
that it was impregnable.
*^ The fortifications consist of nine towers connected
togetherby means of a stone and mortar wall, which,
however, is not very thick. The two towers named
Santiago and Conception are the most important, as well
from their size and strength, as from the fact that by
their position they contribute much to the defense of the
port. They are situated at that portion of the walls

looking tow^ard the castle of San Juan, and are distant

from each other one thousand two hundred and seventy
varas. The other towers, including the one called San
Fernando, are almost equal in shape, size, and strength.
All of them can mount one hundred pieces of artillery
 THE WAR. 133
Siege of Vera Cruz.

of various sizes; and save those of the middle ones,

their fires all cross in front of the guard-houses, the ex-
ternal walls of which form part of the walls which sur-
round the city.
Having completed the investment of the city, General
Scott sent a summons commander to surrender,
to the
that Vera Cruz might be saved "from the imminent
hazard of demolition — its gallant defenders from a use-
less effusion of blood, and its peaceful inhabitants
women and children, inclusive —from the inevitable
horrors of a triumphant assault." He offered in case
the city and castle had separate commanders, and
the former were surrendered, to agree not to fire a
shot from the city upon the castle, unless the castle
should previously fire upon the city. The answer to
this summons was the announcement of the determina-
tion of Don Juan Morales to defend both the city and
the castle to the last.
Seven ten-inch mortars being in battery, opened upon
the city on the receipt of this reply, and the small ves-
sels of the squadron approached and an
to within a mile

eighth of the city, and opened a upon it, which they

fire

continued until called off by the commodore on the suc-

ceeding day. On the 23d, three other mortars were
added to the seven already at work; on the 24th an-
other battery, commanded by officers of the navy, con-
sisting of three thirty-two-pounders and three eight-inch
Paixhan guns, all landed from the squadron, was opened
with great activity. On the 25th, a new battery, mount-
ing four twenty-four-pounders and two eight-inch Paix-
han guns, was opened with great effect, making five
batteries in awful activity. Such a terrible eflfect had
134 THE WAR.
Surrender of Vera Cruz.

now been produced upon the city as to make its early-

fall inevitable. On the 24th, the consuls of the European
powers sent a memorial to General Scott, asking for a

truce, in order that neutrals and women and children

might withdraw from the city. This request, preferred
after they had despised the early warning of General
Scott to retire, was of course refused.
On the morning of the 26th, General Landero, on
whom General Morales had devolved the comnaand,
made overtures which resulted in a capitulation signed
on the evening of that day. On the 29th of March, the
flag of the United States was raised in triumph over the
city and castle of Vera Cruz. There was one drawback
to the joy felt on this occasion, regret for the loss of

the brave and pious Captain John R. Vinton of the 3d

artillery.* General Scott writes on the 23d as follows:
'' Including the preparation and defense of the bat-
teries, from the beginning — now many days — and
* John R. Vinton, who had been brevetted a major at the time he
fell, although without his knowledge of the promotion, was one of the
most valuable officers in the army. He was educated at West Point,
commissioned at seventeen, employed for several years on topographical
duty on the Atlantic coast, and in Canada, adjutant under Genexal
Eustis, aid to General Brown, and having served with distinction in the
Seminole war, and particularly at the battle near Lake Monroe, he finally
raised his military reputation to the highest point at the siege of Mon-
terey. Here he was with General Worth's division, and accompanied
the troops as they passed so long under fire from the two heights, in the
storming of those heights, the capture of the palace, and the subsequent
street assault, where the soldiers dug through the walls of houses amid
a continual fire of musketry fi-om the house tops.
"Vinton was not only highly distinguished as an officer, but he was
profoundly learned, skilled in the fine arts, and a man of unquestiont^b^
piety.
 THE WAR. 135
Siege cf Vera Cruz.

notwithstanding the heavy fire of the enemy, from city

and castle — we have only had four or
five men wounded,
and one and one man killed, in or near the
officer

trenches. That officer was Captain John R. Vinton, of

the United States 3d artillery, one of the most talented,
accomplished, and effective members of the army, and
who was highly distinguished in the brilliant operations
at Monterey. He fell, last evening, in the trenches, where
he was on duty as field and commanding officer, uni-
versally regretted. I have jusi attended his honoured
remains to a soldier's grave — in full view of the enemy
and within reach of his guns.

As soon as Commodore Perry perceived the land

forces engaged, he ordered Captain Tatnall, with what
is called the " Mosquito Fleet," consisting of the steam-
ers Spitfire and Vixen, and five gun-boats, viz Reefer, :

Bonita, Tampico, Falconer, and Petrel, to attack. Cap-

tain Tatnall inquired at what point he should engage }
Commmodore Perry very emphatically replied, " Where-
ever you can do the most execution, sir." Accordingly
the little fleet took position under a point of land known
as the *'Lime Kiln," about a mile from the city, where
they were protected from a point blank shot of the
castle. As soon as they got their position in line they
opened a fire of round shot and shell at a rapid rate,
and ''Jirew them "handsomely" into the town and Fort
Santiago.
ITie castle soon paid its respects to Captain Tatnall,
and the powerful engines of havoc and destruction were
now in full blast from every quarter, hurling their dread-
136 THE WAR.
Coolness of the Ajnerican soldiers.

ful and deadly missiles into each other's ranks in rapid

succession, which they kept up till about dark, when
the Mexican batteries comparatively ceased, and the
*^ Mosquito Fleet" also held off for the night.

At eight o'clock the party that were in the trenches

were relieved by another detail. The troops w^ho re-
turned from the intrenchments were literally covered
with smoke and dust, and so much disfigured that they
could not be recognized except by their voices. Shell
after shell exploded in their midst, and shot after shot

threw barrels of earth from the embankments over their

heads as they lay in the trenches.
An incident occurred during the heaviest of the fire,

evincing the coolness of the American soldiers in time

of the greatest danger. A small party who had been
lying in the trenches all day, becoming tired of doing
nothing, as they said, were devising some means of pass-
ing away the time. At length one of them proposed a
game at cards, and hauled out an old greasy pack, and
some half dozen of them sat down in the ditch to play,
with nothing but tobacco for stakes. They became
much interested, and it was not long before they forgot
all about cannon, bomb-shells, Mexican batteries, or

any thing else but their tobacco and cards. It was not
long, however, before a thirteen inch shell fell on the
top of the embankment; the explosion completely
covered them with the earth ; they all scrambled out as
quick as they could, and shaking the sand from their cloth-
ing, and cleaning it out from their eyes, one of them vexy
coolly remarked, *'Well, boys, I'll be darned if that
didn't come mighty near being a ten strike !"
At daylight on the 23d, Captain Tatnall's Mosquito
 THE WAR. 137
Colonel Harney's dragoon fight.

Fleet weighed anchor, and under cover of a moon some-

what clouded, approached within six hundred yards of
the castle. As soon as they had got their respective
positions, they opened a broadside from the fleet, which
was answered by the castle with great spirit, both by
round shot and shell. Captain Tatnall continued the
engagement for about half an hour, although the signal
from the commodore's ship, calling him off, had been
hoisted for some time but was not seen on account of
;

a cloud of smoke which hung around the shipping.''

On the 25th, information was received in camp that a
body of Mexicans were hanging in our rear, intending
to force the lines if possible and make their way into the
city with a number of cattle. Colonel Harney, with one
hundred and twenty dragoons, was ordered out in search
of them, and report his observations. He discovered
them, about two thousand in number, intrenched at a
bridge, and supported by two pieces of artillery, three
miles from General Patterson's head-quarters. Colonel
Harney started on his return, intending to prepare pro-
perly and attack them the next morning. But the gallant
soldier knowing that delays are dangerous, could not
bear the idea of leaving the enemy after having come
in sight ofthem without having a brush. Accordingly
he returned to the place, took a position where he could
watch their movements, and keep his men secure from
the enemy's fire. The Mexicans commenced firing at
him, and threw a perfect shower of balls all around him,
but without injury.
Colonel Harney then despatched a messenger to camp
for a small reinforcement, and some artillery to break
the breastworks. He was reinforced from General Pat^
158 THE WAR.
Colonel Harney's dragoon fight.

terson's division by Lieutenant Judd, with two pieces

of artillery, about sixty dragoons, dismounted, and six
companies of the 1st and 2d Tennessee volunteers,
under the command of Colonel Haskell, accompanied
by General Patterson in person, although he did not
take the command from Colonel Harney, but merely
participated as any other individual who was engaged.
Colonel Harney then formed the Tennesseeans on the
right, his dragoons on the left, and advanced slowly to
draw the fire of the Mexicans, until Lieutenant Judd got
his artillery in such a position as he desired.
The movement succeeded admirably Lieutenant :

Judd got his ground within one hundred and fifty yards
of the Mexicans, and commenced firing —they attempted
to return it, but as soon as a slight breach was made in
the parapet. Colonel Harney ordered a charge, which
was answered by a yell from the dragoons and Tennes-
seeans. Colonel Haskell, Captain Cheatham, and Cap-
tain Foster, were the first men to leap over the breast-
work, and as a naval officer remarked, who witnessed
the whole affair, the balance went over so much like a
" thousand of brick," that there was no telling who was
first or last. As might have been expected, the Mexi-
cans were unable to stand a charge from "the boys who
stood the fire of the Black Fort at Monterey."
A few" of the encumbrances were soon thrown out of
the way, and Colonel Harney, with his dragoons, leaped
the breastwork and gave chase. He had not proceeded
more than a mile before he found the enemy formed in
line to receive him. He immediately deployed, and
from the head of the line When he
ordered a charge.
approached within about twenty yards of the enemy's
 THE WAR. 139
Colonel Harney's drsLgoon figlit.

line they gave him a fire from their side-arms, but over-
shot. Then came the test of strength and skill —the
dragoon, with sword in hand, met the confiding lancer,
with pointed lance, ready to receive him. The contest
was but for a short time.

In many instances lances were twisted from their

clenched hands; Mexicans were unsaddled and
the
driven, helter-skelter, in every direction, and pursued
by the dragoons in detachments. Colonel Harney and
several of his officers met their men in single combat,
but none of them received any injury except Lieutenant
Neill, adjutant of the regiment, who was wounded
severely in two places from his magnanimity in attempt-
ing to capture a Mexican instead of killing him. In
full run he overtook the retreating Mexican, and placing
his sword in front of him commanded him to surrender,
whereupon the Mexican drove his lance into his magnani-
mous adversary. As the lieutenant wheeled his horse
to despatch him, another Mexican charged up and struck

him with a lance. However, severely wounded as he was

in two places, he conquered one of his foes, and a cor-
poral came up in time to ^ settle accounts' with the other.
In this affair Colonel Harney had four wounded and
one killed ; Lieutenant Judd had one killed ; and the
Tennesseeans had Messrs. Fox, Long, Woodly, and one
other of Captain McCown's company, whose name I could
not ascertain, wounded. Mr. Young, a Texan ranger,
who was acting as guide, was also wounded slightly.

Nineteen Mexicans were found dead at the bridge be-

hind the breastwork. Colonel Harney killed fifty and
wounded about the same number. The Mexican force
near two thousan : ; Colonel Harney's about five hundred.
140 THE WAR.
Araerican flag saluted.

Colonel Haskell, Captains Cheatham, Foster, Snead,

Lieutenant Judd, and all the officers and men in the

command, are spoken of in the very highest terms by

Colonel Harney for their gallant conduct throughout the
whole affair.

On the 27th, Commodore Perry was preparing to land

another battery of ten guns from the Ohio, but the
necessity was obviated by the ratification by both parties
of the stipulations agreed upon by the commissio^^ers.
The Mexicans surrendered the city of Vera Cruz and
castle of San Juan de Ulloa, and the armaments and
munitions of war, together with their small arms. The
officers retained their side arms, and the whole surren-
dered as prisoners of war, and were allowed to retire into

the country on their parole, General Scott furnishing

them four days rations.
The surrender of the city took place on the 29th. The
Americans were drawn up in two lines facing each other,
and extending for more than a mile across the plain.
The Mexicans left the city with their national music
playing at ten o'clock, passed between the American lines,
laid down their colours and arms, and marched for the
interior. The Americans then entered the city with
their national music, the stars and stripes were saluted
by the batteries, the castle, and the fleet, {see opposite) as
they were flung to the breeze in the Plaza ; General
Scott established his head-quarters at the place, and
General Worth became military governor of the city.

The effect of our shells upon the city was now seen,
and proved to have been deplorable.
Hardly a house had escaped, and a large portion of
them were ruined. The shells had fallen through the
 THE WAR. 143
Bations issued to tiiepoor of Vera Cruz.

roofs and exploded inside, tearing every thing into

pieces —bursting through the partitions and blowing out
the windows.
The killed and wounded among the soldiery was
very slight, about sixty in all ; but the citizens suffered
severely. It is said that between
six and seven hundred
men, women, and children were killed and wounded,
more than three hundred being killed.
A vast quantity of ammunition was found in the
work. The Mexicans, says a letter writer, left their
national pets behind in the castle, and our troops suf-
fered much annoyance from them last night. I allude,

of course, to fleas and other vermin.

Santiago Fort, that spiteful little place which played
so warmly upon our intrenchments, is a beautiful work,
with nine guns in barbette, most of them fine English
pieces. In fact, most of their best ordnance is of English
manufacture, though they have some fine pieces made
in the United States.
General Scott ordered ten thousand rations to be
issued to the suffering poor of Vera Cruz, and it was an
affecting scene to witness the crowd of half famished
creatures as they gathered timidly around to receive their
respective shares.
After some time spent in restoring the city to clean-
liness from the disgusting state of filth in which its

late possessors had left it, the Americans recruited

themselves from their fatigues. Before setting out for
the interior General Scott issued a manifesto declaring
his principle of non-mterference with Mexican religion

and customs.
On the 1st of April the army left Vera Cruz, and
144 THE WAR.
Descriptioa of Santa, Anna's position.

advanced on the road to Mexico in high spirits, and in

the expectation of a speedy battle, as Santa Anna was

known to be in the neighbourhood \vith a large force.

He had assembled another army after his defeat at Buena

Vista, and now retired before the advance of General
Scott to Puebla, stripped that city of every thing that
could be of service to his army, and finally took up a
strong position at Cerro Gordo, awaiting the attack of
General Scott.
The following graphic description of the Mexican
general's position, and General Scott's arrangements, is

by a gentlemen who witnessed the battle.

"The road from Vera Cruz, as it passes the Plan del
Rio, which is a wide, rocky bed of a once large stream,
is commanded by a series of high cliffs, rising one above

the other, and extending several miles, and all well

fortified. The road then debouches to the right, and,
curving around the ridge, passes over a high cliff, which
is completely enfiladed by forts and batteries. This
ridge is the commencement of the Terra Templada, the
upper or mountainous country. The high and rocky
ravine of the river protected the right flank of the posi-
tion, and a series of most abrupt and apparently impas-
sable mountains and ridges covered their left. Between
these points, running a distance of tvvo or three miles, a
succession of strongly fortified forts bristled at every
turn, and seemed to defy all bravery and skill. The
Cerro Gordo commanded the road on a gentle declina-
tion, like a glacis, for nearly a mile — an approach in
that direction w^as impossible. A front attack must have
terminated in the almost entire annihilation of our army.
But the enemy expected such an attack, confiding in the
 THE WAR. 14^
Eattle of Cerro Gordo.

desperate valour of our men, and believing that it was

impossible to turn their position to the right or left.

General Scott, however, with the eye of a skilful general,

perceived the trap set for him, and determined to avoid
it. He, therefore, had a road cut to the right, so as to
escape the front fire from the Sierra, and turn his position
on the This movement was made known to
left flank.

the enemy by a deserter from our camp, and consequently

a large increase of force under General Vega was sent to
the forts on their left. General Scott, to cover his flank
movements, on the 17th of April, ordered forward
General Twiggs against the fort on the steep ascent, in
front and a little to the left of the Sierra. Colonel Har-
ney commanded head of the
this expedition, and, at the

riflesand some detachments of infantry and artillery,

carried his position under a heavy fire of grape and
musketry. Having secured this position in front and
near the enemy's strongest fortification, and having by
incredible labour elevated one of our large guns to the
top of the fort. General Scott prepared to follow up his
advantages. A demonstration was made from this posi-
tion against another strong fort in the rear, and near the
Sierra, but the enemy were considered too strong and
the undertaking was abandoned. A like demonstration
was made by the enemy."
On the morning of the 18th, the army moved to the
attack in columns, and their success was rapid and de-
cisive. General Twiggs's division assaulted the enemy's
left, where he had remained during the night, and, after
a slight resistance, carried the breastwork at the point

of the bayonet, and completely routed its defenders.

Meanwhile Pillow's brigade, accompanied by GeneraJ
7
146 THE WAR.
Battle of Cerro Gordo.

Shields,moved rapidly along the Jalapa road, and took

up a position to intercept the retreat of the Mexicans.
At the same time Genera] Worth pushed forward toward
the to aid the movement of Twiggs.
left, The rout was
total. Three thousand men, with field and other officers,
surrendered, and an immense amount of small arms,
ordnance and batteries, were also captured. About six
thousand Mexicans gained the rear of the Americans on
the Jalapa road, but were closely pursued. The Ame-
ricans lost two hundred and fifty in killed and wounded
among the latter, General Shields ; the loss of the Mexi-
cans, exclusive of prisoners, was about one hundred more.
The following description of Twiggs's attack upon
the Mexican fort, is from the account of an eye-witness
"On the 18th, General Twiggs was ordered forward
from the position he had already captured, against the
fort which commanded the Sierra. Simultaneously an
attack on the fortifications on the enemy's left was to be
made by Generals Shields and Worth's divisions, who
moved in separate columns, while General Pillow ad-
vanced against the strong forts and difficult ascents on
the right of the enemy's position. The enemy, fully
acquainted with General Scott's intended movement,
had thrown large bodies of men into the various posi-
tions to be attacked. The most serious enterprise was
that of Twiggs, who advanced against the main fort that
commanded the Sierra. Nothing can be conceived more
difficult than this undertaking. The steep and rough
character of the ground, the constant fire of the enemy
in front, and the cross fire of the forts and batteries
which enfiladed our lines, made the duty assigned to
General Twiggs one of surpassing difficulty.
 THE WAR. 149
Battle of Cexro Gordo.

Nothing prevented our men from being utterly de-

stroyed but the steepness of the ascent under which they
coil 'd shelter. But they sought no shelter, and onward
rushed against a hailstorm of balls and musket-shot, led
by the gallant Harney, whose noble bearing elicited
the applause of the whole army. His conspicuous and
stalwart frame at the head of his brigade, his long arm
waving his men on to the charge, his sturdy voice ring-
ing above the clash of arms and din of conflict, attracted
the attention and admiration alike of the enemy and of
our own men. On, on, he led the columns, whose front
lines melted before the enemy's fire like snow-flakes in a
torrent,and stayed not their course until leaping over the
rocky barriers, and bayoneting their gunners, they drove
the enemy pellraell from the fort, delivering a deadly
fire into their ranks, from their own guns, as they hastily
retired. This was truly a gallant deed, worthy the
Chevalier Bayard of our army, as the intrepid Harney
is well styled. General Scott, between whom and Colo-
nel Harney there had existed some coolness, rode up to
the colonel after this achievement, and remarked to him
* Colonel Harney, I cannot now adequately express my
admiration of your gallant achievement, but at the proper
time I shall take great pleasure in thanking you in proper
terms.' Harney, with the modesty of true valour, claimed
the praise as due to his officers and men. Thus did the
division of the gallant veteran, Twiggs, carry the main
position of the enemy, and occupy the front which com-
manded the road. It was here
enemy received their
the
heaviest loss, and their general, Vasquez, was killed. A
little after. General Worth, having, by great exertions,
passed the steep and craggy heights on the enemy's left,
150 THE WAR.
Battle of Cerro Gordo.

summoned a strong fort in the rear of the Sierra to sur-

render. This fort was manned by a large force under
General Pinzon, a mulatto officer of considerable ability
and courage, who, seeing the Sierra carried, thought
itprudent to surrender, which he did with all his force.
General Shields was not so fortunate in the battery
which he attacked, and v/hich was commanded by Ge-
neral La Vega. A heavy fire was opened on him, under
which the fort was carried with some loss by the gallant
lUinoisians, under Baker and Bennett, supported by the
New Yorkers, under Burnett. Among those who fell

under this fire was the gallant general, w^ho received a

grape-shot through his lungs, by which he w^as com-
pletely paralyzed, and thrown into a critical and dan-
gerous state. On the enemy's right, General Pillow
commenced the attack against the strong forts near the
The Tennesseeans, under Haskell, led the column,
river.

and the other volunteer regiments followed. This column

unexpectedly encountered a heavy fire from a masked

battery, by which Haskell's regiment was nearly cut to

pieces, and the other volunteer regiments were severely
handled. General Pillow withdrew his men, and was
preparing for another attack, when the operations at the
other points having proved successful, the enemy con-
cluded to surrender. Thus was complete,
the victory
and four generals, and about six thousand men, were
taken prisoners by our army. One of their principal
generals and a large number of other officers killed. The
Mexican force on this occasion certainly exceeded our
own.
According to the account of the captured officers,

Santa Anna had in his lines at least eight thousand men,

 THE WAR. 153
Twiggs enters Jalapa.

and without the intrenchments about six thousand, of

which a» third was cavalry. The army was composed
of the best soldiers in Mexico. The infantry who had
fought so bravely at Buena Vista, and all the regular ar-
tillerists of the republic, including several naval officers,
were present. Some of the officers whom General Scott
released at the capitulation of Vera Cruz without extort-
ing the parole on account of their gallantry, were found
among the killed and wounded. Of the latterwas a
gallant young officer named Halzinger, a German by
birth, who excited the admiration of our army during
the bombardment of Vera Cruz, by seizing a flag which
had been cut down by our balls, and holding it in his
right hand until a staff could be procured. He had been
released by General Scott without a parole, and was
found on the field of Cerro Gordo dangerously wounded.
In addition to the loss of the enemy in killed and taken
they lost about thirty pieces of brass cannon, mostly of
large calibre, manufactured at the royal foundry of Se-
ville. A large quantity of fixed ammunition, of a very
superior quality, together with the private baggage and
money-chest of Santa Anna, containing twenty thousand
dollars, was also captured."
Leaving the scene of this great victory the army
moved forward towards the capital. On the 19th of April,
General Twiggs took the city of Jalapa with one de-
tachment, and on the 22d, another under General Worth
entered the city of Perote, where, to use the words of
a humorous wTiter, '^ an officer politely handed over the
keys of the well-known castle and prison, bowed, and
followed the footsteps of his twice-whipped excel-
lency."
154 THE WAR.
Worth, enters Puetla.

^* The enemy's forces had all left that place, and oui
general took possession of the castle, with its arma-
ment in perfect order. Colonel Velasques had been left

behind to surrender all things in the name of the go-

vernment. Fifty cannons, three mortars, four stone
mortars, and four or five howitzers, together with a large
number of round shot and shells, and great quantities

of other ammunition, and small arms were delivered up

to us. Generals Morales and Landero, who had been
imprisoned by Santa Anna for capitulating at Vera Cruz,
were released on the appearance of the Americans.
Two South Carolina volunteers, and an American
taken near Vera Cruz, were prisoners in the castle,
sailor,

and of course released by our troops. i\.mpudia was

on the approach of General
in the vicinity of Perote
Worth, but had not the politeness to visit him before
taking his departure, which is said to have been hurried.
Some two or three thousand infantry and cavalry of the
enemy were also in the neighbourhood at the time.
On the road the inhabitants complained bitterly of
outrages perpetrated by the retreating soldiers from
Cerro Gordo, and many of them had
homes." left their

This treatment received from their own countrymen

contrasted strongly with that experienced from their
generous foe. Pushing on from Perote, General Worth
took possession on the 15th of May of the city of Pue-
bla, Santa Anna retiring before him with nothing more
than a show of opposition.
When General Worth had reached a point some miles
distant from Puebla, General Santa Anna was in the
city, engaged in distributing shoes to his soldiers, and a
detachment, with which General Worth had a skirmish.
 THE WAR. 157
American army ccncentrated at Fuebla.

was sent out by him to delay the advance. General

Worth advanced so rapidly, however, as to enter the
city almost directly behind the flying cavalry, and Gene-
ral Santa Anna was obliged to retire in all haste, leaving
many of his soldiers to run barefoot. He marched di-
rectly to the capital, issuing on the march, at Ayotla, an
address, perhaps the most ingenious Mexican document
occasioned by the present war, offering to resign all

power, but suggesting at the same time a plan by which

he hoped to conduct the war to a successful termination.
Of course the answer to this letter was an entire acqui-
escence in the views of Santa Anna by the president
substitute, an invitation to the capital, and its conse-
quence, the assumption of supreme power. Santa Anna
left army to follow, and whh some officers enterea
the
the capital, and commenced making preparations for its
defense. In May he left the city and manceuvered about,
threatening an attack on Vera Cruz, but returned with-
out effecting any thing.
In the latter part of May, General Scott concentrated
his army at Puebla, and prepared to advance upon the
capital itself. The history of his operations is given with
great perspicacity in his official despatches. We quote
them in preference to following the statements made by
others, because as the head of the army, all its opera-
tions come under his control and knowledge, and the
account of them which he gives is naturally more com-
prehensive than those of other officers or observers,
however valuable the latter may be as testimonials of
individual gallantry. Writing on the 19th of August,
nine miles from Mexico, he states that
*' Leaving a competent garrison in Puebla, the Ame-
 158 THE WAR.
Reconnoiseances upon th.e Penon.

rican army advanced upon the capital by divisions,

becoming more closely approximated as they descended
into the basin of the capital (seventy-five miles from
Puebla) about the head of Lake Chalco, with Lake
Tescuco a little in front and to the right. On the 12th
and 13th we pushed reconnoissances upon the Penon,
an isolated mound (eight miles from Mexico) of great
height, strongly fortified to the top (three tiers of works)
and flooded around the base by the season of rains and
from the lakes. This mound, close to the national
sluices
road, commands the principal approach to the city from
the east. No doubt it might have been carried, but at a
great and disproportionate and I was anxious to
loss,

spare the lives of this gallant army for a general battle

which I knew we had to win before capturing the city,
or obtaining the object of the campaign a just and —
honourable peace.
Another reconnoissance was directed (13th) upon
Mexicalcingo, to the lefi: of the Penon, a village at a
fortified bridge across the outlet or canal, leading from
Lake Jochimilco to the capital — five miles from the lat-

ter. might have been easy (masking the Penon) to

It

force the passage but on the other side of the bridge

;

we should have found ourselves four miles from this

road, on a narrow causeway, flanked to the right and
lefi; by water or boggy grounds. Those difficulties,
closely viewed, threw me back upon the project, long
entertained, of turning the strong eastern defenses of the
city, by passing around south of Lake Chalco and Jo-
chimilco, at the foot of the hills and mountains, so as to
reach this point, and hence to mancEuver, on hard ground,
though much broken, to the south and south-west of the
 THE WAR. 159
Twiggs defeats Valencia-

Capital, which has been more or less under our view,

since the 10th instant.
Accordingly, Worth's division, with Harney's cavalry
brigade leading — w^e marched on the 15th instant. Pil-
low's and Quitman's divisions followed closely, and then
Twiggs's division, which was left till the next day at
Ayotla, in order to threaten the Penon and Mexicalcingo,
and to deceive the enemy as long as practicable.
Twiggs, on the 16th, marching from Ayotla towards
Chalco, (six miles,) met a corps of more than double his
number —cavalrj^and infantry —under General Valencia.
Twiggs halted, deployed into line, and by a few rounds
from Captain Taylor's field battery, dispersed the enemy,
killing and wounding many men and horses. No other
molestation has been experienced except a few random
shots from guerilleros, on the height ; and the march of
tw^enty-seven miles, over a route deemed impracticable
by the enemy, is now" accomplished by all the corps
thanks to their indomitable zeal and physical prowess.
Arriving here, the 18th, Worth's division and Harney's
cavalry were pushed forward a league, to reconnoiter
and to carry or to mask San Antonio, on the direct road
to the capital. This village w^as found strongly defended
by field- w^orks, heavy guns, and a numerous garrison.

It could only be turned by infantry, to the left, over a

field of volcanic rocks and lava for, to our right, the
;

ground was too boggy. was soon ascertained, by the

It

daring engineers, Captain Mason, and Lieutenants Ste-

vens and Tower, that the point could only be approached
by the front, over a narrow^ causeway, flanked with wet
ditches of great depth. Worth was ordered not to

attack, but to threaten and to mask the place.

160 THE WAR.
Death of Captain Thornton.

The first shot fired from San Antonio (the 8th) killed
Captain S. Thornton, 2d dragoons, a gallant officer, who
was covering the operations with his company.
The same day, a reconnoissance was commenced to

the left of San Augustin, firstmounds, and

over difficult

farther on, over the same field of volcanic rocks and

lava which extends to the mountains, some five miles

from San Antonio, towards Magdalena. This recon-

noissance was continued to-day, by Captain Lee, assisted
by Lieutenants Beauregard and Tower, all of the engi-
neers ;who were joined, in the afternoon, by Major
Smith of the same corps. Other divisions coming up,
Pillow's was advanced to make a practicable road for
heavy and Twiggs's thrown farther in front, to
artillery,

cover that operation for, by the partial reconnoissance

;

of yesterday. Captain Lee discovered a large corps of

observation in that direction, with a detachment of
which and foot under Captain
his supports of cavalry
Kearney and Lieutenant-Colonel Graham, respectively,
had a successful skirmish.
By three o'clock this afternoon, the advanced divisions
came to a point where the new road could only be con-
tinued under the direct fire of twenty-two pieces of the
enemy's artillery, (most of them of large calibre,) placed
in a strong intrenched camp to oppose our operations,
and surrounded by every advantage of ground, besides
immense bodies of cavalry and infantry, hourly reinforced
from the city, over an excellent road beyond the vol-
canic field, and consequently entirely beyond the reach
of our cavalry and artillery.

Arriving on the ground, an hour later, I found that

Pillow's and Twiggs's divisions had advanced to dis-
 THE WAR. 161
Battle of San Augustin.

lodge the enemy, picking their way (all officers on foot)

along his front, and extending themselves towards the
road, from the city and the enemy's left. Captain Ma-
gruder's field battery, of twelve and six-pounders, and
Lieutenant Callender's battery of mounted howitzers
and rockets, had also, with great difficulty, been ad-
vanced within range of the intrenched camp. These
batteries, most gallantly served, suffered much, in the
course of the afternoon, from the enemy's superior
metal.
The battle, though mostly stationary, continued to
rage with great violence, until nightfall. Brevet Briga-
dier-General P. F. Smith's and Brevet Colonel Riley's
brigades (Twiggs's division) supported by Brigadier-
Generals Pierce's and Cadwalader's brigades (Pillow's
division) were more than three hours under a heavy fire

of artilleryand musketry, along the almost impassable

ravine in front and to the left of the intrenched camp.
Besides the twenty-two pieces of artillery, the camp and
ravine were defended closely by masses of infantry, and
these again supported by clouds of cavalry at hand and
hovering in view. Consequently no decided impression
could be made by daylight, on the enemy's most for-
midable position, because, independent of the difficulty

of the ravine, our infantry, unaccompanied by cavalry

and artillery, could not advance in column without being
mowed down by the grape and canister of the batteries,
nor advance in line without being ridden over by the
enemy's numerous cavalry. All our corps, however,
including Magruder's and Callender's last batteries, not
only maintained the exposed positions early gained, but
all attempted charges upon them, respectively — particu-
162 •
THE WAR.
Occupation of ContxeTaa.

larly on Riley, twice closely engaged with cavalry ia

greatly superior —
numbers were repulsed and punished.
From an eminence, soon after arriving near the scene,
I observed the church and hamlet of Contreras (or An-
salda) on the road leading up from the capital, through
the intrenched camp to Magdalena, and seeing, at the
same time, the stream of reinforcements advancing by
the road, from the fcity, I ordered (through Major-Gene-
ral Pillow) Colonel Morgan, with his regiment, the 15th,
till then held in reserve by Pillow, to move forward, and
to occupy Contreras, or Ansalda, —being persuaded, if

occupied, it would arrest the enemy's reinforcements

and ultimately decide the battle.
Riley was already on the enemy's left, in advance of
the hamlet. A few minutes later. Brigadier- General
Shields, with his volunteer brigade, (New York and
South Carolina regiments,) coming up under my orders
from San Augustin, I directed Shields to follow and
sustain Morgan. These corps, over the extreme diffi-

culties of ground — partially covered wdth a low forest

before described, reached Contreras, and found Cad-
walader's brigade, in position, observing the formidable
movement from the capital and much needing the timely
reinforcement.
It w^as already dark, and the cold rain had begun to
fall in torrents upon our unsheltered troops ; for the
hamlet, though a strong defensive position, can hold
only the wounded men, and, unfortunately, the new
regiments have little or nothing to eat in their haver-
sacks. Wet, hungry, and without the possibility of
sleep, all our gallant corps, I learn, are full of coniGi-

dence, and only wait for the last hour of darkness to

 THE WAR. 163
Battle of Contreras.

gain the positions whence to storm and carry the enemy's

works.
Of the seven officers despatched, since about sun-
down, from my position, opposite to the enemy's centre,
and on this side of the field of rocks and lava— com-
to
municate instructions to the hamlet —not one has suc-
ceeded in getting through those difficulties, increased
by darkness. They have all returned. But the gallant
and indefatigable Captain Lee, of the engineers, who
has been constantly with the operating forces, is just in
from Shields, Smith, Cadwalader, &c., to report as
above, and to ask that a powerful diversion be made
against the centre of the intrenched camp towards
morning.
Brigadier-General Twiggs, cut off, as above, from the
part of his division beyond the impracticable ground,
and Captain Lee are gone, under my orders, to collect
the forces remaining on this side, with which to make
that diversion about five o'clock, in the morning."
*^ The morning of the 20th opened with one of a series
of unsurpassed achievements, all in view of the capital,
and to which I shall give the general name Battle of
Mexico.
In the night of the 19th, Brigadier- General Shields,
P. F. Smith, and Cadwalader, and Colonel Riley, with
their brigades, and the 15th regiment, under Colonel
Morgan, detached from Brigadier-General Pierce found —
themselves in and about the important position the —
village, hamlet or hacienda, called, indifferently, Con-
treras, Ansalda San Geronimo —
half a mile nearer to
the city than the enemy's intrenched camp on the same
road, towards the factory of Magdalena.
164 THE WAR.
Battle of Contreras.

That camp had been, unexpectedly, our formidable

point of attack the afternoon before, and we had now
to take it, without the aid of cavalry or artillery, or to
throw back our advanced corps upon the road from San
Augustin to the city, and thence force a passage through
San Antonio.
Accordingly to meet contingencies, Major-General
Worth was ordered. to leave, early in the morning of the
20th, one of his brigades to mask San Antonio, and to
march with the other six miles, via San Augustin, upon
Contreras. A like destination was given to Major-Gene-
ral Quitman and his remaining brigade in San Augustin
— replacing, for the moment, the garrison of that im-
portant depot with Harney's brigade of cavalry, as horse
could not pass over the intervening rocks, &c., to reach
the field of battle.
A diversion for an earlier hour (daylight) had been
arranged the night before, according to the suggestion
of Brigadier-General Smith, received through the engi-
neer, Captain Lee, who conveyed my orders to our
troops remaining on the ground opposite to the enemy's
centre — the point for the diversion or a real attack, as
circumstances might allow.
Guided by Captain Lee, it proved the latter under
the command of Colonel Ransom, of the 9th, having
with him that regiment and some companies of three
others —
the 3d, 12th, and rifles.
Shields, the senior officer at the hamlet, having arrived
Smith had arranged ^vith Cadwalader
in the night, after
and Riley the plan of attack for the morning, delicately
waived interference but reserved to himself the double
;

task of holding the hamlet with his two regiments,

General Butler.
 THE WAR. 167
Battle of Contreras.

(South Carolina and New York volunteers,) against ten

times his numbers on the side of the cit}', including the
slopes to his left, and, in case the camp in his rear
shouM be carried, to face about and cut off the flying
enemy.
At three o'clock, a. m., tlie great movement com-
menced on the rear of the enemy's camp, Riley leading,
followed successively by Cadwalader's and Smith's bri-
gades, the latter temporarily under the orders of Major
—
Dimick of the 1st artillery ^the whole force being com-
manded by Smith, the senior in the general attack, and
whose arrangements, skill, and gallantry, always chal-
lenge the highest admiration.
The march was rendered tedious by the darkness,
rain, and mud ; but about sunrise, Riley, conducted by
Lieutenant Tower, engineer, had reached an elevation
behind the enemy, whence he precipitated his columns ;

stormed the intr^^nchments, planted his several colours

upon them, and carried the work — all in seventeen
minutes.
Conducted by Lieutenant Beauregard, engineer, and
Lieutenant Brooks, of Twiggs's staff, both of whom, like
Lieutenant Tower, had, in the night, twice reconnoitered

the ground —Cadwalader brought up to the general as-

sault, two of his regiments— the and the 11th,

voltigeurs
and at the appointed time, Colonel Ransom, with his
temporajy brigade, conducted by Captain Lee, engineer,
not only made the movement to divert and to distract
the enemy; but, after crossing the deep ravine in his
front, advanced, and poured into the works and upon

the fugitives, mai^y volleys from his destructive musketry.

In the mean time Smith's own brigade, under the
16S THE WAR.
Battle of Contreras.

temporary command of Major Dimick, following the

movements of Riley and Cadwalader, discovered, oppo-
site to, and outside of the works, a long line of Mexican

cavalry, drawn up as a support. Dimick, having at the

head company of sappers and miners,

of the brigade the
under Lieutenant Smith, engineer, who had conducted
the march, was ordered by Brigadier-General Smith, to
form line faced to the enemy, and in a charge against a
flank, routed the cavalry.
Shields, too, by the wise disposition of his brigade

and gallant activity, contributed much to the general

results. He held masses of cavalry and infantry, sup-
ported by artillery, in check below" him, and captured
hundreds, w4th one general, (Mendoza,) of those who
fled from above.
I doubt W'hether a more brilliant or decisive victory

taking into view, ground, artificial defenses, batteries,

and the extreme disparity of numbers without cavalry —
or artillery on our side —
is to be found on record. In-
cluding all our corps directed against the intrenched
camp, with Shields's brigade at the hamlet, w^e positively

did not number over four thousand five hundred rank

and and we know, by sight and since, more cer-

file ;

tainly by many captured documents and letters, that the

enemy had actually engaged on the spot seven thousand
men, with at least twelve thousand more hovering w^ith-
in sight, and striking distance —
both on the 16th and
20th. All, not killed or captured, now fled with pre-
cipitation.
Thus was the great victory of Contreras achieved;
one road to the capital opened ; seven hundred of the
eaemy killed ; eight hundred and forty-three prisoners,
 THE WAR. 169
Results of the battle.

including, among eighty-eight officers, four generals;

besides many colours and standards twenty-two pieces
;

of brass ordnance —half of large calibre ; thousands of

small arms and accoutrements bh immense quantity of
;

shot, shells, powder, and cartridges; seven hundred

pack mules, many horses, &c., all in our hands.
It is highly gratifying to find that, by skilful arrange-
ment, and rapidity of execution, our loss in killed and
wounded, did not exceed, on the spot, sixty — among
the former the brave Captain Charles Hanson, of the 7th
infantry — not more distinguished for gallantry, than for

modesty, morals, and piety. Lieutenant J. P. Johnstone,

1st artillery, serving with Magruder's battery — a young
officer of the highest promise, was killed the evening
before.
One of the most pleasing incidents of the victory is

the recapture, in the works, by Captain Drum, 4th ar-

tillery, under Major Gardner, of the two brass six

pounders, taken from another company of the same
regiment, though without the loss of honour, at the
glorious battle of Buena Vista — about which guns the
whole regiment had mourned for so many long months
Coming up, a little later, I had the happiness to join in
the protracted cheers of the gallant 4th on the joyous
event, and, indeed, the whole army sympathizes in its

just pride and exultation.

The battle being won before the advancing brigades
of Worth's and Quitman's divisions were in sight, both
were ordered back to their late positions Worth, to —
attack San Antonio, in front, with his whole force, as
soon as approached in the rear, by Pillow's an i Twiggs's
divisions— moving ifrom Contreras, through San An§^
8
170 THE WAR.
Battle of Chuxubusco.

and Coyoacan. By carrying San Antonio we knew that

—
we should open another a shorter and better road to
the capital, for our siege and other trains.
Accordingly, the two advanced divisions and Shields's
brigade marched from Contreras, under the immediate
orders of Major-General Pillow, who was now joined by
the gallant Brigadier-General Pierce of his division, per-
sonally throw^n out of activity, late the evening before,
by a severe hurt received from the fall of his horse.
After giving necessary orders on the field, in the
midst of prisoners and trophies, and sending instruc-
tions to Harney's brigade of cavalry, left at San Augustin,
to join me, I personally followed Pillow^'s movement.
Arriving at Coyoacan, two miles by a cross road, from
the rear of San Antonio, I first detached Captain Lee,
engineer, with Captain Kearney's troop, 1st dragoons,
supported by the rifle regiment, under Major Loring, to
reconnoiter that strong point, and next despatched Ma-
jor-General Pillow, with one of his brigades (Cadwala-
der's) to make the attack upon it, in concert Avith Major-
General Worth, on the opposite side.
At the same time, by another road to the left. Lieute-
nant Stevens, of the engineers, supported by Lieutenant
G. W. Smith's company of sappers and miners, of the
same corps, was sent to reconnoiter the strongly forti-
fied church or convent of San Pablo, in the hamlet of
Churubusco — one mile off. Twiggs with one of the
brigades, and Captain Taylor's field battery, were ordered
to followand attack the convent. Major Smith, senior
engineer, was despatched to concert with Twiggs the
mode and means of attack, and Twiggs's other brigade^
I soon ordered up to support him.
 THE WAR. 171
Battle of Churubusco.

Next (but all in ten minutes) I sent Pierce (just able

to keep the saddle) with his brigade (Pillow's division)
conducted b} Captain Lee, engineer, by a third road,
a little farther to our left, to attack the enemy's right

and rear, in order to favour the movement upon the con-

vent and cut off the retreat towards the capital. And
finally. Shields, senior brigadier to Pierce, with the New
York and South Carolina volunteers, (Quitman's divi-
sion,) was ordered to follow Pierce, closely, and to take
the command of our left wing. All these movements
were made with the utmost alacrity by our gallant troops
and commanders.
Finding myself at Coyoacan, from which so many roads
conveniently branched, without escort or reserve, I had
to advance, for safety, close upon Twiggs's rear. The
battle now raged from the right to the left of our whole
line.

Learning, on the return of Captain Lee, that Shields,

in the rear of Churubusco, was hard pressed, and in
danger of being outflanked, if not overwhelmed, by

greatly superior numbers, I immediately sent, under

Major Sumner, 2d dragoons, the rifles, (Twiggs's
reserve,) and Captain Sibley's troop, 2d dragoons,
then at hand, to support our left, guided by the same
engineer.
About an hour earlier, Worth had, by skilful and
daring movements upon the front and right, turned and
forced San Antonio — its garrison, no doubt, much
shaken by our decisive victory at Contreras.

His second brigade, (Colonel Clarke's,) conducted by

Captain Mason, engineer, assisted by Lieutenant Hard-
castle, topographical engineer, turned the right, and by
172 THE WAR.
Battle of Churubusco.

a wide sweep, came out upon the high road to the capi-
tal. At this point, the heavy garrison (three thousand
men) in retreat, was, by Clarke cut in the centre : one
portion, the rear driven upon Dolores, off to the right
and the other upon Churubusco, in the direct line of our
operationii. The first brigade, (Colonel Garland's,) same

division, consisting of the second artillery, under Major

Gait, the 3d artillery, under Lieutenant-Colonel Belton,
and the 4th infantry, commanded by Major F. Lee, with
Lieutenant-Colonel Duncan's field battery (temporarily)

followed in pursuit through the town, taking one gene-

ral prisoner, the abandoned guns, (five pieces,) much
ammunition and other public property.
The forcing of San Antonio was ihe second brilliant

event of the day.

Worth's division being soon reunited in hot pursuit, he
was joined by Major-General Pillow, who, marching
from Coyoacan and discovering that San Antonio had
been carried, immediately turned to the left, according
to my instruction, and though much impeded by ditches
and swamps, hastened to the attack of Churubusco.
The hamlet or scattered houses, bearing this name,
presented, besides the fortified convent, a strong field-
work, {tete de pont) with regular bastions and curtains,

at thehead of a bridge, over which the road passes from

San Antonio to the capital.
The whole remaining forces of Mexico —some twenty-
seven thousand men— cavalry, artillery, and infantry,
collected from every quarter— were now in, on the
flanks or wnthin supporting distance of those w^orks, and
seemed resolved to make a last and desperate stand ; for
if beaten here, the feebler defenses at the gates of the
 THE WAR. 173
Battle of Ch-arubusco.

city —four miles off — could not, as was well known to

both parties, delay the victors an hour. The capital of
an ancient empire, now of a great republic ; or an early
peace, the assailants were resolved
Not an to win.
—
American and we were less than a third of the enemy's
—
numbers had a doubt as to the result.
The fortified church or convent, hotly pressed by
Twiggs, had already held out about an hour, when
—
Worth and Pillow the latter having with him only
Cadwalader's brigade —began to manoeuver upon the
tete de pout, with the convent at half gun-shot, to their
left. Garland's brigade, (Worth's division,) to w^hich
had been added the light battalion under Lieutenant-
Colonel Smith, continued to advance in front, and under
the fire of a long line of infantry, off on the left of the
brigade ; and Clarke, of the same division, directed his
brigade along the road or close by its side. Two of
Pillow's and Cadwalader's regiments, the 11th and 14th,
supported and participated in this direct movement : the
other (the voltigeurs) was left in reserve. Most of these
corps — particularly Clarke's brigade, advancing perpen
dicularly — were made to suffer much by the fire of the
teie de polity and they would have suffered greatly more
by flank attacks from the convent, but for the pressure
of Twiffo^s on the other side of that work.
This well-combined and daring movement, at length
reached the principal point of attack, and the formidable
tete de pont, was, at once, assaulted and carried by the
bayonet. Its deep wet ditch was first gallantly crossed

by the 8th and 5th infantry, commanded respectively by

Major Waite and Lieutenant-Colonel Scott followed —
closely, by the 6th infantry, (same brigade) which had
174 THE WAR.
Battle of Churubusco.

—
been so much exposed in the road the 11th regiment,
under Lieutenant-Colonel Graham, and the 14th, com-
manded by Colonel Trousdale, both of Cadwalader's
bri'j-ade. Pillow's division. About the same time, the
enemy, in front of Garland, after a hot conflict of an
hour and a half, gave way, in a retreat towards the
capital.

The immediate result of this third signal triumph of

the day were three field-pieces, one hundred and ninety-
two prisoners, much ammunition and two colours, taken
in the Ute de pont.
As the concurrent attack upon the convent favoured
physically and morally, the assault upon the tete de pont,
so, reciprocally, no doubt, the fall of the latter, contri-
buted to the capture The tvro works
of the former.
were only some four hundred and fifty yards apart and ;

as soon as we were in possession of the tete depont, a cap-

tured four-pounder was turned and fired —
first by Captain

Larkin Smith, and next by Lieutenant Snelling, both of

the 8th infantry — several times upon the convent. In
the same brief interval, Lieutenant-Colonel Duncan,
(also of Worth's division,) gallantly brought two of his
guns to bear, at a short range, from the San Antonio
road, upon the principal face of the work, and on the
tower of the church, which, in the obstinate contest had
been often refilled with some of the best sharp-shooters
of the enemy.
Finally, twenty minutes after the tete de pont had been
carried by Worth and Pillow, and at the end of a des-
perate conflict of two hours and a half, the church or
—
convent the citadel of the strong line of defense along
the rivulet of Churubusco
—yielded to Twiggs's division.
 THE WAR. 177
Battle of Ch.uxu'busco.

and threw out, on all sides, signals of surrender. The

white flags, however, were not exhibited mo- until the

ment when the 3d infantry, under Captain Alexander,

had cleared the way by fire and bayonet, and had
entered the work. Captain J. M. Smith and Lieutenant
O. L. Shepherd, both of that regiment with their com
panics, had the glory of leading the assault. The formei
received the surrendf ;, and Captain ^Alexander instantly

hung out from a balcony, the colours of the gallant 3d.

Major Dimick, with a part of the 1st artillery, serving
as infantry, entered nearly abreast with the leading
troops.
Lieutenant J. F. Irons, 1st artillery, aid-de-camp to

Brigadier-General Cadwalader, a young officer of great

merit, and conspicuous in battle, on several previous

occasions, received, in front of the work, a mortal
wound. (Since dead.)
Captain Taylor's field battery, attached to Twiggs's di-
vision, opened its effective fire, at an early moment, upon
the out- works of the convent and the tower of its church.
Exposed to the severest fire of the enemy, the captain,
and men, won universal admiration but at
his officers ;

length disabled in men and horses, the battery

much
was, by superior orders, withdrawn from the action thirty
minutes before the surrender of the convent.
These corps, excepting Taylor's battery, belonged to,

the brigade of Brigadier-General Smith, who closely

directed the whole attack in front, with his habitual
coolness and ability; while Riley's brigade —the 2d
and 7th infantry, under Captain T. Morris and Lieu-
tenant Colonel Plympton, respectively, vigorously en-
gaged the right of the work and part of its rear. At the
178 THE WAR.
The fourth. victorT-.

moment, the rifles, belonging to Smith's, were detached

in support of Brigadier-General Shields on our extreme
left, and the 4th artillery, acting underas infantry,

Major Gardner, belonging to Riley's brigade had been

left in charge of the camp, trophies, &c., at Contreras.

Tw^iggs's division, at Churubusco, had thus been deprived

of the services of two of its most gallant and effective

regiments.
The immediate results of this victory were : —the cap-
ture of seven field-pieces, some ammunition, one colour,
three generals, and one thousand two hundred and sixty-
one prisoners, including other officers.

The capture of the enemy's citadel was the fourth

great achievement of our arms in the same day.
It has been stated that, some t'wo hours and half be-
fore, Pierce's, followed closely by the volunteer brigade,
both under the command of Brigadier-General Shields,
had been detached to our left to turn the enemy's works
— to prevent the escape of the garrisons, and to oppose
the extension of the enemy's numerous corps, from the
rear, upon and around our left.
Considering the inferior numbers of the two brigades,
the objects of the movement were difficult to accom-
plish. Hence the reinforcement (the rifles, &c.,) sent
forward a little later.

In a winding march of a mile around to the right, this

Temporary division found itself on the edge of an open

wet meadow, near the road from San Antonio to the

capital, and in the presence of some four thousand of the
enemy's infantry, a little in rear of Churubusco, on
that road. Establishing the right at a strong building.
Shields extended his left, parrallel to the road, to out-
 THE WAR, 179
Tiie fifti. victory.

flank the enemy towards the capital. But the enemy-

extending his right, supported by three thousand cavalrj^
more rapidly, (being favoured with better ground,) in
the same direction. Shields concentrated the division
about a hamlet, and determined to attack in front. The
battle was long, hot, and varied but ultimately success
;

crowned the zeal and gallantry of our troops, ably

directed by their distinguished commander, Brigadier-
General Shields. The 9th, 12th, and 15th regiments,
under Colonel Ransom, Captain Wood and Colonel
Morgan, respectively, of Pierce's brigade, (Pillow's divi-
sion,) and the New York and South Carolina volunteers,
under Colonels Burnett and Butler, respectively, of
Shields's own brigade, (Quitman's division,) together
with the mountain howitzer battery, now under Lieu-
tenant Reno, of the ordnance corps, all shared in the
glory of this action — our Jifth victory in the same day.
Brigadier-General Pierce, from the hurt of the even-
ing before — under pain and exhaustion —fainted in the
action. Several other changes in command, occurred
on this field. Thus, Colonel Morgan, being severely
wounded, the command of the 15th infantry devolved
on Lieutenant-Colonel Howard. Colonel Burnet, re-
ceiving a like w^ound, the command of the New York
volunteers fell to Lieutenant-Colonel Baxter; and, on
the fall of the lamented Colonel P. M. Butler— earlier
badly wounded, but continuing to lead nobly in the
hottest part of the battle —
the command of the South
Carolina volunteers devolved first, on Lieutenant-Colonel
Dickinson, who being severely w^ounded (as before in
the seige of Vera Cruz,) the regiment ultimately fell

under the orders of Major Gladden.

180 THE WAR.
Pursuit of the enemy.

Lieutenants David Adams and W. R. Williams, of

the same corps ; Captain Augustus Quarles and Lieu-
tenant J. B. Goodman, of the 15th, and Lieutenant E.
Chandler, New York volunteers — all gallant officers,

nobly fell in the same action.

Shields took three hundred and eighty prisoners, in-
cluding officers, and it cannot be doubted that the rage
of the conflict between him and the enemy, just in the
rear of the tete de pont and the convent, had some in-
fluence on the surrender of those formidable defenses.
As soon as the tete de pont was carried, the greater
part of Worth's and Pillow's forces passed that brigade
in rapid pursuit of the flying enemy. These distin-

guished generals, coming up with Brigadier-General

Shields, now also victorious, the three continued to
press upon the fugitives to within a mile and a half of
the capital. Here Colonel Harney, with a small part
of his brigade of cavalry, rapidly passed to the front and
charged the enemy up to the nearest gate.
The cavalry charge was headed by Captain Kearney,
of the first dragoons, having in squadron with his own
troop, that of Captain McReynolds, of the 3d — making
the usual escort to general head-quarters; but being
early in the day, detached for general service, was now
under Colonel Harney's orders. The gallant captain
not hearing the recall that had been sounded, dashed up
to the San Antonio gate, sabreing, in his way, all who
resisted. Of the seven officers of the squadron,
Kearney
lost his left arm McReynolds and Lieutenant Lorimer
;

Graham were both severely wounded, and Lieutenant

R. S. Ewell, who succeeded to the command of the
escort, had two horses killed under him. Major F. D^
 THE V\AR. 181
Number of prisoners, killed and wounded.

Mills, of the 15th infantry, a volunteer in this charge,

was killed at the gate.
So terminated the series of events which I have but
feebly presented. My thanks were freely poured out on
the different fields — to the abilities and science of gene-
rals and other officers — to the gallantry and prowess of
all — the rank and included.
file But a reward infinitely

higher —the applause of a grateful country and govern-

ment, will, I cannot doubt, be accorded, in due time, to
so much merit, of every sort, displayed by this glorious

army, which has now overcome all difficulties — distance,

climate, ground, fortifications, numbers.
It many battles, as often defeated
has in a single day, in
thirty-two thousand men; made about three thousand
prisoners, including eight generals, (two of them ex-pre-
sidents,) and two hundred and sixty-five other officers;
killed or wounded four thousand of all ranks —besides
entire corps dispersed and dissolved captured thirty-
;
—
—
seven pieces of ordnance more than trebling our siege
train and field batteries —
with a large number of small
arms, a full supply of ammunition of every kind, &c., &c.
These great results have overwhelmed the enemy.
Our loss amounts to one thousand and fifty-three ;

killed, one hundred and thirty-nine, including sixteen

officers; wounded, eight hundred and seventy-six, with

sixty officers.
After so many victories, we might, with but little

additional loss, have occupied the capital the same

evening. But Mr. Trist, commissioner, &c., as w^ell as
myself, had been admonished by the best friends of
peace — intelligent neutrals and some American resi-

dents — against precipitation- lest, by wantonly driving

 182 THE WAR.
Armistice.

away the government and others — dishonoured —we

might scatter the elements of peace, excite a spirit of

and thus indefinitely postpone the

national desperation,
hope of accommodation. Deeply impressed with this
danger, and remembering our mission to conquer a —
peace —the army very cheerfully sacrificed to patriotism

— to the great wish and want of our country the eclat —

that would have followed an entrance sword in hand —
into a great capital. Willing to leave something to this
republic —of
no immediate value to us — on which to
rest her pride, and to recover temper — halted our
^I

victorious corps at the gates of the city, (at least for a

time,) and have them now cantoned in the neighbour-
ing villages, where they are well sheltered and supplied
with all necessaries.
On the morning of the 21st, being about to take up
battering or assaulting positions, to authorize me to

summon the city to surrender, or to sign an armistice

with a pledge to enter at once into negotiations for a
peace — a mission came out to propose a truce. Reject-
ing its forms, I despatched my contemplated note to
President Santa Anna — omitting the summons. The
22d, commissioners were appointed by the commanders
of the two armies ; the armistice was signed the 23d,
and ratifications exchanged the 24th.
Negotiations were actively continued with, as was
understood, some prospect of a successful result up to
the2d inst., when our commissioner handed in his ulti-
matum, (on boundaries,) and the negotiators adjourned to
meet on the 6th.
Some infractions of the truce, in respect to our sup-
plies from the city, were earlier committed, followed by
 THE WAR. 185
Violation of the arraistice "by Santa Anna.

apologies on the part of the enemy. Those vexations I

was willing to put down to the imbecility of the govern-
ment, and waived pointed demands of reparation while
any hope remained of a satisfactory termination of the
war. But on the 5th, and more fully on the 6th, I
learned that as soon as the ultimatum had been con-
sidered in a grand council of ministers and others,
President Santa Anna, on the 4th or 5th, without giving
me the slightest notice, actively recommenced strength-
ening the military defenses of the city, in gross violation
of the third article of the armistice.
On that information which has since received the
fullest verification, I addressed to him a note on the 6th.
His reply dated the same day, received the next morn-
ing, was absolutely and notoriously false, both in recrimi-
nation and explanation.
Being delayed by the terms of the armistice more
than two weeks, w^e had now, late on the 7th, to begin
to reconnoiter the different approaches to the cit}',

within our reach, before I could lay down any definitive

plan of attack.
The same afternoon a large body of the enemy was
discovered hovering about the Molinos del Rey within a
mile and a third of this village, where I am quartered
with the general and Worth's division.
staflf

It might have been supposed that an attack upon us

was intended but knowing the great value to the
;

enemy of those mills {Molinos del Rey) containing a

cannon foundry, with a large deposit of powder in Casa
Mata near them and having heard, two days before,
;

that many church bells had been sent out to be cast into
—
guns the enemy's movement was easily understood,
 186 THE WAR.
Chapxil tepee.

and I resolved, at once, to drive him early the next

morning ; to seize the powder and to destroy the

foundry.
A nother motive for this decision —leaving the general
plan of attack upon the city for full — was,
reconnoissance
that we knew our recent captures had left the enemy
not a fourth of the guns necessary to arm, all at the

same time, the strong works at each of the eight city

gates, and we could not cut the communication betrv^een
the foundry and the capital without first taking the for-
midable castle on the heights of Chapultepec which
overlooked both and stood between. For this difficult
operation we w^ere not entirely ready, and moreover w^e
might altogether neglect the castle, if, as w^e then hoped,
our reconnoissances should prove that the distant southern
approaches to the city were more eligible than this
south-western approach.
Hence the decision promptly taken, the execution of
which was assigned to Brevet Major-General Worth,
whose division was reinforced with Cadwalader's bri-
gade, of Pillow's division, three squadrons of dragoons,
under Major Sumner, and some heavy guns of the siege
train under Captain Huger, of the ordnance, and Captain
Drum of the 4th artillery —two officers of the highest
merit.'*
For the particulars of this decisive and brilliant re-
sult, General Scott refers to General Worth's despatch,
and the reader will find them in the life of that officer,
in a subsequent part of this book.
The enemy having several times reinforced his line,
the action soon becoming much more general than
I had expected, I called up from the distance of three
 THE WAR. 187
Molinos del 'Rey.

miles ; first, Major-General Pillow, with his remaining

brigade, (Pierce's,) and next Riley's brigade of Twiggs's
division —leaving his other brigade (Smith's) in obser-
vation at San Those corps approached with
Angel.
zeal and rapidity; but the battle was won just as Briga-
dier-General Pierce reached the ground and had inter-
posed his corps between Garland's brigade (Worth's
division) and the retreating enemy.
General Worth's report mentions, with just commen-
dation, two of my volunteer aids — Major Kirby, pay-
master, and Major Gaines of the Kentucky volunteers.
I also had the valuable services, on the same field, of
several other officers of my staff, general and personal :

Lieutenant-Colonel Hitchcock, acting inspector-general

Captain R. E. Lee, engineer ; Captain Irwin, chief
quartermaster ; Captain Grayson, chief commissary
Captain H. L. Scott, acting assistant adjutant-general
Lieutenant Williams, aid- de-camp, and Lieutenant Lay,
military secretary."
"At the end of another series of arduous and brilliant
operations, of more than forty-eight hours continuance,
this glorious army hoisted, on the morning of the 14th
of September, the colours of the United States on the
walls of the national palace of Mexico.
The victory of the 8th, at the Molinos del Rey, was
followed by daring reconnoissances on the part of our
distinguished engineers. Captain Lee, Lieutenants Beau-
regard, Stevens, and Tower — Major Smith, senior, being
sick, and Captain Mason, third in rank, wounded. Their
operations were directed principally to the south
toward the gates of the Piedad, San Angel, (Nino Per*
dido,) San Antonio, and the Passeo de la Viga.
188 THE WAH.
Survey of the southern gates.

This city stands on a slight swell of ground, near the

centre of an irregular basin, and is girdled with a ditch
in its greater extent — a navigable canal of great breadth
and depth —very difficult to bridge, in the presence of
an enemy, and serving at once for drainage, custom-
house purposes, and military defense —leaving eight
intrenches or gates, over arches — each of which we
found defended by a system of strong works that seemed
to require nothing but some men and guns to be im-
pregnable.
Outside and within the cross fires of those gates, we
found to the south other obstacles but little less formid-
able. All the approaches near the city are over ele-
vated causeways, cut in many places (to oppose us) and
flanked, on both sides, by ditches also of unusual di-
mensions. — Thenumerous cross roads are flanked in
like manner, having bridges at the intersections, recently
broken. The meadows thus checked, are, moreover, in
many spots, under water cr marshy ; for, it will be re-

membered, we were in the midst of the wet season,

though with less rain than usual, and we could not wait
for the fall of the neighbouring lakes and the consequent
drainage of the w^et grounds at the edge of the city
the lowest in the whole basin.
After a close personal survey of the southern gates,
covered by Pillow's division and Riley's brigade of
—
Twiggs's with four times our numbers, concentrated in
our immediate front — I determined, on the 11th, to
avoid the net work of obstacles, and to seek, by a sud-
den inversion, to the south-west and west, less unfavour-
able approaches.
To economize the I'ves of our gallant officers and
 THE WAR. 189
Scott's stratagem.

men, as well as to insure success, became indispen-

it

sable that this resolution should be long masked from the

enemy, and again that the new movement, when disco-
vered, should be mistaken for a feint, and the old as
indicating our true and ultimate point of attack.
Accordingly, on the spot, the 11th, I ordered Quit-
man's division from Coyoacan, to join Pillow hy day-
light, before the southern gates, and then that the two
major-generals, with their divisions, should, by night,
proceed (two miles) to join me, at Tacubaya, where I

was quartered with Worth's division. Twiggs, with

Riley's brigade and Captains Taylor's and Steptoe's
field batteries —
the latter twelve-pounders— was left in
front of those gates — to manoeuver, to threaten, or to
make false attacks, in order to occupy and deceive the
enemy. Twiggs's other brigade (Smith's,) was left at

supporting distance, in the rear, at San Angel, till the

morning of the 13th, and also to support our general

depot at Miscoaque. The stratagem against the south

was admirably executed throughout the 12th and down
to the afternoon of the 13th, when it was too late for
the enemy to recover from the effects of his delusion.
The first step in the new movement was to carry Cha-
pultepec, a natural and isolated mound, of great eleva-
on its acclivities and
tion, strongly fortified at its base,
heights. Besides a numerous garrison, here was the
military college of the republic, with a large number of
sub-lieutenants and other students. Those works were
within direct gun-shot of the village of Tacubaya, and
until carried, we could not approach the city on the west
without making a circuit too wide and too hazardous.
In the course of the same night, (that of the llth,;
190 THE WAR.
Battle of Cbapultepec.

heavy batteries, within easy ranges, were established.

No. 1, on our right, under the command of Captain
Drum, 4tb artillery, (relieved late next day, for some
liours,by Lieutenant Andrews, of the 3d,) and No. 2,
commanded by Lieutenant Hagner, ordnance both sup- —
ported by Quitman's division. Nos. 3 and 4, on the
opposite side, supported by Pillow's division, w^ere com-
manded, the former by Captain Brooks and Lieutenant
S. S. Anderson, 2d artillery, alternately, and the latter
by Lieutenant Stone, ordnance. The batteries were
traced by Captain Huger and Captain Lee, engineer,
and constructed by them, with the able assistance of the
young officer.^ of those corps and the artillery.
To prepare for an assault it was foreseen that the play
of the batteries might run into the second day but re- ;

cent captures had not only trebled our siege pieces, but
also our ammunition, and we knew that we should
greatly augment both by carrjdng the place. I was,

therefore, in no haste in ordering an assault before the

works were well crippled by our missiles.
The bombardment and cannonade, under the direc-
tion of Captain Huger, Avere commenced early in the
morning of the 12th. Before nightfall, which necessa-
rily stopped our batteries, we had perceived that a good

impression had been made on the cas'tle and its out-

works, and that a large body of the enemy had remained
outside towards the city, from an early hour, to avoid
our fire, and to be at hand, on its cessation, in order to
reinforce the garrison against an assault. The same out-
side force was discovered the next morning after our bat-
teries had reopened upon the castle, by which we again
reduced its garrison to the minimum needed for the guns.
m
 THE WAR. 193
Eattle of Cliapultepec.

Pillow and Quitman had been in position since early

in the night of the 11th. Major-General Worth was
now ordered hold his division in reserve, near the
to

foundry, to support Pillow and Brigadier- General Smith,

;

of Twiggs's division, had just arrived with his brigade,

from Piedad, (two miles,) to support Quitman. Twiggs's
guns, before the southern gates, again reminded us, as
the day before, that he, with Riley's brigade, and Tay-
lor's and Steptoe's batteries, was in activity, threaten-
ing the southern gates, and there holding a great part
of the Mexican army on the defensive.
Worth's division furnished Pillow's attack with an
some two hundred volunteer officers
assaulting party of
and men, under Captain McKenzie, of the 2d artillery,
and Twiggs's division supplied a similar one, commanded
by Captain Casey, 2d infantry to Quitman. Each of
these little columns was furnished with scaling ladders.
The signal I had appointed for the attack, was the
momentary cessation of the fire on the part of our heavy
batteries. About eight o'clock in the morning of the
13th, judging that the time had arrived, by the effect
of the missiles we had thrown, I sent an aid-de-camp to
Pillow, and another to Quitman, with notice that the
concerted signal was about to be given. Both columns
now advanced with an alacrity that gave assurance of
prompt success. The batteries, siezing opportunities,,
threw shots and shells upon the enemy, over the heads of
our men, with good effect, particularly at every attempt
to reinforce the works from without, to meet our assault.
Major-General Pillow's approach, on the west side, lay
through an open grove, filled with sharp-shooters, who
were speedily dislodged ; when, being up with the front
9
194 TIIK WAR
Battlo of Chai'-ultepec.

of the attack, and emerging into the open space, at the

was struck
foot of a rocky acclivity, that gallant leader
down by an agonizing wound. The immediate command
devolved on Brigadier-General Cadwalader, in the
absence of the senior brigadier (Pierce) of the same
division— an invalid since the events of August 19. On
a previous call of Pillow, Worth had sent him just a

leinforcement— Colonel Clark's brigade.

The broken acclivity was still to be ascended, and a
strong redoubt, midway, to be carried, before reaching
the castle on the heights. The advance of our brave
men, led by brave ofHcers, though necessarily slow, was
unwavering, over rocks, chasms, and mines, and under
tlie hottest fire of cannon and musketry. The redoubt
now yielded to resistless valour, and the shouts that fol-

jowed announced to the castle the fate that impended.

The enemy vv'ere steadily driven from shelter to shelter.
The retreat allowed not time to fire a single mine, with*
out the certainty of blowing up friend and foe. Those
who at a distance attempted to apply the matches to the
long trains, were shot down by our men. There was
death below as well as above ground. At length the
ditch and wall of the main work were reached the ;

scaling-ladders were brought up and planted by the

storming parties ; some of the daring spirits first in the

assaultwere cast down — killed or wounded ; but a

lodgment was soon made ; streams of heroes followed ;

all opposition was overcome, and several of our regi-

mental colours flung out from the upper walls, amidst
long continued shouts and cheers, which sent dismay
into the capital. No scene could have been more ani-
mating or glorious.
 THE WAR. 19-3

Battle of Chapultepec.

Major-General Quitman, nobly supported by Brigadier

Generals Shields and Smith, (P. F;,) his other officers
and men, was up with the part assigned him. Simulta-
neously with the movement on the west, he had gallantly
approached the south-east of the same works over a
causeway with cuts and batteries, and defended by an
army strongly posted outside, to the east of the works.
Those formidable obstacles Quitman had to face, wath
but little shelter for his troops or space for manoeuvering.
Deep ditches, flanking the causeway, made it difficult

to cross on either side into the adjoining meadows, and

these again were intersected by other ditches. Smith
and his brigade had been early thrown out to make a'
Kveep to the right, in order to present a front against
the enemy's line, (outside,) and to turn two intervening
batteries near the foot of Chapultepec. This movement
was also intended to support Quitman's storming parties,
both on the causeway. The first of these furnished by
Twiggs's division, was commanded in succession by
Captain Casey, 2d infantry, and Captain Paul, 7th in-

fantry, after Casey had been severely wounded ; and

the second, originally under the gallant Major Twiggs,
marine corps, killed, and then Captain Miller, 2d Penn-
sylvania volunteers. The storming party, now com-
manded by Captain Paul, seconded by Captain Roberts
of the rifles, Lieutenant Stewart, and others of the same
regiment, Smith's brigade, carried the two batteries in
the road, took some guns, with many prisoners, and
drove the enemy posted behind in support. The New
York and South Carolina volunteers, (Shields's brigade,)
and the 2d Pennsylvania volunteers, all on the left of
Quitman's line, together with portions of his storming
196 THE WAR.
Battle of Chapultepec.

parties, crossed the meadows in front, under a heavy

fire and entered the outer inclosures of Chapultepec
just in time to join in the final assault from the west.
Those operations all occurred on the west, south-east,
and heights of Chapultepec. To the north, and at the

base of the mound, inaccessible on that side, the 11th

infantry, under Lieutenant-Colonel Herbert, the 14th,
under Colonel Trousdale, and Captain Magruder's field
battery, 1st artillery —
one section advanced under Lieu-
tenant Jackson — all of Pillow's division —had, at the

same time, some spirited affairs against superior num-

bers, driving the enemy from a battery in the road, and
capturing a gun. In these, the officers and corps named
gained merited praise. Colonel Trousdale, the com-
mander, though twice wounded, continued on duty until

the heights were carried.

Early in the morning of the thirteenth, I repeated the
orders of the night before to Major-General Worth, to
be, ^vith his division at hand, to support the movement
of Major-General Pillow from our left. The latter seems
soon to have called for that entire division, standing,
momentarily in reserve, and Worth sent him Colonel
Clarke's brigade. The call, if not unnecessary, was at
least, from the circumstances, unknown to me at the
time ; for soon observing that the very large body of
the enemy, in the road in firont of Major-General Quit-
man's right, was receiving reinforcements from the city
— less than a mile and a half to the east — I sent instruc-

tions to Worth, on our opposite flank, to turn Chapul-

tepec with his division, and to proceed, cautiously by
the road at its northern base, in order, if not met by
very superior numbers, to threaten or to attack, in rear.
 THE WAR. 197
Capture of Chapultepec.

that body of the enemy. The movement, it was also

believed, could not fail to distract and to intimidate the
enemy generally.
Worth promptly advanced with his remaining brigade
—Colonel Garland's — Lieutenant-Colonel C. F. Smith's
light battalion, Lieutenant-Colonel Duncan's battery field
— all of his division— and three squadrons of dragoons,
under Major Sumner, which I had just ordered up to
movement.
join in the
Having turned the forest on the west, and arriving
opposite to the north centre of Chapultepec, Worth came
up with the troops in the road under Colonel Trousdale,
and aided by a flank movement of a part of Garland's
brigade in taking the one gun breastwork, then under
the fire of Lieutenant Jackson's section of Captain
Magruder's field battery. Continuing to advance, this

division passed Chapultepec, attacking the right of the

enemy's line, resting on that road, about the moment
of the general retreat consequent upon the capture of the
formidable castle and its outposts.
Arriving some minutes later, and mounting to the top

of the castle, the whole field to the east lay plainly

under my view.
There are two routes from Chapultepec to the capital
—the one on the right entering the same gate, Belen,
with the road from the south via Pied ad ; and the other
obliquing to the left, to intersect the Great Western, or
San Cosme road, in a suburb outside of the gate of San
Cosme. ^
Each of these routes (an elevated causeway) presents
a double roadway on the sides of an aqueduct of strong
masonry, and great height, resting on open* arches and
198 THE WAR.
Flight of the Mexicaxia.

massive which, together, afford fine points both

pillars,

for attackand defense. The sideways of both aqueducts

are, moreover, defended by many strong breastworks at

the gates, and before reaching them. As we had ex-

pected, we found the four tracts unusually dry and solid
for the season.

Worth and Quitman were prompt in pursuing the

retreating —
enemy the former by the San Cosme aque-
duct, and the latter along that of Belen. Each had now
advanced some hundred yards.
Deeming it all-important to profit by our successes,
and the consequent dismay of the enemy, which could
not be otherwise than general, I hastened to despatch
from Chapultepec — first Clarke's brigade, and then Cad-
walader's, to the support of Worth, and gave orders
that the necessary heavy guns should follow. Pierce's
brigade was, at the same time, sent to Quitman, and, in
the course of the afternoon, I caused some additional
siege pieces to be added to his train. Then, after
designating the 15th infantry, under Lieutenant-Colonel
—
Howard Morgan, the colonel, had been disabled by a
wound at Churubusco — as the garrison of Chapultepec,
and giving directions for the care of the prisoners of
war, the captured ordnance and ordnance stores, I pro-
ceededto join the advance of Worth, within the suburb,
and beyond the turn at the junction of the aqueduct
with the great highway from the west to the gate of San
Cosme.
At this junction of roads, wefirst passed one of those

formidable systems of city defenses, spoken of above,

and it had not a gun!— a strong proof— 1, That the
enemy had. expected us to fail in the attack upon
 THE WAR. 19i^

Street figh.t in the city of Mexico.

Chapultepec, even if we meant any thing more than a

feint ; 2, That, in either case, we designed, in his belief,
to return and double our forces against the southern
gates —
a delusion kept up by the active demonstrations
of Twiggs and the forces posted on that side and 3, ;

That advancing rapidly from the reduction of Chapul-

tepec, the enemy had not time to shift guns our pre- —
vious captures had left him, comparatively, but few
from the southern gates.
Within those disgarnished works, I found our troops
engaged in a street fight against the enemy posted in
gardens, at windows, and on house-tops all flat, with —
parapets. Worth ordered forward the mountain how-
itzers of Cadwalader's brigade, preceded by skirmishers
and pioneers, with pick-axes and crow-bars, to force
windows and doors, or to burrow through walls. The
assailants were soon in an equality of position fatal to
the enemy. By eight o'clock in the evening, Worth had
carried two batteries in this suburb. According to my
instructions, he here posted guards and sentinels, and
placed his troops under shelter for the nig'it. There was
but one more obstacle— the San Cosme gate (custom-
house) between him and the great square in front of the
cathedral and palace —the heart of the city; and the
barrier, it was known, could not by daylight, resist our
siege guns thirty minutes.
I had gone back to the foot of Chapultepec, the point
from which the two aqueducts begin to diverge, some
hours earlier, in order to be near that new depot, and in
easy communication with Quitman and Twiggs as well
as with Worth.
From this point I ordered all detachments and strag-
200 THE WAR.
Quitroan in the city of Mexico.

advance sent to
glers to their respective corps then in ;

Quitman additional siege gims, ammunition, intrench-

ing tools ; directed Twiggs's remaining brigade (Riley's)
from Piedad to support Worth, and Captain Steptoe's
field battery, also at Piedad, to rejoin Quitman's division.
had been, from the first, well aware that the western,
I
or San Cosme, was the less difficult route to the centre
and conquest of the capital; and, therefore, intended
that Quitman should only manoeuver and threaten the
Belen or south-western gate, in order to favour the main
attack by Worth —^knowing that the strong defenses at
the Belen were directly under the guns of the much
stronger fortress, called the citadel, just within. Both
of these defenses of the enemy were also within easy
supporting distance from the San Angel (or JSTino Per-
dido) and San Antonio gates. Hence the greatest sup-
port, in numbers, given to Worth's movement as the
main attack.
Those views I repeatedly, in the course of the day,
communicated to Major- General Quitman; but, being
in hot pursuit —ga lant himself, and supported by Briga-
dier-Generals Shields and Smith— Shields badly wounded
before Chapultepec, and refusing — well by
to retire as as
allthe and men of the column — Quitman con-
officers

tinued to press forward, under flank and direct fires

carried an intermediate battery of two guns, and then

the gate, before tw^o o'clock in the afternoon, but not
without proportionate loss, increased by his steady main-
tenance of that position.
Quitman, within the city — adding several new de-
fenses to the position he had won, and sheltering his
corps as well as practicable —now awaited the return of
 THE WAR. 201
Deputation to Qenexal Scott,

daylight under the guns of the formidable citadel, yet to

be subdued.
At about four o'clock next morning, (September 14,)
a deputation of the ayuntamiento (city council) waited
upon me to report that the federal government and the
army of Mexico had fled from the capital some three
hours before, and to demand terms of capitulation in
favour of the church, the citizens, and the municipal
authorities. I promptly replied, that I would sign no
capitulation; that the city had been virtually in our
possession from the time of the lodgments effected by
Worth and Quitman the day before that I regretted the
;

silent escape of the Mexican army; that I should levy

upon the city a moderate contribution, for special pur-

poses and that the American army should come under
;

no terms, not self-imposed — such only as its own honour,

the dignity of the United States, and the spirit of the
age, should, in my opinion, imperiously demand and
impose.
At the termination of the interview with the city depu-
communicated, about daylight, orders to Worth
tation, I

and Quitman to advance slowly and cautiously, (to

guard against treachery,) towards the heart of the city,

and to occupy its stronger and more commanding points.

Quitman proceeded to the great plaza or square, planted
guards, and hoisted the colours of the United States on
the national palace —
containing the halls of Congress
and executive departments of federal Mexico. In this
grateful service, Quitman might have been anticipated
by Worth, but for my express orders, halting the latter
at the head of the Alameda, (a green park,) within three

squares of that goal of general ambition. The capital

202 THE WAR.
Firing from, the 'houses.

however, was not taken by any one or two corps, but

by the talent, the science, the gallantry, the prowess of
this entire army. In the glorious conquest, all had con-
tributed — early and powerfully—the killed, the wound-
ed, and for duty—
the fit Vera Cruz,
at Cerro Gordo,
Contreras, San Augustin, Churubusco, (three battles,)
the Molinos del Rey, and Chapultepec as much as —
those who fought at the gates of Belen and San Cosme.
Soon after we had entered, and were in the act of
occupying the city, a fire was opened upon us from the
flat houses, from windows and corners of
roofs of the
streets,by some two thousand convicts liberated the
night before by the flying government joined by, per- —
haps, as many Mexican soldiers, who had disbanded
themselves and thrown off their uniforms. This unlawful
war lasted more than twenty- four hours, in spite of the
exertions of the municipal authorities, and was not put
down till we had lost many men, including several officers
killed or wounded, and had punished the miscreants
Their objects were to gratify national hatred and in ;

the general alarm and confusion, to plunder the wealthy

inhabitants — particularly the deserted houses. But fa-
milies are now generally returning ; business of every
kind has been resumed, and the city is already tranquil
and cheerful, under the admirable conduct (with excep
tions very few and trifling) of our gallant troops.
I recapitulate our losses since we arrived in the basin
of Mexico.
August 19, 20. — Killed, one hundred and thirty-
seven, including fourteen officers. Wounded, eight
hundred and seventy-seven, including sixty-two officers.
 THE W&R. 203
Trcpliies.

Missing, (probably killed,) thirty-eight rank and file.

Total, one thousand and fifty- two.

September 8. — Killed, one hundred and sixteen, in-

cluding nine oflScers. Wounded, six hundred and fifty-
five, including forty-nine officers. Missing, eighteen
rank and file. Total, seven hundred and eighty-nine.
September 12, 13, 14. — Killed, one hundred and
thirty, including ten officers. Wounded, seven hundred
and three, including sixty-eight officers. Missing, twenty-
nine rank and file. Total, eight hundred and sixty- two.
Grand total of losses, two thousand seven hundred and
three, including three hundred and eighty-three officers.
On the other hand, this small force has beaten on the
same occasions, in view of their capital, the whole Mex-
ican army, of (at the beginning) thirty odd thousand
men —posted always in chosen positions, behind in-

trenchments, or more formidable defenses of nature and

art; killedwounded, of that number, more than
or
seven thousand officers and men taking three thousand ;

seven hundred and thirty prisoners ; including thirteen

generals, of whom three had been presidents of this
republic captured more than twenty colours and stand-
;

ards, seventy-five pieces of ordnance, besides fifty-seven

wall-pieces, twenty thousand small arms, an immense
quantity of shot, shells, powder, &c., &c.
Of that enemy once so formidable in numbers, ap-
pointments, artillery, odd thousand have
&c., twenty
disbanded themselves in despair, leaving, as is known,
not more than three fragments the largest about two —
thousand five hundred— now wandering in diflferent

directions, without magazines, or a military chest, and

liring at free quarters upon thw own people.
204 THE WAR.
Scheme of the priesthood.

In the national palace of Mexico opposite the entrance

of the great reception room, there hung a portrait of
the celebrated Mexican, Iturbide. Rumaging about the
palace, some of the officers found, in a neglected room,
a portrait of Washington. Amid the greatest enthusiasm,
the frowning representative of Mexican greatness gave
place to the mild benevolent countenance of the great
American hero the proper sequel to the overthrow of the
;

forces of the Mexican nation by the army of the North

American republic. From the taking of the capital to the
present, all has remained quiet and tranquil. The priest-
hood attempted to carry out a plan for the annoyance of
the American army, refusing to open the churches, and
in other modes cherishing the popular ill will. But the
prompt and energetic orders of General Scott brought a
sudden termination upon their plans. Signor Pena y
Pena, who had been called to the administration of the
government of Mexico, issued an address marked by the
moderation of its views, and his secretary of state fol-
lowed \vith one similar in tenor.
In October, Senor Rosa, the secretary of state, in the
name of the president called a meeting of the Mexican
Congress, to assemble at Queretaro in November, the
whose deliberations have as yet been unim-
results of
portant. During the same month, the attention of the
government was directed towards General Paredes, who
had effected an entrance into the country in disguise,
and issued a very florid address to his countrymen. The
government refused his proffered services, and directed
harsh measures to be taken against him.
Santa Anna, though driven from the capital, continued
his indefatigable efforts in behalf of his ungrateful
 THE WAR. 205
Death of Walker.

country. With nearly eight thousand men he advanced

upon and took Puebla, and on the 25th of September,
laid siege to the American works near that city, com-
manded by Colonel Childs. A siege of twenty-eight
days failed to induce the gallant colonel and his starved
troops to depart from their intention to make a success-
ful defense. A cannonading was briskly maintained on
both sides for three days. On the 1st of October, Santa
Anna sallied out from the city with a large force, in order
to attack General Lane, who was on his way up from
Vera Cruz with a large train, and a force of about three
thousand men. On the evening of the 8th of October^
information was received that Santa Anna, with four
thousand men and several pieces of artillery, was prepared
to dispute their passage at the pass of Pinal Venta del
Final. The army prepared for a battle, when it was
learned that Santa Anna himself was at the town of
Huamantla, some ten miles distant, and General Lane
determined to advance upon that town with a portion
of his forces, Captain Walker leading the van with a
force of two hundred cavalry. Santa Anna had left that
morning for the pass with four thousand men, leaving
his artillery with a detachment of five hundred to fol-

low. Captain Walker dashed into the town, defeatea

this detachment, captured four guns, and supposing the
fight to be ended, suffered his men to disperse through

the town in search of guns and ammunition. V/ith

some fifty men he remained in the plaza, where he sud-
denly found himself fiercely attacked by the enemy's
cavalry, who had seen his advance and returned to save
their artillery. In the struggle which followed, the gal-
lant captain was slain. The arrival of the infantry soon
206 THE WAR.
Santa Anna superseded.

put an end to the battle ; the enemy withdrawing from

the town. The Mexicans lost two of the four cannon,
and some thirty wagon loads of ammunition. Santa
Anna thus out-generaled, abandoned his intention of

contesting the pass of Pinal. But for this manceuver the

Americans must have suffered severely in this narrow
and difficult pass.

After relieving the garrison at Puebla, which city was

evacuated by General Rea, General Lane advanced
upon Atlisco, which he captured after gaining a victory
over General Rea, who contested the field with unusual
having suffered a loss of more than five hundred
spirit,

killedand wounded.
General Santa Anna, after these reverses, fled with a
small band to Tehuacan, where even these troops be-
came mutinous for want of pay, and soon deserted him.
The president then deposed him from the head of the
army and appointed General Rincon to succeed him. In
griefand indignation at this treatment from the executive
w^hom he himself had just called to power, Santa Anna
issued an address on the 16th of October to the army,
and another on the 22d of October to the people of
Mexico, both more remarkable than any of his papers
for its lofty tone, for the appeal to his enemies to testify
concerning his conduct, and the assertion that his ene-
mies are in favour of peace.
We now turn our attention to the operations of the
navy, which had been engaged under Commodores
Conner and Perry in the difficult service of blockading
the rocky coast of Mexico. On the 8th of August, and
on the 15th of October, 1846, two unsuccessful attempts
were made by Commodore Conner to capture the town
 THE WAR. 209
Loss of the Txuxtun-

of Alvarado, the high seas and strong currents rendering

it unadvisable to land troops on the rocky coast, and the
bar preventing some of the vessels from entering the
river. The people madea considerable show of de-
fense, for which the government rewarded them in a
peculiarly Mexican manner by brevetting their town a
city !

During the summer, almost the only events that oc-

curred to break the monotony of a blockade were the
accidents that arose from the dangerous character of the
coast. On the 15th of August, 1846, the brig Truxtun
ran aground on the bar off Tuspan, while standing in
shore to cover her boats on an expedition for fresh water
and provisions. Every effort was made to lighten her
without success. A boat w^as sent off to the squadron
for aid,and a Mexican vessel was captured in the hope
that the crew might be taken off, but the sea ran so high
as to render this impossible, and the small boat's crew
and the crew of the prize reached the squadron after
several days of danger and privation. The Princeton
was sent to the relief of the stranded brig, but the crew
had gone on shore and surrendered as prisoners before
her arrival, and they could only burn and blow her up.
Every thing of value was gone except an iron cable
attached to an anchor overboard. In April, 1847, the
town of Tuspan was, by an expedition under Commodore
Perry, so well planned that failure was impossible.
Three forts, the guns of which raked the river and de-
fended the approach to the town, were silenced in suc-
and each of them was taken possession of by
cession,
theseamen and marines under their immediate officers
who landed in boats along the shores of the river, and
210 THE WAR.
Expedition against Totasco.

planted the soul-stirring flag of our Union upon the

battlements. On reaching the town, Commodore Perry
proceeded to the shore with his and took possession
staff

of the city without opposition, Senor General Don Mar-

tin P. de Cos, commandant of the place, '^having," to
use the words of a humorous letter writer, " struck out
for country quarters some time before the fight with the
forts was done. A disembarkation of the marines was
made, and the stars and stripes saluted by a stalwart
band of sea soldiers with two brass field-pieces in the
plaza. Commodore Perry established his head-quarters
in the city. From the forts and one of the public stores
were taken guns, sails, rigging, &c., that had belonged
to the unfortunate brig Truxtun, and an expedition sent
up the river returned with her boats, besides schooners,
launcJies, and boats captured from the enemy.
On the 16th of October, 1846, Commodore Perry
sailed from the squadron to attack the town of Tobasco.
On the 24th the bar was crossed, and Frontera, the town
at the mouth of the river, captured with all the vessels in
port. The expedition then moved up the river to
Tobasco, w^hich Commodore Perry consented to spare
from the horrors of a bombardment on the representation
of foreigners, that the military had no interest in the
place. But while the flag of truce was flying from the
mastheads, in agreement with the arrangements made, and
by which the commodore was to retire unmolested, one
of the prize schooners got aground below the town, and
a brisk fire of musketry was immediately opened upon her
from the shore. Lieutenant Morris being sent from the
flag ship to the assistance of Lieutenant Parker, who
commanded the stranded vessel, was also fired upon
piiSiiiiiiiiiiiiiHiiiiiji iiiiii.:;
 THE WAR. 213
Takin3 of Tampico.

and mortally wounded. The vessel however was got

off, and a severe vengeance taken upon the town before

the fleet departed. At the close of the summer of 1847,

Commodore Perry found it necessary to pay another
visit to Tobasco, to show the people there that they

were not forgotten.

On the 12th of November, 1846, Commodore Conner
sailed for Tampico, which surrendered on the 14th
without resistance. The guns belonging to the enemy
at Tampico had been town of some
carried to Panuco, a
five thousand inhabitants, eighty miles inland, on the

Panuco river. Commander Tatnall was sent thither

with the steamer Spitfire and the schooner Petrel, landed
a hundred men, and demanded the surrender of the
town which was complied with the inhabitants being
;

extremely polite and communicative, informing the com-

mander where all the military stores were placed. The
resul^ of the expedition was the capture of eleven guns,

which were on their way to San Luis Potosi for the use
oftlie Mexican forces, and the destruction by burning
and sinking in the river, of army equipments to the
amoimt of thirty thousand dollars.

After the capture of Vera Cruz, Commodore Perry

and General Scott planned an attack upon Alvarado,
which had twice repulsed the forces of the navy. While
the formidable array which was to accomplish this ob-
ject was preparing, Lieutenant Hunter was despatched
in the little steamer Scourge to blockade the town. He
sailed thither, opened a fireupon the place with round
shot and shell, stood off and on during the night, and
in the morning received the surrender of the town, the
garrison frightened out of their propriety, havmg run
214 THE WAR.
Burning of the Creole.

away in the night. The city-by-brevet being captured,

the American flag was hoisted and saluted with twenty-
one guns, and the little steamer proceeded up the river
in pursuit of several vessels which were hastening up the
river laden with arms, ammunition, and public property.
Four schooners were captured, one of which was burned,
another abandoned as worthless, and the two others
carried away as prizes. The city of Tlacotalpam, con-
taining seven thousand inhabitants, was summoned to
surrender within half an hour, and the demand was
complied with. The higher authorities of the navy put
a grave face upon this comical achievement, and Lieu-
tenant Hunter was court-martialed, found guilty of
disobedience of orders, and sentenced to be publicly
reprimanded.
The reprimand was worded with much severity ; but
the conduct of the lieutenant seems to have been gene-
rally approved by his countrymen, and the government
gave him the command of the United States schooner
Taney, destined for a cruise in the Mediterranean.
One of the most daring achievements of the war,
which w^as followed closely by one of its most lament-
able occurrences we have omitted to notice. We close
our account of the naval operation with a notice of these
incidents.*
On the 20th of November, 1846, Lieutenant Parker,
with Midshipmen Rodgers and Hynson, and a crew of
six men, rowed Vera Cruz in a small
into the harbour of
boat, Jnd burned the Mexican barque Creole, anchored
under the guns of the castle of San Juan de UUoa.
These officers belonged to the beautiful brig Somers,
and had performed this skilful and daring feat to sig-
 THE WAR. 217
Kearny's Tnarch for New Mexico.

nalize themselves whilst the other vessels of the squadron

were on the expedition to Tampico. The gallantry of
the crew of the Somers was more fully exemplified,
however, on the occasion of the loss by shipwreck of
that vessel. While endeavouring to intercept a sail that
had hove in sight, a squall from the north struck her and
threw her on her beam ends, and in a few minutes she
filled and sunk. Midshipmen Clemson and Hynson,
with thirty-nine of the crew, lost their lives ; the others
were picked up by the crews of the English, French,
and Spanish men-of-war lying near by

We now turn our attention to the conquest of New

Mexico.
In June, 1846, a military force of three hundred
United States dragoons, and three thousand Missouri
volunteers, was concentrated at Fort Leavenworth, on
the Missouri river, under General Stephen W. Kearny,
destined for the subjugation of New Mexico. General
Kearny took up the line of march for Santa Fe, eight
hundred and forty miles distant, on the 22d of June,
and on the 18th of August took possession of the city
with the principal division of his forces. He issued, on
the 22d, a proclamation calling on the people who had
left their houses to return, and promising to protect all
who should remain quiet and peaceable. Five days
afterwards he completed the organization of a free
government, appointed Charles Bent governor, and fixed
a code of municipal laws. On the 25th of September
he from Santa Fe, upon the route for Upper Cali-
set out
fornia, with the dragoons under Major Sumner, and two
mountain howitzers. Colonel Doniphan was left in
10
218 THE WAR.
Murder of Governor Bent and others.

command at Santa Fe, Colonel Price with the second

division of the forces having not yet arrived.
At Albuquerque, General Kearny received such in-

formation from California, as induced him to send back

two hundred of the dragoons, leaving orders for the
Mormon battalion which formed part of his forces, to
follow in his trail. From La Joya, two hundred miles
below Santa Fe, on the Rio Grande, he sent an order
to Colonel Doniphan to make a campaign against the
Narajo Indians, who inhabited the country between the
Rio Grande and the Colorado of the West. Colonel
Doniphan was employed on this successful expedition
until the 14th of December.
Leaving Colonel Price in command at Santa Fe,
Colonel Doniphan again took up the line of march, on
the 17th of December, with his own regiment and
a command under Lieutenant- Colonel Mitchell. The
departure of this force, and the Mormon battalion, left
Colonel Price about fifteen hundred men. About the
time of Colonel Doniphan's departure a revolution was
concocted by several of the citizens of the province,
which, however, was discovered and apparently sup-
pressed. Nearly all the most influential persons in the
vicinity of Santa Fe were concerned in it. On the
nineteenth of January, Governor Bent, with five others,
was murdered at Hernando de Taos, seven more at the
Arroya Honda, and two at the Rio Colorado. It ap-
peared to be the object of the insurrectionists to put to
death every American, and every Mexican, who had
taken office under the new government. The insur-
gents having gathered in considerable force, a battle
was fought on the 24th of January^ at Canada, which
 THE WAR. 219
Zattle of Pueblo do Taos.

they commenced by an attack on Colonel Price, who

repulsed them.
On the 29th, the enemy were discovered to the num-
ber of six or seven hundred, occupying a very strong
position on the mountains at either side of the pass
which leads to Embudo, and w^hich was only wide
enough to admit of the passage of three men marching
abreast. Captain Burgwin with one hundred and eighty
men, rank and fde, attacked them, ascended the hills
and forced them to fly with a heavy loss. They retreated
over the steep and rugged sides of the mountains with a
speed that defied pursuit. Embudo was then surrendered.
Marching through snow, and beating it down into a
road for artillery, on the 3d, the army reached the city
of Pueblo de Taos, which was found to be admirably
fortified. On the 4th, it was attacked by our gallant
little army at nine o'clock in the morning, and the battle
raged with great fierceness until night. The Americans
at that time had made themselves masters of a part of
the town, and at daybreak next morning the enemy
sued for peace. It was granted on condition of the
delivery of Tomas, one of the principal conspirators,
who w^as shot. The other leaders met a similar fate.
Having defeated the enemy wherever they were to
be found and thereby crushed the revolution. Colonel
Price found himself again quietly established in the
government of New Mexico. He had in the three battles,
killed two hundred and six of the enemy, and wounded
a much larger number, w^ith the loss of only eight
killed, and fifty- two wounded on his own side, and had
exhibited a degree of vigilance and gallantry calculated
to inspire the people with awe and respect.
220 THE WAR.
Eattle of Sacramento.

Colonel Doniphan, on the march for El Paso del Norte,

was attacked on Christmas day, at Brazito, by a Mexi-
can force of eleven hundred men. The American force
engaged numbered four hundred and fifty. The battle
was decided in forty minutes, by the flight of the enemy,
leaving sixty-three killed, one hundred and fifty wound-
ed, and one howitzer. On the 29th, the city of El Paso
was taken without opposition. Leaving El Paso on the
8th of February, the army marched on the city of Chi-
huahua. At the pass of the Sacramento, the enemy
was discovered in great force twelve hundred cavalry
:

and two thousand seven hundred and twenty infantry,

artillerists, and rancheros, with ten pieces of artillery.

Colonel Doniphan commanded nine hundred and twen-

ty-four effective men, who v/ere obliged to protect a
train of three hundred and fifteen traders' wagons, be-
sides the regular army train. The enemy's infantry
were securely posted behind a series of tw^enty-seven
redoubts. While the two twelve-pound howitzers un-
limbered within fifty yards of the enemy, and supported

by the cavalry, poured destruction into his ranks, the

infantry and riflemen charged the intrenchments with
the utmost coolness and rapidity, delivering a deadly
fire, and then clearing the redoubts with their sabres.
The enemy fled over the mountains in great confusion,
losing his entireartillery, ten wagons, masses of pro-

hundred killed, and as many wounded.

visions, three
The Americans lost the incredibly small number of one
man killed, and eight wounded, one of whom after-
wards died. This victory was gained on the 28th of
February. On the 1st of March formal possession was
taken of Chihuahua. On the 23d of April, Colonel
 THE WAR. 221
Doniplian's return to tlie United States.

Doniphan received orders from General Wool to march

to Saltillo with his command. He reached that place
on the 23d of ^lay, having taken eight or ten Mexican
citieson the route. On the 27th, he reached Monterey,
where his command was reviewed by General Taylor.
The account of the battle of Sacramento given by Colo-
nel Doniphan to General Taylor is very amusing. We
extract it from Frank Edwards's new work, '^
A Campaign
with Colonel Doniphan."
'* While w^e were at Walnut Springs, General Tay-
lor addressed Colonel Doniphan thus : —By-the-by, Colo-
nel, every one is talking of your charge at Sacramento.
I understand it was a brilliant aifair. I wish you would

give me a description of it, and of your manceuvers."

*'Manceuvers be hanged," returned Doniphan, and
added, " I don't know any thing about the charge, ex-
cept that my boys kept coming to me to let them charge,
but would not permit them for I was afraid they
I ;

would be all cut to pieces. At last I saw a favourable

moment and told tliem they might go they w^ere off —
like a shot —
and that's all I know about it."
From Monterey Colonel Doniphan marched to the
Brazos, and there took passage to New Orleans, the term
of service of his troops having expired.
In the spring of 1846, Captain, now Lieutenant-Colo-
nel John C. Fremont was sent with sixty-one men in
the service of the United States topographical corps to
make an exploration of Upper California. He found
soon after his entrance into that territory, that its go-

vernor. General Castro, was preparing to attack him.

He promptly assumed the initiative, captured thirteen

men and two hundred horses on the 11th of June, ana
 222 THE WAR.
Kearny reconquers the City of tlae Angels,

on the 15th took possession of the Sanoma Pass, con-

taining nine cannon, two hundred and fifty muskets,
and a small Having marched toward the
garrison.
Sacramento river, he learned that General Castro was
about to attack the garrison he had left at Sanoma, and
hurried back with ninety riflemen raised among the
American settlers in California, and dispersed the ad-
vance guard of General Castro, who thereupon retired
to Santa Clara. Meanwhile Commodore Sloat had
taken the sea-port of Monterey, on the Pacific, and was
prepared to act in conjunction with Fremont against
Castro. On the 12th of August, a body of riflemen
under Fremont and Stockton, Sloat's successor, took
possession of the City of Angels, and Stockton appointed
Fremont governor.
On the 11th of December, General Kearny reached
the city of San Diego, having gained a
in California,
victory five days previously at San Pasqual, after a
severe conflict, in which the general himself, with many
of his and men were wounded, and two captains,
oflfiicers

one lieutenant, and fourteen others killed. On the 8th

i)f January,
lie fought another battle with the enemy, on

his march to regain possession of the City of the Angels,

w^hich had been retaken by the Mexicans. He was
victorious, and the city was taken, while Fremont on the
march thither with four hundred volunteers from the
Sacramento, met the retreating enemy, who capitulated,
laying down their arms. These operations completed
the conquest of California.
Major-General Tayk
 GENERAL ZACHARY TAYLOR.
Omitting genealogical de-
tails, we come at once to

the fact that Major-General

Zachary Taylor, the third son
of Colonel Richard Taylor,
was born in Orange county,
Virginia, on the 24th of No-
vember, 1784. In the suc-
ceeding summer Colonel Tay-
_ lor emigrated to Kentucky,

then just beginning to be settled, and his children from

their earliest years ^Yere inured to the hardships and
perils of frontier life. His first military lessons are said

to have been from a man named Whetsel, who loaded

10* 225
 2^6 THE WARRIORS.
Commands Fort Harrison.

his rifle while running and successively killed four

Indians, who were pursuing him. Zachary Taylor was
enrolled as a volunteer in one of the companies formed to
oppose any scheme that might be concocted by Aaron
Burr, during his suspicious sojourn in the west. In May,
1808, he received a commission as first lieutenant in the
7th regiment of United States infantry, the vacancy he was
appointed to fill having been made by the death of his
brother. He was ordered to report himself to General
Wilkinson at New Orleans, where he was taken with
the yellow fever,and recovered with a constitution so
much shattered as to compel his temporary retirement
from active service.
General Harrison having been ordered tomarch into
the Indian country, erected a block-house and stockade
on the Wabash, which afterwards was called Fort Har-
rison. Lieutenant Taylor was employed in the perilous
duty of watching the movements of the hostile savages
at this post, and performed it in such a manner as to
be promoted to a captaincy in the beginning of 1812.
He was then placed in command of Fort Harrison, and
in September, 1812, made his memorable successful
defense of that post, with a sickly garrison of fi.fty men,
against a largebody of Indians of Tecumseh's party.
The attack WiS begun at midnight and the lower build-
ing was set en fire by the enemy. The flames soon
reached the store-room where a quantity of whisky
took fire, a.» a spread the conflagration rapidly. By great
perseverence and presence of mind, however, the fire

was stopped in the building where commenced, and

it

^the garrison kept up a steady discharge of musketry

upon the enemy, who continued the assault for seven
 ZACHARY TAYLOR. 227
Defease of Fort Harrison.

hours. They then retired, carrying off the horses and

. cattle. The danger to which the whisky thus exposed
by flames on one side, or
the gallant captain, of death
savage arms on the other, was probably remembered
when he issued stringent orders against those who dealt
in that article on the Rio Grande.
General Hopkins said of this achievement, in a letter

to the governor of Kentucky, " the firm and almost un-

paralleled defense of Fort Harrison by Captain Zachary
Taylor, has raised for him a fabric of character not to be
effaced by eulog}\" The government acknowledged it
by conferring upon Taylor the rank of major by brevet.
In October and November, Major Taylor, in com-
mand of the Kentucky volunteers, and accompanied by
General Hopkins, made two expeditions into the Indian
country one against the Kickapoo villages on the
;

Illinois river, the other against the settlements in the

neighbourhood of Tippecanoe. No general engagement
was fought, but they were attended with many hardships
and and proved of incalculable benefits to
privations,
the territories of Indiana and Illinois. Several of the
enemy's towns, and large quantities of provisions were
destroyed. This demonstration of our strength inspired
them with awe. In the winter of 1>813 Major Taylor was
appointed to superintend the recruiting service in Indiana
and which he continued with industry and
Illinois, in

success until July. In that month he proceeded with

a force of Rangers and Kentucky volunteers against the
Massassinawa town near the source of the Wabash.
The town was found abandoned, and meeting with no
supply of provisions, the detachment was exposed during
its return to the severest privations.
228 THE WARRIORS.
Ordered to erect a fort on Kock river.

In the spring of 1814 he was ordered to St. Louis, to

take command of the troops in the Missouri territory,
and was actively employed on its frontiers until August.
It was then ascertained that the British had taken Fort
Shelby at Prairie du Chien, and were in great force on

the Mississippi, with regulars and Indian allies. General

Howard was furnished with ten companies of badly
organized rangers, and about one hundred and twent^f
efficient regulars, to protect the frontier of Indiana, Illi-

nois, and Missouri, and restrain the depredations of the

various savage tribes. With these slender resources he

had to protect the interior settlements, and furnish de-
tachments to invade the Indian territory. Of these, that
which ascended the Mississippi, under Major Taylor,
was the most important in its objects and the most
beneficial in its results.

On 22d of August, 1814, Major Taylor received

the
orders to take command of three hundred and twenty
men, principally militia, provided with boats and a few
pieces of artillery, to ascend the Mississippi as high as
the Indian village at the mouth of Rock river, to destroy
the villages and corn, to disperse the Indians, and erect
a fort on the most eligible site to command the river.
The leading objects of the expedition were to restrain
the Indians by the establishment of a military post in
the heart of their country, and to arrest the descent of
the British forces on St. Louis. The general closes his
orders to the commanding officer thus: "should this
command succeed in effecting all the objects for which
it is intended the beneficial consequences to our country
willbe great. On the other hand, should this movement
be stamped with disaster, no longer can even a hope be
 ZA CHARY Taylor. 229
Skinnish. -witii. tie Indians.

indulged of the frontiers maintaining their ground. But

from the officer who commands and those commanded
by him, the most flattering expectations may be in-
dulged." Thus was the fate of the frontier a second time
staked on the fortunes of the defender of Fort Harrison.
In pursuance of his orders, Major Taylor proceeded to
the mouth of Rock river, against a rapid current and
amid the dangers of a lurking enemy, five hundred miles
above the highest settlement or post on the Mississippi.
Contrary to his expectations, and those of the general, he
found a detachment of British troops, well supplied with
artillery, and an immense body of Indians in possession

of the place. , After skirmishing with the Indians, and

being sometime cannonaded by the British, without a
possibility of returning their fire with effect, he dropped
down to the rapid Desmoines, and having landed his
forces, secured his boats,and fortified his camp, and
commenced a fort so situated as to command the Mis-
sissippi and the mouth of the Desmoines. The erection
of this fort in the face of the enemy, and at so great a
distance from the source of supply, was attended with
peculiar hazard, and almost incredible privation and
toil. But the judgment, resolution, and skill of the
commander, seconded by his animating example, sur-
mounted every obstacle, enabled him to complete his
important labour and to realize the most sanguine ex-
pectations of his superior.
The death of General Howard in October, called
Major Taylor to St. Louis. In November he accom-
panied Colonel Russell several hundred miles up the
Missouri, to secure a small settlement on that river, left

much exposed to Indian depredations. In December

230 THE WARRIORS.
His personal appearance and character.

he was again ordered to Vincennes to take command of

the troops in Indiana, where he remained until the con-
clusion of peace,
"When we look back," says Mr. Breckenridge, in a
biographical sketch of General Taylor, written thirty
years since " when we look back on the many import-
;

ant services rendered by this officer to his country during

the late war when we reflect on the peculiar perils and
;

hardships to which those services must have perpetually

exposed him, performing as he did, in one year, marches
in the territories of Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri,
amounting to more than three thousand miles, and find
no solitary instance in w^hich the extent df his achieve-
ments did not exceed the scanty measure of his means
we cannot restrain the expression of our regret at his
detention from those glorious fields of civilized combat,
where
prise,
his genius
and
ous theatre. *****
might have borne him
his valour displayed itself

" With a frame fitted for the

to nobler enter-
on a more conspicu-

most active and hardy

enterprise, an ardent spirit, a sanguine temper, and an
invincible courage, gifted with a rapid discernment, a
discriminating judgment, and a deep knowledge of man-
kind, and possessing a heart susceptible of the most
generous impulses of humanity, we regard Major Taylor
as an officer of peculiar promise, and hazard, we think,
but little in the prediction that, in the event of a war at
no distant period, between the United States and Eng-
land or Spain, riding on the tide of military glory, he
will find his true level at the head of the army."
The reduction of the army list on the conclusion of

tne war, led to the change of Major Taylor's rank to that

 ZACHARY TAYLOR 231
Anecdote.

of a captain. He resigned in consequence, but in a year

he was restored to the service and his former rank by
President Madison. He was employed in the monoto-
nous life of a soldier in time of peace until he became
engaged in the Black Hawk war in 1832.
then He
held the rank of colonel, and was detached by General
Atkinson to pursue the Indians after they had fled over
the Wisconsin. He met them at a place called the Bad
Axe, and, though they fought with tlie energy of despair,
totally defeated them. The betrayal of Black Hawk
shortly afterwards put an end to this war. An anecdote
related of his conduct during this war by a writer in the
"Literary World," gives an amusing example of his
decision of character. He states that ^'
while pursuino-
Black Hawk with a mixed force of volunteers and re^n-
lars, he found himself approaching Rock river, then
said to be the north-western boundary of Illinois. The
volunteers, as Taylor was informed, woul-d refuse to
cross the stream. They were militia, they said, called
out for the defense of the state, and it was unconstitu-
tional to order them to march beyond its frontier into
the Indian country. Taylor thereupon halted his com-
mand and encamped within the acknowledged boun-
daries of Illinois. He would not, as the relator of the
story said, budge an inch farther without orders. He
had already driven Black Hawk out of the state, but the
question of crossing Rock river seemed hugely to
trouble his ideas of integrity to the constitution on one
side, and military expediency on the other. During the
night, however, orders came, either from General Scott or
General Atkinson, for him to follow up Black Hawk to
the last. The quietness of the regular colonel had rather
232 THE WARRIORS.
Anecdote.

encouraged the mutinous militia to bring their proceed-

ings to a head. A sort of town meeting was called upon
the prairie, and Taylor invited to attend. After listening
some became Rough
time quietly to the proceedings, it

and Ready's turn to address the chair. He had heard,' *

he said, with much pleasure the views which several

'

speakers had expressed of the independence and dignity

of each private American citizen. He felt that all gen-
tlemen there present were his equals in reality, he was—
persuaded that many of them w^ould in a few years be
his superiors, and perhaps in the capacity of members
of Congress, arbiters of the fortunes and reputation of
humble servants of the republic like himself. He ex-
pected then to obey them as the interpreters of the will
of the people and the best proof he could give that he
;

would obey them was now to observe the orders of those

whom the people had already put in the places of author-
ity, towhich many gentlemen around him justly aspired.
In plain English, gentlemen and fellow-citizens, the word
has been passed on to me
from Washington to follow
Black Hawk, and you with me as soldiers. I
to take
mean to do both. There are the flat boats drawn up on
the shore, and here are Uncle Sam's men drawn up
behind you on the prairie.' " No answer could be made
to such an argument. Instant obedience followed.
When the command of Major Dade had been mas-
sacred in Florida, the government determined to prose-
cute hostilities against the enemy with vigour, and
Colonel Taylor was ordered to the seat of war. In
December, 1837, he received orders to seek out any
portiDn of the enemy, wherever to be found, and to de-
stroy or ca'Dture his forces. He soon displayed his skill
 ZACHARY Taylor. 233
Battle of Okee-CiLoTjee.

in finding an Indian enemy, and his ability in defeat-

ing him. He was informed that the Micasukies had
determined to fight him, and he was determined to in-
dulge them, and accordingly the conflict took place on
the 25th of December, on the shore of lake Okee-Chobee.
The Indians, after a severe conflict, were beaten, and
driven at all points. They had several hundred war-
riors engaged in an admirable position, which they
defended, for two hours and a half with the greatest
gallantr)^, killing and w^ounding one-fifth of Taylor's
whole command. Afi;er the victory. Colonel Taylor
turned his whole attention to the care of the wounded,
who' were most tenderly treated. For his services in
this affair, Colonel Taylor received the thanks of the
president, and promotion to the rank of brigadier-gene-
ral by brevet.
General Taylor continued to prosecute hostilities
against the savages until April, 1840, when he w^as
relieved by General Armistead.
He was then appointed to the command of the first
department of the army in the south-west, and continued
in the service there until, as we have already seen, he
was ordered to Corpus Christi. We have already given
detailed accounts of the four brilliant achievements
which have made his name so universally popular
throughout our country, and we will not now repeat
them. We pass on to narrate such anecdotes of him as
will serve to give the best idea of the man and his

character.
When his reply to the communication of Ampudia
respecting the blockading of the Rio Grande was pub-
lished, it received the universal approbation of the
234 THE WARRIORS.
Anecdotes.

soldiers and their patriotic countrymen, and all felt

assured that the honour of the country was safe in his

hands. The troops felt that the man who could talk in
such a manner was able to make good his words, and
his order issued when about to march from Matamoras
to Point Isabel, on the 7th of May, assured them of a
speedy victory. He spoke to his inferior force of raw
troops as to veterans, and in the confident tone of one
who know^s his own power, assured them of victory, and
reminded them to main dependence on the
place their
bayonet^ and as if his words had not been sufficient, his
demeanour on the battle-field was such as to make the
veriest coward dare a hundred deaths in his cause.
When one of his officers saw him sitting on his horse in
the thickest of the fight, with his sword drawn, while
the balls were rattling around him, and desired him to
retire a short distance, where his person would not be

so much exposed, he smiled good-humouredly, and

anwered, " /ei us ride a little nearer the halls will fall
,

behind us."^^

When the Mexican lancers made a charge upon the

American right at Palo Alto, and the 5th infantry stood
ready to receive it. General Taylor rode up and said,
'*Men, I place myself in your square." How could a
man falter after such a mark of confidence ?

Somewhat in the style of his speech to the militia

men, is the remark made to General Ricardo, who ex-
culpated his troops from the charge of stripping and
American dead, by saying that the women
m.utilating the
and rancheros did it; that they could not control them.
General Taylor replied, ''I am coming over to Mata-
moras, and I'll control them for you."
 ZACHARY TAYLOR. 235
Anecdotes.

On the 30th of May, President Polk wrote to him,

forv/arding a commission as brevet major-general, and
complimenting him on " the bright page he had added
to American history." The legislature of Louisiana
passed a vote of thanks, and ordered a sword to be pre-
sented to him. By an act of Congress he was promoted
to be a full major-general.
At Monterey, he was in the town with his staff on
foot, walking about perfectly regardless of danger, where
the shot flew about as ''if bushels of hickory nuts were
hurled at us." Captain Henry says that seeing him
crossing a street in a walk, while such a terrible cross-
fire swept it that it seemed impossible for him to escape,
he ran across and reminded him how much he was ex-
posing himself. The answer the gallant captain received
was, '' Take an axe and knock in that door." Another
officer, noticing his conduct in the streets of Monterey,
says, ''
He was as cool as a cucumber, and ordered us
to pass into the city and break open the houses. God
knows how many of us got out."
Speaking of the battle of Buena Vista, Captain Henry
says in his Campaign Sketches, " Our rear was in
danger; the tide of battle was decidedly against us the ;

fortunes of the day seemed cast upon a die,_ when, at

this critical juncture. General Taylor arrived upon the

field, and occupied a commanding position upon an ele-

*
vated plateau. His presence restored confidence. * *

General Taylor stood calm and unmoved upon the pla-

teau —
all eyes were turned upon him. The leaden mes-

sengers of death swept harmlessly by his person, while

iiundreds were passing to futurity. Bragg, with his bat-
ter)' had arrived at the point of fearful struggle. Alone
236 THE WARRIORS.
Anecdote.

and unsupported was that battery and that brave old

chief. Confident to the last of victory, he ordered his

trusty captain to unlimber — to load with grape, and
await the arrival of their masses until they nearly
reached the muzzles of his pieces. On came the enemy
like legions of fiends, certain of victory. When almost
within grasp of the battery, Bragg opened his fire. The
first volley staggered them, the second opened streets
through their ranks, and the third put them in full re-

treat and saved the day."

" It was not," says Colonel Davis, " alone on the bat-
tle field that we learned to love General Taylor. The
excitement of the carnage over, the same soul that could
remain unmoved when his friends were falling like
leaves about him, who could look unblanched upon the
front of the thundering ai'tillery, became the poor soldier's
most sympathizing friend ; and the eye so stern in battle

was as mild as the tenderhearted matron's."

Wh m the gallant Mississippi regiment was about to

leave him, overpowered by the recollection of the high

deedy which had endeared them to him, and with their
demonstrations of respect and affection, he attempted in
vain to address them. With tears streamin *
down his

furrowed cheeks, all he could say was, '' Go on, boys —

go on — I can't speak." Such is the character of Ge-
neral Taylor, as a man.
General Worth.
 r^^JH^-i^.

* A^-

Worth at Monterey.

GENERAL WILLIAM J. WORTH.

N his youth, Worth was engaged in
a mercantile business in Albany ; but
just before the commencement of the
war of 1812, he left his employment,
and entered the service of his coun-
try.

The first signal opportunity which occurred for dis-

playing the military talent for which he is now so cele-
brated, occurred at the battle of Chippewa, July 5th,
1814. In his official account of that battle. General
Brown says, ^-'the family of General Scott were con-
spicuous in the field, Lieutenant Smith, of the 6th
infantry, the major of the brigade, and Lieutenants
Worth and Watts, his aids."
A captain's commission, dated August 19th, 1814,
was the result of this notice. At the battle of Niagara,
(239)
240 THE WARRIORS.
His victory at PalaMaMaha.

or Liindy's Lane, Captain Worth again distinguished

himself, and was rewarded by promotion to the rant: of
a major, but a severe wound received in the battle,
compelled him to remain for a time inactive. After the
peace, he was some time, military instructor of the AMest
Point Military Academy. He gradually rose in th e
army, but found no active service until he was employed
against the Indians, in the Florida war. In April, 1842,
he gained a brilliant victory at Palaklaklaha, which
brought the war to a close for a time. He was made
brigadier- general by brevet, March 1st, 1842, but
some point of military etiquette caused him to resign,
when the army of occupation w^as lying before Mata-
moras, by which he was deprived, greatly to his regret,
of all participation in the glorious conflicts of the 8th
and 9th of May. Hearing of these battles, he withdrew
his resignation, hastened to join the standard of General
Taylor, and gained imperishable renown at Monterey.
General Taylor employed the other divisions of the
army in making a diversion on the east side of tlie city,
in order to favour the operations of General Woiih, who
was directed to gain the Saltillo road at its junction
with those leading from the city, and then when the
enemy's supplies and retreat should be cut off*, to storm
the heights overlooking it and the south-western angle
of the city. The fortifications were on one height, a
large unfinished structure designed for the Bishop's
Palace, and known by that name, and opposite the
Bishop's Palace, and across the San Juan, (Federation
Hill,) two others, one called from the name of the bat-
tery on its cre?t, Federation Hill, the other Soledad, or
Soldada.
iMiiiii' isiiiifi
 WILLIAM J. WORTH. 243
Storming of Federation HilL

At daylight, on the morning of the 21st, General

Worth put his division in motion, so formed as to present
the readiest order of battle at any point at which it might
be assailed. As he advanced, he found a large body of
lancers drawn up to oppose him,, and a spirited engage-
ment ensued between them and McCulloch's Texan
rangers, aided by Captains C. F. Smith and Scott, and
Duncan's battery. The Mexicans were defeated with
heavy loss, and driven beyond the gorge where all the
roads from Monterey united, and thereby shut out from
the city. When his preparations were completed, at noon,
General Worth rode up to the men he had designed for
the storming of Federation Hill, and pointing up the
hill, said to them as they moved off, " Men, you are to
take that hill — and I know you will do it." With one
shout they replied, "we will;" and they did. The
words of their general had nerved their arms and in-
spirited their hearts,and they crossed the river amid a
shower of grape and musket balls, and advanced up the

hill, supported by reinforcements sent in good season by

the general, and beating back, inch by inch, the gallant

forceswho opposed them. At the top of this hill a
cannon was captured, remounted, and turned upon the
foe. The enemy had retreated to the other peak of the
ridge. Fort Soldada, and a perfect race now ensued
between the 5th and 7th regiments of infantry, and the
Texas rangers, as to which should first enter that fortress.
Captain Gillespie, of the rangers, was the first to mount
the works, but he was so closely followed by Lieutenant
Pitcher, of the 5th, that the two regiments shared
equally the honour of having captured a gun, abandoned
by the enemy as he was driven from the fort. The
244 THE WARRIORS
Capture of the Bishop's Palace.

cannon captured in these two places, were immediately

turned upon the Bishop's Palace. The generalship
exhibited by General Worth in this affair, is deserving
of the highest praise. The completion of his labours is

not less so. Before day on the morning of the 22d, a

detachment moved to assault the*fortifications on Inde-
pendence* Hill, an almost inaccessible height, nearly
perpendicular, between seven and eight hundred feet
high. The party which captured this formidable posi-
tion, was led by Colonel Childs and Captain John R.
Vinton. His loss was few in numbers, but among the
slain wa-s the gallant Captain R. A. Gillespie, who had
so distinguished himself on the preceding day. The
height gained, Lieutenants Roland, McPhail, and Deas
succeeded in two hours, in raising a twelve-pound
howitzer to the top of this steep and rugged acclivity,
and opened a terrible fire upon the Bishop's Palace, not
fourhundred yards distant. By a brilliant manceuver^
Captain Vinton enticed a party of the defenders to come
out of the palace, then defeated them, drove them down
the hill beyond it, entered the palace, and overpowered
its remaining defenders. Thus, says Mr. Kendall, by a
series of brilliant, well-planned, and successful move-
ments, General Worth found himself in full possession
of three of the enemy's batteries, the stronghold known
as the Bishop's Palace, seven pieces of artillery, and a
large quantity of ammunition and intrenching tools, two
of their standards, and what was of still greater impor-
tance, the entire occupation of the Saltillo road, and a
complete command of all the western portion of the city
of Monterey.
The street fight in which General Worth participated
 WILLIAM J. WORTPI. 245
Capture of the tete du pont.

largely, will be more particularly described among the

achievements of General Quitman. General Worth
was soon summoned away from this scene of his
triumphs to the siege of Vera Cruz, where, under Gene-
ral Scott, he bore a conspicuous part, and was present
at the surrender. He was made commander of the city
of Vera Cruz, but was not long employed on garrison
duty. Leaving Colonel Wilson to look after the city, he
took up his line of march for the city of Mexico, and
was so fortunate as to obtain a share with his division
in the brilliant victory of Cerro Gordo. With increased
reputation he marched onward with Scott to Churu-
busco, where hi-s brilliant feat, the capture of the tete du
pont, contributed largely to the success of the day.
For an account of the taking of the Molino del Rey and
Chapultepec, we have drawn largely upon the official
report of General Worth himself.
" On a reconnoissance of the formidable dispositions of
the enemy, near and around the castle of Chapultepec,
they were found to exhibit an extended line of cavalry
and infantry, sustained by a field battery of four guns
occupying directly, or sustaining, a system of defenses
collateral to the castle and summit. This examination
gave fair observation of the configuration of the grounds,
and the extent of the enemy's lines, but, as appeared
in the sequel, an inadequte idea of the nature of his de-
fenses —they being skilfully masked.
The general-in-chief ordered that General Worth
should attack and carry those lines and defenses, cap-
ture the enemy's artillery, destroy the machinery and
material supposed to be in the foundry, (El Molino del
Rey;) but limiting the operations to that extent. After
246 THE WARRIORS.
•Reconnoissance of the enemy's positions.

which his command was to be immediately withdrawn

to its position in the village of Tucubaya.
A close and daring reconnoissance, by Captain Mason,
of the engineers, made on the morning of the 7th, repre-
sented the enemy's lines collateral to Chapultepec, to
be as follows : His left rested upon and occupied a
group of strong stone buildings, called El Molino del
Rey, adjoining the grove at the foot of the hill of Cha-
pultepec, and directly under the guns of the castle which
crowns the summit. The right of his line rested upon
another stone building, called CasaMata, situated at the
foot of the ridge that slopes gradually from the heights
above the village of Tacubaya to the plain below. Mid-
way between was the enemy's field bat-
these buildings
tery, and were disposed on either
his infantry forces
side to support it. This reconnoissance was verified
by Captain Mason and Colonel Duncan, on the after-
noon of the same day. The result indicated that the
centre was the weak point of the enemy's position and ;

that his flanks were the strong points, his left flank being
the stronger.
Having made the necessary directions, at three o'clock

on the morning of the 8th, the several columns were

put in motion, on as many different routes and, when ;

the gray of the morning enabled them to be seen, they

were as accurately in position as if posted in midday
for review. The early dawn was the moment appointed
for the attack, which was announced to our troops by
the opening of Huger's guns on El Molino del Rey,
upon which they continued to play actively until this
point of the enemy's line became sensibly shaken, when
the assaulting party, commanded by Captain Wright,
 WILLIAM J. WORTH. 249
Assualt on Molino del Rey.

and guided by that accomplished officer, Captain Mason,

of the engineers, assisted by Lieutenant Foster, dashed
gallantly forward to the assault. Unshaken by the galling
fire of musketry and canister that was showered upon

them, on they rushed, driving infantry and artillerymen

at the point of the bayonet. The enemy's field battery

was taken, and his own guns were trailed upon his re-
treating masses ; before, however, they could be dis-
charged, perceiving that he had been dispossessed of
this strong position by comparatively a handful of men,
he made a desperate effort to regain it. Accordingly
his retiring forces ralliedand formed with this object.
Aided by the infantry, which covered the house-tops,
(within reach of which the battery had been moved
during the night,) the enemy's whole line opened upon
the assaulting party a terrific fire of musketry which
struckdown eleven out of the fourteen officers that com-
posed the command, and non-commissioned officers and
men in proportion. This severe shock staggered, for a
moment, that gallant band. The light battalion, held
to cover Huger's battery, under Captain R, Kirby Smith,
(Lieutenant-Colonel Smith being sick,) and the right
wing of Cadwalader's brigade, were promptly ordered
forward to support, which order was executed in the
most gallant style the enemy was again routed, and
;

this point of his line carried, and fully possessed by our

troops. In the mean time Garland's (1st) brigade, abl.j
sustained by Captain Drum's artillery, assaulted the
enemy's left, and, after an obstinate and very severe
contest, drove him from this apparently impregnable
position, immediately under the guns of the castle
of Chapultepec. Drum's section, and the battering
11*
250 THE WARRIORS.
Assault on Casa Mata.

guns under Captain Huger, advanced to the enemy's

and the captured gans of the enemy were now
position,
opened on his retreating forces, on which they continued
to fire until beyond While this work was
their reach.
in progress of accomplishment, by our centre and right,
our troops on the left were not idle. Duncan's battery
opened on the right of the enemy's line, up to this time
engaged and the 2d brigade, under Colonel Mcintosh,
;

was now ordered to assault the extreme right of the

enemy'sline. The direction of this brigade soon caused
it mask Duncan's battery the
to — fire of which, for the
moment, was discontinued and — the brigade moved
steadily on to the assault of Casa Mata, which, instead
of an ordinary field intrenchment, as was supposed,
proved be a strong stone citadel, surrounded with
to
bastioned intrenchments and impassable ditches an —
old Spanish work, recently repaired and enlarged.
When wdthin easy musket range, the enemy opened a
most deadly fire upon our advancing troops,which was
kept up, without intermission, until our gallant men
reached the very slope of the parapet of the work that
surrounded the citadel. By this time, a large propor-
tion of the command was either killed or wounded,
amongst whom were the three senior officers present
Brevet-Colonel Mcintosh, Brevet-Lieutenant-Colonel
and Major Waite, 8th infantry
Scott, of the 5th infantry,
tlie second killed, and the first and last desperately

wounded. Still the fire from the citadel was unabated.

In this crisis of the attack, the command was, momen-
tarily, thrown into disorder, and fell back on the left

of Duncan's battery, where they rallied. As the 2d

brigade moved to the assault, a very large cavalry and
 WILLIAM J. WORTH. 251
Thy Casa Mata 'blo-wn up.

infantry force was discovered approaching rapidly upon

our left flank, to reinforce the enemy's right. As soon
as Duncan's battery was masked, as before mentioned,
supported by Andrews's voltigeurs, of Cadwalader's
brigade, it moved promptly to the extreme left of our
check the threatened assault on this point. The
line, to

enemy's cavalry came rapidly within canister range,

when the whole battery opened a most effective fire,
which soon broke the squadrons, and drove them back
in disorder. During this fire upon the enemy's cavalry,
Major Sumner's command moved to the front, and
changed direction in admirable order, under a most
appalling fire from the Casa Mata. This movement
enabled his command to cross the ravine immediately on
the left of Duncan's battery, where it remained, doing
noble service until the close of the action. At the very
moment beyond reach, our own
the cavalry w^re driven
troops drew back from before the Casa Mata, and ena-
bled the guns of Duncan's battery to reopen upon this
position which, after a short and well-directed fire, the
;

enemy abandoned. The guns of the battery were now

turned upon his retreating columns, and continued to
play upon them until beyond reach.
He was now driven from every point of the field, and
his strong lines, which had certainly been defended well,
were in our possession. In fulfilment of the instructions
of the commander-in-chief, the Casa Mata was blown
up, and such of the captured ammunition as was useless
to us, as well as the cannon moulds found in El Molino
del Rey, were destroyed. After which my command,
under the reiterated orders of the general-in- chief, re-

turned to quarters at Tacubaya, with three of the enemy's

252 THE WARRIORS.
Mexican loss in killed, -wounded, and prisoners.

four guns, (the fourth, having been spiked, was rendered

unserviceable ;) as also a large quantity of small arms,
with gun and musket ammunition, and exceeding eight
hundred prisoners, including fifty-two commissioned
officers.

By concurrent testimony of prisoners the enemy's

forceexceeded fourteen thousand men commanded by
General Santa Anna in person. His total loss killed,
(including the second and third in command. Generals
Valdarez and Leon,) wounded and prisoners, amounts
to three thousand, exclusive of some two thousand who
deserted after the rout.
My command, reinforced as before stated, only reached
three thousand one hundred men of all arms. The con-
test continued two hours, and its severity is painfully

attested by our heavy loss of officers, non-commissioned

officers, and privates, including ia the first two classes

some of the brightest ornaments in the service.

It will be seen that subordinate commanders speak in
the warmest terms of the conduct of their officers and
men, to which I beg leave to add my cordial testimony.
There can be no higher exhibition of courage, constancy,
and devotion to duty and to country.
These operations occurring under the observation of
the general-in-chief, gives assurance that justice will be
done to the noble officers and soldiers whose valour
achieved this glorious but dear-bought victory. Com-
mending the gallant dead, the wounded, and the few
unscathed to the respectful memory of their countrymen,
and the rewards due to valour and conduct, I present
the names of those especially noticed by the subordinate
 WILLIAM J. WORTH. 253
His acMevementa at Monterey.

commanders, uniting in all they have said, and extend-

ing the same testimony to those not named."
The history of the terrible conflict at Chapultepec,
where none but the invincible were fit to fight, we have
already given in the words of General Scott. The gen-
eral's whole account is a tribute to the skill and bravery
of General Worth.
We cannot better close this sketch of General Worth's
achievements, than by the following extract from the
eloquent work of Samuel C. Reid, Esq., "Scouting
Expeditions with McCulloch's Texas Rangers." Speak-
ing of General Worth and his position at Monterey, after

the cavalry fight on the 21st,by which the gorge of the

Saltillo road was taken, he says, "the position General

Worth then occupied might have been considered as

critical as it was dangerous. Separated from the main
—
body of the army his communication cut off, and no
possible route less than eight miles to regain it —with
but scanty supplies of provision for only four days
surrounded by gorges and passes of the mountains from
whose summits belched forth the destructive shot, shell,
and grape he was liable at any moment to be attacked
;

by an overwhelming force in the direction of Saltillo,

which had been reported to be daily expected, and
which would have placed his command in the very jaws
of the enemy. For although holding the passes and
gorges of the Saltillo road, yet a superior force from the
advance would certainly have forced him back to, and
have turned upon him, the very passes which he then
held. It was feared, too, from his impetuous nature that

he would rush his command into unnecessary danger by

some rash and desperate attempt. But it v/as not so.
254 THE WARRIORS.
His achievements at Monterey.

He was collected, calm, and cool, and bore himself with

that proud, resolute and commanding mien, giving his
orders with promptness and decision which inspired men
and officer alike with confidence. He never appeared
better than on that day ; and all felt that with WORTH
they w^ere sure of victory
 GENERAL JOHN E. WOOL.
OHN E. Wool was born in Orange county,
New York, and resided at the commence-
ment of the war of 1812 at Troy, New
York, where he assisted in organizing a

volunteer corps. He was, soon after, appointed to a

captaincy in the 13th infantry.At the battle of Queens-
town he bore a conspicuous part. The destruction of
the American officers by the terrible fire of the enemy,
caused the duty of charging their battery to devolve
upon Captain Wool, and it could not have been com-
mitted to better hands. Rallied by General Brock,
the defeated British advanced to retake the battery, but
Captain Wool tearing down with his own hands a white
flag raised by one of his men, charged them a second
(255)
256 THE WARRIORS.
Battle of PlattsbuTg.

time, and defeated them again, with the loss of their

brave commander, General Brock. His gallantry won

for him the rank of Major, conferred during the cam-
paign of 1813. In this capacity he participated in the
battle of Plattsburg, the official account of which, given
by General Macomb, contains the following.
** The column on the Beekmantown road proceeded

most rapidly the militia skirmished with his advanced

;

parties, and, except a few brave men, fell back most

precipitately in the greatest disorder, notwithstanding
the British troops did not deign to fire on them, except
by their flankers and advanced patroles. The .night
previous I ordered Major Wool to advance with a de-
tachment of two hundred and fifty men to support the
militia, and set them an example of firmness. Also
Captain Leonard, of the light artillery, was directed to

proceed with two pieces to be on the ground before day,

yet he did not make his appearance until eight o'clock,
when the enemy had approached within two miles of
the village. With his conduct, therefore, I am not well
pleased. Major Wool, with his party, disputed the road
with great obstinacy, but the militia could not be pre-
vailed upon to stand, notwithstanding the exertions of
their general and although the fields were
staff officers ;

divided by strong stone and they were told that

w^alls,

the enemy could not possibly cut them off. The state
dragoons of New York wear red coats, and they being
on the heights to watch the enemy, gave constant alarm
to the militia, who mistook them for the enemy, and
feared his getting in their rear. Finding the enemy's
columns had penetrated within a mile of Plattsburg, I
despatched my aid-de-camp, Lieutenant Root, to bring
 JOHN E. wool 257
Battle of Plattsbuxg.

off the detachment at Dead Creek, and to inform Lieu

tenant Appling that I wished him to fall on the enemy's
right flank. The colonel fortunately arrived just in time
to save his retreat, and to fall in with the head of a
column debouching from the woods. Here he poured
in a destructive fire from his riflemen at rest, and con-
tinued to annoy the column until he formed a junction
with Major Wool. The field-pieces did considerable
execution among the enemy's columns. So undaunted,
however, was the enemy, that he never deployed in his
whole march, always pressing on in column. Finding
that every road w^as full of troops crowding on us on all

sides, I ordered the field-pieces to retire across the

bridge and form a battery for its and to cover
protection,
the retreat of the infantry, which was accordingly done,
and the parties of Appling and Wool, as well as that of
Sproul, retired alternately, keeping up a brisk fire until
they got under cover of the works. The enemy's light
troops occupied the houses near the bridge, and kept
up a constant firing from the windows and balconies,
and annoyed us much. I ordered them to be driven
out with hot shot, which soon put the houses in flames,
and obliged these sharp-shooters to retire. The whole
day, until it was too late to see, the enemy's light troops
endeavoured to drive our guards from the bridge, but
they suffered dearly for their perseverance. An attempt
was also made to cross the upper bridge, where the
militia handsomely drove them back."
The conclusion of the official despatch contains a
handsome notice of the most distinguished oflScers, Ap-
pling, Wool, Totten, and others. President Madison
conferred on Major Wool the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel
258 THE WARRIORS.
Maa'ches to Monclova.

l)y brevet ; the letter by which he was apprized of the

honour stating in complimentary terms thatit was for

his bravery at Plattsburg. After the close of the war he

served in various capacities, gradually rising in his pro-
fession, until June, 1841, when he received
his commis-
sion as brigadier-general. At the beginning of the
Mexican war, it was determined to direct an expedition
against the provinces of Mexico, and General Wool was
selected to command it. The mass of this army was
composed of volunteers, mostly commanded by regular
officers.

He led his command over a long and toilsome march

to the city of Monclova, where the governor came out
to meet him as a friend, and surrendered the city with-
out a word. Reports of the movement made upon
Chihuahua by Colonel Doniphan under the orders of
General Kearny, determined General Wool not to ad-
vance against that city, and he soon after received
orders from General Taylor to capture the city of Parras.
He arrived there on the 6th of December, 1846, where
the people became so much him that when
attached to
he left the city to march to Saltillo, the ladies besought
him to commit his sick to their care. He did so, and
they proved their sincerity by the most anxious and ten-
der nursing. His movements after joining General
Taylor have already been recorded. At Buena Vista,
the details of the battle were committed to him by
General Taylor, and the whole account of the victory
shows how fully he justified the confidence of his com-
mander.
 \ N

=-^ ^""^^^^s^-i*-^

GENERAL DAVID E. TWIGGS.

AVID E. Twiggs was born in Richmond

county, Georgia, in 1790, and bred to
the bar, but the war of 1812 brought
about a change in his profession.
He obtained a captain's commission,
conducted himself every w^here well,
and was rewarded for his gallantry by being raised to
the rank of major by brevet. He served with dis-
tinction under General Jackson in the Indian cam-
paigns, and under Generals Gaines and Scott, in Flo-
rida. Under Scott he held the rank of colonel of
the 2d regiment of dragoons. His regiment was at-
tached to the "Army of Occupation," and he has borne
a part with the utmost honour to himself in every
(259)
260 THE A^ARRIORS.
His discipline and goodness of heart.

Buena Vista. He commanderl

great battle, save that of
the right wing of the army in the battles on the Rio
Grande, and contributed greatly to the capture of Mon-
terey. He was complimented by General Taylor for
his bravery and valuable services. He has participated
in all the glorious triumphs on the road to Mexico,
winning honour at every step. He is still at the head
of his division, and in case of an opportunity will give
a good account of it.

Like his fellow-soldier Wool, he is one of the most

rigid disciplinarians in the army. An instance of that
perfection of discipline to which he had brought his

men, as well as of his goodness of heart may be seen

from the following :
— On the road from Palo Alto, when
the army was advancing to meet the enemy a second
time, a wounded Mexican was seen lying in the long
grass beside the road. He raised himself up, and
showed by signs that he was dying for water. The
sight impressed all who witnessed it, and all desired to
rush to his relief, but such a breach of discipline they
dared not commit under the command of Colonel Twiggs.
At length the eye of the colonel fell upon the sufferer.
His discipline was forgotten. ^* Men, the poor fellow-
wants water!" he exclaimed, and in an instant a dozen
canteens were flung at his feet. Twiggs then directed
them to give him food, and he ate and died, surrounded
by marks of the generosity and kindness of the American
colonel and his men. After the taking of Matamoras,
Colonel Twiggs was appointed governor of the town,
and to his especial care was intrusted the taking pos-
session of the military stores left by the Mexican army.
Don Jesus Cardenas, the prefect of Matamoras at the
 DAVID E. TWIGGS. 261
Takes possession of military stores.

time General Taylor took possession, was distinguished

among his fellow-citizens for his oppression, and for his

hatred to foreigners. In surrendering the city, the pre-

fect's only care was to know if he could retain his

office. He never stipulated for any privileges for tlie

citizens, orseemed in any way to think of their interests.

Immediately on Colonel Twiggs taking command, he
sent for this notable Cardenas, and asked him for an
inventory of the public property. He stated, positively,

that he knew of none, and persisted in declaring that

none was left by the Mexican forces when they evacuated
the city. Colonel Twiggs dismissed him, and entering
the city with information obtained from other quarters,
soon began to find vast quantities of military stores, in

almost all the out-of-the-w^ay places about the plaza.

This outrageous trifling on the part of the prefect
Colonel Twiggs was determined to notice. Accordingly
he waited upon him the following morning at his office,

to give the gentleman what is denominated a " plain

talk." The colonel laboured under one difficulty
eloquent himself, it was a great drawback to have it

marred by an indifferent translator. Fortunately, an

American citizen by the name of Dugden, a very intel-

ligent gentleman of Matamoras, and an object of the

prefect's special oppression, offered his services as an
interpreter. " I wish to give this falsifying prefect a

proper notion of his conduct," said the colonel, with

a variety of expletives. " Can you, Mr. Dugden, do
justice to what I say?" Mr. Dugden assented, and the
governor laid down the first paragraph of his lecture in
English. Dugden did justice to what was said, and,
262 THE WARRIORS.
Crosses the Sierra Madre.

it was thought, added a little on his own responsibility,

much to the gratification of the governor.
The prefect, bearded in his own den, began to turn
a variety of colours : his consternation increased as the

citizens of the town crowded into his office, and, by the

wildest expressions of delight, testified their pleasure at
what was going on. The prefect literally trembled in
his shoes, and promised to act better, and honestly point
out the hidden treasures. But he prevaricated so con-
stantly, that he was finally dismissed, and ejected from
the shadow of the office he still held, and he lefl the
city, it was supposed, to join Arista or some other gene-
ral in the interior.*

Captain Henry, in his Campaign Sketches, gives an

amusing account of the manner in which General Twiggs
crossed the Sierra Madre, on his expedition against
Victoria, December 16th, 1846. We make an extract
from his narrative. He says, " We passed over a lovely
country ; it was a succession of stony ridges, and basins
of the richest kind of soil. We marched along rapidly,
and before noon had passed over twelve miles, when we
reached a hill which forbade any chance of our wagons
ascending without the assistance of the men. I chris-

tened it Disappointment Hill ; for we were very anxious

to reach Montemorelos, and we saw our march delayed
forsome time, within sight of the place. We ascended,
stacked arms, and marched down again to assist the
teams. The artillery got along admirably by hitching
twelve horses to a piece but when the mule teams
;

came, it was entirely another thing. The ascent must

* Our Army on the Rio Grande.

 DAVID E. TWIGGS. 263
Crossing the Sierra Madre.

have been at least forty-five degrees ; certainly one of

saw wagons ascend.
the steepest hills I ever
General Twiggs assumed the management of the
passage in person. Those who know the general can-
not but recollect his peculiarities and his faculty of get-
ting more w^ork out of men in a given time than any
other officer in the army. A quartermaster stood no
chance ; his stentorian lungs drowned every one's voice
and his tone of command did not admit »f any question
* Bring on that team, there !'
Along comes the team
with a company of men hold of its wheels, and every

available point. Quartermaster — Drive slowly,

* a little

way at a time, and let your mules blow.' Team com-

mences the ascent ; all steam is cracked on and the
quartermaster cries ^stop.' *Stop! the devil!' cries
the general, * who ever heard of such a thing Crack ?

ahead ! speak to your mules, sir, and keep them going

as long as they will.' And away goes the team amid
cracking of whips and cheering of men. The men
would file on about six feet deep behind, pushing each
other along. '
General, those men are certainly doing
no good.' *You are mistaken, sir ; they are keeping
the man next the wagon from holding on going up hill.'
The last to cross was the quartermaster's forge. Well, '

exclaimed the general, * do you think you can get up^

without any men ?'
lasty, asty, yes, general.' WelL * ^

on with you.' By the time lasty' had ascended twenty

*

feet, the mules commenced backing. * Great

God
teamster, which way are you going? That's not the
way up the hill.' And amid peals of laughter, a com-
pany went to the assistance of * lasty.' With any num-
264 THE WARRIORS.
Hi 8 family.

ber of jokes, the general succeeded in crossing the train

in an hour and a half."
In the estimation of General Scott, General Twiggs
evidently holds a very exalted position. The tributes
paid to his valour and conduct in the despatches of the
general-in-chief, are of the most warm and decisive, as
well as respectful character.
General Twiggs's family has long been famous in the
military history of the country. His father, General
John Twiggs, rendered services in the revolutionary
war, of such importance as to gain him the title of
*' Saviour of Georgia." His brother, Major Twiggs,
and his nephew, Lieutenant Twiggs, son of the major,
both fell in the recent operations before the city of
Mexico.
 GENERAL JOHN A. QUITMAN.
officer has deserved a higher
character for all the qualities
which constitute a good soldier
than General Quitman. He
has carved his name in bold
characters upon the military re-
cords of our country ; connected
it indissolubly with the victories
of Monterey, Cerro Gordo, and the battles of Mexico.
At Monterey he was particularly distinguished, and there
and in the city of Mexico, his bravery in penetrating the
town contributed greatly to secure and hasten victory.
The following description of the taking of Fort Teneria
atMonterey by his command, will give an idea of the
nature of the services he is called on to perform, ser-
vices only asked of those who know not how to fail.

12 (26^^
 THE WARRIORS.
Taking of Fort Teneria.

'*The battle now became furious —the incessant roar

of cannon, and the rattling of musketry, told how
desperate was the conflict. The was indeed
cross fire

terri'jle. On marched Quitman's brigade, led by four

companies of the 4th infantry, about four hundred yards
in the advance, breasting the dreadful storm which made
them stagger, and at once struck down oncrthird of the
officers and men, rendering it necessary for the remainder

to retire and effect a junction with the two other com-

panies then advancing. Lieutenant Hoskins, the adju-

tant, and Lieutenant J. S. Woods, of the 2d, but serving
with the 4th, were killed ; and Lieutenant R. H. Graham
fell mortally wounded. Thus the 3d and 4th both lost
their adjutants, who were two of the mo.st noble and
accomplished officers in the army. The Mississippians
and Tennesseeans steadily advanced, braving the galling
fire of copper grape, which swept through their ranks,

until the centre of the Mississippi rifle regiment rested

about three hundred yards in front of the fort, with the
Tennessee regiment formed on the left. It was the
crisis, and the storm of battle was now at its height.
The order was given to " advance andfire.^"* For thirty
minutes their fire was kept up, while the men continued
to push forward. The long lines moved until wdthin
about one hundred yards of the fort, when they became
lost in the volume of smoke that enveloped them. The
Mexicans had run up a new flag in exultation, and in de-
fiance of the assault, which was now being made in front

and rear, while the deafening fire of their artillery, and

the'rattling of musketry, seemed more deadly than ever.
The brave and chivalric Lieutenant-Colonel McClung
then ordered a charge ; and calling on the " Tom-
 JOHN A. QUITMAN. 967
Taking of Fort Teneria.

bigbee volunteers," a company he formerly commanded,

and the " Vicksburg Southrons," of Captain Willis, to
follow him, he rushed for\VcLrd to the attack. Colonel
Davis also gave the order to ch rge nearly at the same
time, or shortly after, anticipating General Quitman, who
was just on the point himself of issuing the same order.
With desperation the lines came down upon the fort,
and the escalade was made with the fury of a tempest.
Burning for revenge, the men faced the terrible fire, and
marched up to the very mouths of the enemy's cannon,
while their daring recklessness made the Mexicans quail,
and fall back terror-stricken from their guns. Forward
sprang the gallant McClung and leaped the ditch ; with
sword in hand, and brandishing it over his head, he
mounted the ramparts and entered the fort, while the
regiment rushed after him, cheered on by the gallant
Colonel Davis, and followed by the brave Tennesseeans
of the noble Campbell. Lieutenant W. H. Patterson,
of Captain Rogers's " Tombigbee volunteers," was the
second man in the fort, to whom a Mexican officer sur-
rendered and gave up his sword, and but an instant
passed before the undaunted Captain D. H. Cooper with
his high-souled corps of '*
W^ilkinson county volunteers,"
and the whole brigade had entered, when a yell and
shout of triumph rose above the din of battle, and a wild
hurrah rang over the scene of strife, which sent forth the
"harbinger of victory."
The Mexicans fled in dismay, and ran to the strong
fortified building, called the distillery, about seventy-
five yards in the rear, whence they opened a heavy fire
of musketry. Without pausing, the heroic McClung,
followed by the brigade, rushed on in pursuit, charged
 THE WARRIORS.
Taking of Fort Tenexia,

and entered the work, which immediately surrendered.

While a Mexican officer was praying for quarters, and
calling out to McClung that he had surrendered, the
gallant colonel received two severe wounds, being shot
through the hand and body, and was caught by Lieu-
tenant W. P. Townsend, of the Mississippi regiment,
who supported him from falling. As the men rushed in,
they beheld McClung and the Mexican officer, and
thinking that the latter had shot him, the Mexican was
immediately slain. On the arrival of Colonel Davis,
who reached the same time with
distillery at the
McClung, by another entrance, he received the sword
of another Mexican officer, who surrendered his com-
mand to him. Five pieces of artillery, a considerable
quantity of ammunition, and thirty prisoners, including
three officers, here fell into our hands ; the prisoners
were placed in charge of Lieutenant Armstrong. The
brigade did not halt here, but moving on with rapidity,
led by Colonel Davis, they prepared to charge the
second fort, called El Diablo, about three hundred yards
in the rear of the last work, when General Quitman
ordered them to fall back, and they retired.
Thus, most desperate and bloody conffict, of
after a

more than two hours, was one of the enemy's strong

works carried by storm, notwithstanding the obstinate
resistance they maintained. Considering that it was the
first time that the troops of General Butler's division
were ever brought into action — sustaining, as they did,
a desperate struggle against a sheltered and inaccessible
foe —
unprotected and bared to the storm of the mur-
derous artiFiery of the enemy, which, although it swept
one-fifth of their number from the ranks, caused them
 JOHN A. QUITMAN. 269
Quitman at tlie gate of Belen.

not to shrink for an instant from a steady advance,

proves to the world the undaunted gallantry of our
citizen soldiers, who have won for themselves the repu-
tation of veteran troops —the charge led by the Missis-
sippi rifle regiment upon Fort Teneria, without bayonets,
has gained for the state a triumph which stands unparal-
leled.
The spirit of the general was infused into the hearts

of hismen, and so devoted were they to their duty, that

when once they had entered upon an achievement its
accomplishment was certain. One of his men, a pri-
vate, was wounded by a cannon ball. Ah orderly
passing by him complied wdth his request for water, and
asked if he could do any thing more for him. ^' Yes,
my friend," said the poor fellow, ''you can take my
musket back to the 3d. am a dead man, but I would
I

like my piece to go back to my old regiment." The

musket was delivered, and the soldier died contented.
It was General Quitman's glory to enter the city of

Mexico by the most difficult pass, that of the gate of

Belen, and to raise the star-spangled banner, for the first
time, over the "Halls of the Montezumas." General
Scott says,
"I had been, from the first, well aware that the
western, or San Cosme, was the less difficult route to
the centre and conquest of the capital ; and, therefore,
intended that Quitman should only manceuver and
threaten the Belen or south-western gate, in order to
favour the main attack by Worth —knowing that the
strong defenses at the Belen were directly under the
guns of the much stronger fortress, called the citadel,

just within. Both of these defenses of the enemy were

270 THE WARRIORS.
Quitraan at tlie gate of Belen.

also within easy supporting distance from the San Angel

(or JVino Perdido) and San Antonio gates. Hence the
greatest support, in numbers, given to Worth's move-
ment -as the main attack.
Those views I repeatedly, in the course of the day,
communicated to Major-General Quitman but, being ;

in hot pursuit —
gallant himself, and supported by Briga-
—
dier-Generals Shields and Smith Shields badly wound-
ed before Chapultepec, and refusing to retire — well
as
as by all the officers and men of the column —Quitman
continued to press forward, under flank and direct fires

— carried an intermediate battery of two guns, and then

the gate, before two o'clock in the afternoon, but not
without proportionate loss, increased by his steady
maintenance of that position.
Quitman, within the —adding several new de-
city

fenses to the position he had won, and sheltering his

corps as well as practicable —now awaited the return of
daylight under the guns of the formidable citadel, yet
to be subdued.
In the night the Mexican army fled from the city, and
I communicated, about daylight, orders to Worth and
Quitman to advance slowly and cautiously, (to guard
against treachery,) towards the heart of the city, and
to occupy its stronger and more commanding points.
Quitman proceeded to the great ^tea, or square, planted
guards, and hoisted the colours of the United States on
the national palace —containing the halls of Congress
and executive departments of federal Mexico."
 GENERAL PERSIFER F. SMITH.

ENERAL Persifer F. Smith, " of Louis-

iana," as he is generally designated,
is a native of Philadelphia, and one of
the bravest men and best soldiers in
the army. He served in command of
the Louisiana troops in the Florida war, and on
the formation of the volunteer division was ap-
pointed colonel of the rifles. In six months he
was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general by
brevet. This was for his services at Monterey. He
led the right wing of Worth's division at the entering
of that city, and fought his way through one street while
Worth was engaged in the next with the other part of
his division. This terrible warfare is thus described by
S. C. Reid, Esq., in his work on the Scouting Expedi-
McCulloch's Texas Rangers.
tions of
*'
Every street was barricaded with heavy works of
masonry, the walls being some three or four feet thick,
(271)
272 THE WARRIORS.
Street fight in Monterey.

with embrasures for one or more guns which raked the

streets; the walls of gardens and sides of houses were
all loop-holed for musketry; the tops of the houses were
covered with troops, who were sheltered behind para-
pets, some four feet high, upon which were piled sand
bags for their better protection, and from which they
showered down a hurricane of balls.
Between three and four o'clock, from the cessation of
thefire in the opposite direction, it was evident that the

enemy had become disengaged, which enabled them to

draw off men and guns to our side, as their fire had now
become almost doubly increased. The street-fight be-
—
came appalling both columns were now closely engaged
with the enemy, and steadily advanced inch by inch —
our artillery was heard rumbling over the paved streets,

galloping here and there, as the emergency required,

and pouring forth a blazing fire of grape and ball volley —
after volley ofmusketry, and the continued peals of ar-
tillery became almost deafening — ^the artillery of both
sides raked the streets, the balls striking the houses with
a terrible crash, while amid the roar of battle were heard
the battering instruments used by the Texans. Doors
were forced open, walls were battered down entrances —
made through the longitudinal walls, and the enemy
driven from room to room, and from house to house,
followed by the shrieks of women, and the sharp crack
of the Texan rifles. Cheer after cheer was heard in
proud and exulting defiance, as the Texans or regulars
gained the house-tops by means of ladders, while they
poured in a rain of bullets upon the enemy on the oppo-
site houses. It was indeed a most strange and novel
scene of warfare."
 PERSIFER F. SMITH. 275
Battle of Contieras.

In history General Smith will be best known as the

hero of Contreras. An article in the New York Courier
and Inquirer, giving an account of this battle, contains
the following passages. " About two p. m., as we had

crawled to the top of a hill, whither we had been our-

selves pulling Magruder's battery and the mountain
howitzers, we suddenly espied Valencia fortified on a hill

two hundred yards off, and strongly reinforced by a

column which had just come out of the city. We lay
down close to avoid drawing their fire, while the bat-
tery moved past at a full gallop. Just then General
Smith's manly voice rung out, * Forward the rifles — to

support the battery.^ On they went, we

till got about
eight hundred yards from the work, when the enemy
opened upon them with his long guns, which were after-

wards found to be sixteens and eight-inch howitzers.

The ground was the worst possible for artillery, covered
with rocks large and small, prickly pears and cactus,
intersected by ditches filled with water and lined with
maguey plant, itself imperviable to cavalry, and with
patches of corn which concealed the enemy's skirmishers,
while it impeded our own passage. The artillery ad-
vanced but slowly, under a most tremendous which
fire,

greatly injured it before it could be got in range, and

the thickness of the undergrowth caused the skirmishers
thrown forward to lose their relative position, as well as
the column. About four the battery got in position
under a most murderous fire and
of grape, canister,
round shot. Hbre the superiority of the enemy's pieces
rendered our fire nugatory. We could get but three
pieces in battery, while they had twenty-seven, all of
them three times the calibre of ours. For two hours
276 THE WARRIORS.
Battle of Contxeras.

our troops stood the storm of iron and lead they hailed
upon them, unmoved. At every discharge they laid flat
down and then sprang up to serve the
to avoid the storm,
guns. At the end of that time, two of the guns were
dismounted and we badly hurt thirteen of the h orses
;

were killed and disabled, and fifteen of the cannoneers

killed and wounded. The regiment was then recalled.
The had been repelled in three successive
lancers
charges. The 3d infantry and 1st artillery had also
engaged and successfully repelled the enemy's skir-
mishers without loss of either officers or men. The
greatest loss has been at the batteries. Officers looked
gloomy for the first day's fight, but the brigade was
formed, and General Smith in person took command.
All felt revived, and followed him with a yell, as creep-
ing low to avoid the grape, which was coming very fast,

we made a circuit in rear of the batteries, and passing

off to the right w^e were soon lost to view in the chapar-
ral and cactus. Passing over the path that we scrambled
through, behold us, at almost six o'clock in the evening,
tired, hungry, and sorrowful, emerging from the cha-
parral and crossing the road between it and Valencia.
Here we found Cadwalader and his brigade already
formed, and discovered Riley's brigade skirmishing in
rear of the enemy's works. Valencia was ignorant of
our approach, and we were as yet safe. In front of us
was Valencia strongly intrenched on a hill-side and sur-
rounded by a regular field-work concealed from us by
an orchard in our rear. Mendoza with a column of six
thousand was in the road, but thinking us to be friends.
On our right was a large range of hills, whose continued
crest was parallel to the road, and in which ^vere formed
 PERSIPER F «MITH. 277
Battle of Contxeras.

in line of battle five thousand of the best Mexican cav-

alry. On our left we were separated from our own forces
by an almost impassable wilderness, and it was now
twilight. Even Smith looked round for help. Suddenly
a thousand vivas came across the hill-side, like the yells
of prairie wolves in the dead of night, and the squad-
rons on our right formed for charging. Smith's himself
again !Face to the rear !'
'
Wait till you see their *

red caps, and then give it to them!' Furiously they

came on a few yards, then changed their minds, and,
disgusted at our cool reception, retired to their couches.
# * * * ^ «

At last, just at daylight. General Smith, slowly walk-

ing up, asked if all was ready. A look answered him.
^Men^ forward. '^
And we did ' forward.' Springing up at
once, Riley's brigade opened, when the crack of a hun-
dred rifles started the Mexicans from their astonishment,
and they opened their fire. Useless fire, for we were so
close that they overshot us, and before they could turn
their pieces on us we were on them. Then such cheers
arose as you never heard. The men rushed forward
like demons, yelling and firing the while. The carnage
was frightful, and though they fired sharply it was of no

use. The earthen parapet was cleared in an instant,

and the blows of the stocks could be plainly heard,
mingled with the yells and groans around. Just before
the charge was made, a large body of lancers came
winding up the road, looking most splendidly in their
brilliant uniforms. They never got to the work, but
turned and fled. In an instant all was one mass of
confusion, each trying to be foremost in the flight. The
road was literally blocked up, and while many perished
278 THE WARRIORS.
Battle of Contreras.

by their own guns, it was almost impossible to fire on

the mass, from the danger of killing our own men.
Some up the ravine on the left, or on the right, and
fled
many of these were slain by turning their own guns on
them. Toward the city the rifles and 2d infantry led
off the pursuit. Seeing that a large crowd of the fugi-
tives were jammed up in a pass in the road, some of
our men ran through the corn-field, and by thus heading
them off and firing down upon them, about thirty men
took over five hundred prisoners, nearly a hundred of
them officers.
After disarming the prisoners, as the pursuit had
ceased, we ^went back to the fort, where we found our
troops in full possession, and the rout complete.
Thus ended the glorious battle of Contreras, in which
two thousand men, under General P. F. Smith, com-
pletely routed and destroyed an army of eight thousand
men, under General Valencia, with Santa Anna and a
force of twenty thousand men within five miles. Their
army was so completely routed that not fifteen hundred
men rejoined Santa Anna, and participated in the second
battle.
General Kearny.
 GENERAL STEPHEN W. KEARNY.
TEPHEN Watts Kearny was born at
Newark, New Jersey, and educated
at Princeton college,' where he was a

student at the age of eighteen, when

the war of 1812 commenced. Having
determined to go into the army, he
was appointed first lieutenant in the
13th regiment of infantr)', and at-

tached to the company of the then Captain John E. Wool.

He was engaged in the desperate fight of Scott at Queens-
town, and was surrendered a prisoner at the end of it.
Ailer he was exchanged he served with honour through
the war, and acquired such distinction as to retain his rank
as captain during the army reductions of 1815 and 1821.
Afterwards he was stationed a* Tefferson Barracks, near
(281)
282 THE WARRIORS.
Anecdote.

St. Louis. While there, he acquired as wide spread a

reputation for his tactics and severe discipline, as he had
previously borne for coolness and composure under all
circumstances. An anecdote related by Fayette Robin-
son, Esq., in his extremely valuable new work on the
Army of the United States, illustrates these qualities in
the best manner. It is as follows :
—" While stationed
at Jefferson Barracks, General Kearny was drilling a
brigade on one of the open fields near the post. The
manoeuver was the simple exercise of marching in line
to the front. An admirable horseman, he sat with his
face towards the troops, while the horse he rode, per-
fectly trained,was backed in the same direction, along
which the command was marched. At once the animal
fell, fastening the rider to the ground by his whole

weight. His brigade had been drilled to such a state

of insensibility, that not one of them came to his assist-

ance, nor was it necessary. The line advanced to within

about ten feet of him, when, in a loud distinct voice,

calmly as if he had been in the saddle under no un-
usual circumstance. General Kearny gave the command,
^Fourth company— obstacle —march.^
The fourth com-
pany which was immediately in front of him was flanked
by its captain in the rear of the other half of the grand
division. The line passed on, and when he was thus
left in rear of his men, he gave the command, ^Fourth
—
company into line m/irch.'* He was not seriously injured,
extricated himself from his horse, mounted again, passed
to the front of the regiment, and executed the next
manoeuver in the series he had marked out for the day's
drill."

He was soon afterwards (1833) made lieutenant-

 STEPHEN W. KEARNY. 283
Wounded at San Pasqual.

colonel of dragoons, and had to perform the onerous

duty of forming a new arm of the service. The efficiency
of his training is exhibited in the bearing of the dra-
goon regiments and the mounted rifles in the Mexican
war. General Gaines has said that the first dragoons
drilled by General Kearny were the best troops he ever
saw. He served many years in the north-west, con-
tinually acquiring valuable information for the govern-
ment by his expeditions, which at the same time
impressed the Indians with a respect for the United
States government. In June, 1846, he received the rank
of brigadier-general, and was sent out from Fort Leaven-
worth on the expedition to New Mexico and Cali-
which we have before given.
fornia, the particulars of
He exposed himself very much at the battle of San
Pasqual, as he always does when there is danger near.
He was severely wounded with a lance, and would have
been killed had not Lieutenant Emory of the topogra-
phical corps, rode up in time to shoot the enemy as he
was about to make a second thrust.
A dispute as to rank and authority occurred between
himself and Commodore Stockton in California, by which
the interests of the country in some hands might have
been compromised. As it was, however, private disa-
greements produced no public wrongs, and the question
was eventually settled by the trial of Lieutenant-Colonel
Fremont by a court martial, he having preferred to obey
the commands of Commodore Stockton rather than those
of General Kearny.
 COLONEL JOHN C. FREMONT.
HE services of Colonel Fremont in his cele-
brated expedition to Oregon, are too wel^
known to require recapitulation here, and
his exploits in California have already been
narrated. We propose merely to give in
this connection some illustrations of his character,
and to express a hope that the result of a court-martial,
before which he is now^ being tried, at Washington, for
alleged offences, growing out of the dispute between
Commodore Stockton and General Kearny, may not
change his pursuit in life.*
Pico, the brother of the governor of California, had
been dismissed by the Americans on parole, and Avas
recaptured in the act of breaking it. He was condemned
by court-martial to death, and twelve o'clock was the
hour fixed for his execution. The soldiers were cla-
morous for his death as a traitor, but the gallant colonel

could not bear the thought of killing an enemy in any

* 1848. (285)
 THE WARRIORS.
Humanity triiaxapliant over discipline.

other way than on and he was meditat-

the battle-field,
ing upon the matter with a heavy heart, when a com-
pany of ladies and children was led into the room, and
on their knees begged the life of a husband and a father.
The question was settled.Humanity triumphed over
discipline and the laws of war. He raised the mother
and exclaimed, "he is pardoned," and sent for the
prisoner that he might learn his fate from the happy
faces of his friends. He was overpowered with emo
tion. He had learned his fate with all the pride and
dignity of a Spaniard, but he could not bear the news
of pardon. He threw himself at the colonel's feet,

swore eternal fidelity, and begged the privilege of fight-

ing and dying for him. How firm a friend he has since
been may be apparent from the subjoined account of
Colonel Fremont's ride, taken from the National Intelli-

gencer. They passed over hundred miles in eight

eight
days, including two days detention and all stoppages.
Don Pico is called by his Christian name Jesus, pro-
nounced Haisoos.
" It was daybreak on the morning of the 22d of March,
that the party set out from la Ciudad de los Angelos (the
city of the Angels,) in the southern part of Upper Cali-
fornia, to proceed in the shortest time to Monterey, on
the Pacific ocean, distant full four hundred miles. The
way is over a mountainous country, much of it unin-
habited, with no other road than a trace, and many de-
files to pass, particularly the maritime defile of El Rincon,
or Punto Gordo, fifteen miles in extent, made by the
jutting ol a precipitous mountain into the sea, which
can only be passed when the tide is out, and the sea
calm, and even then in many places through the waves
 JOHN C. FREMONT. 287
Extraordinary travellixtg.

The towns of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo and

occasional ranches, are the principal inhabited places on
the route. Each of the party had three horses, nine in
all, to take their turns under the saddle. The six loose
horses ran ahead without bridle or halter, and required
some attention to keep to the track.
When wanted for a change, say at distances of twenty
miles, theywere caught by the lasso^ thrown either by
Don Jesus or the servant Jacob, who, though born and
raised in Washington, in his long expeditions with
Colonel Fremont had become as expert as a Mexican with
the lasso, as sure as a mountaineer with the rifle, equal to
either on horse or and always a lad of courage and
foot,

fidelity. None of the horses were shod, that being a

practice unknown to the Californians. The most usual
gait was a sweeping gallop. The first day they rode one
hundred and twenty-five miles, passing the San Fernando
mountain, the defile of the Rincon, several other moun-
tains, and slept at the hospitable rancho of Don Tomas

Robberis, beyond the town of Santa Barbara. The only

fatigue complained of in this day's ride was in Jacob's
right arm, made tired by throwing the lasso and using
it as a whip to keep the loose horses to the track.

The next day they made another one hundred and

twenty-five miles, passing the formidable mountain of
Santa Barbara, and counting upon it the skeletons of
some fifty horses, part of near double that number which
perished in the crossing of that terrible mountain by the
California battalion on Christmas day, 1846, amidst a
raging tempest, and a deluge of rain and cold more kill-

ing than that of the Sierra Nevada —the day of severest

iuffering, eay Fremont and his men, that they have ever
288 THE WARRIORS.
Extraordinary travelling.

passed. At sunset the party stopped to sup with the

Dana, and at nine San Luis Obispo was
friendly Captain
reached, the home of Don Jesus, where an affecting
reception awaited Lieutenant-Colonel Fremont, in conse-
quence of an incident which occurred there, that history
will one day record ;* and he was detained till eleven
o'clock in the morning receiving the visits of the inhabit-
ants,, (mothers and children included,) taking a break-
fast of honour, and waiting for a relief of fresh horses to
be brought in from the surrounding country.
Here the nine horses from los Angelos were left and
eight others taken in their places, and a Spanish boy
added to the party to assist in managing the loose
horses. Proceeding at the usual gait till eight at night,

and having made some seventy miles, Don Jesus, who

had spent the night before with his family and friends,
<ind probably with but little sleep, became fatigued, and
proposed a halt for a few hours. It was in the valley

of the Salinas, (Salt river, called Bitena Ventura in the

old maps,) and the haunt of marauding Indians. For
safety during their repose, the party turned off the trace
issued through a Canada into a thick wood, and lay
down, the horses being put to grass at a short distance
with the Spanish boy in the saddle to watch. Sleep,
w^hen commenced, was too sweet to be easily given up,
and it was half way between midnight and day when the
sleepers were aroused by an estampedo among the horses
and the calls of the boy.
The cause of the alarm was soon found, not Indians,
Dut white bears — ^this valley being their great resort,

• The pardon narrated before.

 JOHN C. FREMONT. 289
Extraordinary travelling.

having encountered them in great numbers the pre-

ceding year. The character of these bears is well
known, and the bravest hunters do not like to meet
them without the advantage of numbers. On dis-
covering the enemy, Colonel Fremont felt for his
pistols, but Don Jesus desired him to lie still, saying

that " people could scare bears,'' and immediately he

halloed at them in Spanish, and they went off. Sleep
went off also, and the recovery of the horses frightened
by the bears, building a rousing fire, making a breakfast
from the hospitable supplies of San Luis Obispo, occu-
pied the party till daybreak, when the journey was
resumed. Eighty miles, and the afternoon brought the
party to Monterey.
The next day, in the afternoon, the party set out on
their return,and the two horses ridden by Colonel Fre-
mont from San Luis Obispo, being a present to him
from Don Jesus, he (Don Jesus) desired to make an
experiment of what one of them could do. They
were brothers, one a grass younger than the other, both
of the same colour, (cinnamon,) and hence called el
canal o" los canalos, (the cinnamon, or the cinnamons.)
The elder brother was taken for the trial, and the jour-
ney commenced upon him at leaving Monterey, the
afternoon well advanced. Thirty miles under the sad-
dle done that evening,and the party stopped for the
night. In the morning the elder canalo was again under
the saddle for Colonel Fremont, and for ninety miles he
carried him without a change, and \vithout apparent
fatigue. It was still thirty miles to San Luis Obispo,

where the night was to be passed, and Don Jesus insisted

that camilo could easily do it, and so said the horse by
13
290 THE WARRIORS.
Extraordinary travelling.

his looks and action. But Colonel Fremont would no<

put him to the trial, and, shifting the saddle to the

younger brother, the elder was turned loose to run the
remaining thirty miles without a rider.

He did so-, immediately taking the lead and keeping

it all the way, and entering San Luis sweeping gal-
in a

lop, nostrils distended, snuffing the air and neighing with

exultation of his return to his native pastures, his younger
brother all the while running at the head of the horses
under the saddle, bearing on his bit, and held in by his
rider. The whole eight horses made their one hundred
and twenty miles each that day, (after thirty the evening
before,) the elder cinnamon making ninety of his under
the saddle that day, besides thirty under the saddle the
evening before ; nor was there the least doubt that he
would have done the whole distance in the same time
if he had continued under the saddle.

After a hospitable detention of another half day at

San Luis Obispo, the party set out for Los Angelos on
the same nine horses which they had ridden from that
place, and made the ride back in about the same time
they had made it up, namely at die rate of one hundred
and twenty-five miles a day.'^
Major McCullocb.
 MAJOR BENJAMIN McCULLOCH.
AJOR McCuLLOcH was born in Rutherford
county, Tennessee, in the year 1814.
His father had seen service under Ge-
neral Jackson in the Creek war. He
removed for a time to Alabama, but
Benjamin remained in Tennessee at
school for some years, when his father returned to the
western part of that state,and Benjamin lived with him
employed in hunting until he was twenty-one.
In the campaign on the Rio Grande, he told an anec-
dote of this portion of his life, which we give as we find
it in Reid's Scouting Expeditions. " While speaking
about the course we had travelled, and referring to our
compass. Captain McCulloch related the following anec-
dote :

(293)
294 THE WARRIORS.
Anecdote.

" An old woodman," said he, "seldom wants a com-

pass so long as he can see the sun, and even when it is

cloudy you can always tell where the sun is, by a slight
shadow from objects, be it ever so obscured. I recollect
once I went a hunting with a gentleman and my father,

and crossing the river in a boat, we hauled it up on

the shore, and put out into the woods. Well, we did
not meet with much and so we put back for the
luck,
boat. It was a cloudy day and the gentleman carried a

pocket compass with him, and pointed out our course

back. We followed the direction for some time, but
could see no river. That we were lost was now beyond
a doubt. And father becoming tired of following the
course of the gentleman's compass, determined to be
guided by it no longer.
" Well, it is strange,' said the gentleman, ' the com-
*•

pass caTCt be wrong!'

<< < D —
n the compass,' said father, * my boy Ben is
worth all the compasses I ever saw ;' and, turning to me,
said, you don't take us right straight to that boat,
*
if

Ben, you shall never go on another hunt.'

" So I took a straight shoot, just by guessing the way
the woods ran, and brought them to the boat, sure
enough As we were stepping in the boat, the gen-
!

tleman said, with a laugh

" Well, that boy Ben of yours, Mr. McCuUoch, is a
perfect magnetic needle. He will make as great a
geographer as his celebrated namesake.'
"
He would kill eighty bears in a winter. When he
became of age, he set out for St. Louis, in order to join
in an expedition for the Rocky mountains. In 1835,
he wished to join Colonel David Crockett, in an expe-
 BENJAMIN MCCULLOCH. 295
His personal appearance.

dition that was about to take part in the Texas revolu-

tion, but the colonel went sooner than McCulloch had
supposed, and he set out to follow him. At the river
Brazos, he was taken very illand did not recover until
after the fall of the Alamo. He went on, however, and
was made captain of a ^n in the army of Texas under
General Houston, which he served with effect in the mem-
orable battle of San Jacinto. He served in all the border
warfare of the day, and was present at the taking of
Mier, though he returned home directly afterwards, and
thus escaped the fate of his comrades.
In the Mexican war he has been as useful as any man
in the American army ; his scouting expeditions being
among the boldest achievements of the war. " He is a
man of delicate frame, five feet ten inches in height,
with light hair and complexion. His features are rather
regular and pleasing, though from long exposure on the
frontier they have a weather-beaten cast. His quick
and bright blue eye, with a mouth of thin compressed
lips, indicate the cool, calculating, as well as the brave
and daring energy of the man." This is the description
given of him by S. C. Reid, Esq., in his account of the
gallant captain's scouting expeditions.
We quote Mr. Reid's account of some incidents
in the cavalry fight with which General Worth com-
menced the battle at Monterey, as it illustrates the
Rangers' desperate yet chivalric method of fighting.
"Armstrong, one of our company, was unhorsed by a
two wounds yet on foot, with
lancer, having received ;

sword in hand he defended himself against two of the

enemy. He killed one, when an Irishman from the
artillery battalion discovered his situation, and saying
296 THE WARRIORS.
The Eangers at Monterey.

that he did not know whether he had buck or hall in, as

he drew up his musket, but that he had better kill them
both, than to miss the Mexican, fired and saved the
Ranger ! Fielding Alston, and J. F Minter, also of our
company, while fighting gallantly received two lance
wounds. Young Musson of New Orleans, who had
joined our corps, was engaged at the same time, with a
captain of cavalry, hand to hand in a sword fight, and
at one time became very nearly overpowered ; when

asked why he did not shoot his foe, replied, with true
southern chivalry, that " the Mexican had no pistol, and
itwould have been taking an advantage over him !" As
another of our men was being overcome by a Mexican,
the gallant Captain Cheshire, a private in the Rangers,
dashed up to his rescue, and having no fire, seized a
holster pistol, and with the butt end of it, felled the
Mexican to the ground.
Captain Walkef.
 CAPTAIN SAMUEL H. WALKER.
APTAiN Walker entered the Ame-
rican service with a reputation
early established by his services
in the cause of the gallant state
of Texas. A native of Maryland,
he left his residence in Washing-
ton city to serve in the Creek
war, after which he passed a campaign against the Indians
in Florida, and was for awhile superintendent of a rail-
road. In 1842 he emigrated to Texas and served in
her operations against Mexico with honour. He was one
of Colonel Fisher's company of three hundred men in
the famous Mier expedition. He was captured while
on a scout before the Texan army reached that place,
and after his comrades were defeated, they were all
marched together to Matamoras, thence to Perote castle,
on their way to the capital. As they proceeded, their
r299)
300 THE WARRIORS.
Escapea from Pexote.

treatment became daily more and more cruel, and at

Salado they determined to revolt and escape. Headed
by Walker and Cameron, a Scotchman, each of whom
seized and overpowered one of the sentinels, at the

inner door of the prison yard, they rushed into the

outer court where a hundred and fifty Mexican infantry
were guarding the arms and cartridge boxes. These
were soon driven out, and the Texans armed themselves
while the Mexican cavalry and infantry formed at the
gate. The brave band of prisoners charged through them,
killing ten, wounding more of them, losing ten of their
own men, five killedand five wounded. They escaped
but lost their way, became involved in the mountains b}'
false information, starved almost to death, and were finally

recaptured. They were taken to Salado, where Santa

Anna ordered every tenth man to be shot. Among
those thus murdered was the gallant Scotchman, Cam-
eron. Walker afterwards made his escape from Ta-
cubaya, Santa Anna's residence, and after suffering

hardships enough to have killed almost any one else, he

arrived safe at New Orleans. In one month he returned
to Texas, and served in Hays's command, until General
Taylor went to the Rio Grande, when he went thither
to offer the services of Captain Gillespie's company in

which he was a private. He found there some thirty of

the old Rangers who had followed the army from Corpus
Christi, in hopes to see a little fun,' and they urged
'

him to form a company. General Taylor gave him per-

mission to do so, after the murder of Colonel Cross, and
thecompany of Texas Rangers was speedily organized.
The services of this brave band are too well known
and appreciated to require recounting here. There are
 SAMUEL H. WALKER. 301
His death.

few officers in the army who possess a greater share of

popular affection than Captain Walker enjoyed, and his
recent death at Huamantla cast a feeling of sorrow over
the whole country. General Lane says in his official

account of the battle :

— " This victory is saddened by the
loss of one of the most chivalric, noble-hearted men that
graced the profession of —
arms Captain Samuel H.
Walker of the mounted riflemen. Foremost in the
advance, he had routed the enemy when he fell mortally
wounded. In his death the service has met with a loss
which cannot be repaired."
In the same battle, Surgeon Lamar was at the side of
Captain Walker when the charge was made, and was
saved by the devoted act of Walker's slave David, who
caught at the lance aimed at him and received it him-
self He died in a few minutes, as he probably would
have wished, after the death of his master. In death as
in life, they were together.
Colonel Hays.
 COLONEL JOHN COFFEE HAYS.
OLONEL Hays is twenty-nine years of
age, about five feet eight inches in
height, with a complexion once fair,
but now weatherbeaten and dark, dark
brown hair, a hazel eye, broad fore-
head, Roman nose, large mouth, and
a thoughtful, careworn expression, amounting to a frown,
always upon his face, which as a whole expresses the
utmost firmness and determination on the part of its

possessor. His adventures would fill a large volume.

He was born in Wilson county, Tennessee, emigrated to
Texas, as a surveyor, at the age of nineteen, and soon
became distinguished as a successful Indian fighter, as
(305)
306 THE WARRIORS.
Anecdote.

well among the Indians themselves as among the Texans.

He was made commander of the frontier with the rank
of major in 1840. A story is told of his having defended
himself alone, for three hours against a large party of
Indians on the top of the Enchanted Rock, a hill on
the frontier of Texas. He had his rifle and " five shooter,"
and the Indians knew their man so well, that for a long
time he had only to raise his rifle when they approached
and they would drop back. At length becoming exas-
perated, they determined on taking this " devil Jack,"
as they called him, and he laid several of them low.
As two them would rush up to the spot where
or three of
he had intrenched himself, he would shoot them, reload
in the pause that would follow, and give the next cus-
tomer a similar reception. At last, just as they were
determined to take him at any cost, his men having
learned his danger by the report of his rifle, came to
his relief. A battle ensued, the Indians were routed,
and Captain Jack was more firmly believed to bear a
charmed life than ever.
One day talking with some chiefs at San Antonio, one
of them asked him why he so often went out alone, in-
curring danger without a chance of aid. Another Indian
answered for him. " Blue Wing and I," pointing to
his companion, " no fraid to go to hell together Captain —
Jack, great brave —
no fraid to go to hell by himself."
By which handsome compliment he meant to imply that
Hays was not afraid to face any danger or death alone.
The following anecdote of a ranger will show to what
an extent he carries his discipline, and perhaps develop
the secret of his success as a partisan soldier. At the
time the advance of General Worth's division had
 JOHN COFFEE HAYS. 307
Anecdote.

reached the foot of the hill, on which stood the Bishop's

Palace, before his attempt to capture the heights around,
and while the enemy were raining grapeshot among his
command from Federation hill and Independence hill.
One of the rangers was ordered by Colonel Hays to
ascend a large tree, in the corn-field, and reconnoiter the
Mexican infantry. The ranger reported, that the enemy
kept their position, without any seeming intention of
advancing ; and receiving no order to descend, being
within direct range of the enemy battery, and the shot
flying high, he asked the colonel if he should come down.
*^No, sir," said Hays, "wait for orders."
Soon after, the Texans were directed to return, when
they moved rapidly off, leaving the ranger up the tree
and Hays's attention being called to the fact, he ran
back, and cried out,
** Holloa, there —
where are the Mexicans?"
'*Going back up the hill," replied the ranger, with-
out knowing who it was that addressed him.
"Well, hadn't you better come down from there.'"'
said Hays.
" I don't know,'^ said the ranger, " I am waiting for
orders."
"Well, then, I order you down," said Hays.
The ranger discovering it to be his colonel, without

waiting for a second call, like Martin Scott's coon,

forthwith descended from the tree.
 COLONEL W. H. WATSON.
N the prime of life, Colonel William H.
Watson left his home and his profession
as a lawyer, in Baltimore cit^^, and enrolled
his name among the patriots who were de-
fending by arms his country's rights. He
performed well his duty : he fulfilled all that the most
sanguine of his friends expected of him, and when he
fell, there was a calm triumphant smile upon his face
that spoke a double victory — one over his country's ene-
mies, and the other over the great destroyer himself. So
much was he esteemed in his native city, that when the
news of his fall w^as received, the flags of the shipping
were lowered halfmast, the different military and civic
societies were convened to pay tributes to his memory
and w^orth. At the meeting of the members of the bar,
J. V. L. McMahon, Esq., offered a number of resolu-
tions, among which was the following testimonial of the

excellence of his private character.

(309)
310 THE WARRIORS.
His gallantry.

*'
Resolvedy That while w^e deplore the loss of a youth-
ful Avarrior, Avhose patriotism, courage, and untiring
energy, gave the brightest promise to his country, we
most deeply mourn the death of one who, as a member
of this bar, was respected by all for his professional
bearing, and loved by those who best knew him, for the
warmth and steadfastness of his friendship."
The gallantry wdth which he led his beloved Balti-
more battalion to victory, has been well described by
one of its officers w^hose letter we quote.
" Watson shouting, but as to hearing a
I saw^ Colonel
command, that was an impossibility, owing to the deaf-
ening roar of the cannon and musketry. I saw the
head of our line changing its direction, and I knew at
once that the point of attack was changed, and ran to
the head of my company to intercept the head of the
column. I reached it just as Colonel Watson was dis-
mounting from his horse, which the next moment fell
from a shot. The colonel cried out to his men, Shelter *

yourselves, men, the best way you can.' At this time,

the battalion was scattered over a space of about an acre,
and the men were lying down, the shot in most instances
flying over our heads ; but the guns were soon depressed
and the shot began to take effect.
I was lying close to Colonel Watson, alongside of a

hedge, when he jumped up and cried out, < Now's the

time, boys, follow me.' We were now in a street or
lane, with a few houses on either side, and within a
hundred yards of three batteries which completely raked
it, in addition to which, two twelve-pound guns were

planted in the castle on the right, and completely enfi

laded the whole distance we had to make. Add to this,
 WILLIAM H. WATSON. 311
The Baltimore "battalion.

the thousand musketeers on the house-tops, and in the

barricades at the head of the street up which we ad-
vanced, and at every cross and you may form
street,

some idea of the deluge of balls poured upon us. (Bear

in mind that the four companies of regulars were now
with us, the one intermingled with the other.) Onward
we went, men and horses falling at every step. Cheers,
shrieks, groans, and words of command added to the
din, whilst the roar of the guns was absolutely deafening.
We had advanced up the street under this awful and
fatal fire, nearly two hundred yards, when we reached a

cross street, at the corner of which all who had suc-

ceeded in getting this far alive, halted, as if by mutual
consent. I was shaking Colonel Watson by the hand,

while he was complimenting me, when a shower of

grape, round, and canister shot came from the corner
above, and five officers fell, and I do not know how

many privates. Each man sought some place of appa-

rent shelter.
I sat down on the ground, with my back to the wall
of a house. On my left were two men torn nearly to

pieces. One of them was lying flat on his back, with

his legs extending farther into the street than mine.
Crash came another shower of grape, which tore one of
his wounded legs off. He reared up, shrieked, and fell

back a corpse. I never moved, for I was satisfied that

one place was as safe as another. Directly opposite to
me was my brevet 2d Lieutenant Aisquith on the right ;

hand corner was^ieutenant Bowie, also of my company

and close to me sat Colonel Watson and Adjutant Schse-
ler. In a few minutes, I saw our colour-sergeant, old
Hart, come past with his right arm shattered, (it has
312 THE WARRIORS.
The Baltimore battalion.

since been amputated,) and in a few minutes, there

came our battalion flag, borne by one of the colour-
guards, our glorious stars and stripes; and, note this,

that it was the American flag in the city of Monte-

first

—
rey an honour which we know belongs to our bat-
talion. * * * * Above, below, alongside, between legs

and arms, every where the balls whistled and howled.

The air seemed cut to pieces by the quantity that the
artillery hurled at us, and it would be childish to tell

how close they came to nie, and what and how many
escapes I had. I was exposed to shot in that fight for

nine hours. * * * * Colonel Watso.i met with a gallant

soldier's death — his face to the foe. H^^ ^oss is deplored
by all who know his generosity of heart and chivalry
of character. To me, individually, it is great, but to
the battalion it is irreparable."
General Scott.
 "-yw^j

GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT.

\%^^ir^\ ^^^^ genial soil of the Old Dominion, noble,
^S brave, patriotic Virginia, which has given
to the republic a host of illustrious names,
in the senate, the army, and on the ocean,
%^^^^ was the birthplace also of the gallant
soldier whose life forms the subject of the present sketch.
Winfield Scott was born June 13th, 1786, at the
family seat, near Petersburg. His parents were of
Scottish descent.
Of his earlier years but little is known out of the
circle of his family. He chose the legal profession, and
finished his studies at about his twenty-first year. His
disposition for military pursuits manifested itself about
the same time. The proclamation of the president,

issued after the dastardly attack on the Chesapeake,

(315)
316 THE WARRIORS.
Taken prisoner at Qieensto^n.

having induced the formation of volunteer corps in

various parts of the country, Scott enrolled himself in
the troop of horse raised in Petersburg. This was in
1807.
Early in the succeeding year he obtained a commis-
sion as captain in the light artillery corps of the United
States army. During the four years intervening before
the declaration of war, he continued in this rank, but
nothing occurred to break the monotony of a soldier's
life in time of peace.
On the breaking out of hostilities with England, he
was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the
2d regiment of artillery, and ordered to Black Rock,
where lieutenant, afterwards Commodore, Elliott, and
himself co-operated in cutting out t\vo British armed brigs,
anchored under the guns of Fort Erie.
On the 13th of October, 1812, he was taken prisoner
in the battle of Queenstown, after resisting with three
hundred, an army of enemies numbering thirteen hundred.
During the battle he had been conspicuous for daring
courage and perfect coolness and self-possession. His
tall and commanding form made him a constant mark

for the Indian sharp shooters, who vainly tried to hit

him. So great was their exasperation at their want of
success, that after the battle they could with difficulty
be restrained from committing violence to his person,
and it was found necessary to place him under a close
guard.
Having been exchanged, he rejoined the army in
May, 1813, and shortly afterwards won the battle of
Fort George. He was the first to enter the fort and
pull down the British flag, closely folio w^ed by Colonel
 WINFIELD SCOTT. 317
In the tattles of Chippewa and Niagara

Porter, who exclaimed, " Confound your long legs,

Scott, you have got in before me."
On the 9th of March, 1814, he was promoted to the
rank of brigadier-general. In that capacity he fought in
the battle of Chippewa. He was ever where the balls
flew thickest. During the battle, he called out to a bat-
talion, " The enemy say we are good at longshot, but
cannot stand the cold iron. I call on the 11th instantly
to give the lie to that slander. Charge!" The charge
thus ordered decided the day. In the battle of Niagara,
which soon followed. General Scott had two horses
killed under him, received a wound in the side in the
midst of the action, and was afterwards dangerously
wounded in the shoulder. For many wrecks he suffered
from the wounds received on this day. Congress passed
a vote of thanks for his skill and gallantry at Chippewa
and Niagara, and for his uniform good conduct through-
out the war, a compliment paid by Congress to no other
officer. A gold medal was also voted to him by Con-
gress. This medal General Scott afterwards deposited
in the City Bank of New York for safe keeping. The
bank was entered and robbed of two hundred and fifty
thousand dollars, but the gold medal was left. The
robber afterwards said, when arrested, that in taking the
gold beside it, he saw the medal, and knew its value,
but scorned to rob a man of the reward given by the
gratitude of his country for distinguished services. The
states of New York and Virginia each voted him thanks
and a sword. After the close of the war, General Scott
visited Europe.
He took part in the Black Hawk war, the part of a
nurse in the hospitals, where he watched with the utmost
318 THE WARRIORS.
Removes the Cherokee Indians.

solicitude, while sick himself, the bedsides of the many

unfortunate soldiers who were sick with the cholera.
In the days of the nullification question he prepared
to stand by General Jackson in the preservation of the

Union, but took care by his bearing to conciliate rather

than exasperate the people of South Carolina. In the
Florida war he was unfortunate, devastating diseases
and the lateness of the season preventing his meeting
the enemy, though his plan of campaign was well de-
vised, and prosecuted with zeal, energy, steadiness,
and ability.
During the winter of 1838-9, he was occupied on
the Canada frontier, every where by turns, without an
army, travelling principally by night, with the thermo-
meter ranging from ten to forty degrees below the freez-
ing point. He made speeches to excited sympathizing
Americans with arms in their hands, scattered along a
line of eight hundred miles, and with the happiest effect.

To the firmness of President Van Buren, and the signal

ability of General Scott the country owed its exemption
from what appeared to be the inevitable war with Great
Britain.

By his masterly skill and energy he also saved the

country from difficulties with the Cherokees, whom he
removed to the west. By obtaining the esteem and con-
fidence of the poor Cherokees themselves, his noble
generosity and humanity effected what all supposed
could not be done without the most heartrending scenes
of butchery and bloodshed. The Indians, who a few
months before were ready to yield their lives rather than
leave their homes, looked upon the very man who had
 WINFIELD SCOTT. 319
His militaiy genius.

executed the obnoxious measure, as a benefactor and

friend who had saved them from entire destruction.
His country found his services invaluable in the
settlement of the Maine boundary question. When he
was ordered to command the invading army in Mexico,
he obeyed the call with his usual promptness, notwith-
standing a coolness that had existed for some time be-
tween him and the government. From his landing at
Vera Cruz till the capture of the capital, his history has
been detailed in the preceding pages. Where the
danger is greatest he is always to be found, regardless
of his life, and only anxious for the safety of his men.
Walking along the trenches at Vera Cruz, in full range
of the enemy's guns, he noticed the soldiers rise fre-

quently and look over the parapet. " Down, down,

men," he exclaimed, " don't expose yourselves." "But,
general, you are exposed." *' Oh," he replied, " generals
now-a-days can be made out of any body, men cannot
be had."
His military genius and foresight has shown out con-
spicuously during his last campaign. With signal tact
he planned the details of all his battles, and prepared
with prophetic eye to follow up his victories even before
they were gained. In a few short weeks, in the face of
gloomy apprehensions and predictions, he seizes the
impregnable key to the high road to the capital, storms
the Thermopylae of the country, and consummates the
work by an achievement, that it is impossible to over-
rate, the taking of the capital. All honour to Scott, his

officers, and his men.

General Shleldi^
 BRIGADIER-GENERAL JAMES SHIELDS,

ENERAL Shields, one of the most

distinguished of all our officers in
the Mexican war, is a native of
Ireland, but emigrated to this

country in early life. Like many

of his countrymen, he took a warm
interest in our struggle with Great
Britain, and entered the army as second lieutenant, 11th
infantry, September 1st, 1814. He appears to have
served with credit during the war, but left the service
soon after its close. The history of his life from this

time un*il the opening of the Mexican war, is lost in the

(323)
324 THE WARRIORS.
Shot through the Lungs.

obscurity of retirement. But his merit as a soldier seems

to have been known to a large circle of friends ; so that
on the 1st of July, 1846, soon after the opening of hos-
tilities on the Rio Grande, he received the appointment
of brigadier-general. Leaving his residence in Illinois,
he joined the Central Division of General Wool, and
accompanied that able officer in his famous march through
the provinces of Chihuahua and New Mexico, to Mon-
clova. Here, in common with a number of other officers,

he was detached as a reinforcement to the army of (jene-

ral Scott. At Vera Cruz he was distinguished for his
undaunted bravery, and indefatigable exertions, being in
and
the field during the whole time that the siege lasted,
often exposed to the castle's heaviest fire.
But the military talents of General Shields were first

fully developed at Cerro Gordo. In the general orders

of April 17th, he was intrusted with the care of the
Jalapa road, in order to keep the enemy in that quarter
engaged during the main attack, and to cut off retreat.

In both these objects he was successful. By his activity

he contributed largely to the victory of that memorable

day, and elicited the admiration of both General Scott
and his brother officers. In the pursuit he received a
musket ball through the lungs, by which he was imme-
diately prostrated, the command devolving on Colonel
Baker. His life was for a while despaired of, but
eventually, to the astonishment of all, he recovered.
During the long stay of the army at Puebla we hear
little of General Shields; but he again appears amid the

toils and dangers of the march toward the capital. Late

on the 19th of August, while the storming of Contreras

was in progress, he was sent to a village near that fort
 JAMES SHIELDS. 325
His Iilagnanimity.

in order to afford assistance to General Smith. A deep

rugged ravine, along whose bed rolled a rapid stream,
was passed with great difficulty, in consequence of the
increasing darkness; after which the general ordered
his weary troops to lie upon their arms until midnight,

in order to prepare for further duty. In the mean while

he threw out two strong pickets, who, perceiving a body
of Mexican infantry moving through the fields toward
the city, opened a sharp and succeeded in driving
fire,

them back. At midnight Shields' troops resumed their

march, and soon joined Smith's brigade, at the place
appointed.
At this time General Shields performed an action so
delicate and magnanimous, as to deserve record with the
more dazzling ones which were soon to follow. Previous
to his arrival. Smith had completed those judicious ar-
rangements for turning and surprising the Mexican po-
sition, which were afterwards so brilliantly successful.
As was
Shields the senior officer, he could have assumed
the command, as well as the execution of General
Smith's plans, thus debarring that officer from the fruit

of his labour. But this he nobly refused to do, and

withdrew his men to the position formerly occupied by
his brother veteran. About daybreak the Mexicans
opened a brisk fire of grape and round shot upon the
church and village where the general was stationed, as
also upon a part of the troops displayed to divert him
on his right and front. This continued until Colonel
Riley's brigade opened its fire from the rear, which was
delivered with such terrible effect, that the whole Mexi-
can force was thrown into consternation.
At this juncture Shields ordered the two regiments of
326 THE WARRIORS.
Retreat of Mexican Cavalry,

his command to throw themselves on the main road by

which the enemy must retire, so as to intercept and cut
off their retreat. Although officers and men had suffered

severely during the night's march, as well as from ex-

posure without shelter or cover, to the incessant rain
until daybreak, this movement was executed in good
order and with rapidity. Crossing a deep ravine, the
Palmetto regiment deployed on both sides of the road,
and opened a most destructive fire upon the mingled

masses of infantry and cavalry ; and the New York regi-

ment, brought into line lower down, and on the road-
side, delivered its fire with a like effect. At this point

many of the enemy were killed and w^ounded, some

three hundred and sixty-five captured, including twenty-

five officers.

Meanwhile the enemy's cavalry, about three thousand

strong, which had been threatening the village during
the morning, moved down toward it in good order as if
to attack. General Shields immediately recalled the in-
fantry so as to place them in a position for meeting the
threatened movement ; but the cavalry soon changed its

position,and retreated toward the capital. Orders now

arrived from General Twiggs for the troops to advance
by the main road toward Mexico and accordingly
;

having posted Captain Marshall's company of South

Carolina volunteers, and Captain Taylor's New York
volunteers in charge of the wounded and prisoners,
Shields moved off with the remainder of his force, and
reached the positions of those divisions already moving
on the main road.
After turning the village of Coyoacan, Shields moved
with his command toward the right, through a heavy
 JAMES SHIELDS. 327
V7ounded in the Arm.

corn-field, and gained an open and swampy plain, in

which is situated the hacienda de los Partales. On
arriving there he established his right upon a point re-
commended by Captain Lee, an engineer officer of great

skill and judgment, same time commencing a

at the

movement to the left so as to flank the

enemy's right and
throw his troops between them and the city. Finding,
however, their right supported by a body of cavalry,
three thousand strong, and perceiving that the enemy
answered to his own movements by a corresponding one
toward the American right flank, and owing to the ad-
vantages of the ground, gaining rapidly on him, he with-
drew his men to the hacienda for the purpose of attacking
theenemy in front. The conflict was close and stub-
born, until General Shields, taking advantage of a slight
wavering in the Mexican ranks, ordered a charge. This
was obeyed with alacrity and success, the enemy break-
ing and flying on all sides. Shields continued to press
upon the fugitives, until passed by Colonel Harney with
his cavalry who followed the routed foe into the very
gates of the city.
On the 10th of September, General Shields, with the
New York and South Carolina regiments, was ordered
first to Piedad, and subsequently to Tacubaya, prepara-
tory to the assault upon Chapultepec. Here he con-
tinued a heavy cannonade upon the enemy's lines until
early on the morning of the 13th, when his command
moved to the
assault. While directing the advance
Shields was severely w^ounded in the arm yet no per- ;

suasion could induce him to leave his command or quit

the field. In company w^ith the remainder of Quitman's
division, he pushed rapidly forward along the Belen
328 THE WARRIORS.
Retiirns to the United States.

road, exposed to the most tremendous fires, overthrow-

ing one after another of the Mexican strongholds, until,
finally his victorious banners were planted over the prin-
cipal gateway. When night fell he was carried from

the field sick, exhausted, and writhing with pain. His

wound, although severe, was, happily, not mortal and ;

rest, together with careful attention, united with a strong

constitution, speedily restored him to health.

After remaining some time with the army in Mexico,
General Shields, in company with several other officers,

visited the United States, where he still remains.

 SUPPLEMENT,

CONCLUSION OF THE WAR.

Although the attempts of Mr. Trist to conclude a

treaty of peace immediately after the battle of Churu-
busco had not been successful, yet, in concert with the
commander-in-chief, he lost no opportunity to repeat

his overtures for so desirable an object. It was not,

however, until the beginning of the following year, that
the Mexicans would listen to such proposals. Their
army was then reduced to a few insignificant parties,
scattered here and there, more for safety than any hope
of opposition to the invaders. Even the guerillas mani-
fested symptoms of weariness. Accordingly, when in
January, 1848, General Scott laid before the Mexican
congress articles of a treaty, based upon those formerly
rejected, that body immediately appointed Luis G. Cue-
vas, Bernardo Conto, and Miguel Atristain, as commis-
sioners. These gentlemen, with Mr. Trist, acting on
behalf of the United States, assembled at Guadalupe
Hidalgo, and concluded a treaty of " peace, friendship,
limits, and settlement" between the two republics.
The only thing still necessary to the conclusion of the
war, was the ratification of the new treaty by the legis-
lature of each country. In February the attested copy
was received at Washington by President Polk, and
transmitted to the United States senate. After being
slightly amended, it was passed in that body, on the
(329)
330 THE WAR.
Eatification of tlie Treaty,

10th of March, by a large majority. Mr. Sevier was

appointed envoy extraordinary and minister plenipoten-
tiary to present it for ratification to the Mexican con-
gress. In company with Mr. Clifford, he soon arrived
at Queretaro, where the national legislature was sitting,
and laid before that body the corrected copy for their final
action. It passed through both houses by a large ma-

jority, and was received with marked satisfaction by

the Mexican people.

By this instrument the boundary line between the two
republics was made to begin at the mouth of the Rio
Grande, ascending the middle of that river to the south-
ern boundary of New Mexico, thence westwardly, along
the whole southern boundary of New Mexico, to its

western termination ; thence northward along the west-

ern line of New Mexico, to the first branch of the river
Gila ; thence down the middle of this branch and river
to its junction with the Colorado ; thence between Upper
and Lower California to the Pacific. It secured to the
United States the vast territories of New Mexico, Cali-
fornia, Western Texas, and the Pacific coast, together
with the fine harbour of San Francisco, and the internal
navigation of the Colorado, Gila, and other rivers. Fif-
teen millions of dollars were to be paid to Mexico by
the United States as compensation for part of this grant.
By an article of the treaty, arrangements had been
made, for withdrawing all the United States troops from

the Mexican territory within three months after the final

ratifications, provided it could be effected before the

commencement of the sickly season. In furtherance of

this provision, the most active preparations immediately

commenced for marching different portions of the army
 THE WAR. 331
Heturn of the United States Troops,

from the capital and interior town to Vera Cruz, whither

they were to embark for New Orleans. Previous to this
General Scott had Mexico to attend a court of in-
left

quiry appointed by government to investigate recipro-

cal charges between himself and Generals Worth and
Pillow. The duty of superintending the evacuation of
the capital, and subsequent embarkation from Vera Cruz,
devolved upon the temporary general-in-chief, Major-
General Butler. In the early part of June the greater
part of the soldiers in the city of Mexico marched for

Vera Cruz, under the supervision of Mr. Sevier. They

left the latter city by detachments, reached New Orleans

about the middle of June, and thence proceeded by

steamboat or railway, towards their respective homes.
Nothing can exceed the enthusiasm with which these
toil-worn veterans were hailed, as they entered, regiment
by regiment, into the cities, from which, two years before,
they had marched to the scene of strife. Business was
suspended, the population rushed to meet them, mili-
tary and civic processions attended their march, ban-
quets were spread, addresses delivered, and presents
bestowed on them throughout their route.

Thus closed, after a duration of two years, the ** Mexi-

can War." It gave to the United States an immense
tract of fine territory, secured one of the finest harbours
in the world, and opened the road to a lucrative trade

with those marts of oriental wealth, China and the East

Indies. But the mere question of gain and loss is the
least important of those developed during the struggle.
Europe has long contemplated us as a mere commercial
and business-loving nation, smothering our former mili-
tary abilities, in inordinate love of wealth. The Semi-
332 THE WAR.
Reflections on the War,

nole wars have been sneeringly alluded to as proofs of

this degeneracy ; and the " wasp-waisted lieutenants"
of West Point has been a mock word of contempt, used
to deride that cradle of military science, the national
acadei^y. The war
Mexico has dissolved this' vain
in
dream, and taught astonished Europe a lesson, whose
precepts will be remembered in every one of her bel-
ligerent assemblies for ages. As an evidence of mili-
tary skill, Spartan valour,and patient endurance let us —
add magnanimity to a humiliated foe the Mexican war —
is an episode of history, having but few parallels. The
tactics displayed in the great campaign against the capi-
tal, has far surpassed even the boasted military perfection
of the French schools. How far it surpasses English
ability may be inferred from the fact that while General
Scott was making his preparations for assaulting Vera
Cruz, most of the British prints scouted at the idea of his
being successful, and with delusive complacency awaited
the gratifying intelligence that the aspiring invaders had
been completely foiled. When the astounding truth an-
nounced to them how immeasurably superior was Ameri-
can skill to English bravery, they could account for it

only by asserting that the castle had been betrayed by

itscommandant. Yet great as was that achievement,
now spoken of only as an ordinary event amid the
it is

splendid deeds wrought in the valley of Mexico.

It is, therefore, as an evidence of superior skill, as well
as bravery that the Mexican war will in future be prin-
cipally regarded, and in that light it will no doubt con-
vey a wholesome warning to any nation which might
hereafter, on frivolous pretences, undertake to interrupt
the peace which happily now pervades our midst.
 TREATY
OF PEACE, FRIENDSHIP, LIMITS, AND SETTLEMENT,

BETWEEN

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

AND

THE MEXICAN REPUBLIC.

Concluded at Guadalupe Hidalgo, Febraury 2, and Ratified, with the AmendmeJita,
by the American Senate, March 10, 1848 ; also Ratified by the
Mexican Congress, May 25, 1848.

THE TREATY.
In the Name of Almighty God :

The United States of the United Mexican States, ani-

America and
mated by a sincere desire to put an end to the calamities of the war
which unhappily exists between the two Republics, and to establish
on a solid basis relations of peace and friendship, which shall confer
reciprocal benefits on the citizens of both, and a&=ure the concord, har-
mony and mutual confidence wherein the two people should live as good
neighbors, have, for the purpose, appointed their respective Plenipoten-
tiaries ; that is to say, the President of the United States has appointed
N. P. Trist, a citizen of the United States, and the President of the
Mexican Republic has appointed Don Louis Gonzaga Cuevas, Don
Bernardo Conto, and Don Miguel Atristain, citizens of the said Re-
public, who, after a reciprocal communication of their respective pow-
ers, have, under the protection of Almighty God, the Author of Peace,

arranged, agreed upon and signed the following Treaty of Peace, Friend-
ship, Limits and Settlement, between the United States of America and
the Mexican Republic.

ARTICLE I.

There shall be a firm and universal peace between the United States of America
and the Mexican Republic, and between their respective countries, territories, cities,
to>vns and people, without exception of places or persons.
 THE TREATY,

ARTICLE
Immediately on the signature of this Treaty, a Convention shall be entered into
between a Commissioner or Commissioners appointed by the General-in-Chief of
the forces of the United States, and such as may be appointed by the Mexican
Government, to the end that a provisional suspension of hostilities shall take
place and that in the places occupied by the said forces, constitutional order may
;

be re-established, as regards the political, administrative and judicial branches, so

far as this shall be permitted by the circumstances of military occupation.

ARTICLE III.

Immediately upon the ratification of the present Treaty, by the Government of

the United States, orders shall be transmitted to the commanders of their land
and naval forces, requiring the latter (provided this Treaty shall then have been
ratified by the Government of the Mexican Republic) immediately to desist from
blockading the Mexican ports and requiring the former (under the same condi-
•

tion) to commence, at the earliest moment practicable, withdrawing all troops of

the United States then in the interior of the Mexican Republic, to points that shall
be selected by common agreement, at a distance from the sea-ports not exceedin;^
thirty leagues ; and such evacuation of the interior of the Republic shall be com-
pleted with the least possible delay the Mexican Government hereby binding it-
;

self to aftbrd every facility in its power for rendering the same convenient to the
troops, on their march, and in their new positions, and for promoting a good under-
standing between them and the inhabitants. In like manner, orders shall be dis-
patched to the persons in charge of the Custom Houses at all ports occupied by the
forces of the United States, requiring them (under the same condition) immediately
to deliver possession of the same to the person authorized by the Mexican Gov-
ernment to receive it, together with all bonds and evidences of debts for duties on
importations and exportations, not yet fallen due. Moreover, a faithful and exact
account shall be made out, showing the entire amount of all duties on imports and
on exports, collected at such Custom Houses, or elsewhere in Mexico, by authority
of the United States, from and after the day of the ratification of this Treaty by
the Government of the Mexican Republic and also an account of the cost of col-
;

lection and such entire amount, deducting only the cost of collection, shall be de-
;

livered to the Mexican Government, at the City of Mexico, within three months
after the exchange of ratifications.
The evacuation of the Capital of the Mexican Republic by the troops of the
United States, in virtue of the above stipulation, shall be completed in one month
after the orders there stipulated for shall have been received by the Commander
of the said troops, or sooner if possible.

ARTICLE IV
Immediately after the exchange of ratifications of the present Treaty, all cas-
tles, forts, territories, places and possessions, which have been taken and occupied
by the forces of the United States during the present war, within the limits of the
Mexican Republic, as about to be established by the following article, shall be de-
finitely restored to the said Republic, together with all the artillery, arms, appara-
tus of war, munitions and other public property, which were in the said castles and
forts when captured, and which shall remain there at the time when this Treaty
shall be duly ratified by the Government of the Mexican Republic. To this end,
immediately upon the signature of this Treaty, orders shall be dispatched to the
American officer conimanding such castles and ports, securing against the removal
or destruction of any such artillery, arms, apparatus of war, munitions, or other
public property. The City of Mexico, within the inner line of intrenchments sur-
rounding the said city, is comprehended in the above stipulations, as regards the
restoration of artillery, apparatus of war, &c.
The final evacuation of the territory of the Mexican Republic by the forces of
the United States shall be completed within three months from the said exchange
 T II E TRE ATY . &
of ratifications, or sooner if possible the Mexican Republic hereby engages, as in
;

the foregoing Article, to use all means in its power tor facilitating such evacua-
tion, and rendering it convenient to the troops, and for promoting a good understand-
ing between them and the inhabitants.
If, however, the ratification of this Treaty by both parties should not take
place
in time to allow the embarkation of the troops of the United States to be completed
before the commencement of the sickly season, at the Mexican ports on the (iulf of
Mexico, in such case a friendly arrangement shall be entered into between theGen-
eral-in-«:hief of the said troops and the Mexican Government, whereby healtby and
otherwise suitable places, at a distance from the ports not exceeding thirty Ica'cues,
shall be designated for the residence of such troops as may not yet have embarked',
until the return of the healthy season. And the space of time here referred to as
comprehending the sickly season, shall be understood to extend from the tlrst day
of May to the first day of Niivember.
All prisoners of war Uiken on either side, on land or on sea, shall be restored as
soon as practicable after the exchange of the ratifications of the Treaty. It is also
agreed that if any Mexicans should now be held as captives by any savage tribe
within the limits of the United States, as about to be established by the followini?
article, the Government of the said United States will exact the release of such
captives, and cause them to be restored to their country.

ARTICLE V.

The boundary line between the two Republics shall commence in the Gulf of
Mexico, three leagues from land, opposite the mouth of the Rio Grande, otherwise
called the Rio Bravo del Norte, or opposite the mouth of its deepest branch, if it
should have more than one branch emptying directly into the sea thence up the
;

middle of that river, following the deepest chann. I, where it has more than one,
to the point where it strikes the 'southern boundary of New Mexico, which runs
north of the town called Paso, to its western termination thence northward along
:

the western line of New Mexico, until it intersects the first branch of the River
Gila or if it should not intersect any branch of that river, then to the point on
;

the said line nearest to such branch, and thence in a direct line to the same, thence
down the middle of the said branch and of the said river, until it empties into the
Rio Colorado thence across the Rio Colorado, following the division line between
;

Upper and Lower California, to the Pacific Ocean.

The southern and western limits of New Mexico, mentioned in this article, are
those laid down in the map entitled " Map of the United Mexican States, as or-
ganized iind defined by various acts of the Congress of said Republic and con-
structed according to the best authorities. Revised edition. Published at New
York in 1847, by J. Disturnell."
Of which map a copy is added to this treaty, bearing the signatures and seals
of the undersigned Plenipotentaries. And in order to preclude all difficulty in tra-
cing upon the ground the limit separating Upper from Lower California, it is agreed
that the said limits shall consist of a straight line, drawn from the middle of the
Rio Gila, where it unites with the Colorado, to a point on the coast of the Pacific
Ocean—distant one marine league due south of the soutlrernmost point of the port
of San Diego, according to the plan of said port, made in the year 1782. by Don
Juan Pantojer, second sailing master of the Spanish fleet, and published at Ma-
drid in the year 180-2, in the Atlas to the voyage of the schooner Sutil and Mexica-
na, of which plan a copy is hereunto added, signed and sealed by the respective
Plenipotentiaries.
In order to designate the boundary line with due precision, upon authoritative
maps, and to establish on the ground landmarks which shall show the limits of
both Republics, as described in the present article, the Governments shall each
appoint a Commissioner and Surveyor, who, before the expiration of one year
from the date of the exchange of ratification of this Treaty, shall meet at the port of
San Diego, and proceed to run and mark the said boundary in its whole course to the
taouth of the Rio Bravo del Norte. They shall keep journals and make out plans
of their operations and the result agreed upon by them shall be deemed a part
;

of this Treaty, and shall have the same force as if it were inserted therein. The
two Governments will amicably agree regarding what maybe necessary to these
persons, also as to their respective escorts, should such be necessary-.
4 THE TRE ATY .

The boundary line cfitablished by this article shall be religiously respected by

each of the two Republics, and no change shall be made therein, except by the
express and free consent of both Nations, lawfully given by the General Govern-
ment of each, in conformity with ita own Constitution.

art'icle VI.

The vessels and all time, have a free and

citizens of the United States shall, in
uninterrupted passage by the Gulf of Cahfomia, and by the river Colorado and ;

not by land, without the express consent of the Mexican Government.

If, by the examinations that may be made, it should be
ascertained to be prac-
ticable and advantageous to construct a Road, Canal, or Railway, which should, in
whole or in part, run upon the river Gila, or upon its right or its left bank, within
the space of one marine league from either margin of the river, the Governments
of both RepubUcs vrill form an agreement regarding its construction, in order that
it may serve equally for the use and advantage of both countries.

ARTICLE VII.

The river Gila, del Norte lying below the southern boim-
and the part of the Rio
dary of New Mexico, being agreeably to the Fifth Article, divided in the middle be-
tween the two Republics, the navigation of the Gila and the Bravo, below said
boundary shall be free and common to the vessels and citizens of both countries
and neither shall, without the consent of the other construct any work that may
impede or interrupt in whole or in part, the exercise of this right—not even for
the purpose of favoring new methods of navigation. Nor shall any tax or contri-
bution, under any denomination or title be levied upon vessels or persons naviga-
ting the same, or upon merchandize, or eflTects transported thereon, except in the
case of landing upon one of their shores. If, for the purpose of making said rivers
navigable, or for maintaining them in such a state, it should be necessary or ad-
vantageous to establish any tax or contribution, this shall not be done without the
consent of both Governments.
The stipulations contained in the present article shall not impair the territorial
rights of either Republic, within its established limits.

ARTICLE VIII.
Mexicans now established in territories previously belonging to Mexico, and
which remain for the future, within the limits of the United States, as defined by
the present Treaty, shall be free to continue where they now reside, or to remove,
at any time, to the Mexican Republic, retaining the property which they possess
in the said territories, or disposing thereof, and removing the proceeds wherever
they please, without their being subjected on this account, to any contribution, or
tax whatever.
Those who shall prefer to remain in said territories, may either retain the title
and rights of Mexican citizens, or acquire those of citizens of the United States. But
they shall be under the obUgation to make their selection within one year from the
date of the exchange of* ratSications of this Treaty and those who shall remain in
;

the said territories, after the expiration of that year, without having declared their
intention to retain the character of Mexicans shall be considered to have elected
to become citizens of the United States.
In the said territories, property of any kind, now belong^g to Mexicans not estab-
lished there shall be inviolably respected. The present owners, the heirs of these,
and all Mexicans who may hereafter acquire said property by contract, shall enjoy,
with respect to it, guaranties equally ample as if the same belonged to citizens of
the United States.

[In place of the followmg Article, the Senate has inserted the third Article of the
Treaty between France and the United States, for the cession of Louisiana, which
provides that the inhabitants of the ceded territory shall be admitted to all the rights
and privileges of citizenship, in accordance with the principles of the Constitution,
as soon as Consri-ess shall determine and that in the meantime, they shall be pro-
;

tected in the enjoyment of all their liberty, property and i-eligious belief J
 THE TREATY

ARTICLE IX.
Tbe Mexicans who in the territories aforesaid, shall not preserve the character
of citizens of the Mexican Repubhc, conformably with what is stipulated in the pre-
ceding article, shall be incorporated into the Union of the United States, and ad-
mitted as soon as possible, according to the principles of the Federal Constitution,
to the enjoyment of all the rights of citizens of the United States. In the meantime
they shall be maintained and protected in the enjoyment of their hberty, their pro-
perty, and the civil rights now vested in them, according to the Mexican laws.
With respect to political rights, their condition shall be on an equality with that of
the inhabitants of other territories of the United States, and at least equally good
as that of the inhabitants of Louisiana and the Floridas, when these provinces, by
transfer from the French Republic, and the Crown of Spain, became territories
of the United States.
The most ample guaranty shall be enjoyed by all ecclesiastics and religious cor-
porations, or communities, as well in the discharge of the offices of their ministry,
as in the enjoyment of their property of every kind whether indindual or corpo-
rate. This guaranty shall embrace all temples, houses and edifices dedicated to
the Roman Catholic worship as well as all property destined to its support, or to
;

tiiat of schools, hospitals or other foundations for charitable or beneficent purposes.

No property of this nature shall be considered as having become the property of
the American Government, or as subject to be by it disposed of, or diverted to
other causes.
Finally, the relations and communications between Catholics living In the tcrri-
ries aforesaid, and their respective ecclesiastic authorities, shall be open, free and
exempt from all hindrance whatever, even although such authorities should reside
within the hmits of the Mexican Republic, as defined by this Treaty and this free-
;

dom shall continue so long as a new debarcation of ecclesiastical districts shall not
have been made, conformably with the laws of the Roman Catholic Church.

ARTICLE X.
[expunged.]
All grants of land made by the Mexican Government, or by the competent an
thorities, in territories pre%'iously appertaining to Mexico, and remaining fur the
iJture within the hmits of the United States, shall be rn(=pectcd as valid, to the same
extent that the same grants would be valid if tlie territories had remained within
the limits of Mexico. But the grantees of land in Texas put in possession thereof,
who by reason of the circumstances of the country, since the beginning of the
troubles between Texas and the Mexican Government, may have been prevented
from fulfilling all the conditions of their grants, shall be under the obligation to fulfill
the said conditions within the periods hmitcd in the same respectively, such peri-
ods to be now counted from the date of the exchange of ratifications of this Treaty ;

in default of which, said grants shall not be obligatory on the State of Texas, in
virtue of the stipulations contained in this Article.
The foregoing stipulation in regard to grantees of land in Texas, is extended to
all grantees of land in tlie territories aforesaid, elsewhere than in Texas, put in
possession under such grants and in default of the fulfillment of the conditions of
;

any such grants, within the new period which, as is above stipulated, begins with
the day of the exchange of ratifications of this treaty, the same shall be null and void.
The Mexican Government declares that no grant whatever of lands in Texas has
been made since the second day of March, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-
six and that no grant whatever of lands in any of the territories aforesaid, has been
;

made since the thirteenth day of May, one thousand eight hundred and forty-six.

ARTICLE XI.
Considering that a great part of the territories which, by the present Treaty, are
to be comprehended for the futufe within the limits of the United States, is now
occupied by savage tribes, who will hereafter be under the control of the Govern-
ment of the United States, and whose incursions within the territory of Mexico
would be prejudicial in the extreme, it is solemnly aexeed that all such incursions
1*
6 THETREATY.
Bhall be forcibly restrained by the Government of the United States, whensoever
this may be necessary and that when they cannot be prevented, they shall be
;

punished by the said Government, and satisfaction for the same shall be exacted—
all in the same way, and with equal diligence and energy as if the same incursions
were committed in its own territory, asainst its own citizens.
It shall not be lawful, under any pretext whatever, for any inhabitant of the Uni-
ted States to purchase or acquire any Mexican, or any foreigner residing in Mexico,
who may have been captured by Indians inhabiting the territory of either of the
Republics, not to purchase or acquire horses, mules, cattle or property of any kind,
stolen within the Mexican territory, by such Indians nor to provide such Vidians
;

with fire-arms or ammunition by sale or otherwise.

And in the event of any person or persons captured within Mexican territory by
Indians, being carried into the territory of the United States, the Government of
the latter engages and binds itself in the most solemn manner, so soon as it shall
know of such captives being within its territory, and shall be able so to do, tb.rough
the faithful exercise of its influence and power to rescue them and return them to
their country, or deliver them to the agent or representative of the Mexican Gov-
ernment. The Mexican authorities will, as far as practicable, give to the Govern-
ment of the United States notice of such captures and its expenses incui-red in
;

the maintenance and transmission of the rescued captives who, in the mean time,
;

shall be treated with the utmost hospitality by the American authorities at the
place where they may be. But if the Government of the United States, before re-
ceiving such notice from Mexico, should obtain intelligence, through any other
channel, of the existence of Mexican caj^tives within its territory, it will proceed
forthwith to effect their release and delivery to the Mexican agent, as above
stipulated.
For the purpose of giving to these stipulations the fullest possible efficacy, there-
by aflbrding the security and redress demanded by their true spirit and intent, the
Government of the United States will now and hereafter pass, without unnecessary
delay, and always vigilantly enforce, such laws as the nature of the subject may
require. And finally, the sacredness of this obligation shall never be lost sight of
by the said Government, when providing for the removal of Indians from any por-
tion of said territories, or for its being settled by the citizens of the United States
;

but, on the contrary, special care then shall be taken not to place its Indian occu-
pants under the necessity of seeking new homes, by committing those invasions
which the United States have solemnly obliged themselves to restrain.

ARTICLE XII.
In consideration of the extension acquired by the boundaries of the United States,
as defined in the fifth article of the present Treaty, the Government of the United
States engages to pay to that of the Mexican Republic the sum of fifteen millions
of dollars in the one or the other of the two modes below specified.
The Mexican Government shall at the time of ratifying this Treaty, declare
which of these two modes of payment it prefers and the mode so selected by it
;

shall be conformed to by that of the United States.

—
First mode of payment Immediately after this Treaty shall have been duly rat-
ified by the Government of the Mexican Republic, the sum of three millions of
dollars shall be paid to the said Government by that of the United States, at the
City of Mexico, in the gold or silver coin of Mexico. For the remaining twelve
mDlions of dollars the United States shall create a stock, bearing an interest of six
per centum per anmmi, commencing on the day of the ratification of this Treaty
by the Government of the Mexican Repubhc, and payable annually at the City of
Washington the principal of said stock to be redeemable there, at the pleasure of
;

the Government of the United States, at any time after two years from the ex-
change of ratifications of this Treaty; six month's public notice of the intention to
redeem the same being previously given. Certificates of such stock, in proper
form, for such sums as shall be specified by the Mexican Government, shall be de-
livered, and transferable by the said Government to the same by that of the United
States.
—
Second mode of payment Immediately after this Treaty shall have been duly
ratifiedby the Government of the Mexican Republic, the sum of three millions ol
dollars shall be paid to the said Government by that of the United States, at the City
of Mexico, in the gOid cr silver coin of Mexico. The remaining twelve millions of
 THE TREATY. 1

iollara shall be paid at the same place, and in the same com, in annual instalments
of three milUons of dollars each, together with interest on the same, at the rate of
six per centum per annum. This interest shall begin to run upon the whole sum
of twelve millions from the day of the ratification of the present Ti-oaty by the
Mexican Government, and the first of the instalments shall be paid at the expiration
of one year from the same day. Together with each annual instalment, as it falls
due, the whole interest accruing on such instalment from the beginning shall also
be paid.
[Certificates in the proper form for the said instalments, respectively, in sums as
shall be desired by the Mexican Government, and transferrable by it, shall be de-
livered to the said Government by that of the United States.]
[N. B. The first of these modes is rejected. The latter is adopted, with the ex-
ception of the last paragraph, in brackets.]

ARTICLE XIII.

The United States engage, moreover, to assume and pay to the claimants all the
amounts now due them, and these hereafter to become due, by reason of the claims
already liquidated and decided against the Mexican Republic, under the Conven-
tions between the two repubhcs severally concluded on the eleventh day of April,
eighteen hundred and thirty -nine, and on the thirtieth day of January, eighteen
hundred and forty-three so that the Mexican Republic shaU be absolutely exempt,
;

for the future, from all expense whatever on account of the said claims.

ARTICLE XIV.
The United States do furthermore discharge the Mexican Republic from all claims
of citizens of tht.- United States, not heretofore decided against the Mexican Gov-
ernment, which may have arisen previously to the date of the signature of this
Treaty which discharge shall be final and perpetual, whether the said claims be
:

rejected or be allowed by the Board of Commissioners provided for in the follow-

ing article, and whatever shall be the total amount of those allowed.

ARTICLE XV.
The United States, exonerating Mexico from all demands on account of the claims
of their citizens mentioned in the preceding article, and considering them entirely
and forever canceled whatever their amount may be, undertake to make satisfac-
tion for the same, to an amount not exceeding three and one-quartor millions of
dollars. To ascertain the validity and amount of those claims, a Board of Com-
missioners shall be established by the Government of the United States, whose
awards shall be final and conclusive provided, that in deciding upon the validity
;

of each claim, the Board shall be guided and governed by the principles and rules
of decision prescribed by the first and fifth articles of the unratified Convention,
concluded at the City of Mexico on the twentieth day of November, one thousand
eight hundred and forty-three and in no case shall an award be made in favor of
;

any claim not embraced by these principles and rules.

If, in the opinion of the said Board of Commissioners, or of the claimants, any
books, records, or documents in the possession or power of the Government of the
Mexican Repubhc, shall be deemed necessary to the just decision of any claim, the
Commissioners, or the claimants through them, shall, within such period us Con-
gress may designate, make an application in writing for the same, be assessed to
the Mexican Minister for Foreign Affairs, to be transmitted by the Secretary of
State of the United States and the Mexican Government engages, at the earliest
;

possible moment after the receipt of such demand, to cause any of the books, re-
cords, or documents so specified, which shall be in their possession or power (or
authenticated copies or extracts of the same) to be transmitted to the said Secre-
tarv of State, who shall immediately deliver them over to the said Board of Com-
m' jsioners provided, that no such application shall be made by or at the instance
;

of -y claimant, until the facts which it is expected to prove "by such books, re-
cords; or documents, shall have been stated under oath or affirmation.
 THE TllEATY
ARTICLE XVI
Each of the contracting parties reserves to itself the entire right to fortify what-
ever point within its territory it may judge proper so to fortily for its security.

ARTICLE XVII.
The Treaty of amity, commerce, and navigation, concluded at the City of Mexi-
co on the 5th day of April, A. D., 1831, between the United States of America and
the United Mexican States, except the additional article, and except so far as the
stipulations of the said Treaty may not be incompatible vnth any stipulation con-
tamed in the present Treaty, is hereby revived for the period of eight years from
the day of the exchange of ratifications of this Treaty, with the same force and
virtue as if incorporated therein it being understood that each of the contracting
;

parties reserves to itself the right, at any time after the said period ot eight years
shall have expired, to terminate the same by giving one year's notice of such in-
tention to the other party.

ARTICLE XVIII.
All supplies whatever of troops of the United States in Mexico, arriving at ports
in the occupation of such troops pre\ious to the final evacuation thereof, although
subsequently to tie restoration of the Custom-Houses at such ports, shall be entire-
ly exempt from duties and charges of any kind the Government of the United
;

States hereby engaging and pledging its faith to establish, and vigilantly to enforce
all possible guards for securing the revenue of Mexico, by preventing the impor-
tation, under cover of this stipulation, of any articles other than such, both in kind
and in quahty, as shall really be wanted for the use and consimiption of the forces
of the United States during the time they may remain in Mexico. To this end it
shall be the duty of all officers and agents of the United States to announce to the
Mexican authorities, at the respective ports, any attempts at a fraudulent abuse of
this stipulation which they may know of or may have reason to suspect, and to
give to such authorities all the aid in their power with regard thereto and every
;

such attempt, when duly proved and established by sentence of a competent tribu-
nal, shall be punished by the confiscation of the property eo attempted to be fraud-
ulently introduced.

ARTICLE XIX.
With respect to all merchandise, effects, and property whatsoever, imported into
ports of Mexico while in the occupation of the forces of the United States, wheth-
er by citizens of either repubhc, or by citizens or subjects of any neutral nation,
the following rules shall be observed
1. All such merchandise, effects, and property, if imported previously to the res-
toration of the Custom-Houses to the Mexican authorities, as stipulated for in the
third article of this Treaty, shall be exempt from confiscation, although the impor-
tation of the same be prohibited by the Mexican Tariff.
2. The same perfect exemption shall be enjoyed by all such merchandise, effects,
and property, imported subsequently to the restoration of the Custom-Houses, and
previously to the sixty days fixed in the following article for the coming into force
of the Mexican Tariff, at such ports respectively the said merchandise, effects, and
;

property being, however, at the time of their importation, subject to the payment
of dut^ies, as pl-ovided for in the said following article.
3. All merchandise, effects, and property described in the two rules foregoing,
shall, during their continuance at the place of importation, or upon their leaving
such place for the interior, be exempt from all duty, tax or impost of every kind,
\mder whatsoever title or denomination. Nor ehaU they be there subject to any
charge whatsoever upon the sale thereof.
4. All merchandise, effects, and property, described in the first and second rules,
which shall have been removed to any place in the interior while such place was
in the occupation of the forces of the United States, shall, during their continuance
therein, be exempt from all tax upon the sale of consumption thereof, and from ev-
ery kind of impost or contribution, under whatsoever title or denomination.
5. But if any merchandise, effects, or property, described in the first and second
rules shall be removed to any place not occupied at the time by the forces of the
 T H E TREATY .
^
United States, they shall, upon their introduction into such place, or upon their sale
or consumption there, be subject to the same duties which, under the Mexican
laws, they would be required to pay in such cases if they had been imported in
time of peace, through the maritime Custom-Houses, and had there paid the duties
conformably "with the Mexican Tariff.
6. The owners of all merchandise, effects, or property described in the first and
second rules and existing in any port of Mexico, shall have the right to re-ship the
same, exempt from all tax, impost, or contribution whatever.
With respect to the metals, or other property, exported from any Mexican port
while in the occupation of the forces of tiie United States, and previously to the
restoration of the Custom-House at such port, no person shall be required by the
Mexican authorities, whether general or State, to pay any tax, duty, or contribu-
tion upon any such exportation, or in any manner to account for the same to the
said authorities.

ARTICLE XX.
Through consideration for the interests of commerce generally, it is agreed that
if lessthan sixty days should elapse between the date of the signature of this Treaty
and the restoration of the custom-houses, conformably with a stipulation in the
third Article, in such case, all merchandise, effects, and property whatsoever, ar-
riving at the Mexican ports after the restoration of the said custom-houses, and pre-
viously to the expiration of sixty days after the signature of this lYeaty, shall be
admitted to entry and no other duties shall be levied thereon than the duties es-
;

tablished by the Tariff found in force at such custom-houses at the time of the re-
storation of the same. And to all such merchandise, effects and property, the rules
established in the preceding Article shall apply.

ARTICLE XXI.
If, unhappily, any disagreement should hereafter arise between the Governments
of the two Republics, whether with respect to the interpretation of any stipulation
in this Treaty or with respect to any other particular concerning the political or
commercial relations of the two nations, the said Governments, in the name of
those nations, do promise to each other that they will endeavor, in the most sincere
and earnest manner, to settle the difference so arising, and to preser^'e the state of
peace and friendship in which the two countries are now placing themselves
using, for this end, mutual representations and pacific negotiations. And if, by
these means, they should not be enabled to come to an agreement, a resort shall
not, on this account, be had in reprisals, aggressions, or hostility of any kind by the
one RepubHc against the other, until the Government of that which deems itself
aggrieved shall have maturely considered, in the spirit of peace and good neigh-
borship, whether it would not be better that such difference should be settled by
the arbitration of Commissioners appointed on each side, or by that of a friendly
nation. And should such course be proposed by either party, it shall be acceded
to by the other, unless deemed by it altogether incompatible with the nature of the
difference, or the circumstances of the case.

ARTICLE XXII.
If, (which is not to be expected, and which God forbid !) war shall unhappily
break out between the two Republics, they do now, with a view to such calamity,
pledge themselves to each other and to the world, to observe the following rules,
absolutely, where the nature of the subject permits, and as closely as possible in
all cases where such absolute observance shall be impossible.
1. The merchants of either RepubUc then residing in the other shall be allowed
to remain twelve months, (for those dwelling in the interior,) and six months, (for
those dweUing at the seaports,) to collect their debts and settle their affairs during
;

which periods, they shall enjoy the same protection, and be on the same footing, in
allrespects, as the citizens or subjects of t-he most friendly nations and, at the ex-
;

piration thereof, or at any time before, they shall have full liberty to depart, car-
rying off all their effects without molestation or hinderance conforming therein to
;

the same laws which the citizens or subjects of the most friendly nations are re-
quired to conform to. Upon the entrance of the armies of either nation into the
10 T H E T RE AT Y

territories of the other, women and children, ecclesiastics, scholars of every fac-
ulty, cultivators of the earth, merchants, artisans, manufacturers, and fishermen,
unarmed, and inhabiting unfortified towns, villages or places, and in general all
persons whose occupations are for the conDnon subsistence and benefit of man-
kind, shall be allowed to continue their respective employments unmolested in
their persons. Nor shall their houses or goods be burnt or otherwise destroyed,
nor their cattle taken, nor their fields wasted, by the armed force into whose power,
by the events of war, they may happen to fall but if the necessity arise to take
;

any thing from them for the use of such armed force, the same shall be paid for at
an equitable price. All churches, hospitals, schools, colleges, libraries, and other
establishments, for charitable and beneficent purposes, shall be respected, and all
persons connected with the same protected in the discharge of their duties, and
the pursuits of their vocations.
2. In order that the fate of prisoners of war may be alleviated, all such practices
as those of sending them into distant, inclement, or unwholesome districts, or
crowding them into close and noxious places, shall be studiously avoided. They
shall not be confined in dungeons, prison-ships or prisons nor be put in irons, or
;

bound, or otherwise restrained in the use of their limbs. The officers shall enjoy
liberty on their paroles, within convenient districts, and have comfortable quar-
ters ; and the common soldiers shall be disposed in cantonments, open and exten-
eive enough for air and exercise, and lodged in barracks as roomy and good as are
pro%ided by the party in whose power they are for its own troops. But if any
officer shall break his parole by leaving the district so assigned him, or any other
prisoner shah escape from the limits of his cantonment, after they shall have been
designated to him, such individual, officer, or other prisoner shall forfeit so much
of the benefit of this Article as provides for his liberty on parole or in cantonment.
And if an officer so breaking his parole, or any common soldier so escaping from
the limits assigned him, shaU afterward be found in arms, previously to his being
regularly exchanged, the person so oflfending shall be dealt with according to the
established laws of war. The officers shall be daily furnished by the party in
whose power they are, with as many rations, and of the same articles, as are al-
lowed, either in kind or by computation, to officers of equal rank in its own army
and all others shall be daily furnished with such ration as is allowed to a common
soldier in its own service ; the value of all which supplies shall, at the close of the
war, or at periods to be agreed upon between the respective commanders, be paid
by the other party, on a mutual adjustment of accounts for the subsistence of pris-
oners and such accounts shall not be mingled with or set off against any others,
;

nor the balance due on them withheld, as a compensation or reprisal for any cause
whatever, real or pretended. Each party shall be allowed to keep a commissary
of prisoners, appointed by itself, with every cantonment of prisoners, in possession
of the other which commissary shall see the prisoners as often as he pleases
;

Bhall be allowed to receive, exempt from all duties or taxes, and to distribute,
whatever comforts may be sent to them by their friends and shall be free to
;

transmit his reports in open letters to the party by whom he is employed. And it
is declared that neither the pretense that war dissolves all Treaties, nor any other
whatever, shall be considered as annuling or suspending the solemn covenant con-
tained in this article. On the contrary, the state of war is precisely that for which
it is provided and during which, its stipulations are to be as sacredly observed as
;

the most acknowledged obligations under the law of nature or nations.

ARTICLE XXIII.
This Treaty shall be ratified by the President of the United States of America, by
and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof; and by the President of the
Mexican Republic with the previous approbation of its General Congress and the ;

ratifications shall be exchanged in the city of Washington, in four months from the
date of the signature hereof, or sooner, if practicable.
In faith whereof, we, the respective Plenipotentiaries, have signed this Treaty of
Peace, Friendship, Limits, and Settlement and have hereunto affixed our seals re-
;

spectively. Done in Quintuplicate, at the city of Gaudalupe Hidalgo, on the sec-

ond day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
forty-eight N. P. TRIST, [l. s.]
LUIS G. CUEVAS, [l. s.1
BERNARDO CONTO, [l. s.]
MIG. ATRJSTAm, [l. s.]
 THE T K E A T Y . 11

Additional and Secret Article of the Treaty of Peace, Friendship, Limits, and
Settlement between the United States of America and the Mezicaii Republic, signed
this day by their respective Plenipotentiaries. (Expunged.)
In view of the possibility that the exchange of the ratifications of this Treaty may,
by the circumstances in which the Mexican Republic is placed, be delayed longer
than the term of four months fixed by its twenty-third article for the exchange of
ratifications of the same, it is hereby agreed that such delay shall not, in any man-
ner, afl'ect the force and validity of, this Treaty, unless it should exceed the term
of eight months, counted from the date of the signature thereof.
This article is to have the same force and virture as if inserted in the treaty to
which this is an addition.
In faith whereof, we, the respective Plenipotentiaries, have signed this additional
and secret article, and have hereunto affixed our seals, respectively. Done in
Quintuplicate at the city of Gaudalupe Hidalgo, on the second day of February, in
the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty -eight
N. P. TRIST, [l. 8.]
LUIS G. CUEVA8, [l. s.J
BERNARDO CONTO, [l. s.J
MIG. ATRISTAIN, [l. s.]

And whereas, ihe said Treaty, as amended, has been duly rati-
fied on both parts, and the respective ratifications of the same were
exchanged at Queretaro, on the thirtieth day of May last, by Am-
brose H. Sevier and Nathan Clifford, commissioners on the part of
the Government of the United States, and by Senor Don Luis de la
Rosa, Minister of Relations of the Mexican Republic, on the part
of that Government
Now, therefore, be it known, that I, James K. Polk, President
of the United States of America, have caused the said Treaty to
be made public, to the end that the same, and every clause and ar-
ticle thereof, may be observed and fulfilled with good faith by the
United States and the citizens thereof.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the
seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington, on this fourth day of July, one
thousand eight hundred and forty-eight, and of the Independence
of the United States the seventy-third.
By the President,
[L. S.] JAMES K. POLK.
James Buchanan, Secretary of State.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
REFERENCE DEPARTMENT