1

THE WAR WITH MEXICO.

from a catastrophe, and for that purpose give you second Indiana regiment could not again be this notice, in order that you may surrender at rallied, (except a few who joined the Missis discretion, under the assurance that you will be sippi regiment,) and took no farther part in treated with the consideration belonging to the the action. Col. Bissell's 2d Illinois regiment, Mexican character, to which end you will be granted an hour's time to make up your mind, to being outflanked and unsupported, was now commence from the moment when my flag of forced to retire; and the Mexicans, in great truce arrives in your camp.-With this view, numbers, were pouring along the ridges and assure you of my particular consideration.-God forming in our rear. At this moment Gen. and Liberty!-Camp at Encantada, February 22, Taylor arrived upon the field. The Missis 1847. ANTONIO LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA. sippi regiment and the 2d Kentuckians, with Capt. Bragg's artillery, were immediately brought into action. These, with a portion of the 1st Illinoians, drove back the enemy and recovered much of the ground before "HEADQUARTERS, ARMY OF OCCUPATION, lost. The Mississippi regiment being heavily near BUENA VISTA, February 22, 1847. pressed, the 3d Indianians, Col. Lane. ad "SIR: In reply to your note of this date, sum-vanced to its support. At this point the bat moning me to surrender my forces at discretion, the raged long and desperately-shock after I beg leave to say that I decline acceding to your shock of the splendid Mexican cavalry being request.-With high respect, I am, Sir, your obe; repulsed with a firmness and effect almost

"To Gen. Z. TAYLOR, commanding the forces

of the U. S."

To this pompous demand, Gen. Taylor thus replied:

dient servant,

Z. TAYLOR,

unparalleled. Our loss was beavy-that of Major-General U. S. Army. Commanding. the Mexicans appalling. "All our regular cav Señor Gen. D. ANTONIO LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA, Commander-in-Chief, La Encantada." alry and the Arkansas horse, under Lt. Col. May, were ordered to hold in check the Mex Some time elapsed after the return of can column, which was still advancing along|| the Mexican messenger before Santa Anna the base of the mountain. The concentration showed a disposition to open the battle. Oc of artillery fire upon the masses of the Mexi casionally a shell was thrown into our lines, cans, and our determined resistance, had|| but with no effect; and now and then a skir-created confusion in their ranks, and some of mish among the light troops, with small loss their corps attemped to effect a retreat upon on our side, occupied the time until dark. their main line of battle. An unsuccessful Gen. Taylor, with the Mississippi regiment attempt was made by our 1st dragoons to and 2d dragoons, returned to Saltillo; our charge and disperse these corps-the nature main army bivouacked without fires, and lay of the ground and the galling fire of a battery upon their arms. rendering a charge impracticable. A large On the morning of the 23d, Gen. Taylor, body of Mexicans now concentrated on our having carefully provided against the surprise extreme left, with a view to make a descent of Saltillo and other points in the rear, moved upon our baggage at the hacienda of Buena forward with all his available force to Buena Vista. Lt. Col. May, with two pieces of Capt. Vista, arriving just after the commencement Sherman's battery, was ordered to the sup of the action. During the night the Mexicans port of this point, and the scattered forces had advanced a body of light troops along the near the hacienda formed under Maj. Monmountain side for the purpose of outlanking roe. Before our cavalry had reached the haour left; and here, at an early hour, the ac- cienda the Mexicans had made the attack, tion began. Our riflemen under Col. Mar- having been bravely met by the Kentucky shall, with a portion of the Illinois volunteers, and Arkansas cavalry under Cols. Marshall sustained themselves against a greatly supe- and Yell. The Mexican column immediately rior force, and did fatal execution with their divided, and one portion filed past the dépôt. favorite weapon. About 8 o'clock a strong where it received a galling fire from our demonstration was made against our centre; men, and gained the mountain opposite, while but a few shots from Capt. Washington's bat the other portion regained the base of the tery dispersed the assailing column. In the mountain on our left. It was.in this charge meantime the Mexicans had advanced under that the gallant Col. Yell was killed at the cover of the ridges a large force, with the head of his column. Lt. Col May, with dra obvious intention of turning our left. This goons and portions of the Arkansas and Inpart of our line was formed by the 2d Indiana diana troops, now approached the base of the and 2d Illinois regiments, covering three mountain, holding in check the Mexican right|| pieces of light artillery under Capt. Brien-flank, upon the compact masses of which our the whole immediately commanded by Brig. artillery was dealing terrible destruction. Gen. Lane. The Indianians and artillery The Mexican army, by this effort to out were ordered forward, but were overborne flank us, had attained a most critical position by the greatly superior Mexican force, and the large force which had gained our rear retrested in confusion-one piece of artillery being cut off from the main body, with scarce being left in the hands of the Mexicans. The a hope of reünion. At this moment Santa||

THE WAR WITH MEXICO.

Anna, to gain time for his men to get back, Taylor's small force rendered pursuit impoli sent a flag of truce to Gen. Taylor. with a mes-tic. An officer was sent to Santa Anna, and sage asking him what he wanted! Orders an exchange of prisoners effected, and the were given to cease firing, and Gen. Wool great Mexican army of 20,000 men, having was sent to Santa Anna; but, being unable to done their utmost to overcome less than 5,000, make the Mexicans cease firing, he returned left nearly 2,000 dead and prisoners, and fled without an interview, and the battle recom- precipitately toward their stronghold at San menced. But the object of this strange mes Luis de Potosi, with most ungenerous haste sage was accomplished: the extreme right leaving their weak, wounded and dead by of the Mexican army, in spite of our efforts, the road side and in the villages, to recover. rapidly retreated along the base of the moun- starve, and die aa chance might result. Many tain, and joined the main body. of the Mexican wounded were taken care of

The splendid Mexican corps of cavalry un-by our army.

der Gen. Miñon was sent over the distant The Mexican force was about 20,000-loss plains, and posted along the roads between about 2,000, beside deserters. American force, Buena Vista and Saltillo, probably to harass as per field reports, 4,759--loss 267 killed, 456 our army, after its defeat, in its retreat to the wounded, 23 missing, in all 746. latter place. A few shots from our batteries. Gen. Taylor now went in pursuit of the however, sent them pell-mell over the plains, Mexicans under Urrea; but that intangible and they were seen no more. guerrilla chief was too quick for him, and got The firing on the principal field had now his 5,000 over the mountains just in the nick partially ceased, the Mexicans confining their of time. At Marin, Gen. T. retraced his steps, efforts to the protection of their artillery. The and at the end of March encamped at Walnut Illinois and 2d Kentucky infantry at this mo-Springs, four miles from Monterey. ment boldly attacked the Mexican reserve- Gen. Wool joined Gen. Taylor some time a largely superior force-and were almost before the battle of Buena Vista, and the deoverwhelmed by numbers. Capt. O'Brien, tails of that action were confided to him. with two pieces, sustained the charge of the At this time, (the close of September,) Gen. Mexicans with desperate bravery for a long Taylor still remains in camp at Walnut time, but was forced to retire, and his guns Springs, held in a state of "masterly ina were captured. Capt. Bragg, who had just tivity" by the official withdrawal of all his arrived from the left, came rapidly into ac- men not absolutely necessary to garrison the tion, the Mexican lines being but a few yards large territory under his control; and in all from his pieces. The first discharge of can- this territory_nothing has transpired since ister caused them to hesitate, and the second the battle of Buena Vista sufficiently imporand third drove them back in disorder, and tant to claim a place in our brief record. saved the day. The 2d Kentucky regiment, Col. Clay, which had advanced beyond sup

Gen. Scott reached the Rio Grande 'on the

porting distance in this affair, was driven back 1st of January, and began to concentrate a and closely-pressed by the Mexican cavalry; large force to attack Vera Cruz. He appointbut passing a rayine, they brought their pur-led the Isle of Lobos, 25 miles north of Vera suers in range of Capt. Washington's battery, Cruz, to be the rendezvous, and on the 15th a few rounds from which drove them back of February 4,000 men and 18 first-class ves with heavy loss. In the meantime the re-sels had arrived there. On the 7th of March mainder of our artillery opened a heavy fire Gen. S. had collected 12,000 men, embarked apon the right of the Mexicans, which threw them on nearly 190 vessels, and arrived safely them into disorder, and gave us the victory. off Anton Lizardo. After an examination, In this last conflict we sustained our heaviest the beach due west from the Island of Sacloss. Col. Hardin of 1st Illinois, and Colrificios was selected as the landing-place, McKee, and Lt. Col. Clay of 2d Kentucky and on the 9th March this great force was regiment, fell at this time, while gallantly debarked without the smallest accident. Notleading their men. withstanding the ease with which the MexiThe Mexicans made no farther attempt to cane might have seriously annoyed if not force our position; and the fall of night successfully opposed our landing, nothing brought welcome silence in place of the fear-worth calling opposition was offered, and ful music of death, which had made hideous Gen. Scott proceeded to invest the city and echoes among the picturesque hills and vales erect his batteries as unceremoniously as if of "Beautiful View." Though the night was setting a mock siege for militia practice. On severely cold, our army bivouacked without the 9th of March the debarkation was begun, fires, expecting a renewal of the conflict in and on the 14th the investment was complete the morning. The wounded were removed and two mortars were landed. By the 17th to Saltillo, and reinforcements brought up. ten or twelve mortars were mounted, and When daylight came, it was found that Santa the next day at night the trenches were Anna had fallen back on Agua Nueva. Gen.lopened. On the 22d, at 2 A M., Gen. Scott

THE WAR WITH MEXICO.

:

summoned the city to surrender. The gov-sick and wounded remained in the city, with ernor (Morales) interpreted the demand as sach attendants as were necessary: absolute including both castle and city, and refused. protection to persons and private property, Thereupon Gen. Scott ordered seven mortars and freedom of religious worship and cereto open upon the city; and Com. Perry's monies, were solemnly guaranteed. squadron, two steamers and five schooners. Thus fell the City of Vera Cruz and the approaching within a mile and an eighth, also Castle of San Juan de Ulua-the strongest opened a brisk fire. This bombardment con- fortress (save Quebec) in the Western Hemtinued up to 9 A. M. of the 23d, when Com- isphere. The loss of life on the part of our Perry drew off from a position too much ex-army was miraculously small-not over sixty. posed to the heavy guns of the castle. Three five in killed and wounded, and many of the mortars were now added to the land batte-latter recovered. The loss of the Mexicans ries and the whole ten were kept in quick could not be ascertained, but is supposed to action, doing fearful damage to the city have exceeded 500. They surrendered over some of them being but 800 yards from the 4,000 men, 700 pieces of artillery, 10,000 stands walls. Notwithstanding a heavy return of of arms, and a vast quantity of public stores. fire from the city and castle, up to this time Between the taking of Monterey and the our loss was only two killed and five wound-capture of Vera Cruz, some incidents of lesser ed-one of the killed being Capt. Jno. R.note transpired in Eastern Mexico. . Vinton of the 3d artillery, a brave and intelli- Near the close of December à lieutenant with gent officer, honorably distinguished at Mon-12 of Capt. May's dragoons, in going through terey. On the 24th a naval battery of three a narrow gorge between Montemorelos aud 32-pounders and three 8-inch Paixhan guns Linares, fell into an ambush and lost 11 men. opened fire. This fire continued until 2 P. M.-himself and sergeant, who had got through -four sailors were killed and one officer the pass, escaping.... Lt. Ritchie, while wounded. The mortars worked slowly to- on the road from Victoria to Saltillo, early in day, wanting ammunition, which could not be January, with very important dispatches to landed for the roughness of the sea. Gen. Gen. Taylor from Gen. Scott and the War Scott received application for a truce from Department, containing the general plans of the consuls of Great Britain, France, Spain the campaign, was lassoed, dragged into a and Prussia, within the city, that the neutrals cornfield, killed, and the papers fell into Mex and women and children might withdraw ican hands. . On the 23d of January Maj. from the scene of havoc. Gen. Scott declined. Borland. Maj. Gaines, and Capt. Cassius M. unless the truce should be asked by Gov. Clay, with 90 men of the Arkansas cavalry. Morales. with a view to a surrender. Next were surrounded and captured at Encarnaday a battery of four 24-pounders and two cion by Gen. Miñon and 1.500 cavalry. They 8-inch howitzers was added, and all were were marched to the City of Mexico. Capi put in active motion-the fire from the city Henrie, being mounted on a mettled steed. and castle continued with unabated spirit. made a bold dash through the Mexicans, dis On the 26th the Mexicans proposed and ne-tanced their fleetest horsemen, and escaped. gotiations were opened for a surrender with A severe encounter occurred at a for Gen. Landero. on whom Gov. Morales had tified bridge near Medelin, on the 25th of devolved the chief command. Gen. Worth. March, between a detachment of Col. Har Gen. Pillow, Col. Totten and Capt. Aulick (of ney's dragoons and a large Mexican force of the Navy) were the commissioners on our about 2,000. About 100 Mexicans were killed part, and Sen'r Villanueva, Gen. Herrera and and wounded; the dragoons lost two killed Senr. Robles on the part of the Mexicans. and eight wounded. On the 28th of

On the 27th the Articles were signed and ex- February a battle of small moment was changed, and on the 29th Gen. Worth took fought at the Pass of the Sacramento near possession and command of the city and cas Chihuahua. Our force (under Col. Doniphan) tle: the Mexican garrisons were permitted to was about 900-loss two killed and seven march out with the honors of war, after lay-wounded. The Mexicans lost about 300 killed ing down their arms-their officers to retain and as many wounded. On the 1st of March. their side-arms and private property-and all Col. Doniphan took formal possession of Chi to retire to their homes on parole of five huahua. The result of the battle shows that days: their flags were struck under salute it was planned and executed with consumfrom their own batteries: the rank and file of mate care and skill on the part of our officers. regular prisoners were disposed of as their After the fall of Vera Cruz, Gen. Worth chief officer desired, and the irregulars per was appointed its governor, and occupied it mitted to return home-all promising not to with a part of his brigade. The port was serve against as again until duly exchanged opened to all nations, and a tariff of duties en all public property was surrendered to the acted. The necessary garrisons having been United States of the North-the armament established, Gen. Scott started with the main able to be restored by a treaty of peace: the body of the army (about 10,000 men) for the

THE WAR WITH MEXICO.

City of Mexico. The vanguard was formed the capital with forts and batteries and by Gen. Twiggs's division, and the commands bristling steel, that it really seemed a matter of Gens. Worth and Patterson followed a of serious difficulty for a force no larger than few days after. Nothing of moment occurred ours-less than 12,000 men-to wrest from until the army reached Cerro Gordo, a rough, their possession the ark of their national saferocky pass, called impregnable, just beyond ty. And, however bitter the opposition of Plan del Rio, about 50 miles from Vera Cruz. many leading Mexicans, Santa Anna had so Santa Anna had fortified this pass with seven much the ascendency that all were una batteries and about 13,000 men, and was mous in the declaration to defend the capital present in person to dispute to the utmost the to the last extremity.

advance of our army. On the 18th the whole There being no prospect of an offer to line of intrenchments was attacked in front open negotiations for peace on the part of by our army, and a desperate contest ensued. the Mexicans, Gen. Scott moved forward The most brilliant part of this affair was the with the main body of his army- Gen. storming of the Mexican tower by Col. Har- Worth leading the advance, and meeting ney with a portion of the 1st artillery, the 3d with no obstruction until he reached the ha infantry, 7th infantry, and the rifles. This cienda of San Gregorio, on the 16th of Aubrigade ascended the long and difficult slope gust. Beyond this the Mexicans had cast of Cerro Gordo, without shelter, under a ter- rocks and every possible obstruction in the rible fire of artillery and musketry, with a wretched trail along which our artillery must steadiness and precision that would have move. den. Twiggs, while bringing up his hardly been expected in Napoleon's veterans division, met a large Mexican force near of a hundred battles, drove the Mexicans Chalco, who showed a disposition to bar his from the breastworks, and after some min-progress. A few discharges of our cannon, ates' sharp firing finished their conquest with however, killed five or six of them, and the bayonet. The rout of the Mexicans was changed the minds of the others, who retired. complete-Santa Anna himself escaped on a Our army was now near the south side of mule, leaving his traveling-carriage. private the capital, and by approaching it in this dipapers and wooden leg among our trophies rection, had completely turned the strong About 3,000 men, five generals, (and Gen. fortifications at El Peñon and Mexicalcingo, Vasquez killed at the tower,) with an im-on the east of the city, upon which Santa mense quantity of arms and stores, fell into Anna had principally reljed, and where he our hands. The Mexicans were vigorously had made every preparation to receive us. pursued some miles toward Jalapa, and many The next day (17th) Gen. Worth pushed more prisoners secured. Gen. Scott's loss on as far as San Augustin, on the great in killed and wounded was pretty severe: Southern road, having on the route occasional Santa Anna's much larger. views of the spires of the capital. During

This overwhelming defeat of the high- the day the Mexicans hung around our army, promising Mexican leader aroused a strong firing upon them from every available posifeeling of indignation against him, and after tion.

dodging around Orizaba and vicinity for a On the 18th, Gen. Worth moved forward while, he went to the capital, (where he toward the city, to near San Antonio, at came near being mobbed,) still retaining com- which place the Mexicans fired upon our mand of the army, and (through his friends) dragoons, and killed Capt. Thornton, one of laboring hard to avert the public condemna-our bravest and best officers, who had, in tion which was fulminating over his devoted defiance of medical advice, left a sick bed to head. lead his command. At 2 o'clock a heavy rain Gen. Scott proceeded by easy marches, set in, which continued all night, with great taking peaceable possession of Jalapa, Perote, inconvenience to our army, which was com &c., and established his headquarters in the paratively unsheltered. A reconnoisance was City of Puebla. made, and it was decided to turn the strong

In this delightful city our army remained works at San Antonio by making a road until the middle of August, augmenting con-westerly toward Contreras, six or seven iderably by new troops from the Union, and miles from the capital. nothing of greater moment than the ever- On the morning of the 19th the Mexicans recurring attacks of guerrilla parties upon at San Antonio opened a brisk cannon-fire trains from Vera Cruz transpiring to relieve upon Gen. Worth's camp. The fire was not the monotony of camp life. returned, and at 9 o'clock our forces moved In the meanwhile Santa Anna, despite the forward toward Contreras-Gen. Pillow's di strong opposition of a large number of his vision leading the advance and opening the own people, had collected in the City of road. As soon as Gen. Pillow had brought Mexico a force of about 30,000 men, con- his men in reach their guns, the Mexicans structed what he fancied impregnable works (under Valencia) at Contreras opened a heavy for defence at Rio Frio, and so environed fire, and seemed fully resolved to maintain

their position in front of their fortifications; division, Gen. Twiggs's. Capt. Taylor's bat but Gen. P. S. Smith's brigade so vigorous-tery of light artillery also took position near ly attacked their infantry as to force them this work, on the right of Gen. Smith's brig within their works with heavy loss. While ade. It soon drew upon it a heavy fire from this battle raged with great fury, 12,000 Mex- the fort, which he sustained for an hour and icans, led by Santa Anna, appeared on the a half, losing 23 of his company, among whom left of Contreras, threatening the safety of Col. were Lieuts. Martin, Boynton and Sims, and Riley's command. Gen. Pierce was now or-three sergeants.

dered to support Gen. Smith, and Gen. Cad- Gen. Pillow, with part of his division, was wallader came to the aid of Col. Riley. About sent round by Gen. Scott to assault the oppo 4 o'clock Gen. Scott reached the field, and at site side of this work, but as he, with his com once ordered Gen. Shields's brigade of South mand, emerged from the mud and mire of the Carolina and New York volunteers, from San corn-fields, (having waded, some of them. Augustin, to support Riley, and prevent, if waist deep,) into the road, he met Gen. Worth possible, a junction between Santa Anna coming up from San Antonio with his divi and Valencia. Until night closed in, the fire sion, and the two Generals went hand in of the Mexicans was loud and incessant-hand into action.

it had been one continuous roar for more At the same time, Gen. Scott ordered Gen than six hours. Gen. Scott retired to San Shields to attack the enemy's extreme left, Augustin at 8 o'clock. Gen. Smith set the where he was heavily intrenched, reinforcing order of battle for attacking the Mexicans his command with the 9th, part of the 12th early in the morning- opposing no more than and 15th infantry, under Gen. Pierce. This 3,500 men, without artillery or eavalry, to at movement was executed as soon as the na least 12,000 of the best troops of Mexico. ture of the ground would admit-the whole Through the night the cold rain fell inces command having to pass through corn-fields santly, and our army suffered severely, being of high growth, intercepted by ditches runcompelled to bivouac without tents, and many ning through them in every direction. of the men with not even a blanket. The action now became general, and the At 3 o'clock on the morning of the 20th, severity of the conflict was never equaled and entirely unexpected by Valencia, Gen. within the recollection of our oldest soldiers Smith assaulted the strong works of Contre-The Mexicans were more than three times ras. So sudden and determined was the on-jour number, beside their advantage of artillery set of our troops, that the Mexicans were and position-added to this, they were stim hardly in action before the fort was carried ulated by the fact that it was the last effort of at the point of the bayonet. No less than resistance they could make before we could 700 Mexicans were killed, and more than enter their country's capital. The roar of 1,500 were taken prisoners-among them sev-musketry was so great that it was almost im eral Generals. All their camp equipage, 22 possible for the soldiers to hear the orders of pieces of artillery and a great quantity of their officers. There was no point at which small-arms fell into our hands. Such of their the action did not rage with severity for more force as escaped, fled precipitately toward than two hours, which is proved by the fact the city, scattering their guns along the road that our loss at this point was nearly 1,000 as they ran. In their retreat they were nearly men, in killed and wounded. eut to pieces by Gen. Shields's brigade, be- After the contest had lasted about two fore whose position they passed. What or-jhours, our troops had got into such a position ganized force was left of the enemy now fell as to be able to close with them at the point back in great confusion to Churubusco, (or of the bayonet, which decided the affair in San Pablo,) endeavoring at several points on our favor-Gen. Pillow and Gen. Worth car the road to make a stand, but so vigorously rying the works on the road, an officer of pursued by our army as to fail in every at- Gen. Pillow's division taking down one flag tempt: and one of Gen. Worth's taking down the Charabusco was reinforced by new troops other, and the 8th infantry planting their col from the city, and the Mexicans seemed de ors instead: Gen. Twiggs's division carrying termined to make their last stand at the for-the work it attacked at the church, Capt. J. mer place, where in the short space of 38 M. Smith of the 3d infantry receiving the surhours they had raised a strong fortification, render with seven pieces of artillery, two which was completely masked by trees and stands of colors and Gen. Rincon. together fields of corn. The church and other strong with 104 officers, and upward of 1,100 nonbuildings were filled and covered with in commissioned officers and privates, as prison fantry, and every point was carefully guard-ers of war. Gen. Shields had his work more ed. At the church Gen. Smith's brigade to himself. His volunteers stood and moved opened the action, and was soon followed, a under the fire with the regularity of veteran little farther to the left, by Col. Riley's brig- troops. South Carolina sustained a heavy loss. ade-these two composing the Cerro Gordo Col. Butler was wounded twice before he re